In this episode, Minji sits down with a woman who impacted her life from a very early age, model and singer turned author Kaila Yu. A cultural icon during the Azn Pride days of import cars, Nautica jackets, and tricked out html web pages, Kaila made an undeniable mark on the blossoming Asian American identity as one of the hottest Asian "it" girls. Throughout her young career and private life, she'd endure some of the most heart-breaking and challenging experiences while pursuing a career in entertainment and validation from a confusing and toxic world.

In one of First Of All's final episodes, Minji and Kaila dive into Kaila's new memoir Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. In it she unpacks her deeply insightful perspectives on power, desire, and the violent grip of the patriarchy. They talk about the narcissistic unraveling happening in real time, how harmful sexualization traps us, and what it means to reclaim our bodies, our stories, and our agency. Together they also reminisce on their formative years, celebrating girlhood while also reflecting on family dynamics, mass marketing, and cultural trends that shaped their sense of self. This episode reminds us that vulnerability is resistance. Prepare for a conversation that's as intellectually sharp as it is soul-expanding as we take back a narrative to be rewritten by us.

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▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" by Uzuhan

▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Audio Engineer @marvinyueh

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Don’t miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex Lin!

Coming to the Roundabout Theatre Company this winter, Chinese Republicans is a biting new satirical drama from Alex Lin, directed by Chay Yew, following three high-powered businesswomen who meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they’re certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder.

Tickets for Chinese Republicans on sale now!

#201 - Taking Back the Narrative & Unmasking the Fetish with Kaila Yu