Asian American History 101

Gen and Ted Lai

Asian American History 101 is a fun, family-friendly, and informative podcast co-hosted by Gen and Ted Lai, the daughter and father team. The podcast will entertain and educate people as Gen and Ted dive into the vast history of Asian Pacific Americans from the struggles they faced to their contributions and triumphs. And sometimes we cover topics of the Asian Pacific Diaspora globally.

  1. 18h ago

    The History of Filipino Hip Hop Part 2, The Modern Age

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 30! We're here to share the history of Filipino Hip Hop… Part 2. In this episode we're talking about the music from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, a time that's often called "The Modern Age" of Filipino Hip Hop.  Waaaaaayyyyy back in Season 3, Episode 45 we talked about the beginning of Filipino Hip Hop, AKA "The Golden Age". The Golden Age had some moments of social awareness and commentary, but the music was definitely a lot more lighthearted than The Modern Age. This era of music marked a turning point in both Filipino and Filipino American hip hop that was defined by deeper lyrical complexity, sharper political commentary, and the democratization of the art form through independent labels and platforms like YouTube.  In this episode we discuss some of the artists in both the Philippines and the U.S. who were important to The Modern Age. Artists like Gloc-9, Aklas, Bambu, MC Geologic of Blue Scholars, and Rocky Rivera. We also share some of the big themes that were topics of songs. For our recurring segment, we share what we've been reading… Feelings Unsent by Oliver Drishila and Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com. Segments 00:25 Intro 02:32 The History of Filipino Hip Hop Part 2, The Modern Age 15:28 What are We Reading? Feelings Unsent and Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

    The History of Filipino Hip Hop Part 2, The Modern Age

  2. Jul 20

    Another Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Editor Karen Yin, Author of Nice to Eat You

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 29! We have an incredible returning guest who's back with us for the third time! Karen Yin is the author of several books including The Conscious Style Guide: A Flexible Approach to Language That Includes, Respects, and Empowers (published by Little, Brown Spark). She has also written several stories for children, including Whole Whale (published by Barefoot Books), So Not Ghoul (published by Page Street Kids), Doug the Pug and the Kindness Crew (published by Scholastic), and her latest book Nice to Eat You (published by Scholastic, and released on July 7, 2026) Illustrated by Carolina Coroa, Nice to Eat You is a fun picture book that's full of dark humor and clever word play… a hallmark of much of Karen's work. We think kids and adults will love this Hansel & Gretel-inspired Halloween story about a friendly but sneaky witch who lures a group of children to her house. The story keeps you guessing as to whether the kids are in for a pleasant visit . . . or in danger of becoming the meal. In our conversation, Karen shares her journey to publishing Nice to Eat You, how she helps support the illustration process, why wordplay appeals to her, and a lot more! To follow more of Karen's work you can visit her website karenyin.com, follow her on instagram @karensoffice, and purchase your own copy of Nice to Eat You or any of Karen's other work. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

    Another Conversation with Award-Winning Writer and Editor Karen Yin, Author of Nice to Eat You

  3. Jul 13

    The Magical History of Ching Ling Foo vs Chung Ling Soo

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 28! Sometimes our topical episodes are focused on the obscure history of Asian Pacific Islanders. Sometimes our topical episodes are focused on the weird history of Asian Pacific Islanders. For this episode, it's Asian Pacific history that is both obscure and weird. When it comes to the magicians Ching Ling Foo and Chung Ling Soo, this is a history that might be the first instance of yellow face in popular entertainment.  Born Zhu Liankui in China during the Qing Dynasty around 1854, the entertainer Ching Ling Foo was relatively successful stage magician who toured America, Europe, and much of the world. Chung Ling Soo pretended to be the same. In the nineteenth century, it wasn't unusual for European nations to not really have much experience with people of Asian Pacific descent. This is a story full of magic, identity theft, and challenges. To learn the rest of the history, you'll have to listen to the episode.  If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com. Segments 00:25 Intro: Memories of Magic 02:40 The Magical History of Ching Ling Foo vs Chung Ling Soo

    The Magical History of Ching Ling Foo vs Chung Ling Soo

  4. Jul 6

    A Conversation with Cartoonist, Writer, Illustrator Miles Toriko Burks, the Creator of the Graphic Novel Encore!

