Best Phil Yu Podcasts (2025)

1
They Call Us The Wedding Banquet 1:06:21

2h ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Jeff and Phil welcome back their old pals Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos to talk about The Wedding Banquet, writer/director Andrew Ahn's contemporary re-envisioning of Ang Lee's 1993 beloved romantic comedy, starring Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, and Han Gi-Chan. The big question: does this remake justify its existence? They discuss…

1
Episode 716: Mark Blake, Nora Lange, Charles Yu

5h ago

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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.…

1
They Call Us Michael L. Wong 44:01

5d ago44:01

44:01

Jeff and Phil welcome Dr. Michael L. Wong, an astrobiologist, planetary scientist and podcaster who studies planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. And Star Trek. He talks about his involvement in the Stand Up for Science protests, the intersection of science, activism, and the challenges faced by the scientif…

1
Episode 715: JD McPherson, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Ian Nathan

5d ago

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Musician JD McPherson sits down with us to discuss his latest album – “Nite Owls.”Also, Jean Hanff Korelitz joins us to talk about the sequel to her best-selling novel, “The Plot.” It’s called…”The Sequel.” And one of our favorite film critics, Ian Nathan, returns to share his thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s movies.…

1
REWIND: They Call Us The Most Asian Costco 55:32

10d ago55:32

55:32

In this rewind episode, we dip back into the archives and revisit Phil and Jeff's 2024 conversation with friend, journalist and fellow podcaster Ada Tseng about her Los Angeles Times piece which asked and answered a very important question: Which are the "most Asian" Costcos in Southern California? They discuss why the wholesale chain holds a parti…

1
Episode 714: Nick Lowe, Emily St. James/Noel Murray, Dan Kois

12d ago

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This week on "BETA," ... Britain’s greatest living songwriter, Nick Lowe, joins us to talk about his newest album, “Indoor Safari.”Also, Emily St. James and Noel Murray take us back to the island to revisit the significance of the TV series, “Lost.”And Dan Kois revisits selling newspaper subscriptions on a cold winter’s night in Milwaukee.…

1
Episode 801: Joseph Patel, Sara Sligar, Phil Cook

21d ago

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Producer Joseph Patel joins us to discuss his documentary, “Sly Lives!” It pays tribute to the groundbreaking musician Sly Stone.And Sara Sligar takes us inside her modern gothic novel, “Vantage Point,” which has it all – wealth, status, power…and a curse. Also, musician and Wisconsin native Phil Cook talks with us about his latest album, “Appalach…

1
They Call Us Ji-young Yoo 45:33

20d ago45:33

45:33

Jeff and Phil welcome actress Ji-young Yoo, star of Freaky Tales and Expats. She talks about the cathartic act of fictionally beating the crap out of some Nazis; capturing the specific fun and weird ("Bay shit") vibes of 1987 Oakland, from her punk wig to nailing the accent in Freaky Tales; feeling a sense of belonging in Hong Kong and acting toe-t…

1
They Call Us Vicki Tan 44:49

24d ago44:49

44:49

Jeff and Phil welcome Vicki Tan, digital product designer and author of Ask This Book a Question: An Interactive Journey to Find Wisdom for Life's Big and Little Decisions, a one-of-a-kind guide to smarter decision-making based in the science of cognitive bias and the wisdom of storytelling. Vicki shares her journey of writing the book, the signifi…

1
Episode 713: Sarah Silverman, Gabino Iglesias, Jenny Slate

26d ago

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This week on "BETA," comedian Sarah Silverman joins us to discuss her stand-up tour, “Postmortem.” Also, Gabino Iglesias on his incredibly intense novel, “House of Bone and Rain.” And comedian Jenny Slate shares the complicated beauty of motherhood in her essay collection, “Lifeform.”

1
Episode 723: Susan Morrison, Leah Kardos, Maggie Su

1M ago

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Susan Morrison joins us to discuss her definitive biography of SNL creator Lorne Michaels.Author Leah Kardos tells us why Kate Bush’s album, “Hounds of Love,” is as fresh as ever 40 years after its release.Also, Maggie Su on her very funny and very moving debut novel,“Blob: A Love Story.”

1
They Call Us Scam Factory 49:47

1M ago49:47

49:47

Jeff and Phil discuss the evil, manipulative, and highly organized world of online scams with journalists Nelson Wang, who became the target of a "pig butchering" crypto scam, and Denise Chan, host of the Wondery podcast Scam Factory, which exposes the brutal reality behind these ripoff operations. There's a scam for everybody. They talk about the …

1
They Call Us Stephen Park 48:38

1M ago48:38

48:38

Jeff and Phil welcome veteran actor Stephen Park, who discusses his iconic roles in projects like Do the Right Thing, Fargo, and In Living Color; the racist incident on the set of Friends that inspired his viral 1997 mission statement on Asian American representation in Hollywood; the ongoing challenges he's faced as a person of color in the indust…

