Rock The Boat

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this episode is all about radical generosity. We speak with April Tam Smith, who is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and the Cofounder of P.S. Kitchen, a vegan restaurant in Times Square that donates all their profits to charity. We talk to April about being herself in a male dominated industry, being a missionary on the trading floor, her volunteer work in Haiti, and why she started P.S. Kitchen. We hope you find this episode inspiring and a reminder of generosity and gratitude as the year comes to a close! ——————————————- Check out P.S. Kitchen Ally Shoes: www.ally.nyc/rocktheboat Numa Foods: www.numafoods.com. Use code “rocktheboat” for a free bag of milk chews ——————————————- Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-star rating on iTunes! We really appreciate your help in spreading the word. Thanks to Chia-Yi Hou for wri

In the final installment of Tea Time, Lucia and Dana dive into a conversation about Asian American Dating! Topics covered include (1:48) Asian American masculinity, (3:46) Interracial dating, (8:02) how much of our relationship problems are related to our relationships with our parents, and (9:14) the fear of intimacy. Dana Wang is a trained psychiatrist who completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She believes in a holistic approach to mental wellness and has expertise in many areas of psychotherapy including anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorder. Check out her practice: https://riviamedical.com/ Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocktheboat/message

In this episode we speak with Calvin Sun, an ER doctor by day and travel entrepreneur by night. Calvin is the Founder of The Monsoon Diaries, a blog-turned-travel community that has taken hundreds of readers to 165+ countries in the past 8 years including North Korea, Nauru, Iraq, and Antarctica. Calvin has a complicated relationship with being a doctor. We talk to Calvin about what led him to start Monsoon Diaries, and why he decided to continue with medical school to become a Physician despite having many other interests. Calvin also tells us why you should take bets on yourself. ——————————————- Check out Monsoondiaries: monsoondiaries.com Calvin’s Instagram @monsoondiaries ——————————————- Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-star rating on iTunes! We really appreciate your help in spreading the word. Thanks to our writer Liz Roberts who helped with this

In the third installment of Tea Time with psychiatrist Dana Wang, Lucia and Dana talk about anxiety and how to find purpose driven work. Dana tells us how you can be happier and find satisfaction in your life and work by reframing your thinking to control anxiety. They also talk about Asian parents, how to cope with anxiety from comparisons, and finding your own validations of success. Dana Wang is a trained psychiatrist who completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She believes in a holistic approach to mental wellness and has expertise in many areas of psychotherapy including anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorder. Check out her practice: https://riviamedical.com/ Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocktheboat/message

In this episode we speak with Holly Liu, who cofounded a gaming company called Kabam. Holly’s work has been game changing within the gaming industry. Fortune named her one of the “10 Most Powerful Women in Gaming,” and Forbes named her a leading woman in gaming and entrepreneurship. Holly led the design for Kabam’s award-winning “Kingdoms of Camelot” franchise, which grossed over $250 million in less than four years. She was also the founding mobile designer for the extension “Kingdoms of Camelot: Battle for the North,” which was the top grossing app on iOS in 2012. Kabam has partnered with some of the largest Hollywood brands such as Marvel, Star Wars, The Hunger Games, The Hobbit, and countless others. ——————————————- Contest of Champions You can follow Holly on Twitter @hollyhliu ——————————————- Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-star rating on iTunes

Grab a cup of tea as Lucia talks to Psychiatrist, Dr. Dana Wang about Mental Health and Mental Illness in this mini episode. In this episode Dana spills the tea about turning x the clinical perspective of mental health away from a disease model to a wellness practice, how to support people you know who are struggling with a mental illness, how medication can help you steer your ship, and what meditation has to do with peak performance.  Dana Wang is a trained psychiatrist who completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She believes in a holistic approach to mental wellness and has expertise in many areas of psychotherapy including anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorder. Check out her practice: https://riviamedical.com/ Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocktheboat/message

In this episode I speak with psychiatrist, David Mou. David has a medical and business degree from Harvard, yet his mother still disapproved of his career choice. We talk to David about why Asian Americans are less likely to seek mental health treatment and what you can expect when finding a therapist. He also gives us great tips on how to deal with anxiety and how to improve our personal and working interactions. ——————————————- David’s company: Valera Health Our Favorite Free Meditation Apps: Calm Headspace Insight Timer Mental Health Resources from our Blog! ——————————————- This episode is made possible by our season sponsor Numa Foods. Numa Foods makes good for you chewy milk based candies. The recipe is inspired by Asian Nougat candies and it boasts 40% less sugar, 4 grams of protein  and a whole host of vitamins. Check them out at numafoods.com. Use code “rocktheboat”  for 20% off your order. ——————————————- Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reac

Grab a cup of tea as we talk to Psychiatrist, Dr. Dana Wang about Family. In this bonus episode, Rock The Boat host, Lucia Liu and Dana Wang chat about how to deal with your parents under the clash of Eastern versus Western value systems, how to set boundaries but still express love for each other, and what self acceptance has to do with looking in your fridge. Dana Wang is a trained psychiatrist who completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She believes in a holistic approach to mental wellness and has expertise in many areas of psychotherapy including anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorder. Check out her practice: https://riviamedical.com/ Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocktheboat/message

