They Call Us Bruce 137: They Call Us Kat Chow

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 writer and friend Kat Chow, author of Seeing Ghosts, a memoir about grief, intergenerational loss, reclaiming your family's story... and taxidermy. She talks about The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of seeing figurative and/or literal ghosts.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 16: Art Chudabala

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 16 of All The Asians On Star Trek, we welcome actor Art Chudabala. He appeared as Lieutenant junior grade Hector Ilario in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season seven episode "Field of Fire." (Spoiler alert: he dies.) He talks about his fake best friends, playing dead, and shooting your shot with Ezri Dax. Art's other acting credits include NYPD Blue, ER, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, The West Wing, and his screen debut in the cult favorite skateboard movie Gleaming the Cube, which we also discuss.

Read These

How the Philippines' colonial legacy weighs on Filipino American mental health
What does colonialist mentality look like in the Filipino American community, and how does it affect mental health? The first in Agnes Constante's four-part series for the Los Angeles Times.

* * *
The Filipino American family behind Calif.'s new police reform laws speaks out
"It was very empowering knowing that what we have done is making a real major impact," said the sister of Angelo Quinto, a veteran who died after police allegedly knelt on his neck.

* * *
Mistakes I Made Between 7:30 and 7:55 A.M.
"When she called my name, I reacted instantly, and that immediately dispelled my illusion of obliviousness."

* * *
YouTube star Gurdeep Pandher draws on Sikh faith as he dances for joy
During a time of global despair brought on by pandemic, one grinning man charmed millions with his exuberant performance of Bhangra set against majestic Yukon backdrops.

* * *
The Psychological Reason You're Obsessed With Squid Game
Squid Game is gruesomely violent and emotionally punishing. So why can't we stop watching it?

* * *
The seedy world of private lending in 'Squid Game’ is a real temptation in South Korea
In South Korea, Squid Game's popularity has been inseparable from the country's very real crisis of mounting household debt, gaping inequality and a weak social safety net with significant blind spots.

* * *
What 'Squid Game' gets right and wrong about Pakistani migrant workers
Squid Game is currently the number one TV show in Pakistan. NPR asked Pakistanis around the world to weigh in on the character of migrant worker Ali Abdul -- and the casting of an Indian actor Anupam Tripathi in the role.

* * *
'Dear Memory' digs into the shame accompanying immigrant silence
After her mother passed away in 2015, Victoria Chang started writing letters to her mother. Then she wrote to her parents, her grandparents, her daughters, her teachers -- until they turned into a book.

* * *
How The Rescue Became This Year's Most Thrilling - and Human - Documentary
Filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin followed up their Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo with a moving account of the Tham Luang cave rescue.

* * *
'I'm so glad you guys exist!’ Carrie Brownstein meets the Linda Lindas
Original riot grrrl Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney chats with Mila, Lucia, Eloise and Bela -- the next gen teenage punk rockers gone viral known as The Linda Lindas.

Read These

"Squid Game" Is a Social Allegory Informed by Korean History
Here are five examples of how Squid Game reflects some of South Korea's reality -- and you might notice some familiar themes related to power structures all over the world.

* * *
'Squid Game' is entertaining the world. But there's a different feeling in South Korea
"Koreans love to be No. 1, but No. 1 at the cost of kind of airing your dirty laundry is a somewhat different thing."

* * *
Lisa Ling's CNN series explores roots of hate. It's personal
In the eighth-season premiere episode of Ling's CNN documentary series This Is Life, she takes an intensely personal look at how prejudice against her community has a long and torturous history in the U.S.

* * *
What's mobilizing AAPI voters like never before
A new poll reveals the ways in which 2020 shaped the ways AAPIs look at themselves and politics.

* * *
Beyond the Model Minority Myth
Asian Americans' long history of challenging stereotypes has often overlooked the ways in which capitalism forges racial identity.

