Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu

Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Courage Class brings Asian American voices to the center of health and wellness. Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu interviews cultural trailblazers and creatives to explore identity, healing, cultural expectations and emotional well-being. We name the realities mainstream wellness ignores - like the tension of living between cultures - and create space for honest conversations about identity, healing, and success. Together, we’re building a new narrative of wellness, sharing stories, tools, and conversations that reflect who we are – not who we’re told to be.

  1. We All Carry Something: Healing What Was Passed Down

    6d ago

    We All Carry Something: Healing What Was Passed Down

    About the Episode: Growing up, many of us were never taught the language of trauma, healing, mental health, or self-compassion. Therapy? Nope.Healing? Nope. “I love you?” Nope.Emotions? Absolutely nope. In this conversation, licensed marriage and family therapist Soo Jin Lee, LMFT joins Courage Class to explore intergenerational trauma, identity, belonging, perfectionism, burnout, and healing - especially within Asian American communities. Soo Jin is the Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective and co-author of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma andEmbracing Asian American Identity. Together, we unpack how inherited survival patterns quietly shape the way we move through the world - showing up in our anxiety, relationships, silence, pressure to achieve, and constant need to prove our worth. But this episode is not about blame or shame. It’s about awareness.It’s about healing. And it’s about recognizing that we have the power to interrupt cycles that were never meant to be carried forever. In this episode, we discuss: What intergenerational trauma actually isWhy so many Asian Americans struggle with perfectionism and burnoutWhy healing begins with awareness and self-compassionPractical healing tools like box breathing and grounding exercisesThis is one of our most important conversations yet. If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” emotionally responsible for everyone else, or stuck in survival mode -this episode is for you. About Soo Jin Lee: Soo Jin Lee is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective, and co-author of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity. As a Korean bilingual and bicultural therapist, her work centers on intergenerational trauma, identity, belonging, perfectionism, burnout, and culturally responsive mentalhealth care within Asian American communities. Through therapy, writing, and community healing spaces, Soo Jin helps individuals move from survival mode toward authenticity, self-compassion, and healing. Connect with Soo Jin: Website: https://yellowchaircollective.com/ Where I Belong: Healing Trauma andEmbracing Asian American Identity https://www.whereibelongthebook.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soo-jin-lee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowchaircollective/ About Yellow Chair Collective Yellow Chair Collective is a multicultural mental health practice focused on creating empowering, inclusive, and culturally responsive healing spaces. Specializing in psychotherapyservices that honor each person’s lived experiences, YCC places a particular emphasis on serving Asian American communities through conversations around identity, belonging, intergenerational trauma, and mental health. Their work isrooted in the belief that healing should not only be effective, but also compassionate, de-stigmatizing, and community-centered. Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    55 min
  2. Menopause Is Not the End - Dr. Somi Javaid on the Healthcare Revolution Women Deserve

    May 20

    Menopause Is Not the End - Dr. Somi Javaid on the Healthcare Revolution Women Deserve

    About the Episode: What if the symptoms women are often told to “just live with” are actually signs of a healthcare system failingthem? In this powerful episode, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid - board-certified OB/GYN, TEDx speaker, and founder of HerMD - to unpack the truth about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, sexual health, and why so many women feel dismissed inside traditional healthcare systems. Dr. Somi shares how a life-changing experience with her mother’s health inspired her to build HerMD, a groundbreaking platform centered on longer appointments, evidence-based care, and truly listening to women. Together, we discuss: The invisible symptoms of perimenopause and menopauseWhy women are often dismissed and how to advocate for yourselfHow cultural norms impact Asian American women's experiences with menopauseHow Dr. Somi built and exited HerMD, a fem-tech company offering personalized care to women she founded and builtThis conversation is empowering, eye-opening, and full of information every woman deserves to hear. About Dr. Somi Javaid: Dr. Somi Javaid is a board-certified OB/GYN, TEDx speaker, and founder of HerMD, a healthcare platform redefining menopause, sexual health, and gynecology care. As one of fewer than 0.4% of women of color in the U.S. to secure venture capital funding, she has become a nationally recognized leader in women’s healthcare innovation and advocacy. Named to Inc.’s Female Founders 250 list and honored as a Trailblazer in Healthcare, Dr. Somi has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, national television, and the documentary TheM Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause. A sought-afterspeaker and educator, she has spoken at TEDx, the Global Wellness Summit, and Let’s Talk Menopause, while also founding HerMD University to train providers in menopause and sexual healthcare at a time when the U.S. has just one trained provider for every 33,000 menopausal patients. Connect with Dr. Somi Javaid: Website: https://www.drsomi.com/ IG:https://www.instagram.com/dr.somijavaid/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somi-javaid/ DisruptHER Podcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@somijavaidmd Connect with Courage Class on TikTok,Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ Music Credit: DayNigthMorning fromPixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    46 min
  3. "We were taught to function. Not to feel." - Finding Your Voice as an Asian American

    May 11

    "We were taught to function. Not to feel." - Finding Your Voice as an Asian American

    About This Episode: Ko Im - award-winning storyteller andcreative - grew up in Guam, where a place where diversity didn't need to be announced, it was just lived. Then she stepped off a plane onto the US mainland for college and realized, for the first time, that race was political. That early experience - of belonging without having to fight for it - quietly became the foundation of everything Ko built: her journalism career, her published writing, her work shaping narrative at a global scale. And it's what compelled her, shortly after the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings, to stay up and write the Newsweek essay that thousands of Asian Americans said out loud what they had been holding silently for years. In this conversation, Ko and Lindsay explore what it actually takes to find your voice when your culture taught you to stayquiet - and what becomes possible when you do. What You'll Learn: How to stay rooted in your own story when the world is constantly projecting a narrative onto youWhy contentment, not happiness, is the morehonest and sustainable thing to aim for, and what it actually looks like in daily lifeHow speaking your truth publicly, even imperfectly, builds confidence and shifts something inside you that achievement alone never canWhy caring for yourself is not optional - it'sthe foundation for showing up authentically About Ko Im Ko Im is an award-winning storyteller, communications leader, and community builder with over 15 years of experienceshaping narratives across journalism, publishing, and global brand strategy. Known for her ability to connect dots across culture, identity, and community, Ko brings both editorial precision and deep human insight to everything she creates. Her career spans roles as a journalist, published author, on-camera host, and content strategist - with her currentwork focused on communications and content strategy at a global scale. She is a certified wellness instructor with a grounding practice in yoga and meditation, and brings that same commitment to presence and authenticity into her storytelling work. Ko is a passionate advocate for diversity and representation, and her writing has appeared in major national outletsincluding Newsweek, where her personal essay on the Asian American experience following the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings resonated widely across the AANHPI community. She believes stories are not just communication - they are how we return to ourselves. Connect with Ko LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koimprofile/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/konakafe/ Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    44 min
  4. Filmmaking, Community, and the Stories that Move us Forward: Shuling Yong

    May 5

    Filmmaking, Community, and the Stories that Move us Forward: Shuling Yong

    About the Episode: This week, I am joined by Shuling Yong - award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has screened at Sundance,Tribeca, and Netflix. Her newest documentary follows two public school teachers navigating the TEAACH Act - the first legislation in the country to require Illinois schools to teach Asian American history! For generations, the AANHPI narrative has been constructed without us. Model minority. Perpetual foreigner. Silentachiever. Shuling reminded me that someone will tell your story with or without you. In this episode, you'll learn: Who tells the story is inseparable from what thestory becomes and why that matters now more than ever for our communityReal storytelling requires relationship,proximity, and trust - you earn the right to tell someone's story, you don'ttake itStorytelling humanizes what policy alone cannot -because you have to touch the heart before you can change the mind About Shuling Yong: Shuling Yong is a Singapore-born, Chicago-based award-winning documentary filmmaker, director of photography, andlocation sound recordist with a passion for social change. Her work has screened at Sundance, Tribeca, Netflix, POV, and HotDocs - including the Michelle Obama documentary Becoming and the Indigo Girls documentary It's Only Life After All. Her film Unteachable made history at the Singapore International Film Festival, becoming the first local film to win the Audience Choice Award in the festival's 30-year history.It is now used as a teaching tool at Singapore's only teacher-training college. She is a DOC NYC 40 Under 40 honoree, aKartemquin Films Diverse Voices in Docs Fellow and Mentor, and a CAAM Fellowship Pitch Coach. Her current project follows two public school teachers implementing the TEAACH Act - the first law in the country tomandate Asian American history in Illinois public schools - with support from the Asian American Documentary Network and Kartemquin Films. Find Shuling: https://shulingyong.com/ Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    34 min
  5. Mission, Meaning, and Metrics: How Two Women Built Anise Health and Redefined Mental Health for the Asian Communities

