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New TFALEpisode 98 – Filipino Funerals, Spirits, and the Afterlife
Death is a natural part of life. All of us have experience with death, whether it’s among our family, our friends, or even folks we barely know. With death...
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New TFAL
Episode 97 – TFAL Game Show 2: Live at Beatrock’s 10th Anniversary
On Sunday, October 6th, the TFAL crew had the opportunity to be a part of the Beatrock Music 10-Year Anniversary Festival held at the Bootleg Theater in Historic Filipinotown....
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New TFAL
Episode 96 – Human Trafficking: A Conversation with Damayan and Mairi Nunag
In early September, Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (PWC) hosted an anti-human trafficking summit, bringing together survivors, advocates, and leaders from throughout the country. After two days of workshops,...
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recent Episodes
This Filipino American Life is a podcast that explores the nuanced experiences of Filipinos in the United States, atbp. We release new episodes every other week. Enjoy all our latest episodes here!
Episode 96 – Human Trafficking: A Conversation with Damayan and Mairi Nunag
In early September, Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (PWC) hosted an anti-human trafficking summit, bringing together survivors, advocates, and leaders from throughout the country. After two days of workshops, panels, and performances, the participants launched the Baklas campaign (Filipino...
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Episode 95 – Filipino American Gangs, Part 2: Law Enforcement
Historically, police departments have had a history of tense and even hostile relations with communities of color, with the Los Angeles Police Department as one of the most notorious. Looking back as far as the 1960’s and 1970’s, the...
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Episode 94 – Filipino Americans in Wrestling and Comics: A TFAL & PNGpodcast crossover with Scott Lost
While at San Diego Comic Con this year Elaine and Producer Mike were lucky enough to speak with Scott Lost, former professional wrestler turned comic book artist. Scott is one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, an independent wrestling company that has alums such as TJP, the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Ricochet, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and more.
After leaving professional wrestling behind Scott founded Accidental Aliens, a San Diego based art studio, creating stories with characters that he always wanted to see in comic books.
This episode is also a special cross over episode with the new Pencil Neck Geeks podcast on the Geek Say What network. PNG podcast comprises of Berto Ponce (Balut Club founder), Elaine from TFAL, and Justin Mallari of Geek Offensive. PNG podcast will be coming out soon, so follow the show on instagram (@PNGpodcast) for updates!
Episode 93 – The Murder of Joseph Ileto: 20 Years Later
On August 10, 1999, Buford O. Furrow, Jr., a white supremacist, shot and killed JOSEPH ILETO, a Filipino American postal worker in Chatsworth, CA, after firing 70 shots inside the North Valley Jewish Community Center with a semi-automatic weapon. ...
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Episode 92 – Fading Cultural Practices
Do you still mano po? Do you still call your siblings ate/kuya or manang/manong/ading? Do you know the recipes that your grandparents used in their cooking? Do you miss the local Filipino restaurant or store that no longer exists? ...
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Episode 91 – TFAL talks Paleontology: It’s not just Dinosaurs!
Did you know that Paleontology is more than just dinosaurs? If so, YAY for you! When the opportunity to talk to a Filipino American paleontologist came about it got Elaine excited to talk all things dinosaurs, which is exactly...
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recent articles
Enjoy all our latest written articles here!
“Joy is Here”: A Review of Hello, Love, Goodbye
Hello, Love, Goodbye is breaking box office records in the Philippines, and now it’s making waves throughout the diaspora. The film centers on Joy (Kathryn Bernardo), a domestic helper living and working in Hong Kong, and her determination to fulfill the responsibilities to her family in the Philippines. She then meets Ethan (Alden Richards), a...
TFAL at San Diego Comic Con 2019
TFAL is going to San Diego Comic Con this week, and to celebrate, we’ll have these exclusive #SDCC2019 Sticker Packs! So how do you get your hands on one of these? Just look for Elaine and Producer Mike! This is what they looked like the last time they went to SDCC in 2011. But where...
EMPTY BY DESIGN
EMPTY BY DESIGN is Andrea Walter’s feature debut and will have its world premiere as the Closing Night film for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Walter’s film evokes the loneliness of returning to a home you no longer recognize or a home that does not recognize you. EMPTY BY DESIGN Fri, May...
PARENTALS & #LIFE
PARENTALS highlights how parents and children take on the complexities of today’s world. This shorts program features MANILA IS FULL OF MEN NAMED BOY by Andrew Stephen Lee. In this film as Michael Jackson’s televised funeral plays throughout The Philippines despite terrorist attacks in the south, an estranged son purchases a child who can drink...
OMENG SATANASIA
What film has a satanic dance number, singing angels, perilous escapes, bawdy humour, and a rough and tumble fight scene? The visual mind trip of a film OMENG SATANASIA, starring the ‘King of Comedy’ Dolphy. OMENG SATANASIA combines the golden era Philippine Cinema of the ‘70s and ‘80s with the prolific entertainers comedic stylings. ABS-CBN...
JOURNEY TO IFUGAO
JOURNEY TO IFUGAO follows five Filipino artists and healers as they travel from Los Angeles to the Philippines on a spiritual quest for their identities and indigenous roots. Directed by Nicanor Evangelista, the cast and crew traverse to a village in Ifugao where they learn life lessons communing with nature and the essence of...
meet the Hosts & crew
We started the TFAL podcast in 2016 as friends who loved sharing perspectives on our personal Filipino American experiences. Get to know more about us and our other projects.
Joseph Bernardo
Joe is a 2nd generation Filipino American born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He currently works at a local university in LA and is involved with various organizations & campaigns that support...
More about Joseph >
Ryan Carpio
Ryan was born in Manila, Philippines and immigrated to the United States when he was 7 years old. He grew up in Los Angeles and currently works for the City of LA. He’s a Loyola High School and UC Berkeley alum. In his free time, he likes to sing, teach, play cards, and laugh.
More about Ryan >
Elaine Dolalas
Elaine is a Historic Filipinotown-based writer, podcaster, and independent curator. She curates Color Your Troubles Away, a monthly arts event that offers stress relief, healing, and meditation through coloring.
More about Elaine >
Michael Nailat
Michael, aka waxstyles, is definitely 100% Filipino American, although his facial hair tends to confuse folks for some reason. Born and raised in Oxnard, educated at UC Irvine and USC, it’s no wonder he ended up becoming a DJ...
More about Michael >
Subscribe To TFAL
Listen to TFAL and access all former episodes on your favorite player. This Filipino American Life is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, Mixcloud, or where ever you get your podcasts.
Featured episodes
Here is a selection of our most popular TFAL episodes. Whether it features a special guest or topic close to our hearts, we know you’ll love these episodes. First time listeners start here!
