Being Biracial

Ayman Kaake is a photo-media visual artist and performance creator whose work explores the complexities of isolation that come from starting a new life away from Lebanon.MzRizk is a Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter, live performer and event curator. Ezz Monem is a photo-based artist, who repurposes and transforms images, drawing on his experience growing up in Egypt and migrating to Australia. We interviewed Ezz, Ayman and MzRizk at the Arts Centre Melbourne, as part of Art Souk.We chat about:Everyone being an EngineerComing out as an artistDan’s first radio show at 6 years oldZaffé The rebrand of gossip to community newsManipulating found footageDance as resistanceUsing your camera to talkHow family relationships change when you leave homeNostalgic supermarket piecesHalal v Haram art projectsSally Field was the real kickstart for IslamophobiaHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuests: Ayman Kaake, Ezz Monem and MzRizkMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonSpecial thanks: Multicultural Arts Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Creative Victoria, Creative Australia, City of Melbourne and MzRizk for curating this incredible event.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to the Elders of these lands past and present and also acknowledge the neighbouring Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land. You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Bexx Djentuh-Davis is a Māori and Ghanaian filmmaker, producer, event curator and queer youth worker.Gabriela Gonzalez is a Chilean visual artist, sound producer, photographer and broadcaster. We interviewed Bexx and Gabriela at the Arts Centre Melbourne, as part of Art Souk.We chat about:Bexx on her Nana’s boxes of letters and photosGabriela talks bad break up one linersCollaborating across the world The necessity of creating art while the world is burningArt as a personal archiveGabriela’s pivot to pottery to move away from misinformation on screensBexx stepping into her creative main character energy The tightrope of creating personal art - Am I ganna get smacked?Pointless meetings The We Eatin Good Bitch filmHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuests: Bexx Djentuh-Davis and Gabriela GonzalezMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaSpecial thanks: Multicultural Arts Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Creative Victoria, Creative Australia, City of Melbourne and MzRizk for curating this incredible event.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples. We pay our respects to the Elders of these lands past and present and also acknowledge the neighbouring Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land. You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Scotty So is a Melbourne/Narrm-based artist who works across media, including ceramic, painting, photography, sculptures videos, and drag performance.Joel Bray is Wiradjuri artist, dancer, choreographer, actor and writer. We interviewed Scotty and Joel at MPavilion, as part of their season 11 Homeground series.We chat about:Kimono collectionsPlaying with perspectiveDouble entendreIncorporating sex into artScarlett So Hung Son popping up on the newsHow humour shows up in their practiceLip synching to celloJoel’s guide to audience participationScotty is a time travellerJoel’s two degrees of separation from BeyonceCreating site specific workCollaborating with EldersFoyer chats and openings: yay or nay? Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuests: Scotty So and Joel BrayMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaSpecial thanks: MPavilionThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to the final episode of season 2 of Being Biracial! Today we are chatting to each other about: Our reflections on this season  How age impacts our conversations about being mixed-race Processing identity through the creation of art Maria’s experience at the Matariki wānanga  Threads at the Immigration Museum The difficulty of creating work about deeply personal things Family secrets Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson Music by: the Green Twins Edited by: Kate Robinson This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations. You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Steph Tisdell is Aboriginal (Yindiji) and white Australian. She is an actor, tv writer, former comedian and author of the YA novel The Skin I’m In. We chat about:  Her white Dad’s surprising DNA results Hearts mown into lawns The responsibility we feel in our family units Diversity within diversity Well intended white teachers Bringing The Skin I’m In to life How the characters relate (and don’t relate) to Steph’s life The self indulgent joy of writing young adult fiction Reactions to her book Kinship adoption Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson Guest: Steph Tisdell Music by: the Green Twins Edited by: Maria Birch-Morunga This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations, and our guest joined us from land of the Turrbal and Jagera people.  You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Faustina Agolley (Fuzzy) is Ghanaian and Chinese Malaysian. She hosted Video Hits, was a DJ for Oprah and is a writer, producer and presenter.  We chat about:  A london love story ft The Temptations  Growing up in a multi-generational Chinese household Having too much on her plate to study Chinese Learning about her dad through his music Going to Ghana Blackness being a celebration of the self  DJing for Oprah Hosting Video Hits Learning from Alicia Keys Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson Guest: Faustina Agolley Music by: the Green Twins Edited by: Kate Robinson This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations, and our guest joined us from land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Olana Janfa is an Ethiopian-Norwegian, Naarm-based artist. We interviewed Olana at The Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre in Dandenong where his exhibition Too Much Drama is showing till September 2024. We chat about:  How Olana began creating The works in his current exhibit Too Much Drama Olana’s iconic font and art style What home means to him Being black in Australia and Norway What’s next for his art career Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson Guest: Olana Janfa Special thanks to: The City of Greater Dandenong & The Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre Music by: the Green Twins Edited by: Maria Birch-Morunga This podcast was recorded live on the lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the eastern Kulin Nations.You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Kitiya Palaskas is a Greek/Thai multi-disciplinary designer living in Naarm. We chat about:  Discovering her mix through DNA testing Her art sabbatical in Thailand Turning 40 and entering a new phase of life Having an identity crisis Can you appropriate your own culture? Feeling seen in colours, plants and precarious piles Growing up moving around the world Your bedroom as home Being ethnically ambiguous Family as a complicated site for cultural connection Greek statues were colourful! Links: https://kitiyapalaskas.com https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/color-chromophobia-and-colonialism-some-historical-thoughts-185710 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/29/the-myth-of-whiteness-in-classical-sculpture https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1109995973/we-know-greek-statues-werent-white-now-you-can-see-them-in-color Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson Guest: Kitiya Palaskas Music by: the Green Twins Edited by: Kate Robinson This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nations. You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com