ISSUE 16: Rachel Nguyen

And three things that made me smile.

THE YELLOW PAGES is a weekly newsletter recommending Asian and AAPI films, music, writing, and other inspiration — all the artsy things I wished for growing up!

📕 Secret Menu #1: I was a little skeptical at first, because this was a publication coming from Doordash (where I order food delivery from when I’m too cheap to pay delivery fees). It’s “a Magazine for and by the Restaurant Industry” and the inaugural issue is all about Asian cooking in Los Angeles. It’s quite beautifully designed and full of interesting articles/illustrations, from a feature on a restaurant that holds deep, personal significance to me (Woon), to a guide on sushi knives.

🎧 This American Life Episode 786: It’s a Game Show: I admit, even though I’ve been subscribed to this podcast for well over a decade, I don’t listen to every single episode and have been known to skip over full chapters if they don’t grab me in the first few minutes. That said, this episode reminded me of why I love Ira Glass and his groundbreaking show. It actually breaks format and they go where they’ve never gone before:

“Jiayang Fan has this theory that because she's spent so much time thinking about her own accent when she speaks English, she believes that when she hears other Chinese-Americans speak, she can tell how old they were when they immigrated to the U.S… We test Jiayang Fan’s self-proclaimed special skill by having her listen to three Chinese-Americans speak, and then guess when they came to the U.S.”

Yes, it’s a game show! (And in case you like to skip chapters too, it’s in Act One, the first half hour).

📺 Gudetama on Netflix: How do I explain what this show is, if you’re not already familiar with this Sanrio character? I’ll just let Netflix do it:

“Gudetama, a lazy egg, reluctantly embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with Shakipiyo, a newly hatched chick, who is determined to find their mother.”

Still doesn’t make any sense? Just watch it. Each episode is 10-16 minutes long.

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Follow Rachel on YouTube.

Name/Pronouns:

Rachel (she/her).

What do you do?

Video-centric things.

How do you identify?

Vietnamese American.

Do you identify as “yellow?”

I don't think I identify as a color. I don't judge the idea of it, but it doesn't feel very human. 

Anything coming up you’d like to share?

Only working on VCC¹ looking for fun subs to work with, and hopefully some commercial directing work with my partner this year!

1. YINA: This skincare line feels really nourishing on the skin

2. Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globe Acceptance Speech: This made my eyes well

3. nguyeninc: This feels really cool to have my surname as a namesake 

4. NHỎ GIRL: This is the most incredible collection of vintage curated in Amsterdam

5. Gãy: This is an upcoming rave scene in Saigon

6. How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell: This is a book I'm reading

7. The Scent of Green Papaya: This is a movie on my watch list

8. Perfect Blue: This is one of my favorite movies

9. Vegan Congee Recipe: This is a go-to rainy-day recipe

10. Powder: This is my favorite DJ

11. Seen Library: This is one of my favorite communities

12. Kẹo kéo - Sài Gòn Sound: Leaving you with some Viet music²

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1. ilovecreatives’ “Video Creator Course” which is where I met Rachel. I was her fan first, then student!

2. Follow The Yellow Pages on Spotify for more guests’ music recommendations.