This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon is honored to welcome Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi to the show.

Everyone knows Kristi as a champion on the ice, but in her years since winning gold she has also become a devoted author, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for youth literacy. Born in California to Japanese-American parents, Kristi’s mother was born in a WWII internment camp while her grandfather served as a U.S. Army lieutenant. Kristi’s journey reflects strength across generations and  is one of legacy and service.

Kristi shares how a treasured Dorothy Hamill doll ignited her early passion for skating, and what it felt like to meet her idol moments before the biggest performance of her life. She also reflects on her touring years with Stars On Ice.

Kristi opens up about the values her parents instilled in her around service and gratitude—and how those principles ultimately led her to found Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to early literacy and family engagement. Through her foundation, Kristi is helping ensure that children in underserved communities not only have access to high-quality books, but also the support needed to build a lifelong love of reading.

Finally, Kristi opens up about a new passion she’s been engaged in, and it’s VERY Bruce Lee of her! Join Shannon and get to know how Kristi is continuing to shape an inspiring legacy that continues across generations!

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Kristi….

Website:  www.alwaysdream.org Instagram: @kristiyamaguchi | @alwaysdream Facebook: Kristi Yamaguchi | Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream

X: @kristiyamaguchi

This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon welcomes Rudy Mata to the show.

Shannon first met Rudy at the LA County Youth Mental Health Summit hosted by the Department of Youth Development, where his story and message left a lasting impression. Rudy’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. In the face of overwhelming odds, he committed himself to his growth and education and continues that path as he works toward a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Today, Rudy is a registered Substance Use Disorder Counselor, youth advocate, environmentalist, artist, and poet—and above all, a father!

Rudy is a true testament to the truth that our past does not define our future but it can influence and cultivate a meaningful future if we let it. His life’s work centers around self-worth, generational healing, and creating safe, nurturing spaces for youth. Through his involvement with organizations like InsideOUT Writers, the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), ExpandLA, and Green Arrow Co-Lab, Rudy is building therapeutic and creative environments where at-risk youth can reconnect with their inner strength and break cycles of trauma.

Whether through poetry, healing circles, or community gardening, Rudy leads with heart. He is a living reflection of Bruce Lee’s philosophy of self-actualization, sharing one’s learnings and paying it forward. Their conversation explores how they met, the impact of Rudy’s work, and what it truly means to support youth mental health with intention and love. Tune in and enjoy! 

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Rudy….Learn more about these organizations Rudy works with and supports:

Flow Youth Center

InsideOUT Writers

Green Arrow Co-Lab

Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN)

ExpandLA

Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) Help support local small businesses, like Rudy’s partner Alina:  @NailedBy.Muva

This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon sits down with her friend, Katie Soo.

Katie is a creative force, tech innovator, and passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in storytelling. With a career that spans Hulu, HBO Max, DC Universe, Dollar Shave Club, and more, she has been instrumental in building and launching some of the most iconic and disruptive brands in entertainment and media. But what Shannon admires most about Katie is that behind every strategic move is a deep sense of imagination, heart, and a commitment to mentorship and community.

In this episode, Katie talks about how it’s been to navigate leadership, tech, and Hollywood as an Asian American woman—and why creating access and pathways for others has always been central to her purpose. Katie was also instrumental in helping Warrior to get a 3rd season at Max so you can thank her, Warrior Fans!  Katie shares how she continues to champion bold, creative storytelling as well as her reflections on the power of mentorship and the importance of holding the door open for others.

Katie also has a robust creative life beyond the boardroom — from writing her first children’s book, to serving on numerous nonprofit boards, to raising her own family to creating inspiring content on social - Katie is the ultimate community connector, creator and friend to those around her!

Tune in and listen to see why Katie is such a powerful reminder that true leadership is grounded in personal passion, a desire to lift others up, and boundless imagination.

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Katie Soo….

Website:  www.katiesoo.com 

Instagram: @katie_soo

This week’s guests on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May are The Twinjas—Ollie and Jonny Ho—and professional MMA fighter, stunt performer, and coach Austin Liu.

Shannon has known Ollie and Jonny Ho, known as The Twinjas, their whole lives. Their father, Steven Ho (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Conan O'Brien), has been a previous guest on the podcast and is a longtime friend. Identical twins and martial arts prodigies, the boys are making waves across entertainment, athletics, and fashion. 

They’ve trained since the age of four and have competed across multiple martial disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, and more. Their infectious energy and talent have earned them roles on a number of series, and they are regular contributors to the official Bruce Lee social media accounts.

