Asian American History 101
Asian American History 101 is a fun, family-friendly, and informative podcast co-hosted by Gen and Ted Lai, the daughter and father team. The podcast will entertain and educate people as Gen and Ted dive into the vast history of Asian Pacific Americans from the struggles they faced to their contributions and triumphs. And sometimes we cover topics of the Asian Pacific Diaspora globally.
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A Conversation with Actor and Daily Show Correspondent Troy Iwata, Part 2
05/05/2025
A Conversation with Actor and Daily Show Correspondent Troy Iwata, Part 2
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 18! We’re back with Part two of A Conversation with Actor and Correspondent . This very talented singer and actor joined us last episode to talk about deciding on entertainment as his passion, performing on Broadway on Be More Chill, being on the feel good Netflix holiday series , getting selected as a correspondent on The Daily Show, and so much more. In today’s episode, we continue the conversation with Troy to talk more about his experiences on The Daily Show, the collaborative nature of the correspondent segments, some of his memorable moments from the show, what’s coming up in his career, and more. If you want to enjoy more of Troy’s work, then you can stream his latest film project, , a queer-horror-comedy also starring Michael Urie, Frankie Grande, and several others. And of course you can catch Troy on the Daily Show, through his posts, and in this episode! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Photo credit to Marc J. Franklin @marcjfranklin
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A Conversation with Actor and Daily Show Correspondent Troy Iwata, Part 1
04/28/2025
A Conversation with Actor and Daily Show Correspondent Troy Iwata, Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 17! is one of our favorite shows for so many reasons… hilarious segments, a diverse cast, and awesome writing are just a few reasons. The Daily Show is also where so many people have been introduced to the very talented . Troy is, of course, also known for several other things that include his roles as Langston on the feel good Netflix holiday series , Damien Saito in the AppleTV+ series , and as an understudy on Broadway in the viral hit musical Be More Chill. Suffice to say that Troy Iwata is a very talented and hilarious entertainer. This is Part 1 of a a two-part conversation. In this episode, we talk with Troy about his initial foray into entertainment, what Broadway was like with Be More Chill, what was special about his experience on Dash & Lily, his comfort with comedic roles, getting on The Daily Show as a correspondent, how opportunities have come to him, and more. His latest film project is , a queer-horror-comedy in which he stars alongside Michael Urie, Frankie Grande, and several others. You can catch Troy on the Daily Show, on his posts, and in this episode! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Photo credit to Marc J. Franklin @marcjfranklin
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A Conversation with Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Vicky Nguyen
04/21/2025
A Conversation with Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Vicky Nguyen
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 16! April 30, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. So we’re excited that our conversation today is with , an award-winning NBC News Daily anchor and Senior Consumer Investigative Correspondent. She can be seen regularly on The TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News, and NBC News NOW. And that’s not all! Her latest work is the touching and inspiring memoir . It details the story of her and her parents, and their journey from Saigon to the U.S. Throughout their struggles and successes in America the reader is treated to touching and funny stories of their experiences. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, she and her parents fled the country in the dead of night on May 4, 1979. As with so many Southeast Asian refugees from 1975 through the 80s, they encountered several life or death challenges before finding their way to the refugee camp at Pulau Bidong, Malaysia. After staying there for 10 months, they had the good fortune of being sponsored to come to America. In our conversation, we talk about her personal journey to being an award-winning journalist as well as her thoughts on fate, embracing change, the privilege of being a role model in media, and so much more. We highly recommend going out and getting . If you want more of Vicky, watch her on the various shows she’s on, follow her on , or visit to see some of her . We especially like her special reports on the rise of anti-asian hate entitled as well as her very personal four-part story . If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Lau v Nichols and Bilingual Education in the U.S.
04/14/2025
The History of Lau v Nichols and Bilingual Education in the U.S.
