This Is For Us: An Asian American Podcast

In today's episode, we're bringing back entrepreneur Chris Ngo, co-founder of The Leverage, a fashion house agency recently said to be the next global conglomerate in menswear by Forbes back on the show. I'll be doing a new four-part series highlighting four high-performing individuals to break down what it takes for them to successful. With the New Years here and resolutions being made, I decided it'd be helpful to provide firepower for those serious about making positive changes in 2023.In this episode, we discuss:0:54 - 80% of people fail their New Years solutions by February 2:17 - Mike talks about his 2023 New Years Resolutions3:09 - Chris intros himself 4:00 - What Chris has been up to since we last time we spoke5:50 - Chris doing an Iron Man 8:10 - Chris shares his take on New Year's Resolutions10:50 - What's your why?16:00 - How to find your WHY16:24 - DO EVERYTHING and TRY EVERYTHING 18:25 - How did you curate your mindset without having anyone to teach you?19:00 - Working shitty jobs at 19 years old taught him many lessons21:34 - What common theme do successful individuals share?24:45 - Chris shares his story of the first time seeing a Ferrari in person26:00 - Dealing with haters26:57 - You either let criticism fold you, or you let criticism drive you28:12 - What's the minimum you need to get yourself fired up?29:15 - What would the present day Chris tell his 25 year old self?30:20 - Chris talks about dealing with failures 32:10 - Chris the life coach?35:01 - This is what Chris would tell you if he was your coach41:25 - Chris listens to his 5 year prediction from his last podcast episode FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

Happy New Year's AM Fam! Wanted to drop a recap episode for everything that happened in 2022 and what's to come in 2023. Wishing everyone a fruitful year and hoping 2023 is your best year! SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

I'm happy to welcome Sean Lew to the show for today's Spotlight episode.Sean Lew is a multi-talented individual with an impressive resume that includes a professional actor, dancer, choreographer, award-winning chef, writer, creative director, editor, and singer. My guest is perhaps best known for his two seasons on the hit competition series World of Dance and has amassed millions of followers across his social media.In addition, he's also made the jump into acting, playing teenager Chris on the Hit Fox Show The Cleaning Lady. The show was a Top 5 new broadcast drama of the 2021-22 season with the #1 largest total multi-platform audience for a new FOX show. It also marked the network's highest-rated drama premiere in two years and Hulu's most-streamed FOX debut in the network's history.Today's episodes episode explores Sean Lew's journey from a professional dancer to becoming a series regular on the Hit Fox Show The Cleaning Lady.1:57 - Tell us your background and where you're from3:35 - Went to school in Japan and China5:30 - How Sean initially got into dancing8:21 - Sean describes his first memory of performing and the realization that this would be what he wanted to do with his life11:15 - Becoming an overnight sensation and getting invited on to the Queen Latifah show 12:59 - Throughout your career, did you see a lot of other Asian American dancers 15:15 - Not allowing being the only Asian or boy in the room affect his mental17:34 - what do you think about when you hear “Asian Representation”?19:09 - Going into auditions as an Asian American19:37 - The type of representation > Just representation 22:12 - Acting requires you to be 100%, or else you're just “acting.”23:15 - Was it a smooth transition going from dancing to acting?27:26 - Sean describes The Cleaning Lady29:40 - What happened when you got the news you landed a spot on The Cleaning Lady?33:47 - first time hearing that the pilot got picked up36:25 - Hard to be taken seriously coming in as a dancer38:35 - Why is it important for you to inspire others?45:25 - Describe what the perfect actor role would be for you52:334 - Where do you see yourself in the next five years?52:16 - What's the best piece of advice you can offer someone?55:41 - Where can people find you?FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo share their thoughts on Jeremy Lin's latest documentary "38 at The Garden, a pair of Levi's from the 1800s with an anti-Chinese slogan that sells for 87K, and the best-selling novel "Interior Chinatown" get TV series adaptation. 0:45 - First topic - 1880's Levi's Jeans Fetches 76,0002:45 - Leo was unaware that the jeans had a racist slogan on it5:00 - The world was much more openly racist than they are today 7:27 - Topic #2 - Jimmy O Yang cast to star in Interior Chinatown14:01 - Topic #3 - 38 At The Garden, New Linsanity Doc18:00 - Lin made it a point that he didn't want the documentary to focus on him20:36 - For the first time, we had an Asian person to refer to when you were playing basketball well 23:15 - Did the NBA deny Jeremy Lin because he's Asian?FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

Part 2 - Today's episode is our level-up series, and we'll talk about how you can upgrade your style for this upcoming fall/winter season. We're going to break down GQ's 16 Men's Fashion Trends for 2022 with the help of our cohost Leo, a fashion/style expert. You should have some ideas on how to level up your wardrobe when you're done listening.Link to GQ article -https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/autumn-winter-2022-trends-for-men0:40 - Trend #9 - Cheer up it's all about Misery Chic1:33 - Trend #10 -  Sweater Vests are still here 3:41 - Trend #11 - Pounce on the Animal Print5:40 - Trend #12 - Sex Clogs are a thing9:17 - Trend 13 - Wrap it up in a dressing gown Coat11:45 - Trend #14 - Pop on a spot of pink14:22 - Trend #15 - Get it on the baggy jean thing16:30 - What type of sneakers go well with baggier jeans?18:36 - Trend #16 - You're either red, or you're deadFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

Today's episode is our level-up series, and we're going to talk about how you can upgrade your style for this upcoming fall/winter season. We're going to break down GQ's 16 Men's Fashion Trends for 2022 with the help of our cohost Leo, a fashion/style expert. You should have some ideas on how to level up your wardrobe when you're done listening.Link to GQ article - https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/autumn-winter-2022-trends-for-men 1:33 - Leo cuts his hair after 5 years of growing it out2:27 - Leo signs on with an acting manager7:30 - Start of Episode8:54 - Trend #1 - Power Shoulder12:01 - Trend #2 - Double down on Double Breasted14:00 - Trend #3 - Leather for your pleasure18:32 - Trend $4 - Overall, it's all about Overalls22:16 - Trend #5 - Flash Your Furry Bits24:18 - Trend #6 - Invest in an architectural sweater27:03 - Trend #7 - Oversized Safari Jackets29:23 - Trend #8 - Your Toes Should Be ChiseledFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

