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The Big Asian Energy Show is designed for Asian Americans, Canadians, or anyone wanting to learn more about psychology, mindset, and personal growth. Each week, host John Wang interviews and showcases Asian changemakers, pioneers, leaders, and entrepreneurs who share their journies of success and reveal the secrets and strategies they've learned along the way. In the show, John draws on scientific studies, psychology research, and 15 years of coaching and real-life stories to share practical knowledge on breaking through mental blocks, maximizing your potential, and finding your purpose. He has amassed a passionate following of over 300,000 followers on social media, empowering a new generation of purpose-driven Asian Americans seeking to become the best version of themselves and make a positive impact in the world. If you're ready to take your life to the next level, break through your internal ceilings, or just want to learn more about super-inspirational Asians, tune in to The Big Asian Energy Show. Follow John on instagram @johnwangofficial or check out our webpage at www.bigasianenergy.com
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"You can believe that life happens to you. Or you can use your agency to believe that life happens for you." — Vincent Rodriguez III A few years ago, in the middle of a rough breakup, I started watching a show on The CW called Crazy Ex-Girlfriend . For the first time in my life I was watching an Asian man written as the love interest on network television. Hunky, sweet, genuinely funny, chased after by everyone on the show. A character who quietly undid almost every stereotype I'd grown up absorbing. In the show his name was Josh Chan. The actor is Vincent Rodriguez III, and I've been a fan since long before I ever imagined I'd get to sit across from him. This one was a joy to record. Vinnie was the first Filipino love interest on a network TV show, and we get into what that actually felt like: the pride of it, and the weight of being "the first anything." But the conversation went to so many different places I didn't expect. It becomes about agency, the difference between believing life happens to you and deciding it happens for you. About getting diagnosed as neurodivergent in your late thirties and choosing to treat it as a strength instead of a flaw. Vincent grew up in Daly City, trained at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and spent a decade on New York stages before booking Josh Chan. Since then he's become a voice-over force across video games and animated films, and now runs his own production company while coaching other artists, especially neurodivergent creatives, through a methodology he's building. He's also, for the record, one of the most open-hearted people I've had on the show. What We Cover Discovering Crazy Ex-Girlfriend during a hard season, and why seeing an Asian male love interest on network TV landed the way it did Getting cast as Josh Chan, and how Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna leaned into Vincent's Filipino heritage instead of writing around it The pride and the pressure of being "the first anything," and what it does to you to be put on a pedestal The path from the Pacific Conservatory to a decade on New York stages to a network lead Getting diagnosed as neurodivergent during the pandemic, and reframing it from a "disorder" into a strength The FIG framework: failing well, and why the letter after failure is growth The work of forgiving the earlier version of yourself you've outgrown Building a production company and a coaching practice, and honoring his family's story and Filipino roots Notable Quotes "F is not the end of the alphabet. It's just the end of the grading system." "You have to forgive the past version of yourself who embarrassed you, or who didn't live up to who you are now. No one can do that work for you." "I've cast myself in the movie that is my life. I'm not auditioning for someone to give me a job. I can give myself a job." Mentioned in This Episode Vincent's Work: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW, 2015–2019) — streaming on Netflix Voice work in Mortal Kombat 1 , Raya and the Last Dragon , Ne Zha II , and more Follow Vincent: Instagram & TikTok — @vrodrigueziii Website — https://www.vrodrigueziii.com/ When we rise, we rise together.
