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How a skid row store faces the tensions in Black-Korean history — by discussing its bleakest chapters
Danny Park, owner of Skid Row People's Market in Los Angeles, wants his store to be more than its inventory. On a given shift, employees might serve as therapists, social workers, confidants or mediators.

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Food Is Identity. For Korean Chefs Who Were Adopted, It's Complicated.
Raised in the U.S., Korean American adoptee chefs are exploring a heritage they didn't grow up with through restaurant cooking -- and finding both fulfillment and criticism.

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For Asian American cooks, ties with Italy run deep
They may not share a common origin, but evidence suggests that these starchy foods developed concurrently for hundreds of years, with China coming first.

* * *
Why Wearing a Mask Makes Me Feel Powerful
"Over the years, my constant poker face hardened to such a point that it could cut diamonds and became so natural that it took little effort to maintain. People often told me—unsolicited, of course—that I looked unhappy, or bored, or even contemptuous."

* * *
The Biggest Boba Fan in the World
Nataraj Das is an audio-visual engineer and drinks 200 boba beverages a year.

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East West Players: Asian American Visibility, Also Sustainability
How the historic theater company East West Players has stabilized both its mission and its finances.

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Pop iconoclast Rina Sawayama: 'Drag is turning trauma into entertainment. That's what I'm doing'
British-Japanese pop star Rina Sawayama's genre-mashing second album is the product of her hard-won self-knowledge. She talks about reckoning with her Asian identity, forgiving her mother and her determination to be happy.

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Why Brandon Perea's 'Nope' Audition Made Jordan Peele Cry
Breakout ator Brandon Perea's unexpected take on Angel, the Fry's worker, so won over Nope director Jordan Peele that he decided during their meeting to rewrite the script.

All The Asians On Star Trek 28: Eric Bauza

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 28, we welcome voice over artist Eric Bauza. He played the role of "Cerritos Conn Officer" and other characters on several episodes of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Outside of Star Trek, he's a prolific voice over artist with dozens of credits, having provided voices for some of animation's most iconic characters -- including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety most recently in Bugs Bunny Builders. He talks about getting his breaks as a voice actor, almost getting cast as another Lower Decks character, and making merchandise from obscure Canadian kids TV shows.

They Call Us Bruce 162: They Call Us Love and Noraebang

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 key creatives behind the k-drama/telenovela-inspired narrative podcast rom-com Love and Noraebang: co-director Amy S. Choi, co-writer Quincy Cho, and actress Julia Cho. They discuss telling stories with joy and authenticity, and why Randall Park is the perfect voice of Los Angeles.

All The Asians On Star Trek 27: Away Mission with Andrew Ahn

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 27, we embark on another Away Mission, in which we invite fellow Asian American fans of Star Trek to do a deep dive into an episode of their choosing. For this edition of the Away Mission, we welcome filmmaker Andrew Ahn (Fire Island, Driveways, Spa Night) to discuss "Timeless" from season five of Star Trek: Voyager -- a perennial series favorite. We discuss, among other things, why Deanna Troi is a gay icon, how survivor's guilt over faulty phase variance data can really age you, and Andrew's big ol' crush on Ensign Harry Kim.

In 'Quantum Leap,' Time Travel is Not Just For White People

Raymond Lee stars in the new 'Quantum Leap' reboot as Dr. Ben Seong.


I cannot express how I excited I am for NBC's upcoming restart of Quantum Leap. Not only was a huge fan of the hit 1990s time travel drama, I'm pretty psyched to see Raymond Lee in the starring role as the titular leaper.

The original show centered Dr. Samuel Beckett, who unwillingly finds himself "leaping" through space and time into the identities of individuals, helping history along the way before leaping into the next life. In the update, Lee stars as quantum physicist Dr. Ben Seong, who sets the reboot in motion when he makes an unauthorized leap into the past. His team begins searching for answers, scrambling to bring him home before he gets in too deep."

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive preview on the new show, including some insightful background information on Dr. Seong from Lee and the showrunners:

Described as a spiritual scientist, quantum physicist Dr. Seong has a specific approach to time travel. "He is compelled over and over again to make the right decision, even if his own life is at stake, so he is a much better person than I am in real life. He's something to strive for," Lee says. Dr. Seong immigrated from Korea with his mother, which will be integral to the story Quantum Leap is telling. "We're telling an immigrant story at its core, and it is how Ben is experiencing life moving forward," Lilien explains.

