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  • Two hands cradle a smooth ball of dough against a dark surface, with a silver bracelet on one wrist and a faint red stamp visible on the arm—perfectly capturing the artisanal process behind making authentic NY style bagels.

    How My Bagels Triggered The Sexist In Me.
    By Joanne Molinaro • August 17, 2026
    But isn’t it strange? Isn’t it scary… how slyly the devil slips in between the cracks and shames us before we even recognize his horns?
    More
  • A split image shows the Disney logo on the left and the FCC seal on the right, with "Disney vs FCC" and the subtitle "The entertainment giant battles the federal regulator over First Amendment censorship" in the center.

    The FCC, First Amendment, and Censorship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 23, 2026
    A healthy democracy is built on a single premise: power belongs to the people. Which means we must remember: the people have the power to…
    More
  • Rows of Mutti Polpa finely chopped tomatoes cans are stacked tightly against each other, creating a colorful, repetitive pattern with red, white, and yellow labels—true to the rich tomato tradition of Parma, Italy.

    Da Vinci & Mutti: A Visit to Parma, Italy.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 8, 2026
    All in all, I left Mutti feeling stuffed to the gills, but also moved to see a company that loved the land, loved the people,…
    More
  • Joanne sits by a large window in a city high-rise, smiling at a tablet on her lap, while two small dogs rest their heads on her knees. Tall buildings are visible in the background. Black and white photo.

    Billie Eilish, Bon Appetit Your Majesty, and a Buddhist Nun
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 19, 2026
    For the past two weeks, my feeds (on Threads, TikTok, and Instagram) have been engulfed by “hot takes” on veganism, spawned largely by a very…
    More
  • A judge’s gavel rests on old documents, including part of the U.S. Constitution. A torn piece of paper in the foreground reads 14th Amendment, symbolizing a primer on birthright citizenship.

    A Short Primer on Birthright Citizenship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • March 23, 2026
    As the Supreme Court gets ready to hear oral arguments on birthright citizenship, Joanne goes over the basics of the Citizenship clause found in the…
    More
  • A man in a white shirt writes and draws diagrams with rectangles and text on a blackboard in a classroom setting, discussing topics like CORP, BANKS, UTILITIES, and RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON SELF-INTEREST.

    That time I met Barack Obama.
    By Joanne Molinaro • February 10, 2026
    School started buzzing about a class to be taught by a little-known prof named “Professor Obama,” and I quickly scanned the details to see whether…
    More
  • Two blue paper bags filled with yellow lemons and green leaves are placed on a wooden surface, viewed from above, reminiscent of the warm, inviting scenes in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

    Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 26, 2026
    Unbridled state-sanctioned aggression is now testing the bounds of the word “neighborly.” longer does it appear to be limited to lending a bag of flour…
    More
  • A U.S. ICE officer badge rests on a copy of the U.S. Constitution, with "We the People" visible in the background—a powerful image featured in Renee Good’s Law Q&A series.

    Law Q&A: ICE, Renee Good, and More.
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 13, 2026
    I’m writing this post to help you understand what the law is, whether it’s being enforced, and what can be done about any of this.
    More
  • A minimalist holiday scene with beige gift boxes tied with black ribbons stacked beside a small green fir tree. Text reads “The Korean Vegan 2025 Holiday Gift Guide.”

    The Korean Vegan’s 2025 VEGAN Holiday Gift GUIDE.
    By Joanne Molinaro • November 23, 2025
    Wow! How is 2025 nearing its conclusion already?!?! It feels like it just got started! Regardless, we can’t say goodbye to 2025 without bringing to…
    More
  • Joanne sits by a large window in a city high-rise, smiling at a tablet on her lap, while two small dogs rest their heads on her knees. Tall buildings are visible in the background. Black and white photo.

    Do you have hyper-empathy syndrome?
    By Joanne Molinaro • July 28, 2025
    And I could visualize it, feel the sticky, sweet syrup staining my fingers, finding its way beneath my fingernails. I could see my brother’s face,…
    More
  • A young Joanne in a pink dress and her little brother Jaesun, in a striped shirt and light pants, sit side by side on a wooden bench, smiling in a warmly lit room with patterned wallpaper and a framed picture in the background.

    An ice cream truck and my little brother.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 23, 2025
    And I could visualize it, feel the sticky, sweet syrup staining my fingers, finding its way beneath my fingernails. I could see my brother’s face,…
    More
  • A person holds up a large American flag at a political rally, surrounded by others with signs and flags, as the vibrant scene is captured against a backdrop of a blue sky and traffic light.

