Escape From Plan A

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has been advocating for the scrapping of the SHSAT, which determines admission to the city's top public schools like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science. How much of this is fear and resentment of an Asian takeover? Can the rise of Asian politicians, such as in California, strengthen our community? Teen, Oxford, and Mark discuss this contentious topic, along with the trailer for the new Wong Fu series “Yappie” and bad Asian baby names. Intro/Outro Song: “One Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy VII by Nobuo Uematsu (remade by Enrico Deiana) Intro Voice Track: Alexandra Wallace’s “Asians in the Library” Rant TWITTER: Teen: @mont_jiang Oxford: @oxford_kondo Mark: @snbatman REFERENCED RESOURCES: Was Kevin Cooper Framed For Murder? by Nicholas Kristof: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/17/opinion/sunday/kevin-cooper-california-death-row.html Could A Legal Love Triangle Scuttle SCOTUS Hopes For This Leading Jurist? by David Lat: https://abovethelaw.com/2016/09/could-a-legal-love-triangle-scuttle-scotus-hopes-for-this-leading-jurist/ A Guide To The Controversy Around NYC’s Specialized High Schools by Grace Segers: https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/education/new-york-city-specialized-high-schools-admissions-guide.html Chancellor Carranza to desegregation plan foes: "You don't own these classrooms" by By Ben Chapman, Erin Durkin and Jillian Jorgensen: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-school-desegregation-plan-20180605-story.html Asian-Americans Have Highest Poverty Rate In NYC, But Stereotypes Make The Issue Invisible by Kimberly Yam: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/asian-american-poverty-nyc_us_58ff7f40e4b0c46f0782a5b6 Rep. Grace Meng's tweet opposing elimination of SHSAT: https://twitter.com/RepGraceMeng/status/1004516875328479233 The Korean’s tweetstorm on the SHSAT: https://twitter.com/AskAKorean/status/1004774256033529867 Phil Wang of Wong Fu's angry tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/philipwang/status/993588831482859520 In Fighting Homeless Camp, Irvine's Asians Win, But At A Cost by Anh Do: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-homeless-asians-20180401-story.html Mark Tseng-Putterman's tweet on how there's "no AsAm experience beyond the black-white binary": https://twitter.com/tsengputterman/status/1001892650889416704 "Yappie" by Wong Fu Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYYuHfGgtU "Yellow Fever" by Wong Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ojpefxk6o "Yellow Fever 2" by Wong Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O84QhVqsIs Phil Wang's segment in Natalie Tran's "White Male Asian Female" Documentary: https://youtu.be/chFKDaZns6w?t=29m "Prelude to Act I" from Lohengrin by Richard Wagner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqk4bcnBqls "Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Translation-Jean-Kwok/dp/1594485151

Sunny J. Reed, an emerging adoption writer, mom, and transracial adoptee joins Mark on the podcast to discuss an important aspect of the Adoption issue, re-homing. Re-homing is a term used to describe the act of returning a child to an adoption agency or between two private parties. In America, hundreds if not thousands of private re-homings occur with no oversight and facilitated by Internet message boards on sites like Yahoo and Facebook. Intro Song: "You're All I Need" by Method Man Intro Voice Track: Planet of the Apes (1968) TWITTER Sunny (@SunnyJWriter) Mark (@snbatman) REFERENCED RESOURCES White or Other: Who Do Transracial Adoptees Pick as Partners?: https://planamag.com/white-or-other-who-do-transracial-adoptees-pick-as-partners-ff3825d240f7 Dear White Woman Who Returned Her Adopted Children: https://medium.com/@sunnyjreed/dear-white-woman-who-returned-her-adopted-children-7924528368a2 In response to those who support returning adopted kids: https://medium.com/@sunnyjreed/in-response-to-those-who-support-returning-adopted-kids-223be8e0a1f8 The Child Exchange - Inside America's underground market for adopted children: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/adoption/#article/

With BTS accelerating the mainstream-ization of K-pop in America, the ever-popular question among Asian American guys becomes more pertinent: is K-pop good for the beleaguered Asian male image in America? Oxford, Jong, and Q join forces to talk about breaking free of traditionalist American masculine norms and the importance of Asian Americans to be in touch with what's going on in Asian pop culture. CORRECTION: IU collaborated with Seo Taiji, not Tablo, on the song "Sogyeokdong". Intro/Outro Music: "Spring Day" by BTS Intro Voice Track: "South Korea: An Inside Look at the K-pop Wave" from France 24 English TWITTER: Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Jong (@calicoarse) Q (allyouneedis_q) REFERENCED RESOURCES: History Lessons: Who Said BTS Was The Next Big Thing? by Christina Qiu: https://planamag.com/history-lessons-who-said-bts-was-the-next-big-thing-cff587c3b6a6 Jimmy Kimmel and BTS Fans - Behind the Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pudAh8UZaE&t=89s Q's Recommendations: "The Three Body Problem" by Liu Cixin, GOT7, Wanna One, Twice, Blackpink Oxford's Recommendations: IU ("Sogyeokdong"), Reply 1988 Jong's Recommendations: Giriboy, Ash-B, Nada, KillaGramz, Groovy Room, Epik High, C Jamm, Junoflo, DPR Live, Nafla, Black Nut, PH-1, Hash Swan, B-Free, Okasion, Reddy, Beenzino, BewhY, Dok2 K-Dramas Mentioned: Autumn In My Heart, Full House, I Hear Your Voice, Reply 1994, Reply 1997

