Three trailblazing Asian American women in TV journalism and Hollywood join forces to rattle some cages and dismantle tired old stereotypes about race, age, sex and culture. Award-winning journalist May Lee and actresses Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita (a.k.a. MKT) take on topics that aren't often discussed in the most open, authentic and, sometimes, hilarious way because they are unafraid to be fully themselves. They're all 50+ and fabulous so they got nothing to hide and they are beyond the poi ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 24 - Back in ACTION and moving FORWARD!
1:14:04
1:14:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:04
The ladies of "Shoes Off Inside" took a little time off for summer...a combination of globe-hopping, caretaking and gearing up for the country's most consequential elections in modern history. This is an episode that is full of surprises, insight, admissions and TMI (hint...the squatty potty is a topic). But May, Kelly and Tamlyn get down to seriou…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 23 - 50 Friends in 50 States with Shari Leid
1:05:33
1:05:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:33
Would you be willing to travel on your own dime to all 50 U.S. states and sit down with a total stranger over a meal? Well that's exactly what Shari Leid, former attorney turned life coach, did and she lived to tell the many tales. Her purpose was to find connection and common ground in our growingly divided country. All of her connections were wom…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 22 - Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month
1:03:11
1:03:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:11
The month of May is when the spotlight burns brighter on the AANHPI community! All month long we celebrate the diversity of Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and that means honoring everyone from the most prominent political and media figures to the unsung heroes who are tirelessly working to elevate our voices. In this episode, …
…
continue reading
At the heart of this episode is the hotly debated issue of the "coddled" generation. These are Gen Z'ers and, now, Gen Alpha who have been overprotected by parents from the real world with all of it's challenges, pain, and dangers. But ironcially, these same kids have been severely underprotected from social media. According to psychologist and NYU…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 20 - Daniel Henney and his True Love!!
1:08:09
1:08:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:08:09
When it comes to movie stars with the full package, one of our Asian American brothers is at the top of that list...the one and only Daniel Henney! From starting as a model in the U.S. and Asia, to becoming a full-blown heart throb on TV and film in South Korea and worldwide, Daniel continues to entertain the masses. He stars in the series "Wheel o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 19 - Our Favorite Holiday Things!
1:08:23
1:08:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:08:23
It's time for our Favorite Things Gift List just in time for last minute shoppers like May, Kelly and Tamlyn who haven't even begun! Once again, we are featuring everything from delicous food, both sweet and savory to holiday ornaments to organic wine to the first Asian American doll, and even a punk rock band! Many of the businesses we feature are…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 18 - Multigenerational Living and Senior Scams!
1:06:32
1:06:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:32
The numbers don't lie...the senior population is booming while the younger generation is shrinking due to fewer and fewer people having children. That means there is a growing need for caregiving within families, which is leading to more multigenerational households. That's nothing new for Asian families, but we're seeing this trend of multigenerat…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 17 - Tribute to Eggy the Rescue Dog
1:05:33
1:05:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:33
For many of you who have been watching and listening to this show, you've gotten to know May's Golden Retriever, Eggy, pretty well. She would often make cameo appearances during the show knowing exactly where the camera was. Eggy's story, like many rescue dogs, is amazingly touching and inspiring. On October 14 2023, Eggy crossed the rainbow bridge…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 16 - Summer's Over! Let's Talk Business with Le Mieux's Janel Luu
1:15:11
1:15:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:15:11
The ladies of "Shoes Off Inside" took an unintentional break for part of the summer, but that's not a bad thing, especially for Kelly Hu, who traversed Europe, then felt the "burn" and mud at "Burning Man". Meanwhile, Tamlyn was busy attending and emceeing various events elevating the API and Japanese American communities. And May was gearing up fo…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 15 - Let's Talk About Sex with Dr. Tara!
