
The Creative Chimera - XinYi Tan / Don't Be Strangers Podcast / Ep 77
Explicit content warning
09/08/22 • 48 min
Today's episodes with the super creative and interesting XinYi Tan from the "Don't Be Strangers" Podcast. Kyle, our host was on an episode of "Don't Be Strangers" check that out as well! Episode
We talked about finding your passions, creativity, being creative and loving art but not making it a career intentionally and the journey she took to become a creative chimera nomad.
More about XinYi Tan:
I was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and moved with my family to Dallas, Texas at age 7. My first couple of years in school were a huge struggle. English was not my first language and entering 2nd grade after skipping almost a year of school due to the move made making friends quite difficult. But even after learning English,
I never felt quite at home... anywhere.
- Culturally, I wasn’t fully American, but when my family and I visited Malaysia, I was painfully aware that I didn’t quite belong there either.
- When it came to my passions, I could never make up my mind on a specific creative outlet or medium to hone — not because of indecisiveness (ok, maybe a little bit), but because I find joy in learning, remixing, and over-complicating mixed-media projects. But before I found pride in calling myself a creative chimera, I was hopelessly lost in how to identify my art and therefore myself.
- Being aromantic meant that I couldn’t relate to 99% of the stories represented in pop culture.
In short, I thought I was an alien. With every friend that I’ve found (who listened to me wholeheartedly and confided in me sincerely), I began to feel less and less alien and more and more at home on Earth. I began to feel like I belonged.
XinYi's Instagram
Don't Be Strangers Website
Don't Be Strangers Spotify
Don't Be Strangers Apple
Don't be Strangers Instagram
"Don't Be Strangers is a community + podcast that focuses on fighting social isolation via stories of everyday people! If you believe in the power of making deeper connections, you can plug in by joining our Discord Community, Pen Pals Club, or applying to co-host a future episode!"
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0vSqGIRXpJozlfiCDjpv5K?si=Xe9qxPdORCyu_8SDPkRmKw<clid=ca3c72c2-624b-4812-9733-9e09723a1629&nd=1
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)
All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Today's episodes with the super creative and interesting XinYi Tan from the "Don't Be Strangers" Podcast. Kyle, our host was on an episode of "Don't Be Strangers" check that out as well! Episode
We talked about finding your passions, creativity, being creative and loving art but not making it a career intentionally and the journey she took to become a creative chimera nomad.
More about XinYi Tan:
I was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and moved with my family to Dallas, Texas at age 7. My first couple of years in school were a huge struggle. English was not my first language and entering 2nd grade after skipping almost a year of school due to the move made making friends quite difficult. But even after learning English,
I never felt quite at home... anywhere.
- Culturally, I wasn’t fully American, but when my family and I visited Malaysia, I was painfully aware that I didn’t quite belong there either.
- When it came to my passions, I could never make up my mind on a specific creative outlet or medium to hone — not because of indecisiveness (ok, maybe a little bit), but because I find joy in learning, remixing, and over-complicating mixed-media projects. But before I found pride in calling myself a creative chimera, I was hopelessly lost in how to identify my art and therefore myself.
- Being aromantic meant that I couldn’t relate to 99% of the stories represented in pop culture.
In short, I thought I was an alien. With every friend that I’ve found (who listened to me wholeheartedly and confided in me sincerely), I began to feel less and less alien and more and more at home on Earth. I began to feel like I belonged.
XinYi's Instagram
Don't Be Strangers Website
Don't Be Strangers Spotify
Don't Be Strangers Apple
Don't be Strangers Instagram
"Don't Be Strangers is a community + podcast that focuses on fighting social isolation via stories of everyday people! If you believe in the power of making deeper connections, you can plug in by joining our Discord Community, Pen Pals Club, or applying to co-host a future episode!"
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0vSqGIRXpJozlfiCDjpv5K?si=Xe9qxPdORCyu_8SDPkRmKw<clid=ca3c72c2-624b-4812-9733-9e09723a1629&nd=1
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)
All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Previous Episode

Creativity & Career Coaching for Creatives / Betty Xie / #76
Conversation with Betty Xie focused on the following:
-her Asian Canadian immigrant experience
-her journey to a creative career (from fundraising for film festivals, filmmaking/producing, podcasting, and career coaching for creatives)
-being a career coach for creatives
-creativity and making a career out of being a creative
-filmmaking and podcasting
Betty is a Filmmaker, Fundraising Consultant, and Career Coach for Creatives.
Betty on Never Jaded:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ep-19-coaching-creatives-with-betty-xie/id1548301756?i=1000535963702
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0TFY1TzObaW5qrWORwFFSL?si=e001080c2cdf47bf
Check out Betty and her stuff!
visit my 1:1 coaching program for creatives:
https://www.xiebetty.com/coaching
watch Uprooted: the Plantemic on CBC Gem (geoblocked to Canada)
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/plantemic/s01
listen to my podcast Everyday Talent Podcast: your go-to-podcast for creatives who are looking for new ways of thinking about their career, life, and practice.
https://everydaytalent.buzzsprout.com/
See my work at: xiebetty.com
Find us!
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0vSqGIRXpJozlfiCDjpv5K?si=Xe9qxPdORCyu_8SDPkRmKw<clid=ca3c72c2-624b-4812-9733-9e09723a1629&nd=1
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-kind-of-asian-are-you/id1531615451
Instagram (Podcast):
https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod
Instagram (Host):
https://www.instagram.com/kyle.lkhhk/?hl=en
(Never Jaded Podcast):
https://www.instagram.com/neverjadedpod/?hl=en
Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ40aGle2G564N4of7iFuKA
Buy Me A Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian
Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)
All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Next Episode

The Asian American Fashion Model Life - Julia Zou / Ep 78
Julia Zou: Chinese American designer/fashion model living in NYC
Our conversation is about Julia's path as a designer/fashion model. The conversation went into the ups and downs of being in the modelling industry, her experience working as a model, her views on beauty and beauty standards for Asian Americans, her family's reaction to her career choice, and how to pose for photos.
Find Julia and support her!
Instagram
Website
Find us!
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0vSqGIRXpJozlfiCDjpv5K?si=Xe9qxPdORCyu_8SDPkRmKw<clid=ca3c72c2-624b-4812-9733-9e09723a1629&nd=1
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-kind-of-asian-are-you/id1531615451
Instagram (Podcast):
https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod
(Never Jaded Podcast):
https://www.instagram.com/neverjadedpod/?hl=en
Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ40aGle2G564N4of7iFuKA
Buy Me A Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian
Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)
All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod
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