Hong Kong Confidential

Tegan Smyth is an Australian Lawyer working in Hong Kong who runs a program for refugees called Table of Two Cities. It is a community project where refugees tell their stories and share their culture through food. A shared meal can bring both sides of Hong Kong to one shared table.  Two sides of the city, united by an idea, by acceptance, understanding and by food. Table of Two Cities enables refugees to give something of themselves to the local community and feel valued and appreciated. Tegan reminds us that ‘food is a universal medium to communicate your understanding of the world’. Tegan is a survivor of assault and she shares her experience with us and explains how helping others, is a way for her navigate her own trauma. She wants to hold space for people who do not have the spaced opened to them. Tegan feels that empathy is a gift and facing her trauma has inspired her to strive to create something worthwhile in the lives of others and helped her find a purpose in her own life. By shar

Kevin Wong, co-founder and chief executive of Origami Labs, says Orii is the world's first voice-powered smart ring. It is a private communication tool that uses voice assistance technology to communicate. The ring uses sound as a physical vibration which passes directly through your finger and into your ear. Kevin explains that screen free technology is his area of interest and this has been inspired by his dad who has been sight impaired from the age of thirteen. In fact, Kevin’s dad also works in technology and was one of the first blind programmers in Hong Kong, who helped build the world first voice activated computer in the 1990’s. Kevin’s main goal in his tech development work is to create products that are inclusive and meaningful, and this is what he and his team have done with the Orii ring. Kevin started programming at the age of 6 or 7 and was taught by his father. Working in the Start Up space as an entrepreneur has been a wonderful journey for Kevin and he discusses the qualiti

Rebecca Hopkins shares her fertility journey with us and her ultimate choice to use egg donation to create her family. She went though IVF and this was not successful at all but she and her husband were both committed to having a family no matter what. After giving up on the idea of IVF, Rebecca fell pregnant naturally, but the baby had spina bifida and was terminated at 20 weeks. Losing their first daughter, Ruby was devastating for Rebecca and her husband. They left their jobs, went travelling to heal and eventually found themselves in the UK ready to try egg donation again. They decided on Spain where egg donation is anonymous, and Rebecca eventually had a child and then on her second attempt, twins. Rebecca shares with us how now she has three children, she regrets choosing an anonymous donor because of the potential impact that using an anonymous donor could have on her childrens’ sense of identity and why she thinks anonymous donation should be banned globally.  Rebecca also talks about the i

Rebecca Hopkins talks about how she found herself going through early menopause in her early 30’s and this affected many aspects of her life, including her ability to have children. She had her children using an egg donor and whilst she was raising her small children she found herself in the midst of quite intense menopausal symptoms. Her doctor put her on hormones to combat early osteoporosis. This meant that her sex drive shot through the roof and she became rather rampant. She was also super moody and explosive, so she tried different methods of administering the hormones until she found the one that was most conducive to her having minimal menopausal symptoms and less mood swings.  Rebecca talks about bone density, ugly crying and egg donation. Stay tuned for All Out of Eggs: Part 2 where Rebecca goes into detail about egg donation, IVF and what she has learned throughout the whole process. A Listener Note: If you feel you need support, please visit your local GP, a counsellor or contact the Sa

Amao Leota Lu is a proud Fa’afafine living in Melbourne, Australia. She was in Hong Kong for the Rainbow Families Forum and spoke to me about her life. She shares her struggles as a transgender woman and also explains the cultural acceptance that she has experienced from her friends and family in Samoa, where the culture is very inclusive. Amao explains how she has navigated a safe space for herself and how she works to support other LGBTQIA+ members of her local community. She shares her journey as she evolved into her true self over the years. “Everyone’s journey is different” and Amao helps us to understand this by sharing her story.  The struggle that trans people can face include finding housing, jobs, health care and acceptance in the community. Amao hopes to give a ‘voice and visibility’ to trans people and reminds us that cultures are forever changing, and that we can all make a difference by treating everyone with respect and kindness. Amao shares the devastat

Philip Howell-Williams is the Director of Pink Season, a five-week long festival which highlights and supports the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong. This is the 9th year that Pink Season has run, and Philip has put his own stamp on the celebration by including more educational and family events in the plethora of functions on offer. Pink Season offers many free activities with a focus on arts, theatre, family connections, sport, education and parties. There is even a Drag Queen workshop which will culminate in a parade and performance at the closing ceremony. Philip has endeavoured to make Pink Season more marketable to corporations and thus the funding for the event has increased significantly so the variety of events on offer are vast and there is something for everyone to enjoy. There is a global trend for corporations to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and Hong Kong is no exception. This is so important for the LGBT+ community as inclusivity and diversity provides visibility, confidence and s

