Southern Fried Asian

Southern Fried Asian returns for a special AAPI Heritage Month episode featuring Kentucky-based blues musician, Nat Myers! He and Keith discuss the events that inspired his forthcoming album, Yellow Peril and his connection to Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa.  Hard NOC Media is brought to you by Paramount+. Get lost in new seasons and new series you won't find anywhere else on Paramount+. Try it FREE! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/4058705/1001331/3065 Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian returns to feature stand-up-comic-turned-young-adult-romance-author, Suzanne Park! She and Keith discuss growing up in the suburbs of Nashville, stumbling into stand-up comedy, writing her newest book, The Christmas Clash -- about warring food court restaurants, her mother's Korean American fried chicken, and more. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On Southern Fried Asian, fellow NOC fam Patrick Michael Strange is in conversation with Keith about growing up as a military brat across the South! From South Carolina and Mississippi to joining the Navy in Viriginia, Patrick recounts coming to terms with his identity as a Filipino American and as a comic book nerd. They also discuss his own nerd empire and a memorable Comic-Con experience. Finally, Patrick reveals that tocino (and not lumpia or siopao) is actually his go-to Filipino dish. Friends of the NOC get their first month of podcast hosting for free when they sign up at https://libsyn.com and use the code FRIEND Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On as special Southern Fried Asian, NOC Managing Editor Laura Sirikul sits down with the cast of HBO Max's House of Ho just in time for the reality docuseries' eventful second season following the Houston-based Vietnamese family as they pursue a life of love, laughter, and luxury. Video of this interview is available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8PxRjlg7j0 Friends of the NOC get their first month of podcast hosting for free when they sign up at https://libsyn.com and use the code FRIEND Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian returns with a conversation between Keith and Top Chef alum, Chef Nini Nguyen! She tells Keith about growing up in New Orleans, being cast on Top Chef, teaching people how to cook on the internet, and what it really means for cuisine to be "authentic." She also reveals why mullet roe will always remind her of her grandmother. Friends of the NOC get their first month of podcast hosting for free when they sign up at https://libsyn.com and use the code FRIEND Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian is back and so is one of our previous guests. Keith welcomes back Greg Pak -- whose moving new autobiographical project I Belong to You / Motherland is being turned into a choral performance in Austin -- to discuss belonging and loss and share memories of his mother and childhood in Texas. For more info on Greg's appearance at Dragon's Lair Comics in Austin, go here: https://www.dlair.net/austin/ You can also purchase tickets for the Inversion Ensemble performance of I Belong to You / Motherland here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inversion-ensemble-presents-i-belong-to-you-tickets-270735064867 Friends of the NOC get their first month of podcast hosting for free when they sign up at https://libsyn.com and use the code FRIEND Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to his Chef Tim Ma -- founder and CEO of Lucky Danger, the renowned American Chinese takeout restaurant in D.C. -- about his southern roots in Arkansas and Virginia and why it's important to honor the legacy of American Chinese cuisine. They also discuss Chef Tim's activism and how the pandemic led to the creation of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate. Finally, Ma shares how the internet helped him reconsider "elevating" crab rangoon! Get a FREE one-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND five FREE travel packs with your first purchase of Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/EMERGING Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On Southern Fried Asian, Keith welcomes Samata Narra, Senior Vice President, Equity and Inclusion, Content Strategy, Warner Bros. Discovery. Samata is responsible for building innovative tools and creative solutions to help facilitate the advancement of diversity in global Warner Bros. content, including the launch of The WM Inclusive, a hub that highlights curated stories of equity and inclusion across Warner's programming. She talks about the importance of this work and how it's informed by her own life story, growing up in West Virginia and Kentucky. She also shares her love for Hillbilly Days and peanut butter balls. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