* * *
The first Koreatown in America, and Riverside's role in South Korean democracy
A brief history of Riverside's Pachappa Camp, a Korean settlement founded in 1905, and a place that became a model for South Korea's democracy.

* * *
She Fled Sri Lanka When She Was 4. Now She’s a City Leader.
Penny Abeywardena is commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of International Affairs.

* * *
Margaret Cho on the Groundbreaking DIY Impact of I'm the One That I Want
Margaret Cho talks about I'm the One That I Want, her Off Broadway one-woman show that broke box-office records when it was released as an independent film in 2001.

* * *
How Kumail Nanjiani Got Huge
It all seemed simple enough: Book a Marvel movie, get ripped, feel incredible. But, as the Eternals star learned, growing into his new body required recalibrating his whole mindset.

They Call Us Bruce 136: They Call Us Fully Both

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 Naomi Gleit, VP of Product at Facebook, who wrote a personal essay about her multiracial identity. She talks about growing up ethnically ambiguous, finding her voice on issues of identity and race, and embracing the notion that she is neither half Asian nor half Jewish, but fully both.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 15: Away Mission with Nicole Chung

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 15 of All The Asians On Star Trek, 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 writer Nicole Chung to discuss "Family" from season four of Star Trek: The Next Generation . So pass a bottle of the '47. It's time to get muddy in the vineyard.

Read These

The Privilege of Mediocrity
For creators of color, the perceived need to be exemplary can be artistically stultifying. Instead, true freedom may lie in being allowed to be fine -- or to fail.

* * *
We're Already Barreling Toward the Next Pandemic
The pandemic is far from over, but the window to prepare for future threats is closing fast.

* * *
The Overlooked American Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Historian Naoko Wake's new book American Survivors: Trans-Pacific Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki spotlights the American and Asian American survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

* * *
How Do You Build a Successful Legal Practice? Put Your Face on Restaurant Placemats.
With hundreds of restaurants filling the San Gabriel Valley's strip malls and lining its lively thoroughfares, attorney James Wang honed in on the humble placemat to deliver his message.

* * *
So You Want Gong Yoo to Slap You. Now What?
You’ve watched the Squid Game slapping scene multiple times. It made you feel things. You're experiencing a Gong Yoo awakening, and here's what to do next.

* * *
Shang-Chi's' Andy Cheng on Shaping the Next Asian Superhero
Andy Cheng is the fight choreographer behind the much-appreciated bus sequence in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

* * *
From the Pages of Star Wars Insider: Carson's Convenience
Actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee reveals how his experiences on the set of The Mandalorian were a dream come true.

San Jose Was Once Home to Five Chinatowns. But Then Racism.

San Jose officially apologizes to Chinese immigrants and their descendants.



Did you know that San Jose, California was once home to five Chinatowns? And then it was home to zero Chinatowns. Because racists burned them down and/or displaced and drove out the city's Chinese residents.

If you know anything about Asian American history -- and honestly, it wouldn't be a surprise if your textbooks conveniently left it out -- this kind of racist violence was a fair.ly common occurrence up and down the west coast during the mid-to-late 1800s. Anti-Chinese sentiment became institutionalized

This week, the city of San Jose unanimously approved a resolution officially apologizing to Chinese immigrants and their descendants, acknowledging its role in nearly a century of violence and discrimination, including the dismantling and destruction of the city's Chinatowns. Yeah, file this one under Too Little Too Late.

More here: San Jose Apologizes for Decades of Discrimination Against Chinese

They Call Us Bruce 135: They Call Us Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.

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 actress Peyton Elizabeth Lee, star of the Disney+ series Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., series creator and showrunner Kourtney Kang, and executive producer Melvin Mar. They talk about crafting a unique contemporary Hawaiian take on the beloved 90s teen doctor series.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 14: Krista Jang

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 14, we welcome actress and filmmaker Krista Jang. She played the part of "Rob" in the Star Trek: Short Treks episode "The Trouble with Edward." The role is perhaps most notable because she gets buried alive by Tribbles. Krista talks about the "movie magic" that went into creating that hilarious and horrifying moment.