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In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo unpack how height plays a role in finding a partner,  AI influencers/Deep fakes, and the release of the upcoming show 'Asian Born Chinese' featuring Chinese mythology and gods on Disney+.1:51 - Leo talks about expediting his LA plans -Talking to a realtor3:25 - Leo putting down an offer for a home in LA5:30 - How Leo's LA plan went from 5 years to 2 years to 3 months9:00 - Intro to the first topic: study how much short men need to make to compete with someone who is 6.'10:15 - Shorter guys have to make up for their height in other areas like dressing well, being fit, being funny, etc12:40 - Taller guys will get more initial opportunities than the shorter guys, so they have a better chance of finding someone as opposed to shorter guys 15:15 - A guy can be a couple of inches taller, but a woman will think they're the same height 16 - Boots can help you feel and look taller for guys on the shorter end17:36 - Second Topic Introduction18:36 - AI-generated rapper lands record deal 21:00 - What happens once AI becomes so realistic that we can differentiate between real and fake?23:29 - Tom Cruise & Chinese Elon Musk deep fake26:45 - How deep fake could take fake news to the next level 27:37 - Asian Born Chinese topic introduction 31:55 - mike and Leo talk about growing up watching the 1996 series Journey to the West 34:00 - Will we see a Game of Thrones version of Journey to the West soon?FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo explore the different categories Asian men fall under, how our environment shapes who we are, and what is considered Asian American culture.1:20 - What do you think of when you think of "Banana" within the Asian community 2:20 - Describing the different categories Asian American men fall under3:50 - Mike asks Leo how he would describe himself from the categories that were listed5:00 - Leo describes growing up mainly in black culture 7:15 - Mike talks about how he would categorize himself8:00 - Why aren't there any white guys who are Asian inside or blacks who are yellow inside?10:00 - Mainstream media, for the most part, was dominated by White American culture, now it's Black 12:00 - what does mainstream media look like if Asian American culture?15:00 - We're a product of our environment17:00 - the case for Awkwafina's Queen's accent 19:00 - Describing an 'Asian' Asian24:00 - The popularity of 88rising artistsFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo share what they've been up to these past couple of months. In this episode, we discuss:0:50 - Mike talks about his trip to Asia3:00 - Food in Thailand wasn't as great as Mike thought4:45 - The difference between traveling as a young man vs. an older man10:25 - Leo gives his life update (moving to LA, acting)12:00 - Intro to the episode 14:00 - Time is going to fly by anyway, whether you make that leap or not15:00 - People want things but aren't willing to do what's necessary to make them happen17:25 - Mike asks Leo to demonstrate an acting exercise for the audience19:40 - Acting is like sports; you have to have the mentality of understanding your fundamentals first before doing anything major 20:16 - Leo shares what his first short film lead experience was like 21:48 - Leo describes his first lead role in a short film 23:32 - Having experience as a model and doing commercials helped Leo feel comfortable on set 29:50 - Failure is a part of the process. The more you fail, the closer you are to your goals31:57 - Recent announcement of an Asian male lead for the revamped show ‘Quantum Leap.'35:15 - Way more opportunity for Asian actors in LA vs. NY37 - You have to startSupport the show

 For today's Spotlight/Barbershop episode, I'm happy to welcome Dennis Yu to the show.Dennis Yu, is a Merchant Success Team Lead and the Co-Chair of the AAPI Employee Resource Group at Shopify. In addition to his long career in sales and business development in corporate America, Dennis is an angel investor focused on e-commerce, and Asian found/led startups and is also the host of the Great Minds Think Differently Podcast where he interviews business leaders from underrepresented groups to share their storiesToday we're going to discuss the Asian American experience in corporate America, the bamboo ceiling, and how our eastern influences can affect how we are perceived at work. "What the heck is Bamboo Ceiling?Harvard Business Review article describes it as the phenomenon that Asian American white-collar professionals are the least likely racial group to be promoted into senior leadership, even though they are the most likely to be hired into technical roles.AAPI made up roughly 6% of the country's population but represented only 3% of the CEOs of S&P 500 firms.In this episode, we discuss:1:15 - Intro to episode 2:29 - Dennis Yu introduction3:00 - Moved to Orange County where it was predominately white. Didn't speak a lick of enlightenment5:00 - his interest in retail came from his family business. His father had a manufacturing sportswear company7:00 - getting hired on the spot after hustling to get a job at a trade show12:00 - did you ever notice any bamboo ceiling/model minority while working?12:48 - When you get to leadership executive levels, you start to see Asian representation dwindle down15:00 - How did you manage the eastern stereotype in the corporate setting?15:40 - Took on Confucius's idea and studied Phil Jackson, and Steve Kerr and how they were able to mix the two West and East to succeed in a hyper-competitive world 16:25 - closed mouths don't get fed18:23 - Leadership program at Shopify to help train Black, Latins, and Asian Americans18:38 - Being minorities in a room, sometimes you have a lot of cultural conditioning or a lot of things you try to be overanalytical 21:00 - Mike talks about himself struggling with overthinking and struggling to reframe 21:56 - how often do you find yourself in a meeting and you want to comment but you start to overanalyze and miss your opportunity to speak 22:45 - describing model minority and bamboo ceiling 25:55 - In New York, the Asian community comprises the highest poverty rate in the state. 27:58 - when did you decide you wanted to help underrepresented communities?29:38 - had a coffee chat with the chief diversity officer and expressed his biggest problem was a lack of role models that looked like him 33:51 - mental health in the Asian community is taboo / what are things we can do to help ourselves 37:25 - Dennis recalls one of the most stressful and overwhelming times of his life juggling multiple priorities 43:00 - practical meditation practices to help alleviate stress 45:15 - “Be Like Water”FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian MenswearSupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo share their thoughts on the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Asian American history being taught in public schools.In this episode, we discuss:1:25 - Mike gives a life update 3:45 - Leo gives his update (Mexico, traveling in Europe, Leo's birthday)7:31 - Chesa Boudin SF DA gets recalled10:36 - Leo talks about his thoughts on Chesa Boudin12 - Mike talks about a Japanese victim that was killed in a hit and run by a repeat offender 22 - Criminals are getting bolder and bolderSupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo give a recap on AAPI Heritage Month. In this episode, we discuss:2:14 - Intro2:33 - how AAPI month came about originally 3:40 - Mike & Leo share their thoughts on AAPI Heritage Month6:00 - The celebration was birthed during a time when our parents were around but it has not taken on a different meaning for the newer generation 8:00 - Companies taking advantage of AAPI month11:20 - Leo shares his experience of how companies marketed themselves during AAPI month12:30 - Seeing Asian leaders/influencers invited to the white house13:50 - There are a lot of Asian Americans behind the scenes in different industries17:00 - Youtube event in NYC24:00 - Asians aren't as united even for AAPI Heritage Month26 - Gold House GalaFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this episode, Mike and Leo talk about being the token Asian person in different social settings. Inspired by a tweet written by author Min Jin Lee, Mike & Leo explore the nuances of being the token Asian person, what it means, and what to expect.In this episode, we discuss:1:15 - What inspired today's topic3:50 - Leo shares his perspective on being the Token Asian guy5:30 - How Leo's never been in a position where he felt he didn't want to hang with other Asians7:30 - Mike shares his theory on why some Asians feel like they should be the only Asian person amongst a group of non-Asians10:30 - it's easier for your race to hate on you because we come from similar backgrounds and look similar 13:05 - Leo's experience as the only token Asian guy at influencer events 21:00 - How to go about being the Token Asian person the right wayFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo talk about why there hasn't been a new podcast episode in over a month, why a notable podcast featuring two Asian-American guys is breaking up, and what's going on with the new mega jail going up in Chinatown in New York.In this episode, we discuss:2:00 - Intro4:00 - Mike talks about the interview experience 7:00 - Moving back to San Francisco, Ca9:00 - Blue-collar workers deserve respect 11:00 - Intro to the second topic: reflecting on a similar Asian American podcast 19:00 - Coming up with a new podcast name 21:00 - Intro to the third topic: construction of the mega jail in Chinatown, New York23:00 - Leo offers his perspective on the mega jail 25:00 - In the past, construction led to the erasure of street signs that included Chinese translations for Chinatown natives FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

Today we're bringing you an episode of our level-up segment, where we bring you actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only educate you but motivate you to take action.Today's topic is all about the power of networking, why it matters, and how you can apply networking to different areas of your life.What's Networking? Networking involves establishing and developing long-term relations of mutual benefit with people you meet in different places. So whether you are part of a sports league, attending a conference, or in the queue to order a morning coffee, you can make a lifetime connection.Why is Networking important?Business standpoint, the more connections you make, the more opportunities come at you. In addition, the more people you network with, the more you are exposed to different cultures, professions, and personalities, ultimately making a well-rounded person who can adapt to different social settings.In this episode, we discuss:0:00 - Intro1:47 - It's not what you know; it's who you know3:00 - Leo talks about how he used networking early in his career in Finance6:00 - How the word “networking” can come off as a negative way7:00 - Mike and Leo talk about how networking lead to their friendship and working on different projects together 8:00 - Leo breaks down his step-by-step how-to on Networking8:25 - How to network in a professional setting9:29 - Networking outside of work12:30 - What to do when things get awkward at a networking event?15:30 - How to tell someone wants to network with you to use you17:40 - How to network if you're unestablished23:42 - How to follow-up once you've made a connection25:52 - Sometimes your most considerable opportunities come from the smallest of interactions 28:30 - Successful networking ultimately comes down to the relationships your nurture and build29:00 - 3 Things you should not do when it comes to networking  FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Welcome back to the Asian Menswear Podcast. In this episode, Leo talks about his experience attending NBA All-Star Weekend as a guest for Mountain Dew. Mike and Leo both grew up playing basketball and All-Star weekend was always an important event to look forward to every year. If you enjoy playing basketball, follow the NBA, or are just interested in learning about what makes the All-Star games special, then you'll enjoy this episode. In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:1:00 - Intro 1:45 - What's the NBA All-Star Weekend?3:15 - The last time NBA All-Star was in Ohio was twenty years ago4:30 - Leo talks about what one of the drawbacks of hosting a significant event in Cleveland was7:20 - Going over all the sponsors present at NBA All-Star Weekend8:50 - Legendary Michael Jordan made an appearance for the 75th anniversary of the NBA11:19 - the differences between a big market city vs. a small market city 13 - Not seeing any other Asian Americans at the event 16 - Leo reflects on going from watching the all-star game as a kid to attending the event as a guest19 - discussing how the All-Star games aren't as exciting as they used to beHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Welcome back to the Asian Menswear Podcast. Today we're bringing you a Level Up episode, where we bring you actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only educate you but motivate you to take action.Today's topic will focus on extroversion, introversion, and the different types of personalities. Why is this important? Understanding some of your core personality traits and those of the people you are close to is also helpful in communication and building better relationships overall. This knowledge can be applicable at home, at work, with your partner, and in social settings. In this episode, we discuss:0:30 - Intro5:00 - breaking down Extroversion & Introversion8:00 - at the end of the day, do you feel drained or energized?12:23 - Learning to conserve your energy on the right things 14:00 - clues you're an extrovert 16:15 - figuring out how someone functions allow us to understand others better 17:15 - western culture places extroverts higher than introverts 19:25 - intro into enneagrams 24:00 - People can function and think completely different from you 32:20 - your personality can affect how you perform with other jobs34:00 - Use our perceived “weaknesses” and turn them into an advantageFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

It's been ten years since the amazing run dubbed "Linsanity", took the world by surprise and in today's podcast, Mike and Leo reflect on the impact Jeremy Lin had and continues to have on Asian Americans and the world. Jeremy Lin went from being overlooked and on the brink of giving up his basketball dreams to becoming a superstar and one of the most talked-about athletes in 2012. In this episode, we discuss:2:45 - Linsanity Intro 4:30 - Linsanity went viral5:25 - Leo talks about where he was when he first heard about Linsanity12:20 - Jeremy Lin was something we had never seen before 12:45 - On the cover of Sports Illustrated and GQ14:47 - Going over the Linsanity timeline19 - Jeremy's journey was a reflection of the Asian American experience20 - After the dust settled, the scrutiny came 21 - The beef between Lin and the Knicks superstar Melo23 - Receiving a substantial Houston Rockets contract26 - After ten years, we still don't have anyone remotely close to Jeremy Lin27 - Linsanity continues to be an essential moment in Asian American history 30 - How popular basketball is to Asia and Asian AmericansHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommuniSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a lightning movie review and rating of three Asian-American-directed films that were recently released. We'll review Marvel's 'Eternals', Eddie Huang's 'Boogie', & Justin Chon's and give our honest review!We talk about the good, the bad, the ugly and give our rating out of 10.In this episode, we discuss:0-2:00 - Small talk between Mike and Leo2:00 - Episode Intro4:55 - Intro movie review for 'Eternals'6:45 - South Asian representation 8:45 - Pros of Eternals10 - Eternals was different compared to other MCU films12 - Don Lee's was refreshing but also disappointing13 - what's up with Don Lee's relationship with Angelina Jolie 16 - Mike and Leo give their ratings for Eternals19:55 - Intro to the film' Boogie.'21 - The Boogie storyline seems relatable for Leo 22 - Boogie Pros23 - Boogie Cons25 - Leo talks about the basketball element of the movie26 - The leading actor is a good basketball player in real life28 - Boogie showcased a different family dynamic we don't see often 30 - Looking at the model minority as the enemy31:40 - We give our rating for Boogie33:00 - Intro to Blue Bayou34:00 - Pros for Blue Bayou35:42 - Great to see what a solid Asian looks like36:11 - Mike goes over his pros 38:00 - Vietnamese representation in the South44:10 - Cons about Blue Bayou46:00 - Rating for Blue BayouHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

With Lunar New Year around the corner, today's Barbershop Talk podcast is about our unique experience with this special holiday and what we're doing this year to celebrate.  Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the podcast!In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:1:32 - Lunar New Year vs. Chinese New Year 4:04 - Discussing our Chinese horoscope7:00 - Leo breaks down a few common sayings for Lunar Year8:00 - Leo recalls a memory where his mom would hold his cash 9:45 - The significance of firecrackers during New Years10:35 - Koreans and Japanese people celebrate the lunar new year as well12:30 - Mike talks about the line he had to say before receiving an envelope 14:30 - Mike lists traditional Vietnamese dishes that were present during Vietnamese New Years 16:55 - We can't let our history and culture fade away 19:00 - Public schools didn't celebrate or recognize Lunar New Years22:00 - Influencer work and Lunar New Year24:00 - Lunar New Year in New York Chinatown27:00 - Do companies do a good job celebrating Lunar New Year with different collaborations?HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Welcome back to The Asian Menswear Podcast! This week, we're back with a Spotlight/Barbershop Talk episode to talk all about Asian hair with hair experts Peter and Tim from the popular 12Pell Barbershop located in the heart of Chinatown, New York. 12Pell is a barbershop founded by young millennials & Gen Z determined to bring new energy to the traditional men's grooming space. In addition, 12Pell has been featured on Yahoo Finance, BBC News, and ABC News and has a social media following of over half a million followers across all platforms. In this episode, we'll learn about Tim and Peter, their Barbershop 12Pell, and talk about something that doesn't necessarily get talked about enough, and that's Asian hair. So if you ever wondered why your hair grows outward or why you're not able to rock specific haircuts like the ones you see in magazines, then you'll enjoy this episode!In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:0:32 - 12Pell Barbershop backstory 1:15 - First guest Tim introduces himself 2:00 - How Tim got into barbering3:20 - Second Guest Peter introduces himself and how he got into barbering 6:55 - Peter decides to give barbering a shot. 9:00 - Walk me through the moment you discovered your Asian hair was different than other types of hair?11:52 - it's hard to find someone who understands how to shape the hair properly to a person's face while simultaneously providing a good fade.13:13 - why do you think it's taboo that Asian guys don't talk about their hair, and why aren't there any resources for this topic?14:00 - A lack of Asian role models and representation trickles down and affects us in different ways 14:05 - Our parents teach us that hair doesn't need to be complicated. Just get something practical and cheap.15:36 - Why are haircuts important? 18:12 - How common is it to find your clients not ever getting a good haircut in their life?21:53 - A good barber doesn't necessarily mean they understand how to cut Asian hair22:00 - Why is Asian hair different from Blacks, Latinos, White, etc.?24:50 - Product to keep side hair from flaring up 25:50 - A good haircut should last upwards of 3-4 weeks. Bad haircuts have a shorter lifespan 27:10 - Tips when dealing with Asian hair 27:40 - Never do this if you have Asian hair 28:49 - Asian hair can achieve volume30:45 - How knowledgeable is the average barber/stylist?32:30 - How should someone who doesn't have access to someone who knows how to cut Asian hair go about getting this haircut?35:32 - Why does a barbershop encourage guys to vent and talk about things 38:50 - If you have a good barber, it becomes an essential relationship40:28 - What's something about the barbering profession that needs to change?43:32 - What are some good things you can do with your hair?45:26 - Did you guys have bowl cuts growing up?49:42 - The best piece of advice You can follow 12Bell Barbershop @12pellYou can follow Tim @timsparadiseYou can follow Peter @pc.cutsHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome Jon Hernandez to the show.Jon Hernandez is the NFL Los Angeles Rams' physical therapist and athletic trainer. He previously worked for the Buffalo Bills and is a Trojan Alumni, where he completed his DPT education and sports residency training.In this episode, we'll learn about Jon's journey into the NFL as a Physical Therapist, the challenges that come with the job, and how it feels to represent Asian Americans in the industry. Hopefully, some insider info only someone within the NFL would know as well.Timestamps:2:00 - Originally from the East Coast 3:30 - Parents came to the US back in the late seventies 4:00 - Do you have any family out in the Bay Area?5:00 - How did you get into your current profession?5:50 - Experience going to Cambodia 6:50 - Dealt with kids with missing limbs and being victims of landmines7:49 - Had an upper-classmen who worked for the eagles and asked Jon to come help 9:25 (HIGHLIGHT)- First experience with an NFL game11:00 - Being scared of making a move to California, where he knew nothing about12:00 - Getting a call from the buffalo bills12:55 - Moving to buffalo14:00 - Stars aligned, and there was an opportunity on the west coast 15:00 - What's given you the advantage in terms of receiving different opportunities 16:00 - "you should keep your head up and work," not "keep your head down and work."21:00 - Could you talk to us about what an NFL culture looks like?22:00 - One of their sayings in the building is 'we win games with our schemes, but we win championships with our people'24:00 - Is working in the NFL a dream job for you?25:41 - Can you tell me about the moment you got the call for the job?29:00 - Are there a lot of Asian Americans working within the NFL?34:00 - Your experience dealing with ignorant players who don't know any better 37:00 - What's it like treating multimillionaires 38:00 - Helping a 90-year-old grandma 39:00 - A lot of these athletes are use to special treatment, so you have to approach it a little different41:00 - Being friends with multimillion-dollar athletes outside of work 44:00 - Leaving your comfort zone to get to the next levelYou can follow Jon on Instagram at @jernzzz.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Welcome back to The Asian Menswear Podcast! We're kicking off the new year with a Barbershop Episode on society's expectations on where you should be at different ages in your life. For example, finish school at 22, a career job at 25, a house and a family by 30? Yeah, those expectations. We explore whether these expectations are valid and how someone should look at age. If you're feeling behind in life or if you've checked off all the boxes but still feel like it wasn't what you expected life to be, then this is the episode for you. In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:2:00 - Mike feeling a certain way with being 30, but for Leo, it was different2:34 - Leo talks about his girlfriend's experience turning 303:12 - Why is age such a big deal?3:29 - Age is just a number 4:00 - Others think we're younger than we are6:00 - Past generations were completely different from today's8:00 - Having to deal with the societal expectations of where one should be at in life 8:55 - Times have changed a lot 11:00 - Changing your perspective on age and time12:00 - Expectations on marriage 13:00 - Women are working more than ever with even more opportunities 14:00 - Weddings are expensive expensive 14:30 - In some parts of America, it's normal to see early marriages 17:00 - Homes have gotten extremely expensive compared to before 17:30 - Life is about the life experiences you have and the things you do within your time here 19:00 - Randall park was a Starbucks barista at 32, trying to support his acting career HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

