Podcast appearances and mentions of Charles Yu

In this episode, host Kristina Woo talks with Interior Chinatown creator, showrunner, and author Charles Yu (Westworld, Legion, American Born Chinese) about adapting his National Book Award-winning novel to a limited series, his unlikely path in the entertainment industry, why inclusion & representation matters, and more.

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Seulghee Lee (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and English, University of South Carolina) about his recently published book, Other Lovings: An AfroAsian American Theory of Life (Ohio State UP, 2025). Some topics of our discussion include Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings (2007), Gayl Jones' novella Corregidora (1975), and the cultural phenomenon of "Linsanity" and the lasting impact of NBA player Jeremy Lin's rise to fame. In Other Lovings, Seulghee Lee traces the presence and plenitude of love embedded in Black and Asian American literatures and cultures to reveal their irreducible power to cohere minoritarian social life. Bringing together Black studies, Asian American studies, affect theory, critical theory, and queer of color critique, Lee examines the bonds of love in works by Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, David Henry Hwang, Gayl Jones, Fred Moten, Adrian Tomine, and Charles Yu. He attends to the ontological force of love in popular culture, investigating Asian American hip-hop and sport through readings of G Yamazawa, Year of the Ox, and Jeremy Lin, as well as in Black public culture through bell hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West. By assessing love's positive function in these works, Lee argues against critical regimes, such as Afropessimism and racial melancholia, that center negativity. In revealing what Black and Asian American traditions share in their positive configurations of being and collectivity, and in their responses to the overarching logic of white supremacy, Other Lovings suggests possibilities for thinking beyond sociological opposition and historical difference and toward political coalition and cultural affinity. Ultimately, Other Lovings argues for a counter-ontology of love—its felt presence, its relational possibilities, and its lived practices. This episode was hosted by Asia Adomanis, a PhD student in the Department of History of Art at Ohio State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Seulghee Lee (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and English, University of South Carolina) about his recently published book, Other Lovings: An AfroAsian American Theory of Life (Ohio State UP, 2025). Some topics of our discussion include Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings (2007), Gayl Jones' novella Corregidora (1975), and the cultural phenomenon of "Linsanity" and the lasting impact of NBA player Jeremy Lin's rise to fame. In Other Lovings, Seulghee Lee traces the presence and plenitude of love embedded in Black and Asian American literatures and cultures to reveal their irreducible power to cohere minoritarian social life. Bringing together Black studies, Asian American studies, affect theory, critical theory, and queer of color critique, Lee examines the bonds of love in works by Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, David Henry Hwang, Gayl Jones, Fred Moten, Adrian Tomine, and Charles Yu. He attends to the ontological force of love in popular culture, investigating Asian American hip-hop and sport through readings of G Yamazawa, Year of the Ox, and Jeremy Lin, as well as in Black public culture through bell hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West. By assessing love's positive function in these works, Lee argues against critical regimes, such as Afropessimism and racial melancholia, that center negativity. In revealing what Black and Asian American traditions share in their positive configurations of being and collectivity, and in their responses to the overarching logic of white supremacy, Other Lovings suggests possibilities for thinking beyond sociological opposition and historical difference and toward political coalition and cultural affinity. Ultimately, Other Lovings argues for a counter-ontology of love—its felt presence, its relational possibilities, and its lived practices. This episode was hosted by Asia Adomanis, a PhD student in the Department of History of Art at Ohio State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Seulghee Lee (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and English, University of South Carolina) about his recently published book, Other Lovings: An AfroAsian American Theory of Life (Ohio State UP, 2025). Some topics of our discussion include Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings (2007), Gayl Jones' novella Corregidora (1975), and the cultural phenomenon of "Linsanity" and the lasting impact of NBA player Jeremy Lin's rise to fame. In Other Lovings, Seulghee Lee traces the presence and plenitude of love embedded in Black and Asian American literatures and cultures to reveal their irreducible power to cohere minoritarian social life. Bringing together Black studies, Asian American studies, affect theory, critical theory, and queer of color critique, Lee examines the bonds of love in works by Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, David Henry Hwang, Gayl Jones, Fred Moten, Adrian Tomine, and Charles Yu. He attends to the ontological force of love in popular culture, investigating Asian American hip-hop and sport through readings of G Yamazawa, Year of the Ox, and Jeremy Lin, as well as in Black public culture through bell hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West. By assessing love's positive function in these works, Lee argues against critical regimes, such as Afropessimism and racial melancholia, that center negativity. In revealing what Black and Asian American traditions share in their positive configurations of being and collectivity, and in their responses to the overarching logic of white supremacy, Other Lovings suggests possibilities for thinking beyond sociological opposition and historical difference and toward political coalition and cultural affinity. Ultimately, Other Lovings argues for a counter-ontology of love—its felt presence, its relational possibilities, and its lived practices. This episode was hosted by Asia Adomanis, a PhD student in the Department of History of Art at Ohio State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Seulghee Lee (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and English, University of South Carolina) about his recently published book, Other Lovings: An AfroAsian American Theory of Life (Ohio State UP, 2025). Some topics of our discussion include Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings (2007), Gayl Jones' novella Corregidora (1975), and the cultural phenomenon of "Linsanity" and the lasting impact of NBA player Jeremy Lin's rise to fame. In Other Lovings, Seulghee Lee traces the presence and plenitude of love embedded in Black and Asian American literatures and cultures to reveal their irreducible power to cohere minoritarian social life. Bringing together Black studies, Asian American studies, affect theory, critical theory, and queer of color critique, Lee examines the bonds of love in works by Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, David Henry Hwang, Gayl Jones, Fred Moten, Adrian Tomine, and Charles Yu. He attends to the ontological force of love in popular culture, investigating Asian American hip-hop and sport through readings of G Yamazawa, Year of the Ox, and Jeremy Lin, as well as in Black public culture through bell hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West. By assessing love's positive function in these works, Lee argues against critical regimes, such as Afropessimism and racial melancholia, that center negativity. In revealing what Black and Asian American traditions share in their positive configurations of being and collectivity, and in their responses to the overarching logic of white supremacy, Other Lovings suggests possibilities for thinking beyond sociological opposition and historical difference and toward political coalition and cultural affinity. Ultimately, Other Lovings argues for a counter-ontology of love—its felt presence, its relational possibilities, and its lived practices. This episode was hosted by Asia Adomanis, a PhD student in the Department of History of Art at Ohio State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-american-studies

