Sifu Mimi Chan

A little about me and why I started podcasting.

FAMILY

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Orlando, Florida.  Both of my parents are immigrants of Chinese descent, with my father being from southern China, and my mother being born and raised in Jamaica.  My father risked his life and escaped communism in China to live out the American Dream.

He was one of the pioneers to help spread Chinese culture and traditional kung fu in the USA!  Shameless plug: You can watch this award-winning movie PUI CHAN: KUNG FU PIONEER to get the full story.  In all seriousness, I did win over 10 film awards and am very proud of this film.

My mother also had her adventures of emigrating from Jamaica at 19 to be a singer in the USA.  In 1980, together, they established the first kung fu temple in America, the Wah Lum Temple in Orlando.

Although I did not face the life-threatening challenges my father had, nor did I set off on an adventure in a foreign country as my mother did… I have my own journey and experiences that make me who I am today.  Both my parents came to the USA for a new life, however, they still felt it was important to preserve the traditions of their heritage.

MIMI CHAN’S CAREER

Becoming a Wah Lum Sifu was a natural progression in my life.  I teach kung fu full time at the Wah Lum Temple in Orlando and have been involved in kung fu pretty much since I was born.  Our lifestyle is unconventional, to say the least.  My life has been filled with travels around the world, Chinese and Jamaican celebrations (versus the usual Christmas and 4^th of July), and meeting extraordinary people.  They may not all be famous, but like many of you, they have their own journey, lifestyle, or culture to share.  I know people who are passionate about life, and I wanted to find a way to connect with them more frequently and share their stories.

MIMI CHAN’S PASSIONS

Comics & Books

It may be surprising to some of you, but one of the topics I am excited to chat about is comic books, which I am now an avid reader of thanks to my husband Oscar.  I started reading comic books mainly because of insomnia.  O recommended I start reading them as an activity before sleeping because he knows that reading usually puts me to sleep.

One of the first comic books I read (and one of my favorites to this day) was Y the Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan.  I also enjoyed Sandman, The Graveyard Book, Usagi Yojimbo, Irredeemable, Chew, Fables, and any arcs written by Greg Rucka, especially LAZARUS.  Some of my show guests have included: collectors, store owners, artists, and writers.

I’m also a lover of reading or rather listening to audiobooks.  So grateful to have interviewed my favorite YA novelists: Marissa Meyer and Marie Lu.

Film

I’ve also dabbled in film, with my intro to this world when I was chosen to be the model for Disney’s animated feature Mulan.  I discuss how all of that came about in this podcast. Mulan led me to do stunt work and small acting stints in LA.  I met wonderful people who are unbelievably talented and still working in the industry. I’ve enjoyed my time working in film and television, and am a proud member of SAG/AFTRA.

It also connected me to directors of film festivals, film critics, authors, etc.  I really miss the work I used to do, but not the occasional black eyes I would get from the stunt work!  I am now leaving those jobs to the experts, and have featured many stunt performers on my podcast. (Ryan Watson, Christopher Leps, Jessi Fisher)

Music

My mom being a singer, has worked with musicians that are now professionals, especially in the Caribbean music scene.  Reggae, soca, and the like are what I grew up listening to.  My mom sang in a professional reggae band with her brothers up until 10 years ago!  Not many of my Chinese friends had that experience growing up.

I love music.  In school, I played some instruments and conducted both orchestras and marching bands.  I chat with musicians and choreographers from different genres. I interviewed the late Phil Chen, whom I refer to as “uncle” who played with Rod Stewart, the Doors, and many rock bands, but he got his start in Jamaica.

Food

Being from a Chinese and Jamaican background, one of the best aspects of my heritage is the food.  I love eating, I also cook (quite well I’m told), and have planned all of my vacations centered around dining in some of the world’s best restaurants (literally the ones on the 50 world’s best list). I’ve also been fortunate to dine in the homes of some of the best cooks that don’t own restaurants.  So, I will be speaking with foodies, bloggers, and chef’s about one of my favorite subjects.

Martial Arts

Naturally, I know a vast network of martial artists from around the globe.  Kung fu is my area of expertise, and I have fun conversations with my fellow martial artists.  My husband Oscar is in health and fitness, so we also touch on that subject too.

Politics & Social Issues

Although this show is not about politics, it is important for me to address the social issues of today.  I speak with everyone from government officials to advocates.  I feel privileged to share immigrant and cultural stories.

I would like to emphasize that some of my conversations have been serious and sensitive to today’s political climate.  The views expressed in this podcast reflect the opinions of myself and my guests.  These are my personal views.

This podcast will have something for everyone and hopefully, you will enjoy listening.  Please be patient with my progress as I improve and learn. Let me know what you would like me to explore, and I wouldn’t mind encouragement when you think I’m doing well!

In 2021 I decided to move from Culture Chat Podcast to The Sifu Mimi Chan Show.  Listen to this podcast to hear why the change and how the show has evolved.

Thank you!

Mimi Chan