Shows
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Kaila YuJeff and Phil welcome writer and former pinup model Kaila Yu, author of the memoir Fetished: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty, a memoir-in-essays exploring the roles pop culture and colonialism played in shaping pervasive and destructive stereotypes about Asian women and their bodies. She talks about her iconic status as a model on import tuner scene; her own reckoning with being an object of Asian fetish; and her personal journey of self-love and healing. They also discuss Phil and Kaila's shared history as members of the extended Fast & Furious cinematic universe, as well as the remote...
2025-08-2444 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Andrew AhnJeff and Phil welcome back their old friend Andrew Ahn, writer/director of The Wedding Banquet, a reimagining of Ang Lee's beloved classic. They discuss Andrew's journey as a filmmaker; assembling an all-star team -- including Youn Yuh-jung, Joan Chen, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang -- for the project; navigating the complexities and subtleties of contemporary queer representation; being a part of the legacy of Asian American cinema; and of course, The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of remaking The Wedding Banquet.
2025-06-0758 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us The Wedding BanquetJeff and Phil welcome back their old pals Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos to talk about The Wedding Banquet, writer/director Andrew Ahn's contemporary re-envisioning of Ang Lee's 1993 beloved romantic comedy, starring Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, and Han Gi-Chan. The big question: does this remake justify its existence? They discuss the film's fresh take on LGBTQ+ themes and family dynamics; some of the more questionable but necessary narrative turns; and why Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-jung are Asian American cinema royalty.
2025-04-261h 06
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Hudson YangPhil and Jeff celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fresh Off the Boat with series star Hudson Yang (who also happens to be Jeff's son). They reflect on the show's impact on their family, Hudson's journey from childhood aspirations to landing a lead role, and the significance of the show in reshaping narratives around Asian Americans in media. They look back at the audition process, the challenges of navigating fame and public scrutiny as a child actor, and the lasting (and perhaps unsung) legacy of the series. Also: that time Hudson almost got fired from Fresh Off the Boat before i...
2025-02-071h 06
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Extremely Unique DynamicJeff and Phil welcome Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, the directors/writers/producers/stars of Extremely Unique Dynamic, a "Meta-Asian-Stoner-Coming-of-Age-Bromantic Dramedy" about two best friends who decide to make a movie... about two guys making a movie... about two guys making a movie. They talk about making a buddy narrative to showcase their friendship and talent, how they managed to sneak in a celebrity cameo from Hudson Yang (as himself!) and the unanticipated low-budget/high-effort costs when you make an indie project. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Extremely Unique Dynamic.
2025-01-1144 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us A Great DivideJeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Jean Shim and actress Jae Suh Park, director and star of the independent drama A Great Divide -- also co-written and produced by our very own Jeff Yang. They talk about making a movie inspired by the contemporary backdrop of anti-Asian hate, the personal experiences with racism and xenophobia that informed the film's story and characters, the quirks and challenges of shooting in the wilds of Wyoming, and why it's convenient to have a doctor on set -- especially if that doctor is Ken Jeong. Also: a special bonus edition of "Pass, Fail, Incomplete...
2024-12-061h 12
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Culinary Class WarsJeff and Phil follow up and welcome back chef Edward Lee -- just two episodes later -- fresh off the finale of the Netflix cooking competition Culinary Class Wars. Spoiler alert! He talks about his grueling journey to the final challenge, including the Endless Cooking Hell, his unexpected new nickname, that incredible dessert dish, and how his cooking throughout the entire show told a personal story about his Korean American identity. Also: Jeff and Phil offer The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Culinary Class Wars.
2024-10-1141 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Sara Jane HoJeff and Phil welcome educator, socialite and etiquette expert Sara Jane Ho, host of the Netflix series Mind Your Manners and author of Mind Your Manners: How to Be Your Best Self in Any Situation. She talks about her cross-cultural, transnational journey to becoming a global etiquette leader and how context and culture are key to understanding etiquette in any social situation. Also, on the matter of wearing shoes in the house -- if you ask Jeff and Phil, it's definitively disgusting -- Sara Jane settles the debate once and for all.