More here: Quantum Leap bosses preview thrilling new chapter

Read These

She's running for Congress, despite the anti-Asian attacks against her
Yuh-Line Niou is campaigning to represent New York's 10th District, which now includes two Chinatowns.

* * *
Kristi Yamaguchi Is Remembered as the Perfect Olympics Hero. It Wasn't Always That Way.
The figure skater won a gold medal, but to many, she still had to prove she was American.

* * *
Brazen robbery of $60,000 Rolex in 99 Ranch parking lot shocks Asian Americans
A shocking robbery in the parking lot of a 99 Ranch has shocked the Chinese community in San Gabriel Valley.

* * *
Constance Wu Doesn't Need To Apologize
Constance Wu revealed that vicious community backlash over her tweets -- yes, those tweets expressing frustration over Fresh Off The Boat's renewal -- made her suicidal.

* * *
Watching my son watch 'Ms. Marvel' feels like a game-changing event
Ms. Marvel is an important step forward for Muslim American representation on screen.

* * *
My hot, rowdy Indian summers at Hindu youth camp
Actor and filmmaker Sujata Day remembers how over several summers attending Hindu camp as a camper, then a counselor, she overcame bears, a serial killer and the wrath of the gods.

* * *
Discovering the Modern South Asian Ritual of Making Chai
Sujata Day is obsessed with her homemade chai and doesn't go a day without it.

* * *
Panda Express' orange chicken changed the game for American Chinese food 35 years ago
Panda Express' orange chicken, the quintessential American Chinese invention that helped bolster a nationwide craze for Chinese takeout, turned 35 on Friday.

* * *
John Cho Has Entered His DILF Era
"I have found myself speaking about issues of race -- often against my will -- it seems like for all my career," says John Cho. But his latest film, Don’t Make Me Go, cares less about identity than everything else.

* * *
Henry Golding and His Powers of Persuasion
Jane Austen wrote William Elliot as one of literature's most memorable cads. In a buzzy new Netflix adaptation of Persuasion, Hollywood's nicest guy proves it's a role he was born to play.

They Call Us Bruce 161c: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 3

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome tech entrepreneur/thinkers Anil Dash and Ben Sun to talk about Asian American impact on the tech industry (and get nostalgic about Asian Avenue). Part 3 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

They Call Us Bruce 161b: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 2

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome writer/comedian Karen Chee and costume designer Minji Kim to talk about Asian American visibility in fashion and entertainment. Part 2 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

They Call Us Bruce 161a: They Call Us Live From New York - Part 1

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, recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC, we welcome chef Dale Talde, food personality Agnes Chung Talde and writer Frankie Huang to talk about the rise of Asian American food culture. Part 1 of the in-studio "RISE Conversations" in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous support of UBS.

Read These Blogs

He Had a Dark Secret. It Changed His Best Friend’s Life.
Tin Chin and Mo Lin were inseparable at the homeless shelter. But one of the men wasn't who he seemed to be.

* * *
Hopes And Fears As DACA Goes Back To Court
As the DACA program's fate is argued in the courts, many DACA recipients worry about their futures.

* * *
How a Marvel musical parody gave Aidan Park the role of a lifetime: an Asian superhero leading man
Comic Aidan Park returns to musical theater in his new role as Dr. Strange in the Lyric Hyperion's "The Streaming-Verse of Madness.”

* * *
Some Surprising Good News: Bookstores Are Booming and Becoming More Diverse
Lucy Yu was certain that a bookstore "focused on Asian American and immigrant stories" was just what Chinatown needed, so she opened Yu and Me Books -- one of more than 300 new independent bookstores that have sprouted across the United States in the past couple of years.

* * *
Don Lee On Making Korean Stories For A Global Audience, With His Special Brand Of Action
Korean actor Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) is playing the long game -- and it’s paying off.

* * *
Close-Up on: Mariko Tamaki
In Anne of Greenville, an adaptation of Anne of Green Gables, Mariko Tamaki imagines Anne Shirley as a queer, Japanese American disco enthusiast trying to make her way in a new school in the middle of nowhere.

