Voxcali

Ichiro Suzuki's athleticism and uncanny hitting lifted him above the field in virtually every game.

From viral TikToks to a world tour Thuy is redefining success for indie artists.

Thuy is a fast-rising singer and songwriter with a unique sound characterized by nostalgic R&B melodies and dreamlike soundscapes.

Her debut at Coachella in April 2024 made her the first Vietnamese American female artist to perform at the celebrated festival.  The independent artist further solidified her global reach the following year with the Wings World Tour consisting of 40 dates across Asia, Australia, North America and Europe.

Thuy’s discography includes three self-released albums 2021’s I Hope U See This, 2022’s Girls Like Me Don’t Cry, and 2024’s Wings, each containing a single of the same name.

A global hit peaking at number 9 on Vietnam’s Billboard Hot 100 “Girls Like Me Don’t Cry” has been Thuy’s most successful song with over 100 million streams on Spotify and 43 million YouTube views.  She’s leaned into the TikTokification of the single, publishing a slowed and reverbed version and a sped-up edit in addition to two fan video compilations – one with dancing and one with crying.

The 33-year-old’s breakthrough moment on TikTok came in 2020 when a slowed-down version of her 2017 song “All Night Long” went viral on the platform.  This organic traction continued in 2023 with “Girls Like Me Don’t Cry”, accumulating use on over 10 million TikTok videos.

Thuy’s popularity on Spotify has attracted 2.7 million monthly listeners and more than 578 million total plays.  In addition to “Girls Like Me Don’t Cry” and “All Night Long,” “Universe” has been a big hit with over 84 million streams. Before the Newark, California native pursued music full-time Thuy graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in biopsychology.  She worked in various medical settings, including dental clinics, dermatology offices, and as an optometric technician, while simultaneously developing her musical talents and releasing covers on social media.

Rookie 1st round picks Hansen Yang and Dylan Harper were among five Asian players who stood out in the 2025 NBA Summer League.

The NBA Summer League has highlighted a growing presence of Asian talent with several players drawing attention.

Perhaps the biggest standout has been the Blazers’ 16th overall pick Hansen Yang. The 7’1” center from China has quickly become a fan favorite for his affable personality and unique blend of size, skill, and vision on the court. Through 4 games played he averaged over 10 points, including a posterizing dunk, tallied up 15 assists, and 9 blocks.

Spurs’ combo guard Dylan Harper showed flashes of brilliance as the number 2 overall pick. Though the Filipino American only played 2 games due to a minor groin injury he scored 16 in each while showcasing crafty moves including a game tying bucket with under 10-seconds left. Harper was also able to contest doubts about his defense with an impressive block versus the Mavs.

The league’s shortest player at 5’8” Yuki Kawamura showed out this summer leading to a two-way contract signing with the Bulls. Over five games the Japanese point guard averaged over 2 steals per game and had two double-doubles, featuring highlight-reel-level behind-the-back passes.  In the final game he scored 20 points while draining 6 threes.

Japanese shooting guard Keisei Tominaga is looking to make an NBA roster after spending last year in the G-League where he shot 47% from the three-point line. The sharpshooter struggled through three summer league games though he was able to rack up 12 points in the Pacers last game with a high volume of shooting.

Combo guard Isaiah Wong played in all five games for the Celtics this summer with a breakout performance coming in the final game, leading all players with 18 points and 6 assists. After playing 20 games for the Hornets last year he’s looking to find a permanent spot in his third season.

Meet the 5 Asian American creators that TikTokers can't seem to get enough of.

Here are the current most followed AAPI TikTokers of 2025.

Number 5: Nick Cho a.k.a Your Korean Dad

With over 3 million followers Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea and has made a name for himself sharing his coffee shop endeavors and creating wholesome dad content.

Number 4: Cassie Yeung

Yeung is of Chinese Singaporean descent and has over 4.1 million followers on TikTok. She is known for her flavorful recipes, her appearance on Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Next Level Chef’, and her time as a former Brooklynette dancer.

Number 3: Plastique Tiara

Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Plastique Tiara’s time across two seasons of ‘Rupaul’s Drag Race’ has made her the most followed drag queen across social media with over 11.9 million followers on TikTok.

