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 Writer, Podcast Host, and Author of Breaking Into New Hollywood, Ada Tseng
08/18/2025
A Conversation with Writer, Podcast Host, and Author of Breaking Into New Hollywood, Ada Tseng
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 33! Our guest today is . She’s a journalist, editor, podcaster, runner, wellness advocate and karaoke enthusiast. She is the co-author of the new book . It just came out on August 12 2025, and it’s co-written with Jon Healey and published by the Los Angeles Times and Simon & Schuster. Breaking Into New Hollywood is a practical collection that offers insights on navigating the Hollywood industry today and how it’s changed with CGI, AI, video streaming, social media, and more. Whether you’re an aspiring set designer, agent, director, writer, actor, manager, or anything to do with making films in front or behind the scenes, this is an invaluable resource. Ada has written for a variety of outlets including the LA Times, National Geographic, Center of Asian American Media, Women’s Wear Daily, HowStuffWorks, The Washington Post, Public Radio International, NBC, LA Weekly, Asia Pacific Arts, and Audrey Magazine (just to name a few). We should also mention that Ada is the co-host of the Saturday School Podcast with Brian Hu which is one of our favorites, especially for Asian American pop culture. In our conversation, we talk about how she got involved with pop culture and this book, how she organized the book, the importance of adding in diversity to the different featured insiders in the book, what she thinks is the most important element of making it in Hollywood, what her fantasy career in Hollywood could be, and a lot more. As a veteran podcaster, she even turns the tables and asks us a few questions. For more of Ada’s work, you can check out , follow her on , subscribe to the , and get . 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 the Author of Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken Kimberly Tso
08/11/2025
A Conversation with the Author of Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken Kimberly Tso
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 32! We love having conversations with a lot of amazing authors of a lot of fabulous books. It’s even more fun when we’re able to invite an amazing author who’s also a long-time friend or family member. So this episode is exciting for us because our guest is , the author of the new picture book which is published by (one of our favorite publishers)! And yes, we’ve known Kim for the better part of three decades. Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken is a picture book inspired by the true story of Lillie, a real chicken trained to play tic-tac-toe in New York's Chinatown Fair arcade, and her relocation to a farm for rescued animals. Featuring vibrant paintings of Chinatown by , Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken showcases a local cultural touchstone and shows how children can stand up for what they believe in and solve tough problems with clever thinking. You don’t have to wait till Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken’s release date on August 19, 2025, because it’s available for pre-order through , , , , and more! You can even get a from Once Upon a Time Bookstore. Kim is an active member of the (SCBWI) SoCal and SCBWI LA. She loves the challenge of writing complex ideas in an accessible way. She also likes to draw, paint, and collage. In addition to writing children’s books, Kim is the owner of Velocity Ink, LLC, a consulting firm that provides grant writing and strategic planning services to progressive nonprofit organizations. A very successful grant writer, she’s also the author of the workbook "Fix It and Get Funded: 10 Do-It-Yourself Repairs for Grant Proposals.” To see more of Kim’s work, you can visit her website , or follow her on , , , or subscribe to her newsletter. 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 Writer, Producer, Director, and Author of Transplants Daniel Tam-Claiborne
08/04/2025
A Conversation with Writer, Producer, Director, and Author of Transplants Daniel Tam-Claiborne
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 31! Our guest today is , a writer, multimedia producer, and nonprofit director. His latest work is the novel released by Simon & Schuster. It’s a coming of age story following two young women—Lin, who is Chinese and Liz, who is Chinese American. They’re both navigating the journey to find their truest selves in a world that doesn’t know where either of them belong. The novel is an exploration of race, love, power, and freedom that reveals how—in spite of our divided times—even our fiercest differences may bring us closer than we can imagine. Tam-Claiborne is also the author of the short story collection , and his writing has appeared in a variety of publications and outlets including Michigan Quarterly Review, Catapult, Literary Hub, Off Assignment, The Rumpus, HuffPost, and elsewhere. Outside of writing, Daniel serves on the Board of Directors of Seattle City of Literature and on the Advisory Board of Off Assignment. He’s a frequent speaker, moderator, and host. In our conversation, we discuss the process of writing a novel, inspiration for Transplants, feelings of belonging, the importance of COVID and lockdown as an element of Transplants, the diversity in the Asian American community, and so much more. is a well-written, moving book that we think shares several common themes that resonate with so many audiences. Tam-Claiborne doesn’t shy away from deep issues that Asian Americans, Asians, and expats face as he explores belonging, identity, and more. You can see more of Daniel’s work on his website or his Instagram account . 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 the Author and Illustrator of We're Different and It's Totally Cool, Camey Yeh
