Supporting Your Music Community with Record Label Owner Mike Park

Mike Park joins Ryan in conversation to talk about his dedication to the musical life, from performing to running the label Asian Man Records. Mike is no stranger to the underground music scene having played in such bands as Skankin’ Pickle, The Bruce Lee Band, and The Chinkees, and Ogikubo Station. In 1996, he shifted his focus away from performing in order to start a record label in his parent’s garage, Asian Man Records. Now spanning multiple decades, Mike maintains his world-class Asian Man Records label in the same quaint manner despite it being the launching point for such bands as Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake, Lemuria, AJJ, and Joyce Manor among hundreds of others. Asian Man holds high status in the world of ska, punk, hardcore, and indie music. To be discovered by Mike Park is the highest form of praise. In this conversation, Mike talks about growing up in California, being one of the few Asian males in his graduating class, discovering ska music in a movie theater, forming bands at a young age, feeling empowered releasing music, and trying to demonstrate to parents the importance of creative careers. He describes the surprise success of Asian Man Records in its first year and talks about the inner-workings of the label, including the encouragement of musical acts to pursue bigger opportunities when they have outgrown how he can support them. Mike demonstrates himself to be the humblest personality in the music business. Plus he announces his new radio show, Music. It's Powerful Stuff, on KPCR. For more information on Mike’s amazing work you can find @asianmanrecords on Instagram and Facebook or visit https://asianmanrecords.com/. You can also hear Music. It's Powerful Stuff at https://kpcr.org/event/music-its-powerful-stuff/2026-05-27/. For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram, @ryanzlomek on TikTok, or email [email protected].