This week on the Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon sits down with the hilarious and unstoppable Jo Koy! Known as one of today’s premiere stand-up comedians, Jo’s journey from performing in a Las Vegas coffee house to selling out arenas around the globe is nothing short of inspiring.

Shannon was lucky enough to get to see him perform a sold out show at the Forum this year, and Jo Koy made Shannon laugh til her sides hurt and she couldn’t breathe.  Jo’s comedy draws from his colorful family and unique life experiences and resonates with audiences worldwide. Whether it’s breaking records in venues like Madison Square Garden or being honored with his own “Jo Koy Day” in Honolulu, Jo’s rise to stardom is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and relatability.

In this episode, Shannon explores Jo’s journey, from his roots in comedy to his ventures in film, television, and writing. Jo opens up about the challenges and triumphs of breaking into the entertainment industry, his connection to his Filipino heritage, and what fuels his creative process.

Get ready for a heartfelt and hilarious conversation that’s as inspiring as it is entertaining. Jo’s energy, humor, and unstoppable drive are sure to leave you smiling and motivated!

Show notes and more episodes on brucelee.com/podcast 

Connect with Jo Koy…

Website: http://jokoy.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Jokoy   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jokoy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jokoy   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jokoy

This week’s guest on the Bruce Lee Podcast is Brett Chan—a renowned director, stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and 2nd Unit Director with over 40 years of martial arts experience and more importantly he is a friend of Shannon’s! Brett is known for his Emmy-nominated work on Netflix's Wednesday and, of course, HBO's Warrior! He is known for his groundbreaking approach to action filmmaking, which has earned him multiple Emmy nominations and global acclaim.  

Brett’s career blends technical expertise with creative vision to craft stunning, story-driven fight sequences and dynamic stunts, which Shannon watched him do with extreme excellence on Warrior. His ability to bring emotion and character depth to action sequences sets him apart in the industry. Brett has become a true leader in his field. But more importantly, Brett brings joy, positive energy and fun to every project he is a part of and he always has the best snacks!

It is with great pleasure that Shannon shares this conversation with you! Get ready to be inspired by Brett’s dedication, creativity, and perspective on this week’s episode of the Bruce Lee Podcast!

Connect with Brett….

Website: www.brettchan.com 

Instagram: @BChanWorld

This week's guest on the podcast is seven-time Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.  Phil is a titan in the world of bodybuilding, but beyond his unparalleled accomplishments in the sport, Phil is a powerhouse of inspiration, using his journey to motivate others to achieve greatness. His story is one of relentless dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence, offering lessons that transcend the gym. On this week’s episode, Shannon delves into Phil’s career, mindset, and the principles that drive his success. Shannon also explores his work as a motivational coach and speaker, where he empowers individuals to conquer fears, embrace discipline, and unlock their full potential. Don’t miss this vulnerable conversation with one of the most iconic figures in fitness history!

Please read his bio on brucelee.com/podcast

Connect with Phil Heath…

Instagram: @PhilHeathWebsite: PhillipHeath.com

Shannon has known Janet Yang since the late 80s! She was the inspired force behind the idea to make a Bruce Lee biopic at Universal that ultimately became Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. She went on from there to become an award winning producer at the highest levels. Maybe you’ve heard of Empire of the Sun, The Joy Luck Club or The People vs Larry Flint? If you have, then you’ve been touched by Janet. Aside from being a producer Janet is also the current president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She saw a need for greater AANHPI representation and she stepped up to serve. Also a founding member of Gold House, Janet is one to heed a call to action. She is a powerhouse in a kind package – the best kind of powerhouse in my opinion! Shannon is pleased to call her a friend and colleague and overjoyed to introduce you all to her! 

Please read her bio on brucelee.com/podcast

Connect with Janet:

Website: www.janetyang.com

Instagram: @janetyangofficial

This week's guest on the Bruce Lee Podcast is Kieran Bew. Kieran and Shannon had been trying to connect to record a podcast episode for some time. He is a beloved member of the cast of WARRIOR and that’s because he is just a lovely human being. He is introspective, has an adventurous spirit and is an artist at heart. And he is a championship fencer!! Which is where his affinity with Bruce Lee started but definitely did not end! Listen in as we discuss acting, artistry, fencing, dragon riding, personal process and a whole lot more on this week’s episode. Shannon is so glad they finally made this happen and we are all the richer for it!