A couple of weeks ago, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was brought down by the fact that he was a disgusting and abusive scumbag to women, all the while presenting himself as a progressive feminist champion. In the #MeToo era, this kind of hypocrisy is no longer surprising. Along with Trump and Weinstein, Schneiderman is the latest mortal wound to the idea of white benevolence, especially white male benevolence. Teen, Oxford, and Mark talk about how this has freed Asian Americans to develop our own unique political and cultural viewpoints. Intro Voice Track: "Girl at a Bar" from Saturday Night Live Outro Music: "Harry Lime Theme" by Anton Karas from The Third Man (1949, dir. by Carol Reed) Outro Voice Track: Eric Schneiderman talking about Weinstein investigation TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Mark (@snbatman) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Why Has The #MeToo Movement Spared Woody Allen?: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-farrow-woody-allen-me-too-20171207-story.html Four Women Accuse New York's Attorney General of Physical Abuse: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/four-women-accuse-new-yorks-attorney-general-of-physical-abuse Korea? It's Always Really Been About China!: https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/09/22/korea-its-always-really-been-about-china/ Asian Fetish Or "Yellow Fever" Is Causing A Stir At NYU: https://t.co/uJMp95aPVq The Alt-Right's Asian Fetish: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/alt-right-asian-fetish.html Yellow Fever: https://thenewinquiry.com/yellow-fever/ Podesta emails re Asians: https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/16031 #AsianReadingList: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AsianReadingList&src=typd Did Trump Kill "Master of None"?: https://planamag.com/master-of-nones-failed-liberalism-a-chance-for-asian-american-progress-21ac11c50a69 What If Asian American Men Fall To The Alt-Right?: https://planamag.com/what-if-asian-american-men-fall-to-the-alt-right-3b392495786 Menelaus vs Paris from "Troy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS9kqq6PNnQ "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein: https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Doctrine-Rise-Disaster-Capitalism/dp/0312427999 "Orientalism" by Edward Said: https://www.amazon.com/Orientalism-Edward-W-Said/dp/039474067X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526858459&sr=1-1&keywords=orientalism "The Big Aiiieeeee!" (includes "Come All Ye Asian American Writers of the Real and the Fake") by Frank Chin: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Aiiieeeee-Frank-Chin/dp/0452010764/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526858427&sr=1-8&keywords=frank+chin "The Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe: https://www.amazon.com/Bonfire-Vanities-Tom-Wolfe/dp/0312427573 "I Am Charlotte Simmons" by Tom Wolfe: https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Charlotte-Simmons-Novel/dp/0312424442 Champagne Sharks episode with Kenyan sex trade segment in intro: https://soundcloud.com/champagnesharks/cs-087-the-throwaway-people-pt-3-04032018

It seems that every few months, a new incident occurs where the fiery debate over cultural appropriation is sparked again. What exactly is at the heart of this very emotional issue? Is it a fear of being replaced? Is it a fear of losing ownership of culture? Is it resentment at having feelings ignored? Is there a profit motive involved? Is there a gendered response, especially when beauty is involved? Eliza, Oxford, and Christina examine these questions in recent flare-ups about qipaos, music, food, and more. Intro/Outro Music: "Karma Chameleon (Instrumental)" by Culture Club Intro/Outro Voice Track: David Chang in "Ugly Delicious" Ep. 6 (Fried Chicken) TWITTER: Eliza (@aesthdistance1) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: "Every Culture Appropriates" by David Frum: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/cultural-appropriation/559802/ "Jeremy Lin’s Dreads And Kenyon Martin’s Chinese Tattoo Are A False Equivalency" by Jessica Prois and Lilly Workneh: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeremy-lin-kenyon-martin_us_59dce0d9e4b0208970d00545 "The Dos and Don'ts of Cultural Appropriation" by Jenny Avins: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/the-dos-and-donts-of-cultural-appropriation/411292/

Brillante Mendoza's TV series "Amo" is the first Filipino-made television show to be picked up by Netflix. Though often compared to other shows about drug wars such as "Narcos" and "The Wire," there is a lot that would be unfamiliar to or lost on most American viewers. Eliza and two guest podcasters, Joey Marana and Aldovar, reach into their Filipino-American backgrounds to fill in the gaps for outsiders. Intro/Outro Music: National Anthem of the Philippines (Instrumental) Intro/Outro Voice Track: President Rodrigo Duterte's Inaugural Speech in 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dx4SiyERVg&t=216s) TWITTER: Eliza (@aesthdistance1) Aldovar (@aldovar3)

