Curito Connects

Jenn speaks to Tokyo bred, global citizen, Kyoto based, Momoko Nakamura (Momo) founder of Kyoto Research Institute. From her young memories of Japanese cookery at home, to her studies in microbiotics and traditional medicinal cooking, food television career in the US, to now returning to her roots in Japan and creating a company that is dedicated to researching, educating and preserving Japanese materials, Momo has been sharing her knowledge with the world, communicating the intangible in tangible ways. She shares with us what she means by intangible to tangible, her passion in the work she is doing, and the ups and downs that she has encountered along the way.  (Recorded on March 14, 2025)About Momoko Nakamura:Momoko leads Kyoto Research Institute, dedicated to the study of heritage Japanese materials. Her interest in fieldwork across the archipelago is rooted in over 20 years of communicating and educating on cookery culture and the food system. The Institute's research now extends beyond food, exploring a wide spectrum of the materials that create Japanese living, and shares these learnings in the form of educational programming, products, and publishing.Episode Resources:Website IG Maana Retreats Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing The Uncommon

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese bred New York based composer Shiuan Chang. Born and raised in Taipei, Shiuan his earliest memories composing music was when he was just 7yrs old, his teachers discovered his talent and encouraged him to study composition and thus he went to the New England Music Conservatory in Boston to continue his education. Though he didn't obtain a degree there Shiuan has since built a career composing music that has been performed at many renowned concert halls around the world. Shiuan shares with us some of his failures he has encountered, his search for identity and how that influences the music he creates. (Recorded on November 26, 2024)About Shiuan Chang:Describe as “spiritual, light and comforting.” by  Classic Agenda (FR), Recipient of Asian Cultural Council and Djerassi Foundation, Chang Shiuan's music has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, Suntory Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Hall, Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Hall, Hungary Bartok Hall, Taiwan National Concert Hall, Le Phenix Valenciennes, Grafenegg, Weimar Kunstfest, Geneva Archipel Festival, Royaumont, and more. He has been commissioned by and collaborated with Cloudgate Contemporary Dance Company, Tonkunstler Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra Now, Taiwan Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra Now, Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Ekmeles Ensemble, Les Métabole,  Princeton Singers, TANA Quartet, Atlas Ensemble, Ensemble Multilaterale, Earplay Ensemble, and Ictus Ensemble.Episode Resources:Website  IG  Spotify Youtube  Miles Davis Autobiography  George Aperghis  Something Like a Autobiography  Bian Zhou Composition  Before Everything Appears

Jenn speaks to Taiwan based Argentinian Yogi Prema Karina Arenas Bonansea. Prema Karina is an international yoga teacher,  executive director of Seeds of Joy Yoga Association, a non-profit organization registered in Taiwan and CEO of Karuna Seeds Yoga. She teaches at Teacher Trainings and Advanced Teacher Trainings of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers in Europe and India as well as at Youth fitness & yoga in Taipei. Prema Karina shares how a serious car accident led her on the path of healing through yoga and what yoga has taught and continues to teach her through her own practice. She believes that we can all integrate  our spiritual practice into our daily lives and teach others to do the same. (October 8, 2024)About Prema Karina:Born in Argentina, South America, Prema Karina loves traveling and learning from different cultures. She holds a degree in Accounting and Administration from the National University of San Luis in Argentina, as well as a Master's degree in Business Administration from Ming Chuan University. She is an advanced practitioner and instructor of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers in Europe and India. She teaches workshops and trainings for teachers around the world. She is the Executive Director of the Seeds of Joy Yoga Association, a non-profit organization registered in Taiwan, and the CEO of Karuna Seeds Yoga. In 2004, she started her Sanskrit studies and Kirtan practices at the Sivananda School in Spain. She later deepened her studies in Mysore, India. Her main purpose in life is to serve as an instrument to pass on the Yoga teachings she has received. Om Tat Sat. Episode Resources:Website FBIGSeeds of Compassion YogaYoga Your Home Practice CompanionHow Yoga WorksDivine Life SocietyReginald A. Ray

Jenn speaks to California based, Arielle Webb, a plant medicine facilitator and spiritual/mental health guide. Arielle specializes in guiding people out of their habitual patterns that have them stuck in a life that is unsatisfying and lacking in meaning, or even causing them significant mental and physical health problems. She shares her own journey of working through past traumas, her battle with digestion illnesses, her divorce and discovering her spiritual awakening with plant medicine! (Recorded on August 1, 2024). About Arielle:Arielle Webb is an experienced guide and trauma practitioner with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology and over 15 years of experience as a healing facilitator. She helps people get unstuck from their unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through brain and body retraining. Using the powers of myth, depth psychology, somatics, music, dance, and plant medicine, Arielle curates healing experiences that expand awareness, reveal spiritual truths, and integrate them into a meaningful existence. She has overcome abuse, anorexia, infertility, autoimmune disease, and digestive illness and, in addition to her degree, holds certifications as a Keith's Cacao Practitioner, Transformational Nutrition Coach, Collective Reprocessing Trauma Practitioner, Reiki Practitioner, and Tantra instructor. She is a proud mother of two daughters and a loving servant of Mother Earth. Arielle's honors her ancestral roots from Mexico and Central America (Maya & Yaqui peoples), the UK (Celtic), Germany, Norway, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal (Galicians).Episode Resources:IGWebsite Ram Dass Byron Katie Allen Watts

Jenn speaks to current professor of medical anthropology at the University of La Verne and founder of Ehtheon and author of “Book of Queens: The True Story of the Middle Eastern Horsewomen Who Fought the War on Terror”, Pardis Mahdavi. Born in Minnesota to Iranian immigrants, Pardis grew up bridging her Iranian and American immigrant identity in her early diplomacy work at the UN. Her curiosity for cultures, people and being a bridge that connects us together has led her to a career in academics, publishing books and most recently creating a wellness tourism company. Through her own experiences, Pardis shares with us how the courage to cross the bridges we build is essentially the foundation in discovering our inner self and in the process understanding the world we live in! (Recorded on July 16, 2024)About Pardis:Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is a professor of medical anthropology and founder of Entheon Journeys. Prior to this role, she served as President at the University of La Verne, Provost and Executive Vice President at the University of Montana, as well as Dean at Arizona State University and the University of Denver after serving in multiple roles at Pomona College. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, human rights, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published seven single authored books and two edited volumes in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Young President's Organization and has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She serves as a board member for the Lumina Foundation and the Human Trafficking Legal Center.Episode Resources:Website IG Entheon

Jenn speaks to Colorado based Hannah Ritchie and Kait Tomkosky founders of Together a company whose mission is to help others experience life with more consciousness, particularly those in the music scene through the magic of meditation and ceremonial grade Cacao. Hannah & Kait share their own personal journeys, how they met and how Together was created in 2022 after leading their first cacao ceremony for musicians before they start their concerts! (Recorded on April 23, 2024)About Hannah & Kait:Hannah grew up in Richmond, Virginia, while Kait grew up in western Pennsylvania. Hannah and Kait met on their first day of college at West Virginia University and have been inseparable best friends since. While in college, they got into the jam band scene, and music quickly became a huge part of their lives. After moving to Colorado, yoga, meditation, and spirituality also became a huge part of their lives, and they eventually obtained their meditation teacher training certifications through the Shambhavananda School of Yoga. In an attempt to cultivate a greater sense of inner awareness, intention, and presence while seeing live music, they began drinking cacao as an alternative way to "pre-game" before shows. They became increasingly captivated by the sense that this "spirit" was working behind the scenes to manifest their intentions for the night. Intrigued by this guiding force, they dove into the world of cacao - drinking cacao in their daily lives, completing a month-long cacao immersion, and eventually obtaining their cacao ceremony facilitator certifications through Keith's Cacao. Eventually, they founded their business, together, whose mission is to help others experience life with more consciousness, particularly those in the music scene. Their signature offering is "the conscious pre-game" - a cacao ceremony and meditation circle that's designed to deepen the live music experience by providing space for bands or fans to ground, become centered, and connect with one another on a deeper level before the show.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGInsight TimerLiving in a Mindful UniverseThe Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and GuidebookFree Meditation with Email Sign-Up

