Episodi

  • Culture Jumpers discusses a Chilean ad campaign that went viral on Twitter in March 2024 after originally airing over twenty years ago. Considered genius by many, the controversial ads caused a beef with George Lucas almost as big as the one between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:00:40) - Most Memorable Commercial - Mr. Owl

    (00:02:00) - Most Memorable Commercial - Whassup?

    (00:02:57) - The Cerveza Cristal Star Wars Campaign

    (00:06:53) - Ad Campaign Aftermath

    (00:09:03) - Why It’s Genius

    (00:11:11) - A New Life on the Internet

    (00:13:39) - Outtakes

    Listen to our Webby-nominated episode, “BIPOC Gamers, Animal Crossing, and the Mellowverse” from season one!

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Budweiser Whassup commercial. (29 Dec 2006). Youtube. Retrieved on 14 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikkg4NobV_w

    2. Cerveza Cristal Star Wars ad 1. (9 Jul 2009). YouTube. Retrieved on 14 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfRjN3txdM

    3. Cerveza Cristal Star Wars ad 3. (9 Jul 2009). YouTube. Retrieved on 14 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y06AxkJviRQ

    4. Cerveza Cristal Star Wars ad 5. (9 Jul 2009). YouTube. Retrieved on 14 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvI1bNfleFs

    5. Classic Tootsie Pop commercial — How Many Licks? (15 Aug 2012). YouTube. Retrieved on 14 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6rHeD5x2tI&pp=ygUXdG9vdHNpZSBwb3AgY29tbWVyY2lhbCA%3D

    6. Levy, Carly. (6 March 2024). “Turns Out George Lucas Wasn't A Fan Of Chile Putting Beer Ads In Star Wars Movies.” Cinema Blend. https://www.cinemablend.com/star-wars/george-lucas-wasnt-a-fan-chile-beer-ads-star-wars-movies

    7. Newbery, Charles. (7 July 2004). “OMD CHILE'S PRODUCT PLACEMENT COUP: Snags Cannes Grand Prix for beer client.” Ad Age. https://adage.com/article/madisonvine-news/omd-chile-s-product-placement-coup/40570

    8. Tide Super Bowl Commercials 2018 Compilation (4 Feb 2018) Youtube. Retrieved on 21 April 2024. https://youtu.be/7JfvCVJ_TNw?si=AnXf92UJiL6e_78R

  • Culture Jumpers looks at how Korean culture has come to dominate the West. Whether it’s K-dramas and Squid Game on Netflix; Academy Award-winning film Parasite; K-pop stars like BTS and Blackpink; or the latest beauty trends — Korean influence is everywhere. And that’s not an accident. This week’s guest, Dr. Rosalie Kim, explains the history of Korean pop culture and Hallyu — the Korean Wave.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:01:57) - Dr. Rosalie Kim & Seo Taiji and Boys

    (00:06:23) - The Korean War and the 60s

    (00:09:24) - Park Chung-hee Era

    (00:13:27) - The 90s and the Asian Financial Crisis

    (00:20:30) - Hallyu Highlights

    (00:21:51) - Hallyu! The Korean Wave Exhibit

    (00:30:05) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Jones, R. (2023, April 25). Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Makes a $2.5 Billion Bet on K-Content. Observer. https://observer.com/2023/04/netflix-ceo-ted-sarandos-directs-2-5-billion-to-south-korean-content/ 

    2. BTS. (n.d.). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/artist/bts/chart-history/hsi/ 

    3. Marilyn Monroe performing for the thousands of American troops in Korea, 1954. (2017, October 14). Rare Historical Photos. https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/marylin-monroe-korea-1954/ 

    4. The Pearl Sisters. (1968). A Cup of Coffee [Vinyl A Cup of Coffee]. Shin Joong-hyun.

    5. In A Kadda Da Vida (cover by 신중현/Shin Jung Hyun). (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://youtu.be/5U-lR7wEhRY?si=KSpai1Xa1YRAxi_m 

