EP289
Kaila Yu is on the Mount Rushmore of Asian American models and influencers from the early 2000's. In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Kaila Yu—former import model, musician, travel journalist, and now author of the highly anticipated book Fetishized. Kaila opens up about her journey through the 2000s car scene, touring the world with Hot Import Nights, landing a cameo in Tokyo Drift, and how she later transitioned into music and writing.
We explore important themes like:
- The fetishization of Asian women in media and culture
- Asian-American identity and lack of representation in early 2000s pop culture
- The emotional toll of seeking validation in the modeling and entertainment industries
- Sobriety, self-healing, and finding purpose beyond fame
- The inspiration and process behind writing Fetishized
Kaila also reflects on the lasting impact of Fast and Furious, her complicated relationship with the car scene, and what she hopes readers—especially women—take away from her story. Whether you're an OG of the tuner scene, an advocate for representation, or just looking for a raw and inspiring life story, this episode delivers.Host notes: Following the conversation with Kaila Yu, I reflect on identity, Asian-American representation, and the complex line between visibility and fetishization. From the import scene to icons like Jeremy Lin and Kaila herself, this is a raw look at what it means to be seen—and misunderstood. Plus, thoughts on DEI, pop culture, and why stories like hers matter.
From Kaila's website https://kailayu.com/ :
Kaila is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ will be published on August 19th, 2025, with Penguin Random House’s Crown Publishing.
She is also a luxury travel, food, and culture writer and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles, who has written for The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and more. She’s a certified PADI scuba diver, freediver, and mermaid.
Her former band, Nylon Pink, has toured in Australia: Melbourne and Sydney, played in Shanghai at the launch party for Havaianas in China, Costa Rica, played at the Hard Rock in Tokyo, Japan, Macau, China, and Penang, Malaysia.
You can follow Kaila on all her social media accounts as just @KailaYu
Links from episode:
Man Accused of Killing 8 in Atlanta Pleads Guilty https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021144933/georgia-man-pleading-guilty-to-4-of-8-atlanta-area-spa-killings
Remembering the victims of Atlanta Spa Shooting
https://people.com/crime/victims-of-atlanta-spa-shootings/
Jeremy Lin, Knicks top NBA jersey sales
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/11845/jeremy-lin-knicks-top-nba-jersey-sales
The Dangerous Privilege of Yellow Fever
https://www.newsweek.com/dangerous-privilege-yellow-fever-opinion-1577449
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