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The Side Dish

The Side Dish
Korea
Friendship
Social Media
Bay Area
Filmmaking
Mental Health
Parenting
Cultural Identity
DJ Culture
Korean American Identity
Christmas
Dating Culture
Korean-Americans
Improv
Food Culture
Korean Church
Travel Experiences
Drinking Culture
Relationships
Pregnancy

The main course is friendship ;) Recorded at Bestville Studios in South Korea. Instagram: @_thesidedish

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes123Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Side Dish

Latest Episodes

James, Jay, and Aaron share their hot takes on internet personas, restaurant gatekeepers, and whether living in New York makes you a boring person. Other topics include: what your favorite book says about your intelligence, being mean to your friends... more

Seline Jung "joins" the podcast to give us her hot take on cherry blossoms. Other topics include: James' review of America's #1 rated burger, Jay's orchestra concert, and Aaron's thoughts on the Super Mario Brothers Movie. Enjoy! 

04/09/26

A few facts about George Merusi: He was the first American born in Uzbekistan. He was nearly kidnapped in the Congo. And he's probably going to heaven, given how much he knows about The Bible. Stick around for some bad improv at the end! Enjoy?

04/0... more

Model, actor, and stay-at-home-cat-dad Adam Strandt finally drops by The Side Dish studio. "Discovered" for his "natural modeling abilities" at a Rage Against the Machine concert, he's since popped up in Subway commercials, K-Pop music videos, and an... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

James Chung
Special friend guest, appears throughout the episode
Episode: Cherry Blossoms Are Overrated
George Merusi
Improviser; MK (missionary kid)
Episode: The Missionary Kid (George Merusi)
Adam Strandt
Actor and model, guest on the show
Episode: The Man From Louth (Adam Strandt)
Chris Ha
Anesthesiologist, long-time listener and guest
Episode: The Bashful Doctor (Chris Ha)
Sol Lee
Friend in the studio, long-time contributor to the podcast
The Side Dish studio guest
Episode: James Hasn't Read Harry Potter
Katie Lee
Founder of Hmm Brand, designer and illustrator
Hmm Brand
Episode: Hmmm (Katie Lee)
Bazil Manietti
Friend of the hosts; linguistics professor in Korea with a background in theater and RPGs
Linguistics professor, Korea
Episode: The Bazilisk (Bazil Manietta)
Tamara Blank
Friend of Aaron from Improv, youth pastor at a Korean church in Pittsburgh
Korean United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh
Episode: White Girl in the Korean Church (Tamara Swoager)
Bran Taylor
Recent high school graduate and creative comedian.
Episode: My Orange Oppa

Hosts

Aaron Shin
Host of The Side Dish Podcast
Jay Lee
Co-host of The Side Dish Podcast

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 51 ratings
  • I wish I was in the room with them. (I’ll be quiet)

    It’s like being in a room with your pals and talk away time meaninglessly, which is very rewarding. Keep up the good work, my friends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pat the Young
    United Statesa month ago
  • As good as the main dish

    Glad this podcast came across my FYP on Instagram. Especially with some other Asian podcasts I listen to ending last year. It’s nice to hear from people who are around the same age as myself. I really enjoy the different perspectives and experiences each of the hosts and guests have!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kaku O’bannon
    United States4 months ago
  • What happens when third culture kids grow up?

    The Side Dish Podcast offers a fresh perspective into the lives of former and current third culture kids (TCKs) navigating adulthood in Korea. Far from the usual narratives of identity crises or cultural adaptation, this podcast features hosts and guests who are confidently settled in their bicultural identities, living in Korea with deep-rooted American influences.

    The hosts dive into a lifestyle steeped in the dynamic, multicultural atmosphere of Itaewon, Seoul. They bring listeners along for... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NewYork887
    South Koreaa year ago
  • Always a fun listen

    This is my favorite podcast about life in Korea. It’s great to hear about people and places I’m familiar with on the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SM236
    South Korea2 years ago
  • It’s just like having friends

    Listening to The Side Dish is just like having a cool group of friends who like to hang out and joke around. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Da_maximus
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

- Some episodes are noted for light, entertaining takes on personal and social topics, making it a good commute/listening option.
- The show's humor and cultural insight resonate especially with third culture kids and bicultural audiences.
- Listeners appreciate diverse guest backgrounds and conversational energy that feels like chatting with friends.
- Appealing for the authenticity and relatability of the hosts and guests, with a warm, friendly vibe.
- Overall, reviews highlight engaging dynamics between hosts and guests and a welcoming community feel.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#237
South Korea/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Man From Louth (Adam Strandt)
Q: How did Adam get into modeling and acting, and what was his early path like in the UK?
Adam explains he was scouted multiple times in the UK, moved toward acting and photography/animation in school, and later transitioned to Korea to pursue opportunities, with modeling happening earlier and acting following after moving closer to major markets.
Airbear (Aaron Choe)
Q: Did you ever play an instrument growing up?
I used to play in some bands, but I played like more like percussion and like typical Asian kid.
Airbear (Aaron Choe)
Q: How's married life so far?
It's awesome. I didn't realize being married was this cool.
I Survived a Brain Tumor (Robert Jung)
Q: All right, so what's next, man? Like plug your shit, bro. Our platform is huge, so.
I am writing the One Man show. We're going to do friends and family shows soon.
I Survived a Brain Tumor (Robert Jung)
Q: So after the surgery, do you feel like your emotions kind of equalize, like you sort of leveled out?
I was still very, very angry after the surgery.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Side Dish

What is The Side Dish about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lighthearted yet thoughtful conversation focused on friendship, culture, and creative living in Korea and beyond. Episodes thread through themes like bicultural identity, navigating Korean culture as expatriates or children of immigrants, and the challenges and joys of pursuing art, comedy, and community work. With a rotating lineup of guests—from young comedians and actors to musicians and theater artists—the show blends personal stories, humor, and cultural observations to explore what it means to belong across borders. Noteworthy aspects include a strong emphasis on community, improvisational energy, and a candid, oftentimes playful take on identity, dating, parenting, and daily life in a multicultural context, which can be especially ... more

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How many listeners does The Side Dish get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Side Dish have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Side Dish has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Side Dish?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Side Dish:

1. Culips Everyday English Podcast
2. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

How many episodes of The Side Dish are there?

The Side Dish launched 5 years ago and published 123 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Side Dish?

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What guests have appeared on The Side Dish?

Recent guests on The Side Dish include:

1. James Chung
2. George Merusi
3. Adam Strandt
4. Chris Ha
5. Sol Lee
6. Katie Lee
7. Bazil Manietti
8. Tamara Blank

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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