Write Now with Scrivener cover image

Write Now with Scrivener

Episode 48: Write Now with Scrivener, Episode no. 48: Mimi Kwa, Author of a Memoir about Four Generations of a Chinese Family

Mar 5, 2025
Mimi Kwa, an Australian television personality and author, shares her journey through her memoir, "House of Kwa," which uncovers the rich legacy of her Chinese family across four generations. She discusses her father's immigration story from Hong Kong to Australia and the impact of the White Australia Policy on their lives. The conversation dives into navigating cultural identity, familial expectations, and the cathartic experience of writing about personal trauma. Mimi also reveals how Scrivener has been instrumental in organizing her writing process and research.
32:43

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mimi Kwa's memoir illustrates the complex dynamics of family and gender roles within a traditional patriarchal structure of a Chinese family.
  • The author's exploration of her dual cultural identity highlights the significance of writing as a healing tool while navigating her family legacy.

Deep dives

Family Dynamics and Personal Conflict

The episode delves into the complexities of family dynamics, illustrated through the author's experience of being sued by her father over her late aunt's estate. This legal confrontation was driven by her father's deep-seated traditional views that prioritized male authority, particularly in handling significant family matters. The conflict serves as a catalyst for exploring their intricate familial history, highlighting issues of gender roles and cultural expectations within a patriarchal structure. Such personal strife underscores the broader themes of migration and family legacy that permeate the narrative.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode