Hey, this is Maddie.

Before we get to the episode, I did want to address the recent tragedy in Atlanta and

kind of the escalation in violence against Asian-Americans in general.

I originally recorded this episode and the interview with Ryan Divish about a week ago because

I was about to head out to spring training for a week.

I'm in Arizona currently, actually, as I'm recording this pre-episode section.

And in that interview with Divish, I mentioned the increase in the tax against Asian-Americans

and this, of course, was before the mass shooting in Atlanta this past week.

I just want to say that my heart goes out to all of the victims and their families

from that tragic attack.

And to be completely honest, I haven't completely digested all of this.

The attack this past week, the attacks the past year.

But I do think that it's important to know that a lot of Asian-Americans are scared

right now, whether it's for themselves or their families and friends.

I mention, you know, that same part in the interview, I don't have Chinese, but I'm pretty

racially ambiguous looking, which I think has afforded me some protection, to be honest.

But I am scared for my family and my friends.

And I think it's important to understand that words really matter.

You know, calling the coronavirus, the Chinese virus, or the kung flu, isn't funny.

It has real consequences.

And early on, there were Asian-Americans who sounded the alarms and said, hey,

we're hearing this language.

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