‘Are you judgemental?’: Ending discrimination must start within, says Fil-Aus community leader - ‘Judgemental ka ba?’: Pagsugpo sa diskriminasyon, dapat magsimula sa sarili ayon sa isang Fil-Aus community leader

·21 min·2 clips

A Filipino-Australian community leader argues that ending discrimination must start with examining our own internal biases.

The episode begins with the host posing the question 'Are you judgemental?' to introduce the theme of internal bias as the starting point for ending discrimination. Guest Ronna Guzman, a Filipino-Australian community leader and business owner, is interviewed. She explains her role in embodying Filipino spirit and fostering connections across cultures through organizations like PAMAY. Guzman details PAMAY's primary mission of welfare support, responding to calamities and refugees, which she links to social cohesion research by the Scanlon Foundation. She then addresses subtle forms of discrimination, particularly in workplaces, citing examples like negative reactions to Filipino food such as tuyo. Guzman advocates for approaching differences with curiosity and respect rather than judgment. The host inquires about upcoming community events, leading Guzman to describe a multicultural youth festival on May 3rd at Campbelltown's Koshigaya Park, featuring a Filipino corner. Later, the episode includes a segment with Dr. Liz Goles, who discusses representation and the absence of glass ceilings for younger generations influenced by social media. Guzman becomes emotional while talking about the Youth-Amplified podcast, highlighting young Filipino-Australian leaders from universities like University of Newcastle and Western Sydney. She emphasizes their role in driving change and navigating identity challenges. The conversation returns to the core message that inclusion must begin with internal self-assessment of one's own biases. Both guests offer final advice: Guzman stresses looking at who is not in the room, and Dr. Goles encourages playing to Filipino strengths like friendliness and adaptability. The episode wraps up with promotional content for SBS and the Work in Progress podcast.

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