Eating Rice in the Breakroom

In our last episode of the season, Mofei and Calvin break down the holiday Hallmark movie, Christmas at the Golden Dragon. Spoiler alert: The conversation is better than the movie. Join us as we wrap up the holiday season!

Join Mofei this week as she examines the education system with Tim, a high school teacher. They discuss the invisibility of Asian teachers and students in schools, and the parallel expectations between being a teacher and a leader in American society.

In this episode, Mofei sits down with Vince Lau, managing partner of Clark Lau LLC to talk about immigration, why should we care about it, what are some challenges with the system, what are current policies, and how to advocate for yourself as an immigrant or for others in your community.

This week, Calvin utilized NotebookLM to reflect on his decision to leave his 10-year career in ministry and how jumping into the unknown forced him to rediscover his identity and redesign his life. The AI is weird, but it's really interesting!

In this episode, hosts Mofei and Calvin explore the unique expressions of thankfulness in Asian American communities. They discuss how navigating dual identities shapes the way we give and receive appreciation in our lives. Join us for a great conversation and stick around to the end to hear what we're grateful for!

This week, Mofei and Calvin dive into the cultural, economic, and political factors that shaped how Asian Americans voted in the 2024 election, touching on key issues like immigration and the economy. They also explore the country's shift to the right and the emerging silos forming around education in the U.S. Tune in for a candid, down-to-earth conversation about what drove the AAPI vote this year—and what it could mean for future elections.

In this week's episode, Mofei and Calvin discuss the unique challenges and cultural stigmas surrounding mental health within the Asian American community. Dr. Sen Xu, a licensed therapist, joins us to explore how cultural values, family dynamics, and societal expectations impact mental wellness for Asian Americans.

This week, Calvin discusses his year-long job search and how the best way to handle change is to live just long enough in the Neutral Zone between what was and what will be, the In-Between Chapter.

Sit down this week with Mofei as she shares reflections on having a fulfilling career and whether passion comes into play or not. She will also recount the story of her first Halloween as an immigrant, and tell you all about one of her favorite Chinese poems on resilience. Hey Listen! for career tips, immigrant stories and cultural tidbits. And see where the conversation takes us.

This week, Mofei and Calvin are (finally) back to the mics to explore the significant impact of pronouncing ethnic names correctly in the workplace and society at large. They discuss how getting them right fosters an environment where individuals thrive, while mispronouncing them- especially when intentional, builds a culture of distrust and exclusion.

This week, Calvin sits down with a friend of the podcast, Stephanie, who has held leadership roles in various organizations. They dive into the tension she's experienced as a supervisor, balancing the need to coach her direct reports through her own lens while also supporting their unique backgrounds and perspectives to help them achieve success.

This week, Mofei and Calvin discuss navigating the complicated task of recognizing our need for mental health and asking for help without the fear of losing face, and the generational gap between the immigrant generation and their children.

"Math!" - Andrew Yang. This week, Mofei and Calvin dive into stereotypes, like being good at math, and how we navigate them to find our place in society without letting them define us—both in how the world sees us and how we see ourselves. Join us for the discussion, whether you're good at math or not!

It's been a minute! This week Mofei and Calvin recap our summers and talk about how we thought season 1 went and look forward to season 2. Join us for this quick chat and stay for episode 2!

Ethnic names. Do we use them? Do we replace them? In this mini-series episode, Mofei peels back the layers as she shares reasons for why she chose to use her ethnic name and why she advises others to embrace the same.

Have you been told you need to be more visible? This often frustrating and vague feedback is just that - frustrating and vague. So how do we turn this around and make it actionable? Join Mofei on this mini-series episode as she talks about how to align your goals with your manager's and how to make sure your efforts are noted as being visible.

We've all complained about our bosses at one point or another. We've still got to to deal with them. How? Join Mofei in this min-series episode as she talk through strategies, practical steps and communication tips to help you navigate this challenging dynamic at work.

In the season 1 finale, Mofei and Calvin chat with Chef Irene Li from Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston. They explore her surprising journey to success and how she is reshaping the idea of success to benefit her community. Don't miss this engaging conversation before we shift gears for the summer!