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 15! When it comes to Supreme Court decisions that impacted the classroom, most people know about Brown v Board of Education. A lesser known landmark decision was also very impactful in schools across the U.S. We’re talking about Lau v Nichols… a case that influenced the interpretation of Title VI and how U.S. schools needed to support second language learners to succeed in school. In this episode, we talk about the lead up to Lau v Nichols, what the impact of the Supreme Court decision was, and the lasting legacy of the decision. We also take time to address the rhetoric around the ending of the Department of Education and how it would impact not just Bilingual Education but how students are supported in the U.S. We begin the episode with a LOT of current events including growing anti-miscegenation-like decisions, Janet Yang, Alysa Liu, Caitlyn Chen, Te-hina Paopao, and Jonny Kim. We end with another installment of Weird History where we talk about the decision by Levi Strauss and Company to lean into anti-Chinese labor practices back in the late 1800s. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and Current Events: Janet Yang, Jonny Kim, Kaitlyn Chen, Te-hina PaoPao, Alysa Liu 06:29 The History of Lau v Nichols and Bilingual Education in the U.S. 17:05 Weird History: Levi Strauss and Company and Anti-Chinese Labor
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A Conversation with Food Content Creator and Lao Cuisine Champion Chef Saeng Douangdara
04/07/2025
A Conversation with Food Content Creator and Lao Cuisine Champion Chef Saeng Douangdara
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 14! Our guest today is Chef Saeng Douangdara. He’s a food content creator, social media star, and soon-to-be cookbook author. Saeng specializes in Lao cuisine. A first-generation Lao American, he left a job in counseling to pursue his passion for teaching Lao cuisine. A trip back to Laos helped him reconnect with his roots and learn more about both the history and culture of Lao food, and that’s when he decided to launch his personal chef business, and leverage social media to raise awareness about Lao cuisine. He may have started small, but he’s amassed over 700K followers and millions of views on his different social media channels. We love how his work is educational, and it’s resonating with others. He’s been featured in numerous publications including Delish, Buzzfeed, the New York Times, and LA Times. He’s even won an episode of the TBS cooking competition show, Rat In The Kitchen. Chef Saeng is outspoken in advocating, uplifting, and raising awareness of the depth and wonder of Lao cuisine. In our conversation, we talk about what Lao cuisine is known for, launching Saeng’s Kitchen, being Lao American, his upcoming book, and so much more. And yes, we do ask him to reflect on the Uncle Roger incident. To learn more about Saeng, or to be inspired by his recipe posts, blogs, and videos, we recommend visiting his website , his , or his page. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History and Career of Walter Tin Kit Achiu
03/31/2025
The History and Career of Walter Tin Kit Achiu
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 13! Have you heard of Walter Tin Kit Achiu? He was the first Native Hawaiian and first Asian American to play in the National Football League. Although his career was groundbreaking, he’s largely been forgotten over time. In this episode, we talk about his life, his football career, and what he did after he finished playing with the NFL’s Dayton Triangles (yes… that was really the name of the American football team he was part of). Nicknamed “Sneeze”, he was a high level athlete all his life and broke barriers on the football field and in the wrestling ring. We begin the episode by talking about some current events (the sad passing of K.W. Lee and the happy green-lighting of the Crazy Rich Asians show on Max). And we end the episode with the recurring segment of What are We Listening To? This time, we talk about the new album Blood on the Silver Screen by singer as well as the audiobook written by and voice acted by . If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and Current Events: K.W. Lee Passes Away and Crazy Rich Asians is Back! 05:54 The History and Career of Walter Tin Kit Achiu 14:32 What Are We Listening To? Sasami as well as Homicide and Halo Halo by Mia P. Manansala
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A Conversation with Storyteller, Author, and Activist Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec
03/24/2025
A Conversation with Storyteller, Author, and Activist Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 12! Today’s conversation is with the amazing storyteller, activist, performer, and co-founder of the multicultural storytelling theater group . Along with her real-life partner Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Nancy co-founded Eth-Noh-Tec with a commitment to the preservation, revival, and performance of Asian and Asian American stories. Nancy’s latest work is the novel , a story based on her ancestor’s real-life challenges and triumphs in forming a new life in America. Red Altar began as a multimedia storytelling and stage production, and it’s an emotional re-telling of how her ancestors helped develop the fishing industry along the coast of California near the Monterey Bay despite facing racist people and policies. In this conversation, we talk to Nancy about the development of the Red Altar performance, the challenges with adapting it to the book format, the relevance of the story in our challenging times in the U.S., other projects that Eth-No-Tec is working on, and so much more. Red Altar is a great book, and it tells a part of Chinese American and Asian American history that isn’t well-known… and we hope you . But DON’T buy it from Amazon. so that they get the benefits. If you want to support Eth-Noh-Tec’s work, you can follow them on , , or go to one of their . If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Dumplings
