3. Culture Vulture

The podcast explores the meaning of culture for transracial adoptees, particularly those who didn't grow up with their birth culture. Eva Brookes, the host, shares her personal experiences and interviews Jaki Clibbon, a Vietnamese adoptee, who found a connection to her heritage through cooking Vietnamese food. This led Jaki to embrace her Vietnamese identity and pass down culinary traditions to her children. The episode also features Jenny Lau, who emphasizes that food can be a proxy language and cultural practice, and encourages listeners to reclaim their heritage, regardless of how they feel. Irene Hua discusses the ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) diaspora and the shared sense of not belonging, highlighting the importance of community in embracing one's identity.