Jenn speaks to Spanish chef and restaurant owner of Juju Spanish Gastrobar, Pablo Lorenzo Ten! Pablo shares with us how from dreaming of becoming a movie director to living in Xian, China teaching English to falling in love and moving to Taiwan to then discovering his talent for cooking and opening a restaurant in a foreign city that one should keep an open mind to embrace the opportunities that presents itself as life is full of unexpected surprises! (Recorded on March 12, 2024)About Pablo:Born and raised in Tenerife, Spain, Pablo Lorenzo Ten was always hungry and curious about the world. Movies have always been one of his biggest passions which led him to major in media and communications. After graduating he wanted to travel and explore the world so he moved to London and obtained his certification to teach English. With this on hand, it allowed Pablo to work, travel and experience what the world has to offer. In 2010, Pablo decided to relocate to Taiwan where his partner resides and found his true professional calling: cooking. Today Pablo owns and runs JUJU Spanish Gastrobar in Taipei serving authentic Spanish cuisine to share with Taiwan.Episode Resources:IG FB Thesis

Jenn speaks to Romanian bred, Taiwan based Talida Van Boxstael, founder of Light of Ki a palo santo company that empowers seekers to start and deepen their spiritual practice by bringing mystical palo santo to modern spiritual seeker from around the world! Talida breaks down her spiritual journey in correlation with her life chapters and and how it has taught and shaped her and linking the past and present together in the integration of your life now and the business she created. She shares insights on childhood trauma, career path, motherhood, healing modalities, spirituality and energy work! (Recorded on April 17, 2024)About Talida:Talida founded Light of Ki, a Palo Santo Spiritual Tools Boutique based in Taiwan. She is passionate about getting spirituality off the pedestal and bringing magic into the mundane. She has lived in 9 countries over the past 20 years with her husband and three kids.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGThe SecretOprah Daily ShowA Court of Thorne and Roses Abraham Hicks Law of Attraction Podcast A Bit of OptimisonSimon Sinek Podcast We Can Do Hard Things Podcast Good Inside Podcast Tim Ferris Podcast 

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese American Jessica Hwang, a purpose coach and host of Permission to Flow podcast. From her personal experience of leaving corporate America, calling off an engagement, and being completely burnt out, Jessica will share how this led to where she is today offering a space to help other women find their dream life by defying convention to create the life you want. (Recorded on January 25, 2024)About Jessica:Jessica Hwang is a Purpose Coach, host of Permission to Flow podcast, and an 800-Hr Dharma Yoga Certified Instructor.  Jessica's work as a coach is focused on helping first and second-generation women in corporate pivot to creative careers. She helps her clients reconnect with their dreams and pursue careers filled with creativity, passion, and purpose.Episode Resources:Book a free strategy session with JessicaDare to Dream ProgramPermission to Flow PodcastYouTubeIGWhen Things Fall Apart by Pema ChodronClarity and Connection by Yung PuebloThe Mastery of Love by don Miguel RuizBhagavad Gita Pocket Edition

Jenn speaks to classical trained Taiwanese flutist Jenni Tsai. Born and raised in Taiwan, Jenni began her musical journey at a young age having been a childhood prodigy with her chosen instrument early on to discovering improve and jazz to navigating the professional musician career path. She shares her upbringing in Taiwan, the obstacles musicians face, balancing motherhood, mother daughter relationships and fighting racial stereotypes within the family. (Recorded on February 5, 2024)About Jenni:美國新英格蘭音樂院長笛演奏碩士參與上海JZ爵士音樂節，杭州花朵音樂節，台中爵士音樂節，兩廳院夏日爵士派對。演出足跡略述：林肯爵士樂上海中心，台北國家兩廳院，波士頓愛樂管弦樂團，新加坡Victoria Hall。合作音樂家略述 : Jerry Gonzales/Walter Blanding/Laura Fygi/Jeremy MonteiroTina May/Arno Hass 等葛萊美提名或獲獎樂手。音樂軌跡從台灣到美國到中國，古典到爵士與流行，音樂廳到小酒吧與音樂劇樂池。2017年於國家演奏廳演出長笛獨奏會"經典不設限"票房告捷2021於國家演奏廳與爵士長笛家Rit Xu演出台灣國際長笛藝術節之爵對愛笛音樂會現任東吳大學音樂系兼任教師Links:FB  IG Youtube

Jenn speaks to Honduras born and raised Taiwanese entrepreneur, Tiffany Wang founder of Herbgens a Taiwanese based company combating plastic straws one reed and grass straw at a time. Tiffany shares how her upbringing shaped her, from her early days in Honduras, Vietnam, Taiwan and the US to how she viewed the world and her place in it to how she threaded her own experience to find her self and identity today. (Recorded on August 22, 2023)About Tiffany:Tiffany Wang was born and raised in Honduras where she discovered her love for nature and animals while playing with worms in her backyard during her childhood. After studying Photography and Communication and Design at Parsons in New York, she is now combining her love for nature and designs together to spread awareness about single use plastic and finding solutions on how to reduce it. In the meantime, she is focusing on selling grass and reed straws in Taiwan as the coffee and tea drinking culture in Taiwan is immense and they all mostly use plastic straws for cold drinks! After living in places that do not depend on single use plastic and use leaves instead like Honduras and Vietnam, Tiffany believes that small changes add up and even the replacement of plastic straws is a start. She would also like to create events that bring many ecofriendly brands together in order to build a community that can create awareness together and support each other.Episode Resources:WebsiteIG

Jenn speaks to California musician and Kirtan artist Joss Jaffe. Growing up with a yogi mom, Joss was introduced to the world of yogic philosophy, mantras and meditation at a very young age. In 1998 at the age of 17, Joss traveled to India to study classical India and Nepal music. He shares with us how this experience brought many learnings to him in which he incorporates into his music today to spread around the world because sharing music, particularly kirtan music where the audience joins the format of call in response is a very powerful way to connect with our souls. (Recorded on February 27, 2024)About Joss:Joss Jaffe performs as a Vocalist, Tabla player and Multi-Instrumentalist. As a composer and producer he has created innovative albums including Svara Mandala, Echosystem and Dub Mantra to critical acclaim. Joss has collaborated with numerous artists including Grammy Award nominees Jai Uttal, Silvia Nakkach and Dave Stringer as well as Grammy Award winning Reggae artist Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru. No Depression, Vents, Top Shelf, the UK's Om Magazine, Yoga Journal and other prominent publications.Episode Resources: IG / FB / ThesisWebsiteIGFBLive at Yoshi's OaklandLive at Sedona Yoga Festival Performing in Seoul South KoreaAmbient TablaAnimated Music Video by Maureen Kuo (TW)Spotify 

Jenn speaks to Australian based multi-disciplinary practitioner Darinka Maja. Darinka shares with us her personal story working through complex trauma and how her experience led her on the path of healing and how she found her way. From the loss of her mom shortly after her birth, to choosing to leave her dad at the age of 13, learning how to cope with social anxiety and more, Darinka hopes that her journey and offerings can help more people find insights, clarify and direction in their own life. (Recorded on January 22, 2024)About Darinka:Darinka - is a multi-disciplinary practitioner offering Vedic Astrology consultations & Wholistic Remedial Massage, aimed to facilitate alignment, harmony & clarity. In 2017, she completed Komilla Sutton's three-year foundation program in Jyotish and some additional advanced courses, and have given lectures at her international Fresh Talents of Jyotish conference. She has been practicing bodywork and massage for over 10 years. Her treatments blend and integrate Remedial, Deep Tissue, Myofascial release, Ka Huna & Lomi Lomi, Craniosacral Therapy and Abdominal Massage. Additionally, she completed 200 hours of yoga teacher training in India and 300 hours of Vedic counselling with Dr. David Frawley. Her offerings are for individuals who are looking to gain greater insight, clarity & direction into their path & purpose in this life.Episode Resources:Website Online Shop  IG  Under a Vedic Sky Podcast Darinka's Spotify Music Playlist Komila Sutton The Alchemist  Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown The Greatness of Saturn by Robert Svoboda