2024-06-2840 min
They Call Us BruceBONUS: They Call Us 이정재BONUS EPISODE! This is Jeff and Phil's full interview with actor Lee Jung-jae, star of Squid Game and the Star Wars series The Acolyte, presented with the unedited Korean audio (and translation by Isue Shin). He talks about joining the Star Wars franchise, making in his English-language acting debut as a Jedi master, and working with the show's young stars. He also gives us The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Acolyte, and even dangles a tiny crumb of news about Squid Game season two. Also be sure to listen to our previous episode, which includes som...
2024-06-0424 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Corky Lee's Asian AmericaIn Episode 238, Jeff and Phil welcome historian and professor Mae Ngai, co-editor of the book Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice, a collection of over 200 photos celebrating the history and cultural impact of the Asian American social justice movement from the lens of late photojournalist and activist Corky Lee. She talks about Corky's calling as "the inundisputed, unofficial Asian American photographer laureate" and his lifelong quest to document, empower and create community change with his camera. Also: Jeff talks about that time he and Corky lost track of time.
2024-04-2753 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Avatar: The Last AirbenderIn Episode 234, Jeff and Phil welcome Albert Kim, showrunner of Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. He talks about the epic challenge of adapting the beloved animated series, "remixing" the original show's story elements for the streaming format, the cultural considerations that go into building an Asian-inspired fantasy world (does Iroh have an accent?) and casting Asian and Indigenous actors for these iconic roles. Plus: Jeff divulges Albert's personal email address. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.
2024-03-221h 01
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us Lunar New Year Love StoryIn Episode 228, Jeff and Phil welcome graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham, who have joined forces for Lunar New Year Love Story, a heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love. They talk about Gene's real-life origins of merging Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year celebrations, the bad dates and relationships that inspired some of their characters' turmoil, and the natural pan-Asian diversity that infuses the cast and community narrative of Lunar New Love Story.
2024-02-0957 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us K-CultureIn Episode 223, Jeff and Phil close out 2023 and welcome critic and commentator Jae-Ha Kim to talk all things K -- from K-dramas to K-pop, and all the other ways Korean pop culture has spread its infectious K-embrace across the globe. They discuss the best K-dramas of the year (according to Jae-Ha), what happens when BTS takes a break for military service, and the recent tragic death of Lee Sun-kyun. Phil also admits -- nay, declares -- his love of NewJeans. This episode is sponsored by the Netflix series The Brothers Sun.
2024-01-021h 14
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us The Golden ScreenRecorded live at Bās Bookshop in Honolulu, Hawaii! In Episode 220, Jeff and Phil celebrate the release of Jeff's new book The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America, which explores the history of Asian Americans on the silver screen, and the iconic films that have shaped Hollywood, representation, and American culture. They talk about why this moment in representation seemed like the right time for this book, how Jeff chose the movies that "made the cut," and a reconsideration (or reimagining) of Long Duk Dong. Also, in The Good, The Bad and The WTF, they offer some un...
2023-12-0941 min
They Call Us BruceThey Call Us 200Jeff and Phil celebrate 200 episodes of They Call Us Bruce by welcoming back some good friends and returning guests from Episode 100: actor Daniel Wu, who stars as the Monkey King in Disney's adaptation of AMERICAN BORN CHINESE, and comedian/filmmaker W. Kamau Bell, whose HBO original documentary 1000% ME: GROWING UP MIXED explores multiracial identity though conversations with kids and families. They discuss why the kids are all right, the meme-ification of Bruce Lee, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of having a foot in two worlds. Plus: Phil and Kamau engage in an impromptu Daniel Tiger sing-off.
2023-06-051h 09
They Call Us Bruce121: They Call Us Angry Asian ManHappy Angryversary! Jeff and Phil take a moment to observe the 20th anniversary of Angry Asian Man, the blog that started all this. Phil looks back at his beginnings and reflects on his unique view of Asian America over the last two decades.
2021-02-1945 minThey Call Us Bruce119: They Call Us Your Korean DadJeff and Phil welcome Nick Cho, aka "Your Korean Dad" of viral TikTok fame. He talks about his journey from coffee professional to making videos on social media, to becoming an affirming father figure to 2 million followers and counting.
