Best Sarah Cheung Johnson/ Grace So Podcasts (2025)

1
Adventures in South Korea with Robert 1:53:45

6d ago1:53:45

1:53:45

Grace had a wonderful time chatting with friend and guest Robert about their respective trips to South Korea earlier this year. They discussed highlights and let downs, yummy and interesting food and drinks they tried, and the virtues and pitfalls of intensive planning versus flying by the seat of your pants. They reflected on the changes they have…

1
The First Frost - Deep Dive 1:47:14

13d ago1:47:14

1:47:14

Introducing our first Chinese Drama Deep Dive on Afternoona Asks, wher we cover the 2025 romance drama The First Frost. Sarah is delighted to be joined by Afternoona Delight Patreon guests Tania and Kortney to discuss this popular drama. We give a spoiler-free intro to the drama so if you're interested in hearing what we liked and recommend about T…

1
A Review of 2025 dramas so far 1:41:19

22d ago1:41:19

1:41:19

Join Sarah and special Patreon guests Erin and Cate as they discuss the drama year so far in 2025. What Korean and Chinese dramas have they been watching and which dramas have they enjoyed, which have been dropped and who have had the standout performances so far? We do touch on spoilers for some of the dramas that we discuss, so please see below f…

1
An Introduction to Korean Food - Part 2 1:10:07

1M ago1:10:07

1:10:07

We're back with part two of our Introduction to Korean Food! Sarah, Grace, and guest Susan continue to discuss favorite foods, including what we want to eat when we go to Korea, what we like to make at home, non-spicy options, and favorite ramyeons. We also discuss Korean food creators we enjoy and make recommendations about possible easy points of…

1
An Introduction to Korean Food - Part 1 1:16:20

1M ago1:16:20

1:16:20

Sarah and Grace were thrilled to have fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Susan on as a guest to discuss a favorite topic: Korean food. We chat about how we were each introduced to Korean food, what it consists of and its signature characteristics, how we have seen its popularity and influence grow, for better or worse, and how accurately it i…

1
Mr. Plankton Through a Confucian Lens 1:07:34

2M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Sarah and Grace had fun discussing the Confucian elements found in Mr. Plankton, Grace's favorite Kdrama of 2024. We talked about the symbolism of traditional Korean wedding clothes, the importance of bloodlines in Confucianism, and why there is a stigma attached to being an orphan. Grace goes through the different meanings/word play found in the c…

1
The History and Culture of South Korean Protest with Charles Kim 1:26:06

3M ago1:26:06

1:26:06

Sarah and Grace had a fascinating conversation with Professor Charles Kim about the history and culture of South Korean protest. We touched on ancient and modern stories of Korean resistance viewed as precursors to South Korean protest, the student protests that ousted the first South Korean president in 1960, the evolution of mass protest in South…

1
Afternoona Awards 2024 - Our Year End Poll results 1:20:35

3M ago1:20:35

1:20:35

We asked and the Patreon replied - who won our Afternoona Awards for 2024. Join our sister podcast co-hosts Sarah and Grace from Afternoona Asks as they run through the categories and the winners of our Year End poll. Sarah and Grace also discuss what Lunar New Year means for them and other Korean and Chinese people. Find out who was the outstandin…

1
Love Next Door Through a Confucian Lens 1:27:30

3M ago1:27:30

1:27:30

Sarah and Grace discuss the cultural context and nuances of Love Next Door in this episode, as part of our ongoing Confucian series. We first mark some milestones in our podcasting journey and reflect on how much hallyu has continued to sweep the globe. We talk about Confucian familial expectations and pressures, how age-based hierarchy has influen…

1
Year End Review 2024 - Part 2 with Krista 1:15:48

4M ago1:15:48

1:15:48

Sarah and Grace had a lovely time chatting with special guest and fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member, Krista, for Part 2 of their Year End Review. Krista and Grace each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, underrated dramas, and top dramas of the year, as well as special awards and dream dramas fo…

1
Year End Review 2024 - Part 1 with Claudia 1:44:48

5M ago1:44:48

1:44:48

Sarah and Grace are excited to close out the year with a two-part Year End Review. For part one, Sarah and special guest Claudia, a fellow member of the Afternoona Delight Patreon, chat through their 2024 drama year. Claudia and Sarah each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, their favorite underrated d…

1
CDramas 2024 Review with Liliana 1:46:08

5M ago1:46:08

1:46:08

Sarah is delighted to be joined by Liliana from Tea and Soju Podcase to review the year in Chinese Dramas. Join us as we discuss what CDramas Sarah has watched this year, what were Liliana's faves for the year and hear some more of her recommendations. We also briefly discuss what's coming up in CDrama-land in 2025. Links for Liliana's: Tea and Soj…

1
K-Actor Fan Events with Jasmine 1:27:08

5M ago1:27:08

1:27:08

Sarah and Grace are excited to welcome fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Jasmine on the pod to talk fan events for Korean actors. We discuss the different kinds of events K-stars put on for their fans, how difficult it is to get into the events, and what features of the events may differ actor-to-actor. We also talk a bit more in depth about…

1
Banned Book Club and the South Korean Culture of Protest with Ryan Estrada 1:00:06

6M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Grace welcomes guest Ryan Estrada, co-author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Banned Book Club to the show. We discuss Ryan's work and the history and culture of protest in South Korea. We also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of a Kdrama on which Ryan was an extra. And, in the language section, we talk about how easy it is (for some) to…

1
Heartriders Unite! All About the Fallen for Seo In Guk US Fan Meets 1:29:35

7M ago1:29:35

1:29:35

Sarah, Grace, and guests Megan (from Afternoona Delight podcast) and Kalena (from AD Patreon) chat about the Fallen for Seo In Guk fan meetings in Los Angeles and Washington DC. We discuss Seo In Guk's filmography and fandom, his beautiful live singing, and the hilarious and endearing games and fan service prepared for the event. We also talk about…

1
JSA and Korean American Experiences of Hallyu 1:33:51

8M ago1:33:51

1:33:51

Grace welcomes fellow Korean American, Lisa, as a guest this episode to talk about Park Chan-wook's 2000 film Joint Security Area and compare notes on our personal experiences of Hallyu. We discuss the standing of the film as an early Hallyu success, its moving and humanizing portrayal of soldiers from both sides of the armistice line, the impact o…

1
Women in the South Korean Workforce with Hyojin Seo 1:21:35

8M ago1:21:35

1:21:35

We are delighed to be joined by Dr Seo Hyojin, who is a gender and labour market sociologist and an international and interdisciplinary scholar. Hyojin currently work as Post-doctoral Researcher for a Horizon Europe project EqualHouse at the Department of Sociology, Tilburg University (NL). She joins us to chat about women in the South Korean workf…

1
Sungkyungkwan Scandal - A Confucian Deep Dive 1:36:46

9M ago1:36:46

1:36:46

We had so much fun diving deep into one of Grace's top comfort dramas, the 2010 sageuk Sungkyunkwan Scandal. We were excited to have Gavin join us again to discuss the historical backdrop, queer-coded characters, and surprisingly liberal version of Confucianism we find in this "Joseon Coffee Prince." Join us to discuss this gender swap historical d…

1
Let's Go to Seoul Part 4 - Sarah's return visit! 1:30:23

9M ago1:30:23

1:30:23

We're back with another episode to discuss travelling to Seoul - Sarah was lucky to return for another work trip this summer! This time she had some time to go for some experiences: a hair spa, a facial and some kimchi making. She also tried soy marinated crab and met 2 Korean Instagram influencers! Check out the episode to hear about more things t…

1
Editing All The Feels - with EmmaB 1:04:01

10M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

We are delighted to be joined this episode by Emma from EmmaB Videos, a fan video editor and fellow Asian drama fangirl. We get to know Emma and her tastes in drama - both Asian and Western - and we speak to her about where she gets her inspiration from for her fab video edits. Check out our show and then enjoy Emma's amazing video edits via her so…

1
Learning Korean with Lindsay 1:42:43

11M ago1:42:43

1:42:43

We had so much fun speaking with fellow Patreon member Lindsay about learning Korean. We share our language learning experiences, our favorite resources and strategies for learning, as well as our Korean learning goals and dreams of all the different ways we'll be able to use Korean as we improve. See how well you follow along with our snippets of …

1
KDramas via an Actors lens: With Katherine Bourne Taylor 1:27:34

11M ago1:27:34

1:27:34

We are delighted to be joined by actor and fellow Patreon member Katherine Bourne Taylor. We have a great chat with Katherine as she gives her views on KDramas from an actors lens and what the differences she sees are between how KDramas are acted, produced and shot versus Western media. We also manifest a KDrama for Katherine to star in and discus…

1
KDrama 2024 so far - A catchup with guests 1:41:28

12M ago1:41:28

1:41:28

We invited Erin & Gavin from previous podcast episodes to come and chat 2024 as a KDrama year for us so far. We cover what we've enjoyed, what we've dropped and what we're watching now. We also throw forward to dramas we're looking forward to. Come join us to find out if you agree with us, vehemently disagree or find some dramas that might tickle y…

1
Being an Autism Ally with KDrama pointers 1:43:52

12M ago1:43:52

1:43:52

We're back with another Afternoona Asks ND episode. We recorded this episode during Autism Awareness month in April so thought it would be a good chance to revisit some of our favourite KDramas to guide us on how to be a good ally for Neurodivergency. Join us as we give insight into why autistic people often find Autism Awareness month difficult an…

1
Intro to Chinese Language for Asian Drama fans 1:25:01

1y ago1:25:01

1:25:01

Today we're talking Chinese! But what is "Chinese" language? Discover the basics of Chinese language, its regional variations, its writing system and pronounciation. Grace and Sarah talk about similarities between Korean and Cantonese and we all learn some basic Chinese phrases. Show notes: Word that is used to describe passing a test or being acce…

1
The Untamed - Autistic coded Lan Wangji Part 2 1:22:51

1y ago1:22:51

1:22:51

Finally we're back, with the long awaited part two of our deep dive into Autistic Lan Wangji. "It has been 16 Years....", Well, two months, but we know you've all been at the edge of your seats. We’re finishing our discussion of The Untamed, starring Wang Yibo (王一博) and Xiao Zhan (肖战). It’s one of the most watched series in Asian television history…

1
My Dearest unpacked with a Confucian lens 1:20:49

1y ago1:20:49

1:20:49

In the second installment of our Confucian series, Sarah and Grace dive deep into the 2023 historical drama My Dearest. We discuss what made the drama "so Confucian," different characters and their varying levels of adherence to Confucianism, including our anti-Confucian hero and heroine, and try to clear up the confusing plot points and timeline. …

1
Gen-Z Seoulite views - An interview with Haeji 1:21:05

1y ago1:21:05

1:21:05

Haeji, Sarah's tour guide from her Gwangjang Market night tour in Seoul, joins us this episode to talk about life in Seoul in the era of Hallyu. We get her perspective on accessibility for people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ life, feminism, and drinking culture in Korea. We discuss what hot topics are for young women in Seoul right now and also talk a…

1
Demystifying the South Korean Education System 1:08:19

1y ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Sarah and Grace are joined by Youjeong Ssaem, one of Grace's Korean teachers, for a chat about the South Korean educational system. We go into technical details before discussing broader issues currently impacting students and teachers, like school violence and pressure to academically excel. In the language section, we talk about Konglish. Find Yo…

1
Autistic coded characters: Lan Wangji in The Untamed 49:32

1y ago49:32

49:32

This Valentine’s Day, the feeling of sticking to the single log bridge with us until it’s dark is not too bad! Finally, we’re covering the Untamed, starring Wang Yibo (王一博) and Xiao Zhan (肖战). Yes, one of the most watched series in Asian television history with 10 billion views domestically as of 2022 in China on one service alone, never mind the h…

1
Let's Go to Seoul Part 3 - Lia's trip! 1:22:36

1+ y ago1:22:36

1:22:36

We're back with a very special guest, Lia from our sister pod, Afternoona Delight! Lia made a trip to Seoul, her first to South Korea and she's on our podcast to chat to us about how she found it, what KDrama locations she saw and how being in Seoul made her feel. Tune in to listen to how she found her trip and pick up some travel tips for your own…

