In this deeply moving episode of Life Between Titles, host Savan Kong reconnects with his high school friend Michael Lee for a raw and reflective conversation about identity, fatherhood, and finding peace through life’s storms.

From growing up as one of the few Chinese American kids in Wichita, Kansas, to navigating Wall Street, entrepreneurship, and single fatherhood, Michael shares how suffering became his greatest teacher.

They discuss the challenges of cultural identity, emotional intelligence, and the quiet work of rebuilding after divorce and career transitions. Together, they explore what it means to find serenity—not in the absence of chaos, but within it.

💬 Topics in this episode:

• The immigrant story and shaping of cultural identity

• The connection between suffering and empathy

• Redefining success after career transitions

• The emotional lessons of fatherhood

• The struggle between control and acceptance

• Rock climbing as a metaphor for life and growth

• Why community and vulnerability are essential to healing

🕰️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:31 Navigating Suffering and Serenity

05:23 Cultural Heritage and Identity

08:04 Reflections on High School Experience

11:06 Transitioning to Southern California

13:58 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

16:36 Socioeconomic Dynamics in Education

19:46 Cultural Conversations and Emotional Awareness

30:49 Navigating Challenges and Family Legacy

36:27 College Experience at Dartmouth

43:23 Identity and Cultural Connection

49:42 The Pressure of Titles and Identity

53:38 Transitioning from Finance to Entrepreneurship

01:03:51 The Struggles of Entrepreneurship

01:06:58 Reflections on Fatherhood

01:10:43 Navigating Single Parenthood

01:15:56 The Challenge of Fixing Everything

01:17:45 The Importance of Community and Support

01:33:10 Finding Joy in Rock Climbing

🎙️ This one hit deep.

It’s a conversation about letting go, rediscovering self-worth, and realizing that serenity isn’t the absence of the storm—it’s the calm we find within it.

#LifeBetweenTitles #MichaelLee #Fatherhood #Identity #EmotionalIntelligence #Serenity #Suffering #CulturalIdentity #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #CareerTransitions #ImmigrantStories #SelfDiscovery


▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787

💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/