Episode 8 w/ Diane Dokko Kim

I know I start just about every interview off with “I’m so excited to introduce you to our guest this week,” but truly I AM SO EXCITED to introduce you to my friend, Diane. We had a very honest conversation which wove together our pride and pain in our ethnic stories and experience.  

Diane was born in Korea, but at a young age her family moved to Northern California. She talks about the importance of truly trusting in your own voice and expresses how she values being able to see both sides of her cultures and how it has become an asset. Diane is full of energy, wit, and wisdom. Look forward to hearing your stories from the show this week! —Viv

Learn More about Diane

Faith, Family & Special Needs @
Facebook: DianeDokkoKim
Instagram: @DianeDokko
http://www.dianedokkokim.com

Diane is a Christian wife, special-needs parent, and disability ministry consultant, author and speaker. Her passion is to encourage and comfort others with the comfort received from Christ, and to speak up for those who cannot… Not everyone is affected by disability. But whether by a diagnosis, disillusionment, death—or the death of a dream— everyone gets “crippled” by something. No one is exempt from the jagged edges of a broken planet. All believers struggle to reconcile faith with disappointment, grief and loss —unexpected, yet powerful tools for discipleship and spiritual transformation. The greatest gifts can come wrapped in hardship. Brokenness may steal, kill, and destroy indiscriminately. But Jesus is an equal opportunity healer and Redeemer. Thank you for joining us on the journey of being wrecked, redeemed and repurposed.

Favorite Asian Comfort Food

Kalbi : sugar, water, soy sauce (1:1 ratio) garlic, green onions 

Tteokbokki (Korean rice cake)

LEADERSHIP LESSON

“If you want to be a leader, you need to know how to follow first”

DID YOU KNOW?

The first significant wave of immigration for Koreans started on January 13, 1903. Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii to work on pineapple and sugar plantations. By 1905, more than 7,226 Koreans had come to Hawaii.

Resources

Unbroken Faith- https://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-Faith-Spiritual-Recovery-Special/dp/1683971345

C.S. Lewis Quote:  “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.”

Episode 7 - Dorcas Cheng-Tonzun

I look forward to introducing you to my friend Dorcas this week on Someday Is Here. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and especially appreciated how Dorcas opened up about being a recovering perfectionist, depression, and defining belonging while living overseas. Those crucial years living abroad have helped her grow in her understanding of her immigrant parents and find honor in growing up in a shame and honor culture. Dorcas is so kind, humble and Stanford smart. Can’t wait for you to listen and learn this week from her!

LEARN MORE ABOUT DORCAS

www.chengtozun.com      
Facebook: dorcasct
Twitter: @dorcas_ct         
Instagram: @dorcas_ct

Dorcas Cheng-Tozun is an award-winning writer, a former columnist for Inc.com, and the author of Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Image Journal, Christianity Today, and dozens of other publications in the U.S., Asia, and Africa. Dorcas also served as the first director of communications for leading global social enterprise d.light, and continues to provide communications consulting for several international social enterprises. She is a Silicon Valley native who has also lived in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Kenya. She and her husband, Ned, have two young sons.

LEADERSHIP LESSON

“It’s not about you, it’s about the people around you.”

Did You Know:

Suicide was the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, ages 15 to 24, in 2017. http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
Social Media Handles & Links:

Book: Start, Love Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1478920742/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

EPISODE 6 w/ Helen Lee

You are in for a treat this week. The incredible Helen Lee is on the show. I admire Helen. She is a dear friend, a gifted writer, generous, kind, and smart. She has worked in publishing for over two decades and is an award winning writer. 

Helen describes the exact moment in 6th grade when she discovers what it means to be Korean when filling out a form about her ethnicity. She teaches us that words and tones can be misinterpreted, but sometimes it’s just about acknowledging the differences that can help us grow and be better leaders. I loved our conversation and can’t wait for you to hear her insights. —Viv

LEARN MORE ABOUT HELEN

Twitter: @helenleebooks
Instagram: @helenleebooks
Facebook: @helenleeprofile
www.helenleebooks.com

Helen Lee is the associate director of strategic partnerships and initiatives for InterVarsity Press (IVP), and the director of content and resource development for Missio Alliance. She has previously served as an editor and marketer at IVP and acquired, edited, and marketing numerous books, in particular those by authors of color. Helen is an award-winning writer and the author of The Missional Mom; she has contributed to many other devotionals, Bibles, and articles over her more than 20 years in Christian publishing. Helen lives in the Chicago area with her family.

LEADERSHIP LESSON

When you are working in a context where the leadership is largely non-Asian there are very distinct ways I think we Asian Americans communicate and relate. They are unique and distinct, and it will feel jarring that no everyone relates that way.

FAVORITE ASIAN COMFORT FOOD

Kimchi jjigae: Spicy Kimchi Stew (pork) 

EPISODE 5 - w/ Whitney Yang

I am honored to have Whitney Yang as a guest this week--wife, mom, actress, photographer and skilled culinary chicken preparer. I loved our conversation about Hmong culture and Whitney’s dedication to retaining much of her identity as a Hmong American. 

In this conversation, she shares the nuances of Hmong culture and tradition, her ethnic journey, and teaches us about the “Secret War”.  You’ll want to take notes for her favorite comfort food! As I learned more about Hmong history, I am so impressed by the resilience and fortitude of the Hmong and understand better why the community remains so tightly connected. Enjoy the episode! -Viv

Whitney is a first generation Hmong-American who was born into a large and racially diverse home. She is most known for her supporting role in Clint Eastwood's film, Gran Torino, where she is honored to represent her own people. Since then, she has married the love of her life and is currently raising three beautiful boys. Whitney describes herself as an introverted hermit who lives a not-so-solitary home. Her current goal is to have at least five children before she reaches age 30 so that she can focus on career aspirations sooner. For enjoyment, you can find her photographing weddings, tending her garden, and schooling newbies in Catan.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHITNEY

Instagram: @whitneyandmatsayaphotography
Facebook: Whitney and Matsaya Photography
Photography: Whitney and Matsaya

LEADERSHIP LESSON

“Leading is not about getting people to do what you want to do; it’s about stepping down, serving them, and being at their level…humbling yourself”

FAVORITE ASIAN COMFORT FOOD

Chicken Soup w/ Herbs >>RECIPE HERE<<

DID YOU KNOW

“The Secret War” In 1962, American CIA soldiers went to Laos and recruited 19,000 Hmong men, and kids as young as 10-12 years old, to fight as foot soldiers against the communist Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Since the U.S. lost, the tragic outcome was there was no exit strategy for the Hmong people.. They were ultimately left to fend for themselves. Many were captured and cruelly punished for helping the Americans.

From the mid to late 1970’s there was a large immigration of Hmongs from Laos and Thailand to the United States. While U.S. policies were created to aid in the resettlement of Hmong refugees in America, the U.S. still does not recognize the Hmong soldiers who helped the Americans in the war as war veterans. 

To learn more visit:

https://www.mnvietnam.org/story/the-cia-the-hmong-and-the-secret-war/

https://www.pbs.org/video/the-hmong-and-the-secret-war-zwwpgu/

EPISODE 4 - W/ KATHY KHANG

I’m excited to introduce to you my friend, Kathy Khang--author, speaker, wife, mom,and yoga instructor. Kathy has the ability to identify injustice and communicate with clarity, and sometimes humor, about the inconsistencies she experiences in life. Our conversation was informative as she shed light on some of Korea’s history. I especially found Kathy’s ability to articulate her journey insightful and inspiring. She connects the power of culture created around language and food, and the loss brought when you don’t understand the “mother tongue”. I look forward to hearing your feedback from this week’s episode. -Viv

Kathy Khang is a writer, speaker, and yoga teacher. She is the author of Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent &amp; How to Speak Up (IVP, 2018), contributing editor for Sojourners magazine, a coauthor of More Than Serving Tea (IVP, 2006), and brings more than 21 years of ministry experience with expertise gender, race, ethnicity, justice, and leadership development.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Leaders are READERS! Over time through failure of things that I thought I knew then what are the ways in which I can learn what I thought I knew and didn’t or unlearn something which is also a great way to do through reading.

FAVORITE ASIAN COMFORT FOOD

Soondubu Jjigae: Tofu Stew (really spicy with tofu, pork belly, spam, egg, sausage and onions)

LEARN MORE ABOUT KATHY

Instagram: @mskathykhang
www.facebook.com/kathykhangauthor
www.kathykhang.com

EPISODE 3 w/ Michelle Kim McCoy

I’m so excited to share my conversation with Michelle Kim McCoy this week. Michelle is warm, kind, and fun. A multi-talented Korean American woman who invests in herself and her cultural identity on and off the screen. 

Michelle opens up about her experience growing up as the “token Asian American” in most circles. Then, attending the University of California-Irvine, where the majority culture looked like her--causing her to question her value and identity. Michelle shares how she uses life experiences, such as the recent birth of her son, to incorporate and share about Korean culture. I especially appreciate her willingness to unpack the challenges she faced with her parents for marrying her husband, who is Black and Jewish. I can’t wait for you to listen and share your feedback! —Viv

Michelle Kim McCoy is a pastor's wife, actress and photographer based in Los Angeles. She and her husband, Kelly, are expecting their first child this month (His due date is Vivian's Birthday - July 25th!!). When she's not busy going on auditions or working on set, she's serving college students at The Church at Rocky Peak or running Michelle Kim Photography. You may have caught her in episodes of The Gifted, Grey's Anatomy, Ray Donovan, The Last Ship, Shameless and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. Every Monday, Kelly, Michelle and their adorable dog Mr. Snuffy practice sabbath and document their adventures at #dluxsabbath.

Favorite Asian Comfort Food

Brodard’s in Garden Grove

Learn more about Michelle

Instagram: @michellekimmccoy
Photography: Michelle Kim Photography
Acting: IMDb

Episode 2 w/ ruth Chou Simons

I’m excited to invite as the first guest on this podcast my friend, Ruth Chou Simons. Ruth is a talented artist, a business woman, mom to six boys, and a fun-loving, spicy food loving beautiul soul. With a vibrant Instagram account of over 126K followers, Ruth has curated a space for beauty and inspiration. —Viv

Ruth is the award winning author of “Gracelaced” and newly released “Beholding and Becoming.” She illustrates and write about seeing beauty and truth through her everyday life. From name pronunciation to Asian school lunches, she opens up about her experience of being born in Taiwan and growing up in New Mexico. She shares leadership skills on leading out of freedom instead of being performance driven. Ruth is a refreshing reminder of how no matter where you are in your life stage we are all still works in progress.

Learn more about Ruth at

Website: ruthchousimons.com, gracelaced.com
Instagram: @ruthchousimons
Facebook: facebook.com/gracelacd
Twitter: @gracelaced

In this episode I start off by giving you a little back story of how the show got its name and we dive into what it means to be an Asian American living in both eastern and western worlds.

Each week guests will share their leadership and ethnic journeys. To begin, I share my own story; of what I’m proud of and what has been painful. I also share leadership lessons and some of my favorite Asian comfort food. Thanks for listening!

—Viv