07/28/2025
A Conversation with the Author and Illustrator of We're Different and It's Totally Cool, Camey Yeh
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 30! Today’s guest is Camey Yeh, an established artist who has a cute and whimsical artistic style. Her latest work is her first picture book entitled , published by Crown Books for Young readers. It was released on July 22nd, 2025. Camey is a Taiwanese American artist and author, and she was inspired to create We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool by her own childhood experiences growing up in a predominantly white town. We love the beautiful artwork that feel both classic in style while still being unique. The colors are bright and the characters choices are inviting, and we can see how this book would be engaging for everyone… including children aged 4-8 as it was intended. In our conversation, we talk a little about Camey’s journey to being an author and illustrator, how she was inspired to create We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool, the themes of the story, how she developed her artistic style, what makes her different and totally cool, and so much more. We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool makes a great gift for kids 4-8 and beyond. If you’re interested in more of Camey’s work, then you can 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 .
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A Conversation with Award-winning Educator, Researcher, and Author Gordon H Chang
07/21/2025
A Conversation with Award-winning Educator, Researcher, and Author Gordon H Chang
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 29! Today we’re joined by a true icon in the world of academia—. A celebrated historian, Professor Chang is both the Olive H. Palmer Professor in Humanities and a Professor of History at Stanford University. He’s also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. We’re honored to speak with him about his latest book , published by Stanford University Press in May 2025. This anthology compiles some of his most powerful essays written over decades of impactful scholarship. The topics range from foreign relations and U.S. imperialism to race, Asian American identity, and the cultural contributions of Asian Americans. Our conversation covers everything from the role of propaganda in shaping views of Asians, the long history of harmful stereotypes, and the cultural erasure seen during Japanese internment—including how artists like Dr. Seuss and creators of Superman contributed to racist narratives. Professor Chang also reflects on the political engagement of Asian Americans and why “nurture vs. nature” plays a crucial role in debunking the myth of political apathy in the community. We also touch on a more personal subject: his interest in art history, including how his father’s legacy inspired him to explore and uplift overlooked Asian American artists like Dong Kingman, whose brilliance was too often overshadowed by the racist caricatures found in mainstream media. This episode offers not only a look into Professor Chang’s new book, but a deeper understanding of how history, race, and culture intersect in America—and why writing history is always personal. Links and Resources: Learn more about Read more from Gordon H. Chang, including , Fateful Ties, and Asian American Art: A History, 1850-1970 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 Investigative Journalist, Editor, and the Author of Strangers in the Land Michael Luo
07/14/2025
A Conversation with Award-winning Investigative Journalist, Editor, and the Author of Strangers in the Land Michael Luo
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 28! In this episode, we sit down with , the award-winning journalist, editor, and author of . Currently an executive editor at The New Yorker, Michael writes extensively on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. Before joining The New Yorker, he spent over a decade at The New York Times as a national correspondent and investigative reporter, earning accolades like the George Polk Award and the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. His latest book, Strangers in the Land, published by Doubleday in April 2024, is a sweeping and deeply researched narrative history of the Chinese American experience—from the Gold Rush era to the 1960s. Drawing from archival sources, court cases, and personal stories, Luo sheds light on how Chinese immigrants helped build America while simultaneously being pushed to its margins. He highlights the people and policies that shaped their journey—from the railroad workers and early activists to the architects of exclusion laws and the courts that upheld them. Through vivid storytelling and compelling analysis, Luo explores the roots of anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S., the foundations of our modern immigration surveillance state, and the broader struggle for belonging in a multiracial democracy. This is a must-read not only for lovers of history but for anyone seeking to understand how the past shapes our present-day debates on race, immigration, and identity. In our conversation, Michael shares insights on how he approached this project, why it was important to center underrepresented figures like Hung Wah, Wong Chin Foo, Chin Gee Hee, and Sun Chong, and how understanding this history can guide us through today’s political and cultural tensions. If you want to hear more from Michael you can read his work in the New Yorker or see his posts 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 .