Number 2: Michael Le

Vietnamese American Michael Le has grown his platform to over 50 million followers by sharing his energetic choreography and collaborating with other famous TikTokers.

Number 1: Bella Poarch

She is the fourth most followed creator on the platform with a whopping 93.6 million TikTok followers. Poarch was born in the Philippines, served three years in the U.S. Navy, and is currently signed to a deal with Warner Records.

Join us as we explore the lives and times of some of history's most prominent women of Asian and Asian American descent.

In this inaugural episode we explore an abbreviated look at Elaine Chao's (the first Asian American woman to serve in a President's cabinet - ever!) rise to household-name status.

“I have never forgotten what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. To feel that sense of vulnerability and fear that we’re not going to make it.” (Washington Post, 2019).

This is a quote from Elaine Chao former U.S. Secretary of Labor and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, who has built her legacy of quiet effectiveness through decades of professional achievement and public service. 

She is known for expanding the presence of the Peace Corps in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, rebranding the United Way as CEO after financial scandal, and being the longest serving Cabinet Member (and the first Asian American female cabinet member) under George W. Bush’s administration, serving all 8-years of his presidency. Her legacy is one of integrity, trust and vision.

Hello welcome to Ladies and Legends, the podcast where we explore the personal journeys of legendary women and business leaders of Asian and Asian American descent. I’m your host Juyun, and today’s story is about a leader and legend in her own right, a Taiwanese American powerhouse who has traversed effortlessly between the worlds of finance, nonprofit leadership, and ultimately found herself at the highest levels of federal government as U.S. Secretary of Labor under former President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump.

She’s also the recipient of 38 honorary degrees recognizing her accomplishments and public service (what Asian parent wouldn’t love that?).

I’m talking about Elaine Chao—the first Asian American woman to serve in a U.S. President’s Cabinet. From her childhood as an immigrant to her leadership roles at the highest levels of U.S. government, her story is one of grit, ambition, empathy and strategic vision.

And she’s not the only high achiever in her family—wait till you hear what her sisters are doing. Let’s get into it.

Elaine Chao was born on March 26, 1953, in Taipei, Taiwan, as the oldest of what would eventually become a family of 6 sisters. 

Her parents, James and Ruth Chao were a striking, but unlikely pairing. While her mother was from an affluent and distinguished family in the Anhui province, her father came from a small farming village of 10 families outside of Shanghai. 

But from his humble roots and early career as a merchant mariner, he would ultimately go on to become the founder of Foremost Maritime Corporation (currently, the Foremost Group, a privately held American shipping company whose revenue Zippia notes as $543 million in 2024).

The value of education and determination were foundational to Elaine’s DNA.

In fact, her father became one of the youngest ship captains in Taiwan at the age of 29, and he went on to take a national exam, across many areas, conducted over 4 days, once a year, in Taiwan. He scored #1 in the country and broke records due to his intelligence and athleticism. 

And with this success came newspaper articles and offers of scholarship funds, which allowed him to come to the U.S. – while he had many options, the perception of opportunity and meritocracy appealed to the ambitious young man.

Back to our heroine. 

The year was 1961 and Elaine was 8 years old, a girl with a knowing smile and short, full, curly black hair. The top songs on the music chart were doowap classics like “Runaround Sue,” “Runaway,” and “Will You Still Love Me.” 

And it was at this tender point in her development that she moved to the U.S. on not so posh accommodations on 37-day freight ship journey with her mom and two younger sisters. Her father was waiting for them Stateside. He had moved to New York 3 years earlier, sending money back home until his wife and daughters could join him.

Of the journey, Elaine has said, “It was a thirty-seven day ocean journey and I remember going through the Panama Canal. For an 8-year, it was great fun, but I can’t imagine the trepidation and the anxiety that must have frightened my mom, who was the only woman on board the ship with three young girls, children.”

James said of the family matriarch, Ruth, Elaine’s mom, “she kept an optimistic spirit,” through the stress and uncertainty around their big move.

And this resilience undoubtedly trickled down to Elaine and her sisters.

