Asian in Austin

Hey, all. I'm Min Vu, and this is Asian in Austin. So we've made it to the end of the year, and I just wanna take this time to reflect on the last year that we've had and, honestly, the last couple of years that we've been able to do this podcast. This is the first time that we've done an episode where both of us aren't on on the mic, but Sandra's taking a much deserved break for the rest of the year and gave me her blessing to kinda do this episode. So I think I I really wanted to just kind of book end this season a little bit more officially and also announce that we're we're gonna go on a break.

You know, I think when Sandra and I first thought of this idea almost like 3 years ago by this point, we never really imagined the podcast to turn out the way that it did, to have the opportunity to interview and bring on so many amazing guests that we've been able to over the last couple of years and be able to hear different stories and all that. You know, when we first started this podcast a year after the Atlanta spa shootings, after COVID, after lockdown was lifting up, and really just kind of wrestling with what kind of impact that had on us, on our individual selves, on our psyche, and our relationships to our identity. And really wanted to open up that conversation with other people in the community and and learn from each other and and see how we've all tried to navigate this life with our lived experiences and and how that kind of shapes us. And I don't think we could have ever imagined to be able to hear the inspiring stories that we did, the emotional stories that we did, the funny moments that we did. But it's been really a privilege and a humbling opportunity to just be able to talk to people.

I think the most fun that we've had on this podcast was when we, we are recording these interviews and these conversations with people. That's when I think I personally have felt most inspired and motivated by the podcast and what we were trying to to seek out to do, which is really just amplify these stories of people in our community and what that lived experience is like. And I think for myself, I mean, being Asian American is just like one facet of my identity. And we have really, really rich stories and really unique experiences. And I think it's beautiful to be able to see all parts of our lives, our personalities, our dimensions really lived out, as loudly and proudly as we can.

So, yeah, I, I guess, you know, I just wanna thank everyone for your support and for listening. I'm not sure what the future holds for this podcast, but I know that I'm certainly proud of what we've been able to do and kind of just seeing what else is to come. We'll keep the Instagram alive and periodically post on it and share different events that are happening around town or things that catch our attention. But as we try to focus on other things in our lives and just being more present, I think this will be a good opportunity for us to take a take a pause. So, yeah, I just wanna thank everyone for listening, for all of your support.

I wanna thank all of the guests that we've been able to have on the show for the last three seasons and for sharing more of your stories, being vulnerable and goofy with us. We've had a really, really good time doing this podcast, and it'll be sad to to not do it for a bit, but, just wanna encourage everyone to continue living your life, celebrating the good times as it comes. The world can be hard enough as it is, and, you know, just continue supporting your local nonprofit organizations and community organizations and community run businesses. I hope you all have a great rest of the year and a happy new year, and we'll, we'll see you next time. Thanks y'all.