"Travel builds the environment where your meaning finds you." — Dr. Calvin Sun Dr. Calvin Sun is one of the youngest people who has traveled to every country on earth, an emergency medicine physician and clinical assistant professor in New York City, and the founder of The Monsoon Diaries, a blog-turned-travel-community that has brought everyday travelers to more than 190 countries and territories — including North Korea, Nauru, Greenland, and Antarctica. His memoir, The Monsoon Diaries , was published by HarperCollin. He was a front-line physician through the worst of COVID in New York City. Calvin Sun was nineteen the summer everything changed. His father died of a sudden heart attack, hours after they had an argument. Earlier that summer, his mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He walked out of the emergency room alone. The next morning he woke up with no idea what the next step was supposed to be, and in that fog he started asking the question that would shape the rest of his life: why am I doing any of this, and does it lead somewhere that matters? If you grew up with the script of studying hard, picking something stable, becoming the doctor or the lawyer, you already know the quiet question underneath it: is there a version of my life that's actually mine? Calvin went back to medicine. But he came back having learned the difference between wanting something and, in his words, wanting the want , the convenient version you cling to because it's easy. What We Cover The summer everything changed: losing his father suddenly at nineteen and his mother's Parkinson's diagnosis in the same season Walking away from medical school, becoming a bartender, and the $650 plane ticket that sent him to Egypt "Is this a sign or a test?" — the question Calvin uses to read the moments that turn a life Why he says his purpose found him , not the other way around, and how travel built the conditions for it "You want the want": the difference between wanting something and wanting the convenience of it Coming back to medicine on his own terms, and why how he walked the path mattered more than the path itself Becoming, by his own count, one of the youngest people to reach nearly every country in the world while finishing med school and residency on time The kindness of strangers, and why he calls the United States the riskiest place he's ever traveled Working as a street medic during Black Lives Matter and the wave of anti-Asian hate, and what it costs to be the one who stays The COVID front lines: working 35 of his first 50 days, the moral injury that followed, and the excuses we make to run toward the fire Notable Quotes "Is this a sign or a test? And sometimes, if you're lucky, the answer is both." "You want the want. That's a huge difference.” "I dare you to be stronger than your excuses." "I don't really see myself as saving lives. I just want to be there for someone on the worst day of their life. Saving lives is a bonus." "It's not about what I signed up for, it's how I signed up for it." Mentioned in This Episode Calvin's Work The Monsoon Diaries — monsoondiaries.com Calvin's site — calvindsun.com Follow Dr. Calvin Sun Instagram — @monsoondiaries The Monsoon Diaries (brand) — @themonsoondiaries
"Embrace your culture. You are not half — you are full. And even for my quarter babies: embrace your heritage. It's a beautiful thing." — Alex Chester-Iwata In this episode, Alex Chester-Iwata, founder and CEO of Mixed Asian Media and founder of Mixed Asian Day, joins John to unpack the word that's been everywhere the last few weeks: "Wasian." The term has been around since the early 2000s, but it exploded all over again after Laufey, the Icelandic-Chinese, Grammy-winning musician, released her "Madwoman" music video and stacked the cast with mixed Asian stars like Heated Rivalry's Hudson Williams, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, and The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung. Suddenly everyone was talking about what it means to be mixed. Alex has been building the home for that conversation for nearly a decade. What we cover: Why "Wasian" went viral again after Laufey's "Madwoman" video and why Alex, who is Japanese American and Jewish American, doesn't identify with the word. The problem with the term: it centers proximity to whiteness, plays into the model minority myth, and erases Blasian, Mexican-Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian mixed narratives. Her one-billboard message to the world: "Don't play into white media stereotypes. We don't have to make white Hollywood happy. We can tell our own stories." Losing a contracted lead-adjacent role on Even Stevens after being called "too exotic" — and the Mattel modeling shoots where she was told to open her eyes wider. Her time in Dream: the China doll styling, the body image pressure on a 13-year-old, and the first meal in 48 hours being at Diddy's restaurant. Why her Japanese American family never talked about internment — and how therapy, community, and The Artist's Way led her to found Hapa Mag. Why she rebranded Hapa Mag to Mixed Asian Media: the indigenous Hawaiian history of "hapa haole" and making space for South Asian community members. The belonging trap: why so many mixed Asians don't feel safe at AAPI Heritage Month events, and why questioning someone's identity — "do you even speak the language?" — comes from the same box-checking instinct as white media. What's next for Mixed Asian Media: the June 13 Pride celebration at Sour Mouse on the Lower East Side, social clubs in NYC and DC, and Mixed Asian Day this September in San Diego. Alex Chester-Iwata & Mixed Asian Media: Website: https://mixedasianmedia.com Mixed Asian Media Instagram: @mixedasianmedia on Instagram Alex Chester-Iwata Instagram — @alexfchester on Instagram IN THE MIX: A Pride Celebration for the Mixed AANHPI LGBTQ+ Community — June 13, 8PM–12AM, Sour Mouse, Lower East Side, NYC (with Naarak, LIKHA Labs & Blasian March) — tickets: https://sickening.events/e/in-the-mix-a-pride-celebration-for-the-mixed-aanhp When we rise, we rise together.
