For the Season 2 Finale of Exit Spring Mountain, we’re talking about the care packages we send and receive to offer help and hope to our families and friends abroad. Balikbayan boxes are also a topic of conversation, as they have helped float the Phillippine country for decades. Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also send remittances - funds transferred from migrants or recent immigrants to their home countries. What does the money pay for? Why do AAPI communities continue this practice? And how can this be a lifeline for families and governments in other countries?

Professor Constancio Arnaldo, an assistant professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Gender and Ethnic studies and Asian and Asian American Studies at UNLV discusses the historical context of why remittances and balikbayan boxes are important for Filipino and Filipino American communities. Bernardo Blanco, who has been participating in sending remittances to family in the Phillippines for decades, explains why he feels it is his duty to continue to help his family abroad for as long as he lives. JD Reyes, a first-generation UNLV student and Chamorro from Saipan, explains why he loves staying connected with his family back home  through the care packages he receives and sends. 

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

In this episode, we’re talking about the complexities of being mixed, sometimes known as Hapa, Blasian, Wasian, or multiracial. Who decides who’s Asian enough… or not? How does categorizing people by race impact mixed race Asian identity and community? 

Elle Jules, the professional model from Hawai'i, talks about her experience as a mixed-race Asian and how she navigates representation in the modeling world.  Sandra Douglass Morgan, the President of the Las Vegas Raiders, reflects on how far she has come to get to the leadership role she holds today as the first Black NFL President.  Dr. Myra Washington talks about her book “Blasian Invasion: Racial Mixing in the Celebrity Industrial Complex." Dr. Jess Bensen talks to us about the current research out there on multiracial people and the need for more intersectionality in psychology research out there on mixed-race Asians. 

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

In this episode, we’re talking with chefs - the ones who feed us - fulfilling our basic needs - and ALSO passing down our cultural legacies. From a Las Vegas Filipina start-up to the old school icons - How do these professional chefs and restaurateurs feel about food culture authenticity? Where’s the line between food appreciation and food appropriation? What are the unique challenges AAPI chefs and restaurants face? And why should we embrace our unique identities as we look to the tasty future of our communities? 

Professor Mark Padoongpatt discusses Andrew Simmons' term gastronomic bigotry and the history of food policies and laws. Lorraine Blanco Moss, our very own host, discusses her journey navigating the culinary spaces as a Mixed AAPI chef. Chef Maneet Chauhan expresses the importance of cooking what you like to cook unapologetically. Chef Mary Dee Moralita of O.G. Lola's expresses why she is passionate about making sustainable vegan Filipino Food for everyone. Chef Martin Yan of Yan Can Cook tells us about his new restaurant M.Y. Asian coming to the Las Vegas Strip! 

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

How do these stereotypes harm Asian American and Asian women? Can they lead to violence? Simultaneously - in what ways are some AAPI women taking control of their own sexual narratives? And how can we support the vulnerable, change the conversation, and move forward?

A content warning for listeners: In this episode, we’re talking about sex trafficking, domestic violence, and sex.

We talk with Professor Tessa Winkelmann, assistant professor of history at UNLV who specializes  in Asian American history and U.S. foreign relations— she gives us insight into moments in history where the hypersexuality of AAPI women became so firmly rooted. We also get to sit down with Angela Little, a writer and Las Vegas sex educator, who shares her experience in the BDSM community and beyond! She discusses the importance of sexual education and consent as well as her journey of educating others. Amy Marie-Merrell the Executive Director of The Cupcake Girls, a Las Vegas nonprofit "that provides confidential support to those involved in the sex industry, as well as trauma-informed outreach, advocacy, holistic resources, and referral services to provide prevention and aftercare to those affected by sex trafficking." Amy Marie-Merrell discusses some important information on statistics surrounding sex trafficking in Las Vegas and how we can have effective and respectful conversations when discussing these real life experiences of women. 

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

For more information on non-profit organizations in Las Vegas that help those affected by sex trafficking, please visit:

The Cupcake Girls Website:  "Providing support + resources to individuals working in the adult industry & aftercare to those affected by sex trafficking."

