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.

A Conversation with Cassandra Lam the Founder of Mama Lams Malaysian Sauces 09/14/2026

A Conversation with Jasmine Fang, the Author of the Picture Book Beneath the Same Round Moon 09/07/2026

A Conversation with Acclaimed Best-Selling Writer June CL Tan, Author of Brighter Than Nine 08/31/2026

The Early History of Surfing from Heʻe Nalu to the World 08/24/2026

A Conversation with Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist Carol Lin, Author of When News Breaks 08/17/2026

A Conversation with Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist Carol Lin, Author of When News Breaks Welcome to Season 6, Episode 33! Our guest this episode is the award-winning broadcast journalist Carol Lin. Her career has placed her at the center of some of the most consequential moments in modern American history. Other than being a broadcast journalist Carol is also an author and educator, and her work has spanned more than two decades at the local, regional, and national levels of TV News. A Los Angeles native and UCLA graduate, Carol began her career covering politics in Washington, D.C., before reporting and anchoring in Los Angeles and eventually joining the national ranks at ABC News and CNN. Throughout her career, Carol reported on many of the defining stories of the 1990s and early 2000s, covering everything from presidential politics and natural disasters to international conflicts and breaking news that shaped the nation. Her memoir, , offers an intimate look at the person behind the headlines, exploring not only the excitement of a remarkable journalism career but also the deeply personal experiences that shaped her life away from the camera. It’s an honest and beautifully written memoir and it gives insight into how she overcame both personal and professional challenges to become one of the most recognized faces on TV. Along the way, her work earned some of journalism's highest honors, including a National Emmy Award, a George Foster Peabody Award, and the prestigious Alfred I. duPont–Columbia Award. She has also been recognized by the Los Angeles Press Club and became the first recipient of the Organization of Chinese Americans' National IMAGE Award for her contributions to journalism and the Asian American community. In our conversation, we talk about the differences between being a correspondent and an anchor, some of the difficulties that Asian American women faced in broadcast journalism, the challenges with breaking news like 9/11 when you’re sometimes learning just before reporting, the beauty of living in Hawaii, and so much more. To learn more about Carol, you can visit her website , follow her on instagram , buy her memoir , or follow her substack to read about stories of 9/11 . 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/42445415

The History of Old Sober... The Chinese, Black, and Creole Origins of Yakamein 08/10/2026

A Conversation with Actor Gabriel Prevost-Takahashi of Avatar The Last Airbender 08/03/2026

A Conversation with Actor Gabriel Prevost-Takahashi of Avatar The Last Airbender Welcome to Season 6, Episode 31! Today’s guest came from an artistic family, but also was literally discovered on the streets of Tokyo which gave a huge boost to his career. Actor, writer, and producer Gabriel Prevost-Takahashi was born in Tokyo, spent time in Canada while growing up, and has worked on stage and screen for film and television. Gabriel has appeared in projects ranging from the survival thriller Something in the Water to one of the most acclaimed television series of recent years, FX’s Shōgun, where he played a Gray Guard and had the opportunity to work on a production celebrated for putting Japanese language, actors, and culture at the center of its storytelling. More recently, Gabriel can be seen on Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender in the recurring role of Lieutenant Khettry, a soldier serving on the front lines of Ba Sing Se. Gabriel is also interested in creating stories himself. As a writer and producer, he has been developing projects including Go For Broke, a limited series exploring the experiences of Japanese American soldiers during World War II, as well as other film and television projects that give him opportunities both in front of and behind the camera. In our conversation we take time to talk about his background, the impact of getting noticed on the streets by legendary photographer Leslie Kee, what it was like for him to join a project like Shōgun, the responsible of being part of a global phenomena like Avatar: The Last Airbender, his hopes with Go For Broke, and much more. To learn more about Gabriel, you can watch any of his projects and you can follow him on Instagram . 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/42288740

The History of Filipino Hip Hop Part 2, The Modern Age 07/27/2026

Another Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Editor Karen Yin, Author of Nice to Eat You 07/20/2026

The Magical History of Ching Ling Foo vs Chung Ling Soo 07/13/2026

A Conversation with Cartoonist, Writer, Illustrator Miles Toriko Burks, the Creator of the Graphic Novel Encore! 07/06/2026

