Disoriental is an Asian culture podcast hosted by Kari Ferrell (Author of You'll Never Believe Me), Youngmi Mayer (Author of I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying), and Henry Bae (celebrated Drag Performer) 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.
Henry talks about fashion. Henry discusses coming to terms with being a gay who didn't do that much for pride and Youngmi talks about the anxiety of going back to Korea (0:00). In this week's Korean/Off Youngmi quizes Henry on the food of Kazhikstani-Koreans (14:25). Henry discusses the obsession with European luxury goods among Koreans and other Asians, bringing up the statistic that Koreans spend more per capita on these goods than anyone else in the world while the Chinese seem to be rapidly losing interest. Youngmi throws out the theory that these items are popular among Asians because we love being poor-shamed and race-shamed (21:03).
12 Jul 2026
Poor Little Rich Henry (Being Poor)
The hosts discuss being poor. Henry gets a raise and Youngmi talks about only dating people who she'll dump(0:00). On this week's Korean/Off Henry talks about the Korean practice of shaming people to death using the recent World Cup News as reference (17:40). The hosts discuss being poor and what that means... exactly (28:30). Henry reveals their parents are (possibly) rich (44:15).
5 Jul 2026
Korean Meth Pancakes (Drugs)
Henry brings up the topic of drugs. Henry and Youngmi talk about what it feels like working in the service industry for tips when inflation is outrageous(0:00). Youngmi talks about seeing a 'republicany' person at Rocky Horror on broadway and being confused(9:55). Henry and Youngmi go head-to-head in this week's Korean-Off about how Korean Han (aka inherent Korean sorrow and rage) is fake(15:54). Henry and Youngmi list all the drugs they've ever done and go into great detail about all of them!! In case you're hiring!! (32:33)
28 Jun 2026
White People Have Tiny Heads (Korean Beauty Standards/Plastic Surgery)
Youngmi discusses Korean beauty standards. Henry and Youngmi discuss Kari missing an episode because she threw out her voice like a True Diva(0:00). Youngmi shares an awkward dating anecdote and Henry talks about being an "Immigrant Apologist"(2:00). Instead of Korean 101 for Kari, Henry and Youngmi decide to do a "Korea/Off" where they introduce cultural ideas about Korea the other might not know (21:05). Youngmi does a deep dive on the idea that Koreans get plastic surgery in order to 'look white' (29:58).
21 Jun 2026
Make K-Pop Korean Again (K-Pop)
Henry discusses K-Pop. Henry gossips about feeling anxiety when out at the club, Kari asks the question, "Can I be oversexed?" and Youngmi talks about accidentally bringing up 2 girls 1 cup with her son(0:00). Kari brings up the concept of Fan Death, and the hosts discover that there is a synth pop band from Brooklyn called that now (12:40). Henry leads a discussion on K-Pop centering around the recent history and how it went from being a niche interest of rejects and losers to the global chart-topic music genre it is today(20:15).
14 Jun 2026
Koreans Are Mormons About Divorce (single mom)
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).
7 Jun 2026
The Tower (Failure, Bankruptcy and Being Canceled)
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).
31 May 2026
The Hipster Grifter Forever (Part 2)
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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-C2ZrU_Yco)). 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).
24 May 2026
The Hipster (derogatory) Grifter (complimentary) Part 1
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.
17 May 2026
Hudson News from Hockey Movie (Mixed Race)
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.
10 May 2026
Jjom Gay Gatae?? (Gender/LGBTQIA+)
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.
3 May 2026
Wangtta (Adoption)
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!
3 May 2026
DISORIENTAL IS HERE
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.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
16 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
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