Eastern Hunnies

In this episode, Melissa and Isabelle welcome Maya Welford, a corporate baddie and the British-Japanese host of "That’s My Name” – a podcast that delves into the fascinating stories, cultures, and traditions behind names.The conversation explores Maya’s journey of exploring identity through names and her views on taking a partner’s surname after marriage. They talk about cultural capital in the UK, whether skiing is class-coded, AI’s inherent biases, why having a non-English name shouldn’t predetermine whether or not you get a job interview, and how more inclusive work environments lead to better commercial outputs.Maya, who grew up in a lower socioeconomic background before working her way up the corporate ladder (she is currently Climate Tech Lead at Barclays), also shares her lived experience of social mobility and how it shaped her work in driving behavioural change – a commitment that won her a Desmond Tutu Award. No biggie!If you enjoy this episode, please do rate, review, and share!Maya Welford: https://www.instagram.com/thatsmyname_pod Reach out to us: https://www.instagram.com/easternhunnies Editing: Gabby LaurenMusic: Muri & LustbassMixing: Yukesh Gurung

There’s lots to unpack in this ep! Sit down with hosts Melissa and Isabelle as they rawly explore the complexities of being British-Filipino women in the UK and share their personal experiences growing up as Southeast Asian women in London.They delve into topics like the fetishisation, objectification, and reduction of Asian female bodies - particularly in the context of interracial dating - and their experiences growing up in during the era of the ‘white boy default’. They also share experiences of microaggressions in professional spaces and the dynamics of working in predominantly white environments, plus the importance (and privilege) of being able to advocate for oneself.Mel and Iz also discuss societal beauty standards in the Philippines, skin whitening culture, and the pressure to conform to Western ideals, sharing anecdotes about feeling othered when in the motherland. Family expectations, religion, and the experience of being the "Token Asian" in social circles are also examined, alongside the outrageous things that ignorant people sometimes say. Oof.They end with celebrate the positives of belonging to the diaspora, and how far culture has evolved since they were teenagers. If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share! If you have any questions, drop us a DM at https://www.instagram.com/easternhunniesMelissa - https://www.instagram.com/instagram.com/illumelationIsabelle - https://www.instagram.com/instagram.com/lethal_izzleEditing: Gabby LaurenMusic: Muri & LustbassMixing: Yukesh Gurung

In this episode, Melissa and Isabelle chat with David Zhou, the visionary Founder and Director of Eastern Margins, a record label and community that amplifies music from the ESEA diaspora.David, who left his role as a senior legal counsel at TikTok to fully embrace his passion for music and culture, is at the forefront of representing alternative Asian music narratives. They delve into his journey from corporate law to the challenges and joys of creating Eastern MarginsDavid shares what it’s like navigating corporate vs creative spaces, the importance of diversity and disruption in creative industries, and the difficulties Asian artists sometimes face due to the way the music industry is currently ringfenced. Hear his advice for the diaspora and what's next on his horizon.If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share! Find us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/easternhunniesDavid Zhou: https://www.instagram.com/triplelumiEastern Margins: https://www.instagram.com/easternmarginsStream "Redline Impact" - the new compilation album from Eastern Margins, out now: https://open.spotify.com/album/22nmCm7Uq4Pf74GqnHRFliEditing: Gabby LaurenMusic: Muri & LustbassMixing: Yukesh Gurung

