Asian Book Club

Did you eat yet? This is how our immigrant families show they care for and love us. In this segment, we share the foods and specific food items we'd pair with the past five books we've read - Tif Marcelo's The Holiday Switch , Vivan Tu's Rich AF , Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon's Where I Belong , Chi Ta-Wei's The Membranes , and Hala Alyan's The Moon That Turns You Back . T...

In this second episode of book club pick no. 24, we talk about how the depth of the themes and shared the poems that stood out to us. Hala Alyan is the author of four award-winning collections of poetry as well as the novel Salt Houses , which was the winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Arab American Book Award and a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize. She is currently based in Brookl...

In this first episode of book club pick no. 24, we talk about how we read poetry, the themes we noticed, and the poems that stood out to us Hala Alyan is the author of four award-winning collections of poetry as well as the novel Salt Houses , which was the winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Arab American Book Award and a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize. She is currently based in...

In the third and final episode of book club pick no. 23, we're thrown for a loop as the point of view changes, depicting the reality of Momo's situation. Chi Ta-wei is a renowned writer and scholar from Taiwan. His scholarly work focuses on LGBT studies, disability studies, and Sinophone literary history. You can learn more about his work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TaWeiChi.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠...

[Trigger Warning: rape and child abuse] In the second episode of book club pick no. 23, we find out more on how Momo became who she is in the present and discover huge chunks of her past. Chi Ta-wei is a renowned writer and scholar from Taiwan. His scholarly work focuses on LGBT studies, disability studies, and Sinophone literary history. You can learn more about his work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TaWeiChi.com⁠ ⁠⁠...

In this first episode of book club pick no. 23, we get a sense of the book's dystopian world and talk about what we know about the main character Momo. Chi Ta-wei is a renowned writer and scholar from Taiwan. His scholarly work focuses on LGBT studies, disability studies, and Sinophone literary history. You can learn more about his work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ TaWeiChi.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠ TaWeiChi...

In this episode, we interview the authors of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity - Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, and Linda Yoon, LCSW! We ask about the process for gathering the individual stories and sections of the book they would emphasize considering the fraught times in the United States. Soo Jin Lee , a licensed therapist and executive director of Yellow Chair Collectiv...

In this fourth and final episode of book club pick no. 22, we talk about masculinity in Asian men, community building, and celebration. Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, executive director of Yellow Chair Collective, and founder of Entwine community. Her unique lens on mental healthcare is driven by her personal experience as a formerly undocumented immigrant. Linda Y...

In this third episode of book club pick no. 22, we talk about compassion, themes of strength in migration stories, and intersectionality. Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, executive director of Yellow Chair Collective, and founder of Entwine community. Her unique lens on mental healthcare is driven by her personal experience as a formerly undocumented immigrant. Linda...

In this second episode of book club pick no. 22, we talk about what homeostasis and the window of tolerance look like; discuss intergenerational trauma and the four specific trauma responses; and distinguish among shame, guilt, and grief. Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, executive director of Yellow Chair Collective, and founder of Entwine community. Her unique lens...

In this first episode of book club pick no. 22, we go through a grounding exercise before talking in depth about invisible trauma, the model minority myth, and the racial position of Asian Americans in the United States. Soo Jin Lee, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, executive director of Yellow Chair Collective, and founder of Entwine community. Her unique lens on mental healthca...

In this fourth episode of book club pick no. 21, we talk about debt, taxes, and solid gold truths. Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader-turned-expert, who is now the founder and CEO of the financial equity platform Your Rich BFF. You can learn more about Vivian Tu's work through her website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YourRichBFF.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ and find her on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Your. RichBFF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this third episode of book club pick no. 21, we talk about investments, credit scores, and financial advisors. Oh my! Thanks to Vivian, we're able to share how she breaks it all down into simple terms. Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader-turned-expert, who is now the founder and CEO of the financial equity platform Your Rich BFF. You can learn more about Vivian Tu's work through he...

In this second episode of book club pick no. 21, we deep dive into budgeting with a side of value-based spending. We also touch on having difficult financial conversations to set boundaries with friends and family. Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader-turned-expert, who is now the founder and CEO of the financial equity platform Your Rich BFF. You can learn more about Vivian Tu's work thro...

In this first episode of book club pick no. 21, we talk about making your money work for you, acknowledging generational disadvantages, and creating a pitch line to self market. Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader-turned-expert, who is now the founder and CEO of the financial equity platform Your Rich BFF. You can learn more about Vivian Tu's work through her website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YourRichBFF.com...

As the new year (and a new season!) is upon us, Jamae and Steven wrap up 2024 with their favorites and welcome 2025 with their outlooks. Find us on ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ and on Instagram @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Hosts : Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park Edits : Steven Park Music : Drop It by Lunareh

In this third episode of book club pick no. 20, Lila and Teddy's relationship grows until they hit a snag with their shared secrets. Do they make up by the end of the book? Read / listen to find out! Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in nursing and master’s in public administration. She writes about families, friendship, and heartfelt romances. You can learn more about Tif Marc...

In this second episode of book club pick no. 20, Lila is in charge of training Teddy, who ends up clashing with Lila's type A personality. Now that they know each other's secrets, they begrudgingly work together . . . until sparks start to fly. Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in nursing and master’s in public administration. She writes about families, friendship, and heartfel...

In this first episode of book club pick no. 20, we are introduced to the main character Lila Santos and the rest of the supporting characters in Holly, New York. Things start to unfold when an accidental phone switch happens between her and brooding college student Teddy Rivera. Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in nursing and master’s in public administration. She writes about...

Did you eat yet? This is how our immigrant families show they care for and love us. In this segment, we share the foods and specific meal times we'd pair with the past five books we've read - Soyoung Park's Snowglobe , Mariko Tatsumoto's Blossoms on a Poisoned Sea , Youngmi Mayer's I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying , Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen's Aloha Vietnam , and Kyla Zhao's Valley Verified . This fourt...

In this episode, we interview the author of Valley Verified - Kyla Zhao! We ask about tech world experiences, coworker relationships, and neurodivergent characteristics. Kyla Zhao writes novels starring women of color in the workplace, including Valley Verified (2024) and The Fraud Squad (2023). Her books have been featured by media outlets such as NBC, CBS, Good Morning America, Vogue, Cosmopolit...

In this fourth and final episode of book club pick no. 19, we receive several revelations about Lillian and Zoe. They also team up to bring Bill down - which ultimately worked! Plus, Zoe and Damien make their relationship official. Kyla Zhao is a native Singaporean who moved to California to study at Stanford University. She previously worked in fashion, writing for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar , and...

In this third episode of book club pick no. 19, Zoe Zeng faces public scrutiny from Valley Verified - the Silicon Valley gossip column - because of FitPick's CEO's decision. On the bright side, her relationship with her coworkers (and Damien!) keeps getting stronger. Plus we're met with a major plot twist at the end of this read! Kyla Zhao is a native Singaporean who moved to California to study a...

In this second episode of book club pick no. 19, Zoe Zeng's influence starts to show in her work relationships. We also see a possible romantic relationship blossoming with Damien Scott. Kyla Zhao is a native Singaporean who moved to California to study at Stanford University. She previously worked in fashion, writing for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar , and now works for a tech company in Silicon Vall...

[ Trigger Warning: fat shaming ] In this first episode of book club pick no. 19, Zoe Zeng makes the difficult decision to move away from her New York job at Chic toward a new job as the VP of Marketing in Silicon Valley at FitPick. Kyla Zhao is a native Singaporean who moved to California to study at Stanford University. She previously worked in fashion, writing for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar , and...