The Universal Grain
By The Universal Grain
The Universal GrainJun 28, 2021
The Metaverse and Privacy in the Digital Age
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about Facebook's new rebranding and the concept of privacy in the digital age.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/23/facebook-privacy-settings/
https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1049813246/facebook-new-name-meta-mark-zuckerberg
https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-internal-report-shows-instagram-bad-for-teens-2021-9
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/style/finsta-instagram-accounts-senate.html
Wellness Culture: Appropriation or Appreciation?
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about wellness culture and the appropriation of Eastern religion and medicine.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/sep/17/healing-crystals-wellness-mining-madagascar https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180216-the-strange-power-of-the-evil-eye
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/feb/28/bags-bathmats-why-fashion-loves-evil-eye-symbol
The Dehumanization of People With Uteruses
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about the anti-abortion bills being pushed through state legislatures and the history of the politicization of female presenting people's bodies. As the information in the episode is not as recent as current events, The Universal Grain should not be used as a source for updates on abortion bans in states. Instead, look online to reputable news sources for recent updates with lawsuits and bans.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Used:
https://www.npr.org/2021/10/01/1041607684/texas-abortion-law-federal-judge
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/23/1040132587/florida-abortion-restriction-bill-texas-ban
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/20/politics/supreme-court-mississippi-abortion-law/index.html
Climate Connections: Global Warming, Fast Fashion, and their Intersection
This week, Sandhya and Allison discuss fast fashion and its environmental impact as well as climate change and natural disasters.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/18/world/americas/haiti-earthquake-grace.html
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2012/02/01/climate-change-in-haiti/
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-climate-change-affect-natural-disasters-1?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products
https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/
https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/fast-fashion-climate-change/
Donate for Haiti:
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwih85TH_8XyAhUTEOcKHSMzBt4YABAAGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQeD2F-CUltNcMPVS3WcBPeDWGJXCqYpWPrr39_yV3-dlIPrfgc-3RZ6d01nu_WYNlC6nqIrmnal_mKvSq8gzWQUa&sig=AOD64_13l8O_ofQMUhzFH0pUraPlfZ-2jA&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwi-3YzH_8XyAhWoHzQIHSmyApUQ0Qx6BAgIEAE&dct=1
https://secure.projecthope.org/site/SPageNavigator/2021_08_Haiti_Response_Ads_UNR.html?autologin=true&mfc_pref=T&s_src=ads&s_subsrc=ads_sem_gs_topical_d2d_haiti081421&utm_source=fundraising&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=haiti+earthquake&gclid=CjwKCAjw64eJBhAGEiwABr9o2EE-WxKjV-VP7635Ep1shauKGBzih7VgGGG-tfednKWdmGbyrl651hoCzr8QAvD_BwE
The Body Positive: A Dialogue on Self Love and Representation
This week, Sandhya talked with Athena Nair, a representative of The Body Positive, about body image, activism, and the concept of health at every size. The Body Positive is an organization dedicated to teaching and encouraging every person to love themselves and embrace their uniqueness. To contact Athena, message athena@thebodypositive.org.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Links to Explore:
https://thebodypositive.org/about-us/
COVID Conversations: Talking about the Delta Variant and Public Health
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about the surge in case rates over the world, what the Delta variant is in scientific terms, and America's approach to public health.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/5-things-to-know-delta-variant-covid
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html
https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb4-covid-19-and-conflict-seven-trends-watch
https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb4-covid-19-and-conflict-seven-trends-watch
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210712/what-to-know-about-covid-delta-variant
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210720114413.htm
Examining the Evolution of Guns, and the Absence of Gun Control
This week, Allison and Sandhya discuss gun control and the prevalence of gun violence in modern day America.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/22/california-assault-weapons-ban-blocked/
https://everytownresearch.org/maps/gunfire-on-school-grounds/
https://www.dw.com/en/8-facts-about-gun-control-in-the-us/a-40816418
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/national-rifle-assn/recipients?id=d000000082&t2-View=Conservative
https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-gun-laws-policy-explained/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_in_2021
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-panel-vote-gun-control-advocate-lead-firearms-enforcement-agency-2021-06-24/
LGBTQ+ Pride: A Conversation About Identity and Intersectionality
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk to Riya about labels, the LGBTQ+ community, and how all issues are intersectional.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.hrc.org/news/spotlighting-the-intersection-of-black-and-transgender-identities
Social Media: A Double Edged Sword
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about social media and its affects on journalism, advocacy, and the younger generations.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/mylatrobe/the-growing-trend-of-performative-activism/
https://nyunews.com/opinion/2019/10/28/performative-activism-trends-fads-social-media/
https://www.journalism.org/2021/01/12/news-use-across-social-media-platforms-in-2020/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/28/politics/qanon-child-welfare/index.html
A Historical Overview of Wealth Inequality
This week, Sandhya and Allison discuss Wealth Inequality, Housing, and what role politics has in wealth inequality.
