Being Biracial

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-raceProcessing identity through the creation of artMaria’s experience at the Matariki wānanga Threads at the Immigration MuseumThe difficulty of creating work about deeply personal thingsFamily secretsHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 resultsHearts mown into lawnsThe responsibility we feel in our family unitsDiversity within diversityWell intended white teachersBringing The Skin I’m In to lifeHow the characters relate (and don’t relate) to Steph’s lifeThe self indulgent joy of writing young adult fictionReactions to her bookKinship adoptionHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Steph TisdellMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 householdHaving too much on her plate to study ChineseLearning about her dad through his musicGoing to GhanaBlackness being a celebration of the self DJing for OprahHosting Video HitsLearning from Alicia KeysHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Faustina AgolleyMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 creatingThe works in his current exhibit Too Much DramaOlana’s iconic font and art styleWhat home means to himBeing black in Australia and NorwayWhat’s next for his art careerHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Olana JanfaSpecial thanks to: The City of Greater Dandenong & The Walker Street Gallery and Arts CentreMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kitiya Palaskas is a Greek/Thai multi-disciplinary designer living in Naarm.We chat about: Discovering her mix through DNA testingHer art sabbatical in ThailandTurning 40 and entering a new phase of lifeHaving an identity crisisCan you appropriate your own culture?Feeling seen in colours, plants and precarious pilesGrowing up moving around the worldYour bedroom as homeBeing ethnically ambiguousFamily as a complicated site for cultural connectionGreek statues were colourful!Links:https://kitiyapalaskas.comhttps://www.apartmenttherapy.com/color-chromophobia-and-colonialism-some-historical-thoughts-185710https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/29/the-myth-of-whiteness-in-classical-sculpturehttps://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1109995973/we-know-greek-statues-werent-white-now-you-can-see-them-in-colorHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Kitiya PalaskasMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Milo Hartill is Botswana/Australian, and a model, performer & fat queer content creator living in Naarm.We chat about: Musical theatre schoolGrowing up in PerthAlways being the only black person in the room“I’m not racist but…”Capitalism catching on to race Triple bi - bisexual, biracial, between fat and skinnyBeing asked to be ‘sassy’ in auditionsTheir show, Black fat and fa**yUsing your trauma for goodBlack hair being seen as ‘unprofessional’ in castingDMs from her dadSurviving the arts industry as a black personHow Milo was scouted to be a modelBeing credited as a hair stylistHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Milo Hartill Music by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weeks episode is just us gals.  We chat about: Maria started going to a queer Maori singing groupMaria does her pepeha (introduces herself in te reo maori)The line between private and public when creating art and contentFeeling pigeonholed to only talking about race in projectsVisible diversity vs white decision makersPOC artists carving opportunities in order to have a seat at the tableWe are tired lolDiversity is not a threat to white peopleLinks: https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-ve-never-seen-so-many-white-people-being-really-anxious-about-being-racist-20231102-p5eh16.htmlHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Om is Cambodian/Eurasian Malaysian, an ABC journalist and the author of All Mixed Up.We chat about: Language around being ‘multiracial’Being Eurasian in Malaysia v AustraliaRebellious women in his familyHis parent’s newspaper personals ad meet cuteCultural exemptions Being the traditional Cambodian sonGoing to Cambodia with his dadRediscovering his mum while writing this memoirConnecting with his half-sister SarahEmailing his dad about the marriage equality plebiscite His dad’s coming to, his coming out“No fats, no femmes, no Asians” Diversifying your dating poolHow journalism has changed in the last 20 yearsVisible diversityLinks: All Mixed UpHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Jason OmMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Cloher is Māori (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) and Pākehā. They are a song-writer and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne). Jen joins us ahead of her solo Australian tour in June and July.We chat about: Being multiracial as opposed to biracialGrowing up away from AotearoaThose awkward and joyful moments when reconnecting to cultureThe “colonised critical parent”What is a marae?Whanau is so much bigger than immediate familyHow their reconnection journey permeated their latest album, Ko Au Te Awa, Ko Te Awa Ko Au - I Am The River, The River Is MeLegal personhood of the Whanganui RiverTe Ataarangi and the Kōhunga Reo (language nest) movementBeing takatāpuiLinks:https://www.jencloher.com https://everybodystryingpodcast.com/ Mana Takatāpui (Official Video)⁠Hirini Melbourne & Marlon WilliamsHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Jen CloherSong: Mana Takatāpui by Jen Cloher Edited by: Maria Birch-MorungaSpecial thanks to Jen and Milk Records for letting us use Mana Takatāpui in this episodeThis podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nation.You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are chatting to each other, about:Do biracial apples taste better?Our fav mixed-race comedians at Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Aurelia St