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A Conversation with Professor and Award-winning Author of L.A. Coroner Anne Soon Choi
07/07/2025
A Conversation with Professor and Award-winning Author of L.A. Coroner Anne Soon Choi
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 27! We have been known to be obsessed with true crime stories. So we were really excited to read by and published by . And we were even more excited when Anne visited us as a guest. Professor Choi is the Interim Associate Director of Online Pedagogy and Learning for the Faculty Development Center, and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Cal State Dominguez Hills. She’s a historian and also interested in True Crime as well as Asian American history… so writing a book about Dr. Thomas Noguchi is the perfect intersection of these two interests. Noguchi was the highest ranking Japanese American official in Los Angeles County during the 1960s and 70s, and he performed autopsies of some of the most well-known people who passed away during that time including Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, Sharon Tate, and Natalie Wood. In our conversation with Anne, she shares her process of research, some of Dr. Noguchi’s biggest innovations, how the Asian American community rallied around Noguchi when he faced a racist dismissal, some of Anne’s future writing projects, and so much more. If you love true crime stories and/or learning about Asian American History, then we highly recommend . You can also learn more about Anne Soon Choi via her 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 .
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The History of the Secret War in Laos, Part 1
06/30/2025
The History of the Secret War in Laos, Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 26! With the fall of Saigon happening about 50 years ago, it’s important to recognize related additional moments in the history of Asians and Asian Americans. We’re talking about the Secret War in Laos which was closely tied to the Vietnam War. This will be Part 1 of 2 on the topic. Laos is in Southeast Asia, a key region that the U.S. worried about during the Cold War. The Secret War in Laos was led by the CIA and fought predominantly by the Hmong, an ethnic minority in the country, and it’s a major reason so many Hmong and Laotian people became refugees after the Fall of Saigon and retreat of U.S. forces. So in this episode, we dig into the geopolitical situation that was present in Southeast Asia, the U.S. role in battling the spread of communism there, the key local soldiers recruited by the CIA, and the amount of damage the U.S. did to the area. We begin the episode by catching up on current events, including celebrating newly elected mayor of San Antonio Gina Ortiz Jones as well as all the Tony winners of Asian Pacific descent. We also give our thoughts on the push for Asian American History in Arizona. We end the episode with the recurring segment What are We Watching? In this installment, we talk about the streaming show Deli Boys and the feature film Sinners. 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 Introduction and Current Events 04:59 The History of the Secret War in Laos 14:40 What are We Watching? Deli Boys and Sinners
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A Conversation with Actress, Writer, Director Olivia Cheng Part 2
06/23/2025
A Conversation with Actress, Writer, Director Olivia Cheng Part 2
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 25! We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with the very talented . Last week, in , we mainly focused on Olivia’s acting career. In this episode, we pivot to her work behind the camera as a writer, director, and producer. Olivia shares how she was motivated to write and direct her short film Dinner with Dex, which starred her Warrior co-star Dianne Doan. We also talk about her feature directorial debut on the documentary I am Raquel Welch. The iconic actress was the subject of another installment of CW’s “I Am” series and aired in March on the channel. Don’t worry, you can still catch the inspiring documentary through streaming services that focus on network television like CW, Fubo, and Direct TV. In the rest of the conversation, Olivia discusses how the Hollywood industry has changed over the years, her thoughts on Asian Pacific activism, her latest movie Lucky Star (that she also helped produce), and more. She even takes part in our rapid fire segment where we find out her thoughts on her command of Cantonese in Warrior, which of Ah Toy’s outfits was her favorite, and which recent role (between Ah Toy, Mei Lin, Master Gao, or Charlotte) was the most similar to her in real life. If you’re interested in seeing more of Olivia’s work, then you can stream Marco Polo and Warrior on Netflix, See on AppleTV+, and you can rent or buy Lucky Star on Apple TV or Amazon services. You can, of course, 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 . *Above photo of Oliva Cheng by Noah Asanias
