They Call Us Bruce

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who stars in her first HBO comedy special THE INTRUDER. She talks about the actual and metaphorical intruders that inspired her act, going really really really viral on TikTok with the "drop" challenge, blurring the personal and private on stage, and why her grandma deserved a lap dance at Magic Mike Live. This episode sponsored by the U.S. Departmen...

Jeff and Phil welcome some good friends from the Potluck Podcast Collective: Ada Tseng (Los Angeles Times, Saturday School), Scott Okamoto (Asians in Baseball, Chapel Probation), and Kim Cooper (Asians in Baseball, Korean Drama Podcast) to celebrate "friendsgiving" and play a very special Thanksgiving edition of everybody's favorite roundtable segment: Thanks, No Thanks and WTF.

Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker David Siev, director of the documentary BAD AXE, a pandemic portrait of his own family in rural Michigan as they fight to keep their American dream alive. He talks about telling his family's story through the lens of America's very real and very current racial tensions, dealing with actual local white supremacists, and making a documentary that weirdly folded in on...

Jeff and Phil welcome back award-winning actor and writer Maulik Pancholy, who talks about his latest middle grade novel NIKHIL OUT LOUD, a sweet coming-of-age story about a gay Indian American teen. He talks about the anti-gay backlash he received for his first book THE BEST AT IT that inspired this new novel, what it's like to get your book banned by school districts, and the important question...

Jeff and Phil welcome Raymond Lee, star of NBC's sci-fi drama QUANTUM LEAP. He talks about leaping into the lead role of a lifetime, subverting the notion that time travel is for white people, and why being great at nothing but passably good at a lot of things is perfect for playing Dr. Ben Song.

Jeff and Phil welcome Jay Chen, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's congressional 45th district. He talks about why his Daily Show appearance from 2010 still weirdly remains relevant, his opponent's increasingly shameless xenophobic and red-baiting attacks, and the benefit of running for congress in a super-Asian district that has so many incredible food options.

Jeff and Phil welcome Kevin Tancheroen, executive producer and director of the Netflix series THAI CAVE RESCUE, which tells the true story of the global rescue effort to save twelve young boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave. He talks about shooting in absurdly wet conditions, reconnecting with his own Thai roots, and prioritizing the soccer team (and the people of Thailand) at the cent...

Jeff and Phil welcome Frank Chi, director of the documentary short 38 AT THE GARDEN, which chronicles the extraordinary ascendance of Jeremy Lin during his landmark 2012 season with the New York Knicks -- and the fateful game where he dropped 38 points on the Los Angeles Lakers. They look back at the sheer joy of that moment, what it meant for Asian Americans, and why it still resonates ten years...

Jeff and Phil welcome back friend and filmmaker Tanuj Chopra, director of season two of the Netflix series Delhi Crime. He talks about making the leap from indie films to international television, bringing an  insider/outsider perspective to get the tone right, and the future of global storytelling.

Jeff and Phil welcome actor Yuji Okumoto, who stars in season five of Netflix's Cobra Kai as Chozen Toguchi, the role he originated in 1986's The Karate Kid Pt. II. He talks about stepping back into the Karate Kid Cinematic Universe, his (and ours, and everybody's) love for Kumiko, and getting an unexpected redemption arc for his character over thirty years later.

Jeff and Phil welcome bestselling author Jamie Ford, whose latest novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is described as an "epigenetic love story." He talks about the tragic real life of the first Chinese woman in America, weaving the intricate story of her imagined descendants, and exploring (and perhaps overcoming) inherited intergenerational trauma.

Jeff and Phil welcome Arden Cho, star of Partner Track, and Helen Wan, author of the original book that inspired the Netflix series. They discuss Helen's real-life career as a corporate attorney that inspired the novel, how Ingrid Yung became Ingrid Yun, and the convergence of timing and talent that finally made this adaptation possible. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and...

Jeff and Phil welcome Julie Ha and Eugene Yi, directors of the documentary FREE CHOL SOO LEE, which tells the story of a community's landmark fight to free an innocent man. They discuss the important legacy of the case, why they were compelled to shine a light on this singular moment, the generational responsibility of unearthing our stories. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Healt...

Recorded live at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena! Jeff and Phil welcome novelist Wesley Chu, author of the epic fantasy The Art of Prophecy. He talks about writing fight scenes, allowing his characters to do what they want to do, and why this wuxia-inspired novel is the story he's been wanting to tell his whole life. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find...

Jeff and Phil welcome congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou, who is running for the House of Representatives in New York's newly drawn 10th district. She talks about truly representational politics, making the legislative process more accessible for all, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of running for congress. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boos...

Jeff and Phil welcome journalist Katherine J. Wu, who covers science as staff writer for The Atlantic. She talks about joining science with storytelling, where we went wrong (and right) with our collective pandemic response, and the most erroneous assumptions we're making about COVID right now. This episode is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at...

In this special bonus episode, Jeff talks to Jo Koy, comedian and star of the movie Easter Sunday. He talks about the execs who told him his Filipino American story was "too specific," getting the backing of none other than Steven Spielberg, and doing it for the culture. For the culture!

Jeff and Phil welcome the man, the myth, the legend: actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who appears in the new movie Easter Sunday. They discuss how Filipino Americans are having a moment, LDP as LDP, achieving "icon" status, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being ambiguously Filipino. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov....

Jeff and Phil welcome Simran Jeet Singh, scholar, activist and author of the book The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform You Life. He talks about his journey of faith, dad jokes, his refusal to give in to negativity, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being Sikh.

Jeff and Phil 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.

Recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC! Sponsored by UBS. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Jeff and Phil 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" inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced wit...

Recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC! Sponsored by UBS. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Jeff and Phil 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" inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous sup...

Recorded live at The Greene Space at WNYC! Sponsored by UBS. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Jeff and Phil 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" inspired by RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Produced with the generous...

Jeff and Phil welcome Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, Sesame Street's first Asian American muppet. 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.

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