They Call Us Bruce

Jeff and Phil welcome diversity advocates and experts Mia Ives-Rublee and Sumi Pendakur to discuss the impact of the current political climate on Asian American activism and identity. They talk about the importance of diversity in higher education in shaping identities and worldviews, the assault on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the wake of Trump's executive orders, the challenges of leadership in uncertain times, and the alarming normalization of extremist ideologies. Also: pre-emptive chickenshit, Nazi salutes, and dangerous dumplings.

Jeff and Phil continue their celebration of Fresh Off the Boat's 10th anniversary and welcome writer Sanjay Shah (Everybody Still Hates Chris, Dream Productions, Central Park) and director Jude Weng (Finding Ohana, The Good Place, Only Murders in the Building) -- key creatives involved in the making of the groundbreaking series. They look back at the impact of the show on their careers, some of the challenges and critiques they faces during production, and the importance of storytelling from an Asian American perspective. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Fresh Off the Boat.

Phil and Jeff celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fresh Off the Boat with series star Hudson Yang (who also happens to be Jeff's son). They reflect on the show's impact on their family, Hudson's journey from childhood aspirations to landing a lead role, and the significance of the show in reshaping narratives around Asian Americans in media. They look back at the audition process, the challenges of navigating fame and public scrutiny as a child actor, and the lasting (and perhaps unsung) legacy of the series. Also: that time Hudson almost got fired from Fresh Off the Boat before it even got started.

It's the Year of the Snake! In this special Lunar New Year episode, Jeff and Phil welcome fellow Potluck Podcast pals -- and fellow parents -- Ada Tseng (Saturday School), Joanna Lee (Sound and Fury, The Korean Drama Podcast), and Marvin Yueh (Books and Boba, Good Pop) to celebrate new beginnings and the arrival of Marvin's twins while discussing the unique challenges of Asian American parenting. They explore the importance of cultural representation in children's media, the significance of language and heritage, and the realities of sleep deprivation and collaborative parenting strategies.

Jeff and Phil welcome Eileen Chow, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Duke University's Asian/Pacific Studies Institute, and Ava Chin, CUNY professor and author of Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming, to talk about birthright citizenship, a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, now under attack (again) by the Trump administration. They talk about their anger in this moment, who is really under attack -- not rich white folks! -- in this latest attempt to revoke birthright citizenship, the landmark precedent set by United States v. Wong Kim Ark, and why the lessons of history must be constantly learned and re-learned.

Jeff and Phil welcome friends, author/podcaster R Scott Okamoto and filmmaker/professor Renee Tajima-Pena to share their reflections on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of greater Los Angeles. Scott shares about the terrifying experience of evacuating from the approaching inferno, while Renee recounts her efforts to save her family's treasures and traditions. The discuss the profound loss for the history and community of Altadena and the incredible heart in Los Angeles's response to this moment.

Jeff and Phil welcome Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, the directors/writers/producers/stars of Extremely Unique Dynamic,  a "Meta-Asian-Stoner-Coming-of-Age-Bromantic Dramedy" about two best friends who decide to make a movie... about two guys making a movie... about two guys making a movie. They talk about making a buddy narrative to showcase their friendship and talent, how they managed to sneak in a celebrity cameo from Hudson Yang (as himself!) and  the unanticipated low-budget/high-effort costs when you make an indie project. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Extremely Unique Dynamic.

Jeff and Phil welcome back the crew — Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos — to discuss season two of the global sensation Squid Game, which is officially Netflix's most watched show ever. In what is quite possibly this podcast's longest episode ever, they discuss the return and evolution of some fan-favorite characters, their least favorite new characters, the biggest new twists in the deadly game, and whether or not Gong Yoo gets worthwhile screen time in his return as the mysterious Recruiter. And of course: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Squid Game Season 2.

Jeff and Phil welcome showrunner/producer Echo Wu and writer Jade Chang, key creatives behind the Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld, starring Ali Wong. They talk about creating a uniquely Asian American young adult action/horror/supernatural family drama; melding Asian mythology and folklore with contemporary youth culture (complete with a playlist) to tell a multi-layered story; and how to keep your cool (and failing miserably) while working with a K-pop idol. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld.

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian Ronny Chieng to discuss his latest Netflix special Love to Hate It. He talks about his efforts to harvest his wife's eggs (with no medical training whatsoever), the frustrating susceptibility of baby boomers to internet scams, his near-decade-long tenure as a correspondent on The Daily Show, and why the only career move he's concerned with is crafting the next joke. Plus: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Love to Hate It.