We’ve done many Q&A episodes with listener-submitted questions, but on today’s episode, we’re going to be asking questions for each other! These are Q’s that listeners might be curious about (How do we feel about being called influencers?), things we’ve always wanted to ask (When was the last time you were truly happy?), and questions about ABG specifically (What new team members do we need?) - all “anonymously” submitted and picked randomly from a bowl. _____________________________________...
Nov 17, 2023•46 min•Season 21Ep. 246
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and who can benefit from it? Is trauma limited to single-event experiences? How does Gen Z approach mental health versus previous generations? To help me answer these questions is Dr. Monica Band, an award-winning practicing mental health therapist and educator, specializing in providing trauma-informed care for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), with an emphasis on Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and LGBTQIA+ communi...
Nov 15, 2023•41 min
Today’s topic of aging is more somber than usual. Walking through many stages of life with our parents is a blessing for us, but it’s still difficult to come to terms with the passage of time. As physical changes become more apparent, aging is not an avoidable subject. How do we navigate these conversations with our parents and siblings, particularly if it’s taboo to talk about? How will we address life’s natural processes with our own kids in the future? Though it may be challenging to bring up...
Nov 10, 2023•58 min•Season 21Ep. 245
Friendships are a topic we get asked about a lot & I get it. It plays such a huge role in our lives! In today's two part series, I want to dive into a very special friendship of mine, that I haven't had the chance to share about on the pod. I'm talking about college friendships. This one, in particular, began in the dorms of UCSD transfer housing & it blossomed into one of my most precious adult friendships. Today, I bring on one of my best friends, Sally Le to chat through how we met, o...
Nov 08, 2023•29 min
Last time we played the card game “Let’s Get Deep”, we got to explore conversations we didn’t expect to have. So we’re doing another episode, and this time, we’re diving even deeper. What are embarrassing things we do when we’re alone? Do we believe in second chances? And would we trade 5 years of our life expectancy to become extremely attractive? __________________________________________ Hosts: Melody Cheng, Janet Wang, Helen Wu Editor: Michelle Hsieh _________________________________________...
Nov 03, 2023•51 min•Season 20Ep. 244
There is nothing more frightening than what is happening in the world right now. How do we talk to our kids about conflict and war? As parents, we can only hope to create a world where our children can feel safe to navigate his/her own emotions. In this episode, we cover some tips on how to approach the conversation of tragic world events with your child and provide them with support and comfort. These tips are adapted from two Greater Good articles by Abigail Gerwirtz, a professor of Psychology...
Nov 01, 2023•22 min
Halloween is fast approaching: many people are flocking to horror nights, exploring haunted houses, and watching movie thrillers. However, as people who get too easily scared and try to avoid these spooky encounters, we wondered: what are the reasons why humans might seek out horror and scary experiences? So we did a deep dive into this topic, exploring the psychological and relational benefits of scary entertainment. And after learning all of this, how will we be incorporating creepy fun into o...
Oct 27, 2023•41 min•Season 20Ep. 243
Just because you’re alone, doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. Listen in as I share my thoughts on loneliness and how I've been living my life so that I can be alone without being lonely. Leave a 👉🏽👈🏽 in the comments if you enjoyed this episode! I'm also curious if you have tips for combatting loneliness - leave 'em in the comments so we can all get ideas :D Also, let me know what other subjects you're interested in hearing about - living well is such a broad topic and I'm always looking for...
Oct 25, 2023•23 min
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month in the United States. Although research suggests that over 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, this experience can feel extremely isolating and lonely for families. It certainly did for our guest today, Anne Phung Nguyen Guzman, who experienced 2 miscarriages before giving birth to her beautiful baby boy last summer. Lack of support and empathy from her medical team, as well as toxic positivity from people around her, only made this process even more...
Oct 20, 2023•43 min•Season 20Ep. 242
After getting fed up with the self loathing I had with my body image, I decided to finally do something about it. I started to consistently work out for the first time in my life. The "not athletic" girl joined OrangeTheory. I share my insecurities approaching my first HIIT class, the feeling of accomplishment to the rocking results that shook me back to a negative headspace. Now, in 2023, I also share where I'm currently at with my relationship with my body & journey with fitness. Again, I ...