Jenn speaks to Ariana Ost a jewelry designer, healer and founder of Ariana Ost. Born and raised in NYC, Ariana enjoyed growing up surrounded by museums and traveling with her father. Her love for fashion and design, history and old world atelier ultimately inspired her to get a degree in design from Parsons which led her to work for her father who ran a jewelry business in NYC. In 2009 she lost her mom to cancer and this experience led her on a deep-end healing journey. Ariana shares with us her journey and how she made sense of her grief, she is so passionate about healing the world through fashion forward aesthetics, motherhood, leaving a legacy and how these are elements that drives her to continue to build the business she started with her father in 2016. (Recorded on April 15, 2024)About Arianna:Ariana Ost is a design atelier based in New York City created by Ariana Ost and her father in 2016. The mission is to elevate the everyday by creating decorative objects infused with soul, conviction and healing energy. The companies purpose is to fill a whitespace in the wellness market for decor with a contemporary aesthetic and resonance with mindfulness.Ariana loves working with her Father Jack and her Maltipoo dog named London at their dreamy Flatiron Studio in NYC. In addition to being a female entrepreneur, Ariana is also a wife to her husband Eric and mother to her precious daughter Aurelie, and charming son Julian.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGDr Joe DispenzaThe Choice by Edith Eva Eger

Jenn talks to Austrian born now residing in Taiwan, Gabriele (Gabi) Seewald co-creator of AWOVEN - Journeys that Connect. From Austria to Taiwan and everything in between, Gabi shares with us how an accident during the birth of her daughter in 2010 damaged her nervous system that led her on this decade long healing journey and reconnecting with nature's intelligence. What she learned during this process, how she embraced the changes and how she has taken this experience into her work and offerings she practices today in Taiwan and globally. (December 15, 2022)About Gabriele:Gabriele – short GABI (Taiwanese for coffee) is a ‘Weaver with the Web of Life', a ‘Collaborator with Humans and Nature' and one, who brings Light into the Worlds and Hearts through Education, Facilitation, Transformation. Connection, and Collaboration. She co-creates and co-facilitates retreats for self-healing and nature-connection and a founding member of AWOVEN – Journeys that Connect – the vehicle that Gabriele, Leiven and Carol are currently weaving together that will meet people, teams and groups to bring them on journeys that connect us back into our true places and purposes in the highly intelligent, benevolent and caring web of life that we all are part of.Gabriele was born and raised in Austria and has lived in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Taipei since 2001. She is the mother of three wonderful human beings, the author of Taiwan. The hidden Jewel., published in her German mother tongue in 2018 and she holds a Master of Arts Degree in Intercultural Competencies. She is fluent in spoken Chinese, English and German. She is a permanent resident of Taiwan and a citizen of Earth and a vivid practitioner of Eastern & Western Tai Chi, Flow and Heart-to-Heart Dialogue.Episode Resources:WebsiteAwovenIGFBLinkedinWild Rhythms, Deb Matlock: Sacred Nature ConnectionSong of Sophia - Living School of Divine Nature, Eliza MaoraSchool of Sacred Earth Wisdom, Vasama GaulEarth: The Art of Peace - Balance over Conflict in Sun Tzu's The Art of War by Philip Dunn

Jenn speaks to Taiwan based British photographer Duncan Longden! Originally from Oxfordshire, Duncan has spent his career working in various roles we dive into the challenges that he encountered taking that leap of faith to quit his job in the UK to move to Taiwan, restart a new life out here as a photographer, and the challenges and obstacles he faced in both his professional and personal life and why it is important to seek support and find tools to cultivate a healthy mindset and be able to learn to pivot each time you are faced with challenges. (Recorded on August 17, 2023)About Duncan:Duncan is a commercial photographer/videographer from the UK now based and working out of Taiwan. He has spent many years involved in the industry and has great experience having worked with all kinds of clients from individuals all the way through to some of the worlds largest brands. Living in Taiwan enables him great access throughout Asia.Episode Resources:WebsiteFBLinkedinIGJoe RoganCasual Criminalist

Jenn speaks to Christine Chien (CC), founder of 10m Souls (千萬靈魂 ). A successful founder of a multimillion dollar real estate firm, CC has since found meaning in touching thousands of souls: people and animals through her recently published book and work she is doing through 10m Souls. She shares her life journey and how liberating oneself from conditional experiences to living in unconditional quantum happiness and how this is what she hopes to empower others to do! (Recorded on May 15, 2023)About Christine:Christine Chien is an entrepreneur, author, life coach, and spiritual practitioner. Born and raised in Taipei, she studied abroad in Vancouver and is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. Her recent book, 我活著我的人生嗎, can be found at bookstores throughout Taiwan.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGFBYoutube10msouls PodcastJohn ButcherEssentialism by Greg McKeownThe Surrender ExperimentThe Untethered SoulBhagavad Gita Chinese TranslationTao Te Ching in ChineseGaiaThe Bhagavad Gita

Jenn speaks with American freelance journalist based in Taipei, Kaitlin Menza. From the East Coast of the US living the life of travel, dining, exploring and sharing it as a writer and former editor at Teen Vogue, Glamour, and Seventeen to finding love, getting pregnant, moving to a new country and becoming an expat, Kaitlin shares how she has navigated these major life changes and continues to share all the wonderful things life and the world has to offer through her writing! (Recorded on February 15, 2024)About Kaitlin:Kaitlin Menza is an American magazine writer who most often covers culture, style, and women's issues. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, the Guardian, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Cut, and many more. Past articles of hers have been nominated for a National Magazine Award, and selected for the Best American Food Writing anthology. In 2022, after over a decade in New York, she moved to Taiwan with her husband, Chef Kevin Rose, and in 2023 they welcomed their first child. She writes about the experience of emigrating in her Substack, Two Paragraphs from Taiwan.Episode Resources:Website Substack  IG  The Artist Way  Longform Podcat

Jenn speaks to entrepreneur & founder of the dating app DOWN, Colin Hodge. Colin is an entrepreneur, startup advisor and investor, he shares with us the lessons learned when experiencing the loss of a loved one. At 19, Colin lost his mom to cancer and from this he has gone on to integrate what he learned into his life pursuits. (Recorded on November 24, 2023)About Colin:Colin Hodge is an entrepreneur, startup advisor, and investor.  He's led growth teams and companies totaling over 100m users globally. He currently is co-owner of DOWN, a top 20 dating app in the US with millions in annual revenue. Colin also co-founded the Snowball Community in Taiwan to help regular consumers have an impact on human rights & freedoms in Asia. Also in Taiwan, he was Chief Growth Officer at 17Live, the top live-streaming app, leading data-driven growth initiatives, global expansion, and marketing efforts for millions of users, later launching the app as CEO of the US division.  Colin arrived in Asia after selling DOWN that now boasts over 13m users worldwide, which he was lucky enough to re-acquire in 2018. Colin is also a product growth & entrepreneurship speaker, with experience at SXSW, Business Insider's Conference, Glimpse Social Media Conference, and The Colbert Report. He writes about startups & the dating industry, and has plans to launch his debut book.Episode Resources: WebsiteLinkedin Cindy GallopSavage Love Podcast

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese entrepreneur, founder of Anchor Taiwan Elisa Chiu! Anchor Taiwan is a platform focusing on innovation ecosystem building for cross-border collaboration, strategic partnership/marketing/investing and tech scouting. Elisa has over the years like many founders, failed and accomplished in all aspects of her life. We dive into conversing about pedal to lead in which Elisa's journey to cycling a few years ago gave her a whole new perspective about herself, her work, Taiwan and more. (Recorded on November 13, 2023)About Elisa:Elisa Chiu is the founder of Anchor Taiwan, a platform focusing on innovation ecosystem building for cross-border collaboration, strategic partnership/marketing/investing and tech scouting with previous clients/partners/speakers from Google, AWS, Foxconn, MediaTek, NVIDIA, DIGITIMES, Infineon and many more from 15+ countries.As a dedicated ecosystem builder and partner with leading executives, investors and entrepreneurs, Elisa has a unique vantage point and network around the future of mobility, sustainability, and cross-industry opportunities.She is a highly sought-after speaker for tech conferences at Stanford University, The Economist, APEC O2O Summit, Arm Tech Symposia and many more. Elisa sits on the Advisory Committee of MIH, an open EV platform initiated by Foxconn, the Strategic Advisory Council of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC).Elisa was awarded 40 Under 40 as a Woman in Tech and a Gen.T X Credit Suisse Social Impact Awardee. She is a global citizen (70+ countries), a builder at heart, a student of life, a failed war zone photojournalist and a cyclist.Episode Resources:LinkedinIGAnchor IGWebsiteFBYouTube

