First of All is a real, unfiltered conversation on career, family, relationships, & culture. Your host is actress/director/entrepreneur Minji Chang, who will bring in her friends & special guests from all walks of life to kick back in her virtual living room. Together we will laugh, drop whatever knowledge we have, & speak our truth on weekly featured topics. Get ready for good times & all the feels.
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Spending a year+ in quarantine and separated from others has taken toll on many of us. Feeling isolated and feeling disconnected has made everyday life and even work life lose a lot of spark. Some people have gotten creative and use whatever platform is available to keep that light on and find opportunities to reach people who may have otherwise been inaccessible. This is how this weeks guest, NASA Postdoctoral Fellow Kyra Kim, utilized the new Clubhouse app to widen her audience and spread the ...
The last several weeks of anti-Asian violence and the subsequent expanding conversation around anti-racism in general has intensified. While communities and individuals have turned to various sources for information and outlets to express their grief, we've all come to revisit the enormity of the problem and felt a number of feelings from bitterness and rage to fear and hopelessness. None of these issues are simple, but all have left their mark in society that enough has been enough for way too ...
The last few months have been a physical and emotional overload for Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and many Asians around the world facing violent attacks in a surge of racism and xenophobia. With the recent murders of 6 Asian women in Atlanta, Georgia, many AAPI are reeling from the mental toll and the heightened fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. In this solo episode, Minji shares some of her thoughts in the wake of the shooting as well as her experiences being ...
Sit down and get ready, fam. We're about to get right into our feels, our issues, & go DEEP on this one. In this episode, Minji sits down with Lillian So, who some people call a life coach, some people call a healer, integrator, or facilitator of transformation. Whatever you want to call her work, & whatever your comfort with the spiritual "woo-woo" (no worries, we understand), Lillian's work is helping people work through some of their toughest internal barriers to change their lives fo...
The most universal life experience: the gut-wrenching, butterflies in your stomach, lightheaded, sweaty palms, heart racing, quasi-hyperventilating breath, hold-up-I-need-a-moment, shaky af...leaving of your comfort zone. Can I do this? Do I have what it takes? What if it doesn't work out? What if I fail? What I let ____ down? Should I do this? We've all been there. And sorry (but not sorry) to call it what it is fam, we'll continue to face these necessary changes as we grow. The silver lining i...
Ever feel like you're working so freaking hard at "getting it together", leveling up, building the life of your dreams, etc... only to have life throw you a curve ball? Say.. a rejection, a change of heart, or even a little global pandemic? As much as we're constantly seeking certainty and control, life is usually anything but. So while we're all STILL smack in the middle of the highly uncertain COVID era, we say it's a great time to get introspective on dealing with the uncomfortable, peculiar ...
In a world where all people strive to be seen and understood, invisibility can be demoralizing, damaging, and dangerous. Asian Americans have long experienced marginalization as a model minority (myth) - a quiet, hardworking, and subservient community that stays low-key, obedient and committed to the grindstone. In this week's episode, Minji sits down with the co-founders of the Asian Hustle Network, Bryan Pham and Maggie Chui, to dive into how their passion project turned full-time job aims to ...
In our current world of heightened awareness around issues like mental health, race, gender identity, xenophobia, homophobia, and sooo much more, there are tons of ways we can say or do the wrong thing. Go back a few years, and you might remember some horrific stuff you used to say as a joke, or find a problematic tweet you posted or a very poorly worded letter or journal entry. Like, who really wrote that? We know, guys. We cringe too. And while it's highly uncomfortable to face these less than...
Alright, so we made it to 2021, which has been feeling an awful like an extension of the 2020 season of Life. Still in a pandemic, still unclear about the future, facing our private and personal struggles on top of the societal/global issues that are just impossible to ignore. The bad part? We still don't know how much longer we'll be in these circumstances. FR, most likely a good while longer. The good part? It's not forever. We still have each other. We're building resilience together. And we'...
WHAT. A. YEAR. We made it y'all. Now, there's a loooot to unpack, and we all have our own ways that we want to say goodbye to one of the most difficult years the world has collectively experienced in all of history ever. And we support all of it. We went through every kind of upheaval: from personal struggles in every size, shape, form, and intensity.. to massive societal reckonings magnified from our local communities all the way to the global stage. None of it was normal. And we survived. And ...
Happy Holidays, FOA fam!! In last weeks episode, we got into what it's like to follow your heart, take risks to figure out what's right for your current self, and leave the old self behind. In a continuation of this theme of closing chapters, this week's solo episode goes into Minji's personal journey of exiting her role as Kollaboration Executive Director, and passing the torch to its new incoming leader, Jane Kim, right at the organization's 20th anniversary at the end of a very rough 2020. Fo...
Whether we go into phases of our lives on purpose or going with the flow, there often comes the time when any particular life chapter comes to an end. A breakup, a move, a new/lost job...a pandemic. 2020 has been a hurricane of beginnings, endings, transitions, and limbo. During this rollercoaster year, folks have had to come to terms about their values, their priorities, their choices, and their next steps in life. Something we do whether there's a virus ravaging the world or not, but a lot mor...
As much hardship as we've all endured, 2020 has also served as a powerful catalyst for gratitude for what really matters and learning to let go of what doesn't. In this episode, Minji returns to FOA after the sudden passing of her grandmother, which was immediately followed by a wonderfully brutal wait-i-this-COVID-nvm-it's-a-nasty-flu. In processing her grief while regaining her health after being out of commission for weeks, she reflects on the ways hardship can highlight some of those importa...
It has been a long, weary road to Election Day in the US. We are tired and mentally fragile. Our souls, brains, and bank accounts are hurting. COVID still rages on. Everything screams, IS THIS OVER YET??! Yeah. Same. If we're in a metaphorical boxing ring, we're insanely sweaty, one eye is puffed closed, and our center of gravity is compromised. So take a seat in the corner of the ring to regroup with Minji to process all the insanity, practice a little gratitude, and then get back in the ring. ...
Self-validation, where have you been our entire lives? How wonderful it is to actually LIKE yourself without having it followed up by guilt, shame, anxiety, or doubt. Seriously, those "feeling myself" moments are EVERYTHING. They can come in waves, they can come momentarily, but hopefully we're all on a path of increasing, genuine, lasting appreciation of who we are just as we are. BUT HOW DOES ONE GET THERE??? Far be it from us to tell you what your best way is. But we will share many personal ...
Many a hopeless romantic has walked around with the notion that things are or aren't "meant to be". That life, and certainly love, is a series of divinely coordinated ups and downs with a predetermined destination. Or is it like Forrest Gump says- who knows if we have a destiny or if we're all just floating around accidental like on a breeze? Maybe it's both. In this episode, MInji sits down with her friend, actor and stuntman Yoshi Sudarso to talk about love and fate. Yoshi shares his beautiful...
How do you define a "friend"? Have you ever broken up with one? Or just drifted apart? Does ghosting apply here? Realized someone that used to be a best friend no longer is? Had an unrequited friend love? Friends means a lot to us at every phase in life from the time we're wee little ones. They support us in hard times, inspire us to be better, hold us accountable, cover for us in crisis mode, share secrets and strange interests, and see us through our best and our worst. And also.. friendships ...
If there's anything that 2020 has taught us thus far, it's that health is wealth, tomorrow is not guaranteed, community and connection keep us afloat, and there are crucial issues that require our humanity's conscious attention and action. Even for those who have been aware and passionate about activism, representation, and civic participation prior to 2020, this year is undeniably significant. Time feels both endless and fleeting, our energy is zapped, our nerves fragile, and stakes for both so...
For anyone going through a tough time, this one's for you. In this episode, Minji shares her thoughts on riding waves of pain and uncertainty during a genuine moment of inspired action. She sends you all her love and encouragement to get through your hard moments if and whenever you need. You've got this and we've got you. Follow Minji on: Twitter (@minjeeeezy) Instagram (@minjeezy) Music in this episode includes "Uzutrap" from by Uzuhan Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our P...
