Melissa Cho is a storyteller, video editor, and creator of the HAAPI Hour podcast, where she amplifies AAPI voices and builds community through real, joyful, and unfiltered conversations. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, Melissa shares how growing up across Asia shaped her worldview, why she’s committed to building a life of creative freedom, and how she’s navigating freelance life after stints at Jubilee Media and Wired. She and Kara talk about the power of podcasting, choosing uncertainty over safety, and how "just throwing things at the wall" can be a radical act of self-trust. They also explore what it means to be a “zero” on the powerful scale, and why that might be exactly what makes you powerful.

We cover:

• Launching HAAPI Hour and building community through podcasting

• Growing up in Taipei and Shanghai and attending international schools

• Why freelancing can feel more stable than a full-time job

• Navigating burnout, reinvention, and rediscovering purpose

• What “being a powerful lady” actually means to Melissa

Find Melissa on Instagram @itschochotrain and her podcast @haapihourpod

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Meet Melissa Cho: Creator of HAAPI Hour Podcast

(00:03:00) From Taipei to LA: How International Upbringing Shapes Identity

(00:07:15) Starting a Podcast Without a Plan (and Finding Unexpected Impact)

(00:11:20) Behind the Scenes of Freelancing and Content Creation

(00:15:45) Working at Jubilee Media and Wired: The Good, The Bad, The Layoffs

(00:21:10) Redefining Success: Choosing Joy Over Stability

(00:26:30) Why Everyone Should Visit Asia

(00:29:45) Creative Burnout and Reclaiming Your Time

(00:33:00) What Makes Someone a Powerful Lady?

(00:37:30) Manifesting Partnerships, Sponsors, and a Media Future

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

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