https://www.samanthalui.ca/about daily 1.0 2026-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/86595d2c-84f9-41c0-99c2-7b43730830c8/headshot.jpg https://www.samanthalui.ca/radio daily 0.75 2026-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/73b2cb80-f11b-48f0-b716-72a2db4f6624/Screen+Shot+2021-12-22+at+7.05.35+AM.png Radio When I drink alcohol, I get self-conscious about my Asian glow. At parties, I nurse drinks for hours and take Zantac to reduce the redness to avoid embarrassing situations. I decided to unpack those feelings for CBC Radio’s The Doc Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/e8f173de-e463-441c-bf11-f112286de720/Screen+Shot+2021-12-22+at+7.37.16+AM.png Radio For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a fangirl. But I’ve often been embarrassed by that. During the pandemic, I found joy in loving the K-pop band BTS. So I decided to explore the shame I feel, and learn to embrace being a fangirl. For CBC Radio’s The Doc Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/454143fc-9d47-4a1c-995c-3310d1a39bc0/Screen+Shot+2023-09-28+at+9.56.10+PM.png Radio As someone who collects K-pop albums, I've started wondering about my consumption and impact on the environment. That got me digging further for a radio documentary for CBC Radio’s Day 6. Read the full story here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/c1bf9e88-9676-432b-8e5b-2e7b7ac7a992/KPOP+Demon+Hunters+Banner+%281%29.jpg Radio From Domee Shi to Maggie Kang, Sheridan College has history of producing award-winning animators. I visited campus to hear from animation students about their own dreams in filmmaking. For CBC’s Metro Morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/dff1b6b3-dee4-4ac3-8105-fd666e20c14b/crtierion+closet.jpg Radio - Visiting The Criterion Collection Closet was a dream come true! I recently hopped in for a radio segment for CBC, and explored some of the iconic film titles inside as the truck made it to Toronto International Film Festival. For CBC’s Metro Morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/c064f6c8-8317-4589-81f6-769e052052bd/Screen+Shot+2022-02-02+at+9.34.14+AM.png Radio - For Lunar New Year, I visited Wai Tack Kee, a Scarborough manufacturing company specializing in traditional Chinese snacks. There, I learned about their gorgeous lotus blossom cookies. For CBC’s Metro Morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/332795a5-2da8-4a27-b013-2b8c02de8a03/Screen+Shot+2022-04-18+at+3.18.06+PM.png Radio - I looked at how K-pop virtual concerts have redefined live music during the pandemic, and allowed idols to stay connected with their fans. For CBC’s Day 6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/cebec730-1acf-48c2-a6b6-a79ab1035d7a/Screen+Shot+2021-12-22+at+6.51.51+AM.png Radio On Thanksgiving weekend, four generations of the Lee family had an emotional reunion at the Rose of Sharon Long Term Care Home. That’s where matriarch, 91-year-old Bunim Suk is a resident. Aired on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/51d30c57-22b2-468e-92ad-06378322e780/Screen+Shot+2021-12-22+at+8.18.05+AM.png Radio Growing up, Jason Lee wasn’t always proud of his heritage and his family’s business. But as the general manager of Toronto's Korean Village Restaurant, he's now learning how to manage a business with his mother. Produced for CBC Radio's Now or Never. https://www.samanthalui.ca/contact-me daily 0.75 2025-01-10 https://www.samanthalui.ca/video daily 0.75 2025-09-16 https://www.samanthalui.ca/culture-writing daily 0.75 2025-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/ee88cb6a-969d-4f4d-aa2c-254488371f8b/tablo.JPG Culture writing I interviewed Epik High frontman Tablo, who opened up about mental health, his Vancouver roots, the rumour that almost ended his life and the fans that have stayed with him over the years. For Complex Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/95292e70-f5a2-4994-9e95-03d9a11dc99d/maggie-kang-header.webp Culture writing - Who knew the mastermind behind KPop Demon Hunters is a fellow Torontonian? I chatted with co-director Maggie Kang about making the biggest film of the summer and how she tapped into her Korean culture to create a story that is now being embraced across the globe. For RepresentASIAN Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/00f03c60-d927-41c3-84d5-3ca7c794fee7/Jackson-Wang-Press-Photo-2025-Credit-Liu-Song.jpg Culture writing MAGICMAN 2 is the most personal Jackson Wang has ever been in his music. I spoke to the Chinese singer about his new era, making music on his own terms and a life changing year-off. Read more on GRAMMY.