Hybridia

Saki and Kirby reflect on how it was to record and release the second season of Hybridia. They discuss becoming more comfortable in their roles as hosts and also how they're continuing to engage with their cultural heritages. Kirby's new dog, Kiwi, makes a special guest appearance. They also mull on ideas for next season, like exploring Hybridia through food culture, or even experimental sound.Credits:Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.

Our guest today is traci kato-kiriyama, and we were fortunate enough to speak with such a self-professed hybrid as we close out our second season. tkk is a transdisciplinary artist, recognized for their work as a writer/performer, theatre deviser, cultural producer, and community organizer based in the Los Angeles Area. We came across them when listening to a panel linking Japanese Incarceration to ICE raids today, but their work spans playwriting, performing, and writing. We specifically discuss their show “TALES OF CLAMOR,” which interweaves personal autobiographical moments with the testimonies of Japanese Americans about their incarceration, and their book “Navigating With(out) Instruments,” a true hybrid work comprised of poetry, micro-essays and notes to self.Guest Biotraci kato-kiriyama (they+she), author of Navigating With(out) Instruments--based on unceded Tongva land in the south bay of Los Angeles-- is an award-winning multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary artist, recognized for their work as a writer/performer, theatre deviser, cultural producer, and community organizer. As a storyteller and Artivist, tkk is grounded in collaborative process, collective self-determination, and art+community as intrinsically tied and a critical means toward connection and healing. She is a performer & principal writer for PULLproject Ensemble, two-time NET recipient; NEFA 2021-22 finalist for their show TALES OF CLAMOR. Full bio here.Show Notestkk’s work:Tales of Clamor – a theater work developed by PULLproject, traci’s collaboration with PULLproject aerial artist/actor Kennedy KabasaresNavigating With(out) Instruments – traci’s second book.traci’s reading at Beyond Baroquetkk’s activism and other projects:Nikkei ProgressivesTuesday Night ProjectJapanese American Incarceration references & resources:Densho – an organization that documents the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II“The Alien Enemies Act of 1798: Understanding 1941 and 2025” – panel at the USC Ito Center that traci appeared on.Loyalty QuestionnaireTule LakeNational Council for Japanese American RedressFull transcripts of testimonies are available at the National ArchivesThis article contains links to various sources where video footage existsJapanese American National MuseumThe Literature of Japanese American Incarceration, Edited by Frank Abe and Floyd CheungZAJA, a New York City-based informal group of Japanese, Japanese Americans and anyone interested in Japanese/JA culture.“One Fighting Irishman” by Sharon Yamato, a 30-minute documentary narrated by actor George Takei focusing on the little-known story of civil rights attorney Wayne M. Collins who filed lawsuits on behalf of more than 5,500 detainees who renounced their U.S. citizenship while incarcerated at the embattled Tule Lake Segregation Center, considered the worst of the ten WWII detention centers.Other references:Beverly Hills 902010 (90’s TV show)“Why We Can’t Wait” campaign for African-American reparations“Model minority” was coined by sociologist William Petersen in his article, “Success Story, Japanese American Style,” in New York Times Magazine (1966). Summary here.Asian American Arts Alliance, a New York City-based organization supporting Asian American artists and cultural organizationsCreditsEdited by Amanda Dee and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound CreditsBells Windchime.wav by Benboncan -- https://freesound.org/s/56929/ -- License: Attribution 4.0New York Jazz Loop by FoolBoyMedia -- https://freesound.org/s/347848/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Rhodes 4.wav by HenKonen -- https://freesound.org/s/682259/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Harp Arpeggio - fairy tunes.wav by gertraut_hecher -- https://freesound.org/s/559838/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Our guest today is Prima Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai. They were born in Thailand and are now based in St Paul, MN, but they’re a true citizen of the world, having lived and studied in many places in between. We discuss their path to performance art, from their upbringing in England to their study at the Sorbonne in Paris, and their eventual move to the U.S., landing first in Chicago, but really coming into their own in Tucson, AZ, after a year of living expansively in the desert.After a career in more traditional forms of art like sculpture, Prima now works in multimedia and performance, and we discuss some of their more recent works, especially their performative lecture Chloropsis Aurifrons Pridii and their sound piece 174 / Neung Jed Si – A Short History of Thailand. Both works mix the historical with the personal and we discuss documentary, embodied history, and what really is the definition of a place one calls “home.”Guest Bio:Born in 1989, Bangkok, Thailand. Currently lives and works in St Paul, MN.Prima earned a Visual Arts Degree (Diplome National des Arts Plastiques) from the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Nantes Metropole, a License in Film Studies (Licence en Cinema et Audiovisuelle) at the Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3. They completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in 2013 and obtained a Master of Fine Arts at the California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA in 2017.Show NotesNote: The audio excerpt included in this episode included part of the composition Seine / San Saep / Voice of Water (2025) by Louis Fontenot. Vocalists: Ilse Griffin, Michael Llyod and Molly O’ConnorPrima’s work mentioned in the show:The Invisible Archive: Prima Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai by Lara SalmonChloropsis Aurifrons Pridi174 / Neung Jed Si – A Short History of ThailandPeople:Pridi Banomyong – Thai revolutionary and former Prime Minister, Prima’s great-grand uncleChris Marker – filmmakerFrançois Niney – philosopher, film critic, documentarian Media:Sibylline Screen – Kirby’s curatorial cave projectRoute One/USA – a film Prima mentions as inspiration to move to the USRings of Saturn by W.G. Sebald Khruangbin – band from Texas Saki mentionsLucky Luke & Woody – two cartoon cowboys Prima mentionsBrokeback MountainPridi by Pridi – A collection of Pridi’s writingThe Sea of Fertility tetralogy by Yukio MishimaRocky & Hudson: The Gay CowboysCredits:Edited by Amanda Dee and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:River boat with outboard engine (at changing speeds) by nomadas – https://freesound.org/people/nomadas/sounds/690160/ – License: Creative Commons 0Flock of seagulls.wav by juskiddink – https://freesound.org/people/juskiddink/sounds/98479/ – License: Attribution 4.0S29-19 Bell buoy.wav by craigsmith – https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/675693/ – License: Creative Commons 0Amb/Sfx_Ext_Day_People Argue & Talking_Boat Engine_Sea_Portuguese_Kapossoca Pier_Luanda to Mussulo Island_Angola (11.08.2024) by SolySombraRecordings – https://freesound.org/people/SolySombraRecordings/sounds/756767/ – License: Creative Commons 0JRPG Guitar Desert loop by Destructo20 – https://freesound.org/people/Destructo20/sounds/659223/ – License: Creative Commons 0sound-alien7.wav by zippi1 – https://freesound.org/people/zippi1/sounds/18870/ – License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0D302 Boat Engine Cuts.wav by billcutbill – https://freesound.org/people/billcutbill/sounds/669393/ – License: Attribution 4.0Desert Night Air With Bird Call by kangaroovindaloo – https://freesound.org/people/kangaroovindaloo/sounds/147264/ – License: Attribution 4.0

Our guest today is paparouna. They are a queer non-binary disabled storyweaver, worldbuilder, writer, translator, and educator, born and raised in Athens, Greece and currently living in Colorado, USA. They are a soon-to-be graduate of Antioch University’s MFA in Creative Writing, with a dual concentration in translation and fiction. They’re the current lead editor of translation for antioch’s journal, lunch ticket, and their own writing and translations have been published in a variety of journals, including Asymptote, Denver Quarterly, and World Literature Today.In this episode we discuss paparouna’s later-in-life foray into literary translation, their concentration on queer Greek literature and what it means to translate queerly, the fluidity of language, the origin of their chosen name, and the ecotone as a metaphor for how hybrids exist as not one or the other, but as endemic entities.Guest Bio:Born and raised in Athens, Greece, ⁠paparouna⁠ [pavlos stavropoulos] currently resides in occupied Arapahoe and Cheyenne territory in so-called Colorado, USA. They are a social and environmental justice educator, work in website management, write queer speculative prose, translate mostly queer Greek literature into English, and daydream about life as a marine mammal. An MFA Candidate in Translation and Fiction at Antioch—Los Angeles, paparouna was accepted into the 2018 Princeton Hellenic Translation Workshop, the 2018-2020 Lighthouse Book Project, the 2025 Bread Loaf Translators Conference, and the 2025 British Center for Literary Translation Summer School. They have been a guest fiction editor for beestung, were the web editor for The Thought Erotic, and are the Lead Translation Editor for Lunch Ticket. Their writing has been published in Progenitor, Asymptote, Exchanges, New Poetry in Translation (now World Poetry Review), Denver Quarterly, Timber, The Thought Erotic, Lunch Ticket, World Literature Today, and Κουίρ 2024: Βίωμα, τέχνη, θεωρία [Queer 2024: Lived experience, art, theory].Show notes:Work by paparouna:We reference their essay ⁠“The Queer Beauty of Unfaithful Translations”⁠Their work is also included in ⁠Κουίρ 2024: Βίωμα, τέχνη, θεωρία⁠ (Queer 2024: Lived experience, art, theory)Translation work by paparouna:paparouna is the Translation Editor at ⁠Lunch Ticket⁠, Antioch University’s literary magazineThe Whale, by ⁠Ursula Foskolou⁠, whose website includes some excerptspaparouna has also translated ⁠Giota Tempridou⁠’s workOther references:⁠Lawrence Venuti⁠⁠Judith Butler⁠⁠Antonio de Nebrija ⁠⁠Pippi Longstocking⁠⁠Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa⁠Credits:Edited by⁠ Amanda Dee⁠ and mastered by ⁠Cedric Wilson⁠.