In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Studies Teacher Yonsoo Kang was invited by his friend, Jen Lee, to be interviewed about his experience being an Asian American on her podcast titled AuthEthnic. Now, Kang and Lee share the mic as co-hosts of the podcast, covering topics surrounding social justice and the Asian American experience, which is available on multiple audio streaming platforms.
Speaking on topics such as the toxicity of Asian dating shows to the colonial origins of fusion food, Kang said The AuthEthnic Podcast explores the nuances of being Asian American.
“We try to wander and explore, ‘What does it mean to be Asian in the United States?’” Kang said. “We realized that being Asian abroad is a lot more complex than meets the eye based on migration patterns, history and immigration policies, and so we try to explore political and social issues, cultural issues, questions or celebrations with that lens of being authentic to yourself and exploring that ethnic part of you.”
Kang said The AuthEthnic Podcast aims to go beyond “traditional” conversations about Asian American identity.
“There are these safe topics, like culture, food, music, dance,” Kang said. “I’m not saying those are not important, but the whole point of The AuthEthnic Podcast was to go beyond that. We want to offer a critical lens and offer something to make the listener question, ‘Why do I believe what I believe?’”
As a host, Kang said he tries to avoid “accepted and mainstream” topics such as generational change in the Asian American community and push the podcast to cover themes that are often avoided.
“We really try to delve deep and focus on topics that are not talked about or are too risky to talk about,” Kang said. “We have quite a unique take that most podcasts, Asian American podcast groups, were not really addressing, things that are uncomfortable, things need to be dug into a little bit deeper.”
Kang said The AuthEthnic Podcast aims to challenge racial bias and Western-centric outlooks promoted by the media.
“People’s perspectives are often colored by film, movies, film, pop culture and books from the Western lens that are often influenced by caricatures and racist stereotypes like the mystical orient, which reinforce discrimination and prejudice,” Kang said.
In the future, Kang said he wants the podcast to be a source of personal exploration, representation and empowerment for others, as that was not available to him when he was growing up.
“I wish I had someone my age or someone older who could speak about my experience as an Asian American, straddling this third culture motorway of my parents and grandparents’ generation and their experiences growing up and then my experiences growing up in the United States,” Kang said. “It’s such a unique experience growing up being a minority.”
The AuthEthnic Podcast, Kang said, aims to create change and prompt reflection, highlighting the sometimes uncomfortable, often unique and always complex experiences of Asian Americans.
“We want everyone to stop and think just a little bit deeper, just a little bit more critically, to start a conversation with someone, whether friends or family,” Kang said. “There’s more than meets the eye in terms of Asian American consciousness, perspective, experiences and truth.”
This story was originally published on The Standard on September 4, 2024.
