Hard NOC Media

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Channel • 7 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Monthly
Science Fiction

Science Fiction

Series
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Semiweekly
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Monthly
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Weekly
Hobbies

Hobbies

Updated 11/15/2022
Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Updated Weekly

JAN 27

Episode 76: SWANA Oscar Nominations and Awesome Con 2026 Announcement

Happy(ish?) New Year! We're back with a discussion on the 2025 Oscar Nominations and the groundbreaking Palestinian, Iranian, and Moroccan films that were nominated. The Palestinian and Tunisian The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Iranian and French It Was Just an Accident, and the Moroccan and Spanish Sirat each received a nomination for Best International Feature, while writer-director of It Was Just an Accident Jafar Panahi received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Covering genocide, oppression, and so much more, so much of SWANA set filmmaking is tragic, but the filmmakers always make powerful art to memorialize and honor our various struggles. Congratulations to all the filmmakers. We also have an exciting update about our panel return to this year's Awesome Con, March 13-15, in DC! Swara's review of The Voice of Hind Rajab for But Why Tho? Donate to Anera, UNRWA, and The Sameer Project Decolonize Palestine Donate to help Sudan Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on BlueSky @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Please support us on Patreon!

Jan 27

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40 min
05/26/2023

Nat Myers | KY

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.

05/26/2023

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37 min
02/06/2019

Sonia Saraiya | FL

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.

02/06/2019

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57 min
12/15/2021

Charlene Buckles & Dan Wu | KY

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.

12/15/2021

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55 min
11/20/2023

Episode 60: "Squire" Through the lens of Palestine with Nadia Shammas

We welcome back Palestinian-American Harvey award winning comic and video games writer, Nadia Shammas, to discuss their critically acclaimed graphic novel Squire, which takes place in an a SWANA/MENA fantasy setting, through the lens of Palestine in the midst of the IDF's ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. We discuss Nadia's upbringing in both Palestine and the US, how the current crisis has unpacked her and her family's generational and personal traumas, and how she incorporated those experiences into Squire. Nadia gives her take on the current crisis, and we also discuss being a Palestinian writer in the superhero comics space, and how certain corporations may be missing the mark on what BIPOC audiences want from them. We also give our recommendations, and much more. Note that this discussion has some story spoilers for Squire. Follow Nadia on Instagram @NadiaShammas and on Twitter @NadiaShammas_, and buy their graphic novels Squire, Where Black Stars Rise, and Confetti Realms, and buy the game Thirsty Suitors on whatever game system you own. Decolonize Palestine Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks Follow us on Instagram @TheMiddleGeeks Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Please support us on Patreon!

11/20/2023

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1h 21m
03/23/2018

Episode 105: Ricanstruction with Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez

On Hard NOC Life, we continue Ricanstruction week on The Nerds of Color as Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez joins the show to talk about the origins of the anthology. Originally announced in the New York Times, Ricanstruction brings together over 100 artists, writers, and celebrities telling stories of Puerto Rico's past, present, and future, including crossovers between DC characters and La Borinqueña. In addition to discussing the aftermath of Hurricane Maria -- and how a conversation with Dan Didio at New York Comic-Con led to an arrangement to feature DC Comics super heroes in the anthology, they talk about the importance of intersectionality, social justice, and representation. Another Ricanstruction preview can be found in The Village Voice. Ricanstruction will be available in stores everywhere on May 23. You can pre-order it on Amazon or use the Diamond code JAN189143 when ordering through your local comic shop. All this and more on Hard NOC Life! Watch it on your screen, hit "play," and check this. Subscribe to all of podcasts in the Hard NOC Media family on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and NPR One! As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

03/23/2018

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32 min
12/18/2019

Jamie Noguchi | DC

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.

12/18/2019

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57 min
07/23/2024

Episode 67: Star Wars: The Acolyte Season 1 Review

Leslye Headland's The Acolyte, streaming on Disney+, is unique in more ways than one. As one of the most diverse Star Wars series, in front of and behind the scenes, with writers like the SWANA and Turkish Kor Adana, it presents a bold story in the era of The High Republic, showcasing the mistakes made by those in power and the reverberations for our main characters. Namely, twins Osha and Mae (Amandla Stenberg), Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae), Qimir (Manny Jacinto), as well as many others. To dive into this series and what it's trying to say, we have back on Arezou and welcome Noor. As both are High Republic fans, they bring invaluable insight into the discussion, as the series sets the backdrop for The Acolyte. What stood out to us? Does the series do a good job of portraying the Jedi Order? What does it have to say about how we view this universe and good and evil? We dive into all of that, give our recommendations, and much more. SPOILERS for The Acolyte throughout Follow Arezou on social media @ArezouAmin and follow Noor @nimblenoor Donate to help Sudanese people feeling geopolitical violence Decolonize Palestine Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Social Media: @TheMiddleGeeks, @spiderswarz Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Please support us on Patreon!

07/23/2024

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1h 14m
11/10/2023

Episode 59: "The Marvels" Review

The Marvels is here, bringing our favorite superhero Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), AKA Ms. Marvel, into the cinematic spotlight! But how well does it do her journey as a character, and how do the other leads of Carol (Brie Larson) and Monica (Teyonah Parris) fare? Our friends Isa and Maryam join us once again on the podcast to review the film, analyzing what how it did and didn't do things well and where we expect Kamala to go from here. We dive into a larger conversation on the MCU overall, give our recommendations, and much more. Spoilers for The Marvels throughout Read Swara's review of The Marvels for The New Arab Read Maryam's review of The Marvels for Nerdist Follow Isa on social media @EvilCleverDog Follow Maryam on social media @curious_maryam Follow Swara on social media @spiderswarz USCPR: Find a Protest: Stop the Gaza Genocide Decolonize Palestine Support the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and families in Gaza Six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza Islamic Relief USA: Support Families in Palestine Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks Follow us on Instagram @TheMiddleGeeks Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Please support us on Patreon!

11/10/2023

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1h 9m
09/30/2022

Episode 43: 'Ramy' Season 3 Review

Tariq Raouf joins us once again to review the third season of Ramy, out on Hulu now! Where do we find Ramy Hassan (Ramy Youssef) this season after the terrible things he did at the end of Season 2? How well does the show depict Palestine and Jerusalem? What do we make of the other characters' journeys this season? Before our Ramy discussion, we also discuss the Iran Protests, news from the MCU, and the abhorrent cancellation of Grendel from Netflix. We also give our recommendations and much more in this jam-packed episode. Spoilers for all of Ramy Season 3 throughout Check out Tariq's Nerdist article on the problematic inclusion of 'Sabra' in the MCU Read Tariq's interview with Hiam Abbass and Ramy Youssef for the AV Club Watch Swara's interviews with the Ramy Cast for Nerds of Color Check out Mae's coverage of TIFF Our music is composed by Ashley Hefnawy. You can find more of her music here. We are a proud member of the Hard NOC podcast family. Follow Tariq on Twitter @tariq_raouf Follow us on Twitter: @TheMiddleGeeks, @MaeAbdu, @spiderswarz Subscribe to The Middle Geeks on Hard NOC Media Please support us on Patreon

09/30/2022

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1h 43m

Hard NOC Media is a collective of podcasts and multimedia content produced by and/or affiliated with The Nerds of Color.