Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim: Randall Park (Re-Release)

Podcast: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim
Episode: Re-Release: Randall Park
Date: March 17, 2026
Guest: Randall Park
Host: Ego Nwodim

Episode Overview

Comedian and actor Ego Nwodim sits down with Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat, Always Be My Maybe, WandaVision) for a heartfelt and humorous exploration of fatherhood, gratitude, cultural identity, and generational shifts in parenting. Raised by a single mom herself, Ego deep-dives into what it’s like to be a father and a son—especially as a child of immigrants—touching on everything from saying "I love you" to career paths, to the meaning of success and family legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Saying "Thank You" (04:07)

• Cultural Norms of Gratitude: Ego and Randall discuss being raised to express gratitude frequently.

  • Ego: “You still say thank you. And I’ve had people say to me, 'You say thank you too much.' ...If you had to choose between me not saying thank you enough and saying thank you too much, we would go say thank you more, right?” (04:24)
  • Randall: “Well, yeah... I notice on my text chains, I’m constantly thanking someone... There’s just so many thank yous.” (04:38)

• Appearance vs. Reality: They joke about tattoos and parental reactions, highlighting generational shifts in what’s considered rebellious or acceptable.

2. Family, Fathers, and Cultural Expectations (13:00–20:24)

• Randall’s Dad: Stoic but Caring

  • “He was kind of that stoic Asian father... He wasn’t big into conversation. He was a man of few words. He worked very hard... He loved his family so much, particularly his two sons.” (13:56–14:20)

• Immigrant Experience and Expression of Love:

  • Both parents were Korean immigrants; expressing love was often shown through actions, not words.
  • “Both my parents are immigrants...it just wasn’t something, I guess, in their mind needed to be expressed. It was what it was.” (16:22)

• TV Dads vs. Real Dads: Randall reflects on wishing for the “TV dad” experience but later appreciating the unique sacrifices his parents made.

  • “Now that I’m older, I just have a totally different perspective on it. They loved us just as much and they sacrificed just as much, if not more.” (19:09)

3. Career Choices, Conflict, and Reconciliation (25:00–35:26)

• Telling His Family He Wanted to Act:

  • Randall feared telling his immigrant parents about his career choice.
  • “I brought it up to them...both of my parents were like, 'What are you talking about? Are you insane?'” (25:47)
  • His parents hoped for doctor/lawyer/engineer paths.

• Pursuing Acting Behind Their Backs:

  • Randall stopped discussing acting with them to avoid discouragement.
  • “I was very sensitive, and I kind of needed as much of a support system as possible, so I just went after it without them knowing.” (27:08–27:22)

• Gradual Acceptance & Pride:

  • Over time, commercials and newspaper mentions helped them feel proud.
  • “My name would pop up in the Korean newspaper and that was like a big, big deal.” (33:39)

• Financial Struggles & Family Help:

  • Randall lived with his parents into his 30s while chasing his dream.
  • “They were happy, you know, whenever I’d move back. It always baffled me when parents are like, you’re 18, you’re out of the house.” (37:08)

4. Fatherhood, Love Languages, and Regret (38:12–45:22)

• Moments of Vulnerability:

  • Randall witnessed his father weep only twice, once in grief and once in joy during Randall’s public accolades.
  • “When I gave this speech...my dad was crying...That was a really special experience.” (38:35)

• Resentment and Compassion:

  • Resentment faded after understanding his parents' intentions and after achieving success, particularly after Fresh Off The Boat.
  • “It also kind of honored the fact that they supported me in a different way.” (39:38)
  • “Having a kid, definitely being a TV dad...really was being a father myself that gave me that perspective.” (45:09)

• On Words vs. Actions:

  • “Hearing the words I love you...it’s beautiful. But it’s easy to say that...Love is, as they say, a verb...an action that you experience and show.” (42:48–43:06)

5. Randall as a Father (43:31–62:33)

• Communication:

  • Randall's daughter is on the autism spectrum; verbal communication is limited but love is always felt.
  • “Her verbal communication is very limited...but I just know how I feel about her. She doesn't have to say it. I just know she does.” (43:31)

• Family Values:

  • Randall's father taught him to value people over possessions.
  • “Things are great...but they're not that important. He kept his world very small—just his family.” (46:34–47:29)

• Retirement and Purpose:

  • His father worked up until shortly before passing; being a provider was “part of who he was.” (49:58)

• Becoming a Dad:

  • Randall didn't always want children, but felt the desire after meeting his wife.
  • On parenting style: “She would say I’m probably a little too smothering, because I just am so crazy about her...Probably a bit more helicoptery.” (57:11–57:54)

• Friend or Parent?

