In Episode 612 of The Two Kens, Ken and Ken sit down to mark a solemn and significant milestone: 25 years since September 11, 2001. Together, they look back at how that day reshaped foreign policy, domestic security, daily American life, and cultural memory—reflecting on the long-term impact that continues to ripple through our world a quarter-century later.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Looking Back at 2001: Initial reactions, personal memories, and the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

• Faith Under Siege—Fear in the American Church: How post-9/11 fear shifted the American Christian Church, sparking a rise in Christian nationalism, "us vs. them" theology, and institutional anxiety over national identity.

• The Policy Ripple Effect: How foreign relations, national security, and civil liberties shifted over the last 25 years.

• Cultural Memory & Legacy: How a single morning shaped an entire generation's worldview and continues to influence public discourse.

• Moving Forward: Finding perspective, resilience, and understanding in the quarter-century legacy of 9/11.

Notable Quotes

"Twenty-five years later, we aren't just remembering a single day—we're looking at the entire quarter-century built in its shadow, including how our institutions of faith allowed fear to dictate the narrative."

Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu joins me this week on the podcast to lay out what's at stake for democracy, the Constitution, and state governance in Texas. Representing Southwest Houston (District 137), Rep. Wu breaks down why local legislative races matter nationally, how AANHPI and Chinese American voters can tip the scales, and why protecting democratic institutions starts at the ballot box.

In Season 12, Episode 610, Ken Fong sits down with Steven Wakabayashi, founder of Stranger Creative, for a candid exploration of technology, culture, and personal identity. They tackle the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its impact on human creativity, while also diving into Steven's personal journey of staying closeted for years out of deference to his mother. It's an insightful, deeply vulnerable conversation on balancing cultural expectations with living authentically.

In this episode host Ken Fong sits down with investigative reporter Paige Towers. Paige is the author of What They Stole, a compelling work exposing the dark underbelly, systemic corruption, and falsified records behind the historic wave of Korean adoptions in America. Together, they explore her investigative process, the human impact on separated families seeking answers, and what true accountability looks like.

Ken also shares personal reflections on his family tree, honoring ancestral resting places, and the fundamental human need to understand one's origin story.

In this episode, Taiwanese American artist, author, and illustrator Regina Linke—creator of the beloved webcomic The Oxherd Boy and author of Big Enough—joins us to discuss her picture book, Little Helper. Regina shares how traditional Chinese philosophy, contemporary Gongbi brush painting, and the everyday moments of community shape her gentle, heartwarming storytelling.

In this episode, host Ken Fong is joined by independent filmmaker Anthony Ma, writer and director of the award-winning short film God and Buddha Are Friends. Anthony shares the inspirations and creative journey behind his funny, tender, and deeply personal film, exploring how faith, friendship, family, and Asian American identity intersect on screen.

Before diving into the conversation, Ken reflects on taking his granddaughters to the Sacramento Buddhist Church's annual August Bazaar. He shares his personal journey of moving away from rigid religious rejection toward a progressive, deconstructed Christian faith that fully embraces his Asian American cultural heritage.

This latest installment of the collaborative series between Fong and Kemp zeroes in on the claim made by right wing media types that racism and bigotry are dead in America, and that white are the only Americans who don't see color. Fong and Kemp challenge these myths and discuss how white fragility frequently makes it impossible to get them to reexamine their myths and become more empathetic towards people who aren't like them.

In this episode, host Ken Fong chats with singer, songwriter, and musician Joseph Tseng about his second album, Shanghai: An American Story. Blending a unique take on Americana acoustic music, rich storytelling, and personal reflection, Joseph explores what it means to navigate identity, memory, and home through song.

Joseph Tseng is an Asian American singer, songwriter, and musician whose music weaves together cross-cultural influences, Americana acoustic traditions, and intimate storytelling. His second album, Shanghai: An American Story, captures the immigrant journey, memory, and identity through a unique musical lens.

www.josephtseng.com

In this episode, host Ken Fong sits down with New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and Silicon Valley tech leader Abigail Hing Wen. Famous for her hit Loveboat, Taipei trilogy (and the feature film adaptation Love in Taipei), Abigail expands her storytelling universe into artificial intelligence and virtual reality with her novel The Vale and its short film prequel The Vale — Origins.

In this episode, we sit down with human rights lawyer and national bestselling author Eve J. Chung to discuss her powerful sophomore novel, The Young Will Remember . Following her acclaimed debut, Daughters of Shandong, Chung returns with a gripping historical fiction thriller that centers on Ellie Chang, a Chinese American war correspondent who becomes stranded behind enemy lines during the freezing winter of the Korean War in 1950.

Chung shares insights into the extensive historical research that brought this narrative to life, the forgotten stories of female wartime journalists, and the profound, enduring strength of mothers and women navigating the catastrophic human toll of the "Forgotten War."

What happens when you mix unapologetic queer joy, powerful storytelling, and fierce resilience? You get the incomparable Kyle Casey Chu, also known as the fabulous San Francisco drag queen Panda Dulce.

In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Drag Story Hour, award-winning filmmaker, and author to discuss the magic of creating safe, sparkly spaces for kids and communities alike. Kyle opens up about the reality of drag activism, the inspiration behind her filmmaking and writing, and what it truly means to reclaim your narrative in the face of adversity.

Tune in for an inspiring, witty, and deeply moving conversation about the power of visible storytelling and staying radically true to who you are.