Join me for a conversation with Dr. Seulghee Lee (Assistant Professor of African American Studies and English, University of South Carolina) about his recently published book, Other Lovings: An AfroAsian American Theory of Life (Ohio State UP, 2025). Some topics of our discussion include Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings (2007), Gayl Jones' novella Corregidora (1975), and the cultural phenomenon of "Linsanity" and the lasting impact of NBA player Jeremy Lin's rise to fame. In Other Lovings, Seulghee Lee traces the presence and plenitude of love embedded in Black and Asian American literatures and cultures to reveal their irreducible power to cohere minoritarian social life. Bringing together Black studies, Asian American studies, affect theory, critical theory, and queer of color critique, Lee examines the bonds of love in works by Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, David Henry Hwang, Gayl Jones, Fred Moten, Adrian Tomine, and Charles Yu. He attends to the ontological force of love in popular culture, investigating Asian American hip-hop and sport through readings of G Yamazawa, Year of the Ox, and Jeremy Lin, as well as in Black public culture through bell hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Cornel West. By assessing love's positive function in these works, Lee argues against critical regimes, such as Afropessimism and racial melancholia, that center negativity. In revealing what Black and Asian American traditions share in their positive configurations of being and collectivity, and in their responses to the overarching logic of white supremacy, Other Lovings suggests possibilities for thinking beyond sociological opposition and historical difference and toward political coalition and cultural affinity. Ultimately, Other Lovings argues for a counter-ontology of love—its felt presence, its relational possibilities, and its lived practices. This episode was hosted by Asia Adomanis, a PhD student in the Department of History of Art at Ohio State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

In this episode of the Project Narrative Podcast, Jim Phelan and Daniel Punday discuss Charles Yu's 2020 short story, “Problems of Self-Study,” which you can access here to read along with the podcast. Daniel Punday is Professor of English at Mississippi State University, where he specializes in contemporary American literature, digital media, and literary theory,… Continue reading Episode 42: Jim Phelan and Daniel Punday — Charles Yu's “Problems for Self-Study”

This week on "BETA," ...music journalist Mark Blake on his latest book, “Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac.” And Nora Lange joins us to discuss her incredible debut novel, “US Fools.” Author Charles Yu also discusses adapting his novel Interior Chinatown into a mind-bending Hulu streaming series.

Easter Sunday // Charles Yu | April 20, 2025

Once Upon a Future: A New World // Charles Yu | March 23, 2025

In his award-winning novel Interior Chinatown, Charles Yu took a scalpel to television's tropes and stereotypes. Now he explains to us how he managed to turn that book into a brilliant, challenging TV show. Also, contributing host Nivair Gabriel tells us about science in children's books, and what it's like to push for accurate depictions of space in children's publishing. Plus she recommends great books to share with the kids in your life!