Read These

How It Feels to Be Asian in Today's America
The idea of a shared Asian American identity has been fraught for about as long as it has existed. In this New York Times piece, more than two dozen reflections reveal a range of views and complicated emotions being felt in Asian American communities today.

* * *
Adoptees Call For Boycott of "Blue Bayou"
Upon the release of Blue Bayou, members of the adoptee community have taken to social media to express frustration about the film and the ways in which they feel it fails to properly represent the adoptee experience.

* * *
Who is Lauren Cho? Missing Woman's Media Coverage Compared to Gabby Petito Sparks Debate
In the wake of the heavily publicized disappearance of Gabby Petito, many have drawn similarities to missing 30-year-old woman Lauren Cho, noting the discrepancy in media coverage between the two women.

* * *
Self-defense classes help Asian senior citizens fight racist attacks
Seniors Fight Back is a workshop to teach self-defense to senior citizens.

* * *
LA's Asian American Businesses Have Been Struggling To Recover From Pandemic Setbacks
A recent survey offers glimpse into the stresses and difficulties that L.A's Asian American businesses have faced during the pandemic.

* * *
Fala Chen Came to America to Find Herself -- And Got Cast in a Groundbreaking Marvel Movie
A TV star in Hong Kong, Fala Chen moved to New York to attend Juilliard with no idea where she would land.

* * *
Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner on Her Soundtrack for Sable, Indie Games, and Yoko Shimomura
Michelle Zauner talks about the inspiration behind the soundtrack and what it was like collaborating with the developers at Shedworks on the emotional and expressive world of Sable.

* * *
"Protect Your Talent": Manny Jacinto in Conversation with Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman interviews her Nine Perfect Strangers co-star Manny Jacinto.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 13: Lily Mariye

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 13, we welcome Lily Mariye. She played the role of "Ops Officer" in "Emissary," the premiere episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. As an actress, she is perhaps best known for playing Nurse Lily Jarvik on fifteen seasons of ER. These days, she's been racking up credits as a director on shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, How to Get a Away with Murder, The Terror: Infamy and The Walking Dead. She may have died on Deep Space Nine, but she had a blast doing it.

Read These

"Men's Rights Asians" Think This Is Their Moment
They became notorious for trying to harass Asian women off the internet. The racial trauma of the past year has only emboldened them.

* * *
Hate attacks are up in Orange County, with a huge increase against Asian Americans
Hate crimes increased by 35% in Orange County in 2020, the largest annual jump in at least a decade.

* * *
Looking for a Gold-Rush Town Named Chinese Camp
A writer went searching for Asian American history in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where thousands of Chinese immigrants labored during the Gold Rush but where traces of their presence are few.

* * *
My Career in Restaurants Taught Me What Local Government Really Needs
Freshman politician Francesca Hong shares how her understanding of service has evolved as she went from chef and restaurant owner to Wisconsin state assembly representative.

* * *
Linda Sivrican Is Uniting LA's Elderly Asian Community With Food
Her neighborhood business will serve food made in-house daily by Asian elders, including her own mother.

* * *
Why Everyone Should Read the Great Karen Tei Yamashita
Karen Tei Yamashita, winner of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters, is not necessarily a household name in the world of books -- but the diversity of her work is what makes her such an important writer and uniquely deserving of the award.

* * *
Jon M. Chu Reflects on In the Heights and What "Makes Everything Worth It"
He's been looking back at the pandemic-era release, continuing the conversation about colorism in film, and rooting for his stars as they work on conquering Hollywood.

They Call Us Bruce 134: They Call Us Justin Chon

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 Justin Chon, the writer, director and star of the dramatic feature Blue Bayou. He talks about putting the spotlight on the plight of undocumented adoptees, setting an Asian American story in the South, and crafting films that create empathy -- and change.

