Thrive Spice

Samantha Ong is on a mission to Stop Asian Hate and colorism, and Start Asian Love with Joeydolls, the first inclusive collection of Asian dolls for kids. The Founder/CEO, Mom and Entrepreneur gets real about juggling mom life and starting a business, creating a more inclusive world that celebrates all Asian cultures and skin tones with Joeydolls, and raising confident kids who are proud to be Asian. Plus: we drool over curry laksa and a real-life run-in with Shang-Chi celebrity Simu Liu.

Check out the full video podcast, quotes and the full transcript on www.thrivespicemedia.com 

Our guest on this episode is Samantha Ong, is the CEO & Founder of Joeydolls. She was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, grew up in sunny Australia and now lives in Toronto, Canada. Although Samantha graduated with a financial background, she followed her dream of becoming a wedding photographer and is now a mother of two young daughters. 

Samantha founded Joeydolls and #StartAsianLove during the COVID-19 pandemic, a movement that is close to her heart. Being a first-generation immigrant, she knows first-hand how important it is for young children to see themselves represented to feel worthy. As a new mother, Samantha wants to fill the gap and hopes that these dolls can help both teach and celebrate Asian diversity in a fun but meaningful way.

Episode music from Uppbeat  
Mountaineer - Refresh | RA - Summer with You

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In the pursuit of success, do we lose ourselves? As a recovering perfectionist, I spill the tea on my own personal journey going from corporate life to mom to podcaster to Lillian So, fitness entrepreneur and co-author of the new book FitCEO, and share the incredible lessons I’ve learned along the way on parenting, career and relationships.  We dig into the ways I’ve had to be vulnerable, brave, and listen to my intuition, while observing my inner critic with compassion and curiosity. 

Do you dream of living an "Authentic Life" but feel trapped by social media's definitions of success - whether it's a job title, relationship, or any other personal goals? Have you ever climbed your way to the "Peak" of your goals, and discovered - wait a minute - it wasn't the glossy, happy, perfect life you had imagined?  Same, girl, same. 

In this podcast episode, we talk about observing moments of negative self-talk and using them as opportunities to reframe our perspectives, to uncover our real truth and potential. We talk about ways to find validation, healing, and empowerment in ourselves and as a community - especially for women of color, mothers, and Asian Americans.  Most importantly, how can we start embracing - instead of judging - our own gloriously messy lives? We share how to cultivate a life where we’re allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, try new things, and live authentically and joyfully in our personal and professional lives.

5-MINUTE MINDFUL JOURNALING PROMPT:  Are you ready to rise above your fears, doubts and negative self-talk? This podcast has a BONUS 5-minute journaling exercise at the end that I have personally found helpful in moments of self-doubt and anxiety.  It will help you gain perspective on your own ways of thinking and help you cultivate joy, confidence and peace right now. You can also find it at www.thrivespicemedia.com.

Prefer to watch our episode?  Check out the full interview on YouTube or see clips of the best parts of the interview on Instagram.

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Mom by day, comedian by night, Alyce Chan (@MomComNYC, @Scary Mommy) is ready to smash two glass ceilings - the one at home, and the other in the male-dominated world of comedy.  Alyce is a modern-day Marvelous Ms. Maisel who entertains and uplifts thousands of moms with her stand-up comedy while offering parenting insights with deadpan humor, spot-on impersonations of her husband and Chinese-Canadian mom, and hilarious vulnerability that slays on stage, on Instagram, and on TikTok.

Alyce and Vanessa talk about the many faces of Postpartum Depression based on their lived experiences with PPD, intergenerational Asian mom rage, and how we can look at the everyday #parentingfail as “failing upwards”.  Alyce shares how she nurtures her creative process and energy while developing grit as a performer, writer and comedian. We debate what self-care really means for tired moms who are told to "enjoy every moment!"  Lastly, inspired by Reshma Saujani (Founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms), we ask how we can turn our rage into power - for moms, women of color and Asian Americans.

About Alyce Chan:

Alyce Chan is a stand up comedian who performs all over New York, including the Comedy Cellar, Caroline’s, Broadway Comedy Club and the Knitting Factory. She created BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) comedy show to parents and caregivers where they can bring their babies for a comedy show. Alyce can be regularly seen on the largest parenting blog, Scary Mommy, and has been a guest on The Drew Barrymore show.  Alyce founded MOMCOM NYC, a parenting platform that uses humor to empower and bring laughs to mothers. 

See Alyce perform live at the New York Comedy Festival feat. Crazy Woke Asians

Want to laugh with Alyce and other Asian American comedians IRL? She’ll be performing on November 8th at the New York Comedy Festival at the legendary venue Caroline’s on Broadway. This is the first time an all-Asian lineup of comedians has ever performed at the New York Comedy Festival, so let’s get out there and represent!

New York Comedy Festival presents, CRAZY WOKE ASIANS, the always sold out comedy show featuring the funniest Asian American comedians in Los Angeles at Caroline’s On Broadway. Lineup features comedians who have performed at Laugh Factory, the Comedy Store, and more - like Crazy Woke Asians Founder Kiki Yeung, Sonya Vai, Jason Rogers, Alyce Chan (Bring Your Own Baby Comedy, MOMCOM NYC, Scary Mommy), Soo Ra, Ali Malik and special guest TBA!

 Tickets: https://www.carolines.com/events/crazy-woke-asians/

Promo code for $5 off: CWA

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If you've ever felt the urge to escape your life and "Eat, Pray, Love" your way to a yoga ashram in India or Bali, please listen to this podcast episode instead - it will save you a lot of time, money and heartache. Lillian So, a life coach, fitness entrepreneur, and co-author of the new book FitCEO, gets personal and shares everything: her moment of panic after getting her hand tattoos, reclaiming her energy and worth by leaving toxic and emotionally abusive relationships, and what she learned from starting her own business and writing her first book, FitCEO, in partnership with Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann (the former CEO of Citigroup).   We talk about why investing in ourselves is the hardest but most gratifying work,  and why we need to deprogram the Model Minority Myth even within ourselves. Lastly, Lillian shares why asking for help - whether it's for work, your mental health or emotional and physical wellbeing - is the ultimate BOSS move in manifesting your best life. 

Also - join us on Facebook Live for a special livestream at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT with Lillian!

Lillian So is an integrator and facilitator of transformation. She has more than twenty years of industry experience in creating psychological safety, group facilitation, and compassionate communication. The founder of SOfit SF Inc. and the SO method, she is also a passionate community builder and entrepreneur. 

Lillian has a BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, yoga educator and therapist, non-violent communication facilitator, life coach, integrative healer, and mystic.  She has received over a dozen certifications in fitness and various mind-body modalities, and has studied Jungian psychology at the International School of Analytical Psychology Zurich.  

Her coaching programs, which attract an international audience, have helped people transform every aspect of their lives through the five pillars of the SO method: biology, programming, inner compass, communication, and manifesting. 

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If you feel like your anxiety and stress have intensified since COVID-19, you're not alone. Nearly half of Asian Americans have reported anxiety during the pandemic, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate. 

This is a mini podcast episode focused on panic attacks: what they are, where they come from and what we can do about it. I'm also going to share my own personal recent experience with panic attacks as a mom, wife, entrepreneur, daughter, sister, and human.

Let us know if you want more of these Thrive Spice Guides - simple, practical yet personal guides to common mental health challenges, tailored for Asian Americans. Send us a DM on Instagram @thrivespice or email us at "info" @ thrivespicemedia.com.

Show Notes:

How to Deal With a Panic Attack
Practice these 5 steps to get to safety - physically, emotionally and psychologically.

1. Physical Assessment. Stop and get to safe space where you can recover.  Breathe. Drink some water. Have you eaten yet? (There’s a reason why Asian parents always ask!)

2.  Practice Extreme Mindfulness by Zooming In.  Use your five senses to listen to sounds, sights, smells, etc to become aware of your surroundings.