2021-01-301h 01They Call Us Bruce118: They Call Us Bugs BunnyJeff and Phil welcome Eric Bauza, the new voice of Bugs Bunny. They discuss issues of diversity and inclusion in voice acting, cracking the code of a good impression, and how a Filipino kid from Canada ended up as the voice of animation's most wascally wabbit.
2020-12-241h 10They Call Us Bruce117: They Call Us House of HoJeff and Phil welcome producer/friend Jes Vu and Salon culture editor Hanh Nguyen to discuss the new HBO Max reality show HOUSE OF HO. They talk about actual crazy rich Asians, family dysfunction, airing out your dirty laundry, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of Asian Americans on reality television.
2020-12-181h 02They Call Us Bruce116: They Call Us Asian in New ZealandJeff and Phil welcome New Zealand writer/activist Tze Ming Mok. She talks about her country's complicated racial politics, what it's like to live under a functional government that has had a handle on COVID-19, and what her view of America looks like right now. (It's not good.)
2020-11-271h 11They Call Us Bruce115: They Call Us Election 2020Jeff and Phil welcome blogger Jenn Fang and columnist Aisha Sultan to discuss the historic election of Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, the troubling truth about Trump supporters and the American electorate, and the amazing gift of Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
2020-11-101h 12They Call Us Bruce114: They Call Us The Donut KingJeff and Phil welcome Alice Gu, director of the feature documentary THE DONUT KING, and Mayly Tao, proprietor of DK's Donuts, to discuss the incredible story donuts, refugee hustle, and the one guy responsible for the Cambodian American stronghold on donut shops on the west coast.
2020-11-051h 04They Call Us Bruce113: They Call Us Chinatown PrettyJeff and Phil welcome photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu, the authors behind CHINATOWN PRETTY, a blog and book capturing the unique street style of Chinatown seniors. They discuss the art of chasing down pretty poh pohs to take their photo.
2020-10-301h 12They Call Us Bruce112: They Call Us Yellow RoseJeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Diane Paragas, writer/director of the new movie Yellow Rose. She talks about the long journey to bring her story to the screen, how she cast the film's incredible star Eva Noblezada, and why country music is so cinematic.
2020-10-151h 03They Call Us Bruce111: They Call Us We Bare BearsJeff and Phil welcome Daniel Chong, creator of the hit animated series We Bare Bears. They discuss the bittersweet end of the show, the very real-world issues in We Bare Bears: The Movie, and how a cartoon about a trio of bear brothers can inspire empathy and understanding in these dark times.
2020-10-091h 00They Call Us Bruce110: They Call Us The Paper TigersJeff and Phil welcome Quoc Bao Tran, writer/director of the new kung fu comedy THE PAPER TIGERS. He talks about the long journey to make this film, why this had to be an Asian American story, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of getting too old for this s**t.
2020-10-021h 06They Call Us Bruce109: They Call Us Sujata DayJeff and Phil welcome Sujata Day, who wrote, directed, produced and starred in the new film DEFINITION PLEASE. She talks about the failed spelling bee word that haunts her, taking the plunge (and calling all her friends) to make her first feature, and revealing a certain co-star's... assets.
2020-09-251h 19They Call Us Bruce108: They Call Us Vaccine TrialsJeff and Phil welcome design/technology writer Gregory Han, who has been participating in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine. They discuss what it will take to end the virus, what the world might look like on the other side, and if karaoke will survive coronavirus.
2020-09-191h 05They Call Us Bruce107: They Call Us MulanIn their longest episode ever, Jeff and Phil welcome Rebecca Sun and Frankie Huang to talk about Disney's live action adaptation of Mulan. They discuss The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the film, as well as how they'd adapt the tale differently.
2020-09-112h 02
They Call Us Bruce106: They Call Us USPSJeff and Phil welcome Kevin Gan Yuen, an employee of the United States Postal Service. He talks about getting into the "family business," reveals the weirdest things people send via mail, and gives us The Good, The Bad and The WTF of working for USPS.
2020-09-0555 minThey Call Us Bruce105: They Call Us The Vice Presidential NomineeJeff and Phil welcome Anna John and Arun Venugopal to discuss the historic nomination of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate -- the first woman of color on a major party ticket. They talk about multiracial identity, representation, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of an Indian American Vice President.
2020-08-201h 15They Call Us Bruce104: They Call Us Lucky GrandmaResurrected and salvaged from audio limbo! Jeff and Phil welcome the legendary Tsai Chin, star of the feature film LUCKY GRANDMA, along with writer/director Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng. They discuss why a 85-year-old Chinese grandma was the perfect star for a Chinatown gangster caper.
2020-07-3034 minThey Call Us Bruce103: They Call Us Becoming Less RacistIn this special crossover episode, Jeff and Phil join forces with "Becoming Less Racist: Lighting the Path to Anti-Racism" with Simran Jeet Singh. They talk about anti-Asian racism in the time of COVID, the model minority myth, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of becoming less racist. Becoming Less Racist: Lighting the Path to Anti-Racism https://religionnews.com/becoming-less-racist/ Simran Jeet Singh Twitter: @SikhProf Jeff Yang Twitter: @originalspin Phil Yu Twitter: @angryasianman angryasianman.com They Call Us Bruce Twitter: @TheyCallUsBruce
2020-07-2358 minThey Call Us Bruce102: They Call Us The Baby-Sitters ClubJeff and Phil facilitate a deep appreciation of an Asian American icon: Claudia Kishi of THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB. They welcome Naia Cucukov, Executive Producer of the new Netflix series; Jade Chang, writer of "Claudia and Mean Janine"; and Sue Ding, director of the documentary short THE CLAUDIA KISHI CLUB.
2020-07-161h 13They Call Us Bruce101: They Call Us AdopteesJeff and Phil welcome Asian American adoptees Dan Matthews and Grace Newton to share their stories, discuss recent adoption-related controversies in the news, and complicate the narrative around issues of international and transracial adoption.
2020-07-041h 15They Call Us Bruce100b: They Call Us Daniel Wu and W. Kamau BellIn part two of this special double-sized 100th episode, Jeff and Phil welcome actor Daniel Wu and comedian W. Kamau Bell to help celebrate their podcast milestone and nerd out over their shared love of -- who else -- Bruce Lee.
2020-06-081h 14They Call Us Bruce100a: They Call Us Bao NguyenEpisode 100! Jeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Bao Nguyen, director of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary BE WATER, which explores -- from a decidedly Asian American perspective -- the groundbreaking journey of martial arts icon Bruce Lee.
2020-06-051h 14They Call Us BruceEpisode 99: They Call Us Lynn ChenJeff and Phil welcome Lynn Chen, who wrote, directed, produced and stars in the movie I WILL MAKE YOU MINE. She talks about getting the "band" back together, the song that almost busted her budget, and completing the most low-budget movie trilogy ever.
2020-05-211h 02They Call Us BruceEpisode 98: They Call Us Renee Tajima-PenaJeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Renee Tajima-Pena, producer of the epic new PBS documentary series ASIAN AMERICANS. She talks about the stories no one tells you, how history repeats itself, and the challenges of condensing 150 years of history into a five-hour public television series.
2020-05-111h 07They Call Us BruceEpisode 97: They Call Us Andrew AhnJeff and Phil welcome Andrew Ahn, director of the feature drama DRIVEWAYS, starring Hong Chau. He talks about making a movie to come out to his parents, getting accepted to the "Harvard" of film festivals, and working with the late Brian Dennehy on one of his last roles.
2020-05-071h 10They Call Us BruceEpisode 96: They Call Us Alice WuJeff and Phil welcome Alice Wu, writer/director of the new Netflix feature THE HALF OF IT. They discuss her long-awaited follow-up to SAVING FACE, how her coming-of-age film speaks to Trump's America, and the $1000 check that scared her out of writer's block.
2020-05-011h 33They Call Us BruceEpisode 95: They Call Us COVID-19 SurvivorJeff and Phil welcome Clement Chow, who contracted the coronavirus and was hospitalized with COVID-19. Fresh from quarantine, he shares about his experience in the ICU, making it to the other side, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of surviving the disease.
2020-04-1650 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 94: They Call Us Alan YangJeff and Phil welcome Alan Yang, writer/director of the Netflix film TIGERTAIL. They discuss why he wanted to make this multigenerational family saga, the golden age of Tzi Ma as Asian America's dad, and the Good, Bad and WTF of telling immigrant stories.
2020-04-0946 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 93: They Call Us Yul KwonJeff and Phil welcome Yul Kwon, winner of Survivor: Cook Islands, who is back competing on the show's current season, Survivor: Winners at War. They discuss the "race war," Yul's reasons for returning to reality television, and if/how they'd all survive in a zombie apocalypse.
2020-04-031h 28They Call Us BruceEpisode 92: They Call Us Pandemic ParentsJeff and Phil welcome Stephen Dypiangco, co-founder of Dadventures, and Theresa Kim Yang, educator and literary coach. They discuss parenting through the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to find normalcy while everything is definitely not normal.
2020-03-261h 06They Call Us BruceEpisode 91: They Call Us Social DistancingWash your hands. Stay home. Don't be racist. With this global pandemic underway, Jeff and Phil welcome Dr. Esther Choo to offer her perspective on the COVID-19 health crisis. They also break down The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of social distancing.
2020-03-191h 05They Call Us BruceEpisode 90: They Call Us CoronavirusJeff and Phil welcome blogger and scientist Jenn Fang, founder of Reappropriate.co. They talk about COVID-19, aka the Coronavirus, and the social, cultural and public health implications of the current global outbreak. How's everybody feeling? Cough cough.
2020-03-0653 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 89: They Call Us That Movie From South KoreaJeff and Phil check in to catch up and discuss The Good, The Bad and The WTF of recent weeks, including Parasite's historic night at the Oscars, the bittersweet end of Fresh Off The Boat, and Trump's truly terrible take on movies.
2020-02-2643 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 88: They Call Us Gene Luen YangJeff and Phil welcome back their good friend, acclaimed graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang. He talks about his latest books DRAGON HOOPS, which follows the true story of a high school basketball team's championship season, and SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN, which pits the Man of Steel against hooded racists.
2020-02-071h 18They Call Us BruceEpisode 87: They Call Us Oscar NominationsHappy New Year! Jeff and Phil get back into it, just in time to debrief this year's Academy Award nominations. They talk about all the love for PARASITE, the lack of love for THE FAREWELL, and why the hell Scarlett Johansson got nominated twice.
2020-01-151h 14They Call Us BruceEpisode 86: They Call Us Jean Yoon & Andrea BangJeff and Phil welcome friends from the north: Jean Yoon and Andrea Bang, stars of the hit Canadian sitcom KIM'S CONVENIENCE. They talk about their newfound recognition as TV stars, this Moment that Korea is having, and The Good, The Bad and WTF of family.
2020-01-071h 12They Call Us BruceEpisode 85: They Call Us Destin Daniel CrettonJeff and Phil talk to director Destin Daniel Cretton about his new film JUST MERCY, which tells the true story of death row defense attorney Bryan Stevenson. He also drops a few hints about an upcoming little Marvel movie called SHANG-CHI.
2019-12-2429 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 84: They Call Us ParasiteJeff and Phil welcome TV writer Liz Alper to talk about the plight of assistants in the entertainment industry and organizing #PayUpHollywood. And then they geek out about Bong Joon Ho's PARASITE.
2019-12-061h 41They Call Us BruceEpisode 83: They Call Us ThankfulRecorded live at the Edison Theatre in Long Beach! For this special Thanksgiving-themed episode, Jeff and Phil welcome friends Tess Paras, Thuc Doan Nguyen and Shirley Li to talk politics, culture and the year in Asian America.
2019-11-251h 19They Call Us BruceEpisode 82: They Call Us The Asian American Film CanonJeff and Phil welcome Brian Hu, artistic director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, to talk about the challenges and considerations of curating the Los Angeles Times' list of the 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years. Film geekery ensues.
2019-11-141h 02They Call Us BruceEpisode 81: They Call Us Love BoatWe're talking about LOVE BOAT! Jeff and Phil discuss the infamous Taiwanese culture/language study tour with Valerie Soe, director of the documentary LOVE BOAT: TAIWAN, and Abigail Hing Wen, author of the forthcoming young adult novel LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI.
2019-10-3156 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 80: They Call Us Maulik PancholyJeff and Phil welcome actor, advocate and author Maulik Pancholy, who talks about THE BEST AT IT, his new novel for young readers. They discuss 30 Rock, camel nuggets, Snake Americans, being true to yourself, and the Good, Bad and WTF of being The Best.