1
The History of Wuxia with William Han 1:44:19

1+ y ago1:44:19

1:44:19

Fellow podcaster William Han joins Grace and Sarah to discuss the history of wuxia, as well as its cultural context and significance. He discusses how men--and women--with a "particular set of skills" and an unshakable code have played a notable role in Chinese history and literature, why Jin Yong's wuxia novels are a lingua franca of the Chinese s…

1
Autistic Coded Characters - Semantic Error and Light On Me 1:16:31

1+ y ago1:16:31

1:16:31

In another episode examining autistic coded characters in KDrama, we discuss the popular Korean BL's Semantic Error and Light On Me. Sarah, J and Fran discuss what autistic traits we saw and how the dramas handled their characters autistic traits. We talk about what worked and didn't work for us about these two dramas. Show Note: Light on Me BL Exp…

1
Part 3 - Our 2023 Year End Review with Tania & Heather 1:19:55

1+ y ago1:19:55

1:19:55

We invited along fellow members of the Patreon to discuss our 2023 year in dramas - this is a bumper three episode edition, which we are releasing on the last three days of 2023. This is Part 3, and here Tania and Heather are here to chat to us about their favourite dramas, performances and underrated dramas of the year. Be sure to check out the ot…

1
Part 2 - Our 2023 Year End Review with Erin 1:13:17

1+ y ago1:13:17

1:13:17

We invited along fellow members of the Patreon to discuss our 2023 year in dramas - this is a bumper three episode edition, which we are releasing on the last three days of 2023. This is part 2 and here we have Erin, who is here to chat to us about her favourite dramas, performances and underrated dramas of the year. Then Grace goes through what 20…

1
Part 1 - Our 2023 Year End Review with Katie 1:32:18

1+ y ago1:32:18

1:32:18

We invited along fellow members of the Patreon to discuss our 2023 year in dramas - this is a bumper three episode edition, which we are releasing on the last three days of 2023. First up is Katie, who is here to chat to us about her favourite dramas, performances and underrated dramas of the year. Then Sarah goes through what 2023 has been like fo…

1
A Chinese Drama 101 with Tea and Soju Podcast 1:30:01

1+ y ago1:30:01

1:30:01

Sarah is flying solo for this episode and was delighted to welcome Liliana from Tea and Soju Podcast for a chat about Chinese Dramas, what 2023 has been like for CDramas and get a shedload of recommendations for you all on your next CDrama. We hope you enjoy! Show Notes mentioned in the pod KDramas vs CDramas Podcast with Tea and Soju Podcast - gue…

1
An Introduction to Confucianism for Asian Drama Fans 1:23:30

1+ y ago1:23:30

1:23:30

Hosts Sarah and Grace tackle the first in a multi-episode series on Confucianism, a topic that has been on our minds, and planning spreadsheet, since the beginning of the pod. We give a brief primer on what Confucianism is and how it impacts numerous aspects of life in Korea. We also discuss how it has influenced our lives and where we see it pop u…

1
ADHD 101 - An intro chat 1:13:12

1+ y ago1:13:12

1:13:12

Our latest episode of Afternoona Asks ND is covering Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which just like Autism, is a neurotype with a lot of prejudice and stigma attached to it. In this podcast episode Sarah and Fran sit down to chat about ADHD traits and Fran shares her own personal experiences with them. They talk about the struggle…

1
A Daebak! Chat with podcast host Jess 1:30:29

1+ y ago1:30:29

1:30:29

We are delighted to welcome Jess, host of the fabulous Daebak K-Rambles Podcast for a fun chat about KDramas, some OG dramas, which actors are her faves and a slew of underrated KDrama recommendations! We had a blast talking to her and we hope you enjoy this one too! To listen to Daebak K-Rambles Podcast and check out some of the episodes we discus…

1
It's Ok To Not Be Ok - What they got right with Moon Sang Tae 1:28:32

1+ y ago1:28:32

1:28:32

Join Sarah, Fran and J as we deep dive It's Ok To Not Be Ok from an autistic lens. What did they get so right about Moon Sang Tae's character and why does it still hold up as one of the best portrayals of Autism in KDrama? Along the way we discuss and refer to what really rang true for us with his character and explain why. You might discover parts…

