The Side Dish

Our resident Gen-Z friends Bran and Tyler drop by the studio to talk about their new sketch comedy project, swap slang words, and take (another) Millennial pop quiz. Other topics include: serving in the Korean Air Force, why Gen Z has no hope for the future, and Angelina Jolie's 2001 masterpiece, Tomb Raider. Enjoy! 02/12/26

As a “multi-instrumentalist”, Nicky wears many hats. She dances; she sings; she composes; and now, she pods! Tune into our in-depth conversation spanning her upbringing in the Philippines, how to write a musical, and her feelings on AI-generated art. Other topics include: our favorite jingles, songs that make us cry, and the 80s cult classic Mac and Me. And in a Side Dish first, we end the episode...

Today's episode is dedicated to Season 5 of Singles Inferno. But mostly, it's dedicated to Mina Sue.  01/31/26

This episode was two years in the making, but we finally did it! Mariam Ibrahim graces the podcast to talk about acting with @getinthe.van, her journalism career, and fantasizing about gay hockey players. Other topics include: grotesque AI influencers, Jay’s Irish accent, and Aaron’s criticism with One Battle After Another. Enjoy! 01/23/26

As our resident young person, Branson Taylor jumps on the mic to talk about acting, creativity, and the origins of “lowkenuinely”—among other Gen-Z slang. The second half consists of Millennial pop culture quiz, where we descend into long-winded explanations of dial-up internet, Napster, and Paris Hilton, thereby establishing our unc status. (I hope I said that right.)  01/12/26

Our 10th (and final) episode of the year. We'll get those numbers up in 2026.  12/16/25

The podcast hasn’t recorded in six months. Have we forgotten how to hang...again? Topics include: making kimchi (Jay), pooping while on your period (Sue), and of course, babies (Aaron).  12/13/25

We’re back! In celebration of Father’s Day, Luke Black gives a Nardwuar-style interview to our newly minted dad, Aaron Shin. Major props to our Canadian sleuth: Luke unearthed artifacts from Aaron’s stints in theater, filmmaking, and short story writing, managing to find the most embarrassing remnants imaginable. James Chung also joins to talk about his professor getting arrested, favorite Jeju Is...

For our 120th episode, Aaron “Airbear” Choe jumps on the microphone to emcee a dope conversation! Having worked with the likes of Hyundai and Yaeji, Aaron reflects on what it meant to grow up in the Bay Area’s rave scene, how he found esoteric jams, and the influences that guided—and continue to guide—his filmmaking and music career. Other topics include: San Jose’s underrated food scene, the pres...

The podcast is honored to host Rob “Dubudaddy” Joe: an icon of the Itaewon F&B/art/activism scene and all around dope human being. Aside from being a part-time filmmaker and full-time “internet guy”, Rob is perhaps most well-known for siring Dubu, Reddit’s most famous Samoyed. Check out the Korean version of Marley and Me in this very special, sometimes deep episode. Other topics include: runn...

In this very special episode, we sit with Robert Jung to talk about Singles Inferno, Korean Disneyland, and what it takes to survive brain cancer. Enjoy!  02/06/25

Steve Hanson is—among many things—a Korean adoptee, dedicated teacher, and distant relative of Bob Dylan. Tune into our conversation about being “Minnesota Nice”, The Mighty Ducks’ Rotten Tomato score, why boys are dumber than girls, and what it’s like being super buff.  01/27/25

Y’all! This episode’s got our Alabaman/Texan friends Crystal and Kelly talking about the new season of Singles Inferno, bribing South African TSA agents, extreme pogo-sticking, and teabags. Other topics include: pickleball vs badminton, our favorite emo songs, and getting scrubbed down by old Asian men. Enjoy!  01/15/25

Three middle-aged dudes talk about really important stuff: Jesus, Bob Dylan, and Dyson vacuums.  01/10/24

It’s been a crazy EOY for everyone at The Side Dish, but we’re happy to bring you an epic New Year’s episode! Join us for deep reflections on our favorite Christmas presents, unforgettable 2024 moments, and an “exit interview” where we talk (at length) about the kinds of energy we want to surround ourselves with in 2025. Enjoy! 01/04/25

@julseytooshoes is more than your average content creator. She's a board game designer, former model and actress, trilingual doctorate of Linguistics, and maybe Korean! Tune in for stories about rural Pennsylvania, Super Junior, and going viral on her first post. Be sure to check out and follow her socials, too! 12/11/24

Baby names, body changes, tiger mom trauma, and what to do if your kid’s a serial killer: the pod talks parenting.  11/28/24

Friend of the podcast Delilah Wells graces us from France to talk about (1) translation and the sociology of language, (2) London's "vibes" or lack thereof, (3) why making fun of French people can only be classified as "punching up”, (4) what makes Seoul an S-Tier fashion city, and (5) Donald Trump fellating a microphone. Enjoy! 11/10/24

If you’re a foreigner in Korea, you’ve likely heard of Restaurant Buzz Seoul—a foodie Facebook group that helped launch the Itaewon food scene. And if you’re a member of RBS, then you’ve probably seen Sean Yi trolling the comments. Has he reformed his ways? What other hot takes does he have? Tune in to find out! Other topics include: the Dodgers winning the World Series, Uncle Jay’s audit, and muc...

What started out as a "men's group" therapy session devolved into a possibly cancelable conversation about Shrek, cadavers, and Aaron Hernandez. You be the judge.  10/27/24

Sylvia Kim joins the podcast to talk about being a "Freak Korean"--someone who only found racial acceptance among other church misfits. Other topics include: Culinary Class Wars, James' recent travels to Belgium, the best subway stations in New York City, mixing friend groups, and the poetry of Ocean Vuong. Enjoy!  10/09/24

The podcast hasn’t seen Jenny in months(!), so before we caught up over a family meal, we caught up over the mic. Topics include: Hong Kong diarrhea, LA’s haunted houses, P Diddy’s possible accomplices, and much more. 10/03/24

If you've ever seen the K-Drama "Queen of Tears", then get ready to meet the REAL Queen of Tears, Cyndi Song! Cyndi joins us to talk about being the daughter of a famous actress, building a social media following, and how being a nepo-baby has affected her life. Other topics include: Seline hates Jay Shetty, Aaron's AI-generated headshots, and much more!  09/28/24

Chris "The Intern" Cho returns to the mic after a 2-year hiatus! Tune into hear how he's liking his new job in Austin, the awkward social interactions he's had, and how he's keeping himself occupied with a VR headset (watching "nature" videos). Other topics include: Seline's sanitation habits, Aaron's thoughts on Alien: Romulus, Jay's trip to Inche...

It's a silly goose episode with our friend Phil "Soy Boi" Choi! Topics include: racist Atlantan schoolteachers, pissing yourself on the bus, reading Ocean Vuong while wasted, Aaron getting terrorized by a child, cars we'd like to fuck, and whether being a virgin at 36-years-old is a reg flag.  08/16/24