Infatu Asian Podcast

Ep 140 DiDi The Best Asian American Coming of Age Movie?

Go see DiDi!  It will make you laugh, cry, and squirm in your seat a little as you get transported back to your own summer before going to high school. It captures the angst, insecurity, and awkwardness of being a 13-year-old Taiwanese American kid in Fremont California. Katie, Zoe, and I couldn't wait to get together to talk about this film.  DiDi should be available at a theatre near you, but don't wait too long, you never know how long these films will stay in theaters.  Go see it with your older sister, your first high school crush, or even your Asian mom (if you don't have one, go borrow one for the day)!
Thanks to my guest co-hosts Katie (@katieyowyow) and Zoe (@juniperseabooks) for always being wiling to come and chat with me!
We played a clip of Paramore's "That's What You Get" off of their album Riot
You can find Director Sean Wang's DiDi playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3XXfwQcMKNlsShnjWjIK5s?si=f986055825b54b8e
As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#didi #asianamericanfilm #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Replay: Love in Taipei Episode with Author Abigail Wen and Emily and Cliff!

It's Back-to-School time for Curtis so there's no new episode this week. But in celebration of Love in Taipei's launch on Netflix I thought it'd be a fun time to revisit this episode we recorded with Abigail Wen, the Author of the Loveboat, Taipei book series.  My friends Cliff and Emily had fun swapping stories about their time on the "Loveboat" trips to Taipei in the 1990's.  We also got to hear some behind the scenes stories about the making of the film adaptation, Love in Taipei.  I thought the movie was a lot of fun, and it brought a smile to my face to see an almost entirely Asian cast.
I hope you check out the book series at your local library or wherever you get books, and go grab some dumplings and stream the movie on Netflix!  It'll give you one last summer vibe before school starts!

Ep 139 Emily Kwong Host of LAist/NPR's Inheriting Podcast

Emily Kwong is the host of a fantastic new podcast from LAist/NPR.  Inheriting is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families, which explores how one event in history can ripple through generations. 
Sarah-Soonling and I had such a fantastic chat with Emily about her roots, how she got into radio, and how she decided to make Inheriting the show it is!
Please listen to Inheriting, wherever you get your podcasts, and read more over at https://laist.com/podcasts/inheriting You can also follow Emily @kwongsong on Instagram and listen to her other NPR science podcast Short Wave!
Thanks to my co-host Dr. Sarah-Soonling Blackburn, who came back for her 3rd episode with us!  If you haven't already check out her book, Race to the Truth: Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, and follow her @sarahsoonling on Instagram
As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#npr #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Ep 138 Star Wars - The Acolyte with Mike Chen and Lydia Kang

For those of us born in the 70's Star Wars was undoubtedly a huge part of our childhood.  However, as Asian Americans, it was nearly impossible to see ourselves in the galaxy George Lucas created. This finally started to change in the late 2010s with some great characters in the films Rogue One and The Last Jedi. This summer, Disney+ came out with the Acolyte starring not one but TWO Asian actors as leads! We finally get to see an Asian Jedi as a main character! I couldn't resist doing an episode about season one of the series. 
Joining me in the conversation are two bonafide Star Wars experts.  They are both Asian American authors who have written parts of the Star Wars canon of books.  We have returning guest Mike Chen who wrote Brotherhood in 2022, and Dr. Lydia Kang who wrote The High Republic: Cataclysm in 2023 (both Mike and Lydia have written other Star Wars short stories and numerous other books)!
It was so fun nerding out with these two super knowledgeable and down-to-earth people! You can follow Lydia  @lydiakang and https://lydiakang.com/ and Mike @mikechenwriter and https://www.mikechenbooks.com/ 
As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
Sound used:
"The Acolyte | Official Trailer | Disney+"  from Star Wars @YouTube
Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 
Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#acolyte #starwars #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Ep 137 Rolling Quartz - 2024 Update

Seeing Rolling Quartz grow and create over the last 15 months has been so much fun.  Since our last interview, the band has been to over 10 different countries and has played a bunch of live concerts in front of thousands of fans.  Rolling Quartz has also put out lots of new music and videos. Jumi and I were able to catch up with them in between concerts and it was such a good time catching up!
Rolling Quartz is a 5 member all-female rock band out of Seoul, South Korea.  They debuted in December 2020 and have just released a new EP called Victory!  They will be touring Australia in September and Europe early in 2025. 
Follow them @rolling_quartz on social media or search for their videos at RollingQuartzOfficial on YouTube.
Music played in this episode:
"One" (Victory) - by Rolling Quartz
Band Intros by Ja Young (1st Solo Concert 2022.06.04) via Rolling Quartz Official YouTube
"Sing Your Heart Out" by Rolling Quartz in San Francisco, CA -- May 2023 via Billbob182 on YouTube
"Red Wine (Victory) - by Rolling Quartz "Fearless 피어리스"  by Rolling Quartz 롤링쿼츠 (3rd Single)
"Stand Up 스탠드업" by Rolling Quartz 롤링쿼츠 
"Reminiscence 회상" by Rolling Quartz 롤링쿼츠
"Victory 빅토리" by Rolling Quartz 롤링쿼츠
Outro "Fearless 피어리스"  by Rolling Quartz 롤링쿼츠 (3rd Single)
Special thanks to Jumi for doing the interpretation again.  Also thanks to Rolling Star Entertainment @rolling_quartz_staff for arranging a time to speak with Arem, Hyun Jung, Iree, Ja Young, and Yeong Eun... aka Rolling Quartz!
As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast  Cover Photo by Dragon Fury
Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#krock #kpop #koreanrock #girlswhorock  #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Ep 136 K-Drama 2024 Mid-Year Updates

Curtis, Nadira, and Jen get back together to talk about 2024 K-Dramas, coincidentally 3 years since we launched this podcast in June 2021!  If we're being honest, 2024 hasn't been a great year of K-Dramas for us so far, but there have been some dramas that have made us laugh and cry... or both.  We'll be talking specifically about An Atypical Family and Queen of Tears, and we'll comment on a few others that we liked or dropped.
As usual, thanks to my guests Nadira and Jennifer for chatting with me on the solstice!
You can listen to us on most podcast platforms.  As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
Soundtracks:
Lee Sora – I See You (바라 봄) [The Atypical Family OST Part 2]
Crush – Love You With All My Heart (미안해 미워해 사랑해) [Queen of Tears OST Part 4]
Outro: Son of Paper - Soju Over Ice (소주 위에 아이스) @sonofpaper
Our Intro: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around
 
 
Cover Art: Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun from Queen of Tears
Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#kdrama #Netflix #queenoftears #atypicalfamily #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #asianpodcast #asianamericanpodcast #asianpopculture #asianamerican #representationmatters #veryasian
 

Ep 135 Rachel Khong - Author of Real Americans

If you’re looking for a summer read, look no further!  Real Americans by Rachel Khong is like getting 3 books in one, it spans over 50 years and several countries from the perspective of 3 generations of a Chinese family. It asks the question, who and what determines who you are and what life you get to live?
Rachel was a complete joy to speak with, she’s currently based in LA but spent many years here in San Francisco editing the iconic food magazine Lucky Peach 2011-2016). She also founded a workspace for female and non-binary writers in the Mission District, called The Ruby.  Real Americans is her 2nd book following Goodbye Vitamin (which we also recommend). Follow Rachel @rrrrrrrachelkhong on Instagram, or find her at https://www.rachelkhong.com/
 
Co-hosting with me this week is our pal in Mississippi Sarah-Soonling Blackburn!  You can follow Sarah @sarahsoonling on Instagram, and you can get a copy of her book, Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, wherever you get books.
As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 
Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World)
#sanfrancisco #asianamericanwriter #asianauthor #chineseamerican #summerreads #malaysianamerican #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Ep 134 Taku - Outdoor Chef Life

There is a type of content on YouTube called "Catch and Cook" videos, where people catch fish and then show you how to prepare them. Most people who make these kinds of videos simply take the guts out of the fish, slap them in a grill or a pan with some butter and salt and pepper and eat them like that.  Taku, aka Outdoor Chef Life, has elevated the genre by producing amazing content with restaurant-worthy dishes that look as good as the taste! It was really fun sitting down and chatting with him for a little bit!  He's one of the nicest guys too!
Taku's main platform is YouTube, where you can find him at Outdoor Chef Life, but he's also on Instagram @outdoorcheflife.  Coming shortly he will be publishing his first original cookbook, Coastal Harvest, so keep your eyes out for that, I can 100% guarantee that it will be full of delicious recipes for you to try at home!
Special thanks to Adam @die.hard.fishing for introducing me to Taku.  And shout out to Super Producer Madison who did the editing on this episode! Thanks Madi!
You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcast (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, etc), or go to https://infatuasian.podbean.com/
Sound Bites taken from Taku's Channel - Outdoor Chef Life
"BEST FISH TACOS I've Ever Made"
"GREATEST CATCH AND COOK OF ALL TIME | Alaska Coastal Foraging, Red Lingcod, and Hot Springs" 
Our Theme:“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 
Our logo and cover art were designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half The World).
As I always mention, you can write to us at: infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 
#outdoorcheflife #catchandcook #fishing #asianchef #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #iinfatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters