Shows
SPAAC SNACCBanchan! #2 - (Still) Mad About MahjongDid you want to yell and rant when the whole Mahjong Line thing surfaced? Were you confused about the situation and why people called it an act of cultural appropriation? In this episode of Banchan!, Pauline and Christina break down how The Mahjong Line's "revamp" of mahjong constitutes a classic case of racist cultural appropriation and why calling it "cultural appreciation" in this instance just ISN'T IT. Also, did you know that mahjong is food culture? We talk about the broader culture that surrounds mahjong before delivering some local food news in Seattle.
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2021-01-3021 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 13: Donut DoulasIs there anything as beautiful as watching the birth of a donut? Not according to Thomas! For this holiday season, celebrate the birth of a holy child with a scrumptious holey dessert. In this episode, we talk about why it’s spelled ‘donut’ and ‘doughnut’, highlight its Asian American history, and share some of our favorite spots in Seattle.
2020-12-2544 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 12: Potato Chips and the Mystery of CrispsWhat makes a potato chip a chip, and how is it different from a crisp? What are some of the best potato chips you can buy from your local chain supermarket? This month, we dive deep into the bottom of multiple bags of potato chips to find our answers. Melie Ros (she/her, they/them) joins us on this episode, in which we taste test each person’s favorite potato chip, muse over the chip’s true nature, and indulge in every loud and delicious *crrrooonnnchhh* possible.
2020-12-0300 minSPAAC SNACCBanchan! #1 - Hainan Chicken Election BluesSPAAC SNACC now comes with Banchan! – a new minisoda series where we provide commentary on the drama in social media food discourse and dig deeper into conversations on food, identity, and social justice. We will also be using this space to share news on the food scene in Seattle, where we're based.
This inaugural episode is a special double feature. In the first segment, Pauline and Christina talk about the Twitter storm that brewed over Hainan Chicken Rice, and bid sad farewells to a beloved restaurant in Capitol Hill before dishing on some newcomers to th...
2020-10-1900 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 11: What We Consume and What Consumes UsEchoing the gravity of our times, SPAAC SNACC takes a deep dive into what we’re eating and what’s eating us in this episode. We discuss consumerism, the possibility for a theology of food, and how what we consume in the media reflects our desires, fears, and thoughts about ourselves in relation to the divine.
2020-09-1753 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 10: Self-Care Is ... ?How do you take care of yourself in a pandemic? Special guest and SPAAC mod Tim brought their thoughts about self-care, which includes food and more food. We ponder how food relates to our self-care and also ask other very serious questions like: "Is pooping self-care?" “Is food just pre-poop?” "Could we have talked any more about healthy bowel movements?" (But really, we care about your gut health. Probiotics are awesome!)
Note: We are still working out some audio difficulties, so we recommend listening with speakers instead of headphones, if possible!
2020-08-2045 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 9: Frozen Foods and HOT, HOT RageSeason 2 of SPAAC SNACC kicks off in the “2020-iest” fashion – the SNACCs gather around a warm and bright Google Meet call with some delicious, easily prepared meals from their freezers as they rage about life. From poorly moderated Facebook groups to the current administration failing to protect international students, the SNACCs’ heat on this call might be all that they need to cook their meals.
The SNACCs talk about an assortment of things that might trigger listeners. They ask that you take care of yourselves, drink water, and know that your rage is holy.
2020-07-1659 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 8: Zoom Chats and More SNACCsWashington state is still observing shelter in place, and over the past couple months, many of us have been staying connected through video calls. Inspired by this community building, the SNACCs called a couple members of Seattle PAAC who haven’t yet been on the podcast.
First up, Pauline called Kenji Fujinaka, and they talked about “procrasti-baking” and the experience that brought Kenji to SPAAC. Then Christina spoke with Katya Nemec about her upbringing in Asia, the complexities of her identity and how it has shifted in different contexts in the US, as well as what is bringi...
2020-05-2154 minSPAAC SNACCMinisoda #4: Pancit and Poetry[cw: body image; please note that the slurs of ‘banana’ and ‘coconut’ appear in this minisoda]
What are new ‘norms’ that you want to continue after this pandemic? For Mickey, it’s making sure to spend more time with his family. On this quarantine minisoda, Mickey invites his younger brother Jonathan to share a spoken word poem about decolonizing his racial identity. The brothers talk about Jon's journey, art, being brown, their upbringing, and their hopes for the future.
Additionally, Mickey has an announcements for you snaccs! We hope that you are keeping safe and are doing well...
