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 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

A Conversation with Award-Winning Writer Lydia Kang, Professor, Medical Doctor, and the Author of K-Jane 02/16/2026

The History of The Patel Motel Phenomenon Part 2 02/09/2026

A Conversation with XiXi Tian, Lawyer and Acclaimed Author of All the Way Around the Sun 02/02/2026

The History of The Patel Motel Phenomenon Part 1 01/26/2026

A Conversation with V.T. Bidania, Author of A Year Without Home 01/19/2026

The History of Ube 01/12/2026

A Conversation with Peter Jae, Actor, Writer, and the Star of The Workout 01/05/2026

A Conversation with Peter Jae, Actor, Writer, and the Star of The Workout Welcome to Season 6, Episode 01! Happy New Year! Our guest today is Peter Jae, a multi-hyphenate performer in Hollywood. Peter Jae is an actor, stunt performer, producer, and multidisciplinary creative with over two decades of experience working across film, television, and independent projects. Born in Brooklyn and raised primarily in the Bronx—with time spent in Queens as well—Peter grew up navigating identity as a Korean American in predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods. Those early experiences deeply shaped his worldview and continue to inform the stories he chooses to tell and the characters he brings to life. Before entering Hollywood, Peter pursued a wide range of creative paths. He attended a performing arts high school, studied menswear design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and even launched his own urban greeting-card business. That early blend of art, entrepreneurship, and storytelling set the tone for a career defined by versatility rather than a single lane. Although his first opportunities in Hollywood were focused on stunt work and action, he has expanded into more substantial acting roles, appearing in projects such as Blackhat, Olympus Has Fallen, and numerous television productions. He is especially recognized for his work in , an Asian American–led project that allowed him to portray a multidimensional Korean American character—something he has long advocated for in an industry that often limits Asian men to narrow stereotypes. Most recently, Peter stars in The Workout, an independent action-driven film that blends physical intensity with psychological tension. The story centers on discipline, survival, and the personal battles that unfold when routine, control, and identity collide—both inside and outside the gym. The film highlights Peter’s ability to merge his background in stunts with grounded dramatic performance, reinforcing his reputation as an actor who brings authenticity and depth to physically demanding roles. You can follow Peter Jae and his latest work 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/39611790

Season 5 Review 12/29/2025

A Conversation with Andrea Wang, Award-Winning Author of the Picture Book Worthy The Brave and Capable Life of Joseph Pierce 12/22/2025

A Conversation with Professor Ann M Ishimaru, Co-Editor and Author of Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change 12/15/2025

The History of API in Formula 1 Racing 12/08/2025

A Conversation with Karin K Jensen, Award-Winning Writer and Author of the Memoir The Strength of Water 12/01/2025

A Conversation with Dom Magwili, Actor, Director, Playwright, Educator, and Author of Scientific Dragons The Adventure of Ensun Castle 11/24/2025

A Conversation with Satsuki Ina, Trauma Therapist, Activist, Filmmaker, and the Author of The Poet and the Silk Girl 11/17/2025

A Conversation with Satsuki Ina, Trauma Therapist, Activist, Filmmaker, and the Author of The Poet and the Silk Girl Welcome to Season 5, Episode 46! Many of our guests are multi-hyphenates when it comes to their impact in the world, and today’s guest can definitely be described that way. is a Trauma Therapist, Activist, Filmmaker, Educator, and the Author of the Memoir which was released on September 9, 2025. Satsuki is a survivor of the Japanese incarceration during World War II. She was born in the camps and spent her first few years there, both experiencing the trauma in her early years as well as through her parents. In her memoir, The Poet and the Silk Girl, Satsuki tells the story of how her parents, brother, and she survived and resisted their incarceration in U.S. concentration camps. One of the things that makes this memoir even more personal is that she was able to draw from diary entries, emotional haiku, censored letters, government documents, and clandestine messages that her parents Shizuko and Itaru Ina shared with each other. Satsuki further adds to the relevance and personalization by connecting her family’s experience to the race and immigration stories unfolding today as well—from rising anti-Asian hate crimes to the militarization of immigration enforcement. At 81, Satsuki continues to be at the forefront of Asian American activism. She's a co-founder of , a nonviolent, direct-action project of Japanese American social justice advocates. To learn more about Satsuki Ina, you can visit her , follow her , support , watch her recent addresses at the and the , and you can of course get your own copy 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 our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at . /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/39048305

The History of the Chinese Labour Corps in WWI 11/10/2025

A Conversation with Thien Ho, Sacramento District Attorney and Author of The People vs The Golden State Killer 11/03/2025

