They Call Us Bruce

Jeff Yang & Phil Yu

Hosts Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present They Call Us Bruce, an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

  1. They Call Us In Your Dreams

    6D AGO

    They Call Us In Your Dreams

    Phil and Jeff welcome animator and filmmaker Alex Woo, co-director of the Netflix animated feature In Your Dreams. He talks about the foundational education in storytelling he received while working at Pixar, leaving to strike out on his own and chase the brave new world of streaming with Kuku Studios, and telling an emotionally grounded story -- while teaching the kiddos about suffering! -- through the wildly entertaining and absurd world of their dreams. They also discuss the unfairness of Simu Liu's talent; Phil's totally wrong theories about Stevie and Elliot's namesakes; and that nasty, magical place behind the refrigerator. And will the real Alex Woo please stand up? Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making In Your Dreams.

    47 min
  2. They Call Us Rina Oh, Epstein Survivor

    12/06/2025

    They Call Us Rina Oh, Epstein Survivor

    Jeff and Phil welcome artist, author and advocate Rina Oh, one of the only Asian American women to publicly share her experience as a victim of sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. She shares about her journey as an immigrant and striving artist that eventually led her into the orbit of the disgraced financier -- a relationship marked by manipulation, exploitation, and ultimately, regret.  She talks about the reckoning still yet to come, as details about the web of players from the Epstein investigation continue to come to light. Rina also shares about her journey of healing and renewal as a survivor and artist. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the release of the Epstein files.

    55 min
  3. They Call Us Francesca Hong

    11/14/2025

    They Call Us Francesca Hong

    Jeff and Phil welcome Francesca Hong -- chef, community organizer, state assemblymember, and candidate for governor of Wisconsin. She talks about her working class roots and political ascent from the food service industry to being elected the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and now running for governor as a Democratic Socialist to build a Wisconsin in which everyone has a seat at the table. She also talks about rocking the Stay Angry shirt, why Wisconsin is more than just beer and cheese, and how it's "cool as hell" to be Korean right now (and feeling some kind of way about it). And of course, The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of running for governor of Wisconsin.

    49 min
  4. They Call Us Minor Legends

    11/07/2025

    They Call Us Minor Legends

    Jeff and Phil welcome creator/star Angela Wong Carbone and actors Celia Au and Derek Basco -- voices behind the new comedy fiction podcast Minor Legends (part of the Potluck Podcast Collective), an ambitious narrative project that's "a little cringe, a little crazy" that delves into the funny, weird and wild side of Asian America. Angela talks about being inspired to create a multi-dimensional showcase for her community of hugely creative friends; Celia and Derek talk about summoning/channeling their Asian parent vibes ("Ai-yaaaahh!") for their roles. Also: The Good, The Bad, and WTF of making Minor Legends. Plus: stick around to the end and listen to a bonus episode of Minor Legends.

    1h 13m
  5. They Call Us The Queen of My Dreams

    10/19/2025

    They Call Us The Queen of My Dreams

    Jeff and Phil welcome friend and filmmaker Fawzia Mirza, writer/director of indie comedy/drama feature The Queen of My Dreams. They talk about the Asian diasporic film subgenre of "Our Parents Are People Too"; Fawzia's own journey of telling this story over multiple iterations and embracing her identity as a director; and the challenges of shooting a narrative that spans several time periods and countries, from 1969 Karachi to 1989 Nova Scotia. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Queen of My Dreams.

    44 min
  6. They Call Us Water Mirror Echo

    10/10/2025

    They Call Us Water Mirror Echo

    Jeff and Phil celebrate the 300th episode of They Call Us Bruce and welcome writer/scholar Jeff Chang, author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America, recorded live at Skylight Books in Los Angeles. He talks about writing a biography of Bruce Lee that authentically centers the man behind the legend, while doubling as a stealth culturally history of Asian America, in a way that it's never been told before. They discuss Bruce's rough-and-tumble (and highly cinematic) teen years; how young Bruce was actually kind of awkward (and annoying); and the hard-fought Asian American journey to becoming a global icon. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of writing Water Mirror Echo.

    1h 6m
  7. They Call Us Korea & Hollywood's Future

    10/04/2025

    They Call Us Korea & Hollywood's Future

    Jeff and Phil welcome pop culture pals and cultural critics Dino-Ray Ramos and Rebecca Sun to discuss two new similarly-flavored TV series, Butterfly and Tempest. They explore the cultural significance of these Korean and Korean-adjacent shows, their unique storytelling approaches, and the evolving landscape of Asian American representation in global content. They discuss the future of authentic Asian storytelling in Hollywood -- beyond stunt casting and "flower vases"; the role of diaspora creatives; and the balance between small, intimate stories and larger global narratives. They also caution against Hollywood's inevitable exploitation and commodification of K-culture.

    1h 21m
  8. They Call Us Butterfly

    09/26/2025

    They Call Us Butterfly

    Jeff and Phil welcome actors Daniel Dae Kim and Reina Hardesty, stars of the Prime Video thriller series Butterfly. Daniel talks about adapting the original graphic novel to create an action/espionage series around Korean American characters; Reina talks about auditioning for "Untitled Daniel Dae Kim Project" and finding her way in the role of estranged daughter (and highly-skilled assassin) Rebecca; they talk about the need for nuance in ethnic-specific casting for Asian American actors; and Daniel and Reina share The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Butterfly.

    56 min
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4.9
out of 5
340 Ratings

About

Hosts Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present They Call Us Bruce, an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Yang & Phil Yu
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    314
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    They Call Us Bruce

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