In a raw and emotional episode, Minji recounts her journey with her first love, Jay, from their innocent childhood romance to a complex, codependent adult friendship. She candidly discusses his battle with depression, her own experience with an abusive relationship and suicidal thoughts, and the devastating impact of his suicide. The episode delves into themes of grief, forgiveness, the fragility of life, and the transformative power of both healthy and unhealthy love, ultimately leading to a profound understanding of self-love.
In the wise words of King Mufasa, you must REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. And to supplement that very meta, very poetic guidance from an animated lion with a perfectly resonant voice, it's OK to be figuring out who & what that even means every single day. In this week's episode, Minji sits down with comedian/actor/director Lilan Bowden to talk about her twists & turns of becoming said comedian then actor and now director. This isn't a discussion talking shop about industry maneuvers (though that ...
Time for a COVID mental/emotional/physical temperature check, fam. In this episode, we bring back Minji's friend, actor/stuntman/health professional Josh Han. Last time we sat down on First Of All, Josh shared his diagnosis with a shocking kidney autoimmune disease and coming to terms with his body taking a turn for the worse at a young age. In this homie catch up, Josh and Minji take stock of the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects that are impacting their daily lives as COVID and general ...
If you're like most people, you've dreamt of great things for yourself - a fantastic career, a loving relationship, hilarious & supportive friendships, a killer body, an overflowing bank account, the list goes on. Whether it's to have that thrill of success, obtaining the validation of another, or having security to provide for loved ones, our aspirations have motivated us in one form another. But sometimes we find ourselves not quite getting there, maybe even being pretty far from it. What ...
After a 15 year hiatus, Minji reunites with Korean dramas. And it just so happens to be THE K-drama of 2020, the K-drama that ended up being a fun, romantic, heart-wrenching, harrowing rollercoaster serving as a safe haven for us all while the world has been a dumpster fire with Coronavirus. Of course we're talking about the global hit Crash Landing On You. :heart eyes: In this episode, Minji sits down with her friend & fellow film industry colleague, Joe Gunawan, to have a deeper discussion...
2020 has revealed many growth areas for us all. Though the current madness is pretty signature for this particularly crazy year, a lot of what's been coming up for folks includes issues from many years past. Lifelong insecurities, bad habits, intimacy issues, & unresolved trauma just to name a few. Thankfully, we're opening up much more honestly about mental health and the powerful ways we can begin to address and heal our underlying issues. In this episode, Minji shares her experience doing...
As more & more people are awakened to social justice issues & cultural nuances that have been long discussed & experienced in marginalized communities, there is definitely a learning curve as we deepen our understanding. To explore the complexity of intersectionality, Minji sits down with her friend, actor/comedian/writer D'Lo. As a queer, transgender Tamil-Sri Lankan-American creative force of nature, D'Lo has been working purposefully to analyze, unpack, advocate & create space...
COVID has been a time for reflection and self-discovery for many of us. Whether it's contemplating career paths, the importance of certain relationships, or the way we cope with solitude, the pandemic has been a catalyst to evaluate parts of ourselves we may not have otherwise have slowed down to do. And while we have a ton of memes and public posts on new baking skills or our quarantine-hair-don't-care stance on beauty, there are other, deeper, experiences that are dealt with much more privatel...
The United States is going through a massive reckoning and a crucial awakening regarding racial injustice in the middle of a global pandemic. Suffice it to say, it can be overwhelming for many of those who have been bearing the brunt of the struggle for many years leading up to this particular moment. In another light, perhaps they've also been primed to be stalwart leaders and eye-opening educators to help uphold the rest of us who are playing major catch up to assist in the work. In this episo...
Well these past three months have been a blast, right guys? Quarantined, isolated, stressed, & socially distanced...it's the perfect time to find love & experience romance! Seriously though, all of us are learning to connect & relate to one another in new ways that could truly redefine all our relationships moving forward. And funnily enough, there could be some interesting pros to the dating & relationship scene as a result of Coronavirus. To discuss the many ways this pandemic ...
