A teddy bear, a worn-in jacket, a bike.

We all have an ordinary object that holds extraordinary value in our life and tells something

about our story.

This universal idea is explored in 10,000 things, a new podcast about modern-day artifacts

of Asian America and the people who transformed them into something remarkable.

Hosted by me, Shinye Pi, and produced by KyoW Seattle's NPR station, follow 10,000

things that's 10,000 spelled out on your favorite podcast app.

Imagine the scene.

A large ballroom, 1200 people are seated around the tables, enjoying the finest dining that

1977 has to offer, which admittedly isn't saying much.

But everyone's having a wonderful evening at the Beverly Hills Supper Club, which naturally

given the name, is just outside Cincinnati.

There's a comedy duo on stage and the headline performer is expected very soon, a singer

and TV personality, John Davidson, a big star at the time.

But what the audience here doesn't know is that on the other side of this sprawling

complex of function rooms, something's gone wrong.

A fire has broken out and it's spreading fast.

The fire department has already been called and the fire is still some distance away from

the crowded cabaret room.

But the more it spreads, the more fuel it finds, the hotter it gets and the faster it moves.

The standards at the Supper Club are on what they should be.

There isn't a fire alarm, there isn't a sprinkler system, and there isn't a lot of time.

...