1
Episode 712: Eugene Mirman, Yael van der Wouden, Walter Chaw

1M ago

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This week on “BETA,” comedian Eugene Mirman joins us to talk about “Bob’s Burgers” and more. Also, Booker Prize nominee, Yael van der Wouden, on her debut novel, “The Safekeep.” […]

1
Episode 722: Clay McLeod Chapman, Paul de Jong, Karen Russell

2M ago

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This week on "BETA," ...Master of horror, Clay McLeod Chapman joins us to discuss his latest novel, “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes.”And musician Paul de Jong talks to us about his captivating found sound music.Also, MacArthur Genius Karen Russell sits down with us to talk her about her incredible novel, “The Antidote,”…

1
They Call Us Asif Ali 52:34

2M ago52:34

52:34

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian and actor Asif Ali, star of the Hulu crime comedy series Deli Boys. They discuss evolution of South Asian roles from stereotypes to complex characters, and how the show puts a chaotic, hilarious twist on the mini-mart narrative. Asif talks about his professional journey in comedy, how he had to create his own opportun…

1
They Call Us Dustin Nguyen 54:38

2M ago54:38

54:38

Jeff and Phil welcome veteran actor Dustin Nguyen, star of the indie crime drama The Accidental Getaway Driver, a uniquely Vietnamese American story -- inspired by true events -- surprisingly told as a humanistic character study. He talks about the rage, hurt and loneliness of his character; his decades-spanning career journey and the evolution of …

1
Episode 711: Simon Rich, Helen Phillips, Chris Nashawaty

2M ago

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This week on "BETA," Simon Rich joins us to talk about his short story collection, "Glory Days." Helen Phillips explores Artificial Intelligence in her suspenseful novel, "Hum." And author Chris Nashawaty revisits the epic summer of 1982 - when Star Wars and Sci-Fi Fever hit it's peak.

1
They Call Us Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 1:01:29

2M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Jeff and Phil welcome diversity advocates and experts Mia Ives-Rublee and Sumi Pendakur to discuss the impact of the current political climate on Asian American activism and identity. They talk about the importance of diversity in higher education in shaping identities and worldviews, the assault on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in th…

1
Episode 721: Alan Sepinwall, Rachel Yoder, Kris Delmhorst

2M ago

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Alan Sepinwall joins us to discuss “Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to “Better Call Saul.”And Rachel Yoder on her surreal novel, “Nightbitch,” which is now a major motion picture starring Amy Adams.Also, singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst discusses her latest album, “Ghosts in the Garden.”…

1
They Call Us Sanjay Shah and Jude Weng 58:39

2M ago58:39

58:39

Jeff and Phil continue their celebration of Fresh Off the Boat's 10th anniversary and welcome writer Sanjay Shah (Everybody Still Hates Chris, Dream Productions, Central Park) and director Jude Weng (Finding Ohana, The Good Place, Only Murders in the Building) -- key creatives involved in the making of the groundbreaking series. They look back at t…

1
They Call Us Hudson Yang 1:06:52

2M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

Phil and Jeff celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fresh Off the Boat with series star Hudson Yang (who also happens to be Jeff's son). They reflect on the show's impact on their family, Hudson's journey from childhood aspirations to landing a lead role, and the significance of the show in reshaping narratives around Asian Americans in media. They loo…

1
They Call Us Parents in the Year of the Snake 1:06:29

3M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

It's the Year of the Snake! In this special Lunar New Year episode, Jeff and Phil welcome fellow Potluck Podcast pals -- and fellow parents -- Ada Tseng (Saturday School), Joanna Lee (Sound and Fury, The Korean Drama Podcast), and Marvin Yueh (Books and Boba, Good Pop) to celebrate new beginnings and the arrival of Marvin's twins while discussing t…

1
They Call Us Birthright Citizenship 1:05:48

3M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Jeff and Phil welcome Eileen Chow, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Duke University's Asian/Pacific Studies Institute, and Ava Chin, CUNY professor and author of Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming, to talk about birthright citizenship, a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, now under …

1
They Call Us Los Angeles Wildfires 54:14

3M ago54:14

54:14

Jeff and Phil welcome friends, author/podcaster R Scott Okamoto and filmmaker/professor Renee Tajima-Pena to share their reflections on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of greater Los Angeles. Scott shares about the terrifying experience of evacuating from the approaching inferno, while Renee recounts her efforts to save her family…

1
They Call Us Extremely Unique Dynamic 44:43

3M ago44:43

44:43

Jeff and Phil welcome Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, the directors/writers/producers/stars of Extremely Unique Dynamic, a "Meta-Asian-Stoner-Coming-of-Age-Bromantic Dramedy" about two best friends who decide to make a movie... about two guys making a movie... about two guys making a movie. They talk about making a buddy narrative to showcase their fri…

