Intersections of Voice and Identity: Discovering Jen Cheng

Send us Fan MailIntersections of Voice and Identity: Discovering Jen ChengHost Quincy interviews Jen Cheng, poet laureate of West Hollywood, about voice, identity, community, and showing up authentically. After rapid-fire questions, Jen reads her poem “10,000 Butterflies,” written in 2023 for a Grand Performances opportunity, tracing family survival, war, displacement, and queer safety across Hong Kong, China, and Buenos Aires. Jen discusses her pronouns (“she/ke”) and how Cantonese lacks binary gendered pronouns, then explains Cantonese vs. Mandarin and efforts to suppress Cantonese. She describes writing in English while incorporating Cantonese pronunciation, teaching workshops through the West Hollywood Library and WeHo Arts Pride, and moderating a March 29 event with the Mazer Lesbian Archives honoring Eloise Klein Healy. Jen shares coping tools (listening to Maya Angelou and James Baldwin), performance-anxiety techniques, a short rainbow meditation, and closes by reading “Still I Stand,” plus where to find her classes and links.00:00 Meet Jen Cheng01:10 Rapid Fire Warmup01:59 Poem 10000 Butterflies06:56 Pronouns and Language08:23 Cantonese vs Mandarin10:48 Writing and Roots14:07 Identity Shapes Art17:14 Creative Breakthroughs20:30 Finding Your Voice23:37 Poet Laureate Life27:33 Teaching and Queer Joy31:46 Stage Fright Tools35:50 Stress and PTSD Tools36:40 Grandma Confidence Story39:15 Grief and Spirit Guide39:53 Visibility on National Stage43:55 Coming Out and Pride47:27 Proudest Personal Growth50:00 Guided Rainbow Meditation54:30 Chakras and Creativity Blocks57:59 Courage Creativity Belonging59:11 Closing Poem and Where to FindSupport the showhttps://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark