The Best Filipino American Podcasts to listen to right now
It’s podcast paradise these days and odds are your favorite actor, influencer, blogger, musician and political pundit has a podcast to share extra parts of their life and outlook, and we could not be more here for it. It is an excellent way to learn, be entertained, or both. I like to listen to podcasts because it helps me hear real opinions on topics I’m interested in, it’s not scripted and my commute seems to go faster when I’m engaged in real world conversations that are coming from especially people who look like me and have similar stories, Filipino American.
According to data from podcasthosting.org, 55% of Americans have listened to at least one episode of a podcast, and about 37% say they listen to a podcast at least every month. I’m crossing my fingers that somewhere within those percentages, someone is listening to my favorite Filipino American podcasts, hearing their stories and being inspired by them. Let me introduce to you who they are and where you can find them.
This Filipino American Life
This Filipino American Life is a podcast that explores the nuanced experiences of Filipinos in the United States, atbp. It’s hosted by several individuals, Elaine Dolalas, Michael Nailat, Joseph Bernardo and Ryan Carpio. Each has unique personalities and makes a dynamic and interesting group. They talk about topics such as Filipino history, current entertainment trends and feature important people who are making a difference in our community. One of my favorites episode is #170 - “Celebrating Philippine Independence Day”; where they dive into the cultural nuances of celebrating Philippine Independence Day in the United States. Listen as they discuss the history of Philippine “independence,” the pageantry of cultural celebrations in our community, and the unique Filipino American identity that emerges from “Kalayaan”.
Take a listen here.
Filipina On The Rise
Filipina On The Rise aims to promote Filipina excellence worldwide by elevating Filipinas in every industry who are doing big things and making an impact! Together, we learn about their journey, tackle some cultural topics related to being Filipino in the modern day, and give advice to someone pursuing their own excellence. Host Krystl Fabella highlights Filipino culture in modern day successes and celebrates what it means to be a Filipina. Let me tell you, Krystl is relatable, genius and brings the energy I need to get my day started.
One of my favorite episodes is “Breaking The Glass Ceiling'' with guest host, Tesz Millan. She talks with Hawaii Five-O and Easter Sunday's Kimee Balmilero, a successful Hollywood and Broadway actor and singer, who is breaking through the entertainment industry's glass ceiling while inspiring the world to laugh and feel good with her effervescent energy and her beautiful soul. You can learn about Kimee’s Hawaiian upbringing, which led to her auditioning for roles that weren’t typical for Asian actors and how that led to her breaking through Hollywood’s glass ceiling.
Take a listen here.
The Chismis: Cancelled
Get riled up by the things hosts, Trace Gaynor and One Down, Founder Leo Albea say about Filipino Americans in entertainment on The Chismis: Cancelled. Listen to them apologize, explain themselves, and give more of a spotlight on some of the topics that deserve a bit more conversation. Whether you're a Filipino wanting to talk about a certain topic such as, all Filipinos being nurses or Why Filipinos are NOT Pacific Islanders just a bit more, or if you just want the T, you have to listen. You will not regret this… it’s so good, it hurts! My favorite episode is when they discuss “Kids & Filipino Culture”. I promise this isn’t because my son, Niko, is in this episode at all...maybe…haha, but this episode does shed some light on how we aren’t teaching Filipino norms to our kids who are growing up in America. I mean come on, every Filipino kid growing up anywhere should know what a tabo is for!
Take a listen here.
Stories with Sapphire
Let’s thank Host and Podcast Expert, Trace Gaynor of Spotify for introducing me to the Stories with Sapphire Podcast. It’s just in time for Halloween and I’m scared just reading the titles! Join host Sapphire Sandalo, a pansexual Filipino American on a mission to add more empathy and diversity to the paranormal, supernatural, and horror communities through stories and interviews from the Philippines and around the world. Each episode includes true stories that share a theme, with Sapphire's thoughtful and smooth commentary weaving them together. I can’t bring myself to listen to the episodes that talk about old folk tales like, the women on the freeway and ghost children with messages but I do listen to ones about seeing the future. My favorite episode is “Knowing the Unknownable”, Sapphire receives so many emails from people who have their own wild moments of knowing something they couldn't have known. She shares each story so you can see just how common these phenomena are and the various ways it can happen. Coincidence?
Listen here and you tell me.
Money Please
Who needs real life financial advice? Like just down to the point without the financial lingo we can’t seem to wrap our minds around? I know I do! If your idea of saving is ordering the cheapest thing on the menu and your retirement plan at this point is to marry rich, then Filipina- American Host, Berna Anat aka @HeyBerna is here with, Money Please, a podcast to help you get it together. @HeyBerna is your personal financial hype woman. Think of her as your finance obsessed bestie/overexcited Google translator. She is a first-gen Filipina-American producer, author, rich unmarried auntie and Financial Hype Woman. Her podcast is here to guide you through the complex world of personal finance, so you don’t have to listen to your hot-breath Facebook uncles anymore. I have so many favorite episodes, but I have to tell you the one I loved was “How Do I Secure My Financial Future” with Sallie Krawcheck. Sallie starts off by sharing her own personal journey in finances and how she made it from South Carolina all the way to Wall Street. They also discuss the state of the financial education world, and how to navigate it to make sure you find the right path for you in these confusing topics.
Listen here.
Listen to them now and let them know I sent you! Enjoy!
Written By Rose Buado
Business and Life Purpose Professional Certified Coach
YOU MAY WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT
Grief is heavy on its own, but what happens when it’s compounded by betrayal, silence, and family fractures that never healed? Our guest contributing writer, Jennifer Redondo explores the painful truths behind toxic Filipino family dynamics and the cultural patterns we urgently need to break.
This piece is personal. It's about what we inherit when love is lost, not just to death, but to pride, greed, and generational silence.