So Where Are You From?

We chat with Sarah Ngu, former deacon at Brooklyn’s Forefront Church and writer with bylines in Vice, Jacobin, and Sojourners (she also has not-bylines as a ghostwriter). We talk about her family’s journey from Malaysia to New York as part of a church planting movement; how writing sermons differs from journalism differs from ghost writing; and the varying merits of animal proteins.Check out Sarah’s website to see a collection of her writing—we recommend reading a transcript of her sermon titled Decolonizing Christianity. Also, check out her project Church Clarity, a database of churches scored based on their policies regarding LGBTQ affirmation and women in leadership.Model MinoritiesYoko’s model minority is Maya Man, a creative technologist at Google who, in collaboration with renowned performance artist Bill T. Jones, created Body, Movement, Language, an experiment that uses artificial intelligence to make dance accessible to the masses.Kate’s model minority is Bowen Yang, writer and now castmember of Saturday Night Live. He’s the first Asian castmember in 45 seasons! Can you freaking believe it?

We chat with Pavan Yedavalli, a Ph.D. candidate at Berkeley researching the implications to urban planning if cars could fly (seriously). We talk about why public transportation is bad, NIMBYism, and ridiculous superstitions that we definitely still follow.If you want to learn more about Pavan’s field of study, check out Berkeley’s Urban Air Mobility program at uam.berkeley.edu.Model minoritiesKate’s model minority is Rui Hachimura, small forward for the Washington Wizards. He’s the second Japanese national to be drafted in the NBA after Yasutaka Okayama was drafted in 1981.Yoko’s model minority is Roselyn Keo, an exotic dancer whose story of drugging and swingling wall street bros was made into the movie Hustlers.

Kate’s in LA, Yoko’s in New York. We learn that Kate knows all the words to Amagigoe by enka singer Sayuri Ishikawa, and have our minds blown discussing “99 Ranch” vs. “Ranch 99” and “lie-chee” vs. “lee-chee.”So Where Are They Now?When we chatted with Ken Quemuel in Ep. 4, he was running a monthly dance party in LA called 143. This fall, he’s moved on to start Cupid, a return to the slow jams that got him excited about DJ-ing in the first place. Kate is going to check it out, since it’s happening while she’s in town (post script: it was awesome). If you’re in LA, the next one is on October 9!Model MinoritiesYoko’s model minority is Linh-Yen Hoang, the designer behind the “Wrong Asian, but ok” sticker. Extreme relatable feels. Check out her Etsy shop, which also has prints and zines!Kate’s model minority is Maya Erskine, who writes, produces, and stars in Pen15, a TV show about a “middle school as it really happened.” Also ... extremely relatable. Shoutout if you were in middle school in the year 2000.

We're joined by Paul Jochico and Robespierre Dornagon, two of the three founders of the NYC-based dance studio House of Movement. We talk about how they founded their own studio, how the definition of hip hop has evolved, and which Marvel characters they'd make Asian.Follow Robes on Instagram and Twitter @robesee and Paul on Instagram @pjinmotion. Learn more about House of Movement at houseofmovementny.com and follow them on Instagram @homnyc.Model MinoritiesKate’s model minority is actor Karen Fukuhara. We know her from her Disney correspondent days, that one time she was Katana in Suicide Squad, and now we’re watching her in the new Amazon Prime original series The Boys.Yoko’s model minorities are Cassandra Lam and Karen Mok, founders of The Cosmos, a community for Asian women and non-binary creators. We love that they’re constantly evaluating and reassessing what these labels mean. Check them out @jointhecosmos!