* * *
What Working At Marvel Is Really Like, According To Ms. Marvel's Co-Creator
Ms. Marvel co-creator and executive producer Sana Amanat talks about the best advice she’s ever gotten and working through impostor syndrome.

They Call Us Bruce 160: They Call Us Kathleen Kim

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 Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street. She talks about the process of bringing Ji-Young to life, her surprising journey as a puppeteer thus far, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of working on Sesame Street.

All The Asians On Star Trek 26: Amanda Wong

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 26, we welcome artist Amanda Wong. She is a background painter on seasons two and three of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Her other credits include Carmen Sandiego, Rick and Morty, My Little Pony: The Movie and DC Super Hero Girls. She talks about becoming a Trekkie at 7 years old, her path to working in animation, and why it's important to get the specific nuances of Cardassian floor patterns just right.

Read These

Wis. school board dismissed book about Japanese American incarceration as being 'unbalanced'
Parents are pushing back after a committee whose members sit on a Wisconsin school board did not move forward with approving a book about Japanese American incarceration during World War II for a sophomore English literature class.

* * *
A Korean man's shocking killing on streets of L.A. sends his daughter searching for answers
Cathy Lee wants more answers from officials in the fatal stabbing of her father, Dal Keun Lee, outside his South L.A. laundromat in May.

* * *
"She hardly goes out": Racism is keeping many Asian Americans from going to the doctor
Pandemic-related hate crimes against Asian Americans have left many feeling unsafe in public. The consequences of missed health care will have lasting effects.

* * *
H.T. Chen, Choreographer of the Asian Experience, Dies at 74
H.T. Chen merged Eastern and Western influences in his modern dance works, and his dance center was a cultural anchor in New York's Chinatown.

* * *
The Challenges That Keep Asian Chefs From Cooking How They Want
While all chefs are tasked with weighing the challenges of filling a dining room, Asian American chefs often have the added burden brought by the expectations and assumptions made by diners.

* * *
Listen: The myths of MSG and 'clean' eating
On the Season 3 finale of Extra Spicy, host Soleil Ho speaks to comedian Jenny Yang about the problem with "clean" eating and her open invitation to Goop.

* * *
S.F. artist Irene Poon's photographs capture small, beautiful moments in Chinatown and elsewhere
With an approach to street photography more friendly than voyeuristic, San Francisco photographer Irene Poon invites viewers to recollect that the majority of life is made up of small, inconsequential but beautiful moments.

* * *
The Chinatown Nightclub Dancer Who Helped Squash Asian Stereotypes
In the 1930s and 40s, Mary Mammon was a singing and dancing sensation in San Francisco Chinatown's red-hot nightclub scene.

* * *
Having tasted his fair share of hate, Jeremy Lin is now on a mission to redefine love
Ten years after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin is a cultural icon, a flag bearer for the Asian American community, with fans all over the world. And he can also lay claim to being an NBA champion. What's next?

* * *
How Mahjong Laid Tiles for Chinese America
The popular game helped forge a new identity as it crossed classes, gender and generations.

All The Asians On Star Trek 25: Christina Chong

The Podcast In Which We Interview All The Asians On Star Trek.



All The Asians On Star Trek is the podcast in which we interview all the Asians on Star Trek. In Episode 25, we welcome actress Christina Chong. She plays Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh, the USS Enterprise's Chief of Security, on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Outside of Star Trek, her acting credits include Line of Duty, Heirs of the Night, Of Kings and Prophets, Dominion, 24: Live Another Day, Black Mirror and Doctor Who. She talks about her humble beginnings as a performer, the burden of her character's infamous ancestry, and what it means for her to be a part of the Star Trek universe.

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The Many Afterlives of Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin's killing, forty years ago, has inspired documentaries, television, young-adult books, and countless works of scholarship. What do we want from his story, and the people who tell it?

* * *
How queer Asian American rom-com 'Fire Island' became summer's sexiest breakout hit
Joel Kim Booster's fresh spin on Pride and Prejudice is filled with magic, romance, sex and social hierarchies, dance parties, and Britney Spears karaoke.

* * *
How One Gaysian Man Navigated Racism And Romance To Ultimately Say 'Asian Guys Are Hot'
"Asian guys are hot. Not because some OKCupid study says so. But because I say so."

* * *
Joel Kim Booster on Finding His 'Nanette' Moment in 'Psychosexual' Special ...
Comedian, writer and actor Joel Kim Booster discusses how his first Netflix special tackles criticisms about his humor and identity: "I can't just speak as an Asian man only or as a gay man only. I am all those things, all at once, all the time."

* * *
Gabriel Chiu Is Capturing the Asian American Experience in New York
Gabriel Chiu's melancholic new photo series, "High and Dry," tells the story of Asian immigrants who uproot and move to the US every day.

They Call Us Bruce 159: They Call Us Post-Heritage Month Blues

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 are still alive! Your hosts return to recap and reset after an extended, unintended hiatus. We discuss our most hectic Heritage Month ever, the suckiness of finally succumbing to COVID-19, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of what we missed over the last two months.

Read These

Decades After Infamous Beating Death, Recent Attacks Haunt Asian Americans
Vincent Chin, a Chinese immigrant, was beaten to death after being pursued by two white Detroit autoworkers in 1982. On the 40th anniversary of his death, many hear frightening echoes.

* * *
How I Became an Asian American
"I hope Mr. Chin becomes an even more potent symbol of overdue justice not only for Asian Americans but for all Americans who know their worth is more than what racism and capitalism demand."

* * *
"You Know What I Say About Men Who F--- Asian Women?"
"When white women hypersexualize Asian women onscreen, we suffer the consequences."

* * *
Don’t be fooled — Asian American voters are more progressive than you might think
"The Asian American community can be a progressive political force at the polls. However, political leaders, parties and organizations must make some serious long-term and sustained investments in our communities — not just when they need our votes."

* * *
'A lot of Costco love' — How the warehouse retailer became a staple of Asian America
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. They’re also a disproportionate number of Costco's customers. Asians comprise about 7% of the U.S. population, but make up 11.9% of Costco shoppers.

* * *
"She showed the way" — Viet Thanh Nguyen on Maxine Hong Kingston
Viet Thanh Nguyen talks about Maxine Hong Kingston’s influence and editing a collection of the author’s writing.

* * *
How Dustin Nguyen of '21 Jump Street' helped change the way we see Asian American men
Dustin Nguyen doesn't sit around and think about being a "pioneer." But decades after his iconic, breakthrough role on 21 Jump Street -- as a rare Asian American heartthrob on a mainstream show -- that's what he is.

"An immigrants' kid punched Hitler in the mouth while cosplaying the American flag"

Gene Luen Yang on the corniness and coolness of Captain America -- the hero who is a flag on the move.



"The hero who dresses like the American flag. You can't get much cornier than that." As a young comic book reader, Gene Luen Yang didn't think much of Captain America. To be honest, he summarily dismissed Marvel Comics' star-spangled superhero as a dork -- and certainly nowhere near as cool as the X-Men.

But over time, Gene's relationship to Cap has evolved -- much like the flag, and America itself. In his foreword to the new Penguin Classics Marvel Collection edition of CAPTAIN AMERICA, the award-winning comic book creator shares about coming around to the appeal of Captain America's undeniable dorkiness, and his connection to Cap as a fellow child of immigrants. We're delighted to share Gene's foreword here:

Read These

The man who murdered my brother post-9/11 just died. This is why I mourn him
"In the end, the legacy of the man who gunned down my brother is not only violence and hate. His memory is also one of reconciliation and love."

* * *
It's Been 50 Years. I Am Not 'Napalm Girl' Anymore.
For decades, Kim Phuc Phan Thi has struggled with the infamous photo of her at fleeing a bombed village when she was 9 years old. Today, she thinks of the children of Uvalde, cautioning that school shootings are the "domestic equivalent of war."

* * *
By Accident of Birth
NPR's Throughline tells the story of Wong Kim Ark, who forever changed the path of American immigration law in the 1897 Supreme Court cast United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

* * *
This photographer's surreal images explore the complexity of Asian American identity
Photographer Michelle Watt's portrait series "Lunar Geisha" is an exploration of Asian American female identity, examining who how East Asian women are perceived by society, how they are thrust into playing certain roles, the ways in which they become complicit in those stereotypes and the ways in which they rebel against them.

* * *
After his son died on a USC film shoot, a father is still looking for answers
When Peng Wang died on a USC film shoot in the Imperial Sand Dunes, his father flew from China to find answers.

* * *
Andrew Ahn Did Want to Show Dick on Fire Island
Andrew Ahn talks about directing Fire Island and the importance of having nudity onscreen.

