Asians Speak Up | Brian Gao and Arin Siriamonthep on Activism, Allyship and Mental Health under Pressure

Season 1 Episode 7

You're never too young or too old to find your voice. We talk to Brian Gao (incoming NYU Stern '25) and Arin Siriamonthep (Boston University '24) of Asians Speak Up, a New York based AAPI community advocacy group that has been featured on ABC Eyewitness News and Buzzfeed News.

Brian and Arin tell us why the pandemic and recent hate crimes inspired them to create Asians Speak Up as high school students, and how sharing your truth and being part of a bigger movement for change can positively impact your mental health and build confidence in your identity, creative abilities and self-expression.

We talk about real vs. performative allyship in #BLM and #StopAsianHate, and why tennis player Naomi Osaka's recent decision to drop out of the French Open due to depression and anxiety highlights how tennis and competitive sports are just as much a mental game as physical.

About Asians Speak Up:
A New York-based community advocacy group started by Brian Gao (incoming NYU Stern '25) and Arin Siriamonthep (Boston University '24), two students looking to facilitate conversation between Asians and their communities in an attempt to increase awareness about racism to create unity. They hope to develop a platform where Asians across the globe can come together with support and inspiration to help others.

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