"We're moving into the post-swipe era — more intentional dating, less endless scrolling." — Quincy Yang In this episode, Quincy Yang, CEO of Coffee Meets Bagel, joins John to talk about what's actually driving dating and relationships for Asian Americans right now. Coffee Meets Bagel was started in 2012 by three Korean American sisters who thought swiping was broken, famously turned down a $30 million offer on Shark Tank, and within two years had become a platform where Asian American and Pacific Islander daters made up about half of all users. The first platform that was essentially built for us, by us. Quincy and John get into the company's recent survey for Asian American Heritage Month, where nine in ten AAPI daters said culture matters in a relationship, and roughly 70% said food is part of how they express and receive love — about twice the rate of non-Asian daters. They talk about the OkCupid finding that haunted a generation of Asian men, and why Quincy says the numbers on his own platform are flipped. And they get honest about the harder stuff: more than half of API daters have felt culturally misunderstood by a partner, and one in three has ended a relationship because of it. The throughline is something most of us already feel in our bodies after a long night of swiping: the swipe era trained us to keep one thumb on "next," and it's quietly burning everyone out. Quincy makes the case for slowing down. What we cover: The infamous OkCupid study on Asian men in dating apps, and why Quincy says Coffee Meets Bagel's numbers tell the opposite story. How AI is reshaping dating apps today, and why it can be helpful–or detrimental– depending on how you use it. What really makes a profile work — how many photos you really need, how to write prompts, and why women spend far longer reading a profile than most men think. Why many people feel "culturally misunderstood" in dating, and how it shapes relationships. Why "swipe fatigue" is real, and what the post-swipe era of more intentional dating actually looks like. "Your users are your product" — how friction-by-design quietly made the app a home for Asian American daters. The duality of growing up Asian American — the self inside the house and the self outside it — and how it shows up in who we date. The book that changed Quincy’s views about himself, and why it helped change his views about his own identity. The one piece of advice he'd give his younger self about mentors, networking, and being an Asian "on paper" in a sea of resumes. Links: https://www.coffeemeetsbagel.com/press/88-of-aapi-daters-say-culture-matters-in-love-new-coffee-meets-bagel-study-finds https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coffee-meets-bagel-dating-app/id6502307144 When we rise, we rise together.
In this episode, two-time Emmy Award–winning journalist Dion Lim joins John to talk about her new book Amplify!: My Fight for Asian America — the first mainstream book on anti-Asian hate in the COVID era. Dion is the first Asian American woman to anchor primary weekday newscasts in three major American markets, a Gold House A100 honoree, and the defining national voice on anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, with reporting that reached millions through Good Morning America, Nightline, and 20/20. Dion walks John through the moments that built the book: the anonymous Instagram DM in February 2020 that showed an elderly man being beaten in Bayview while collecting cans — and her realizing on the seventh replay that he looked like her father. The 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, knocked to the ground on his morning walk, and the verdict that gave his killer no jail time. The on-air breakdown she had covering a mother who pulled down her shirt to show a heart monitor and said my heart is broken, I wish it was me who was killed instead of my son. The moment Dion realized she had millions of viewers but no one at home who could relate. And the leap she took to step away from a 20-year broadcast career to write this book. Dion and John also talk about the cultural conditioning that makes "don't be a burden" feel like love, why stats are the best ammunition in a one-on-one conversation about race, the comeback for the next person who says it's just a joke , and why courage doesn't require a megaphone — sometimes it's a conversation with your kids. Content note: this episode discusses anti-Asian violence and the mental health toll of reporting on it. Notable Quotes: "We are not silent like so many of us are conditioned to believe." — Dion Lim "There's no playbook on how to cover anti-Asian hate. You don't learn about it in school." — Dion Lim "Stats actually give you some ammunition. Even the most hard-nosed believers of one thing can't deny the numbers." — Dion Lim "Courage does not have to be you grabbing a megaphone and starting a rally. Courage, for me, can be having a conversation with your child." — Dion Lim Dion Lim Links: https://www.dionlim.com @DionLimTV on all platforms
In this episode, John takes the guest seat. From growing up as one of the only Asian kids in a predominantly white school to building a career around helping others reach inner mastery, John unpacks the journey that shaped the work he does today: the lonely teenager who read self-help books to learn how to make friends, the chameleon who built a popular persona to hide behind, and the Dark Night of the Soul moment in his sister's storage room that nearly ended his life. We also get into his first men's group breakthrough, the decade of inner work that followed across 19 different modalities, and why most of us are running our lives on pain avoidance without realizing it. Notable Quotes: "When you put on that mask and you get really good at putting on that mask, the longer you put it on, the more dangerous it becomes to take it off." — John Wang "It is very easy for men to sacrifice themselves to help other men. It is very hard for men to accept help from other men. That's where the distrust comes from." — John Wang "My confidence comes from the fact that I am really imperfect, and I'm really okay with it. You can walk into a room knowing who you are, knowing who you're not, knowing your flaws, and being okay with it." — John Wang The Breakthrough Experience · June 26–28, 2026 · Vancouver Want to explore your own deep dive and inner work in a transformational retreat designed specifically for Asian Americans? Breakthrough is three days of deep inner work co-led by John alongside Ami Park, Leo Xia, and Colin Pal — four facilitators who have spent years doing this work specifically with Asian Americans. A transformational weekend workshop for Asian Americans ready to break through in their relationships, in their identity, and in the patterns keeping them stuck. Find out more at breakthrough-experience.com . Links: Breakthrough Workshop: https://breakthrough-experience.com/ 7 Patterns Quiz: https://www.bigasianenergy.com/7-patterns
Show notes: In this episode, John sits down with Dr. Sam Wang, Princeton neuroscience professor, founder of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, and Congressional candidate for New Jersey's 12th District. From growing up as the son of Chinese immigrants in the Midwest to eating a live cricket on CNN, Sam has never been the kind of scientist who stays in his lane. He took his research on gerrymandering all the way to the Supreme Court, helped dismantle New Jersey's corrupt County Line ballot system, and now he's running for Congress because he decided that wasn't enough. In our conversation, Sam breaks down how gerrymandering actually works and why it's one of the biggest threats to fair elections in America right now. We get into the current attacks on scientific research funding and what that means for the next generation of Asian Americans trying to build careers in medicine and science. And we talk about why two thirds of Chinese Americans in his own district aren't affiliated with either major party, and what that tells us about where our community is headed politically. Notable Quotes: "Scientists discover things, but we also build things and we think of solutions. This is what scientists do." — Sam Wang "In the last year and a half, there has been this strange thing that might have escaped some of your listeners, which is that there's this weird hostility to knowledge. And it makes it harder to develop drugs, harder to develop cures, and harder for young people to come up and be successful." — Sam Wang "I want to make elections fairer for everyone. And that is a thing that's inside me that needs to get out." — Sam Wang Sam Wang Links: samfornj.org samwang.substack.com
In this episode, John sits down with Katy Ho, author and founder of BAD ASIAN , a community and Substack dedicated to exploring what it means to push back against the expectations placed on Asian people in the diaspora. From growing up as a minority in a predominantly White city to building a platform around reclaiming identity on your own terms, Katy is a sharp, fearless voice on the intersections of race, gender, and cultural belonging. In our conversation, Katy unpacks the three components of what it means to be a Bad Asian: from resisting the model minority myth, to challenging gender expectations placed on Asian men and women, to navigating parental and cultural expectations. We also get into the viral "I'm in a very Chinese time in my life" TikTok trend and what it reveals about how Asian culture is consumed and commodified in mainstream media. Notable Quotes: "There's such a long history of how colonialism and imperialism and white supremacy were created to put Asians in this place of being the model minority: of keeping our heads down, being quiet, and complying with the system. Being a Bad Asian is about rebelling against that." — Katy Ho "Culture is about being part of a community and having a shared experience. You can't claim a culture for yourself. The culture has to claim you as its own." — Katy Ho "I think the greatest thing we can do for our community right now is create spaces of deeper conversation: to be frank, to be direct, to be unpolished, to be raw." — Katy Ho Katy Ho Links: https://katyho.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/katyho_
What do you do when the industry tells you there's no space for you? You build your own. In this episode, John Wang sits down with Don Michael "Don Mike" Mendoza, Broadway producer, talent manager, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Producing While Asian , for a conversation about what it really takes to create opportunity when the door hasn't been opened for you yet. Don Mike shares the one piece of advice that changed his life and career: don't be afraid to ask for what you want. And if you hear no? You're asking the wrong person. He breaks down how he went from being told he had a limited future on stage to producing Here Lies Love on Broadway: the first Broadway musical with an all-Filipino cast and how the instinct to build was something passed down through his family long before he ever set foot in a theater. They also get into what it means to be "the only" in the room, why crab mentality is one of the biggest threats to community progress, and how the most powerful thing you can do once you've made it through the door is hold it open for everyone behind you. In this episode: Why asking for what you want is harder for first-gen and immigrant families and why it's worth unlearning the shame around it The Kris Jenner rule Don Mike swears by when he hears no How he built LA TI DO from a basement bar underneath a sex shop in Washington D.C. into a national production company The phone call on 45th Street that landed him on Broadway — and how it started with befriending a writer named Zach and meeting his first management client, Vincent Rodriguez III Why authenticity and research are non-negotiable when you're telling someone else's story The real reason Here Lies Love is still relevant today Connect with Don Mike: Instagram: @donmikemendoza Company: @dmhmendozaproductions Website: dmhproductions.com Podcast: Producing While Asian Don Michael H. Mendoza, (Don Mike), is the Founder of DMH Mendoza Productions and the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of LA TI DO where through both entities he’s produced on Broadway ( Here Lies Love ), Off-Broadway ( Hazing U ), and hundreds of cabarets, concerts, theatrical shows, and events nationally since 2012. Concurrently, he is an international talent manager, and as an independent marketing professional, he served as the first Director of Marketing & Media for the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles and the Pennsylvania State Chair for Filipino Americans for Harris-Walz. Mendoza is an alumnus of the Commercial Theater Institute in New York City, and holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre & Journalism and an M.A. in Strategic Communication from American University where he sits on the Alumni Association Board. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for Winchester Thurston School, and the Board of Directors for New York Theatre Barn, and The Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh. As always — when we rise, we rise together.
You worked hard, hit the goal, and then felt nothing. If you've ever reached a milestone you'd been chasing for years only to feel strangely empty on the other side, you're not broken. You're on the Achiever Treadmill, and this episode is going to show you exactly how to step off it. In this deeply personal episode, John opens up about what happened after publishing his book Big Asian Energy , a childhood dream that landed him on the Wall Street Journal, NBC, and Amazon's Top 20 Business Books of 2025. Despite all of it, he felt lost. He uses that experience to break down the psychology behind "not-enoughness," where it comes from, and how to reclaim your own sense of worth. What You'll Learn The Science of the Achiever Treadmill Psychologists Dr. Philip Brickman and Donald Campbell studied lottery winners, accident survivors, and everyday people and found that within a year, everyone returned to the same baseline happiness level. Your brain is wired to adapt. That promotion, that raise, that dream job title all become the new floor faster than you think. This is hedonic adaptation, and it's why external achievement can never permanently fill an internal gap. Where "Not-Enoughness" Really Comes From For many Asian Americans, the roots go back to childhood. Dr. Bart Soren's research on "conditional regard" shows how children who only receive affection tied to performance start to believe their worth lives in their output, not in who they are. Add in the model minority myth, and research from Claremont College shows it creates some of the highest rates of imposter syndrome among the highest-performing students. How to Actually Break the Cycle John shares the two-word piece of advice from a monk friend that changed his entire year, plus two practical tools you can start using today. The first is the "Whose Voice Is This?" practice, where you pause before chasing the next goal and ask whether the desire is genuinely yours or an expectation you inherited from someone else. The second is a Micro Wins Journal, a simple folder on your phone where you log small wins and moments of progress to train your nervous system to recognize that you're already moving forward. Key Quotes "More pressure doesn't build confidence, it builds more self-doubt." "No external achievement will ever get you to enough if you don't currently feel like you are enough." "You can't step off a treadmill you didn't know you were on." "Enoughness is your birthright." Resources Mentioned 📖 Big Asian Energy by John Wang, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. Named one of Amazon's Top 20 Best Business Books of 2025. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. When we rise, we rise together.
