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 192 – Say My Name, Say My Name: Code Switching and Pronunciation of Filipino Names
How do you pronounce your name? How do you pronounce your last name? Do you Anglicize it? Do you pronounce it differently when talking to other Filipinos or when speaking Tagalog? Do you correct people who pronounce it differently?...
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Episode 190 – TFAL Tambayan: Where do Filipino Americans make Tambay?
Where do Filipino Americans hang out? Where is the place where they are allowed to tambay (Tagalog slang for loitering from the English “stand by”)? Where are can one find Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans alike in public places?...
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Episode 189 – Filipino American Suburbanization with Dr. James Zarsadiaz
Most Filipino Americans today live in the suburbs – Daly City, National City, Carson, Jersey City, Skokie, Oxon Hill, and on and on. When you think of the Filipino American community since the 1970s, we are by and large...
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Episode 187 – Baon Bracketology: Filipino Food Face-Off, Part 2
We’re back at it again. Part 2 of the ultimate Filipino food tournament! Listen as we decide between Sinigang and Tinola, Pancit Palabok and Pancit Bihon, and many other hard matchups. Laugh as you listen to TFAL Food Appreciator...
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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...
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...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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!