    Should influencers get political??
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 16, 2025
    Those who seek justice? Will their stories be tarnished by the bleak levers of the “creator economy”? What happens to them when they are left…
    More
  • Joanne smiles and makes peace signs while running in three different races, wearing various running outfits and race bibs, surrounded by other runners and outdoor race settings.

    Can you be a runner if you hate running?
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 2, 2025
    You see, the operative question isn’t what made me start running. It’s what makes me keep running.
    More
  • A woman in a black gown stands beside a sleek black Genesis SUV with Gold House branding, exuding mental toughness as she poses confidently before a grand staircase and building, while people gather in the background.

    Mental toughness: “Shifting the line” of your distress tolerance.
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 12, 2025
    “You see,” she concluded, “there was a line I didn’t think I was strong enough to cross. But,” she paused to gesture with her hands,…
    More
  • A social media post from thekoreanvegan reads: There is nothing more toxic and more hurtful than toxic jealousy from another woman at your success—especially when it’s from a fellow Korean American woman.

    Toxic Jealousy.
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 5, 2025
    Having arrived at this breakthrough, I concluded that the answer could not be running over my fellow Korean American women, but running with them. In…
    More
  • A woman in a black dress enters a home holding a phone and bag, then sits at a table eating from a bowl while reading. Text reads: I am a Non-Trad Wife. Before I became a writer.

    The “Non-Trad Wife.”
    By Joanne Molinaro • April 21, 2025
    My mother was a non-trad wife. She worked as a nurse our entire childhood. As a result, my grandmother and later, even my father, did…
    More
  • A small white dog with its eyes closed rests its head on a table in sunlight. The background has a textured beige blanket, and a plate of seaweed is on the table in the foreground.

    These pics of Lulu are GUARANTEED to make you smile!!!
    By Joanne Molinaro • March 31, 2025
    Yesterday, a woman stopped me while I was walking backing to my car from an event to introduce herself. She was a follower on Instagram,…
    More
  • A cracked brown eggshell floats against a blurred gray background, its jagged edges a testament to its fragility.

    The Eggshell Skull
    By Joanne Molinaro • February 3, 2025
    Note: This week’s musings relate to my struggle with disordered eating and body dysmorphic disorder. If you find this topic unsettling or otherwise uninteresting, you…
    More
  • An elephant and a giraffe, like everyday friends, sit together on a branch of a tall, leafless tree, overlooking a sandy landscape beneath the clear blue sky.

    Do You Have An “Everyday Friend”?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 27, 2025
    Recently, I started having monthly Zooms with a friend who lives on the opposite side of the country. I don’t normally schedule these types of…
    More
  • Joanne sits at a cluttered desk, surrounded by books and office supplies, speaking into a microphone on a video call with BBC displayed on her laptop.

    Do Laws Even Matter Any More?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 20, 2025
    It’s been a whirlwind of activity in Casa Molinaro the past week. Yes, we are back home, largely back in the groove, and this morning,…
    More
  • A hand with a magnifying glass zeroes in on a red and black target symbol nestled between the numbers 2025, embodying a New Years Resolution. Set against a light blue backdrop, the numbers rest on wooden circles, emphasizing focus and determination for the year ahead.

    A Note on New Year’s Resolutions
    By Anthony Molinaro • December 30, 2024
    I’ve been thinking about what to write in this space for several days now. As 2025 looms, I feel obligated to write something reflective of…
    More
  • A variety of colorful dishes, including rice and pickled vegetables are arranged on a dark table. The text overlay reads, Top 10 Recipes of 2024.

    The Korean Vegan’s TOP 10 Recipes of 2024!
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 30, 2024
    Believe it or not, I decided to give actual blogging a try in 2024. Previously, I’d sporadically publish a recipe on this website, here and…
    More
  • Two hands with colorful bracelets interlocked, symbolizing friendship and connection.

    The Anatomy of Friendship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 16, 2024
    My Friend Breakup post generated so much discussion (1k+ comments on social media) that I asked my friend, Nabiha Basathia, to join me for a…
    More
  • A yellow background with soft, blurred flowers. The text reads: Read it somewhere that says... You grow into the woman your younger self would run to for protection. And that was like the warmest hug I could ever receive.

    Is Therapy Speak Out of Control?
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 9, 2024
    “I’m entitled to protect my mental health.” And though it’s rarely said out loud, the end of that handy defense is “even if it disproportionately…
    More
  • Silhouette of a person sitting on a swing, contemplating friendship as they face the ocean at sunset. The sun is low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over water and sand, while the sky transitions in vibrant hues of orange and yellow. A second swing remains empty.

    Friend Breakups
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 2, 2024
    I cannot be friends with you anymore. “Hey, can we meet out by the steps in the parking lot after service?” It was Sunday. The…
    More
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Search
  • Two hands cradle a smooth ball of dough against a dark surface, with a silver bracelet on one wrist and a faint red stamp visible on the arm—perfectly capturing the artisanal process behind making authentic NY style bagels.