All The Asians On Star Trek - 12: Eugene Cordero

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 12, we welcome Eugene Cordero. He is the voice of the cybernetically-enhanced engineer Ensign Sam Rutherford on the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. With a lengthy list of credits, he holds a rare distinction of playing characters in the Star Trek, Star Wars and Marvel universes. But he is probably best known for playing "Pillboi" on The Good Place. He knows this because that's what everybody yells at him on the street.

Read These Blogs

Brother of 1st hate crime murder victim post-9/11 reflects on progress, setbacks
Balbir Singh Sodhi became the first documented hate crime victim in the days after 9/11. Now, as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, his brother and other community members once again feel their fears around racism and discrimination intensifying.

* * *
How did South Asian Americans respond to 9/11?
Before the archives were to be deleted, Anirvan Chatterjee got a hold of over eight hundred public South Asian American mailing lists. Here, Anirvan collected a snapshot of conversations in the days and weeks after September 11, 2001.

* * *
Anti-Sikh bigotry didn't start with 9/11. That fact got me through it.
"When people ask me how I'm able to endure the specter of bigotry as a visible Sikh in modern America, the answer now feels simple and honest: perspective."

* * *
Pain never ebbs for family of Betty Ong, flight attendant who made first 9/11 alert
American Airlines flight attendant Betty Ong was the first person to alert authorities of the plane being hijacked on 9/11. 20 years later, Ong's family still feels the pain of their loss.

* * *
New York City's Chinatown Looks Ahead to the Future
After a year of hardship for Chinatown, a younger generation is writing the neighborhood's next chapter.

* * *
How a single mom went from dancing in San Francisco nightclubs to owning one
Coby Yee's electrifying stage presence enchanted crowds of hundreds at the peak of the Chinese American nightclub scene in San Francisco, which lasted from the mid-1930s to 1970.

* * *
The Simple Perfection of Fried Eggs and White Rice
The great thing about egg rice is that it's hardly cooking. According to Eric Kim, if you can fry an egg, then you can make egg rice.

* * *
'Shang-Chi': How a Group Chat Led to Meng'er Zhang's Life-Changing Role
Meng'er Zhang broke out as Xialing in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings -- her first screen credit -- and ended up meeting her husband on set as well.

* * *
Surrounding Shang-Chi With Powerful Women Was Vital to the Story
Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen... Marvel's latest introduced a lot of new badass women -- and more than one of them helped shape the film.

* * *
How 'Shang-Chi' Screenwriter Dave Callaham Became Hollywood's Go-To Writer for Blockbusters
A former CAA assistant, Shang-Chi screenwriter Dave Callaham has now penned the scripts for films such as Wonder Woman 1984 and Mortal Kombat, with the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Disney's live-action Hercules up next.

They Call Us Bruce 133: They Call Us Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

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 our old pals Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of Diaspora for a spoiler-filled debrief and discussion of Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There are many, many mispronunciations.

They Call Us Bruce 132: They Call Us Dave Callaham

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 Dave Callaham, the screenwriter behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He talks about the journey of fully embracing his own Asian American identity, getting the call to work with Marvel, and the challenges of adapting the MCU's first Asian American superhero.

Read These Blogs

Asian Americans Are Finally Getting the Heroes We Deserve
Shang-Chi isn't the first Asian protagonist we've seen on a screen, but his character and storyline pave the way for more more in Asian American media representation.

* * *
The Reclamation of Shang-Chi
The arrival of Shang-Chi is not just a triumphant moment of representation -- it's one that aims to reverse decades of comic book stereotyping.

* * *
Shang-Chi: Why Marvel's most influential comic disappeared.
In this Inverse series about Shang-Chi's origins, rise, fall, and rebirth, part two examines the history behind the character, and why the Master of Kung Fu eventually faded into relative obscurity.