2019-10-251h 08They Call Us BruceEpisode 79: They Call Us Sophia ChangJeff and Phil welcome Sophia Chang, who talks about her many identities: former manager of some of hip hop and R&B's greatest acts, kung fu practitioner, daughter of Korean immigrants, and now, author of the new audio memoir The Baddest Bitch in the Room.
2019-10-171h 15They Call Us BruceEpisode 78: They Call Us Manny JacintoJeff and Phil welcome actor Manny Jacinto, best known for playing Jason Mendoza on The Good Place. They talk about his stereotype-busting breakthrough role, the work ethic of Tom Cruise, and what it's like to play the dumbest character on television.
2019-10-101h 08They Call Us BruceEpisode 77: They Call Us Helen ZiaRecorded live at Cal Poly Pomona! Jeff and Phil welcome author/activist Helen Zia. They discuss the tumultuous forces of history and migration that inform her latest book, Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution.
2019-10-0359 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 76: They Call Us AbominableJeff and Phil talk to Peilin Chou, Chief Creative Officer of Pearl Studios and producer of ABOMINABLE, currently the number one movie at the box office. They talk about the unique challenges of creating a Chinese animated feature with global appeal.
2019-09-3037 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 75: We Call Us YangJeff and Phil check in and debrief The Good, The Bad and The WTF of This Week in Yang, including a certain clan competing on Family Feud, recent casting developments on Saturday Night Live, and the rising visibility of a presidential candidate.
2019-09-161h 05They Call Us BruceEpisode 74: They Call Us Constance WuJeff and Phil welcome Constance Wu. She talks about skyrocketing to stardom on Fresh Off the Boat, the steep learning curve of being in the spotlight, the loneliness of her new film Hustlers, and yes, those tweets.
2019-09-031h 16They Call Us BruceEpisode 73: They Call Us The TerrorJeff and Phil welcome Alex Woo, co-creator and showrunner of AMC's The Terror: Infamy. They discuss the responsibility and challenges of telling the story of Japanese American incarceration, and The Good, The Bad and WTF of scary Asian stories.
2019-08-121h 12They Call Us BruceEpisode 72: They Call Us Lulu WangJeff and Phil talk to Lulu Wang, writer/director of the acclaimed indie film The Farewell, now in theaters everywhere. She talks about telling a story "based on an actual lie" and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making this deeply personal film.
2019-08-0441 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 71: We Call Us Simu Liu's Shang-Chi AuditionJeff and Phil debrief the big announcement out of Comic-Con: Simu Liu is Shang-Chi, Marvel's Master of Kung Fu! They also pour one out for the recent death of the live-action Akira remake (again).
2019-07-2456 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 70: We Call Us Tzi Ma's Lost DaughtersJeff and Phil discuss The Good, The Bad and The WTF of what's going on in Asian America, including The Farewell, Scarlett Johansson's dumbshit comments, and the perpetual gut punch of "go back to where you came from."
2019-07-2157 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 69: They Call Us Kulap VilaysackJeff and Phil welcome actress/comedian/writer Kulap Vilaysack to talk about her deeply personal feature documentary ORIGIN STORY. They discuss unearthing family secrets, making art from trauma, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of airing out your dirty laundry.
2019-07-041h 15They Call Us BruceEpisode 68: They Call Us Soleil HoRecorded live at NCORE in Portland, Jeff and Phil welcome back Soleil Ho, restaurant critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. They talk race, culture, politics, identity and, of course, food.
2019-06-081h 01They Call Us BruceEpisode 67: They Call Us Always Be My MaybeJeff and Phil offer their honest takes on the new Netflix romantic comedy ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE, starring Randall Park and Ali Wong. Spoiler warnings all around. Best believe we punched Keanu Reeves.
2019-06-0358 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 66: They Call Us Randall Park & Michael GolamcoJeff and Phil welcome actor Randall Park and writer Michael Golamco to talk about ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE, their new Netflix romantic comedy with Ali Wong. They discuss The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making an awesome Asian American movie with your friends.
2019-05-311h 20They Call Us BruceEpisode 65: They Call Us Vibrant AsiansJeff and Phil talk authenticity and appropriation with journalist Angela Hui, the only East Asian person in attendance at a recent preview event for Gordon Ramsay's "vibrant Asian eating house" Lucky Cat. Her take: "It was an actual kitchen nightmare."
2019-05-2257 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 64: They Call Us WarriorJeff and Phil offer their impressions, praises and critiques of Cinemax's WARRIOR, the new western/eastern action drama inspired by the writings of Bruce Lee. (Spoiler alert: they really like it.)
2019-04-1254 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 63: They Call Us Shannon LeeJeff and Phil welcome Shannon Lee, CEO of Bruce Lee Family Companies and the daughter of our show's namesake, Bruce Lee. She talks about her father's incredible legacy and the original vision that became the basis for the Cinemax action series WARRIOR.
2019-04-051h 13They Call Us BruceEpisode 62: They Call Us MasterChef (Live From SXSW)Recorded live at SXSW! In partnership with DoorDash, Jeff and Phil welcome MasterChef Season 9 contestants Ashley Mincey and Farhan Momin to chat about cooking, family, culture, authenticity and "ethnic food."
2019-03-2255 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 61: They Call Us Austin Asians (Live From SXSW)Recorded live at SXSW! In partnership with the Austin Asian American Film Festival, Jeff and Phil host an Asian American trivia quiz show, with special guests Simu Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jonny Sun, Nancy Wang Yuen, Chloe Dao and PJ Raval.
2019-03-2157 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 60: They Call Us CanadiansJeff and Phil welcome Canadian actors Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim's Convenience) and Samantha Wan (Second Jen). They discuss the unique flavor and challenges of telling stories north of the border, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being Asian Canadian.
2019-03-081h 19They Call Us BruceEpisode 59: They Call Us Fairy Princess DiariesJeff and Phil welcome performer and blogger Erin Quill, the fierce, hilarious voice behind Fairy Princess Diaries. They discuss objectionable details about BBC's upcoming Asian-themed children's series, Living With the Lams.
2019-02-261h 31They Call Us BruceEpisode 58: We Call Us Lunar New YearJeff and Phil ring in the Lunar New Year by welcoming a new member to the They Call Us Bruce team, Nick Song. Testing out a new format, they discuss The Good, The Bad and WTF of the week in Asian America.
2019-02-1641 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 57: They Call Us Tze ChunJeff and Phil welcome writer/filmmaker Tze Chun, who talks about his journey from directing independent film to writing for network television, to his latest venture, co-creating the new comic book publisher TKO Studios.
2019-02-081h 19They Call Us BruceEpisode 56: They Call Us 2018Jeff and Phil welcome Traci Lee of NBC Asian America to discuss the "13 moments in Asian America that moved us in 2018" and take one last look back at The Good, The Bad and The WTF of the year that was.
2019-01-031h 03They Call Us BruceEpisode 55: They Call Us Cartoon CreatorsRecorded live at Asian American Culture Con @ Pacific Media Expo! Jeff and Phil welcome animation storytellers Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears), Victor Cook (Stretch Armstrong), Dan Santat (The Replacements) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Ralph Breaks the Internet).
2018-11-281h 15They Call Us BruceEpisode 54: They Call Us Primetime AsiansRecorded live at Asian American Culture Con @ Pacific Media Expo! Jeff and Phil welcome actors Keiko Agena (The First), Jake Choi (Single Parents) and Ryan Potter (Titans) to talk about The Good, The Bad and the WTF of being Asians on TV.
2018-11-2755 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 52: They Call Us VietgoneJeff and Phil welcome playwright Qui Nguyen, who talks about the true life origins of his acclaimed play VIETGONE, the small town video store pop culture that defined him, and the super secret material he's been working on for Marvel.
2018-10-251h 40They Call Us BruceEpisode 51: They Call Us All The Asians on TVJeff and Phil discuss "All The Asians on TV." With the new television season underway, here's a rundown of actors of Asian descent who are series regulars on new scripted prime time network, cable and streaming shows premiering this fall.
