ASIAN AMERICA: THE KEN FONG PODCAST

EP 581: Julie Achettu Thomas On Creating a Clothing Line That Affirms the Dual Identity of South Asian American Women

Julie Thomas Achettu, already a well-respected Asian American literature educator in Chicago, recently co-founded "House of Jaya," a women's apparel line that blends traditional South Asian fabrics with the fashion sense of today's South Asian American women.  www.houseofjaya.com

EP 580: Lori 'Sas' Sase On Bringing Camaraderie & Light to Our Darkest, Most Self-Doubting Places

My guest today describes herself as a 'city girl at heart' who traded her corporate business suits for Steve Madden platforms and a life of authentic passion. Lori 'Sas' Sase is a graduate of Coach U and the voice behind The Imaginal Podcast. From her Japanese-American heritage to her love of live music and her deep reverence for the loyalty of dogs, Sas brings a refreshing, honest, and messy humanity to the world of self-improvement. We're going to talk about reclamation, healing, and living expansively. www.asanctuaryforthesoul.com  

EP 579: Dr. Stan Lai On Why Creativity Is a Trainable Process

Dr. Stan Lai is the author of the influential book CreativitRy: Asia's Iconic Playwright Reveals the Art of Creativity(originally published in Chinese in 2006 as Stan Lai on Creativity). His work is significant because it shifts the conversation from creativity as a "mysterious gift" to a trainable skill. Dr. Lai argues that creativity consists of two parts: Method (the craft or technique of one's field) and Wisdom (the cultivation of life experience and self-awareness). He posits that while schools teach method, they rarely teach the "wisdom" necessary to fuel deep creative work.

EP 578: Jonathan Miron & Philip Sheegog On "Brightside" Winning the 2026 Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

He's a violinist, he's a cellist, and together, they are ARKAI—the Grammy-winning duo pushing the absolute limits of their instruments. Fusing classical roots with live electronic processing and pop-star energy, Jonathan Miron and Philip Sheegog create soundscapes that feel more like an IMAX experience than a recital. They're the masterminds behind the hit album Brightside, and they're my guests today.

EP 577: The Two Kens On the Ice Queen & Killer ICE

Podcasters Fong and Kemp are back to tackle the Melania film, the Super Bowl halftime show alternative, the Epstein files, and the evil of ICE in Minneapolis. And more!