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 27! Our guest this episode is Miles Toriko Burks. He's a California-based cartoonist, writer, and illustrator whose work focuses on heartfelt stories about identity, friendship, queer joy, and emotional vulnerability. His debut print graphic novel Encore! was released June 2, 2026 through HarperAlley. It's the print adaptation of his very popular Webtoon series of the same name.  Encore! is a queer YA rom-com about two former best friends reconnecting during a shared high school theater class, and after they're partnered up, they need to confront the unresolved feelings and emotional distance between them. The story has already drawn comparisons to works like Heartstopper for its warmth, sincerity, and focus on emotional connection. A lifelong artist, Burks first gained a loyal viewership online through fan comics and digital illustration before transitioning into original storytelling on Webtoon. This is where his story Encore! developed a devoted following. His work blends expressive artwork with deeply relatable coming-of-age themes, often centering characters from underrepresented backgrounds and exploring how relationships evolve over time. We love how Miles is focused on creating stories featuring characters who reflect identities and experiences that he rarely saw growing up. He creates diverse stories without focusing on all the representation he includes.  In our conversation we talk about the inspiration for Encore!, how he developed his artistic style, the conversations he hopes he inspires with his work, the impact of social media and Webtoon on feedback, the importance of queer joy, and so much more. To learn more about Miles Toriko Burks, you can visit his website at milestburks.com, follow him on instagram @milestburks, purchase your own copy of Encore!, or see his work on Webtoon. We'll link to these in our show notes.  If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

    A Conversation with Cartoonist, Writer, Illustrator Miles Toriko Burks, the Creator of the Graphic Novel Encore!

  5. Jun 29

    A Conversation with Jolene Gutiérrez and Chris Sasaki the Award-Winning Author and Award-Winning Illustrator of Unbreakable

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 26! Our guests today are Jolene Gutierrez and Chris Sasaki… two of the creators of the picture book Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, Published by Abrams. It's an incredibly moving story cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights. Unbreakable is a great balance of historical information, lived experiences for Tonai and his family, and the emotional challenges they faced during their incarceration in the Amache "camp" during World War II, as they campaigned to release Tonai's father from the FBI. The book does a great job of balancing a very serious topic and making it accessible to younger audiences. Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will inspire others to learn and grow in compassion. She is the winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region. In addition to Unbreakable, Jolene's work includes Mamiachi and Me: My Mami's Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); Too Much! An Overwhelming Day; the Stars of Latin Pop series; Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks; and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader. Chris Sasaki is an EMMY and ANNIE award-winning animation artist. With a rich career spanning over several high-profile studios, they have directed and developed content for Pixar, Tonko House, and Apple. Their impressive portfolio includes collaborations with LAIKA Entertainment, Blue Sky Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks, and the Jim Henson Company. In addition to their animation work, Chris is a celebrated figure in the literary world, known for their captivating picture books. Their titles include GHOST; Home is a Window; Animal Architects; Sakamoto's Swim Club; and of course, the incredible Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist. Their illustrations have earned them the prestigious Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators. To learn more about Jolene, you can find her online at jolenegutierrez.com or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads @writerjolene. To learn more about Chris, you can find them online at csasaki.com or on Instagram @christopher_sasaki. We highly recommend getting your own copy of Unbreakable (preferably from the Japanese American National Museum). And if you're an educator or know an educator, then please share the educator's guide that can be found on Jolene's site as well as some coloring sheets on Chris's site. And if you're interested in going to one of their live events, the book's website has a list of upcoming events including events in Colorado and Southern California. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

    A Conversation with Jolene Gutiérrez and Chris Sasaki the Award-Winning Author and Award-Winning Illustrator of Unbreakable

  6. Jun 22

    A Conversation with NY Times Bestselling Author Livia Blackburne and Illustrator and Author Julia Kuo the Creators of Bings Cherries

