Ampersand with Jenny Chen

Jenny Chen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture

Welcome to Ampersand. I'm your host Jenny Chen. Ampersand is a podcast about integrating all parts of ourselves and how beautiful life is when we do so. My mission in life is to be the fullest expression of myself and to empower others to do the same. As a result, I see Ampersand as a sandbox for me to explore various aspects of my being, practice leading with vulnerability, and connect deeply with others. If any of this piques your interest or lights you up, come along for the ride. It's an imperfect one full of laughter and tears and I'm so grateful you're here.

  1. Sep 14

    29. How I lost $80k to a psychic & what I gained four years later - part 2

    This is the second of a two-episode mini-series on the aftermath of this incident: how I realized I'd been taken advantage of in 2023, how I processed things, and what I've learned four years later. --- In 2022, I lost $80,000 to a psychic I trusted. Over five consecutive weeks that summer, the psychic Q (a pseudonym) convinced me to purchase five amethyst crystals to clear a dark karma they claimed had been attacking my family for generations. To clear this karma for good, four of the crystals would need to be sunk to the bottom of the ocean before the end of August, less than one month after Q and I began working together. So, because I trusted Q, I did what they asked: I spent $80,000 on five amethyst crystals, four of which Q threw into the ocean. --- It took me 12 months to realize I’d been taken advantage of and, when I did, I felt betrayed, shattered, depressed, and ashamed. At that time, I wanted to lock this hurt within a padlocked chest and NEVER revisit it. It hurt too much.  Four winding years later, I’ve reclaimed this story and am breaking my silence for three reasons:  Let other survivors know they are not aloneUse my story to paint the picture that this can happen to anyoneProvide survivors and allies with resources so they are better equipped in the future--- To learn more about this story and be notified when I share artifacts like journal entries and text messages from that time, subscribe to my newsletter: https://divingdeeperwithjennychen.substack.com/ --- By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Jenny Chen, or used by Jenny Chen with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Jenny Chen, which may be requested by contacting ampersandbyjennychen@gmail.com. This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly due to the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.

  2. Sep 7

    28. How I lost $80k to a psychic & what I gained four years later - part 1

    In 2022, I lost $80,000 to a psychic I trusted. In this story, I’ll refer to them as “Q” and use they/them pronouns. Over five consecutive weeks that summer, Q convinced me to purchase five amethyst crystals to clear a dark karma they claimed had been attacking my family for generations. To clear this karma for good, four of the crystals would need to be sunk to the bottom of the ocean before the end of August, less than one month after Q and I began working together. So, because I trusted Q, I did what they asked: I spent $80,000 on five amethyst crystals, four of which Q threw into the ocean. --- It took me 12 months to realize I’d been taken advantage of and, when I did, I felt betrayed, shattered, depressed, and ashamed. At that time, I wanted to lock this hurt within a padlocked chest and NEVER revisit it. It hurt too much.  Four winding years later, I’ve reclaimed this story and am breaking my silence for three reasons:  Let other survivors know they are not aloneUse my story to paint the picture that this can happen to anyoneProvide survivors and allies with resources so they are better equipped in the future This is the first of a two-episode mini-series. The second episode will air next week. --- To learn more about this story and be notified when I share artifacts like journal entries and text messages from that time, subscribe to my newsletter: https://divingdeeperwithjennychen.substack.com/ --- By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Jenny Chen, or used by Jenny Chen with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Jenny Chen, which may be requested by contacting ampersandbyjennychen@gmail.com. This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly due to the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.

