Episode #155: Decolonizing Ourselves, Cultivating an Anti-Oppression Lens, And Living in the Hyphen with Justine Abigail Yu

Episode Summary

Justine Abigail Yu takes us on her journey growing up in Toronto as a Filipina-Canadian, navigating that hyphenated identity, and living between two cultures.  She describes how travel has impacted her and reflects on the impact of traveling back to the Philippines at different points in her life.  Justine gives tips on visiting the Philippines, where you should go, and why you should definitely not skip Manila. She also talks about attending the Fringe Festival in Manila, and how it functions as a space for the expression of gender fluidity within a conservative society.  Justine then shares the story of how she met her relationship partner while traveling.  She shares their experiences traveling as a mixed race couple in Asia, and how it provoked some of her most profound reflections on the importance of decolonizing ourselves.  Justine also talks about her trip to East Africa and reflects on the evolution of her anti-oppression politics and the development of her 3DR Approach—Decolonize, Disrupt, Dismantle and Rebuild.  She then talks about her magazine, Living Hyphen, reflects on the importance of storytelling for marginalized communities, and discusses the expansion and future of the project.  Justine also talks about her role as the Marketing and Communications Director at Wanderful, and her involvement in developing their Anti-Oppression toolkit for content creators.  She then explains her role as the senior advisor for the RISE Travel Institute which promotes responsible, impactful, sustainable & ethical travel.  And, finally, Justine reflects on the concepts of allyship and solidarity and what travel means to her today.

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Justine Abigail Yu

Justine Abigail Yu is a communications and marketing strategist who has worked with organizations operating in North America, Central America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her expertise lies in growing enterprises from the ground up through strategic digital marketing, compelling storytelling, and genuine community engagement through a lens of anti-oppression.  She is currently the Marketing & Communications Director at Wanderful – a global travel and lifestyle brand that specializes in helping all women travel the world – as well as the Senior Advisor for RISE Travel Institute – a non-profit organization that promotes responsible, sustainable, and ethical travel through education.  Justine is also the founder of Living Hyphen, an emerging magazine that explores the experiences of living in between cultures as a hyphenated Canadian – that is, an individual who calls Canada home but who has roots elsewhere.  She is a fierce advocate for equity and anti-oppression and her mission is to stir the conscience and spur social change.

What You'll Learn
  • Tips on navigating hyphenated identities and decolonizing ourselves
  • How to cultivate an anti-oppression lens and become a better ally
  • How to travel in a way that is more responsible, impactful, sustainable & ethical
Links From the Episode

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LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVING HYPHEN
Use the discount code “MAVERICK” to get a 10% off Living Hyphen magazine

JOIN THE WANDERFUL COMMUNITY

CHECK OUT THE RISE TRAVEL INSTITUTE

#1 BOOK THAT JUSTINE RECOMMENDS

 #1 PERSON WITH WHOM JUSTINE MOST WANTS TO HAVE DINNER

ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED

 TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 CONNECT WITH JUSTINE

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[3:32] Growing up as a Filipina-Canadian

[5:44] Developing Her Anti-Oppression Politics

[9:44] How Travel Has Impacted Justine’s Life

[12:41] Reflections on Traveling Back to the Philippines

[18:43] How Justine Met Her Relationship Partner While Traveling

[22:50] Reflections on Traveling to Asia with Her Relationship Partner

[26:10] Justine’s Recommendations for Visiting the Philippines

[28:56] The Fringe Festival in Manila and Expressions of Gender Fluidity

[32:34] The Exoticization of Asian Women and the Importance of Decolonizing Ourselves

[43:28] Justine’s Experience in East Africa

[48:19] Justine’s 3DR Approach: Decolonize, Disrupt, Dismantle, and Rebuild

[52:44] “Living Hyphen” and the Importance of Storytelling

[1:01:04] The “Wanderful” Community to Help All Women Travel the World

[1:03:10] Creating the “Anti-Oppression Toolkit” for Content Creators

[1:05:36] The RISE Travel Institute for Responsible, Impactful, Sustainable & Ethical Travel

[1:08:31] Understanding Allyship, Solidarity, and Anti-Oppression

[1:11:14] What Travel Means to Justine

[1:13:38] The Lightning Round

  • #1 Book Justine Recommends
  • #1 Person with whom Justine would most like to have dinner
  • #1 Piece of advice Justine would give to her 18 year old self
  • Top 3 favorite travel destinations
  • Top 3 bucket list destinations

[1:15:15] Follow and Connect with Justine