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:Hiking03_Mt Lemmon AZ_Day_Slight Wind_Trekking Poles_Birds_051020 by Triad330670 – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/Triad330670/sounds/736942/⁠ – License: Attribution 4.0Nature sounds, bells, goats, cow, birds - Kardzhali, Bulgaria by vonfleisch – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/vonfleisch/sounds/272458/⁠ – License: Creative Commons 0coldwater_stream_01.wav by tim.kahn – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/tim.kahn/sounds/92818/⁠ – License: Attribution 4.0Ocean Crete .wav by norwayjohn – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/norwayjohn/sounds/404684/⁠ – License: Creative Commons 0Leaves Rustling by JandreLombaard – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/JandreLombaard/sounds/707877/⁠ – License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Eating a cracker (Mouth closed) by Rudmer_Rotteveel – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/Rudmer_Rotteveel/sounds/364924/⁠ – License: Creative Commons 0WATRSplsh_Water Splash, Big, Dive Into Water, Person or Animal_Nicholas Judy_TDC by designerschoice – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/designerschoice/sounds/811439/⁠ – License: Creative Commons 0humpback whale song by MBARI_MARS – ⁠https://freesound.org/people/MBARI_MARS/sounds/448984/⁠ – License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Our guest today is Tiffany Smith. Tiffany is an interdisciplinary artist from the Caribbean diaspora working in photography, video, installation, and assemblage. In this episode we talk about Tiffany’s upbringing in the Bahamas and Miami, her long and winding journey to photography, how to advocate for yourself, how to escape the hustle and find a place that is right for you, and the complex dynamics of Black Caribbean identity in the U.S.Guest Bio:Tiffany Smith (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist from the Caribbean diaspora working in photography, video, installation, assemblage, and design to define spaces and experiences that examine the roles of visitor and native and parse the definition of home. Using plant matter, design elements, pattern, and costume as cultural signifiers, Smith creates environments that are informed by the histories of representation, diasporic identity, and liminality. Smith’s work examines individual narratives pulled from an array of multi-cultural influences and derived from her upbringing in Miami, Nassau, and Jamaica. Searching for new perspectives on dominant historical narratives, she studies how communities of people of color are formed and defined; in particular, how they are identified and represented, and how they persist. Smith earned her B.F.A. in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design and her M.FA. in Photo/Video from School of Visual Arts. Her work lives in various private and public collections, and has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at The Bronx Museum of Arts, NY; The Wassaic Project, NY; Recess Assembly, Brooklyn, NY; and Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA. She has also exhibited at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, MassArt, and the National Gallery of Jamaica. Smith is a former NYSCA/NYFA Interdisciplinary Artist Fellow, a Bronx A.I.M. Fellow, an EnFoco Photography Fellowship Awardee, a Cameron Visiting Artist at Middlebury College, and a resident artist at TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image in Philadelphia. She currently resides in New Orleans, LA.Show Notes:Tiffany’s Work:Earthseed solo exhibition at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NYFor Tropical Girls… exhibition at The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NYAlbum photos for collaboration with LolliseA Woman, PhenomenallyOther References:Paradice Palase artist networkJulia Tuttle, the “Mother of Miami”Moonlight film (2016)Tiffany’s professor Keren MoscovichUnderground System bandLollise’s “Iron Woman” music videoMickalene Thomas’ photos of Cardi BCredits:Cover photo of Tiffany by Fela Raymond.Edited by Amanda Dee and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:Medium-heavy spaceship fly-by by Anoesj – https://freesound.org/people/Anoesj/sounds/345794/ – License: Attribution 4.0Jorge R Alien Hover by jorgereq – https://freesound.org/people/jorgereq/sounds/592722/ – License: Creative Commons 0Dreamy Ambient Atmosphere for Relaxation by Matio888 – https://freesound.org/people/Matio888/sounds/797771/ – License: Attribution 4.0peep2.WAV by phantastonia – https://freesound.org/people/phantastonia/sounds/337439/ – License: Creative Commons 0Dreamy bells.wav by danyourmaster – https://freesound.org/people/danyourmaster/sounds/433654/ – License: Creative Commons 0

Our guest today is Shyaporn Theerakulstit, a Thai-American born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and based in New York City. He is a man of many labels: actor, writer, director, new media creator, martial artist, cosplayer and fake science lecturer. We tried to tell him we think he is cool, but he prefers to call himself “relentlessly interesting.”We talk about his various acting roles, especially his work in Star Trek productions, and how casting in Hollywood has changed (or hasn’t) over the years. We also discuss his early success on YouTube with his character videos, such as his “fake scientist” persona. And we discover that we all share a love of martial arts and think everyone should get out and “touch grass” or rather, “touch gloves.”Guest Bio:Shyaporn Theerakulstit is a Thai-American actor, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, based in New York City. He is also a writer, director, new media creator, martial artist, cosplayer and fake science lecturer. He has given talks on Godzilla biology and the technology of Star Trek vs Star Wars at TEDx, Nerd Nite, C2E2 and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He is the host of Atlas Obscura’s “REAL/fake Science” lecture series. His Youtube channel has over 5 million video views and has been featured on Huffington Post and Comedy Central. He is a graduate of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and a degree holder in traditional Shaolin kung fu with Alan Lee’s