Bowen Yang, SNL's first Chinese American cast member, talks about living in the present, Tina Fey's wisdom, and his vision of a rollercoaster-filled afterlife on the Wild Card podcast.
Bowen Yang initially doubted his chances due to his ethnicity, but eventually landed his dream job on SNL.
Reflecting on a pivotal exam moment, Yang realized his heart wasn't in becoming a doctor, leading to a significant career change.
Deep dives
Bowen Yang's Journey to Saturday Night Live
Bowen Yang, the first Chinese American cast member on SNL, reflects on landing his dream job. Initially doubting his chances due to his ethnicity, he decided to audition on a whim. Upon successfully joining SNL, Yang felt like he had infiltrated the system and cherished the experience, feeling grateful for the opportunity.
Challenges and Choices in Bowen Yang's Path
Yang opens up about a pivotal moment when he reconsidered his career path. Despite studying chemistry at NYU and gearing towards medical school, he realized during a crucial exam that his heart wasn't in becoming a doctor. This realization led him to make a bold decision to walk out of the test, marking a significant turning point in his life.
Authenticity and Self-Censorship in Bowen Yang's Life
Bowen Yang reflects on the impact of his authenticity and self-disclosure, inspired by a conversation with Tina Fey. He grapples with the idea that being open and honest about his opinions and experiences, both on his podcast and in general, can be both liberating and potentially dangerous. This introspection prompts him to reconsider the balance between openness and self-censorship in his public persona.
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team is off today, so we're bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Wild Card with Rachel Martin. This episode is an interview with Bowen Yang. He is the first Chinese American cast member on SNL, the co-host the podcast Las Culturistas, and he starred in the rom-com Fire Island. He talks to Rachel about living too much in the present, hard truths from Tina Fey, and why the afterlife should have a rollercoaster.