In this episode of Big Asian Energy, host John Wang sits down with resident psychologist, sexuality and relationships expert, and author of Patterns That Remain , Dr. Stacy Litam, for one of the most honest, charged, and long-overdue conversations in the Asian diaspora space: interracial relationships, and everything society projects onto them. In this episode, they cover: The "Oxford Study" explained — What it actually is, where it came from (a 2023 TikTok comment), and why people keep using it to shame Asian women in interracial relationships Is it “Asian fetish” or “Just a preference”? — How to tell the difference, what red flags actually look like, and whether fetishization can exist in a loving, consensual relationship Internalized racism and partner selection — How to identify if someone’s partner selection was influenced by internalized racism The demasculinization of Asian men and hypersexualization of Asian women — How decades of Hollywood representation (or lack thereof) shaped the dating landscape, and how things are shifting "You're muddying the bloodline" and "You're colonized" — Unpacking the three most common attacks Asians in interracial relationships receive. How to talk to your family about dating a non-Asian person — A practical framework for navigating parental disapproval, separating "need to haves" from "nice to haves," and addressing fear with compassion The "Chinese era" trend — Why cultural appreciation gone corporate is a problem, and the line between appreciation and appropriation Dr. Stacy Litam is a licensed psychologist and one of the leading voices on Asian American mental health, sexuality, and identity. Find her on Instagram and check out her previous episodes on Big Asian Energy for more. Show Links Guest: Dr. Stacey Litam Website: www.staceylitam.com Instagram: @drstaceyalitam Patterns That Remain: A Guide to Healing for Asian Children of Immigrants Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Patterns-that-Remain-Children-Immigrants/dp/0197762670
Ever feel a knot in your stomach when a cousin gets into med school, or a coworker lands a big promotion? If you grew up in an Asian household, you may have felt that sense of comparison dread before. In this episode, John breaks down the fascinating science behind why Asian and Western cultures are wired to respond to success and failure in almost completely opposite ways. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Japanese students work harder after failure while North Americans work harder after success, based on a landmark 2001 study that reveals how Asian and Western motivational systems are often flipped. The difference between the independent vs. interdependent model of self — and how your cultural background shapes what makes you feel valuable at the most fundamental level. How social comparison works as a tool of motivation in collectivist cultures, and why "upward comparison" isn't threatening to East Asians, but informational Why perfectionism in Asian cultures is often a survival strategy , not just a personality trait. The hidden reason why Western talk therapy and standard mental health advice can actually increase stress for East Asian people. How immigrant family dynamics intensify these pressures — and what often gets missed about the genuine benefits of collectivist systems. Referenced Research: Heine & Lehman (2000s) — Japanese vs. Canadian participants on self-assessment bias Heine et al. (2001) — Success/failure feedback and task persistence across cultures White & Lehman (2005) — Upward comparison preferences after failure in Asian Canadians Ko & Kim — Interpersonal vs. intergroup comparison and self-esteem in Asian Americans Resources Mentioned: Quiz: The 7 most common achievement patterns in Asian Americans → bigasianenergy.com Book: Big Asian Energy by John Wang
Guest: Diana YK Chan, Personal Branding & Authority Strategist, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, 7-time UN Speaker Episode Overview: Have you ever talked yourself out of an opportunity before you even tried? In this episode, John sits down with Diana YK Chan, personal branding strategist, LinkedIn top voice, and one of the most practical voices in the space when it comes to visibility and confidence. Diana breaks down why so many talented people stay stuck, undercharge, and undersell themselves and exactly what to do about it. Whether you're launching a business, gunning for a promotion, or trying to get on bigger stages, this conversation gives you mindset shifts and tactical frameworks you can use immediately. What You'll Learn in This Episode What imposter syndrome actually is and why 70% of people experience it Diana's 3-step framework: Identify → Believe → Voice your value The difference between speaking from your head vs. your heart — and why it changes everything How to "borrow belief" when you don't have enough of your own yet Diana's 4 Pillars of Marketability: Positioning, Credibility, Visibility, and Relatability The "features tell, benefits sell" rule that will change how you pitch yourself Why the biggest mistake new entrepreneurs make is undercharging — and how to fix it How to use the "What would NOT have happened if I wasn't there?" question to own your impact Why sharing vulnerable stories on LinkedIn led Diana to become a LinkedIn Top Voice Key Quotes "How you see yourself shapes how others see you." "Nothing has meaning except the meaning you give it." "When you don't believe in yourself yet, borrow that belief." "Selling is serving. When you shift that, everything changes." "Stop underselling, underrepresenting, and undermining yourself." "A no doesn't mean not ever, it just means not right now." Resources & Links Connect with Diana on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dianaykchan Diana's LinkedIn Learning Courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/diana-yk-chan Diana's company: My Marketability - https://mymarketability.com/
Stephen Lee is the president of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. He was a federal prosecutor for 11 years and was a partner at a law firm, and he now has a solo practice where he primarily defends people who are accused of health care fraud. Before becoming a lawyer, he was a newspaper reporter, and he still writes in his spare time about topics including Asian American legal history. In this episode, Stephen Lee shares his journey from a shy kid to a high-stakes trial lawyer, dismantling the "quiet professional" stereotype along the way. He provides a masterclass in self-advocacy, the importance of building a niche personal brand, and the technical communication skills needed to command a room or a courtroom. Key Takeaways: Be Your Own Best Advocate: As a lawyer, you're trained to fight for your clients, but often forget to fight for yourself. Stephen emphasizes that doing "great work" isn't enough to reach senior levels; you must be intentional and vocal about your career goals. The Power of a Niche Brand: In a crowded field, specialization is key. Stephen explains how narrowing his focus to healthcare fraud and data analytics helped him stand out more effectively than being a generalist. Strategic Networking: Forget the cocktail parties. Real connections are built through collaborative work, such as organizing panels or volunteering for bar associations. Mastering Presence and Communication: Stephen shares the "sprinkler vs. sniper" technique and the importance of pacing and gestures in public speaking, skills he learned through high-stakes trial experience. Confidence Through Survival: True confidence isn't born from success, but from surviving rejection and failure. About Stephen Lee Stephen Lee is the president of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. He was a federal prosecutor for 11 years and was a partner at a law firm, and he now has a solo practice where he primarily defends people who are accused of health care fraud. Before becoming a lawyer, he was a newspaper reporter, and he still writes in his spare time about topics including Asian American legal history. Connect with Stephen: AABA Chicago: https://aabaogc.wildapricot.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenchahnlee/ Website: https://www.stephenleelaw.com/ Asian American legal history written by Stephen: https://ourapaheritage.substack.com/ The Portrait Project: https://www.apaportraitproject.org/ Love this episode? Share it with someone who’s ready to level up their career. And don't forget to grab your copy of Big Asian Energy , now available on Amazon and major bookstores!
