EP 557: Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee On the Dangerous Case of Donald Trump
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Release Date: 09/28/2025
EP 576: Reanne Acasio On Starring in All-Pinoy Cast of "Here Lies Love"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
This week, the spotlight shines on rising Filipina American actor Reanne Acasio, who is about to take on one of the most complex and iconic roles in contemporary musical theater: Imelda Marcos in the groundbreaking disco-pop musical Here Lies Love. Reanne opens up about the thrill and responsibility of portraying such a larger‑than‑life figure, the cultural resonance of the show, and the journey that brought her from community stages to a starring role in one of the most talked‑about productions today. It’s an inspiring, thoughtful, and joy‑filled conversation with an artist whose...
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EP 575: The Honorable Elizabeth Yang On Her Noteworthy Journey to Becoming the Mayor of Monterey Park
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
The Honorable Elizabeth Yang was sworn in as the new mayor of Monterey Park, CA, in early 2025, but when you hear her share about the enormous challenges she's had to face in life, you might never have predicted where she's landed today. But as you get to know her better and what makes her tick, you'll learn never to bet against her and what she can accomplish.
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EP 574: Dr. Satsuki Ina On Her Book "The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment and Protest"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Until Dr. Satsuki Ina began to investigate and research the long-term, multi-generational impact of the trauma to Americans of Japanese ancestry as a result of President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, most people didn't give it a second thought. Sure, it was traumatic for an entire population of Americans to be viewed with suspicion. And of course it was indescribably terrible for them to lose everything, including their freedom and civil rights. But when the war ended and the Americans of Japanese ancestry were released from their remote prisons, didn't most of them get right back into the...
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EP 573: Kimberly Tso On Authoring "Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken" and the Importance of Adding to the Variety of AANHPI Stories
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Kimberly Tso is a debut picture‑book author whose work draws on real cultural history and themes of empathy. Her writing often highlights community stories and encourages kids to think critically about the world around them. Her book Tic‑Tac‑Toe Chicken has already received praise from award‑winning authors for its clever storytelling and heart. Inspired by a real chicken named Lillie who lived in the Chinatown Fair arcade on Mott Street in New York City, the book follows eight‑year‑old Beatrice as she tries to help Lillie find a better home.
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EP 572: Ann Kono & Renee Yang On Redefining What Being Asian American Means in America for Future Generations
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Renee Yang and Ann Kono are two of the co-founders of @TeachAAPI.org, whose mission is to redefine what being Asian American means in America by collecting and collating AAPI stories and creating curricula suitable for Pre-K through 12th grade. Founded during the pandemic 4.5 years ago, TeachAAPI is already reaching 200,000+ students in 35 California schools!
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EP 571: The Two Kens On Looking Back and Looking Forward
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
In this edition of the collaborative The Two Kens series, Fong and Kemp reflect on some of what they focused on in 2025, whille looking for signs of hope in this new year.
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EP 570: Author/Activist Dr. Winnie M. Li On New Novel "What We Left Unsaid"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Award-winning author and activist Dr. Winnie M. Li has recently published her third novel! What We Left Unsaid has us join three estranged Chinese American adult siblings on a Route 66 road trip that includes a mysterious detour to the Grand Canyon. It's a delicious exploration of sibling dynamics that are definitely rooted in the past, but are now in dire need of reexamination and healing. #roadtrip #whatweleftunsaid @winniemli
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EP 569: Kyle Ang On Creating "Tiger Tea Zine": A Space for Truths Often Carried Alone
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
What Kyle Ang began as a USC senior project has become a much-needed outlet for AANHPI's to express themselves artistically and in writing. Kyle's Tiger Tea Zine is a curated collection of contributions from those wanting to be seen and heard, especially as it pertains to their identities and well-being. @tigerteazine
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EP 568: Kam Redlawsk On Learning to Make Peace with Her "Monster"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
In writing and illustrating her 2025 debut picture book, Kam Redlawsk enables readers of any age to relate to her journey to come to grips with a form of muscular dystrophy that is progressively robbing her of the use of her muscles. Yumi and Monster not only showcases Redlawk's prodigious gifts as a storyteller and artist, but also as a disability advocate. www.kamredlawsk.com
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EP 567: The Two Kens On "Rental Family" & "Wicked for Good" and Che Ahn Entering the Race for CA Governor
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Podcasters Ken Fong and Ken Kemp managed to squeeze out one more of their collaborative series before celebrating Thanksgiving this year overwhelms their schedules. But before diving head first into their discussion about prominent MAGA pastor and NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) global leader Rev. Che Ahn's entering the 2026 race to be California's next governor, they do their best "Sisket & Ebert" impression and talk about the significance of two films that just released in theaters this weekend: Rental Family and Wicked for Good.
info_outlineToday, in 2025, there are numerous mental health professionals on television and streaming podcasts who talk openly about the state of President Trump's mental health. They don't pull any punches, given the ample evidence from his public appearances and his frequent online diatribes. They say he has a personality disorder, that he's an antisocial malignant narcissist who's in serious cognitive and physical decline. The irony is that, back when I recorded this interview with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee, she and the other 27 contributors to their 2017 book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump knew that they would be accused of violating the American Psychiatric Association's "Goldwater Rule." This principle states that psychiatrists are prohibited from offering opinions on the mental state of individuals that they have not personally evaluated.
This rule was created after, in 1964, Fact magazine published a survey asking psychiatrist to state whether they thought presidential candidate Barry Goldwater was psychologically fit to be President. The survey's results led to widespread ethical concerns and public outcry, prompting the APA to develop a formal set of ethics rules for its members.
However, in her book and in the part of our conversation that was unfortunately edited out, Dr. Lee asserted that if a mental health professional saw someone publicly and repeatedly displaying behavior that gave her or him cause for concern, they have every right to sound the alarm, even ask the authorities to put the person in a 72-hr involuntary hold for evaluation. But Yale Medical School and the courts did not agree with her, and she was shown the door.
That was just 3 years ago. And yet, as I stated up front, mental health professionals are publicly calling out Trump's mental health problems and not suffering any consequences.
As you listen to Dr. Lee, I think you'll agree that she and the other writers correctly described and predicted the how problematic it would be if Trump were put in power.