Women Amplified
Asian-American Women Pioneering the Path Forward: A Conversation with Awkwafina & Lisa Ling
Today’s episode is an exclusive replay of a 2020 Massachusetts Conference for Women keynote conversation recognizing two remarkable pioneers blazing trails for Asian Americans, and inspiring women and girls of all ages and backgrounds: award-winning writer, actress, and comedian Awkwafina and journalist Lisa Ling.
With authenticity and vulnerability, Awkwafina shares personal experiences in navigating the ups and downs of her career and life, illustrating that everyone, regardless of success level, grapples with insecurities and self-doubt. Packed with advice and laughter, you will walk away inspired and ready to tackle your fears and take a risk.
This Month’s Guest:
AWKWAFINA is an award-winning writer, actress and rapper. Her “government name” is Nora Lum. Most recently, Lum earned rave reviews for her performance in Lulu Wang’s The Farewell. Before that, she was seen in Warner Brothers features Ocean’s 8, directed by Gary Ross, opposite Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett and Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon Chu, opposite Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh. Lum can be seen in the Universal film Neighbors 2 opposite Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne. She also starred as Rebecca in the independent comedy Dude, written and directed by Olivia Milch. She was the voice of Quail in the Warner Bros. animated feature Storks (2016). In television, Comedy Central ordered ten episodes of Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, a series which Lum created and stars in. Her other TV credits include: Hulu’s Future Man as well as MTV’s Mary + Jane and Girl Code. She is self-noted for her extensive satire and comical appeal in her music. Lum sold her first book, a travel guide to New York entitled Awkwafina’s NYC published by Penguin Random House. She hosts a talk show on YouTube for Astronauts Wanted entitled TAWK. Lum is a cast member on MTV’s show Girl Code and Girl Code Live. On October 2, 2018, Lum hosted Saturday Night Live. She has been featured in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, New York, The Daily Beast, Gothamist, Jezebel, Gawker, Hairpin, HelloGiggles.com, and Bust. @awkwafina
In Conversation With:
LISA LING is the executive producer and host of THIS IS LIFE on CNN, now its seventh season. For five seasons prior, Ling EP’d and hosted Our America on OWN. She was also a field correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and contributor to ABC News’ Nightline. Ling was the first female host of National Geographic’s flagship show Explorer which sent her to cover the phenomenon of female suicide bombing, the spread of the MS-13 gang and the humanitarian crisis inside North Korea. She got her start in journalism as a correspondent for Channel One News where she covered the civil war in Afghanistan at 21 years of age. She later went to become a co-host of ABC Daytime’s hit show, The View, which won its first daytime Emmy during her time at the show. Ling is the co-author of Mother, Sister. Daughter, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood, and Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and The Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home that she penned with her sister Laura. In 2014, President Obama appointed her to the commission on White House fellows. She is an advisory board member for Fostering Media Connections, The Amani Project, and a Baby2Baby angel. @lisaling
Additional Resources:
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