    Mar 31

    Mission, Meaning, and Metrics: How Two Women Built Anise Health and Redefined Mental Health for the Asian Communities

    Episode Overview: In this episode, Alice Zhang (CEO) and Nisha Desai (COO), co-founders of Anise Health, share how they’re reimagining mental health care for the Asian community through culturallyattuned, personalized care. As a venture-backed, minority female-led team, they also open up about the realities of entrepreneurship - from navigating a system that wasn’t built for them to building one that is. This is a conversation about mission, identity, and the courage to lead with both heart and business strategy - proving that you don’t have to choose between meaning and building something impactful. What you’ll learn: Why culturally attuned care is a clinical necessity - not a "nice to have";The gaps in mental health care for Asian communities and how to address them;What it really takes to build and scale a venture-backed, mission-driven company; and How to stay grounded in your 'why' while navigating pressure, doubt, and growth.About Alize Zhang: Alice Zhang is the Co-Founder and CEO of Anise Health, a venture-backed mental health company reimagining care for the Asian community through culturally attuned, personalized mental health support. As a third culture kid who grew up across China, Japan, and Canada, Alice brings a global lens to her work and a deep understanding of identity, belonging, and the gaps in traditional mental health care. Before founding Anise, she worked in management consulting and private equity. She later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Neuroscience from The University of British Columbia. Today, Alice is focused on transforming mental health care into a more inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive system - one that empowers individuals to live authentically and thrive. Connect with Alice: LinkedIn About Nisha Desai: Nisha Desai is the Co-Founder and COO of Anise Health, a venture-backed mental health company reimagining care for the Asian community through culturally attuned,personalized support. Coming from a family of healthcare entrepreneurs, Nisha was inspired early on to build solutions that create impact at scale. Her work sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and innovation, with a focus on addressing systemic gaps in how care is delivered. Prior to founding Anise, she worked across healthcare strategy, product innovation, investment management, and investment banking, gaining experience in building and scaling solutions within healthcare and biopharmaceutical companies. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Economics, Finance, Marketing, and Legal Studies from The Wharton School. Nisha is passionate about transforming mental health care into a more equitable and accessible system - one that reflects the lived experiences and values of the communities it serves. LinkedIn  About Anise Health Anise Health is a mission-driven mental health organization dedicated to serving diverse and historically underserved communities. The platform offers an evidence-basedmodel of care that centers cultural context from the very beginning - designed to better support people of color than traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy. Through a holistic, culturally attuned care model, Anise Health works to reduce disparities in mental health access and outcomes. Their work within the Asian community shows higher engagement and stronger continuity of care, demonstrating how culturally responsive support can meaningfully improve mental health experiences for the Asian communities. Website: https://www.anisehealth.co/ Instagram or Tiktok: @anisehealth Connect with Courage Class on TikTok,Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod, @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    1 hr
  6. Mission First: Building Tech with Purpose