In a first for Southern Fried Asian, Keith welcomes a previous guest's sibling, Big Sky star, Vinny Chhibber. Keith and Vinny talk about the immigrant struggle and being part of a family that accepts the creative pursuits of its children. Then they transition into a discussion about subverting stereotypes on ABC's hit drama, Big Sky, and how fellow Desi actors like Janina Gavankar helped open the door for more representation on the show. You can see a clip of this portion of the podcast on YouTube here: Finally, Vinny shares how his love of sweets always bring him back home to rural West Virginia and invites Keith over to Chhibber Family Christmas dinner. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to Raman Sehgal, co-host of the podcasts Modern Minorities and Quarantined Comics. Keith and Raman explore his background growing up in Alabama, solving racism with his podcasts, and what politics ought to look like in the South. Raman also shares a beautiful story about his mother's chana bhatura. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

For this episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to his friend, the New York Times-bestselling author Jamie Ford, and learning about his southern roots in Arkansas. Consider this Southern-adjacent Fried Asian. Keith and Jamie talk about summers spent visiting his relatives in the Ozarks, how his grandmother kicked off his love of comic books, and his complicated relationship with the South. They also discuss his forthcoming book, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, the difficulty in adapting his breakthrough debut novel, and why Arkansas is the chocolate roll capital of the world. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

We are joined by Charlene Buckles and Dan Wu, hosts of Louisville Public Media's Where Y'all Really From podcast, this month on Southern Fried Asian. Charlene and Dan talk about the origins of their podcast and what it means to be a Kentuckian in 2021. This episode was recorded before the devastating tornadoes that swept through Kentucky. If you would like to help survivors of the storms, please visit this resource at WFPL: https://wfpl.org/heres-how-you-can-help-tornado-victims/ Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian is thankful to have Tiya Sircar stop by the podcast to talk about her career, being a part of Star Wars, and growing up in Texas! Tiya and Keith talk about her childhood living in the Dallas-Fort Worth part of Texas and when she caught the bug to be an actor. They then dive deep into her experience playing Sabine Wren on Star Wars: Rebels, and what she'd do to continue playing the character in other formats. Later, she recalls her time on The Good Place and being a fan of the show you're starring in and how she stumbled into another fandom genre: the Lifetime/Hallmark Christmas movie! They end by talking about the best dim sum, banh mi, and hamburgers in Texas. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.  

Southern Fried Asian is back for a brand new season! For this episode, we're rebranding as Southern Fried Asian Polynesian because our special guest is none other than (animated) Aquaman himself, Cooper Andrews! Cooper joins Keith to talk about not only growing up in Atlanta, but also returning to Atlanta to shoot projects like The Walking Dead. They also dive into Cooper's love of DC Comics superheroes and working on franchises like Shazam and Aquaman. Speaking of Aquaman, Cooper also discusses what it's like meeting Jason Momoa and what they each bring to the character. Finally, Cooper explains why he misses chicken wings the most when he's in L.A., and why Waffle House is best visited in the middle of the night. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Back in May, Apple Podcasts curated a bunch of AAPI-themed podcasts together, and we were lucky enough to be featured alongside The Carolina Desi podcast. Naturally, we had to invite the hosts, Gurtej Singh and Rashmili Vemula, to join Southern Fried Asian! So we've teamed up with The Carolina Desis to put out a special episode discussing this year's rise in awareness towards AAPI issues as well as the general complexity involved in being labelled as “Asian American,” especially for those of us living in the American South. What are the similarities in our stories? Who gets to be counted in the coalitions being built? And what does solidarity look like between all of us? Join us as we discuss all these questions and more! Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Last month, the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore hosted our own Keith Chow in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kevin Kwan as part of their "Writer's Live" series. Because they spent a portion of their talk discussing Kevin's childhood in Texas, we are presenting that conversation in its entirety for Southern Fried Asian! The evening was kicked off by Hannah of the Ivy Bookshop and Pratt Library CEO Heidi Daniel (1:00). Keith and Kevin start their conversation by noting that the Sex and Vanity book tour has been completely consumed by COVID (5:00). Then, Kevin explains why it's important to him to center Asian American romance in his books (9:30) before shifting into the story of how his family ended up immigrating to a town outside Houston (19:00) and why chicken fried steak and high school cafeteria food was the best thing that happened to him in America (29:00). Later, they bring the conversation back to Sex and Vanity and what it was like writing the book in the wake of the Crazy Rich Asians phenomenon (32:00) before moving into audience Q&A (34:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Justice is coming to Southern Fried Asian! Ahead of the world premiere of F9, the latest installment of The Fast Saga, its fan-favorite star Sung Kang joins the podcast to talk about the film and growing up in Georgia. Sung kicks off by talking about how the Georgia of his childhood has evolved into the Hollywood of the South (2:00). Then, they reminisce about Sung's first collab with Justin Lin, the iconic Asian American indie, Better Luck Tomorrow -- and its connection to the Fast Saga (7:00). Speaking of BLT, they remember Roger Ebert's passionate defense of the film at Sundance and how the movie presaged the use of the internet to get the word out (10:00). He also reflects on BLT's legacy, especially as Asian Americans are currently experiencing a renaissance in mainstream entertainment (17:30). That legacy also has direct tie to the Fast Saga as a POC-led billion-dollar franchise, the #JusticeForHan moment, and the gentrification of Hollywood blockbusters (22:55). Finally, Sung shares why a big ass jar of pickles is what brings him back to Georgia every time (24:30). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian closes out AAPI Heritage Month by welcoming Keith's brother, Raymond Chow, to piece together their family's Southern Fried origin story. The brothers start off the pod trying to figure out if they actually sound alike, and how confusing it might be for the listeners (2:00) and whether Virginia still counts as the south (6:00). They also try to distinguish between rednecks, hillbillies, and hicks (8:30) before delving into the history of their family's Chinese restaurant in rural Virginia (11:00). Later, they discuss their family's different immigrant experiences, how each brother explored their Chinese identities, and distinguishing between growing up in different parts of Virginia (22:00). Finally, they share what it was like to grow up in a Chinese American restaurant (1:02:00) and why more people need to respect Chinese American cuisine (1:08:30). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.  

