Big Asian Energy

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, John Wang teams up with therapist and author Dr. Stacey Litam to analyze the deeper psychological themes in the animated film K-pop Demon Hunters. Through their analysis, they uncover how this seemingly simple story about demon-fighting K-pop stars reveals profound insights about cultural trauma, healing patterns, and authentic self-acceptance in Asian communities.

What Dr. Litam Shares:

About Dr. Stacey Litam Dr. Stacey Litam is a certified relationship expert, therapist, and professor specializing in Asian diaspora mental health. Her book "Patterns That Remain: A Guide to Healing for Asian Children of Immigrants" was published by Oxford University Press in January 2025. In this conversation, she explores how the film's demons represent internal critics and voices of shame, while analyzing the difference between toxic collectivism (hiding flaws to maintain harmony) and healthy collectivism (showing up authentically in community).

Connect with Dr. Stacey:
Instagram - @drstaceyalitam
Website - https://www.staceylitam.com/

References

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with actor, producer, and CEO Sean Dulake to explore his groundbreaking journey from stereotypical casting calls to starring in Amazon Prime's first American series shot entirely in South Korea. Sean opens up about his move from LA to Seoul, creating content that bridges cultures, and finding purpose through what he calls the "third culture perspective."

What Sean Shares:

About Sean Dulake Sean Dulake is an actor, producer, and CEO of Third Culture Content. Born in California and raised in Arcadia, he made the bold decision to move to South Korea in 2010, where he debuted on Korean primetime television. He created and starred in the Netflix series "Drama World," which won Best Foreign Drama at the Seoul International Drama Awards. Sean also directed the Discovery Channel documentary "Korean Next: Finding Hollywood," earning a Best Director nomination at the Asian Television Awards. He currently stars as Hollis in Amazon Prime's spy thriller "Butterfly" alongside Daniel Dae Kim - marking the first American series fully financed by a US studio but shot entirely in South Korea.

Connect with Sean Dulake

Instagram: @seandulake

Third Culture Content: thirdculturecontent.com

Instagram: @thirdculturecontent

Watch "Butterfly" and "Drama World" on Amazon Prime Video

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with author, musician, and former pin-up model Kaila Yu to uncover the truth about fetishization, representation, and reclaiming identity. Kaila opens up about her journey through rebellion and survival, why she wrote her memoir Fetishized, and how Asian American women are still fighting to be seen as individuals instead of stereotypes.

What Kaila Shares:

The fetishization and objectification of Asian women

Her journey of rebellion, fame, and survival in modeling and music

Why authentic representation matters in the fight against stereotypes

About Kaila Yu
Kaila Yu is an Asian American writer, musician, and former model. She was one of the first Asian American pin-up models to break into the mainstream and later became the lead singer of Nylon Pink, an all-Asian American rock band that toured internationally. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Los Angeles Times. Her upcoming memoir, Fetishized, explores identity, survival, and reclaiming power in a world that too often objectifies Asian women.

Connect with Kaila Yu
Instagram: @kailayu 
Twitter: @kailayu 
Order her memoir Fetishized: Fetishized by Kaila Yu

Vicky Tsai’s resume was flawless. Wellesley. Harvard Business School. Wall Street. Big brands like Procter & Gamble and Starbucks. But behind that picture-perfect career was the reality of quiet bias, vague feedback, and being told she did not have “leadership potential.”

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, Vicky opens up about the toll of constantly feeling like she did not belong, and the moments that pushed her to rebuild her confidence, her voice, and her self-worth. She shares how she founded the global skincare brand Tatcha, sold it for $500M, stepped away, and then returned as CEO to lead it on her own terms with purpose and joy at the center.

If you have ever felt stuck, sidelined, or like you had to shrink yourself to survive in corporate spaces, this conversation will give you the clarity and courage to take your power back.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

How corporate systems quietly keep Asian employees “treading water,” or worse

What it takes to truly reclaim your confidence, voice, and inner strength when you are in your deepest moments of uncertainty

Why real leadership is not about perfectionism or power, but about purpose and calling

About Vicky Tsai

Vicky Tsai is the founder and current CEO of Tatcha, a luxury skincare brand inspired by traditional Japanese beauty rituals. After years in corporate America left her burned out and disillusioned, a trip to Kyoto sparked a new path. She built Tatcha from her savings, grew it into a global brand, and sold it to Unilever for $500M. After stepping away, she returned as CEO in 2021 to guide the company through a new chapter. Today, she mentors underrepresented entrepreneurs, serves on the board of Room to Read, and champions purpose-driven leadership.

Resources

Learn more about Tatcha: www.tatcha.com
Support Room to Read: www.roomtoread.org

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with multi‑venture entrepreneur and community founder Misa Chien to unpack what leadership truly looks like when you build from authenticity—and face pressure from every angle. Misa shares what happened after her business imploded, how she redefined success at Harvard, and why she’s now protecting the space she built for Asian American women who lead with heart and intention.