Chinese Kung Fu Wu Su Association, one of the oldest martial arts schools in New York City.Show Notes:Shyaporn’s Acting Work:Star Trek New Voyages fan series (appearing as Sulu):Appeared as Kirk in Khan!! The MusicalUpcoming role in the film Song Sung BlueComedy Performances/Events:Peer Review (PowerPoint karaoke show) – next show Oct. 16, 2025Storyoke (storytelling & karaoke)Godzilla: History, Biology and Behavior of Hyper-Evolved Theropod Kaiju (PowerPoint comedy lecture)Shyaporn’s YouTube channel:Toy Phaser500 Impressions in 2 minutesHalloween CharactersOther references:Nerd NiteShyaporn appears on the Star Trek Trek Time podcastPrelude to Axanar Star Trek fan filmAllen Lee’s Wu Su Kung Fu SchoolDancing as an Intervention Tool for People with DementiaCredits:Edited by Tucker Bennett and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:hologram.wav by Sergenious — https://freesound.org/s/55833/ — License: Attribution 4.0intro_spring.wav by levelclearer — https://freesound.org/s/233351/ — License: Attribution 4.0up5.wav by bumpelsnake — https://freesound.org/s/456576/ — License: Attribution 4.0Kung Fu Scream by vero.marengere — https://freesound.org/s/482227/ — License: Creative Commons 0Katana sword.wav by [email protected] — https://freesound.org/s/403235/ — License: Creative Commons 0Tap Dancer FF002.aif by martinimeniscus — https://freesound.org/s/199481/ — License: Creative Commons 0female-voice-xiao-guqin-concert.wav by xserra — https://freesound.org/s/162024/ — License: Attribution 4.0

When we spoke to Bela she was on a summer break from teaching at the University of Iowa, and was visiting family in the Chicagoland suburbs. She had just returned from an epic trip to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and the Greek island of Gavdos.In this episode, we talk about the perks and perils of illegibility within a dominant culture–both as an artist and as a Soviet Jewish immigrant, the diversity Bela witnessed in Kazakhstan, teaching in Iowa, and how the naked body can be its own site of acculturation.Guest Bio:Bela Shayevich is a Soviet-American writer, translator, and visual artist. She is best known for her translation of 2015 Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich’s Secondhand Time. Her latest book is a translation of Elena Kostyuchenko’s I Love Russia, with Ilona Chavasse Yabzhin. She lives in Iowa City. Show Notes:“Bela’s Pilgrim” by Bela Shayevich Failures of the avant-garde INTERVIEW // bela shayevich “Egypt to Japan without flying” series by Omar NokHard NipsFictional Characters:Pnin by Vladimir NabokovBalki Bartokomous from Perfect StrangersLatka Gravas from TaxiBorat SagdiyevCredits:Edited by Tucker Bennett and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:Walking in flip flops by nomerodin1 -- https://freesound.org/s/474663/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0Soothing Ambient Music for Yoga & Meditation by Matio888 -- https://freesound.org/s/796500/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Changing Room.wav by GlenCurtisAdams -- https://freesound.org/s/326920/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0Sauna2.mp3 by Ciuas -- https://freesound.org/s/400624/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Hissi - Elevator by YleArkisto -- https://freesound.org/s/410079/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Bathroom water leak 02.wav by Daphne_in_Wonderland -- https://freesound.org/s/383472/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Shower_Studio21Mävers.wav by Soundscape_Leuphana -- https://freesound.org/s/210390/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Splashing water in bathtub by thaighaudio -- https://freesound.org/s/351412/ -- License: Creative Commons 0[remix] Hot Tub Loop by AnLorenzo -- https://freesound.org/s/339514/ -- License: Attribution 3.0Gentle Landscapes by ViraMiller -- https://freesound.org/s/743842/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode we talk to Bonnie Han Jones, a Korean-American improvising musician, poet, and educator working primarily with electronic sound and text. Her work explores noise, sonic identity, listening, and sound as knowledge.We talked to Bonnie in spring 2025 when she was finishing up her PhD at Brown University. She has since moved to Chicago where she is now Assistant Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Art & Technology/Sound Practices Department. In our conversation, we discuss Bonnie’s experiences as a Korean adoptee, her formative trip to Korea as a Fulbright Scholar, her relationship to sound and language as mediums of self-abstraction, and the generative (and often collaborative) art practices that can emerge from the space in-between.Guest Bio:Bonnie Han Jones is a Korean-American improvising musician, poet, and performer working with electronic sound and text. She performs solo and in numerous collaborative music, film, and visual art projects. Bonnie was a founding member of the Transmodern Festival and CHELA Gallery and is currently a member of the High Zero Festival collective. In 2010, along with Suzanne Thorpe she co-founded TECHNE, an organization that develops anti-racist, feminist workshops that center on technology-focused art making, improvisation, and community collaboration. She has received commissions from the London ICA and Walters Art Museum and has presented her work extensively at institutions in the US, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Bonnie was a 2018 recipient of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award. Born in South Korea she was raised on a dairy farm in New Jersey, and currently resides in Chicago, IL.Show Notes:Listen to/buy Bonnie’s music at Catalytic Sound and BandcampUpcoming Shows in Chicago, IL:October 18, 2025 @ 8:00PM | Lou Mallozi Record Release Concert with guests Hal Rammel, Bonnie Han Jones, Michael Zerang at ConstellationOctober 24, 2025 at 2 PM | lisa cameron / alex cunningham / mark shippy + bonnie han jones at Torn Light RecordsDecember 5-6, 2025 | Catalytic Sound Festival at Hungry BrainWorks by Bonnie we reference:do you wanna know something about something?