Joining them is professional fighter, stunt performer and coach, Austin Liu. Austin is also one of the martial arts instructors for both the Camp Bruce Lee and Warrior Academy programs at the BLF,  where he shares his passion for working with youth by bringing Bruce’s philosophies of personal growth and confidence to the next generation.

Join Shannon as they discuss how all three guests first found martial arts, how Bruce Lee’s legacy has influenced their journeys, and what it means to grow into your power—both physically and mentally. Hear directly from two youths as they drop some real gems about how their lives have been positively affected and enriched by training in martial arts.

Scroll down for more information about all our guests and listen to today’s episode as all of them express how they embody Bruce Lee’s spirit of self-actualization, adaptability, and service! 

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Ollie and Jonny Ho aka The Twinjas...

Instagram: @twinjas_official

YouTube: @twinjasofficial 

Threads: @twinjas_official

Connect with Austin Liu....

Instagram: @liudynasty

TikTok: @liudynasty

X: @liudynastymma

YouTube: @liudynasty

This week’s guest on this special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for AANHPI and Mental Health Awareness month is chef and entrepreneur Judy Joo!

Judy Joo is a Korean-American chef, author, and TV personality whose path to culinary success took a sharp left turn from Wall Street to the world’s finest kitchens. From an engineering degree at Columbia to becoming the only female Iron Chef UK, Judy has built a career rooted in bold decisions, fearless creativity, and a deep love for the flavors of her heritage.

Shannon kicks off this May season celebrating her friend Judy’s powerful story of reinvention and perseverance. Together they talk about the importance of work ethic, kindness, celebrating one’s culture, mentorship of the next generation, and following your heart as Judy prepares to launch her newest cookbook, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less (available May 6, 2025). And listen in as Shannon reveals a bucket list wish of her own around food!

Make sure to catch Judy doing her thing right now as a judge on the new Food Network show House of Knives or visit one of her wildly popular restaurants Seoul Bird to get down with some Korean fried chicken at several locations and stadiums around the world. Or maybe you need to follow Judy to discover what disco fries are! Whatever the case, sit back and enjoy this conversation with the inspiring Judy Joo as we celebrate the importance of representation and wellbeing this May on the Bruce Lee Podcast BLF edition!

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Judy….

Get Judy’s new book:  K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less  – Available: May 6, 2025.

See Judy on Food Network's House of Knives

Website: https://www.judyjoo.com/

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

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

X: https://twitter.com/judyjoochef

This week on The Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon welcomes actor, colleague and friend Rich Ting. You may know Rich from his work portraying Bolo on season 1 of Warrior but their connection goes back a lot further than that. Find out how Rich first met Shannon when he was just 13 years old and the journey he went on from athlete to earning two post graduate degrees to becoming an actor! Rich’s new show On Call for Amazon Prime debuted in January of this year,  just as he wrapped an arc on Tulsa King Season 2 alongside Sylvester Stallone. Rich talks about the incredible work ethic he brings to everything he does, from his days playing football at Yale to his transition into acting. 

A lifelong Bruce Lee fan, Rich also opens up about his journey—from almost quitting martial arts and how his mother’s tough love kept him on course to how that perseverance prepared him for the physically demanding and challenging life of an actor. Listen in as Shannon and Rich discuss resilience and how pushing through life’s challenges leads to growth and evolution in this inspiring, joyful and full-circle conversation between friends!

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast

Connect with Rich….

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/richtingworld 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichTingWorld/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@richtingworld 
• IMDB:  www.imdb.me/richting

This week on the Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon sat down with the incredibly talented and versatile Daniel Wu. A self-proclaimed “maker”, Daniel creates and crafts as an actor, director, producer, designer, race car driver and so much more! In 2022, he received the Bruce Lee Award, presented annually by the Asian World Film Festival and the Bruce Lee Foundation to individuals in the film industry whose work in martial arts creates a legacy of excellence and bridges East and West. Over the past few years, Shannon has had the privilege of getting to know Dan not just as an artist, but as a friend, and deeply admires his passion, versatility, and curiosity. His latest film, Love Hurts, starring Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, hits theaters on February 7. Come with her on this warm and insightful journey as she dives deep with Daniel Wu!

Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast 

Connect with Daniel….

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

Check out Sung Kang & Daniel Wu’s streetwear brand, Student Driver:

https://www.thestudentdriver.co/

https://www.instagram.com/wearestudentdrivers/

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