They Call Us Bruce
Hosts Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
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They Call Us Corky Lee's Asian America
04/26/2024
They Call Us Corky Lee's Asian America
In Episode 238, Jeff and Phil welcome historian and professor Mae Ngai, co-editor of the book , a collection of over 200 photos celebrating the history and cultural impact of the Asian American social justice movement from the lens of late photojournalist and activist Corky Lee. She talks about Corky's calling as "the inundisputed, unofficial Asian American photographer laureate" and his lifelong quest to document, empower and create community change with his camera. Also: Jeff talks about that time he and Corky lost track of time.
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They Call Us 3 Body Problem
04/20/2024
They Call Us 3 Body Problem
In Episode 237, Jeff and Phil welcome co-creator/executive producer Alexander Woo and director Derek Tsang, two of the key creators behind the Netflix series 3 Body Problem. They talk about the challenges of adapting Liu Cixin's epic science fiction novels for a global television audience, the authenticity required to re-create a dark moment China's history, who is responsible for what is possibly the best line of dialogue in the entire series, and the painstaking considerations that went into making that one really horrific scene. If you know, you know. Also: The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making 3 Body Problem.
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They Call Us Monkey Man
04/12/2024
They Call Us Monkey Man
In Episode 236, Jeff and Phil welcome their old friends Sujata Day (Definition Please, Heroes' Feast) and Dino-Ray Ramos () to talk about the action revenge thriller Monkey Man, written/directed by and starring Dev Patel. They discuss this new take on storytelling from the South Asian diaspora, this blessed era of the Dev Patel Glow-Up, some of the political, religious and cultural controversy surrounding the movie, and of course, the badass action sequences (both borrowed and new) -- including the moment that had everybody in the movie screaming. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Monkey Man.
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They Call Us Asian American Studies
04/06/2024
They Call Us Asian American Studies
In Episode 235, Jeff and Phil welcome , associate provost and associate dean of the faculty at Amherst College and current president of the . He talks about the newly minted AAPI Studies program at Amherst -- the first of its kind for liberal arts colleges -- what's behind the seemingly sudden surge of interest in Asian American Studies, and how the field still needs to grow and expand. Pawan also talks a bit about Kumon, the South Asian stranglehold on the spelling bee, and his incredibly titled book .
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They Call Us Avatar: The Last Airbender
03/22/2024
They Call Us Avatar: The Last Airbender
In Episode 234, Jeff and Phil welcome Albert Kim, showrunner of Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. He talks about the epic challenge of adapting the beloved animated series, "remixing" the original show's story elements for the streaming format, the cultural considerations that go into building an Asian-inspired fantasy world (does Iroh have an accent?) and casting Asian and Indigenous actors for these iconic roles. Plus: Jeff divulges Albert's personal email address. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.
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They Call Us Asians in Baseball
03/09/2024
They Call Us Asians in Baseball
In Episode 233, Jeff and Phil welcome Kim Cooper and Scott Okamoto, co-hosts of the podcast Asians in Baseball, just in time for spring training. They discuss the current renaissance of Asian and Asian American players in Major League Baseball; becoming a baseball fan in this extraordinary moment; Shohei Otani's ass; the Lenn Sakata Fan Club; and the unifying love of Kim Ha-Seong. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Asians in baseball.
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They Call Us Olivia Cheng and Dianne Doan
03/01/2024
They Call Us Olivia Cheng and Dianne Doan
In Episode 232, Jeff and Phil welcome Olivia Cheng and Dianne Doan, stars of the badass action series Warrior (now on Netflix!). They talk about how the show has embodied the fighting spirit of Bruce Lee; some of the initial trepidation and concerns they had about their roles at the beginning of the production; and why Olivia is the Ginger Rogers of Warrior. Also: a guest appearance from Dianne's dog and why Olivia's early role as "Dim Sum Girl #1" actually completes an interesting full-circle moment.
