ISSUE 62: Yowei Shaw
ISSUE 62: Yowei Shaw
An "emotional investigative journalist" shares her favorites!
THE YELLOW PAGES is a newsletter recommending Asian and AAPI films, music, writing, and other inspiration — all the artsy things I wished for growing up!
I was a big fan of NPR’s Invisibilia podcast and a huge part of that was one of its hosts, Yowei Shaw. When Yowei unexpectedly lost her job and started a new show about that experience, I downloaded and followed immediately.
With each episode, I’m continually impressed with how eloquent, honest, and vulnerable Yowei gets. I’ve since learned that she’s incredibly easy to talk to in person, as well. I’m not the only one who’s a fan — Apple named Proxy one of their favorite podcasts of 2024 so far. Make sure to subscribe and support!
Name / Pronouns:
Yowei Shaw (she/her)
What do you do?
Podcast host, producer and self-proclaimed “emotional investigative journalist.” Used to make and host NPR’s Invisibilia podcast. Now I host and make Proxy.
How do you identify?
Asian-American. Daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. Currently trying to get in touch with my inner bro, or “Yo-bro.”
Do you identify as yellow?
Is it bad that I don’t? Do I need to catch up with the discourse?
Anything coming up you’d like to promote?
I just launched a new independent podcast about emotions and it’s really good. I recommend starting with my series about the emotional and mental health toll of layoffs or my episode on the role of proxy victims and offenders in restorative justice.
RITUALS & LIFE MOVES
Massaging friends and family: After getting laid off last year, I wanted to hide from friends and family. But I pushed myself to connect by creating “Yowei Shpa.” I tricked out my basement with a massage table and fake fern, looked up some Youtube videos, and started massaging a friend a week. Highly recommend if you’re feeling isolated.
Mirror meditation: Every morning, I try to look at myself for 5 minutes and just sit with myself, no judgment. But I don’t use a mirror, I use my Photo Booth app on my computer lol. I think it still does the trick?
Fan art magnets from CVS: One of my secret intimacy weapons is making “fan art” of people I love, in the form of a tiny acrylic magnet I order from CVS. Pro tip: never buy at full price. There’s always a CVS Photo deal.
Stretching: If I could spend an hour stretching every day… I would. I like this person’s routines.
ARTISTS
FORTUNE: My friends Andrienne Palchick, Connie Yu, and Heidi Ratanavanich created this Philadelphia-based publication and space-making project by and for queer and trans Asians. Nothing like it exists. Have you ever experienced care approached like an art form itself? Everything they make feels like a beautiful artifact made just for you. They throw fabulous Lunar New Year parties that end with steaming platters of buns and hot tea. At this year’s celebration, for a closing ritual, I asked them to squirt giant bottles of soy sauce and vinegar on me while I was dressed as a dumpling.
Dear Kiko by Kiko Soiree: You won’t want to take your eyes off Kiko. She’s that magnetic and charming. Part drag show, part comedy show, part advice column in the form of improvised singing.
The Year of Blue Water by Yanyi: I’m not usually a poetry person, but this collection is quietly magnificent. I re-read every so often.
GOODS
Toqa: Island-core. The brainchild of my friend, the Filipina designer Isabel Sicat. Obsessed with the dresses, the swimsuits, the bags, the jackets… If I had more money, I would buy it all.
Dickerson & White: Darren White is a Philly designer friend who makes these gorgeous, exquisitely made utility vests. A comfy piece of luxury.
Street Grandma: How I get away with wearing baggy pants and shorts to fancy events.
Sundae School fleece jacket: Everytime I wear this jacket, I get smiles and compliments.
Chinafruit Chinussy Tube Top: I just think it’s very funny that I wore this top on the night I won an Asian-American Journalists Association National Journalism Award.
Ada Chen jewelry: The Live, Laugh, Love earrings and the lucky goldfish ABUNDANCE earrings are my favorites.
YS Notes cards: A labor of love from my childhood friend, who always gives the best cards. If you want to let someone special know you’re thinking of them, these cards are beauties.
PODCASTS
16th Minute of Fame: Hands down my favorite podcast right now. On each episode, comedian Jamie Loftus takes a closer look at an internet main character to see what their story says about us. Probably the only narrative podcast that makes me actually laugh out loud. Love the airhorns.
Moonface: My friend James Kim made this BEAUTIFUL fiction series about a Korean-American son who wants to come out to his mom, but they don’t speak the same language. It stars Joel Kim Booster in one of the most iconic sex scenes I’ve ever witnessed.
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