Follow Angela Moy on Instagram at @superluckyangela and her YouTube channel "LKE Dojo," which she does with her partner, Aileen, for indoor cycling, motivation, and energy flow. 

Angela Moy is someone we've known since high school. We went to 'Iolani School together and she has been a person that has always been interesting and beating to the beat of her own drum. Angela has really come into her own in the last five years or so. And we're really excited to share that story with you through our conversation.

She has been through an amazing transformation as a person. She's an amazing person just to begin with, but where she was from about 20 years ago to where she is now with her family and her partner. And her identity and self-awareness of who she is—it's an amazing thing.

She is a writer, poet, dancer, and a fitness instructor. She's a mother and really an inspiration for all. We invite you to join us on this podcast to really listen to Angela Moy's story and hear the messages that she's trying to tell.

Shen Brown is a multiplatinum producer, lyricist, songwriter, vocalist, front man, and ukuleleist from Hawaii. He's a classmate of ours at 'Iolani School and someone we always knew had a thing for music. We just didn't know it would be THE thing. And look how far he's come.

He started his musical career in Japan when he met his partner Micro and formed the group “Def Tech”. Their 1st album “Def Tech” sold over 2 million copies. Between 2005 and 2006, Def Tech’s 3 album releases sold over 5,000,000 copies.

In 2008, Shen released his first solo album “SOLAIRO” and collaborated with popular Hawaiian artists such as Jake Shimabukuro, KONISHIKI and others by participating in their albums and performing at their concerts.

Along with 8 critically acclaimed albums, Def Tech’s songs have also been used for numerous commercial tie ups with major corporations such as Sony Ericsson, Fuji Television, Yokohama Tires, Toyota, and The Red Cross Japan.

Shen also regularly heads collaborations with top level artists and creators through his new creative collective project “ALOHA DAMASHII”, and also tours throughout Japan, Asia, and Hawaii playing some of the largest venues in the regions.

On this episode, we talk story with Shen about where he gets his inspiration and motivation, what advice he would give to artists just getting started, the benefits of conscious breathing, how to find balance and peace in life, and many more fascinating topics. Shen had a lot of perspective and wisdom to share, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

On this episode of Fascinating People, we speak with Dr. Thomas Lee. Born and raised in Hawai'i, Dr. Lee has a Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology along with a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Hawai'i at Manao. Dr. Thomas Lee also is a forecaster for HI-EMA or Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and has been frequently interviewed by local and national news outlets during the COVID-19 pandemic. In short, he's one of the go-to people for the facts and forecasts about COVID-19 in Hawai'i. He's also a U.S. Army reservist, an avid crossfit trainer, and a father of a baby girl.

In our talk with Dr. Lee, we discuss a wide range of issues around COVID-19 to get a clearer picture of where we're headed and what we can do on both individual and collective levels to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. No matter where you stand on vaccines, masks, and mandates, you'll want to listen to this episode to learn what you need to know about COVID-19 right now.

*This podcast was recorded on December 31, 2021.

Hosts: Cliff Hsia and Derek Kamm

On this episode of Fascinating People, Derek and I spoke with Alex Kinsey, singer, songwriter, and just a really interesting guy. We talk about a range of topics including the ups and downs of fame, the joy of performing—and cooking, and the importance of authenticity in music and life. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Alex Kinsey: 

Born in Daytona Beach, Alex Kinsey is a singer/songwriter best known as one half of X Factor winning duo, Alex & Sierra.

After winning the US talent competition in 2013, the duo went on to have two successful albums and three successful tours. In 2017, Alex formed the band BoTalks. Their first single ‘Know U Anymore’ with Modern Family's Sarah Hyland was a breakout hit, with over five million streams and two-and-a-half million plays.

In 2019, Alex launched his solo career with the edgy, raw pop track 'Simple'. Produced by Johan Lindbrandt, and written by Lindbrandt and Jackson Morgan, Simple was released independently through Alex’s own label ‘Kinsey’.