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A Conversation with Actress, Writer, Director Olivia Cheng Part 1
06/16/2025
A Conversation with Actress, Writer, Director Olivia Cheng Part 1
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 24! In this episode, we have Part 1 of a Conversation with , a storyteller known predominantly for her acting, but beginning to make waves with her writing, directing, and producing. Originally from Edmonton, Olivia’s acting credits include playing Mei Lin in Marco Polo on Netflix, Ah Toy in Warrior on Cinemax and HBO, Charlotte in See on Apple TV+, Master Gao in Deadly Class, and Noel in the feature Lucky Star… just to name a few of her projects. Her performances have been praised for their depth and complexity, and she often plays roles that explore themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and empowerment. In addition to being a talented actress, she’s also getting recognition for her action sequences in several roles she’s played. In this part of the conversation, we talk about her origin in acting, some of the key roles she has played, life as a journalist, how she approaches action scenes, and more. Additionally Olivia shares some of her thoughts on being part of productions with cast members of Asian Pacific descent both in front of and behind the camera. If you’re interested in seeing more of Olivia’s work, then you can do the following: find her in the roles on the above listed projects, rent or buy Lucky Star on Apple TV or Amazon services, and/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 . *Above Photo of Olivia Cheng by Noah Asanias
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The History of the Aloha Shirt
06/09/2025
The History of the Aloha Shirt
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 23! It’s hard to find any other apparel that signifies vacation more than a Hawaiian shirt AKA an Aloha shirt. It’s not just a symbol of going on vacation, for some it means being part of the ska community, hanging out at a tiki bar, relaxing at get togethers, and even just dressing up for “casual Friday.” But what is the origin and background of the Aloha shirt, how did it grow in popularity, and what is the importance of it to the Hawaiian islands? In this episode we talk about some key early designers like Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers and Koichiro Miyamoto of Musa-Shiya the Shirtmaker, who both helped popularize the Aloha shirt. We also discuss how the Hawaiian shirt grew in popularity and what the shirt symbolizes in Hawaii. And if you want to buy an authentic Aloha shirt, you're in luck because we also share several current makers like , , , and Ted’s favorite, . Is there a brand that you like? 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 Catching Up 03:45 The History of the Aloha Shirt 16:02 Expanded Current Events
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A Conversation with Two Stars of the Wedding Banquet Bobo Le and Jeremy Hoffman
06/02/2025
A Conversation with Two Stars of the Wedding Banquet Bobo Le and Jeremy Hoffman
Photo credit for Bobo: Kristine Cofsky Photography Photo credit for Jeremy: Studio Aviva Welcome to Season 5, Episode 22! It’s a 2-for-1 episode! Today we have a two of the stars of the re-imagination of The Wedding Banquet, Bobo Le and Jeremy Hoffman. This modernized version of the Ang Lee’s classic film is written and directed by Andrew Ahn. Bobo and Jeremy both come from creative backgrounds. Bobo in dance and martial arts, and Jeremy in music and musical theatre. But lucky for audiences, they’ve transferred some of that creativity to the screen. In the Wedding Banquet, Bobo plays Kendall, the cousin of Bowen Yang’s character. Jeremy plays Marshall the executive director of an LGBTQIA+ non-profit. This is a fun conversation in large part because of the synergy between Bobo and Jeremy. To get more of Bobo and Jeremy, you can follow them 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 our links at . If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at .