Bamboo Bridges Website: "Serving victims of domestic violence & sexual assault, with culturally-competent services for the APAI community in Southern Nevada."

In this episode, we’re discussing “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” sometimes called “Oriental Medicine” - also known as Eastern Medicine or Alternative Medicine. But what does it really mean - how did these terms come about? What makes Eastern Medicine any different from Western Medicine - if any?  

Also - stick around to hear about  Nevada’s first healthcare facility catering specifically to AAPI communities- the Healthy Asians and Pacific Islander (HAPI) Center!

The ESM team visits a local TCM shop that's been in Vegas for over 20 years, T & T Ginseng. We talk with Tamara Venit-Shelton, a social historian and professor of history at Claremont McKenna College to discuss the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine and her book Herbs and Roots. Dr. Vince Link, a local O.M.D., discusses the array of TCM practices he offers at his clinic. We also get to sit down with Dr. Michelle Lin—the clinical director of the brand NEW Healthy Asians and Pacific Islanders Medical Center.

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, with support from production consultant Sonja Cho Swanson, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

For more information on the HAPI Center, visit:  https://www.hapimedical.org/

We've all heard the term AAPI Voting Bloc — but how is the Asian American and Pacific Islander community actually tapping into this growing political power? 

A long-time public servant, Karl Catarata tells us his journey on how he ran for Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents District Six.  Community organizer, Amanda Khan gives us insight into how the AAPI Democratic Caucus of Nevada host different events to educate the community on their rights as voters.  Social and political commentator, Mitch Lozada discusses his new role as the founder of "Project Arkada," a weekly event held at the new Republican National Committee's Asian and Pacific Islander Center.  The professor of Asian American Studies, Government, and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park—Janelle Wong teaches us that there are some key issues that tie AAPI voters across political party lines. 

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, with support from production consultant Sonja Cho Swanson, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer and researcher Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.

Episode 10 marks the end of season 1, so we decided to mark the event with a special episode: The Exit Spring Mountain team gathered (virtually) for a potluck of food and conversation. We each brought a dish to showcase stories and flavors that are meaningful to us, opening the door for deeper conversations: How do we talk about authenticity in food and cooking, and when is that a useful—and not so useful—concept? And what about the thorny topic of appropriation: When is cooking the food of others problematic? When do we need better language for these exchanges?

And last but not least, we give listeners a tiny peek behind the scenes into our roles on the show, what we loved, and what we hope listeners will take away. Thank you all for listening, and joining us on this journey. We appreciate you.

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson, host Lorraine Blanco Moss, assistant producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt, research assistant Karley Call, and news director Joe Schoenmann. Sound editing, mixing and mastering is by Regina Revazova of Open Conversation.

Navigating the experience of being both AAPI and LGBTQ+ can be a fraught experience—but when you've found your community, it can be a joyful one, too. Miss Nevada 2021, Kataluna Enriquez, was the first openly trans winner of the Miss Nevada pageant, tells her story about discovering herself and stepping into her stunning ball gowns—and into her power. UNLV psychology Professor Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt gives us the context for understanding how mental health in AAPI communities in discussed, and how the field of psychology is moving away from talking about cultures as problems. Local writer and creative Vera Blossom discusses the layers of issues in accessing healthcare for trans and AAPI individuals, and how finding your community can help. Ernie Yuen, a long-time LGBTQ+ advocate in the Las Vegas community, talks about how coming out can be easier in some Pacific Islander communities—but also how devastating it can be for youths who don't have family to turn to. And finally, Monica Lapa, a board member of the United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance LV (UTOPIA) describes how their event, tea time, is a place to connect LGBTQ+ individuals with resources but also find belonging.

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. This episode was written and produced by assistant producer Nessa Concepcion, with support from executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson. Our team also includes host Lorraine Blanco Moss, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt, research assistant Karley Call, and news director Joe Schoenmann. Sound editing, mixing and mastering is by Regina Revazova and the team at Open Conversation.