This Filipino American Life

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tfal-episode234.mp3   In this episode the crew has a conversation with author and filmmaker, Jill Damatac, who shares her journey from the Philippines to the States to the UK all through the lens of an undocumented immigrant. Instead of a traditional cookbook, which predominantly focuses on recipes and then sprinkles in family stories, Jill does the opposite and weaves recipes in between Philippine mythology and family history. This timely conversation highlights the perils and resilience of what it means to not have the luck of being born in the States and afforded the luxury of citizenship. Pick up a copy of Dirty Kitchen wherever books are sold like your local independent book store, Bookshop.org, or Barnes and Noble. Are you or a loved one in need of support? Pilipino Workers Center has resources available: PWC Immigration Related Emergency. 24/7 Hotline. Call 820-777-4102 Request a Know Your Rights Card in English and Tagalog: Know Your Rights Card Join a PWC’s Community of Care: PWC Membership Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Do you have a similar story to Jill’s? Want a place to share your story anonymously?Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.  

Amidst the chaos, we still have hope. A couple of weeks ago, Ryan and Joe had a conversation about being relatively new dads. With Father’s Day approaching, the two TFAL dads discuss their experiences navigating fatherhood and all that it entails. Listen as they talk about how their identities changed as new responsibilities came, how they unconsciously emulate their own parents while trying to mitigate and stop generational trauma, and above all else, how they try to lead with love as much as possible. Parenting is difficult. Perhaps one of the most difficult responsibilities in life. Ryan and Joe don’t have all of the answers, but they try the best they can…which is all you can ask for. Please take a listen and let us know your thoughts. Do you have any advice for any dads out there? Email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com. This episode is dedicated to all the dads out there. Never stop learning and growing.

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tfal-episode232.mp3 TFALpodcast kicks off PRIDE month with a conversation with author and illustrator Mike Curato. In this episode Elaine and Producer Mike learn about Mike Curato’s journey with Gaysians, Curato’s first graphic novel for adult audiences. Curato is best known for Little Elliot, a picture book series, and Flamer, a young adult graphic novel which has the distinction of being listed as one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020 while simultaneously being one of the most banned and challenged books in the United States. Pick up Gaysians at your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. You can also catch Mike on his book tour! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What song would you add to your Pride playlist? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tfal-episode231.mp3 On Election Day 2024, while most of the level-headed American public mourned the re-emergence of the far-right orange man, local folks in Los Angeles had a moment of electoral triumph with the victory of Ysabel Jurado to the Los Angeles City Council. Jurado is the first Filipino/a/x American to ever serve on the City Council for the nation’s 2nd largest city and the home to the largest number of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. It was truly a victory for Filipinos and so many other historically marginalized communities in the city. The TFAL crew knew Ysabel for many years and have been a big supporter of her leadership, so we are ecstatic that she was able to join the podcast. Listen as we discuss her victory over her racist and corrupt opponent, her first few months in office, her loyalty and duty to working class communities, California’s housing crisis, Bernie-chella, and the hopeful future of SM Eagle Rock (aka Eagle Rock Plaza). We also ask her what it was like to work with great Ryan and Joe (spoiler: Ryan and Joe are mid). If you want to know more about the inner workings, pressures, and rewards of running a campaign and serving as an elected official, this is the episode for you. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tfal-episode230.mp3 In this episode TFAL’s Elaine and Producer Mike have a conversation with Lisa Angulo Reid, founder of Dear Flor @lovedearflor. Dear Flor’s mission is to bring Filipino culture to the world, one flavor at a time. Lisa shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how she transitioned from advertising to the quickly growing cannabis industry. If you have ever been interested in trying gummies, take advantage of the Dear Flor 4/20 promo! All Dear Flor products are 20% off! Free shipping on all orders. Promo ends at midnight Pacific Time on 4/20. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What flavor would you like to see in a gummy? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

In this TFAL episode, Joe talks to Dr. Allan Lumba, writer, researcher, historian, and professor at Concordia University in Montreal, about potential of Filipinx Studies to inspire our community to fight for a better world. Listen how he developed into a brilliant scholar focused on Philippine Studies, the growing number of Filipino and Filipino American intellectuals unapologetically studying the Philippines and Filipinos in the diaspora, the making of a Filipinx Freedom School, and the current global fascist moment emerging from decades of neoliberal policies. In the episode, they also wax nostalgic about being roommates during their graduate school days at the University of Washington. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Any thoughts on the episode? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/tfal-episode228.mp3 The TFAL crew is no stranger to the world of animation. In episode 28 (TFAL talks Voice Acting (and Secrets & Fears)), the crew had a conversation with voice actors Eric Bauza (@bauzilla) and Earl Baylon (@earlybgoode). While Producer Mike and Elaine were on their trip in the Philippines, they were able to connect with Oscar nominated animation director and founder of Rise Up Animation (@riseupanimation), Bobby Pontillas (@bobbypontillas). This conversation took place in the lobby of the Fairmont Makati (over a delicious meal, naturally), hence the background noise throughout. Many thanks to Bobby for taking the time to talk with Elaine and Producer Mike! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What Filipino and/or Filipino American stories would you love to see animated? What are your favorite animated films? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/tfal-episode227.mp3 Is it truly “More Fun in the Philippines?  Well technically not any more, because that marketing campaign ended in 2023.  Now it’s “Love the Philippines”, but do we?  They say there’s “no place like home” (which is especially fitting, since this is episode “227”… look it up, kids), but for Elaine and Producer Mike, who were both born in the US, going to the Philippines was always going to be a different sort of homecoming.  And in many ways, Elaine and Producer Mike going to the Philippines is the closing of a chapter of TFAL, in which these specific aspirations have finally been accomplished:  Elaine has gone to the Philippines for the first time ever, and Producer Mike finally made a return after 20 years.  And in both cases, it was everything and nothing either of them expected.  What does that even mean?!  Well listen to the episode and find out! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What have your experiences visiting the Philippines been like?  Should the whole TFAL crew go there next? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

In this thought-provoking discussion, guests Don Martinez, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Joseph Reynoso, a psychoanalytic psychologist, dive into the complexities of Filipino American masculinity. They explore the clash between traditional gender roles and contemporary expectations, reflecting on how familial obligations shape personal identity. The conversation challenges narrow definitions of manhood, addresses the impact of societal pressures, and promotes a more inclusive understanding of emotional vulnerability among Filipino men.

Did you know that men from the Philippines prior to colonization wore penis pins and rings in order to pleasure their sexual partner during intercourse? Yes, many of our ancestors had all kinds of sex toys and pleasure enhancers. In many ways, being open to sex and sexual pleasure can be seen as a form of anti-colonialism. Everyday, many Filipinos and Filipino Americans have tried to push for a more sexually liberated society, much to the chagrin of the conservative folks in our community and in the Philippines, On this episode of TFAL we bring back past guest, Cecilia Villero aka Goddess Cecilia, a pleasure educator, advocate, and consultant to discuss sexual pleasure and rejecting the taboos that we grew up with. We ask questions that Ryan and Joe have been dying to know the answers of. Sex is a beautiful thing and so much of the colonial legacies in our culture have prevented us from really exploring it’s facets. Note: Elaine and Producer Mike are visiting the Philippines (Elaine’s first time!), so unfortunately, they aren’t on the episode. But you can check out their adventure of our IG stories. Since they’re on vacation, Joe edited this episode himself, so please blame him the shoddy producing. =) Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Got a question for Goddess Cecilia? Let us know and maybe she’ll come back for a future episode! Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.