* * *
'Fire Island' and the Bechdel Test: Turning the Debacle Into a Learning Opportunity
A tweet criticized the gay Asian rom-com for failing to adequately represent women. Now what?

* * *
The Indian Action Blockbuster That Should Make Hollywood Jealous
RRR is the heroic epic we’ve been waiting for—one that’s not afraid of its own extravagance.

* * *
'Liquor Store Dreams' Tells Personal Story Of Korean-American Experience In One Pocket Of L.A.
In So Yun Um's feature documentary debut Liquor Store Dreams, she calls herself a "liquor store baby," a first-generation American born to Korean immigrant parents who opened corner stores in "Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles."

* * *
Worst Episode Ever Returns to Remind Us Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Once Went Bizarrely Racist
"It’s absolutely crazy this cartoon was made barely more than 30 years ago. In fact, the episode is so problematic that it was redubbed and re-edited after it originally aired in 1990, and that’s the only version currently available for viewing, and it still has the warning in front of it. And it should!"

Read These

States are mandating Asian American history lessons to stop bigotry
As anti-Asian attacks surge nationwide, a movement is hoping to combat hate with history, pushing states to require lessons on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in public schools.

* * *
May We Please Just Date Without Hate?
An Asian American college couple tries to let their young love bloom, but racist incidents keep disrupting their honeymoon phase.

* * *
You're called a 'model minority' as an Asian American — until they decide you aren't
"Privilege-adjacent. Invisible at times. As an Asian American, that's how I typically used to think of my minority status. Society labels us the "model minority" when it is convenient. Sometimes we're models to be emulated — when we're not on the receiving end of people's fear, anger and suspicion."

* * *
Why We Make Fun of the Way Other People Eat
On #Swedengate and why we fixate on other cultures' eating habits.

* * *
One 'underdog' candidate sees opportunity in N.Y. maps mess
New York congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou is vying with better-known Bill de Blasio and Rep. Mondaire Jones, but she sees an opening with an electorate that is 20 percent Asian American voters.

* * *
A single photo can change the world. I know, because I took one that did.
"Kim Phuc and I are two people intertwined in history. To this day, I view her as family. She calls me 'uncle,' and I talk with her often. But I will always hate the circumstances in which we met."

* * *
The Doughnut Kids Are All Right
The next generation of Los Angeles doughnut shop owners are preserving, innovating on, and continuing a uniquely Khmerican experience.

* * *
Elvis reimagined as an Asian American icon
Tommy Kha has photographed a number of people who emulate Elvis Presley over the years, but in this portrait he offers himself as the American icon.

* * *
Chan Is Missing: Lost (and Not Found) in Chinatown
The 1982 film distills a set of broad social themes through intimate snapshots of San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood and its delightful panoply of personalities.

* * *
Joel Kim Booster Doesn't Need Gay Rom-Com 'Fire Island' to Be Palatable for 'Certain People'
Fire Island star/writer Joel Kim Booster wrote his gay, Asian American romantic comedy script inspired by a trip Fire Island and Pride and Prejudice.

* * *
Daniel Dae Kim's Journey From Actor to Advocate
The actor talks about remaining true to his values, finding the courage to speak up, and why it's hard to watch 'Friends.'

* * *
Filmmaker Geeta Malik on Representation: 'Being Seen Can Be a Double-Edged Sword' (Guest Column)
"I feel like I'm always walking that tightrope between celebrating my culture and resisting people who try to make it the most interesting thing about me."

* * *
AAPI scribes on Grey's Anatomy and Pachinko reveal what it's really like in the writers' room
Three Asian American writers on high-profile shows discuss what's changed and what's remained the same in the writer's room.

* * *
Margaret Cho Has Always Been Unapologetically Ahead Of Her Time
Nancy Wang Yuen reflects on Margaret Cho's long career and its impact on her own life.

* * *
'Crying in H Mart' Made Michelle Zauner a Literary Star. What's Next?
The odds are against making a career as an indie musician. Finding success as a memoirist is equally unlikely. Michelle Zauner, improbably, has done both.

* * *
How Wayne Wang Faces Failure
Filmmaker Wayne Wang discusses his political and artistic education, the contradictions of being Asian in America, and the importance of "unlearning everything."