We’re joined by Jenny Acosta, food-embedded designer and native Brooklynite. We talk about her Hainanese mixed heritage, food as a love language, and living with parents as an adult. Also, Kate makes her boyfriend try a bunch of new food, and Yoko pops a question. Jenny’s website is jennyacosta.com, and you can follow her on Instagram @hennyhomeslice. So Where Are They Now? Our first SWATN (So Where Are They Now?) features Kevin Huynh, our very first guest (and Yoko’s fiancé!). Since we talked to him in Episode 2, he wrote and published a book??? It’s called Get Together, a guidebook on how to build a community. We’re so dang proud of him, obviously. Learn more at gettogetherbook.com and buy it on Amazon! Model Minorities Yoko’s model minority is Christina Chaey, associate editor at Bon Appétit. We love when she makes an appearance on Gourmet Makes, and want to see more! Kate’s model minority is Michelle Elman, body confidence coach. Check out this incredible photo shoot she organized, featuring a diversity of plus-sized Asian models

A lot has happened while we were on break: Yoko got engaged. Kate turned 30. A million podcasts about being Asian have surfaced. Plus, hella/mad Asian movies! Wow! It’s really great to be back ♥️ Our model minorities this episode are: Kenji López-Alt, food writer and Chief Culinary Advisor at Serious Eats Evan Jackson Leong, filmmaker and director of Linsanity and BLT Genesis, a documentary about Better Luck Tomorrow This episode of SWAYF was recorded out of Orbital, a coworking space run by Gary Chou #garychouthagawd

Kate went on a road trip with her boyfriend, Yoko is thinking about going on a staycation. Our guest this episode is Fei Liu, researcher in residence at NEW INC. We talk about how she saw whiteness as Asian Americans after moving to the US from Harbin, China at age 6; how she grew interested in the intersection of art and activism after living in China after graduating from college; filial piety; and our shared traumas from going to weekend language school. Plus, we got a couple listener emails! Thank you for writing us, Lyna and Grace ❤️ Write us at swayfpodcast@gmail.com!

Kate and Yoko are joined by middle school teacher, and esteemed food writer Noah Cho. We talk about Noah's childhood and growing up with a white mom, what it's like teaching middle school kids, and white chefs who cook Asian cuisine. We also circle back on a model minority and our hot takes on Isle of Dogs.

Kate and Yoko are joined by ethnographer and people organizer Christina Xu. We talk about Christina’s relationship with the internet, and how she creates channels for enabling other people to do their most ambitious work . Also, Kate’s officiating her second wedding and conducted a survey about marriage (by the way, she’s got a boyfriend now. Y’all slept on that).

Kate’s in LA, Yoko’s in NYC. They talk about Yoko’s recent trip to Iceland, Kate visiting home, and how they’re both turning into their parents.

Kate and Yoko spend a good amount of time discussing cultural appropriation after seeing Kendrick Lamar's kung fu-themed concert. Also, Yoko finally gives us her take on Get Out. Thanks for waiting, it's been a long and crazy summer for both of us.

Kate and Yoko chat about eighth grade crushes, Asian dancers hitting the mainstream, and “the ultimate pursuit.”

Kate and Yoko chat about Wes Anderson's new movie: Isle of Dogs—Yoko is skeptical, Kate wants to believe it's good. We also talk about how to control New York City, Yoko's first time using a charcoal pore strip, and Korean beauty products. We realize this episode is a little late, thanks for being patient with us!

Kate and Yoko chat with Vincent Lau, a social worker at the Administration of Children’s Services of New York’s Department of Youth and Family Justice. We talk about how Vincent found his voice as an activist, his experience walking the March for Justice from New York to Washington, DC, and the importance of holding your own people accountable.

Kate and Yoko chat with Rain Noe, Senior Editor at Core77, sewing machine collector, and native speaker of the rare Staten-Island–Westchester combination accent. We discuss Rain’s careers in industrial design and writing, the “Asian hookup,” and the merits and drawbacks of “fusion food.”

Kate and Yoko talk to Brian Yeh and Lisa Wang, newly engaged students at Harvard Business School and friends of the pod. We discuss unspoken rules and expectations of dating another Asian person, sticking the Fast and the Furious in a time capsule of the world's history, and roundabout ways your relatives comment on your tan-ness.

