First of All

In every phase of our lives, the challenges continue to change but one thing stays the same - we are the captains of our ship & the leaders of our own lives. Some people may have additional titles like manager, director, CEO, or mom/dad, but the concept of leadership can be applied to every one of us as we each walk our individual paths. In this episode of First Of All, Minji sits down with host & filmmaker Nicki Sun to unpack how this has applied to her unique path as an entrepreneur, daughter, friend, creator & woman. She shares her thoughts on a rapidly evolving career, her family values & struggles, plus the mentality that has shifted dramatically to newfound liberation in the past few months. After recently completing an inspiring values & leadership training, Minji & Nicki also dive into the differences of thoughts, beliefs, & dangerous saboteurs from the inner critic & how they plan to address them all.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Love is love is love...right? YES. And we are here for it. Also, if you are an Asian female who happens to be boo'd up with a white male, you might get an earful, a raised eyebrow, or some classic behind your back shade about it. In 2019, interracial dating/marriage is definitely not a new thing. For some, there are layers of bias, fear, & prejudice that still beg to be unpacked. In this episode, we start unpacking away with the brilliant & hilarious comedian Atsuko Okatsuka. We get to know Atsuko's unique background, and how her life as an undocumented Japanese-Taiwanese immigrant, a child of divorced parents, and a mother with schizophrenia led her to her two loves: comedy & her husband, Ryan. Atsuko and Minji get real with the different perceptions, privileges, & challenges that come along with their truly inspiring journey as a couple. We're talking televangelist in-laws, conservative politics, language barriers, problematic commentary & how to approach it all with love, honesty & humor.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

It's PRIDE MONTH here & FOA is over the moon to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ friends & family!! The rainbows, the glitter, the dancing, we are LIVING FOR IT all! It's an important time to appreciate the beauty that this community brings to the world & also reflect on the work that lays ahead to achieve true equality, safety & respect. In this episode, Minji sits down with one of her favorite people in the world, comedian & actress Sherry Cola aka Lil Tasty &/or Alice from the hit show Good Trouble. In between all the laughter & horrific anecdotes of awkward adolescence, they dig through issues around invisibility & the strange process of discovering who you really are. It's a long, awkward, sometimes scary journey to accept your own identity & then go share that with the world, but we've got your back fam. Whether it's a parade or a one-on-one conversation with a parent or showing up to change policies, we can continue showing up for ourselves & for one another.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Time for a heart to heart from Minji about anxiety & her thought process around building a career, maintaining good health & growing fulfilling relationships. All of these things feed into one another & many times feels like there are just too many balls in the air to juggle all at once. What do we do when the overwhelm becomes too much? How do we approach problems that feel like they’re too big or just impossible to solve? Minji finds one way to face the big unknown & level up as a grown woman by addressing the basics: her daily habits. In this episode, she shares a new practice of daily tasks to quiet the noise & create real practical habits that shape her mental well-being. And what’s crazy is watching it actually work. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, y’all.

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Once upon a time in Spring 2019, Minji went to acting class & witnessed a casting exercise that went a little...racist...& then sexist. Long story short, Minji failed to keep her feelings to herself & called out her classmates in front of everyone. She may have written an angry Facebook post too. And in the following weeks, there were many feelings experienced & insightful conversations amongst the parties involved. To help her discuss the incident & the dynamic state of American culture around race, she turns to the classmate who experienced that moment with her, Dushyant Asthana. As an immigrant from India, actor, corporate professional & fashion designer, Dushyant shares his perspective on what went down. Together they peel back the underlying issues at play- like the pervasive psychology of minorities biting our tongues, actual white male privilege, allies, hashtag movements, & more. Despite the current default tendency of outrage & blame, they recognize the importance of changing habits & mindsets in the face of problematic behavior to help build spaces, careers, & societies rooted in respect & dignity.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Asian Americans historically suck at voting & are the least politically engaged out of all US minorities. But let's take a second and try to understand WHY, HOW, & WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. In loving honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we'd be remiss to acknowledge one of the very worst grades on our supposed model minority report card: civic engagement. Why is entering the political sphere so complicated & hard when it impacts the most fundamental aspects of our everyday lives? This issue, of course, spans far past race or ethnicity. And as we're in one of the most politically turbulent & culturally/environmentally critical moments in American history, there's a whole lot of intersectionality to address. To start unpacking this complex issue, Minji turns to her friend, Kavi Vu. Kavi is an Atlanta, GA-based writer, poet, and creator of "Wake Up Atlanta", which is a channel dedicated to increasing civic awareness & engagement. Their goal is to make politics accessible to the everyday person. Together they walk through the weeds of political imposter syndrome, media madness, cultural cues, partisan nonsense, & how to better work a system that in so many is not actually made to work for we the people. If you've been confused, frustrated, overwhelmed, & straight up exhausted by government & local politics, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Let's work through this together, fam.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Ronny Chieng is bold, real, & hilarious. End of description. Just kidding(ish). But really, do we need to say more? In this episode, Minji sits down with comedian & actor Ronny Chieng from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Crazy Rich Asians, & International Student deep in the heart of NYC at the amazing Canal Street Radio. In between filming his show & doing a standup comedy tour, Ronny stops by to drop some knowledge on the art of reading a room, maneuvering out of a career in law, watching classic/meta romcoms, & bypassing online arguments through practicing martial arts. He may even have an enlightening thought or three on the current political climate. It's almost like he does it for a living or something.

This week's guest:

Special thanks to Canal Street Radio and Listening Party for providing studio space & equipment

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

First Of All wishes you all Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! OK, so he West Coast vs East Coast conversation has been the source of many mainstream jokes, memes & rap songs throughout American pop culture. But what about the Asian American perspective? In this episode, Minji sits down with the insightful & hilarious hosts of the NYC-based 6.99 Per Pound Podcast, JoAnn Park & Jaeki Cho right in the heart of Manhattan at Great Big Story during the Tribeca Film Festival. Together they break down their upbringings from international moves to pop culture & neighborhood influences in slang, school, partying, careers & everything in between that shaped their unique Asian American experiences on opposite coasts.

This week's guest:

Special thanks to guest engineer Marcus Hahm and guest producers Julie Young & Michael Ken Strewart from $6.99 per Pound for their assistance in making this episode!

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

Ever had that feeling that old folks are just like SO lame & out of touch & parents just don’t understand? Yeah, we haven’t either. But we’re told that in some parts of the world this sometimes happens. In this episode Minji sits down to talk to the young people (or at least a representative) since she is finally embracing that she no longer is one. She also thinks it might really helpful to connect with the future generation. You know, so they can save our planet, facilitate peace, & resolve centuries-old political foils. As a brave representative of those born after 1995, writer/podcaster/spoken word poet Emily Gao chats with Minji about what it’s like growing up in the crazy digital & socially complex world Generation Z has inherited. Together they share their fears, self-acknowledged privileges, & their strategies to deal with what’s ahead while appreciating the world left behind. (I.e. Emily correctly pronouces “cassettes” while Minji applauds & dies a little).

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

This episode goes deep into discussing the dark underbelly of the K-Pop world & Korean culture. In this episode, Minji calls upon the hilarious insight of comedian Peter Kim, host of the podcast "The Ajumma Show", to talk about the recent K-pop scandal involving celebrities, politicians, police, prostitution, rape, corruption, & all encompassing nastiness that runs rampant in the industry and culture. Together they go all in on their experiences growing up Korean American, dealing with that all too real K-rage & the impact of such horrific events making global headlines in the midst of the hallyu cultural phenomenon. Time to spill the soju spiked tea, everyone.

This week's guest:

Follow Minji on:

Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina

Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't miss an all AAPI production of HENRY VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts at The Public in NYC

The National Asian American Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS brings an all-AANHPI cast to The Public Theater for a decades-spanning saga of Joan of Arc, warring dukes, and the bloody birth of the War of the Roses. Adapted by Stephen Brown-Fried, this is Shakespeare like you've never experienced it.

Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast