They Call Us Bruce

Jeff and Phil welcome Eric Nguyen and Scott Burman, creators of WHITE SAVIOR, a hilarious comic book spoof of white savior stories (à la The Last Samurai, The Great Wall). They talk about their creative partnership, the unique confidence of white guys, and why the time was right for a samurai skewering of this tired and tiring narrative trope.

Jeff and Phil break format and take a moment to react to the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. This one's kind of raw.

Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty, writer/director of the hit thriller SEARCHING, and writer/producer of its follow-up feature MISSING. He talks about why 2018's Searching is now a period piece, the seemingly simple but actually super-complicated process of telling a story that unfolds entirely on screens, and why he and the team are not in any rush (for now) to make a third movie in the "Searching Cinematic Universe."

Jeff and Phil welcome the new year with one last look back at the year that was, in the kind of super-sized conversation they only reserve for two of their perennially favorite guests: Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of Diaspora. They discuss personal developments, the tired and tiring buzzwords of diversity, and finally falling to COVID-19. They also go three rounds of a special new year edition of The Good, The Bad and The WTF: Boost, Mask and Unknown Variant, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find an updated COVID vaccine near you at vaccines.gov. #WeCanDoThis.

Jeff and Phil welcome former intelligence officer, security expert, writer/producer and amateur chef(!) Rodney Faraon. In the final episode of an extremely tumultuous year, they discuss a wide range of topics, including Twitter's sad plunge into the toilet, the mishandling of top secret secrets, what it's like to have your CIA career inspire a TV series starring Katherine Heigl, and why risotto is the kiss of death of cooking competitions. 

Jeff and Phil welcome singer-songwriter Elizabeth Chan, the world's only full-time recording artist dedicated to original Christmas music -- and still, legally, the "Queen of Christmas." She talks about her prolific output of Christmas music -- an album a year for the past twelve years and counting --  her trademark victory over Mariah Carey to keep the crown, and what it's like to have the holidays in your heart year-round. This episode sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find an updated COVID vaccine near you at vaccines.gov. #WeCanDoThis.

Jeff and Phil welcome champion pool player Jeanette Lee, subject of the ESPN documentary 30 FOR 30: JEANETTE LEE VS., and director Ursula Liang. They discuss the career and legacy of the "Black Widow" in professional billiards and beyond, overcoming pain and pressure from all sides when life knocks you down, and approaching the pool table with confidence, swagger, and your whole, authentic, black-clad self.

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who stars in her first HBO comedy special THE INTRUDER. She talks about the actual and metaphorical intruders that inspired her act, going really really really viral on TikTok with the "drop" challenge, blurring the personal and private on stage, and why her grandma deserved a lap dance at Magic Mike Live.

Jeff and Phil welcome some good friends from the Potluck Podcast Collective: Ada Tseng (Los Angeles Times, Saturday School), Scott Okamoto (Asians in Baseball, Chapel Probation), and Kim Cooper (Asians in Baseball, Korean Drama Podcast) to celebrate friendsgiving and play a very special Thanksgiving edition of their signature segment: Thanks, No Thanks and WTF.

Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker David Siev, director of the documentary BAD AXE, a pandemic portrait of his own family in rural Michigan as they fight to keep their American dream alive. He talks about telling his family's story through the lens of America's very real and very current racial tensions, dealing with actual local white supremacists, and making a documentary that weirdly folded in on itself partway through production.

Jeff and Phil welcome back award-winning actor and writer Maulik Pancholy, who talks about his latest middle grade novel NIKHIL OUT LOUD, a sweet coming-of-age story about a gay Indian American teen. He talks about the anti-gay backlash he received for his first book THE BEST AT IT that inspired this new novel, what it's like to get your book banned by school districts, and the important question at the center of all this controversy that nobody seems to be asking: who's listening to the kids?

Jeff and Phil welcome Raymond Lee, star of NBC's sci-fi drama QUANTUM LEAP. He talks about leaping into the lead role of a lifetime, subverting the notion that time travel is for white people, and why being great at nothing but passably good at a lot of things is perfect for playing Dr. Ben Song.

Jeff and Phil welcome Jay Chen, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s congressional 45th district. He talks about why his Daily Show appearance from 2010 still weirdly remains relevant, his opponent’s increasingly shameless xenophobic and red-baiting attacks, and the benefit of running for congress in a super-Asian district that has so many incredible food options.

Jeff and Phil welcome Kevin Tancheroen, executive producer and director of the Netflix series THAI CAVE RESCUE, which tells the true story of the global rescue effort to save twelve young boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave. He talks about shooting in absurdly wet conditions, reconnecting with his own Thai roots, and prioritizing the soccer team (and the people of Thailand) at the center of this extraordinary story.

Jeff and Phil welcome Frank Chi, director of the documentary short 38 AT THE GARDEN, which chronicles the extraordinary ascendance of Jeremy Lin during his landmark 2012 season with the New York Knicks -- and the fateful game where he dropped 38 points on the Los Angeles Lakers. They look back at the sheer joy of that moment, what it meant for Asian Americans, and why it still resonates ten years later.

Jeff and Phil welcome back friend and filmmaker Tanuj Chopra, director of season two of the Netflix series Delhi Crime. He talks about making the leap from indie films to international television, bringing an  insider/outsider perspective to get the tone right, and the future of global storytelling.

Jeff and Phil welcome actor Yuji Okumoto, who stars in season five of Netflix's Cobra Kai as Chozen Toguchi, the role he originated in 1986's The Karate Kid Pt. II. He talks about stepping back into the Karate Kid Cinematic Universe, his (and ours, and everybody's) love for Kumiko, and getting an unexpected redemption arc for his character over thirty years later.

Jeff and Phil welcome bestselling author Jamie Ford, whose latest novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is described as an "epigenetic love story." He talks about the tragic real life of the first Chinese woman in America, weaving the intricate story of her imagined descendants, and exploring (and perhaps overcoming) inherited intergenerational trauma.

Jeff and Phil welcome Arden Cho, star of Partner Track, and Helen Wan, author of the original book that inspired the Netflix series. They discuss Helen's real-life career as a corporate attorney that inspired the novel, how Ingrid Yung became Ingrid Yun, and the convergence of timing and talent that finally made this adaptation possible. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov. #WeCanDoThis.

Jeff and Phil welcome Julie Ha and Eugene Yi, directors of the documentary FREE CHOL SOO LEE, which tells the story of a community's landmark fight to free an innocent man. They discuss the important legacy of the case, why they were compelled to shine a light on this singular moment, the generational responsibility of unearthing our stories. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov. #WeCanDoThis.