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Research Used:
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/
A Conversation about Climate Change
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk with Leena and Coco about climate change and all of the different facets of the issue.
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Research Used:
https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/06/25/covid-19-impacts-climate-change/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/climate-change-link-infectious-diseases-covid-19-study/
https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/13/opinions/gallery/top-climate-change-contributors/index.html
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/change/causes_en
https://www.watershedcouncil.org/pipeline-risks.html#:~:text=For%20natural%20gas%20pipelines%2C%20the,gas%2C%20contributes%20to%20climate%20change.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00090-3
https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/texas-snowstorm-arctic?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/what-is-climate-change/
Addressing Anti-Asian Hate
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about the horrifying increase in Anti-Asian rhetoric and hate based actions. We stand in solidarity with our Asian community.
Follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
Places to Donate to or Be Aware Of:
-https://www.aaldef.org
-https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org
-https://www.imreadymovement.org
Research Used:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/us/metro-atlanta-spa-shootings-what-we-know/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-area-shootings-03-17-21/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/10/975722882/the-rise-of-anti-asian-attacks-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/17/978055571/anti-asian-attacks-rise-during-pandemic-read-nprs-stories-on-the-surge-in-violen
Prison Reform: A Conversation on Education and the Criminal Justice System
This week Sandhya and Allison talk with Professor Reiter, a member of the Prison Education Project at UCI about education and the criminal justice system.
Learn more about the Prison Education Project here: https://prisoneducation.uci.edu
Follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!
https://www.courtinnovation.org/publications/restorative-racial-justice
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/rp01_1-dr01_1/p5.html
https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/restorative-justice-and-youthful-offenders
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/rj-jr/index.html
https://www.weareteachers.com/restorative-justice/
https://globalpeacecareers.com/magazine/examples-of-restorative-justice/
Washington D.C: A Discussion on Statehood
This week Sandhya and Allison talk about DC Statehood, and the arguments surrounding the issue.
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Research Used:
https://washington.org/DC-information/washington-dc-history
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/51
https://www.dcvote.org/10-myths-about-district-columbia
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/08/washington-dc-statehood-faq/
https://statehood.dc.gov/page/why-statehood-dc
https://www.dcvote.org/public-opinion/citizens’-guide-congressional-appropriations-process-district-columbia
Celebrating Lunar New Year
In this mini-episode, Allison and Sandhya talk about Lunar New Year and some of the holiday's traditions. They both wish everyone a prosperous new year and hope that everyone is celebrating the holiday safely!
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Sharing Experiences: A Conversation About Asian-American Identity
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk to their friends, Varshitha and Brandon, about their experiences as Asian-Americans.
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Thank you for listening!
The Future is Female: A Conversation With Women In Politics
This week, Sandhya and Allison, along with Rebecca and Katherine from Women In Politics talk about congresswomen, the gender wage gap, and United States Madam Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Research Used:
A Discussion on the COVID Vaccine
This episode, Sandhya and Allison talk about the COVID vaccine, the rollout of the vaccine, and the history of anti-vaccination ideology.