1:18:00
1:18:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:00
This is the episode we've ALL been waiting for, especially Kelly Hu since she suggested this topic when we first launched "Shoes Off Inside". We are talking about SEX, a subject that most everyone is interested in openly or secretly. The problem is, not a lot of people, especially women, are comfortable talking freely and specifically about sex. Th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 14 - Broadway's Desperate Need for Color
58:49
58:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:49
New York's Broadway has been referred to as the Great White Way since the early 1900s because of the spectacle of bright lights and dazzling theatre marquees. But that term could also describe, quite literally, the dominance of shows that have been written and led by white playwrights, directors, composers and performers. Broadway is one of the fin…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 13 - Caregiving and Mental Health with Richard Lui
1:00:43
1:00:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:43
Richard Lui is a familiar face in television news. He currently serves as weekend anchor on MSNBC, but a role that he has played for years without compensation or awards is that of caregiver first to his ailing father and now to his mother. This is something that millions of people, at least 50 million in the U.S., do every day. Richard is also a f…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 12 - "Joy Ride" Director/Writer Adele Lim
53:23
53:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:23
When the first trailer of "Joy Ride" came out with a little Asian girl telling a racist playground bully "F*K YOU" followed by a punch in the nose, we all knew this was a movie like no other. The stellar cast of some of today's most talented API actresses and comedians is a dream team that takes audiences on a hilarious, raunchy and, at times, touc…
…
continue reading
For the first time in U.S. history, a former president is facing federal charges. On Tuesday, June 13, Donald Trump was arrested, booked and arraigned in Miami. He pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents, including 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information. This is, yet,…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 10 - Dating and Relationships at Any Age
1:03:07
1:03:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:07
The old nursery rhyme did a real number on a lot of us as kids growing up in America..."First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes (insert name) in a baby carriage!" That is apparently how it's supposed to go, but not for everyone...not by a long shot! The concepts of dating, relationships, marriage and family have and continue to evolve. Th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 9 - "Vaginal Rejuvenation": Fact vs. Fiction with Dr. Cheryl Iglesia
1:02:24
1:02:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:24
“Vaginal Rejuvenation” is a term tossed around in movies, TV shows and social media, but how many of us actually know what it is? Some think it’s all about nipping and tucking for better sex. Others think it’s a procedure to beautify the outer and inner parts of female genitals for that “Barbie-effect”. But A LOT of us have no clue what vaginal rej…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Ep 8 - EP 8 "Breaking the Silence on 'BEEF' actor David Choe"
52:18
52:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:18
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains sexual references that some might find disturbing. Netflix series "BEEF" came out of the gates in early April with such explosiveness that everyone who watched it was breathless, especially the API community who has been championing media representation that doesn't feed into stereotypes and tropes. But then, …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 7 - Shoes Off Inside "Celebrating History at the Oscars!"
1:02:58
1:02:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:58
Shoes Off Inside with MKT celebrates a historic night at the 95th Academy Awards with a special episode recorded at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco with a live audience! We gathered together for a celebratory viewing party sponsored by Asians Are Strong to cheer on API nominees with many of the golden statues going to "Everything Everywhere …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 6 - Shoes Off Inside "Let's Talk About Menopause with Dr. Sherry!"
1:03:37
1:03:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:37
This is an episode that May, Kelly and Tamlyn have been wanting to do since the inception of "Shoes Off Inside" because of how misrepresented, misreported and misunderstood this topic is...Menopause! It will happen to every single woman at some point in her life, but it's still treated like a dirty little secret that women should be ashamed of. The…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 5 - Shoes Off Inside with MKT "Asians and Mass Shootings, It's Complicated"
1:03:27
1:03:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:27
In this latest episode of "Shoes Off Inside with MKT", May, Kelly and Tamlyn kick off the show with some hot topics on their minds. The use of Ozempic, a diabetic drug, by celebrities and others to lose weight has May hopping mad! Kelly reveals how she got ready to shoot an intimate scene for her TV show and shares the tricks of the trade. Tamlyn g…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 4 - SHOES OFF INSIDE with MKT "Everything and the Kitchen Sink"
1:00:20
1:00:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:20
Happy New Year, both Gregorian and Lunar! It's 2023 and the Year of the Black Water Rabbit! May, Kelly and Tamlyn kick off the new year with an open, honest, hilarious and tearful conversation about EVERYTHING, including "Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Michelle Yeoh and her view of how older women should be seen by their capabilities and N…
…
continue reading
Welcome to another "beta" episode of the brand new show "Shoes Off Inside with MKT"! Once again, May, Kelly and Tamlyn dive into several hot topics including the multiple Golden Globe nominations for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the controversial abrupt closing of "KPOP" on Broadway. They also tackle the on-going and very important issue…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
EP 2 - SHOES OFF INSIDE with MKT - Anna May Wong
1:03:51
1:03:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:51
Welcome to another 'beta' episode of a brand new show with May Lee, Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita, or MKT!* On this episode, we unveil the official title of the show and why we chose it! We also catch up on our recent travels, which include a serious sailing adventure, a festival in Okinawa that only happens every 5 years and wine tasting in Paso Robl…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
NO NAME SHOW with Tamlyn Tomita, Kelly Hu and May Lee!
1:10:25
1:10:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:25
Something’s brewing and it’s pretty damn exciting! A brand new show is in the works with hosts May Lee, Tamlyn Tomita and Kelly Hu!! Details coming soon, including an official name so for now, it's the "No Name Show". In this episode, we talk about the news of a sequel to the beloved film “Joy Luck Club”. Tamlyn, of course, was in the first, ground…
…
continue reading
This is a mini episode featuring TV, Film and Theatre actress Jully Lee who will be starring in the new broadway show K-POP!! The show has an all-Asian cast and opens in November! Theatre still lacks AAPI representation so this production is helping to break down those long-standing barriers! Jully shares her thoughts on being part of K-POP and how…
…
continue reading
Ageism is no joke, especially for women and CTV news anchor Lisa LaFlamme is the latest victim who was punished for embracing her true self by going gray. As a fellow silver-haired broadcast journalist, this story got May really fired up so she called up her fellow fabulous silver sisters, Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita, to break down the stereotypes o…
…
continue reading
This is the story of a girl and her car. That girl is me, May, and the car is Bonnie Blue 2.0. Believe it or not, this story is related to Anti-Asian Hate and how the anxiety of this ongoing crisis has made me and others think twice about what we wear, drive, live and socialize. I'm sharing this story because it could have ended with total defeat a…
…
continue reading
On the 40th anniversary of the murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin, the AANHPI community is still fighting against racism and invisibilization as well as working towards more representation and empowerment. In March of 2020, when Covid-19 was raging across the U.S. and the world, an episode of “The May Lee Show” featuring Helen Zia, legendary j…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#81 - More AANHPI Women in Politics Please!
40:50
40:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:50
The numbers are paltry when it comes to AANHPI representation in politics on every level. According to recent data, AANHPI are the most underrepresented in politics at less than 1%. When it comes to Asian women, the number is even smaller. Meanwhile, Congress is still 74% white and 73% male. Wow! All the more reason to help shape and train potentia…
…
continue reading
We continue our celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with an explosion of events, programs, celebrations, rallies and so much more! May has been diving in head first to help amplify AAPI issues and educate and inform anyone and everyone who's willing to learn with an open heart and mind. AAPIs are making progress, BUT, and it's a bi…
…
continue reading
On April 29, 1992 Los Angeles exploded and became a virtual war zone because four white LA police officers were acquitted in the brutal beating of black motorist, Rodney King. Massive riots were triggered, but much of the violence and destruction took place in Koreatown. Lives were lost, businesses were destroyed, but perhaps the worst damage was t…
…
continue reading
May is back after a few weeks off to revive, refresh and renew. It's been a trying 2+ years, but she's ready to highlight and tackle AAPI issues and topics again ..the ups and downs, the victories and losses, the love and hate, and everything in between. While May was taking a break from the show, she still stayed active on social media. So this ep…
…
continue reading
May recently did an Instagram Live with activist and NY assembly candidate, Grace Lee. She is the woman who was misidentified as Michelle Go, the woman who was pushed in front of an oncoming subway in NY, by ABC News when attending a vigil for Christina Yuna Lee, who was brutally murdered in her NYC apartment. They talked openly about how AAPI wome…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#76 - The May Lee Show 2nd Anniversary and Why I'm Taking a Pause
17:11
17:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:11
It's been 2 years since "The May Lee Show" launched as a scrappy, experimental vodcast that set out to elevate AAPI voices and issues. It's been a challenging two years...COVID-19, Anti-Asian Hate, social and political unrest. But something happened recently that made May stop and assess her purpose very deeply...the suicide of Cheslie Kryst, forme…
…
continue reading
On New Year's Day 2022, local news anchor Michelle Li received a racist voicemail from a viewer who had an issue with her story on foods that people eat for New Year's. In the short 20 second story, Michelle mentioned in passing that she had traditional Korean dumplings to celebrate the holiday. The viewer accused her of being "Very Asian" and that…
…
continue reading
What a year it’s been, AGAIN! 2021 has been another year full of ups and downs, turmoil and triumphs and overall craziness. BUT, we’ve learned a lot about the world, each other and, hopefully, ourselves. So as we get ready to head into 2022, May wanted to share something uplifting that she experienced with a group of dynamic young women who give us…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#73 - David Henry Hwang and 20 Years of Asian American Playwriting
44:48
44:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:48
The world of live theatre is largely still a white dominated industry with Asians being a very small minority. Just look at the numbers...66% of theatrical actors and 81% of directors are white, while Asian American directors stand at just 4.5%. When it comes to playwrights, nearly 72% are white versus 5% AAPI. No one has a better perspective on th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#72- SUBTLE ASIAN BAKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
35:51
35:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:51
There's something about baking that warms the heart. From the wonderful aroma of cookies in the oven to the fluffiness of a chiffon cake, baked goods are always a crowd pleaser. But let's be honest, when we think about baking, we often equate it to western flavors and styles. Brownies, cupcakes, croissants etc. It's not too often you hear bakers us…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#71 - Nguyen Coffee Supply, the Disruptor
48:53
48:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:53
Who doesn’t love coffee? It’s a beloved beverage worldwide, but if you ask coffee lovers who are the biggest producers of coffee beans, most would likely answer “Brazil” or “Columbia”. You’d be hard pressed to get anyone to answer “Vietnam” and yet, the southeast Asian country is the second biggest producer of coffee in the world, but because of fa…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#70 - "Angry Little Asian Girl", Lela Lee
54:26
54:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:26
As a college student, Lela Lee was an angry young woman, but she wasn't sure why. So one night, she took that anger and created a cartoon, "Angry Little Asian Girl". But, she didn't share it. In fact, she put her away FOR YEARS! A local film festival and a twist of fate, however, helped revive Lela's private, therapeutic project and the foul-mouthe…
…
continue reading
Question: Why is it that when the subjects of voting rights or voter suppression or election results are talked about by the media and politicians, AAPIs are almost always left out of the conversation even though AAPIs are the fastest growing ethnic group AND voting bloc in the country? To this day, Asian Americans are too often an after-thought or…
…
continue reading
School's in session and May launched her brand new course at USC Annenberg, "AAPI History and Journalism". The class is the first to ever focus Asian American issues at the Annenberg school so this is groundbreaking. But May was FULL of anxiety for several reasons, including pressure to succeed because, as the BIPOC community knows, often we only g…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#67 - Enabling the Disabled through Dance!
37:11
37:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:11
When it comes to “inclusion”, what comes to mind for many of us is race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. But what about people with disabilities? According to the World Bank, 15% of the world’s population experience some form of disability and yet, there are still huge barriers that stand in the way of the disabled to live full and vibran…
…
continue reading
From Chinese Chicken Feet to Filipino Balut (fertilized egg) to Indian Eri Polu (silk worm) Asian cuisine is as diverse as it is intriguing. Foods from Asia are steeped in tradition and for each culture, dishes represent identity, pride and comfort. But throughout time, Asian food has been stereotyped as “horrific”, “gross” and “disgusting” whereas…
…
continue reading
At the stroke of midnight June 15, California lifted most of its COVID restrictions including no more mask mandates for most places including restaurants, gyms, stores, concerts and work places, but there is a catch. Only those who have been fully VACCINATED are permitted to go mask-less. Unvaccinated people are expected to go by the honor system, …
…
continue reading
There is no shortage of dating apps that cover a range of wants and needs out there. Some are open to any and all types of people wanting to find connection. Others target more specific groups such as seniors, LGBTQ, Christians and Jews. And apps even for those who just want to hook-up or have extra-marital affairs! But, there has never been a dati…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#63 - Actor Ludi Lin of "Mortal Kombat"
1:02:39
1:02:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:39
He's been in some of the biggest blockbuster movies including "Power Rangers", "Aquaman" and now the reboot of "Mortal Kombat", but Chinese-born Canadian Ludi Lin isn't letting the fame get to his head. In this episode, he opens up to May about the challenges of anti-Asian hate, Asian representation in Hollywood, the need for Asians to tell our own…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#62 - Anti-Asian Assault Survivor, Noel Quintana
51:14
51:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:14
On February 3, 2021 Filipino American Noel Quintana was on the subway in New York. He was minding his own business when suddenly he was attacked by a total stranger wielding a box cutter. Noel suffered a horrific slash across his face that required more than 100 stitches. But strangely, unlike other victims of anti-Asian hate crimes, Noel hasn’t re…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#61 - LAAUNCH Study on Perceptions of AAPIs
38:17
38:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:17
There are a number of reports and data on the state of the AAPI community when it comes to income, education, politics and, of course, racism, but there are hardly any surveys about how Asians are perceived by others. In fact, the last time a study that measured the attitudes and perceptions of AAPIs was more than 20 years ago, until now. A new non…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#60 - IG Live with @asiansarestrong Founders
43:22
43:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:22
Being brave together — it’s one of the three calls to action from @asiansarestrong founders Hudson Liao and Jeremy Jong. In light of the growing number of anti-asian hate crimes and assaults, these two friends decided to take action and produce self-defense videos online. But recently, their skills were put to the test when they stopped a robbery o…
…
continue reading