This episode of Southern Fried Asian features a special panel organized by community members from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Keith, a graduate of Old Dominion, joined the panel alongside, Dr. Francis Tanglao Aguas, Dr. Kim H. Nguyen, Dr. Melody D. Agbisit, Veronica Salcedo, and Tracie Liguid. In a safe and inclusive space, invited community members share their stories of lived experiences as AAPIs in today’s culture and discussed ways in which we keep moving forward. Presented by Old Dominion University's Office of Intercultural Relations, Center for Faculty Development, Academic Affairs, and the Office of Faculty Diversity and Retention. Also, welcome new listeners who have found this podcast because Vanity Fair named it an "essential AAPI listen!" Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith is joined by one of the stars of the HBO Max series Warrior, Perry Yung. Perry kicks off the podcast talking about his family moving to Texarkana, Texas to run a Chinese restaurant when he was a child (1:00). Then, he and Keith talk about how the Oscar-nominated film Minari resonated with them as Asian Americans who grew up in the rural South (14:00) and how opportunities to tell Asian American stories have changed since he started acting in the 1990s (17:30) before they return to Perry's childhood in Texas and how he dealt with other people's bigotry (23:00). Later, he shares what it means to be part of of Bruce Lee's legacy in the cast of Warrior (26:30) and working with first-time director Eddie Huang on his debut film, Boogie (34:30). Finally, Perry reveals what his favorite dishes at his family's restaurant were (39:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith is joined by Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at the University of Oklahoma Dr. David Surratt to talk about growing up Black and Korean in Tulsa. Keith and David begin by reminiscing about meeting at San Diego Comic-Con (1:00) before he recounts splitting his time between Oklahoma, California, and Pennsylvania in college (6:00). David then recalls growing up in the Korean Baptist church as a mixed Black child and recognizing the presence of both anti-Blackness and anti-Asian sentiment in both communities (10:00). They also delve into what cultural authenticity really means (22:00), the role of racism in what defines the South (30:00), and what it was like watching HBO's Watchmen (37:00). Finally, David explains why a burger from Braum's and a slushy from QuickTrip are his go-to for Oklahmoma eating (43:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Welcome to a new season of Southern Fried Asian! We're kicking off 2021 with storyteller, writer, activist, and Georgian Kavi Vu to talk about how the AAPI community helped turn the state blue in 2020 and elect two Democratic senators in an historic runoff election. Kavi talks about her political awakening in 2016 and the hard work of organizing the AAPI community in Georgia (2:00), especially  in the shadow of the state's history of voter suppression (6:00). She also talks about working for Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American Georgia state house representative -- who serves in the seat originally held by Stacey Abrams, and her partnership with Bee's sister Phi on an internet show designed to educate AAPI voters (11:00). Later, she touches on what it was like growing up in a rural part of southern Georgia (16:30), why conservatives in the AAPI community are drawn to Trumpism (19:00), how to ensure Georgia remains a blue state in future elections (25:45), and the importance of storytelling in politics (31:45). Finally, Kavi shares a memory of her father's fish sauce fried chicken (33:45). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Just in time for the holidays, here's the final Southern Fried Asian of season five to close out 2020! Joining the podcast is H'Abigail Mlo, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina and one of the founders of Voices of the Highlands, a digital storytelling project featuring Montagnard/Montagnard-American voices on identity, culture, and everyday life. H'Abigail describes what it's like to graduate college during a pandemic (1:00) before describing the origins of the Voices of the Highlands project (4:00). They then discuss political organizing around the election and counting the Montagnard community in the Census (8:45) and dig in to the history of the Montagnard diaspora in Greensboro, NC (12:00), including the phenomenon of conservatism among many Southeast Asian communities (17:30).  They turn the discussion back to Voices of the Highlands and the work of centering Montagnard voices in AAPI spaces (22:30). Finally, H'Abigail talks about reclaiming and redefining a Southern identity (32:00) and shares a food memory of her grandmother's eggplant curry (36:30) Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

