Hello and welcome to an episode of Beyond Friends.. Our last one.
In this episode, we reflect on our podcasting journey and our lives since we’ve started the podcast - so much has happened! Beyond Friends started as a passion project in the thick of the pandemic and we’ve been so grateful to share this space with you all. ❤ As time has gone by, our capacities have shifted and we’ve collectively agreed that this podcast has served us in the ways it’s needed to. Alas, the last episode of Beyond Friends has come.
We thank you all SO, SO much for joining this adventure. Who knows, we may be back one day. If so, till next time!
—
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Music produced by Pang Xiong
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
We’re ready to get down and maybe a bit dirty. 😉
In today’s episode Mai Xee, Pang, and Sunny are talking about their views of sex as mid-20 girlies in comparison to their adolescent years. We’re tapping into purity culture, familial upbringing, and how modern society views sex.
So strap-on and plug into today’s ride. We’ll be gentle. 💗
—
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Intro music by Mr Smith - Short Burn - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/studio-city/short-burn/
Mid-episode & outro music produced by Pang Xiong
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
The Song Poet, a memoir written by Hmong author, Kao Kalia Yang, becomes the first Hmong story adapted for the operatic stage. It’s a story about a Hmong father’s hope, art, and grief. In this episode, we talk about the stories in The Song Poet and how we relate to them. A few tears were shed as we thought about our parents and their journeys. What are your parents' stories?
—
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Music produced by Pang Xiong
Lofi music by Lasfm
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
We’ve all been there - messy, sticky, and sh*tty situations. In this episode, we dive into some stories from the Am I the Asshole (AITA) Reddit thread, Hmong Talk Facebook page, and submissions from listeners. Join us on these roller coaster of emotions, as we talk through these scenarios. Maybe it’s time to let that sh*t go…
—
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Music produced by Pang Xiong
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
All aboard the ship to parenthood! Whoa.. sounds exciting but scary.
As we grow older, more and more of our peers are entering new chapters of their lives - for many, it’s marriage and having kids. In this episode, we explore new parenthood by picking the brains of our friends, Alexis and Chewmeng, the first couple in our friend group to welcome a bundle of joy. We had a lot of questions on the journey of becoming new parents, mental health during these transitions, and how marriage dynamics might change.
What raging waters have other parents sailed through and what tips do you have?
—
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Guests: Alexis & Chewmeng
Intro & outro music produced by Pang Xiong
Intermission Music by RomanBelov from Pixabay
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
New year, same trio! To start off the new year, Mai Xee, Pang, and Sunny got together and decided it’s time to spice things up! We asked you to send some spicy questions and they were hot. 🔥 Join us to find out what we did or didn’t answer. 😉
Special shout out to our listeners who sent some questions! We missed y'all during our break but we're excited for Season 4, so buckle up buttercups - it's gonna be a great one. ❤️🔥
-----
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Intro & outro music produced by Pang Xiong
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
You’ve probably heard of the many diets people could follow, or the workouts they can try. You’ve probably also heard about the concepts and language to use when talking about bodies - like body positivity and body neutrality. How much should you think positively about your body and love it? Or should you simply embrace your body for what it is: a body?
In this episode, we talk about our bodies - our experiences with body image, weight, and self-acceptance. What’s your journey been like?
—
Book referenced: The Body is not an Apology, Sonya Renee Taylor
Foreword by Ijeoma Oluo
Hosts: Mai Xee Vang, Pang Xiong, Sunny Thao
Intro & outro music produced by Pang Xiong
Interval music produced by: Sleepy Cat by Lofi Hour and Calm Study Lofi by SoulProdMusic on Pixabay.com
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
“If there’s something weird and don’t look good who you gonna call, Ghost Busters! Just kidding, us - Beyond Friends.” 😂 Your friendly neighborhood podcast. Though the season of love has yet to approach us and Hot Girl Summer has gone with the wind, ghosting season is just in. Tune in to hear the trios' experience with being ghosted and ghosting others, and if you stick around long enough - you might even get some advice on how to deal with these spooky encounters. 👻
The last time we talked with Bert, we explored what our values were and how to leverage them. Today, Bert joins us again to share other great opportunities he has to offer from his work and additional life updates. What’s a masterclass? Has Bert told his parents about his significant life change? And how has Beyond Friends gone into depth with their values in themselves and dating? Tune in to hear more!
