Less than a year ago, Jisu Kim was working full-time at Trader Joe's. She had decided to not pursue medical school after graduating from USC's pre-med track because she knew her calling was meant elsewhere. After years of struggling with her relationship with family, food, and self, Jisu knew she had to transform her life.

In six months, her life completely changed. Her Instagram account grew to over a hundred thousand followers in less than three months, moved out of her family's place, quit her job at Trader Joe's, and officially became a full-time content creator. Jisu's giant leap of faith paved the way for her life's biggest breakthrough (yet).

To anyone feeling that their purpose is too late to be fulfilled, I hope this episode tells you otherwise. Enjoy. 🍸

Buy an alarm clock! Here's the one that Jisu recommended (it's under $30).

Ready to begin your therapy journey? Find your perfect therapist through this online Inclusive Therapist Directory.

Follow Jisu on Instagram

Follow hAAPI hour on ⁠Instagram⁠ for episode highlights and guest reveals.

Have someone you want featured? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

Hosted/created by Melissa Cho

Our hAAPI hour guest today Gabby Masuda is a successful model and content creator who's worked for major brands with massive cult followings (Nike Swim, Ritual, Rare Beauty, IPSY, Pinterest). But today, Gabby opens up a previous chapter of her life that most people don't know about—getting married at 23, but knowing deep down that she was queer. Terrified of claiming her queerness in spaces that didn't welcome people like her, it took almost Gabby's entire life to finally admit her hidden identity to those closest to her, but most importantly, herself. But once her mindset shifted, her entire life did as well.

Ready to begin your therapy journey? Find your perfect therapist through this online Inclusive Therapist Directory (approved by our mental health expert guest!).

Follow Gabby on Instagram!

Follow hAAPI hour on ⁠Instagram⁠ for episode highlights and guest reveals!

Have someone you want featured? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

Hosted/created by Melissa Cho

i have no idea how to encapsulate what this episode is about here. it got pretty chaotic. just listen to it pls.

See more of Steven's work here.

Follow hAAPI hour on ⁠Instagram⁠ for episode highlights and guest reveals!

Have someone you want featured? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

if you're reading this, go buy a lint roller.

It's giving Avatar—I got a water bender on the pod. Just kidding, but to celebrate the last day of Mental Health Awareness Month, I spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen—psychiatrist and waterkeeper (we'll get to that).

Dr. Nguyen's specific skillsets include cross-cultural psychiatry, the intersection of spirituality and mental health, and the healing power of water and the natural world. Last December, Dr. Nguyen released a fictional novel, "Aloha Vietnam," a story about a Vietnamese refugee family navigating their life in America while grappling with the foreign topic of mental health when a young family member is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You can download the first four chapters for FREE (it's a great book that you should buy or gift someone!): www.aloha-vietnam.com

Dr. Nguyen has a free online course called "Water and the Elements," created for people interested in bringing balance and harmony to their bodies through nature: https://membership.waterkeeperscommunity.com/courses/water-and-the-elements

She offers an energy-clearing video on her Youtube channel that is also available to all: https://youtu.be/pvHavDC7Tjo

Follow hAAPI hour on ⁠Instagram⁠ for episode highlights and guest reveals!

Have someone you want featured? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used ⁠here⁠. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

it was hard to condense all my favorite wellness tips into one episode. but i hope this is a helpful starting point, whether you're a wellness novice or veteran. this was so fun to record because i'm the type of friend that loves giving life hacks and wellness tips. more solo episodes to come (◡‿◡✿).

Follow hAAPI hour on ⁠Instagram⁠ for episode highlights and guest reveals!

Have someone you want featured? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used ⁠here⁠. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

My first hAAPI hour after a two year hiatus. If you haven’t heard of Chitra Dassapa, this won’t be the last time you’ll hear her name (and her alluring alto voice). The 23-year-old pop and R&B artist is on the rise—from recording songs in her small apartment studio to a whirlwind week of getting dm’ed by a kinda big deal manager after posting a teaser of her upcoming song ‘Aftertaste” on TikTok, Chitra’s era is slowly but surely manifesting.

Join Chitra and me in navigating topics such as growing up with immigrant parents in the States, stepping away from religion, pursuing a music career as an Indian-American, and stupid toxic boys in this newest episode of hAAPI hour.

PRESAVE CHITRA’S SONG AFTERTASTE: https://ffm.to/chitra-aftertaste

FOLLOW CHITRA ON INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK

Follow hAAPI hour on Instagram for episode highlights and guest reveals!

Have someone you want featured? Email [email protected]  or send a message on Instagram @haapihourpod.

Music from ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used ⁠here⁠. And, if you sign up for Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!

so much has happened since my last episode almost 2 years ago, but i'm diving back into hAAPI hour with a new purpose. more amazing guests of course, but i want it to be less scripted (i am a chronic scripter, whoops!) with more emphasis on health and wellness while navigating the hills and valleys of the aapi creative experience.

if you're an og listener, welcome back. if you are new here, grab a drink of your choice, and let's spend hAAPI hour together.

love u,

melissa (instagram.com/itschochotrain)

keep up to date with the show on instagram at www.instagram.com/haapihourpod

send me your thoughts and any guest recommendations to [email protected]

In this episode of hAAPI hour, I talk to Andrew Cheng, the 26-year-old director and co-founder of Mercy Creatives, a creative production studio based in Taipei, Taiwan. Andrew grew up doing creative projects but never envisioned himself working as a creative. His whole educational trajectory pointed towards the legal industry—he majored in poli-sci, interned at banking and legal internships, took the LSATs, and was set on going to law school...the whole nine yards. But when Andrew was selected to intern for GQ magazine in Taiwan when he was back home and applying to law school, that internship experience completely reshuffled his future. Now, he has a creative production studio called Mercy Creatives, and within a year, has worked with big clients such as Kavalan Whiskey, Burberry, NYLON China, and several more.

Before you hear my full chat with Andrew, I invite you to grab a drink of your choice and let’s spend happy hour together.

Keep up to date with our show on Instagram at www.instagram.com/haapihourpod

Follow Andrew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewcjc/ and learn more about his company Mercy Creatives.

Send us your thoughts and any guest recommendations to [email protected]

(Music from Epidemic Sound)

My guest today is Dilan Mistry, the 22-year-old entrepreneur and founder of two companies, NativeFour and Intertidal LA.

By age 17, he had started three small business ventures and was recognized in South Bay Magazine’s "19 Under 19."

Midway through his freshman year of college at Chapman University, he started NativeFour, a commercial production company. In the beginning, he was running his own one-man band, shooting, editing, directing, and producing most of his company’s projects, but he was quickly able to leverage higher budgets and eventually bring on a team. Then during his Sophomore year, he fatefully met Cameron Thuman, a film production directing major at the time, who eventually became Dilan’s NativeFour partner in crime, and to this day. Their first project together was a 60-sec film starring the famous automotive figure Magnus Walker and the film got picked up as a feature story on Porsche’s official newsroom channel. That film helped launch their careers and since then, NativeFour has produced films for top brands including Mercedes-Benz, Sotheby’s, Omaze, and more.

In addition to creating his second company lntertidal LA last year, Dilan was able to help secure a beautiful office space for both his companies in Hermosa Beach (their office is just one block away from the beach and the pier).

Before you hear my full chat with Dilan, I invite you to grab a drink of your choice and let’s spend happy hour together.

Keep up to date with our show on Instagram at www.instagram.com/haapihourpod

Follow Dilan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dilansmistry/ and learn more about his companies NativeFour and Intertidal LA.

Send us your thoughts and any guest recommendations to [email protected]

(Music from Epidemic Sound)

Welcome back to hAAPI hour, a podcast for amplifying AAPI creative voices. I’m Melissa Cho and in this episode of happy hour, I talk to Parker Jue, the 22-year old recent film school graduate and video editor. She currently specializes in editing short-form content and trailers and also freelances at a creative agency that works with fashion and commercial content. This interview you’re about to hear was recorded a little over a month ago, and at that time Parker was still interning at an entertainment agency called Mocean (and guess what? She recently was hired as a full-time assistant editor there!), who's done work for Disney (including editing trailers for Marvel Studios) HBO Max’s new Gossip Girl reboot, Netflix’s Cowboy Beebop...just to name a few. For those of you who don’t know Parker and have not had the pleasure of meeting her, after this interview, you will for sure want to sure. Before you hear my full chat with Parker, I invite you to grab a drink of your choice and let’s spend happy hour together.

Keep up to date with our show on Instagram at www.instagram.com/haapihourpod

Follow Parker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkerjue_/ and check out more of her work on her website.

Send us your thoughts and any guest recommendations to [email protected].

(Music from Epidemic Sound)