Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We have an incredible episode featuring the award-winning journalist of CBC Radio One, Michelle Eliot. Michelle joins us to talk about Filipino representation in broadcast media and how it impacts our community. We talk about how her immigrant experience has influenced her approach in telling stories in the media, which would include asking thoughtful questions where our community and other communities of color are well represented without being "othered". By representing the experience of many others, we talk about how meaningful it is to be a voice and perspective that brings light to the immigrant experience. Michelle also takes us through the journey of her career in journalism and talks about the most exciting part of hosting a live radio show. We discuss Mabuhay BC - a feature launched in CBC during Filipino Heritage Month in Canada that focuses on stories about the robust and diverse Filipino community. From articulating the kinship and bond between the Filipino and indigenous community, to highlighting the meaning or stories behind our Filipino names and also talking about issues that reflect the Filipino people. We chat about pushing the Filipino story forward, increasing the diversity in our stories and our responsibility as an immigrant in this community and how we can be in solidarity and kapwa with others. Lastly, Michelle shares her go-to karaoke song and what Filipino food items would be found on her boodle fight (kamayan).
ABOUT MICHELLE ELIOT
Michelle Eliot is the host of CBC Radio One's B.C. mid day open line show, BC Today. Michelle is an award-winning journalist with CBC Radio One, and has become a familiar voice as a regular guest host on regional and national programs, interviewing community members and prominent politicians, as well authors and musicians such as Douglas Coupland and Bif Naked. But her true passion is for the open line, where her skill at engaging callers probes further into their viewpoints and digs deeper into their personal stories.
Her work has been recognized by the RTDNA and the Jack Webster Foundation, winning awards for her team’s coverage of the ongoing overdose crisis and the 2017 NDP and Green Party deal. She has also received nominations for her story about immigrants learning to swim later in life, and for her profile of a well-loved woman in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside who died of an overdose.
Michelle was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada with her family at 12-years old, settling in North Vancouver. Her experience as a young immigrant planted the seed of understanding for people whose lives are changed by new circumstances.
She studied English Literature at the University of British Columbia and went on to study Broadcast Journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology before joining CBC Vancouver in 2000.
Michelle is married with two children. She enjoys joining community events like the Vancouver Sun Run and the Pride Parade. As the parent of a child with special needs, she also likes to participate in events in the disability community.
Aside from enjoying running, Michelle is also an avid reader, a lover of spontaneous dance parties, and an unabashed fan of old school hip hop music.
Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios