We're Not All Ninjas: The Podcast
81 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWe're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films.
Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester
Music by Ryan Majoris
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Episodes
Will Choi and Keiko Agena of Asian AF
July 03, 2017 13:16 - 51 minutes - 37.9 MBIn our final episode of Season 1, we have Will Choi (Drunk Monk Podcast) and Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls; 13 Reasons Why.) They produce and host a monthly all Asian American variety show at UCB and this year made their NYC premiere! We talk comedy, representation, casting and more!
Roxy Shih and the Taiwanese American Film Festival
June 27, 2017 12:00 - 28 minutes - 25.2 MBFilmaker, producer, and a founding member of the Taiwanese American Film Festival, Roxy Shih, sat down with Rachel in LA. They talk, they laugh a lot, and talk some more about film, representation, and inspiration. The Taiwanese American Film Festival is on July 8th in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now! https://www.taff.la/
Spa Night
June 20, 2017 10:00 - 43 minutes - 38.9 MBHappy Pride Month! In honor of our friends in the LGBTQ+ community, we (and guest Orville Mendoza) watched Spa Night. Spa Night is the directorial debut of Andrew Ahn, and was featured at Sundance in 2016. This indie flick is more than a coming out story. It's about family, immigrants, class, and more.
Saban's Power Rangers Bonus
June 13, 2017 10:00 - 31 minutes - 31.2 MBThis week, we talk in depth about Asian American Poverty in Power Rangers, as well as just how fun and silly this franchise can be.
Saban's Power Rangers
June 07, 2017 03:42 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBThat's right! We watched the latest Power Rangers reboot. And guess what? We don't regret it! This episode we talk about cutie pie Ludi Lin, filling a diversity quota, and using Power Rangers to promote Asian male role models.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Bonus
May 30, 2017 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.8 MBWe're back with guest, actor Orville Mendoza (@orviactor). We talk Vin Diesel, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Orville's current gig, a sold out production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures with Classic Stage Company.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
May 24, 2017 10:00 - 47 minutes - 42.4 MBGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 made a gajillion dollars opening weekend. So we went to check out it. Helping us talk about Dave Bautista (Drax) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is NYC actor Orville Mendoza.
Deathnote and Asians Who Speak Perfect English
May 16, 2017 10:00 - 34 minutes - 48.6 MBDeathnote, the beloved Japanese anime series, has been given a Netflix adaptation. The trailer is out and it stars......not a lot of Asian folks. Not like they didn't try. According to actor/producer Masi Oka (Heroes) "our casting directors did an extensive search...[but] the actors we did go to didn't speak the perfect English." What??? Well, Zoe Kim, Jenapher Zheng, and Sylvia Ray were having none of these shenanigans. They put together a great video explaining why these statements are rid...
Kubo and the Two Strings Bonus- Hogwarts Edition!
May 09, 2017 09:30 - 6 minutes - 5.86 MBWe place each Kubo character into Hogwarts houses, wax poetic about Harry Potter (cos we're big nerds), and rant about representation in voice overs.
Kubo and the Two Strings
May 02, 2017 08:00 - 48 minutes - 43 MBAfter Wes Anderson's poster for Isle of Dogs was released, we thought it was pretty important to cover another stop motion animated film that used animals in a Japanese backdrop. In this episode, we talk about monkeys, gender steretypes, and seriously, why was Matthew McConaughey in this movie?
Hapa Hour: The Casting of Henry Golding
April 25, 2017 10:42 - 46 minutes - 41.7 MBA few weeks ago, Henry Golding was cast as the lead of Crazy Rich Asians. Women swooned and men....had a different reaction. Especially this guy (http://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2083148/hollywood-adaptation-crazy-rich-asians-has-cast-its-chinese-male). But is casting a hapa as a full-Asian white washing? We brought together a panel of our hapa and full-Asian male friends (Viet Vo, Kevin Shuering, Eddy Lee, and Matt Park calling in) to give us some perspective. *Melissa tota...
Ghost in the Shell Part 2
April 18, 2017 06:00 - 44 minutes - 39.6 MBGaby Wilson (MTV) returns for the second half of Ghost in the Shell. We cover the spider tank, Adwoa Aboah, transracialization, and our own mixed race heritage. - Why Japan Won't Save GITS From Being A Box Office Flop from The Hollywood Reporter - Ghost in the Shell: The Major's Body from Women Writing About Comics
Ghost in the Shell Part 1
April 12, 2017 19:08 - 33 minutes - 29.7 MBGaby Wilson (MTV) is our special guest this week! We all watched Ghost In the Shell, which means we contributed to its 19 million dollar flop. *Jes Toms "Ghost in the Shell PSA"- https://youtu.be/0Ll7gt0meuU *Ornamental Orientals and using Asian Bodies as Narrative Props- http://www.onstageblog.com/onscreen/2017/4/4/ornamental-orientals-and-using-asians-bodies-as-narrative-props
Star Wars: Rogue One Bonus
April 04, 2017 06:00 - 29 minutes - 25.8 MBIt's a Rogue One Bonus! This episode features long discussions about how this might be the best starter Star Wars, how Melissa ships Chirrut and Baze, and how special this story is in the Star Wars cannon. Dedicated to the memory of Carrie Fisher. RIP.
Star Wars: Rogue One
March 28, 2017 08:00 - 43 minutes - 37.7 MBSta Wars is the biggest movie franchise there is. This episode, we're talking about Chirrut, Baze, and Bodi.
Hapa Hour: We So Hapa
March 21, 2017 06:00 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBWelcome to the first ever Hapa Hour Bonus Episode! Host Alex Chester, and her theatre company We So Hapa, is putting on a cabaret. Alex and I sat down with Rebecca Lee Lerman, Kevin Shuering, Stephanie Mieko Cohen, and Carlos Martin to talk about what their upcoming performance, and what being hapa means to them. Hapa (noun): a slang term for a person of mixed ethnic heritage 6:51- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAndx2oLYk8
The Great Wall Bonus
March 15, 2017 06:00 - 10 minutes - 10.6 MBThis week, we consider The Great Wall and how it's like Pacific Rim, Game of Thrones, and Ghost in the Shell. At the same time. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter
The Great Wall
March 08, 2017 10:00 - 51 minutes - 49.2 MBMatt Damon saves China. Or does he? The first foray into a Chinese-American creative partnership, The Great Wall has some ups and some major downs. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter
Moana Bonus
February 21, 2017 08:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this bonus episode, Melissa Slaughter and Keith Chow gush over Hamilton, breakdown the importance of casting, and recast La La Land. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Moana with Keith Chow
February 14, 2017 09:00 - 51 minutes - 48 MBKeith Chow, founder of Nerds of Color, joins Melissa to talk about Moana. In a host-lite episode, Melissa and Keith talk about Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Rock, and what it means to be a Brown Disney Princess We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Memoirs of a Geisha Bonus
February 07, 2017 09:00 - 17 minutes - 21.4 MBIs Memoirs of a Geisha really a Cinderella story? Or is it just a male fantasy? We'll discuss that and so much more! We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Memoirs of a Geisha
January 31, 2017 10:00 - 33 minutes - 41.8 MBSo are geishas artists or prostitutes? Is Ken Watanabe sexy or creepy as the Chairman? Does it matter that Ziyi Zhang is Chinese and not Japanese? Alex, Melissa, and Rachel discuss Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Harold and Kumar Bonus
January 17, 2017 09:00 - 15 minutes - 20.1 MBHarold and Kumar Go to White Castle Bonus round! This week we talk about how all Asians, and South Asians, know each other. And we've got a webseries idea for Chris Meloni. With special guest, Aneesh Sheth We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
January 10, 2017 10:00 - 42 minutes - 54.8 MBSpecial guest Aneesh Sheth came to the studio to help us discuss the stoner classic, Harold and Kumar. This week we talk about weed, Neil Patrick Harris and riding cheetahs. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Better Luck Tomorrow Bonus
December 27, 2016 10:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBIt's the last episode of 2016! In this bonus episode, we talk about Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow, the "model minority" stereotype, Roger Ebert, and Hogwarts House Sortings. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Better Luck Tomorrow
December 20, 2016 08:00 - 50 minutes - 45.6 MBThis week we talk about Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow. High school haunts us all in this 2003 MTV movie. Starring Sexy Asian John Cho. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Kill Bill pt.1 Bonus
December 13, 2016 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBIn this week's bonus episode, we talk about Quentin Tarantino's obsession with blood, Sophie Fatale, and Bill as a Daddy. We're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Kill Bill pt. 1
December 06, 2016 04:05 - 35 minutes - 31 MBWe're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. This week, we talk about Alex's favorite movie, Quentin Taratino's Kill Bill. See how Oren Ishii and the Crazy 88 rank on the Abacus. Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Harry Potter Bonus
November 29, 2016 06:00 - 5 minutes - 5.68 MBWe're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. This week, we have our Harry Potter Bonus, where we talk about Ron, Hermoine, and the Yule Ball, and Harry as a Ravenclaw Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire/Order of the Phoenix
November 22, 2016 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBWe're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. This week we focus on Cho Chang and her role as Harry Potter's love interest in Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. Does she live up to the hype? Or is the the token Asian hot chick? Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich
Disney's Mulan
November 11, 2016 05:15 - 36 minutes - 32.9 MBWe're Not All Ninjas is a movie review podcast focusing on Asian American Representation in Hollywood Films. In our premiere episode, we dissect Disney's first (and only) East Asian warrior princess. We talk about everything from Donny Osmond singing for Shang, to Mulan's tan. How will Mulan rate on The Abacus? Hosted by Melissa Slaughter, Rachel Liu, and Alex Chester Music by Ryan Majoris Image by Brett Love Edited by Melissa Slaughter and Keith Scopinich