We have a rare Monday special episode! Amanda was in town, and so I wanted to record a quick episode to mention that she'll be at On Waverly on Thursday, November 20th, 2025, at 4 PM. Drop by to get a copy of her new book, How to Break a Girl, and meet Amanda in person.

The story centers on 3 Asian Canadian immigrant best friends, who are navigating life and love in their 30s while dealing with work, family, and generational trauma.  Warning: the book deals with domestic violence, s*xual abuse, and thoughts of suicide. 

Follow Amanda @amandasung on Instagram to hear about more in-person events. Get a copy of How to Break a Girl on Amazon, or in person at On Waverly!

We'll be back with episode 199 later this week, but we'll be taking Thanksgiving week off, followed by EPISODE #200 in December!!!  Thanks for listening!

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We're back at it with our annual K-Drama Draft episode. This year, we're switching it up and assembling a dream cast, including a writer/director and an OST performer. In addition to my usual co-hosts, Jennifer and Nadira, we're bringing back the PodMother herself, Judy! If you haven't heard my origin story, Judy and her pod partner, Linda, were the inspiration for this podcast in 2021. The four of us had fun picking actors we would love to see in a drama together, with some picks being questioned more than others.

Special thanks to Judy, who you can listen to at K-Drama My Eyes out, and follow @kdramamyeyesout on social media. Congrats on 9 years!  Thanks as usual to my day-1 podcast friends Nadira and Jennifer, I hope we're still doing this years from now too!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by @invictusquartet 

As I always mention, you can write to us at: [email protected], and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We could use your ratings and reviews over at Apple. And now Spotify!

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Gloo Books produces seven Very Asian Guides to cuisines from around Asia. The seventh book in the series was written by my guest, Nancy Jeng, and is illustrated by the talented Felicia Liang. If you're unfamiliar with Taiwanese food, it's a really good primer to introduce you to iconic Taiwanese foods. If you're a Taiwanese food connoisseur, the book will take you down memory lane. It can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Follow Nancy @nomsfrommom, and Felicia can be found @byfelicialiang

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by the Invictus Quartet

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The Blackboard 4 is back with some more ghost stories! We have a new member with us this time, it's Jordan! And Jordan did not disappoint, stealing the show with two stories that have to be heard to be believed! Of course, Vicky and Jackie came through as well; there was not a dry eye in the house!

Special thanks to @onwaverly for letting us use the Clubhouse to record. And also thanks to Chat GPT for writing a VERY entertaining version of the Korean Sackman legend! (as well as generating the cover art for this episode) Thanks as always to Jackie, Vicky, and newcomer Jordan!

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by Arms All Around

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There are thousands of cookie cookbooks out there, but only one of them is an Asian themed cookie book! Kat Lieu’s latest book, 108 Asian Cookies, is full of cookie recipes that are so creative and delicious. The recipes are full of fun flavor combinations, packed with Asian ingredients that make them a unique homage to our cultures.

Get 108 Asian Cookies wherever you get books. Follow Kat @katlieu or over at her website https://www.modernasianbaking.com/

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by the @InvictusQuartet

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Author Jamie Jo Hoang has written a pair of companion books, My Father the Panda Killer and My Mother the Mermaid Chaser. They explore the Vietnamese American experience through the eyes of American-born teenagers and their refugee parents. They are fictional, but history "adjacent" for many children of immigrants.

Also joining me on this episode is returning guest, licensed clinical social worker, Allison Ly, who came on episode #129 last year. I had a feeling Allison would love these books, and I was right!

Get Jamie's book, My Mother the Mermaid Chaser, wherever you get books. Follow her on social media @heyjamiereads. 

And follow Allison @heyallisonly and check out her website www.heyallisonly.com , where you can also find her podcast, Empowered with Immigrant Parents. 

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by Invictus Quartet in Melbourne, Australia

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On a warm September evening, 5 cooks/chefs gathered at the On Waverly Clubhouse to share and sample dishes with a live studio audience. It was a fantastic night of food and community. Our tastebuds may never be the same!

Cooking for us was 2x James Beard award winner and cookbook author, Kristina Cho @eatchofood. Co-owner and part-time cook at Little Aloha restaurant on Taraval, Winchell Chow @littlealohasf. Program manager and cooking instructor with @18reasons, Elise Hayashi, using a recipe from @flavor_explosions. Cooking instructor, dumpling master, and entrepreneur, Eddie Lo @eatingwithedmund. And last but not least, home cooks and sister duo, Nicole and Sam Lugtu, using a recipe from the Marne Thai cookbook @marnee_thai.

Thanks to all who participated! Thanks to my helper/interns: Cathy, Christy, Megan, and Rico! Thanks to @onwaverly for hosting us. It's always fun to do a collab with Freesia and Sam Lee, hosts of @worstqualitycrab, let's do it again soon! 

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

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Since we usually release episodes on Tuesday evenings, I figured we could squeeze in one more #chinforthewin guest in September! Curtis S. Chin is a business leader and public affairs and policy specialist. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Milken Institute.  He has spent much of his life bridging the gap between America and Asia. 

Find out more about Curtis @asiaminute or over at https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2023/speakers/curtis-chin

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please listen and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

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There is nothing I enjoy more on this podcast than catching up with former students of mine! Justin Chin graduated about 25 years ago, and we hadn't spoken since. It was an extra-pleasant surprise to hear that he is the general manager at San Francisco's hottest restaurant, The Happy Crane. I had to call him up to find out how a kid who skipped college to go to the Marines ended up in fine dining. I had a blast listening to Justin's stories, and I'm so happy he's doing great!

You can, of course, find The Happy Crane at their website or make a reservation at OpenTable. Check out their Instagram @thehappycranesf

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @theinfatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around 

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I know for a fact that Jeff Chinn is NOT related to me (listen to the episode to find out how I know)! But besides being a double N Chinn, he's the world's foremost Bruce Lee memorabilia collector. His collection is immense and important. Even Bruce's widow Linda and daugther Shannon Lee have been to the Bruce Lee Room at Jeff's house. I had a great time hearing Jeff's stories and seeing part of his amazing collection.

You can see some of Jeff's collection on display at the We Are Bruce Lee exhibit @chsamuseum here in San Francisco. If you come on a Wednesday or Saturday, there's a chance Jeff will be leading a docent tour of the exhibit, so call ahead to make sure he's there  (tell them the InfatuAsian Podcast sent you)!

To see pictures of Jeff's collection, you can follow him on Facebook @Jeffchinn

You can let us know your thoughts at: [email protected], or via direct message on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast 

Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts.  We would love your ratings and reviews over at Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Our Theme:

“Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by @invictusquartet

 #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #iinfatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters