Afternoona Asks: 5 Questions

We are so excited to welcome Afternoona Asks into our growing network. Sarah and Grace answered some questions to give you all a better idea what to expect!

Tell us the origin story of Afternoona Asks.

Grace: We were early Afternoona Delight fans, Patreon members, and among the first Asian Patreon members. I remember sharing our similar Asian drama watching origin stories on the Patreon Zoom calls and connecting on drama discussion threads there. So I was super excited when she and Lea reached out last fall with the idea for Afternoona Asks, as an extension and outgrowth of the "we have questions" episodes that the Afternoonas had done, but specifically with an "own-voices" point of view. Nine months seem to have flown by, and working bit by bit, with lots of support from the og Afternoona pod, we are launched!

Sarah: We also have Afternona Asks ND (Neurodivergent) - which is a series within the pod to discuss Autism/ADHD via K- and other Asian Dramas. Sarah met J & Fran via Twitter and invited them onto the main pod Afternoona Delight to discuss Autistic Representation in Extraordinary Attorney Woo. We got great feedback from that episode so we recorded more and decided to make Afternoona Asks ND

What is the listener promise of your pod aka what can listeners expect?

Grace: I promise to do my best to give respect to the issues and topics we cover. I think we want this to be a safe space for people to educate themselves, so I will also try hard to react to the questions we receive with an open mind and compassion.

Sarah: We want to invite lots of interesting guests, cos me and Grace will be the first to say that we don't know enough to answer all the questions we have - including you guys on the Patreon. Let us know if there are any guests you think we should interview!

What is one thing no one has asked Afternoona Asks but should!

Grace: No idea....lol. Our Korean/Chinese names?

Sarah: Can I come on the show?

What is a drama that made you feel seen in terms of your cultural identity and why.

Grace: So many! But the most recent one was Our Blues. As much as it is a drama about humans with human struggles, and is therefore also universally relatable, I felt very much like these were people struggling under distinctly Korean expectations and societal norms. I could relate to the pressure of living under those expectations. But I also felt my American-ness keenly, especially having different experiences with teen pregnancy and abortion as a person who grew up under the protections of Roe v. Wade in a blue state.

Sarah: Probably Good Bad Mother, which Afternoona Army and Megan just did a podcast on, and made me see things via my Chinese culture lens and my Western ones - the first didn't find it so problematic, the second had massive issues, so I had to really question myself - more details in the podcast!

Since both of you have traveled to Korea, what is one must see attraction to visit and/or meal to try?

Grace: Among my favorite places in Seoul is Cheongyecheon, the redeveloped stream that runs through the center of what I think of as downtown. It is just north of the river, and runs through many of the bigger tourist areas. It is nice bc it feels kind of like an oasis/respite from the bustle (although, sometimes it is itself pretty bustling). So, rather than being a must-see on its own, I hope people get the chance to wander along it and grab a few moments of peace as they go from attraction to attraction. As for meals, there are so many! But I am going to be cliche and say Korean bbq and bibimbap. This is partially bc I didn't get to eat a whole lot of new Korean food while there recently, bc kids. But BBQ is a classic, and it's nice to try it in its place of origin - although, I must say that the experience is different now than what I remember it being years ago. So it is also cool to see how Korean food trends change. Bibimbap is a must bc Koreans eat so many different kinds of vegetables, and often you will see new ones you have never had outside of Korea. I think that is a cool experience. Also, when you are a tourist and eating out/junk food all the time, a big bowl of tasty veggies feels so good sometimes.

Sarah: Definitely Gyeongbokgung Palace, and DEFINITELY floating around in a Hanbok in it, feeling like an extra to a Sageuk. I was just missing Lee Junho rounding the corner as the Crown Prince....