Best Phil Yu Podcasts (2025)

1
They Call Us Kaila Yu 44:50

3d ago44:50

44:50

Jeff 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 …

1
Yu Shu Lien v Rhea Ripley | ft. MrEricAlmighty & Affable Joey 1:30:59

9d ago1:30:59

1:30:59

Check out The Wait For It Podcast! Check out Affable Chat! Send us a text Support the show

1
They Call Us Maybe Happy Ending's Casting Controversy 1:00:07

12d ago1:00:07

1:00:07

Jeff and Phil welcome Howard Ho, playwright/composer/YouTuber, and Diep Tran, Editor in Chief of Playbill, to discuss Asian Americans in theatre, Broadway, and controversy over the recent announcement that Andrew Barth Feldman, a white actor, would be taking over the lead role in Maybe Happy Ending, the hit Tony Award-winning musical about robots f…

1
Sifu v Knuckleduster | ft. Dave Jackson (Tales from the Backlog) 1:19:30

23d ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Check out Tales from the Backlog here! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

1
They Call Us Superheroes 49:15

26d ago49:15

49:15

Jeff and Phil welcome back pop cultural pals Rebecca Sun and Dino-Ray Ramos to discuss recent superhero movies like Superman and Fantastic Four: First Steps. (But really, a good excuse for friends to hang out and gab, because it's been a minute.) They talk about the so-called "woke" Superman, where the heck Shang-Chi has been, watching these movies…

1
Vi v Sanji | ft. Matt AKA Stormageddon 1:21:43

1M ago1:21:43

1:21:43

Check out Matt here! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

1
They Call Us Kpop Demon Hunters 55:53

2M ago55:53

55:53

Jeff and Phil welcome Maggie Kang, creator and co-director of the hit Netflix animated feature Kpop Demon Hunters. She talks about the seven-year journey of bringing the film to life; behind-the-scenes insights on crafting an epic animated action musical that incorporates both supernatural demon lore and kpop idol culture; assembling the voice and …

1
Squid Game Season 3 Finale Explained by Creator and Stars 10:19

2M ago10:19

10:19

For our final bonus episode, hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please head to New York City for an exclusive sit-down with the minds and hearts behind Squid Game. Joining them are series creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the unforgettable Player 456 himself, Lee Jung-jae, and the enigmatic Front Man, Lee Byung-hun. It’s the deep-dive fans have been waiti…

1
Humans Are... - S3 Ep 6 29:50

2M ago29:50

29:50

The Game ends here. In the gripping series finale of Squid Game, Player 456, Gi-hun, finds himself right back where he started—one of the final two players. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please sit with the full emotional weight of the series’ conclusion—unpacking Player 456’s remarkable final act of defiance, the Front Man’s quiet reckoning, and the que…

1
Circle, Triangle, Square - S3 Ep 5 30:07

2M ago30:07

30:07

It’s the second-to-last episode of Squid Game — and the final challenge is here: Sky Squid Game. With only a few players remaining, a brutal “democratic” vote determines who lives, who dies, and who becomes a sacrifice. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please unpack the twisted politics of fairness, the final betrayal of the Os, and Player 456’s decision to…

1
They Call Us Dylan Park-Pettiford 48:07

2M ago48:07

48:07

Jeff and Phil welcome Dylan Park-Pettiford -- TV writer, combat veteran and author of the memoir Roadside: My Journey to Iraq and the Long Road Home. He talks about growing up as a Black/Korean American kid in Campbell, California; getting swept up in the post-9/11 patriotism that sent him to Iraq, where his days alternated between boredom and terr…

1
222 - S3 Ep 4 31:58

2M ago31:58

31:58

Phil and Kiera unpack how innocence gets weaponized when the baby is named the Game’s newest player—and explore what South Korea’s plummeting birth rate says about why this baby holds so much weight. Then, activist and content creator Amber Whittington (aka “AmbersCloset”) joins to break down the heartbreaking end to the Jump Rope game, the Front M…