    6. (1995, October 8). The Simpsons - “Bart Sells His Soul” (No. 132). FOX. Retrieved March 17, 2024 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulDC1w1ydLI

    7. 일하는 해의 노래 (Song of the Year of Working) - Korean Patriotic Song. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://youtu.be/VDUBCPyyUBU?si=iCI675NjYUDiZgRM 

    8. Baron Cohen, E. (2006, October 24). O Kazakhstan [Digital Download O Kazakhstan]. Atlantic Records.

    9. Chick, S. (2011, September 15). Shin Joong Hyun: South Korea’s psychedelic mimic turned master]. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/sep/15/shin-joong-hyun-korean-psychedelic 

    10. Santos, Brandon L. (2018). South Korean Nationalism and the Legacy of Park Chung Hee: How Nationalism Shaped Park’s Agendas and the Future Korean Sociopolitical Landscape. Chadron State Graduate Theses. 1. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/chadron/1 

    11. [신곡 무대] 누구나 기억하는 충격과 공포의 데뷔 무대! 서태지와 아이들 - 난 알아요 : 1992년 특종TV연예. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://youtu.be/Zr-9NlWLr5g?si=6zE7HATENC3iV0_J 

    12. Min-sik, Y. (2017, August 14). Hallyu’s future; limitations and sustainability. The Korea Herald. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170814000686 ‌

    13. Falcon, E. (2020, March 16). Why Is South Korea a Global Broadband Leader? Electronic Frontier Foundation. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/02/why-south-korea-global-broadband-leader 

    14. MacDonald, J. (2022, November 13). V&A Showcases Korean Pop Culture In “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” Exhibit. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2022/11/13/va-showcases-korean-pop-culture-in-hallyu-the-korean-wave-exhibit/?sh=5960e7e63ef0 

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  • Culture Jumpers is back with another edition of Does This Word Have an English Equivalent? This time, hosts Lionel & Ilana get some help from their friend, Darien Perez Ryan, to learn about the Spanish word and tradition “sobremesa” and discuss whether the word has an English equivalent.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Intro

    (00:01:55) - What is Sobremesa?

    (00:10:40) - Do We All Do Sobremesa?

    (00:16:58) - Does Sobremesa Have an English Equivalent?

    (00:19:54) - Credits

    (00:20:57) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Cocina con Fujita. “Bacalao de Vizcaína.” (Aug. 31, 2019). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixxu3zUgV_U

    2. Corley, Susie. (May 10, 2021). “Sobremesa: The Cultural Trend We Need In Our Lives Right Now.” Delish. https://www.delish.com/uk/food-news/a36186360/sobremesa/.

    3. Gonzalez, Clara. (Dec. 20, 2021). “Sancocho (Meat and Root Vegetables Stew).” Dominican Cooking. https://www.dominicancooking.com/sancocho

    4. Randolph, Mike. (February 24, 202). “A uniquely Spanish part of the meal.” BBC. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180424-a-uniquely-spanish-part-of-the-meal.

  • Filipino food is (finally) having a moment in the US. In this episode, host Lionel chats with two Filipino-American chefs about their popular restaurants in Philadelphia. Chance Anies of Tabachoy and Kathy Mirano of Tambayan share their approaches to serving Filipino food and introducing their culture to a wider American audience.

    Episode Transcript

    Mentioned in the episode:

    1. Tabachoy: @tabachoyphilly

    2. Tambayan: @tambayanphilly

    3. Reading Terminal Market: @rdgterminalmkt

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:04:09) - Gaining Credibility As a Chef - Chance

    (00:10:57) - Gaining Credibility As a Chef - Kathy

    (00:21:38) - Convincing People to Try - Chance

    (00:26:29) - Convincing People to Try - Kathy

    (00:33:03) - What is Authenticity, Really?

    (00:37:35) - Feeling at Home

    (00:42:30) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Daughenbaugh, Wendy. (Aug. 2, 2021). “Reading Terminal welcomes 1st Filipino restaurant, Tambayan.” 6 ABC Action News. https://6abc.com/tambayan-filipino-restaurants-reading-terminal-market-where-to-eat-in-philadelphia/10914467/

    2. Stephens, Regan, Nikita Richardson, Brett Anderson, Priya Krishna and Sara Bonisteel.(Oct. 23, 2023). The 25 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia Right Now. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-restaurants-philadelphia.html

    3. https://www.tabachoyphilly.com/

    4. “Tambayan.” Reading Terminal Market. https://readingterminalmarket.org/merchant/tambayan/

    5. https://www.tambayanphilly.com/

    6. ZipAtlas.com. (n.d.). Daly City, CA. Daly City, CA | 2023 | Zip Atlas. https://zipatlas.com/us/ca/daly-city.htm

    7. ZipAtlas.com. (n.d.). Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia, PA | 2023 | Zip Atlas. https://zipatlas.com/us/pa/philadelphia.htm

  • Office jargon is a fact of corporate life. But what happens when jargon becomes culturally charged? In this episode, host Lionel explores the history of Chinese food in America in order to understand the origin of some strange office shorthand.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:02:19) - The Chinese Menu Collection

    (00:10:19) - Class and Chinese Cuisine

    (00:19:40) - Is This Offensive?

    (00:29:49) - Conclusion

    (00:32:10) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Mumford, Tracy. (April 28, 2016). “Inside the world's largest collection of Chinese menus.” MPR News.  

    2. University of Toronto Scarborough Library - Digital Scholarship Unit. (n.d.) Menus Collection. Retrieved May 15, 2023 from https://digital.utsc.utoronto.ca/collections/menus-collection

    3. Lee, Jennifer 8. (2008). The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food (First Trade Edition). Twelve. 

    4. Ray, Krishnendu. (2016). The Ethnic Restaurateur. Bloomsbury Academic.

  • In this special Halloween premiere, Culture Jumpers Season 2 kicks off with a true-crime whodunit about monsters of Philippine folklore. In the years following World War II, residents of a remote village are rattled by things that go bump in the night. But all is not as it seems…

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:02:50) - What Is The Aswang?

    (00:11:46) - What Killed The Huk Rebels?

    (00:17:44) - The Aswang Did Exist

    (00:21:18) - Outtakes

    Mentioned in the Episode:

    Season 1, Episode 3 - “Not a Bad Grass” - Lionel interviews his Grandma (or Lola) Virgie about her life in the Philippines, and how she escaped death at the hands of the Hukbalahap.

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Ramos, Maximo. (Oct. 1969). “The Aswang Syncrasy in Philippine Folklore.” Western Folklore. Retrieved May 30, 2023 from https://www.jstor.org/stable/1499218.

    2. Roos, Dave. (Mar 8, 2023). “How the CIA Used 'Vampires' to Fight Communism in the Philippines.” How Stuff Works.

    3. Conliffe, Ciaran. (Apr 20, 2015). “Edward Lansdale, Intelligence Agent.” HeadStuff.

    4. Ladwig III, Walter C. (2014). “When the Police are the Problem: The Philippine Constabulary and the Hukbalahap Rebellion.” Policing Insurgencies: Cops as Counterinsurgents. Retrieved July 2, 2023 from https://www.walterladwig.com/Articles/Huk_Chapter.pdf.

    5. Barnes, Bart. (Feb 24, 1987). “Edward Lansdale, Prototype For 'Ugly American,' Dies.” The Washington Post.

    6. Zarka, Emily. (Dec 11, 2019). “Manananggal: The Flying, Disembodied, Blood Sucking Nightmare | Monstrum.” PBS.

    7. Open Vault from WGBH. (Jan 31, 1979). Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 1 of 5]. https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_76FF42FB387043579AAE7F39B43D2D1C. The Vietnam Collection.