– conversations on Korean-ness, a book by Bonnie Han Jones and Ryoko Akamawe’ve all we’ve done: sounding a korean adoptee archive, a multichannel sound installationCourtyards: Pansori Loop, a multidisciplinary work by Bonnie Han Jones and Mary Kim ArnoldOther references:Welcome House adoption program founded by Pearl S. BuckFriendster, an early social networking siteBooks by Cathy Park Hong: Minor Feelings and Dance Dance RevolutionMore info about Korean name chop stampsKorean pansori music and West African griot singersHomi K. Bhabha and his writing on hybridityCredits:Edited by Alie Kilts and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:Birds in hotel courtyard by arnaud coutancier -- https://freesound.org/s/449022/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0cooking_02.wav by aesqe -- https://freesound.org/s/140453/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Restaurant outside by the river atmosphere with people talking by Garuda1982 -- https://freesound.org/s/735593/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Dog claws on wooden flooring .wav by jacko4526 -- https://freesound.org/s/656013/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Making Dinner in Thailand by Veridiansunrise -- https://freesound.org/s/350718/ -- License: Attribution 4.020090425.elderly.wav by dobroide -- https://freesound.org/s/71864/ -- License: Attribution 4.0August night on Countryside - Zlatibor, Serbia by Tomlija -- https://freesound.org/s/198404/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

In this episode we spoke with Joseph M. Pierce, a writer and professor at Stony Brook University, where he is the founding director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative. We talk about his new book, Speculative Relations: Indigenous Worlding and Repair. Joseph is a citizen of the Cherokee nation and he shares his personal journey in relating to his heritage, from discovering his Cherokee roots later in life, to remembering Cherokee myths and teachings as tools to process some of the violence and dispossession his family has experienced.Guest Bio:Joseph M. Pierce is Associate Professor in the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature and the Founding Director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Stony Brook University. He is the author of two books, Argentine Intimacies: Queer Kinship in an Age of Splendor, 1890-1910 (SUNY Press, 2019) and Speculative Relations: Indigenous Worlding and Repair (Duke University Press, 2025). He co-edited Políticas del amor: Derechos sexuales y escrituras disidentes en el Cono Sur (Cuarto Propio, 2018) as well as the 2021 special issue of Gay and Lesbian Studies Quarterly, “Queer/Cuir Américas: Translation, Decoloniality, and the Incommensurable,” and has published work in Revista Hispánica Moderna, Critical Ethnic Studies, Latin American Research Review, and Art Journal, as well as in popular outlets such as Hyperallergic, TruthOut, and Indian Country Today. Along with S.J. Norman (Wiradjuri) he is co-curator of the performance series Knowledge of Wounds, and in 2024-2025 he was a Ford Foundation Scholar in Residence at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.Show Notes:Buy your copy of Speculative Relations from Duke University PressRSVP to the “Imagining Indigenous Futures” talk at MoMA, taking place on October 7th, 2025. This panel will also feature Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer Leanne Simpson and curator Candice Hopkins (Carcross/Tagish First Nation).Indigenous collaborators Joseph mentions:SJ NormanKai RecolletEmily JohnsonCritical black studies/critical fabulation connections Joseph mentions:Saidiya HartmanChristina SharpeTavia Nyong'oPictures we talk about from the book:The photo of four women is Figure 2.2 in the book on page 64The photo of Julius Popper is Figure 2.3 on page 76Other references:Read more about the Dayunisi creation myth hereEve Tuck’s writing about “damage-centered research” vs. “desire-based research” in her open letter "Suspending Damage: A Letter to Communities"Joseph mentions Turtle Island, the name for “earth” used by some Indigenous peoplesSaki mentions P.E. Moskowitz’s article “We Must Refuse a Forced Grieving”We talk about a Billy-Ray Belcourt poem, “Regarding Death, I Turn to the Photon” from his book NDN Coping MechanismsCredits:Edited by Alie Kilts and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:synth rotating speaker.flac by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/201551/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Wind Chimes.wav by MrCisum -- https://freesound.org/s/336664/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Mechanical Sea Monster_1 by MichaelMalong -- https://freesound.org/s/360429/ -- License: Creative Commons 020131202_plate rotating on the floor_ZoomH4nXY.wav by Soundscape_Leuphana -- https://freesound.org/s/210444/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Saki and Kirby reflect on what it feels like to release the first season of Hybridia. They also discuss future dreams for the show and make a humble plea to Keanu Reeves to become Hybridia's producer.Credits:Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.

