Episodes - MySGV

Oliver Wang

June 23, 2026 No Comments

Oliver Wang is a professor of sociology at California State University, Long Beach, who specializes in the study of popular culture. He is the author of Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews of the San Francisco Bay Area and Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture In Los Angeles. In 2025, he served as the project curator for the exhibition Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community, which was produced by the Japanese American National Museum and hosted at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. Additionally, he has co-hosted the podcasts Pop Rocket and Heat Rocks, created the audioblog Soul-Sides.com, and works as a regular culture writer for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and KCET’s Artbound.

Will Co

June 16, 2026 No Comments

Will Co was born in Vietnam in 1981 and immigrated to the United States as a child after his grandparents, who worked with the United States during the Vietnam War, successfully relocated and completed the paperwork to bring the rest of the family over. He grew up on the border of Monterey Park and Montebello, where he attended Schurr High School. Today, Will is the founder of Cokreeate, a 3D printing, scanning, and design studio located within the San Gabriel Valley that specializes in turning digital models and physical concepts into reality.

Keegan Fong

June 9, 2026 No Comments

Keegan Fong is the founder and owner of Woon, a homestyle Chinese food restaurant and packaged goods line based in Los Angeles. Raised in the Pasadena area, he worked professionally in apparel marketing before transitioning full-time to the culinary industry. Woon initially launched as a pop-up noodle stand in 2014 to share the original recipes of his mother, Julie Chen, also known as Mama Fong. The family-backed venture grew to open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Historic Filipinotown in 2019, followed by a second location in Pasadena in 2025, while also expanding its distribution of sauces and pantry staples nationwide.

Ryan Ching

June 2, 2026 No Comments

Ryan Ching is a Hawaii-based entrepreneur, chef, and social media storyteller who co-founded Ry’s Poke Shack on the North Shore of Oahu in 2021 alongside his wife, Khannie. Originally trained as an architect with a doctorate in architecture from the University of Hawaii, he pivoted to the food industry during the pandemic. His restaurant utilizes a customized, made-to-order preparation method inspired by his grandfather’s traditional techniques. This approach earned the establishment a spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Local Businesses in the United States and a featured segment on Netflix’s Street Food: USA series. The business has since expanded outside of Hawaii, opening Southern California locations in Huntington Beach and Pasadena.

Karen Cheung Lee

May 26, 2026 No Comments

Karen Cheung Lee grew up in the San Gabriel Valley alongside her three sisters, raised in the community where her family built the local restaurant Sam Woo. In her early adulthood, she worked in the events and hospitality industry and helped launch the restaurant’s San Gabriel location. She later transitioned into a corporate career for ten years to focus on raising her two daughters. Now, as her father prepares for retirement, Karen has returned to the family business to learn its daily operations and carry the establishment’s legacy forward.

Paramveer Bedi

May 19, 2026 No Comments

Paramveer Bedi is an entrepreneur in the San Gabriel Valley and one of the owners of Bhanu Indian Cuisine & Market. Located in San Gabriel, the business was originally established by his father and aunt with the goal of providing authentic Indian food and culture to the local community. The establishment operates as both a sit-down restaurant and a specialized marketplace, offering a wide range of traditional Indian spices, lentils, and imported goods.

Thee Sawadwid

May 12, 2026 No Comments

Thee Sawadwid is the chef and owner of Fillet Sushi, located in Old Town Monrovia. Raised in Thailand, he transitioned into the culinary world through a deep respect for Japanese discipline and craftsmanship. His path into the profession was defined by hands-on practice and experience in high-level kitchens, including training at Matsuhisa Beverly Hills, rather than formal culinary schooling. Together with his wife and partner, Lin Sawadwid, he has established a dining experience centered on intentional hospitality and technical precision.

George Dera

May 5, 2026 No Comments

George Dera is the owner of Wahib’s Mediterranean Express, a restaurant located in San Gabriel, California. Born in Zahle, Lebanon, Dera moved to Glendora, California, at the age of 14 and has remained a resident of the city since his arrival. Today, he operates his business while residing in Glendora with his wife, Aileen, and their two children, focusing on traditional hospitality and fresh ingredients.

Armando De La Torre Jr.

April 28, 2026 No Comments

Armando De La Torre Jr. is a Los Angeles–born restauranteur, entrepreneur, and artist known for creating and developing Guisados, Georges Burger Stand, and Playita Mariscos. A graduate of Loyola High School and Loyola Marymount University, where he studied Business Law and Marketing, he began his career path toward law before shifting into the restaurant industry. In 2011, he co-founded Guisados in Boyle Heights with his father, building a taqueria centered on homestyle braises and fresh handmade corn tortillas. He later expanded his work by acquiring and revitalizing Georges Burger Stand and opening Playita Mariscos in Silver Lake.

Aaron Luong

April 21, 2026 No Comments

Aaron (Phu) Luong was born in Hong Kong under British rule and immigrated to the United States at a young age. He grew up in Rosemead and Monterey Park, later attending San Gabriel High School, where he balanced academics, extracurriculars, and Taekwondo, earning his black belt in his sophomore year. He went on to graduate with a double major in Business Management and Supply Chain Management. Today, he owns and operates Aloha Food Factory in Alhambra, a 30-year Hawaiian restaurant originally founded by Auntie Betty.

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