* * *
How Asian American internet trailblazers gave new life to Shang-Chi
Part three looks at how Asian American internet influencers set the stage for Shang-Chi's big screen debut.

* * *
Does 'Shang-Chi' pass the 'rep sweats' test? We debate why the Marvel movie matters
Shang-Chi shouldn't have to carry the weight of Asian representation within the MCU, but three Los Angeles Times writers discuss what it means that it does.

* * *
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Made Me Feel Seen Like No Other Hollywood Blockbuster
Kat Moon talks about Marvel's latest movie and its distinctly Chinese details.

* * *
In 'Shang-Chi,' a Muni Line Made Possible by Chinatown Community Advocacy
A Muni bus plays a key role in Shang-Chi -- and in San Francisco's Chinatown community history.

* * *
Hong Kong Legend Tony Leung Tries His Hand at Hollywood
The icon of global cinema stars in an American film -- and comes to the Marvel universe -- for the first time.

* * *
Watching Tony Leung Gets Us All in the Mood
American audiences will soon learn why it's hard not to fall in love with the Hong Kong superstar.

* * *
Forgetting My First Language
For many children of immigrants, to "succeed" in America, we must adopt a new language in place of our first -- the one our parents speak best -- without fully considering the strain it places on our relationships for the rest of our lives.

* * *
Roger Shimomura Is 81 Years Old. His Takedown Of Anti-Asian Stereotypes Is Timelier Than Ever
Artist Roger Shimomura mploys playful-looking imagery to examine dangerous stereotypes. He's been saying in pictures what mainstream American discourse is just now starting to find the language to talk about in words.

* * *
Calbee Shrimp Chips have a cult following. Here's how it happened
The story behind one of Asia's most ubiquitious and beloved snacks.

* * *
Padma Lakshmi offers food for thought with her new children's book
In her new children's book Tomatoes for Neela, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi teaches kids about the legacy we leave them, inside the kitchen and out.

* * *
How "Grandma" Became the "Subversive" Style Star of 'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens'
Lori Tan Chinn speaks volumes wearing tops printed with phrases like "Chinese Badass."

They Call Us Bruce 131: They Call Us Simu Liu

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 Simu Liu, star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He talks about suiting up as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first Asian leading man, tweeting the role into existence, and seizing his superhero moment.

Read These Blogs

How Marvel's Shang-Chi had to "destroy" its own racist origins
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings rescripts the original Fu Manchu Marvel story.

* * *
Padma Lakshmi says disparaging Indian food isn't funny. It's ugly.
A columnist with The Washington Post recycled a tired, racist comment about "Indian curry" in a recent publication, and Padma Lakshmi is not having it.

* * *
A toxic stew of anti-Asian racism, anti-vaccine vitriol roils Orange County
In Orange County, Board of Supervisors meetings have become a place for racist, anti-vaccine rhetoric from groups of vocal community members.

* * *
Citing Solidarity in Asian American Documentary
As more places in the U.S.require ethnic studies in their curricula, Brian Hu suggests Asian American documentary films that showcase solidarity.

* * *
Three Asian Adoptee Poets Reflect on Craft, Adoption, and Anti-Asian Violence
Tiana Nobile, Ansley Moon, and Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello chat about poetry, their experiences of being Asian American adoptees, and more.

* * *
The Imperfect Legacy of Romeo Must Die
"To Hollywood, the "hip-hop kung fu movie" was a short-lived fancy. To me, it was a phenomenon."

* * *
How a scrappy YouTube channel grew into a hub for Asian and Asian American talent
Wong Fu Productions has developed a reputation as a springboard for Asian and Asian American talent.

* * *
Meet SNL's Celeste Yim, the writer (and Emmy nominee) behind the memorable 'It Gets Better' sketch
Celeste Yim was the only writer hired by SNL last season. Now, she's been nominated for an Emmy.

* * *
'Shang Chi's Awkwafina and 'Eternals' star Kumail Nanjiani trade notes on their MCU debuts
Kumail Nanjiani and Awkwafina trade notes on their career-shifting Marvel debuts, carving uncharted paths in Hollywood and how to learn to stop worrying and let themselves have fun with it all.

* * *
How Sandra Oh Snuck A Massive Cameo Into The Chair
"...somewhere in the The Chair universe, Ji-Yoon aka Sandra Oh and Dr. Peter Seung aka Daniel-Freaking-Dae-Kim were together as a hot college professor couple, and now he's in Michigan teaching classes and being handsome and crying behind his handsome professor glasses as he pines over his ex-love. The spinoff truly writes itself."

'Arthur' is Getting a Sikh Character

Samir will debut in the upcoming special "Arthur's First Day."



Arthur, the beloved long-running animated kids' show, is getting a Sikh character.

When Arthur and his friends start the new school year, they'll meet some new classmates -- including a Sikh boy named Samir. The character will make his debut in an upcoming hour-long special.

In "Arthur's First Day," best friends Arthur and Buster get assigned to different classes on their first day of fourth grade and find themselves having to make new friends. Arthur gets to know Alex, a boy he went to third grade with. Buster, meanwhile, becomes buds with Samir as the two work together to solve a mystery.

The special is scheduled to premiere on PBS on September 6.

More here: 'Arthur', the iconic kids' show, is getting a Sikh character

California Passes Resolution to Celebrate "Kimchi Day"

Calfornia Assembly passes resolution officially declaring November 22 as "Kimchi Day"



The California legislature has passed a new resolution officially declaring November 22 as "Kimchi Day."

Under the bill, which was led by Californian Assemblyman Steven Choi, the day will celebrate the traditional Korean fermented side dish to promote the consumption of healthier food. Kimchi, according to the bill, is "an excellent source of probiotics, folate, beta-carotene, choline, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K."

The bill also notes that "The increase in awareness of kimchi corresponds to higher awareness of Korean culture, including K-pop, K-beauty, K-food, and K-drama."

Okay, California. Why not? By the way, in my household, every day is Kimchi Day.

More here: California's assembly passes resolution to celebrate 'Kimchi Day'

Read These Blogs

I'm an Asian American woman in academia. Here's what 'The Chair' gets right
The Chair, starring Sandra Oh, is a new Netflix comedy set within a university English department.

* * *
Sandra Oh Is Agitating for Real, Culture-Changing Inclusion
In Netflix's The Chair, Oh plays an academic struggling to modernize an unwieldy institution. She's been bringing the same fight to Hollywood for decades.

* * *
I Can't Forget the Lessons of Vietnam. Neither Should You.
"Americans also like to think that wars end when they are declared to end. But the aftereffects of war continue for years." Viet Thanh Nguyen on the parallels of Vietnam and Afghanistan.

* * *
Stop Viewing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a Monolith
Better data on Asian Americans can spotlight social problems and identify those in need.

* * *
A Rising Star's Career Was Cut Short. His Impact Is Just Beginning.
Anthony Veasna So died before the release of his first book, Afterparties, but his loved ones, mentors and newfound fans are making it a particularly significant debut.

* * *
Stevie Shao is Seattle's breakout muralist
At 23 years old, Stevie Shao has become one of Seattle's most recognized and in-demand muralists and illustrators.

* * *
Simu Liu is on the cusp of superstardom. But that isn't his end game.
As Marvel's first Asian superhero, Canadian actor Simu Liu is about to become a household name. But it's not enough to succeed on his own; he wants to bring his community with him.

* * *
COVID, Catharsis, and the Radical Power of an Ali Wong Blow Job Joke
What the (relative) normalcy of Ali Wong's summer tour meant after an especially isolating year and a half.

They Call Us Bruce 130: They Call Us Maggie Q

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 actress Maggie Q, who stars in the new action film The Protege. She talks about slipping back into the catsuit, breaking through in Asia before Hollywood, and proving doubters wrong -- especially when it comes to doing her own stunts.

