Podcast
This Filipino American Life
Hosted by This Filipino American Life · EN
A podcast that explores the nuanced experiences of Filipinos in the United States, atbp.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 255 – Combo on the Run – Exploring the Enduring Legacy of Eraserheads with Diane Ventura and Ely Buendia
3w ago00:48:28Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/tfal-episode255.mp3 Today’s the day! “Eraserheads: Combo on the Run” is releasing throughout North America across over 60 screens, one of the biggest and widest releases of a Filipino documentary ever. And while the exploits of the band are well detailed in the film itself, we thought it would be worthwhile to sit down with Director Diane Ventura and Eraserheads Lead Singer Ely Buendia himself to talk in more depth about what it was like to dig through the Eraserheads archives, explore how the band and their music connected with the broader diaspora, and most importantly… get a little nerdy about music . Speaking of which, Ely continues to make music and support others in their own musical journeys through his label, Offshore Music Philippines, which you can learn all about at at offshoremusicph.com. And definitely check out Diane’s other projects at www.dventproductions.com. Should Diane (or anyone else) make a documentary about the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene? Was Joe or Producer Mike’s fanboying super obvious in this interview? Please comment on all our socials, rate us anywhere you find us (5 stars hopefully?), listen to or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
Transcribe →Episode 254 – Original Pilipino Musings with Les the DJ – Overdrive, Ligaya, and What Les and Mike Like Right Now
4w ago00:40:11Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/tfal-episode254.mp3 In the 3rd edition of our Eraserheads-themed mini-series, Les the DJ and Producer Mike reminisce about road trips to the tune of “Overdrive”, and can’t get enough of silly love songs like “Ligaya”. But what songs are Les and Mike listening to now? Listen and find out! As a reminder, on April 24th, Combo On The Run, a documentary chronicling the rise of the band Eraserheads, is set to hit movie screens across North America. And to truly end our Eraserheads-themed series with a bang, on that same day we’re going to release a special conversation with… Well you’ll just have to find out then! And while this may be the last episode of “Original Pilipino Musings” for now, who knows what the future holds? Do you want to hear more music nerdery from Les and Mike? Please comment on all our socials, rate us anywhere you find us (5 stars hopefully?), listen to or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Audio clips from “Overdrive” and “Ligaya” used with permission from copyright holders coordinated through DVent Productions.
Transcribe →Episode 253 – Original Pilipino Musings with Les the DJ – Toyang, Alapaap, and Analyzing vs Appreciating Music
Apr 1100:40:11Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/tfal-episode253.mp3 In part 2 of our mini-series “Original Pilipino Musings” with Les the DJ, we dive into two seminal Eraserheads classics, “Toyang” from their 1993 debut album, Ultraelectromagneticpop!, as well as “Alapaap” from their 1994 follow-up, Circus. Listen as we talk about what the songs mean to us, and debate whether or not it matters if we properly understand and interpret what they (or anyone else) is singing about at all! And as a reminder, in a few weeks, Combo On The Run, a documentary chronicling the rise of the band Eraserheads, is set to hit movie screens across North America. Watch it where and when you can! What do you think of Toyang and Alapaap? What were your first experiences with the Eraserheads? Please comment on all our socials, rate us anywhere you find us (5 stars hopefully?), listen to or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Audio clips from “Toyang” and “Alapaap” used with permission from copyright holders coordinated through DVent Productions.
