I was surprised that Anthony Luu and I can trace back 2000 years ago.

I met Arien in 2020 while working on a deal together. After the deal closed, there was something about him that kept drawing me back—especially when it came to conversations about fear.

Arien is a self-made man. I knew from the start that this episode with him would be meaningful and inspiring—and it was. Through his honest and powerful sharing, I discovered the deeper source of his strength and inspiration.

如果小学和初中都和同一群孩子在一起，会是什么样的体验？

I first met John when he interviewed me in March 2019. Over the next two years, we worked closely together, and our relationship continued to grow as we both advanced in our careers at the company.

I always knew I wanted to invite John Richard to this show. He has a natural charm and a unique ability to articulate conversations—whether it’s casual small talk, big presentations, or even emails, long or short. A Harvard Business School alum, he has also been my mentor since we first met in The Woodlands, TX.

What I didn’t know until this interview, however, is that John wasn’t always the confident speaker we see today. In fact, he used to have a stutter. What a journey it has been. I am deeply inspired by his story in many ways.

I first met Karlos in 2019 at the Hughes Landing client site. He had just joined as our new Global Transaction Management Managing Director. We had a team buffet at the Embassy Suites, and I still remember him asking us, “What do you want to do?” A pretty typical question from a new leader—but I would later realize how profoundly he would shape my career.

Raised by a teacher and a soldier, Karlos bought his first .410 shotgun at the age of six. He grew up raising chickens, laying bricks, and breezing through school. He’s both incredibly handy and deeply thoughtful—a mix I’ve always admired. He was the cool kid.

But what impressed me even more was this: after failing to make the basketball team in 8th grade, he didn’t give up. Instead, he built a full court and practiced all summer. The next year, he made the team. And then he moved on. That kind of grit and follow-through has stayed with me ever since.

I first met Christian in the 2LP office after the 360 transformation. We bumped into each other at the fancy coffee machine, and he offered to show me how to make a latte. As someone new to that office, his warm and approachable presence really made a difference. We ended up talking—a lot. Even though we never worked on the same deal, those conversations stuck with me.

“Call Harvard and let them know he’s coming.” That’s what someone told Christian’s parents when he was just four years old. Raised by two Olympic fencing athletes, his earliest memories are filled with black-and-white photos and high expectations.

But what I admire most is how Christian has continued to live life on his own terms—with humor, kindness, and a quiet confidence. He doesn’t need a Harvard degree or external validation to prove his worth. Like the little horse in the Chinese folktale, he’s learning to cross his own river.

And I’m grateful—because in him, I’ve found not just a friend, but an ally.

我和林瀚智的相识始于2020年4月的美东青年晨更。他真正开始在意自己的名字，是在出国后，别人问起时才意识到名字背后的深远意义。外公对他的影响不仅仅体现在名字上，更在于他对学问的态度和对家庭的责任感。

和林瀚智的聊天让我不禁回忆起了我自己的姥爷。原来我们的童年在许多方面都反映了历史的遗憾和深厚的家族积淀。我们都希望能够继续做这个Podcast，让我们的孙辈们也能听到这份传承。

I first met Lin Hanzhi through the East Coast Youth Morning Devotion in April 2020. He truly began to pay attention to his name after going abroad and being asked about it. The influence of his grandfather on him goes far beyond the name; it extends to his attitude toward learning and his sense of responsibility toward family.

Talking with Lin Hanzhi also made me reflect on my own grandfather. It turns out that our childhoods reflect the regrets and depth of history in many ways. We both hope to continue producing this podcast so that our grandchildren can also hear it.

我和蒋锡平是在2022年开学后，参加Houston Hall of Flags盐光团契时认识的。很快，我便被他的提问和深刻见解所吸引。

在这次的访谈中，我们讨论了1990年上映的儿童电影《我的九月》。蒋锡平和我都在这部电影中看到了自己的影子。影片讲述了两个小学生的视角：安建军在迎接亚运会开幕式的选拔中，先被刷下，后被替补选上，过程中在高老师的鼓励下逐渐建立自信。锡平特别感触的是另一个角色——刘庆来的真实。他感叹，如果我们身处类似刘庆来的客观条件，或许也会像他那样跋扈和自我中心，去欺负安建军。

I met Jiang Xiping in 2022 after the school year began, through the Houston Hall of Flags Salt and Light Fellowship. I was quickly drawn to his insightful questions and deep perspectives.

In this conversation, we discuss the 1990 children’s movie My September. Both Ji and I saw reflections of ourselves in the characters. The film tells the story from the perspective of two elementary school students: An Jianjun, who was initially rejected from participating in the Asian Games opening ceremony but later called back as a substitute. Throughout the process, he gains confidence through encouragement from Teacher Gao. Ji was particularly moved by the character Liu Qinglai, realizing that if we had his circumstances, we might have behaved in the same arrogant and self-centered way, bullying An Jianjun.