They Call Us Slanted
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome writer/director Amy Wang and actress Shirley Chen to talk about their new film Slanted, a horror/comedy described as "Mean Girls meets The Substance." They discuss blending body horror and black comedy to tell an Asian American story about race, shame, and belonging; why the American high school prom is a useful and universal -- they love this movie in Germany! -- cinematic narrative device to interrogate some big ideas; how to find the "whitest" stock footage for your fake karaoke video; and why McKenna Grace speaks Chinese so well in the movie. Also: The Good, The Bad,...
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They Call Us Hoppers
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome back Daniel Chong, director of the Disney/Pixar animated feature Hoppers. They discuss the silly, unlikely pitch for "Penguin Avatar" that actually got the green light; centering an angry Asian young woman at the heart of this adventure (and why this movie arrives amidst an incredible moment for animated Asian movie heroines); and all the fun world-building that goes into crafting a story set in the animal kingdom. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Hoppers. This episode is sponsored by , a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.
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They Call Us The Year of the Horse
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil ring in the Lunar New Year and welcome journalist Kimmy Yam to talk about trial runs, fresh starts, and the Year of the Horse. They discuss the unfortunate and untimely shutdown of NBC Asian America -- and the loss of representation, trust, and cultural power; the incredible depth of reporting and coverage of the Asian American community that Kimmy was able accomplish during her tenure at NBC; and what the future looks like now for authentic and sustained news coverage of marginalized communities. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the new year. This episode is sponsored...
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They Call Us Minnesota Nice... But Not For ICE
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome poet/author/activist and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist to talk about the ongoing and escalating crackdown by federal immigration operations in Minnesota. They talk about Laura's recent piece about ; the temperature on the street, particularly in the wake of recent killings by ICE agents; the widespread fear and uncertainty among community members just trying to move through their lives; and the kindness of everyday Minnesotans who are helping each other survive the siege. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being in Minnesota right now. This episode is sponsored...
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They Call Us Culinary Monster
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome chef , aka "Culinary Monster," one of the breakout contestants from season two of Netflix's hit Korean cooking competition show Culinary Class Wars. He talks about his journey from Korea to the United States to train in some of the world's best kitchens; getting cast on the show as a Black Spoon chef -- including how he got his nickname; his unique focus and confidence while competing in each cooking challenge; and which fellow contestants' dishes he wishes he could have tasted. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of competing on Culinary Class Wars.
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They Call Us In Your Dreams
They Call Us Bruce
Phil and Jeff welcome animator and filmmaker , co-director of the Netflix animated feature . He talks about the foundational education in storytelling he received while working at Pixar, leaving to strike out on his own and chase the brave new world of streaming with , and telling an emotionally grounded story -- while teaching the kiddos about suffering! -- through the wildly entertaining and absurd world of their dreams. They also discuss the unfairness of Simu Liu's talent; Phil's totally wrong theories about Stevie and Elliot's namesakes; and that nasty, magical place behind the...
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They Call Us Rina Oh, Epstein Survivor
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome artist, author and advocate , one of the only Asian American women to publicly share her experience as a victim of sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. She shares about her journey as an immigrant and striving artist that eventually led her into the orbit of the disgraced financier -- a relationship marked by manipulation, exploitation, and ultimately, regret. She talks about the reckoning still yet to come, as details about the web of players from the Epstein investigation continue to come to light. Rina also shares about her journey of healing and renewal...
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They Call Us Francesca Hong
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome -- chef, community organizer, state assemblymember, and candidate for governor of Wisconsin. She talks about her working class roots and political ascent from the food service industry to being elected the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and now running for governor as a Democratic Socialist to build a Wisconsin in which everyone has a seat at the table. She also talks about rocking the shirt, why Wisconsin is more than just beer and cheese, and how it's "cool as hell" to be Korean right now (and feeling some kind of way about it). And of...
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They Call Us Minor Legends
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome creator/star and actors and -- voices behind the new comedy fiction podcast (part of the Potluck Podcast Collective), an ambitious narrative project that's "a little cringe, a little crazy" that delves into the funny, weird and wild side of Asian America. Angela talks about being inspired to create a multi-dimensional showcase for her community of hugely creative friends; Celia and Derek talk about summoning/channeling their Asian parent vibes ("Ai-yaaaahh!") for their roles. Also: The Good, The Bad, and WTF of making Minor Legends. Plus: stick around to the end and...
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They Call Us The Queen of My Dreams
They Call Us Bruce
Jeff and Phil welcome friend and filmmaker Fawzia Mirza, writer/director of indie comedy/drama feature . They talk about the Asian diasporic film subgenre of "Our Parents Are People Too"; Fawzia's own journey of telling this story over multiple iterations and embracing her identity as a director; and the challenges of shooting a narrative that spans several time periods and countries, from 1969 Karachi to 1989 Nova Scotia. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Queen of My Dreams.
info_outlineJeff and Phil welcome Francesca Hong -- chef, community organizer, state assemblymember, and candidate for governor of Wisconsin. She talks about her working class roots and political ascent from the food service industry to being elected the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and now running for governor as a Democratic Socialist to build a Wisconsin in which everyone has a seat at the table. She also talks about rocking the Stay Angry shirt, why Wisconsin is more than just beer and cheese, and how it's "cool as hell" to be Korean right now (and feeling some kind of way about it). And of course, The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of running for governor of Wisconsin.