  • Wants his daughter to be able to come to him, but not necessarily be her "friend."
  • “I do want her to feel comfortable enough with us to come to us with anything...But I’m also okay with her having her life...her secrets.” (62:40–63:28)

6. Food Talk and Light Moments (53:40–56:40)

• Pizza and Ramen: Randall and Ego bond over their (and Ruby’s) food choices, from pizza to deep-dish debates.
  • “What kind of pizza does Ruby like most?” Ego (53:57)
  • Randall: “Just cheese.” (53:59)

7. Vulnerability, Drugs, and Advice (65:39–72:49)

• Drugs and Boundaries: In the advice segment, Ego jokingly seeks advice about peer pressure and drug use.

  • Randall’s dad wisdom: “I think life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything...Just be very aware of the people who are offering this. Are they good people? Will they take care of you?” (69:07–69:44)
  • “Some dads would be like, absolutely not...But I personally feel like it’s okay to try things as long as you’re safe.” (70:49)

• Honesty about Limits: Ego shares her own boundaries and lack of addictive personality as context.

  • “I actually don’t succumb to peer pressure...But I wonder, should I be more curious about these drugs that my friends are like, ‘I do this, and it's fine’?” (68:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Afterlife & Dad Relationships:
  • Ego: "I'm never going to have [a relationship with my dad]...he's actually dead now, so it's not possible, unless there's an afterlife." (06:12)
• Randall on His Father’s Love:
  • “He wouldn’t tell us that he loved us. But we just knew it.” (14:20)
• On Career Disappointment:
  • Randall: "She sat me down in front of the TV and it was just like, 'Let's wait for the first Asian face to pop up'… She was like, 'That’s my point'." (30:18–30:39)
• On Vulnerability:
  • “The other day… I looked at my dog and I was like, is this my grandmother?” – Ego (07:39)
• Randall on Being Helicopter Dad:
  • “She would say I’m probably a little too smothering, because I just am so crazy about her… probably a bit more helicoptery.” (57:11–57:54)
• On Trying New Things (Drugs):
  • “I think that life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything.” (69:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Expressing Gratitude and Saying Thank You – 04:07
• Tattoo Talk and Generational Shifts – 05:01
• Randall’s Relationship with His Father – 13:00
• Immigrant Upbringing; Cultural Differences in Love – 16:22
• Wishing for "TV Dads" and Coming to Appreciate Authenticity – 18:11
• Telling His Parents About Acting – 25:07–27:22
• Turning Point: First Signs of Parental Pride – 33:24
• Financial Struggles, Parental Support – 35:03–37:08
• Fathers, Guilt & Perspective as Adults – 39:38–41:54
• Randall on Being a Dad and Love Languages – 43:31–45:22
• Dealing with Possessions After His Father’s Passing – 46:33
• Retirement and the Immigrant Work Ethic – 48:36
• Parenting Philosophy: Friend or Father – 62:40
• Advice Segment: Drugs & Peer Pressure – 65:39–72:49

Final Thoughts

This episode is a candid, funny, and insightful conversation about generational change, what really matters in parenting, and the evolution of understanding between immigrant parents and their American-raised children. Randall’s openness about vulnerability, regret, and love—as both a son and a father—resonates as a tribute to his own family's sacrifices and the ways he hopes to pass on gratitude, resilience, and a focus on what truly matters to the next generation.

Memorable Dadly Wisdom:

“Life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything…Just be very aware of the people who are offering this."
— Randall Park (69:07)

For fans of warm, real conversations about family, culture, and the messy, beautiful art of growing up—and raising the next generation.