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A Conversation about the 2025 STAATUS Index with TAAF Chief Programs Officer Georgette Bhathena
05/26/2025
A Conversation about the 2025 STAATUS Index with TAAF Chief Programs Officer Georgette Bhathena
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 21! We’re really honored to have today’s guest Georgette Bhathena, the Chief Programs Officer at . She’s here to talk to us about the , AKA (Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the United States). Georgette has extensive work experience in the philanthropy and grant-making sector. Prior to joining TAAF, they worked at Zoom as the Global Philanthropy Pillar Lead for Zoom Cares. And that’s not the only place that Georgette has left their impact. Georgette has held various roles at both private and not for profit groups including at Tipping Point Community, the San Francisco Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Citibank, just to name a few places. And Georgette helped lead the creation of the 2025 STAATUS Index. Now in its fifth year, the data continues to amaze, and sometimes dishearten us. However, the only way to change things is through education and more of us trying to make things better. We highly recommend that you download and read the . You can also support TAAF’s work through and using 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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A Conversation about the Six Chinese Survivors of the Titanic with Award-winning Editor and Author Steven Schwankert
05/20/2025
A Conversation about the Six Chinese Survivors of the Titanic with Award-winning Editor and Author Steven Schwankert
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 20! The Titanic sank over 110 years ago, but people are still fascinated with the disaster. This is especially true when there are new stories that come out about The RMS Titanic that are relatable or pique our curiosity. Hearing about the eight Chinese nationals who were on the Titanic as passengers and the six who survived is one of those moments where we learned something new, and we felt that we could relate to the story. But we wouldn’t have known about this obscure bit of ignored history without the work of our guest, Steven Schwankert. Steven is an award-winning editor and author who seeks adventure and truth. His work researching and writing about the eight Chinese nationals and six survivors of the RMS Titanic resulted in both a (completed by his creative partner Arthur Jones) as well as a new non-fiction (completed by him)… both entitled The Six. In our conversation with Steven, we discuss his process of research, some of the narratives that came out of their discoveries, the treatment of the Chinese nationals who survived the disaster, the experience of providing closure for living relatives of these Chinese Nationals, seeking truth, and so much more. and were both really informative engaging. 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 Eco-Entrepeneur and Author of Sun & Ssukgat Michelle Jungmin Bang
05/12/2025
A Conversation with Award-winning Eco-Entrepeneur and Author of Sun & Ssukgat Michelle Jungmin Bang
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 19! Health and wellbeing are so important to people who want to live a more productive and fulfilling life. So it’s such a thrill that today’s guest is who is an award-winning eco-entrepreneur, Chivas Venture Social Impact Fellow, and Harvard Business School graduate who spent 16 years living in Asia as a Korean-American from New York City. She is the author of the recently published , a wellness guide covering her research, interviews, and personal eco-conscious journey in writing about centuries-old well-being traditions she learned about during her time throughout Asia in general and Korea specifically. Ssukgat, or Chrysanthemum greens, are treasured in Korean culture for their healing abilities. In our conversation, Michelle shares some of the healthy habits of Koreans and Asians that are helping them not just live longer, but thrive in the years that many would consider more advanced. She also talks about her own personal journey, some tips for helping us all be more mindful and slow down, and so many other things. Sun & Ssukgat is a great book that’s a blend of memoir, recipes, self-help, research, and more. You can on Michelle’s . You can also follow Michelle on or subscribe to her . 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 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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