    Mar 18

    Mission First: Building Tech with Purpose

    Episode Description:What if service isn’t something you do at the end of your career - but the strategy that builds it? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Komal Kapoor, founder and CEO of SpeakerPost, a platform connecting industry professionals with classrooms around the world. We talk about what it really means to lead with purpose, trust your inner voice, and build something meaningful without waiting for permission or a perfect plan. If you’ve ever felt torn between stability and calling, this conversation will meet you right where you are. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why service can be a powerful strategy - not just an act of giving backHow to trust your inner voice, even when external expectations are loudA simple way to start living your purpose(without needing everything figured out)Episode Outline: 00:35 Meet Dr Kapoor 02:06 Between Two Worlds 04:29 Service As Growth 08:13 Spotting The Classroom Gap 12:40 Managing Fear And Risk 14:44 Learning By Doing 15:42 Meaning Over Happiness 16:21 How SpeakerPost Works 22:29 Human Edge Over AI 26:13 Community, Trust, Growth 28:37 One Hour To Serve 30:35 Advice To Younger Self 35:22 Defining Courage Purpose   About Dr. Komal Shah Kapoor Dr. Komal Shah Kapoor is a social impact serial entrepreneur, researcher, writer, and founder whose work sits at the intersection of culture, wellness, and human connection. Her journey into wellness began not in a studio, but through research and lived experience. At SpaFinder, she co-authored the first Global Spa Economy Report with SRI International - foundational work that helped shape what is now the Global Wellness Institute. She also published the India Spa Trends Report, blending data with cultural insight and earning recognition in global publications including Forbes Traveler. Driven by a deep curiosity about identity and belonging, she founded Cook Aunty in New York City - well ahead of its time.Inspired by her doctoral research, the platform celebrated a powerful truth: for many immigrants, food is the last thread of cultural identity to go. Today, she is the founder of SpeakerPost, a platform that connects industry professionals with classrooms around the world, expanding access, representation, and possibility for students everywhere. She is also the voice behind Green Sea Shells, a digital publication rooted in the belief that the most sacred forms of wellness are the quietest ones - found in culture, storytelling, rituals, and connection. Dr. Kapoor’s work is grounded in a simple philosophy: wellness is not something we chase - it’s something we remember. Connect with Dr. Kapoor LinkedIn SpeakerPost Website Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Sign up for Courage Class Notes, aweekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    36 min
  7. The Leadership Skill No One Teaches: Learning to Meet the Moment with Courtney Pong

    Mar 10

    The Leadership Skill No One Teaches: Learning to Meet the Moment with Courtney Pong

    Episode Overview: What if the secret to becoming a better leader and communicator wasn’t about performing perfectly - but about bringing all of your skills to meet the moment? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Courtney Pong, owner of Rozzie Square Theater, Boston’s only AAPI-and woman-owned improv theater, and a leadership trainer who teaches communication and collaboration to Fortune 500 companies. Courtney shares how a career in Silicon Valley - combined with a life-changing medical event - led her to leave techand build a leadership philosophy rooted in improv, community, and human connection. Together, they explore how improv principles can transform the way we communicate, pitch ideas, handle failure, and leadwith confidence. Courtney breaks down practical tools - from the “Yes, And” mindset to storytelling frameworks and the power of listening first - that can help anyone become amore compelling communicator. If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, self-doubt, or speaking up in professional spaces, this conversation will show you how to trust your experience, meet the moment, and use your voice with more confidence. Episode Breakdown: 02:32 Improv Not Performance 03:52 Leaving Silicon Valley 09:40 Improv Community Roots 10:57 Pitching Starts Listening14:03 Simple Story Framework 17:01 Authenticity Through Practice 22:02 Yes And In Conflict 25:42 Quieting Self Doubt 29:41 Iterative Failure Practice 31:00 Trust Your Confidence 33:29 Danna Introduces Urban Sandbox and Pitch Feedback About Courtney Pong Courtney Pong is a nationally recognized speaker, entrepreneur, and leader in applied improvisation with 24+ years of professional experience.  As the Owner and General Manager of CSZ Boston, she has been teaching improv as an applied skill and performing improv comedy professionally for over 25 years. From the Bay Area to the Bay State, she has been trusted to design and lead team building workshops and communication trainings across a wide variety of industries and brands, from Ocean Spray, The Boston Red Sox, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to GE Aviation, Deloitte, and Harvard University. Courtney Pong has been recognized as a Boston Business Journal 40 under 40 Honoree, and featured in Boston Magazine and Inc. Magazine as an AAPI thought-leader in live entertainment and entrepreneurship. Courtney hails from San Francisco, with 15 years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing and is a keynote speaker. Connect with Courtney: Website CSZ Boston Website Instagram (Courtney’s) Instagram (CSZ) LinkedIn About Urban Sandbox Urban Sandbox is a wellbeing-centered platform focused on preventive mental health support for children. Our mission is to close access gaps by connecting families directly to timely, individualized care—with the goal of providing 1:1, on-demand support for every student, regardless of background. Built on the belief that mental well-being is foundational to a child’s ability to learn and thrive, Urban Sandbox supports children in two ways: encouraging creative expression to build confidence and resilience, and connecting families to trusted mental wellness resources early, before challenges escalate. By linking families, schools, and care providers in one streamlined system, Urban Sandbox expands support capacity while combining play, psychology, and digital innovation in a privacy-first platform fully compliant with COPPA, FERPA, and HIPAA. Connect with Urban Sandbox: Website LinkedIn Instagram Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    56 min
  8. Confidence, Cultural Identity, and Leadership with John Wang

    Mar 2

    Confidence, Cultural Identity, and Leadership with John Wang

    Episode Overview: In this episode of Courage Class, I sit down with leadership coach and Big Asian Energy author John Wang to unpack the internal pressures many Asian American professionals face in the workplace - from perfectionism and people-pleasing to staying quiet in meetings and overworking to prove worth. We explore why leadership isn’t about becoming louder or more aggressive, but about unlearning the belief that youhave to shrink to belong. John breaks down the 7 adaptive leadership patterns that may be shaping your career - including the Achiever, Fixer, Chameleon, Invisible One, Rebel, and Commander - and explains how these so-called “weaknesses” can become strengths when driven by confidence instead of fear. We also cover: How to speak up in meetings without feeling inauthenticWhy your idea doesn’t need to be a “10” to be valuableHow to set boundaries at work using practicalscriptsWhy confidence starts with assuming youbelongThe difference between assimilation andintegration in leadershipIf you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout, or feeling pressure to assimilate into Western leadership norms, this conversation will help you rethink your leadership style - and step into it with courage. Because if you’re in the room, you already belong. Episode Outline: 01:22 Unlearning to Lead Authentically 03:06 From Assimilation to Integration 07:00 Shy Kid to Confident Leader 08:24 Belonging Builds Confidence 11:52 Communication Is Learnable 13:21 Seven Patterns Introduction 14:49 Achiever and Fixer 17:34 Charmer and Parts Work 21:12 Chameleon and Secret Rules 23:46 Rebel and Invisible Pattern 25:44 Commander Archetype 26:12 Gender and Eldest Daughter 28:19 Listener Q1: Speaking Up 30:37 Five Is Enough 35:06 Listener Q2: Burnout 36:03 Policies Not Boundaries 42:05 Listener Q3: Asking Questions 43:06 High vs Low Context 45:23 Closing and Courage About John Wang John Wang is the host of the Big Asian Energy Show, a motivational speaker, and leadership coach helping Asianprofessionals break through hidden barriers and unlock their potential. After discovering that many successful Asians were being overlooked for leadership roles not because of lack of capability, but because of cultural miscommunication and workplace stereotyping, he started doing research that uncovered why most advice like “just speak up more” oftenfail Asian American employees. John has been featured on NBC News Daily, WSJ, CNBC, TEDx, Audible, Amazon, and has clients from Fortune 50 companies like Google, Meta, and Goldman Sachs, blending cultural insight and science-backed strategies to build confidence and visibility. His content on assertiveness and imposter syndrome has reached over 250,000 followers and over 25 million views. John’s mission is to inspire a new generation to lead with confidence. His book Big Asian Energy, launched May 2025 (Tiny Reparations/Penguin Randomhouse Publishing), offers even more tools to step into your full power. Connect with John: Website Tiktok Instagram Youtube Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Courage Class brings Asian American voices to the center of health and wellness. Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu interviews cultural trailblazers and creatives to explore identity, healing, cultural expectations and emotional well-being. We name the realities mainstream wellness ignores - like the tension of living between cultures - and create space for honest conversations about identity, healing, and success. Together, we’re building a new narrative of wellness, sharing stories, tools, and conversations that reflect who we are – not who we’re told to be.

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