Ed Pokropski Ain't Licking No Watermelons: On Comedy, Confidence, & What it Means to be Asian American
In this episode we chat with Edward Yoo Pokropski, the Executive Producer of the upcoming Asian Comedy Fest! Ed is also Writer/Producer for the Brand Creative Team at USA Network and Universal Kids for NBCUniversal. He has been nominated for a daytime Emmy twice and won zero times. He also performs stand-up and hosts events, sometimes for money, sometimes for a drink ticket and a story. Ed is originally from Philly and proud to be a Korean American adoptee.
Ed tells us about moving to New York six years ago, which was the catalyst for developing confidence in his own voice, in both comedy and as an Asian American. This journey from community to activism ultimately led to the creation of the Asian Comedy Fest.
Buy tickets now for the digital premiere of the Asian Comedy Fest on May 27th from asiancomedyfest.com (you’ll receive a private link that will stay active for 48 hours)
Proceeds benefit Apex for Youth (apexforyouth.org)
Follow @asiancomedyfest on Instagram, Twitter and FB
Watch Ed’s talk on his Korean adoptee experience for Crushing The Myth here: https://youtu.be/Nn7KNLU2k58
*note: “수박 겉 핥기” (su-bak geot halk-ki)
Meaning: doing something superficially, scratching the surface
Literal meaning: Licking the skin of a watermelon
What a fantastic episode!Thanks, Ed, for naming the experience of not necessarily having a connection to one's Korean name when it was given by the adoption agency--something I've recognized in myself. I also have not had the greatest experience with my adoptive parents and have stepped away from that relationship, and so last year I went through the process of choosing my own last name. I appreciate your discussion of other scenarios we adoptees find ourselves in throughout our lives: belonging/not belonging, being Asian/not being Asian, seeing ourselves as the race of our adoptive families, etc. Thanks, Hana, Ryan, and Ed for continuing this validating and important conversation! Katie in Denver