In this episode of Big Asian Energy , host John Wang sits down with our amazing resident psychologist Dr. Stacey Litam to jam on what’s in and what’s out for 2026. From how to rewire our brain for joy to oversharing, this new episode uncovers what’s actually working to make a change in your life. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstaceyalitam/ Website: https://www.staceylitam.com/ Amazon book link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM8JJTB7?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_F3M9H3XBTA8QD8A2H04M&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_F3M9H3XBTA8QD8A2H04M&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_F3M9H3XBTA8QD8A2H04M&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1&bestFormat=true
In this episode, we dive into the "invisible weight" carried by many Asian adults, particularly those from immigrant families who grew up as the "competent ones" everyone turns to. We explore how early role responsibilities, such as translating at the doctor’s office or managing a parent’s emotional state, create a survival strategy that follows us into adulthood. Our conversation breaks down the concept of adultification, the difference between healthy high performance and anxious over-functioning, and how to move from reactive fixing to responsive choice. Notable Quotes: "Adultification happens when the parent-child hierarchy basically flips upside down... the child instead becomes a caregiver to the parent." "There’s a massive difference between healthy high performance and over-functioning... healthy high performance happens when you choose to excel because you’re genuinely excited. Over-functioning comes out of a sense of compulsion." "True maturity isn’t actually doing everything for everyone. It’s knowing what is actually yours to carry and allowing other people to do what they’re here to do." "Being a good child [often] means erasing your needs entirely or hiding them so that you’re not adding more inconvenience and burden to your parents' already heavy plates." Key Discussion Points: The Two Types of Adultification: Breaking down "Instrumental Adultification" (logistics and bills) versus the "sneakier" "Emotional Adultification" (becoming a parent’s therapist or marriage counselor). The Cultural Amplifier: How immigrant survival mode forces children to become cultural interpreters and emotional caretakers before they have a choice. Hyper-vigilance vs. Emotional Intelligence: Why being "good at reading the room" is often a nervous system adaptation learned to predict emotional outbursts in childhood. The 10-Second Pause: A practical tool to interrupt the autopilot "fixer" instinct and allow for self-regulation. Differentiation: Learning to build your own identity and value system while still remaining emotionally connected to your family.