1
It’s Not Your Fault - S3 Ep 3 27:11

2M ago27:11

27:11

What does it mean to protect a child in a world designed to crush the innocent? In this episode, hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please react to one of the season’s most devastating twists, the newborn baby’s forced induction into the Game and Player 456’s newfound purpose. Plus, we break down the backstory of our favorite creepy dolls: Young-hee and Chul-…

1
Chun-Li v Kenny Omega | ft. Kaiju vs. History & Phil Barrera 1:55:57

2M ago1:55:57

1:55:57

Check out Kaiju vs. History! Check out Cosmic Crit! Check out The More You Nerd! Check out The Wait For It Podcast! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

1
The Starry Night - S3 Ep 2 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

The body count rises—and a Squid baby is born—during a brutal game of hide-and-seek. Player 120 steps up as an unlikely protector, MG Coin forms a deadly new alliance, and Player 456 crosses a line he may never come back from. Phil and Kiera unpack the players’ breaking points, the emotional fallout of a beloved character’s exit, and what a baby co…

1
They Call Us The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the World Right Now 43:13

2M ago43:13

43:13

Jeff and Phil connect across travels and time zones to catch up and reflect on some of The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of recent weeks, including K-Pop Demon Hunters, New York City mayoral candidates, "rooftop Koreans," ICE raids, Squid Game, and space sushi.

1
Keys and Knives - S3 Ep 1 26:28

2M ago26:28

26:28

Squid Game is back—and this time, the knives are out. In the thrilling Season 3 premiere, Player 456 is spiraling and a brutal round of hide-and-seek forces players to kill or be killed. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please break down Gi-hun’s descent into vengeance, Guard 011’s daring betrayal of the Game, and the shocking moment players are forced to c…

1
They Call Us The Menswear Guy 44:42

2M ago44:42

44:42

Jeff and Phil welcome fashion industry commentator and writer Derek Guy, also known as "the menswear guy." He talks about how his interest in clothing and fashion led to his wildly popular blog and social media persona; how his writing weaves together humor, history, cultural criticism, and political commentary to make fashion feel relevant to anyo…

1
Lee v Danny LaRusso | ft. Caleb Van Nice & Jon Haig (Video Game Lounge) 1:19:27

2M ago1:19:27

1:19:27

Check out Jon on the Video Game Lounge! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

1
Coming Soon…Squid Game: The Official Podcast Season 3 1:29

2M ago1:29

1:29

The final season is here—and Squid Game: The Official Podcast is your ultimate companion to the end of the Game. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please return once more to break down every shocking twist and betrayal, and the choices that will determine who, if anyone, makes it out alive. Will Player 456 and the cast of characters we’ve grown to love final…

1
They Call Us Murder at the Patel Motel 44:47

3M ago44:47

44:47

Jeff and Phil welcome back actor, activist and author Maulik Pancholy, co-writer and star of the scripted comedy podcast Murder at the Patel Motel. He talks about the real-life "Patel motel cartel" that inspired the audio drama's small town murder mystery milieu; blending the tried-and-true tropes of an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit with a gay, I…

1
They Call Us Andrew Ahn 58:14

3M ago58:14

58:14

Jeff 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 a…

1
Kingpin v Hwoarang | ft. Aaron (SuperPod Saga) 1:01:02

3M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Check out Aaron on SuperPod Saga! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

1
They Call Us Gold Star Trophy 1:09:51

3M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Jeff and Phil welcome back Shin Yu Pai to talk about the latest season of her podcast Ten Thousand Things, along with fellow podcaster Yowei Shaw (Proxy, NPR's Invisibilia). They talk about the objects that help us move forward -- like a gold star trophy; how layoffs can be like breakups that unravel your sense of identity, purpose, and self-worth;…

1
Selection Sunday: Season 7 26:41

3M ago26:41

26:41

We're so back. Join the Discord Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes Nelson