Read These Blogs

What does Asian and Black racial solidarity look like
Black and Asian communities in America are often portrayed as in conflict with each other -- but that ignores the moments of solidarity, resistance and collective power.

* * *
The Asian Pop Stars Taking Center Stage
In the West, Asian musicians have long been marginalized. Now, though, a new generation of women are transforming their respective genres.

* * *
A Vietnamese refugee served as one of California's inmate firefighters. Then the state gave him to ICE
Phi Pham was due to be released early from Folsom State Prison, in part because of his explempary service as an inmate firefighter, but the state handed him over to ICE. He now faces deportation to Vietname -- a country he has never even been to.

* * *
A love letter to Sunisa Lee, and her Hmong parents.
Sunisa Lee, the Olympic champion, followed 'her light, her energy.' Her parents raised her differently than many Hmong girls. They all share in Sunisa Lee's success.

* * *
A Private-School Sex Educator Defends Her Methods
Justine Ang Fonte, a sex-positive educator, recently became the subject of angry reports after parents at two elite New York City schools complained about her curriculum.

* * *
Inside the Secretive, Semi-Illicit, High Stakes World of WhatsApp Mango Importing
Customs restrictions, high transport costs, and a short shelf life have made the world's greatest mangoes -- grown in Pakistan -- difficult to come by in the United States.

* * *
Ali Wong's Raunchy New Stand-Up Set Brings the Laughs We Need
Ali Wong's "Milk and Money Tour" hits the Beacon Theater at an uncertain time for live comedy. Luckily, the sex jokes are her funniest yet.

* * *
Meet "Spin" Star Avantika, Disney Channel's First Indian American Movie Star
The Disney Channel finally has its first Indian American movie star: Avantika, the self-aware and confident teen starring in the dramedy, Spin.

* * *
Manny Jacinto Is Moving on From 'The Good Place'
Manny Jacinto played "the ultimate himbo" Jason Mendoza for four years on The Good Place. Now he's ready to take on different roles.

* * *
‘Nine Days’ Helmer Edson Oda Talks Working With His Filmmaking 'Hero' Spike Jonze
Ever since Nine Days filmmaker Edson Oda won the Sundance Film Festival's Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award in January 2020, the prize has been a great boost of confidence whenever a little imposter syndrome kicks in.

For Us All: Fred Korematsu's Quest for Justice

New audio play tells the true story of the legal fight to overturn Korematsu v. United States.



L.A. Theatre Works presents For Us All, a new audio play based on the true story of a team of lawyers who used a little-known legal writ to fight and overturn the conviction of Fred Korematsu, unjustly sentenced for resisting the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Written by Jeanne Sakata, the cast includes Brookie Ishibashi, Derek Mio, Joy Osmanski, Josh Stamberg, Greg Watanabe and Paul Yen. It's available for purchase as an mp3 download (or CD), and includes a conversation with Sakata and four of the attorneys from the Korematsu v. United States case: Lori Bannai, Peter Irons, Dale Minami and Don Tamaki.

More here: For Us All

How, in 2021, do people not know that "chink" is a slur?

Devin Funches apologizes for saying "chinky."



Over the weekend during a press conference, Green Bay Packers receiver Devin Funchess used the word "chinky" to describe the smiling eyes of reporters. He clearly wasn't directing the slur at anyone; he wasn't even referring to any actual Asian person. It was, on the surface, a word uttered out of ignorance.

More here: Green Bay Packers WR Devin Funches apologizes for anti-Asian remark

But this incident, and the similarly casually racist Juventus slant-eye photo debacle, point to a bigger issue, as sports commentator Pablo Torre points out in this excerpt from the ESPN Daily podcast.

Suspect Arrested in Attack on Elderly Woman

80-year-old woman violently pushed in unprovoked assault.



In Honolulu, surveillance cameras caught a disturbing violent assault on an 80-year-old woman on the street. 37-year-old Jordan Wong was arrested Tuesday after violently pushing down the unnamed victim in an unprovoked attack. The woman fell to the ground, over the curb and landed in the shoulder of the road, hitting her head. She reportedly walked away from the assault, but suffered bruises and complained of back pain. Honolulu Police have classified the incident as a second degree assault.

More here: Suspect accused of knocking down elderly woman in Honolulu arrested

Read These Blogs

Op-Ed: For years, I got teased for wearing face masks. The pandemic changed that.
Cartoonist Mari Naomi was wearing masks before it was cool.

* * *
Suni Lee's win shines a bright light on the Hmong legacy
Atop the biggest stage in global sports, Suni Lee has lifted America's Hmong community on her strong shoulders, casting an important light on the triumphs and struggles of Hmong people -- a compelling American story that few Americans know."

* * *
Atlanta shooting victim's sons seek to unite Black, Asian communities in shared fight against hate
Robert Peterson's mother Yong Ae Yue was killed in the Atlanta spa shootings. Inspired by the support his family has received from the Black and Asian communities, he is determined to help both groups converge in their fights for greater equity.

* * *
Infinite Self
Rising writer Anthony Veasna So died unexpectedly last winter, before his debut book Afterparties was released. Everyone remembers him differently.

* * *
Sandra Oh Is Speaking
Sandra Oh on challenging the unbelievable pressure of being a modern woman.

Read These Blogs

Sunisa Lee didn't owe the U.S. gold. Her victory is a gift, especially to her Hmong community
"To be part of a diaspora means to create a home in lands that don't want you in them; to constantly carve out spaces just so you can exist. Lee is a product of that resilience."

* * *
Sunisa Lee Is Representing America in the Tokyo Olympics—and a Community America Left Behind
Suni Lee's place in the Tokyo Olympics carries the hopes of the U.S., and a Hmong community that has not always been embraced by the U.S.
* * *
Rivalry Without Racism
Can America compete with China and avoid fueling anti-Asian hate?

* * *
White residents burned this California Chinatown to the ground. An apology came 145 years later
More than a century ago, Chinese people in Antioch, California built tunnels under the city because they were forbidden by law from going outside after sundown. Then, white residents burned Chinatown to the ground.

* * *
Marking a Pandemic, One Crane at a Time
Grace Loh Prasad and her son took on what seemed like a simple project: fold one origami crane every day during the pandemic. Together, they discovered over the year how making art helps people bear the unbearable.

* * *
Can Joanne Lee Molinaro, the Korean Vegan, ever stop overachieving?
Joanne Lee Molinaro is a cookbook author, food blogger and partner at a major law firm who also happens to be a TikTok star in her free time.

* * *
Dev Patel, Starry Knight
The Green Knight offered Dev Patel a movie-star moment unlike anything he's done before. Could he conquer his insecurities and take the lead?

* * *
Michelle Zauner and Jiayang Fan on becoming their mothers' artworks
Japanese Breakfast frontwoman Michelle Zauner and New Yorker staff writer Jiayang Fan discuss the frantic need for creative expression and the emotional resonance of H Mart.

Sunisa Lee Helps U.S. Women Gymnastics Team Win Silver

She received 15.4 -- the highest score on the uneven bars so far at the Tokyo Olympics.



With Russia's women"s gymnastics team leading by more than a point and Simone Biles abruptly out of the competition in Tuesday's team final, it fell to Sunisa Lee, anchoring the United States on the uneven bars, to keep the Americans' gold medal hopes alive. It was, Lee said afterward, "the most pressure I’ve ever felt in my life." It didn’t show. Lee received a score of 15.4 on the uneven bars, the highest mark anyone has received on bars at the Olympics so far.

More here: Sunisa Lee Stepped Up When Simone Biles Stepped Back