But Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle
Episodes
76. What's In A Name?
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"No, but what's your REAL name?!" Have you ever been asked that question by someone who didn't believe your English name was your "real" name because ...
75. Oh Baby Baby
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No, neither of your podcast hosts is imminently about to have a baby! ...but, as we get older and move into different stages of life (i.e., getting m...
74. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Pritika Swarup
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can you turn a job as a model into a career across many industries and nonprofits? In this episode, we are joined by Pritika Swarup who has done exac...
73. My First Zoom Bae ft. Michael
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Raise your hand if you had to learn how to date virtually via Zoom/FaceTime because of the pandemic! In this episode, we interrogate... err, interview...
72. Extreme Makeover: Meditation Edition
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do we find when we quiet the mind and look inside ourselves? With so much hustle and bustle on the daily, it's hard to take time and...
71. Holidazed & Confused
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let it s-NO, let it s-NO, let it s-NO! The holidays are here but cheer is somewhat missing! The holiday season has always been a mixed bag for u...
70. Different Kind of Special K
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever tried special K? And no, we're not talking about the cereal! Growing up, we've been told in many ways that drugs are inhere...
69. Risky Business
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How risk-seeking vs. risk-averse are you? As we've gotten older, we've generally trended towards being more risk-averse, being scared or unwilli...
68. Triangle Circle Star Umbrella
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We know, we know, we're late in discussing Squid Game... but we still think it's a worthwhile topic to discuss because of all the different levels of ...
67. Gobble Gobble Bishes ft. Lil Waterboi
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all of our US-based friends! In this episode, we bring back friend of the pod, rapper/producer/performer Lil Wate...
66. Break the Ice
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're baaaaack! Did you miss us? For the first time in our podcast's history, Jesse and Angela are actually recording in the same physical loca...
65. 20 Years Later: Revisiting the Impact of 9/11 ft. Anna Masad & Ziad Elsahili
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
20 years have passed since the horrendous events of 9/11. It feels like ages ago, and at the same time, just like yesterday. For most of us, thinking ...
64. I Don't Want to Lean In, I Want to Lie Down
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard of the "lie flat" or "tang ping" movement in China? It's a movement among young people that first cropped up in April 2021 largely in r...
63. Unpacking the Asian Diaspora ft. Cherrie Cheng from With Chinese Characteristics
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've spent a lot of time investigating our own perspectives of what it means to be Asian American. But what does being Asian American mean to other A...
62. Saving Face: Your Actions Are Not Your Own
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of "saving face" is so foundational to Chinese and broader Asian culture that it's often difficult to accurately describe in English words an...
61. The Doctor Will See You Now ft. Dr. Sandeepa Mullady
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Acupuncture, gua sha, ashwaganda - as a lot of East/South Asian medicine become more popularized in western society, we wanted to discuss what happens...
60. Dating Outside of the Race
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dating can be a minefield of expectations, both from yourself and from your culture. This week we're exploring what it means to date outside the race...
59. Boba or Bust
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We always like to end on a sweet treat, but why not dedicate an entire episode to one? This week we're talking about boba or bubble tea - the deliciou...
58. Jian Bao: My Favorite Kind of Bao
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sorry y'all, we're not talking about XLBs (xiao long baos) today - in fact, we're talking about the Taiwanese universal health care system and the col...
57. I Got My B.S. in Bullsh*t
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what your college degree has done for you? Well, so have we! It has been such a contentious topic that we decided to turn it i...
56. The Price Is (Al)right ft. Raymond Luu & Renee Ya from Reel Asian Podcast
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Would you like to play a game....about Asian TV and cinema? This week we're bringing you a fun new game show format co-hosted by Raymond Luu an...
55. Is There Still Common Ground in U.S. Politics?
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of 4th of July, we wanted to examine where we are as a nation and if there's still hope for all of us to come back together after a very divi...
54. Arranged Marriages: Then and Now ft. Shibani Joshi
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Arranged marriages are often thought of as an archaic relic of the past. But what impact does the cultural and historical relevance of this practice h...
53. Noodle On This ft. Frank Striegl from 5AM Ramen
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Frank Striegl is Founder of 5AM Ramen and Tokyo Ramen Tours. We discuss what it was like growing up as a bi-racial Filipino-American in Japan, how he ...
