In celebration of Father’s Day and all the different ways fatherhood can look, we’ve brought Sam Tsui and Casey Breves on the show to share about their journey and outlook on parenting. Sam and Casey are OG YouTubers, incredibly talented musicians, and fathers to their beautiful daughter Elaia. It’s clear that music and creativity are core values in their lives, and they’re passing it onto Elaia as well through their latest book, Why Do We Sing? We’re so excited to hear Sam and Casey’s perspecti...
Jun 14, 2024•52 min•Season 23Ep. 276
I’ve been feeling really sensitive lately and got curious about this quality. I went down a rabbit hole of research, and it turns out that there is such a thing as highly sensitive people, or HSPs. In this episode, I talk about examples of sensitivity, explore a framework from psychologist Elaine Aron, and share ways I manage sensitivity. And yes, there is a test you can take to gauge whether you are a highly sensitive person and I share my results in the episode. Whether you’ve recently experie...
Jun 12, 2024•28 min
We’ve talked a lot about healthy communication in relationships, but when it comes to the topic of sex, partners often shy away from talking about it directly. On top of that, our experience of pleasure as women is often not prioritized, and some may even wonder: Is it possible for me to reach “the big O”? To help guide these conversations, we’ve brought on Sex & Relationship expert Dr. Tara. As an award-winning researcher and tenured professor, she has so many insights to share, and the evi...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 23Ep. 275
Did you know I never took the SAT? Yet I still earned a Bachelor's Degree from a four-year university! And guess what? I saved $27,000 on college tuition! How? I started at my local community college for two years before transferring to UC San Diego. In today's episode, I’ll share why I chose community college despite having a 3.8 GPA in high school, what the experience was like (did I feel behind compared to my peers?), and why it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Grab your...
Jun 05, 2024•34 min
Earlier this year, Helen went through a miscarriage, and since then she’s been navigating this devastating loss alongside her husband Philip. From doctor visits to sharing the news, every step along the way has been a difficult one. It’s unfortunate to learn that about 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and expectant parents often have to go through their grief in silence, and alone. For this reason, Helen and Philip want to share their personal story to bring more visibility to the experien...
May 31, 2024•55 min•Season 23Ep. 274
Whether you’re a parent or someone who has faced the heavy weight of grief, this episode is dedicated to you. From the initial shock and denial to the eventual steps towards acceptance and hope, I share my journey with grief after my miscarriage, delving into what it means to grieve, how to navigate through grief, and the importance of community and support. I also share what I’ve learned about the seven stages of grief after loss. Writing these words have been both a cathartic and challenging p...
May 29, 2024•27 min
Have you ever wondered if someone you know is a Narcissist? Maybe they have very high self-esteem, but when does self-confidence cross the line into an unhealthy level of self-importance? To help shed some light on this topic, we’re so excited to have Alyssa “Lia” Mancao back on the podcast! Last time, we spoke with Lia about the Importance of Chemistry vs. Compatibility in Relationships, but one of her particular specialties is helping people recover from narcissistic abuse. She walks us throug...
May 24, 2024•47 min•Season 23Ep. 273
I am a big believer that food is medicine. Growing up in a Chinese household, my mother often told me (and still tells me) to eat certain foods based on Eastern philosophies of health. Once I went to college, I was more exposed to Western ways of thinking about healthy eating, which sometimes conflicted with what I was taught growing up. Through the years, I’ve experimented with vegetarian and vegan diets and now practice a pescetarian/Mediterranean way of eating - which I have found is the most...
May 22, 2024•43 min
YouTube launched in 2005, and today’s guest was there right near the start. Weylie Hoang started her channel in 2007, with a video she filmed to teach a friend how to use a tampon. Over the years, we’ve watched her content evolve from beauty and fashion to camping, car maintenance, and traveling. We’re so excited to hear her perspective on how she’s maintained longevity as a content creator without burning out, why she lets the right audience find her rather than trying to tailor her content for...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 23Ep. 272
Join me for a special Q&A episode where we dive into the questions YOU submitted! From updates on the bustling streets of NYC to personal reflections on happiness and anxiety, nothing is off-limits. In this episode, we tackle everything from city life to emotional well-being. Plus, I had to answer your questions on what K-Drama I'm watching next and what I'm anticipating for this summer! Grab your headphones and listen to me answer your Q’s in this episode of No Dumb Questions with Mel! Beco...