    8. Burns, J. (Writer), Henson, J. (Writer), & Harris, P. (Director). (1977, January 16). Juliet Prowse (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In J. Henson (Executive Producer), The Muppet Show. Henson Associates.

  • Tune in for this special feed drop featuring the hosts of Culture Jumpers discussing their multicultural relationship on the amazing Immigrantly Podcast, hosted by Saadia Khan. Originally released March 28, 2023.

    About the episode:

    Welcome to Immigrantly, the podcast that shares immigrant stories and experiences through a nuanced lens. In this episode, I am joined by Lionel Nicolau and Ilana Weitz, co-producers of the hilarious and insightful podcast Culture Jumpers. Together, we'll explore their personal experiences with cross-cultural relationships and how they navigate the challenges and joys of blending their diverse backgrounds. So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to laugh, learn, and be inspired by the dynamic duo behind Culture Jumpers.

    Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod

  • What does Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” have to do with Culture Jumpers and Filipino Americans? In the Season 1 finale, hosts Ilana and Lionel discuss Fil-Am representation in media, quiz themselves on famous Fil-Ams, and Lionel unleashes his inner rockstar.

    Episode Transcript

    Watch the full lyric video for “The Filipino American Song” on Youtube.

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:04:42) - Act I: Naming Filipino Americans

    (00:13:27) - Act II: The Filipino American Song

    (00:16:31) - Credits

    (00:17:35) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Nuyen, Suzanne. (May 11, 2023). “'Sesame Street' introduces TJ, the show's first Filipino American muppet.” NPR.

    2. A Rugrats’ Chanukah. (December 6, 1996). IMDB.com.

    3. Palmer, Jordan. (December 14, 2022). “Here are all 4 versions of Adam Sandler’s ‘Chanukah Song.’” St. Louis Jewish Light.

    4. American Idol. “I am Your Brother” Renaldo Lapuz audition.

    5. Jose Antonio Vargas. Wikipedia.

    6. De Pacina, Michelle. (April 7, 2023). “Filipino American lawmaker expelled by Tennessee’s Republican-led House over gun control protest.” Next Shark.

    7. Holmes, Linda. (June 19, 2012). “Silverdocs: How Journey Found A New Lead Singer And Made Friends In Manila.” NPR.

    8. Albert, Maddy. (December 22, 2020). “11 Iconic Christmas Songs That Were Written By Jews.” Kveller.

    9. Surf Ninjas (1993). New Line Cinema. IMDB.com.

  • In a new segment, Does This Word Have an English Equivalent?, Culture Jumpers hosts Lionel & Ilana debate whether the words ‘加油 (jiā yóu)’ in Chinese and ‘plotz’ in Yiddish have analogous words in English while Ilana tries to keep Lionel from using ChatGPT to cheat.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue

    (00:01:25) - Act I - Jia You

    (00:09:44) - Act II - Plotz

    (00:16:16) - Credits

    (00:17:09) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    1. Bland, Daniel. (June 24, 2015). “Add oil! The evolution of Hong Kong English, and where our unique words come from.” South China Morning Post.

    2. Shen, Jiayi. (September 4, 2021). “Jiayou: A Message of Encouragement for Everybody.” Duke University - Intersections: A Journal of Language, Culture, and Ideas.

    3. Jewish English Lexicon. “Plotz.” Accessed 7 May 2023.

    4. Jewish Unpacked. (December 26, 2022). “18 essential Yiddish words and sayings.”

    5. Vespe, Jim. (October 2019). “It Was John Glenn Who Popularized the Word ‘Glitch.’” Smithsonian Magazine.

  • Culture Jumpers host Ilana explores her family’s personal connection to the Holocaust. She interviews her late grandfather, who lived in Vienna, Austria before World War II, about finding himself feeling like a foreigner in his own homeland. He discusses his awareness of the Nazis as a young boy, his family’s experiences with antisemitism, and his father’s race to get his family to safety.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:02:41) - From Poland to Austria 
    (00:04:46) - Shadow of the Goose Step 
    (00:10:25) - Anschluss 
    (00:16:01) - Kristallnacht
    (00:19:47) - A Loss 
    (00:23:25) - Never Again 
    (00:26:06) - Credits

    Audio Clips:

    Chancellor Schuschnigg 24 Feb 1938 speech clip: Österreichische Mediathek (Austrian Media Library). Last accessed 9 April 2023.

