On this solo episode, Minji recounts a recent racially-charged incident in her growing acting career - getting asked for "geisha" photos from a prospective Hollywood manager. As a millennial woman of color who has participated in the growing outrage culture around her, Minji is faced with an important and uncomfortable choice. She must decide how to address this triggering request with integrity, courage, while also not ruining her career that's just getting started. Follow Minji on: Twitter (@m...
Dec 15, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 54
The last time Minji invited Her Royal Empress Ratchet & Captain of #TeamExtra Jess Ju on this podcast for Episode 12, they dove head first into their experiences with online dating. In an in-depth analysis of favorite dating platforms, unsolicited dick pics, unique criteria for swiping right, & implementing questionable boundaries, they explored, celebrated, & lamented the untethered single life. Now one year later, they both find themselves in serious relationships. Ohhhh how the ta...
Nov 30, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 53
Happy Thanksgiving First Of All fam! In Minji's second Thanksgiving episode, she continues a tradition of reflection on the past year, & what a year it has been. Thanks to Ariana Grande, we have a flow to this one: what taught her LOVE, PAIN, & PATIENCE & looking forward to what's NEXT. Diving right into the heart of holiday season with this one. Let's close this year out right! Follow Minji on: Twitter (@minjeeeezy) Instagram (@minjeezy) Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafin...
Nov 23, 2018•39 min•Ep. 52
It's annoying, it's paralyzing, it's inevitable... it's REJECTION! Whether dealing with it at work, between friends or strangers, and most certainly in our romantic lives, rejection is that ugly reality that can mess with our sense of self-worth and ultimately our progress in life. In this week's episode of First Of All, Minji sits down with her marvelous friend, singer/songwriter/actor Dia Frampton. Together they dissect the many ways rejection has played a pivotal, albeit frustrating, role in ...
Nov 15, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 51
Content Warning: Discussion of depression & suicide After an unexpected and extensive absence, Minji returns with a solo episode to talk about some difficult things that she's been dealing with for the past few weeks. She expands on her experience losing one of her close friends to suicide and the process of grieving, feeling, rationalizing, accepting, and learning from the process. If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please seek help and call the National Suic...
Nov 09, 2018•50 min•Ep. 50
“Is everyone hanging out without me? Why wasn’t I invited? Wow, their life seems amazing..and mine... sucks. I mean, I’m broke and exhausted and have a million things I need to do.. but.. I can’t NOT go. I hate this, but everyone else is doing it..might as well.” Sound familiar? Welcome to the age of FOMO- fear of missing out. This episode, Minji sits down with one of her favorite ATLiens on the planet- comedian Joon Lee. Together they go down the rabbit hole of dealing with daily, relentless, o...
Oct 10, 2018•41 min•Ep. 49
In high school, Minji fell asleep in Econ class. In college, she tried it once more, only this time became completely intrigued & inspired by its concepts. One of her absolute favs? OPPORTUNITY COST - the benefits an individual misses out on when choosing one alternative over another. It's a concept that's more & more significant as she works hard at making smart, productive, healthy decisions. As time, energy, and bs tolerance become increasingly scarce in Minji's life, she realizes the...
Oct 04, 2018•48 min•Ep. 48
Hey. We need to talk. Anyone else freak out when they hear those words? Maybe it's because usually on the other side of that tiny declaration is a serious conversation that might very well involve something you may have done wrong. Or didn't do enough of. Or forgot. Or unintentionally but insensitively ruined for all eternitty. In any case, conflict resolution is an essential part of life, so why is it still such a dreaded thing we gladly (and frequently) run away from? Whether it applies to fam...
Sep 20, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 47
Millennials have this annoying reputation for being lazy, self-absorbed, and entitled, some of which can be true and some that's just plain nonsense. While some of these trends may hold up, a lot of sounds a lot like the same complaints every aging generation puts on the incoming one for just not being good enough. On this episode of First of All, Minji welcomes back dancer, artist, & entrepreneur homie FENG to the podcast to chat about the concept and values of respecting your elders. As As...
Aug 28, 2018•57 min•Ep. 46
On this solo episode, Minji shares her thoughts on the movie on everyone's (especially Asian Americans’) minds - summer romcom Crazy Rich Asians. She talks about what it meant to her to see Asian characters on screen be allowed to be whatever they want to be, and why that's important to the rest of us, ALL OF US. She addresses the criticisms, controversies, & sh*t-talkers. She also shares her thoughts on why diversity matters, and how an unexpected conversation with an African American frien...
Aug 19, 2018•51 min•Ep. 45
According to research professor & viral TED talk speaker Brené Brown, vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging & love. It’s also the things we as humans often do anything, and we mean ANYTHING, to avoid being. We fear feelings of rejection, shame, guilt, inadequacies & much more. But what’s at stake when we withstand, nay FLEE, that which is so fundamental in building true connections with others? A lot, actually. In this episode, Minji invites her fried, persona...
Aug 15, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 44
On this episode, Minji sits down with her friend Abe Kim to talk through a very complex and layered part of their lives - navigating their faith growing up in a Christian church through the good, bad, and deeply confusing. With Abe's background as a pastor's kid and a student of theology, they talk through parallel but also uniquely different experiences with morality, social obligations, betrayals, cultural nuances and lingering questions about organized religion. Their conversation is a deep d...
Aug 01, 2018•54 min•Ep. 43
Never judge a book by their cover, they say. Minji’s friend, fellow podcaster, & former party promoter Tom Ngo says otherwise. You just gotta make sure to be curious and open-minded about what’s actually between the covers. In this episode, Minji and Tom go down the rabbit hole of hustling, dating, partying, and all the misconceptions about those who seem to participate in all three at once. They chat about their own first impressions of one another, whether they were accurate or not, and ho...
Jul 24, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 42
This episode of First of All is all about the sacred, frustrating, empowering, and still widely underdiscussed experience that 50% of the world's population experiences (usually) for more than half their lifespan - the female period. Minji invites her friend and acting school classmate Kristine Gerolaga to talk about a topic that has just started to lose it's taboo stigma that can now (hopefully) be discussed openly and in mixed company. Together they walk through their journeys as women learnin...
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 41
"I am enough." The tried & true, cliche, DIY, self-help mantra takes on a brand new meaning and impact for Minji in this epiphany-driven solo episode. After a last minute family vacation to Hawaii that took more than a little effort for her to fully enjoy, Minji peels back the layers of a simple concept that's taken her a lifetime to apply. Follow Minji on: Twitter (@minjeeeezy) Instagram (@minjeezy) Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and ...
Jul 08, 2018•45 min•Ep. 40
On this episode, Minji invites her friend Manpreet Kaur back to the podcast to talk about processing the massive stresses and anxieties of 2018 America (and beyond). Everything from daily political upheavals to heartbreaking human rights violations on top of mounting personal responsibilities like finances and family. HOW do we continue to function? Do we get normalized to chaos and stop caring? Do we turn off our newsfeeds and updates to shut out reality? How do we approach these topics with on...
Jun 30, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 39
Happy Father's Day! In honor of all the fathers and father figures out there helping raise us all into better human beings, Minji takes a second (or many) to honor the evolving relationship with a tough dad. This solo episode is all about her lifelong battle with the infamous Papa Chang, and how it has changed over the years as Minji has grown from a sassy-pants child to sassy-pants adult. She dives into everything from forgiveness when it's the absolute hardest to discovering empathy and compas...
Jun 20, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 38
It's been a minute since we've talked about dating, a favorite FOA topic that never ever seems to lose its confounding relevance, amirite? It could all be so simple, two people meeting, feeling each other out, spending time together, building a connection, then continuing to grow together or maturely parting ways. HA! IF ONLY. But let's be honest, the beauty of love and all the complex ways we approach it keeps life interesting, fun, and if anything, entertaining. That's how Minji would frame it...
Jun 13, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 37
What does it actually take to make an idea or dream a reality? There’s goal-setting, visualization, positive thinking, mapping… but then there’s the part where you just have to grow up, show up & DO IT. And we may all know it, but it’s often easier said than done. Minji sits down to talk about the process of showing up for yourself & making things happen with her friend, actor Leonardo Nam (HBO’s Westworld, Sisterhood Of Traveling Pants, Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift, The Perfect Score)...
May 30, 2018•50 min•Ep. 36
Chasing your dreams leads you to fulfillment, adventure...& in Minji’s case - bonus panic attacks. For this solo episode, Minji reflects on her first few weeks as a full-fledged freelance creative & professionally independent woman. From figuring out how to audition regularly to disciplining herself through some major imposter syndrome to submit for screenwriting fellowships, it's been non-stop chaos since "stepping down" from her almost-decade with Kollaboration. She shares three things...
