HotPot: Recent Episodes
Steven Zhang
In this episode, Wendy Wu talks about her experience growing up with her parents as professors and her experience overcoming a major obstacle in leadership. From a young age, she has always learned to be strict. However, in this story, you'll learn about the one event that changed everything. Tune into this touching story about change and growth!
“Miss Saigon”, a musical that premiered in the West End at the Theatre Royal in September 1989, is about an American male GI who falls in love with a young Vietnamese orphan who works as a bar-girl and as a prostitute. As an immediate hit, Miss Saigon ran for 4,264 performances before closing on October 30th, 1999. However, alongside growing popularity, Miss Saigon has also earned a lot of criticism. In today’s video, we will explore the controversy surrounding Miss Saigon, and why attempts to revive it have been met with both harsh pushback and proponents.
Unveil the mysterious weapon that shattered China's power in this captivating video on the Opium Wars. Explore the unexpected alliance that transformed opium into a destructive force, altering the course of empires. Witness the brutal confrontation, escalating tensions, and the aftermath that reshaped history. Join us on this riveting historical adventure.
Hey everyone, I'm Steven, a high school senior, and I want to share my journey of writing an academic paper on Asian American religion for the APARRI conference at UC Berkeley. I'll break it down into four parts:
First, let's talk about my experience writing the paper. It all started with my curiosity about why my parents, immigrants, converted to Christianity. This led me to explore Asian American identity and religion. I struggled, reading difficult books and trying to find my research question. After months of hard work, I finally got my focus and made a plan.
Next, I'll share the preparation process, along with some tips and mistakes I made. Planning thoroughly is essential, and setting different types of deadlines helped me stay on track. I learned the value of "VH skimming" to extract relevant information efficiently. One major mistake was not having a solid outline, which caused organizational issues.
Then, I'll talk about the APARRI conference experience. Despite initial nerves, everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I found a sense of belonging among scholars who shared my passion. The variety of presentations on unique subjects was fascinating.
Lastly, I'll share my overall thoughts. The conference changed me, inspiring me to pursue my academic interests and connect with others who share my nerdy side. It was a remarkable experience that opened my eyes to the beauty of being a scholar.
Overall, the journey was tough, but the rewards were immense. I encourage others to embrace their scholarly interests and consider attending conferences like APARRI. It's an eye-opening experience you won't want to miss.
I first learned about Corky Lee through a conversation with a local activist called Liza Talusan, who spoke highly of his lasting impact and lamented his recent passing. Intrigued by his story, I spent the entire night after our conversation exploring his photos and interviews. As I browsed through the internet, I realized the profound impact of Corky's work in amplifying the Asian American voice. His notable photographs captured anti-Chinese violence, depicted the conditions in Chinatown, and documented anti-Asian hate protests from 1970 to 2000. Corky's work is special as no matter how small or big an event would be, he would always be there with his camera. Through my research, Corky's unwavering dedication empowered me. He exemplified the model of an unsung hero, working behind the scenes to pave the way for Asian Americans.
When Asian Americans can’t fit in white communities because they’re too Asian, but can’t fit in Asian communities because they’re too white, where do they go? In this episode, I interview two Asian Americans in a school I attend and ask them what it is like living in the liminal space between two cultures and identities. In the end, we explore what it means to be Asian American, and how it can be an entirely new identity.
Despite the scandals surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and its lack of diversity in membership, the Golden Globe awards show went on as planned. The ceremony was a success not only because the winners shared personal anecdotes about their careers, but also because it provided a platform for entertainers who don't often get the chance to speak candidly before their peers
In today's video, I write another video essay. This time, it is on table tennis Tokyo Olympian Nikhil Kumar. I learned a lot from speaking to him. He gave me unique ways to deal with mental stress, and I was able to learn what it is like performing at the highest stages of the Tokyo Olympics. Nikhil Kumar is an Indian-American professional table tennis player from California, United States. He has played for seven years since 2013 and is currently the U.S. 2nd-seeded table tennis player. He won an Olympic qualifier tournament in March and will be representing the USA at the upcoming Olympics. He started playing table tennis when he was 5 or 6 years old and has trained with some of the best players in the USA. Table tennis is not a mainstream sport in the USA. It has been challenging for him to coordinate school schedules with international schedules and participate in competitions in Europe and Asia. He has had to rely on his parents for support as there is no sponsorship for table tennis players in the USA. The recent lockdown has affected his training schedule and limited opportunities for training and competitions.
On February 19, 1942, following the growing distrust towards Japanese Americans, President Roosevelt enacted Executive order 9066 which allowed the alienation and segregation of Japanese Americans. The executive order permitted the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans by relocating them to Internment Camps; those who did not comply were evicted from their homes and had their assets frozen. World War 2 developed into a war on skin color and ethnicity. If you were Japanese, you did not belong in America anymore. You could not live in your homes. You could not go to school. You could not be Americans. You were an enemy.
In this episode, new staff writer Jeff Wang discusses his experience coming to the US for the first time, including many cultural and lifestyle differences.
Yarran is an assistant professor of professor at Bard College. His research sits at the intersection of moral psychology and social and political philosophy, drawing on the global pragmatist tradition. In today's episode, we discuss discrimination and exploitive classes in the light of philosophy.
Yarran Hominh is an assistant professor in philosophy at Bard College. His research sits at the intersection of moral psychology and social and political philosophy, drawing on the global pragmatist tradition. In today's episode, we talk about the connections and differences between philosophy, religion, and poetry.
Toan Vo's son shared this powerful story of perseverance, humility, and love. The story follows his father's journey from poverty and family to success and brilliance. However, Toan contracted an organ problem. What will happen to him?
Society and our natural capacities shape who we are and how we think. The environment you grew up in determines who you are and what you can do. It sounds a bit like fate doesn’t it? Well, I believe thinking in that way is harmful. Fate is something you are destined to do, something that can never change. However, human agency is the utmost capacity, nothing is predetermined like Fate is. Personally, I find fate to be very restricting but the idea of human agency to be thought-provoking.
Philosophy is a subject people don't know much about. Whether it's a jobless career or boring readings, philosophy encounters many different stereotypes. In today's episode, I am joined with Yarran D. Hominh to ask the guiding question: "What is Philosophy"?
We all have that embarrassing moment as a childhood where we hated being Asian. It's quite universal. Listen to today's short story on maturing as a child, and realizing that being Asian is the best thing in the world.
Having insecurities with a language is universal. How does one story of overcoming the barrier reveal Steven's deepest love for the language? Join us to understand Steven's point of view!
This episode is an introduction to the early history of Christianity. I am joined with Reyhan Durmaz, a UPENN professor, to explore the roots of Christianity. The beginning of Christianity is not very concrete. A lack of historical evidence and varying recounts of stories all contribute to many different perspectives in early Christianity. But this does not mean we are empty handed.
What is the model minority myth? How does it affect Asians and how does it separate and isolate them from other minority groups? In this short episode series we explore the dangers and history of the model minority myth, and what it holds for the future of Asians.
What is the model minority myth? How does it affect Asians and how does it separate and isolate them from other minority groups? In this short episode series we explore the dangers and history of the model minority myth, and what it holds for the future of Asians.