Chu On This!

In this deeply moving episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Zelene Zaragoza, a police dispatcher and lifelong member of the San Gabriel Valley community, for an emotionally honest conversation about cancer, grief, survival, and the lifelong impact of loss.

Zelene shares the story of losing her mother to stage-four gallbladder cancer when she was just nineteen years old. What followed was a rapid six-month journey that reshaped her understanding of love, strength, and resilience. She reflects on grief as a lasting presence, one that evolves but never fully disappears, and on the importance of speaking her mother’s name and carrying her legacy forward.

Dr. Chu opens up about her own breast cancer diagnosis, the moments of denial and fear, and the profound realization of illness during a solitary MRI appointment. She speaks candidly about body image, identity, and the long journey toward self-acceptance after a double mastectomy, including the transformative moment when her daughters helped her reclaim her sense of beauty and worth.

Together, Katie and Zelene explore the many layers of cancer’s impact, not only on those diagnosed, but also on families, children, and caregivers. They talk about tears, anger, faith, laughter, and the quiet moments of grace that help people continue choosing life even after unimaginable loss.

This episode is a powerful reminder that strength is not the absence of pain. It is the courage to feel deeply, to honor those we’ve lost, and to keep moving forward with intention, compassion, and light.

Strength includes tears, grief, and vulnerability.

Cancer reshapes how we see life, loss, and what matters.

Legacy lives on through stories, laughter, and purpose.

“Strength isn’t the absence of tears. It’s letting them fall and still choosing life.”

“I think every person cancer touches reaches a crossroads of how they’re going to choose life.”

“Your survival is not an accident. It is purpose, protection, and grace.”

Zelene Zaragoza is a first-generation American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She works as a police dispatcher and has a deep passion for helping others. After experiencing the loss of her mother to cancer, Zelene draws strength from her family, friends, and faith. In her free time, she enjoys spending meaningful moments with loved ones and giving back to her community.

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her longtime colleague and friend Dr. Alan Berg, a highly respected cataract and LASIK surgeon, for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about purpose, kindness, humility, and how we choose to move through life.

Rather than focusing on titles or accolades, the conversation centers on what it truly means to live on purpose. Dr. Berg shares his philosophy of making every day count, choosing gratitude, and taking responsibility for how he shows up, regardless of circumstances. He reflects on the importance of kindness, helping others without expectation of recognition, and finding fulfillment in simply doing the right thing.

Together, Katie and Alan explore topics such as imposter syndrome, self-worth, presence, friendships, random acts of kindness, and the power of choosing joy even on difficult days. Dr. Berg’s calm, grounded perspective offers a refreshing reminder that peace does not come from success or validation, but from acceptance, humility, and intention.

This episode is a quiet yet powerful reminder that legacy is not built through grand gestures, but through everyday choices. How we treat others, how we face challenges, and how we decide to live each day ultimately defines the life we lead.

Every day can be a good day if you choose it.

Kindness does not need recognition to matter.

Living on purpose means being present and grateful.

“It’s my responsibility to make it a good day.”

“If you’re not happy with yourself, only you can change that.”

“Why wouldn’t you help someone if you can?”

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Kathy Cruz, a respected leader in the optical industry and a passionate advocate for women, community, and intentional living, for a deeply honest conversation about boundaries, healing, faith, and rebuilding yourself when life doesn’t go as planned.

What begins as a lighthearted discussion about family traditions and everyday life unfolds into a powerful dialogue about the emotional labor many women carry quietly. Kathy shares her journey of navigating family expectations, caregiving roles, and the difficult but necessary decision to set boundaries in order to protect her mental health and peace.

Together, Katie and Kathy reflect on pivotal life moments — layoffs, divorce, caregiving, trauma, and identity shifts — and how those experiences became invitations to rebuild from a place of self-trust and clarity. Kathy opens up about therapy, redefining her identity beyond long-held roles, and reclaiming her maiden name as an act of self-honoring.

The conversation also highlights Kathy’s leadership within the Optical Women’s Association, including the importance of creating safe, unplugged spaces where women can reconnect with themselves beyond titles, productivity, and expectations.

This episode is a reminder that boundaries are not walls against others — they are bridges back to yourself.

Boundaries are acts of self-preservation, not punishment.

Rebuilding starts internally, not professionally.

Safe spaces create stronger leaders.

“You’re not setting a boundary against someone — you’re setting a boundary for yourself.”

“I had to rebuild myself personally before anything else could work.”