This week Mofei and Calvin explore personal stories and experiences of growing up in diverse environments where cultural authenticity is often questioned and scrutinized. Join us as we discuss how we've navigated the pressures of fitting into a specific mold of "Asianness" and the impact this might have on our sense of identity and belonging.

This week Mofei and Calvin compare the idea of the Asian American Dream with the American Dream and ask if the Asian American Dream is alive, well, and helpful or if it needs a major update.

This week Mofei and Calvin discuss their experience with philanthropy as Asian Americans. From the emphasis on community support among early immigrants to the innovative approaches of today's philanthropic leaders, we talk about the motivations and values that drive Asian American generosity.

This week Mofei and Calvin discuss why it's so tough to speak up as Asians. They talk about cultural barriers, the impact of stereotypes, and how to recognize and deal with discrimination. They'll share why they think speaking up is crucial for our personal and professional lives and share some practical tips to help you build confidence and assertiveness. Tune in for an engaging conversation full of strategies and inspiration to help you find and use your voice.

This week Mofei and Calvin sit down with Charles, a friend of the podcast who made the bold move from the United States to Norway. Join us as we talk about his unique experiences navigating a job search and Norwegian society as an Asian American. Whether you're contemplating a move yourself or simply seeking to broaden your horizons, this episode offers a glimpse of what it looks like to leave home and live abroad in a new culture.

This week Mofei and Calvin discuss the hesitancy that Asian Americans may have with gig economy jobs. From concerns about job security and stability to cultural expectations and language barriers, we discuss how these factors intersect with issues of identity, family dynamics, and community expectations.

Happy Mother's Day! Join Mofei and Calvin with special guest, Lulu, as they explore the unique challenges Asian moms face. From balancing career aspirations to navigating cultural expectations, they share insights and offer encouragement for all moms.

From a young age, many Asians are instilled with the values of filial piety and responsibility towards their families. But how does this translate in the professional world? This week, we explore the pressure to succeed not just for us, but also for the sake of family honor and support and how that pressure affects our career choices, financial goals, and overall well-being.

From the pressure to be self-reliant to the worry of being seen as incompetent, this week we explore how these cultural norms affect our career growth and mental health. And we discuss some practical strategies to break through these barriers. Tune in to hear the conversation about building a supportive network, fostering open communication, and embracing the strength of asking for help and how that might actually propel our careers forward!

In this episode, we delve into the power of pursuing passions, redefining success, and how that affects not just our own lives, but also impacts the world around us, inspiring future generations to do the same. Are you ready to chase your dreams?

This week, we explore the expectations many of us have been given about which jobs are deemed acceptable and some reasons behind those perceptions.

In this week's episode, we discuss visibility and tokenism in the workplace through an interview with our guest, Allison, who shares her perspective on balancing her boss's view of visibility and her level of comfort, as well as navigating being asked to teach on Lunar New Year just because she is Asian.

How important is it to find a sense of cultural belonging in the workplace? How do we know what companies have it and which are just pretending? We discuss this in this week's episode!

Plato and Aristotle asserted the idea of mimesis - that art imitates nature. In this episode, we explore the portrayal of Asians on screen (art) and how that is a representation of society (nature). We discuss how perceptions of Asians inform our presence in film and TV, and in turn how these representations impact our sense of belonging in every day life.

In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Tim, a friend of the podcast, who took a road less traveled to attain career success. Tim candidly shares the pivotal moments and invaluable insights that molded his unique journey, emphasizing the importance of resilience in overcoming cultural pressures and embracing failure as a catalyst for growth. Join us as we delve into Tim's story and learn some powerful lessons from his experiences.

In this episode we continue the conversation on being labeled hardworking. We dive deeper into how we would like to be portrayed in the workplace, and explore what we can do individually/collectively to dismantle the current perception.

Have you ever been asked been asked "where are you from?" In this episode, we explore what is its like to be a perpetual foreigner and unpack the idea that we are continuously seen and valued just for our labor. Being labeled hardworking may seem like a compliment, but is it really?

Eddie Huang famously said in the pilot of Fresh off the Boat, "I need white people lunch that gets me a seat at the table then you get to change the rules." While it seems to make sense and even be considered solid advice at first glance, we unpack this idea in this episode. What does it mean to get a seat at the table in the workplace? And at what cost for us?