With less than three weeks to go for the 2020 Presidential Election, Keith sits down with filmmaker and subjects from the new documentary, First Vote: director Yi Chen, podcaster Kaiser Kuo, and professor Dr. Jennifer Ho on this special election edition of Southern Fried Asian. The film follows the stories of four Chinese Americans from both sides of the political aisle in Ohio and North Carolina and the aftermath of Donald Trump's election in 2016. Yi explains the movie's long journey from inception to its release amidst an election during a pandemic (1:30). Jennifer and Kaiser, who represent the North Carolina portions of the film, also explain how they came to be part of the project (4:00). They also explore why so many Chinese American immigrants support Donald Trump (6:45). Later, Kaiser describes how he came to live in North Carolina (19:30) before they debate the necessity of Asian American as a political and cultural identity (22:00). They also discuss the film in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (34:00) and what can still go wrong if people don't go out and vote (41:30). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On October 9, Sony Pictures' Yellow Rose makes its theatrical debut on hundreds of screens across North America. To celebrate, the film's star, Eva Noblezada, and writer/director, Diane Paragas, join Keith on a brand new Southern Fried Asian. Diane starts off by talking about how growing up in Lubbock, TX informed parts of the film (2:30). She then talks about the process of casting both Eva (4:00) and fellow Broadway legend Lea Salonga (8:00). Eva joins the podcast at 9:35 and explains what it was about the Yellow Rose script that made her want to make it her feature film debut (10:30). Eva then talks about how much her upbringing in North Carolina did and didn't influence her performance (16:00), and Diane speaks to the film's political timeliness given that it was originally shot two years ago (20:00). The director is also adamant that her movie does not fall into the white savior trope despite some early criticisms (29:30) and goes on to explain her determination to tell a fundamentally Filipino American story (33:45). Finally, they share food memories from shooting in Austin, including Eva playing the Miss Saigon card at a Filipino bakery and Diane's revelation of a scene cut from the script involving adobo chicken fried steak (35:00). Be sure to check out Eva's podcast, The Amarillo Project too! Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a brand new Southern Fried Asian, Keith reconnects with his former college professor, Luisa A. Igloria, who was just named the first Filipina American poet laureate of Virginia. They kick off the podcast reminiscing about her first year as a professor of English at Old Dominion University (1:15) and being integral to the development of Filipino American studies at the school (3:00). Luisa then talks about her time as director of ODU's MFA program (11:45) before describing what it was like to be named Poet Laureate in the time of corona (15:00). Then, they have a discussion about the ways technology has changed the way poetry can be perceived (21:00) and her process for writing a poem a day for the last ten years (25:00). She even graces the podcast with a reading of a recent poem, "America" (36:00). Finally, Luisa sings the praises of the local Asian groceries in Hampton Roads (40:45). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