Please read his bio on brucelee.com/podcast

Connect with Kieran….

Instagram: @KieranBew

This week's guest for this end of year season on the Bruce Lee Podcast is none other than the legendary big wave surfer, innovator and entrepreneur – Laird Hamilton. Laird Hamilton is best known as an American big-wave surfer and pioneer in the world of action water sports. A renowned innovator and guiding genius of crossover board sports including tow-in-surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and hydrofoil boarding, Laird is the essential Water Man, continuously pushing the limits and expanding all possibilities. Which is why Shannon wanted to talk to him. Laird epitomizes the ideals of growth, curiosity, practice and creativity as a human being, and his relationship with water is intense and intimate. Dedicated to health, mastery and wellbeing, Laird shares his thoughts on his journey. He is a multilayered and complex thinker and experiencer and Shannon was thrilled to speak with him and to share their conversation with you. Please read his bio on brucelee.com/podcast for the bountiful ways he has expressed himself, used his talents, cultivated his gifts and supported others in this lifetime – it is impressive. (Reminds Shannon a lot of her father…) And please connect with Laird through his many outlets and projects as well. Enjoy the conversation!

WEBSITES:

LairdHamilton.com

LairdSuperFood.com

XPTLife.com

LairdApparel.com

SOCIAL:

Facebook: @LairdLife

Twitter: @LairdLife

Instagram: @LairdHamiltonSurf

This week's guest on the last BLF Edition of the Bruce Lee Podcast are Bing Chen and Jeremy Tran of Gold House. I have known these two founders and long time friends for a while and they are power houses that I am happy and blessed to call my friends. 

Jeremy Tran is the Executive Director, COO, and Co-Founder of Gold House, the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies. At Gold House, Jeremy oversees all narrative change initiatives, including partnerships with the world’s biggest entertainment, media, and research companies. He’s been featured across cultural events and media – such as the Golden Globe Awards, TIME, and the Today Show – and helped lead Gold House to receive recognition from the White House to the Shorty Awards to a Fast Company Brand that Matters. Prior to Gold House, Jeremy was counsel at O'Melveny & Myers working on high-stakes entertainment litigation, including the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial and the AT&T and Time Warner merger trial. He was born and raised in Southern California and went to college and law school at Harvard.

Bing Chen is an impact founder, investor, and new world builder. He is the Executive Chairman of AU Holdings which incubates and invests in multicultural creators, companies, and communities, CEO of Gold House which invests in and champions the fastest-growing multicultural communities, General Partner of AUM Group which produces multicultural stories, and was previously a principal architect of YouTube’s multi-billion dollar global creator ecosystem.

See what I mean about these two? But beyond that, these childhood friends are creative, caring humans who love to laugh, make change and go big!!! Listen in on this fun conversation where we talk about Gold House, mental health, being nice to the ants, hugs instead of handshakes, and how important it is to support one another and lift each other up! 

Social Media Handles: @goldhouseco @jeremytran @bingchen

URLs: www.goldhouse.org

Gold House:

Gold House is the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies to power tomorrow for all. Under a nonprofit umbrella, our innovative family of companies, programs, and platforms include membership systems and events to fortify relationships among the Asian Pacific community and with other marginalized communities (#StopAsianHate); first-of-its kind investment vehicles and accelerators to propel the next generation of top Asian Pacific founders, creatives, and leaders (Gold House Ventures, Creative Equity Fund); and industry-leading research, consulting, and marketing to promote authentic and affirming portrayals (Gold Story Consultation, Gold Open, Gold List, A100 List). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and LinkedIn.

This week's guest on the BLF Edition of the Bruce Lee Podcast is Norman Chen. Norman is the Chief Executive Officer of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and brings a thirty-year career in entrepreneurship, healthcare and community leadership in the United States and Asia to the role. Norman is passionate about building organizations in both the nonprofit and private sectors that positively impact society.

Prior to his appointment at TAAF, Norman co-founded the nonprofit Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) and helped to create a landmark study, The STAATUS Index, on American attitudes towards Asian Americans. We discuss the results of that study in this episode!