Once Upon a Future: Life in Babylon // Charles Yu | March 2, 2025

Once Upon a Future: The Throne Room // Charles Yu | February 16, 2025

our second-person module kicks off with interior chinatown by charles yu, which gives us literary whiplash both in terms of difficulty and perspective. we talk about the type of racism that charles yu captures in the book (and the type we “expected” to find), the way he takes down hollywood in the novel (and the similar representations we've seen on tv), and the strengths of the novel (as well as its limitations). we briefly discuss the limited series on hulu (which was a surprise to both of us) and what “chinatown” usually signifies in stories like this. shreds makes a request to make the book longer. reading list for season thirteen interior chinatown by charles yu if on a winter's night a traveler by italo calvino bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney suicide by édouard levé the malady of death by marguerite duras how like a god by rex stout the diver's clothes lie empty by vendela vida the night circus by erin morgenstern a man asleep by georges perec open water by caleb azumah nelson

Notes and Links to David Ebenbach's Work   David Ebenbach writes. He's been writing ever since he was a kid, when he kept his whole family awake by banging away on an enormous manual typewriter, and he's never wanted to stop.    In fact, David's now the author of ten books of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, and his work has picked up awards along the way: the Drue Heinz Literature Prize, the Juniper Prize, the Patricia Bibby Award, and more.    Born and raised in the great city of Philadelphia, these days David does most of his writing in Washington, DC, where he lives with his family—because he uses a laptop now, he doesn't keep them awake with his typing—and where he works at Georgetown University, promoting inclusive, student-centered teaching at the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship, and teaching creative writing and literature at the Center for Jewish Civilization and creativity through the Master's in Learning, Design, and Technology Program.   Buy David's Books   David Ebenbach's Website   Book Review: LitPick about Possible Happiness     At about 2:15, David talks about the cool cover design for Possible Happiness At about 3:00, David discusses a recent reading in which his students were able to hear/see his work At about 4:00, David highlights wonderful contributions from Carol Nehez, his inspirational high school teacher  At about 5:55, David details pivotal reading and writers from his adolescence  At about 7:30, Pete and David discuss connections between his book and West Philly's own Will Smith At about 8:15, David responds to Pete's questions about Philadelphia's deep writing tradition and pivotal events in 1980s Philadelphia; he cites John Wideman and Mat Johnson At about 11:00, David cites Ted Chang, Charles Yu as a few contemporary writers he enjoys At about 12:25, David explains the webs involved with his books and genre and publishing  At about 13:55, David speaks about teaching informs his writing and vice versa-featuring shouts out to Asha Thanki and Kate Brody At about 16:15, David lists some favorite texts of his classmates, including work by Jewish writers from the Global South, like Esther David and others like Nathan Englander and Robert Levy-Samuels At about 18:40, David gives out information about buying Possible Happiness and shares how he finds joy on social media-specifically Facebook At about 21:00, David responds to Pete's questions about inhabiting the persona/headspace of the teens represented in Possible Happiness At about 23:55, David gives background on Jacob, the protagonist's, mindset and book's exposition  At about 27:00, Pete and David discuss Jacob's “inertia” and how depression and how the book's common phrase of “howling like a coyote” relate  At about 28:15, David talks about the term “depression” and both capacious and maybe “limiting” At about 29:10, David and Pete discuss Jacob's mother's living with depression and  At about 30:20, David reflects on the significance of a literal collective howl in the book At about 31:55, Pete compliments David's usage of a “moment in time,” and David cites Raymond Carver's “Cathedral” and Miranda July's work as examples of authors manipulating time At about 34:40, Pete has a bone to pick over Full House's treatment in the novel! At about 35:10, The two discuss the awesome (in the truest sense of the word) pacing in Tobas Wolff's “Bullet in the Brain” At about 36:10, the machinations of the social groups at the book's high school are discussed, as well as the “quaint” ways of home phones pre-cell phones At about 37:55, Pete thanks David for dropping info on Philadelphia's metro At about 39:00, David discusses the ways in which clubs that accepted people under 21 and the culture that brought Jacob ways to release anger/angst At about 40:00, The two discuss the pop culture references from the late 80s/early 90s featured in the book  At about 41:30, Pete details information about Jacob's happy days and days dealing with depression and connections to his social life At about 42:10, The religiosity of Jacob's family and his uncle's family are discussed, and David reflects on the ways that Jacob's Judaism is represented  At about 44:15, The two discuss the real-life parallels between identity and race and class in the book At about 47:00, Jacob's trip to Chicago to meet his father and ideas of neglecting to talk about depression are discussed  At about 49:20, David responds to Pete's question about the source(s) of Jacob's resentment towards his father At about 50:30, Pete compliments the subtle and nuanced ways in which David writes about depression and teen life  At about 51:35, David cites some benefits of writing about the pre-cell phone days At about 53:00, David gives some hints about his exciting upcoming projects You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. This week, his conversation with Episode 264 guest Maggie Sheffer is up on the website. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content! This month's Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of the wonderful poetry of Khalil Gibran. I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.    This is a passion project of Pete's, a DIY operation, and he'd love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 270 with Lamya H. Lamya is a queer Muslim writer and organizer living in New York City whose 2023 memoir HIJAB BUTCH BLUES won the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize and a Stonewall Non-fiction Book Award, and was also a finalist for Lambda Literary and Publishing Triangle Awards. Lamya's organizing work centers around creating spaces for LGBTQ+ Muslims, fighting Islamophobia, Palestine, and prison abolition.    The episode airs on February 4.

