Rice & Shine

This week, the team reflects on the beauty standards of Asian and western countries and how they have impacted their lives. We become as vulnerable as ever as we unpack our insecurities and share the stories of our journeys to self-love along with what has helped us feel at peace with our self-image.Keep an eye out for announcements about Sophie's upcoming solo mental-health series on our Instagram (@riceandshinepodcast)!

You've heard the team talk about their passions, but today they take a deep dive into their extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars can be daunting, with the feeling of the college board watching. But today, the pressure is taken off as they discuss their hobbies, how they got into them, their past passions, and much more.

In today's episode, get to know the hosts better as the Rice & Shine team reflect on their own personalities and analyze each other's (accidentally turning into a compliment battle). Also discussed is self-growth, the pressure (or motivator) of end goals, and the bond between the hosts. 

Bathrooms, spas, trains, food, make a world (or country) of a difference. With the hosts of Rice & Shine having different cultural backgrounds, today we compare and contrast our countries with each other and America. 

Whether you're a parent, a child, or somewhere in between, the Rice & Shine team is here to discuss their thoughts on parenting. We reflect on our parents and their ways as well as envision our possible future as parents. 

After two weeks of covering heavy topics, today we take a breather as we retreat back to our "virtual sleepover" roots. We crank up the late-night talk vibe as Sophie tells the story of her "I love you trauma", Lauren's inner theatre kid jumps out, Grace longs for simpler days, and Ava talks about her first grade art tantrum.  

Adolescence can be confusing, especially as young women. Today we discuss gendered toys, gender roles, and safety as women. We reminisce our childhood struggles with finding peace in our femininity and look forwards to a future without labels and safer environments for everyone. 

Since COVID has started, there has been a 1900% increase in hate crimes against Asian-Americans. This week we tell the stories of the victims of these hate crimes as well as share our own experiences with discrimination. It may all seem dark, but we can make it light. Some ways you can help are spreading the word about this problem, purchasing from local Asian-American businesses, calling out racist behaviors, donating to victims, and reporting assault cases.Report assault cases at https://stopaapihate.org/GoFundMe for Vicha Ratanapakdee: https://www.gofundme.com/f/84yearold-killed-in-san-franciscoAsian-Americans Advancing Justice: https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* In this installment of Asians On-Screen, we discuss our love for the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians. Combining your typical romance, comedy (presented by our favorites Awkwafina and Ken Jeong), and deep topics such as the disconnect between Asians and Asian-Americans, Crazy Rich Asians is a new classic that has something for everyone.

As our first semester of high school has come to an end, we reflect on our experience with online school and question the possibility of a hybrid system. From the woes of breakout rooms to recognizing our privilege during a confusing time, we discuss the ins and outs of being teenagers during a pandemic.