2020-04-1621 minSPAAC SNACCMinisoda #3: Instafoods and Influenzers[loud slurping noises]
Ah, instant noodles on a cold day ... and when you're practicing social distancing? The stores might be out of instant ramen but we found some noodles to slurp up with our third minisoda. Christina and Pauline dive into all things coronavirus, whether we're thinking about past epidemics in Asia or what the situation is like now in the US. Featuring brief homages to therapy and pizza, as you do. Stay safe out there.
A thing we didn't mention is that we believe in tipping restaurant staff well! It's ridiculous that they're not...
2020-03-1930 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 7: Karē and Comfort FoodsIs that sunlight or just a false glimmer of hope on the way to more cold and dreary weather? Welcome to Seattle, where the sun is a lie and only comfort food can get you through the last vestiges of winter. In this episode, the SNACCast revels in a smorgasbord of their go-to comfort foods, featuring corn dogs, Taco Bell, Costco food court offerings, as well as the polarizing century egg. Here's hoping early spring is on the way!
2020-02-2050 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 6: B-b-b-boba!SPAAC SNACC rings in a brand new decade with an episode on: b-b-b-boba! SPAAC member and doctor-in-training Karen Chung joins us as a special guest in this episode, where we talk about our favorite boba joints in Seattle, our preferred orders, and why we fear that our controversial takes on boba could get us canceled.
2020-01-1649 minSPAAC SNACCMinisoda #2: Christmas Cheer and Puzzled PresentsThere’s so much to snacc on every time we record, and not all of the tasty morsels make it past the edits. Our second “minisoda” comes from our fourth episode "Bibim Naengmyeon and Birthdays,” when we talked about some of our most memorable birthdays and gifts. Jenny and Thomas share about one gift, in particular, that was memorable for all the wrong reasons.…
Your snaccs wish you a very happy holiday season, and we will return with full episodes in the new decade!
2019-12-1907 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 5: Garnishes and Giving Thanks[Content warning: Thanksgiving, holiday season]
SPAAC SNACC takes on the ultimate food holiday: Thanksgiving. Listen in for an epic serving of stories that include turkey with kimchi, vegans navigating the holiday, awkward family tensions, and the pressure for Asians to have a “real American” Thanksgiving.
2019-11-2147 minSPAAC SNACCMinisoda #1: Rainier Cherries and the “Perfect Child”There’s so much to snacc on in every recording session, and not all of the tasty morsels make it past the edits. This month, SPAAC SNACC shares its first minisode (or “minisoda,” if you will) featuring a conversation between Pauline and her mom, Terri, who reminisce about how Pauline used to be the perfect, compliant child and how seaweed used to remind her of Christopher Columbus.
This conversation was originally recorded for our second episode, “Gochujang and School Lunches,” released on July 18, 2019.
2019-10-3112 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 4: Bibim Naengmyeon and BirthdaysOn the occasion of Aya’s “Jesus year” birthday, SPAAC SNACC shares stories about birthdays, gifts, and all the associated foods. Join them at the table as they talk about their birthday traditions, “cardinal sin” gifts, fried avocado rolls, and why they think that air conditioning is a serious justice issue.
2019-09-1949 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 3: Dango and Wet NoodsWhich Asian noodle dish is “the best”? Your intrepid SNACCast takes on this controversial question in this episode. We have our contenders and we have a tournament bracket - which dish will prevail? Following an epic noodle battle, we talk about breathing, vitamins, and how to get a round ass. The recipe for Mitatashi Dango - Rice Balls in Syrup is available on the blog post!
2019-08-1640 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 2: Gochujang and School LunchesAsians and school lunch - a tale of trauma, nostalgia, or both? In this episode, SPAAC’s very own public school teacher extraordinaire Garrett Chan joins us as a special guest to muse over our lunchtime memories. We discover that Asian lunches have now become “cool for school,” and we come to a stunning revelation about Lunchables. More SPAAC news includes celebrating our 2nd anniversary and SPAAC church launching in August. Also, we’re snacking on cute baby videos, Adulting, and more!
2019-07-1848 minSPAAC SNACCEpisode 1: Car Pizza and Car CrashesWelcome to the SPAAC SNACC podcast! The Seattle chapter of Progressive Asian American Christians (PAAC) is turning our collective obsession with food and other miscellaneous snaccs into an audio experience. In this episode, we begin with an introduction to all six of our snaccast hosts - Aya, Christina, Jenny, Mickey, Pauline, and Thomas - before launching into the origin story of this podcast, which involves pizzas, cars, and profanity. Aya shares the near-death experience and SPAAC’s future plans.
2019-06-2033 min