Lisa Ling

Award-Winning Journalist, Host and CNN Executive Producer

Recorded 9.30.21
Hosted by: Catt Sadler

What are you having there?

I’m drinking a cabernet sauvignon. I don’t normally drink when it’s still daytime, but I’m going to enjoy this.

I’ve noticed many people are reexamining their relationship with alcohol lately because of COVID. What is your typical consumption?

I’ve never really been a big drinker. I’m a lightweight, so I’m a one-drink-date. But since COVID got rooted in our country, I have to admit that I have about one drink — no more than two, usually two full glasses — every single night, just to calm myself down. As you know, things were pretty overwhelming for a long time. They still are with two kids in the house all the time. So, the moment they went to bed, I’d think, “I need my wine.” But fortunately, I’ve always been pretty good at tempering myself and not ever going overboard. Just that little bit.

“This is Life with Lisa Ling” is returning to CNN on Sunday, October 10th. In the first episode, you explore the origins of Asian American hate. What’s the impact you’re hoping to make with this show?

Our show has been on the air for eight seasons. Our eighth season is about to launch on Sunday. Back in June 2020, people on social media were posting about Juneteenth. Now, we all know what Juneteenth is; it’s now been made a federal holiday. But back when people started posting about it, I just thought to myself, “I’m so embarrassed that I didn’t know what Juneteenth was. I didn’t know that it was considered the official end of slavery.” This propelled me to think about all of the events that have happened in American history that didn’t make it into our history books, and how many of them have actually gone to impact how we live and how we think today. So, that was the impetus for season eight of “This is Life.” Every episode is grounded in one moment or event in our history. We dissect it to look at where we are today with the issue. The first episode is about the murder of a young Chinese American man in Detroit in 1982. As we all know, Detroit was the automotive capital of the world. And in the early ’80s, a severe economic downturn began. People were starting to lose their jobs in the automobile industry and blaming it on Japan, because Japan was producing all these fuel-efficient cars. An anti-Japanese, anti-Asian sentiment began to penetrate the city. This young Chinese American man was at a bar celebrating his bachelor party. He was about to get married and two out-of-work auto workers got into an altercation with him. They accused him of being Japanese and taking away their jobs. They waited for Vincent Chin outside of the bar, and they beat him to death. Those two men never served a day in prison. This case became the first ever Civil Rights case involving an Asian person, and really galvanized the Asian-American community. When you think about what’s happening now, since COVID got rooted in America, Asian Americans are again, being scapegoated and have been blamed for bringing this virus to this country. So, so many Asians have been attacked. Attacks on Asians in this country have increased 1,300 percent since the start of COVID. We’re looking at this pattern of scapegoating and discrimination that Vincent Chin experienced, but that was predated by centuries. For me, going to history class in high school was really boring, because history seemed like it was told through one lens. History can often be dry, but I like to think that we’ve produced episodes that are really entertaining and interesting.


/

A Drink With Live!

Hosted by: Catt Sadler

Catt Sadler is an Emmy-winning journalist with 20 years of on-air experience. She spent more than a decade on E! Entertainment and has been a prominent voice in the equal pay movement. Also an entrepreneur and mother, Catt brings meaningful and entertaining intel to the conversations over drinks with influential changemakers.  Every week Catt toasts to inspiring guests with stories of how they — with resilience and strength — overcame challenging obstacles and came out the other side.

“A Drink With”® (adrinkwith.com) is an innovative, original interview series that sits down with prominent artists, athletes, celebrities and entrepreneurs in a candid, unfiltered light not typically found in traditional media. Our intention is to connect communities, inspire audiences and positively impact the world with our purpose-driven programming.

Presented By

think! ® Products is the high protein snack nutrition leader, recognized for outstanding taste, premium ingredients and smart snacking offerings. Founded in 1999 by a single mom whose passion for good eating led her to create nutritious food products that help support overall wellness, think!® was acquired by Glanbia Performance Nutrition in 2015 and rebranded to think! ® in 2019 with an expanded product offering. think! ® Products are made with thoughtful ingredients, packed with protein, minimal sugar and gluten free. think! ® Products include high protein bars, protein oatmeal and thinkKIDS protein bars. For more information on think! visit thinkproducts.com #StandForStrong

Related Features
Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown

Interview
Candace Bushnell

Candace Bushnell

Interview
Back to Top