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They Call Us Past Lives
02/26/2024
They Call Us Past Lives
In Episode 231, a special conversation recorded live at Asia Society in New York City, Jeff welcomes newly minted Academy Award nominee Celine Song, writer/director of Past Lives. (Spoiler warning!) They discuss the real-life autobiographical moment that inspired her film's bilingual, bi-cultural center; telling a story about the people who hold and know the different parts of ourselves; and how things might have ended up differently for Nora and Hae Sung if they just had better tech and a stronger internet connection.
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They Call Us Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
02/22/2024
They Call Us Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
In Episode 230, Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Sean Wang, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary short Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó, a love letter to his own grandmothers. He talks about making an unapologetically personal film about the everyday lives of these two extraordinary women, why Wài Pó wields a sword, and the amazing gift of getting to experience the film's success as a family. Also: The Good, The Bad, and WTFarts of making Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó.
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They Call Us The Most Asian Costco
02/16/2024
They Call Us The Most Asian Costco
In Episode 229, Jeff and Phil ring in the Year of the Dragon and welcome back friend, journalist and fellow podcaster Ada Tseng to talk about her Los Angeles Times piece which asked and answered a very important question: They discuss why the wholesale chain holds a particular appeal for Asian American shoppers, the specialty items you can only find at the Most Asian Costcos, and the spiritual journey of purchasing Kirkland clothing. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Costco.
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They Call Us Lunar New Year Love Story
02/09/2024
They Call Us Lunar New Year Love Story
In Episode 228, Jeff and Phil welcome graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham, who have joined forces for Lunar New Year Love Story, a heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love. They talk about Gene's real-life origins of merging Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year celebrations, the bad dates and relationships that inspired some of their characters' turmoil, and the natural pan-Asian diversity that infuses the cast and community narrative of Lunar New Love Story.
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They Call Us The Greatest Night in Pop
02/02/2024
They Call Us The Greatest Night in Pop
In Episode 227, Jeff and Phil welcome back filmmaker Bao Nguyen, director of the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which goes behind the scenes of the fateful, once-in-a-lifetime night in 1985 when music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." He talks about the unique way this iconic pop song transcended cultures and generations, why he told this story like a heist movie, and getting to film at Bruce Springsteen's house. He also may or may not explain Dan Aykroyd's participation in "We Are the World."
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They Call Us Justin Chien and Sam Song Li
01/26/2024
They Call Us Justin Chien and Sam Song Li
In Episode 226, Jeff and Phil welcome Justin Chien and Sam Song Li, the stars of the Netflix family crime drama The Brothers Sun. They talk about getting their big shot to play Charles and Bruce -- the titular Brothers Sun; acting opposite the queen herself, Michelle Yeoh; and all the hard work that went into kicking ass (and not getting your ass kicked) in the show's epic fight scenes. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Brothers Sun. (Note: this episode happens to be sponsored by Netflix and The Brothers Sun.)
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They Call Us The Brothers Sun
01/20/2024
They Call Us The Brothers Sun
In Episode 225, Jeff and Phil welcome back their favorite usual suspects, Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA, to do a deep dive into the Netflix family crime drama The Brothers Sun, starring Michelle Yeoh (but not before a brief recap of recent award show happenings, including the Emmys and Golden Globes). They discuss "rice rocket energy," the #1 Seafood Restaurant, why the San Gabriel Valley is the perfect setting for this Asian American gangster show, and their hopes for a second season of The Brothers Sun.
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They Call Us New Year 2024
01/09/2024
They Call Us New Year 2024
In Episode 224, Jeff and Phil welcome back their pals Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA to take one last look back at the year that was, plus a look forward, with a special super-sized edition of The Good, The Bad, and The WTF (What's The Future). They discuss, among other things, the post-Everything Everywhere All at Once Multiverse, messy Asians, controversies, Beef, Past Lives, Joy Ride, Shortcomings, Elemental, hopes, dreams, fears, and much more. This episode is sponsored by the Netflix series The Brothers Sun.
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They Call Us K-Culture
01/02/2024
They Call Us K-Culture
In Episode 223, Jeff and Phil close out 2023 and welcome critic and commentator Jae-Ha Kim to talk all things K -- from K-dramas to K-pop, and all the other ways Korean pop culture has spread its infectious K-embrace across the globe. They discuss the best K-dramas of the year (according to Jae-Ha), what happens when BTS takes a break for military service, and the recent tragic death of Lee Sun-kyun. Phil also admits -- nay, declares -- his love of NewJeans. This episode is sponsored by the Netflix series The Brothers Sun.
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They Call Us Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom
12/22/2023
They Call Us Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom
In Episode 222, Jeff and Phil welcome James Wan, filmmaker behind iconic movies like Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Furious 7, Aquaman and now, its sequel, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. He talks about his journey from making indie horror flicks to tentpole blockbusters, shares his tricks for avoiding sequel-itis, and attempts to say something bad about Randall Park. Presented in partnership with .
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They Call Us Blue Eye Samurai
12/18/2023
They Call Us Blue Eye Samurai
In Episode 221, Jeff and Phil welcome two of the creators behind the Netflix animated action series Blue Eye Samurai, co-creator/co-showrunner Amber Noizumi and supervising director/producer Jane Wu. They discuss some of the personal connections that sparked the tale of mixed race warrior Mizu, bringing a decidedly Asian American take on an Edo-period samurai story, and the lengths they went to assemble the personnel for one of the most badass shows you'll ever see.
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They Call Us The Golden Screen
12/09/2023
They Call Us The Golden Screen
Recorded live at Bās Bookshop in Honolulu, Hawaii! In Episode 220, Jeff and Phil celebrate the release of Jeff's new book , which explores the history of Asian Americans on the silver screen, and the iconic films that have shaped Hollywood, representation, and American culture. They talk about why this moment in representation seemed like the right time for this book, how Jeff chose the movies that "made the cut," and a reconsideration (or reimagining) of Long Duk Dong. Also, in The Good, The Bad and The WTF, they offer some unpopular opinions about Asian American cinema. Special thanks to Aly Ishikuni-Sasaki and the team at .
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They Call Us The Mash-Up Americans
11/24/2023
They Call Us The Mash-Up Americans
In Episode 219, Jeff and Phil welcome their old friend Amy S. Choi of The Mash-Up Americans, who talks about starting her podcast/media company with a question ("Why not us?"); bringing the Mash-Up lens to the images and stories that don't get told in overly simplistic news verticals; and the latest season of their podcast, which aims to give you The Ultimate Guide to a Mash-Up Life. Also: stay tuned for a special bonus episode from The Mash-Up Americans featuring one of our favorite individuals on the planet, Randall Park.
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They Call Us Mustache
11/17/2023
They Call Us Mustache
Recorded in partnership with the . In Episode 218, Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Imran J. Khan, writer/director of the indie coming-of-age film Mustache. He talks about facial hair, Alicia Silverstone, telling culturally-specific stories without having to simplify or over-explain for audiences, and the bizarre time traveling that happens when you make a movie about a Muslim American family and community set in the late 1990s.
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They Call Us Quiz Lady
11/10/2023
They Call Us Quiz Lady
In Episode 217, Jeff and Phil welcome Jessica Yu, director of the comedy Quiz Lady, starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina. She talks about bringing her diverse directing experience -- including her Academy Award -- to a wacky feature comedy; assembling and working with a team of dream collaborators for Quiz Lady; and how they reworked the original script to better reflect the nuance and layers of these mismatched Asian American sisters. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Quiz Lady.
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They Call Us The Clones of Bruce
11/03/2023
They Call Us The Clones of Bruce
Recorded in partnership with the . In Episode 216, Jeff and Phil welcome actor/filmmaker Daniel Wu and HIFF artistic director Anderson Le -- fellow Bruce Lee superfans -- to discuss the fascinating documentary Enter the Clones of Bruce, which explores "Brucesploitation," the unique (and often bizarre) 1970s martial arts film subgenre that exploded in the wake of Bruce Lee's untimely death. They talk about Brucesploitation as a classic supply and demand scenario (powered by "all-look-same" racism), their favorite Bruce lookalikes -- Li, Le, Liang, et al -- and the wildest phases of the Bruce Multiverse. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the Clones of Bruce. This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off .
