Taste of K-Town with Matthew Kang

In his role as an editor for Eater, Matthew Kang chronicles the best eateries in Los Angeles and has toured North America in search of the finest Korean food. Esther talks with Matt about his journey throughout K-Towns in the United States and Canada, the variations in cuisines, and why they both f…

Building a K-Pop Star with Heather Kim

Esther talks to Heather Kim, the founder of YMG Entertainment, the first Korean-American record label in Atlanta, GA. Heather recounts her childhood in downtown Atlanta, growing up in her parent's truck stop and Korean nightclub, and the twists and turns that led her to start her own K-Pop label. H…

Second Generation Fashion with Kevin and Terrence Kim

Kevin and Terrence Kim grew up in New Jersey, and like many second generation Koreans, felt ambivalent about their heritage. In their early 20s, the Kim brothers found themselves trying to start a fashion line in Korea. Broke and with little knowledge of Korean language, they suddenly found themsel…

Making Up Celebrities with Grace Pae

Grace Pae is an LA-based celebrity makeup artist who has been applying makeup to famous faces since before before social media made top makeup artists stars in their own right. Esther and Grace discuss the skills required to make it in a competitive and demanding industry, how Korean beauty trends …

Pop Star Life to Chef Life with Jiyeon Lee

Before BTS or Gangnam Style, there was Lee Ji Yeon, the original K-pop icon.  Esther talks to Jiyeon Lee, who, at the age of 17, rocketed to pop stardom in Korea, only to give it all up a few years later due to the pressures of the lifestyle: physical exhaustion, anxiety and trolling by "anti-fans…

The World Speaks K-Pop with David Amber

K-Pop producer and songwriter David Amber gives Esther the inside view from the world of K-pop, currently one of the most popular music genres in the world. David breaks down the worldwide appeal of K-Pop, why it's more than just a trend, how its popularity has introduced millions to Korean culture…

Korean Fusion with Seung Hee Lee

Esther talks with chef, nutritionist, natural wine lover and author of the cookbook “Everyday Korean” Seung Hee Lee about how her passion for sharing Korean Royal Court cuisine turned into a side hustle pairing Korean food and wine with "Korean Fusion" pop-ups around the world. Now based in Atlanta…

Just Woke Up in Hollywood with Ellie Lee

Esther talks to actor, radio and television host Ellie Lee about being Korean in the entertainment industry. Ellie talks Korean cinema, breaks down the K-Pop phenomenon and why it's here to stay, dishes about the skills required to interview A-list celebrities, why there aren't more Korean American…

Adopted to America with Samantha McVey

Esther @choibites chats with Samantha McVey, host of feminist podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You. At seven years old, Samantha came to the United States from Korea as an adoptee to a small, predominately white town in the mountains of northern Georgia. She unpacks some of the difficult adjustments an…

Hip-Hop, Food and Fun with Dumbfoundead aka Jonathan Park

Growing up in a racially diverse Los Angeles, Dumboundead (Jonathan Park) found his way into the spotlight as a child actor and then his voice as a battle rapper, shredding the competition on the streets of LA as the only Asian emcee on the scene. After becoming one of the most famous Asian rappers…