A Conversation with Cartoonist, Writer, Illustrator Miles Toriko Burks, the Creator of the Graphic Novel Encore! Welcome to Season 6, Episode 27! Our guest this episode is . He’s a California-based cartoonist, writer, and illustrator whose work focuses on heartfelt stories about identity, friendship, queer joy, and emotional vulnerability. His debut print graphic novel was released June 2, 2026 through HarperAlley. It’s the print adaptation of his very popular Webtoon series of the same name. Encore! is a queer YA rom-com about two former best friends reconnecting during a shared high school theater class, and after they’re partnered up, they need to confront the unresolved feelings and emotional distance between them. The story has already drawn comparisons to works like Heartstopper for its warmth, sincerity, and focus on emotional connection. A lifelong artist, Burks first gained a loyal viewership online through fan comics and digital illustration before transitioning into original storytelling on Webtoon. This is where his story Encore! developed a devoted following. His work blends expressive artwork with deeply relatable coming-of-age themes, often centering characters from underrepresented backgrounds and exploring how relationships evolve over time. We love how Miles is focused on creating stories featuring characters who reflect identities and experiences that he rarely saw growing up. He creates diverse stories without focusing on all the representation he includes. In our conversation we talk about the inspiration for Encore!, how he developed his artistic style, the conversations he hopes he inspires with his work, the impact of social media and Webtoon on feedback, the importance of queer joy, and so much more. To learn more about Miles Toriko Burks, you can visit his website at , follow him on instagram , purchase your own copy of , or see his work on . We’ll link to these in our show notes. 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/41965330

A Conversation with Jolene Gutiérrez and Chris Sasaki the Award-Winning Author and Award-Winning Illustrator of Unbreakable 06/29/2026

A Conversation with Jolene Gutiérrez and Chris Sasaki the Award-Winning Author and Award-Winning Illustrator of Unbreakable Welcome to Season 6, Episode 26! Our guests today are and … two of the creators of the picture book , Published by Abrams. It’s an incredibly moving story cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights. Unbreakable is a great balance of historical information, lived experiences for Tonai and his family, and the emotional challenges they faced during their incarceration in the Amache “camp” during World War II, as they campaigned to release Tonai's father from the FBI. The book does a great job of balancing a very serious topic and making it accessible to younger audiences. Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will inspire others to learn and grow in compassion. She is the winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region. In addition to Unbreakable, Jolene’s work includes Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); Too Much! An Overwhelming Day; the Stars of Latin Pop series; Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks; and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader. Chris Sasaki is an EMMY and ANNIE award-winning animation artist. With a rich career spanning over several high-profile studios, they have directed and developed content for Pixar, Tonko House, and Apple. Their impressive portfolio includes collaborations with LAIKA Entertainment, Blue Sky Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks, and the Jim Henson Company. In addition to their animation work, Chris is a celebrated figure in the literary world, known for their captivating picture books. Their titles include GHOST; Home is a Window; Animal Architects; Sakamoto’s Swim Club; and of course, the incredible Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist. Their illustrations have earned them the prestigious Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators. To learn more about Jolene, you can find her online at or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads . To learn more about Chris, you can find them online at or on Instagram . We highly recommend getting your own copy of Unbreakable (preferably from the ). And if you’re an educator or know an educator, then please share the that can be found on Jolene’s site as well as some on Chris’s site. And if you’re interested in going to one of their live events, the book’s website has a list of including events in Colorado and Southern California. 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/41857725

A Conversation with NY Times Bestselling Author Livia Blackburne and Illustrator and Author Julia Kuo the Creators of Bings Cherries 06/22/2026

A Conversation with NY Times Bestselling Author Livia Blackburne and Illustrator and Author Julia Kuo the Creators of Bings Cherries Welcome to Season 6, Episode 25! Our guests today are and , the author and illustrator of … A modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest’s most delicious cherries. The book was released on March 10, 2026. Julia Kuo is the author and illustrator of several books including Home Is a Wish, Let’s Do Everything and Nothing, and Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night. She is also the illustrator of several notable picture books including When Love Is More Than Words by Jocelyn Chung, I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lin, and one of our favorites, I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne. Additionally, Julia has created editorial illustrations for publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full-time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner. Her YA books include Rosemarked (A YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee), Disney’s Feather and Flame, and Clementine and Danny Save the World (And Each Other) [A Junior Library Guild selection], as well as the picture books Dreams to Ashes (An Orbis Pictus Honor Book) and I Dream of Popo, which received three starred reviews and was on numerous Best of Year lists. We love how they intentionally mixed in some elements of Chinese mythology with actual history and the American tall tales genre. In our conversation, we talk about the inspiration for the story, what it’s like working with familiar collaborators, their individual journeys, and so much more. To learn more about Julia, you can visit or follower her on instagram . To learn more about Livia, you can visit or follow her on instagram at . 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/41720435

A Conversation with Lian Cheun, The Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action 06/15/2026

A Conversation with Eve J Chung, Lawyer and Best-Selling Author of The Young Will Remember 06/08/2026