1
Friend or Foe - S2 Ep 7 25:01

3M ago25:01

25:01

In the Season 2 finale of Squid Game, an explosive fight ignites between the remaining players and the game’s architects. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please, joined by special guest Jason Concepcion, unpack the episode’s most shocking moments, from Gi-hun’s bloody “special game” revolt, to Player 001’s masterclass in deception—and ask: Can Gi-hun’s her…

1
O X - S2 Ep 6 29:27

4M ago29:27

29:27

In Episode 6, “O X,” Phil and Kiera dive into the shocking twists of “Round and Round,“ the carousel game. Special guest Dash Katz, from Squid Game: The Challenge S1, joins the conversation to talk survival strategies and share their fiery takes on the season’s most dramatic betrayals. Plus, we unpack the game makers’ introduction of the O vs. X ri…

1
One More Game - S2 Ep 5 28:19

4M ago28:19

28:19

In Episode 5, “One More Game,” the surviving players rally together after an inspiring finish to the Six-Legged Pentathlon, only to face a pivotal vote: split the cash and leave now, or risk their lives in hopes of winning more? Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please are joined by special guests Trey Plutnicki and LeAnn Wilcox Plutnicki from Squid Game: Th…

1
Six Legs - S2 Ep 4 31:02

4M ago31:02

31:02

In Episode 4, “Six Legs,” alliances are formed as players are thrown into their first team game. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please unpack the heart-pounding moments as Gi-hun reluctantly steps into the role of leader as the players face a grueling six-legged pentathlon that demands far more than brute strength to survive. Meanwhile, Pink Guard 011 gra…

1
They Call Us Squid Game Season 2 2:00:24

4M ago2:00:24

2:00:24

Jeff and Phil welcome back the crew — Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos — to discuss season two of the global sensation Squid Game, which is officially Netflix's most watched show ever. In what is quite possibly this podcast's longest episode ever, they discuss the return and evolution of some fan-favorite characters, their least favorite new characte…

1
001 - S2 Ep 3 29:10

4M ago29:10

29:10

Phil and Kiera break down Episode 3, “001,” with special guest Heidi Wong—poet, writer, and horror fanatic. Gi-hun’s shocking return to the games sets the stage for a Red Light, Green Light redux like we’ve never seen before. As he tries to lead the players to safety, the question looms: how much can he really change the games? And the biggest twis…

1
Halloween Party - S2 Ep 2 29:42

4M ago29:42

29:42

In Episode 2, Gi-hun teams up with Detective Jun-ho for a high-stakes Halloween mission. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please are joined by special guest Jaeki Cho (Founder of Righteous Eats) to discuss Gi-hun’s dramatic transformation from Season 1 to Season 2, analyze the Front Man’s unsettling worldview, and delve into the origin story of No-eul, a No…

1
They Call Us Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld 54:38

4M ago54:38

54:38

Jeff and Phil welcome showrunner/producer Echo Wu and writer Jade Chang, key creatives behind the Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld, starring Ali Wong. They talk about creating a uniquely Asian American young adult action/horror/supernatural family drama; melding Asian mythology and folklore with contemporary youth culture (com…

1
Bread and Lottery - S2 Ep 1 31:25

4M ago31:25

31:25

Squid Game is back, and so is Player 456. In the gripping Season 2 premiere, Player 456 returns with a vengeance, leading a covert manhunt for the Recruiter. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please dive into Gi-hun’s transformation from victim to vigilante, the Recruiter’s twisted philosophy on fairness, and the dark experiments that continue to haunt the S…

1
They Call Us Ronny Chieng 57:45

4M ago57:45

57:45

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian Ronny Chieng to discuss his latest Netflix special Love to Hate It. He talks about his efforts to harvest his wife's eggs (with no medical training whatsoever), the frustrating susceptibility of baby boomers to internet scams, his near-decade-long tenure as a correspondent on The Daily Show, and why the only career mo…

1
They Call Us The Last of the Sea Women 51:07

4M ago51:07

51:07

Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Sue Kim, director/producer of The Last of the Sea Women, a documentary about the haenyeo, a fierce community of South Korean divers fighting the save their vanishing culture from looming threats. She talks about her lifelong fascination with this "badass girl gang," her drive to tell the stories of unique subcultures…

1
Coming Soon…Squid Game: The Official Podcast Season 2 1:58

5M ago1:58

1:58

Let the new games begin! Starting Thursday, December 26th, join hosts Phil Yu (aka “Angry Asian Man”) and Kiera Please as they dive into each episode of Squid Game Season 2. Joined by a lineup of special guests, they’ll unpack the deadly new challenges, explore the layered characters, and debate the moral dilemmas that will leave you questioning ev…

1
They Call Us A Great Divide 1:12:30

5M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Jean Shim and actress Jae Suh Park, director and star of the independent drama A Great Divide -- also co-written and produced by our very own Jeff Yang. They talk about making a movie inspired by the contemporary backdrop of anti-Asian hate, the personal experiences with racism and xenophobia that informed the film's…

1
They Call Us Interior Chinatown 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

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…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Phil Yu Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen