This episode is dedicated to my family, especially my parents, who I appreciate more and more every year for everything they equipped my arsenal for life with. 

Happy AAPI month! This week, we are diving into my personal experiences as a first generation female Asian American from growing up in the 90s/2000s to understanding how to break generational habits and trauma as an adult. I chat about the obstacles this specific generation of American-born Asians go through from managing expectations to teaching our elders how to be emotionally equipped and break the chain of harmful cultural beliefs. Lastly, we discuss the phenomenon of "woke" culture and how to properly navigate it as a curious outsider and as an Asian American with the capabilities to educate others. 

Please keep in mind that this is just touching the surface of my experiences. I did my best to summarize. These are also solely my own experiences, so I am not speaking for anyone but myself. 

Huang Gang or die. JK JK. Shoutout to all of my friends - past, present, and future - who shaped me into the woman I am today! This episode is because of you :) 

Let's talk about the trials and tribulations of adult friendships. There are circumstantial friendships (ones you make in school, when it's situational, etc.) and substantial friendships (ones that last because you both nurture it). Your 20s are where you'll find yourself building or breaking these relationships. Today, I share my experiences with cliques, growing pains, girl fights, and avoidant people. I walk you through multiple scenarios with different people I've encountered in my 20s and what lessons I extracted from those situations. Lastly, I give my two cents on how to keep quality friendships as you get older to make sure everyone is a substantial and not situational friend. 

DISCLAIMER: This is not an episode made to "spill tea" or trash anyone in my past but rather share what those hardships taught me and how I currently carry myself in adversity with others. 

*NOTE: Sorry the audio is not super consistent. I'm still trying to understand my new apartment's acoustics and how to adjust so the mic isn't so sensitive to P sounds and background noises like our AC or air purifier.*

Met Gala, Coachella, that random b*tch's outfit over there at the bar... We're all judging the first impression from outfits to the whole vibe.

Most conversations you have out in the wild will eventually center around an art of expression. Whether you're talking about fashion, music, TV show, movie, book, a piece of art and so forth, you're usually hoping to bond with someone over something that speaks to you. While humanity is shallow by default, our souls will always crave a connection with depth. That is why how we present ourselves is so vital to attracting the right people and energy into your life. 

Let's chat about the root of judgement when it comes to self expression.

Oh look who it is... moi! After 2.5 years of a random and unexpected hiatus here, I am making yet (another) comeback. This time, I'm hopeful I'll stick around. 

Before we get into a myriad of much more interesting topics on the docket, I need to reintroduce myself and tell you all where I've been since end of 2022 and why the years have aged me like fine wine (hopefully? lol). 

Welcome back to Et Cetera, the fully developed frontal lobe version!!!

The moment you've all been waiting for: the tea spilling tell all of my 5 Guys A Week episode that premiered this past week on Lifetime. I know it's a long one but I did my best to truncate it without sacrificing the drama. Enjoy and binge watch for FREE online for the next 30 days. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @bougeandrouge and @etc _podcast for the latest updates!

In a mountain range, there are many peaks and valleys. In your life, you are also going to have many peaks and valleys. We are so driven by societal pressure to constantly be at our best that we forget to ask ourselves between the hustling: are we actually happy? Do these goals and paths make us feel fulfilled or purposeful? In this episode, I discuss the truth behind "peaking" in life and how we can easily continue to "peak" if we find ourselves stuck in a valley. Don't forget to stay updated by following me on Instagram @bougeandrouge and @etc_podcast! 

Six months later, she lives to tell the tales! In this extended episode, we are going to chat about everything that has happened since 2022 began and the entire backlog of emotional experiences I've been working through. ICYMI, yours truly filmed for a new dating reality show called Five Guys A Week airing Wednesdays on Lifetime at 10/9c starting July 13th. We'll be talking about the premise of the show and why I did it. Then, we'll get into a deep summary of some very personal life events that have been going on. I would argue that this may be the most stripped down version of Erica you've ever gotten... These 6 months have been some of the hardest in my life, but I wouldn't trade the lessons or experiences for anything. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @bougeandrouge and @etc_podcast for the latest updates!

Your girl is finally (kind of) off vocal rest and back on the podcast! In today's episode, we talk about the one thing that impacted me the most in 2021: the ego. Hear about how this lovely third party caused fights with friends, manifested poorly in the workplace, and revealed deep-rooted issues in relationships. Listen closely for a few little Easter eggs I drop about what is in store for me as well ;) Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @bougeandrouge and @etc_podcast for the latest updates!

With only one week of summer left, we gather again to reflect on the wild summer post-quarantine (sort of). This summer wasn't as... horny or wild as we all thought. I'm sure for some it probably was, but for most people it was just trying to re-calibrate back into society (as if it wasn't already hard enough before COVID). In this episode, I get a little more serious than the last one as we dive into everything chaotic that led up to a heavy but pivotal moment this summer. Then, we chat about true meaning of "Hot Girl Summer" and what it means to be "THAT girl" and how to become her. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at @etc_podcast and @bougeandrouge for updates!

Your girl is back and doing this a little differently today! You've asked for the tea, so I served you Long Island Iced Tea. In this extended episode, I share with you why I've been MIA for 4 months and all the drastic life changes that happened to me this spring. We chat about the hardships of saying goodbye and fears of the unknown hellos. Afterwards, we go in deep (literally) on all the details on my boy toys and the lessons they brought. From the smallest ween to the biggest peen, I am not holding back! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @etc_podcast and @bougeandrouge for updates!