3.06.2026

They Call Us Hoppers

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.


What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome back Daniel Chong, director of the Disney/Pixar animated feature Hoppers. They discuss the silly, unlikely pitch for "Penguin Avatar" that actually got the green light; centering an angry Asian young woman at the heart of this adventure (and why this movie arrives amidst an incredible moment for animated Asian movie heroines); and all the fun world-building that goes into crafting a story set in the animal kingdom. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Hoppers. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.




Our theme music is by Kero One.

They Call Us Bruce is a member of the Potluck Podcast Collective.

Subscribe to They Call Us Bruce on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or however you consume your podcasts. Please rate, review and recommend us to your friends.

Follow They Call Us Bruce on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

And thank you for listening!


angry archive