This Filipino American Life artwork

This Filipino American Life

212 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 360 ratings

A podcast that explores the nuanced experiences of Filipinos in the United States, atbp.

Society & Culture filipino filipinoamerican tfal thisfilipinoamericanlife
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Episode 204 – Filipino Psychology and Spirituality with Carl Lorenz Cervantes

March 15, 2024 15:42 - 57 minutes - 132 MB

How do Filipinos practice indigenous spirituality through Catholicism? Who are these “spirits” our parents or grandparents keep talking about that are around us? What explains the Filipino psyche and the way we make sense of the world? How many souls do we have? Some of these questions have helped many Filipinos and Filipino Americans in...

Episode 203: TFAL talks Palestine w/ Michael Arage & JT | Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation

March 01, 2024 19:37 - 57 minutes - 132 MB

In this episode the TFAL crew talks with TFAL alum, Michael Arage, and JT of Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation @npl_palestine. In this episode we have a discussion of our history with the Free Palestine movement, why this issue is important to our community, and how we can show our allyship and be a part of...

Episode 202 – Vision Boarding Abundance

February 10, 2024 15:00 - 57 minutes - 132 MB

New year new TFAL?  Or are we back to our usual shenanigans? Actually, for the first time in months, and thanks to Ryan’s terrible internet, we met up in person and recorded an episode! One New Years’ tradition that many of the folks in TFAL (and maybe some of you) partake in is the creation...

Episode 201 – Lost LA: Historic Filipinotown

January 12, 2024 19:28 - 49 minutes - 112 MB

Last year, some of us on the TFAL crew had the opportunity to participate in the creation of a special episode of the PBS Socal/KCET show, Lost LA, which focused on the Filipino American community of Southern California.  The episode premiered this week and is available on the PBS website or on YouTube.  In this...

Episode 200 – TFAL 200 Live! Building Community with Faith Santilla and Johneric Concordia

December 30, 2023 01:52 - 1 hour - 174 MB

Looks like we made it! TFAL’s 200th episode! (Give or take a few bonus episodes and unreleased things here and there…) Back in October, we recorded our 200th episode live at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles. (Well technically, it was our 195th at the time but who’s really keeping...

Bonus Episode: “Filipino Balikbayan is Homecoming in a Box” by Gravy Podcast

December 22, 2023 19:33 - 28 minutes - 66.2 MB

Before we end 2023, we’re sharing a special bonus episode for you from our friends at Gravy, a narrative podcast produced by Southern Foodways Alliance and distributed by APT Podcast Studios. Named the “Publication of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation, the series showcases a South that is constantly evolving, using food as a...

Episode 199 – The First (?) Annual TFAL Awards!

December 19, 2023 03:01 - 1 hour - 150 MB

2023 is almost over!  And to close things out before we get to our grand finale of the year, we decided to do something… a little different?  Or maybe not? In what is apparently essentially in the grand tradition of our reflections on highlights (Episodes 19.5, 140, 157) and/or airing of grievances (Episodes 4.5, 25.2,...

Episode 198 – “Save the Last Tinikling For Me”: Philippine Folk Dances with Ray Tadio

December 01, 2023 21:57 - 1 hour - 204 MB

Rondalla. Kulintang. Bamboo poles. Gangsas. Sway balance. DANCE! We all are quite familiar with Philippine folk dances such as Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Vinta, Carinosa, Banga, and of course, Tinikling.  Whether we learned them through P.E. classes back in the Philippines, church festivals in the U.S., on college campuses at a PCN, or even on viral...

Episode 197 – Filipino American History, Settler Colonialism, and Jeremy Passion’s “Lemonade” with Adrian De Leon

November 10, 2023 22:31 - 1 hour - 192 MB

When and where does Filipino American history begin?  Is it on October 18, 1587 in Morro Bay, California?  According to our guest in this TFAL episode, this date and time only reinforces a settler colonialist narrative.  Writer and public historian, Adrian De Leon, argues that “Filipino America” actually began in the 1760s in the Philippines. ...

Episode 196 – Dust Your Shoulders Out: Melissa Magsaysay on Filipino Fashion

October 27, 2023 23:26 - 1 hour - 168 MB

  Many of us have grown up seeing women in our lives rock the duster around the house. The piece of apparel is synonymous with traditionally women’s work. But what if the duster could be updated? What would that look like?  In this episode the TFAL Crew,  sans food appreciator Ryan Carpio, have an intimate...

Episode 195 – Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow: Estate Planning and Family Inheritance with Marivel Zialcita

October 13, 2023 19:54 - 1 hour - 190 MB

Have you spoken to your parent(s) about estate planning?  What will happen to their financial assets when they will pass away?  Have you witnessed your family feud over family inheritance or ancestral land?  Have you thought of what legacies you’d like to pass on when you eventually transition to the other side? In this TFAL...

Episode 194 – “Our Vibranium is our Culture”: SF’s SoMa Pilipinas w/ Desi Danganan

September 22, 2023 19:13 - 52 minutes - 120 MB

The South of Market, or SoMa neighborhood in San Francisco is a historical place for Filipino Americans for a century.  Throughout its history, many Filipinos have called SoMa home with its affordable apartments, neighborhood amenities, and proximity to jobs in downtown San Francisco.  Community advocates have been established cultural institutions and social services for its...

Episode 193 – TFAL is feeling Nervous: A Conversation with Jen Soriano

August 25, 2023 22:22 - 1 hour - 143 MB

Have you ever been in constant pain and could not figure out why? Have you ever felt a knot in your back and felt like you could never break it? What happens when family trauma transcends generations and physically manifests itself in your body? In this episode of TFAL join Elaine and Producer Mike as...

Episode 192 – Say My Name, Say My Name: Code Switching and Pronunciation of Filipino Names

August 12, 2023 01:34 - 41 minutes - 94 MB

How do you pronounce your name?  How do you pronounce your last name?  Do you Anglicize it?  Do you pronounce it differently when talking to other Filipinos or when speaking Tagalog? Do you correct people who pronounce it differently? How would you pronounce the name “Roxas”? In this mini-episode, Ryan, Elaine, and Joe discuss the...

Episode 191 – Wala Ka Lista: You’re Not On The List

July 28, 2023 18:27 - 29 minutes - 67.9 MB

This past month an overzealous group of fans found their way to Lea Salonga’s dressing room after a performance of Here Lies Love. The interaction was then uploaded to the internet for the world to see.   SORRY, NOT SORRY. Christopher Carpila, who drew backlash for uploading the viral Lea Salonga dressing-room video, remained firm...

Episode 190 – TFAL Tambayan: Where do Filipino Americans make Tambay?

July 10, 2023 16:06 - 56 minutes - 130 MB

Where do Filipino Americans hang out?  Where is the place where they are allowed to tambay (Tagalog slang for loitering from the English “stand by”)?  Where are can one find Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans alike in public places? According to some sociology scholars, the third place in modern capitalist society refers to spaces that...

Episode 189 – Filipino American Suburbanization with Dr. James Zarsadiaz

June 16, 2023 16:52 - 1 hour - 176 MB

Most Filipino Americans today live in the suburbs – Daly City, National City, Carson, Jersey City, Skokie, Oxon Hill, and on and on.  When you think of the Filipino American community since the 1970s, we are by and large a suburban community.  There are reasons for this, of course, many of which we focus on...

Episode 188 – Money, Money, Money: TFAL talks with Berna Anat, your Financial Hype Woman

April 21, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 187 MB

Did you know April is financial awareness month? A perfect time to drop this episode with MONEY OUT LOUD author Berna Anat. Berna is your Financial Hype Woman/Manang/Ate/Tita. The moniker “Financial Hype Woman” is her made up way of saying she creates financial education media that lives at @HeyBerna all over the internet. Listen as...

Episode 187 – Baon Bracketology: Filipino Food Face-Off, Part 2

April 14, 2023 16:25 - 58 minutes - 135 MB

We’re back at it again. Part 2 of the ultimate Filipino food tournament!  Listen as we decide between Sinigang and Tinola, Pancit Palabok and Pancit Bihon, and many other hard matchups. Laugh as you listen to TFAL Food Appreciator Ryan nearly gets an aneurysm from our food debates. And of course, find out what is...

Episode 186 – Baon Bracketology: Filipino Food Face-Off, Part 1

March 31, 2023 14:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MB

This time of year is one of our favorites. It’s March Madness and April is Filipino Food Month. To celebrate these two occasions, the TFAL developed a Filipino Food Bracket! In this Part 1 episode, we explain the parameters of this tournament and go through the first round of 64 Filipino dishes (ulam-only). Listen as...

Episode 185 – This Filipino American Academic Life

March 10, 2023 15:55 - 1 hour - 182 MB

Pursuing a career in academia can be both rewarding and challenging. It often requires a significant amount of dedication, hard work, and resilience. From navigating graduate school to being on the job market to balancing research, teaching, and service, scholars face a range of unique experiences and pressures. For Filipino Americans, the added layers of...

Episode 184 – Rex in Effect: TFAL laughs with Rex Navarrete

February 24, 2023 18:09 - 1 hour - 194 MB

Tell us if you’ve heard this one: “What size is your panty? You’re not large.. you’re size H… HUSKY” We can still remember listening to this joke in college (before youtube), in an MP3 file that circulated the dorms.  Never had we heard a stand up comic that sounded like our uncle. Listening to Rex...

Episode 183 – Scam and Jam – TFAL talks about Scams (Allegedly)

February 10, 2023 19:18 - 59 minutes - 136 MB

In this episode the TFAL crew talks about make out parties in the 1990s. Just Kidding! In this episode the TFAL crew talks about scams, the criminal kind. The crew talks about their recollection of prominent Filipino American scams that happened in Los Angeles like the infamous Jun Reodica who was the leader of a...

Episode 182 – Supportive White Parents: TFAL Talks Comedy with Joy Regullano

January 20, 2023 18:10 - 1 hour - 146 MB

As Filipinos, comedy is a significant part of our lives.  Not only is it a source of entertainment, comedy is a way of survival – a salve during the lowest points of our lives.  It’s no wonder why Filipinos find humor in anything.  In these modern times, performance comedy can come in many forms –...

Episode 181 – Hilaw Pa 5.0

January 13, 2023 19:58 - 1 hour - 141 MB

Hilaw Pa 5.0!  Once again it’s a new year. With a new year comes new ideas. In this 5th iteration of Hilaw Pa, the TFAL crew once again come up with new random “half-baked” ideas related to Filipino Americans that should be out there in the world. Listen as we discuss a solution to California’s...

Episode 180 – Festivus, for the TFAL in us

December 16, 2022 19:26 - 1 hour - 162 MB

The TFAL Crew comes together for a festivus miracle episode! What is festivus? Take a listen and hear our take on the Seinfeld inspired holiday where we air out our grievances aka give our hot takes for 2022. Do you need to air out your grievances? What are your hot takes for 2022? Let us...

Episode 179 – TFAL Gives Thanks

November 24, 2022 01:51 - 47 minutes - 109 MB

Somehow it’s November and the holidays are upon us. In this episode the TFAL crew has a conversation about our favorite Thanksgiving foods, traditions, etc, etc, etc. What are you thankful for this year? What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at...

Episode 178 – Josh’s Big Adventure: TFAL Talks to Josh Dela Cruz of Blue’s Clues & You

November 11, 2022 19:53 - 1 hour - 207 MB

“Everybody’s looking for Blue’s Clues (and You!) Come on in, come on in It’s Blue’s Clues (and You!)” Some of us remember growing up watching Blue’s Clues, the show that changed children’s programming in a significant way.  Nickelodeon introduced us to Steven and his animated dog, Blue, as they found and followed up on clues. ...

Episode 177 – Celebrations vs Commemorations vs Complications: How Should We Honor Filipino American History?

October 28, 2022 18:43 - 1 hour - 139 MB

Happy Filipino American HISTORY Month!  How did you celebrate?  Why did you celebrate? The past month here in Southern California was filled with numerous events and moments where Filipino and Filipino American culture and heritage were celebrated, but only a handful seemed to spotlight and focus on Filipino American History itself.  And while it may...

Episode 176 – TFAL Fall Update: Ryan the Former Taba-chelor

October 14, 2022 20:43 - 52 minutes - 121 MB

It’s been a while since the TFAL crew came together for an episode without a special guest.  In this episode, we update each other of what’s going on with our lives.  Join Elaine, Kat, Joe, and Producer Mike on this very casual episode.  Of course, we can not discuss Ryan’s new status as a married...

Episode 175 – A “Pretty Incredible” Conversation with Celeste Perez, Co-founder & CEO of Droplet

September 30, 2022 16:24 - 58 minutes - 133 MB

In this episode, the TFAL Crew have a conversation with Celeste Perez, Co-Founder and CEO of Droplet, a health and wellness company creating adaptogen infused beverages. The TFAL crew learns what are adaptogens, what it’s like to start a company at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and how holistic nutrition can be incorporated into...

Episode 174 – The Value of Community Colleges with Dr. Lily Ann Villaraza

September 16, 2022 18:27 - 1 hour - 184 MB

Community colleges are the biggest bang for our buck, and yet there are so many Filipino Americans out there who do not respect such schools.  With the higher education landscape rapidly changing, the notion of what constitutes a “good school” should be reconsidered.  Moreover, there are some schools that provide a more relevant education for...

Episode 173 – Futbol is This Filipino American Life! with Anton del Rosario

August 19, 2022 17:05 - 1 hour - 171 MB

FUTBOL IS THIS FILIPINO AMERICAN LIFE!! What is the most popular sport in the world? You guessed it!  It’s football! And no, not that kind of football with the oddly shaped ball that’s thrown around with hands mostly and occasionally kicked. We’re talking about futbol, or more commonly known to TFAL (and maybe you) as...

Episode 172 – A TFAL Review of ‘Easter Sunday’

August 04, 2022 16:04 - 1 hour - 152 MB

In this TFAL episode, we review the much-anticipated film Easter Sunday, the first Filipino American film produced and distributed by a major movie studio. Three out of the four of us were lucky enough to catch an early screening of the film at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood thanks to Gold House, the Coalition...

Episode 171 – Bayan Surf Club – Designing a Lifestyle in Santa Barbara with DJ Javier

July 15, 2022 15:02 - 1 hour - 151 MB

If you follow TFAL on IG, a little over a month ago you may have caught a quick story post about Bayan Surf Club / DJ Javier‘s collabo with Vans, and if you were really paying attention, you might have been able to catch the very small window of time where the first fruits of...

Episode 170 – Celebrating Philippine Independence Day

June 27, 2022 15:10 - 45 minutes - 104 MB

What does it mean to celebrate Philippine Independence Day? Why do we Filipino Americans celebrate it?  What’s the difference between June 12 and July 4 and do people really understand its history? Is the Philippines really “independent”? Yes, we know we’re on Filipino time with this one, but on this TFAL episode, we dive into...

Episode 169 – Love letters to Lola | TFAL talks CRESCENCIANA: A Memoir In Words And Illustrations with Kenneth Tan

June 10, 2022 17:20 - 38 minutes - 87.5 MB

In this episode of TFAL, Elaine talks with author and artist Kenneth Tan. This conversation was recorded at a pre-Mother’s Day book event at Belcanto Books in Long Beach, CA. In this conversation we learn about Kenneth’s journey with his Lola and what inspired his beautiful coffee table memoir. Since this conversation was recorded at...

Episode 168 – TFAL Goes to Chicago: Entrepreneurship, NFTs, and Sneakers with Francis Almeda and Jeff Masangcay

May 20, 2022 18:38 - 1 hour - 214 MB

This episode rounds out the TFAL crew’s trip to the midwest. On this episode we talk to Francis Almeda, a Chicago based entrepreneur who owns Side Practice Coffee, Reppin Pins, and Filipinoadz. Francis explains what it was like to open a coffee shop in the middle of a pandemic. He also enlightens the crew on...

Episode 167 – TFAL Goes to Chicago: Arts, Politics, and Community with Ginger Leopoldo and Mark Calaguas

May 13, 2022 15:51 - 1 hour - 219 MB

One of the great things about traveling to a different city like Chicago aside from eating the wonderful food and visiting a Michael Jordan monument, is meeting people who have done tremendous work uplifting the Filipino American community. First, we got a chance to talk to Ginger Leopoldo to talk about what it’s like to...

Episode 166 – TFAL Goes to Chicago: Traveling to Chi-Town

May 06, 2022 21:26 - 27 minutes - 61.8 MB

The TFAL Crew is in Chicago!  Over the next three episodes, TFAL brings you to the capitol of the Midwest!  We will talk to some of the city’s community leaders and small business owners and discuss what the MIdwest Filipino American experience is all about. In this introductory episode, the TFAL crew discusses traveling for...

Episode 165 – The 2022 Philippine Presidential Election

April 29, 2022 14:56 - 1 hour - 164 MB

In less than two weeks, Filipinos across the Philippines and dual citizens around the world will go to the polls to elect a new president.  This is a very important election for the Philippines and will affect those of us in the diaspora tremendously.  We at TFAL want to make sure you all know the...

Episode 164 – Belligerence Has Arrived! TFAL gets real with Melissa Beck from Real World NOLA Homecoming

April 15, 2022 19:17 - 1 hour - 176 MB

In the year 2000 MTVs Real World took the audience to New Orleans and introduced Filipino Americans to Melissa Howard. Over 20 years later Paramount Plus is giving Gen Xers the opportunity to revisit classic Real World casts. In 2021 Real World New York and Los Angeles opened the door to these Homecoming reunions. These...

Episode 163 – Who’s le beouf? TFAL talks food criticism with Annabelle Tometich

March 25, 2022 21:23 - 1 hour - 140 MB

Surprise, surprise, TFAL talks about their favorite subject – FOOD – in this episode! Specifically food criticism. The team talks about the rise of Yelp reviews to which one of us wanted to be a food critic? Could you guess who that might be? If you suspect a TFAL food appreciator, you might be correct!...

Episode 162 – Estatue, Filipino America? A Memorial-able Discussion about Filipino American Monuments

March 11, 2022 18:39 - 50 minutes - 116 MB

Monuments, statues, street signs, plaques, memorials, murals.  Our communities are filled with tributes to the people, places, and things that hold some sort of significance to the people who live there, and this holds true in past and present Filipino Communities throughout America.  Jose Rizal Bridge, Larry Itliong Village, and the upcoming gateway arch in...

Episode 161 – The Complicated History of SPAM with Gabrielle Berbey

February 25, 2022 21:06 - 1 hour - 162 MB

Oh SPAM…the delectable, delicious soft pink slab of pork meat so ubiquitous to Filipino and Filipino American weekend breakfast meals. You love it fried, crispy, maybe with a sprinkle of sugar, served with a warm heap of garlic rice and egg. It tickles our taste buds and tummies with such delight, but also clogs our...

Episode 160: TFAL talks The Girl Who Sees with Pattie Umali

February 11, 2022 18:24 - 1 hour - 185 MB

  It’s no secret that TFAL Producer Mike and Elaine love a good video game from Animal Crossing to Uncharted to Final Fantasy.  Role Playing Games (RPG) are a favorite pastime. If only there was a Filipino inspired one we could explore? Well turns out there is!  In this episode the crew shares their experiences...

Episode 159 – The Secret’s Out: Secretly Filipino

January 21, 2022 19:20 - 47 minutes - 108 MB

Ever wonder why that peculiar Chinese restaurants have no chopsticks on their table settings?  Have you noticed that your finance branch at your work has a lot of Filipinos? Did you ever think, what’s up with basketball leagues that are 6 feet and Under? These questions are some of the same things we’ve asked. We...

Episode 158 – Baybayin atbp. with Kristian Kabuay

January 07, 2022 18:12 - 59 minutes - 135 MB

Baybayin, the pre-colonial written script of the Philippines, is a major foundation of our cultural heritage.  The alphasyllabary script consisting of 17 characters was understood and used by communities throughout much of the archipelago prior to colonization.  Spanish missionary Pedro Chirino, who lived and studied Philippine society in the early years of Spanish colonization, documented...

Episode 157 – A Few of TFAL’s Favorite Things – Small Businesses to Support this Holiday Season

December 17, 2021 18:26 - 57 minutes - 132 MB

In this episode, we shout out some of the many Filipino Small Businesses that we are personal fans of, ones that you should definitely support this Holiday season!  Here is the list of who we mentioned on the show, along with some other ones that are also near and dear to our hearts: Jewelry  ...

Episode 156 – Freethought, Faith, and Politics with Filipino Freethinkers

December 03, 2021 18:50 - 1 hour - 161 MB

Gotta have faith! Freedom Like many Filipinos and Filipino Americans, the TFAL crew grew up around Christianity, specifically Catholicism. We speak of our upbringing in our podcast, mainly about how it’s shaped not just our adult selves, but the continued practices and traditions of many family, friends and listeners alike. Although we all look at...

Guests

Eugene Cordero
1 Episode
Geena Rocero
1 Episode

Twitter Mentions

@tfalpodcast 4 Episodes
@1barnsez8i 2 Episodes
@cozysuperkick 2 Episodes
@indiohistorian 1 Episode
@gabrielleberbey 1 Episode
@isabelvsandoval 1 Episode
@jeanleboeuf 1 Episode
@inquirerdotnet 1 Episode
@bauzilla 1 Episode
@crazyrichmovie 1 Episode
@1sf6fw2a6n 1 Episode
@warnerbrosent 1 Episode
@freshoffabc 1 Episode
@constancewu 1 Episode
@wolfinjapan 1 Episode
@melissarwno 1 Episode
@arraynow 1 Episode
@iislrdmrju 1 Episode