Guest: Dave Lu (Managing Partner of Hyphen Capital. Founder of Expo and Fanpop. Founder of Stand with Asian Americans. Producer of 38 at the Garden. Board of Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.) Host: John Wang In this episode, John sits down with Dave Lu, a serial entrepreneur, Emmy-winning producer, and the founder and managing partner of Hyphen Capital, one of the top VC funds focused on backing Asian American founders and cross-cultural entrepreneurs. From the viral "Enough" letter in the Wall Street Journal to the nuances of venture capital, Dave is a walking masterclass on how to stop being "invisible" and start being audacious. In our conversation Dave dives into the "hoop-jumping" mentality that traps many Asian American professionals and explains how to transition from feeling the need to seek validation to building real influence. Notable Quotes: "I started from a place where I felt Asians are invisible….But I realized that, we feel like we’re unseen, but oftentimes we don’t even see ourselves. So how can anyone else see us?” — Dave Lu “I did everything I thought I needed to do to make my parents proud, but also to find validation and self-worth through all the hoops I was jumping through. And I think that chase for self-worth and validation from just doing things and achieving things, it just led to emptiness again and again.” — Dave Lu “All the rules to gain power are antithetical to how Asians are raised. We’re raised to follow every rule, don’t stick out, don’t break rules, don’t disagree, don’t argue. But one of the rules to gain power is to be self-promotional and build your brand, and we’re never taught to do that.” – Dave Lu "If you don’t take credit for your work, someone else will. Advocating for yourself is having agency." — Dave Lu Dave Lu Links: https://www.davelu.com/ https://www.davelu.com/podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7plRO8VeNdoAT5fplNoNP4 https://substack.com/@davelu https://twitter.com/davelu https://www.linkedin.com/in/davelu
In this conversation, Sun Yi and John Wang explore the significance of authenticity in personal branding, particularly within the context of Asian American cultural expectations. They discuss the challenges of navigating identity, the importance of vulnerability in storytelling, and how honesty in business can build trust. The dialogue emphasizes the need for individuals to embrace their true selves and share their experiences to foster genuine connections with others. In this conversation, Sun Yi and John Wang explore the intricacies of personal branding and storytelling. They discuss the importance of authenticity, the hero's journey, and how to transform personal trauma into compelling narratives. Sun Yi emphasizes the need to identify one's weaknesses and how they can be reframed as strengths. The discussion also touches on the balance between authenticity and marketing strategy, highlighting the significance of genuine connection with the audience. Sun Yi shares insights on crafting a personal brand that resonates with others while maintaining integrity and depth.
In this episode of Big Asian Energy, John Wang sits down with Sheila Lirio Marcelo, co-founder of the Asian American Foundation and CEO of Ohai.ai. Sheila shares her remarkable journey from arriving in the US from the Philippines as a child to becoming a serial entrepreneur who built Care.com into a platform serving 45 million families. She opens up about transforming from a "tiger mom" leadership style to leading from the heart, and reveals how inner work and meditation helped her move from chasing approval to finding authentic power through love and service. What Sheila Lirio Marcelo Shares: How Asian Americans can break free from stereotypical leadership patterns by shifting from performing for approval to leading authentically from the heart The power of inner work practices like meditation, journaling, and Internal Family Systems to heal childhood imprints and transform limiting beliefs into sources of strength Why embracing our full identities—rather than hiding parts of ourselves—represents a fundamental shift from assimilation to integration, celebrating how our diverse backgrounds make us whole About Sheila Lirio Marcelo Sheila Lirio Marcelo is a serial entrepreneur and community leader who has built multiple platforms serving millions of families. She founded Care.com in 2006, scaled it to serve 45 million users, took it public in 2014, and exited in 2020 when it was acquired by IAC for $500 million. She is co-founder of the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), launched in 2021 to address Asian hate and promote belonging, safety, and prosperity for Asian Americans. Currently, she serves as co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai, an AI-powered personal assistant platform helping families manage their mental load. A Harvard Law and Business School graduate who became a mother during college, Sheila has been recognized in Fortune's top 10 women entrepreneurs and Forbes' 50 over 50 list. She is a grandmother, mother of two, and dedicated advocate for caregivers and Asian American communities.
In this episode of Big Asian Energy, John Wang sits down with Dr. Ken Fong, the godfather of Asian American pastors and host of the top 1% Asian America Ken Fong podcast. Dr. Fong shares his journey from being told he was "30 years too soon" to creating the first Pan-Asian church in America, and reveals how Asian Americans can break free from gatekeeping systems to forge entirely new paths of leadership and community. What Dr. Ken Fong Shares: How breaking free from cultural gatekeeping and generational expectations enables Asian Americans to create new paradigms of leadership The power of building redemptive communities that transcend dominant culture assimilation and create space for authentic identity Why mastering your own instrument first is essential before showing up to collaborative spaces as an Asian American leader About Dr. Ken Fong Dr. Ken Fong is a third-generation Chinese American who created one of the first Pan-Asian churches in the US in 1978, long before "Asian American" became mainstream. A retired pastor with over 40 years of ministry experience, he now hosts the Asian America The Ken Fong Podcast, which has been downloaded nearly 800,000 times, ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally, and is archived by UCLA's Asian American Studies Center for its cultural significance. Dr. Fong has spent decades amplifying the voices of Asian American artists, activists, and community builders, and serves as a bridge between generations of Asian American leadership. Connect with Dr. Ken Fong Podcast: Asian America The Ken Fong Podcast (available on all podcast platforms) Website: asianamericapodcast.com/ Instagram: @asianamericapodcast Facebook: Asian America: The Ken Fong Podcast
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Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 16, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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