“Legacy isn’t something you leave behind — it’s something you’re actively creating.”

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her close friend and longtime colleague Dr. Linda Vu for a warm, thoughtful, and deeply personal conversation about purpose, faith, clarity, and the courage to move forward even when the path ahead is unclear.

Together, they reflect on decades of serving a diverse, immigrant-rich community in the San Gabriel Valley and the legacy created through hundreds of thousands of patient encounters. Dr. Vu shares her journey of stepping away from the comfort of employment to open her own practice, navigating uncertainty, impostor syndrome, and the fear of not being “ready.”

Through honest reflection and heartfelt storytelling, this episode explores how clarity often comes after action, not before it. Dr. Chu and Dr. Vu discuss identity, confidence, healing, and the quiet ways patients can teach us to value ourselves more deeply.

Filled with humor, wisdom, and moments of deep insight, this conversation is a reminder that impact is built through presence, kindness, and connection — not perfection or certainty.

You don’t need clarity to begin — you just need the first step.

Purpose is often revealed through service to others.

Faith and community create courage when certainty is missing.

“You don’t always have to have a clear pathway — you just have to get started.”

“It’s okay to not have clarity, as long as you take the first step.”

“If I can make every patient leave feeling just a little bit happier, I’ve already done my job.”

Website: https://www.lindavision.com/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Tony Sommer, whose journey spans military service in the U.S. Air Force, corporate leadership, and ultimately a purpose-driven career in optometry and myopia management.

Recorded in an Atlanta hotel just hours after Dr. Chu landed, this intimate conversation weaves together stories of service, family, fear, faith, and vulnerability. Tony reflects on leaving the military to prioritize family, navigating the corporate world, and discovering fulfillment through meaningful, values-aligned work. Along the way, he shares moments of courage, including confronting deep fears, redefining success, and learning to surrender control.

Dr. Chu also opens up about her own transformative experiences — leaving an abusive marriage, confronting childhood trauma, and choosing vulnerability as an act of strength. Together, they explore how their generation was taught to “suck it up,” and why unlearning that mindset has been essential for healing, leadership, and inner peace.

This episode is an honest, wide-ranging dialogue about choosing courage over comfort, releasing facades, honoring legacy, and understanding that true success has nothing to do with material goods — and everything to do with impact, faith, and connection.

Vulnerability is not weakness — it’s strength refined.

Success isn’t material — it’s relational and meaningful.

Courage often means choosing discomfort in service of purpose.

“Being vulnerable now is one hundred percent a sign of strength.”

“Material goods aren’t success. Impact on others is.”

“You can’t live authentically if you’re always wearing a facade.”

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsommerjr 

My latest project: https://www.treehouseeyes.com/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Jeremy Hill, a seasoned ophthalmology professional with more than 30 years of experience in medicine, for a deeply reflective conversation about faith, resilience, mentorship, and what truly matters in life.

Jeremy shares his journey of working every role in ophthalmology — from the front desk to administration — and how those experiences shaped his perspective on leadership, gratitude, and service. He reflects on the mentors who guided him, the daily habits that ground him, and the importance of becoming invaluable through learning and humility.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as both Katie and Jeremy open up about their cancer diagnoses and how those moments fundamentally reshaped their outlook on fear, faith, and surrender. Jeremy speaks candidly about trusting the process, letting go of control, and choosing to believe that no matter the outcome, you can still choose to win.

Together, they also explore parenting, boundaries, coaching, leadership, and why success isn’t measured by trophies, titles, or metrics — but by the people you help shape along the way. With honesty, warmth, and quiet wisdom, this episode is a reminder that meaning often comes from closed doors, surrender, and lessons we didn’t know we needed.

Faith transforms fear into clarity.

Winning isn’t the goal — character is.

Closed doors are often protection, not rejection.

“I can either defeat it, or let it defeat me.”

“Regardless of the outcome, you’re going to win.”

“Winning isn’t the most important thing — making good people is.”

Website: http://iorpartners.com/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with leadership expert, author, entrepreneur, and speaker Tiana Sanchez for a deeply engaging and honest conversation about boldness, calling, faith, and the transformative role of failure.

Tiana shares her journey from being laid off during the 2011 recession to launching her own business and stepping into her purpose — even when it terrified her. Together, she and Dr. Chu explore what it means to make bold moves, how mindset shapes outcomes, and why failure should be viewed as an experience rather than an identity.

They also dive into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the courage it takes to speak hard truths, the influence of legacy, and the moments that feel chaotic but ultimately push us toward clarity. From business to faith to personal growth, this episode is filled with wisdom, laughter, vulnerability, and rich storytelling.

