EP 561: Harvard's Dr. Eram Alam On How Immigrant (Especially South Asian) Physicians Changed U.S. Healthcare
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Release Date: 10/19/2025
EP 590: State Treasurer Fiona Ma On Why She's Running to Be California's Next Lieutenant Governor
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Fiona Ma is currently terming out as California's Treasurer, but after more than two decades of public service, she's now running to be the state's Lieutenant Governor. While most of the media's attention has been focused on the still unpredictable gubernatorial race, there are sixteen in the race for California's No. 2 seat of power, and Fiona has the clearest institutional resume, giving her an early advantage in name recognition among voters even as most remain undecided. Over 30 current and former California mayors have endorsed her. Early polling gives her a lead with likely Democratic...
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EP 589: Rev. Rae Huang On Faith, Housing, and the Future of Los Angeles
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
In this episode, we sit down with Rev. Rae Huang, a candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles who is looking to bridge the gap between grassroots activism and City Hall. As a Presbyterian minister and a seasoned organizer with Housing Now! CA, Rae brings a unique perspective to the race—one rooted in "the theology of the neighborhood." We dive deep into her personal journey as a daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and a single mother, exploring how those lived experiences fuel her "Housing for All" platform. Rae breaks down her vision for social housing, her plan for a Public Bank of Los Angeles,...
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EP 588: Sacramento DA Thien Ho On How They Finally Captured and Convicted the Golden State Killer
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Sacramento County's District Attorney Thien Ho's book, The People vs. the Golden State Killer, is highly recommended for readers interested in true crime, legal history, and stories of human resilience. As the lead prosecutor in the case, Ho provides an "insider" account that differs significantly from previous narratives about Joseph DeAngelo. This is the first official record of the investigation, capture, and prosecution of the Golden State Killer written by the lead prosecutor. Unlike many true-crime books that sensationalize the killer, Ho's narrative centers on the survivors and...
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EP 587: David Henry Hwang On His Unexpected Journey As a Playwright & His Latest Revision of "Flower Drum Song"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
David Henry Hwang is a Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and the most-produced living opera librettist in America. A three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and member of the Theater Hall of Fame, Hwang is best known for his masterpiece M. Butterfly and the critically acclaimed Yellow Face. In 2026, Hwang returns to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song for a landmark production at East West Players, marking the "grand finale" of their 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season. #eastwestplayers #flowerdrumsong #asianamerican #chineseamerican #musical #theater @eastwestplayers
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EP 585: Lily Tung Crystal On Directing the 2026 Revival Of "Flower Drum Song" @EastWestPlayers
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
We’re going behind the curtain at East West Players for a two-episode event! Today, in Part 1, we’re sitting down with Lily Tung Crystal. Not only is she the Artistic Director guiding EWP into its 60th anniversary season, she is also personally directing their massive upcoming revival of Flower Drum Song. We’re diving into her creative process and why this story matters in 2026—all to get you ready for Part 2 with the iconic David Henry Hwang. www.eastwestplayers.org
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EP 586: The Two Kens On Whether America's Commander-in-Chief Has Dementia
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
In this latest in the collaborative The Two Kens podcast series, Fong and Kemp focus on the now month-old war with Iran, wondering whether President Trump has a deterioriating form of dementia, and how that might have played a part in his leading us into this unwarrented war in the Middle East.
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EP 584: Carol Lin On Her Journey From the Anchor Desk to a Life Defined By Family, Healing, and a Redefined Sense of Purpose
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
In Carol Lin’s memoir, , the jade bracelet on the cover is a powerful symbol of her cultural identity, her relationship with her mother, and the "breaking" of her own life. While the book primarily chronicles her career as a (including being the first to break the news of 9/11), the bracelet represents the personal narrative beneath the headlines. @carollinnow
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EP 583: Jane Marie Chen On Her Journey of Resilience & Her Path Toward Deep Cleansing & Healing
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
World-renowned social entrepreneur Jane Marie Chen is also an author, speaker, and leadership coach. Her best-selling memoir Like a Wave We Break is a frank and moving account of growing up as a success-driven child of immigrant parents , but how that eventually broke her in every possible way. #domesticviolence #aanhpi #socialentrepreneur #cleansing #healing www.janemariechen.com
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EP 582: Ted Kim On Writing & Directing His Short Film "I Missed You"
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Ted Taekeun Kim is a Korean American filmmaker and a director/producer. He is currently a graduate student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in the Peter Stark Producing Program. He is a rising filmmaker who explores narratives that resonate with the Asian American experience. His short films have screened at the Cannes Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival, and have won awards at BIFAN and the Asian American International Film Festival. He is currently nearing completion on a short film titled "I Missed You" that utilizes Virtual Reality as a therapeutic tool. Before...
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EP 581: Julie Thomas Achettu On Creating a Clothing Line That Affirms the Dual Identity of South Asian American Women
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Julie Thomas Achettu, already a well-respected Asian American literature educator in Chicago, recently co-founded "House of Jaya," a women's apparel line that blends traditional South Asian fabrics with the fashion sense of today's South Asian American women. www.houseofjaya.com
info_outlineHarvard Associate Professor of the History of Science Dr. Eram Alam has just published "The Care of Foreigners: How Immigrant Physicians Changed U.S. Healthcare." Her extensive research revealed that, over decades, foreign medical graduates (FMGs) have become a sizeable and stable part of the U.S. physician workforce--at least a quarter since 1965. Their presence has shaped aspects of healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas. But also, their presence raises questions about responsibility: what does it mean for U.S. healthcare to be so dependent on immigrant labor? What are the costs--to the physicians, to their home countries--to the idea of "universal" or equitable care?