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First of All episodes

  • #34 - Liquor Store Babies w/ So Yun Um

    This episode is a special shoutout to all the immigrant babies out there and an inside look for those who are not! Fresh off of attending the 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Minji chats with her friend So Yun Um, who just premiered her short film "Liquor Store Babies" as part of the festival's Armed with a Camera Fellowship. Inspired by the themes of the documentary short, Minji and So discuss growing up the children of immigrant parents working in the service industry as small business owners and the untold stories of middle class Asian American families.

    This week's guest:

    • So Yun Um (@ssoyunum)

    • Follow Minji on:

      • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
      • Instagram (@minjeezy)

      • 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.

        Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
        Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

        Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

        57 min
      • #33 - Dealing With Anger w/ Paul Dateh

        On this super-sized episode, Minji and guest, musician Paul Dateh, take a trip into the Anger Zone. They chat about their respective experiences of dealing with rage and sometimes even being categorized as "angry people." They dive deep into the layers behind the emotions they've learned to navigate over the years. This includes how they've each learned how to channel these very powerful feelings into proactive and constructive action, while also just accepting them for what they are. Minji and Paul discuss how they cool down from heated exchanges and not to dwell in toxic emotions that hurt others and themselves.

        This week's guest:

        • Paul Dateh (IG: @pauldateh)

        • Follow Minji on:

          • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
          • Instagram (@minjeezy)

          • 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.

            Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
            Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

            Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

            1 hr 10 min
          • #32 - The Most Important Relationship

            On this solo episode of First of All, Minji talks about the most important relationship a person can have in their life. Which one is that, you ask? Well, the one with yourself, of course. In light of a month filled with emotional twists, turns, and growing anxiety that doesn't always (or ever) show up in her Instagram feed, Minji reflects on her process of self-realization and what it all means to her as she begins the next stage in her career. Welcome to act two, everyone.

            Follow Minji on:

            • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
            • Instagram (@minjeezy)

            • 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.

              Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
              Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

              Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

              33 min
            • #31 - Goody Two Boobs w/ Priska

              On this episode, Minji invites her marvelous & eloquent friend, singer-songwriter Priska, to chat about a persona that they both know a few things about, the "goody two shoes." Minji and Priska break down the pressures of growing up with overwhelming and oftentimes problematic expectations to always be a "good girl." Together they start to peel back the layers of pressure that their respective backgrounds (Asian American, religious, multi-sibling family, millennial) put on them and the deeply rooted pros and cons of that journey. In a conversation that just starts to address the tip of the iceberg in a much wider conversation about complex gender norms and expectations, they also share how they have been able to break through and live much more honest, fulfilling, and balanced lives as strong women.

              This week's guest:

              • Priska (@priskamusik)

              • Follow Minji on:

                • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                • 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.

                  Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                  Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                  Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                  58 min
                • #30 - Coaching Life w/ Abraham Heisler

                  In this episode, Minji dives into her decision and experience working with her good friend turned life coach, Abraham Heisler. As society continued to get more in everyone's face with social media, mental health issues ran rampant and unaddressed, and huge life decisions looming over Minji's head back in 2017, she made a life-changing and rather uncomfortable decision to invest in herself. Minji and Abraham get very real discussing some of their worries, concerns, and some of Minji's deeply rooted hangups about becoming "one of those people". What does that even mean??? They talk about self-limitations and how a life coach serves as a catalyst to help bring out the most authentic, badass version of you possible. Abraham even walks Minji through a quick (and unexpected!) coaching session on air for all you to hear. And for those who are curious but have no intention to get a life coach, or you're just not ready yet, they both share their fav ways to practice self-care and use other effective life hacks to relax, grow, and thrive.

                  This week's guest:

                  • Abraham Heisler - heislercoaching.com

                  • Follow Minji on:

                    • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                    • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                    • 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.

                      Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                      Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                      Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                      51 min
                    • #29 - Toxic Masculinity w/ Slim

                      Steve Lim returns as Minji's guest to talk about a topic on both their minds - toxic masculinity. Together, they explore their own early experiences dealing with gendered expectations and how it has shaped their lives, especially as their understanding has become more nuanced over the last few years. While this isn't a new experience by any means, it's a more newly coined term to identify problematic norms and stereotypes that have brought us to our present #MeToo and #TimesUp era.

                      This week's guest:

                      • Steve Lim (Steve is a man of mystery and does not believe in IG or Twitter)

                      • Follow Minji on:

                        • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                        • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                        • 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.

                          Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                          Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                          Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                          58 min
                        • #28 - I QUIT MY JOB

                          In this episode, Minji explains why she has made the big life decision of quitting her non-profit job to pursue her dream of becoming an actor/writer/director. She also shares 12 life lessons for anyone looking to switch it up and/or do big things in their career.

                          Follow Minji on:

                          • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                          • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                          • 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.

                            Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                            Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                            Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                            46 min
                          • #27 - How to Introvert w/ Melly Lee

                            Photographer and world traveler Melly Lee returns to First of All to educate us on what it's like to be an introvert in an extrovert's world. As an unabashed extrovert, Minji learns about the myriad ways she might've been driving her introvert friends crazy (amongst others). In the end, we learn that the secret is to appreciate each other's strengths while acknowledging each other's needs.

                            This week's guest:

                            • Melly Lee (@MELLYLEE_)

                            • Follow Minji on:

                              • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                              • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                              • 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.

                                Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                                Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                                Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                                42 min
                              • #26 - Wait, YOU Run A Business? w/ Jane Lee & Eva Chan

                                On this episode, Minji chats with Jane Lee and Eva Chan, the co-founders of Launch Pop, a startup lab that focuses on launching exciting new brands and companies. Jane and Eva share their experiences as power women in the entrepreneurial world, as well as the struggles and discrimination they still face way too often as female business owners. They also share their secret to starting a company with your best friend, knowing and defending your value, negotiating like a pro and how to keep growing as a professional!

                                This week's guest:

                                • Jane Lee & Eva Chan, Founders of Launchpop

                                • Follow Minji on:

                                  • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                                  • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                                  • 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.

                                    Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                                    Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                                    Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                                    47 min
                                  • #25 - Getting Over Your Ex

                                    Ever been in love? Ever had to let that love go? Whether it was you who made that difficult call or received it being made on you, letting go of someone you once cuddled, pet named, introduced to your family & friends, doodled in your notebook as your life partner, fought with over roadtrip snacks, & basically navigated the ups & downs of life with...sucks. So. Much. Suck. In this solo episode, Minji opens up on her personal journey of letting go of her last ex. Through rebounds, promising dates, single lady liberation, & mind numbing loneliness, Minji gets real on the process of (actually) letting go & moving on as well some of her biggest lessons learned.

                                    Follow Minji on:

                                    • Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
                                    • Instagram (@minjeezy)

                                    • 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.

                                      Part 1: Foreign Wars opens with a king dead, an infant on the throne, and a country already coming apart at the seams. Part 2: Civil Strife picks up nearly 30 years later...and the bloodbath is yet to come. Simmering feuds explode into the War of the Roses, and nothing will ever be the same. Performances from June 9 through July 19!
                                      Use code H6BC for $59 tickets!

                                      Henry VI at The Public with an all AAPI cast

                                      41 min

                                    About First of All

                                    From the publisher's feed

                                    First of All is a real, unfiltered conversation on career, family, relationships, & culture. Your host is actress/director/entrepreneur Minji Chang, who will bring in her friends & special…