Chris Geary is the CEO of BSD Education where he runs an innovative program called RefuGeek. This is a non-profit entity sponsored by the Fargo Foundation in Hong Kong, using academic curriculum to deliver technology education to refugees and asylum seekers in Asia. Chris believes that everyone should have the right to technology education and learn the skills needed to succeed in the world. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes due to conflicts and natural disasters. In many cases, these displaced people have missed out on their education, meaning that when they are finally relocated, they lack the necessary skills to survive in the modern world. An understanding of code and tech applications, however basic, will make an enormous difference to potential employers, or their ability to start their own businesses. At RefuGeek, they give refugees a chance to learn basic IT skills in the hope that this training will increase their chances of employment and opportunities in life. Chris shares det

Nan talks about her life and what is was like growing up in the 1920’s and 30’s in Australia. She discusses her education, her career and her life living on the farm, married to Claude. She shares her secrets to longevity of life and explains many of the challenges she has faced. Nan talks proudly about the achievements of all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nan is an incredible woman who is still mentally sharp, even at the age of 100. However, she is frustrated that her body is starting to let her down, particularly her failing eyesight. She shares her thoughts on life-long learning and how important it is to move with the times. Nan is the matriarch of our family and is loved by everyone. She is an inspiration to us all and it’s not often you can chat to someone who has lived for 100 years and is still as sharp as a tack. We all love you, Nan! Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: juleshannaford1@gmail.com Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confide

Film director, Joanna Bowers shares her experiences making impactful films that shine a light on social issues, in particular the potential of women. She began working in film in the USA. In 2011, Joanna moved to Hong Kong where she is now based. Since relocating to Asia, projects have seen her filming throughout mainland China, Nepal Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and the United States. Having told several successful female-driven short-form stories, in 2015 she was inspired to explore the issues facing migrant workers in Hong Kong. The film ‘The Helper’, Joanna’s feature directorial debut, chronicles the diverse stories from Hong Kong’s migrant domestic ‘helpers’, exploring the immense contribution they make to society in the face of heart-breaking separation from their loved ones. Joanna explains how the domestic workers are the heroes and to see them feeling empowered through their work on the film was wonderful and it allowed them to become leaders and role model

Ken Wong used to work in finance in the USA but when he saw a need for improving aged care systems in his home town of Hong Kong, he created Evercare, a service that helps the elderly age with comfort and dignity. Evercare is an aged care service that provides people with an alternative way of aging in the home surrounded by family. Evercare developed a platform that marries technology and people by informing families about the health and wellbeing of their loved one. Evercare puts together a team of professional and creates an individual care program for the elderly so that they can be taken care of in the home and have their medical and emotional needs met. Ken discussed aging and the things that matter to the elderly like family, social connections and friends. He explains how as family members, we need to understand how important it is to communicate with the elderly and find out what they need and to ensure that we look at all the care options available. There is a stigma in Chinese culture when it comes

Jason Masters was a married father of two children who discovered later in life that he was gay. Jason discusses his journey of understanding his sexual identity and how he had to come to terms with this and aligned his Christian faith with his acceptance of himself. Jason shares the experience of seeking therapy and then having to come out to his wife and how they worked through this significant event as a family. Jason talks about how there is a gap in the support available for teens who discover that they have a gay father and he feels his kids would have benefited from this kind of support in the early days when he told them he was gay. Jason reveals that he was bullied as a child and had an explosive father, and this coupled with his suppression of his sexuality, led to some mental health issues. He praises the support that he had from medical professionals and also from his church community. Jason has become an accidental activist in the Uniting Church and wants to add value to the community. He is a yo

Scilla Andreen is the CEO & Co-Founder of IndieFlix Group Inc a global screening and streaming service that promotes and supports social impact films to create positive change in the world. IndieFlix screening service books offline community screenings in schools, corporations and communities around the world while IndieFlix streaming offers a monthly subscription based service to access thousands of high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, and series.https://www.indieflix.com/ Scilla and her team share powerful stories in the medium of film, in the hope of creating global change. Scilla was in Hong Kong screening her latest film ‘Angst’ in schools, to parents and members of the community. Scilla shares her life journey with us giving us a glimpse into how she began her career in the film industry, eventually starting her own company IndieFlix. Scilla was bullied as a child and that was the inspiration for her getting on board to help distribute ‘Finding Kind’ where Lauren Pau

Kate McAlister was a fit and healthy 31-year-old early childhood educator from California working in Hong Kong, when she had a stroke. At first, she was misdiagnosed and sent home with a migraine but eventually after a whole night of vomiting, she went back to the hospital and was finally diagnosed with having a stroke. She shares her difficult journey in relation to returning to work too quickly and realising she needed to head home to stay with her parents to recuperate. Whilst back in The States, Kate pursued more medical advice by seeing other doctors and specialists, one of which whom made a connection with her stroke and the death of her aunt at 37, who passed away from a dissection in her heart- a similar occurrence to Kate's stroke. Kate explores her journey with grief and loss as she had to come to terms with the fact that her body was not the same as it used to be, and her lifestyle had changed dramatically given that she was an adventurous woman who lived life to the fullest. Kate struggled to disc

