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

What does it mean to create something that lasts for generations?In this episode of Take 1.5, I sit down with Jane Dua, founder of NUNCHI, a Korean-American fine jewelry brand redefining what modern heirlooms can be. Jane shares her journey as a Korean American entrepreneur, the inspiration behind building a jewelry company rooted in both heritage and contemporary design, and how culture continues to shape her work.We explore the meaning of "nunchi"—the uniquely Korean concept of social awareness and intuition—and how it influences leadership, creativity, and navigating life between cultures. Jane also opens up about entrepreneurship, family, identity, and the desire to create pieces that carry stories across generations.Whether you're interested in business, design, Korean culture, or the experiences of growing up between worlds, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into building something meaningful that honors both the past and the future.Jane DuaFounder, NUNCHIKorean-American Fine Jewelry & Modern [email protected] | @livenunchiNew York, NY

장애인과 함께 사회를 섬김니다캐롤라니나 밀알 선교단 704-860-1388 [email protected] Steve Lee is the Director of Carolina Milal, a ministry serving individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Charlotte community. A pastor, husband, and father of three, Steve has dedicated his life to building communities where every person is seen, valued, and supported.Steve's journey began when he immigrated to the United States at the age of 17, settling in Gastonia, North Carolina. Arriving as a teenager, he faced culture shock, racism, language barriers, and the challenges of finding his place in a new country. Those early struggles helped shape his resilience, compassion, and understanding of what it means to feel like an outsider.Steve later joined the United States Marine Corps, an experience that profoundly influenced his character, leadership, and faith. In this episode, Steve shares his immigration story, his experiences navigating life as a young newcomer in the South, his time in the Marines, and the calling that led him to disability ministry. We also discuss how churches and communities can become more inclusive, the unique challenges faced by families of individuals with disabilities, and why true belonging requires more than good intentions.This is a conversation about faith, perseverance, service, and the power of creating communities where everyone has a place.

What does it really take to stand out in private boarding school admissions?In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Kim — 🇺🇸 U.S. middle school math teacher & education consultant — to talk about boarding school admissions, extracurricular activities, and what schools are actually looking for in students today.🏫 Public & private school consulting📚 Extracurricular activity advising🍎 Online math classes & consulting inquiries: DMWhether you’re a student or parent interested in U.S. education and boarding schools, this conversation offers practical insight and real advice.미국 보딩스쿨과 사립학교는 어떤 학생을 원할까요?이번 영상에서는 🇺🇸 미국 중학교 수학 교사 & 미국 교육 컨설턴트 Rachel Kim 선생님과 함께 보딩스쿨 입시, extracurricular activity, 그리고 학생들이 어떻게 자신만의 강점을 만들어가는지 이야기 나눕니다.🏫 공립·사립 학교 상담 & Extracurricular Activity 상담🍎 수학 온라인 수업 · 컨설팅 문의 : DM미국 교육과 보딩스쿨에 관심 있는 학생, 학부모님들께 도움이 되는 현실적인 이야기들을 담았습니다.구독, 좋아요, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다 🤍#보딩스쿨 #미국교육 #사립학교 #유학 #미국학교 #Extracurricular #BoardingSchool

In this episode, I sit down with Susie Runkle, a Korean American Christian life coach, daughter of the King, wife, and mother of two teenage daughters, for an honest conversation about healing, anger, resentment, and emotional freedom. Susie shares her personal journey of working through childhood wounds, shame, and suppressed emotions while learning how to “adult” with peace and self-awareness.

We talk about faith, identity, family dynamics, emotional triggers, and what it means to break unhealthy cycles instead of passing them down. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Susie offers encouragement for anyone struggling with anger, resentment, or feeling stuck in old patterns.

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by shame, emotional pain, or unresolved wounds, this conversation is for you.

Follow Susie:
Instagram: @AdultingEmpowered
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for more conversations on mental health, identity, healing, and life in the in-between.

When “I’m fine” stops being true, what’s the next step?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jang Cho, MD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, to talk about how to recognize when you need help, what kind of support actually makes sense, and how to ask for it—even when it feels uncomfortable.

We get into the gray areas: therapy vs. medication, what to do if cost is a barrier, and why so many people wait too long before reaching out. Dr. Cho also shares her perspective on cultural stigma and the unique challenges many Asian American families face when it comes to mental health.

About the guest:Jang Cho, MD is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed her general psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.  Afterwards, she continued her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. 

Dr. Cho’s passion is in cultural psychiatry, especially in mental health of Asian American children and adolescents. In the past, she has headed a free mental health clinic called Hope Clinic for under-served Korean Americans in the Washington DC Area. She is a co-founder and a former chair for the Asian Caucus in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has given various talks locally and nationally, and has been a co-author of a textbook chapter on Asian American Mental health. 

She is a proud owner of Thrive Psychiatry PLLC- a telepsychiatry practice that focuses on children and families of diverse backgrounds for patients in NY, DC, MD, VA, WA and CA. She can be reached at www.thrivepsychiatrypllc.com.

**Here are the resources: 1. Therapist Directory – Asian Mental Health Collective2. Asians For Mental Health Directory3. Korean Americans only- MSG Mental Health Directory

왠지 말하기 어려운 얘기들: 성, 수치심, 그리고 신앙
What We Don’t Talk About: Sex, Shame, and Sunday Faith

In this episode, we gently step into the conversations we tend to avoid—sex, shame, and faith. Topics that are deeply connected, yet often left unspoken.

Roy, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former pastor, brings a unique perspective shaped by years of working with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. He sees himself as a bridge between the Church, the addict, the betrayed partner, and the divorced—helping each side find the language to understand one another better.

Together, we talk about how shame takes root, how faith can both support and complicate healing, and why these conversations feel so hard to have—especially in our communities. This isn’t about having all the answers, but about creating space for honesty, nuance, and real understanding.

A thoughtful, human conversation about the things we don’t usually say out loud.

About the guest:

Roy is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Southern California, specializing in sexual addiction treatment and betrayal trauma recovery. He is also a former pastor. He describes himself as a broker between the Church, the addict, the betrayed partner, and the divorced—helping all parties to find language to better understand one another. Roy hosts the SA Speakeasy podcast, The Same Boat podcast, and soon will co-host the On-Screen Kimistry podcast which discusses Asian American representation in film. Roy loves learning about compost, watching trashy reality shows with his wife Jenn, and dreaming with daughter Audrey about living in Europe.

Let's Talk 마음이야기 EP 01- Mental Health SeriesMy first guest, Dr. Hyun Kim, clinical psychologist, researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and author of Boundaries (Korean), shares a powerful conversation on expectations, responsibility, and finding your voice as someone living between cultures.We talk about the cost of staying silent, the mental load that follows us into adulthood, and how even our sleep and cognitive health are shaped by the pressure to meet everyone else’s needs.This episode is about learning to speak up, set boundaries, and finally make space for yourself—without losing who you are.About the guest:Hello there! I am a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and New Jersey and am also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. I am most passionate about helping people live a full life by managing mood and sleep difficulties. I aim to reach these goals through research, clinical work, and psychoeducation. Learn more about my background (here) and services (here).안녕하세요,저는 뉴욕 컬럼비아 의과대학 소속으로 정신건강의학 연구를 진행하며 또한 다양한 심리치료서비스를 제공하는 임상심리학자 입니다 (뉴욕/뉴저지 테라피스트). 주로 수면, 뇌, 그리고 감정 (우울증, 불안장애)을 공부하며, 연구에 기반한 정보를 통해 보다 많은 사람들이 더 행복하고 풍요로운 삶을 살 수 있도록 여러가지의 서비스와 교육을 제공하고 있습니다. 저의 연구와 임상경력에 대해 더 알고싶으시면 여기, 저의 임상/강연 활동이나 인스타그램, 블로그 글에 관련해서는 밑의 링크를 클릭하여주세요.https://www.kimhyunphd.com/

Sylvia Kim knows how to build something that lasts.

For over 25 years, she led Mom & I magazine, growing it into a trusted voice within the Korean American community. As a single mother, she built both a career and a community rooted in trust and connection.

In this episode, we talk about reinvention, cross-cultural leadership, and what it takes to start a new chapter after decades in one path.

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Women Entrepreneurs 3

Today’s guest, Sheena Yap Chan, has spent years exploring that question. She’s a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and host of The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, where she’s interviewed over 800 women about self-worth, visibility, and leadership.Through her work — including her books The Tao of Self-Confidence and Bridging the Confidence Gap — Sheena helps women move from self-doubt to self-trust.In this episode, we talk about the pressure to be perfect, the fear of being seen, and why visibility can be one of the most powerful tools for building confidence.

Carol Pak is the Founder & CEO of Sool, the parent company of Makku, and a mother of two young children, balancing boardrooms and bedtime stories.Raised in a supportive and loving Korean family in New York, Carol grew up inspired to lead. That early foundation — family first, work hard, dream big — shaped her path from corporate innovation to entrepreneurship. Before launching Sool in 2017, she worked at ZX Ventures (owned by AB InBev), where she led the launch of a new alcoholic beverage brand in China.Now, she’s on a mission to introduce a traditional Korean rice drink — makgeolli — to the U.S. market in a fresh, accessible way. With strong partnerships, including a close working relationship with a Korean production company, Carol is building a bridge between heritage and modern taste.In this episode, we talk about growing up with big dreams, choosing family alongside ambition, and what it really takes to globalize culture — without losing where you come from.