03/17/2025
The History of Dumplings
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 11! We love dumplings, and we’re not alone in that opinion. We’re talking about asian dumplings… boiled, steamed, pan-fried, or deep-fried, there are a variety of dumplings all across Asia, and they are not only delicious but represent culture, family, and history. In this episode, we discuss the history of dumplings, some different types across Asia, and some notable chefs and groups (like Din Tai Fung) who have done a lot to grow awareness and love for this amazing food. One of the most notable, of course, is Zhang Zhongjing, the believed creator of dumplings. In our recurring segment, we introduce a new topic called Weird History where we talk about a weird moment in API history. Today we’re talking about the Boston Marathon’s ban on Korean runners. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro… Memories of Dumplings 07:22 The History of Dumplings 21:36 Weird History… Boston Marathon Bans Korean Runners *Photos courtesy of the amazing
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Another Conversation with Award-Winning Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer Part 2
03/10/2025
Another Conversation with Award-Winning Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer Part 2
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 10! This is Part 2 of Another Conversation with Award-Winning Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer. Last week (S05E09) we brought you . In this episode, we continue to focus on , and Sarah shares how they researched for the series, gives us a few spoilers for future chapters of the story, talks about the transformation of Don, and so much more. As serious as the story can get, we really loved Cheer Up, Michael!, and we highly recommend you check it out, especially if you’re a Disney fan. To learn more about Sarah, then go to their or Instagram , and you can support Sarah through their where you can purchase originals and signed work. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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Another Conversation with Award-Winning Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer Part 1
03/03/2025
Another Conversation with Award-Winning Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 9! Our returning guest is , the amazing, award-winning comic book artist and writer who is probably best known for her critically acclaimed and recognized graphic memoir, , published by . However, they show their skills on so many other titles as well, including as the main artist on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures, colorist on TMNT vs Street Fighter, as well as a variant cover artist on TMNT Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen issues. In this episode, we focus on one of Sarah’s passion projects, This is their independent webcomic that they write and illustrate. Cheer Up, Michael! is a story that explores the idea of “What happens AFTER your dreams come true? It follows Michael Theodore Mouse (stage name: "Mickey") who feels lost. A huge star for decades, he's now the burnt out CEO of a massive company, and he longs for the happier days of his youth. In Part 1, we discuss the origin of , real-life experiences that have impacted the story, the balancing act of writing characters, and strategies for writing characters who have both affection and annoyance for the main character. Check out , we highly recommend it (plus, it’s free)! To hear more about Sarah’s career, then please also listen to . To learn more about Sarah, then go to their or Instagram , and you can support Sarah through their where you can purchase originals and signed work. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America
02/24/2025
The History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 8! Today’s episode impacts AANHPI communities, but it’s not necessarily solely focuses on our history. We’re going to talk about The History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This is an extremely scary topic to some people… especially the leaders of the Republican Party in the U.S. If you believe what they rant about, DEI is at the heart of unqualified candidates, accidents, and probably hurricanes. But when you listen closely, you’ll realize that as much as DEI has become a target, some of the people complaining the loudest actually don’t know much about it. So we take a moment to explain what it is, the history, some myths, and the actual benefits and facts based on research. In our short recurring segment, we have a new one called The Message, where we give a short message… a call to action so to speak. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and Explanation 01:29 The History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 20:17 The Message: Stay Actively Involved or Knowledgeable
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A Conversation with Fajer Saeed Ebrahim Senior Policy Manager at NAPAWF
02/17/2025
A Conversation with Fajer Saeed Ebrahim Senior Policy Manager at NAPAWF
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 7! Today’s guest is Fajer Saeed Ebrahim, a Senior Policy Manager at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, AKA . If you’re a longtime listener, then you’ll remember we were fortunate enough to bring in Sydelle Barreto, the Policy Manager NAPAWF to talk about Clocking Inequality back on ! NAPAWF has been hard at work with their entitled “Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Community: Understanding Barriers to Access in Georgia”. Fajer is a skilled legal advocate with substantial experience in organizing, policy, and legislative advocacy related to reproductive rights and justice, racial equity, survivor justice, and immigrant healthcare. Prior to her work with NAPAWF, she was a senior advisor with the Coalition to Expand Contraceptive Access; a consultant with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; a consultant with the Center for Reproductive Rights, as well as other stops. NAPAWF is the only organization dedicated to uplifting and building power with AANHPI women and girls in the US. Employing a reproductive justice framework to guide their work, they use organizing, advocacy, and communications strategies to assert full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities. Working with the Emory University Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast (RISE), this latest report by NAPAWF seeks to uncover the systemic barriers Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women and gender-expansive individuals face in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH). We recommend you read the , to NAPAWF, stay informed, and . If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Egg Foo Young
02/10/2025
The History of Egg Foo Young
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 6! Today we’re talking about food (one of our favorite recurring themes). Specifically we’re going to talk about Egg Foo Young, a popular staple in Chinese American restaurants for generations. Egg Foo Young may not be as popular now as it used to be, but it still has a special place in the history of the Chinese diaspora. In this episode, we discuss the Cantonese dish’s origin, it’s adaptation in the U.S. and across the globe, and how Colonialism played a part in transforming it… yep, even with food, we need to talk about Colonialism. We begin the episode with some current events, and we end it with our recurring segment on What Are We Watching. Today on WAWW, we talk about Interior Chinatown (playing on Hulu and starring Jimmy O. Yang, Chloe Bennet, and more) and XO, Kitty (playing on Netflix and starring Anna Cathcart, Anthony Keyvan, and more). If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and Current Events 03:17 The History of Egg Foo Young 16:10 What are We Watching: Interior Chinatown and XO, Kitty Note: Above picture of Egg Foo Young is from
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A Conversation with Award-winning Architect and Accidental Historian Peter Tao Part 2
02/03/2025
A Conversation with Award-winning Architect and Accidental Historian Peter Tao Part 2
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 5! If you didn’t hear the last episode, then go do it! is Part 1 of this conversation with Peter Tao, one of the co-founders of the award-winning architectural design firm in St. Louis, In this episode, we continue our conversation with Peter, AKA , and we talk more about how his family has supported his journey into researching and telling Chinese American history, his love of hockey (specifically the St. Louis Blues), the documentary Day One, his advice for people with historical artifacts or stories to tell, and so much more. Peter also briefly mentions how he’s the current Board President of the . We recommend you check them out as well as the . And finally, don’t forget to support The Missouri Historical Society’s St. Louis . They collect pictures and stories of Chinese Americans in St. Louis. You can or to help! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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A Conversation with Award-winning Architect and Accidental Historian Peter Tao Part 1
01/27/2025
A Conversation with Award-winning Architect and Accidental Historian Peter Tao Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 4! Peter Tao and his real life partner Helen Lee are the force behind an award winning St. Louis based design firm. They provide Architectural, Planning, Interiors, and Creative Design services for a diversity of project types, sizes & applications. Their projects have been built both domestically and internationally. That alone would have interested us enough to have a conversation with Peter, but he’s also heavily involved in the St. Louis community, working to raise awareness of the history and stories of Chinese Americans and the greater Asian Pacific Americans who have lived in Missouri. Inspired to dig deeper to help honor his father’s centennial birthday back in 2017, Peter has gone on to write blogs, curate historical artifacts, and contribute to historical documents. One of his latest pieces is an essay entitled "Why Should We, the Chinese, Meet at the Fair?" in the book in the book . His deep dive into family and Chinese American history resulted in him creating his site (and great nickname) . On the site, you can find pictures of his family’s history as well as posts about a variety of topics including The Life Balance Equation and There Were Chinese in the South? If that wasn’t enough, he’s still heavily involved in The Missouri Historical Society’s St. Louis that collects pictures and stories of Chinese Americans in St. Louis. You can or to help! In Part 1, we discuss architecture, how he got into history, things he’d like people to know about Chinese Americans in St. Louis, and more. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Mahjong Part 2