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 25! Our guests today are Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo, the author and illustrator of Bing's Cherries… A modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest's most delicious cherries. The book was released on March 10, 2026. Julia Kuo is the author and illustrator of several books including Home Is a Wish, Let's Do Everything and Nothing, and Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night. She is also the illustrator of several notable picture books including When Love Is More Than Words by Jocelyn Chung, I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lin, and one of our favorites, I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne. Additionally, Julia has created editorial illustrations for publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.  New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Since then, she's switched to full-time writing, which also involves getting into people's heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner.  Her YA books include Rosemarked (A YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee), Disney's Feather and Flame, and Clementine and Danny Save the World (And Each Other) [A Junior Library Guild selection], as well as the picture books Dreams to Ashes (An Orbis Pictus Honor Book) and I Dream of Popo, which received three starred reviews and was on numerous Best of Year lists. We love how they intentionally mixed in some elements of Chinese mythology with actual history and the American tall tales genre. In our conversation, we talk about the inspiration for the story, what it's like working with familiar collaborators, their individual journeys, and so much more.  To learn more about Julia, you can visit juliakuo.com or follower her on instagram @juliaskuo. To learn more about Livia, you can visit liviablackburne.com or follow her on instagram at @lkblackburne. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

  7. Jun 15

    A Conversation with Lian Cheun, The Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 24! Our guest today is Lian Cheun, the Executive Director of the impactful group Khmer Girls in Action. A 1.5 generation refugee from Cambodia, Lian grew up in the Bay Area and has spent more than two decades organizing Cambodian and Southeast Asian youth in Long Beach. Lian along with Khmer Girls in Action turn grassroots activism into real policy change, where youth leaders became part of Long Beach's participatory budgeting process, even helping decide how public funds are spent. Lian has worked with a variety of groups like the Migrant Forum in Asia, the Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP) at the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), and President Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Khmer Girls in Action has been and continues to be a political home as well as a safe and brave space to build youth and community power in order to win racial, gender and economic justice… and, they're led by Southeast Asian women and youth! From refugee camp to prestigious award winner Lian has had a remarkable journey. To learn more about their work, volunteer, or support them, you can visit their website kgalb.org, donate by clicking on the donate link, or follow them on instagram @investinyouthlb. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

    A Conversation with Lian Cheun, The Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action

  8. Jun 8

    A Conversation with Eve J Chung, Lawyer and Best-Selling Author of The Young Will Remember

    Welcome to Season 6, Episode 23! Our guest today is Eve J. Chung, a Taiwanese American lawyer and women's human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation, and she's also a best-selling author! Eve's latest novel is The Young Will Remember, a work of historical fiction set during the Korean War. In this gripping story, Eve sheds light on a "Forgotten War," The resilience of love within our darkest histories, and the indefatigable determination of mothers to protect their children. The story centers on Ellie Chang, a twenty-eight year old Chinese American journalist trying to cover a battle in the mountains of North Korea. After her plane is shot down, she survives through undying determination, the help of a few North Korean women, and sheer luck. Ellie is rescued by Emma, a North Korean mother searching for her lost daughter who thinks Ellie is who she's looking for. The story builds from there with other people who help take Ellie in… sometimes reluctantly. As Ellie works her way back towards the frontlines of where the Americans are fighting in the ever intensifying war, she faces hard decisions of loyalty, friendship, and her journalistic instincts. In our conversation, we talk about her journey to being an author, the research she did, some of the inspiration for Ellie, the challenges that Asian Americans face that Eve tried to convey, the challenges of today, and so much more. Eve's previous novel was the Daughters of Shandong, and all her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. To learn more about Eve, you can visit her website https://evejchung.com/ or follow her on instagram @eve.j.chung.writes. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

    A Conversation with Eve J Chung, Lawyer and Best-Selling Author of The Young Will Remember
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4.9
out of 5
94 Ratings

About

Asian American History 101 is a fun, family-friendly, and informative podcast co-hosted by Gen and Ted Lai, the daughter and father team. The podcast will entertain and educate people as Gen and Ted dive into the vast history of Asian Pacific Americans from the struggles they faced to their contributions and triumphs. And sometimes we cover topics of the Asian Pacific Diaspora globally.

Information

  • Creator
    Gen and Ted Lai
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Attribution Non-Commercial
  • Show Website
    Asian American History 101

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