This episode of Southern Fried Asian was recorded in February before the coronavirus shut down everything. While Disney may have taken Mulan off its release schedule, we're filling the void by releasing Keith's conversation with one of the film's stars, Chen Tang! Chen talks about immigrating to Memphis as a small child and growing up identifying as a Southerner (2:00) and contrasts it with life in southern China (7:00). He then talks about the process of joining Disney's live action adaptation of Mulan (12:00) and how he initially wanted to join the military rather than be an actor (19:00) -- also don't tell Disney that he prefers Star Trek to Star Wars (27:00)! Finally, Chen shares his love for Gus World Famous Fried Chicken and why the ones in L.A. don't really count (29:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On June 5, the Oxford Film Festival will host the virtual world premiere of the documentary feature, Far East Deep South, a film about a Chinese American family discovering its unexpected history in Mississippi. Before its premiere, the filmmakers, Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu, sit down for this month's episode of Southern Fried Asian. Baldwin and Larissa take us behind the scenes on what led to the revelation that their Californian family had roots in the American South (1:15). Larissa, the director, explains the decision to turn their original documentary short, Finding Cleveland, into a feature-length movie came about (9:00) and how their personal story fits into a larger context of Asian American history (16:00). Later, Baldwin reveals how Larissa was able to get his father to show his emotional side in the film (22:30) and why this film's exploration of immigration and generational trauma is so timely in 2020 (26:30). Finally, they share some of the favorite things they ate while filming the documentary in Mississippi (33:30). Also, check out their music video tribute to Asian American history set to the tune of "The Schuyler Sisters" from Hamilton. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

This month's guest on Southern Fried Asian, Edward Hong, has been tapped to deliver the commencement address for the APIA students of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. A fitting tribute to the college's first ever Asian American Studies graduate in the 300-year-old institution's history. Edward talks about his journey to W&M and discovering his passion for acting (5:30), as well as his role in creating the college's first Asian American Studies major (11:15). He also talks about what prompted him to drop everything and pursue an acting career in Los Angeles (20:00) and performing in Qui Nguyen's play Vietgone, about a Vietnamese American family in Arkansas (23:45). Edward also explains the origins of his obsession with Cinnabon (30:00) and how it led to a meeting with the company's CEO (35:30) and a role as "Cinnabon guy" opposite Dakota Fanning (39:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

It's Southern Fried Asian in the time of Corona as Keith welcomes entertainment reporter and Deadline.com editor Dino-Ray Ramos to the podcast. Dino describes his FilAm Texas roots growing up the son of an Air Force father (2:45), forging an Asian American identity in college (4:30), and his high school's secret connection to Friday Night Lights (8:00). Later, he shares how he got started in journalism while in college (11:30), blogging about fashion to being a publicist in the Bay Area (13:00), writing about inclusion and diversity in his reporting (16:15), and launching his first podcast (19:00). He also reflects on how coverage of diversity in Hollywood has evolved over the years (22:30) and how being from the south gives him insight into the way he covers the community (40:45). Finally, Dino shares his love of his mother's pescatarian-friendly palabok, breakfast tacos, and the Texas-based Pappadeux restaurant chain (46:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Happy Holidays! Not only is it Christmastime, but this is also Jamie Noguchi week on Hard NOC Media! Before he appears on a special Rise of Skywalker focused edition of Hard NOC Life, Jamie is also Keith's guest on this month's Southern Fried Asian. Jamie and Keith start by negotiating the southern bona fides of the DC-Maryland-Virginia region, otherwise known as "The DMV" (1:15). Jamie then reflects on what it was like growing up in Montgomery County in a less-than-diverse school (5:30), how nerd culture went from being welcoming to being toxic (8:30), and when he started to interrogate his Asian American identity (15:00). Later, Jamie extols the virtues of practice over talent (20:00) and reflects on the moment he decided to be an artist (27:30). Then Jamie shares some details on a new project he's collaborating on with Jeremy Whitley (36:30), before he and Keith reminisce about working on SIUniverse-related projects (40:20) and the secret origins of Super Art Fight (45:30). Finally, they explain why Chinese sausage and Panda Express is the best (52:30). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.  