On her first day of 3rd grade, Elaine who was accompanied by her dad who took time off of work to come with her, bowed out of respect to her new teacher. She was met with peels of laughter from her classmates, and though she didn’t know any English, was proficient within a year.

 She credits her parents with creating a home full of encouragement, discipline, and a love of learning. While her father founded Foremost Group, her mother earned a master’s degree from St. John’s University, while raising Elaine and her sisters in a one bedroom apartment in Queens.

Elaine has said, "We were surrounded by love and by very secure parents, who really looked out for us, so we never felt any want.” 

And while they were the brunt of jokes for having a family of 6 daughters with many weddings to pay for, and no male heir to pass the business down to, their parents always instilled in them a deep sense of self worth.

The Chao family’s values—education, resilience, and service—ran deep. And those seeds would bear fruit not only in Elaine’s life, but in the lives of each of her sisters."

Elaine attended Mount Holyoke College, majoring in economics. In the second semester of her junior year, she studied money and banking at Dartmouth College and she later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1979.

Noting her leadership and collaborative strengths even then, her peers elected her to be Class Secretary and Class Marshall.

Elaine’s sister Angela, the late CEO of the Foremost Group has said, “My parents have always believed in the transformative power of education. There was this running theme in our family that you educated yourself to become productive members of society so that you had something to contribute back.”

While at Citicorp Elaine learned about the prestigious White House Fellowship Program and was ultimately selected as 1 of 12 White House Fellows during the Reagan Administration.

Shortly after, at the age of 33, she became the Deputy Administrator of the Maritime Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation. Some of the goals of the Maritime Administration include improving port efficiency, maintaining shipbuilding and repair infrastructure. So the organization’s impact is both economic and indirectly supportive of naval development as well.

In 1989, as a natural continuation of her career trend in public service, then-President George H.W. Bush appointed her as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. And in 1991-1992 she was the director of the Peace Corps where she expanded the Peace Corps’ presence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in countries like Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Russia.

And between the Bush administrations, from 1992-1996 Elaine served as President and CEO of the United Way, where she worked to repair a tattered brand image left by William Aramony, the former CEO of the United Way for more than 20-years who had been accused of using the organization’s funds to travel and gift lavishly. 

Under her leadership, United Way restored donor trust and accountability, proving her efficacy to stabilize large institutions. She went on to work for a conservative thinktank in Washington D.C. where she remained until her appointment as U.S. Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush.

 This made her the first Asian American woman ever to serve in a U.S. Cabinet.

She’s said of her career, “When I entered the workforce there were not many women, nor many Asian Americans. So I have pretty much been the “first” in every job I’ve ever had. But being different has also given me a different perspective, an outsider perspective which makes me a more compassionate, empathetic, stronger leader.” (women to watch podcast interview)

Side note:  It was during this time that, according to the New York Times, Stuart Bloch, a liberal public interest lobbyist, and his wife Julia Chang, the U.S.’s first ambassador of Asian descent, invited Elaine and Senator Mitch McConnell to dinner.

In 1993 on Ronald Reagan’s birthday, not a coincidence, they were married in a chapel on Capital Hill.  Elaine wore a hot pink blazer dress, and Mitch wore a dark blue, pinstripe suit for the occasion. 

Elaine’s husband has said in a TIME article: “People remark that I’m in a mixed marriage. I don’t see it that way," "In my first marriage, I married a liberal. Now that was a mixed marriage. With Elaine, she and I understand one another."

This was an exciting time in Elaine’s life.

She stayed in her role as U.S. Secretary of Labor for all eight years—longer than any Labor Secretary since World War II. During her tenure, she focused on worker training, enhancing transparency in union finances, and workplace safety.

New milestones wetr achieved during her tenure, including record low worker injury, illness and fatality rates.

The department also updated Family and Leave Act regulations, spearheaded the Pension Protection Act, implemented the MINER Act and crafted new regulations to help energy workers and veterans.

Fast forward to 2017 when Elaine Chao made history again. President Donald Trump appointed her Secretary of Transportation, making her one of the few people to serve in the Cabinet under two different presidents.

In that role she oversaw modernization efforts across infrastructure, introduced guidelines for autonomous vehicles and drones, and pushed for deregulation in transportation.

But her time in the Trump administration ended dramatically. After the January 6th Capitol attack in 2021, Chao became the first Cabinet member to resign in protest. Her resignation letter cited the 'deeply troubling and entirely avoidable event' that unfolded at the Capitol.

That moment spoke volumes.

As loyal as she was, there were lines she wouldn’t cross.

It’s important to note here, that even an almost flawless story of achieving the American dream through hard work and integrity, isn’t without scrutiny.

Questions around potential conflicts of interest between her family’s business and her Cabinet duties have drawn media attention. Her political choices—especially serving under President Trump—have also sparked debate as noted by NPR in 2021.

But one thing’s clear: Elaine Chao’s story is deeply American. It’s about immigration, ambition, family, and the tension between public service and power.

Before we go deeper into Elaine’s political career, let’s zoom out and look at the entire Chao family—because success didn’t stop with her.

Elaine is the eldest of six sisters, and every single one of them has carved out a noteworthy career.

For example, the late Angela Chao, the youngest, was the Chair and CEO of Foremost Group, the shipping company their father founded. She earned her MBA from Harvard as well and has served on numerous corporate and philanthropic boards, continuing the family’s legacy in global business.

Several of the other sisters have had distinguished careers in medicine, academia, and finance. One sister is a medical doctor; another is a legal scholar. Their accomplishments span industries—and reflect a shared ethic of hard work, excellence, and giving back.

The Chao parents didn’t just raise one standout daughter—they raised a dynasty of high achievers.

And to honor their mother Ruth’s lifelong passion for education, the family endowed the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center at Harvard Business School—the first building on the Harvard campus named after a woman of Asian descent.

It’s a powerful symbol of the family’s legacy and values.

She’s been praised as a pioneer for Asian Americans in government. She’s mentored countless young professionals, especially women of color. And she’s made a real mark on institutions—whether that’s turning around a nonprofit, expanding international programs, or modernizing U.S. infrastructure.

Remember that quote from Elaine at the beginning of this podcast?

On always remembering what it feels like to be an outsider? It’s a reminder that the way we see ourselves is often rooted in formative childhood years and experiences, and can be in stark contrast to the perceived excellence and effective leadership in adulthood.

We’ll close out with some of the things that have been said by those who have worked with Elaine Chao over her storied history:

From former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, commenting on Elaine’s leadership in the Peace Corps, “She had this balanced, quiet confidence that knew what she believed in, and stood for, and her principles. But she also understood she had to work with other people and listen to others to get something done.”

From Carlos Guitierrez, 35th United States Secretary of Commerce, commenting on Elaine’s involvement during Hurricane Katrina, “I remember Secretary Chao just doing absolutely everything possible to help. In there, you could see her passion and her energy in the way she commits herself to a cause.”

From Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State: “The long hours and long days and there’s a significant amount of stress, but you stay focused on your dedication to making the United States a better place. And the best public servants are able to do that. Elaine Chao fits in that category, one of the best public servants I have known.”

That wraps up today’s episode of Ladies and Legends. Whether you admire her policy stances or question her political alliances, Elaine Chao’s journey from a young immigrant in Queens to one of the most influential women in Washington deserves deep respect.

Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode if you enjoyed it. I’m Juyun, and I’ll catch you next time on “Ladies and Legends."

Twitch started off at Justin.tv where Justin Kan recorded his life 24/7 and is now a 45 billion dollar empire turning creators into millionaires. 

Twitch has become the world’s livestreaming giant, turning everyday people into influencers and making streamers millionaires, but what people don’t know is that the platform began as just an experiment.

It all started in 2007 when Chinese American entrepreneur Justin Kan decided to co-found Justin.tv where he would live stream his entire life 24/7.

Kan was just 23 when he was walking around wearing a camera on his head sharing what his everyday life looked like. He called this “livecasting” and Kan’s concept sparked commotion online, leading to many interviews including one on the Today Show with Ann Curry.