A Conversation with Sheilah Jane, Wellness Advocate and the Author of Shadows and Sunrises A True Story of Shame, Strength, and Rebirth Across Continents 10/27/2025

A Conversation with with Brenda Do, The Author of the Picture Book It's Okay Not To Know 10/20/2025

A Conversation with Beth Lew-Williams, Award-Winning Professor and Director of Asian American Studies at Princeton University, and Author of John Doe Chinaman 10/13/2025

The History and Evolution of Teriyaki- From Glaze to Global Icon 10/06/2025

The History and Evolution of Teriyaki- From Glaze to Global Icon Welcome to Season 5, Episode 40! In this episode, we explore the flavorful transformation of teriyaki—from its roots in Edo-period Japan as a fish-glazing technique to a global flavor phenomenon. We trace how teriyaki made its way across the Pacific, evolved in Hawaiʻi through Japanese immigrant innovation, and exploded in popularity thanks to the Seattle-style chicken teriyaki plate introduced by Toshihiro “Toshi” Kasahara. Along the way, we compare the Hawaiian plate lunch to the traditional Japanese bento, examine bottled sauce pioneers like Kikkoman, Soy Vay, and Mr. Yoshida’s, and share stats on North American teriyaki consumption (It’s a lot!). The episode also features quotes from food writers and chefs like Sonoko Sakai, Roy Choi, Soleil Ho, David Chang, and Sheldon Simeon (whom we had a conversation with way back on ), as we discuss how reframing teriyaki from a method into a flavor has fueled its growth. Whether in burgers, tacos, wings, or jerky, teriyaki has truly become a taste that transcends borders. In our recurring segment, we have another installment of Obscure API Comic Book Characters. Today we bring you the DC hero Shiny Happy Aquazon, a water-based hero of Japanese origin created by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones. We open the episode with some current events that include celebrations of Shohei Ohtani, Jessica Sanchez, and Arthur Sze. 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 Celebrations: Shohei Ohtani, Jessica Sanchez, and Arthur Sze 04:55 The History and Evolution of Teriyaki: From Glaze to Global Icon 16:09 Obscure API Comic Book Characters: Shiny Happy Aquazon AKA Kim Kimura Photo Credits: Top Teriyaki Tofu from /episode/index/show/asianamericanhistory101/id/38468145

A Conversation with Ashley Du, the Founder of Meaningful Beginnings Childcare 09/29/2025

Another Conversation with Jamie Jo Hoang, Author of the New Novel My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser 09/22/2025

The History of the Secret War in Laos, Part 2 09/15/2025

A Conversation with New York Times Bestselling Writer, Producer, Speaker, and Author of The Vale, Abigail Hing Wen 09/08/2025

A Conversation with New York Times Bestselling Writer, Producer, Speaker, and Author of The Vale, Abigail Hing Wen Welcome to Season 5, Episode 36! Our guest this episode is the New York Times bestselling author . She’s probably best known for the book Loveboat, Taipei and its two companion novels Loveboat Reunion and Loveboat Forever, as well as Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies. Her latest work is which will be released on September 16th. is Illustrated by and , and it’s published by our favorite publisher . It’s a coming-of-age story that is both science fiction and fantasy in a way. Bran, the main protagonist is the son of two inventors and has helped them develop an immersive VR world called the Vale. There’s a little action, romance, magic, technology, and mystery; and the themes include family, belonging, persistence, love, and friendship… in other words, there’s something for every reader young and old. There’s also a short film prequel being created called THE VALE–ORIGINS starring the award-winning actress, singer, and stage performer . We highly recommend getting the Vale, and if you pre-order it and submit the receipt, you can even get some free stickers. We learned a lot about Abigail in our conversation beyond her education and journey to writing. Other than novels, she’s a producer, director, and woman-in-tech leader specializing in artificial intelligence… and she’s a mother of two. She writes and speaks about tech, AI ethics, women’s leadership and transforming culture. In our conversation, we also discuss: How The Vale got published Ways she included technology that’s truly believable What it was like to create an illustrated novel The power of teacher guides and thoughtful questions What to expect from her debut directorial short film The Vale Origins And much more. To learn more about Abigail Hing Wen, you can visit her website , follow her instagram , go to her for even more links, and of course, purchase ! And don’t forget, if you pre-order through Barnes & Noble or an independent bookseller, you can get some free stickers. And if you’re in New York, stop by before September 21 for a free trial size of any flavor, but we recommend The Vale inspired Elfberry Blue. 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/38111315

The History of API Garment Workers and the Labor Movement... Stitching Resistance 09/01/2025

A Conversation with Litigator, Speaker, Friendship Expert, and Author of Table for 51, Shari Leid 08/25/2025

Asian American History 101

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