  3. Aug 18

    27. How healing changes the way we love, lead, and parent with Farhan Manjiyani

    In my first guest episode in over two years, I sit down with my dear friend Farhan Manjiyani for an empowering and personal conversation about the unhealed wounds we can unknowingly carry for decades. Farhan shares what it took to confront, reframe, and heal from an assault he experienced in early childhood, and how those internal shifts have transformed the way he shows up as a first-time father, husband, son, and advocate. Together, we explore healing, fatherhood, and what magic becomes possible when we allow ourselves to dream beyond our self-imposed limits…for ourselves and for the people we love. Content Note: This episode includes a discussion of sexual assault from approximately 35:34–47:54. Please listen with care. About Farhan: Farhan Manjiyani is an Ismaili Muslim of South Asian descent and a male survivor of childhood sexual assault who spent twenty years in silence before stepping into advocacy in 2025. He speaks to dismantle the cultural stigma that keeps men — especially men of color — from naming and healing their trauma. Through storytelling, he serves as a permission slip for others to begin their own healing journeys. His identity is rarely heard in survivor spaces: male, Muslim, South Asian, American. His talks center on healing through vulnerability, cultural silence, and the radical power of telling your own truth. https://farhan-speaker.netlify.app/ Timestamps: 0:00 – Episode teasers and returning to Ampersand 03:13 – Intro: From coworkers to friends 07:27 – Where Farhan’s drive for excellence began 09:49 – How his childhood shaped the adult he became 18:19 – Realizing his anger was masking something deeper 23:11 – Discovering Atlas and his why for joining 35:34 – What Atlas helped Farhan uncover, reframe, and take action on 48:58 – The power of sharing his story broadly 53:08 – Dreaming bigger and redesigning his life 1:00:46 – The choices he’s making as a first-time dad 1:10:36 – The daily affirmation he shares with his son 1:17:21 – What fatherhood has taught him 1:22:47 – Final reflections Music Credits: First track licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 0TAMTIRNDP4YH7DU. The second track is "Beauty Chill Ambient" by Ivymusic.

    27. How healing changes the way we love, lead, and parent with Farhan Manjiyani

  4. Jul 3

    26. What depression has taught me about living

    Hi friends, I’m returning from an extended hiatus from podcasting to share this impromptu solo episode from the heart on a period of depression I experienced recently and one of the biggest lessons it’s taught me about living. Let me know how this lands and remember that you are never alone in any of this. 💙 --- Subscribe to my newsletter: https://divingdeeperwithjennychen.substack.com/

  5. 06/28/2025

    25. My podcasting hiatus & what a calling feels like

    Reflections on my break from podcasting, my latest calling, and what a calling feels like --- Subscribe to my newsletter: https://divingdeeperwithjennychen.substack.com/

  6. 01/01/2025

    24. Season 2 Intro - On Beginning Again & My Return to Podcasting

    Hello dear listeners, happy 2025. I'm returning to my podcast after an 8-month hiatus during which time much has shifted for me internally and externally. In this episode, I share why I took a break, what's changed since we last chatted, and my intentions for this next season of Ampersand. Thank you all so much for your patience during this time in which I stepped away from this means of creative expression to explore other facets of my life. For those interested in joining me or continuing to accompany me in my imperfect, curious, and open-hearted journey, be sure to subscribe to my podcast on your preferred platform. I'm still taking a break from Instagram, Substack, and LinkedIn, so this is the best place to be notified when my subsequent episodes air. With warmth and care, Jenny --- Subscribe to my newsletter: https://divingdeeperwithjennychen.substack.com/

  7. 04/23/2024

    23. Season 1 Finale - Greatest Life Lessons & Advice from 18 People Who Inspire Me

    Hello dear listeners. This episode wraps up season 1 of Ampersand, after which I’m taking a break to focus on other priorities and reflect on what I’d like to center in season 2.  To conclude this season, I invited several people who inspire me to record or write their responses to three questions:  1. What’s one of the greatest life lessons you’ve learned and can you share some of that story behind it? 2. What’s one of the biggest things you’ve let go of in your life, whether it’s a way of being, a place, people, etc? What prompted this decision, and how did it catalyze growth or transformation? 3. What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself? This episode compiles responses from 18 beautiful humans (myself included!). I hope you enjoy it. As always, it’s a pleasure and honor to share this content with you.  From my heart and soul to yours (and until next time), Jenny

    23. Season 1 Finale - Greatest Life Lessons & Advice from 18 People Who Inspire Me

  8. 04/09/2024

    22. Meditation: Finding Rest in Moments of Fatigue or Exhaustion with Jenny Chen

    I recorded this guided meditation on a day when I didn't sleep well the previous evening and felt called to record this to support folks who feel tired, exhausted, or low-energy for one reason or another. My intention with this meditation is to help you carve out the next 10 minutes for you and to give you permission to rest and receive. With restfulness and tenderness, Jenny

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5
out of 5
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About

Welcome to Ampersand. I'm your host Jenny Chen. Ampersand is a podcast about integrating all parts of ourselves and how beautiful life is when we do so. My mission in life is to be the fullest expression of myself and to empower others to do the same. As a result, I see Ampersand as a sandbox for me to explore various aspects of my being, practice leading with vulnerability, and connect deeply with others. If any of this piques your interest or lights you up, come along for the ride. It's an imperfect one full of laughter and tears and I'm so grateful you're here.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenny Chen
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jenny Chen
  • Show Website
    Ampersand with Jenny Chen