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New TFALEpisode 141 – Pinays in Political Organizing: A Conversation with Russellie Bongolan & Lillie Madali (Social Distance Series)
What is something that you thought was politically impossible but happened? This is the question that Elaine, Joe, Producer Mike, and special guest host Kat tackle in this conversation...
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New TFAL
Episode 140 – The Good (Ha) Place – TFAL Thinks Happy Thoughts (Social Distance Series)
So… there’s a lot going on in the world. A lot of it not so great. And while we talk about many of those things on our show and...
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New TFAL
Episode 139 – Cleaming the Gube: TV Writing with Rene Gube (Social Distance Series)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a TV or movie? If you had total creative freedom to pitch a show or movie, what would...
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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 139 – Cleaming the Gube: TV Writing with Rene Gube (Social Distance Series)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a TV or movie? If you had total creative freedom to pitch a show or movie, what would it be about? Would you center Filipino or Filipino American...
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Episode 138 – A Year of COVID 19: A Conversation with Cindy Evangelista (Social Distance Series)
It’s been one year since most of the United States has been under quarantine, significantly changing our lives. In this TFAL episode, we reflect on a year like no other, how COVID has affected our personal lives and the...
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Episode 137 – tFalling in Love: TFAL Talks Valentine’s Day (Social Distance Series)
Roses are red. Violets are blue. These brown hands Choo choo choose you! Hello TFAL listeners, join us as the TFAL Crew reflects on love. Well…sort of, through the lens of the commercialized and overpriced holiday of Valentine’s day!...
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Episode 136 – A Good Death: A Conversation with Death Doula/Midwife Michelle Mondia (Social Distance Series)
2020 will go down in history as one of the most difficult years for so many of us. At the time of writing, 443,000 people have lost their lives to covid-19. Deaths in 2020 that were not Covid-19 related...
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Episode 135 – Purge Towards New Beginnings (Social Distance Series)
New Year. Covid’s still here. Let’s start purging and clear… The energy for 2021. We all know that 2020 was a roller coaster that we were happy to say so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight, and goodbye to that...
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Episode 134 – Philippine Archaeology and the Ifugao Rice Terraces with Stephen Acabado (Social Distance Series)
Did you know that the Banaue Rice Terraces are actually only approximately 200-300 years old hundred years old, and not 2,000 years old as many people believe? Did you know that the “Wave Migrations” theory of the people-ing of...
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recent articles
Enjoy all our latest written articles here!
TFAL Holiday 2019
This holiday season we’ve been highlighting Filipino American businesses on Instagram. Are you following This Filipino American Life on instagram? Head to @tfalpodcast and give us a follow. Looking for some Christmas present ideas? Why not support these folks? REPPIN PINS Reppin Pins is a Chicago based pin company. Use code TFALREPPIN for $3 off...
Sneak Preview Screening of ‘Quezon’s Game’ coming to LA on December 16
ABS-CBN International will be hosting a “special sneak peek” opening of Quezon’s Game in Los Angeles at the Downtown Independent Theater, December 16-22. In a time when the government of Israel is deporting Filipino workers and their families, Quezon’s Game couldn’t be a more appropriate movie to watch now. Quezon’s Game, directed by Jewish filmmaker Matthew...
“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...
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!
