Hear Us Roar

Lucia Liu is the Founder & CEO of Rock The Boat, a podcast and community organization focused on Asians who challenge the status quo. She has interviewed prominent guests such as Andrew Yang, Adele Lim (screenwriter of CRA), Kevin Lin (Cofounder of Twitch and Gold House), and many more. While Lucia currently rocks a 9 to 5 in the financial services sector, she was once a full fledged chocolatier with her own premium brand of yummy treats called Lululosophy. Tune in to understand why it's important to embrace discomfort in order to grow, and to learn about the power in being an underdog. Lucia and I connect on the importance of AAPI representation, and she even shares some amazing tips on how you can kick start your own dreams of being a podcaster. Head over to https://www.gorocktheboat.com/ to check out Lucia's pod and learn about her community. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Michelle Lee is the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure—an iconic magazine that in 2021, celebrated its 30th birthday. Since taking on her position, Michelle has eliminated the term anti-aging from the magazine’s vocabulary and has redefined beauty through the lens of diversity. In one single issue, Michelle broke the record for the number of American American faces that have graced the cover of Allure since its inception. She’s incredibly thoughtful and intentional in the direction she’s taking the magazine, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that as someone who didn’t grow up seeing myself reflected in media. Tune in to understand why Michelle feels like your uniqueness is an asset, and how to find the confidence to be exactly who you are. We connect on the importance of self-promotion, and of course, I had to ask Michelle about her holy grail beauty products. Head over to https://www.allure.com/ to learn about and support this culture shaping publication. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Jenny Lee is the author of Anna K—a modern-day reimagining of the classic novel Anna Karenina, which will be turned into an upcoming HBO Max series. It follows a bi-racial “it” girl caught between her picture-perfect, family-approved boyfriend and the guy who might just be her one true love. Jenny started off her career in book publishing, and later became a television writer and producer who has worked on BET’s Boomerang, IFC’s Brockmire, Freeform’s Young & Hungry, and the Disney Channel’s number-one-rated kids’ show, Shake It Up. She has previously published humor essay collections and middle-grade novels, with Anna K being her debut YA. Tune in to hear about how Jenny brought a fresh perspective to a classic story, and why she feels that it's important to drive diverse representation in literature. We talk about how her writing has improved with more life experience, as well as the importance of finding the courage to ask for help. Head over to https://jennyleewrites.com/ to keep up with Jenny's work. Get excited for the paperback of Anna K coming out on March 23rd, and for the release of its sequel on April 27th - which is available for preorder now! To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Lee Chesley is a fearless stuntwoman who has doubled for Awkwafina, and showcased her gravity defying skills in the Avatar films, Birds of Prey, and Jumanji: the Next Level. While this feels like a natural transition from her breakdancing days, it's impressive to think that Lee is also an actress, computer programmer, and the list goes on. What’s incredible is that Lee doesn’t just dabble in these feats, she is an absolute master at them. Tune in to find out what it was like for Lee to grow up as an adoptee in a strict Mormon LDS family, and why when she finally returned to Korea, she felt like a foreigner in her own country. We connect on the power of using criticism as fuel, as well as the importance of always rising to the occasion. Head over to https://www.instagram.com/bgirlmislee/ to keep up with Lee on her Instagram page. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

As an Asian American, I'm sure that at some point you've heard the terms model minority myth and bamboo ceiling. How often have you thought about the history behind it all, what their impact is on your personal and professional lives, and how you can start to break through some of these stereotypes not only for yourself, but also for your community of peers? In this Conversations with HUR, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Soon Mee Kim—a mentor, a friend, and the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Omnicom Public Relations Group. This episode is very personal to me. These past few years have afforded me the privilege and honor of sharing some incredibly heartfelt conversations with fellow Asian American women who not unlike myself, have felt a level of invisibility due to the aforementioned stereotypes. Join us for some real talk about everything from privilege and perception, to why it's critically important for us to know our own history here in the United States. I hope that this episode with Soon Mee helps you to feel seen, to feel heard, and to feel empowered to let your voice ROAR! To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!

Vanessa Dew introduced Health-Ade Kombucha at a farmer's market in 2012 alongside her two best friends, and in the past few years, grew it to one of the fastest-growing brands in the category generating over $150 million in revenue across 30,000 stores like Whole Foods, Target and Trader Joe's. I love Vanessa's energy and gumption, and appreciate how much she gives back to the community and to other entrepreneurs serving as a USC Marshall Mentor, advising several young CPG companies. Vanessa also happens to be an active member of the Gold Rush family. Tune in to find out how you can use rejection as a tool for building resiliency, and why your unique cultural heritage serves as amazing perspective. We talk about the importance of having a strong and supportive community, especially as an entrepreneur, and why you shouldn't let perfect get in the way of great, or even good. Head over to https://health-ade.com/ to check out their latest products and innovations. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Nitika Chopra is a television host, QVC beauty expert and the founder of Chronicon—a platform and conference dedicated to elevating the lives of those living with chronic illness. I met Nitika in October of 2018 at a Well Summit talk called "Real Self-Love: Raw and Un-Instagrammable," and was immediately drawn to her humble confidence and deep empathy towards others. Nitika was diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 10, psoriatic arthritis at the age of 19, and had at that time, gone through a 17 year period of physical and emotional trauma. In this episode, Nitika and I dive deep into why we all need to turn towards our inner compass to understand whether or not we are fully serving our purpose, and helping others around us with our God given gifts. Tune in to hear about how Nitika is able to create momentum in her life despite the presence of fear, and what you can do to find flow in life's twists and turns. We talk about the importance of maintaining a sense of play and exploration, and why you need to honor your body as your biggest teacher. Head over to https://chronicon.co/ to learn about Nitika's conference. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Diana Lee is the CEO and co-founder of Constellation Agency, the leading marketing platform for the automotive industry. This latchkey kid grew up working in the tough world of auto dealerships, and went on to launch a full-service marketing technology company that Inc. Magazine recently listed as one of the top 10 fastest growing women-led companies in the U.S. Diana has a big brain, but she might just have a bigger heart! Noticing the growing need to get lifesaving food and supplies to the underserved during COVID when volunteers and resources are running low, Diana launched a non-profit called Do Good Auto Coalition focused on partnering with car dealerships from across the country to fill that void. Tune in to hear about why Diana felt like she had to be an alpha, and how she's able to work her magic in getting past "no". We chat about what inspires her to think creatively about giving back, and touch on the pitfalls of believing the stories that we tell ourselves about ourselves. Head over to https://constellationagency.com/ and https://www.dogoodautocoalition.com/ to learn more about both of Diana's organizations. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Coral Chung and Wendy Wen are the proud founders of SENREVE—a luxury, direct to consumer handbag brand that is both functional and stylish. Since leaving their incredibly successful jobs in tech and finance, and leaping into the world of fashion entrepreneurship, Coral and Wendy have raised $23 Million in funding, and their buttery, Italian made statement pieces have been spotted on A-List celebrities like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Garner, and Anna Kendrick. Tune in to hear about how Coral and Wendy were able to balance the rational mind, with their creative spirits, and how to truly break through in a saturated market. We talk about expanding the footprint of a business in order to mitigate risk, as well as why it's critically important, especially during COVID, to be digital first. Head over to https://www.senreve.com to check out their phenomenal handbags. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sarah Larson Levey founded Y7 Studio as a pop-up in Brooklyn so that she could experience yoga the way that she wanted to—in a candlelit, heated, mirrorless space, where she could flow to A Tribe Called Quest. 8 years later, her personal dream studio has expanded to 12 locations across Los Angeles and New York, and was named one of Inc. Magazine's 2018 fastest growing private companies. Sarah graciously gave me a peek into her life and her story when she was just a few weeks away from giving birth to a beautiful baby boy. Now that she's a new mom, I can't be more excited for this next step in her personal and professional journey! Tune in to hear about why Sarah values having both a Western and Eastern perspective. We chat about how she was able to build an incredible community focused on connection vs. competition, and why letting go of the expectation of perfection is critical for forward momentum. Head over to https://www.y7-studio.com/ to learn more about Sarah's studios, and check out some of the classes. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Season 2 is officially here! It feels really darn good to get back in the groove of playing editor, graphic designer, and social media manager, all the while bringing you 13 more amazing conversations with phenomenal women who make it a point to kick butt, and shatter the cultural mold. I am a small but mighty team of one in this wonderous podcasting operation. It's not easy. Okay I'll say it—it's a full on black hole of time and energy. Perhaps that's why I so wholeheartedly love and admire others who decide to take on full blown side gigs, and no one does that quite like Megan Ruan. Megan is an investor at The Johnson Company by day, and the Co-Director of Gold Rush by night. In this season premiere episode of Conversations with HUR, Megan drops some real gems about how she's able to wear multiple hats without burning out, and why community is a key thread-through for personal, as well as professional success. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!

