Pacific Underground

Weekly Disruption Aug 13, 2016

August 13, 2016 00:00 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB

On this week’s Weekly Disruption, we take a look at Trump’s latest comments about the Philippines, the government’s profiling of Chinese-American scientists, Fu Yuanhui’s viral moment at the Olympics, Ichiro Suzuki’s favorite English phrase, Snapchat’s yellowface filter, and, of course, Asians in Star Wars. Join Jenna, Tabitha, and Canaan as they disrupt and dissect this week’s headlines. Music by CHOPS.

Storytelling in the whitest city in America (w Invisible Spectrum Stories)

August 09, 2016 19:01 - 5 minutes - 5.38 MB

Storytelling in the whitest city in America can often mean that people of color don't often get their stories heard or told in spaces that are as diverse as the breadth of stories out there. Elina Lim is hoping to create a space for storytellers of color at her new storytelling event, Invisible Spectrum Stories: Storytellers of color in the whitest city in America. Muisc by CHOPS.

Weekly Disruption Aug 8, 2016

August 03, 2016 00:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

Weekly Disruption is back for another round of disrupting the news. This week we disrupt the news about Korryn Gaines and the toxic masculinity behind a killing of Anna Bui; the Khan family continue to disrupts Trump; Hollywood's further whitewashing in animated films; Suicide Squad gets it right; and we get excited about seeing multiple APIs in the same scene in Star Trek. Join us as we disrupt and hype the news that caught our attention this week. Music by CHOPS.

Not half...but both (with Winton White)

July 31, 2016 00:30 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MB

Being hafu in Japan can bring it's challenges as well as it's unique joys. Composer Winton White spoke with producer Jenna Yokoyama about his experience growing up in Japan while having a bicultural background. Winton shares about what it was like to speak champon with his hafu friends and how he came to terms with being both Japanese and American in his 30's. Music: Winton White.

Weekly Disruption July 29, 2016

July 30, 2016 00:00 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MB

Pacific Underground is proud to premiere our latest project, Weekly Disruption. While our regular monthly show focuses on telling the stories of our API communities, Weekly Disruption gives us a chance to look at the stories that are floating around social media and the headlines. This week, Jenna, Tabitha, and Pamela talk about API firsts at the DNC, that stupid murpheybed ninja song, and Jason Bourne saving China. Listen along as we laugh, angry, and disrupt. Also, we love you, John Cho. M...

Family, Poetry, and Acting (with Ken Yoshikawa)

July 29, 2016 19:10 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MB

Ken Yoshikawa is a poet and actor in Portland, Oregon. In this interview with producer Alan Montecillo, Ken talks about his biracial upbringing, the cultural mores that have stuck with him, and convincing his father that he could make it as an actor. He also reads two of his poems: "Steel Wing" and "Seven Ways To Write A Poem."

Portland API Artist And Musicians

July 23, 2016 00:39 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MB

This month we're featuring local Portland API creatives that use different forms of self-expression from storytelling to poetry and zines, visual art and audio documentaries, to original music. Featuring Elina Lim's Invisible Spectrum Stories, Ken Yoshikawa, writer, poet, and performer, aka Yo Shake Awaken, artist Anna Vo. With live performances by Jae Jin, Mree, Perlo and Eden C recorded at our home station, KBOO 90.7FM.

API Mixed Identity

June 24, 2016 17:45 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MB

Being mixed race in a word that it focused on labels can bring it's share of challenges as well as joys. For this month's episode of Pacific Underground, we dive into stories of what it means to be mixed race and how those in the API community navigate being a part of multiple cultures. First, producer Canaan Schlesinger takes a look at the word "hapa" to see how this once pejorative term came to be used in the mainstream. Then Alan Montecillo explores the history of interracial relationships...

API Restaurant Picks In Portland, OR

June 21, 2016 17:52 - 7 minutes - 7.03 MB

The Pacific Underground production team shares their favorite API owned places to eat in Portland, Oregon. Even if you don't live in Bridge City, you'll still relate to the stories shared as we talk about why we love to chow down at our beloved local joints.

We Are What We Ate

June 21, 2016 03:56 - 9 minutes - 8.91 MB

What do our memories of food from childhood say about our API identities? The Pacific Underground Collective had been interviewing an assortment of family and friends on their experience with food during formative moments of their lives. What we wound up with is a highlight reel of personal stories drawn directly from these conversations.

Your English Is So Good #5: Shohei Kobayashi

June 21, 2016 03:42 - 9 minutes - 8.75 MB

Canaan Schlesinger interviews his friend, Shohei Kobayashi, a singer/songwriter and graduate student in choral conducting at University of Michigan. In this installment of "Your English Is So Good", we worked the theme of food into mix, and asked Shohei to talk about his experiences with eating-related cultural practices with non-API friends, and how that stood in contrast to what he grew up with at home.

When White Chefs Sell Asian Food: A Roundtable

June 11, 2016 05:47 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MB

Food can be divisive. How do different Asian-Americans feel when white chefs open restaurants featuring "ethnic" food? Alan Montecillo hosts a roundtable with fellow producers Pamela Santos, Canaan Schlesinger, and Jenna Yokoyama to explore this question.

The Language of Food

June 04, 2016 01:08 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MB

If food were a language, what stories do we tell? This month, Pacific Underground explores what food signifies for us as Asian and Pacific Islanders in America, what it means to us at different times of our lives, and, in a lot of ways, how we perceive ourselves. First, we share stories about eating lunch as kids. Then, the Pacific Underground team roundtables about the issues surrounding white chefs who own API restaurants. To throw some support to our favorite eateries in Portland, the Paci...

Special: Asians and Pacific Islanders in Star Wars

May 04, 2016 17:39 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB

We love Star Wars so much here at Pacific Underground that we did an hour long special called "Asians and Pacific Islanders in Star Wars!" for our home station KBOO 90.7FM. Listen to the Pacific Underground crew as we take a humorous and critical look at Asian and Pacific Islander representation in Star Wars. We talk about "asian aliens," Ewoks speaking Tagalog, orientalism, and the increasing amount of APIs in Star Wars. So join in with Pamela, Tabitha, Canaan, and Jenna as we laugh, analyz...

Your English Is So Good #4: Simon Tam of The Slants

April 29, 2016 21:22 - 5 minutes - 4.6 MB

Simon Tam of the band The Slants sits down with producer Pamela Santos for another "Your English Is So Good" where we talk about people's experiences with microaggressions. Simon talks about his exotic San Diego accent and taking the time to see life's opportunities.

Artist Stephen Poon talks live on KBOO 90.7FM

April 28, 2016 20:05 - 9 minutes - 8.46 MB

Artist Stephen Poon of OutNerdMe,com joined us live on air on KBOO 90.7FM for our April show. Stephen makes unique pop culture art that combines imagery with text. He's gaining popularity in the comic book convention scene and we were lucky enough to get a donation from him for KBOO's membership drive. Find out more about Stephen's work at www.outnerdme.com or on the internets @outnerme

API Nerd Talk: Conductor Paul Kim talks John Williams

April 25, 2016 23:28 - 8 minutes - 7.46 MB

Conductor Paul Kim of the Oregon Symphony talks about his John Williams concert for this next installment of API Nerd Talk. He talks about the appeal of John Williams' music as well as what it's like to be an API conductor.

Pacific Underground: April Promo

April 15, 2016 22:51 - 1 minute - 1.15 MB

A preview of our upcoming episode premiering live on KBOO 90.7FM on Friday, April 22 at 11am during the membership drive. Tune in for some amazing thank you gifts like tickets to the John Williams concert in Portland, custom nerd art by Albert Nguyen, and CDs from The Slants. We'll be interviewing conductor Paul Kim about his upcoming John Williams concert; Pamela Santos talks with Simon Tam from The Slants, and the Pacific Underground team talks about APIs in Star Wars with a great Ewok im...

Unpacking the Peter Liang Protests

April 05, 2016 21:09 - 10 minutes - 14.5 MB

Alan Montecillo looks at the aftermath of Officer Peter Liang's conviction. In February, he was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting Akai Gurley, an unarmed black man in Brooklyn.

Your English Is So Good #3: Achieving Whitelunch-ness

April 03, 2016 22:49 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

In our third installment of "Your English Is So Good," Jenna Yokoyama sat down with Canaan Schlesinger, a Lewis and Clark graduate who volunteers at the KBOO newsroom. Canaan talked about being "hapa" (or part-Asian), and what it was like to bring his "weird" Japanese lunch to school.

Your English Is So Good #2: We Carry Oceans

April 03, 2016 22:46 - 9 minutes - 13 MB

In our second installment of Your English Is So Good (aired on Feb 26), Alan Montecillo talked with Marilou Carrera, who works at the Oregon Health Equity Alliance. We learned more about growing up in the Midwest, talking about sex, and how APIs can make their voices heard when it comes to reproductive justice.

Japanese Internment and the Culture of Fear

March 31, 2016 17:28 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MB

Today, a culture of fear fuels prejudice against Muslims in the United States. For Japanese-Americans, that fear can seem eerily familiar. Jenna Yokoyama delves into the events and actions that led to the forcible removal of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Minoru Yasui: A Civil Rights Hero

March 29, 2016 18:39 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MB

Yesterday, March 28, was the first Minoru Yasui Day in the State of Oregon. Alan Montecillo interviews Peggy Nagae and Chisao Hata to learn more about this civil rights hero who fought the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Pictured: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signing HB 4009, which designates March 28 as Minoru Yasui Day. Seated around her are lawmakers, Min's family members, and people involved in the Minoru Yasui Tribute Project.

03: Peter Liang's trial, Japanese Internment, and Minoru Yasui

March 28, 2016 17:43 - 56 minutes - 78 MB

This month: Jenna Yokoyama interviews Canaan Schlesinger about seeming racially ambiguous. Then, Alan Montecillo looks into the aftermath of NYPD Officer Peter Liang's conviction. Finally, we look into Japanese internment during WWII: why it happened, how it happened, and the civil rights heroes who fought against it — including Oregon's very own Minoru Yasui. Music this month by Dave Depper, Blue Dot Sessions, Dana Boul, Podington Bear, Sergey Cheremisinov, David Szesztay, and CHOPS.

When Will Pacific Islanders Get Their Due?

March 03, 2016 21:45 - 14 minutes - 20 MB

There are over 30,000 people in the US with roots in the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Marshall Islands. They've been long forgotten and ignored in American life, but after years of speaking up and speaking out, they're finally beginning to be heard.

An API Mixtape: Run River North, jason chu, and Sugar Pie DeSanto

March 03, 2016 18:55 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB

Pacific Underground brings you a mixtape of kickass API artists: Run River North, jason chu, and Sugar Pie DeSanto.

Asian Nerd Talk with artist Albert Nguyen

February 29, 2016 22:33 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MB

Producer Jenna Yokoyama interviews comic book artist Albert Nguyen about growing up in Minnesota and being a Vietnamese-American artist in the comic book convention scene. Albert's work can be found at knewwhen.com and on Instagram at @albertnguyenart. Outro music is "Marvels" by hip-hop artist jason chu.

02 Fitting In

February 26, 2016 23:27 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MB

This month: stories and interviews about fitting into American life as an API. First, Jenna Yokoyama brings you an interview about fitting into nerd culture (1:08). Then, Alan Montecillo reports on Pacific Islanders' fight to get the rights and visibility they deserve (9:44). We'll also bring you an API Mixtape featuring songs by Asian and Pacific Islander musicians (28:08). Finally, Alan Montecillo interviews Marilou Carrera from the Oregon Health Equity Alliance in the latest installment of...

Poet Regie Cabico was never "Asian enough" for theatre

February 11, 2016 23:18 - 16 minutes - 22.5 MB

Regie Cabico spoke with Pacific Underground's Pamela Santos about why he became a poet, laughing at your own pain, and teaching writing to youth. Regie is the first openly queer and Asian Slam Poet to take top prizes in the 1993, 1994 and 1997 National Poetry Slams. He is a former Nuyorican Poets Grand Slam Champion. He co-edited Flicker & Spark: A Contemporary Anthology of Queer Poetry and Spoken Word which was nominated for a 2014 Lambda Literary Award.

Kristina Wong talks theatre, yellow fever, and experiencing privilege in Africa

February 09, 2016 22:53 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MB

Kristina Wong is a solo performer, writer, and cultural commentator. Her new show, The Wong Street Journal, is touring in Minneapolis (Mar 11-12), San Francisco (Apr 7-9), and Philadelphia (Apr 14-16). The outro music in the segment is "Boss Lady" from Kristina's own rap album, produced by Nerio.

Your English Is So Good #1: Teriyaki That

February 05, 2016 00:26 - 7 minutes - 10.9 MB

Jenna Yokoyama talks about her exotic Californian heritage, being typecast in theatre productions, and constantly hearing about how "cute" she is.

01 Performing Asian Identity

January 23, 2016 00:46 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MB

On our very first show, we learn how Asians and Pacific Islanders have to perform their identities in America — especially through the arts. First, we talk with Chinese-American comedian, writer, and performer Kristina Wong (1:35). Then, acclaimed Filipino-American spoken word poet Regie Cabico joins us in the studio (31:43). Finally, we debut a segment we're calling "Your English Is So Good," (48:37) where we learn about all the creative ways American society is still really, really weird ab...