In this episode we spoke with writer Ahsan Butt. We discuss his hometown of Brampton, Ontario then versus now, living in the US as a Muslim post 9/11, watching horror movies to process grief, the feeling of being watched, and how being an outsider can be a superpower – especially as an artist. Ahsan is currently working on a collection of short stories (some of which we link to in our show notes below) and we also link to his website, where you could sign up for his private classes and editing services.Guest Bio:Ahsan Butt was born in Toronto, is of Pakistani descent, and currently lives in Evanston, IL. His short-fiction and essays have appeared in Pleiades, West Branch, Split Lip Magazine, Barrelhouse, The Massachusetts Review, The Normal School, SmokeLong Quarterly, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. He is currently a Senior Editor at South Asian Avant Garde: A Dissident Literary Anthology (SAAG) and writes a newsletter on horror writing.Show Notes:Find Ahsan online here:Ahsan is Unsettled on SubstackMentorship, Editing and Classes by AhsanLinks to some of Ahsan’s work:“Red Eye” – The James Franco Review“Tasneem” – Eclectica“Window” – Split Lip Magazine “Hotel” is published in Pleiades [43.2]“The Mind is a Theater of War: An Interview with Palestinian-American Playwright, Sadieh Rifai” – South Asian Avant-GardeLinks to some media we mention:Caché directed by Michael HanekeA Nightmare on Elm Street directed by Wes CravenMalcom X directed by Spike LeeTwin Peaks created by Mark Frost and David LynchAtlantics directed by Mati DiopPoltergeist directed by Tobe HooperAnnihilation written by Jeff VandermeerCredits:Edited by ⁠Amanda Dee⁠ and mastered by ⁠Rebecca Seidel⁠.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound Credits:Launching a toy boat into water by adviseme333 — https://freesound.org/s/679396/ — License: Creative Commons 0Paddles rowing on a calm water stream by brunoboselli — https://freesound.org/s/249707/ — License: Creative Commons 020060307.paddling.wav by dobroide — https://freesound.org/s/16770/ — License: Attribution 4.Foghorns, Southampton Water, 3am by richwise — https://freesound.org/s/760454/ — License: Creative Commons 0Light Switch by TheWoodlandNomad — https://freesound.org/s/363084/ — License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode we spoke with Nigerian British filmmaker Ayo Akingbade, who was visiting Los Angeles for a screening of her film “Keep Looking.” We discussed several of her films, including her experience shooting on location in Lagos, Nigeria, after which we compared how it feels to visit our relatives in their respective home countries. We also spoke about nepotism in the film industry, how people usually assume a character is autobiographical when there are any similarities to the author, how to be inspired to make new work, and thinking about timelessness in certain works of art.Guest Bio:Ayo Akingbade (born 1994) is an artist, writer and film director. She has directed nineteen short films. Her short films explore the mundanity of urban life in full swing in London's inner-city boroughs and industrial life in her family's hometown in Nigeria.Show notes:Links to where Ayo has screened:Now Instant (Los Angeles, CA)This Long CenturyLUXwhatsherface at The HandLincoln Center New Directors/New FilmsNew York Film FestivalLinks to Ayo’s work:Show me the World Mister, 2023, BookKeep Looking, 2024, FilmThe Fist, 2022, FilmJitterbug, 2022, FilmDear Babylon, 2019, FilmTower XYZ, 2016, FilmBooks Ayo mentions from Skylight Books in LA:Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell by David YaffeMaking Movies by Sydney LumetIn the Eye of the Wild by Nastassja MartinWe also mention:Family Business by Chantal AckermanLa Chimera by Alice RohrwacherA Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro"Keep Looking" by SadeCredits:Edited by Amanda Dee and mastered by Rebecca Seidel.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:japaneseairplanelanding.mp3 by morgantj – https://freesound.org/people/morgantj/sounds/59610/ – License: Attribution 4.0Airplane PA Sound 2 by festivus31 – https://freesound.org/people/festivus31/sounds/177560/ – License: Creative Commons 0Airplane_ambience.WAV by habbis92 – https://freesound.org/people/habbis92/sounds/204510/ – License: Creative Commons 0Airplane Seat belt Chime by sirkoto51 – https://freesound.org/people/Sirkoto51/sounds/331680/ – License: Creative Commons 0Airplane_flyover_landing_in_heathrow_1_48_24.wav by suz_soundcreations  – https://freesound.org/people/Suz_Soundcreations/sounds/351588/ – License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0digital camera consumer on,off beep take picture single shot, servo zoom in out.flac by kyles – https://freesound.org/people/kyles/sounds/453950/ – License: Creative Commons 0Tabletop clock ticking, speed ramp down (followup) by ycbcr – https://freesound.org/people/ycbcr/sounds/556991/ – License: Attribution 4.0Hawk/Eagle Cry (Distant) by PRINCEofWORMS – https://freesound.org/people/PRINCEofWORMS/sounds/571273/ – License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we spoke with Colombian-American artist, Catalina Alvarez, who visited Saki at her apartment for this interview. Catalina’s first language is Spanish and we talk about her