1
Meeting Your KDrama Fave IRL: Jung Hae In's 10th Season 1:24:09

1+ y ago1:24:09

1:24:09

Sarah went to see Jung Hae In at a fanmeeting in Hong Kong and is here to tell us all about it. Grace has lots of questions, including where North American fans can catch Jung Hae In in Nov 2023 and whether the fanmeeting was worth it. And we all learn how to shout out "we miss you!" and "you're so good looking!" at our next fan meeting for our fav…

1
Let's Go to Seoul - Part 2 1:16:56

1+ y ago1:16:56

1:16:56

Hosts Sarah and Grace are back to talk about Grace’s summer trip to Korea, including her favorite experiences, learnings from traveling there with her family for the first time, a discussion on wheelchair accessibility, and plans for future trips. Attractions: Changdeokgung Namsam Tower Gangchon Rail Park Spa Land Centum City (Busan) Jongro 3-ga Po…

1
Is Ji Chang Wook's Suspicious Partner character autistic coded? 1:24:10

1+ y ago1:24:10

1:24:10

Is Ji Chang Wook’s Suspicious Partner lead character, autistic coded? In this podcast, Sarah (@kdramthis) is joined by co-hosts Franziska (@wanderingfranzi) and J (@theflowerthatbloomsalone) for another episode of their autistic-coded mini-series. Here we discuss a character you may have never considered autistic - Noh Ji Uk from Suspicious Partner…

1
A Costuming Conversation with Gavin Dietz 1:18:34

1+ y ago1:18:34

1:18:34

We are very excited to welcome Los Angeles-based costume designer and fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member, Gavin Dietz, on the show! We chat with Gavin about the differences in the costuming process in US productions versus Korean ones, the shows that have had our favorite costumes, and the power of costumes to convey character traits, setting…

1
The Shocking Burning Sun Scandal - Interview with Chloe Hadjimatheou 1:43:39

2y ago1:43:39

1:43:39

Our latest episode of Afternoona Asks is out – and we think it’s our best yet! We interviewed BBC Journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou, who has just co-created and presented a podcast series on the shocking sex scandals which shook the world of K-Pop. The podcast series is available via BBC Sounds. Chloe takes us behind the scenes, and tells what it took …

1
Our first guest! Chatting with Sophie in Seoul 1:10:02

2y ago1:10:02

1:10:02

We are so excited to welcome our first ever guest on Afternoona Asks - Sophie, a Korean living in Seoul! Sarah met Sophie when she was in Korea for her visit and was delighted she agreed to come on the podcast and answer all our questions. Listen to our episode as we ask do people in Korea really go to hospital for tiredness or small scrapes? How m…

1
An Intro to Korean for K-Dramas 1:11:53

2y ago1:11:53

1:11:53

We got so much positive feedback about the Korean Language section of our first Afternoona Asks episode that Sarah and Grace decided to dive a little deeper into Korean language nuances, as well as answer some listener questions. Wondering about the different ways to say "I love you" in Korean? Confused about what "oppa" really means? Tune in to le…

1
Autistic Coded Characters in KDrama - Love in Contract 1:00:02

2y ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Introducing Afternoona Asks ND - our Neurodivergent part of the Afternoona Asks podcast. Our hosts Sarah, Fran and J discuss autistic coded characters in KDrama. Fran and J were first on our sister podcast, Afternoona Delight podcast, for their Extraordinary Attorney Woo autism podcast. It was so popular that we invited Fran and J back and then got…

1
Wanna go to Seoul? 1:42:59

2y ago1:42:59

1:42:59

Aren't we all dreaming of going to Seoul? Sarah and Grace are back to talk through some tips to travel to Seoul and Korea, covering where to get started, how many days you might need in each location as well as accommodation, food and travel hints. Facebook groups: South Korea Travel Planning Korea Travel Guide Apps & websites Naver Papago Subway m…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sarah Cheung Johnson/ Grace So Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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