52. 13 Going on 30
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are now entering the third decade of our lives - that's right, yours truly(s) are both in their thirties now. But what's the big deal about the big...
51. But Where Are You Really From Presents Reel Asian Podcast - "Princess Mononoke" with Raymond Luu, Alan Duong, Renee Ya, Baldwin Diep
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While we recharge and plan out new content for upcoming episodes, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to other awesome voices from the...
50. Let's Get Intimate
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Warning: NSFW topic ahead! We are putting it all out there this week and talking sex and intimacy. What did we learn (or not learn) about sex growing ...
49. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Untitled Queen
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Drag queens and kings have become one of the more public representations of the LGBTQ community. But beyond the polished acts seen through mass media,...
48. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Lil Waterboi
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On our never ending quest to meet all the Asians doing cool sh*t, we met "more than just a rapper" Lil Waterboi. He's a Montreal-based Vietnamese Cana...
47. Go Home We’re Drunk
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to play a game? To take your (and our) minds off the news of the past few weeks, we're going to be drinking this episode. And ...
46. We Are More Than Yellow ft. Sophia Bailey from More Than Yellow Blog
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sophia Bailey is the founder of the More Than Yellow Blog - a community dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of the Asian-American community...
45. Table For One
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Loneliness is a universal experience that we've all had at one point or another. What's so interesting about loneliness is how we react to it and how ...
44. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Major David Phetmixay (US Air Force)
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The armed forces is such an important and foundational group keeping our country (and our friends around the world) safe, but is often under-appreciat...
43. The China Paradox
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Taiwanese-Americans, we have a complex relationship with China. We are ethnically Chinese and deeply value connecting with the history, culture, an...
42. Sibling Rivalry ft. Johnny Lin
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wait, did you know that your hosts are not related!?! Yes, lifelong friends Jesse and Angela Lin belong to different Lin families! Jesse is an only ch...
41. Supporting Chinatown ft. Jackie Wang & Harry Trinh from Welcome to Chinatown (Non-Profit Org)
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember your first time stepping into Chinatown? It's an otherworldly experience being surrounded by throngs of people and cornered in by rest...
40. Your Friendly Neighborhood Blasian ft. Ryan Alexander Holmes
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For Asian-Americans, it's hard enough to reconcile if you're more Asian or more American... now imagine adding on the additional complexity of figurin...
39. Grab the New Year By Its Horns
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Year of the Ox! This week we're celebrating the Lunar New Year - and we're taking you all along for the ride. Our families didn't always follow ...
38. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. AZRA
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We had such a pleasure speaking with the ~positive vibes only~ singer/songwriter AZRA on another segment of Asians Doing Cool Sh*t. We discuss w...
37. City Life: Goodbye To All That
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the age of coronavirus, is it still worth it to live in a large city? As young adults, cities provided us foundational adult experiences that we cu...
36. 2020 Giving Us The Most
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
So long, 2020! To say goodbye to a year that was so off-the-charts extra, we wanted to talk about what it means to do the most. For many of us, this y...
35. These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Season's greetings! Let us bring some cheer to you by reminiscing on our favorite holiday traditions. Fall and winter really bring a different perspec...
34. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Amy Tsang
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In another segment of "Asians Doing Cool Sh*t," we talk to Amy Tsang, an actor and filmmaker based in LA. Knowing how stereotypical Asian parents feel...
33. Thank u, next
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Even with everything that has happened in 2020, there's still room to find things that we're thankful for - but only after b*tchin about the things th...
32. Reflections: Listener's Choice
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're bringing you another "Reflections" episode where we highlight listeners' stories about their experiences. We hear what it was like growing up in...
31. Asians Here, Asians Everywhere ft. Natalie Cheung from Yellow Bee Pod
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While it's easy to assume that the Asian-American experience is similar to that of the broader Asian diaspora around the world, this definitely isn't ...
30. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Anna
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're kicking off a segment called "Asians Doing Cool Sh*t" where we celebrate Asian-Americans (or other Asian-____!) pursuing unconventional career p...
29. Nothing's Scarier Than 2020
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's the spookiest season of the year (and one of our favorites)! We gush over what we love about Halloween and share ghost stories and folklore that ...
28. Go Vote, Bitch
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Election season, and we want you to get out and vote! Voting is an important civic duty, and helps steer the direction of our country for ...