I can’t believe we’re at the end of Season 1! It was around the 4th or 5th episode mark when I realized that this podcast I’ve created for you has started to change me as well. A good friend shared with me an Instagram post from author Adam Grant the other day where he outlines “the evolution of self-esteem in a career,” and it goes a little something like this: Phase 1: I’m not important Phase 2: I’m important Phase 3: I want to work on something important He then goes on to say that, “the sooner you get to phase 3, the more success you achieve and the more impact you have.” I can honestly say that I am sprinting towards phase 3, and I’m so grateful that you’ve come along this journey with me, and have given me the fuel for such purposeful work. So you might be asking, what does any of this have to do with Marie Kondo? Well, I realized at the top of the year that in order for us to create space for ourselves, we all need to take a step back, and evaluate the things that are worth tidying up in our lives. Until we’ve given ourselves the respect and luxury to create that space, purpose and self care can very easily a back seat. I have a feeling that 2020 is going to be a GREAT year, and what better time to clean house and spark joy! To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Betty Ng, founder and CEO of Inspiring Diversity, LLC has had a lot of experience breaking down walls and stereotypes as a strong and capable woman of color. With 20 years of corporate experience rising up the ranks in some extremely high profile organizations, Betty understands first hand how difficult it is to cultivate a genuine culture of inclusion in a corporate setting. Betty’s story is one of multiple generations of incredible women who have fought for representation and equality, and I am thrilled that we were able to touch on all 3 generations during our chat. Tune in to hear about how Betty tackles bias, and why it's so important for all of us to build up relationship capital. We talk about finding opportunity in moments of change, as well as why it's pertinent to drive Diversity and Inclusion initiatives from the heart. Head over to https://www.inspiringdiversity.com/ to hear more of Betty's story and dig deeper into her offerings. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Chand Nirankari founded Youth Boxing For Change because she wanted to create a safe space where under-resourced youth in New York City could be empowered through boxing, service, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. Chand didn't grow up as an athlete. When she serendipitously discovered boxing as an adult, she realized that not only was she perfectly capable of tackling this sport, but it also gifted her with immense physical and mental strength. This was a lightbulb moment that led Chand to launch an organization that she could have greatly benefited from in her early years. Tune in to hear about how Chand straddled 2 different cultures but didn't quite feel like she belonged to either, and why she chose to reexamine the definition of under-resourced within the context of her non-profit. We talk about how the lessons you learn in boxing can translate to real life, and why having guidelines but not being too rigid is critical to success. Head over to https://youthboxingforchange.org/ and check out the amazing impact that the organization is having on New York City's youth, and find out how you can either sign up to participate, or join in to support their efforts. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Legendary comedian Margaret Cho was one of the first faces I saw on American television, that reminded me of myself. That is one powerful feeling. She has fearlessly put herself in the line of fire over and over again in order to speak up for those whose voices and stories have often gone unheard, and bares the true essence of a pioneer who is unyielding in creating forward momentum in an industry where she has been unlike anyone else. While Margaret is best known for her stand-up routines, she is also an actress, author, activist, and composer. Margaret rose to prominence after creating and starring in ABC's All-American Girl—the first Asian American sitcom to air on network television—and became an established stand-up comedian in subsequent years. Tune in to hear about the challenges of growing up on the road, the inherent pressures of being the first, and the value in appreciating honesty in art. Head over to http://margaretcho.com/ for the latest news on Margaret, and to keep up with her tour schedule. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Eliza Blank founded The Sill because she understood that urbanites needed an easier way to find, acquire and care for their houseplants. Since quitting her job and launching her Kickstarter in 2012, Eliza has grown The Sill into an Instagram and eCommerce phenomenon raising over $13 million in funding, and expanding into multiple retail locations across the U.S. In honoring her personal ambitions as an entrepreneur, Eliza was also able to honor her mother, and the Filipino side of her heritage as a young girl growing up in a house full of green. Just like Eliza’s favorite plant, the resilient and fast growing Philodendron, The Sill has taken the world by storm, and I'm excited to share her, and its story with you! Tune in to hear about why Eliza feels like we should lean into our differences, and how she was able to use that as fuel for her fire. Eliza gives me a quick masterclass on fundraising, and asks all of us to embrace the idea of making mistakes. Head over to https://www.thesill.com/ and check out the amazing selection of houseplants that you can ship straight to your home! To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!