Are Asian Americans being cut out from the American embrace of Asian culture? And is this really a problem? Teen and Jess talk about the Asian American female critical abhorrence of 'Isle of Dogs,' in particular the character Tracy Walker. The conversation turns towards the bias against women having public conflicts, the concept of Asian American cultural property, and the rising anxiety caused by an American culture that increasingly admires authentic Asian culture. Intro/Outro Song: Isle of Dogs OST Intro/Outro Voice Track: Anjelah Johnson and Amy Schumer TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Jess (@cogitatotomato) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Moeko Fujii's review of IoD: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/what-isle-of-dogs-gets-right-about-japan Slate Culture Gabfest podcast re IoD: https://www.wnyc.org/story/spoiler-specials-isle-of-dogs/ Teen's review of IoD: https://www.cinemaescapist.com/2018/04/isle-dogs-metaphor-japanese-politics/

For Asian Americans, there is often the question of whether there's a sort of Promised Land, where there is less racism and more happiness. Frequently, Canada is suggested as such a place. Filip and Oxford, who were both born and raised in Canada, discuss the good and bad of life in the True North strong and free. Intro/Outro Song: Theme from Hockey Night in Canada Intro Voice Track: Don Cherry on the truth about "Natives" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5p5r6tiK6M&t=2s) TWITTER: Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: I Wanted To Love Paris, But It Didn't Want Me: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenhchoi/i-wanted-to-love-paris-but-it-didnt-love-me?utm_term=.fnnpy6bYO#.diWx3O1zo The Lover: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lover_(film) Hiroshima Mon Amour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima_mon_amour

Many Asian Americans see college education, particularly elite college education, as their main pathway to success. But is that true? Furthermore, does the process turn Asian American kids against each other to strive for inclusion in a selective white liberal milieu? Jess, Oxford, and Oriana draw upon their experiences at these types of schools to talk about whether we should idealize these institutions at all. Intro/Outro Song: "Graduation Song (Instrumental)" by Vitamin C Intro/Outro Voice Track: 2012 Wellesley High School Commencement Speech by David McCullough Jr. TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Asian Americans Think An Elite College Degree...: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-lee-ramakrishnan-asian-american-prestige-20180327-story.html Prescriptive Stereotypes and Workplace Consequences... ("Berdahl Study"): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22506817 "Excellent Sheep" by William Deresiewicz: https://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Sheep-Miseducation-American-Meaningful/dp/1476702721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523842119&sr=8-1&keywords=excellent+sheep "The Price of Admission" by Daniel Golden: https://www.amazon.com/Price-Admission-Americas-Colleges-Outside/dp/1400097975/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523842784&sr=8-1&keywords=price+of+admission

Self-described comedian Esther Ku’s racialized act (that demeans Asians for white audiences) set off a battle on Twitter. The story was picked up by Nextshark and NY Post. Oxford, Teen, and Mark discuss the incident and try to layer some sense over the chaos, including recognizing similar patterns in other minority communities. Intro Song: "Black Cab" by Higher Brothers Intro Voice Track: Esther Ku on United Airlines' crimes against David Dao TWITTER Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Teen (@mont_jiang) Mark (@snbatman) REFERENCED RESOURCES Comic Faces Backlash For Racially Charged Tweets: https://nypost.com/2018/04/04/comic-faces-backlash-for-racially-charged-tweets/ Comedian Esther Ku Has a Serious Problem...: https://nextshark.com/comedian-esther-ku-serious-problem-using-racist-self-hating-asian-jokes-laughs/ The Alt-Right's Asian Fetish: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/opinion/sunday/alt-right-asian-fetish.html Dating While Asian at Penn: http://www.34st.com/article/2018/02/dating-while-asian-at-penn-the-fine-line-between-fetish-and-preference This Is Not The Representation I Asked For: https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2018/02/22/this-is-not-the-representation-i-asked-for/ Yellow Fever: https://thenewinquiry.com/yellow-fever/ Meet the White Nationalist...: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/richard-spencer-trump-alt-right-white-nationalist/ Does Lena Dunham Have Yellow Fever?: https://planamag.com/does-lena-dunham-have-yellow-fever-8b6a8f8dd4fd White Sexual Imperialism (p. 297): https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1243&context=crsj A Letter To Asian Girls: https://etcetera.org.au/diversity/a-letter-to-asian-girls/ Natalie Tran's "White Male Asian Female" Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chFKDaZns6w&t=1581s "Big Little Man" by Alex Tizon: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Little-Man-Search-Asian/dp/0547450486/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523506933&sr=8-1&keywords=big+little+man "Black Skin, White Masks" by Frantz Fanon: https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Masks-Frantz-Fanon/dp/0802143008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523506963&sr=8-1&keywords=black+masks+white+skin Champagne Sharks Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/champagne-sharks/id1242690393?mt=2