27. Love Languages
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Love is in the...wait, no. Actually, we didn't learn much about love and relationships at all growing up. While our parents loved us in their own ways...
26. The Other 1%
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In celebration of Indigenous People's Day (fka Columbus Day), we spotlight the experience of special guest Maggie, who is half Navajo, half German. We...
25. #Canceled
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In today's tense political and social climate, it can be difficult to have nuanced conversations about sensitive topics because certain issues can fee...
24. Who The @%$! Is That Girl I See?
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I'll make a *blockbuster* out of you! Disney's Mulan returns to the home theater as a live-action epic, and boy do we have the sizzlingest revie...
23. BTS: A Story of World Domination
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
To catapult us into Season 2 with something that seems larger than life, we discuss the global sensation that is BTS. We bring ARMY super fans Leslie ...
22. Throw Some Tinder On the Fire
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been asked the dreaded "what are you?" or "where are you really from?" questions on a first date? Yeah, us too. This episode we talk abo...
21. Adulting 2.0 w/ Keith Koo
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We scratched the surface on some of life's most challenging topics in our past episodes - understanding personal finance, growing your career as an AA...
20. First Gen Parenting w/ Catherine & Mark Kim
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you as clueless about birthing and raising babies as we are? If so, this episode is for you! We're joined by special guests Catherine & Mark K...
19. #Ded
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kicking the bucket. Taking a long dirt nap. Meeting your maker. Feelings and thoughts about death can be scary and complicated, so this week we're dig...
18. If Jesus & Buddha Walked Into A Bar
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Talking openly about your religious and spiritual beliefs is fairly taboo in today's society, even though these beliefs can make up a big part of your...
17. Money, Honey
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding personal finance is so important to #adulting, but no one ever taught us how to manage our finances or prepare for our financial futures...
16. Mirror Mirror On the Wall
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what happens when you're viewing it through two different sets of eyes? We discuss the standards of beauty i...
15. Red, White, and You
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you proud to be Amurrican, 🎵 where at least I know I'm free🎵! In all seriousness, the feeling of Americaness has been a contentious topic re...
14. The Life of An Azn Kween
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Pride month! While we love and embrace every part of what it means to be LGBT, being an LGBT individual can add to the confusion of the already c...
13. Second Place In A Rigged Race
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The most productive and legitimate way we felt we could address the explosion of discussion around racial injustice spurred by the murder of George Fl...
12. Reflections: Azn BBs All Grown Up
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're launching a mini series within the broader podcast called "Reflections" dedicated to sharing listener stories. Join us for this first episode a...
11. The Freedom of Controlled Substances
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Let's air a dirty little secret for y'all - drugs can be both life-changingly fun and spiritually meaningful. We talk about how we cut past the fear i...
10. Confusion-ism: Filial Piety 101
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're discussing the concept of filial piety - a core tenet of Confucianism and a foundational pillar of Chinese culture. It represents the endless ka...
09. If There’s No Fortune Cookie, Is It Really Chinese?
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We have a special guest this week - Angela's dad! To close out Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we discuss the topic of what constitutes cultura...
08. Time to Get Loud
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is inspired by the May 2020 theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: "Unite Our Nation by Empowering Equality" We discuss...
07. #HateIsAVirus
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the explosion of racism against the Asian-American community amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Each of us will highlight one attack a...
06. Hey Mom, I'm (Not) On TV!
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss representation of Asians & Asian-Americans in mainstream media: why it's important, why we haven't seen enough of it thus far, an...
05. A Tiger’s Tale of Finding Home
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the recently released Netflix movie Tigertail and how major themes of this Taiwanese immigrant story relate to our own experiences and thos...
04. The Born Identity: Return to the Motherland
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we share a little about where our families are from...Taiwan! We discuss what our experiences have been like returning to the motherla...
03. Mental Health: Let It In, Baobei (2 of 2)
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're closing out part 2 of our two-part episode around mental health. We reflect on what motivated us to ignore the taboos we were brought up to...
02. Mental Health: Let It Out, Baobei (1 of 2)
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're exploring Part 1 of our two-part topic around mental health. We'll discuss the taboo around talking about or seeking self-care, and ou...
01. Welcome to Our Identity Crises
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse and Angela introduce why they were inspired to start this podcast, and kick off the series with a reflection on how their sense of self has been...