Feeling Asian

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[EDITOR'S NOTE]

“There was this space for a podcast like this and I was like, ‘Let’s just try it out, I think there's going to be other Asian Americans out there that feel like we do,’” says Brian Park, co-host and co-creator of Feeling Asian. “As long as we stay irreverent and stay authentic to ourselves and lead with empathy and vulnerability, I think that this is something that could resonate with other people.” What started as an idea between two fellow stand-up comedians, Park and Youngmi Mayer, Apple Podcasts’ Spotlight show for May 2022, Feeling Asian, has made its mark amplifying Asian American voices and illuminating all facets of the Asian American diasporic experience.

After meeting at an open mic in New York City, Park and Mayer decided that podcasting was the ideal way to go in-depth about their shared experiences, and to go beyond their comfort zones as comics to speak freely and vulnerably. It’s with that very vulnerability that they’ve been able to build a devoted community of listeners and continue to grow each week. “I remember last May during AAPI [Asian American & Pacific Islander] Heritage Month, the Stop Asian Hate movement got going and I was just inundated with hundreds of DMs from people about all the racist acts that they were living through,” says Mayer. “That's when I really realized that it’s much bigger than just a podcast. It’s like we’re giving back to this community that maybe all they really need is to hear someone that's like-minded.”

With new episodes airing Wednesday, the weekly show focuses on their feelings (as evidenced in its title), but goes beyond the surface with a sense of openness and honesty that makes you feel like you’re in same room laughing (or crying) alongside them with guests, ranging from fellow entertainers to mental health professionals, and even their family members, Youngmi’s mom and Brian’s sister. “We're not claiming ourselves to be experts, we're not claiming ourselves to be journalists,” says Park. “We're comedians by trade. We like to make people laugh and we like to inject levity. And I think it's created this nice flavor to our podcast where we can go really deep with our guests and provide a very comfortable space for them and for ourselves and for everyone listening.”

For Mayer, the loyal and diverse following that Feeling Asian has cultivated gives a glimpse of the potential for what a successful podcast can do. “I don't want to sound too grandiose, but a lot of people really use our podcast as something to help themselves process,” she says. “I just want to grow a community and make people feel less alone.”