First Generation Burden

Isaiah Steinfeld is a tech executive who started his creative journey in the punk and hardcore scene. Also, he’s is a first gen Filipino, on the national board at AIGA, and a Global Head of Startups at Amazon AWS.

We get into his early days at #LYFT, #GenerativeAI, and what it takes to excel at large organizations like #Nike and #Amazon. Also, we talk about what inclusion in the tech world means, and how the creative industry is on the verge of meteoric change due to A.I.

Also, pardon the audio for the first 16 minutes. It gets sorted out =)

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*Season Finale* Alvin Cailan is a chef, author, and host of The Burger Show on First We Feast. Alvin grew up in a Chicano section of LA as an AMBOY (American raised Filipino), and trained as a world-class chef with Thomas Keller before striking out on his own as founder of the now iconic breakfast brand Eggslut. Alvin and Rich Tu sit down and talk about his early days as a "tournat", how grind culture has changed, his love of Filipino cuisine, and how he has become the most high profile in voice America's Filipino food movement. 

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Rashad Rastam grew up as a skate kid in Philadelphia who went on to found the brand Dahsar. He cut his teeth as a BMX streetwear buyer, designer, digital producer, visual producer at a non-profit, and a brand consultant, all in one. In addition Rashad hosts the podcast Wear Many Hats, where his guests reveal their side hustle. Rich Tu met Rashad at an event promoting his collaboration with Commercial Type before the pandemic. Now, Rich and Rashad sit and talk about his journey to being a professional multitasker, the connection between typography and fashion, and why collaborating with trusted partners is important.

Listen to Rich's appearance on Wear Many Hats here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-136-rich-tu/id1536111608?i=1000588523490

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Beatriz Lozano is a designer, typographer, and educator who's work pushes the intersection of creativity and technology and was recently inducted into the prestigious Young Guns 20 class. Beatriz has worked with clients like Planned Parenthood, Target, NPR, and ESPN where she designed the ESPN 50 identity in 2022. She sits down with Rich Tu to talk about growing up in Detroit, Michigan, how social activism is integral to her creative identity, and how technology and A.I. will change the creative industry.

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Eva Zar is a director and photographer who’s mission is to show diversity across all spectrums in her work. Within a short amount of time Eva's built an impressive client list including Fenty, Olay, MTV, and Pinterest. Eva and Rich Tu have a thoughtful and funny conversation about growing up as a Third Culture Kid in Austria and Israel, beginning her creative journey during the Syrian refugee crisis, being comfortable on big sets, and the importance of feeling at home with your chosen family.

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Lauren Tamaki is an illustrator and artist with a new book out titled Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration. Lauren and Rich Tu have a hilariously emotional conversation about growing up in a talented family, her journey to authorship, and how glamour connects to Star Trek and drag. Also, Lauren discusses how a recent medical emergency has changed her outlook on life and why it's important to process trauma in order to grow. This episode is not to be missed.

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Haruko Hayakawa is a CG artist and creative director who talk herself 3D when she was 13 years old. She recently took the leap as an independent artist and has worked with clients like Tom Ford, 88Rising, SKKN, and Bon Appétit. Haruko and Rich Tu talk about how her Japanese culture and food styling influence her work, the challenges of going independent, entering Web3, and how she learned 3D modeling from Gundam spec sheets.

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Mamadi Doumbouya is a photographer from Guinea, West Africa. He has photographed icons like Spike Lee, Tom Hanks, and Neil Degrasse Tyson, and was recently honored as one of Forbes 30 Under 30. Rich Tu and Mamadi sit down for an exuberant conversation that covers his life in Guinea, how he found NYCSalt to jumpstart his career, how family obligation informs who he is today, and what it means to feel like a tourist in your own home.

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Before Jeffstaple (born Jeffrey Ng) built a creative empire he was sneaking into Parsons' silkscreening lab to hand print his first Staple tees. As the founder and creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department, Jeff's prolific work encompasses graphic design, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing for a range of from startup brands to Fortune 500 companies. Jeff and Rich Tu, sit down to talk about his humble beginnings growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants in New Jersey, the early days of Staple, helping HipHop mature with TheFader and Rawkus, and the launch of the iconic Pigeon Dunk.

Also, they discuss the role of design in culture, how Jeff continues to embrace new technology, the ways in which Web3 reminds him of streetwear, and the time when Rich designed Staple tees based on theology.

For even more, check out his new book Jeffstaple: Not Just Sneakers (with Rizzoli), chronicling his 25 year creative journey.

LINKS

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Danica Tan Lijun is a Singaporean art and animation director with a multidisciplinary background in design, animation and film. She was recently inducted into the global class of ADC Youngs Guns 20 and won the second annual COLORFUL Awards with the OneClub. Danica and Rich Tu have a conversation about her upbringing in Singapore, the creative path that brought her to LA, her recent experience at SXSW, and how she tells "tender and ferocious" coming-of-age stories.

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