BeeNow podcast, Episode 45Having lived in Chengdu for more than 8 years, Vas is a local veteran who has been involved with a number of local, community events and runs his own weekly event, Chengdu Film Society. He ran Berlin Haus for 2 years and recently closed that chapter of his life.In this episode, Vas shares his journey with building Berlin Haus, which was has been a work and entertainment space for local creatives. Berlin Haus has been a go-to spot for comedy nights, music nights, movie nights, and other nights and days as well. We go into the "fuck yeah" moments and the "fuck no" moments of running a small business, the learnings, and why Berlin Haus finally came to a close.

BeeNow podcast, Episode 44Momo Estrella is a design executive based in Shanghai since 2010. He has worked across corporate, consulting, and startup setups in leadership roles where he has defined the foundations and set the capabilities to sustain human-centered innovation. He has worked at companies like EF Education First, Imagination, Publicis Sapient, IDEO. He currently serves as the Design Director / Head of UX at IKEA.In exploring design, creativity, and leadership, I couldn't ask for a better guest. In this chat, Momo talks about his journey as a designer, the importance of staying inspired, how to deal with mental blind spots, and a perspective on human-centered leadership. We also explore the unavoidable dimensions of creativity like confidence, listening, failure, and the unknown. We also address an ageless question, "how do you connect with your real inner self?"

BeeNow podcast, Episode 43Nicole TooMuch has performed bitterly hilarious standup across China for several years. She takes a deeper look into the grim parts of life and teases out the fun. She also teaches Chinese and studies Psychology.I met Nicole through Chengdu Comedy and now she teaches me Chinese. With her dark humor, I couldn't ask for a better guest for the podcast. In this episode, Nicole shares why happiness is boring and the importance of questioning everything. She goes into why she does standup comedy and why it's a wonderland for those of us who are broken inside. We explore what it means to be independent, to have a purpose, and why babies deserve to get punched in the face.

BeeNow podcast, Episode 42From his colorful second-hand clothes to his crafty storytelling, it's no mystery that Edd is a unique cat. In this chat, Edd talks about the importance of taking the time to make a home your own. He shares the tale of installing a bum gun in his bathroom with a golden hose. We riff on funny encounters with locals and share a few visa stories, one where Edd proudly fishes through the trash bin looking for a receipt at the Chinese visa office in Hong Kong. He also answers an essential question: how do you want to leave China?

BeeNow podcast, Episode 41 Born and raised in Chengdu, Xiaolong Chen has been teaching drama since 2017. He did not set out to be a drama teacher but with a twist of fate, he became one and he is now part of this new and emerging field in Chinese education. He says, "I am not the most creative person but as a drama instructor, I'm constantly inspired by the originality I see from my students."Xiaolong and I met last year at an adult drama class in Chengdu. We got to know each other over the many months but never really got to sit down and chat outside of class. In this episode, we got to explore how educational drama can impact identity and creativity within a person. He also shares his personal journey in finding himself as an educational drama teacher.--BeeNow exists to help people develop purpose, leadership, and life balance so that they can grow through chaos.Stress management trainingMindfulness+creativity workshopsEmotional health coachingLeadership/team buildingwww.BeeNow.co

BeeNow podcast, Episode 40Born in Chengdu, Yin Wang left for NYC when he was 9 years old. He was a graphic designer in NYC for 8 years before deciding to go on a backpacking trip through Europe and Asia. After about a year of traveling, he ran out of money and ended up back in Chengdu. He met Jonny and they upstarted Shed Studio, a full-service media company, Yin being the Creative Director.In this passionate conversation, Yin shares his startup journey, creative process, and inspirations during his travels. He shares how he was struck with a moment of purpose on the beach in Turkey. He gets real with the magic, mysteries, and inevitable shit when forming new ideas; how to deal with the inner critic; and giving/receiving feedback in a team.

BeeNow podcast, Episode 39This episode is with my good friend Katie Mansfield. Katie Mansfield is a Ph.D. candidate in Expressive Arts and Conflict Transformation with the European Graduate School in Switzerland. She and I first met as classmates in the gigantic Swiss Alps. Katie's research focuses on the power of embodied, expressive arts-based learning for building resilience. She works as the lead trainer for the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program within Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She has now been working or studying peacebuilding for about 15 years, after eight years working for a multi-national bank (now hard to imagine). She has also studied Personal Embodiment at the Tamalpa Institute, completed teacher trainings in yoga and JourneyDance and is a certified practitioner of Integrative Energetic Medicine.Our chat explores Katie's journey as an Expressive Arts practitioner in helping people "face the horror and love the wonder." The questions we cover include: - How can the arts be used to address conflict, bridge cultures, and heal trauma? - What are the neuro-biological effects of Expressive Arts? With a trauma-informed approach, Katie applies techniques that foster self-regulation and co-regulation in the brain to ultimately cultivate resilience. Other topics in the chat include how to encourage creativity and transform the inner critic. She also performs a few poems for us.Our chat was recorded via squash.

BeeNow podcast, Episode 38

Jerome Gross has been a longtime friend and teacher in yoga and healing. He sat down with me from his living room in San Diego for a quick chat. In this episode, Jerome shares his journey as a healing practitioner and his unique process in helping people resolve physical and emotional pain.

Much of Jerome's teaching is about trusting the self and recruiting the body's ability to heal itself. The conversation explores the body's stress response and the inner workings of the nervous system.

Jerome Gross currently describes himself as a mind-body health and fitness coach and therapist. He is a fitness trainer, yoga instructor, and hypnotherapist. He works with clients individually and in groups using a process he calls Enlightened way of Being.

More at BeeNow.co

BeeNow podcast, Episode 37

Shing-Shing currently lives in Chengdu and works at a tech training unicorn company. She discovered her multi-passion for education, business, and technology after college. With lessons along the way, she started the "internal" journey through meditation.

In this episode, Shing-shing shares her recent experience with a 10day meditation course called Vipassana, which is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. The term Vipassana means seeing things as they are, and the technique highlights the mind-body connection by maintaining attention to physical sensations.

Shing shares her health journey, why she decided to try Vipassana, her challenges with the course, and her new-found awareness in the midst of modern life.

Learn more about Vipassana at www.dhamma.org

BeeNow podcast, Episode 36

Billy Wong is Co-founder of the branding agency Brandjoy, specialized in brand identity and interior design. He is also a functional movement practitioner as part of his fitness training. He has been practicing breathwork and cold shower daily to strengthen his immune system for the past 3 years. He is alive and strong in Cape Town, South Africa, previously living Chengdu.

Billy and I became fast friends with our shared passion for design and mindfulness. In this episode, Billy shares his fitness journey and how he got introduced to the Wim Hof Method, which is a combination of meditation, breathing exercises, and exposure to cold that help regulate stress levels.

He talks about how Wim Hof makes the mind calm and sharp. With more oxygen going to the cells, the lizard brain quiets down and the mind becomes less reactive. The conversation also goes into the power of completing challenges with groups, and the mindset of adapting your fitness routine to where you're at. He also tells stories with ice baths and how old people can be surprisingly fit.