It didn’t take long for people to want to stream their lives as well, so Kan opened up Justin.tv to everyone making it one of the world’s largest streaming platforms with over 30 million unique users logging on every month.

Gamers quickly took over the platform which led Kan and his team to develop a separate website specifically just for gaming. From there Twitch was born in 2011 and by mid-2013, there were over 43 million global users with the average viewer spending an hour and a half a day watching live streams. Around 12-15 million of these users were in the U.S.

Twitch became a place of community where fans could tune in and interact with their favorite streamers in live time making them feel like they are a part of the show.

Users are streaming live cooking shows, live concerts, game shows, ASMR — pretty much anything you can think of. On Twitch, there is a niche for everyone.

In 2014 Amazon wanted in on the future of social media and bought Twitch in an all cash deal for $970 million, setting up Kan for his next chapter as a serial tech entrepreneur. He launched an electronic music discovery platform in 2015, a technology-enabled law firm in 2017, and an NFT marketplace in 2021.

Fast forward to 2025, Twitch is valued at $45 billion and is home to millions of streamers across every category possible. Top creators have made a career from streaming with some pulling in six or seven figures every year through subscriptions and donations.

Whether you’re playing Mario Kart or eating a huge seafood boil, Twitch has become a digital stage where anyone with a smart phone can make it big. It all started with Justin Kan live streaming his life. Although he has stepped away from Twitch, he created an empire that gave millions of people the power to be seen.

After leaving lucrative buttoned-down careers Vivian Tu became a digital finance powerhouse as “Your Rich BFF”.

As “Your Rich BFF” Vivian Tu has become a leading social media guru for all things personal finance.

Between Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Tu has amassed over 7 million millennials and zoomers subscribing for budgeting tips, travel hacks, and analyses of how politics impacts the economy.

Tu’s channels, launched in 2021, first gained widespread attention for a viral clip where she joked about going on six dates a week to avoid grocery shopping.

Today her most viewed clips focus on appealing health insurance claims and predicting company layoffs.

Tu’s platforms have grown to provide annual earnings of more than $3 million.  Her brand partnerships range from tech to financial services companies like Amazon and SoFi.

“Your Favorite Wall Street Girly” secured a seven-figure publishing deal and became a New York Times bestselling author with the 2023 release of her book Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life.

Her podcast “Networth & Chill”, launched in 2023, commonly features guests including Saweetie, Nimesh Patel, and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

In 2023 Tu was recognized on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and various “Top Creators” lists.

Tu began her Wall Street career in 2016 as an equity trader at J.P. Morgan specializing in industrial, materials, and energy sectors.   Finding the fast-paced financial world to be toxic and promoted burnout, she pivoted toward digital media strategy sales, becoming a top-earning salesperson for BuzzFeed.   

What gave Tu the idea for her social media channels was finding herself frequently asked by colleagues for financial advice.   Before long she had left the security of her $600,000 a year job to become a full-time content creator.

Tu married husband Greg Hunt in 2024.  Their Lake Como wedding was well publicized for a wardrobe featuring Vera Wang and Jimmy Choo.  Naturally Tu shared budgeting insights for the bachelorette party, wedding, and honeymoon. The 31-year-old Baltimore native is the only child of Chinese immigrant parents.  Tu was her high school’s valedictorian and graduated from the University of Chicago in 2016 with a BA in Environmental Studies and Public Policy concentrating in Finance.

Alvin Huang founded Synthesis Design + Architecture to create structures that optimize performance.

Alvin Huang’s design philosophy of “form follows performance” has built a transpacific practice for Synthesis Design + Architecture, the design firm he founded in London in 2010 and moved to Los Angeles the following year.  SDA’s portfolio includes work in architecture, commemorative sculpture, and bespoke furniture. 

Just two years after moving to LA Huang completed his biggest project to date, the 120,000 square-foot The Groove extension to Bangkok’s CentralWorld, the world’s third largest shopping mall.  The Groove’s open-air courtyard design employs sinuous, continuously flowing lines to replicate the energy of the bustling city’s alleys.