A Conversation with Eve J Chung, Lawyer and Best-Selling Author of The Young Will Remember Welcome to Season 6, Episode 23! Our guest today is , a Taiwanese American lawyer and women’s human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation, and she’s also a best-selling author! Eve’s latest novel is , a work of historical fiction set during the Korean War. In this gripping story, Eve sheds light on a “Forgotten War,” The resilience of love within our darkest histories, and the indefatigable determination of mothers to protect their children. The story centers on Ellie Chang, a twenty-eight year old Chinese American journalist trying to cover a battle in the mountains of North Korea. After her plane is shot down, she survives through undying determination, the help of a few North Korean women, and sheer luck. Ellie is rescued by Emma, a North Korean mother searching for her lost daughter who thinks Ellie is who she’s looking for. The story builds from there with other people who help take Ellie in… sometimes reluctantly. As Ellie works her way back towards the frontlines of where the Americans are fighting in the ever intensifying war, she faces hard decisions of loyalty, friendship, and her journalistic instincts. In our conversation, we talk about her journey to being an author, the research she did, some of the inspiration for Ellie, the challenges that Asian Americans face that Eve tried to convey, the challenges of today, and so much more. Eve’s previous novel was the Daughters of Shandong, and all her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. To learn more about Eve, you can visit her website or follow her on instagram . 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/41557225

A Conversation with Award-Winning Professor of Law Ming Chen, the Harry & Lillian Hastings Research Chair at UC Law SF 06/01/2026

A Conversation with Newbery Award Winning Writer Erin Entrada Kelly, the Author of The Second Life of Snap 05/25/2026

A Conversation with Newbery Award Winning Writer Erin Entrada Kelly, the Author of The Second Life of Snap Welcome to Season 6, Episode 21! is a multiple award-winning Filipino American author best known for her emotionally honest and deeply relatable novels for middle grade and young adult readers. Born in Louisiana to a Filipino mother, Kelly often draws from her own experiences growing up between cultures. She uses humor, vulnerability, and empathy to explore what it means to search for identity and belonging. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a journalist and magazine editor, experiences that helped shape her sharp dialogue and realistic characters. is a middle grade science fiction novel that was released on May 12, 2026, from Greenwillow Books. The story follows twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos, who lives with her friends in a struggling, drought-ridden community controlled by a powerful corporation in a near-future world shaped by climate change. After Zuzu’s father loses his job, the family receives an outdated guardian robot named Snap instead of proper severance support. Although Zuzu is initially suspicious of robots, she slowly forms a deep bond with Snap as his battery life begins to run out. The novel blends themes of friendship, survival, inequality, climate anxiety, and humanity’s relationship with technology, while still maintaining the warmth and emotional depth Kelly is known for. Erin is a New York Times bestselling author and has been honored by industry experts, her peers, and the readers multiple times, including the 2025 Newbery Medal for , 2018 Newbery Medal for , a 2021 Newbery Honor for , the 2023 NAIBA Book of the Year Award for , and the 2017 APALA Award for , among many other honors. In our conversation, Erin shares a little about her journey to becoming an award-winning author, how winning multiple awards impacts her mindset, her background in Louisiana and how it shapes her work, what she hopes readers discuss and consider when it comes to technology, the considerations when writing about serious topics, and so much more. To learn more about Erin, you can visit her website , follow her on instagram , and of course purchase or any of her other 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/41400880

A Conversation with Christina Baal-Owens, the Executive Director of NAPAWF 05/18/2026

A Conversation with Sruthi Chandrasekaran the Director of Data and Research at TAAF 05/11/2026

A Conversation with Award-Winning Writer Minh Le, Author of Miles Ahead 05/04/2026

A Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Educator Patricia Park, the Author of Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic 04/27/2026

A Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Educator Patricia Park, the Author of Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic Welcome to Season 6, Episode 17! We love stand-up comedy as well as books with diverse representation. So we’re really excited that our guest today is , a professor of creative writing and an award-winning writer. Her latest book is , a YA novel about a Korean American former child actress who decides to branch out and stand out in order to pursue her newfound love — stand-up comedy. It’s a funny story that also has some very real moments as Ambrosia, whose acting career peaked at the age of eleven, confronts family dynamics, the challenges when you don’t fit the stereotypical looks in Hollywood, and how hard it is to do stand-up comedy. Patricia Park is a tenured Associate Professor in the MFA Program in Creative Writing at American University, Fulbright scholar in Creative Arts, Edith Wharton Writer-in-Residence, Jerome Hill Artist Fellow. Her other moves have included the adult novel Re Jane as well as the YA books Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim and What’s Eating Jackie Oh. Additionally, Park has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, Guardian, Salon, and others notable publications. In our conversation, Patricia shares a little about her journey, what it was like to perform over 50 times in stand-up, how she designs emotional moments, the importance of having non-stereotypical characters of Asian descent, and more. To learn more about Patricia, you can visit her website , follow her on IG , read her , and of course buy any of her novels including her latest . Enjoy the Conversation. 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/40919945

A Conversation with A Conversation with Scott Kurashige, Educator, President of the James and Grace Lee Boggs Foundation, and Award-Winning Author of American Peril 04/20/2026

A Conversation with Professor Theodore Chao and Jenessa Joffe, Two Co-Authors of Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism 04/13/2026

A Conversation with Professor Theodore Chao and Jenessa Joffe, Two Co-Authors of Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism Welcome to Season 6, Episode 15! Today our guests are two of the co-authors of the very cool new book … and . Jenessa Joffe is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, producer, and mother who is passionate about creating social change through comedic, kid-focused content. Theodore Chao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Elementary and Bilingual Education at California State University, Fullerton. His research centers on Digital Mathematics Storytelling to amplify counter-narratives that challenge harmful stereotypes in mathematics education. Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism is an entertaining and informative book designed for kids from approximately aged 10-14. It’s witty and inspiring, and discusses the Asian American community, past and present; explores allyship with other communities of color; finds a place in national and global movements; and turns inward so young readers can practice love and self-care. In our conversation, Jenessa and Theodore share a little about how the book came to be, some of the challenges and benefits to putting Auntie Kristina in print, the intentionality in designing activities, and more. The book will release on April 14, but if some outlets are already shipping it! To learn more about , Theodore, Jenessa, or the other two authors Kristina Wong and Anna Michelle Wang, we’ve listed their details below: link to Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism Instagram for the book: Website: Instagram: Website: Instagram: Website: Instagram: Website: Instagram: Watch 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/40809880

A Conversation with Dennis V Tran, Strategist, Storyteller, and Inclusion Consultant 04/06/2026

A Conversation with Professor Charlotte Brooks, Award-Winning Educator and Author of the Moys of New York and Shanghai 03/30/2026

A Conversation with Mirai, Actor, Director, Writer, and Acclaimed Audiobook Narrator 03/23/2026

A Conversation with Shang Saavedra, the Founder and CEO of Save My Cents Founder and the Author of Wealth is a Mindset 03/16/2026

The History of Wong Tsu, The First Asian American Aeronautical Engineer 03/09/2026

A Conversation with Award-winning Author Julie Leung and Award-winning Illustrator Angie Kang, Creators of Navigating Night 03/02/2026

A Conversation with Award-winning Author Julie Leung and Award-winning Illustrator Angie Kang, Creators of Navigating Night Welcome to Season 6, Episode 09! On a few rare occasions, we’ve invited more than one guest at a time, and we’re doing it for this episode! Today’s guests are and . Both are award-winning creators. Julie is an author with multiple titles to her name while Angie is both an author and illustrator. Their latest work, , is written by Julie and illustrated by Angie, and it will release on March 10. Navigating Night is the heart-warming story of a girl who helps guide her dad on his route delivering Chinese take-out food from their restaurant. She does this every night because her English is better than his. This wonderful picture book focuses on an element of the immigrant experience that some Asian Americans face, needing to help support their parents in business and family matters. We love how it celebrates the unique bond between immigrant parents and their children. Julie Leung has a long history of writing picture book biographies that include The Truth About Dragons (a 2024 Caldecott Honor book and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist (winner of the 2021 American Library Associations Asian/Pacific American Award for Best Picture Book), A Banquet for Cecilia, Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei, and The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee. Angie Kang is the author-illustrator of Our Lake which received a Caldecott Honor, the Charlotte Zolotow Award, and the Dilys Evans Founder’s Award. She’s a 2026 Sendak Fellow and the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Fellow at MacDowell, her writing and artwork has appeared in The New Yorker, The Believer, Narrative, Ecotone, Best Small Fictions, and elsewhere. On her website, she shares several great samples of her paintings, short form comics, poetry, fiction, and essays. In our conversation we discuss their journeys, what they hope readers get from Navigating Night, how Angie decided on the artwork, what Julie likes about Picture Book biographies, what it’s like when a book releases, and so much more. To see more of Julie’s work, you can visit or follow her on instagram . To see more of Angie’s work you can visit or follow her on instagram at . We highly recommend getting for you or as a gift for others! 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 . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/40263085

The History of Jawaiian Music 02/23/2026

Asian American History 101

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