    How My Bagels Triggered The Sexist In Me.
    By Joanne Molinaro • August 17, 2026
    But isn’t it strange? Isn’t it scary… how slyly the devil slips in between the cracks and shames us before we even recognize his horns?
    More
  • A split image shows the Disney logo on the left and the FCC seal on the right, with "Disney vs FCC" and the subtitle "The entertainment giant battles the federal regulator over First Amendment censorship" in the center.

    The FCC, First Amendment, and Censorship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 23, 2026
    A healthy democracy is built on a single premise: power belongs to the people. Which means we must remember: the people have the power to…
    More
  • Rows of Mutti Polpa finely chopped tomatoes cans are stacked tightly against each other, creating a colorful, repetitive pattern with red, white, and yellow labels—true to the rich tomato tradition of Parma, Italy.

    Da Vinci & Mutti: A Visit to Parma, Italy.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 8, 2026
    All in all, I left Mutti feeling stuffed to the gills, but also moved to see a company that loved the land, loved the people,…
    More
  • Joanne sits by a large window in a city high-rise, smiling at a tablet on her lap, while two small dogs rest their heads on her knees. Tall buildings are visible in the background. Black and white photo.

    Billie Eilish, Bon Appetit Your Majesty, and a Buddhist Nun
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 19, 2026
    For the past two weeks, my feeds (on Threads, TikTok, and Instagram) have been engulfed by “hot takes” on veganism, spawned largely by a very…
    More
  • A judge’s gavel rests on old documents, including part of the U.S. Constitution. A torn piece of paper in the foreground reads 14th Amendment, symbolizing a primer on birthright citizenship.

    A Short Primer on Birthright Citizenship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • March 23, 2026
    As the Supreme Court gets ready to hear oral arguments on birthright citizenship, Joanne goes over the basics of the Citizenship clause found in the…
    More
  • A man in a white shirt writes and draws diagrams with rectangles and text on a blackboard in a classroom setting, discussing topics like CORP, BANKS, UTILITIES, and RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON SELF-INTEREST.

    That time I met Barack Obama.
    By Joanne Molinaro • February 10, 2026
    School started buzzing about a class to be taught by a little-known prof named “Professor Obama,” and I quickly scanned the details to see whether…
    More
  • Two blue paper bags filled with yellow lemons and green leaves are placed on a wooden surface, viewed from above, reminiscent of the warm, inviting scenes in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

    Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 26, 2026
    Unbridled state-sanctioned aggression is now testing the bounds of the word “neighborly.” longer does it appear to be limited to lending a bag of flour…
    More
  • A U.S. ICE officer badge rests on a copy of the U.S. Constitution, with "We the People" visible in the background—a powerful image featured in Renee Good’s Law Q&A series.

    Law Q&A: ICE, Renee Good, and More.
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 13, 2026
    I’m writing this post to help you understand what the law is, whether it’s being enforced, and what can be done about any of this.
    More
  • A minimalist holiday scene with beige gift boxes tied with black ribbons stacked beside a small green fir tree. Text reads “The Korean Vegan 2025 Holiday Gift Guide.”

    The Korean Vegan’s 2025 VEGAN Holiday Gift GUIDE.
    By Joanne Molinaro • November 23, 2025
    Wow! How is 2025 nearing its conclusion already?!?! It feels like it just got started! Regardless, we can’t say goodbye to 2025 without bringing to…
    More
  • Joanne sits by a large window in a city high-rise, smiling at a tablet on her lap, while two small dogs rest their heads on her knees. Tall buildings are visible in the background. Black and white photo.

    Do you have hyper-empathy syndrome?
    By Joanne Molinaro • July 28, 2025
    And I could visualize it, feel the sticky, sweet syrup staining my fingers, finding its way beneath my fingernails. I could see my brother’s face,…
    More
  • A young Joanne in a pink dress and her little brother Jaesun, in a striped shirt and light pants, sit side by side on a wooden bench, smiling in a warmly lit room with patterned wallpaper and a framed picture in the background.

    An ice cream truck and my little brother.
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 23, 2025
    And I could visualize it, feel the sticky, sweet syrup staining my fingers, finding its way beneath my fingernails. I could see my brother’s face,…
    More
  • A person holds up a large American flag at a political rally, surrounded by others with signs and flags, as the vibrant scene is captured against a backdrop of a blue sky and traffic light.

    Should influencers get political??
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 16, 2025
    Those who seek justice? Will their stories be tarnished by the bleak levers of the “creator economy”? What happens to them when they are left…
    More
  • Joanne smiles and makes peace signs while running in three different races, wearing various running outfits and race bibs, surrounded by other runners and outdoor race settings.

    Can you be a runner if you hate running?
    By Joanne Molinaro • June 2, 2025
    You see, the operative question isn’t what made me start running. It’s what makes me keep running.
    More
  • A woman in a black gown stands beside a sleek black Genesis SUV with Gold House branding, exuding mental toughness as she poses confidently before a grand staircase and building, while people gather in the background.

    Mental toughness: “Shifting the line” of your distress tolerance.
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 12, 2025
    “You see,” she concluded, “there was a line I didn’t think I was strong enough to cross. But,” she paused to gesture with her hands,…
    More
  • A social media post from thekoreanvegan reads: There is nothing more toxic and more hurtful than toxic jealousy from another woman at your success—especially when it’s from a fellow Korean American woman.

    Toxic Jealousy.
    By Joanne Molinaro • May 5, 2025
    Having arrived at this breakthrough, I concluded that the answer could not be running over my fellow Korean American women, but running with them. In…
    More
  • A woman in a black dress enters a home holding a phone and bag, then sits at a table eating from a bowl while reading. Text reads: I am a Non-Trad Wife. Before I became a writer.

    The “Non-Trad Wife.”
    By Joanne Molinaro • April 21, 2025
    My mother was a non-trad wife. She worked as a nurse our entire childhood. As a result, my grandmother and later, even my father, did…
    More
  • A small white dog with its eyes closed rests its head on a table in sunlight. The background has a textured beige blanket, and a plate of seaweed is on the table in the foreground.

    These pics of Lulu are GUARANTEED to make you smile!!!
    By Joanne Molinaro • March 31, 2025
    Yesterday, a woman stopped me while I was walking backing to my car from an event to introduce herself. She was a follower on Instagram,…
    More
  • A cracked brown eggshell floats against a blurred gray background, its jagged edges a testament to its fragility.

    The Eggshell Skull
    By Joanne Molinaro • February 3, 2025
    Note: This week’s musings relate to my struggle with disordered eating and body dysmorphic disorder. If you find this topic unsettling or otherwise uninteresting, you…
    More
  • An elephant and a giraffe, like everyday friends, sit together on a branch of a tall, leafless tree, overlooking a sandy landscape beneath the clear blue sky.

    Do You Have An “Everyday Friend”?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 27, 2025
    Recently, I started having monthly Zooms with a friend who lives on the opposite side of the country. I don’t normally schedule these types of…
    More
  • Joanne sits at a cluttered desk, surrounded by books and office supplies, speaking into a microphone on a video call with BBC displayed on her laptop.

    Do Laws Even Matter Any More?
    By Joanne Molinaro • January 20, 2025
    It’s been a whirlwind of activity in Casa Molinaro the past week. Yes, we are back home, largely back in the groove, and this morning,…
    More
  • A hand with a magnifying glass zeroes in on a red and black target symbol nestled between the numbers 2025, embodying a New Years Resolution. Set against a light blue backdrop, the numbers rest on wooden circles, emphasizing focus and determination for the year ahead.

    A Note on New Year’s Resolutions
    By Anthony Molinaro • December 30, 2024
    I’ve been thinking about what to write in this space for several days now. As 2025 looms, I feel obligated to write something reflective of…
    More
  • A variety of colorful dishes, including rice and pickled vegetables are arranged on a dark table. The text overlay reads, Top 10 Recipes of 2024.

    The Korean Vegan’s TOP 10 Recipes of 2024!
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 30, 2024
    Believe it or not, I decided to give actual blogging a try in 2024. Previously, I’d sporadically publish a recipe on this website, here and…
    More
  • Two hands with colorful bracelets interlocked, symbolizing friendship and connection.

    The Anatomy of Friendship.
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 16, 2024
    My Friend Breakup post generated so much discussion (1k+ comments on social media) that I asked my friend, Nabiha Basathia, to join me for a…
    More
  • A yellow background with soft, blurred flowers. The text reads: Read it somewhere that says... You grow into the woman your younger self would run to for protection. And that was like the warmest hug I could ever receive.

    Is Therapy Speak Out of Control?
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 9, 2024
    “I’m entitled to protect my mental health.” And though it’s rarely said out loud, the end of that handy defense is “even if it disproportionately…
    More
  • Silhouette of a person sitting on a swing, contemplating friendship as they face the ocean at sunset. The sun is low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over water and sand, while the sky transitions in vibrant hues of orange and yellow. A second swing remains empty.

    Friend Breakups
    By Joanne Molinaro • December 2, 2024
    I cannot be friends with you anymore. “Hey, can we meet out by the steps in the parking lot after service?” It was Sunday. The…
    More