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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
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Manage series 79040
Content provided by Ken Fong. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Ken Fong or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Ken Fong gets to the heart of Asian American culture, history, and spirituality. Through interviews with culture-makers and -shapers in the Asian American community -- some you know, others you've never heard of before -- prepare to laugh, cry, and be amazed.
…
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180 episodes
Mark all (un)played …
Manage series 79040
Content provided by Ken Fong. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Ken Fong or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Ken Fong gets to the heart of Asian American culture, history, and spirituality. Through interviews with culture-makers and -shapers in the Asian American community -- some you know, others you've never heard of before -- prepare to laugh, cry, and be amazed.
…
continue reading
180 episodes
All episodes
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 533: NJ Senator Andy Kim On Still Being A Life-long Public Servant 55:00
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Even though New Jersey freshman Senator Andy Kim has already served three terms in the House of Representatives, he still primarily sees himself as a life-long public servant rather than a politician. Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Kim served at USAID, the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House National Security Council, and in Afghanistan as an advisor to Generals Petraeus and Allen. The proud son of South Korean immigrants, Senator Kim also has the distinction of being the first Asian American that New Jersey has elected to the Senate, and the first American of Korean ancestry to be a senator. Many people in the world first came to know about him when a photo of him cleaning up the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, went viral.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 532: Drs. Vitune & Roy Vongtama On The Crucial Role That USAID Played In Their Family All Becoming Doctors 48:32
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With federal agency USAID now struggling to survive after being unfairly demeaned and discounted by Elon Musk and his DOGE crew, it's crucial that you hear the story of how USAID helped a poor Thai student to become a board certified radiation oncologist. Dr. Vitune Vongtama inspired both Roy and his brother Danny to follow in his footsteps. All told, the three of them have saved tens of thousands of people from dying from cancer. Dr. Roy Vongtama is also a veteran actor. You can learn why and how he continues to juggle both of his passions here: https://asianamericapodcast.com/2019/01/ep-175-roy-vongtama/…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 531: Tracey Gee On The Magic Of Knowing What You Want 1:00:59
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Certified leadership coach and consultant Tracey Gee has recently published her first book. Entitled The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires, it's a much-needed resource for knowing who you really are and then identifying and pursuing what you really want. If you'd like to know more about her, her work, and her fantastic new book, simply go to www.traceygee.me .…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 530: Documentary Filmmaker Claudia Katayanagi On Why Contagious Courage Is Still Needed Today 55:01
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In this episode Bay Area filmmaker Claudia Katayanagi goes into great detail about the myriad little-known incarceration camps that the federal government created to keep Japanese American "troublemakers" away from those confined in the larger and better known incarceration camps following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI. Her first two documentaries-- "A Bitter Legacy" and "Community in Crisis" offer a fresh retelling of the courageous efforts of the Japanese Americans to endure terrible injustices and hardships, while fighting back against the forces of anti-Japanese racism. Today, many Japanese Americans are pushing back against the unjust deportation and incarceration policies of the Trump administration aimed at brown-skinned people. You can find out how you can watch her first two films by going to www.abitterlegacy.com . And you can also learn about her third film "Exiled" by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/f/doj-film-fund-raiser…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 529: Sarah Ahn On Her Cookbook "Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes" 49:23
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Sarah Ahn is America's Test Kitchen's social media manager and the creator of the Ahnest Kitchen website ( www.ahnestkitchen.com ). She records her experiences on Instagram and Tik Tok of living with her Korean immgrant parents, chronicling her mother's cooking, grocery shopping trips, and more. Many of Sarah's posts have gone viral with 10+ million views and they have sold grocery stores out of product. She has been featured on NBC News, ABC News, Yahoo News, and Good Morning America. Nam Soon Ahn, her mother, is a former restauranteur whose culinary wisdom and recipes from the foundation of Sarah's book Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes. Together, they honor their heritage with love, flavor, and authenticity. You can follow Sarah @ahnestkitchen.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 528: Gloria Lai Huang On Writing Her Novel "Kaya Of The Ocean" 52:35
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Kaya of the Ocean is a middle-grade fantasy novel by Gloria Lai Huang that explores themes of mental health, the immigrant experience, and self-acceptance. The story follows Kaya, a thirteen-year-old girl who struggles with anxiety and a fear of water, as she discovers her lineage as a descendant of the Chinese water goddess Mazu. This heartfelt adventure combines elements of friendship, humor, and Chinese mythology, set against the backdrop of the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. It has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and chosen by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts on the Winter/Spring 2025 " Indies Introduce " list, as well as a great read on the January 2025 " Kids' Indie Next " list. www.glorialaihuang.com…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 527: Activist Artist & Author Nancy Wang On The History Of Chinese In The Monterey Bay Fishing Villages 59:30
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Bay Area artist and activist Nancy Wang has recently written a captivating fictional historical account of the Chinese who built and worked out of the fishing villages in the Monterey Bay area during the 1850s in California. Entitled Red Altar , her book brings to life the experiences of these early pioneers from China, including her fiesty multilingual ancestor who was the first Chinese American female born in California, and who made a name for herself as "Spanish Mary." If you'd like to buy an autographed copy of Red Altar , just go to www.ethnotec.org.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 526: Rev. Lydia Sohn On The Spirituality Of Staying In A Culture Of Leaving 1:03:02
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Whether or not you identify as spiritual or some kind of Christian, I'm pretty sure most of us are quite familiar with the tendency--if not the temptation--to live as if the grass is always greener on the other side of the septic tank. Armed with this mindset, many of us move on, move away, or just keep on moving rather than stay put in hopes of finding what we're looking for where we are. As you'll soon learn, Rev. Lydia Sohn was preprogrammed by her Korean American immigrant parents to be a nomad. That was her first and most basic instinct. But at some point she was made to consider the potentially greater value of staying, which has long been a spiritual practice of Benedictine monks. Energized by what a difference this made in her life and her work, Sohn eventually wrote Here: A Spirituality of Staying In a Culture of Leaving. I have no doubt that much of what she shares in our conversation and in her new book will be life-giving, if not life-saving. You can learn more about her at www.revlydia.com .…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 525: The Two Kens On The One Word That Best Describes Trump & How To Thwart Him 46:09
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In this latest installment of the Two Kens collaborative series between Ken Fong and Ken Kemp, they introduce a term that respected German sociologist Max Weber first introduced 100 years ago that they believe best describes what Donald Trump is working hard to accomplish in his second term, and how knowing this term also tells us how best to thwart Trump's efforts. They were inspired by Jonathan Rauch's article in The Atlantic that appeared on February 24, 2025, entitled One Word Describes Trump: A Century Ago, A German Sociologist Explained Precisely How the President Thinks About the World. Fong and Kemp then look at the different responses to Trump's recent State of the Union address, especially how Senate Majority Leader John Thune appears to be subjugating his evanglical convictions to appear steadfastly loyal to President Trump.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 524: Dr. Grishma Shah On Her Debut South Asian American Novel "Anagram Destiny" 56:57
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Dr. Grishma Shah's debut novel Anagram Destiny is a soul warming love story nestled in an inspiring tale of the American dream, manifesting an Indian immigrant success story shattered by the evils of globalization– paying homage to a generation of immigrants who held their heads low so one day, their children could lift theirs high. To learn more about Dr. Shah and her novel go to www.shahgrishma.com .…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 523: Dr. Karen Fang On Outstanding Artist Tyrus Wong 58:18
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If you're one of the fortunate people who know who Tyrus Wong was and what a pivotal role he played in getting the classic Disney film "Bambi" made, I think you'll still be blown away by what Dr. Karen Fang has revealed in her recent book, "Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong." I'll give you two hints: Christmas cards and custom kites.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 522: Dr. Soong-Chan Rah On Why The Dismantling Of USAID Should Be A Wake Up Call for American Evangelicals 54:30
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In this episode seminary professor Dr. Soong-Chan Rah reiterates that the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID should serve as a serious wake up call to American Evangelical Christians because now Christian relief agencies will no longer receive gifts in kind from the federal government. However, if they continue to celebrate USAID's demise, they are telling us that they really aren't "evangelicals," who take the Bible and Jesus quite seriously.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 521: Dr. Roger Newman On His Black Uncle's Experiences in the Jim Crow South & U.S. Army 59:18
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As a nod to this being Black History Month and also as a form of pushback against the current dismantling of meritocracy in the U.S. Military by the Trump administration, I invited Dr. Roger Newman to talk about his latest novel Boys , a work of historical fiction based on what he learned about his Black Uncle Alex growing up in the Jim Crow South and facing systemic racism while serving in Army during World War II and beyond.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 520: The Two Kens On Trump's Blitzkrieg Of America 53:31
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In this latest episode in the Two Kens collaborative series on American politics and Christian nationalism, Fong and Kemp point out the jarring historical parallels with how Germany's Hitler and Hungary's Orban were able to dismantle their countries democracies so quickly. This episode is a call to action and resistance for every American who is now seeing the clear signs of decay in our democracy. Transition and outro music credit to The Isley Brothers and their "Fight the Power" anthem from 1975.…
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ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

1 EP 519: Director Chay Yew On The Los Angeles Premiere Of "Cambodian Rock Band" 31:25
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Celebrated playwright, director and producer Chay Yew is once again directing Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band , this time in its Los Angeles debut at East West Players David Henry Hwang Theater in Little Tokyo from February 13-March 9, 2025. A poignant new classic of the Asian American theater canon, Cambodian Rock Band explores the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor as he returns to his homeland after thirty long years. While his daughter prepares to prosecute one of the country's most notorious war criminals, the ghosts of their shared past begin to stir. This deeply moving story weaves back and forth through time as father and daughter confront history, turning to music as a path towards healing. You can listen to my 2018 interview of Lauren Yee when her play was first being produced at the South Coast Repertory Theater: https://asianamericapodcast.com/2018/03/ep-141-cambodian-rock-band/ Please go to www.eastwestplayers.org to find a performance that fits your schedule.…
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