Comedian And Author Youngmi Mayer Is Laughing And Crying And Still Loves Restaurants

Hey, listeners! Somewhere in my notes app is a list of people I’d like to interview for the podcast, and today I get to cross off one of those names–Youngmi Mayer. I’ve wanted to talk to Youngmi ever since I read her memoir, I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying, which I picked up after seeing her perform a stand-up routine at the Bell House in Brooklyn earlier this year as part of an abortion rights fundraiser hosted by Padma Lakshmi. Youngmi’s set was heavy on audience participation and she somehow got three white guys to join her onstage for a bit about DEI. (Yes, Youngmi somehow made DEI funny.) I left thinking she was as subversive as she was brilliant.

Fast forward to the book. This was a story about family, generational trauma, racial identity, and one very complicated restaurant business. (Youngmi was a key player in the history of Mission Chinese Food.) The book title starts to make sense early on.

Youngmi joins me to talk about all of this. We also chat about the Slutty Cheff, The Bear, her one-woman show at Joe’s Pub, and lots more. Thanks in advance for listening to the show and obviously, pick up Youngmi’s book. Let me know what you think.

–Host Kerry Diamond

Photo by Fujio Emura

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