Meet Christy Lin | Creator and Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christy Lin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christy, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I had a hard time fitting in with a lot of the kids because my family was one in only a handful of BIPOC people in my hometown. Race dynamics wasn’t a widely discussed issue, so I just spent a lot of time alone instead. As I got older and began to find my own way, and my own voice, and my own community, it grew increasingly important to also find a space that felt safe for all of that. At the height of the BLM protests, I found myself having more and more conversations about difficult social issues, and I yearned for a platform where I could invite those who were ready to come and share these conversations with a wider audience. Since I couldn’t find one, I decided to build one.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been a behind the scenes person professionally, so the most difficult part of starting out for me was deciding that I should be the one to get in front of the camera. I had a moment during the pandemic when I just felt completely lost and wondered if I should just get rid of all my things and go home to my mother. I was unemployed, my relationship had just ended, and I did not have any sort of vision for my future-so I started to do the opposite of everything I knew about myself. I stopped tracking my weight and dieting, I bought a bunch of sex toys and lingerie, and I stopped applying for jobs. To anyone on the outside looking in, it looked like I was giving everything up and spiraling down, but for me it was more like a radical liberation I didn’t know I needed. I began to redefine “good” and “bad” and “right” and “wrong” in my own mind, without the influence of anyone around me, and I embraced any out of the box opportunity that popped up. One of those was a casting for a pilot filming near my hometown, and while that show is still in the works, the experience of being on camera and the relationships it sparked were just what I needed to finally take the plunge.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite part of LA is just how much can be experienced in a day. There are so many cultures, activities, and climates that can be reached with just a short drive, and never a shortage of special events. I would definitely hit up San Gabriel Valley to show off some of the best Chinese food available in the US whether that be dim sum, boba, or really down home dishes like Taiwanese oyster omelets. I really enjoy peaceful strolls through the botanical gardens and the LA Arboretum during the day, but if they’re up for some really off the cuff kind of fun then I would bring us all out at night for some ghost hunting at places like the Colorado Street Bridge. Ghost hunting and paranormal tours have been a really enjoyable way for me to learn about the city’s history. It’s very quirky and off the beaten path, but the people are welcoming and eager to share their stories of what they experience or hope to experience. Locations range from dive bars to theaters to Dodger Stadium, so wherever you go in LA you’re sure to find something. We also can’t forget the beach and I happen to know of a semi-private one up in Malibu where on any given day you’re likely to crash either a film set, or even a wedding (I’ve done both) but everyone is cool about it and the views can’t be beaten.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my boyfriend, my best friend, and all of my chosen family-I am so grateful for their encouragement as I found my voice and their unwillingness to see me as a failure, no matter how many times I start something new. Also to Henry San Miguel and Doug Carnahan who saw something in me that I never would have and gave me the opportunity to learn and explore my ideas and desires. Finally, to my parents, who always made the difficult choices, and who instilled in me that even as the world changes around us, I too will always have choices.

Website: https://www.afternoonequalitea.co/

Instagram: @christyoftrees

Twitter: @christyoftrees

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afternoonequalitea

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5WHwfQ5V05gCZp632_0Fjg