Clair, Lizzy Hoo, Rose Matafeo and Nina OyamaRaewyn, Maria’s mum, visited NaarmBeyonce’s Cowboy CarterJen Cloher and Te Hononga o nga iwi at Creative WestLinks: DeadlockCowboy CarterI Am The River, The River Is MeHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darcy Vescio is a Chinese/Italian AFLW player. We chat about: Growing up in country VictoriaLanguage barriers with grandparents Moving in with their Goong at eighteenRelationships born of bitter melon and lasagneThe Carlton doco Bloodlines which took Darcy to Italy and Hong Kong to explore their family historyBeing a multicultural ambassador for the AFLUsing sport as currency at schoolRacial vilification in the AFLW last seasonBringing your whole self to sportThen Aurelia St Clair, a German-Cameroonian comedian, does a stand-up set and joins us all to chat about: Moving to Melbourne Kilmore the new queer capital Kate’s new Persian rugTiger balm in Darcy’s lockerSeasoning your foodLooking for AlibrandiFinding Zadie Smith’s White Teeth in GermanJW lifeFinding meaning in small ritualsThis event was recorded on Thursday 21 March 2024 at The Round on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations.Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuests: Aurelia St Clair and Darcy VescioSpecial thanks to: The Round and The Wheeler CentreMusic by: the Green Twins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lizzy Hoo is a Chinese/Malay and Australian stand up-comedian.We chat about: Lizzy’s parents’ movie meet cuteThe accidental ethnic friend groupLooking back on the safeguards you put in place as a childThe White Mums Club Subtle Asian Traits FB group Being a chameleon Feeling more Asian than her brothersEthnic aunty energy Lizzy’s parents want her to pay superannuationHow Lizzy got into comedyLizzy’s dad Chan is an absolute iconVisible diversityMoving beyond cracking identity jokesReclaiming her nameLinks: https://www.lizzyhoo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lizzyhoo/ Hoo Cares on Amazon PrimeHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Lizzy HooSpecial thanks to: Footscray Community ArtsMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-Morunga Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back with the first episode of season 2 of Being Biracial! Today we are chatting to each other about: Maria’s experience in Rotorua being surrounded by more Maori people than she’s ever seen. Maria and her friend connecting on a deeper level now that they’ve both explored their culture. Kate’s Aunt is visiting and she’s immersed in Farsi. The structure of season two. You’ll be hearing more from us as we reflect on our interviews, media we consume and the world around us. We are in our Taylor Swift era and can’t stop talking about the Eras Tour.Kate is starting to grow her wheatgrass for Nowruz. She is stressed.The artistic process of creating our video work Threads, in collaboration with Melbourne Museum. The full circle moment our artistic practice being influenced by artists we interviewed in season 1.Kate went to see Maxine Beneba Clarke talk about adapting her memoir The Hate Race for the stage. Will Maria ever read a book again?We are getting hype for Melbourne International Comedy Fest. Our next guest, Lizzy Hoo, is hosting the MICF gala this year! Our upcoming events in March at The Round and Melbourne Museum.Links: Threads at Melbourne Museum: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/threads/ Maxine Beneba Clarke’s The Hate Race at the Malthouse until 17 March: https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/what-s-on/malthouse-theatre/the-hate-race/ MICF shows: Rose Matafeo: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/on-and-on-and-on Brown Women Comedy: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/brown-women-comedy Lizzy Hoo: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/hoos-that-girl Aurelia St Clair: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/can-i-be-mean-for-a-minute Melbourne Museum Nocturnal: Worlds Apart on 14 March: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal-worlds-apart/ Being Biracial Live at the Round with Aurelia St Clair and Darcy Vescio on 21 March: https://www.wheelercentre.com/events/being-biracial-live-at-the-round-with-aurelia-st-clair-and-darcy-vescio/ Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: the Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaThis 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a bonus live episode of Being Biracial. We interviewed each other and chatted about:- Maria’s complicated return to Aotearoa- Biracial baby names- The Woman Life Freedom movement - Kate’s exhibition Zendegi at Arts Gen - Whether the conversation about race has moved on? - Cultural diversity trainingMixed Media: Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang, Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou and the musical A Strange Loop.Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonSpecial thanks: Maribyrnong City Council and Bluestone Church Arts Space Footscray. This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.If you have any questions or feedback you can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the last episode of season 1 of Being Biracial. Today we’re interviewing each other.We chat about:Having difficult conversations with our parents about the podcastA PSA for all the white people listeningWhat being Persian means to KateFamily gossipThe racist American visa processKate maybe isn’t a POC and Maria maybe isn’t biracial?What being Maori means to MariaA place to put your feetBuilding a marae on Aboriginal landFinding joyMixed Media: Coming of Age in the War on Terror by Randa Abdel-Fattah. The Limits of Whiteness: Iranian Americans and the Everyday Politics of Race by Neda Maghbouleh.Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonSpecial thanks: Footscray Community Arts, Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.If you have any questions or feedback you can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristina Naray is Filipino/Hungarian and lives in the city of Maribyrnong on the lands of the Wurundjeri people.We chat about:The Subanen people of Mindanao, an indigenous group in PhilippinesClass dynamics in the Philippines, urban v rural, labourers vs non labourersThe impact of colonisation and religionThe 80’s version of online dating = pen palsSurprising similarities between parents despite ethnic and cultural backgroundsHer Dad’s refugee story after Yugoslavia dissolvedHaving to defend your parents relationshipThe Entree Pinays, finding growth and healing in communitySmall town life as a dark brown girlTennis was the place where Kristina was seen for her skillsSerena and Venus Williams representing diversity in sportsWhat it’s like to attend a school with a reputation for being racistLeaving home early for the city, and being close to homelessnessConnecting to culture is connecting to loved onesMixed mentions: More on The Entree Pinays: https://www.entreepinays.com/King Richard - Williams sisters movieHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Kristina NarayMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaSpecial thanks: Footscray Community Arts, Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meena Singh is Yorta Yorta and Indian and is the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria. She lives on the lands of the Kulin people.We chat about:The history of Indian indentured labour in FijiHer dad came to Australia to be a provider for his familyHer mum always grew up with family and cultureAsserting her Aboriginality more because of her very Indian name.A key mistranslation - BuppaFBIs - Fijian Born IndiansThe many ways parents show love - giving you packets of biscuits, cutting up your fruit, and making your bedNames that reinforce identity - my Blackest angels ‘Mother’ tongueColourism in India v being proud of being BlakGetting a lifelong love of learning from her mumThe alienating experience of studying lawBringing your lived experience into work as a lawyerThe recipe that is the colonial projectChild protection involvement in Aboriginal communities and the fact that removal of children needs to be the last resortPre-colonisation community structuresMixed Media:The Cummeragunja Walk-Off https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2022/02/03/what-was-cummeragunja-walkMore Meena on SBS Hindi https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/combat-stereotypes-with-stories-melbourne-lawyer-giving-voice-to-aboriginal-communitiesEducating Rita, play by Willy RussellMargaret Thornton https://law.anu.edu.au/people/margaret-thorntonMari J. Matsuda, ‘When the first Quail calls: multiple consciousness as jurisprudential method’ https://www.northeastern.edu/lawstudentaffairs/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/When-the-First-Quail-Calls.pdfOur Youth, Our Way https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/inquiries/systemic-inquiries/our-youth-our-way/Koori Youth Council Ngaga-dji project: https://www.ngaga-djiproject.org.au/Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Meena SinghMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonSpecial thanks: Footscray Community Arts, Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.If you have any questions or feedback you can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elijah Money is Wiradjuri and lives in Naarm/Melbourne on Kulin land.We chat about:- White mums and DNA tests- Embracing healing instead of trauma- Being tokenised at school- A white racial guidance counsellor- Learning how to use your voice- University is a cringe colonial institution- Internalised white guilt- Standpoint theory- Being Blak is a hot topic atm- Identity in art leaves us exposed- White women and the caucasity- Eli’s drag persona transitioned alongside himself- Queerness in a pre-colonial context- The pressure on POC to be overachievers and exceptional, but why can’t we just focus on joy- Racial and trans fetishisationMixed Media: White Woman by Elijah Money, My Wiradjuri Colour by Elijah Money, Stan Grant Senior and his work on Wiradjuri language.Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Elijah MoneyMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Maria Birch-MorungaSpecial thanks: Footscray Community Arts, Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.If you have any questions or feedback you can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marco Cher-Gibard is half-Chinese (but it’s more complicated than that) and lives in Melbourne on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples.We chat about:- Learning and relearning Chinese culture- From the circus to the slums, the Merchant Navy to Batik Bazaar- His mum was a hippy escaping Footscray- Not fitting in with your family- Marco’s artist residency in Beijing- When your reference point for a place (Singapore) doesn’t exist anymore- Anything that happens in public in China you can watch- Portraiture through sound- Marco Polo- The privilege of travelling on a western passport, being male but not white- Taxi drivers are the only people who are welcome to ask “where are you from?”- All of a sudden becoming attractive- Not leaning on the POC box- Art about identity is trendy and this could changeMixed media: ‘Spiderboys’ by Ming Cher, Sax People by Marco Cher-GibardHosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate RobinsonGuest: Marco Cher-GibardMusic by: Green TwinsEdited by: Kate RobinsonSpecial thanks: Footscray Community Arts Centre, Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program, and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.If you have any questions or feedback you can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.