We interview Karen Mok, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Cosmos, a community for Asian women to flourish and thrive. In this episode, we talk to Karen about: How starting her first company at the age of 16 led her on a path of community building and entrepreneurship. The genesis of The Cosmos and how she met Cassandra Lam, her cofounder The battle of being both American and the child of Immigrants Mental Health and her struggle with depression The Power of Individual Agency Resources And Episode Citations: Links to Videos/Articles: Follow Karen on Twitter at @kmok88 Join the Cosmos at https://www.jointhecosmos.com/ Read the Medium Post that started it all: https://medium.com/@karenmok/who-is-the-asian-american-woman-an-open-letter-to-our-community-161ffb040677 Show Credits: Rochelle Kwan was our writer for this episode. Rochelle is currently a National Facilitator at StoryCorps, where she works towards building and deepening relationships to ensure the preservation of stories f

Season 3 of Rock The Boat features Asian Americans who’ve succeeded Against All Odds. Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-star rating on iTunes! We really appreciate your help in spreading the word. ---- In this episode we interview Jason Shen, the creator of The Asian American Man Study, the first and only annual survey of American men of East, Southeast, and South Asian descent. When their findings was first launched in 2015, it went viral within 48 hours and was covered by the Atlantic and NBC’s Asian America. An entrepreneur and 3X startup founder, Jason is currently the co-founder and CEO of Mindgame, a gaming tech startup. You may also have seen his Ted Talk titled “Looking for a job? Highlight your ability, not your experience.” that got over 3 million views on Ted.com. In this episode we talk to Jason about: How his origin in Gymnastics helped h

Season 3 of Rock The Boat features Asian Americans who’ve succeeded Against All Odds. Follow Rock the Boat on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-star rating on iTunes! We really appreciate your help in spreading the word. ---- In this episode we interview Kimmy Yam, the cofounder of HuffPost’s Asian Voices and reporter for NBC News. Kimmy shares her journey; starting from her roots of being a quiet child in a Chinese restaurant family, to how she became a vocal champion and fierce advocate for Asian representation in journalism. In this episode we talk to Kimmy about: Her role as an editor at a media company that seeks to amplify Asian American voices Asian American Representation in Media Social Media and Depression Why Being Woke is a Privilege Resources And Episode Citations: Links to Videos/Articles: Follow Kimmy Yam at @kimmythepooh Kimmy’s Crushing the Myth Vide

We interview Jon Chang, a Mental Health Advocate and Marketer who was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for Marketing & Advertising. He recently started a new role as head of consumer growth at Klarna, a financial services shopping site. In addition to teaching at NYU and General Assembly, he’s a startup mentor at WeWork Labs and advises the education non-profit Exploration Summer Programs. He manages all of this while living with bipolar disorder. Jonathan didn’t know he had bipolar disorder until he reached college. For a while, he didn’t understand why he felt so different and why he was engaging in irresponsible behavior. In this episode we talk to Jonathan about: What having bipolar disorder feels like Prejudices about mental health in the Asian community Managing his career with his disorder Opening the dialogue about mental health at work And the importance of preventative care and taking sick days for mental health Resources And Episode Citations: Links to Videos/Articles: Follow Jo

Season 3 of Rock The Boat features Asian Americans who’ve succeeded Against All Odds. Follow Rock the Boat on Instagram @rocktheboatnyc. You can reach us at hello@gorocktheboat.com. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please subscribe, share, and 5-star rating on iTunes! We really appreciate your help in spreading the word. ---- In this episode we interview Tiffany A. Yu, the founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise with the mission of rebranding disability through community. At the age of 9, Tiffany suffered a life-changing car accident that left her with a broken family and a disability in her right arm. In this episode we talk to Tiffany about: Her desire to be seen at home and in school Embracing her disability Rebranding the disability narrative Starting Diversability and empowering others with disabilities to speak up Resources And Episode Citations: Follow Tiffany on Twitter @imtiffanyyu Diversability is an award-winning global movement that began in Washington, DC with Tiffan

Season 3 is here! This season, Against All Odds, highlights Asian Americans who have overcome immense obstacles to launch organizations, movements, and businesses around a meaningful cause. We kick off the season with a gripping story from Jason Wang, a former gang member and ex-convict, now the founder and CEO of FreeWorld. FreeWorld provides employment opportunities for people with criminal histories. At the age of 15, Jason was arrested with a 12-year sentence for aggravated robbery, a first degree felony. In this episode we talk to Jason about: His abusive childhood, What led him to join a gang as a teenager, Some of the lessons he learned in prison, The state of our criminal justice system, and Why he thinks it’s so important to give people, especially ex-convicts, a second chance. It’s a raw and unfiltered story about how Jason picked himself up from rock bottom, against all odds, to build a life of meaning for himself and others. Mostly, it’s a story about redemption: how to forgive, and fre