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They Call Us Albert Pyun King of Cult Movies
10/27/2023
They Call Us Albert Pyun King of Cult Movies
Recorded in partnership with the Hawaii International Film Festival. In Episode 215, Jeff and Phil welcome Lisa D'Apolito, director of the forthcoming documentary Albert Pyun King of Cult Movies, and Anderson Le, Artistic Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival, to talk about the life and career of prolific cult filmmaker Albert Pyun. They discuss Pyun's passion for movie-making by any means necessary, from chasing early cinema dreams in Hawaii, to breakout success with The Sword and the Sorcerer, to his ridiculously extensive 50+ movie resume stuffed with direct-to-video titles like Nemesis, Dollman and Crazy Six. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the films of Albert Pyun. This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off .
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They Call Us Kishi Bashi
10/14/2023
They Call Us Kishi Bashi
In Episode 214, Jeff and Phil welcome singer, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi, whose latest project is the album and "songfilm" , a musical journey to understand World War II-era Japanese American incarceration, assimilation, and what it means to be a minority in America today. He talks about exploring empathy and compassion through music, drawing parallels between incarceration camps and contemporary treatment of migrants and Muslims, and finding better understanding of his own bi-cultural identity in the process. This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off .
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They Call Us Here Lies Love
10/06/2023
They Call Us Here Lies Love
In Episode 213, Jeff and Phil welcome Arielle Jacobs and Jose Llana, the stars of the revolutionary new Broadway musical , an immersive roof-raising disco musical that tells the story of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos. They discuss the unique thrill of performing in this groundbreaking, form-busting theatre experience, their immense pride in being a part of Broadway's first ever all-Filipino cast, and the complicated responsibility of narrativizing this very real history of the Philippines. This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off .
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They Call Us Magnificent Jerk
09/22/2023
They Call Us Magnificent Jerk
In Episode 212, Jeff and Phil welcome Maya Lin Sugarman and James Kim, producers behind the podcast , "the true story—of a fake story—about a real life." They talk about the fascinating life and career of Maya's late uncle Galen Yuen, and the box of his belongings that sent Maya on mission to discover her family’s biggest secrets—including the truth behind the possibly autobiographical screenplay that eventually became a bad B-movie starring.... Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, and Ice-T. Also: The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making Magnificent Jerk.
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They Call Us Liquor Store Dreams
09/15/2023
They Call Us Liquor Store Dreams
In Episode 211, Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker So Yun Um, director of the feature documentary , an intimate portrait of two Korean American children of Los Angeles liquor store owners. She talks about confronting popular media depictions of Korean American store owners, turning the camera on herself to tell this deeply personal story, and hitting record during some very tough, heated conversations with her family members. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Liquor Store Dreams.
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They Call Us Dear Alana
09/08/2023
They Call Us Dear Alana
In Episode 210, Jeff and Phil welcome Simon Kent Fung, creator and host of the podcast , an eight-part limited series that tells the story of aspiring nun Alana Chen, who tragically ended her life at the age of 24 after seven years in conversion therapy. Simon talks about telling this gripping, intimate story through the dozens of journals Alana left behind, his own shockingly similar parallel experience with conversion therapy, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being open about who you are. Also: stay tuned for the first episode of Dear Alana from Tenderfoot TV.
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They Call Us On Strike
09/01/2023
They Call Us On Strike
In Episode 209, Jeff and Phil welcome actor Parvesh Cheena and writer Liz Hsiao Lan Alper to discuss the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which have brought the entertainment industry to a standstill. They discuss the conditions and contract issues that necessitated these labor actions, what work stoppage and picketing has meant for the average (and most marginalized) Hollywood workers, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being on strike.
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