The Paper Plane Podcast
The Paper Plane is a podcast created and hosted by Colin Ehara, where he interviews people he is blessed and honored to share community with, and asks them about a book(s) that have had a transformational impact on their lives. In a society where literacy rates are steadily declining and a growing number of podcasts hosted by men, un/consciously champion expressions of masculinity that come at the expense of women, femmes, and LGBTQIA2S+ (especially BIPOC) folx, this space aims to operate as a counternarrative.
The Paper Plane is a space that intends to highlight the dire importance of relationships, community, dialogue, perpetual learning, honest expression as art, art as honest expression, and freedom for literacy and literacy for freedom. It speaks to planes of existence attached to the act of reading, but also as a metaphor for the “flights” we take as we sit in what Ta-Nehisi Coates calls “a one way interface” as readers, and how these “journeys” shape us...
Episodes
18 episodes
Ep 18: 'The 5 Principles' & 'Blood in My Eye' w Virak Saroeun
Today we’re joined by my dear brother, comrade, and friend, Virak Saroeun. He and I met in 2008 when when his life-partner, Liza and I TA’d a Raza580: Educational Equity Course with Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade as grad students at SFSU. When Liza in...
Ep 17: 'Persepolis' w Pamela Chavez
Today Colin is joined by his dear sister, comrade, and beloved friend, Pamela Chavez. The two met a little more than 2 decades ago at UC Santa Cruz via mutual friends, and came together due to their love for art, music, activism, liberatory edu...
Ep 16: 'Exit West' & 'Tikim' w Liza Gesuden
Today's guest is Colin's dear sister, comrade, and peer mentor of over 15 years. Today's guest and Colin met at San Francisco State University as Graduate student Teaching Assistants for Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade in his Raza 580: Educational Equi...
Ep 15: 'Sacred Lessons' & 'The Seven Circles' w Tadashi Nakamura
In today's episode, Colin sits down with his brother and award-winning filmmaker and storyteller Tadashi “Tad” Nakamura—someone whose work has given voice to untold histories, specifically from an AAPI perspective, and whose lens has always bee...
Ep 14: 'Afterparties' w Samantha So-Lamb
Today’s guest is someone Colin has known for close to a decade. They were both Teachers and Deans at sibling schools in Richmond, CA; she at Aspire Richmond Technology Academy Elementary, and Colin at Richmond Cal Prep 6-12. The two were ...
Ep 13: 'All About Love: New Visions' w Anjali Rodrigues
Today’s guest is someone Colin had the pleasure of meeting over a decade ago, as a grad student in USF’s Urban Education and Social Justice M.A. Teaching Program. Dr. Patrick Camangian introduced the two and today's guest shortly after became C...
Ep 12: 'Spraycan Art,' ‘Baby Baby Please,' & 'Fighting to Belong' w Robert Liu-Trujillo
Today Colin sits down with someone he met close to 2 decades ago, when a mutual Mentor– S/O Hodari Davis–connected them during the time he was an After School Intervention Program Coordinator for the non-profit, Making Waves in San Rafael, CA. ...
Ep 11: 'Inner Engineering' w Asena Tui'one
In this episode, Colin sits down with someone he has known for over 2 decades and is absolutely beloved to him. The two met at UC Santa Cruz-Oakes College (OAKES!) in 2000 as freshmen, were Residential Advisors in their Sophomore and Junior yea...
Ep 10: 'The Color of Law' w Victor Reyes
In today’s episode, Colin sits down with his dear brother of close to 3 decades. The two met on the local basketball court in 6th grade via their mutual childhood friend, Ronnie Lang, to whom they dedicate this episode to, as a loved one who he...
Ep 9: 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' w Dr. Rick Ayers
In today’s episode, Colin sits down with his a dear friend and Mentor that he met over a decade ago, in the University of San Francisco’s 'Teaching: Urban Education & Social Justice' Master’s Program. Whether schlepping him across the Bay B...
Ep 8: 'Bad Indians,' 'There There,' & 'Wandering Stars' w Dr. Dani Ahuicapahtzin Cornejo
Today’s guest is someone Colin had the very fortunate privilege of meeting at San Francisco State University over 15 years ago, when both were pursuing Master’s Degrees in the College of Ethnic Studies. As Teaching Assistants in Dr. Jeff Duncan...
Ep 7: 'Born a Crime' w Dr. Katrina Traylor
As a now middle-aged Dad with chronic back pain, today’s distinguished guest is someone Colin has known, in the words of the poet and philosopher, Earl “E-40” Stevens, since he "was knee-high to a caterpillar’s toenail.” This interviewee is som...
Ep 6: ‘This Bridge Called My Back' with Janet Muro Vera
In this episode, Colin sits down with his former student/mentee, current colleague, fellow Richmond-CA-raised-May-Gemini, BDay twin of his first-born child, someone he considers family, and whom he lovingly refers to as his “Young Mentor.” Jane...
Ep 5: 'When the Elephants Dance' & 'Martyr!' with Lisa Ang
In today's episode, Colin sits down with his dear colleague, comrade, friend, and Pedagogical Sibling, Professor Lisa Ang, to discuss two groundbreaking novels in the realm of Asian American and post-colonial literature. Tess Uriza Holthe's nov...
Ep 4: 'Love & Rockets' with David Galvez
In today's episode, Colin discusses the Hernandez Brothers’ groundbreaking comic book series, "Love & Rockets" with his dear friend, chosen family, and someone whose wedding he was honored to officiate (despite being given insufficient info...
Ep 3: 'Capital' with YD Hawkins
In this episode, Colin sits down with his dear Sactown/Bay Area sibling, (who goes by the pen name) YD Hawkins, to discuss "Capital" by Karl Marx, and it's impacts on his life and identity as an Artist, former Labor Organizer, and Social Worker...
Ep 2: 'Minor Detail' with Emalyn Lopez
In today's episode, Colin sits down with his inaugural guest and cherished partner/spouse/co-Parent, Artist and Educator, Emalyn de la Rama Lopez (she/her/siya), to discuss Palestinian Author/Essayist, Adania Shibli's novel, "Minor Detail."&nbs...