01/20/2025
The History of Mahjong Part 2
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 3! We’re back with Part 2 of The History of Mahjong. Last episode we talked about the games origins and how it came to America. In this episode, we discuss the rise of Jewish-American Mah-Jongg and how it was standardized and simplified in America by the National Mah-Jongg League. We also take time to talk about cultural appropriation and how the Asian American community has tried to reclaim the narrative of Mahjong as a connection to our culture. We open the episode by talking about some current events that include the Philadelphia arena, the passing of Farewell to Manzanar author Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, and Moana 2. We close the episode with another addition to “What Are We Watching” as we discuss the movie Wicked, directed by the amazing Jon M. Chu. To learn more about Mahjong, check out these two books: by and by . Also checkout the who are doing an incredible job of creating events and connecting the community in New York. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and talking about the Philadelphia arena project, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, and Moana 2 06:21 The History of Mahjong Part 2 16:30 What Are We Watching, Wicked
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The History of Mahjong Part 1
01/13/2025
The History of Mahjong Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 2! Most people are familiar with the game of Mahjong. Maybe their family or community plays it or maybe they’ve just seen it in the movies or TV. But most people have seen the tiles and heard the clacking. This is part 1 of a 2 part series on The History of Mahjong. In this episode, we talk about the origin of Mahjong, how its popularity went up and down over the years, how it came to the U.S., and how it was received. We talk a little about the gameplay and how to win. In our intro, we talk about some current events including passing of President Jimmy Carter and how you can help people recover from the Los Angeles fires. Some of the groups helping people include: has created their own official fund to help those affected by California Wildfires or CORE We end this episode by bringing back another installment of Obscure Asian Pacific Comic Book Characters where we talk about Bengal, the Vietnamese vigilante by Marvel comics. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro and Talking about the LA Fires, Jimmy Carter, and the Golden Globes 04:56 The History of Mahjong, Part 1 15:02 Obscure Asian Pacific Comic Book Characters: Bengal
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A Conversation with Co-Founder of Third State Books Stephanie Lim
01/06/2025
A Conversation with Co-Founder of Third State Books Stephanie Lim
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 1! Happy New Year everyone! The Gregorian New Year, to be specific because the Lunar New Year is right around the corner… A new calendar year means a new season of our podcast. For our first episode of the new season, we want to highlight one of our favorite publishers, . To do that, we’ve invited the Co-Founder and CEO of Third State Books, Stephanie Lim. Prior to leading Third State Books, Stephanie spent many years in digital marketing and operations, first as a strategist for advertising clients at Google, then leading e-commerce teams and managing multi-million-dollar advertising budgets for retail brands that include ModCloth, Bebe, and S by Serena (Serena Williams’s eponymous fashion label). She loves literary classics, guilty-pleasure genre fiction, fanfic, and children’s books. Third State Books is the first publishing house that’s 100% focused on bringing Asian American voices, stories, and issues to audiences. They do that through a variety of books that encompass fiction and non-fiction. We highly recommend all of their current publications that include (written by Amy Chu and Alexander Chang and illustrated by Louie Chin), (written by Pallavi Sharma Dixit), (written by Christina Hwang Dudley), as well as (by Shay Fan and Eric Toda), and we can’t wait for the 2025 books that they’ve planned. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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Season 4 Year in Review
12/30/2024
Season 4 Year in Review
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 53! This is it! Our Season 4 year in review. In this episode we talk about the following… "Interesting topics we hope people listen to”. These are topics that need way more attention. and , The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, and , The History of Asian American Clubs and the Punk Rock Scene , The History of George Helm Jr. and Kaho’olawe Island “Topics we learned the most about”. These are topics that we knew almost nothing about before researching. , The History of the Paniolo AKA The Hawaiian Cowboy , The History of Activist Tye Leung Schulze , The History of Instant Ramen “Thought-provoking conversations everyone should listen to”. These are the conversations that made us think deeply. , A Conversation with Activists and Co-Owners of Eastwind Books Bea and Harvey Dong , A Conversation with Clinical Psychologist, Educator, and Author Dr. Helen Hsu, the author of , A Conversation with Award-Winning Editor and Author Karen Yin, the author of “Conversations we wish we had another hour for”. These are the conversations that flew by and we want to bring back the guest for more. , A Conversation with Author and Educator Chad Soon, author of , , and , Actors Perry Yung, Chen Tang, and Jaylee Hamidi , A Conversation with Educator, Speaker, and Author Dr. Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn, Author of , A Conversation with Author and Filmmaker Professor William Gow, author of , A Conversation with Comic Book Artist and Writer Sarah Myer, Author of We were also fortunate enough to bring back some returning guests and go deeper into our conversations. These guests who gave us the gift of a second conversation included , , and Another season in the books. Now it’s time for Season 5! Thanks for listening and supporting us. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Introduction 01:41 Season 4 Year in Review
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ICYMI Encore Episode of Christmas Traditions in Asia and the Pacific Islands
12/23/2024
ICYMI Encore Episode of Christmas Traditions in Asia and the Pacific Islands
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 52! Happy Holidays! This is an ICYMI Encore Episode of S03E49, Christmas Traditions in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Christmas is a holiday that can be celebrated in a religious or secular way. So how is it celebrated in Asia and the Pacific Islands? In this episode, we discuss some of the unique traditions and foods you might find in countries across Asia, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Some of the traditions are pretty interesting and fun. Spoilers… we spend a little extra time talking about the Philippines because they LOVE Christmas! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Wakamatsu Farm
12/16/2024
The History of Wakamatsu Farm
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 51! was the first Japanese settlement in America, but it’s so much more than that. Their story is a slice of American history that highlights the struggles immigrants often faced when trying to establish themselves in a new culture without much support. In this episode we talk about the socio-political environment in Japan that led a small group of Japanese (and one German) to move to American and begin the first Japanese settlement. We share some of their struggles and lasting impact. A lot of their history would have remained hidden without the efforts of the who now manage the and work tirelessly to preserve the farm and the surrounding area. That’s not all ARC does, of course, so we urge you to about their programs and in general or specifically. In our opening, we celebrate the opening of the T&T Supermarket in Bellevue, Washington. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Current Events: T&T Supermarket Comes to the U.S. 03:45 The History of Wakamatsu Farm 20:47 Organizations to Support: The American River Conservancy
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A Conversation with Educator, Author, and Activist Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan
12/09/2024
A Conversation with Educator, Author, and Activist Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 50! Today’s guest is … she is an author, university faculty member, and former K-8 teacher. She directs the at San Diego State University (SDSU), which raises awareness of issues facing Asian Americans, celebrates APIDA culture, and amplifies APIDA contributions. At SDSU, she also led the Liberal Studies program and co-founded the APIDA Employee Resource Group. Beyond SDSU, Dr. Loh-Hagan is an author. To say she’s a “prolific author” wouldn’t do her justice, because she’s authored over 400 books on diverse topics that include Asian American heritage, women’s issues, and quirky subjects like urban legends and monsters. Some of her notable works include , , and . Her writing also spans , such as My Itty-Bitty Bio Series, Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient World, and Urban Legends (Don’t Read Alone!). In advocacy, she co-leads , which develops curriculum and professional training for K-12 schools to provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of APIDA history. Their work bridges education, literature, and activism, exploring themes from exclusion to acceptance. On their site, they state that “By showcasing the struggles and triumphs of Asian Americans over the course of two centuries, our lesson plans amplify the importance and voices of this growing, integral segment of the U.S. population in building the country into what it is today and can become tomorrow, together as Americans. It is important for all Americans, young and old, to join in on this learning experience.” They helped create the amazing graphic novel written by Amy Chu and Alexander Chang, and illustrated by Louie Chin. Published by Third State Books, the graphic novel was a collaboration between The Asian American Education Project and (TAAF). Volume 1 is out now, Volume 2 will be coming soon, and Volume 3 is planned. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 2
12/02/2024
The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 2
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 49! In this episode, we continue sharing about the Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada. We discuss the different politicians who promoted exclusion as well as the people and groups that helped lead to the end of the exclusion laws. Yes, there were several groups and individuals who fought against exclusion laws even before they passed. And their work helped lead to the ending of the Chinese Exclusion Laws in 1947. Immigration for Chinese improved after that, but things didn’t really change for Chinese immigrants until Canada enacted immigration reform in the 1960s. We’ll talk all about that. We begin the episode with some celebrations and we close it out with a new recurring segment called “What I Find Annoying” where we talk about Uncle Roger. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Current Events 03:51 The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 2 20:20 What I Find Annoying: Uncle Roger
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The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 1
11/25/2024
The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 1
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 48! Chinese Exclusion Laws were a dark moment in U.S. history… but they were also a dark moment in Canadian history. Chinese immigrants in Canada helped support the economy in a variety of ways including providing labor for growing food, being part of the fishing industry, and building the railroad. However, they also faced racism and xenophobia that culminated in a series of Chinese Exclusion Laws. These laws may have been passed by lawmakers, but white dominated labor unions, community groups, Canadian media, women’s groups, and key individuals were all supporters of exclusion, and they pressured the government to do something about keeping Canada pure and white. This is part 1 of a series on the history of these Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada. We’ll share some of the history of Chinese immigration to Canada as well as the various groups that supported exclusion. We also talk about the impact that U.S. politics had on the Canadian decisions. This episode begins with current events, and we close out by talking about , a group that helps people understand the history of the Chinese in British Columbia through research, documentation, preservation, and education. They also take to support the community… like rebuilding the Lytton Chinese History Museum after it was burned down. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Celebrations of Shohei Ohtani, Y. Michelle Kang, Sirish Subash, and Sophia Park 04:18 The History of Chinese Exclusion Laws in Canada, Part 1 18:15 Organizations to Know: The Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia
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A Conversation with Top Chef Alum and Cookbook Author Chef Nini Nguyen
11/18/2024
A Conversation with Top Chef Alum and Cookbook Author Chef Nini Nguyen
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 47! Today’s guest is another popular Top Chef Alum, . Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Chef Nini has made a name for herself in the culinary world through her food as well as her appearances on TV and on social media. She is known for blending authentic Vietnamese flavors with a generous nod to the foods she grew up eating in New Orleans. The desire to learn and push herself is strong in Chef Nini. She appeared on Top Chef Season 16 in Kentucky as well as Top Chef All-Stars, Season 17 in Los Angeles. She has also participated in other competitions like the Tournament of Champions Season 5, along with some of the best chefs in the world), as well as Last Bite Hotel. In addition to TV and social media appearances, she is known for her recipe development and work as an instructor. Her latest milestone is the release of her first cookbook, , which was released on August 27, 2024. Filled with her spin on Vietnamese food with a twist to make it even more Đặc Biệt (special), Chef Nini interweaves the cookbook with personal stories, bits of history, and tips and tricks for becoming a better cook. Chef Nini is a talented chef and wonderful person. To find out more about Chef Nini, you can find her at or on instagram ... and check out her cookbook … It’s truly special! If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Above photo credit to Kimberly Ha
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The History of Asian American Clubs and the Punk Rock Scene
11/11/2024
The History of Asian American Clubs and the Punk Rock Scene
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 46! Punk Rock was most popular in the mid- to late-1970s through the middle of the 1980s. Although it hit its peak for only about a decade, it captured the public’s imagination in that time with it’s anti-establishment, in-your-face, DIY style. The bands didn’t achieve success on their own though. Asian American clubs on the West Coast were a huge reason for the growth of the Punk Rock scene. In this episode, we talk about three of the most influential clubs in California to give punk rock bands a chance: Madame Wong’s and Cathay de Grande in Los Angeles as well as Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco. These clubs and their owners… Esther Wong, Ruby Chou, and Ness Aquino… all transformed their restaurants into clubs that served up culture-rich food and hardcore punk. We open the episode by talking about the LA Dodgers win and our memories of punk rock music. In our recurring segment we bring back the API Guide to the NHL where we talk about the National Hockey League players of Asian Pacific descent so listeners who to root for. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Dodgers Win the World Series and Talking Punk Rock 05:51 The History of Asian American Clubs and the Punk Rock and New Wave Scenes 25:54 The API Guide to the NHL 24-25 Edition
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Another Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Editor Karen Yin
11/06/2024
Another Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Editor Karen Yin