1
They Call Us Strangers in the Land 59:39

3M ago59:39

59:39

Jeff and Phil welcome Michael Luo, executive editor at The New Yorker and author of the book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America, a sweeping narrative history of the Chinese in America, and their more than century-long struggle to belong in the face of bigotry, persecution, exclusion and racial …

1
They Call Us Sinners 49:13

3M ago49:13

49:13

Jeff and Phil welcome Dolly Li, documentary filmmaker, journalist and cultural consultant on Ryan Coogler's epic vampire blockbuster Sinners. They discuss Dolly's documentary on The Untold Story of America's Southern Chinese, and the deep-rooted origins of the Mississippi Delta's Chinese American community; how Ryan Coogler's own family connection …

1
They Call Us Ten Times Better 49:41

4M ago49:41

49:41

Jeff and Phil welcome director Jennifer Lin and producer Jon Funabiki to talk about their documentary Ten Times Better and the incredible untold story of George Lee, a pioneering dancer with an unheralded place in ballet and Broadway history. They discuss the sensational skill and artistry that landed George the role he originated in The Nutcracker…

1
They Call Us Heritage Month? 32:43

4M ago32:43

32:43

It's May, and that means it's AANHPI Heritage Month -- possibly the last one ever, if certain people get their way. Jeff and Phil check in and discuss the significance of Heritage Month, reflecting on community resilience, cultural celebrations, and the challenges faced by Asian Americans in this moment. By way of The Good, The Bad, and The WTF, th…

1
They Call Us The Wedding Banquet 1:06:21

4M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Jeff 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…

1
They Call Us Michael L. Wong 44:01

4M ago44:01

44:01

Jeff and Phil welcome Dr. Michael L. Wong, an astrobiologist, planetary scientist and podcaster who studies planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. And Star Trek. He talks about his involvement in the Stand Up for Science protests, the intersection of science, activism, and the challenges faced by the scientif…

1
REWIND: They Call Us The Most Asian Costco 55:32

5M ago55:32

55:32

In this rewind episode, we dip back into the archives and revisit Phil and Jeff's 2024 conversation with friend, journalist and fellow podcaster Ada Tseng about her Los Angeles Times piece which asked and answered a very important question: Which are the "most Asian" Costcos in Southern California? They discuss why the wholesale chain holds a parti…

1
They Call Us Ji-young Yoo 45:33

5M ago45:33

45:33

Jeff and Phil welcome actress Ji-young Yoo, star of Freaky Tales and Expats. She talks about the cathartic act of fictionally beating the crap out of some Nazis; capturing the specific fun and weird ("Bay shit") vibes of 1987 Oakland, from her punk wig to nailing the accent in Freaky Tales; feeling a sense of belonging in Hong Kong and acting toe-t…

1
They Call Us Vicki Tan 44:49

5M ago44:49

44:49

Jeff and Phil welcome Vicki Tan, digital product designer and author of Ask This Book a Question: An Interactive Journey to Find Wisdom for Life's Big and Little Decisions, a one-of-a-kind guide to smarter decision-making based in the science of cognitive bias and the wisdom of storytelling. Vicki shares her journey of writing the book, the signifi…

1
They Call Us Scam Factory 49:47

5M ago49:47

49:47

Jeff and Phil discuss the evil, manipulative, and highly organized world of online scams with journalists Nelson Wang, who became the target of a "pig butchering" crypto scam, and Denise Chan, host of the Wondery podcast Scam Factory, which exposes the brutal reality behind these ripoff operations. There's a scam for everybody. They talk about the …

1
They Call Us Stephen Park 48:38

6M ago48:38

48:38

Jeff and Phil welcome veteran actor Stephen Park, who discusses his iconic roles in projects like Do the Right Thing, Fargo, and In Living Color; the racist incident on the set of Friends that inspired his viral 1997 mission statement on Asian American representation in Hollywood; the ongoing challenges he's faced as a person of color in the indust…

