Big Asian Energy

Sheila Lirio Marcelo, serial entrepreneur who built Care.com and cofounded The Asian American Foundation, shares a personal leadership journey. She talks about shifting from approval-seeking to heart-led leadership. She explores inner work like meditation and IFS, reclaiming full identity beyond assimilation, and practical habits that sustain resilient, compassionate leaders.

Dr. Ken Fong, a third-generation Chinese American pastor who founded one of the first Pan-Asian churches in the U.S., shares bold stories. He discusses breaking cultural gatekeeping, building redemptive multicultural communities, and the choice to create new leadership models rather than assimilate. He also talks about launching a long-running podcast to amplify Asian American voices.

Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge, a child psychologist and former middle school teacher, and Dr. Michelle Chung, a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and perfectionism, discuss the Modern Asian Parent approach. They cover why parents’ inner work matters. They explore redefining success beyond traditional careers. They explain tools for value-based parenting, validation, and supporting kids’ natural strengths.

Leo Xia (Lowhi), a Los Angeles men's mental health facilitator and founder of JinShan Collective and Proud Asian Men. He shares his shift from classical pianist to leading transformative men's circles. Conversations cover why Asian-specific groups create belonging, how vulnerability and somatic practices redefine masculinity, and why community often outperforms solo therapy for deep healing.

Jane Chen, founder of Embrace and author of Like a Wave We Break, built a low-cost infant warmer that saved over a million babies and later became a trauma-informed leadership coach. She talks about burnout that forced her to heal, psychodrama and IFS parts work, and the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy and reparenting in finding worthiness and better leadership.

In this episode of Big Asian Energy, John Wang sits down with Emmy Award-winning journalist and NBC News anchor Vicky Nguyen to explore her remarkable journey from Vietnamese refugee camp to national television and New York Times bestselling author. Vicky shares powerful insights from her memoir "Boat Baby" about the immigrant experience, breaking through the bamboo ceiling in broadcast journalism, and why she now embraces bringing her full identity to her work after years of staying neutral. From navigating jealousy early in her career to empowering the next generation, Vicky offers wisdom on collective success, generational healing, and what it means to truly thrive rather than just survive. What Vicky Shares: Why integration, not assimilation, is the key to authentic success in professional spaces Breaking the survival-mode parenting cycle to raise children who thrive without identity insecurity How adopting an abundance mindset over competition elevates the entire Asian American community About Vicky NguyenVicky Nguyen is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, NBC News correspondent, and anchor of NBC News Daily. Born in a Saigon, her family fled Vietnam by boat when she was just 8 months old before their journey to make a new life in America. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir "Boat Baby." Throughout her career in broadcast journalism, Vicky has worked across the country—from Orlando to California to New York—covering major national stories including the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. She is passionate about representation in media, platforming diverse voices and thought leaders, and using her position to inspire the next generation that "if you can see it, you can be it." Vicky lives in New York with her family. Connect with Vicky Nguyen"Boat Baby" by Vicky Nguyen available wherever books are sold

Ann Kono, corporate leader turned education activist; Renee Yang, strategic marketing veteran turned curriculum designer. They discuss how childhood racism during COVID sparked a shift from C-suite careers to building year-round AAPI representation in schools. They cover mobilizing parents, empowering educators with peer networks and scalable curriculum, and a bold mission to reach millions of students.

Gloria Chou, award-winning PR strategist and former US diplomat who helps BIPOC and women land major media features, talks about cultural conditioning and generational trauma that limit visibility. She breaks down PR gatekeeping and shares a simple CPR pitching framework. Conversation also covers burnout, healing money trauma, and building unapologetic, values-driven messaging.

John Lee, an entrepreneur and AI pioneer who built multi-industry businesses and 6M followers, shares bold ideas on mindset and transformation. He talks about using AI clones to scale expertise. He explores stagecraft, breaking cultural limits, intentional action, and how certainty and bold decisions can shift your reality.

In this solo episode of Big Asian Energy, AAPI author and podcast host John Wang provides an in-depth psychological analysis of the Netflix phenomenon K-pop Demon Hunters. This animated film has broken streaming records worldwide while exploring themes of Asian American identity, intergenerational trauma, and mental health. John decodes the deeper meanings behind the demon-fighting storyline to reveal insights about cultural patterns, perfectionism, and generational healing in Asian communities. What John shares: How "faults and fears must never be seen" reflects collectivist cultural conditioning Understanding patterns as unconscious behaviors that limit our potential Why shame-based identity creates self-sabotage and how vulnerability heals it Connect with John Wang Instagram: @johnwangofficial"Big Asian Energy" book - Available at major retailersFree Big Asian Energy patterns quiz at bigasianenergy.com