As a healthcare entrepreneur, Norman was the founder and CEO of Asia Renal Care, a network of specialty medical centers in six countries as well as the co-founder of DeltaHealth Hospital, a world-class hospital in partnership with Columbia Heartsource. As a venture capitalist, Norman led successful life sciences investments at Fidelity Asia Ventures (now Eight Roads) and 6 Dimensions Capital.

Norman grew up on the East Coast and currently lives in the Bay Area. He has been a board or advisory council member at The Nature Conservancy (CA), Children’s Medical Foundation (HK), SF Marine Science Institute, and Positive Coaching Alliance. He holds a B.S. degree from MIT and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. As you can see, he has lead a life of dedicated service! Please join me as Norman and I discuss the founding of TAAF, mental health issues and other challenges faced by our AANHPI community! 

TAAF Mission:

To serve the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in their pursuit of belonging and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander, and violence.

Social Media Handles: 

IG: @taaforg | Twitter: @taaforg | FB: The Asian American Foundation | LinkedIn: The Asian American Foundation | Youtube: @TheAsianAmericanFoundation

URLs: https://www.taaf.org/

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast

This week’s guest on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the Month of May is Uma Srivastava. Uma was born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi and calls Nashville, TN home; Uma attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she started volunteering for KultureCity in 2015 and now operates as the Executive Director. Aside from KultureCity, Uma is a member of the Rotary Club of Nashville and Junior League of Nashville and serves on the board of Progress Inc. During her time in Birmingham, she was recognized in 2018 as a Trailblazer for her commitment to Birmingham and most recently was honored as a Nashville Emerging Leader in the summer of 2023. Uma has spoken about the importance of acceptance and inclusion at several conferences such as Collision, GuestX, ALSD, SXSW, SXSWedu & others.

KultureCity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities and is one of the fastest growing nonprofits in the US. Being an Executive Director is no small task and I had the pleasure of meeting Uma at a Warriors game where they were installing one of their sensory rooms at the stadium, and we hit is off immediately. Kulture City’s mission is to rethink accessibility to create acceptance and inclusion for all individuals. They work on various initiatives such as partnering with venues to establish sensory-inclusive spaces aimed at supporting the sensory needs of individuals with invisible disabilities. Please see below for how to connect further with Uma and with KultureCity!

IG: @umasrivastava_kc 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umasrivastava29/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/umas0829 

URLs: www.kulturecity.org

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast

This week’s guest for our BLF takeover of the BLP for the month of May 2024 is Michelle Li! Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist who co-launched the Very Asian Foundation in January 2022 alongside friend and fellow journalist Gia Vang.

Her response to a racist voicemail became a global movement of unity and caught the attention of The Ellen Show. Ellen’s monetary gift of $15,000 helped start the seed money to create a non profit focused on shining a light on Asian life through advocacy and celebration. Not only did the Very Asian Foundation raise tens of thousands of dollars for AANHPI nonprofits in its first 100 days, but it also launched a national awareness youth literature campaign called The May Book Project, and started the Very Asian Creators microgrant program for people who needed startup funds to pivot in their careers.

A Korean adoptee, Michelle spent many years supporting adoptees through heritage camps and volunteer tours to Korea. She also launched a program to support Missouri children in foster care. This work led to a congressional award in 2010. Michelle’s reporting has been honored with a national Peabody Award, four national Murrows, and multiple regional Emmys– often for covering topics related to race or gender inequities. Her work on the Asian American experience in St. Louis during the pandemic was also named a duPont finalist in 2023. Michelle has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The Washington Post. She released a children’s book with Gloo Books called A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food.

Michelle currently resides in St. Louis with her family. She is @michellelitv on most platforms.

Connect with Michelle:

Social Media Handles: @michellelitv on most platforms, FB: facebook.com/mlitv 

URLs: veryasianfoundation.org

Very Asian goes viral 2022: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q_FteWUGejFix8iB7HurfShlwrU4Cwvr?usp=sharing

About Michelle Li’s adoption:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fONUO3yIA9c

The Very Asian Foundation on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@theveryasianfoundation

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast