Take1.5 Podcast: Stories from the Messy In-between

What makes someone become a poet? In this episode of Take 1.5 Podcast, I sit down with Harvard-educated poet Stine An (안수연) for a personal conversation about life, identity, creativity, and what inspires her to write. We talk about her journey as a poet and her new poetry collection, B-Dragon Suite, out October 20.

Join us as we explore the stories, experiences, and emotions that find their way into poetry—and the person behind the words.

B-Dragon Suite — available October 20.

What can death teach us about how to live?J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, bestselling author, and online educator who serves patients and families in a 1,000+ bed hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, providing grief support and end-of-life care.In this conversation, we talk about grief, loss, faith, and the hard moments that remind us what really matters. J.S. shares what he has learned from sitting with people at the end of life—and how those experiences have changed the way he sees connection, healing, and being human.J.S. is the author of We Are Made of Us and As Long as You Need. His work has been featured by CNN, NPR, CBS News, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.A conversation about death, yes—but ultimately, about how to live.Contact JS Parkhttps://www.instagram.com/jspark3000/Pre-order:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796363/we-are-made-of-us-by-js-park/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAafl6YtDx8sqqy0BuTHcWbu36ZbQ0tmFtCGEuwDBIhtwCsBfVUd-J0xc3rbm2w_aem_noSSz10tzjwnupKGKFaxxw

뇌성마비를 가진 코미디언 손예희. 미국에서 자란 이야기, 가족과 사랑, 장애에 대한 솔직한 생각까지—웃기지만 결코 가볍지만은 않은 그녀의 이야기를 들어봅니다. “내 인생이 곧 개그!”Comedian Yehee Son shares her story of growing up in the U.S., family, cerebral palsy, love, and learning to laugh through life. Honest, funny, and unapologetically herself—this is Yehee’s story.Guest: Yehee Son https://www.instagram.com/heyms.yehee/

Nancy Lee is a Korean American stand-up comedian, actor, and dating coach who turns culture, relationships, and everyday life into comedy.https://www.instagram.com/thenancyjlee/A Bay Area native and San Francisco-based performer, Nancy has been featured on HBO Max’s Ha Festival and the San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival, where she was the only woman to make the final showcase.In this episode of Take 1.5, Nancy gets real—and really funny—about growing up Korean American, navigating dating and relationships, and finding humor in the expectations and contradictions of modern life. We talk about cultural identity, love, confidence, and what it really takes to put yourself out there.Funny, honest, and unapologetically Korean American—Nancy proves that sometimes the best way to talk about life is to laugh at it.

What happens when you spend years pursuing a Ph.D., only to realize academia may not be the path you’re meant to follow?In this episode, I sit down with Summer Kim, a strategic researcher with a Ph.D. in Consumer Behavior, who made the bold transition from academia to industry. As a Third Culture Kid (TCK), Summer has spent her life navigating different cultures and environments—experiences that have shaped the way she understands identity, career choices, and adapting to change.We talk about redefining success, letting go of expectations, and finding a path that feels authentic—even when it looks different from what others imagined for you.Outside of her work, Summer shares her creative side through content featuring her adorable Russian Blue kitten, Bingsu (@bingsuinthesummer).Join us for a conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it means to create a life beyond the labels we’re given.

갱년기, 왜 이렇게 힘들까? 증상부터 해결 방법까지열감, 불면, 감정 기복, 피로감…갱년기, 왜 이렇게 힘들까요?이번 에피소드에서는 산부인과 전문의이자 임상심리사인 이예지 선생님과 함께 갱년기의 다양한 증상과 몸과 마음의 변화, 그리고 건강하게 관리하는 방법에 대해 이야기합니다.🩺 갱년기 증상 평가하기https://testjiji.medicaltica.com/self-test📍 진료: 서울미즈병원예약 시 “갱년기 증상 상담”을 원한다고 말씀하시면 됩니다.게스트 이예지 선생님:서울미즈병원 산부인과 전문의서울대학교병원 산부인과 전공의고려대학교 심리학·생명과학 / 서울대학교 의학전문대학원 / 컬럼비아대학교 MPH임상심리사 2급Menopause: Why Is It So Hard? Symptoms & What You Can DoHot flashes, trouble sleeping, mood changes, fatigue…Why can menopause feel so difficult?In this episode, we talk with an OB-GYN and licensed clinical psychologist about common menopause symptoms, the changes happening in your body and mind, and practical ways to manage this stage of life.

In this episode of Take 1.5 Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Raymond Chang, president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, pastor, writer, and ministry leader, to explore what Scripture says about living faithfully in politically and socially divided times.We talk about the difference between being political and being biblical, how Christians can engage difficult issues without losing compassion or conviction, why silence is not always neutrality, and what practical responsibility believers have toward their neighbors, especially those who are vulnerable. Rather than responding with fear, outrage, or avoidance, Raymond offers a thoughtful framework for pursuing truth, justice, humility, and hope.Whether you're wrestling with current events, feeling spiritually exhausted by the headlines, or wondering what faithful discipleship looks like today, this conversation offers biblical wisdom for navigating our world with courage, grace, and love.

For ways to support and participate:

Contact Asian American Christian Collaborative

https://www.asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com/

In this episode of Take 1.5 Podcast, we sit down with Sue Yi, a creative arts therapist who has dedicated her career to helping children and families heal through creativity. Growing up as an immigrant child in Queens, New York, Sue Yi understands firsthand the challenges of navigating identity, belonging, and cultural expectations.She shares how her own story shaped her calling and discusses her work as a creative arts therapist at Children's Day Preschool & Family Center and Charlie Health, where she supports children and families—including many from minority communities—through emotional and mental health challenges.Together, we explore how art therapy helps people process difficult emotions, why creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing, and what parents can do to better support their children's emotional well-being.Whether you're a parent, educator, mental health professional, or someone on your own healing journey, this conversation offers hope, insight, and a fresh perspective on the power of creativity.

In this episode of Take 1.5, we meet a woman whose journey from Tanzania to South Korea became far more than an international move. It became a calling.

After leaving Tanzania in 2009 to pursue higher education in Korea, she found herself building a life between two cultures—and ultimately becoming a bridge between them. Today, she works in public relations, translation, interpretation, and diplomatic communications, connecting people, institutions, and opportunities across Tanzania and Korea.

Together, we talk about identity, belonging, cultural diplomacy, and what it's like to call two countries home. We also explore the power of language, the importance of cross-cultural understanding, and why creating meaningful human connections may be one of the most important forms of diplomacy.

If you've ever felt caught between cultures, dreamed of living abroad, or wondered how one person can make a global impact, this conversation will leave you inspired.

Because sometimes the biggest journey isn't the one across continents—it's the one that leads you to your purpose.

We all know sleep matters—but most of us don't realize just how much it affects our brain, mental health, and long-term health.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hyun Kim, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, to explore the science of sleep. We discuss why quality sleep is essential, how poor sleep impacts memory, mood, and overall health, and what the latest research says about sleep and Alzheimer's disease.Dr. Hyun Kim (김현 박사)also shares practical, evidence-based tips to help you sleep better and protect your brain for years to come.