‘Fugitive Waves’ podcast gives off a refreshing ‘Humans of New York’ vibe
When I first heard the name “The Kitchen Sisters,” I was a little apprehensive. What did I sign on to write about?
Was I going to be reviewing two 60-year-old ladies talking about the latest kitchen gadget and how it can help cook your Easter ham?
But when I looked them up online I knew immediately that my initial impression was very wrong. I found out they have an awesome podcast. I started to listen and I knew I had found a great new source of entertainment.
The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, are independent producers who create programs for NPR and other media outlets. Nelson and Silva are Peabody award winners and also teach, write books and offer workshops and public presentations.
In preparation for their arrival, I had the opportunity to listen to “Fugitive Waves,” one of their many podcasts.
“Fugitive Waves” chronicles a different story in every episode, telling stories that would normally be unheard. The episode that stuck out to me in my listening was episode four, “The French Manicure – The Long Shadow of Shirley Temple.” It’s the story of a woman who left Vietnam in 1972, and how she acclimated to the American way of life.
She decided to take on the name of Shirley Temple because as a little girl she loved to watch the Shirley Temple show and her name was too difficult for Americans to say. We hear her story of immigration to the U.S. and how she started to do nails at a salon and how that has really become the culture of the Vietnamese immigrants — to come into the country and find refuge and still make a living after just a few short months of certifications.
From the few episodes I have been able to listen to, I do enjoy “Fugitive Waves.” I like that they share stories of multiple people and multiple points of view; it gives a refreshing take on the world.
Podcasts are posted regularly, with the most recent being on March 21 of this year. From what I was able to listen to I didn’t find anything explicit or offensive and I would recommend this podcast to those looking to learn more about people and cultures that they otherwise may not have known. Fugitive Waves almost gave me a “Humans Of New York” vibe, but on a more in-depth level. Overall a great listen, and I would advise anyone to check it out.
The Kitchen Sisters will host a lecture for Utah State University students and the public on Tuesday, April 5 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Edith Bowen Laboratory School Auditorium.
—zrogers2222@gmail.com