For our last regular Good Pop episode of the year, we check out the Hulu television adaptation of Charles Yu's award winning novel, Interior Chinatown, starring Jimmy O Yang as Willis Wu, a background character in a world within a police procedural, as he rises through the ranks while investigating what happened to his older brother. But will this meta-fictional story about the Asian American experience ascend to the ranks of good pop?What's Popping? - Xmas Season, Squid Game S2, Secret LevelFollow our hosts:Marvin Yueh - @marvinyuehJess Ju - @jessjutweetsHanh Nguyen - @hanhonymousFollow the show and engage with us at @goodpopclubPart of the Potluck Podcast CollectiveProduced by HappyEcstatic MediaMentioned in this episode:Listen to Inheriting from LAist & NPR"Inheriting" is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families, which explores how one event in history can ripple through generations. In doing so, the show seeks to break apart the AAPI monolith and tell a fuller story of these communities. In each episode, NPR's Emily Kwong sits down with one family and facilitates deeply emotional conversations between their loved ones, exploring how their most personal, private moments are an integral part of history. Through these stories, we show how the past is personal and how to live with the legacies we're constantly inheriting. New episodes premiere every Thursday. Subscribe to “Inheriting” on your app of choiceListen to Inheriting now!

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and @joyofnapping discuss the first 3 episodes of Charles Yu's Interior Chinatown (Hulu):Ep 1 - Generic Asian ManEp 2 - Delivery GuyEp 3 - Tech GuyHow does Charles Yu's amazing book make the transition to the small screen? What components were we particularly taken by? How do we find the show as a parody of police procedurals? And as a piece of media criticism? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!Links:Follow Joy on BlueskyEmail us at Decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comSubscribe to David's free newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like a background character in your own life? Join Kyle McMahon as he explore this intriguing concept with the stars of Hulu's "Interior Chinatown," Executive producer Taika Waititi, author Charles Yu and stars Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Sullivan Jones, Lisa Gilroy, Archie Kao and Tzi Ma all speak with Kyle with candid insights into the groundbreaking series.  Based on Charles Yu's novel, these discussions reveal how it humorously challenges Hollywood stereotypes and conventions, while also resonating deeply with personal experiences of identity and representation. Switching gears, the episode also highlights a refreshing take on love and vulnerability through the lens of the new romantic comedy "Sidelined: The QB and Me." Grammy nominated Deborah Cox discusses her inspiring role in the film and Sienna Agudong and Noah Beck open up about their creative process and the courage needed to express unconditional love. We discuss the inspiration behind their roles and how personal significance fuels their passion projects.  From the layered storytelling of "Interior Chinatown" to the heartfelt narrative of "Sideline, the QB and Me," this episode promises to captivate listeners with fresh perspectives and engaging conversations. So, whether you're a fan of thought-provoking television or charming romantic comedies, there's something here for everyone.Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/---------------Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.comWatch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videosor Kyle McMahon YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/officialkylemcmahonRead the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.comFollow Kyle on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahonInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/kmacmusicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweeklyWebsite: http://www.kylemcmahon.me

God With Us: The Significance of Sacred Places // Charles Yu | 12.8.24

This week on "BETA," ...music journalist Mark Blake on his latest book, “Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac.” And Nora Lange joins us to discuss her incredible debut novel, “US Fools.” Author Charles Yu also discusses adapting his novel Interior Chinatown into a mind-bending Hulu streaming series.

Today we revisit our 2020 interview with Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown received the National Book Award for fiction and has been recently adapted into a Hulu series by Yu who is also the showrunner. A novel told in the format of a screenplay, Interior Chinatown follows Willis Wu, a bit player in a TV procedural, as he wrestles with his dreams, identity, and the limitations imposed by a world of rigid racial roles. In our conversation, Yu reflects on growing up with limited and stereotypical representations of Asian-Americans on screen and how those experiences shaped his incisive and inventive novel. He shares his journey from lawyer to writer and the creative process behind the book, the interplay of humor and serious themes in his work, his reflections on the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, and the transformative power of storytelling. In this special reposting of our conversation with Charles Yu, we revisit his insightful, funny, and deeply moving exploration of Asian-American identity and representation in popular culture. 

Today we revisit our 2020 interview with Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown received the National Book Award for fiction and has been recently adapted into a Hulu series by Yu who is also the showrunner. A novel told in the format of a screenplay, Interior Chinatown follows Willis Wu, a bit player in a TV procedural, as he wrestles with his dreams, identity, and the limitations imposed by a world of rigid racial roles. In our conversation, Yu reflects on growing up with limited and stereotypical representations of Asian-Americans on screen and how those experiences shaped his incisive and inventive novel. He shares his journey from lawyer to writer and the creative process behind the book, the interplay of humor and serious themes in his work, his reflections on the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, and the transformative power of storytelling. In this special reposting of our conversation with Charles Yu, we revisit his insightful, funny, and deeply moving exploration of Asian-American identity and representation in popular culture. 

The super-meta Hulu series Interior Chinatown mashes up a whole bunch of genres — including kung fu movies and police procedurals — to explore Asian-American identity in interesting ways. Jimmy O. Yang plays a waiter who dreams of a more exciting life outside his close-knit community. After witnessing a crime, he has a chance to help investigators solve the case — and he soon realizes he's more deeply connected to the mystery than he initially thought. The show was created by Charles Yu, who based it on his own novel.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jeff and Phil welcome writer Charles Yu, showrunner/executive producer of the Hulu series Interior Chinatown, adapted from his award-winning novel of the same name. They discuss the challenges of taking a somewhat indescribable and seemingly un-adaptable book and adapting it into a 10-episode prestige series; how Interior Chinatown is actually like Pokemon; and the fun of deconstructing the TV tropes of the police procedural "Chinatown Episode."

On this episode, we discuss our November 2024 book club pick, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, an award winning novel about a guy living in cop show version of Chinatown who dreams of becoming a "Kung Fu Guy" but is stuck playing generic Asian guy roles, a metaphor for not only how Hollywood treats its Asian actors, but for the model minority myth as well. To help us discuss this book, we've invited our friends Ada Tseng and Brian Hu from the Saturday School Podcast who provide their perspectives as longtime Asian American pop culture journalists and scholars.Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba November 2024 pick is Interior Chinatown by Charles YuThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast CollectiveMentioned in this episode:Imagine what our democracy could be in this new hit history podcast from More Equitable Democracy and Larj MediaAmerican Democracy sucks right now! More specifically, the United States' electoral system is outdated and needs reform to better represent its diverse population. George Cheung and Colin Cole from More Equitable Democracy probe what the U.S. can learn from Northern Ireland's adoption of proportional representation to overcome political divisions and achieve fairer representation. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!Listen to The Future of our Former Democracy now!

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Steven Bach Steven Bach (1938-2009) author of the biography “Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl”, interviewed in 2007 by Richard Wolinsky. This podcast was first posted May 5, 2017. Leni Riefenstahl was the film maker behind the Nazi propaganda films Triumph of the Will and Olympia. Reifenstahl, who died in 2003 at the age of a hundred and one, to the end of her life denied her work was political, that she was an artist. Stephen Bach, who died at the age of 70 in 2009, had been a studio executive and began writing  books with “Final Cut”, his memoir about the making of the film Heaven's Gate. He followed that with a biography of the playwright Moss Hart, and then a biography of actress Marlene Dietrich, which as he says, led him to Leni Riefenstahl. The interview was recorded in the KPFA studios on May 7, 2007. Guardian Obituary. In an interview perhaps more timely today than the year it was recorded, Bach compares Reifenstahl's work to right-wing propaganda in America, and the use of the Hitler playbook. Complete Interview.   Charles Yu Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown just won the 2020 National Book Award for fiction, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Interior Chinatown takes place in a meta-world in which Hollywood's Chinese stereotypes are portrayed by Asian immigrants and second-generation Asian Americans in films and TV shows. The book uses tropes from screenplays as well as prose fiction to illuminate these tropes, switching between narrative, entertainment history, and polemic in a highly original way. Charles Yu is the author of two previous short-story collections and one novel, has worked as an attorney, and also has worked in the writers' room of several television shows, most notably during the first season of HBO's Westworld. Interior Chinatown is now a television miniseries streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Complete Interview.   Review of “Jaja's African Hair Braiding” at Berkeley Rep Peets Theatre through December 15, 2024. Review of “The Antipodes” by Annie Baker, performed by the Actors Reading Collective, at Marin Shakespeare Theatre through Dec. 1, 2024./a>   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 10th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, June 1-2, 2024. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for specific days and times, and for staged readings at LaVal's Subterranean Theater. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  The Antipodes by Annie Baker, through December 1, 2024. Marin Shakespeare Theatre, San Rafael. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre A Whynot Christmas Carol, November 26-December 24, Toni Rembe Theatre. Aurora Theatre  Felonious, Bay Area hip-hop ensemble, special engagement, Dec 6-7; 13-14. The Heart-Sellers by Lloyd Suh, February 9 – March 9, 2025. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Matchbox Magic Flute, October 18 – December 9, Roda Theatre. Jaja's African Hair Braiding by by Jocelyn Bioh, Nov 13 – Dec 15, Peets Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming shows. Boxcar Theatre. New Years Eve at the Speakeasy, Jan. 1, 2025. Magic Man, Jan 3 – June 2, Palace Theatre. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions. BroadwaySF: See website for events at the Orpheum, Curran and Golden Gate. Kimberly Akimbo, November 6 – December 1, Golden Gate. See website for special events. Broadway San Jose:  Shrek, The Musical. December 17-22. California Shakespeare Theatre Closed. Center Rep: A Christmas Carol, December 12-22. Central Stage. Leili & Majnun, written and directed by Torange Yeghiazarian. December 5-15. Central Stage, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works  Push/Pull by Harry Davis, March 1 – 30, 2025. Cinnabar Theatre. Gutenberg! The Musical January 17-26, 2025, Warren Theatre, Sonoma State University. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre A Charlie Brown Christmas, Nov. 23 – Dec. 15. Curran Theater: See website for special events.. Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation. Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for information and notice of a final production. 42nd Street Moon. See website for upcoming productions. Golden Thread  See website for upcoming productions. Hillbarn Theatre: Anastasia, December 5 -29, 2024. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Lower Bottom Playaz  See website for upcoming productions. Magic Theatre. the boiling by Sunui Chang  April 3 -20, 2025. See website for additional events. Marin Theatre Company Waste by Harley Granville-Barker,  Feb. 6 – March 2, 2025.Transcendence Theatre: Broadway Holiday, December 12-15, 2024. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) The Gulf, An Elegy by Audrey Cefaly, October 18 – November 24. Deep Inside, Tonight by the Kinsey Sicks, December 4 – January 5. Oakland Theater Project.  Ghost Quartet by Dave Malloy, Oakland Nov 1-24. Flax Art & Design (closed); San Francisco, Dec. 5-8. ODC Theatre. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Pear Theater. The Agitators by Mat Smart, Nov 22 – Dec. 15. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. See website for upcoming productions and events. Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko and upcoming productions.. San Francisco Playhouse. Waitress, November 21, 2024 – January 18, 2025. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: See website for upcoming schedule. Shotgun Players.  Thirty Six: Do You Like What You See by Leah Nanako Winkler. November 18 – December 22. South Bay Musical Theatre: Urinetown,  January 15 – February 15, 2025. Saratoga Civic Theater. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico  See website for upcoming productions. Theatre Rhino  Cabaret, November 21 – December 15. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, December 4- 29. . Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                                   . The post November 28, 2024: Steven Bach – Charles Yu appeared first on KPFA.

At the beginning of the pandemic Charles Yu wrote an essay on the experience, which many noted, had a cinematic slant to it. “Five hundred years ago,” Yu wrote, “What we really mean when we say that this pandemic feels “unimaginable” is that we had not imagined it. Just as imagination can mislead us, though, it will be imagination—scientific, civic, moral—that helps us find new ways of doing things, helps remind us of how far we have to go as a species.” Having worked as both a television writer and a poet in addition to writing novels, Yu's imagination is boundless, generous, and vivid. And while his path to his award-winning book, Interior Chinatown, was long and zigzagging, there was endless imagination to keep him going.

The Kingdom of God: A Worshipping Community // Charles Yu | 11.24.24

Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown just won the 2020 National Book Award for fiction, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Interior Chinatown takes place in a meta-world in which Hollywood's Chinese stereotypes are portrayed by Asian immigrants and second-generation Asian Americans in films and TV shows. The book uses tropes from screenplays as well as prose fiction to illuminate these tropes, switching between narrative, entertainment history, and polemic in a highly original way. Charles Yu is the author of two previous short-story collections and one novel, has worked as an attorney, and also has worked in the writers' room of several television shows, most notably during the first season of HBO's Westworld. Interior Chinatown is now a television miniseries streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The post Charles Yu, “Interior Chinatown,” 2021 appeared first on KPFA.

Today, on The Goggler Podcast, Bahir and Uma watch and review the brand new series by Charles Yu and Taika Waititi, Interior Chinatown.

In this week's episode of Bingeworthy, our TV and streaming podcast host Mike DeAngelo gets stuck in the background while discussing “Interior Chinatown.” The Hulu series follows a waiter stuck in the background of a crime procedural show who dreams of being in the spotlight. The series stars Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennett, Lisa Gilroy, Sullivan Jones, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma and more.  READ MORE: ‘The Penguin': Showrunner Lauren LeFranc Talks About Working With Colin Farrell, Season 2 & More [Bingeworthy Podcast] Joining Bingeworthy to discuss the series is producer/director Taika Waititi, author of the book the show is based on, and producer and showrunner Charles Yu. While it's become more common to see Authors come on to adapt their own stories for television, it's not so common to have an Oscar winner offer to direct. During the interview, Waititi discussed being instantly taken by the story and the unique world Wu created.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theplaylist/support

National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu captures family, legacy, immigration and assimilation in a personal and comedic novel.  Yu joins us to talk about the adaptation of the book into a television series, writing in different genres, who gets to tell our stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Send us a textInterior Chinatown is the new and exciting series on Hulu based on the novel of the same name. The story follows Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White, after he becomes witness to a crime and discovers secrets about his family's buried history. Ange sat down virtually with author/series writer Charles Yu to commiserate on how it felt to be Asian during the pandemic, the complicated relationship between immigrants and their first generation children, and their mutual love for the fine art of karaoke. You can watch Interior Chinatown right now on Hulu!Follow Interior Chinatown on IGSupport the showThanks for listening and for your support! We couldn't have reached 11 years, recorded 800+ episodes, and won Best of the Bay Best Podcast in 2022 , 2023 , and 2024 without your help! -- Be well, stay safe, Black Lives Matter, AAPI Lives Matter, and abortion is normal. -- Subscribe to our channel on YouTube for behind the scenes footage! Rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts! Visit our website! www.bitchtalkpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram & Facebook Listen every Tuesday at 9 - 10 am on BFF.FM

On this episode of The Movie Podcast, Daniel and Shahbaz are joined by Chloe Bennet, Ronny Chieng, Lisa Gilroy, and Sullivan Jones of INTERIOR CHINATOWN, based on Charles Yu's award-winning book. The series follows the story of Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White. Relegated to the background, Willis goes through the motions of his on-screen job, waiting tables and dreaming about a whole world beyond Chinatown. When he inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, Willis begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, his family's buried history, and what it feels like to be in the spotlight. Interior Chinatown streams November 19, 2024 on Disney+ in Canada and Hulu in the United States. Watch and listen to The Movie Podcast now on all podcast platforms, YouTube, and TheMoviePodcast.ca Contact: hello@themoviepodcast.ca FOLLOW US Daniel on X, Instagram, Letterboxd Shahbaz on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd Anthony on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd The Movie Podcast on X, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Rotten Tomatoes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu won the National Book Award, and was acclaimed for its genre-bending story of a background actor named Willis Wu, who finds himself inadvertently a witness to a major crime. Now, the book has been adapted into an original series, starring comedian Jimmy O. Yang. Yu is the showrunner. Yang and Yu join us to discuss the show, which premieres on Hulu on November 19.

Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, joins us to talk about her connection to the organization, the process of judging the National Book Awards, who she is as a reader and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc, Jamie, and Donald. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  March: Book Three by John Lewis  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward  Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson  My Friends by Hisham Matar  Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu  Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah  The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty   Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange  Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard  Behind the Beautiful Forever by Katherine Boo  The Shipping News by Annie Proulx 

The Kingdom of God: Living as Exiles // Charles Yu | 11.03.24

The Kingdom of God: Already & Not Yet // Charles Yu | 10.20.24

Welcome to the 81st Episode of the ABC Pod the Adult Book Club where we drink and we read things. This episode features Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. Discussion of the book starts at the 9th minute. No spoilers section for this book as we change up the podcast form to fit the novel. We discuss the structure of the book and how it often left us confused as to what was actually happening and which parts, if any, were scenes from a show. We also cover how the message behind the story really stuck with us and how different characters revealed different struggles for Asian Americans. We finish with our usual segments and a surprise book for next episode. Enjoy!

Into the Heart of the Gospel: Hope in Suffering // Charles Yu | 09.29.24

Into the Heart of the Gospel: Freedom from Sin // Charles Yu | 09.08.24

Charles Yu has written a lot about the nature of reality, how we understand what is real, and the assumptions we make about each other and the universe we live in. Yu’s first novel, “How to live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe,” follows a time machine repairman who is searching for his father who is lost in time and memory. His latest book, National Book Award winning “Interior Chinatown,” takes place in a Chinese restaurant that’s also the set for a police procedural TV show and a sendup of stereotypes of Asian American characters. Yu talks to us in front of an audience of students from Ida B. Wells High School.

With his signature humor, author Charles Yu deconstructs the “lecture” genre and by doing so reveals profound insights into what it means to be human. 

Prayer: What is Confession // Charles Yu | 08.18.24

Charles Yu has written a lot about the nature of reality, how we understand what is real, and the assumptions we make about each other and the universe we live in. Yu’s first novel, “How to live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe,” follows a time machine repairman who is searching for his father who is lost in time and memory. His latest book, National Book Award winning “Interior Chinatown,” takes place in a Chinese restaurant that’s also the set for a police procedural TV show and a sendup of stereotypes of Asian American characters. Yu talks to us in front of an audience of students from Ida B. Wells High School. 

After the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act loosened discriminatory restrictions, people from Northeast Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and eventually China immigrated to the United States in large numbers. Highly skilled Asian immigrants flocked to professional-managerial occupations, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math. Asian American literature is now overwhelmingly defined by this generation's children, who often struggled with parental and social expectations that they would pursue lucrative careers on their way to becoming writers. In Asian American Fiction After 1965: Transnational Fantasies of Economic Mobility (Columbia UP, 2024), Christopher T. Fan offers a new way to understand Asian American fiction through the lens of the class and race formations that shaped its authors both in the United States and in Northeast Asia. In readings of writers including Ted Chiang, Chang-rae Lee, Ken Liu, Ling Ma, Ruth Ozeki, Kathy Wang, and Charles Yu, he examines how Asian American fiction maps the immigrant narrative of intergenerational conflict onto the “two cultures” conflict between the arts and sciences. Fan argues that the self-consciousness found in these writers' works is a legacy of Japanese and American modernization projects that emphasized technical and scientific skills in service of rapid industrialization. He considers Asian American writers' attraction to science fiction, the figure of the engineer and notions of the “postracial,” modernization theory and time travel, and what happens when the dream of a stable professional identity encounters the realities of deprofessionalization and proletarianization. Through a transnational and historical-materialist approach, this groundbreaking book illuminates what makes texts and authors “Asian American.” Christopher T. Fan is an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, in the Departments of English, Asian American Studies, and East Asian Studies. He is a cofounder and senior editor of Hyphen magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Flawless author Elise Hu returns to discuss our March book club pick Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We talk about the satirical novel's themes of assimilation, the performance of imposed identity and the myth of the model minority. We also ask, who gets to be "American"?Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our April book club pick will be.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/27/ep-312-interior-chinatownEpisode TranscriptConnect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks DailyConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sociologists and co-authors Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans join The Stacks to talk about their book The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels. The book follows four people whose bodies go unclaimed after their deaths, and how and why this happens. We also discuss how Pamela and Stefan think ethically about reporting and writing about the dead, why being claimed matters, and how they took care of themselves while spending eight years with this subject matter.The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/20/ep-311-pamela-prickett-stefan-timmermansEpisode TranscriptConnect with Pamela: Twitter | WebsiteConnect with Stefan: Twitter | WebsiteConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tommy Orange joins The Stacks today to discuss his new novel Wandering Stars. We talk about writing this prequel/sequel to his debut nove,l the Pulitzer Prize finalist, There There. Tommy reveals how he thinks about the relationship between faith and addiction, and why he writes about Oakland. He also talks about waiting until adulthood to finally see himself represented in popular culture, and how not seeing himself is a driving force in his work. Traci also asks Tommy if he has any plans to write nonfiction.There are no spoilers in this episode.The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/13/ep-310-tommy-orangeEpisode TranscriptConnect with Tommy: TwitterConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author and TED Talks Daily host Elise Hu joins The Stacks to discuss her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Elise explains how Korea became a pop culture superpower, and how she approached writing about a culture outside of her own. We also discuss "cultural technology" and anti-Blackness in Korean beauty standards, and Elise slips into journalist mode to interview Traci.The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/06/ep-309-elise-huEpisode TranscriptConnect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks DailyConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.