Kimmy Yam is the Co-Founder of HuffPost Asian Voices and a champion for issues that disproportionately affect the Asian-American community. Growing up in Upstate New York as a member of a Chinese restaurant family, Kimmy understood the irony of being called a model minority. While in college at Georgetown University, Kimmy fell in love with journalism and thankfully so, as she stresses the importance of reporting on Asian American news beyond the breadth of representation in Hollywood because "our community is so much bigger than that." Tune in to hear about Kimmy's journey towards self love, and how she learned to appreciate her parents' sacrifices. Kimmy talks about how there's no such thing as a perfect job, and why news and reporting can, and should be beautiful. Head over to https://www.huffpost.com/voices/asian-voices, as well as Kimmy's new home https://www.nbcnews.com/asian-america to learn about pertinent issues within the Asian American community. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!

Let's switch things up a bit with a new segment called, Conversations with HUR, where I get to sit down with a wide a range of friends and experts to discuss key topics of interest for Asian American women. First up is acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner Janet Lee, who swung by to give me some tips on staying healthy during these critical transitional months between Fall and Winter. Tune in to hear about how holistic treatment addresses the emotional, as well as the physical, and why you should incorporate acupressure into your daily self care practice. I hope you enjoy the new segment, and I’d love to know if you have any topics that you’d like for me to explore in the future! To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sitting in Eataly with Julie Young, founder of DreamMaker 3D, the TIDE Film Festival, The Phenomenal Girls Club, and the $6.99 Per Pound Podcast, she tells me about how much she digs Italian food, even though she’s never been to Italy, the home country of her adopted family. Growing up in a homogenous neighborhood in Rochester New York, feeling and looking different than the rest of her classmates, Julie recalls how disjointed it was to come home to spaghetti and meatballs and American television. Her journey to understanding and loving her own unique identity is full of dynamic twists and turns. Tune in to hear how Julie learned to push past the fear of her own greatness, and why representation in media is so critical to our cultural context. Head over to http://dreammaker3d.org/ to learn more about Julie's organization, and I encourage you to reach out to her if you'd like to get involved. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!

There's a reason why Birchbox is such a fun and successful brand! Its personality is a core part of the corporate culture and its creative energy is rooted in the very ethos of the company. COO Pooja Agarwal was thrilled to joined the executive team because she saw it as an opportunity to build and scale a brand new business model for the beauty industry. Tune in to hear Pooja's tips on what it takes to make a successful cold call/email, how she was able to turn an internship paying $200 a month to a blossoming career, and why we should all value being authentically ourselves. Head over to www.birchbox.com to get the DL on some beauty must haves. To find out more about the Hear Us Roar podcast, and sign up for my mailing list, visit www.hurpodcast.com. Please subscribe to the show, and leave a comment, so I know how you feel. I look forward to hearing from you!