The Tiger in the Room

With the World Cup around the corner, we sit down with Josh Lee, Communications Director of the ⁨@LAFC⁩ Tigers Supporters Group to talk about Son Heung-min, Asian stereotypes in global soccer, and the growing wave of Korean-American fandom for the Korean men’s national team.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Jon SooHoo, the longtime  @Dodgers  photographer who has captured some of the MLB's most unforgettable moments.As the first Asian-American photographer in the league, Jon shares his perspective breaking barriers, documenting legendary players, and his journey in a sport where there are still relatively few Asian-Americans. He also talks about the impact of stars like Shohei Ohtani and his family’s ties to LA’s Chinatown, where his grandfather Peter SooHoo is credited with helping to save the community from extinction.

In this episode, Hannah chats with Andrew Fung of the Fung Bros, the popular Youtuber-comedian-rapper duo. Known for pioneering Asian and food content on YouTube, the Fung Bros are now diving into more nuanced discussions on topics like Asian masculinity, boba liberalism, and anti-Asian hate. Andrew shares insights on the role of Asian content creators, gender dynamics, and the future of the Fung Bros.

We close out Season 1 with a call-to-action for our listeners to continue questioning and challenging the realities of the Asian-American experience, including racism and discrimination. Thank you for tuning in, and we'll see you next time!

In the final episode of Season 1, Hannah sits down with Kimberly Byrne, founder of Stronger Together, a clothing brand dedicated to raising awareness about anti-Asian hate. Kim’s designs, which went viral during a protest, creatively spelled out Asian ethnicities to form the word "American."

In this conversation, Kim shares the inspiration behind starting her brand, her journey as a Korean-American adoptee, and her personal path to finding acceptance both as a Korean and an American. She also discusses her evolution as an activist and how her experiences shaped her voice.

Note: Stronger Together is no longer in operation.

In Episode 9, Hannah sits down with Sam Cheng, a well-known food influencer (@nycfoodblog) based in New York City. Sam is also one of the first photographers to document the early Stop Asian Hate protests in 2020. His images played a crucial role in raising awareness about anti-Asian hate crimes during a time when mainstream media coverage was lacking.

In this conversation, Sam also shares his thoughts on the controversial Chinatown mega-jail project, unpacking the complex politics of race, class, and the forces driving its development.

In Episode 8, Hannah sits down with Doug Kim, a prolific political commentator on Asian-American issues and the host of the "Yellow Knight Podcast." Doug is highly active on social media, such as X, where he is known for posting unapologetic perspectives on the topic of anti-Asian hate.

In Episode 7, Hannah has a conversation with Eric Toda, the Global Head of Social Marketing at Meta and the Executive General Manager of Meta Prosper, a program dedicated to supporting AAPI small businesses and nonprofits.

In Episode 6, Hannah speaks with Jonathan Chang, a designer based in Los Angeles known for his viral illustrations of victims of anti-Asian hate crimes. His series of portraits gained widespread attention starting with his initial image in 2021 featuring Grandpa Vicha Ratanapakdee. Jonathan's art have become a symbol of the #StopAsianHate movement and is often acknowledged for raising awareness on this important issue.

In this discussion Hannah explores Jonathan's journey from a professional illustrator to an activist using art as a powerful tool, his views on why Asians should not wait for permission to speak out, and how Asian-American creatives can leverage their skills to amplify awareness.

In Episode 5, Hannah speaks with Monthanus Ratanapakdee and her husband Eric Lawson, the daughter and son-in law of the late Vicha Ratanapakdee, and the founders of a nonprofit organization Justice for Vicha.