WIth 2022 around the corner, we couldn't end the year off without recording a wrap-up of 2021. In this episode, Leo and Mike reflect on everything that happened in the past year, expectations for 2022, and share their New Year resolutions. Thank you to all of our supporters for your continued support. We hope you guys crush it next year and accomplish everything you set your mind to in 2022. Cheers!In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:1:30 - Reviewing 2021 podcast stats2:50 - Make that first step to do something you've been putting off3:35 - Leo hearing about podcast numbers for the first time4:00 - You have to start somewhere, and the first episode will probably suck 4:38 - Possibly releasing full video podcasts on Youtube5:00 - Adding a third co-host? 7:30 - Leo reflecting a bit on this past year with the podcast 9:10 - What to expect for season 3 10:12 - Mike reiterating the ethos of Asian Menswear11:29 - Asian Menswear Suit Walk13:30 - Asking the audience to send in feedback for the podcast 16:30 - Don't wait till New Year to start doing something 17 - Leo goes over some common New Years resolutions 18 - Focus on passion, not on how you look 19 - Workout to feel good, not to be thinner 20 - Giving someone a compliment 21 - Reading more books HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

With Christmas around the corner, today's Barbershop Talk is all about our experience with Christmas. We talk about what Christmas was like for us growing up, how Christmas in the East is much different from the West, how we celebrate it now, and our plans for this year. We break it all down in this fun episode. In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:0:48 - Leo talks about getting Covid recently1:12 - New York experiencing a massive wave of Covid infections 2:40 - Leo is going to buffalo for Christmas with his girlfriend 3:15 - Christmas is different from Christian Christmas 3:58 - Leo talks about experiencing three different types of Christmas4:15 - Leo talks about celebrating Christmas in Hong Kong5:25 - In Asian culture, Christmas was more about holiday bonuses, holiday parties, and it was time not to spend time with family 5:58 - Eastern Christmas vs. Western Christmas is different 7:00 - Japan celebrates Christmas with a KFC meal 8 - Mike talks about what his Christmas was like 10:40 - What kind of tree did we have 12 - Growing up with sleet in Texas 13 - Leo describes his family experience with Christmas 14 - Christmas traditions were with girlfriends and friends 16 - Leo talks about converting to Christianity 18:35 - Feliz Navidad20:54 - Leo's first time learning about a Christmas stocking 22 - Mike never knew what the purpose of a Christmas stocking was 25 - Christmas has become this commercialized event that brings stress and problems 27 - Are you a hard person to shop hard?30 - What we're doing for Christmas this year 33 - Wearing Christmas attire for Christmas HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

In today's Barbershop Talk show, we discuss the passing of Louis Vuitton's artistic director Virgil Abloh and his impact on pop culture, Simu Liu beating out Daniel Craig (No Time to Die), Chris Pratt (The Tomorrow War) & Vin Diesel (F9: The Fast Saga) to win the People's Choice Award for Best Action Movie Star, & what the hell is the metaverse and how do we think it will impact us in the future. In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:2:40 - Introduction of Virgil Abloh 3:35 - How Virgil came from an engineer and architecture background prior to jumping into the fashion space5:00 - Virgil becoming the first Black designer at Louis Vuitton 7:55 - Losing three prominent African American figures in a small time frame (Chadwick Boswick, Kobe & Virgil)8:20 - How do you feel about people fighting cancers privately?9:30 - In Asian culture, illness is kept private 12:35 - Learning to enjoy our time here on earth while we have it14:00 - Simu Liu topic intro 14:30 - Simu hosts SNL16:45 - Shang-Chi getting a sequel even when people said it would flop17:30 - Leo hooped with Simu Liu 22 - Metaverse intro24 - How video games give you a glimpse of what the metaverse can become27 - Nike joining the metaverse30 - Metaverse will potentially change many industries37 - Tom Cruise deep fake 38 - Overall, is the metaverse good or bad?HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome Dan Go to the show.Dan is an entrepreneur and top body transformation coach. He helps CEOs, New York Times Best Sellers, and other high-achieving entrepreneurs make more money by getting their bodies into incredible shape with ease and minimal stress. In addition, Dan is the host of the "High-Performance Founder" podcast - a podcast focused on discovering all the high-performance secrets that founders and busy entrepreneurs use to ensure they stay fit and lean (no matter how busy they get).But prior to his success, Dan was a high school dropout who was overweight, $15k in debt and headed nowhere. In this episode, we'll learn how Dan overcame all his obstacles to become the successful entrepreneur he is today. So get ready. You guys are in for a treat. In this episode, we discuss:- "Fuck your culture"- His mom was his only supporter even when he showed no potential-Losing his mother at a young age- How he got into fitness- Growing up with friends who were bad influences and had no direction- Dan talks about an experience that was a lesson in disguise - Taking extreme ownership of every situation- Every skill you haven't learned is just a level you haven't ascended to yet- Why is there a disconnect between successful entrepreneurs and their fitness- What are the principles developed through fitness that can be applied to succeed in life?- What's a myth from your industry that people get wrong?- Think fuel and training vs. diet and exercise- How Dan was able to break away from worrying about what others thought of him to live his life as his true authentic self -Dan shares his best piece of advice- Where Dan sees himself in the next five yearsYou can follow Dan on Instagram at @danfounder.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome model Dylan Yau to the show.Dylan Yau is a UK-based model managed by Elite London, the world's leading model management company and an icon in the industry, and Modelwerk, Germany's leading international modeling agency.Dylan has modeled for some of the most recognizable brands such as Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Super Dry, New Balance, off-white, to name a few. Today we're going to learn about how Dylan got into modeling, what life is like being a model and an Asian male model on top of that and just how different it is being British Asian vs. Asian American.In this episode, we discuss:- Attending a prestigious school as a kid- Going from private school to public- How he got into modeling- There is still a lack of Asian models even in 2021- Asians accounts for only 2% of the population in the UK- What does the day-to-day look like for a male model?- What's a myth about the modeling industry that people get wrong?- The coolest modeling gig Dylan landed- If you had to start all over again as a model, what would you do differently?- Dylan offers his best piece of advice- Where Dylan sees himself in the next five yearsYou can follow Dylan on Instagram at @dylanyau.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

With Thanksgiving happening tomorrow, today's Barbershop Talk podcast is about our unique experience with this special holiday as Asian Americans. A special thank you to our supporters! We are incredibly grateful to have loyal listeners tuning into our show every week. We hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving with your families. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the podcast!In this episode, we discuss:- Growing up in households where our parents didn't celebrate Thanksgiving- Experiencing our first "real" Thanksgiving with friends- The importance of Thanksgiving isn't about the food. It's about family and being grateful for the things you have- Leo & Mike talk about what they're grateful for- Rating traditional Thanksgiving foodSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a continuation of the "Squid Game" episode we did a couple of weeks ago, where we briefly discussed Asian men becoming more desirable, even fetishized, as some have pointed out. During this conversation, we dug deeper and explored the topic of Asian men being more desired because of shows such as "Squid Game" and having more Asian male leads in films.In this episode, we discuss:- Dating app OkCupid data revealed Asian men scored the lowest when it came to matching- Fetishizing has had its negative connotations with it- Bringing up comedian Mike Kim on how it's our time to be fetishized - Asian men pitted against Asian women- Asian male fetishization vs. Asian female fetishization - Although it appears we are in demand, women are interested in K-pop or Korean Asians.- Mike talks about his experience growing up in Dallas Texas- Growing up without any positive Asian male role models- The portrayal of Asian men in western media is the complete opposite of the accepted standard beauty of men in the U.S.- How did your perception of Asian guys affect your dating life?- Asian women are most likely to date outside of their race- Asian women are the most in-demand when it comes to datingHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome David "Panda" Chen to the show.David Chen is a venture Capitalist, Serial Entrepreneur, board member of multiple companies, Motivational Speaker, Former Deloitte Managing Partner, and host of the Pandanomics podcast. Today we're going to learn about how David went from poverty to becoming a successful serial entrepreneur. If you're interested in business and entrepreneurship and love hearing about the rags to riches story, then you're going to enjoy this one. Hopefully, we'll learn some things or two from a seasoned veteran. In this episode, we discuss:- Growing up extremely poor to the point where having an egg sandwich for lunch was considered a good day- Knowing your niche- Asians fail because we don't support each other- Not having any mentors or role models while going through life- Having everything in the world but still felt unhappy- Chasing things that don't matter - Everyone can buy a Lamborghini if they work hard enough, but nobody can buy character- If you could start a business tomorrow, what would it be?- How big e-sport will becomeYou can follow David on Instagram at @davidchenpanda.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a review of the popular Netflix series 'Squid Game.' The 'Squid Game' series centers on a contest where 456 players, drawn from different walks of life but each deeply in debt, play a set of children's games with deadly penalties for losing for the chance to win a ₩45.6 billion prize.It is now Netflix's "biggest-ever series at launch" and has garnered over 111 million viewers in less than a month.We talk about the good, the bad, the ugly and give our rating out of 10.In this episode, we discuss:- Mike and Leo talk about their favorite and least favorite characters- How Hoyeon Jung went from 400k followers on Instagram to over 20 million.- The possibility of a "real" Squid Games existing today- Hidden clues/messages throughout the series - Asian men became fetishized after the show aired- People of all races embracing the characters from Squid Game- We give our rating out of 10HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome Mike Guevara to the show.Mike is a performance coach and the co-owner of GBG Hoops, where he helps top-level athletes elevate their game. Mike is considered one of the best top-performance coaches within both the NBA and NFL communities. In the NBA alone, he has worked with Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Jrue Holiday, to name a few. Today we're going to get a glimpse into how Mike went from coaching girls' youth soccer to coaching NBA/NFL players. In this episode, we discuss:- Growing up in a military household- Being overlooked as an Asian American athlete in high school and college- What exactly does a performance coach do?- Movement is essential to a healthy lifestyle- How to get professional athletes to buy into the program- How being the underdog as an athlete prepared him in his professional career- What separates a great athlete from an average one?- The best piece of advice- Where Mike sees himself in the next five years. You can follow Coach Mike on Instagram at @mrdoitmoving.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's podcast is our Level Up (previously called Solo) segment, where we bring you actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only inspire you but to motivate you to take action.The topic today will focus on four traits and qualities that can help you become a high-value person. A high-value person is someone others aspire to be. They're the ones who value themselves highly without being self-centered. This type of person knows their self-worth, exhibits certain high-value traits, and sets high standards for others in their lives.In this episode, we discuss:- Doing your best to keep your word- Being unreliable devalues you- Being in control of your emotions- Who are the people you aspire to be? What kind of qualities do they exhibit?- Breaking down why men want to be James Bond- Having purpose and drive- Having money doesn't always mean you are high-value FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome Joon Lee to the show.Joon Lee is a Major League Baseball writer for ESPN.com. He regularly hosts BBTN Live (Baseball Tonight Live), ESPN's streamed pregame show and has contributed to ESPN's MLB game telecasts. Before ESPN, Lee covered the NFL, NBA, MLB, sneakers, fashion, pop culture, and the Olympics at Bleacher Report. He also worked for The Washington Post and Boston Herald and has had bylines in The Ringer, S.B. Nation, and The Hardball Times. In 2018, Lee was named a Media Rising Star by Folio Magazine.Most recently, Joon was on live television to address insensitive comments made by Stephen A Smith on Angel's Player Shohei Ohtani on how a player who needs a translator can't be the face of the MLB. Today's focus is on Joon himself and his exciting journey to America and how he's been able to make his way to become one of a handful of Asian American sportswriters in major league sports. In this episode, we discuss:- Living in Boston as a Korean immigrant- How influential sports culture is in Boston compared to other places in the U.S.- When Joon realized he wanted a career in sports.- How the opportunity to speak with Stephen A. Smith about his comments on Shohei Ohtani came about- Wanting to make a difference and have an impact in professional sports- Have you always been vocal?- Joon landing his dream job and living the American dream- The best piece of advice- Where Joon sees himself in the next five years. You can follow Joon Lee on Instagram at @joon.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight episode, I'm excited to welcome Bryan Pham to the show. He's the co-founder of the Asian Hustle Network, a network focused on highlighting, empowering, and amplifying Asian American entrepreneurs worldwide, and has amassed over 100K members in less than two years. In addition, Bryan is also the founder of The Asian Hustle Network Podcast where he has interviewed over 100 entrepreneurs worldwide.This episode will focus on Bryan Pham and his journey creating the highly successful community The Asian Hustle Network.In this episode, we discuss:- Bryan's upbringing and where he gets his hustle from- Asians being extremely segregated- Seeing a lack in the professional space for Asian Americans - When Bryan decided to take Asian Hustle Network to the next level- What traits/qualities are essential to become a successful entrepreneur?- How to create a sustainable business with the Asian Hustle Network- What is the long-term vision for The Asian Hustle Network- Ben shares his best piece of adviceYou can follow Bryan Pham on Instagram at @bryanvuongpham.SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a conversation about cruises and why you should consider going on one. With cruise businesses slowly making a comeback, Leo and John discuss their recent experiences traveling on cruises. In this episode, we discuss:- Leo talks about his recent cruise experience- Where is CocoCay?- Leo talks about traveling way more ever since he got vaccinated - Being able to see seven different cities in less than a week- Cruises can take the edge off of people who live structured lives- There's a common misconception when it comes to cruises - What's the minimum budget you would need to enjoy a cruise?- Are cruises an opportunity to meet someone?HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a review of the hit Marvel film 'Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings' starring Simu Liu. Shang-Chi is about a young man working as a valet who is reluctantly drawn into his father's deadly criminal organization, known as the Ten Rings. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Simu Liu is the first Asian lead superhero in the MCU universe. We geeked out on this one, so be prepared! We talk about the good, the bad, the ugly and give our rating out of 10. In this episode, we discuss:- Discussing the pros of the movie- Seeing authentic Asian family dynamics- Growing up not expecting to see an Asian Marvel superhero in our lifetime- Appreciating the small details in the storyline- Western audience and Chinese audience dynamic - Original Shang-Chi comic book was racist- Does Shang-Chi fit into the MCU?- How powerful will Shang-Chi be relative to the other Avengers?- We give our rating out of 10HOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast discusses the impact of Ken Jeong and his character, Leslie Chow, from the highly successful comedy film "The Hangover." which went on to pull in a massive $1.4 billion at the box office.  According to a recent poll we did on our Asian Menswear Instagram, it looks like people's thoughts and feelings about Ken Jeong vary. Some people feel he sold out, others didn't see a problem with his character at all, and some don't agree with what he did but understand why he did it. Today's podcast will explore why so many Asian Americans hate him passionately and how Ken has responded to the backlash. Should people forgive him and move on or should people continue to criticize him? In this episode, we discuss:-Why Ken Jeong is a hot topic amongst Asian Americans-Why do people hate him -How Ken Jeong's participation in "The Hangover" propelled him into fame-How has Ken Jeong addressed the backlash -10 years later, should he be forgiven?HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barber Shop Talk podcast discusses the progression of Asian representation in film, especially for males. We breakdown whether or not recently released Asian-led films were positive for us and, more importantly, how well they did at the box office. Representation is necessary, but that only happens if these films continue to drive revenue and profits. In this episode, we discuss:-How much films need to pull to break even -Minari (Steven Yeun)-Mortal Kombat (2021) (Lewis Tan)-G.I. Joe Snake Eyes (Henry Golding & Andrew Koji)-All My Life (Harry Shum)-Boogie (Taylor Takahashi)-Shang-Chi (Simu Liu)HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's podcast is our Level Up (previously called Solo) segment, where we bring you actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only inspire you but to motivate you to take action.The topic today will focus on providing fashion tips for men. Why is fashion important? It helps build self-confidence, makes you look more attractive, and can give off the right first impression.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's episode is a pre-recorded segment from my weekly Instagram Live Wednesday Whiskey News Recap Show for Asian Menswear. The purpose of the show is to update everyone on all of the news they might've missed. The report is centered around all the great things Asian men are doing in the U.S. and worldwide. Why is this important? It's good to provide real examples of Asian men doing more than stereotypical things to prove we are more than that. I hope you guys enjoy this new segment.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's Barber Shop Talk podcast is a discussion about the Tokyo Olympics. With the Tokyo Olympics coming to an end, we thought doing a podcast episode on the significance of this event and how Asian Americans fared overall would be an excellent topic to discuss.In this episode, we discuss:- Presenting all the Asian Americans who came home with a medal - People didn't want to watch because they instead are out and in about since being under lockdowns - Sunisa Lee representing for Hmong people - Olympic viewership witnessing a 42% drop compared to Rio, Brazil Olympics - Does the Olympics matter as much as it did before?- Half of the sports at the Olympics are not widely popular elsewhere - Michael Phelps and Simone Biles made Olympics interestingHOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's episode is a pre-recorded segment from my weekly Instagram Live Wednesday Whiskey News Recap Show for Asian Menswear. The purpose of the show is to update everyone on all of the news they might've missed. The report is centered around all the great things Asian men are doing in the U.S. and worldwide. Why is this important? It's good to provide real examples of Asian men doing more than just stereotypical things to prove we are more than that. I hope you guys enjoy this new segment.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