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/f855cd65-fc5e-48f1-9523-3bc3515dd1dc/the-rose-dawn-to-dusk-tour-us-canada.jpeg Culture writing Known for creating vulnerable, emotional songs in both English and Korean, The Rose continue to expand their sound on DUAL. I spoke with the band about their history as buskers, a big year of touring and their pop-punk inspirations. Read more on GRAMMY.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/2ba12163-21ad-440f-b131-2b0c1cac93f4/KATSEYE-Photo-Credit_Jane-Kim-header.jpg Culture writing I interviewed KATSEYE, a global girl group formed under the K-pop trainee methodology. The member spoke to me about the challenges of taking part in a reality competition show, and their goals to be a symbol of representation for young girls. For RepresentASIAN Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/84bedeb7-f164-4c0b-aac5-1e6b4d338a78/no-asian-couples-on-screen-blog.png Culture writing - As Hollywood reckons with a lack of Asian representation on screen and behind the scenes, I wrote about the lack of Asian couples on TV and movies. For The RepresentASIAN Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/2e956ca2-6846-404e-a82e-326ebe9b8087/AAPI_G.COM_Cantopop_Hero_1644x925.jpg Culture writing From Beyond, Anita Mui to Andy Lau, I did a deep dive into Cantopop’s roots for GRAMMY.com. Read more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/e2622c69-812a-4de6-a26d-374716b1fbc0/Screen+Shot+2023-08-28+at+4.26.18+PM.png Culture writing For Joysauce, I explored K-pop’s origins and how it has always taken inspiration from Black music. This piece also dives a bit deeper into tougher topics including cultural appropriation. Read more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/3ae8652b-0944-42fd-b999-9bf123c442ba/lexie-liu.png Culture writing I profiled Chinese singer Lexie Liu about giving up on being a K-pop idol, leaving business school in order to pursue her musical dreams and her love of tarot. For ELLE CANADA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/1634214608639-AVGGBGLULRPOFNQHGCWY/daniel+wu.png Culture writing I interviewed actor Daniel Wu about his show Into the Badlands and how it breaks Asian stereotypes on screen. For VICE. https://www.samanthalui.ca/essays daily 0.75 2025-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/1634214050643-EKWPY8506RPKT74P72H6/dishwasher.JPG Essays - Growing up, the dishwasher = drying rack. We rarely used it. And if we did, it was mostly to treat ourselves and clean the dishwasher itself. Here's to all the first generation/second generation kids who got weird stares from friends who did not understand why we did this. For HuffPost Canada https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/827686d0-3e85-46c3-aa8e-2764333d5734/elle+canada.jpg Essays I wrote about the rise of anti-Asian racism during the pandemic, the importance of mental health and solidarity within the Asian diaspora. For ELLE CANADA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/1634396442753-F9RMXRNT7AFIFMVQDX0F/fangirls.jpg Essays - I am a lifelong fangirl. But I've often been embarrassed about it. Here is an essay I wrote to accompany a radio documentary I produced about how fandom helped me stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. For CBC Radio’s The Doc Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/84fd3d83-5a60-414a-80ed-8b2992a8c445/asian-heritage-month.jpg Essays As we mark the 20th anniversary of Asian Heritage Month, I wrote about why representation in media is simply not enough amidst the rise of anti-Asian racism. FOR ELLE CANADA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/1634214812868-Q3EAHTO2KHYOXJCMU0Z5/asian+glowww.JPG Essays Every time I drink alcohol, I turn bright red. I explored the phenomenon of alcohol flush reaction, and unpacked the embarrassment I felt around it. For CBC Radio’s The Doc Project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0c9c5753ec8e11a57574e4/1634396373909-VJCTX8PBOY7L3E3FY2W0/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-10-16%2Bat%2B10.56.42%2BAM.jpg Essays Negative online portrayals of the community I grew up in challenged me to examine my own biases of Scarborough. I wrote about it for NOW Magazine.