1
They Call Us Asif Ali 52:34

6M ago52:34

52:34

Jeff and Phil welcome comedian and actor Asif Ali, star of the Hulu crime comedy series Deli Boys. They discuss evolution of South Asian roles from stereotypes to complex characters, and how the show puts a chaotic, hilarious twist on the mini-mart narrative. Asif talks about his professional journey in comedy, how he had to create his own opportun…

1
Finals: Puss in Boots v Hardwon Surefoot | ft. Emily Bateman & MrEricAlmighty 1:53:15

6M ago1:53:15

1:53:15

Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes Nelson

1
Toilet Bowl: Hector v Darth Vader | ft. Affable Benjamin & Andrew Kimball 1:20:34

6M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes

1
Puss in Boots v Darth Vader | ft. Andrew Kimball & MrEricAlmighty 2:02:54

6M ago2:02:54

2:02:54

Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes

1
They Call Us Dustin Nguyen 54:38

6M ago54:38

54:38

Jeff and Phil welcome veteran actor Dustin Nguyen, star of the indie crime drama The Accidental Getaway Driver, a uniquely Vietnamese American story -- inspired by true events -- surprisingly told as a humanistic character study. He talks about the rage, hurt and loneliness of his character; his decades-spanning career journey and the evolution of …

1
They Call Us Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 1:01:29

6M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Jeff and Phil welcome diversity advocates and experts Mia Ives-Rublee and Sumi Pendakur to discuss the impact of the current political climate on Asian American activism and identity. They talk about the importance of diversity in higher education in shaping identities and worldviews, the assault on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in th…

1
They Call Us Sanjay Shah and Jude Weng 58:39

6M ago58:39

58:39

Jeff and Phil continue their celebration of Fresh Off the Boat's 10th anniversary and welcome writer Sanjay Shah (Everybody Still Hates Chris, Dream Productions, Central Park) and director Jude Weng (Finding Ohana, The Good Place, Only Murders in the Building) -- key creatives involved in the making of the groundbreaking series. They look back at t…

1
They Call Us Hudson Yang 1:06:52

7M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

Phil 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 loo…

1
They Call Us Parents in the Year of the Snake 1:06:29

7M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

It's the Year of the Snake! In this special Lunar New Year episode, Jeff and Phil welcome fellow Potluck Podcast pals -- and fellow parents -- Ada Tseng (Saturday School), Joanna Lee (Sound and Fury, The Korean Drama Podcast), and Marvin Yueh (Books and Boba, Good Pop) to celebrate new beginnings and the arrival of Marvin's twins while discussing t…

1
They Call Us Birthright Citizenship 1:05:48

7M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Jeff and Phil welcome Eileen Chow, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Duke University's Asian/Pacific Studies Institute, and Ava Chin, CUNY professor and author of Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming, to talk about birthright citizenship, a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, now under …

1
They Call Us Los Angeles Wildfires 54:14

7M ago54:14

54:14

Jeff and Phil welcome friends, author/podcaster R Scott Okamoto and filmmaker/professor Renee Tajima-Pena to share their reflections on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of greater Los Angeles. Scott shares about the terrifying experience of evacuating from the approaching inferno, while Renee recounts her efforts to save her family…

1
They Call Us Extremely Unique Dynamic 44:43

8M ago44:43

44:43

Jeff 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 fri…

1
Friend or Foe - S2 Ep 7 25:01

8M ago25:01

25:01

In the Season 2 finale of Squid Game, an explosive fight ignites between the remaining players and the game’s architects. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please, joined by special guest Jason Concepcion, unpack the episode’s most shocking moments, from Gi-hun’s bloody “special game” revolt, to Player 001’s masterclass in deception—and ask: Can Gi-hun’s her…

1
O X - S2 Ep 6 29:27

8M ago29:27

29:27

In Episode 6, “O X,” Phil and Kiera dive into the shocking twists of “Round and Round,“ the carousel game. Special guest Dash Katz, from Squid Game: The Challenge S1, joins the conversation to talk survival strategies and share their fiery takes on the season’s most dramatic betrayals. Plus, we unpack the game makers’ introduction of the O vs. X ri…

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