3.  Zoom Out with Compassion - Imagine yourself as the lead character in a movie. What external or internal circumstances are making this moment difficult in their life right now?

4.  Ask For Help.  Talk to a therapist, family member, friend (Need help finding a mental health professional? Additional resources are listed below for AAPI community)

5. Practice Gratitude.  Your body is trying to tell you something. What else can you be grateful for in this difficult moment?

Want more mental health resources for Asian Americans? Check out www.thrivespicemedia.com.

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Can leaning into something you were previously ashamed of actually become your superpower? We find out when Vanessa talks to Gregory Cendana, a dancer, political strategist and entrepreneur who has been named one of Washington DC's most influential 40 under 40, about dancing for social justice.  Gregory reflects upon his upbringing in a conservative Catholic Filipino family and his own coming-out journey, and why his life mission is to help others bring their full, true selves to any space they are in to engender cultural, social and political change.  We discuss why prioritizing mental health creates more sustainable communities, and how the idea of collective self-care for Asian-Americans and BIPOC communities gives us the power to heal and reclaim our stories. Plus, we extol the wonders of the adult power nap. Rest is resistance.

Watch the video or read the full interview at www.thrivespicemedia.com

About Gregory:
Dancer, Strategist and Entrepreneur Gregory Cendana is President and co-founder of Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting, Chief Creative Officer of Greg Dances and co-founder of The People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation. He was the first openly gay and youngest-ever Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement. Gregory was also first openly gay Chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, co-founder of the diversity initiative Inclusv, and serves on the board of directors for United We Dream as Treasurer and 18 Million Rising as Chair. Gregory was President of the United States Student Association (USSA), where he played an integral role in the passage of the Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act and Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act.  He has been named one of Washington DC's most influential 40-and-under young leaders, one of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30, 40 Influential Asian Americans in Washington, DC’s Inaugural Power 30 Under 30™ Award Recipients and the "Future of DC Politics". In his spare time, Gregory enjoys singing karaoke, choreographing dances and trying new recipes. You can find him on TikTok: @gregdances and on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter at @gregorycendana @cswsconsulting.

Mental Health and Social Justice Resources:

-Asian Mental Health Collective:
https://www.asianmhc.org/

-Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting:
https://www.cswsconsulting.com

-Collective Solidarity and Abolition Pledge:
http://bit.ly/Asian

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Lyn, author of The Tiger Mom’s Tale, speaks out on her own personal mental health journey as a Taiwanese-American writer, mother, designer, and fitness trainer.  Lyn tells us how she found peace and healing in her writing and Taiwanese heritage, and how fate led her to adopt “the happiest little boy in the world.”  We talk about the effects of racism and Tiger parenting, why food is the original love language in Asian culture and unpack why mental health issues are seen as so shameful in our families and communities - and what we can do about it. 

Review:
The Tiger Mom's Tale is a moving story of self-acceptance, love and healing, centered upon the refreshingly nuanced experience of Lexa, a biracial personal trainer who now has to reconcile her Taiwanese and American heritage and families.  Lyn's debut published novel spans NYC to Taiwan, taking us on a vibrant journey of night markets, to career and dating mishaps, to reclaiming power and peace with kung fu and sisterhood.  Her novel deftly explores the twisted saga of intergenerational, cross-cultural family drama and modern love with a sense of empowered, enlightened humor and wisdom.

Lyn’s mouthwatering descriptions of Taiwanese food also remind us of how traditions of eating and sharing are everlasting markers of cultural identity, love, and emotion. It’s an enjoyable and quick read that is sure to delight the senses and offer familiarity in its saga of navigating Asian family politics and bicultural expectations, yet surprises and comforts in its modern-day depictions of love, humanity and hope.

About Lyn Liao Butler:  Lyn was born in Taiwan and moved to the states when she was seven and our past and present lives. She has been a concert pianist, a professional ballet and modern dancer, a gym and fitness studio owner, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, a certified yoga instructor, a purse designer, and most recently author of multi-cultural fiction.