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 45! We have a returning guest! We were so excited for the chance to bring back award-winning author and editor to our show. Last time we really focused on her editing career and her newest book . In today’s conversation, we get a chance to dive into her work in picture books. Her children’s books include , , and . Her next release will be Nice to Eat You which will be released by Scholastic in Summer 2025. We got a chance to talk to her about each of these books while also hearing about some behind the scenes perspectives on connecting with illustrators, getting the green light on projects, adding morals and diversity to children’s literature, puns, and more. If you want to purchase Karen Yin’s picture books or want to learn more about how you can develop your practice with conscious language, then find Karen’s work , visit her personal , bookmark the , join the , and follow her on Instagram ( and @). If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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The History of the Bánh Mì Vietnamese Sandwich
10/28/2024
The History of the Bánh Mì Vietnamese Sandwich
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 44! We love eating a good Bánh Mì. The combo of fresh veggies, spice, savory protein, crunchy elements, fresh herbs, and acidic pickles makes for a satisfying meal. There’s a reason it’s so popular across the globe as a breakfast, lunch, or dinner item. In this episode, we discuss the history of French colonialism in Việt Nam and how the foods they brought in were adapted to become this iconic sandwich. And bonus! You get to hear our attempts at pronouncing Vietnamese names and words. We open the episode with a shout-out to the Dodgers World Series run as well as Natalie Nakase’s WNBA accomplishment. Then we weigh in on the Bobba controversy. We end this episode with one of our favorite recurring segments… Obscure API Comic Book Characters where we talk about I-Ching from the DC Comics Universe. Hear how this hero helped Wonder Woman, Superman, and more. Photo courtesy of . If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro: Dodgers in World Series, Natalie Nakase, and Bobba 09:59 The History of the Bánh Mì Vietnamese Sandwich 30:52 Obscure API Comic Book Characters, I-Ching
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A Conversation with Actress and Creator Jaylee Hamidi
10/21/2024
A Conversation with Actress and Creator Jaylee Hamidi
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 43! Today’s guest is Jaylee Hamidi who is best known for their acting, but is also both a writer and painter. Jaylee was born in Shanghai, China, but moved to Canada and now lives in Vancouver. They are a queer, gender-fluid, Chinese-Kurdish-Iranian creative professional. They currently can be seen in their breakout recurring role as Allie in the Hulu, ABC Onyx show “How to Die Alone”, created and lead by actress Natasha. We love how Jaylee plays the character of Allie with candor and wisdom. In scenes with the main character Mel, they bond over the fact that they’re on similar life paths of falling in love with their whole selves and not settling for anything or anyone less. In this episode’s conversation, we talk about representation, Jaylee’s writing, their paintings, building chemistry in acting, their hopes for future storylines on Allie, and so much more. Enjoy the conversation! Quick note: Due to some technical difficulties during the recording of the conversation, the audio cut out on a few of Jaylee’s responses. We apologize for any confusion that may result from this. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Photo Credit of Jaylee Hamidi: Fortiv
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The History of the Anti-Filipino Riots in Washington State
10/14/2024
The History of the Anti-Filipino Riots in Washington State
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 42! It’s another installment of Most Forgotten Massacres. Today we’re going to talk about the Anti-Filipino Riots in Washington State. Although the discrimination and violence occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, the tension had been building for a few decades because the dislike of Asian laborers can be traced back to the Chinese during the Gold Rush and railroad days, the Japanese in the agricultural fields, and the South Asians in agriculture and lumber mills. For Filipinos in Washington State, many of them came in as U.S. Nationals, but they became labeled as Aliens after a few years. In this episode, we share some of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that led to the violence against Filipino laborers in Washington. Predominantly occurring in Yakima Valley, Seattle, and Bremerton, the events highlighted a widespread problem that was exacerbated by politicians, labor leaders, nativist groups, and the media. In our opening we talk about Shohei Ohtani and the LA Dodgers as well as Adele Lim and the Princess Diaries 3. In our recurring segment, we talk about the . They do a lot of advocacy and empowerment work. You can learn more or on their website. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram . For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at or social media links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . Segments 00:25 Intro: Talking Shohei Ohtani and Adele Lim on Princess Diaries 3 05:50 The History of the Anti-Filipino Riots in Washington State 28:14 Organizations to Know: National Federation of Filipino American Associations
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