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Research Used:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Fabout-vaccines%2Fhow-they-work.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/8-things.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/national-strategy/planning-guidance/guidance_508.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/12/world/americas/covid-vaccine-us-uk-canada.html
https://ftp.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/history-anti-vaccination-movements
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/health/vaccine-distribution-delays.html
https://globalnews.ca/news/7511664/fact-or-fiction-covid-19-vaccine/
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/mrna-vaccine-basics.html
https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/how-are-vaccines-made
Delving into Sexual Health Stigmas
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about reproductive rights and sexual health in both Asian and American culture.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Research we used:
https://www.thirdway.org/memo/talking-about-reproductive-rights-in-2020
https://statusofwomendata.org/explore-the-data/reproductive-rights/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/odi.13390
http://www.ipsnews.net/2019/02/dismantling-sexual-health-stigma-india/
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn
Supporting Small Business
In this episode, Sandhya and Allison talk about immigrant history, small business and the pandemic, and the economy! If you are able to, the Universal Grain highly encourages you to shop at small business, especially during the pandemic.
Remember to vote if you are able to! Follow @theuniversalgrain Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
Research we used:
https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/immigrants-play-an-outsize-role-in-small-business.html
https://www.pnas.org/content/117/30/17656
https://delaroq.com/pages/about
https://wedreamincolour.com/about.html
https://www.shelbizleee.com/post/sustainable-black-owned-businesses
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/11/non-citizens-usa/
https://www.self.inc/blog/starting-a-business-as-an-immigrant-to-the-u-s
Mobilizing the Asian Electorate
This week, Sandhya and Allison discuss the importance of voting and the political climate.
Remember to VOTE if you are eligible, YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
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Research Used:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/opinion/latino-voters-2020-election.html
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/12/909131065/will-2020-be-the-year-of-the-young-voter
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-asian-americans-are-thinking-about-the-2020-election/
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2020/07/30/now-more-than-half-of-americans-are-millennials-or-younger/
Discussing the History of the Subjugation of Women
In this episode, Sandhya and Allison talk about the roots of cultural misogyny and their own experiences with gender stereotypes.
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Research Mentioned:
https://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/the-violent-roots-of-india39s-subjugation-of-women
https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/india/
https://transgenderlawcenter.org/black-trans-women-black-trans-femmes-leading-living-fiercely
https://asiasociety.org/education/women-traditional-china
Finding a Bicultural Sense of Self
In this episode, Sandhya and Allison talk about cultural shame and their experiences with whitewashing.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Used:
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-04/asian-american-films-canon
- https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
Realizing Academic Pressure in Asian Communities
This episode, Allison and Sandhya discuss their experiences with school, grades and mental health, and how their experiences relate to the larger Asian communities. They both want to remind their listeners to stay safe, don't stress, and do what they enjoy!
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Research Mentioned:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10615806.2012.668536
https://counseling.steinhardt.nyu.edu/blog/asian-americans-burdened-with-worry/
https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/article-mental-health
https://forge.medium.com/the-complain-brag-is-even-worse-than-the-humblebrag-397060de9092
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-00184-001
https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D82R40WD
https://hechingerreport.org/how-do-you-manage-college-online-quarantined-with-eight-people/
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/11/27/20975989/perfect-mental-health-perfectionism
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-adversity/201608/why-no-one-likes-humblebragger
Embarking On A Religious Journey
This week, Sandhya and Allison talk about their struggles with religion, how religion is intertwined with culture, and cultural appropriation.
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
Some of the research mentioned:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-41757047
https://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
https://www.justice.gov/crt/combating-post-911-discriminatory-backlash-6
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29644591
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/14/why-do-we-say-bless-you-notes-queries
https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2015/d064888.html
Wearing a Mask For Everyone
This week Allison and Sandhya talk about the Coronavirus and how both Eastern and Western values have impacted the situation. Please wear a mask and take safety precautions for the sake of others and yourself, and be safe!
Be sure to follow @theuniversalgrain on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Read more on the research mentioned in the episode:
https://theconversation.com/calling-covid-19-a-chinese-virus-is-wrong-and-dangerous-the-pandemic-is-global-134307
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/asian-americans-describe-gut-punch-of-racist-attacks-during-coronavirus-pandemic
https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2020/06/19/mask-wearing