Welcome to
Cha-Tea Circle:
A Podcast Series on
Asian American Spiritualities

Chanhee Heo is a PhD candidate in American Religions and US History at Stanford University. Her research interests include American religions in a global context, racial identity formation, inter-imperial relations in the Pacific, and Asian American History. As an enthusiastic dog mom, she enjoys exploring nature with her dog while sipping on an oolong (soy) milk tea.  

Chenxing Han's work explores the possibilities that emerge at the intersections of Buddhism, Asian America, chaplaincy / spiritual care, and literature / creative expression. She's the author of Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists and one long listening: a memoir of grief, friendship, and spiritual care. She's a fan of (soy)milky rooibos and hojicha lattes.

Elaine Lai is a Lecturer at Stanford University. She recently received her PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University, with a specialization in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Elaine is interested in cultivating alternative temporal sensibilities through story and language. This is reflected in her dissertation work, multiple screenplays, and technology projects. Elaine’s favorite teas are strong and dark like her.

Xianfeng Shi 释贤枫 is a Buddhist nun from the Mahāyāna tradition, specifically Han Buddhism (pronounced /hʌn/, 汉传佛教). She is also a PhD student at Boston University. Her research interests lie in the study of contemporary Buddhist communities and their practices within a globalized context, as well as the evolving gender dynamics within these communities. A good cup of tea or boba tea or mango lassi with friends makes her happy.