ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

Sacramento County's District Attorney Thien Ho's book, The People vs. the Golden State Killer, is highly recommended for readers interested in true crime, legal history, and stories of human resilience. As the lead prosecutor in the case, Ho provides an "insider" account that differs significantly from previous narratives about Joseph DeAngelo. This is the first official record of the investigation, capture, and prosecution of the Golden State Killer written by the lead prosecutor. Unlike many true-crime books that sensationalize the killer, Ho's narrative centers on the survivors and the law enforcement teams who pursued justice for over 30 years. Ho's book includes hundreds of new facts, insights into interrogation room interactions, and behind-the-scenes legal strategies that were never released to the public. It also features the authorized perspectives of survivors who turned their trauma into activism, offering a powerful testament to the "resiliency of the human spirit". Ho also shares his own story as a Vietnamese refugee who arrived in America knowing no English and eventually became one of only ten Asian American district attorneys in the country. A portion of the proceeds from the book goes toward Phyllis's Garden, a nonprofit founded by a Golden State Killer survivor to support victims' rights.

David Henry Hwang is a Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and the most-produced living opera librettist in America. A three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and member of the Theater Hall of Fame, Hwang is best known for his masterpiece M. Butterfly and the critically acclaimed Yellow Face. In 2026, Hwang returns to Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song for a landmark production at East West Players, marking the "grand finale" of their 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season. #eastwestplayers #flowerdrumsong #asianamerican #chineseamerican #musical #theater @eastwestplayers

We're going behind the curtain at East West Players for a two-episode event! Today, in Part 1, we're sitting down with Lily Tung Crystal. Not only is she the Artistic Director guiding EWP into its 60th anniversary season, she is also personally directing their massive upcoming revival of Flower Drum Song. We're diving into her creative process and why this story matters in 2026—all to get you ready for Part 2 with the iconic David Henry Hwang. www.eastwestplayers.org

In this latest in the collaborative The Two Kens podcast series, Fong and Kemp focus on the now month-old war with Iran, wondering whether President Trump has a deterioriating form of dementia, and how that might have played a part in his leading us into this unwarrented war in the Middle East.

In Carol Lin's memoir, When News Breaks: A Memoir of Love and War, the jade bracelet on the cover is a powerful symbol of her cultural identity, her relationship with her mother, and the "breaking" of her own life. While the book primarily chronicles her career as a CNN anchor (including being the first to break the news of 9/11), the bracelet represents the personal narrative beneath the headlines. @carollinnow

World-renowned social entrepreneur Jane Marie Chen is also an author, speaker, and leadership coach. Her best-selling memoir Like a Wave We Break is a frank and moving account of growing up as a success-driven child of immigrant parents , but how that eventually broke her in every possible way. #domesticviolence #aanhpi #socialentrepreneur #cleansing #healing www.janemariechen.com

Ted Taekeun Kim is a Korean American filmmaker and a director/producer. He is currently a graduate student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in the Peter Stark Producing Program. He is a rising filmmaker who explores narratives that resonate with the Asian American experience. His short films have screened at the Cannes Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival, and have won awards at BIFAN and the Asian American International Film Festival. He is currently nearing completion on a short film titled "I Missed You" that utilizes Virtual Reality as a therapeutic tool. Before attending USC, he worked at Authentic Literary & Talent Management. He also co-founded Souvenir Media, a music video and commercials company based in Brooklyn and Seoul, with work featured on Nowness Asia and Director's Library. Ted is passionate about cultivating new Asian American voices and arthouse cinema. IG: @IMissedYouShortFilm https://seedandspark.com/fund/i-missed-you

Julie Thomas Achettu, already a well-respected Asian American literature educator in Chicago, recently co-founded "House of Jaya," a women's apparel line that blends traditional South Asian fabrics with the fashion sense of today's South Asian American women. www.houseofjaya.com

My guest today describes herself as a 'city girl at heart' who traded her corporate business suits for Steve Madden platforms and a life of authentic passion. Lori 'Sas' Sase is a graduate of Coach U and the voice behind The Imaginal Podcast. From her Japanese-American heritage to her love of live music and her deep reverence for the loyalty of dogs, Sas brings a refreshing, honest, and messy humanity to the world of self-improvement. We're going to talk about reclamation, healing, and living expansively. www.asanctuaryforthesoul.com

Dr. Stan Lai is the author of the influential book CreativitRy: Asia's Iconic Playwright Reveals the Art of Creativity(originally published in Chinese in 2006 as Stan Lai on Creativity). His work is significant because it shifts the conversation from creativity as a "mysterious gift" to a trainable skill. Dr. Lai argues that creativity consists of two parts: Method (the craft or technique of one's field) and Wisdom (the cultivation of life experience and self-awareness). He posits that while schools teach method, they rarely teach the "wisdom" necessary to fuel deep creative work.

He's a violinist, he's a cellist, and together, they are ARKAI—the Grammy-winning duo pushing the absolute limits of their instruments. Fusing classical roots with live electronic processing and pop-star energy, Jonathan Miron and Philip Sheegog create soundscapes that feel more like an IMAX experience than a recital. They're the masterminds behind the hit album Brightside, and they're my guests today.

Podcasters Fong and Kemp are back to tackle the Melania film, the Super Bowl halftime show alternative, the Epstein files, and the evil of ICE in Minneapolis. And more!

This week, the spotlight shines on rising Filipina American actor Reanne Acasio, who is about to take on one of the most complex and iconic roles in contemporary musical theater: Imelda Marcos in the groundbreaking disco-pop musical Here Lies Love. Reanne opens up about the thrill and responsibility of portraying such a larger‑than‑life figure, the cultural resonance of the show, and the journey that brought her from community stages to a starring role in one of the most talked‑about productions today. It's an inspiring, thoughtful, and joy‑filled conversation with an artist whose star is only getting brighter. Tune in for Episode 576 and get to know Reanne before she takes the stage. @centertheatregroup.org

The Honorable Elizabeth Yang was sworn in as the new mayor of Monterey Park, CA, in early 2025, but when you hear her share about the enormous challenges she's had to face in life, you might never have predicted where she's landed today. But as you get to know her better and what makes her tick, you'll learn never to bet against her and what she can accomplish.

Until Dr. Satsuki Ina began to investigate and research the long-term, multi-generational impact of the trauma to Americans of Japanese ancestry as a result of President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, most people didn't give it a second thought. Sure, it was traumatic for an entire population of Americans to be viewed with suspicion. And of course it was indescribably terrible for them to lose everything, including their freedom and civil rights. But when the war ended and the Americans of Japanese ancestry were released from their remote prisons, didn't most of them get right back into the swing of things, without any signs of lingering trauma? In her new book The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment and Protest, Dr. Ina uses her parents diaries, letters and poetry journals to document both their resistance and resilience. And she also shares with me about the lingering effects of this level of trauma on those who experienced it firsthad, but also those who would come later. www.satsukiina.com

Kimberly Tso is a debut picture‑book author whose work draws on real cultural history and themes of empathy. Her writing often highlights community stories and encourages kids to think critically about the world around them. Her book Tic‑Tac‑Toe Chicken has already received praise from award‑winning authors for its clever storytelling and heart. Inspired by a real chicken named Lillie who lived in the Chinatown Fair arcade on Mott Street in New York City, the book follows eight‑year‑old Beatrice as she tries to help Lillie find a better home.

Renee Yang and Ann Kono are two of the co-founders of @TeachAAPI.org, whose mission is to redefine what being Asian American means in America by collecting and collating AAPI stories and creating curricula suitable for Pre-K through 12th grade. Founded during the pandemic 4.5 years ago, TeachAAPI is already reaching 200,000+ students in 35 California schools!

In this edition of the collaborative The Two Kens series, Fong and Kemp reflect on some of what they focused on in 2025, whille looking for signs of hope in this new year.

Award-winning author and activist Dr. Winnie M. Li has recently published her third novel! What We Left Unsaid has us join three estranged Chinese American adult siblings on a Route 66 road trip that includes a mysterious detour to the Grand Canyon. It's a delicious exploration of sibling dynamics that are definitely rooted in the past, but are now in dire need of reexamination and healing. #roadtrip #whatweleftunsaid @winniemli

What Kyle Ang began as a USC senior project has become a much-needed outlet for AANHPI's to express themselves artistically and in writing. Kyle's Tiger Tea Zine is a curated collection of contributions from those wanting to be seen and heard, especially as it pertains to their identities and well-being. @tigerteazine

In writing and illustrating her 2025 debut picture book, Kam Redlawsk enables readers of any age to relate to her journey to come to grips with a form of muscular dystrophy that is progressively robbing her of the use of her muscles. Yumi and Monster not only showcases Redlawk's prodigious gifts as a storyteller and artist, but also as a disability advocate. www.kamredlawsk.com

Podcasters Ken Fong and Ken Kemp managed to squeeze out one more of their collaborative series before celebrating Thanksgiving this year overwhelms their schedules. But before diving head first into their discussion about prominent MAGA pastor and NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) global leader Rev. Che Ahn's entering the 2026 race to be California's next governor, they do their best "Sisket & Ebert" impression and talk about the significance of two films that just released in theaters this weekend: Rental Family and Wicked for Good.

This week I'm bringing you two exceptional guests. With the much-anticipated nationwide release of feature film Rental Family on November 21, my first interview is with the Japanese co-writer and director Hikari! Her latest creation has already garnered a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I feel that it's one of the best films that I've seen in years. I'll go out on a limb and predict that Brendan Fraser will be nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role, Hikari will get the nod for Best Director and/or Best Original Story, and Rental Family will be nominated for Best Picture. My main interview is with South Asian American music prodigy Neil Nayyar, who is the current world record holder for playing 130+ musical instruments from all over the globe. You'll get to know how he discovered his innate gifts and abilities, and even though he loves it, how hard he keeps working to improve his prowess on all these diverse instruments. And I doubt that you'll be surprised when he tells you about the new musical skillset he began developing during the COVID shutdown. You can learn about his 2024 debut album "Breaking Barriers" and his 2024 illustrated book "Passion to Exploration of 107 Sound Machines" by visiting www.neilnayyar.com. #rentalfamilymovie #breakingbarriers

John Wang is a motivational speaker, leadership coach, podcaster, and the founder of Big Asian Energy. Having just published a much-needed book of the same title, John's unswerving mission is to help Asian professionals break through hidden barriers and unlock their innate potential. With over 250,000 followers and 25 million views on social media, John is now recognized as one of the most effective voices for Asian professionals who are ready to unleash their full potential. His weekly Big Asian Energy Show podcast is designed for Asian Americans, Asian Canadians, or just about anyone wanting to learn more about psychology, mindset, and personal growth. www.bigasianenergy.com

When Henry King Fong was born in Sacramento, his immigrant father was already 58 and his straight-from-the-village mother was 48. Henry was the youngest of five and was only two years old when his father died. Their family was quite poor, but his mother made every penny count. Henry eventually graduated from UC Berkeley with an engineering degree, and went to work designing rockets. Even after he got married and became the father of their two sons, a part of him still had a deep yearning to know who his father was. Which is why he began to search high and low for the essential missing pieces of his dad's life-puzzle. As a result, Henry became the Fong family's historian. My late father was Uncle Henry's oldest brother, so I grew up spending a good amount of time with my uncle and his family. But it really wasn't till I began to spend more time back in Sacramento that we really got to know each other as adults. Uncle Henry turned 96 this past July, so I was determined to make a recording of what he's come to know about my grandfather whom I never knew.

Vicki Tan has written a "one-of-a-kind guide to smarter decision-making based in the science of cognitive bias and the wisdom of storytelling Her new book Ask This Book a Question is "an interactive game that empowers you to understand yourself in a new way, inviting you on a playful journey of self-discovery." @vickiheart #cognitivebias #storytelling #decisiomaking

Cindy Lim is the founder and Head of Brand for a new app called Yuzu. Launched in early 2024 by Match Group (the same company behind Tinder, Hinge, etc), Yuzu brands itself as a social + dating platform aimed at the Gen Z Asian community (but open to all). Many mainstream dating apps are generalized; Yuzu is part of a trend of "niche" dating/social apps catering to specific demographics (in this case Asian community) and offering more than just dating. The social mode emphasizes friendship/community (not just hookups/dating) which is increasingly important to younger users. By embedding culture (heritage, interests, community events) it hopes to foster deeper connections rather than superficial ones. The core target is the Asian diaspora (Asian Americans, Asian immigrants, pan-Asian culture) looking for social or romantic connection. It also welcomes people of any race/ethnicity so long as they engage respectfully with the cultural focus. It's especially for people who want both friendship/community and the option of dating in the same space: Yuzu tries to blend those rather than only romance. It's attracting people who are comfortable with culturally-aware branding (celebrating Asian heritage, culture, shared values) — it's not a purely "swipe and date" generic app. www.joinyuzu.com

Harvard Associate Professor of the History of Science Dr. Eram Alam has just published "The Care of Foreigners: How Immigrant Physicians Changed U.S. Healthcare." Her extensive research revealed that, over decades, foreign medical graduates (FMGs) have become a sizeable and stable part of the U.S. physician workforce--at least a quarter since 1965. Their presence has shaped aspects of healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas. But also, their presence raises questions about responsibility: what does it mean for U.S. healthcare to be so dependent on immigrant labor? What are the costs--to the physicians, to their home countries--to the idea of "universal" or equitable care?

In this latest edition of the recurring The Two Kens collaborative series, Fong and Kemp explain both the irony of how he died and the Right's insistence on nationwide posthumous empathy and acclaim for him. Using his own words to substantiate their opinions, they make the case that Kirk's inflammatory rhetoric should not now be santized, nor should he be lionized and honored as an American hero and icon of free speech.

Thai American playwright Prince Gomolvilas first appeared on this show in 2019 to promote The Brothers Paranormal which would soon become his penultimate play in his long career. This week I invited him back because he's written the much-awaited 'spiritual sequel' Paranormal Inside, which will begin its rolling world premiere at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Theater from October 12 through November 2. (www.eastwestsplayers.org) The story returns to Max and Delia, two characters introduced in The Brothers Paranormal. They're dealing with what's come after the events of that play--trying to build dsome kind of peace in their lives. Over the ensuing years, their relationship has become strained, and they are somewhat estranged. Gomolvilas' new play digs into what people inherit--not just family or culture, but emotional history, loss, and unresolved pain. This too being a supernatural thriller with horror elements, a malevolent spirit reappears (or emerges) andf threatens to disrupt the fragile life Max and Delia built after earlier events. Theres's even the possibility of possession! You don't need to have seen the earlier play to understand Paranormal Inside.

As the last of my short Honeymoon Reprise series I'm sharing what originally aired in June 2018 with medical doctors Allie and Joyce Taur. It's truly one of the most remarkable stories that I've ever shared on my platform in the entire eleven-plus years that I've been recording weekly stories. You'll soon learn that while Allie was identified as a cis-het male at birth and named Steven, after he and Joyce got married and where raising their three boys, the former came out as a trans-female. Their commitment to and love for each other enabled them to remake their marriage and family.

Today, in 2025, there are numerous mental health professionals on television and streaming podcasts who talk openly about the state of President Trump's mental health. They don't pull any punches, given the ample evidence from his public appearances and his frequent online diatribes. They say he has a personality disorder, that he's an antisocial malignant narcissist who's in serious cognitive and physical decline. The irony is that, back when I recorded this interview with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee, she and the other 27 contributors to their 2017 book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump knew that they would be accused of violating the American Psychiatric Association's "Goldwater Rule." This principle states that psychiatrists are prohibited from offering opinions on the mental state of individuals that they have not personally evaluated. This rule was created after, in 1964, Fact magazine published a survey asking psychiatrist to state whether they thought presidential candidate Barry Goldwater was psychologically fit to be President. The survey's results led to widespread ethical concerns and public outcry, prompting the APA to develop a formal set of ethics rules for its members. However, in her book and in the part of our conversation that was unfortunately edited out, Dr. Lee asserted that if a mental health professional saw someone publicly and repeatedly displaying behavior that gave her or him cause for concern, they have every right to sound the alarm, even ask the authorities to put the person in a 72-hr involuntary hold for evaluation. But Yale Medical School and the courts did not agree with her, and she was shown the door. That was just 3 years ago. And yet, as I stated up front, mental health professionals are publicly calling out Trump's mental health problems and not suffering any consequences. As you listen to Dr. Lee, I think you'll agree that she and the other writers correctly described and predicted the how problematic it would be if Trump were put in power.

First aired in 2018, this episode still ranks in the Top 5 of most popular ones. I'm sharing it here as part of my short Honeymoon Reprise series. Dr. Joseph Lee shares about effective parenting skills for raising children to be secure, mature, and fulfilled people. Joseph also discusses why authoritarian parenting leads to bad outcomes, how surprises in life reveal our blind spots, and why parents should be gardeners not carpenters.

Fetishized is a memoir-in-essays by Kaila Yu--a former pin-up model and lead singer of the all-Asian American female rock band Nylon Pink. The book delves into her personal journey as she confronts--and unpacks--the complexities of being both the object and agent of fetishization in a media landscape shaped by stereotypes and colonial mindsets. Her memoir interrogates harmful portrayals--from geishas in Memoirs of a Geisha, to the Austin Powers twins in Goldmember, to the character in Full Metal Jacket, and even pin-up iconography figures like Sung-Hi Lee. These archetypes--and the lack of diverse Asian representation--led Yu to internalize the painful belief that sexualizing herself was her only path to perceived value or desirability. Ultimately, Fetishized is a path toward self-reclamation. It's an unflinching look at the violence of objectification, balanced with deep empathy for the fractured relationships we might have with beauty, desire, and our own bodies.