2018-10-0634 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 50: They Call Us 50Jeff and Phil take a moment to acknowledge and reflect on making it to 50 episodes of They Call Us Bruce. They look back at the Good, the Bad and the WTF of the first fifty shows, consider the future, and make A VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
2018-10-0354 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 49: They Call Us Jose Antonio VargasJeff and Phil welcome journalist, activist and author Jose Antonio Vargas, "the most famous undocumented immigrant in America." They talk about his new book DEAR AMERICA, intersectional identity, and the Good, Bad and WTF of being "American."
2018-09-191h 05They Call Us BruceEpisode 48: They Call Us StaycationJeff and Phil welcome filmmaker Tanuj Chopra and actress Grace Su to talk about their feature STAYCATION ahead of the film's world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival. They discuss, among other things, the Good, Bad and WTF of being "hella indie."
2018-09-141h 13They Call Us BruceEpisode 47: They Call Us John ChoRecorded live at Sony studios, Jeff and Phil welcome John Cho, star of the new thriller Searching. They discuss the film's inventive storytelling conceit, his unique leading man status, and the Good, Bad and WTF of being John Cho.
2018-08-2548 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 46: They Call Us Crazy About Crazy Rich AsiansIn this super-sized episode, Jeff and Phil welcome Jen Yamato of the Los Angeles Times and (first repeat guest) Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter to dish and debrief their reactions to the biggest movie of the year, Crazy Rich Asians.
2018-08-221h 48They Call Us BruceEpisode 45: They Call Us Ronny ChiengJeff and Phil welcome "international" comedian Ronny Chieng, who talks about going from law school to standup, getting a correspondent gig on The Daily Show, and being back in his home country for a major pop culture moment: Crazy Rich Asians.
2018-08-131h 06They Call Us BruceEpisode 44: They Call Us Crazy Rich AsiansRecorded at C3: Conference for Creative Content at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Jeff and Phil moderate a panel discussion with director Jon M. Chu, screenwriter Adele Lim, and cast members Nico Santos and Chris Pang of CRAZY RICH ASIANS.
2018-08-0656 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 43: They Call Us Will ChoiJeff and Phil welcome Will Choi, the multi-hyphenate mastermind behind the hit Asian American variety show ASIAN AF. They discuss improv, the art of trolling Scarlett Johansson, and the Good, Bad and WTF of the Asian American hustle.
2018-06-211h 19They Call Us BruceEpisode 42: They Call Us John ChiangJeff and Phil welcome California State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang. He talks about being the "no drama" candidate, how family tragedy informed his passion for service, and the Good, Bad and WTF of running for Governor of California.
2018-05-3126 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 35: They Call Us PyeongChangJeff and Phil welcome Hannah Yu - Phil's sister - fresh off the plane from South Korea, where she attended the Winter Games in PyeongChang. From triple axels to twizzles to mctwists, they discuss the Olympic triumphs and trials of Team Asian America.
2018-02-2158 minThey Call Us BruceEpisode 17: They Call Us Brian Yang and Evan Jackson LeongJeff and Phil welcome actor/producer Brian Yang and director Evan Jackson Leong, who talk about the hustle of independent filmmaking, finding themselves in the middle of Linsanity and making their latest project, the crime drama 'Snakehead.'
2017-07-281h 24They Call Us BruceEpisode 14: They Call Us #UglyDeliciousJeff and Phil welcome comedian/writer Jenny Yang and Eater NY News Editor Serena Dai to discuss food, culture and things that make you say "Yo, I don't know about that" -- including a white chef who serves up sushi with a fake Japanese accent.
2017-07-061h 12
They Call Us BruceEpisode 10: They Call Us Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler and Ian ChenRecorded with a live studio audience at the offices of TBWA/Chiat/Day, Jeff and Phil welcome young actors Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler and Ian Chen, who play brothers Eddie, Emery and Evan on ABC's Fresh Off The Boat. Yeah, we called in that favor.
2017-05-2743 min
They Call Us BruceEpisode 8: They Call Us Gene Luen Yang and Greg PakJeff and Phil geek out with acclaimed comic book creators Gene Luen Yang and Greg Pak, who talk about diversity in comics, new takes on iconic characters, and who would win in a fight: Asian Hulk or Asian Superman?
2017-05-121h 32
They Call Us BruceEpisode 0: They Call Us Bruce?Hosts Jeff Yang and Phil Yu introduce They Call Us Bruce, an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
2017-03-2122 min