At the Root

YSpace
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Every story has a beginning. This is ours. In our very first episode, we're pulling back the curtain on At the Root. What it is, why it exists, and the people behind it. Joined by David Kwok from YSpace and Agnes Lan from Change Connect, we sit down for a Q&A on how this podcast came to life and what we hope it becomes. At the Root is a podcast celebrating the stories, flavours, and voices behind the table; launching in honour of Asian Heritage Month as a space to honour culture, community, and the roots that shape us. This is just the beginning. Pull up a chair. David Kwok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkwokk/ Agnes Lan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agneslan/ YSpace: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yspa... Change Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-connect/ This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/mark...

Episodes

  1. Aug 20

    Chinese Food Isn't Just Cheap Food, It's Time We Said That Out Loud | Colin Li & Eva Chin

    What does it take to modernize a 29-year-old family restaurant while honoring the culture it was built on? In this episode, we sat down with Colin, owner of Hong Shing Chinese Restaurant, and Chef Eva, co-founder of the micro-restaurant Yan, to hear how their partnership is reshaping what Chinese dining can look like in North America. From bringing a Sommelier's eye to service standards and launching North America's first Baijiu bar, to building a monthly changing tasting menu that reads like a love letter to heritage, Colin and Eva are pushing Chinese cuisine past the "cheap, fast, easy" label it's long been boxed into. We get into the uphill battle of inspiring the next generation of chefs, the gatekeeping and unspoken trauma passed down in older kitchens, and why real progress means more than celebration, it means mentorship, shared knowledge, and immersion in the culture behind the cuisine. David Kwok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkwokk/ Agnes Lan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agneslan/ YSpace: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yspaceyu/?viewAsMember=true Change Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-connect/ Colin Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinli92/ Hong Shing: https://hongshing.com/yan Eva Chin: https://www.instagram.com/ridetowander/?hl=en Yan Dining Room: https://www.instagram.com/yandiningroom/?hl=en This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/markham/

    Chinese Food Isn't Just Cheap Food, It's Time We Said That Out Loud | Colin Li & Eva Chin

  2. Jul 30

    Born in Vietnam, Raised in Canada, Leading a Global Bubble Tea Brand | Trinh Tham

    What does it really take to go from an immigrant family's expectations to leading one of Canada's most recognizable Asian-owned brands? In this episode, we sat down with Trinh Tham, CEO of Chatime Canada and Bake Code, to hear the story behind a career built on intention, from working with some of Canada's most iconic retail brands to choosing to lead an Asian consumer company on her own terms. Trinh shares the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and values that shaped her journey, from growing up with the pressure to perform and stay quiet, to finding the confidence to speak up in rooms where she was often the only one who looked like her. We get into what it's really like being a woman of color at the executive table, the moment she realized leading Chatime was more than a career move, and why representation and mentorship for the next generation of Asian professionals matters more than ever. David Kwok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkwokk/ Agnes Lan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agneslan/ YSpace: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yspaceyu/?viewAsMember=true Change Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-connect/ Trinh Tham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinh-tham-769a474/ Chatime: https://chatime.ca This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/markham/

    Born in Vietnam, Raised in Canada, Leading a Global Bubble Tea Brand | Trinh Tham

  3. Jul 16

    She Came to Canada at 7 Speaking No English. Then She Became the Trade Minister in the Country | Mary Ng

    What does it really take to go from immigrant family roots to Canada's cabinet table? In this episode, we sat down with Mary Ng, former Member of Parliament for Markham-Thornhill and Canada's longest-serving Trade Minister, to hear the story behind one of the most quietly powerful careers in Canadian politics. From arriving in Canada at 7 years old speaking no English, to negotiating trade agreements on the world stage and launching the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy; Mary shares the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and values that shaped her journey. We get into what it was really like managing small business support during Covid, the state of CUSMA and what Canadian businesses should know about tariffs and trade right now, and why representation at the cabinet table matters more than ever. Plus: her advice for the next generation of Asian Canadian leaders who want to get involved in civic life, and what her next chapter as Canada's first Senior Fellow at the Milken Institute looks like. This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/mark...

    She Came to Canada at 7 Speaking No English. Then She Became the Trade Minister in the Country | Mary Ng

  4. Jun 29

    Tariffs, Trade Wars, and a Soft Housing Market: What's Actually Coming for Canadian Businesses | Pierre Cleroux

    What does the Canadian economy actually look like right now and what does it mean for your business? In this episode, we sat down with Pierre Cléroux, Vice President of Research and Chief Economist at BDC, to get an honest, ground-level read on where Canada stands amid tariffs, trade uncertainty, and rising costs. From pockets of growth in manufacturing and consumer spending to a softening housing market in the GTA, Pierre breaks down the forces shaping the economy for small and mid-sized businesses right now. We also get into the future of free trade agreements, the structural shift happening in the automotive sector with the rise of EVs and new Chinese competitors, and why Canada's weak dollar might actually be an unexpected advantage for attracting foreign investment. Plus: AI, data sovereignty, and the long-term tailwinds in defense, natural resources, and tourism that Canadian entrepreneurs should have on their radar. David Kwok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkwokk/ Agnes Lan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agneslan/ YSpace: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yspaceyu/?viewAsMember=true Change Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-connect/ Pierre Cléroux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pcleroux/ BDC: https://www.bdc.ca/en This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/markham/

    Tariffs, Trade Wars, and a Soft Housing Market: What's Actually Coming for Canadian Businesses | Pierre Cleroux

  5. Jun 25

    She quit her 9-5 after Jose Bautista’s Bat Flip | Lisa Diep

    What if a t-shirt worn to a Raptors game became the foundation of one of Canada's most mission-driven brands? In this episode, we sat down with Lisa Diep, co-founder of Peace Collective, to hear how a "Toronto Versus Everybody" shirt sparked a decade-long journey of building a brand rooted in community, purpose, and giving back.From a viral TSN moment to becoming an official licensee for the NFL and FIFA, Lisa shares the pivotal decisions, mindset shifts, and hard lessons; including learning to delegate and trust your team. That shaped Peace Collective into what it is today. We also get into the brand's giving mission, their path to a $1 million donation goal by 2030, and what's next as they set their sights on new markets in Europe and Latin America. Peace Collective has decided to give back and you can use the code YSPACEPC when you shop at Peace Collective to get a special discount ;)

    She quit her 9-5 after Jose Bautista’s Bat Flip | Lisa Diep

  6. Jun 10

    What Running a Shop for 16 Years Taught Her About Leadership | Emily Chung

    What if the key to changing an entire industry started with fixing cars in Markham?In this episode, we sat down with Emily Chung, former auto shop owner turned President & CEO of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada to hear how 16 years of building Auto Niche shaped her into one of the most compelling voices in the Canadian automotive industry.From choosing independence over franchise to transitioning from technician to business owner, Emily shares the mindset shifts and pivotal decisions that defined her entrepreneurial journey. We also get into the sale of Auto Niche, the right to repair movement, the rise of EVs, and what it really takes to navigate and change a male-dominated industry.

    What Running a Shop for 16 Years Taught Her About Leadership | Emily Chung

  7. May 28

    Breaking the Immigrant Parent Playbook: Why He Chose Community Over Convention | Clement Chu

    What if your community organization led to becoming best friends with Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin? In this episode, we sit down with Clement, a community builder, connector, and the man behind Asian Roots Collective ARC (formerly CCYAA) to hear how a scrappy basketball league born in 1995 evolved into one of the most dynamic Asian Canadian community platforms around. From co-branding with the Toronto Raptors to producing high-profile events, Clement shares the mindset shifts, unexpected opportunities, and values-driven relationships that shaped his journey. Whether you're trying to build your network, find your cultural footing, or just figure out how to say "yes" more often, this one's for you.

    Breaking the Immigrant Parent Playbook: Why He Chose Community Over Convention | Clement Chu

  8. May 28

    At the Root: The Origin, Where it All Started | Agnes Lan & David Kwok

    Every story has a beginning. This is ours. In our very first episode, we're pulling back the curtain on At the Root. What it is, why it exists, and the people behind it. Joined by David Kwok from YSpace and Agnes Lan from Change Connect, we sit down for a Q&A on how this podcast came to life and what we hope it becomes. At the Root is a podcast celebrating the stories, flavours, and voices behind the table; launching in honour of Asian Heritage Month as a space to honour culture, community, and the roots that shape us. This is just the beginning. Pull up a chair!

    At the Root: The Origin, Where it All Started | Agnes Lan & David Kwok
  • 8 Episodes

About

Every story has a beginning. This is ours. In our very first episode, we're pulling back the curtain on At the Root. What it is, why it exists, and the people behind it. Joined by David Kwok from YSpace and Agnes Lan from Change Connect, we sit down for a Q&A on how this podcast came to life and what we hope it becomes. At the Root is a podcast celebrating the stories, flavours, and voices behind the table; launching in honour of Asian Heritage Month as a space to honour culture, community, and the roots that shape us. This is just the beginning. Pull up a chair. David Kwok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkwokk/ Agnes Lan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agneslan/ YSpace: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yspa... Change Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-connect/ This podcast was filmed with the support of York University Markham Library - https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/mark...

Information

  • Creator
    YSpace
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8