Jenn speaks to Ohio born, Taiwan based Marcus Aurelius Maurice, aka DJ Marcus Aurelius. From Ohio to Taiwan, DJ Marcus shares with us how his philosophy in life is that “everything will be alright” and what prompted him to have this mindset, it started with a life changing experience backpacking from Cairo to Capetown! Buckle up for some animated storytelling from DJ Marcus as he dives into his young days in Milwaukee, navigating life in Taiwan in the early 2000s, how he started and shaped his career as a DJ in Taiwan and all the fun projects he has created and continues to create today for the DJ industry in Taiwan, Asia and around the world. (Recorded on May 17, 2023)About Marcus:Two-time Taiwan Red Bull 3Style finalist and all around party rocker.All of life is in need of the right rhythm. For more than two decades, DJ Marcus Aurelius has been a curator in search of impeccable music played at the right times to squeeze the most enjoyment out of every event. Whether it is the grimiest dancehall show packed into a sweaty basement, a comfortably mainstream club filled with bottle poppers and fly ladies, or a private event with celebrities and VIPs in  suits, Marcus' mission is to please the masses and hardcore heads, as well as  skillfully mix in surprises that people talk about afterwards. DJ Marcus Aurelius' style is perfectly askew and he thrives to make order out of chaos.Episode Resources:IGFBSoundcloudTwitterYoutubeMixmagLifted AsiaDevils Pool ZambiaDJ Jazzy JeffSkratch BastidDe La Soul

Jenn speaks to Filipino American entertainment star Roxanne Barcelo. Born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, Roxanna moved back to the Philippines when she was 13 and serendipitously started her singing and acting career in the Philippines. Today, she resides in Taiwan with her husband and 2 sweet boys where she shares with us the importance of adapting to the many life transitions one encounters. How her life path has led her from being a successful singer and actress, to seeking her authentic self after her late father passed in 2019 and mom this past January. From soul searching, finding the love of her life, moving countries, self-mastery and pursuing your dreams, are all themes we touch upon. (Recorded on October 26, 2023)About Roxanne:Born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, Roxanne began singing at the age of 8. Growing up, she enjoyed singing Disney, broadway, pop ballads, standards, and soft jazz music. At 10 years old, she won the Regency Singing Competition in Virginia, was 1st runner-up at the Metropop Star Search in the Philippines at 13, and recently came in 2nd runner-up in Tawag Ng Tanghalan in the Philippines. She also finished AB Communication Arts, workshops under the best directors in the Philippines, and has received classical and pop vocal training with Lionel Guico.Roxanne was a recording artist under Universal Records, releasing tracks such as Perfect Love, Kung Alam Mo Lang, and Answer The Phone. As a participant in the 6th Elements National Singing Songwriting Camp she underwent a myriad of training programs. She also pursued a career acting in television shows, theater musicals and movies. She became a dynamic host for live events, children's shows, and lifestyle shows. She now lives and works in Taiwan, pursuing her career in acting and in music as a singer and songwriter.Episode Resources:FB  IG  Youtube Marisa Peer  The Tipping Point  Outliers  Sheena Vera Cruz  Dr Maya Angelou “I Am Human” Dr Maya Angelou “Still I Rise”  Dr Maya Angelou “Forgiveness Liberates Us”

Jenn speaks to LA based Japanese American Taryn Mitsunaga founder of Taryn + Co and A Pop of Party a one of a kind event planner that go above and beyond for her clients and during covid started a company to cater to those who wanted a easy solution to their party decorating needs from flowers, balloons, backdrops, table setting and more. Taryn dives into the topic of “self love” and how it has given her an even deeper meaning and intention to how she and her company impact the world. She truly believes that everyone needs to celebrate themselves in all moments and especially when life is challenging and how life is truly a party! We go deep into family feud, generational trauma, dynamic shifting, sacrifices, healing lots of healing and more! (Recorded on May 18, 2023)About Taryn:Taryn Mitsunaga was born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles, where building a life she loves is always a priority. Let beaches, bodies of water and mountains to never fail to reset + restore her. She cannot say no to live music + a delicious meal with great company + service. Traveling makes her a better person. She has a big, close family who she adores + spends a lot of time with. And if it's not a HELL YES, she'll pass. Since Taryn founded her event planning company, 'Taryn + Co' 10 years ago, she's mastered the art of not just throwing a party but curating an entire experience for her clients that means something. From aerial dancers serving you champagne as they gracefully descend from the ceiling for a special event, to creating corporate events that people actually enjoy attending, to bringing the essence of Disneyland to life for a little girl turning 4, Taryn delivers no matter what obstacles are in the way. She is one that continues to learn about herself and life through all of it. Episode Resources:Taryn + Co IGA Pop of PartyTaryn's IGwww.apopofparty.comwww.tarynco.comLucy ShajahanKatherine Wehler

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese producer and Co-Founder of Small Island Big Song, Bao Bao Chen on how to find your tribe or build one! A vivid storyteller and fluent in English and Mandarin, Bao Bao has a social media following of 130K+, and has been invited to speak at TEDx, APAP NYC, Stanford Live, and numerous arts festivals regarding her Small Island Big Song. She shares with us her humble upbringings in Taiwan, how her adventurous soul took her to Mongolia and Australia where she met her husband and business partner Tim and what it took for them to build this company an work with talented musicians from Austronesian islands connecting cultures, stories and songs for the world to hear. (Recorded on June 8, 2023)About Bao Bao:Bao Bao Chen is the co-founder and producer of Small Island Big Song. Having produced 'Small Island Big Song' concert, albums, documentary, as well as curating world tours across 17 countries in Europe, the USA, Asia and Oceania, involving up to 13 artists from 8 Indo-Pacific island nations, BaoBao is one of Taiwan's most prominent producers of cross-cultural arts projects and an ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts) fellow 2023-25.A vivid storyteller and fluent in English and Mandarin, she has a social media following of 130K+, and has been invited to speak at TEDx, APAP NYC, Stanford Live, and numerous arts festivals.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGYoutubeFB 

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese American, Kevin Hsueh founder of Akro Fitness Gym and fellow podcaster of Talks with Kevin! Kevin shares his journey growing up in Taiwan and the US, how he went from corporate American to packing up his bags a decade ago and setting up his gym business in 2016. He is filled with knowledge about the Taiwanese fitness landscape and shares how the industry has grown, what challenges he faced when he started the business and during the pandemic and why he is so passionate about sharing his knowledge and fitness topics in Taiwan. In life it is all about recalibrating your choices and Kevin certainly shares stories in this episode! (Recorded on January 30, 2023)About Kevin:Born in the states, moved backed to Taiwan and spend ages 6-18 here, went to University of Washington majoring in finance. After working for Amazon and Microsoft as an FA, decided to pursue an MBA degree in operations (Purdue). Always was interested in sports and fitness, but really got into it right before entering MBA. Started a fitness youtube channel and fb group after graduating, and did it alongside as a hobby while working for Bank of America. In 2014 got an opportunity to work with some industry folks in Taiwan, and decided to try my hand in entrepreneurship, combining my passion and work. 8 years later the rest is history.Episode Resources:Spotify Apple Podcast  IG Youtube  Start with Why 

Jenn speaks to Filipina, Manila based Denise de Castro the Principal Architect of Deca Design Collaborative. With a talent and interest in art from a young age, Denise later on went to pursue a degree in architecture from Wellesley College and then a masters from Harvard University school of Architecture. Her degrees then gave her opportunities to practice and built her foundation in the field when she moved back to Manila. Fast forward to today, Denise has devoted her career to designing in projects for others and now an entrepreneur herself having her own design firm! Denise dives into a conversation about design with purpose where she feels strongly about how design can improve and impact our life experiences and why she chose to transition from a designer with a business to an entrepreneur with a design business and everything in between! (March 31, 2023)About Denise:Denise de Castro is the Principal Architect of DDC Architectural Studio. She has a Master of Architecture from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor's degree from Wellesley College. She has worked in design offices in the US and in the Philippines, notably IDEO (San Francisco), CBT Architects (Boston), and Lor Calma Design Associates (Manila). At DDC, she leads a passionate and talented team.Episode Resources:IGDDC StudioDDC IGLinkedinEd CalmaSimon Sinek Ted TalkThe Power of MomentFinding Your Why 

Jenn speaks to Taiwanese American Robert (Rob) Tsai, founder of DANCE|PREHAB a physical therapy organization that supports local dance community across all age ranges via rehabilitation strength and conditioning, and injury risk education. From an Asian kid growing up in Taiwan, defying cultural expectations by pursuing a dance career to then becoming an entrepreneur starting a business that integrates his love for dance and healing. Rob shares with us how creating and curating spaces for healing and learning from his own personal and professional experience through dance and more has led him to where he is today. (Recorded on February 16, 2023)About Robert:Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Rob received his undergraduate degrees in Communication Theory, Dance Performance, and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Chapman University In Orange, CA.As a lover of movement, Rob's entrance into dance began with breakin' and hip-hop culture while growing up in Taiwan and eventually led to studying classical modern dance techniques. Rob performed professionally in the Los Angeles commercial industry and taught dance for 8 years prior to pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy. Rob is passionate about creating environments and learning opportunities for all movers to explore their physical capabilities. DANCE|PREHAB supports the local dance community across all age ranges from youth, adolescent, collegiate, and adult movers via physical therapy, strength and conditioning, and injury risk reduction education. Rob also seeks to build up the next generation of physical therapists, and serves as a Kinesiological Motion Analysis Lab Assistant Lecturer at Chapman University's Department of Physical Therapy. Outside of the clinic, Rob enjoys rock climbing, backpacking or hiking, and finding new coffee spots to chill at.Episode Resources: WebsiteIGFBYoutubeRobin Kish

Jenn speaks to Hong Kong based Dharma Yoga teacher, Delia Leung founder of oneom8 yoga studio. Delia is also a Nike Hong Kong yoga trainer and representative, co-founder of MDFL MVMT, a platform that promotes mindfulness practices in Hong Kong. Delia dives into a conversation about how she chose to leave the finance world and enter the wellness space in Hong Kong, why creating your oasis through breath and movement is vital in navigating the dynamic busy lives we all live in today, how tuning in with your heart space is key to going with the flow in life and what the HK wellness landscape looks like! (Recorded on May 8, 2023)About Delia:Delia Leung is a Dharma Yoga teacher and Nike Hong Kong's Yoga trainer and Representative. She is also the co-founder of MDFL MVMT, a platform that promotes mindfulness practice in Hong Kong. Delia completed her 1000-hour teacher training with Sri Dharma Mittra in Dharma Yoga Center NYC and completed another 200-hour training with Samrat Dasgupta in Hong Kong. She is also a certified Dharma Yoga Wheel teacher and teaches Pranayama, meditation, Yoga Nidra, and prenatal and postnatal yoga.Positive changes in the body, mind, and spirit are the biggest motivation for Delia. She hopes that when students do yoga, they can open up their hearts and learn with an open mind.Delia obtained her Bachelor degree in Psychology at University College London and is expected to earn her Master's degree in Buddhist Studies degree at the Center of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong Kong. She has an investment banking background prior to yoga teaching.Episode Resources:Delia IGoneom8 IGmindfulmovementhk IGDharma YogaRam DaasBarcelona Yoga Conference

Jenn speaks to LA based Gabriel Ornelas, hospitality industry expert and creator and host of On the Pass Podcast! A collector of interesting people, purveyor of memorable experiences, Gabriel has spent his career working in hospitality, F&B, entertainment and lifestyle industries to help build and produce compelling branding experiences through content, media and partnerships. Gabriel shares his love for community building and how that has shaped him to become the person he is today and the work he does! (Recorded on June 29, 2023)About Gabriel:Collector of interesting people. Purveyor of memorable experiences.Gabriele is a strategist and producer who consults with entrepreneurs, marketers, creators, and brands across hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and lifestyle categories. An entrepreneur himself, he has spent his career developing and producing compelling branded experiences through content, media, and partnerships.His global work experience and unique point of view has positioned him to successfully drive growth, through new business and marketing campaigns for clients that include Faena Group, Sbe, Mercedes-Benz, Perfect Day, Citi, Perrier-Jouët Champagne, Moët Hennessy and Valrhona to name a few.He is the host, creator and producer of On The Pass, a Top 100 podcast on the Food charts, serving up inspiring conversations with leaders in the food, beverage, hospitality and travel space.Gabriele graduated from USC's Marshall School of Business and Universidad International in Cuernavaca, Mexico.Episode Resources: IGLinkedInWebsiteOn The Pass Podcast WebsiteYour Brain on LoveThe Obstacle is the Way

Jenn speaks to Singapore-based Diana Ng, founder of The Elemental Practice where she offers somatic therapy and coaching! She offers a synthesis of her personal exploration as a kinesthetic, deeply thinking, feeling and highly sensitive individual. Diana shares her journey about shifting out of the good girl archetype, finding her voice, expression and authentic self. The episode closes with two somatic practices you can try which are part of Diana's toolkit of resources. (Recorded on February 8, 2023)About Diana:Diana is the founder of The Elemental Practice, offering body-based practices to help people restore their capacity to live full, authentic lives. She supports people to rebuild safety with their emotions, connection with their body and to assimilate challenging experiences, past or present. Her hope is for people to feel more at ease with their authentic expression, healthy boundaries and their agency to choose the life they desire. Her grounded and compassionate presence is complemented by her training in craniosacral therapy, TRE, Jin Shin Jyutsu, body-oriented coaching and other trauma-informed therapeutic touch modalities. Her decades of training and personal practice in yoga, qigong and meditation also inform the self-care tools which are often offered between sessions.Episode Resources:IGWebsiteHighly Sensitive Person 

Jenn speaks to French born spirited nomad, Maéva Lhopez. She is an intuitive artist and creative mentor. We talk about finding your creative essence which is also about finding yourself. Maéva share her journey growing up with parents who had different styles of parenting, leaving the corporate world, being a treasure seeker, artist and what it took for her to find her creative essence and how that is shaping the art and work she does today. (Recorded on January 31, 2023)About Maéva:Maéva is an intuitive artist and creative mentor, she often pictures herself as a treasure hunter on a journey to rediscovering beauty, nature and mysteries. With her art work, Maéva shares an invite to deeply reconnect with the self in all its textures and colours, capturing emotions and dreams onto canvas. Her creative mentoring is an open door for to create their own pictures of life and to express what the soul is longing to speak. When she's not painting, sketching or drawing, Maéva is immersed in nature, on the mat or cooking delicious meals, with a smile on her face.Episode Resources:WebsiteIG

Jenn speaks to Rhys Thomas founder of Rhys Thomas and Co-Founder of Tidy Butt. Rhys is a former Wales pro rugby player turned inspirational speaker and mentor who works on athlete transition, mental health & wellbeing, addiction & recovery, changing perspective and finding purpose! Rhys shares with us his amazing recovering journey from becoming disabled at 29 and how he navigated these physical and emotional challenges, how he overcame this dark period in his life and is now a helping others who face similar challenges in the work he does today. (Recorded on April 20, 2023)About Rhys:Rhys Thomas was a professional Welsh rugby player until his career was cut short by a life changing injury at the age of 29. After suffering a heart attack and undergoing a quadruple bypass and multiple operations, Rhys eventually was fitted with a pump that currently helps run his heart (LVAD). From losing his career, identity, relationships, not dealing with his emotions and feelings which led him to alcoholism and many dark places, Rhys went into rehab and sought support in which he has since sobered up and turned his life around sharing his story, breaking stigmas, supporting and mentoring others to maximize their own potential. Today he works with athletes and professionals to work on topics such as addition, athlete transition, confidence building and a healthy routine with complete anonymity and total confidentiality as well as co-founding a mental health charity Tidy Butt. Tidy Butt engages with schools, business and local authorities to try and make positive lasting changes in our community.Episode Resources: Website  IG  Tidy Butt  Linkedin  Email  The Power of Now  7 Habits of Highly Effective People  The Body Keeps the Score

Jenn talks to William Lin (林蔚林) founder of Rollor (滾動力) and Gitan Development (吉田建築). Born in Taiwan and educated in the US and Japan, Will talks about how he is self-centered in a way in which he has searched for his happiness along the process. With a degree in architecture that led him to study Japanese in Japan to working in real estate and media to then starting his own company, Rollor in Beijing back in 2009. He explains what the pursuit of happiness 找開心,找幸福,找樂子 means to him and how we can all achieve this. (Recorded on December 9, 2022)About William:William Lin is the founder of Rolling Force, director of Genius Life Co, and consultant for many organizations in Taiwan. A graduate with a BA in architecture from Tsinghua University in Beijing and a MBA from USC in entertainment media management William currently resides in Taipei with his family and is always seeking new investment opportunities!Episode Resources:Rollor WebsiteVimeoYoutubeGitian WebsiteIGFBThe SecretDo You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Jenn talks to Bridget Schaeffers founder of The Yoga Travel Company based out of New Zealand. Bridget shares how listening to your inner wisdom and finding your essence is what has anchored her through the ups and downs in life, something that she learned during her yoga and soul searching journey in India which eventually led her to start The Yoga Travel Company in 2018. (December 13, 2022)About Bridget:Bridget first discovered yoga in 2013 when her inner guide led her on a solo adventure to India. She attended her first yoga class in the spiritual town of Dharamshala, home to the Dalai Lama, an auspicious beginning, for certain. Under the guidance of skillful teachers and the lens of her own devoted curiosity, Bridget's practice has deepened and evolved. She has studied in both India and New Zealand and is currently completing her advanced 300hr teacher training with The New Zealand Yoga Collective.In 2018, Bridget combined her 6 years of tourism industry experience with her love for sharing yoga — and the Yoga Travel Co. was born. A true synergy of her passions — yoga, travel, and people. She believes that we're all connected through the universal power of love and can experience divine moments of truth, healing and transformation through these ancient practices. Living in the sunny Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her daughters and husband, Bridget lives and teaches from the heart.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGFBFlow with B IGRadiance Sutra By Lorin RocheRumi Oracle By Alana FairchildAlan Watts

Jenn speaks to Hong Kong based Krizia Li, founder and CEO of Vermillion Lifestyle, a B2B e-commerce platform in Asian luxury design and arts. Krizia shares her views on how one should enjoy the journey you are on in life and that the outcome is the path. With an BA from Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School with a resume experience at Fortune 500 companies, Krizia shares her story about how her experience interning at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and Haiti in 2008 made her realize the power of social change. As well as her 2012 visit to The Met Costume Institute “Through the Looking Glass” exhibit made her realize how Chinese culture was misinterpreted. These specific experiences really inspired and shaped the foundation of Vermillion Lifestyle when she created it in 2020! (Recorded on December 28, 2022)About Krizia:Krizia Li is the Founder, CEO and GM of China for Vermillion Lifestyle. Responsible for injecting and catalyzing synergistic and harmonious ingredients into Vermillion's ongoing narrative, Krizia envisions growth opportunities by fusing bold ideas with extensive industry experience. She has a background in audit at KPMG, investment banking at Merrill Lynch, and strategy consulting at McKinsey & Company, and has worked in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh, across Hospitality, Consumer & Retail and Technology, Media & Telecommunications industries. Most recently, she led Marketing and Omni-Channel teams at DFS Group, Marriott International, and McDonald's Greater China. Krizia holds an MA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics + Economics from the Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is based in Hong Kong.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGFB Linkedin

Jenn speaks to Irish born, Portugal based Sarah Shannon of Wild & Free Retreats. From burnt out corporate law to free spirited yoga, meditation teacher, cacao ceremony facilitator and retreat host, Sarah shares with us how connecting with her inner wild woman, listening to her and living an authentic life has allowed her to find her true self and purpose in this lifetime to then follow her dream and share her journey and teachings with other wild woman around the world! (Recorded on May 1, 2023)About Sarah:Sarah Shannon is a yoga and meditation teacher, cacao ceremony facilitator and retreat host. She shares her offerings online and through her retreats Wild & Free, and in the Algarve Portugal.Sarah believes through yoga and soulful practices and rituals, we can connect to something powerful and beautiful. Our own natural power. The practices that she shares have allowed her to discover who she is and has given her the confidence to let her light shine in this world.Sarah used to be a corporate lawyer. She spent years studying law and seven years working in Dublin law firms before leaving my career to follow her inner knowing that was telling her something wasn't right. It was a difficult, well dragged out decision that took a lot of soul searching, journaling, and inner confidence building to make.Yoga was her guide. Yoga spurred her to go on a self-discovery adventure; to countries across Asia, Buddhist monasteries, Indian ashrams and to sit in silent meditation for ten days in Malaysia. Yoga sparked passion and curiosity within her. Traveling in the East opened up her spiritual pathways and gave her time to get to know herself which she brings to her teachings and retreats.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGWomen Who Run With WolvesEat, Pray, LoveAbraham HicksGreen Yoga Teacher Training

Jenn talks to Jenn Melyan founder of A Fat Perspective a platform that shares conversations about bodies of all types an how we portray the term “fat” in our society and culture. Jenn shares her experience on how gaining weight impacted her and why she created A Fat Perspective. From being dumped by her boyfriend to being verbally abused by her own mother about her weight, having no self confidence and tools to learn how to love herself in a fat healthy body. She opens up about her healing process and her journey and why she is so passionate about educating more people about body liberation, debunking fat phobia and more awareness so we can all have a positive approach to diverse bodies and the stigmas. (Recorded on November 15, 2022)About Jenn:With a MA in elementary education, Jenn spent 11 years as a founding educator in a Los Angeles charter school. She developed curriculum across all academic disciplines as well as leadership models and social-emotional learning. Jenn then shifted her work from children's transformation to adults' by focusing on executive coaching and body liberation. Educated by E.P.I.C (Executive Performance Institute for Coaching), she trained in transformational 1-1 coaching as well as workshop and meeting facilitation.Jenn works with both corporations and individuals to achieve seemingly impossible goals. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences and served on panels where the focus is primarily on women's issues. Jenn also coaches individuals on body-image related issues and helping them gain confidence. She is a plus-size model as well and has just recently completed her first, public bikini shoot. She was also featured in media publications such as HuffPost, ShououtLA, and VoyageLA.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGTiktokVirgie TovarThe Militant BakerHunger: A Memoir of (My) Body By Roxanne Gay

Jenn speaks to Jessica Kay Lee, founder of The Lotus Pond (TLP), a mind-body and spiritual wellness consultancy designed for women, mothers and the change-makers of the world. Jessica talks about how motherhood led her on her spiritual awakening path and shares why she is passionate about holding space for other mothers and women. She shares her upbringing, her curiosity for life's purpose, becoming a mom at a young age, starting a business with her husband and how she rediscovered her self in her motherhood journey. (Recorded on March 10, 2023)About Jessica:Jessica is a mother of two boys & a corgi, wife to a doting husband, daughter to supportive parents, proud sister, and blessed friend to amazing souls all around the world! Aside from the various roles she plays in her life, she is a 300H certified meditation coach with a Spiritual Psychology Masters and Maternal Wellbeing Advanced Certification from Columbia University.Episode Resources:Website IG Spirituality Mind Body Institute Dr. Aurelie M. Athan

Jenn talks to Brazilian born Lisbon based Sylvia Cardim de Melo founder of Strawberry Studio based in Lisbon, Portugal. Sylvia is a TCK (third cultural kid) born in Sao Paulo, US-educated, European-groomed, Asia tested and now in Lisbon she has embraced her identity fully in the work she does consulting for brands in Europe and Asia. She shares how being a woman, a mother and entrepreneur is not an easy task and role to fulfill and that she has had to learn along the way through the ups and downs how to find that work life balance! (Recorded on October 10, 2022)About Sylvia:São Paulo-born, US-educated, European-groomed, and Asia-tested, Sylvia is a global brand strategist fascinated by brands rooted in culture, stories and purpose. Passionate about helping brands become relevant in people's lives. Sylvia followed her own passion. While working for WPP's The Partners in Singapore, she took the plunge and traded in her 8-year corporate life in marketing and strategy to start her own business, consulting for brands in Europe and Asia. Today she calls Lisbon home.Episode Resources:WebsiteIG LinkedinSubtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck By Mark MasonHow to Make Friends and Influence People By Dale Carnegie

Jenn speaks to Jamila Robinson a journalist, editor, academy chair of the World's 50 Best and food influencer! A humble talent who besides for the titles listed earlier is also a classical trained violinist and competitive figure skater! Jamila reflects on her how food is an artform we all participate in and how food has shaped her journalism career over the years. She shares with us why curiosity and storytelling is so important to her and how it keeps her grounded in life, and why she is obsessed with pies! (Recorded on January, 6, 2023)About Jamila:Jamila Robinson is an assistant managing editor at Philadelphia Inquirer, where she leads an award-winning team of writers, editors and food critics, and is a regular contributor to Food & Wine magazine.Among the most influential people in food media, Jamila's work as journalism chair of the James Beard Awards, and the North American Academy Chair of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, will have lasting impact on the next generation of food writers, chefs, and restaurateurs.Jamila is a frequently sought speaker, thought leader and contributor to publications and culinary organizations worldwide. She's also an excellent cook, gardener, and competitive adult figure skater. Her love language is pie.Episode Resources:IGTwitterJustice of the PiesJubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking: A Cookbook Wildest DreamsSecret Breakfast NewsletterOn the Pass

Jenn speaks to Mai Bach, a Vietnamese American, social entrepreneur, activist, vegan chef and co-founder and CEO of Ooh Cha Cha. Mai shares with us how she ended up in Taiwan, started a company with her husband, being a perfectionist, going through depression during the pandemic, being diagnosed with ADHD recently what she learned along the way and why being kind to yourself is important mindset to have! (Recorded on January 6, 2023)About Mai:Social entrepreneur, activist, and vegan chef, Mai is co-founder and CEO of B Corporation certified vegan restaurant group Ooh Cha Cha. Ooh Cha Cha's mission is to build sustainable and equitable communities through the simple act of eating. Born and raised in southern California to refugees of the Vietnam war, she graduated with a B.A. in Mass Communications Studies and minor in Global Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Currently based in Taipei, Taiwan, she's passionate about empowering people through knowledge and individual action.Episode Resources:WebsiteWaking Up AppMel Robbins PodcastAmen ClinicsADDitude MagazineADHD Tiktok Channel

Jenn talks to Melina Shannon-DiPietro, the executive Director of MAD (Danish for ”food”), the nonprofit organization founded by René Redzepi of restaurant noma. MAD inspires and empowers cooks, servers, and eaters to create sustainable change through education programs and publications. An American girl from Albany, New York, Melina spent her life dreaming about food and built her career in the industry, always thinking about where our food comes from, our community and environment. Never thinking she would leave the US, Melina uprooted herself to Copenhagen before the pandemic, pioneered the MAD venture with Chef René and the NOMA team, found love, purpose, home and stayed in Denmark! She shares her amazing journey and how the value of creating a home is important to her and how she defines that. (Recorded on December 8, 2022)About Melina:Melina Shannon-DiPietro is Executive Director of MAD (Danish for ”food”), the nonprofit organization founded by René Redzepi of restaurant noma. MAD inspires and empowers cooks, servers, and eaters to create sustainable change through education programs and publications.Prior to MAD, Melina was a director at Friends of the High Line, the organization that transformed an abandoned elevated rail line into one of New York City's best-loved public parks. She began her work in food as co-founder of the Yale Sustainable Food Program. Building organizations, connecting with nature, and helping people to be their best has been a primary motivation throughout her life.Melina grew up in Albany, New York, surrounded by a loving and loud Italian-Irish-American family who still asks as they wrap up each meal, “What do we eat next?” She lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.Episode Resources:IGMAD FeedMAD AcademyMAD IGMAD Feed ScholarshipJillian LavenderLondon Meditation CentreArt of Possibilities: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

Jenn speaks to Barcelona based, Filipino American, Leslie Keeler Saglio, a TEDx Speaker and Trauma-informed Master Coach who empowers women to unleash their feminine energy and purpose. Leslie shares her journey growing up as a Filipino American in Los Angeles, building a successful career for herself to her best friends death to cancer and near death experience in 2021 and how all of these experiences shaped her finding her true self and the magic she brings into the work she does with women around the world. Just remember who you are! (Recorded on February 7, 2023)About Leslie:With expertise spanning nearly two decades, from Hollywood executive to startup co-founder, to living overseas, Leslie understands well what it takes to thrive in a stressful and challenging global environment. She is a TEDx speaker, certified trauma-informed master coach, and founder of the Feminine Power & Purpose Immersion transforming the lives of women to stop playing small so they can make a bigger impact and income with less stress and more flow. She also earned her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. Leslie has been featured in the U.S. and internationally in numerous media and publications such as Soho House, Virgin, Well+Good, & MindBodyGreen to name a few. A Filipino American, Los Angeles native and London expat, Leslie currently lives in Barcelona with her husband and two children.Episode Resources:WebsiteFBIGYoutubeLinkedinPussy: : A Reclamation

Jenn speaks to Canadian born Tara Eden, a Feldenkrais Method professional and ISMETA® Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator based out of Chiang Mai, Thailand about embodied authenticity. From her upbringing in Canada and early years of exposure to dance therapy to living in NYC, Tara shares how wanting to find alignment was the key to her move to Asia. She talks about her discovery of Feldenkrais Method, on setting intentions and being intuitive is important and why she continues to embrace the embodied lifestyle, living the slow life, being true to herself and finding grounded-ness and being able to share this awakening technique with more individuals. (Recorded on January 16, 2023)About Tara:After graduating from a 4-year Feldenkrais Method Professional Program and becoming an ISMETA® Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator – and from years practicing Thai Massage, teaching yoga, exploring creative movement and movement therapy and a lifetime of observing people and what drives them – Tara helps people learn how to reconnect to their body, to realize where they are causing themselves unnecessary pain or strain, to discover new healthier self-use, to be empowered to trust and learn from their own embodied experience and to discover a unique inner calm, stillness and knowing that arrives spontaneously in an embodied state change.Episode Resources:WebsiteISMETAIGYoutube

Jenn speaks to Muriel (Mumu) Morwitzer-Bächtold an enthusiastic and passionate Movement coach and international educator for art of motion Academy and Anatomy Trains Australia/New Zeeland. She trained to become a professional dancer, however Mumu had to retire early due to injuries. Mumu pulled out all her learnt Pilates tools to rehabilitate herself. Meeting Karin Gurtner, co-founder of art of motion Academy, assisted her in understanding and approach her rehabilitation more individually and holistically. A special life changing moment was when Karin developed Slings Myofascial Training and how to (re)train innate fascial qualities, this opened a whole new understanding of the body's self-healing capacity and how to train and regain “somatic trust” and “movement courage” again. We delve into her life experiences, specifically the passing of her father and what showing up on the mat and creating a resource-oriented training program taught her, especially on how to recover from emotional and physical adversity! We wrap up the conversation by talking about movement for kids and teenager and how developing somatic trust and kinaesthetic intelligence is so important in the world we live in today. (Recorded on June 10, 2022)About Muriel:Muriel Morwitzer, known to most as Mumu, is the Senior Educator and Managing Director of art of motion academy® Australia, a renowned training organization for Contemporary Pilates & Slings Myofascial Training based in Switzerland and Australia, which was founded by Karin Gurtner.Growing up in the Swiss Alps Mumu enjoyed skiing, snowboarding, hiking, dancing and white water kayaking. Mumu trained in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Pilates, Choreography and Anatomy for Dancers at the Laban Centre in London. It was here that she discovered her love for Pilates, developed a passion for educating others and honed a focus on preventing injuries in movement-linked professions.However at times she felt as though her training was lacking something. She now knows that to be the deeper and more contemporary science-based understanding of the body's interconnectedness, as well as the experience lead embodiment of that knowledge that art of motion and Anatomy Trains has given her.art of motion's holistic and contemporary approach to functional exercise and exercise sequencing applied to Pilates and Slings Myofascial Training was refreshing for Mumu, and an inspiring turning point. When she was asked to study under Karin and join the art of motion lecturing team in 2009 she felt very privileged and honoured.Being a part of the art of motion team kept Mumu in touch with Karin's findings, one of them being Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains concept; it will be forever a memorable moment! Being introduced to Tom's concept and application broadened her personal ‘body reading' horizon and understanding of whole body interconnectedness dramatically, as well as how to apply it to functional movement. The more she delved into Anatomy Trains, Mumu could see the missing pieces of her ‘puzzle' coming together and so her approach and her clients results changed for the better and are to this day very rewarding!Mumu has greatly enjoyed her journey so far and knows there is more to learn for evermore, which is inspiring and exciting to her!Travelling is in her nature. You can find her teaching and lecturing internationally in Switzerland, Europe, Singapore, Bali, and Australia-wide!Episode Resources:IGFBVimeoBrene Brown PodcastElizabeth Gilbert Podcast Jack Kornfield PodcastGil HedleyCarla StecoTara BrachThe Body Keeps the ScoreThe Brain that Changes Itself