Transcribe →Episode 252 – Original Pilipino Musings with Les the DJ – Eraserheads, OPM+, and Les Lore
Mar 2400:44:57Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tfal-episode252.mp3 In a few weeks, Combo On The Run, a documentary chronicling the rise of the band Eraserheads, is set to hit movie screens across North America. It’s not often that a film from the Philippines gets a release and a reception as high profile as this film has been getting, let alone a documentary about an OPM band as varied and enigmatic as the Eraserheads. So since #TFALheartsOPM, we figured we’d dedicate some time to talk about Original Pilipino Music, including our favorite bands, songs, scenes, and subgenres, and of course about the Eraserheads. But to do the topic justice, we figured we’d use this moment as an opportunity to try something… a little different! Producer Mike is hosting, sans the rest of the TFAL crew; you know, the one host that never really seems to say much on most episodes? It just so happens that he moonlights as Waxstyles, an inveterate record collector that occasionally DJs as well. And who better to join him on this journey other than past TFAL guest and friend of the podcast Les the DJ? Les was featured waaaay back on Episode 145 when we were doing the “Social Distance Series”… remember that?! She is a supreme archivist of all kinds of music, but especially OPM from all eras. And as a result… this is the nerdiest episode about OPM and music in general that we have ever recorded… one that went so long that we’re spreading it across THREE (!) episodes! So please join us on a little TFAL side quest that for now we’re calling “Original Pilipino Musings”! Should we make this a regular thing? Please comment on all our socials, rate us anywhere you find us (5 stars hopefully?), listen to or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
Transcribe →Episode 251 – Telling Truths about ‘Here Lies Love’ with Christine Balance
Mar 701:18:35Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tfal-episode251.mp3 Here Lies Love, the play about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos as the Philippine dictator’s wife during Martial Law is now playing in Los Angeles. The TFAL crew had the opportunity to watch Here Lies Love when it first opened at the Mark Taper Forum a couple of weeks ago. Love it or hate it, the controversial musical is a part of our community, and many folks are watching it. It reflects the talent, labor, limitations, privileges, complications, and discourses in and of the Filipino American community. In this TFAL episode, the crew gives their honest takes on Here Lies Love. They also hear the insights of Professor Christine Balance, who has been following David Byrne’s work on Imelda Marcos for close to two decades. Given her research background on Filipino American music and performance, we thought she would be the perfect person to talk to about the musical. Listen as they share their various experiences watching the production, discuss its high points as well as shortcomings, reflect on the limitations of representation, and convey the musical’s broader implications and reflections of Philippine history and the Filipino American community in general. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Did you watch the play in Seattle, New York, or Los Angeles? What did you think? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com. For more accurate and detailed info on the broader Martial Law period, please refer to these resources: Here Lies Love in Critical Contexts: a Public Syllabus Ramona Diaz, Imelda (2003) Jessica Hagedorn, Dogeaters (audio version on Audible) (play version/print) Josen Diaz, Postcolonial Configurations: Dictatorship, the Racial Cold War, and Filipino America Lucy San Pablo Burns, Puro Arte: Filipinos on the Stages of Empire Amanda Andrei, American Theatre magazine article, “The Complicated Triumph of Here Lies Love” Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life Mark John Sanchez, List of published articles PC: Los Angeles Times
Transcribe →Episode 250 – Echoes from the Ditches: A Conversation with a Martial Law Activist
Feb 2701:02:42Tap to summarizeFor 10 years, TFAL has been trying to amplify voices from our community, but particular voices from sectors of our community that have been historically overlooked. We are especially attuned to the voices without glitz and glamor, without state-sanctioned narratives, and without algorithmic egos. For our 250th episode, and on the heels of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, we wanted to focus on the memories of Martial Law, a period in Philippine and Filipino American history when Dictator Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country. Not the “golden years” that the current Philippine administration and its supporters want folks to believe, but Martial Law was a dark time where civil liberties were stripped away, which led to severe human rights violations, including thousands of arrests, torture, and killings In this TFAL episode, we talk to CAROL OJEDA-KIMBROUGH, a life-long political activist who came of age during Martial Law. Listen as she discusses her activism in the Philippines, the losses she experienced under the hands of a dictator, and the imperative to tell and remember these historical truths without whitewashing narratives. We also get to discuss our opinions on the controversial musical, HERE LIVES LOVE, which is currently showing here in Los Angeles. For many Filipino Americans, we are somewhat removed from Martial Law Philippines, but it’s imperative that these stories and memories live on through us, particularly during this dark era we find ourselves in the authoritative United States. This episode is dedicated to the memory of ROLANDO FEDERIS, who fought and died for Philippine freedom, justice, and love. You can read more about the life of Rolando Federis here. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What do you think of the episode? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.
Transcribe →Episode 249 – The Fil Am Celebrity Draft
Feb 2000:55:23Tap to summarizeHave you ever dreamed about a TV show with an all-Filipino American cast? What kind of show it would be? Who would star in it? In this TFAL episode, Elaine, Joe, and Producer Mike dream up their ideal TV show by playing The Fil Am Celebrity Draft! Adapted from a game that Joe used to play with his friends (and Dave Chappelle’s Racial Draft, if we’re being honest), the crew takes turn “drafting” Filipino American celebrities to be cast in their hypothetical shows. Listen to see who drafts Marc Descascos, Olivia Rodrigo, Eugene Cordero, and everyone’s favorite, the man with the epic mustache, Mitch Narito! I’m sure you will root for your favorite celebrities (and shows) as you listen to the episode. P.S. We, the Filipino American delegation, would like to trade Rob Schneider for a warm bottle of San Mig and a couple of kwek-kweks. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Which of the crew’s TV shows would you want to watch most? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com or leave a voicemail on Ryan’s phone. =) Below are mood boards Elaine created that give you hints of what the crew picked.
Transcribe →Episode 248 – Community Care with Kalaya’an Mendoza
Feb 601:05:13Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/tfal-episode248.mp3 In this episode of the podcast, Kalaya’an Mendoza returns to talk with the crew about community care. This episode is dedicated to the folks in Minnesota and beyond who are grieving, protesting, and resisting ICE kidnappings and intimidation. The crew reached out to Kalaya’an again to check in on how we can support each other in these times of unrest. Take a listen as the crew talks about how we are all coping and providing care for our communities in our own ways. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. For more resources on how to support your community check out these ig accounts! View this post on Instagram <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: colu...
Transcribe →Episode 247 – Seafood City Late Night Analysis
Jan 2300:48:49Tap to summarizeOver the last few months, the hottest night out can be had at a Filipino supermarket. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Seafood City, you might have seen or experienced the multi-generational viral dance party conceptualized by JP Breganza back in August 2025. What is this phenomenon all about? Why does it attract so many people (especially younger Millennials and Gen Zers)? How long will it last? In this episode of TFAL, the crew breaks down their experiences at these “Late Night Madness” parties and their larger impact on the Filipino American community. The crew dives into the Seafood City Party phenomenon, corporate responsibilities of large Filipino American businesses, and how the ethos of these parties relates to the recent H-Mart controversy. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. For more info on the Seafood City Party phenomenon, check out these articles: Disarray Magazine KQED LA Times Seattle Times NY Times Photo Credit: Disarray Magazine
Transcribe →Episode 246 – Scientific Dragons | Flowers for Dom Magwili
Jan 1001:00:41Tap to summarizehttps://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tfal-episode246.mp3 Dom Magwili is a prolific actor, writer, and educator who has graced his presence on stage and screen for years. Most importantly Dom has played a role in our lives when he guided Kat as she was PCN coordinator at UCLA and gave Elaine a boost of confidence when she was an emcee for the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture. In this episode the TFAL crew gives Dom his (metaphorical) flowers. Dom shares his journey as an artist and gives us a lesson in how to create your own work when you do not see yourself in the media landscape presented to you. The crew discusses Dom’s career and how it led him to his latest project Scientific Dragons! Scientific Dragons : The Adventure of Ensun Castle is a steampunk adventure that follows an expatriate from the Philippines, an immortal female pirate, and a Japanese American spy as they battle to keep a small European kingdom from falling to a global shadow government and their airborne fortress. Watch the trailer for Scientific Dragons and then head to Amazon and pick up the book: Buy Scientific Dragons! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.
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