choice to continue speaking her mother tongue with her child. We discuss the advantages of not knowing the prevalent language of a city, how bodies move through space differently depending on the cultural norms of a specific place, and Catalina reads an excerpt from her short story, “The Word.”Guest Bio:Catalina makes choreographed films and experimental musicals. Her films have screened at festivals including Slamdance, Fantastic Fest, New Orleans and Palm Springs, and venues such as the ICA Philadelphia, the San Diego Art Institute and the Museum of the Moving Image. She is a recipient of fellowships and residencies from the Flaherty Seminar, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Rooftop Films, Flux Factory and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Catalina grew up in a bilingual (Spanish and English) household. Since 2022, she has taught in the Visual Arts program at Fordham University, where she is head of Art & Engagement.Show notes:“The Word,” a short story, which Catalina read an excerpt from (at around 13 min.), will be published by Ediciones de Ruina in “Vagaries: a Collection of Screenplays,” coming in Summer 2025 The music you heard while Catalina read “The Word” was "Combine D" from the Alphabet Combines by Ted Coffey. You can find the whole album on Bandcamp at tedcoffey.bandcamp.comHere are some links to Catalina’s film, “Sound Spring”Excerpt and description on her websiteOfficial Soundtrack available on KuyinCleveland International Film FestivalAnd her work Modos de Transporte: Bois de RoseWe also mentioned:Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (children’s book)Renee Gladman (writer)Ant Farm exhibition at Pioneer WorksVoice in Cinema by Michel Chion"My Native Language Is Noise" by Kimberly AlidioChicka Chicka Boom Boom (children’s book)Renee Gladman (writer)Ant Farm exhibition at Pioneer WorksVoice in Cinema by Michel Chion"My Native Language Is Noise" by Kimberly AlidioCredits:Edited by Amanda Dee and mastered by Rebecca Seidel.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:Palm Trees in the Wind.wav by StrangeAcoustics -- https://freesound.org/s/346106/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Cumbia by Tomentum+ -- https://freesound.org/s/663170/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Small Caribbean Ocean Waves by fran_marenco -- https://freesound.org/s/796618/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Sparkly.wav by opticaillusions -- https://freesound.org/s/554312/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode, we spoke with Colombian-American comedian, performance artist, writer, and filmmaker Kat Toledo. We talk about Kat’s experience in alt-comedy and how many of her characters are hybrid entities, like the girl who’s trapped in a duvet cover or Tia Luz, who’s inspired by her Colombian aunties. We also discuss the mystery of her parentage, how she defines her identity without knowing who her biological father is, and also coming to terms with not knowing.Guest Bio:Kat Toledo is a Colombian-American comedian, performance artist, writer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She has been featured on Funny or Die, The Best Show, opened for Eric André, and has performed with artists Kembra Pfahler, Laura Lima, and Kevin Mcdonald from Kids in the Hall.Show notes:Kat’s Character Work:Girl Trapped Inside a DuvetTia LuzEverything NowWe mentioned various media and personalities, linked below:Ancestry.com“The Magic School Bus” (book series)Minions (film)Inventing Anna (TV miniseries)Sarah Sherman a.k.a. Sarah SquirmCredits:Edited by Ursula Sommer and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:Water Tip Grass by Project_Trident -- https://freesound.org/s/140307/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0young girls giggling and laughing.wav by tuhinpaul -- https://freesound.org/s/342838/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Koshi wind chimes aqua fire by neolein -- https://freesound.org/s/416841/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0S09-17 Mountain climbing; much dirt debris & clothing rustle.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/675887/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Transformed wind chimes: Nature-Symphony 29 by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/719042/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

In this episode we spoke with Salvadoran-American writer Darrow Farr, also known as Darri, who was visiting New York and stopped by my apartment for the interview. We talk with Darri about reconnecting with her biological father later in life, what it’s like to date white partners, how and where we gain access to our heritage, and how we’d like to raise children with exposure to these cultures.Guest Bio:Darrow Farr is a Salvadoran-American writer. She was a Stegner Fellow in Fiction at Stanford University from 2017-2019 and received an MFA in Creative Writing from The Michener Center at the University of Texas. The Bombshell is her debut novel. She was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, where she now lives with her husband and son.Show notes:“Far Away From Me” by Jenny ZhangThe following podcast/books were mentioned“Decolonize Your Gender” episode on Sensual Self with