Category: Community
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“We need more time to stop and think. We’re all in a hurry and I don’t know where we’re going.” – Sonia
In this episode, I speak with Sonia, an educator, podcaster, and career coach—about her earliest memories of growing up as the youngest daughter of immigrant parents, to becoming an educator and advocate for defining what success looks like for the next generation. We talk about the mentors in her life who saw great potential in…
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“A college degree doesn’t prove you’re smart. But it does prove that you’re disciplined.” – Sun
In this episode, I speak with Sun, an entrepreneur and storyteller, about his education journey from Korea to the US, California to New York, and engineering to film school. We talk about his socio-emotional development from being the good kid to eventually overcorrecting to protect himself from the bullies. We also discuss what it means…
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“’You lift your shirt, I’ll lift my shirt, too.’ That’s what makes a good relationship—getting vulnerable and sharing your sh**.” – Reena
In this episode, I speak with Reena, a TV producer, podcast host, and mompreneur, about her earliest memories of experiencing both social connection and disconnection in schools, as well as both shock and ultimately the push she needed to find her own voice. We talk about her career in TV and entertainment including working as…
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“I am because we are. If you don’t work well with others, figure it out. How can you connect more dots? Who can you build with” – Charli
In this episode, I speak with Dr. Charli Kemp, an educator and social impact-maker, about her high school memories of selling candy, evading tardy sweeps by hanging out in the counselor’s office, and negotiating her grades with her teachers…before becoming an educator herself. We talk about her nonlinear journey of discovering her place in education…
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“Every single thing in our world is related to science. If we reframe it that way, then there’s a place for everyone.” – Andrea
In this episode, I speak with Dr. Andrea Love, an immunologist, microbiologist, and science communicator, about her early interests in science and scientific literacy. We talk about how she became interested in science, what her parents and teachers did to encourage her to continue pursuing her curiosities, and why she is passionate about encouraging children…
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“I don’t have to go into places that make me uncomfortable. I don’t have to say ‘yes’ to people who make me uncomfortable.” – Phyllis
In this episode, I speak with Phyllis, a personal branding strategist, writer, and coach about her young adulthood, first marriage, as well as her parenting journey of raising and homeschooling a teenage daughter. She shares about some of the challenging experiences she lived through as a young woman struggling with her worth, as well as…
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“We need to work on changing people’s mindset around what education is. Around how children learn.” – Fran
In this episode, I speak with Fran, a writer, unschooler, and consent-based education advocate about her education journey, which began in Italy. We talk about how her early interests in humanities and dream of becoming a writer led to her pursuing a career in journalism before she became a mother who decided to give unschooling…
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Identity, cultural acceptance, and the creativity needed for growth and expansion
In this season 2 finale, two of my good friends (who I co-host another podcast with, called Your Asian Besties) interview me about my education journey. Maryn and I attended elementary school together, and Lia was Maryn’s college roommate. They ask me about my earliest memories of being a student, how I navigated between my…
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Intrinsic motivation, social connection, and the courage to redefine “success”
In this episode, I speak with gastronomee—a twenty something storyteller and content creator—about her experience dropping out of Harvard, twice, and her early memories of growing up in an Asian immigrant family. We talk about the different perspectives of education and opportunities for women she received from her community in Canada and in Asia, and…
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Social connection, digital responsibility, and the ability to reflect and self-correct along the way
In this episode, I speak with Jon—a pastor and podcaster—about growing up in a family of farm workers, and being raised by a mom who wanted a different life for her child. We talk about his earliest memories of his education journey being wired for social connection. We discuss his non-linear career path, and what…