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Mayuko and Vanessa unpack myths about our mental and physical health in diet culture and discuss the allure of the abundance trap in many areas of our lives: our bodies, our self worth, our relationships, and our careers.  Mayuko shares her own journey of self-discovery after uprooting her life in Los Angeles, CA and moving to Japan.  We talk about finding freedom, healing and peace in our relationships with food, our bodies and our minds.  Mayuko shares why it's so important to lean in to compassion when rewiring our minds to identify and let go of falsely idealized expectations that don't serve us -- whether it's diet culture, body image, romantic relationships, or what success should look and feel like.

About Mayuko and Food Liberation:
Mayuko Okai is a Registered Dietitian, yoga teacher, and founder of Food Liberation: a coaching program that helps mindful individuals heal their relationship with food and body.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER:  Mayuko is offering  a 10% discount for private coaching and self study course for Thrive Spice listeners with the promo code: THRIVE. 
Learn more at https://food-liberation.com

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Biracial. Bisexual. Unapologetically Progressive. At 21 years of age, James Coleman is the youngest and first openly LGBTQ+ member to be elected to South San Francisco's City Council.

We talk to James about the remarkable journey he's had - from growing up biracial as a child of a Taiwanese immigrant mother and Caucasian father, to having to care for and lose his father after a spinal cord injury, to finding healing and purpose in social equity and environmental justice while studying at Harvard University.

We explore how being bisexual and biracial have shaped James' view of himself and the world, and why elections aren't just about winning or losing.  James shares his dream of empowering a movement of more young, Queer, BIPOC, female and AAPI folks to run for office and advocate for change together.  We also talk about how expanding mental health resources, particularly for queer and BIPOC folks, could help end police killings.

About James Coleman:

James Coleman is an elected member of South San Francisco City Council. He is their first openly LGBTQ member, their first democratic socialist and, at 21 years of age, the youngest individual ever elected to the seat. As an undergraduate at Harvard University, James was a cofounder of the Harvard Undergraduates for Environmental Justice, an organizer with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, a neuroscience researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a Director with TedxHarvard College. James recently graduated with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a minor in Government. He is expected to be appointed as South San Francisco's Mayor in 2024.

About Thrive Spice: Thrive Spice is a mental health and social equity podcast for Asian Americans, featuring real stories of resilience, grit and joy. It's a safe space that feels like group therapy meets celebrity interview, with a healthy dose of self-care. Join us as we share the untold stories of influential AAPI leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, and creators - and ask how they have found ways to cope, survive and thrive.  Our mission is to normalize conversations about mental health and promote social equity in the AAPI, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Each episode highlights ways to navigate the pressures of family, social media, our careers, our communities and our own minds.

Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Resources:

CAHOOTS Mental Health First Responder Model  (Eugene, OR)
TGI Justice Project - (California) TGI Justice Project is a group of transgender, gender variant and intersex people–inside and outside of prisons, jails and detention centers–creating a united family in the struggle for survival and freedom.
STAR and Marsha P. Johnson


episode music courtesy of Uppbeat [ATM - Dreamland]

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You're never too young or too old to find your voice. We talk to Brian Gao (incoming NYU Stern '25) and Arin Siriamonthep (Boston University '24) of Asians Speak Up,  a New York based AAPI community advocacy group that has been featured on ABC Eyewitness News and Buzzfeed News. 

Brian and Arin tell us why the pandemic and recent hate crimes inspired them to create Asians Speak Up as high school students, and how sharing your truth and being part of a bigger movement for change can positively impact your mental health and build confidence in your identity, creative abilities and self-expression.

We talk about real vs. performative allyship in #BLM and #StopAsianHate, and why tennis player Naomi Osaka's recent decision to drop out of the French Open due to depression and anxiety highlights how tennis and competitive sports are just as much a mental game as physical.

About Asians Speak Up: 
A New York-based community advocacy group  started by Brian Gao (incoming NYU Stern '25) and Arin Siriamonthep (Boston University '24), two students looking to facilitate conversation between Asians and their communities in an attempt to increase awareness about racism to create unity. They hope to develop a platform where Asians across the globe can come together with support and inspiration to help others.

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