William Hung was a college student in 2004 when he decided to audition for the "American Idol" televised singing competition. Although his lack of ability was seen by millions, Hung's positivity seemed to counter the judges' negativity. Was he faking that for the cameras? Or was he wired in such a way to keep taking risks and learning from his failures for the rest of his life?

ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

William Hung

There's a reason why 80% of California's donut shops are owned by Cambodian Americans. This is a result of the work of Ted Ngoy aka The Donut King. Filmmaker Alice Gu shares with host Ken Fong why she decided to make this film and why Ngoy's rags to riches story is so compelling.

Alice Gu

The confessed killer in Atlanta claimed he was motivated by sex addiction. This has created a renewed fascination in something that's been called "Purity Culture" since the 1990s in conservative Evangelical churches. While some are defending it as what the Bible says that a holy God requires of us, others are condemning it as unnatural, unhealthy, even unbiblical. This conversation presents an alternative to "PC" that embraces every person's sexuality and eschews the sterile standards that often serve to send us into hiding.

The Two Kens

Director Kristina Wong has assembled a small circle of Asian Pacific Islanders who either were formerly incarcerated or have a loved one that's in prison. Eight years ago, Kirn Kim came home to Orange County after serving 20 years for his part in "The Honor Roll Murder " in 1992. He and Wong are hoping to shatter the walls of silence and secrecy in API communities around incarceration through this virtual production @ East West Players on April 10-11.

Kristina Wong & Kirn Kim

Daniel has embraced all the elements of his identify, from being a 3rd generation refugee, a proud queer man, an immensely gifted creative writer, and an Asian American who is thriving today amidst the fecund energies of New Orleans. He recently debuted his collection of poems in "Anatomy of Want."

Daniel W. K. Lee

Clinical psychologist and progressive Christian Hall believes that, despite the killer's denial, this was an anti-Asian hate crime. Hall also believes that Long's so-called "sex addiction" has deep roots in the "purity culture" that continues to pervade white Evangelicalism. 

Dr. Gordon Nagayama Hall

Adventurer, spiritual leader, and artist Gideon Tsang tackles this question with the signature style of a Seven. Intermixed with stories of travel and making new friends in surprising places, is a commitment to honest self-assessment. Gideon shares how his Enneagram journey has led to personal and spiritual transformation in a series of readings that will delight readers and enlighten readers who want to understand the world of the Seven more fully. 

Gideon Tsang

Given the appalling 1,900% increase in violence aimed at Asian Americans today, friends and fellow podcasters Ken Fong and Ken Kemp had an in-depth and honest conversation about not just pandemic-related racism focused on Asian Americans, but also the oft-ignored dark chapters of America's history where Asians have suffered and died because they were made the scapegoats..

Anti-Asian Racism: I Am Not Your Scapegoat

The successful landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars prompted this second fascinating conversation with Dr. Vasavada, NASA's project scientist for the Curiosity rover, which has determined that Mars once could have been home to living organisms! If there was life, the technology on the latests rover will hopefully find evidence of this.

Dr. Ashwin Vasavada

LA-based Korean American therapist Sharon Kwon decided to stick her neck out and write a piece to address the external and internal forces that keep contributing to Asians in America being overlooked and "othered." The Huffington Post published her piece on 2/18/21 and it immediately went viral.

Sharon Kwon

Three former pastors and current podcasters Ken Fong, Brad Onishi, and Ken Kemp hosted a Zoom webinar on Feb. 10, 2021, sharing some of their respective journeys of deconstruction and awakening amidst Post Modern progressivism. They discuss the Insurrection, Inauguration, and the future of Trumpism, as well as take questions from some in the webinar.

Dr. Ken Fong, Dr. Brad Onishi & Ken Kemp

Alex Lee is the first from Generation Z (born between 1996 and 2015) to be elected to the California State Assembly (11/2020). He is also openly bisexual and a proud Progressive Democrat who is following in the large footsteps of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

CA Assemblymember Alex Lee

Long-time friends Lee and Kim wrote and directed this amazing film about a family of Korean American immigrants both struggling to achieve the American Dream and to figure out how to manage their complex generational differences.

Peter S. Lee & Julian Kim

This close-up look at the oldest Chinatown in North America brings readers to a deeper understanding of this iconic destination. Evan's images capture the diversity and humanity of the densest urban neighborhood west of Manhattan. This book tells the story of Chinatown from the perspectives of tourism, daily life, and celebrations and traditions

Dick Evans & Kathy Chin Leong

Princeton sociology doctoral student Megan Kang recently spent a month of Saturdays hanging out with impassioned Trump supporters in order to understand why they continue to stand with this twice-impeached, insurrection-inciter. 

Megan Kang

Ken Fong gets to the heart of Asian American culture, history, and spirituality. Through interviews with movers and shakers in the Asian American community -- some you know, others you've never heard of before -- prepare to laugh, cry, and be amazed.