A Conversation with Writer, Podcast Host, and Author of Breaking Into New Hollywood, Ada Tseng

Asian American History 101

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 33! Our guest today is Ada Tseng. She’s a journalist, editor, podcaster, runner, wellness advocate and karaoke enthusiast. She is the co-author of the new book Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry. It just came out on August 12 2025, and it’s co-written with Jon Healey and published by the Los Angeles Times and Simon & Schuster.

Breaking Into New Hollywood is a practical collection that offers insights on navigating the Hollywood industry today and how it’s changed with CGI, AI, video streaming, social media, and more. Whether you’re an aspiring set designer, agent, director, writer, actor, manager, or anything to do with making films in front or behind the scenes, this is an invaluable resource.

Ada has written for a variety of outlets including the LA Times, National Geographic, Center of Asian American Media, Women’s Wear Daily, HowStuffWorks, The Washington Post, Public Radio International, NBC, LA Weekly, Asia Pacific Arts, and Audrey Magazine (just to name a few). We should also mention that Ada is the co-host of the Saturday School Podcast with Brian Hu which is one of our favorites, especially for Asian American pop culture.

In our conversation, we talk about how she got involved with pop culture and this book, how she organized the book, the importance of adding in diversity to the different featured insiders in the book, what she thinks is the most important element of making it in Hollywood, what her fantasy career in Hollywood could be, and a lot more. As a veteran podcaster, she even turns the tables and asks us a few questions.

For more of Ada’s work, you can check out her website, follow her on Instagram, subscribe to the Saturday School Podcast, and get Breaking Into New Hollywood.

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