Also in 2013 SDA was named winner of Volvo’s 2013 pavilion design competition for creating “Pure Tension”, a portable, solar-powered charging station membrane structure to symbolize the Volvo’s quest for energy efficiency in its cars.  It was named one of Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of the Year.

In 2019 SDA showcased its interior design capabilities with a functional yet playful concept for the interior of YPMD Pediatric Neurology Clinic in Ladera Ranch, California.

SDA has also provided design concepts for China’s Xiamen Dream City and South Korea’s Daegu Gosan Public Library.

Before establishing SDA Huang worked with Amanda Levete Architects, Future Systems, Zaha Hadid Architects, and AECOM.

Huang has worked with his alma mater USC starting in 2011 as an assistant professor.  Today he serves as USC’s Director of Graduate & Post-Professional Architecture, a title held since 2020, as well as being an associate professor. Huang graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from USC in 1998 and received a Master of Architecture from London’s Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2004.  His parents emigrated from Taiwan.  Huang is married with two children.

A Boston Federal District Court Judge didn't appear receptive to Trump administration arguments at a key hearing in a suit filed by Harvard to block cuts to its research grants.

STORY: Protesters gathered outside a Boston courthouse on Monday, as Harvard University urged a federal judge to order the Trump administration to restore about $2.5 billion in canceled funding to the Ivy League school.

Harvard says hundreds of research projects, including ones concerning cancer treatments, infectious diseases, and Parkinson's disease will be in jeopardy unless the judge declares the grant cancellations unlawful.

The court hearing before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs lasted more than two hours, but ended without a ruling.

A lawyer for the Trump administration told the judge the cancelled grants reflect a government priority not to send money to institutions that practice antisemitism.

A lawyer for Harvard said the government has made wholesale cuts to research under the guise of combating antisemitism, but hasn't identified any connection between the two.

Harvard has become a central focus of a broad campaign by the Trump administration to leverage federal funding to force change at U.S. universities, which Trump says are gripped by "radical left" ideologies.

Judge Burroughs said she had problems with the government's argument that it can terminate Harvard's federal funding grants for any policy reasons, saying the consequences in terms of constitutional law would be "staggering."

From a $20 sewing machine to Paris Fashion Week, Peter Do created ultra-modern fashion concepts by imbuing them with his Vietnamese heritage.

Peter Do is one of the most exciting names in fashion and he is quietly dominating the runways with his precision. 

Immigrating to Philadelphia from Vietnam at 14 years old was a challenge for Do as he did not speak any English at first, but he learned to let fashion be his voice. With a $20 sewing machine his mother bought from Kmart, Do began experimenting with clothing. 

His passion led him to FIT in New York, which is where he was first recognized by the industry when he won the LVMH Graduate Prize. 

Taking full advantage of this win, Do immediately got to work at Celine under the Old Celine Queen, Phoebe Philo. Her influence is prominent in Do’s work with the sharp tailoring and wearable art. He later went on to work alongside Derek Lam where he learned a holistic approach to running a brand giving him a thoughtful balance between craftsmanship and brand management. 

In 2018 Do launched PETER DO, which is known for its high quality staples, genderless designs, and faceless advertising, making it all about the clothing. Do’s very first collection debuted during New York Fashion Week in September 2021. 

In 2022 Do was named creative director of Helmut Lang, a notable label in the fashion industry that redefined ‘90s fashion, and was able to merge the brand’s heritage with a modern twist. His first collection with Helmut Lang featured designs that honored his Vietnamese roots as he collaborated with Vietnamese American writer Ocean Vuong. 

After two years, Do stepped down from his role at Helmut Lang to put more time into his own label, which continued to succeed. More recently he co-created with Thai Artisan Philip Huang to develop his Spring 2025 collection which paid homage to Southeast Asian techniques and was showcased at Paris Fashion Week. 

This past year Do was named a finalist for the 2025 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund which was established to help emerging designers bring their visions to life. 

With every stitch Peter Do continues to evolve his designs, showing everyone what modern fashion can truly be. Each of his collections have proven that quiet designs can still speak volumes. Going from a $20 sewing machine to Paris runways, Do’s story is not only inspiring, but also a reminder to stay true to your roots while pushing boundaries.