Southern Fried Asian

After a brief hiatus, Southern Fried Asian is back! This time, Keith talks to YouTube and Instagram comedian, -- and recent co-host of Kollaboration's EMPOWER Weekend 2017 -- the ATL's own Joon Lee.

Joon and Keith talk their experiences at EMPOWER 2017 (2:00). Then, Joon discusses his experience growing up in a large Korean American community in Georgia (9:00) and how important Korean church was in making friends (12:45). Joon then explains how nervous he was hosting Comedy Night in front of the likes of Dante Basco and Jenny Yang (16:15), how he was inspired by Asian American YouTubers (20:50), and why Asian-specific comedy often seems to fall back on lazy racism as jokes (31:00). Finally, they discuss why Asians love to finish all of the food on their plates (38:35), why his family eats steak and kimchi for Thanksgiving (41:45) and their mutual love of Waffle House (45:30)!

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.

On a special New York Comic-Con edition of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to Crazy4ComicCon founder and Hero Within CEO, Tony Kim.

Tony and Keith talk about growing up in Dallas as an Asian American geek (2:00), why Superman shares many characteristics with other Southern Fried Asians (7:45), and how comics can help people forge their own communities (10:30). Tony then discusses the origins of his Crazy4ComicCon persona (22:00) and creating his apparel company Hero Within (35:00) and his dedication to improving the lives of children in foster care (43:00). Later, they discuss which barbecue is best between Texas, Memphis, and Korean (52:00) and their plans for New York Comic-Con (55:00). Be sure to visit the Hero Within Booth #2569.

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.

On an all new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith sits down with cartoonist, college arts instructor, and SIUniverse alum, Krishna Sadasivam.

Keith and Krishna start by reminiscing about working on the Shattered anthology and a project for the Smithsonian (1:30). Then, Krishna discusses growing up in Knoxville, TN (3:00) and how he found a community when he went to the University of Tennessee (8:45). Though there was parental pressure to be academically gifted and work in engineering (12:00), a fateful conversation with cartoonist Dave Sim (15:00) encouraged Krishna to take his art more seriously which eventually led to the birth of his popular webcomic The PC Weenies and other strips (25:00). Also, they discuss why it's actually important for children to be bored (36:00) and his work in the documentary Forgive Don't Forget (40:00). Finally, he explains why his mother's dosa always brings him back to his Tennessee childhood (44:00).

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.

This week on Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to writer, creator, diversity advocate -- and Ms. ADCOLOR at the recently held 2017 ADCOLOR Awards -- Jezzika Chung.

Keith and Jezz talk about spending her formative years in the ATL (4:00) and the role religion played growing up in a conservative Christian Korean household (17:00). Later, she discusses how moving to Texas helped her find a broader Asian community (22:30), what sparked her passion for diversity in college (27:00), and how that passion has translated into her advertising career (27:00). Then, Jezz explains why so many Asian immigrants from her community -- including her mother -- supported Donald Trump for President(39:00). Finally, Jezzika reminisces about her favorite comfort food and why it might not be gross to dip sausage and cheese biscuits into a bowl of kimchi-jjigae (46:00).

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.

This week on Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to writer, editor, journalist, and Houston-native Melissa Hung about Hurricane Harvey and the resilience of her city.

Melissa shares why she wrote her love letter to Houston (5:30) and why she appreciates the city more as she's gotten older (8:00). Then Keith and Melissa debate whether Texas is even part of the South (10:30) and why the politics of the South are the way they are (15:00). Later, they discuss anti-tiger-parenting (21:00) and the need for more diverse Asian American stories (27:00). Lastly, Melissa reveals her love of Tex-Mex (34:00) and lists some charities to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey (39:00).

• Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
• Houston Food Bank
• Houston Diaper Bank

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.

On this week's episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to spoken word and hip-hop artist G Yamazawa, whose debut album Shouts to Durham and breakthrough single/video "North Cack" have taken the internet by storm.

G speaks about the way most Americans perceive the South and his own search for identity (5:00) and growing up in Durham's Buddhist community (8:30). He talks about viewing life through a hip-hop-centric lens (10:30) and the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation (14:00). Later, G explains his journey to becoming a spoken word artist (20:00) and being part of Kollaboration (24:00) and moving to Los Angeles (30:00). Keith and G also bond over growing up in family restaurants (32:00) and the foods that remind him of home (40:00).

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@SouthernAsians).

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. This episode also features the songs "North Cack" and "Dining Room" by G Yamazawa.

On this week's episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to Thao Nguyen, frontwoman of the critically acclaimed indie band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

Thao and Keith talk about growing up in Virginia and whether Northern Virginia even counts as the South (3:30). Then she discusses her early country and folk music influence and why there aren't many Asian Americans in those genres (7:00). Thao remembers her other early influences, which trace back to Lillith Fair and -- no shame -- Sarah MacLachlan (11:00), what it was like being the only Asian American girl in Virginia's indie folk/country scene (14:00), and what happens when your college town is also Colonial Williamsburg (17:00). Finally, Thao reveals how she turned an emotional trip to Vietnam with her mother into an equally emotional movie about the experience (23:00) and why steamed rockfish reminds her of home (37:00).

Nobody Dies makes it world premiere on Thursday, September 7 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. Tickets for the screening and a music performance by Thao are available here.

Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. This episode also features the song "Nobody Dies" from the album A Man Alive by Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

On the debut episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to Brad Jenkins, the Executive Producer of Funny or Die DC and a co-founder of RUN, an organization designed to mobilize Asian Americans politically.

Though Brad grew up in New Jersey, he is a graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and shares his thoughts on the recent tragedy at his alma mater (4:00). Brad also weighs in on the backlash Tina Fey (a fellow UVA alum) received for her #sheetcaking bit on SNL (15:00) and the intersection between comedy and politics at Funny or Die DC (22:00). Later, they try to unpack the reasons why Asian Americans don't turn out to vote (38:00) and whether Democrats will ever be able to turn the South blue (50:00). Finally, Brad reminisces about the fusion "Seoul Food" he ate growing up Black and Korean (55:00).

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

Southern Fried Asian is a new podcast from The Nerds of Color hosted by Keith Chow.

Typically, stories about Asian Americans are centered on the experiences of those who grew up on the coasts -- New York, Southern California, the Bay Area -- where communities of different Asian American subgroups have lived for many years.

On this podcast, though, we're gonna look at a region of the country that isn't typically associated with these stories and unpack what it means to be Asian American in the American South.

Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.