Tech entrepreneur Jonathan Sposato (GeekWire.com, PicMonkey.com, Google, Xbox/Microsoft) is excited to announce the launch of the JoySauce Network, the first of its kind, AAPI multimedia platform aimed at the American Asian/Asian American audience and its allies.
JoySauce Network launches its platform today, with multiple channels of vibrant digital programming dedicated to celebrating both new and established American Asian talent. This change in nomenclature—American Asian rather than Asian American—is their way of shifting the center of gravity, while recognizing that each of us chooses how the pieces of our identities fit together.
Viewers can expect unscripted and scripted streaming shows, licensed movies from respected directors and writers in the Asian diaspora, stand-up comedy specials from emerging talent, documentaries, and more in a weekly episode format. The site will also publish original editorial from some of the community's most talented writers, aiming to represent the full spectrum of American Asian narratives, covering culturally relevant topics in lifestyle, food, entertainment, pop culture, education, romance and more. Additionally, JoySauce plans to grow a selection of podcasts centered around interesting conversations with renowned experts and emerging AAPI thought leaders and voices on subjects ranging
from entrepreneurship to relationships.
Some of the highlights launching today on the network:
Original Series:
● #TeamTan
In this JoySauce original event series, we watch Samantha Tan, a 22-year-old Asian Canadian racing star rising through the ranks of professional race car driving at warp speed. Follow her journey as she navigates the 2020 race season amidst a global pandemic.
6 episodes, 12 minutes each – new episodes every other Tuesday
● American Icon
An original series with various living American Asian icons, where Sposato sits down first with actor George Takei, for an interview that's pure irreverent fun.
● #VeryAsian with Michelle Li
We sit down with friend, prominent social movement catalyst, and Korean American newscaster Michelle Li, who has turned a racist event into a national phenomenon, for a bite-sized JoySauce series on relevant Asian American issues like transracial adoption, reclaiming Asian names, and taking up liminal space.
6 episodes, 3 minutes each – new episodes last Thursday of the month
● Travels with Malika
A travel show from travel expert Malika Lim Eubank that chronicles the cross-country journey of her and her small team, as they take to the road in a makeshift live-streaming RV to visit people and places on the edge of transition and to explore what it means to be American.
24 episodes, 20 minutes each – new episodes on Wednesdays
● Mixed Six
In this JoySauce exclusive, six mixed heritage couples open up about their meet-cute moments, what it was like introducing their families, and the joys and complexities of growing up American and Asian.
3 episodes, 7 minutes each – new episodes first Monday of the month
● Socially Distanced Stand-Up
During peak pandemic cabin fever, JoySauce pulled together a group of Asian American comedians for a riotously funny night of standup on Zoom.
6 episodes, 15 minutes each – new episodes on Mondays
JoySauce will also explore the American Asian identity in mainstream Hollywood with shows such as:
● Bound for Glory:
An award-winning 36-minute pilot from first-time filmmaker John Wilcox and writer, actor, and producer Michael Naizu about finding cultural and professional identity in modern-day Hollywood. Though cell phone styles and fashion are noticeably outdated in the movie, everything else about it remains deeply relevant to today's world.
● A Leading Man
An episodic reconfiguration of director Steve J. Kung's feature-length film, this series follows a handsome, talented, and ambitious Chinese American who is working to make his big break in Hollywood, while facing the challenge of how to exist as an actor of Asian heritage with his
dignity intact.
● Bulge Bracket – Licensed
A series that takes you into the high-intensity world of mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs, starring recent B-school graduate Cathy Lee (Jessika Van, CBS's Rush Hour) as she begins her career at a prestigious New York investment bank. Similar in tone to HBO's Silicon Valley, this ensemble dramedy finds humor in high-stress situations at the office, as it explores the costs of climbing the corporate ladder.
6 episodes, 35 minutes each – new episodes every other Thursday
PODCASTS:
● Bella's Table
A JoySauce original video podcast from Intrepid Indian American business owner Bella Sangar, as she interviews bad-ass female business owners and thought leaders on what it means to belong.
5 episodes, 45 minutes each – new episodes every other Friday
● Culturally Relevant Conversations
In this exclusive curated collection, prolific culture critic David Chen shares some of his favorite interviews with Asian heritage visionaries from all walks of life, originally published as part of his Culturally Relevant podcast.
10 episodes, 20 minutes each – new episodes on Mondays
● Brown Boi Love
Partners Robinick Fernandez and Jeric Smith take listeners along for a steamy podcast that follows the couple's search for their next shared lover. Giggle along as the duo discuss sex with friends, pleasure advice from Mom… no topic is off limits here.
3 episodes, 40 minutes each – new episodes on Thursdays
● Until It Happened To Us
During the heart of the pandemic, one journalist found herself in the terrifying position of watching the virus course through her family. Episodes one and two happen in real time, mid-2020–episode three follows up in the present.
3 episodes, approx. 20 minutes each – released at launch
As acting Editor-in-Chief, Sposato has hired Deputy Editor-in-Chief Frankie Huang (with bylines in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian) and Managing Editor Chelsea Lin (former Seattle magazine Editor-in-Chief and nationally published food writer) who will publish new articles daily. The team aims to represent the full spectrum of American Asian narratives—from witty listicles to long-form profiles, to film critique, to intimate personal essays, paired with original illustration—written by both brave new voices and industry veterans with bylines from The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, The Cut, and more.
“At a time of hypervisibility for Asians in America, with both incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, JoySauce is where the full breadth of our vibrant, complicated, imperfect humanity can take up space unapologetically. I am excited to do our part in decolonizing the media and telling our stories the way they deserve to be told,” said Huang, who serves as deputy editor-in-chief.
JoySauce is a first to market and a disruptor in both the tech and media space due to its informed leadership from Sposato, who in addition to his tech accolades serves as publisher of Seattle magazine, and chairman and co-founder of GeekWire, the largest independent tech business news site.
“Starting JoySauce is, in many ways, the culmination of everything I've done to date in media, publishing and tech entrepreneurship,” said Sposato. “Growing up as a Korean Chinese American, I hardly ever saw anyone who looked like me on TV or in movies, and when I did, they were always the bad guy or the side kick. It's high time we centered stories on American Asians as the default and create a parallel universe
where portrayals of the Asian diaspora are positive and flattering and beautiful and funny and strong and cool. All day and every day.”
To serve as chief development officer, Sposato has hired industry veteran Ben Press (talent agent, producer, entertainment tech executive), who will be overseeing brand partnership strategy, talent relations, and intellectual property acquisitions.
“It's such an honor and exhilarating ride being tapped by Jonathan to harness my 30 years in entertainment to collaborate with him in architecting and bringing to fruition his vision for JoySauce: the premiere online destination for art, entertainment, news, commentary and more for the vast APPI demographic and its allies,” said Press.
Sposato is also in the process of forming an advisory board focused on expanding JoySauce's influence directly in the Asian diaspora communities. He has tapped Nancy Yoon (Asians in LA, community leader, activist, TV host, publicist for the Oscar-winning Minari movie campaign, FOX's #1 rated show The Cleaning Lady, among many others…) as their first distinguished advisor.
“This is such an incredible honor and opportunity to work with the entire highly creative and talented JoySauce team from the beginning in helping to ‘spread the joy,'” said Yoon. “We share an immense like-minded passion for telling OUR authentic AAPI stories in a bold new, provocative yet positive way. There is nothing like this out there for our community and I'm excited to see this new multimedia platform help shine light and voice to our vibrant, diverse and growing community. The exciting content, the talented team and the perfect timing is just right and I can't wait to watch it grow!”
JoySauce is in active development on new projects, including a late-night talk show hosted by Sposato himself, featuring top Asian diaspora talents; a Korean focused cooking show with a top chef; and editorial that will become a go-to guide to arts and restaurants in AAPI hubs all around the United States. Through its uplifting, innovative content, JoySauce is on target to become the go-to destination for all things American Asian.