Ev’Yan WhitneyThe Cosmic Race (La Raza Cósmica) by José VasconcelosSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah HarariCredits:Edited by Ursula Sommer and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:Digging with shovel.m4a by guyburns -- https://freesound.org/s/558413/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footseps on Sand.wav by 21100206TM -- https://freesound.org/s/594484/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0Watering with a Watering Can.mp3 by Bricklover -- https://freesound.org/s/532890/ -- License: Creative Commons 0varna birds singing garden.mp3 by martinabg -- https://freesound.org/s/613316/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Wind - Soft breeze by Vrymaa -- https://freesound.org/s/734663/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In this episode we spoke with Vietnamese-American artist and writer Morgan Võ, who generously agreed to be our first guest. We met Morgan while studying art at the Cooper Union and discuss growing up in our respective suburbs, the significance of names, the challenges of seeking information from our immigrant parents, and “the yearning.” We also discuss a short essay by Kimberly Alidio called “My Native Language is Noise,” which we link to below.Guest Bio:Morgan Võ (b. 1989) is a poet and librarian concerned with resonance, contingency, difficulty understanding, and the presence of the dead among the living. He is the author of The Selkie (The Song Cave, 2024) and the chapbooks Lights of Earth (2019) and Eat Pamphlet (2014). His poems were anthologized in Pathetic Literature, edited by Eileen Myles, and have most recently appeared in Changes Review and Footnotes. He organized G-L-O-S-S, a mutual aid-based poetry press, from 2020-21, and is a current member of the Poetry Project Newsletter editorial collective. Originally from coastal Virginia, he lives now in Bedstuy, Brooklyn.Show notes:"My Native Language Is Noise" by Kimberly Alidio – We discuss this short essay that was published in 2020 by The Poetry Foundation.PEN15 - We briefly discuss this comedy series created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam ZviblemanCredits:Produced in consultation with Ursula Sommer and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:030912 fx002 revelation.aiff by martian -- https://freesound.org/s/178512/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps on Grass by harrietniamh -- https://freesound.org/s/400123/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Peaceful seascape by Ladies' Window, near Boscastle by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/705985/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

In this episode we talk about the confusions and joys of being biracial. We introduce ourselves by talking about our basic history, why we wanted to start this podcast, and our Asian parents’ love of gatekeeper sports like tennis and sailing. Join us on our first foray into the world of Hybridia!Show notes:Feeling Asian - “A podcast where two asians talk about their feelings”Asian Not Asian - A comedy podcast about the "Asian American-ish" experience.Found - documentary film by Amanda LipitzAudre Lorde - The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992 - documentary film by Dagmar SchultzCredits:Produced in consultation with Ursula Sommer and mastered by Cedric Wilson.Theme music by The Necklace, a project by Taylor Shields and Morgan Võ.Sound effects courtesy of freesound.org:Rocks falling into gorge pool.aiff by LukeIRL -- https://freesound.org/s/62024/ -- License: Attribution 4.0In mouth of Rocky Valley, near Tintagel, Cornwall, 1 by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/165083/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Half-speed! Extraordinary wind chimes trio — Twilight, Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686254/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Wind Chimes, Teign Gorge near Castle Drogo - Olympos, Gregorian - excerpt by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/169866/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Olympos and Pluto wind chimes high up in Teign Gorge by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/705915/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0footsteps on surfaced road in boots by Frigus_XIII -- https://freesound.org/s/456428/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps and bells by arnaud coutancier -- https://freesound.org/s/462768/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0Footsteps outdoors gravel.wav by jedg -- https://freesound.org/s/505831/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps - Exterior - walking slowly, dirty, stony path by TILIADESIGN -- https://freesound.org/s/591515/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps on light gravel path stride 4 by Sadiquecat -- https://freesound.org/s/688596/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Dirt Footsteps 3 by simonjeffery13 -- https://freesound.org/s/750796/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps on beach, sand and water by YannSauvin -- https://freesound.org/s/777609/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Pitter Patter by iainmccurdy -- https://freesound.org/s/786919/ -- License: Attribution 4.0