(Part 2) For today's Spotlight Episode, I'm excited to welcome Ben Kil to the show. He's a professional basketball player, certified strength & training coach, and the TOP1 Performance/Travel Club owner. Ben represents a small number of Asian Americans who have been able to have a basketball career beyond high school. This episode discusses the not-so-known nuances of being Asian American in non-Asian-dominated sport. From fans throwing chopsticks at him during a rivalry game, being underestimated, and having to earn everything because he was different, Ben shares all his trials and tribulations and how he was to find the strength to overcome obstacle after obstacle in this podcast episode. In this episode, we discuss:- Trying out for the Korean Basketball League (KBL)- 2 million dollar Adidas offer on the line- Sharing his experience with trying out for the KBL and KBL draft night- Ben talks about the different types of professional basketball leagues around the world- Wanting to inspire the youth- Ben shares his best piece of advice- Where he envisions himself in the next five years You can follow Ben Kil on Instagram at @bkil10.SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

Today's episode is a pre-recorded segment from my weekly Instagram Live Wednesday Whiskey News Recap Show for Asian Menswear. The purpose of the show is to update everyone on all of the news they might've missed. The report is centered around all the great things Asian men are doing in the U.S. and worldwide. Why is this important? It's good to provide real examples of Asian men doing more than just stereotypical things to prove we are more than that. I hope you guys enjoy this new segment.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight Episode, I'm excited to welcome Ben Kil to the show. He's a professional basketball player, certified strength & training coach, and owner of TOP1 Performance/Travel Club. In this episode, we discuss:- Growing up in a small town in Michigan and being the only Asian family in the neighborhood- His father owned the largest Taekwondo business in the midwest- Growing up around the gym- Lived in LA for a few years and roomed with Disney channel stars- Being in the gym 8-10 hours a day because all he wanted to do was play basketball- Being a freshman on the varsity basketball team at an all-black high school- Getting picked on as a freshman- Having chopsticks thrown at him during a rivalry game- Quitting basketball as a freshman in college because he had enough - getting an opportunity to play professional basketball - tried out for the NBA D-League to play for the Cavaliers sister teamYou can follow Ben Kil on Instagram at @bkil10.SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patron.com/asianmenswear)

Today's episode is a pre-recorded segment from my weekly Instagram Live Wednesday Whiskey News Recap Show for Asian Menswear. The purpose of the show is to update everyone on all of the news they might've missed. The report is centered around all the great things Asian men are doing in the U.S. and worldwide. Why is this important? It's good to provide real examples of Asian men doing more than just stereotypical things to prove we are more than that. I hope you guys enjoy this new segment.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show (https://www.patron.com/asianmenswear)

For today's Spotlight Episode, I'm excited to welcome Jay Lee to the show. He's a Krava Maga and Muy Thai Instructor and the founder of Korean Tiger Studios, where he provides coaching and training on martial arts and defense techniques.Jay's inspiring journey into martial arts was born out of necessity. Being bullied in high school for being the only Asian kid in school to dealing with an abusive father at home, Jay found himself taking matters into his own hands when it came to defending himself. To make matters worse, Jay comes from a family with over 35 physicians who expected him to not only follow in their footsteps but inherit three family practices once he finished medical school. From the outside looking in, Jay had the golden ticket. All he had to do was follow the plan. However, Jay knew deep down instead this wasn't the life he wanted and he had to make the difficult decision to either live a life that was expected of him or ultimately live his life the way he wants.In this episode, we discuss:- Learning how to fight out of necessity - Having an abusive father who was an ex-marine in South Korea (getting drop kicked, father using weapons against him)- Having an abusive father who was an ex-marine in South Korea- Being in a family with over 35 physicians who expected him to follow in their footstep- Becoming the first Krav Maga certified Korean American - Family cutting him off after he made the decision not to pursue a career in the medical career- Having a chip on his shoulders - His thoughts on Asian Hate as someone who teaches self-defense for a living - Men should be able to protect their families - Sharing his best piece of advice - Where he envisions himself in the next five years. You can follow Jay Lee on Instagram at @trainerjaylee.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear Community

Today's episode is a pre-recorded segment from my weekly Instagram Live Wednesday Whiskey News Recap Show for Asian Menswear. The purpose of the show is to update everyone on all of the news they might've missed. The report is centered around all the great things Asian men are doing in the U.S. and worldwide. Why is this important? It's good to provide real examples of Asian men doing more than just stereotypical things to prove we are more than that. I hope you guys enjoy this new segment.HOW TO SUPPORT ASIAN MENSWEAR:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear Community