May 15, 2024•35 min
Mel’s settling into New York now, but before that, she sat down with Janet to talk about her expectations for the big move. Frequent listeners will know that Janet’s bounced around a lot, and at one point, NYC was a place she really hoped to live. Unfortunately, though the city is easy to romanticize, setting down roots there has its own unique set of challenges. Mel talks about how she prepared for the move, from creating Excel spreadsheets to researching all the different boroughs. Janet share...
May 10, 2024•55 min•Season 23Ep. 271
Today's topic is a tough one, so I want to give a heads-up: we’re diving into the difficult subject of miscarriage. Cue: “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” by Taylor Swift. About a month ago, I went through a miscarriage, and as a hopeful mom of two, it was the single most devastating thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. It's a heavy but necessary conversation, and today, I share my own experience with this heart-wrenching loss aiming to break the silence and stigma surrounding miscarriage. It's cru...
May 08, 2024•24 min
Happy AANHPI Heritage Month! Every year, we love to highlight our personal stories and connections with our heritage. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into specific topics we’ve always been curious about: Why did most early immigrants from China to the US come from the Toisan region? What’s the history & symbolism behind the familiar Chinese knot artistry often used to decorate homes & clothing? And why was the Taiwanese language banned for some time? By bringing attention to th...
May 03, 2024•42 min•Season 23Ep. 270
I really love minimal living. Whether it’s from moving around and traveling a lot in my adult years sampling life in different cities, a desire to leave less of a negative footprint on the planet, a real resonance with the Marie Condo mindset, or a combination of all of the above - the less stuff, the better, and the more minimal and efficient the design, the more I’m drawn to it. That’s why I was so impressed when I saw Sung Yoo’s interview on CNBC about her essentialist approach to life. Sung ...
May 01, 2024•52 min
As people grow and change, you might find yourself in your 30s as a very different person than you were in your 20s. Teenage you might not have even imagined who you are today. So while it may be slightly embarrassing to look back at those old versions of ourselves, in this episode we’re reflecting on all the glow ups (and even glow downs) that brought us here. From puberty and bad haircuts, to finding our self-confidence post-college, it’s fun to reflect on how far we’ve come and how our defini...
Apr 26, 2024•54 min•Season 23Ep. 269
For today’s episode, it falls a bit after my 2 year anniversary with Ray. The last time I was in this long of a relationship was in high school and that was a very different time. With us moving in together, in a new city, we are definitely in a different stage in our relationship. Today, I reflect back on our relationship, compare year 1 & 2, chat through the other insights I discovered in our relationship, and what else needs to happen before embarking on the next stage. Become an ABG Best...
Apr 24, 2024•34 min
Oof, no one likes to look back on past failures, even if it’s been years since then. But making mistakes is a part of life, and none of them define who you are or what the rest of your life will look like. Today, we share our biggest academic, relationship, and career failures – from getting a D+ on a final, to facing negative performance reviews at work. These moments often felt like they closed so many doors, but now we realize that they only redirected us onto a different, better path. Ultima...
Apr 19, 2024•48 min•Season 22Ep. 268
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to raise your child in another country? In today’s episode, I bring my old high school friend, Connie Ma, onto the podcast to chat about the unique experience of raising a family abroad, particularly in Taiwan. Connie shares her journey from the United States to Taiwan, highlighting the challenges and joys of integrating into Taiwanese society. We discuss language immersion, educational systems, parental support, and cultural differences in parenting prac...
Apr 17, 2024•52 min
In a world filled with so many influences and voices, how do you return back to your core self and rediscover your life’s purpose? Or in the words of today’s guest, how do you start living from the inside out, rather than the outside in? We’re so excited to sit down with John Kim, known for his work as The Angry Therapist. After going through a divorce, John shared his self-development journey online, growing a community through his frankness and vulnerability. He brings the same to our podcast ...
Apr 12, 2024•56 min•Season 22Ep. 267
In a previous episode, I talked about the importance of play and how I have been trying to incorporate more of it into my life. *Spoiler alert* In that episode (In My Play Era, I Took a Heels Class) I talked about how scheduling a playful activity like a dance class actually wasn’t the best way to get into a state of play. In this episode I share a moment when I unexpectedly, and without planning, found myself in a state of play. How and doing what? You’ll have to listen to find out :) Speaking ...
Apr 10, 2024•21 min
When you go through big life changes, it can frequently feel like you’re unbalanced and losing control of your circumstances, even if the changes are good ones. This year, Mel’s taking big steps by moving cross-country, while Janet is stepping out of her comfort zone into a new era of carefree play. As we enter new chapters in life, what is the best way to measure progress and re-center ourselves? Are there books, practices, and self-help podcasts that we love to turn to, to help us navigate the...
Apr 05, 2024•53 min•Season 22Ep. 266
Last time we chatted about New York, I announced I was moving. Now, it's been a few weeks moving to a new city and it's been tough! From all the emotional goodbyes in Cali, adjusting to living with a partner, to dealing with changes, it's been a roller coaster of a few weeks. Tune in to see what the move has been like lately & what feelings I've been encountering while dealing with this change. Become an ABG Bestie to get new audio episodes ad-free, monthly “Dear ABG” AMA videos, discounts o...
Apr 03, 2024•28 min
Regardless of how many personal & professional events you’ve been to, we’ve all experienced awkward social interactions before. Sometimes you enter a room and realize you don’t know anyone there, or maybe your social battery runs out mid-conversation. Or what if someone you recognize starts talking to you, but you absolutely can’t remember their name? We share our best advice for how to navigate these sticky situations, along with our tried and true tips & tricks for how to hype yourself...
Mar 29, 2024•52 min•Season 22Ep. 265
On this episode of Spill the Baby Tea, I bring on my husband, Philip, to dive into the intimate topic of why we made the decision to keep our baby's face hidden from social media. As parents navigating the complexities of modern parenthood in the digital age, we share all of the reasons considered, as well as our reflections (2 years later) behind this choice. From concerns about online privacy and data security to protecting our child's autonomy and emotional well-being, we explore the multifac...
Mar 27, 2024•43 min
As you navigate the dating world, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and to watch out for those green, beige, and red flags. We’ve had our fair share of red flag experiences that have taught us more about ourselves and what we’re unwilling to compromise on. If a guy isn’t super action-oriented, or if someone doesn’t want to have kids, these could be major red flags, or even deal breakers for a relationship. And what about red flags when it comes to 1st date locations? Zoos and buffet...
Mar 22, 2024•51 min•Season 22Ep. 264
In this episode, I chat with Alexis Fernandez, the host of Do You F*cking Mind, a podcast that uses brain health and neuroscience as a jumping board to teach listeners how to improve their self-perception and view of the world through physical and mental alignment. We talk about how breakups can be a catalyst for big positive life changes, managing anxiety and burnout, a lot of tips around sleep hygiene, how nutrition can impact mental health, understanding overthinking, social relationships, an...
Mar 20, 2024•38 min
Many of us know the joy (and sometimes frustration) of growing up with siblings, but the bond shared between twins is something only approximately 3% of the world can understand. So what better way to learn than to invite the experts! Our good friends Jason and Justin Rodjanapanyakul have joined us today to share all about their experience living and working together as twins. From growing up in a monastery as “baby monks”, to starting a music duo on YouTube as the JRod Twins, to now returning t...
Mar 15, 2024•58 min•Season 22Ep. 263
In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked yet profoundly transformative journey of self-growth. Recently, I came across a comment that struck a chord. The listener, who has been with us since the beginning, remarked on the noticeable growth they observed in me over the past few years. This observation made me realize that I’ve done a lot of quiet self work the last few years that had benefited me greatly. So if you’re someone that either 1) values personal growth 2) feel stagnant 3) wo...
Mar 13, 2024•29 min
Yes, it’s true, Mel is officially moving to New York City! Not only is this a big deal for her to move from West to East Coast, but she’s also taking a major step in her relationship by moving in with her boyfriend Ray. It’s never easy to step out of your comfort zone, but as someone who’s always wanted to experience living in new places, this move is coming at the perfect time for Mel. She’s so excited to share why she’s moving to NYC, what she’s most excited (and nervous) about, and…is this a ...
Mar 08, 2024•45 min•Season 22Ep. 262
I knew I’d be emotional the first week of daycare, but I didn’t expect to be an emotional WRECK and sick for weeks! Okay, I don’t want to scare anyone from putting their child in school because stay in school kiddos, but I did want to capture what it was like to send our little one into the WILD of the school environment. I share sick kid tips that other mama friends have shared with me that have been SUPER helpful for us, about how we prepared our brave lil warrior the weeks leading up to dayca...
Mar 06, 2024•32 min
