I Took the Long Way is a storytelling podcast for first-generation Korean Americans, GenX latchkey kids, late bloomers, and anyone who felt like they were always one step behind. Hosted by a Korean American from LA who took every detour possible — including too much partying, a surprise military enlistment, and a faith journey he didn't see coming — this show is for the people who found their way the hard way. Real stories. No filter. You're doing better than you think. x.com: https://x.com/itookthelongway
I Took the Long Way
Claim This Podcastby Me
5.0(6 reviews)
10 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
I Took the Long Way is a storytelling podcast for first-generation Korean Americans, GenX latchkey kids, late bloomers, and anyone who felt like they were always one step behind. Hosted by a Korean American from LA who took every detour possible — including too much partying, a surprise military enlistment, and a faith journey he didn't see coming — this show is for the people who found their way the hard way. Real stories. No filter. You're doing better than you think. x.com: https://x.com/itookthelongway
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/24/2026
1 verified contact email on file for I Took the Long Way
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 8, 2026
Ep 10: The Face That Didn't Compute - Growing Up Korean American Without the Korean
I've been asked my whole life why I can't speak Korean. And for a long time, I didn't have a good answer -- not one I was willing to say out loud anyway. I'm Korean American. Born in San Francisco. Raised in a mostly white neighborhood. I looked Korean. I just didn't sound it. And depending on which room I was standing in, that meant I was either too Korean or not Korean enough. Never just -- enough. This episode starts with a story from my Army days near the DMZ that still makes me laugh and cringe at the same time. It moves through the version of me that dreaded going back to Korea as an adult, and ends somewhere I genuinely didn't expect when I started telling it. I also watched a movie recently that cracked something open. I'm not going to review it. But it brought up a feeling I've been carrying since elementary school -- one I recognized immediately and wasn't totally comfortable recognizing. If you grew up between two cultures, you probably know this feeling. If you're raising kids in that same in-between, this will sound familiar. I Took the Long Way is a personal storytelling podcast about faith, family, identity, and figuring it out the hard way. New episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
May 26, 2026
Ep 9: Wednesday Night Riders - How Fixed Gear Bikes and a Koreatown Corner Changed My Life
I didn't get into cycling because I loved it. I got into it because I had to. In Los Angeles, that's not a minor inconvenience, that's a full restructuring of your life. But somewhere between riding 20 miles through Koreatown at night and building my first fixed gear bike on my apartment floor, something shifted. It stopped being a punishment and started being something else entirely. This episode is about three cities: Los Angeles, Oakland, and back to LA again. Three different bikes. Three groups of strangers I found through an internet forum and a Wednesday night meetup. And what it took me a long time to admit those Wednesday nights were actually giving me. I talk about fixed gear cycling, group riding, the Bay Area bike scene, what it felt like to be in a community that looked like me, and the chapter of my life when I was still figuring out what showing up for people actually meant, including myself. Sometimes a consequence turns into the longest relationship of your life. Sometimes you don't know what you're building while you're building it. You just have to show up on Wednesday.
May 11, 2026
Ep 8: Fine. I'm Getting Old - Signs of Aging Nobody Warns You About
I had to size up my jeans last week. One inch. Thirty-plus years at the same size -- through the Army, through my 30s, through everything -- and then one day the number changed. That's when I started paying attention to everything else I'd been quietly ignoring. The iPhone text size bumped up. Spotify new releases full of names I don't recognize -- so I closed it and went back to Jurassic 5, ATCQ, and Rage Against the Machine. Pro athletes who look like they should still be doing homework. Eyebrows and nose hairs doing their own thing. Crow's feet showing up when I laugh -- years of smiling, showing wear and tear like a used keyboard. An all-black wardrobe because matching colors stopped feeling worth the energy. Then the body started keeping score. Belly fat that moved in and ignored eviction notices. A metabolism on a long flight still adjusting to the time zone. A hard goodbye to steakhouses -- Mastros, Lawry's, all of it. Gone. Replaced by a big salad at the work catered lunch that, honestly, kinda tastes good now. But somewhere in the middle of all that, something else shifted too. Career status, news cycles, pop culture -- all of it just quietly fell away. What moved in instead: my wife, my daughter, faith and community, the long game. The things that actually matter. I also heard something recently I haven't been able to shake -- that as kids, we watch our parents grow up without knowing it. I'm the parent now. And I think a lot about what my daughter is going to remember about this chapter of her dad. The body is slowing down. The focus sharpened. I don't think that's a coincidence. I Took the Long Way is a personal storytelling podcast about faith, family, identity, and figuring it out the long way. New episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
10 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for I Took the Long Way
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is I Took the Long Way?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.