This is a conversation about owning your story, stepping out in faith, and embracing the divine delays, detours, and disruptions that shape who you become.

1. Failure isn’t final — it’s an experience, not an identity.

2. Boldness is courage in motion.

3. Legacy matters — what you build now becomes someone else’s blueprint.

“Sometimes you just have to leap and grow your wings on the way.”

“Boldness is an action — it’s courage in motion.”

“Divine delay. If something doesn’t go your way, it may be saving you from something you can’t see yet.”

Website: https://tianasanchez.com/

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with internationally recognized optometrist, educator, author, and professional life coach Dr. Melissa Barnett for a deeply heartfelt conversation about gratitude, leadership, loss, motherhood, and the personal transformations that shape who we become.

Dr. Barnett shares how gratitude became the foundation of her life — not as a concept, but as a daily practice that guided her through the unimaginable loss of her husband, through personal reinvention, and through becoming a global educator and coach. Together, she and Dr. Chu explore the power of elevating others, the unexpected ways children become our teachers, the courage required to set boundaries, and how saying “yes” to new possibilities can change your entire trajectory.

This episode is a warm, reflective, soul-nourishing conversation that blends emotional honesty with professional wisdom. It’s about what sustains us, what shapes us, and what we choose to carry forward.

Dr. Barnett grounds her entire personal and professional life in gratitude, kindness, and elevating others. It’s not a holiday theme — it’s a leadership practice and a healing framework.

Both doctors share pivotal moments where someone saw potential in them before they saw it themselves. Those moments reshaped their careers, identities, and confidence.

Dr. Barnett speaks openly about losing her husband — and how gratitude, community, and reflection became the way through her grief. Gratitude becomes a compass in the hardest seasons.

Website: https://alpinebluecoaching.info/

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with cataract surgeon Dr. Elson Lai to explore what it really means to care for patients in a healthcare system that often makes that harder than it should be.

Dr. Lai shares his journey from starting a practice to becoming one of the few ophthalmologists willing to advocate fiercely for Medi-Cal patients — especially when surgery centers reject them due to low reimbursement. He opens up about why he refuses to turn people away, how mission trips shaped his perspective, and why empathy and accessibility matter just as much as surgical skill.

The conversation also dives into identity, upbringing, immigrant-family expectations, unlearning old beliefs, finding confidence, and redefining what a meaningful life actually looks like. Together, Dr. Chu and Dr. Lai explore the kind of personal growth that only comes from parenthood, loss, resilience, and choosing to live—and practice—with authenticity.

This episode is a blend of heart, humanity, humor, cultural reflection, and the deeper “why” behind real patient care.

Dr. Lai goes above and beyond by credentialing with additional surgery centers so Medi-Cal patients aren’t rejected. His message is clear: patients deserve someone who will fight for them, not push them away.

Both doctors share how immigrant upbringing, cultural pressure, and expectations shaped them — and how consciously unlearning those old frameworks allowed them to grow personally and professionally.

From mission trips to parenthood to navigating difficult patient moments, they discuss how fulfillment comes not from accolades but from meaning — from living boldly, embracing authenticity, and showing up for others with intention.

Website: https://www.RosemeadEye.com

In this deeply intimate and emotionally rich conversation, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Mandy Cansler to explore what resilience, strength, and vulnerability truly mean when life breaks you open. Through raw storytelling, both reflect on the emotional scars they’ve carried — and how facing them head-on transformed their lives.

They unpack how “strong” evolves over time, why vulnerability is not weakness but power, and how discovering your voice often requires losing something you once relied on. From navigating identity, grief, cancer, adoption trauma, divorce, and rediscovering self-worth, the conversation offers a blueprint for anyone who has ever felt “not enough.”

This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t about pushing through — it’s about being honest, being seen, and allowing yourself to become the next version of you.

Both speakers come to the same realization: strength isn’t armor, stoicism, or perfection — it’s the courage to be seen, to tell the truth, and to let people witness the parts of you you once hid.

Whether through loss, trauma, adoption, divorce, or illness, owning emotional scars out loud can dissolve shame and help others feel less alone.

Resilience isn’t instant — it’s getting back up after you’ve fallen, giving yourself grace, and taking the next small step even when it feels impossible.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandycansler-comt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandycanslerclarity/ and https://www.instagram.com/mandyhcansler/ 

Website: https://www.mandycanslerconsulting.com/