Water Mirror Echo is Dr. Jeff Chang's ambitous and deeply empathetic cultural biography of Bruce Lee that goes beyond myth, revealing the man behind the legend while tracing how Lee's life helped shape the emergence of Asian America. Chang's storytelling deftly intertwines Lee's personal narrative with broader social currents--highlighting Asian American student activism, racial solidarity, and cultural resistance. By drawing from in-depth interviews, newly released personal papaers, and rare family photographs, Chang is able to pierce the iconography and reveal Lee's complexity--his vulnerabilities, perseverance, and influence. And by humanizing Lee, Chang reframes him as a creator of cultural identity, not just an action hero. Chang delivers more than a portrait of Bruce Lee--he offers a meditation on identity, visibility, and the shaping of Asian American culture. Lee's life becomes a lens to explore how individuals and symbols can birth movements, challenge stereotypes, and redefine belonging. His book will be available for purchase on September 23, 2025.

Jackie Dallas was only a year from finishing her residency in pathology when she decided to leave medicine, move to California, and pursue acting. Through hardworking and perverance, she has appeared on many hit shows, including playing "Jen Woo" (science teacher Mr. Clarke's girlfriend) in Season 1 of "Stranger Things." You can see her now in The Hunting Wives, which is currently the No. 1 show on Netflix. You'll also get to know how she's using her current platform and her training as a medical doctor to help countless women understand the importance of pelvic health and to get help if needed.

For nearly 50 years conservative Christian psychologist Dr. James Dobson influenced countless couples, families, and churches through his globally ubiquitous Focus on the Family broadcasts, books, videos, and lectures. In the immediate aftermath of his death last week at the age of 89, podcasters Fong and Kemp talk openly about the way his influence impacted them and their ministries, the unspeakable harm his teaching did to countless children and queer people, and the little-known fact that it was all shaped by the debunked racist theory of eugenics.

Teenaged Sabrina Wang has the distinction of being one of the first girls--Asian American or otherwise--to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout in what is now known as Scouting America. Formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, the organization recently fully embraced a significant rebranding, opening its programs now to girls and LGBTQ+ youth while retaining traditions like the Scout Oath and mission. Sabrina's enthusiasm for becoming a Scout speaks volumes to the success of this effort. And her attaining the rank of Eagle Scout speaks volumes to her leadership abilities and determination.

Actor Sean Dulake is part of the stellar cast of Amazon Prime's new Butterfly series, an espionage thriller set in Seoul, ROK, starring and executive produced by Daniel Dae Kim. What's unique about this spy show is that it revolves around the dynamics between a father and daughter, and a mother and son. Which of course, makes an already immensely complicated situation even more convoluted. As a hapa Korean American (from Arcadia, CA), Sean is also the co-founder of the highly successful Third Culture Content production company.

In this latest installment of the collaboration between podcasters Fong and Kemp, they describe America's state of "disaggregation" and implications for this country's future, given that it's only going to keep increasing. They also explain the mounting threat to the separation of church and state posed by the growing prominence and power of the Christian nationalist movement, e.g., Pastor Doug Wilson, SecDef Pete Hegseth.

Best-selling novelist Jesse Q. Sutanto's latest offering is a present-day re-imagining of the ancient Chinese folktale about a daughter who masquerades as a man in order to battle China's enemies. It's the most recent book in the Disney Hyperion's "Meant to Be" series, which is a contemporary romance collection featuring reimaginings of classic Disney stories, written by various authors. @jesseqsutanto

Kenny and Chizuko Endo met in 1976 a year after he'd embarked on what would become his lifelong passion for Japanese taiko drumming, ultimately using it to honor its role in the past, but also using it as a springboard to innovate compositions and collaborations that have established these ancient Japanese drums as clearly belonging to the future of music as well. Now celebrating his 50th year with taiko, Kenny and wife Chizuko reflect on how their personal and professional lives have been shaped and sharpened by their mutual love of taiko drumming. To find out more about the 50th anniversary shows, go to www.kennyendo50.com. You'll also find dates and locations for the subsequent shows on the Mainland. And to find out more about their Taiko Center of the Pacific, go to www.taikoarts.com.

Mari Fong is a music journalist who not long ago launched the "Check Your Head" podcast because of being deeply troubled by the number of professional musicians who struggle with their mental health and addictions, with some even choosing to take their lives. Her show provides these artists a safe and empathetic space to share their stories honestly, and she then brings on different mental health professionals who can articulate what needs to happen in order for them not just to recover, but to thrive as people and as musicians.

Michael Luo is an executive editor at The New Yorker and writes regularly on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. His first book, "Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America," is a well-researched history of Chinese Americans from the Gold Rush until the 1960s. Using his skills as a former investigative reporter, Luo manages to bring back to life the myriad Chinese Americans who struggled, suffered, and even were murdered in their persistent efforts to make this strange new land a new home for themselves and for those who would one day follow in their footsteps.