Of this next chapter, Alex said: “I’ve been so fortunate to have an already varied career in music, but it feels like now’s the time to step out from behind the safety of a band and show who I am as a solo artist. I can't wait to see where my own music can take me.” Alex released his solo EP ‘Party of One’ in 2019.

Collectively, Alex has over 450 million plays on Spotify and 170 million views on YouTube. 'Party of One’ features an eclectic mix of genres including his first single, infectious, dark hit ‘Simple’ and lead single, sexy sultry tune ‘Hot Mess’.

Influenced by John Mayer, Andy Grammer, The Beatles, and his friend Jason Mraz, Alex’s music is a mix of pop, hip-hop and his own style that has already shown to resonate with audiences around the world, and leave them wanting more.

Dustin Reynolds is the first double amputee to sail solo around the world. It took him almost 8 years, multiple restarts, a global pandemic, encounters with pirates, near financial poverty, broken boats, and not to mention all his blood, sweat, and tears to get through his crazy journey. Dustin is an inspiration for all. 

His motorcycle accident by a drunk driver could have been the beginning of his end. But it was just the beginning of all the amazing adventures that would be in store for Dustin. Without an arm and a leg, Dustin pretty much hit rock bottom in 2008, but it was only up from there. 

With a dream and a boat, Dustin set sail from Kona, Hawaii to sail over 30,000 miles and visit over 30 countries over the course of almost 8 years, all by himself. This man has been through many literal and figurative storms in his life, and he's made it out alive and even better. You can see all his articles and photos on his blog at singlehandedsailor.com and also make sure to follow his Instagram @thesinglehandedsailor

Sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Dustin's story and how you can make your dream a reality, no matter how big or crazy it might be. 

Hosts: Cliff Hsia and Derek Kamm

On this episode of Fascinating People, Derek and I speak with Albert Ching, a classmate and friend of ours from Iolani School. From Iolani, Albert went on to continue his education at Harvard University and MIT. He then went on to work at Google in various finance and product leadership roles. Interestingly enough, Albert Ching and his partner created the first bus map of Dhaka, the mega-capital of Bangladesh and piloted live bus tracking and free Wi-Fi on a government owned bus line. In recent years, he was the COO of a startup that created a DIY platform for millions of non-developers to build mobile apps, on Android, iOS and the web without code. To say that he is incredibly intelligent and remarkably accomplished is an understatement. Google him and you'll find his TED talk on his work in Dhaka.

Albert Ching is a man of many interests and creative outlets. Follow him on Instagram and you'll see that he loves to make rare and thoughtful candles and perfumes, he's an avid hula dancer, a dog lover, and a student of the world and its many cultures. He's one of the most interesting people I know, as he approaches life with a unique openness, curiosity, and sensitivity. And he's a soon-to-be father.

In this podcast, we talk with him about the importance of emotional sensitivity, how to be a more empathetic and trustworthy person, why pursuing your creative passions matter, and how we can slow down time, among many other deep and resonating topics. We really enjoyed our time with Albert, one of the smartest and emotionally intelligent people we know, and we hope you will, too. 

Albert Ching's Instagram: @maisonbuongiorno @monsieurbuongiorno

Albert Ching's website with fascinating products and publications: https://maisonbuongiorno.com/

Hosts: Cliff Hsia and Derek Kamm

Dr. Paige Yang is back on the Fascinating People podcast for another interview with Derek Kamm and Cliff Hsia. This time, Dr. Paige Yang speaks specifically about acupuncture and how it works, her unique approach to helping her patients heal themselves, how she empowers her son to make good decisions, the importance of being in nature every day, and how and why she gives back to the people in her community. 

Originally from Hawai'i, Dr. Yang started her quest to become a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) during her junior year abroad in Hangzhou, China. She studied one-on-one with a TCM doctor and learned the fundamentals of Chinese medicine. After graduating from college, she then spent a second year in China, it was only when she was frequently sick and seeking out TCM for her own care that she knew she wanted to be a doctor of Chinese Medicine. With that clarity, Paige returned to the United States and received both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees at American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. She now specializes in women’s health, including fertility, emotional health, and facial rejuvenation and has a thriving traditional Chinese medicine practice in Kailua, Hawai'i.