What Misa Shares:

Breaking the myth that Asian women must choose between kindness and power

Why losing her first business led her to build a more authentic version of success

Being judged by your own community and learning to protect what you’ve built

About Misa Chien
Misa Chien is a former model turned serial entrepreneur who co-founded Nom Nom Truck, a multimillion-dollar food brand featured on The Food Network. After walking away from that business, she attended Harvard Business School and became deeply aware of the lack of support for Asian American women in leadership. To change that, she launched The Authentic Asian, an exclusive AAPI female leadership community designed to address unseen barriers and foster meaningful connection and opportunity

Misa is also ranked among the most viewed AAPI women on LinkedIn worldwide, and her vision centers on helping Asian women succeed whether that’s raising capital, landing a board seat, or closing their next deal

Connect with Misa & Her Community
Website: theauthenticasian.com
Instagram: @misa_chien
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misachien

In this solo episode of Big Asian Energy, we dive deep into the complex realities behind strict Asian parenting and explore how culture, achievement, and family dynamics continue to shape the Asian American experience. From tiger parenting to emotional healing, this episode unpacks the generational patterns many of us are still untangling today.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

How Confucian values and collectivism shaped tiger parenting across Asian cultures

Why conditional love and achievement-based worth leave lasting emotional impacts

What breaking the cycle looks like through supportive and conscious parenting

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations or are trying to parent differently, this episode is for you.

Let’s connect on socials!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnwangofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnwangofficial/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnwangbae

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with author, coach, and former journalist Nicole Tsong to unpack what visibility really means for Asian American women. Nicole shares insights from her Asian Visibility System, how cultural conditioning impacts self-worth and leadership, and why learning to receive help might be the most powerful skill we can reclaim.

What Nicole Shares:

How cultural conditioning shapes how Asian American women show up at work

Why tying self-worth to success leads to burnout and disconnection

The power of asking for help and learning to receive support

About Nicole Tsong
Nicole Tsong (she/her) is a Taiwanese-American former journalist, bestselling author, and podcast host who helps Asian-American women reverse cultural conditioning and step into their power. A former Seattle Times columnist and award-winning journalist, she has taught yoga at the White House, spoken for companies like Seagen and Abbott, and led workshops across the country. She is the author of three books including 24 Ways to Move More and hosts the School of Self-Worth podcast. 

Connect with Nicole
Website: nicoletsong.com
Instagram: @nicoletsong
Check out the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible
Podcast: School of Self-Worth

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with journalist and author Ada Tseng to talk about what it really takes to break into Hollywood. From rejection and resilience to representation and real-world advice, Ada shares hard-won insights from years of covering the entertainment industry and uplifting Asian American voices.

What Ada Shares:

Breaking into Hollywood (especially for Asian Americans)

Representation, identity, and mental health in entertainment

The realities behind the glamour of Hollywood careers

About Ada Tseng
Ada Tseng is the co-author of Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry, a forthcoming book written with Jon Healey. She co-hosts the Asian American pop culture history podcast Saturday School with Brian Hu and is a former editor at the Los Angeles Times.

Connect with Ada
Instagram: @adatseng88
Podcast: Saturday School (Apple, Spotify)
Pre Order Ada's book: Breaking Into New Hollywood 

 In this episode of Big Asian Energy, we sit down with therapist and founder of The Men’s Therapy Studio, Gabi Koyenov, whose Central Asian Jewish identity challenges the typical definition of "Asian American." We explore the complexities of heritage, generational expectations, and what it means to show up for ourselves and others as men, children of immigrants, and healing humans.

What Gabi Shares:

About Gabi Koyenov
Gabi Koyenov is a New York–based licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of The Men’s Therapy Studio, a space dedicated to helping men navigate mental health, relationships, and self-discovery. With roots in Central Asia and a background in Jewish tradition, Gabi brings a unique cultural lens to his work, blending clinical methods with holistic care and deep empathy.

Connect with Gabi
Website: themenstherapystudio.com
Instagram: @journey_with_gabi
Podcast: The Gabi Koyenov Podcast (Apple)
YouTube: @gabikoyenov

In this episode, Clifford Temprosa joins us to talk about what it really means to build power across the Asian diaspora. We get into the importance of identity work in advocacy, what it takes to organize across generations, and how he's helped secure over $30 million in funding for AAPI nonprofits.

What we covered:

About Clifford:

Clifford Temprosa is an advocate, TEDx speaker, nonprofit leader and political strategist dedicated to advancing Asian American power and visibility. As the founder of Dare to Change Consulting, he’s helped unlock over $30 million in funding for Asian-led organizations through strategy, storytelling, and sustainability. A proud Filipino-Chinese immigrant, Clifford’s work bridges generations, cultures, and movements to create lasting systems of change and as the creator of Margins Of, he illuminates Asian stories and experiences as shapers of democracy. 

Find Clifford here:

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/cliffordtemprosa

Website : https://www.wedaretochange.com/