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

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

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.

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.

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!

This week, the spotlight shines on rising Filipina American actor Reanne Acasio, who is about to take on one of the most complex and iconic roles in contemporary musical theater: Imelda Marcos in the groundbreaking disco-pop musical Here Lies Love. Reanne opens up about the thrill and responsibility of portraying such a larger‑than‑life figure, the cultural resonance of the show, and the journey that brought her from community stages to a starring role in one of the most talked‑about productions today.

It's an inspiring, thoughtful, and joy‑filled conversation with an artist whose star is only getting brighter. Tune in for Episode 576 and get to know Reanne before she takes the stage.

@centertheatregroup.org

The Honorable Elizabeth Yang was sworn in as the new mayor of Monterey Park, CA, in early 2025, but when you hear her share about the enormous challenges she's had to face in life, you might never have predicted where she's landed today. But as you get to know her better and what makes her tick, you'll learn never to bet against her and what she can accomplish.

Until Dr. Satsuki Ina began to investigate and research the long-term, multi-generational impact of the trauma to Americans of Japanese ancestry as a result of President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, most people didn't give it a second thought. Sure, it was traumatic for an entire population of Americans to be viewed with suspicion. And of course it was indescribably terrible for them to lose everything, including their freedom and civil rights. But when the war ended and the Americans of Japanese ancestry were released from their remote prisons, didn't most of them get right back into the swing of things, without any signs of lingering trauma?

In her new book The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment and Protest, Dr. Ina uses her parents diaries, letters and poetry journals to document both their resistance and resilience. And she also shares with me about the lingering effects of this level of trauma on those who experienced it firsthad, but also those who would come later.

www.satsukiina.com

Kimberly Tso is a debut picture‑book author whose work draws on real cultural history and themes of empathy. Her writing often highlights community stories and encourages kids to think critically about the world around them. Her book Tic‑Tac‑Toe Chicken has already received praise from award‑winning authors for its clever storytelling and heart. Inspired by a real chicken named Lillie who lived in the Chinatown Fair arcade on Mott Street in New York City, the book follows eight‑year‑old Beatrice as she tries to help Lillie find a better home.

Renee Yang and Ann Kono are two of the co-founders of @TeachAAPI.org, whose mission is to redefine what being Asian American means in America by collecting and collating AAPI stories and creating curricula suitable for Pre-K through 12th grade. Founded during the pandemic 4.5 years ago, TeachAAPI is already reaching 200,000+ students in 35 California schools!

In this edition of the collaborative The Two Kens series, Fong and Kemp reflect on some of what they focused on in 2025, whille looking for signs of hope in this new year.