Melissa and Isabelle chat with Muriel Gonzales, also known as Muri, a Filipino artist and violinist who recently released her debut EP 11ème. Muri has roots in Manila, Paris, and London, and is a member of the indie-folk band The Ransom Collective.This episode feels like a warm hug! Muri shares her experiences as a nomadic polyglot who has lived across Europe, how culture and heritage influenced her new album, how her grandparents inspired her art, her observations on the European diaspora, and what it was like performing for the Filipino Olympic champions.Mel and Iz also share personal stories about what it means to be first- and second-generation immigrants, and touch on social mobility in the UK vs Asia.Muri created the Eastern Hunnies podcast jingle - so of course, we discuss the creative process behind that too!Stream Muri's official debut EP, 11ème: https://open.spotify.com/album/06TTjkQexrUMH7ulUn72hD?si=TFW8pYm1TS2DZ3NiFKU-kwMuri: @muri.musicThe Ransom Collective: @theransomcollectiveEastern Hunnies: @easternhunniesIf you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share!Editing: Gabby LaurenMix Engeering: Yukesh GurungOriginal Music: Muri & Lustbass

Melissa and Isabelle sit down with Jason Kwan, the pop star, singer-songwriter, queer Asian advocate and all-around gorgeous human inside and out.They discuss gender pronouns, coming out, being Asian in queer spaces, finding a drag family with The Bitten Peach, how queerness is perceived differently in the UK vs Hong Kong, the beauty of melancholy and love, being an advocate for underrepresented communities, and why it’s so important to be bold despite the risk of failure. Iz also shares their own personal journey with their gender identity. Grab a cuppa and enjoy - this is a great one.Jason Kwan’s latest EP, ‘Deja Vu’, is out now. Stream here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6FYePlcYshzXjl0WrnlBjj Jason Kwan: @jasonkwanmusic Bitten Peach: @bittenpeachukEastern Hunnies: @easternhunniesIf you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share!Produced by Gabby Lauren.Music by Muri & Lustbass.Mixing by Yukesh Gurung.

Happy Filipino-American Heritage AND Black History Month! In this episode, Melissa and Isabelle sit down with Nicole Ocran, the Filipino-Ghanaian American author, podcaster, and fashion influencer. They discuss the UK’s obsession with mixed race models, how Blackness and mixed heritage identities are perceived differently in the UK vs in the USA, the pressures placed on mixed children, the beauty of being Filipino, they petition to get Akala in the national curriculum - and Iz spills some fashion industry tea. Nicole Ocran co-hosts the award-winning podcast Mixed Up, where she and Emma Slade Edmondson engage with identity from a mixed-race perspective. You can order their fantastic book, The Half Of It, here: https://lnkfi.re/nf0upCIf you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share!Eastern Hunnies: https://instagram.com/easternhunniesNicole Ocran: https://instagram.com/nicoleocranMixed Up: https://instagram.com/mixedup.podcastProduced by Gabby LaurenMusic by Muri & Lustbass Mixing by Yukesh Gurung

Melissa and Isabelle are joined by Johnny Lee, a British-Chinese visual artist and founder of New Territories Training. In this episode they discuss defying Asian male stereotypes, the legacy of Bruce Lee, raising multi heritage children, and creating your own culture - plus they debate the verrrry fine line between cultural appreciation and appropriation.Johnny’s work at @newterritoriestraining empowers Asian men through fitness and self-development in a way that challenges existing biases and celebrates individual strength, diversity, and culture. As an artist and designer, he creates stylised artwork with a focus on faces and characters, with an emphasis on Asian and street culture.If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, subscribe & share!Eastern Hunnies: instagram.com/easternhunniesJohnny Lee: instagram.com/mrleelivesNew Territories Training: instagram.com/newterritoriestraining Produced by Gabby Lauren. Music by Muri & Lustbass. Mixing by Yukesh Gurung.

Meet the hosts! British-Filipino creatives Melissa Legarda and Isabelle Landicho welcome you to Eastern Hunnies and find their feet on the mic.They dive right into what it's like being one of the 'firsts' in their culture, being a person of colour in a UK workplace, the need for code-switching, the difference between being a first- and second-generation Asian migrant, how ethnic minorities are viewed in Britain, advocate for Pinoy Pride - and they get a little emotional too. Subscribe, rate, review, and enjoy!Produced by Gabby LaurenMusic by Muri & LustbassMixing by Yukesh GurungFind us on socials: instagram.com/easternhunnies