Episodes

  • They Call Us Shōgun
    Nov 22 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome co-creator/executive producer Rachel Kondo and writer/co-executive prodicer Shannon Goss of Shōgun, now one of the most acclaimed television shows of all time. They talk about setting out to adapt the original novel with a different, shifted perspective, the complicated multi-step script-to-screen process of translating the show from English to Japanese and back, and getting the band back together to write another season. Also: a healing moment, a magical falcon, Zombieko, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Shōgun.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • They Call Us David Henry Hwang
    Nov 15 2024

    In this special live episode, Jeff (minus Phil) talks to acclaimed playwright David Henry Hwang about his trailblazing work, including Yellow Face, currently on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre. He talks about the mind-boggling play-within-a-play inception of Yellow Face, what it's like to write a version of yourself ("DHH") into your show -- played by Daniel Dae Kim, no less -- and why his work seems to keep meeting the political moment. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being David Henry Hwang. Recorded live at the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City.

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    50 mins
  • They Call Us Michelle Au
    Nov 1 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome Dr. Michelle Au, who represents District 50 in the Georgia House of Representatives. She talks about her journey from medicine into politics -- from anesthesiologist to the first Asian American elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2020 -- how she's navigated some of the electoral shenanigans of her rapidly changing district, and the power of the Asian American vote in her swing state of Georgia during this extremely important and consequential presidential election.

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    47 mins
  • They Call Us Dave Min for Congress
    Oct 25 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome law professor and state senator Dave Min, who is running for Congress in California 47th district. He talks about why he made the decision to step into this critical race, the unique characteristics and shifting demographics of his traditionally conservative district, and some of the blatant (and sadly, unsurprising) anti-Asian racism his campaign has faced. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of running for Congress.

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    38 mins
  • They Call Us The Future of Our Former Democracy
    Oct 18 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome George Cheung, Director of More Equitable Democracy and co-host of the podcast The Future of Our Former Democracy, which asks an important question for our anxious times: Why does American democracy suck right now? George argues that there's a major underlying issue: the polarizing winner-take-all electoral system. He talks about what it could look like if the United States dismantled its current electoral system and rebuilt a proportional representation system to save our democracy. BONUS: After the episode, keep listening to hear the first episode of The Future of Our Former Democracy.

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • They Call Us Culinary Class Wars
    Oct 11 2024

    Jeff and Phil follow up and welcome back chef Edward Lee -- just two episodes later -- fresh off the finale of the Netflix cooking competition Culinary Class Wars. Spoiler alert! He talks about his grueling journey to the final challenge, including the Endless Cooking Hell, his unexpected new nickname, that incredible dessert dish, and how his cooking throughout the entire show told a personal story about his Korean American identity. Also: Jeff and Phil offer The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Culinary Class Wars.

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    41 mins
  • They Call Us Daniel Dae Kim
    Oct 2 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome their old friend, the one and only Daniel Dae Kim, who stars on Broadway in David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face. He talks about the play's brilliant, meta-comic exploration of race, representation and identity, his uniquely ascendant career as an actor, producer and advocate, and the twentieth anniversary of the role that changed everything for him: Jin on Lost. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being "DDK."

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    1 hr
  • They Call Us Chef Edward Lee
    Sep 27 2024

    Jeff and Phil welcome award-winning chef, restaurateur and author Edward Lee, who appears as one of the "White Spoon" chefs on Netflix's Korean cooking competition show Culinary Class Wars. He talks about his personal and professional journey as a Korean American chef, how he got recruited to battle it out with 99 other Korean culinary professionals -- including Michelin star chefs, The Bibimbap King, and the chicken mask guy -- and his ideas on the evolution and future of Korean cuisine. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of competing on Culinary Class Wars.

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    58 mins