Kate and Yoko discuss the Oscars and chat with producer Kishori Rajan about not being black or white, about identifying with Tia and Tamara Mowry, and about being with Hillary Clinton's team on election night.

HNY! Kate and Yoko discuss their resolutions for the New Year, the (shitty) inauguration, and a slew of movies and TV (Kate’s crushes are Uchi from Terrace House and Diego Luna in all movies; Yoko recently watched Mulan for the first time ever). Disclaimer: this episode was recorded a little while ago. Thanks for having us back!

Kate and Yoko chat with photographer June Kim about transitioning from commercial to fine art, and getting our moms onboard with our creative pursuits. Plus, a special How Asian Are You also featuring past guest Kevin Huynh! Also, we’ll be taking off the rest of this year and starting back up mid-January. Thank you for listening and have a lovely new year!

Kate and Yoko discuss post-election feels and chat with Jing Wei, illustration director at Etsy and part-time faculty at Pratt. We talk about Jing's crippling fear of the number four, how many napkins we take at a restaurant, and discover what "ARF" is.

Kate and Yoko chat with Andy Chen, founder of and partner at Isometric Studio, about promoting inclusion, equality, and progress; advice from mom; and his preferred bubble tea/boba order. Also, our thoughts on sukajan.

Kate and Yoko chat with Gary Chou, faculty member at SVA and founder of Orbital NYC about how his grandmother's trip to a temple changed his life, his love of networks, and his involvement in Letters for Black Lives.

Kate and Yoko chat with role model goal Farah Sheikh, project manager at Squarespace and organizer of Feed and Foster, a dinner series for women of diverse backgrounds. We talk about peer mentorship, lifting up the underserved, and protecting safe spaces.

Kate and Yoko chat with Yng-Ru Chen, cool mom and director of partnerships at Tattly Temporary Tattoos. We find out about what it's like raising two adorable half-Asian kids, and her childhood friend Harmit whose name is a combination of Harvard + MIT.

Kate and Yoko chat about the Olympics, Asian movies with white heroes, and tattoos. It’s just us this week, so this ep’s a shortie ... but packed with goodness as ever. ^_^

Kate and Yoko talk to Brian Cheng a.k.a.: Juicy Liu, 2015 winner of So You Think You Can Drag about gettin' crafty with costumes, navigating being two people, and our preferred chopstick holder folding techniques.

Kate and Yoko talk with super badass boss lady Alisha Ramos about “secret” languages, being mixed-race, and Asian beauty standards. Plus, a really gross/amazing Would You Rather courtesy of our very own Kate Matsumoto. Apologies for the audio hiccup! Thanks for bearing with us. We love you!

Kate and Yoko chat with art director, photographer, and entrepreneur, Nate Poekert about what it's like to be a gay Asian man, adopted by a white family, and home schooled in central Florida. Note: During our recording, we called this episode 5. We’re wrong. It’s episode 6. Woops!

Kate and Yoko chat with Sachi Ezura, a TV producer and standup comedian (she’s also Yoko’s best friend), about growing up mixed-race in New York City. Also, weird stories that our parents told us that we’re 99% sure are untrue. (During our recording, we called this episode 6. We’re wrong. It’s episode 5. Woops!)

Kate and Yoko chat with Ken Quemuel a.k.a. siik, a founding member and DJ at LA's hottest R&B and slow jam party, 143. We reminisce about a time when the internet was young, innocent, and not full of catfish.

Kate and Yoko chat with producer and director Roxy Shih about working hard and staying real in the movie-making business. Plus: creepy porcelain dolls ... what’s the deal with those? We’re getting the hang of this!

Kate and Yoko fondly remember the Era of Kristi Yamaguchi, and Yoko mixes up the definition of "immigrate" and "emigrate." Plus, Kevin Huynh joins us. Still have no idea what we’re doing.

Kate and Yoko discuss microaggressions, model minorities, and a rooftop story. Full disclosure: we have no idea what we're doing.