Sara Tang is the host of ‘Better in Bed’ podcast where she discusses everything imaginable about sex and sexuality. She feels that her podcast is a wonderful medium to bring more sex positive resources to the Hong Kong community, where sex is not always openly discussed. There is somewhat of a social taboo surrounding sex in Hong Kong and Sara is hoping to change this mindset. Sara states that historically, Chinese people were very sexual but it appears that they are much more repressed in this day and age. Sara grew up in a very restrictive Christian environment and she did not have any sex education as a child. Sara would like to see sex education as a mandatory subject in Hong Kong schools and she is doing her part make this happen. “Learning about sex should be a normal part of life” Sara claims. Sara used to have a blog about sex and she also trained with a sexologist. She is very well qualified to discuss all topics related to sex, including consent, orgasms, pornography and mast

Olivia grew up in Hong Kong in a Chinese family. She realised that she suffered from anxiety and depression after she finished university. Her friends did not really understand her mental health issues and she found it difficult to manage her fluctuating emotions. Olivia developed an intense fear of failure and rejection, and was unable to do her job well. It was three or four years before she sought help and she was diagnosed as bipolar with depression and anxiety. Olivia found it very hard to accept this diagnosis and she tried to avoid the issue as she did not want to admit that she needed medication.  Eventually, she tried medication and this helped her but she still found it difficult to accept her condition as she was worried about judgment from others.  Her family was unable to accept her mental health issues as topics like this are rarely discussed in traditional Chinese families. At times she felt suicidal and this was very difficult for her to overcome. She talks about the cultural pressur

Has opens up about his life growing up as a gay child living in a strict, conservative Muslim family from Sri Lanka. Being gay was not openly accepted in his family and he ensured that he kept his sexuality private. Growing up he felt conflicted and struggled with his identity. Has does not discuss his personal life or his sexuality with his family. He laments the lack of relationship with his family due to not being able to be completely open. He had his own distressing #metoo experiences as he was raped more than once as a teen by an older man. These difficult aspects of his life led him to attempt suicide twice when he was younger. He has worked hard to come to terms with this trauma and is involved in the current #metoo movement, where he hopes to overcome the stigma of abuse and find the space to speak about his experiences. Has is a passionate LGBTQIA activist and human rights defender, and has founded his own non-profit organization, ‘We the People’. He is hoping to help the more vulnerable

Tricia Yap is a holistic coach who encompasses physical training, nutrition, positive psychology and lifestyle choices in her work with her clients. She is an MMA fighter and founder of the Warrior Academy in Hong Kong. Tricia has faced her share of difficulties in her life ranging from being bullied as a child in Australia to dealing with an acrimonious divorce, which made her question her self-worth on many levels.  She harnessed these negative experiences to redefine her success by overcoming feelings of shame, guilt, anger and inadequacy.  She has worked hard to be a better version of herself and now helps others to achieve this same success by teaching people to invest in their own health and wellbeing.  Tricia explains how we can learn from our failures and how we must not define success based on what other people think of us. She shares a great 5 step prioritisation exercise with us that can help us to think about where we are placing all of our time and energy, and the shifts that we co

Hong Kong's very own Olympic swimmer, Geoff Cheah talks about his experience training as a professional swimmer in the USA and competing in the 2016 Olympics where he won his 50 metre freestyle heat. He has always had to balance is academics and training, and embrace the discipline needed to succeed. Geoff explains the importance and value of peer coaching and helping other young athletes. Geoff shares how he managed to cope with his father passing away at the height of his success and his focus on the need to 'control the controllable' so he could manage all that was going on in his life. Geoff re-evaluated his priorities and considered expanding his horizons. A wonderful interview with a talented and humble young man, who is wise beyond his years. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: juleshannaford1@gmail.com Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.c

Jules, Tracey and I talk about our personal experiences with menopause and the various ways that we have coped with this significant change in our lives. We discuss many of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and explain which ones affected us the most and how we coped with them. We explore the different treatment options available and the best options for us as individuals. We also share our thoughts on a number of different topics including aging, loss of of fertility and our retirement plans.  We discuss why we feel menopause is often a taboo subject and we hope that by sharing our thoughts and experiences, we will open up the dialogue on this topic and also hopefully help others have a better understanding of what may be involved in the whole process. Please seek medical advice if you are experiencing any difficult symptoms related to menopause. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: juleshannaford1@gmail.com Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https:

Dennis Philipse talks to us about Hong Kong’s successful bid to win the Gay Games in 2022. This is the first time that the Gay Games will be hosted in Asia and it is a very exciting milestone in the history of the games and also for Hong Kong. Dennis walks us through the bidding process and the excitement the team felt when they won then bid. We explore how this wonderful event will “build lighthouses of hope” in the LGBTQ community, and the positive impact that the Gay Games will have on both Hong Kong and Asia. Everyone is welcome to participate in the games regardless of your age, race, culture, religion, gender or sexuality. Dennis shares some heartwarming and inspirational personal stories of love and hope. He reminds us that the goal of the Gay Games is to not only be inclusive but to “celebrate diversity and to connect people in the spirit of sport.” The Gay Games webpage: https://www.gaygameshk2022.com/ Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: juleshannaford1@gmail.com Netwo