Podcast
ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST
Hosted by Ken Fong · EN
Ken Fong gets to the heart of Asian American culture, history, and spirituality. Through interviews with culture-makers and -shapers in the Asian American community -- some you know, others you've never heard of before -- prepare to laugh, cry, and be amazed.
30episodes
Episodes
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EP 594: Alex Xander Luu On Performing His Autobiographical Solo Performance "Three Lives"
4d ago01:01:27Tap to summarizeOn May 22-24, solo artist Alex Xander Luu will be performing his critically-acclaimed autobiographical solo performance Three Lives @SierraMadrePlayhouse in Southern California. Written, directed, and performed by Luu, Three Lives is a raw, funny, and deeply moving one-man show that blends spoken word, physicality, and sharp observation to explore the immigrant experience. First performed in 1989 and refined over more than two decades, it has toured nationally. It traces his family's escape from war-torn Saigon in 1975 and their search for identity in America, told through the intersecting perspectives of father, son, and grandson.
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EP 593: Actors Trieu Tran and Iris Liu On Bringing the Story of Chinese Rocket Scientist Qian Xuesen to the Stage
2w ago00:33:38Tap to summarizeA new play based on the true story of Qian Xuesen, the brilliant aerospace engineer from China who helped launch America's space age—until Cold War paranoia forever changed the course of his life...and ours. Qian Xuesen, a promising young engineer from China, travels to America in 1935 on a Boxer Indemnity Scholarship. Advancing quickly through the ranks at MIT and Caltech, he becomes a pioneer of the American space age, co-founding JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and helping the United States of America win World War II. Then, as extreme nationalism swells at the beginning of the Cold War, Xuesen finds himself accused of being a Communist, and what happens next shapes the future of both his new and native homelands. Developed by Henry Ong and director and dramaturg Diana Wyenn from 2016 until the playwright's passing in 2018, this production marks the long-awaited world premiere of the beloved playwright and LA Theater champion's prescient and timely final play. Inspired by true events and filled with Ong's signature blend of heart and humor, Ascent reveals how fear, extreme nationalism, and xenophobia affects individual lives, shapes political decisions, and overshadows truth—often with lasting global consequences.
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EP 592: Johnny Itliong On the Leadership & Legacy of His Father Larry Itliong
3w ago00:46:11Tap to summarizeAmericans have had to remove the late Cesar Chavez from the pedestals we've put him on amidst a recent torrent of credible allegations aimed at him of sexual abuse, rape and pedophilia. This has resulted in a newfound interest in Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor organizer who's often called the "Father of the West Coast Labor Movement." Until now, he's been unfairly overshadowed by the iconic Chavez, but Larry's son Johnny is relieved that more of the unabridged history of that movement is now finding an audience.
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EP 591: Nicole Dowd On the Smithsonian's 4th Annual IlluminAsia Arts & Culture Festival_May 2026
3w ago00:49:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Nicole Dowd, the Head of Public Programs at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to discuss the upcoming 2026 IlluminAsia Arts and Culture Festival. Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month and the U.S. 250th anniversary, this year's festival spotlights the power of Asian American storytelling through literature, film, and community connection. #IlluminAsiaFestival #aanhpi #aapi #koreanadoptee
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EP 590: State Treasurer Fiona Ma On Why She's Running to Be California's Next Lieutenant Governor
4w ago00:43:25Tap to summarizeFiona Ma is currently terming out as California's Treasurer, but after more than two decades of public service, she's now running to be the state's Lieutenant Governor. While most of the media's attention has been focused on the still unpredictable gubernatorial race, there are sixteen in the race for California's No. 2 seat of power, and Fiona has the clearest institutional resume, giving her an early advantage in name recognition among voters even as most remain undecided. Over 30 current and former California mayors have endorsed her. Early polling gives her a lead with likely Democratic voters, but eight in 10 voters still have no opinion of her--a reminder that institutional status has not translated into decisive primary support. This episode is your chance to get to know her better and to appreciate her immense qualifications to be California's next Lieutenant Governor. Find out more about her and her vision for California by going to www.fionama.com.
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EP 589: Rev. Rae Huang On Faith, Housing, and the Future of Los Angeles
Apr 1900:56:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Rev. Rae Huang, a candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles who is looking to bridge the gap between grassroots activism and City Hall. As a Presbyterian minister and a seasoned organizer with Housing Now! CA, Rae brings a unique perspective to the race—one rooted in "the theology of the neighborhood." We dive deep into her personal journey as a daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and a single mother, exploring how those lived experiences fuel her "Housing for All" platform. Rae breaks down her vision for social housing, her plan for a Public Bank of Los Angeles, and what it would mean to lead the city as the first Asian American woman in the Mayor's office.
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EP 588: Sacramento DA Thien Ho On How They Finally Captured and Convicted the Golden State Killer
Apr 1200:47:38Tap to summarizeSacramento County's District Attorney Thien Ho's book, The People vs. the Golden State Killer, is highly recommended for readers interested in true crime, legal history, and stories of human resilience. As the lead prosecutor in the case, Ho provides an "insider" account that differs significantly from previous narratives about Joseph DeAngelo. This is the first official record of the investigation, capture, and prosecution of the Golden State Killer written by the lead prosecutor. Unlike many true-crime books that sensationalize the killer, Ho's narrative centers on the survivors and the law enforcement teams who pursued justice for over 30 years. Ho's book includes hundreds of new facts, insights into interrogation room interactions, and behind-the-scenes legal strategies that were never released to the public. It also features the authorized perspectives of survivors who turned their trauma into activism, offering a powerful testament to the "resiliency of the human spirit". Ho also shares his own story as a Vietnamese refugee who arrived in America knowing no English and eventually became one of only ten Asian American district attorneys in the country. A portion of the proceeds from the book goes toward Phyllis's Garden, a nonprofit founded by a Golden State Killer survivor to support victims' rights.
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EP 587: David Henry Hwang On His Unexpected Journey As a Playwright & His Latest Revision of "Flower Drum Song"
Apr 500:47:53Tap to summarizeDavid Henry Hwang is a Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and the most-produced living opera librettist in America. A three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and member of the Theater Hall of Fame, Hwang is best known for his masterpiece M. Butterfly and the critically acclaimed Yellow Face. In 2026, Hwang returns to Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song for a landmark production at East West Players, marking the "grand finale" of their 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season. #eastwestplayers #flowerdrumsong #asianamerican #chineseamerican #musical #theater @eastwestplayers
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EP 585: Lily Tung Crystal On Directing the 2026 Revival Of "Flower Drum Song" @EastWestPlayers
Mar 2900:42:33Tap to summarizeWe're going behind the curtain at East West Players for a two-episode event! Today, in Part 1, we're sitting down with Lily Tung Crystal. Not only is she the Artistic Director guiding EWP into its 60th anniversary season, she is also personally directing their massive upcoming revival of Flower Drum Song. We're diving into her creative process and why this story matters in 2026—all to get you ready for Part 2 with the iconic David Henry Hwang. www.eastwestplayers.org
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EP 586: The Two Kens On Whether America's Commander-in-Chief Has Dementia
Mar 2800:44:36Tap to summarizeIn this latest in the collaborative The Two Kens podcast series, Fong and Kemp focus on the now month-old war with Iran, wondering whether President Trump has a deterioriating form of dementia, and how that might have played a part in his leading us into this unwarrented war in the Middle East.
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