On this month's Southern Fried Asian, Keith sits down with The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino about her new book, Trick Mirror and life on the internet in the 21st century. Jia reflects on her book tour and how it feels to promote her work while also combating late stage capitalism (1:30). Later, she talks about meeting readers on tour and the gift and curse of social media (6:45) and the monoculture of the internet (13:30). Then she talks about growing up in Houston in a predominantly white and religious community (18:05) and how her view of Christianity has evolved since she was younger (28:45). They also discuss Jia's Jezebel article about Rolling Stone's recanted story involving sexual assault at the University of Virginia, her alma mater, and how the campus' culture has changed since her time there (39:00). Finally, they reminisce about Houston's Shipley Do-Nuts and the best biscuits in Charlottesville (47:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon andGoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

A few weeks ago, Keith had the pleasure of welcoming to Southern Fried Asian human rights lawyer, policy advocate, and candidate for State Senate in the 28th district of Virginia, Qasim Rashid. With less than two weeks to go until voters go to the polls in Virginia, Keith and Qasim talk about why he's running and why it's important to get involved in politics at every level of society. Qasim reflects on being a candidate running for public office while also being an immigrant during the Trump era (1:30) and how politicians exploit racism to distract from economic warfare between the haves and have nots (5:15). They also discuss how hard it is to get voters motivated for off-year and local elections but why it's absolutely crucial to get out the vote for these kinds of elections (11:00) and why organizing is the answer (13:00). He also reflects on the experience running for office in a part of Virginia that is traditionally very rural and conservative (16:00) before looking back at his own immigration story (18:15). Finally, Qasim shares his idea for bringing a food festival to Stafford County to celebrate the local cuisine of the area (29:00). Even though the election is right around the corner, you can still donate to Qasim's people-powered campaign here. You can also go here to learn how to be a volunteer. Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Buy merch on TeePublic! Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian is back! This time, Keith is joined by New York Times-bestselling YA science-fiction author Marie Lu. Her new novel, Rebel, the follow-up to her epic Legend series of books, will be available in bookstores October 1 -- as will the graphic novel adaptation of her DC Icons story, Batman: Nightwalker. Marie recounts what it was like moving from China first to New Orleans, and then to Houston (1:45) including those traumatic "lunch box moments" of childhood (7:30. Then, she shares her long journey toward becoming a writer, which started off in middle school (10:30) and took a brief detour into the video game industry after college (24:00). Later, she reveals how she fell into writing YA science-fiction novels, the importance of featuring characters of color in her stories (32:00), and what it was like writing Batman and returning to the world of the Legend trilogy with her new book, Rebel (49:00). Finally, Marie shares her Southern Fried food memories of dumplings and cajun food (54:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon and GoFundMe. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz. Podcast logo by Jef Castro. Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian returns with a brand new episode! Keith is joined by Soman Chainani, the New York Times-bestselling author of the hit children's fantasy series, the School For Good and Evil. The fifth book in the series, A Crystal of Time, is available now wherever books are sold. Soman kicks off the show by recounting what it was like growing up as one of the only Indian kids on an essentially "deserted and boring" island off the coast of Miami (1:00) and how tennis and Disney movies shaped his childhood (5:00). Looking at those same Disney movies from a different perspective is what ultimately led to Soman's first novel's redefinition of what is good and what is evil (8:30). Speaking of School For Good and Evil, Soman gives some updates on the live action adaptation of the first novel (11:15) and what it takes to adapt a book into film (12:30). Having gone to film school, Soman also describes the transition from being a filmmaker to a children's book author (16:00) and YouTuber (19:00). Soman and Keith also dive in to some of the criticisms of the final season of Game of Thrones [SPOILER] (23:30). They also spend some time talking about how a fantasy world can reflect the real one (27:00) and the difference between film and television's place in the monoculture (33:00). Finally, Soman shares food memories of his late grandmother's cooking, as well as a very specific pasta dish at a Key Biscayne Italian spot in Key Biscayne that can't be replicated in New York (40:30). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One,  Spotify, and Stitcher Radio! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith is joined by Vanity Fair TV critic Sonia Saraiya to talk about growing up Indian American in rural Florida. Sonia tells Keith about why her family preferred settling in the middle of nowhere (2:00), how many Asian American communities buy into -- and thus perpetuate the model minority myth (8:30). She also recalls an infamous lunchbox moment (13:00) and how acceptance of ethnic food has evolved since then (16:00). Sonia also describes how television became her lifeline to the outside world (20:00) and using pop culture to help formulate an Indian American identity (29:00). Then, they talk about how important it is to upend stereotypes redefining what it means to be Asian in America (40:00). Finally, Sonia shares memories of her mother's cooking and remembers the excitement of Taco Bell coming to town (53:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and now on Spotify! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.  

