Youngmi discusses her experience as a Korean single mom. Kari shares her theory that the Knicks doing well played a huge role in getting Mamdani elected (not joking) and how the Knicks solved racism (joking) (0:00). Youngmi leads a discussion about Koreans and their views on divorce when Henry drops the bombshell that their Korean parents got divorced when they were a teenager(17:26). Kari then reveals her Mormon parents also got divorced around the same time. The hosts discuss how fascinating it is that they are children of divorce from two cultures who deem it unacceptable. Youngmi talks about how she expected the Koreans to shame her for divorce but was shocked when she realized her ultra-liberal community in NYC reacted in a similar way(35:15).

Henry reveals the bankruptcy of their extremely successful fashion company. This week's gossip centers around the utter dread of being invited to celebrity events, feeling too loose on the podcast and how everyone's lives are literally falling apart(0:00). Korean 101 for Kari is the topic of "Aegyo" which means baby-like behavior in Korean, which Henry is a big fan of and Youngmi attributes to Imperial Japan (like always) and p3do-coded Kawaii-culture(17:20). The main topic of the week is failure. Henry talks about the failure of their immensely popular shoe company and the excrutiating feeling of letting down the queer community. Youngmi discusses Mission Chinese being canceled and Kari gives advice as someone who's risen from the ashes of the proverbial rock bottom(33:23).

Part 2 of Kari's story as The Hipster Grifter. Youngmi talks about having to get a restaurant job and working with people who are 20 years younger(0:00). Henry discusses how they lost a modeling job because they negotiated the pay too aggressively, due to being self-conscious about not advocating for themselves enough(11:20). Korean 101 for Kari focuses on Korean floor cleanliness vs. American floor cleanliness (21:30). Kari shares the final chapter of being The Hipster Grifter, talking about the last few days of being on the lam (31:00) before giving an incisive take on the horrors of the American prison industrial complex, which lead her to becoming an outspoken prison abolition activist.(40:55).

Kari reveals she is The Hipster Grifter. Henry talks about starting antidepressents and mistakenly says Don Cheadle was the principal in the movie Mean Girls(0:00). Youngmi and Henry quiz Kari on Korean words that are borrowed words from English(24:40). In part 1 of the interview, Kari talks about the events in her young life that led her to becoming the main villain of New York City in the aughts(39:58). In an era where genpop did not know what 'hipster' or 'grifter' meant, Kari became the introduction to both of those words for many people. The hosts discuss how different the perspective was back then, because Kari- a struggling young Korean girl who stole very small sums of money from white trustfund artworld nepo baby dudes- was painted as a villain by Vice Magazine (derogatory), when in today's political climate, she would be seen as a folk hero.

Youngmi talks about being Wasian. The reject Asians discuss being called "Chino/China" and how internet trolls are evolving into moral superemacists (0:00). Henry teaches Kari the only Korean word she needs to know: 네 (23:26). Youngmi talks about the perception in America among Asian Americans that biracial Asians are 'privileged' and compares it to her childhood experience of growing up mixed race in Korea in the 80s and 90s which was decidedly... not great (28:06). The hosts discuss what it means in America to be 'mixed race' including the difference between White+Asian (Wasian) and every other mixed race person- which involves a lot of Barack Obama and Hudson News from Hockey Movie (Hudson Williams) discourse.

Henry talks about being gaaaayyyyyyy, focusing on the difference in the Asian American vs. Korean perspective on gender fluidity and homosexuality. Kari gets a lesson in 'pouring drinks according to your age' culture in Korea. Kari is also gay and gives her perspective. Youngmi misgenders Henry and then spreads misinformation about how it's 'illegal' to be gay in Korea before doing a simple google search and realizing that is not true. Don't forget we have bonus mini episodes on patreon!! patreon.com/disorientalpodcast. thank you for listening.

Disoriental is an Asian culture podcast hosted by Kari Ferrell (Activist, Writer, Producer, Author of You'll Never Believe Me), Youngmi Mayer (Comedian, Author of I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying), and Henry Bae (Celebrated Drag Performer, Fashion Designer and Creator) self-proclaimed 'Jail Asians' who feel ostracized from their cultures for being adopted, gay, biracial, tattooed, convicted felons, and worst of all- artists. These three rejects say the shit the 'Church Asians' are too afraid to say because their parents will disown them, since they've already been disowned by their parents. Join us every week to get DISORIENTAL.

Kari leads a conversation on Korean-American identity by sharing her story of being adopted into an all-white Mormon community in Utah, leading to a Disoriental deep dive. Henry and Youngmi discuss the Korean phenomenon 'Wangtta' (outcast child). Please support us on patreon.com/disorientalpodcast for bonus weekly material!