As “Little Miss Got Bills”, sometimes it can feel like “we’re livin' on a prayer” with all this adulting. In today’s episode, the trio explores their spiritual journeys and expore the question: “How does growing up in a Christian household and a traditional Shaman household differ?” Tune in to this unexpected turn of events and share snippets of your spiritual journey with us as well! 😇
Life brings us a lot of unexpected things but never something we can’t overcome. In this episode, Mai Xee, Pang, and Sunny discuss their first big girl job, when to apply, how to negotiate salary, and much more. They will share what it was like for them as first-generation students and women of color exploring the realm of post-college.
Did you say DATING? You heard it right! Join us as we unpack some of our dating stories and struggles as women in their mid-twenties looking for our future someone. We’ll talk about what the “talking stage” is to us as well as some of our ickss. What time span for the “talking stage” is considered too long? Which of the co-host is currently talking to someone? Why doesn’t Sunny want to date a friend? Tune in to find out!
Another year older… another year around the sun~ In this episode, we’re celebrating our amazing birthday girl, Sunny. You’ll get to hear reflections of turning a year wiser and the peaks and valleys of being 25 - along with a few surprises! Did Mai Xee and Pang accomplish catching Sunny off guard? Would Sunny like what Mai Xee and Pang have in store for her? Tune in to hear all about it!
Content Warning: Mentions of depressive state and mindsets, if this part of our story doesn't align with your journey today, please skip (25:24-27:00) and take care of yourself. 💗
---
Background music from Pixabay.com
Partnership with Ana Luisa - shop quality carbon-neutral jewelry: https://shop.analuisa.com/beyondfriends
----------------
Besties, our seasonal depression is finally dormant for another winter and you know what this means! HOT GIRL SUMMER is among us! 🥴
In this episode, we’re diving into what are the elements of a successful hot girl summer and manifesting what we’re going to be doing on our break. 😳
Join the convo by tuning in and if you got some tips for a successful hot girl summer - shoot us a dm. 😉 Happy listening!
----------------
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
Partnership with Ana Luisa - shop quality carbon-neutral jewelry: https://shop.analuisa.com/beyondfriends
---
Break-ups can be hard and difficult to navigate. The one person you spent so much time with, is suddenly gone and you’re not understanding how this all came to be. Who’s to blame - wait, can you even blame anyone? From those few sentences, you might have envisioned that we’re talking about romantic break-ups, but actually, in this episode - we’re talking about friends. No one prepares you for friendship breakups and the recovery process, so we’re going to try our best.
If you’re going through a break-up or planning one right now - just know that it’ll be okay. We got you. Take a breath, drink some tea, and grab a blanket. We’re going on another healing journey together. 💞
---
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
Partnership with Ana Luisa - shop quality carbon-neutral jewelry: https://shop.analuisa.com/beyondfriends
---
Is it just us or is it getting a bit stuffy in here? Maybe let’s crack a window to let in some Cua Tshiab? ✨
In today’s episode, the trio sits down with all-star, Yayoua Yang, the creative director of the hottest Hmong American girl group, Cua Tshiab (New Air). We’ll be peeling back the layers of Yayoua - by diving into her upbringing and inspirations to learn who she is - beyond her work and calling.
So get cozy and grab something to write on - just in case you’ve been wanting to start your own girl group or learn how to dream big! ❤️🔥
---
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teambeyondfriends
https://www.facebook.com/teambeyondfriends
https://www.instagram.com/teambeyondfriends
Email us at teambeyondfriends@gmail.com
In this era, to be a man “written by a woman” is the highest form of a compliment or at least that’s what Tiktok says. But what about being a woman written by a man; or let’s put it this way, to be a woman seen through the eyes of a man.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear the besties’ experiences as women through their eyes and how the social construct of the male gaze shaped their upbringing - from their clothing choices and beauty ideals. This episode is a long one and it barely touches the ripples of this construct rooted in patriarchal values.
So grab a notebook, jot some questions, and let’s see where this conversation is heading to.
Ahhh... our first dances. The awkward glances, sweaty palms, boys on one side of the gym wall and girls on the other. The room is a mixture of AXE body spray and Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom mist. In this episode, the besties are taking a trip to memory lane and reminiscing their most memorable school dance.
It’s 2002, the biggest boyband is coming to town, and all your friends are going. They ask if you’ll be joining and you have to choose, be a good daughter or a good friend? Oh, you’re also a red panda.
In this episode, the besties watched Turning Red and are sharing their favorite moments. Listen carefully to catch moments when they’ve turned red as a teen.
Happiest birthday to our hopeless romantic co-host, Pang Chai! This episode is dedicated to her and her impact on us.