Southern Fried Asian returns with a brand new episode to kick off the new year! Joining the show is Los Angeles Times reporter and Nashville native, Frank Shyong! Frank and Keith discuss the mystery of non-existent Southern accents (1:30) and how growing up in the South has made him comfortable being an outsider (4:00). Then, Frank talks about a recent column in the LA Times in which he wrote about growing up in Nashville and reconnecting as an adult with the food he scorned as a child (7:00). They also spend a significant amount of time talking about the merits of American Chinese food (15:00), what celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern calls "horseshit Chinese." Later, they assess the phenomenon that is Subtle Asian Traits and how it's defining Asian-ness for a whole generation -- for good or ill (22:00) and how they came to Asian pop culture through the nascent days of the internet (32:00). Finally, Frank reminisces about his favorite American Chinese dish, egg foo young, as well as his obsession with Sonic Drive-In (41:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and now on Spotify! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

With less than a week to go before Election Day, Southern Fried Asian sits down with a candidate to represent the 97th District in the Georgia House, Aisha Yaqoob! Aisha tells Keith about how her parents immigrated from Pakistan and eventually to Georgia (2:00) and her experience growing up in the South as an American Muslim (5:00). She also recounts how she founded a Muslim voter registration organization and became more active in the political arena (11:30). Then, they try to figure out ways to get people more involved in midterm elections (15:30), why Georgia's not really a red state (17:00), and how to get more voters to turn out every cycle (20:00), why it's important for progressives to compete in every election (23:00), and how to push back against voter suppression (25:00). Finally, Aisha describes finding Halal chicken bánh mì for a recent rally and why Korean coffee shops will always remind her of home (33:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and now on Spotify! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian returns with an all new episode featuring the former head of creator development at YouTube and a co-founder of #GoldOpen, digital entrepreneur and Third Culture Kid, Bing Chen! Before diving into his own origins, Bing reveals the secret origin of the Gold Open movement (2:00)  and how far the Asian American community has come since he was growing up in Knoxville (10:00). Speaking of Tennessee, Bing shares about how he came to terms with his Asian identity after moving from Knoxville to Shanghai (14:00). Then, Bing and Keith discuss the differences (or lack thereof) between Asian Americans and Asians from Asia (18:15) and the reverse culture shock moving back to the States (29:00). Finally, they close out the show reminiscing about buffet restaurants like Golden Corral and Ryan's (37:30) and Bing remembers catching catfish at the now closed Crosseyed Cricket fishing hole (39:30) Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and now on Spotify! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a brand new episode of Southern Fried Asian, children's lit author Christina Soontornvat is Keith's special guest. Christina tells Keith about reading fantasy stories as a child in her parents' Thai restaurant in West Texas (2:00) where her parents had opened a Chinese and Thai restaurant in the early '80s (5:00). Of course, they have to go over Texas' qualifications for being considered a "Southern" state (6:15). Then, Christina shares about her STEM background and reconciling her love of science and love of fantasy (11:30), how she decided to write children's literature (14:30), and authors challenging the Euro-centrism of the fantasy genre (21:00). She then dives into the nature of shapeshifting in her debut novel The Changelings and how its themes resonate in her own life (23:00) before revealing what compelled her to tell the story of the Thai Cave rescue (34:00). Finally, Christina shares her favorite Thai dish from her family's restaurant in Texas (44:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to documentary short filmmaker Rita Phetmixay about growing up Lao Isaan American in North Carolina. Rita shares the story of her family's harrowing journey after the war from Laos and Thailand to the States (2:00) and being one of the only Lao American families in rural North Carolina (11:00). She explains why she decided to make a short film about her father called Phetmixay Means Fighter and the story behind her family name (16:00). She also explains how her Asian American identity was always created for her when she lived in North Carolina (21:45). Then, Keith and Rita try to unpack what it even means to be "Asian American" (30:00) and especially Asian American in the South (38:45). Finally, Rita reminisces about incorporating Lao style chicken wings and Thai iced tea in her parents' pizza and sub shop in Asheboro, North Carolina (45:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian is back from hiatus with a brand new episode featuring cartoonist Kate Gavino, whose new book Sanpaku is in stores now! Kate discusses her inspiration for creating Sanpaku (2:00) and her contribution to New Frontiers which was also a story about her grandmother (3:00). They also discuss what it feels like to see aspects of Asian culture go mainstream (5:00) and the origins of the concept of sanpaku (6:00). Kate also explains why Houston is the best city in Texas (9:00) -- except for the traffic (14:00) -- and what is was like growing up Filipino (16:00)! Then, they try to figure out the conundrum of being caught between whiteness and blackness and the quest for authenticity (18:00). Later, Kate reveals what inspired her to be a cartoonist (23:30) and how she came to create her first book Last Night's Reading (25:00), being approached to contribute to the New Frontiers anthology (28:00), and working with Boom! Studios (29:30). Finally, she shares why Filipino Texas Thanksgivings are the best (33:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian wraps up our special food month with a conversation between Keith and Starry Kitchen co-founder Nguyen Tran! Nguyen talks about growing up in the suburbs of Dallas (4:00), why he would pretend to be Wonder Woman when the other kids bullied him (8:00), and dealing with different Asian stereotypes (11:00). Then, they go into an extended discussion about how rejecting than embracing Vietnamese food contributed to his identity (15:00), whether there is such a thing as cultural authenticity when it comes to food (23:00), and the origin of Starry Kitchen (33:00). Finally, Nguyen explains how his and his wife's Texas roots inform their food (44:00) and must choose between In-N-Out and Whataburger (47:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian's month-long series of food episodes continues with a special Comic-Con conversation with nutrition specialist, and North Carolina native, Dr. Benjamin Ha! In the halls of the San Diego Convention Center, Dr. Ha tells Keith about his family's love of Comic-Con (1:45) and how he defines being a nerd (3:00). He also talks about growing up in rural North Carolina (8:00) and explains why he chose to become a physician (13:00) and focuses on nutrition (16:00). Then, Keith asks about his viral "Baby Got Kale" video (20:00) and their mutual love for Hamilton (24:30). Later, Dr. Ha describes what it was like trying to find Asian food in a small, rural town (27:30) and helps Keith understand why American food choices are often so unhealthy (32:45) before sharing food memories of Carolina BBQ and Bojangles (36:00). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.

Southern Fried Asian with comic book illustrator and the creator of the bestselling graphic novel cookbook Cook Korean, Robin Ha. Robin reveals the secret origin of Cook Korean (1:45) and explains why Korean food is so popular right now (11:00). Then, Robin describes what it was like moving from Seoul, Korea to Huntsville, Alabama at age 14 (22:00) and living among the city's Korean population... or lack thereof (28:00). Later, she explains how the local comic book store in Huntsville literally changed her life (35:00) and how she eventually taught herself to cook (37:00). Finally, Robin shares some Alabama food memories and her fascination with drive-through fast food places like Sonic (42:45). Subscribe to the Southern Fried Asian podcast on iTunes, Google Play, NPR One, and TuneIn Premium! Support Hard NOC Media on Patreon. Our official theme music is the song "Top Down" by  Chops, Timothy Flu, and Mic Barz.  Southern Fried Asian is produced by Keith Chow and Jes Vu.