An expat from Illinois, Tatiana discusses life in Beijing, podcasting, blogging, and social issues. Topics covered include living in Beijing, fear of lockdown, accumulating unnecessary items, desire to leave China, travel aspirations, quitting Twitter, newspapers, perspectives on American passports, suicide awareness, impact of Emmett Till, racial divide in Canada, differences in state laws in the US, litigious system, historical misconceptions, and book recommendations.
Tatiana McLaren discusses her experiences as a black expat in Beijing, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities she has encountered.
Tatiana shares her transition from blogging to podcasting, finding a more interactive and connective experience to reach a wider audience.
Tatiana McLaren emphasizes the importance of understanding historical context in discussions about issues and policies in American culture.
Tatiana explores the psychological impact of media and trauma in America, calling for a more balanced and mindful approach to consuming information.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and fostering open conversations through events and podcasting, while being sensitive to cultural norms.
The podcast discusses the inconsistency in cannabis laws across different states in the US, highlighting the challenges faced by the cannabis industry.
Deep dives
Tatiana McLaren's Life in China as an Expat
Tatiana McLaren, an American woman living in China, discusses her experiences as a black expat in Beijing. She talks about her life as an ESL teacher, her interest in blogging and podcasting, and how these experiences have shaped her perspective. Tatiana also shares recommendations for books and movies related to social causes, such as Black History Month and suicide prevention. Despite the challenges of COVID and being locked down, Tatiana remains optimistic and continues to explore new opportunities in Beijing.
From Writing to Podcasting: Tatiana McLaren's Journey
Tatiana McLaren shares her transition from writing as a blogger to hosting her own podcast. Inspired by her passion for writing and storytelling, Tatiana originally started blogging to enhance her writing skills and share her creative work. However, she soon realized the limitations of blogging and wanted a more interactive and connective experience. This led her to venture into podcasting, where she could reach a wider audience and engage in conversations on various topics, including mental health and civics. Tatiana continues to evolve her content, aiming to spread awareness and foster connection through her creative endeavors.
Navigating Issues and Policies in American Culture
In this episode, Tatiana McLaren discusses the distinction between issues and policies in American culture. She highlights the prevalence of issue-based discourse and the challenges of discussing complex policies. Tatiana emphasizes the importance of understanding historical context when examining issues, as it shapes our understanding of underlying systems and structures. She also reflects on the impact of media and the 24-hour news cycle, which often emphasizes issues over in-depth policy discussions. Tatiana encourages listeners to consider the broader context and engage in informed conversations about critical topics.
The Psychological Impact of Media and Trauma in America
Tatiana McLaren explores the psychological impact of media and trauma in America. Drawing from personal experiences and observations, she suggests that Americans may be experiencing a form of collective PTSD due to constant exposure to traumatic events and divisive narratives in the media. Tatiana highlights the potential consequences of prolonged exposure to distressing news and calls for a more balanced and mindful approach to consuming information. She also shares her own strategies for maintaining mental well-being and finding creative outlets for self-expression.
The Importance of Raising Awareness through Events and Podcasting
The speaker emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and promoting open conversations through events and podcasting. They believe that educating the masses and sharing responsible information can lead to positive change. They acknowledge the need to be aware of the risk and consequences involved when pushing personal agendas and beliefs, especially when living in a foreign country. The speaker also highlights the significance of being sensitive to cultural norms and societal rules when discussing sensitive topics in different countries.
The Challenges of Living Abroad and Wanting to Go Home
The speaker discusses the personal challenges of living abroad for an extended period. They express their desire to return home and the difficulties associated with being away from family and familiar surroundings. The speaker also mentions the financial and logistical obstacles of going back home, including expensive flights and the need to restart certain aspects of their platform. They express a sense of longing for their home country while acknowledging the expat creed of intending to stay for a short time but ending up staying longer.
The Need for Education to Promote Understanding
The speaker emphasizes the importance of education as a means to bridge racial and historical divides. They believe that raising awareness and providing historical context can help foster understanding and combat stereotypes. They emphasize the need to go beyond surface-level knowledge and delve into deeper conversations about racial issues, systemic problems, and societal norms. The speaker also stresses the importance of diversity and inclusion in discussions and highlights the potential consequences of forcing personal beliefs on others without considering their unique circumstances.
Inconsistent Cannabis Laws Across States
The podcast highlights the inconsistency in cannabis laws across different states in the US. In California, for example, cannabis is legal and individuals can even open their own businesses. However, traveling to a state where cannabis is illegal can result in serious charges, even for those who are just transporting cannabis from one legal state to another. The podcast emphasizes the complexities and differences in laws between states, creating a challenging legal landscape for those involved in the cannabis industry.
The Outdated Nature of the US Constitution
The podcast discusses the outdated nature of the US Constitution and its relevance in today's society. The host reflects on the fact that the Constitution was created with the intention of deferring certain issues to be addressed by future generations. However, the reverence and deification of the Constitution hinder open discussions about necessary updates and changes. The host highlights the need for revisiting and updating the Constitution to address the changing needs and values of modern society, while acknowledging the challenges this may present.
Influence of Reading on the Podcast
The host mentions that her extensive reading influences the topics she chooses to discuss on her podcast. She selects subjects she finds interesting and then immerses herself in relevant literature to ensure her understanding and provide well-rounded conversations. The host also shares that she diversifies her reading to include books on mental health, history, self-care, fantasy, and more, allowing her to bring a variety of perspectives and insights to her podcast episodes.
How to Connect with Tatiana McLaren
Listeners can connect with Tatiana McLaren through her various social media platforms. She has a fan page on Facebook under the name 'Hopelessly Tatiana' and an Instagram account with the same handle. Tatiana is less active on Twitter but can be found at 'tatty_miklorn.' Additionally, she has a website, 'totallytatiana.com,' where she occasionally posts content. In China, people can reach out to her on WeChat using the ID 'katiana_mcl.'
Closing Remarks
The podcast episode concludes by expressing gratitude for the insightful conversation with Tatiana McLaren. The host encourages listeners to visit his website for show notes and tracks related to the episode, as well as upcoming episodes. He also invites feedback from the audience and mentions his availability on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and his website for further listening and download options.
Missed Topics
The summary does not mention any particular missed topics from the episode.
Another episode and another expat! Hailing from Illinois, USA but now situated in Beijing, China (with an epidemic thrown in to keep things structured), Tatiana joins me on the podcast today to talk about life in the 'Jing, podcasting and blogging, several social issues she's involved with and what's in store for the future.
This episode we dive into quite a bit about life in Beijing and how things have evolved over the last few years, especially since Tatiana only arrived in 2019. However, she's been busy and making the best of her time as she started her own podcast back in August 2020. Using her voice and background, she is now shedding light on several major social issues while living here in China.
Clocking in at just over two hours, this episode contains a few follow up book and movie suggestions people can take a look at to gain a better understanding of the world landscape, particularly in the USA.
Have more questions?
Have a look at Tatiana's website or get in touch with her through the socials at Instagram, YouTube, and WeChat.
Show notes up on stevensirski.com
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