Information about services and products by Dr. Paige Yang is here: https://paigeyangacupuncture.com and here: https://www.yangface.com

Hosts: Cliff Hsia and Derek Kamm

Heather Greenwood Davis is a truly fascinating person. Heather's parents immigrated from Jamaica to Canada, where she currently still resides. She is a mother, a lawyer turned writer, storyteller, world traveler, on-air personality, and a keynote speaker. In 2011, her family of four went on a round the world trip through 29 countries on 6 continents and she wrote about it on her website GlobetrottingMama.com. In 2012, her family was recognized as National Geographic Traveler's Travelers of the Year.

Heather Greenwood Davis is currently a Contributing Writer and on-air storyteller for National Geographic and a Feature Writer with The Globe and Mail. Her work appears regularly in a host of national and international publications. And her words and opinions have been featured in spaces ranging from O Magazine to NPR.

In this podcast, we speak with her on a range of topics including her journey to becoming a travel writer and Mom, how to approach life with joy and wonder, and how to own and share your voice. Heather also shares some great stories about her travels with her kids, how she's raised her sons to be empathetic and kind human beings, and what her advice would be to people trying to find their true path in life. 

This week's episode of Fascinating People is an interview with Cliff Hsia, co-host of Fascinating People.

Cliff Hsia is a realtor, marketer, podcaster, and writer. During his over 17-year corporate marketing career in China and the Bay Area, California, Cliff worked for companies including Alibaba, Cisco, and Google. In 2014 and 2015, Cliff's family went on a gap year of world travel in more than a dozen countries with short-term study abroad experiences for their two daughters in Guatemala, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Spain. Cliff Hsia is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii where he graduated from 'Iolani School. He has a Bachelors of Arts in International Economics from UCLA and studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Sophia University.

On this podcast, Cliff Hsia talks about growing up in Chinatown of Honolulu, Hawaii, how some timely interventions have helped change the trajectory of his life, and how lucky he was to receive the Stone Scholarship to attend 'Iolani School. Cliff also shares how he traveled the world together with his family to 25 countries on 4 continents, how he's overcome various obstacles and setbacks in his life, and he gives his perspective on happiness, grace, discipline, and freedom. Cliff Hsia's mantras for life are live abundantly, love your journey, and be present with aloha.

Listen to Cliff's interview on Fascinating People to learn how he strives to live a full and present life of joy and wonder, each and every day.

Since June 2018, Noel Harmon has been the President and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars or APIA Scholars, which is the largest non-profit organization that provides college scholarships to APIA students in financial need. The numbers are impressive: 7,200 scholars have been awarded since 2003, 65% are first generation college students, 70% live below or at the poverty line. With an annual portfolio of $15 million with a staff of about 15 people, over $150 million in scholarships awarded in total to date.

Prior to APIA Scholars, Noel Harmon worked as the Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships for Yes to Education. She spent the first decade of her career in direct service to students, working in administration at Hofstra University, University of Michigan, Western Illinois University, and four years in Athletic Student Services at the University of Iowa. Noel Harmon holds a PhD in Higher Education and a BA in English from the University of Iowa, and a MA in Student Affairs Administration from Ball State University.

Noel Harmon is also a mother to a beautiful daughter, wife to retired NFL player Ronnie Harmon, and a Korean adoptee who was mostly raised in Iowa of the United States.

In our conversation, we talked about Noel's journey starting all the way back from when she was a baby born in Daegu, South Korea, how her unique background and experiences have shaped her lens and perspective in addressing social and racial inequities, what it takes to lead a thriving non-profit scholarship organization, and how she stays present in her daily life. We were inspired by the drive, passion, and wisdom that Noel has for life, leadership, and education—and hope you will, too.

Hosts: Cliff Hsia and Derek Kamm