    German Troops March Into Austria (1938). Film ID:957.44. YouTube. Audio supplied by British Pathé, licensed for use 16 January 2023.

    References and Further Reading:

    Brice, Angela. “Toporov” - Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities in Poland, Volume II (Toporov, Ukraine). Translated from Pinkas Hakehillot: Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities, Poland, Volume II, pages 253-254, published by Yad Vashem, Jerusalem. Accessed 10 February 2023.

    Documentation Archive of the Austrian Resistance.  

    Lichtblau, Albert. The Holocaust in Austria. Oxford Bibliographies. DOI: 10.1093/OBO/9780199840731-0080. July 27, 2020.

    Personal family historical records including birth and marriage records gathered from JRI Poland. Accessed 11 February 2023.

    US Department of State. Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act Report: Austria. Accessed 11 February 2023.

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Beer Hall Putsch (Munich Putsch).” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Accessed on 11 February 2023.

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Kristallnacht.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Accessed on 11 February 2023.

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.“The Stab-in-the-Back Myth, Ludendorff, and Hitler.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Accessed on 11 February 2023.

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Vienna.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Accessed on 11 February 2023.

    Voyles Pulver, Dinah and Doug Caruso.“More than 950 people have been charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but investigation 'far from over.'” USA Today. 6 January 2023.

    Yad Vashem The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Transport 21 from Wien, Vienna, Austria to Izbica, Krasnystaw, Lublin, Poland on 15/05/1942. Accessed 11 February 2023.

  • This week, Culture Jumpers is sharing an episode from the show Immigrantly. Immigrantly explores identity and the immigrant experience. In their episode, “My Parents, TikTok & I,” host Saadia Khan interviews Thea Pham, an accomplished biotech entrepreneur and first generation Vietnamese immigrant who went viral on TikTok for sharing an emotional TikTok about her challenges as the daughter of Vietnamese parents. In that video, she highlighted some common expectations that fall on children of immigrants, such as academic excellence and financial support. But in Thea's case, they have caused guilt, mental illness, and more. After the interview, Saadia unpacks the conversation with content editor and script writer, Yudi Liu, who is an immigrant daughter herself. 

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Lionel's Introduction to Immigrantly
    (00:01:31) - My Parents, TikTok & I - Saadia's Intro
    (00:06:42) - Interview with Thea Pham
    (00:44:10) - Post-Interview Debrief with Yudi Liu

    References/Further Reading:

    1. Our guest appearance on Immigrantly!

    2. Silva, Gina. (May 3, 2022). UCLA grad goes viral for TikTok video on expectations on first-generation immigrants. FOX 11 Los Angeles

  • Culture Jumpers looks at Animal Crossing and the BIPOC "cozy gaming" community. From blockbuster games like Call of Duty to hit adaptations like HBO’s The Last of Us, gaming has hit the mainstream in a big way; cozy gaming culture is making it more inclusive. Guests Eurice and Jaléssa talk about the importance of diverse characters and how cozy games offer an oasis of healing in a harsh world.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:02:33) - Act I: Eurice
    (00:04:55) - Facing discrimination
    (00:13:51) - Getting into Animal Crossing
    (00:18:20) - Birthday week

    (00:22:33) - Act II: Jaléssa
    (00:24:11) - Discovering cozy gaming
    (00:31:28) - The Mellowverse for Black Folk
    (00:37:53) - Curating positive Black narratives 

    (00:41:08) - Credits
    (00:42:07) - Outtakes

    More About Eurice McNeal:

    Eurice is represented by the Driven Agency LA

    Check out Eurice’s livestream gameplay on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/oyhxbleh_


    Music:

    Additional music for this episode purchased from Alex Cook (@alexfcook on Instagram):

    Alex Cook - “New Leaf” [00:13:51-00:15:14]

    Alex Cook - “Cozy Shop” [00:24:50-00:25:49]

    References/Further Reading:

    Social Unrest During the Pandemic:

    Browning, Kellen and Brian X. Chen. (19 December 2021). “In Fight Against Violence, Asian and Black Activists Struggle to Agree.” The New York Times.

    Black Gamers and Animal Crossing:

    Van Der Velde, Issy. (November 4, 2021). “Animal Crossing Fans Are Overjoyed About New Black Hairstyles.” The Gamer.


    Rocque, Starrene Rhett. (February 22, 2021). “Culture Crossings: Black Gamers Make A Homebase In Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” AURN (African Urban Radio Networks).

    Lizzo and the Crystal Flute:

    Fact check and note: In the episode, Jaléssa discusses the importance of African American musician Lizzo playing a historic flute owned by enslavers and mentions that the flute was saved by enslaved people. She was referring to a crystal flute which was custom-made in 1813 as a gift for President James Madison’s second inauguration. James Madison enslaved dozens of Black people at his personal home, Montpelier, and frequently brought them to work in the White House during his presidency. According to a Library of Congress press release about the Lizzo performance, the flute was saved from the April 1814 fire at the White House during the War of 1812. Paul Jennings, a fifteen-year-old boy enslaved by the Madisons, rescued a famous portrait of George Washington from the same fire. Further reading can be found below.

    Hopkins, Callie. (August 28, 2019). “The Enslaved Household of President James Madison.” The White House Historical Association. 

    “Lizzo Plays President James Madison's Crystal Flute, Part of the World's Largest Flute Collection.” (September 28, 2022). Library of Congress press release. Features video of Lizzo’s performance.

    National Parks Service. “Summer 1814: Dolley Madison saves Washington’s portrait, with some help.” 

    Slayton, April. (September 28, 2022). “It’s About (Danged) Time: Lizzo at the Library!” Library of Congress Blogs.

    Taylor, Savannah. (September 30, 2022). “Lizzo Playing A 200-Year-Old Flute Has White Conservatives Up In Arms.” Ebony.

  • Culture Jumpers takes a look at how the internet is different in China and why a simple dessert lands the country’s biggest influencer, Austin “Lipstick King” Li, in hot water. The hosts also look at what happens when American pop culture gets exported to China. How does Fight Club’s anarchist anti-hero hit in an authoritarian country? And could the TV show Friends be any more controversial?

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:03:17) - A Different Internet in China
    (00:04:19) - Austin Li, The Lipstick King
    (00:07:39) - The Tank Cake Incident
    (00:12:22) - China's New Ending for Fight Club
    (00:18:28) - Friends in China
    (00:23:22) - Censorship in China and America
    (00:27:10) - Credits
    (00:27:58) - Outtakes

    References/Further Reading:

    1. Fisher, Max. (Jun. 3, 2014). 25 years after Tiananmen, most Chinese university students have never heard of it. Vox.com

    2. Teh, Cheryl. (Mar. 31, 2021). Meet China's 'Lipstick King,' an outspoken 28-year-old e-commerce streamer who fans adore and brands fear. Business Insider.

    3. Tan, Huileng. (Oct. 22, 2021). China's Lipstick King sold an astonishing $1.7 billion in goods in 12 hours — and that was just in a promotion for the country's biggest shopping day. Business Insider.

    4. Cheung, Rachel. (Jun. 7, 2022). China’s Top Influencer Is Cancelled Over a Piece of Cake. Vice.

    5. Zhou, Viola and Meaghan Tobin. (Oct. 18, 2022). The Return of the Lipstick King. Rest of World.

    6. Fight Club - Chinese ending. YouTube. Uploaded Jan. 25, 2022 by ElectricGuitarManPL.

    7. Toh, Michelle and Nectar Gan. (Feb. 7, 2022). Fight Club’ ending restored in China after cries of censorship. CNN Business.

    8. Brzeski, Patrick. (Jan. 26, 2022). ‘Fight Club’ Author Chuck Palahniuk Says China’s Censored Ending Is Actually Truer to His Vision. The Hollywood Reporter.

    9. Wang, Philip. (Feb. 16, 2022). China censors lesbian plotline in ‘Friends.’ CNN Entertainment.

  • Culture Jumpers interviews professor Lindy Backues and artist Donna Backues about living in Indonesia for 18 years while doing economic and community development work with their NGO. The couple talks about raising two kids, surviving severe illness, and witnessing several historic events. A challenge they didn’t expect? Trying to fit in after moving back to the United States.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:03:31) - Act I - Culture Shock
    (00:18:01) - Act II - Belongers
    (00:38:22) - Act III - Back Home?
    (00:55:37) - Credits
    (00:56:19) - Outtakes

    References and Further Reading:

    Asian Economic crisis

    1. Carson, Michael and John Clark (November 2013). “Asian  Financial Crisis.” Federal Reserve History. Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    2. Indonesia Investments. “Asian Financial Crisis in Indonesia.” Accessed 7 January 2023.

    3. International Monetary Fund. (1998). “The Asian Crisis: Causes and Cures.” Finance and Development. Volume 35, 2. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    4. Sijabat, Ridwan Max (13 May 2004). "Six years after, May 1998 tragedy still unresolved". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    Earthquake and Tsunami

    5. Reuters. (Dec. 18, 2019). “15 years on, a look back at the Boxing Day tsunami.” Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    6. Carey, Bjorn (25 August 2005). "Tsunami Waves Channeled Around the Globe in 2004 Disaster". LiveScience. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    7. Flint, Michael and H Goyder (July 2006). "Funding the Tsunami Response" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    8. USGS. (29 December 2014). "Magnitude 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake FAQ". Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2023. 

    9. USGS. (24 December 2014). “Indian Ocean Tsunami Remembered — Scientists reflect on the 2004 Indian Ocean that killed thousands.” Retrieved 7 January 2023.

    Indonesians in the U.S.

    10. Harfenist, Ethan. (May 24, 2018). “Chinese-Indonesian Refugees Found a New Home, and New Problems, in the US.” Vice. Retrieved 7 January 2023. 

    Recommended reading by Lindy Backues

    11. Banerjee Abhijit V. and Esther Duflo. Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty. Public Affairs: 2012 (reprint).

  • Culture Jumpers host Lionel interviews his Lola Virgie (Lola means grandmother in Tagalog) about her life in the Philippines — before he knew her as the mahjong-playing matriarch of 10 kids who used to babysit him after school. She talks about her brushes with death, her entrepreneurial spirit, and the desire to spend her final years in her homeland.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:02:45) - Act I - Before She Was Lola
    (00:10:50) - Act II - Caring for Lola
    (00:16:56) - Credits
    (00:18:06) - Outtakes

    References/Further reading:

    1. How to Play Filipino Mahjong Coololdgames.com

    2. Greenberg, Lawrence M. (1986). Ch. 4 - The Insurrection Phase 1 (1946-1959). The Hukbalahap insurrection: A Case Study of a Successful Anti-Insurgency Operation in the Philippines, 1946–1955 (pp. 42-78). U.S. Army Center of Military History. [PDF]. Accessed 8 Jan. 2023.

    3. Dumaraos, Gelyka Ruth R. (Apr. 22, 2018). Upholding heritage through ‘carinderia’ cooking. Business Mirror.

    4. Encila, Jade. (Mar. 19, 2021). Where the Locals Eat in Manila - Carinderia Culture and 5 Filipino Dishes You Need to Try. Lokafy.

    Songs featured in episode:

    “My Song of Love” recorded by Cora Delfino. https://youtu.be/M6bkjT4WQHE. This traditional Illongo folk song, known as “Walay Angay,” has had several lives. It was translated into Tagalog as “Ikaw ang Iibigin ko” before being translated into English. Delfino’s recording was a number 1 hit in the Philippines in the 1950s. Released by Columbia Records.

    “Mother Song” recorded by Nora Aunor. From the album The Golden Voice (Classic Collection of Nora Aunor Volume 5). Released by Alpha Records, Reissued on CD, 1999. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLWjgtFmotg.

  • Culture Jumpers interviews more white people married into Asian families. Eddie explains how his family tried to make his wedding special for his Chinese-American bride, how lion dancers are like Philadelphia Mummers, and why ceiling fans are not Feng Shui. Filmmaker Jon Matthews covers bringing Filipino food to Sesame Street, working with in-laws, and nailing Tagalog pronunciation. Part 2 of 2.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:01:55) - Act I - Eddie
    (00:16:55) - Act II - Jon Matthews
    (00:18:39) - Filipino Kamayan on Sesame Street
    (00:28:36) - Credits
    (00:29:17) - Outtakes

    References/Further reading:

    1. History of lion dances and fortune/luck (cái or 财) Chinatownology.com.

    2. McGuire, C. (2015). The Rhythm of Combat: Understanding the Role of Music in Performances of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts and Lion Dance. MUSICultures, 42(1). Retrieved 8 Jan. 2023.

    3. What is the Mummers Parade? Visit Philly, Official Philly Tourism and Visitor Information.

    4. Malouse, Caroline. (Jan. 1, 2010). Throw Me Some Culture! The Three Evolutionary Strains of Carnival in Louisiana. MyNewOrleans.com.

    5. Hunt, Kristin. (Dec. 27, 2022). How the Mummers Parade (briefly) landed on national TV in the 1990s. Philly Voice. Note: A brief history of the parade’s brushes with racism and its organizers’ recent attempts to reform the event.

    6. Jon Matthews’ Kamayan short for Sesame Street’s “F is for Food” segment can be found on HBO Max: Sesame Street, season 52, episode 31, “Backyard Pizza Parlor.” (Original airdate: June 9, 2022).

     7. A note on Feng Shui: Just about anyone can claim to be a Feng Shui “expert,” and everyday practitioners will follow or ignore guidelines based on what works for them. As a cultural practice passed down through families, many people likely don’t know the reasons behind why they do or don’t follow certain practices beyond that it’s what they learned growing up (like most of us). We found information both supporting and dismissing beliefs about luck and birds’ nests and ceiling-fan danger in our research. We’ll let you decide.

    8. Fuller, Thomas (Dec. 3, 2013). A Love Letter to a Smelly Fruit. The New York Times.

  • Culture Jumpers interviews white people who've married into Asian families. Lionel and Ilana talk about interfaith marriage, dietary culture clashes, and language barriers. Lionel's cousin Tracy discusses raising multiracial children and her husband Kip reflects on his first trip to the Philippines. Occupational therapist Kaylee gains street cred with her Filipino coworkers and patients.

    Episode Transcript

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Prologue
    (00:01:25) - Act I - Ilana
    (00:03:12) - The Filipino Spaghetti Date (TikTok reenactment)
    (00:15:04) - Act II - Kip
    (00:25:03) - Act III - Kaylee
    (00:36:31) - Credits

    References/For further reading:

    1. De Guzman, Nicai. (Jun. 22, 2018). The Long and Tumultuous History of the Humble Banana Ketchup. Esquire Philippines.

    2. Cachero, Pauline. (May 30, 2021). From AIDS to COVID-19, America’s Medical System Has a Long History of Relying on Filipino Nurses to Fight on the Frontlines. Time.