Go Fact Yourself - Episode 184: Loni Love & Nick Cho
Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten & Helen Hong
Guests: Loni Love (comedian, author, Emmy & Image Award winner), Nick Cho (“Your Korean Dad” content creator)
Overview & Main Theme
In this lively, heartfelt episode recorded before a live audience in Pasadena, comedians and pop culture figures Loni Love and Nick Cho face off in a spirited battle of wits. Go Fact Yourself’s signature format mixes personal stories, clever banter, and deep dives into the topics that the guests love most, culminating in surprise appearances by expert legends. This episode explores the power of cultural representation, the meaning of “success,” and emotional moments of connection between generations.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Guest Introductions & Warmth
- Helen Hong celebrates a personal milestone: 4 years cancer-free, humorously describing her "fresh new tatas" (02:10).
- Loni Love recalls co-hosting “The Real” and her Emmy win:
- Did 1300+ episodes but only sharply remembers the first (04:08).
- Of her Emmy win: “I grew up in the Brewster projects. This little black girl watching everybody get awards. Never could you have told me that I would be getting an Emmy for that particular year.” (05:02)
- Nick Cho (internet’s “Your Korean Dad”) discusses his rise from coffee expert to comforting internet dad:
- On going viral: “You just kind of put yourself out there and then watching things kind of go viral is a very, very unique experience.” (05:43)
- On supporting young followers: “A big responsibility. But that’s part of being a dad.” (06:52)
2. What’s the Difference? (Advice/Counsel & Column/Pillar)
- Advice vs. Counsel (08:48)
- Notable quote (Helen): “Advice is an opinion...comes from anyone whether you asked for it or not. Counsel...comes from someone with specialized knowledge, usually that you asked for or in fact paid for.” (08:48)
- Loni accurately distinguishes between everyday-advice and professional counsel.
- Column vs. Pillar (10:44)
- Notable quote (Helen): “Columns are load-bearing supports...usually hidden within the walls. Pillars...can be decorative, are usually visible and can be freestanding.” (10:44)
- Nick scores a partial win by noting columns are always load-bearing.
3. Deep Dives with the Guests
a) Loni Love
- Busy Career & Rose Parade Hosting
- Hosting 2026’s Rose Parade. “I am so excited to be a part of starting off the new year with some joy.” (12:13)
- Engineering Past
- Loni describes herself as the “worst engineer in the United States of America" (13:12), sneaking out of work for auditions. On getting laid off for comedy: “This is a win-win for everybody.” (14:14)
- Supermarket Sweep
- Her first TV appearance: “I looked a mess...people keep going ‘We keep seeing you on Supermarket Sweep.’” (15:09)
b) Nick Cho
- Gentle, Dad-like Internet Persona
- Not a literal representation of his own father: “He’s his own kind of sweet, but it’s not the way that I grew up at all.” (17:29)
- About “your Korean dad”: “You have to synthesize things...in the void of what you could or wish that you had.” (18:11)
- Coffee Roots
- Former award-winning barista and coffee shop owner. “Keep drinking what you like, but keep trying new things too.” (19:09)
4. Trivia Rounds on Guest Topics
Loni’s Trivia: Michael Jackson
- Favorite Era: “Thriller.” “Do you realize Thriller is still on the Billboard 200...for 700 weeks?” (23:15)
- Key Questions:
- “Thriller” returns to the charts near Halloween. ✔️ (25:20)
- 1983 Motown 25th TV special for Motown Records reunion. ✔️ (25:54)
- Project Michael did NOT appear in: WALL-E. (Nick incorrectly guessed “Men in Black 2”.) (27:03)
- Hit written by Michael on ‘Off The Wall’: “Working Day and Night.” ✔️ (29:01)
- MTV Video Vanguard Award sponsor: Toyota (Nick nails the steal!) (30:19)
Nick’s Trivia: Asian Americans in Media (1980s–2000s)
- Icons: “Tamlin Tamita from ‘Joy Luck Club’ and ‘Karate Kid 2’...the crush, you know, back during that time.” (46:21)
- Key Questions:
- First Asian American to host SNL: Lucy Liu (2000). ✔️ (47:22)
- Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club.” ✔️ (47:57)
- 1990s breakthroughs: “Better Luck Tomorrow” = post-1990s. ✔️ (49:51)
- 1984 grunge band—Soundgarden’s Hiro Yamamoto. ✔️ (49:42)
- Groundbreaking PBS show: “Silk Screen.” ✔️ (50:56)
5. Expert Segments—Surprise Moments & Emotional Connections
Saida Garrett (Grammy-winning Michael Jackson collaborator)
- Recollections of Michael:
- “When Quincy Jones put my husband on the phone, I knew I did not want to be fangirling...The first thing Michael Jackson said to me was, ‘I love this song.’” (35:30)
- Sang live from “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (38:27), bringing the house to tears.