The countdown begins for Season 3! Our season theme, Against All Odds, highlights the stories of more than 15 inspiring guests and how they've overcome obstacles. Tune in when our first episode drops on Friday. If you're in NYC, stop by our launch event on Thursday, September 26 at China Institute for a sneak peek of what's in store. We have stellar speakers, community organizations, and lots of food & drink lined up. Doors open at 7pm and speaking program begins at 7:25.  RSVP here: http://bit.ly/RTBS3 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rocktheboat/message

This week we speak with Roni Mazumdar, a modern-day polymath. He’s an entrepreneur, actor, tech startup founder, dad, and in a former life, an engineer. But today, he’s primarily a restaurateur. If you’re a foodie in New York City, you may have visited one of his three restaurants: Rahi, a high-end artisanal Indian restaurant in the West Village; The MasalaWala, featuring South Asian street style cuisine in the Lower East Side; and Adda, an Indian canteen that recently opened to much acclaim in Long Island City. Last year, the New York Times named Adda one of the top 10 best new restaurants in NYC. --- In this episode, Lynne speaks with Roni about:  His early years in America, How his many interests fuel his creativity, And his advice on how to become what you’re truly meant to be. For anyone who is interested in a lot of different things, Roni’s advice will shed light on how to explore as many of them as possible....without forsaking your bank account. You’ll also hear Roni talk about overcoming th

Earlier this summer, we hung out with Fumi Abe and Mic Nguyen, the two stand-up comedians behind the podcast Asian, Not Asian. They describe their show as “two Asian guys not from Asia talking about American issues no American cares about.” If that catches your interest, tune in for what may be our most entertaining episode yet. (Fumi and Mic are a lot funnier than us.) We talk about a range of random things including day jobs, podcast show formats, “Asian” issues, “American” issues, and more. Fumi and Mic also share their origin stories and how they each got into comedy.   Thanks for the laughs, Fumi & Mic!  Shout-Outs: Tune in to Asian Not Asian, a weekly comedy podcast with hosts Fumi Abe (MTV, Vulture) and Michael Nguyen (Someecards, NBC News). https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/asian-not-asian/id1356303465 Follow them on Instagram: @AsianNotAsianPod  Fumi: @TheFumiAbe Mic: @NicePantsBro -- This episode was recorded at Canal Street Radio in Canal Street Market. Many thanks to Listeni

We’ve been on a brief summer hiatus, but we’re back with a few bonus episodes!  Today, a quick take on “The Farewell”, the acclaimed film starring Awkwafina that was released in select NYC & LA theaters on July 12. The comedy-drama, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, is based on an actual lie that writer-director Lulu Wang’s family told when her paternal grandmother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.  Lucia and Lynne discuss the film, after watching it at two separate Gold Open screenings. WARNING: there are spoilers in this episode.  Shout-Outs: Gold House is an organization dedicated to supporting Asian American voices and enhancing the community's legacy. Gold House partnered with AARP to support the opening of The Farewell. We’re grateful to Taiwanese American Professionals and Crazy Rich Asians director Jon Chu for financially supporting the screenings where we saw the film. To learn more about Gold Open, listen to our Season 2 episode with Bing Chen, one o

We close out Season 2 with a gripping story from former TV news reporter Christine Lee. Christine is an Emmy-nominated journalist who has reported in newsrooms across America. She’s covered subjects ranging from the Vancouver Winter Olympics to an exclusive series about North Korean refugees living in the US.  On screen, Christine’s life appeared idyllic. But a few years ago, things took a turn when she became a victim of domestic violence and sexual assault. Today, Christine shares her personal story with the hope that opening up about her past can help API communities overcome the cultural stigma associated with domestic violence, and offer healing to those who’ve experienced it. We also talk to Christine about: What it’s like to build her own audience from scratch now that she is at the helm of her own media company, Kimbop TV,  Some of the lessons she’s learned about life through storytelling,  How to cope with stress and trauma, and Why it may not always be wise to rock the boat Tr

We’ll keep this one short and sweet. Andrew Fung, the younger brother of the dynamic Fung Bros YouTube duo, joins us on the show this week! The Fung Bros are a Chinese American comedy and rap duo consisting of two actual brothers: David Fung (rapper name D-One) and Andrew Fung (Inglish).  This free-flowing conversation with Andrew touches on topics ranging from: • How he and his brother David got their start in comedy, 
 • The evolution of Asian identity in American culture,
 • The differences between dating in America versus Asia,
 • Asian male masculinity, and 
 • Attack vs. Analysis Mode 
 This episode will be more conversational than our previous episodes, enjoy! --- Relevant Links: Check out the Fung Bros YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/fungbros Some our favorite videos: • Things Asian Parents Do • Asian Snacks From Your Childhood • NBA Signature Moves Series • Rap Collaboration with Higher Brothers • And... this epic guide to Asian food in the Lower East Side ---- Show Announceme