I first discovered Niki Nakayama through the NetFlix show Chef’s Table which my oldest child gushed about and insisted that I watch. I love food documentaries in general, but Chef’s Table is my favorite because it shows how adversity plays a huge role in each person’s story. Niki Nakayama’s story is no different. She had…
Author: Pragmatic Mom
Anti-Asian Racism in Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos
Selma Yalazi-Dawani sent this to me via Facebook. She is a curriculum developer in education. Her 10-year-old was reading a book series that was introduced to him by his school. He was enraged to find anti-Asian racism in a book published in 2015. The book? The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos. Here…
Meet Asian Pacific American Hero Prabal Gurung
Fashion designer Prabal Gurung is known for his elegant designs that graced former First Lady Michelle Obama, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Stars who wore Prabal Gurung on the red carpet include Demi Moore, Rachel Weisz, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Anne Hathaway. Helen Mirren, Diane Kruger, Olivia Munn, and Oprah Winfrey. But to…
Meet Asian Pacific American Hero I. M. Pei
There is such a refined elegance to I. M. Pei is only matched by his warm personality. It’s a combination that allowed him to move in the upper echelons of society in any country. In a way, he reminds me of my own father. Both immigrated from China in pursuit of their education. Though they…
Meet Asian Pacific American Hero Haing Ngor
Haing Ngor might be best known for winning an Oscar for his performance in the movie, The Killing Fields, about the genocide of the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime. But in a way, Haing Ngor’s life has always been on behalf of helping his people, and this movie was just a different platform…
My co-author Alison Foley will be on OVER THE BALL PODCAST!
Co-author Alison Foley will be on Over the Ball podcast with Kevin Flynn on Friday, May 22 at 10 am EST. (The day just got switched from Thursday to Friday fyi). This week on Over The Ball with Kevin Flynn, Grayle and Sam speak with Alison Foley, former Boston College women’s head coach and founder…
Meet Asian Pacific American Hero Margaret Cho
I knew about Margaret Cho from the TV show that she starred in when I was a kid but I hadn’t really followed stand up comedians. When I asked my husband which Asian Americans I should include in my book, he immediately suggested Margaret Cho and totally went to bat for her. I had no…