Oct 18, 2023•24 min
Continuing our 1-on-1 friendship series, this time it’s Mel and Helen’s turn to share the history and nuances of their duo dynamic! With just a 4-year age gap, there’s a lot that they have in common (any other friend duos out there who are always unfiltered & unhinged??), but there are also distinct differences between them (morning runs vs. sleeping in) that bring a unique perspective and balance to this friendship. Having known each other across various life stages, from new relationships ...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 20Ep. 241
How we parent our children will affect their mental health and relationships well into adulthood. In this episode, we discuss the 3 main parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative, with each style representing different approaches to discipline, rules, and communication. Each style has its ups and downs, but ultimately, the best approach depends on your child's temperament, age, and needs, as well as the cultural and societal norms they're accustomed to. Join me in this conve...
Oct 11, 2023•21 min
We’ve discussed many of our dating and relationship highs on this podcast over the years, and our listeners have also walked with us through our love woes. Love is hard, and loving someone is a learned skill. Today, Janet reflects on her recent breakup and shares some of her biggest takeaways from this relationship: what she was grateful for, what she learned about herself, and her outlook on dating now. __________________________________________ Hosts: Melody Cheng, Janet Wang, Helen Wu Editor:...
Oct 06, 2023•48 min•Season 20Ep. 240
Have you ever experienced a situation that seemed catastrophic in the moment, like when you think back to it as a memory, you feel it in your body - whether it was wide-eyed panic, stomach sinking disbelief, or rising anger fuming through your nose and exiting your mouth in expletives? In this episode, I share how I discovered that my car was stolen, the surprisingly calm reaction I had, and how I was able to achieve this mindset. I also share some thoughts on The Tale of Two Wolves. If you enjo...
Oct 04, 2023•21 min
Friendships, just like romantic relationships, can sometimes be difficult to navigate, particularly as you move through different stages of life. As you graduate from college, get married, start a family, etc., friendships will often grow and change as you do. We asked you to send in questions: how to make new friends, how to maintain old friendships (or even leave toxic ones), and how platonic relationships can be as equally meaningful as romantic ones. _________________________________________...
Sep 29, 2023•47 min•Season 20Ep. 239
I've been avoiding this topic for 2 years now. My relationship with my body image is something I try to protect, because it's one that has brought me a lot of pain. There was a time that I blamed my body for my unhappiness and the demon of comparison was a very large figure that took over. It's a relationship that I'd consider a "work in progress" despite being in a better mental place. After getting to a place of contentment, I wanted to share my journey with my body image. This journey is one ...
Sep 27, 2023•21 min
We’re celebrating Janet’s birthday this week! So what an excellent time to reflect not just on the past year, but also on what it means to be in your late 30’s. This decade in particular is often full of significant life decisions, new responsibilities, and mindset changes. Though we are all still relatively young, we strive to live intentionally and build healthy habits, while also continuing to step out of our comfort zones. Join us in this moment of self-reflection, no matter what stage of li...
Sep 22, 2023•50 min•Season 20Ep. 238
Join me for a deep dive into the world of bridal self-care as I share EVERYTHING I did to feel my absolute best on my special day. From teeth whitening to laser treatments, skincare routines to hair transformations, to what I used to exfoliate my body and even soften my feet (TMI), there’s no gatekeeping here! And I’d do it all again to feel as confident as I did on my wedding day. Tune in for tips and inspiration to help you feel your most radiant self, whether you're a bride-to-be or simply on...
Sep 20, 2023•24 min
Kombucha tea has become many people’s drink of choice, and nowadays you’ll see various brands populating the beverage aisle of your local grocery store. One of the earliest pioneers of the drink, Health-Ade, started back in 2012, when Vanessa Dew took a leap of faith and started a business with her best friends. Despite the risks, she decided to leave her career in pharmaceuticals to start brewing kombucha at home. As regular drinkers of Health-Ade kombucha, we are so excited to learn more about...
Sep 15, 2023•51 min•Season 20Ep. 237
'Healing girl summer' is the concept of taking a season to focus on tending to yourself, for yourself. It’s all about taking both the time and the space to prioritize your relationship with yourself over anyone else - to introspect, reflect, care for, inspire, and learn how to love yourself before you can love anyone else. In this episode, I share how I relate to this concept in my life right now and a handful of specific 'healing girl summer' practices that I’m doing. Which one do you plan to t...
Sep 13, 2023•29 min
Helen & Philip held their wedding celebration on a beautiful day in August, but as many of you know, they’ve been officially married for some time now. Their wedding plans got canceled due to the pandemic, so they got married via Microsoft Teams in Joshua Tree, and had a Chinese Tea ceremony with close family. But they still wanted a chance to celebrate with extended family and friends. Despite all of these hurdles, and only 5 months to pull everything together, the wedding weekend turned ou...
Sep 08, 2023•52 min•Season 20Ep. 236
You already met him briefly through the episodes where we introduced our partners for the first time on ABG (ep 225 & 226). But today, I bring on Ray, my boyfriend, for the first time, onto my mini show. We've been dating for a little over a year now and have learned a lot about each other during this time. Many of you all have been following me on my dating history during my single season, and are probably curious about the person I finally found. Thank you to those that sent in questions f...
Sep 06, 2023•27 min
The topic of sex, pornography, and sex work is still considered pretty taboo in our society, particularly in Asian communities. This has been a highly requested topic for ABG, not only to promote conversation, but also because many are curious about representation in an industry that still highly favors Western beauty standards. Asian women are often fetishized and Asian men are often emasculated in mainstream media, so what does it look like in adult entertainment? On this episode, we’ve invite...
Sep 01, 2023•48 min•Season 20Ep. 235
Never in all the years I've dreamed up my wedding did I think I’d have my baby by my side. Never could I imagine, even now, not having our lil kiwi head right there with us. Our little man reveled in every moment of the day -- calling out to us with his cheerful "mama baba!" during the ceremony, effortlessly floating from one guest to the other, his infectious energy lighting up the dance floor. He definitely had the best time of his tiny little life and became a true highlight of our wedding. T...
Aug 30, 2023•28 min
Summer is all about sunshine and longer days spent with loved ones. This year in particular, we want to take full advantage of this season by embracing our summer-loving selves with confidence and unleashing our wild side! It’s the perfect time to look back on some of the hilarious (sometimes embarrassing) and unforgettable moments with friends. We even dive into a bit of the hypothetical: What if you and your friend are stranded on a desert island? How do you flirt at a summer pool party? And: ...
Aug 25, 2023•44 min•Season 20Ep. 234
On today’s episode, I talk about different tools for achieving and maintaining wellness. Many of us have probably heard of talk therapy, but what about hypnotherapy? And we all probably know that Yoga is a great tool for living well, but what about Ayurveda? To help us dig deeper into these topics, I invited Neelu Kaur to the pod - she is a Certified NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) coach, certified Yoga Instructor, Ayurveda Specialist, and trained Ericksonian Hypnotherapist. Neelu focuses on b...
Aug 23, 2023•30 min
Here at AsianBossGirl, we spend a lot of time on the podcast as a trio, but we don’t often share 1 on 1 conversations. So on today’s episode, Janet and Mel reflect on their friendship, one that could be described as an older/younger sister or cousin dynamic, where each person can talk to the other about anything, without judgment. Join as we walk down memory lane and share how our friendship developed from first impressions to a deep connection. And stay tuned for more 1:1 conversations with dif...
Aug 18, 2023•43 min•Season 20Ep. 233
How to maintain work, life, balance is a question we get asked a lot! It's something many of us struggled with, especially with juggling social schedules and finding boundaries with WFH. However, after a few years of fine tuning some of my daily habits, I found effective ways that have helped me create more balance in my life! Listen in as I share my Non-negotiables when managing my work and life! I hope these tips help you as you figure out what works for you! __________________________________...
Aug 16, 2023•19 min
We just got back from a trip to Cabo, which was not only a vacation, but also… a Bachelorette Party! Helen is having her wedding soon, so of course we had to take time to let loose on the beach, and most importantly, celebrate our amazing bachelorette. With 12 girls total, there was a lot of fun to be had, but also a lot to plan! In this episode, we’ll share some Do’s and Don’ts for planning a Bachelorette, how we decided on the theme (Tropic Like It’s Hot!) and our favorite memories from the tr...
Aug 11, 2023•56 min•Season 19Ep. 232
Babies seem to find fun in just about anything. But, there are instances when we observe our littles nestled within their playpens, faces resting gently on their mats, while their tiny thumbs seek comfort. As parents, we can’t help but ask ourselves: "is my baby bored?!” In today’s episode, we explore how our household has embraced the concept of bite-sized weekday adventures, sharing strategies for dispelling those hints of non-nap time monotony. If you are a parent or caretaker, what are some ...
Aug 09, 2023•19 min