- Musical Theatre News:
- Saida is writing songs for stage adaptations of “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the Disney musical “Polly,” and “Joyful Noise." (39:09)
Gedde Watanabe (Actor: Sixteen Candles, Mulan, ER)
- Wild Audition Stories:
- Auditioned for Long Duk Dong in accent, confesses: “I chose a Korean friend of mine [as a model],” then revealed he was from Ogden, Utah only after being cast. (55:25)
- Talking about Typecasting and Racism:
- “During the 80s, that was a real huge thing for Asian men. ...He wants the girl, and he gets the girl. I said, 'Oh, he wants the two things: the American dream, and he wants the girl.'” (57:00)
- Nick shares: “When I was a young person, I was so angry at you...The amount of bullying...the lines you had spoken in the movie were quoted at me...But many years later, I realized that it’s not you. It’s the racism.” (61:34)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Representation:
- Nick to Gedde: “I see you as one of my heroes.” (61:47)
- On Achievements:
- Loni (on seeing Michael Jackson rehearsing): “I'm glad I didn’t wait...Something was telling me, ‘Let me just, even though I was tired, go’—and I’m glad I did.” (24:03)
- On Musical Collaboration:
- Saida (singing): “You are my choice now, the love you bring, Heaven’s in my heart…” (38:27)
- On Quiz Show Chaos:
- Loni (after missing a trivia question): “Go f–k yourself. Okay.” [laughter] (27:47)
- On Victory:
- Nick, when offered a tiebreaker: “This is called the Black Community–Asian American Community Coalition Solidarity. We will take the tie.” (65:05)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Helen’s cancer-free announcement: 02:10
- Loni’s Emmy reflections: 05:02
- Nick discusses “Your Korean Dad”: 05:43, 17:29
- Advice vs. Counsel segment: 08:48
- Column vs. Pillar segment: 10:44
- Trivia begins (Loni/Michael Jackson): 24:54
- Expert appearance—Saida Garrett: 32:29
- Saida sings live: 38:27
- Trivia begins (Nick/Asian Americans in Media): 47:11
- Expert appearance—Gedde Watanabe: 52:30
- Nick’s emotional statement to Gedde: 61:34
- Final round and tie decision: 62:39–65:14
Final Fast Facts & Results
- Fast Facts round: Hollywood Walk of Fame (63:13–64:10)
- Final result: Tie game! (64:45)
- Nick: “I’m giving [the championship] to Loni Love.” (65:40)
- Plugs:
- Loni Love: lonilove.com, Rose Parade (65:49)
- Nick: @nickcho (Instagram), @yourkoreandad (everywhere else) (66:00)
- Helen Hong: @funnyhelenhong (66:19)
Takeaways
This episode delivered joyful nostalgia, honest discussions about the struggles and progress of cultural representation, stellar trivia runs, and unforgettable moments of vulnerability and connection—with both trivia and tears leaving their mark. A quintessential Go Fact Yourself showcase of gameshow glee with real human resonance.