I mostly read what some would call “pretentious literary fiction” these days, occasionally broken up by comics. But when I’m on a flight, I’ll check out YouTube. I’m not deep in the ecosystem—I just stumble onto things. Sometimes I click with it, most of the time I don’t.
But Pablo Torre? I’ve seen him on TV for years—if you’re a sports fan, you can’t miss him. And being Asian American on the internet, of course, we inducted him into the unofficial Asian media mafia. Same goes for the great Mina Kimes. We’re talking about a lineage that starts with Rufio, naturally.
The funny thing about being Asian American is that, yeah, our root countries often have their own beefs—political, historical, generational. But here, at least in my experience, we tend to gravitate toward each other. Growing up in the South, I kicked it with other Asian Americans, mixed kids, and Black kids—basically anyone the system “othered.” We were all in it together, guess who the “them” was.
Anyway, Pablo’s new show Pablo Torre Finds Out is a low-key gem. It’s a podcast, yes, but also lives on YouTube, and I’d recommend the video version. It’s like a non-stupid version of a sports show—half sports, half brainy digressions, all with that rare spark of real journalism. Topics range from the deeply important to the endearingly ridiculous: birdwatching culture, a fake Japanese NHL player, and a hilarious episode with Wyatt Cenac called The Jackie Robinson of Legoland.
(Side note: I’ve been to the original Legoland in Billund, Denmark. It’s rad. Also, I may have been the tannest person there.)
The show’s also a great excuse to watch highlights like Pablo’s heroic Family Feud appearance or deep analysis of Mina Kimes and Katie Nolan on Jeopardy!—though you may walk away with complicated feelings about Christopher Meloni.
Also don’t miss the one about OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti’s lost hip hop album. Yes, really.
Now, onto Kristen StephensonPino.
Let’s get this out of the way: she’s crazy pretty. In her own words, not mine, she’s a proud member of the “big titty committee.” I’ve spent most of my life in Southern California and Mediterranean islands, and even by those standards, she’s striking.
But let’s get past that.
I’m the last person who thought I’d ever get into YouTube reaction videos. And Kristen, honestly, seems like the last person you’d expect to make them. But I somehow ended up on the CinePals channel, listening mostly while at airports or mid-flight, and she completely won me over.
Her reactions are sincere, fresh, and funny—genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. She’s somehow never seen anything and yet always engages with real emotional intelligence and joy. It’s this magical alchemy of earnestness and charisma. A few episodes you must watch:
- Armageddon
- From Dusk Till Dawn
- Pretty much anything with Kristen and Steph (who also rocks).
She and Michael Boose are also watching Game of Thrones for the first time, and it’s honestly delightful. There’s something revitalizing about hearing true reactions in a landscape saturated by jaded takes and self-aware fandom.
Kristen gets extra points (not that she needs them): she speaks Japanese (I’m half Japanese), is a fellow islander (Hawaii), Southern California denizen, and even spent time in Germany. That’s basically my bingo card. Usually, those credentials suggest a military brat, but I’m just guessing. Either way, it’s wild that I haven’t run into her. I have found in life that the world can be very small and I feel like I should’ve spotted her at LAX en route to Tokyo.
And if I do? I won’t say anything. That’d be weird. But I’d be sitting there, quietly and respectfully, dying to talk to her about that Armageddon reaction. Because seriously—you just have to watch it.
And yeah, continuing the above theme: I’m pretty sure some fellow “oriental connection” folks run CinePals (shout out the Hapa diaspora). Hapa domination continues. And I’m here for it.