Jenn talks to Asian American Johnson Chong, the best-selling & award-winning author of Sage Sapien: From Karma to Dharma, TedX Speaker, yoga, meditation teacher and shaman based in Sydney, Australia. In our conversation about soul contracts, Johnson shares with us what it was like growing up in NYC as a gay Asian American immigrant kid, discovering how theater school allowed him to go inwards and work on healing himself which eventually led him on his spiritual journey. (Recorded on November 16, 2022)About Johnson:Johnson Chong is the best-selling and award-winning author of Sage Sapien: From Karma to Dharma. He is also a TedX Speaker of ("How to Deal with Toxic Family Relationships”), shaman and the founder of SAGE Shamanic Yoga Retreats & Trainings where he trains aspiring meditation and breathwork teachers. Through the synthesis of the most applicable teachings of yoga, meditation, breathwork, coaching and shamanic healing, his trainings are designed to help people quiet the mind, awaken the heart and free themselves of the roadblocks that keep them from living more authentically and joyfully. He has spoken and led workshops at companies like Unilever, Facebook, Nike, Macquarie, Insight Timer, UBS, UOB and more. Johnson is a native New Yorker, and has lived on 3 continents, currently based in Sydney, Australia.Johnson's passion is creating a bridge between ancient wisdom, energy medicine and direct modern application. Clients say that his unique experiences offer a profoundly healing self-discovery experience, followed with very practical and actionable steps to create lasting change.As a paqo shaman of the Q'ero lineage, a Four Winds Energy Medicine Health Coach,  InnerGuidanceTM coach and Reiki Master. In conjunction with his background as a teacher who trains yoga teachers and pilates teachers, he has an expansive knowledge of the physical body and how the psyche can create stagnation on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and energetic.Episode Resources: WebsiteSages Shamanic YogaIGFBLinkedinAlberto VilloldoTedX: How to Deal with Toxic Family RelationshipSAGE SAPIEN: From Karma to Dharma

Jenn speaks to Allison Mona (Ally) founder of Allymona a health and wellness advocate bringing you years of effective holistic wellness solutions for the whole family! A China expat of 16 years before picking up and moving her family of 6 to Mexico during the pandemic, Ally shares with us the different obstacles she has encountered in life and how through it all her perseverance kept her going. She talks about the entrepreneur life, network marketing, a mom of 4 including an adoptive daughter with a heart condition, postpartum depression, a recent auto immune disease diagnosis, how she recovered, how she balances it all and more! (Recorded on April 27, 2022)About Ally:Ally is a mama of four daughters, an adoption advocate, adoring wife, and impact entrepreneur. She spends her days coaching other women along their own journeys from employee to business owner, taking walks with her hubby, studying health and wellness topics, and snuggling her babies.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGFBLinkedin

This episode was recorded from  a LIVE fireside chat on “Family Business in Taiwan: Challenges We Face” at a Curito event to showcase the Curito Connects series. Moderated by Jenn, this panel consists of Christina Huang (President of Manloy), John Chen (Vice Chariman and CEO, Gloria Hotel Group), and Winnie Chao (President of Ko Wen Educational Institute). The conversation covered challenges they faced personally and professionally, how they overcame them, what they learned and what advice they would give to others. (Recorded on March 27, 2022)About the Panelist:Christina Huang is the President of Manloy she has a background in teaching and arts administration.  Her career was primarily in education and cultural institutions, she has since combined her passion for knowledge and visual communication with her leadership and management style at Manloy.John Chen is the vice chairman and CEO of Gloria Hotel Group. He established Hotel Quote, Hotel Proverbs, other Design Hotels and Gloria Outlets in Taiwan.Winnie Chao is the CEO of Kumon Education Taiwan, a passionate educator, and dedicated philanthropist. She is happily married with five kids, and resides in Taipei.Watch the entire episode on Youtube 

Jenn speaks to Elena Liao, founder of Té Company, a Taiwanese tearoom based out of New York City. A former retail corporate managing big-box apparel retailers with no former background or association with Taiwanese Tea except for her Taiwanese American heritage. Elena talks about how she decided to leave corporate in 2015 and start her tea business with no prior experience at all, what she learned along the way, how she dealt with covid, how to find your niche and what's to come! (Recorded on March 24, 2022)About Elena:Native to the island of Taiwan, Elena grew up in a household where tea is consumed more than water. The local choice is full leaf, handmade, and produced seasonally in small batches. The kettle is on throughout the day and the steepings are free flowing. In Taiwan, this beverage is essential and readily accessible.Good tea satisfies the palate, great tea transcends the mind. A carefully made and intentionally brewed cup can enlighten and guide the path to self-reflection. When shared communally, it is the glue that facilitates the conversations and strengthens the bond. The spiritual joy of tea drinking should be practiced frequently, casually, and most importantly mindfully. That was the ethos behind Té Company: make teatime more delicious, more intentional, and more accessible.Elena grew up in Taiwan and moved to America in her early teens. She was a career retailer for a decade before she opened a tearoom in the West Village of New York City. All the teas were sourced directly from generational tea makers of Taiwan. Té Company offers their teas, tea snacks, and accessories via their physical tearoom and an e-commerce website.Episode Resources:WebsiteIGFBSpotify

Jenn talks to Summer Chou, a self taught professional balloon artist based in Taiwan. Summer shares her journey on how she always had a fear of balloons, how she overcame her fear and grew a business out of the joy of balloon art and how much happiness it brings to people, sick, healthy, young and old. How her work in this field has taught her so much about empathy and compassion. Our conversation took a turn where we talk about her coming out journey, receiving acceptance from her family and being a Lesbian in Taiwan. (Recorded on August 30, 2022)About Summer:熱情又活潑開朗的氣球頑童Summer 最愛用繽紛的氣球帶給大家歡樂！ 只要看到大小朋友歡愉的笑顏 就是他最開心的一刻。 快來一起加入氣球頑童的歡樂行列，一起頑喲！Episode Resources:IGFB

Jenn speaks to Allison Warren, founder, designer of Modernplum a Chicago-based sustainable, linen home decor company that has an eco-conscious mission that she started in 2014! A painter, architect, professor, maker, and designer by trade, Allison is also known as a linen expert in the field! She shares with us her career path and experiences that really allowed her to thrive in becoming an entrepreneur and how living in a 1960s modern glass house in Chicago inspired her to create Modernplum! (Recorded on February 7, 2022)About Allison:Allison is an artist, designer, design consultant, and business owner. She was introduced to textiles by her mother, an interior designer, and procurer of beautiful things for the home. Allison went to art school and became a painter in her first career but turned to textile product design after the purchase of a mid-century modern glass house. The home's open-plan, simple forms, and connections with nature were the catalyst for Modernplum's formation. Our products and philosophy are a result of all these things -- midcentury modernism, respect for nature, a love of home textiles, and California cool. Allison hopes that you will love her products and that they fill your life with abundance too.Episode Resources:WebsiteIG