May 23, 2018•40 min•Ep. 35
This episode is a special shoutout to all the immigrant babies out there and an inside look for those who are not! Fresh off of attending the 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Minji chats with her friend So Yun Um, who just premiered her short film "Liquor Store Babies" as part of the festival's Armed with a Camera Fellowship. Inspired by the themes of the documentary short, Minji and So discuss growing up the children of immigrant parents working in the service industry as small bus...
May 16, 2018•57 min•Ep. 34
On this super-sized episode, Minji and guest, musician Paul Dateh, take a trip into the Anger Zone. They chat about their respective experiences of dealing with rage and sometimes even being categorized as "angry people." They dive deep into the layers behind the emotions they've learned to navigate over the years. This includes how they've each learned how to channel these very powerful feelings into proactive and constructive action, while also just accepting them for what they are. Minji and ...
May 08, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 33
On this solo episode of First of All, Minji talks about the most important relationship a person can have in their life. Which one is that, you ask? Well, the one with yourself, of course. In light of a month filled with emotional twists, turns, and growing anxiety that doesn't always (or ever) show up in her Instagram feed, Minji reflects on her process of self-realization and what it all means to her as she begins the next stage in her career. Welcome to act two, everyone. Follow Minji on: Twi...
May 02, 2018•34 min•Ep. 32
On this episode, Minji invites her marvelous & eloquent friend, singer-songwriter Priska, to chat about a persona that they both know a few things about, the "goody two shoes." Minji and Priska break down the pressures of growing up with overwhelming and oftentimes problematic expectations to always be a "good girl." Together they start to peel back the layers of pressure that their respective backgrounds (Asian American, religious, multi-sibling family, millennial) put on them and the deepl...
Apr 24, 2018•58 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Minji dives into her decision and experience working with her good friend turned life coach, Abraham Heisler. As society continued to get more in everyone's face with social media, mental health issues ran rampant and unaddressed, and huge life decisions looming over Minji's head back in 2017, she made a life-changing and rather uncomfortable decision to invest in herself. Minji and Abraham get very real discussing some of their worries, concerns, and some of Minji's deeply root...
Apr 17, 2018•51 min•Ep. 30
Steve Lim returns as Minji's guest to talk about a topic on both their minds - toxic masculinity. Together, they explore their own early experiences dealing with gendered expectations and how it has shaped their lives, especially as their understanding has become more nuanced over the last few years. While this isn't a new experience by any means, it's a more newly coined term to identify problematic norms and stereotypes that have brought us to our present #MeToo and #TimesUp era. This week's g...
Apr 05, 2018•59 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, Minji explains why she has made the big life decision of quitting her non-profit job to pursue her dream of becoming an actor/writer/director. She also shares 12 life lessons for anyone looking to switch it up and/or do big things in their career. Follow Minji on: Twitter (@minjeeeezy) Instagram (@minjeezy) Our theme song is "Yellow Ranger" by Awkwafina Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Col...
Mar 30, 2018•47 min•Ep. 28
Photographer and world traveler Melly Lee returns to First of All to educate us on what it's like to be an introvert in an extrovert's world. As an unabashed extrovert, Minji learns about the myriad ways she might've been driving her introvert friends crazy (amongst others). In the end, we learn that the secret is to appreciate each other's strengths while acknowledging each other's needs. This week's guest: Melly Lee ( @MELLYLEE_ ) Follow Minji on: Twitter (@minjeeeezy) Instagram (@minjeezy) Ou...
Feb 24, 2018•43 min•Ep. 27
On this episode, Minji chats with Jane Lee and Eva Chan, the co-founders of Launch Pop, a startup lab that focuses on launching exciting new brands and companies. Jane and Eva share their experiences as power women in the entrepreneurial world, as well as the struggles and discrimination they still face way too often as female business owners. They also share their secret to starting a company with your best friend, knowing and defending your value, negotiating like a pro and how to keep growing...
Feb 16, 2018•48 min•Ep. 26
Ever been in love? Ever had to let that love go? Whether it was you who made that difficult call or received it being made on you, letting go of someone you once cuddled, pet named, introduced to your family & friends, doodled in your notebook as your life partner, fought with over roadtrip snacks, & basically navigated the ups & downs of life with...sucks. So. Much. Suck. In this solo episode, Minji opens up on her personal journey of letting go of her last ex. Through rebounds, pro...
Feb 09, 2018•40 min•Ep. 25
