435. The “New” Iron Fist, Jona Xiao

WARNING: Do not listen to this episode unless you have seen the 2025 Marvel Studios release “Eyes of Wakanda” or do not mind hearing key plot points.

Eyes of Wakanda is a four-episode anthology series that traces the evolution of Wakanda after they receive vibranium. Each episode is set hundreds of years apart and is a standalone story. In episode three, a character played by Jona Xiao is revealed to have the mantle of the Iron Fist.

Xiao is known for her standout performances in the CW series The Flash, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Starz’s Hightown. Jona was born in China and moved to New York when she was a very young child with her family. She grew up in the St. Louis, MO area, where her acting career began before moving to LA after pursuing a career in entertainment after school.

Outside of acting, Jona has taken her real-life experiences to shape her organization, Career ACTivate. After being scammed by a fake talent agency, Jona developed a fierce sense of protection for fellow actors starting out, a value that would later inspire her to found Career ACTivate, an organization dedicated to empowering actors with industry-savvy tools and strategies. Jona is also a well-accomplished athlete. She serves as the starting quarterback for the She Unit flag football team, based in Los Angeles, and has helped lead her squad to championship glory as part of the world champion, #1-ranked She Unit team.

In this episode, Xiao explains the audition process and what she knew about Iron Fist. She also explains where this series fits on the MCU timeline, and her thoughts about the future of the Black Panther character and Wakanda. She also discussed the various projects in her live-action and animation roles, including The Flash, a fan favorite in the superhero genre.