Escape From Plan A

Joe Wong joins Diana and Teen to talk about the social value of Asian American comedy. It's been a kind of golden era -- from Ali Wong's continued breakout success to Ronnie Chieng's recent Netflix comedy special -- but what role do our best comics play in an era marked by social disorder and antagonisms? Joe Wong offers his view of this exciting but high-stakes era of Asian American comedy.

TWITTER:

Joe Wong (@JoeWongComedy)

Diana (@discoveryduck)

Teen (@mont_jiang)

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

It's been a constant theme in modern consumer capitalist culture: to just opt out of the whole dulling cycle. Diana, Jess and Teen talk about an unmistakable resurgence in opting out -- whatever that means -- in response to our alienation from what dominates our finite supply of time, energy and mental focus: work.

*This is a bonus episode for Patreon subscribers! For the full episode, please become a patron at: www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Diana (@discoveryduck)

Jess (@cogitatotomato)

Teen (@mont_jiang)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

The Gervais Principle: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/

On The Phenomenon Of Bullshit Jobs: https://www.strike.coop/bullshit-jobs/

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

We have declared war on Iran. Jess and Teen talk about the helplessness they feel in light of massive and incomprehensible events which will have unknown -- and perhaps minimal -- impacts on the drudgery and routine of our day to day American lives. Is there a reason to feel grief? Is there a cause for hope? Or is there really nothing much to see here? We are in uncharted territory, faithful listeners. Break in case of war.

TWITTER:

Jess (@cogitatotomato)

Teen (@mont_jiang)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

The Man Who Saved Kyoto From the Atomic Bomb: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33755182

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

With a new decade ahead of us, what are some things we want to see in 2020 for Asian America? Ray and Oxford get together to throw around ideas like having more purposeful Asian American spaces, formulating terms more specific than "Asian," creating an Asian Bechdel test, and more.

*This is a bonus episode for Patreon subscribers! For the full episode, please become a patron at: www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Ray (@raydeng)

Oxford (@oxford_kondo)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

The Yellow Man's Masculinity by Christina Qiu: https://www.thecrimson.com/column/new-romantix/article/2016/3/7/Yellow-American-feminism-emasculation/

Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374527365

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

Your 30s are often a time when people's lives start to really diverge with respect to career, relationships, life philosophies, etc. Ray, C.S., and Oxford (who are all in their early 30s) get together to talk about how even though they spent their 20s in different ways (whether it was pursuing white-collar careers or dropping out of college), their paths nevertheless crossed by the time they entered their 30s. They discuss their changing attitudes regarding money, relationships, and the pursuit of writing.

Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Ray (@raydeng)

C.S. (@c_tanuguchi)

Oxford (@JesuInToast)

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

Recently, Diana had a run-in with a couple of white women who banded against her in an argument about whether dogs were allowed in their neighborhood park. Diana, Oxford, Mark, and Jess veer off from the intended topic of neighborhood racism to talk about shitty white women and what Asian women think about them, especially when Asian men are in the mix as well. Can women of color trust men of color to NOT cape for white women?

*This episode was originally released as a bonus for our Patreon subscribers, but it has been unlocked for public release!

TWITTER:

Diana (@discoveryduck)

Oxford (@oxford_kondo)

Mark (@snbatman)

Jess (@cogitatotomato)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

Video of white women attacking brown guys: twitter.com/adam22/status/1142176377862381568?s=21

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme: "Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

Two years ago, the country was gripped by, of all things, a New Yorker short story called "Cat Person" by Kristen Roupenian, which dealt with the murky boundaries of sexual consent in modern dating. Recently, in n+1, Tony Tulathimutte published a short story, "The Feminist," about the dangerous rage of a male feminist whose good deeds go sexually unrewarded. Diana, Millie, and Oxford talk about both stories (as well as other books like "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf, "Loner" by Teddy Wayne, and "The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P." by Adelle Waldman) and the heightened emphasis our society places on dating.

Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Diana (@discoveryduck)

Millie (@onemillicentcho)

Oxford (@JesuInToast)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

The Feminist by Tony Tulathimutte: https://nplusonemag.com/issue-35/fiction-drama/the-feminist/

Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/11/cat-person

Vox article on The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.: https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/6/20995542/love-affairs-of-nathaniel-p-adelle-waldman

The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf: https://www.strandbooks.com/fiction/the-beauty-myth-0099595745/_/searchString/beauty%20myth

Loner by Teddy Wayne: https://www.strandbooks.com/fiction/loner-a-novel/_/searchString/loner

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.: https://www.strandbooks.com/fiction/the-love-affairs-of-nathaniel-p

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

"Frankly In Love" is a YA novel by David Yoon is the story of a SoCal Korean American teenager who falls for some white girl and in order to dupe his traditionalist parents, pretends to date his Korean American female friend to placate both their parents... only to actually fall for her. Though the synopsis sounds extremely tropey, the novel delves deep into what it should mean to be modern 2nd-generation Asian Americans and why we may need each other more than ever. Oxford and Filip discuss all this and how they could relate to Frank as Asian American/Canadian men.

*This is a bonus episode for Patreon subscribers! For the full episode, please become a patron at: www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Filip (@filipgwriting)

Oxford (@JesuInToast)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

'Frankly In Love' Shows Why 2nd-Generation Asian Americans Need Each Other: https://planamag.com/frankly-in-love-shows-why-2nd-generation-asian-americans-need-each-other-600bf6ea6df0

'To All The Boys I've Loved Before's' Yakult Scene Is About Way More Than Romance: https://www.flare.com/tv-movies/yakult-yogurt-to-all-the-boys-i-loved-before/

'Frankly In Love' Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSfOZHRgsU

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

In episode 132, Escape From Plan A looked at Sinophobia from the perspective of four Chinese Americans. In this episode, we look at how Sinophobia impacts non-Chinese Asians. Oxford (Korean), C.S. (mixed-race Japanese/white), and Filip (Vietnamese of Chinese descent) talk about how despite not being Chinese, they still feel the full danger and hypocrisy of Sinophobia. Plus, they talk about the cruel hilarity and spiritual emptiness of modern professional life, as exemplified in The Verge's article on the rotten culture at Away.

Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Oxford (@JesuInToast)

C.S. (@c_taniguchi)

Filip (@filipgwriting)

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

With People in the Streets Worldwide, Media Focus Uniquely on Hong Kong: https://fair.org/home/with-people-in-the-streets-worldwide-media-focus-uniquely-on-hong-kong/

Shang Chi "Leaked" Script: https://www.inverse.com/article/60113-marvel-phase-4-shang-chi-plot-casting-leak

Countries most mentioned by New York Times since 1900: https://twitter.com/abeautifulmind7/status/1084448572593004545?s=20

Andray Domise's tweet on young African children doing martial arts training: https://twitter.com/andraydomise/status/1198769915299352576?s=20

International views of China are mixed: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/05/people-around-the-globe-are-divided-in-their-opinions-of-china/

Emotional Baggage: https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/5/20995453/away-luggage-ceo-steph-korey-toxic-work-environment-travel-inclusion

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)

People in academia consider themselves to be apolitical, enlightened, in an ivory tower of knowledge and education. They say "Oh she's going to the dark side" when someone leaves the hallowed university halls for industry. You Peng and Diana destroy that image and discuss what the Research Industrial Complex is really like, and why it is particularly toxic to Asians.

*This is a bonus episode for Patreon subscribers! For the full episode, please become a patron at: www.patreon.com/planamag

TWITTER:

Diana (@discoveryduck)

You Peng (@PSulikawow)

SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS:

EFPA Opening Theme:

"Fuck Out My Face" by Ayekay (open.spotify.com/artist/16zQKaDN5XgHAhfOJHTigJ)