Shannon Lee

Podcasts

Episódios

  1. Flowing with Kristi Yamaguchi

    29/05/2025

    Flowing with Kristi Yamaguchi

    This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon is honored to welcome Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi to the show. Everyone knows Kristi as a champion on the ice, but in her years since winning gold she has also become a devoted author, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for youth literacy. Born in California to Japanese-American parents, Kristi's mother was born in a WWII internment camp while her grandfather served as a U.S. Army lieutenant. Kristi's journey reflects strength across generations and  is one of legacy and service. Kristi shares how a treasured Dorothy Hamill doll ignited her early passion for skating, and what it felt like to meet her idol moments before the biggest performance of her life. She also reflects on her touring years with Stars On Ice. Kristi opens up about the values her parents instilled in her around service and gratitude—and how those principles ultimately led her to found Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to early literacy and family engagement. Through her foundation, Kristi is helping ensure that children in underserved communities not only have access to high-quality books, but also the support needed to build a lifelong love of reading. Finally, Kristi opens up about a new passion she's been engaged in, and it's VERY Bruce Lee of her! Join Shannon and get to know how Kristi is continuing to shape an inspiring legacy that continues across generations! Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Kristi…. Website:  www.alwaysdream.org Instagram: @kristiyamaguchi | @alwaysdream Facebook: Kristi Yamaguchi | Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream X: @kristiyamaguchi

    50min
  2. Be water, my friend.

    20/07/2016

    Be water, my friend.

    We discuss Bruce Lee's most famous philosophical quote. What does it mean and what inspired him to come up with it? Shannon shares personal stories about her dad and unpacks the quote to help us understand its depth and meaning. We give our first #AAHA (Awesome Asians Hapa) shoutout to Justin Lin and we hear a #BruceLeeMoment from one of our team members who used Bruce's teachings to get through a harrowing personal challenge.

    49min
  3. Affirmations Part 1: Memory, Subconscious Mind, Imagination

    20/10/2016

    Affirmations Part 1: Memory, Subconscious Mind, Imagination

    This week we discuss Bruce Lee's affirmations. These are 7 ideas he wrote on small note cards and carried with him always: Memory, Subconscious Mind, Imagination, Reason, Emotion, Conscience and Will Power. These 7 ideas are part of a whole system of well being and self-cultivation Bruce developed. And they work together as a harmonious ecosystem. Today we discuss the first three ideas: Memory, Subconscious Mind, and Imagination. 1st Affirmation: Memory "Recognizing the value of an alert mind, and an alert memory, I will encourage mine to become alert by taking care to impress it clearly with all thoughts I wish to recall and by associating those thoughts with related subjects which I may recall to mind frequently." Bruce Lee on memory: "Not memory for memory's sake, not accumulation of knowledge, but synthesis and application." 2nd Affirmation: Subconscious Mind "Reorganizing the influence of my subconscious mind over my power of will, I shall take care to submit to it a clear and definite picture of my major purpose in life and all minor purposes leading to my major purpose and I shall keep this picture constantly before my subconscious mind by repeating it daily." 3rd Affirmation: Imagination "Recognizing the need for sound plans and ideas for the attainment of my desires. I will develop my imagination by calling upon it daily for help in the formation of my plans." "Creative intuition opens the wellsprings within man, activates the inner light, and is free and limitless." Take Action: Create your own affirmations and write them down on a 3x5 card. They can be your own ideas or quotes you find inspiring. Carry them around with you for a week or a month and read them out loud to yourself each day. We would love to hear about your affirmations! Email us at hello@brucelee.com or share via social media @BruceLee. #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week we want to give a shout out to Jimmy Chin, a professional climber, mountaineer, skier, photographer, and filmmaker. For a long time he was with the Northface team, taking photos and having awe-inspiring adventures. His documentary film Meru follows the harrowing first ascent of the "Shark's Fin" route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. Jimmy follows his true heart's mission and we think that's awesome! #BruceLeeMoment This week our BruceLeeMoment comes from Germany, Martin Priebe: Dear Shannon, Dear BruceLee.com team, My name is Martin and I live in Germany. I just want to share my #BruceLeeMoment with you (as you mentioned in your podcast) I´m a huge fan of bruce lee. Not only the films, I like the philosophy as well. And I´m working as a software developer and I´m doing wing chun since a while. So what happened was that I was reading "Tao of JKD" and working for my job simultaneously. Then I was stunned for a few seconds. I recognized that JKD and Bruce Lee´s philosophy matched exactly the style of agile software developing. The next days Í was thinking about it. This idea was like a hammer that was banging my head. And few weeks ago I did a presentation about "Was Bruce Lee the first agile coach? And what can we learn about it for our daily business" on a convention for software development. "Be water, my friend", "sophisticated style stripped to it´s essentials", all the wing chun principles, the way he developed his style, "individuals more important than any style." And what can I say... It was great. It was a lot of fun. And it was not easy to teach nerds :) But I had to do it. Every time I was thinking "oh, should I do that" I remembered the words "Expressing yourself honestly". I want so say thank you. Thanks for the power and energy! Thanks for your words too and keep on going. You are doing a great job! Mit freundlichen Grüßen/best regards, Martin Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com

    44min
  4. Simplicity, Directness, Freedom

    15/09/2016

    Simplicity, Directness, Freedom

    In this week's episode we talk about the three core tenets of Jeet Kune Do: Simplicity, Directness, Freedom. Bruce Lee applied these tenets to martial arts, but also to everyday life. Shannon shares the story of the pivotal fight that led Bruce Lee to develop his own martial arts philosophy and way: Jeet Kune Do. In Bruce Lee's words: "The art of Jeet Kune Do is simply to simplify. Jeet Kune Do avoids the superficial, penetrates the complex, goes to the heart of the problem and pinpoints the key factors. Jeet Kune Do does not beat around the bush. It does not take winding detours. It follows a straight line to the objective. Simplicity is the shortest distance between two points. Jeet Kune Do favors formlessness so that it can assume all forms and since Jeet Kune Do has no style, it can fit in with all styles. As a result, Jeet Kune Do utilizes all ways and is bound by none and, likewise, uses any techniques or means which serve its end." Essentially: Taking what is useful and rejecting what is useless. You have to know the rules to rewrite the rules. The problem is never apart from the solution, the solution is within the problem, if you're willing to confront and face the problem. "To realize freedom, the mind has to learn to look at life without the bondage of time. For freedom lies beyond the field of consciousness, don't stop and interpret "Hey I'm free" then you're living in a memory of something that has now gone." If we, in our own lives, start to hack away at the unnecessary, take out everything we don't need or that we thought we needed but don't, that will give us the space to explore what it's like to be free from ego, free from form, free to express our true selves. The mark of genius is to see and express what is simple, simply. True freedom relies on the balance of structure and formlessness. "Learning Jeet Kune Do is not a matter of seeking knowledge or accumulating stylized pattern, but is discovering the cause of ignorance." "If you follow the classical pattern, you're understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow, you are not understanding yourself." What you can do to practice this philosophy: Look around your own life and ask how can I be more direct? How can I simplify? What can I let go of? What is cluttering up my life right now? Pick a space (physical space or they way we do something) and ask what is the most useful part of this? And strip away the useless. We'd love to hear about your experiences applying this philosophy to your life. Feel free to share with us via social media @BruceLee or at hello@brucelee.com #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week's #AAHA shout-out goes to Jake Shimabukuro, the talented ukulele musician and composer. He is constantly breaking expectations and exploring his instrument. He's also a big Bruce Lee fan: "As I got older," he says, "I realized that I could also learn from guitar players, drummers, violinists, pianists, singers and even dancers. And then I started to observe athletes. Athletes are artists too. I was heavily influenced by people like Bruce Lee and Michael Jordan – applying their philosophy and intense, mental focus to music performance." #BruceLeeMoment Jake Shimabukuro is also this week's #BruceLeeMoment! "With Bruce Lee, I was really into his philosophy and the way he approached martial arts. All this mixed martial arts that you see now, that was his concept decades before. I kind of wanted to take that mindset of a mixed martial artist and bring it to music. Like being an MMA musician in a way where you learn to appreciate all different styles of music. And then you take the thing that runs parallel to your taste and expresses who you are. That was, in a nutshell, what Bruce Lee was all about. Martial arts to him was a form of human expression." Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com.

    44min
  5. Flowing with Daniel Wu

    06/02/2025

    Flowing with Daniel Wu

    This week on the Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon sat down with the incredibly talented and versatile Daniel Wu. A self-proclaimed "maker", Daniel creates and crafts as an actor, director, producer, designer, race car driver and so much more! In 2022, he received the Bruce Lee Award, presented annually by the Asian World Film Festival and the Bruce Lee Foundation to individuals in the film industry whose work in martial arts creates a legacy of excellence and bridges East and West. Over the past few years, Shannon has had the privilege of getting to know Dan not just as an artist, but as a friend, and deeply admires his passion, versatility, and curiosity. His latest film, Love Hurts, starring Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, hits theaters on February 7. Come with her on this warm and insightful journey as she dives deep with Daniel Wu! Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Daniel…. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatdanielwu Check out Sung Kang & Daniel Wu's streetwear brand, Student Driver: https://www.thestudentdriver.co/ https://www.instagram.com/wearestudentdrivers/

    1h5min
  6. Choiceless Awareness

    24/08/2017

    Choiceless Awareness

    Choiceless Awareness is a path to peace of mind. It means having awareness in the moment as things are unfolding but not making a choice or judgment one way or the other about whether it's good or bad. Bruce talks about how, "There is an awareness without choice, without demand, an awareness in which there is no anxiety and in that state of mind there is perception and it's perception alone that will resolve our problems." Choiceless Awareness is about being the objective observer, standing back from the situation a little bit and not assign any blame one way or the other. Just say, "Here's what's happening, I'm perceiving what's happening, now what am I going to do?" This not easy because you have to battle the "shoulds"--what you think should or shouldn't be happening in the situation. Remember, Bruce Lee used "No way as way." "Just watch choicelessly, and in the watching lies the wonder. It is not an ideal end to be desired, but watching is a state of being already and not a state of becoming." If in this moment you can achieve this state of choiceless awareness, you can achieve wholeness because you're just being. "Choiceless Awareness. Do not condemn, do not justify. Awareness works only if it is allowed free play without interference." Awareness leads to discovery. Discovery leads to uncovering your potential. Bruce Lee often relates this idea of Choiceless Awareness to being in tune with "what is." "There is what is, only when there is no comparison at all. And to live with what is, is to be peaceful." "Awareness is never exclusive. It includes everything." The easiest way to explain this state is as "free play." Free play without judgment, like when you were a kid playing and pursuing what interested you. The technology we have now, such as smart phones, can bring us out of the moment. "I Bruce Lee am going to die some day with out having fulfilled all my ambitions. However, I am not afraid to die. I go on, I move forward. Because everything I've done, I've done sincerely, and wholeheartedly and to the best of my ability. What more can you ask for than that?" Take Action: Practice being the objective observer, try to remove your judgment from the present moment, and just let things be as they are. Take in everything. Create time for a place of "free play"—free of expectations and outcomes. Do something with your body to enter into the space of free play, such as running around like a kid or sing a fun song. This will help you remember what free play felt like. #AAHA This week our #AAHA is hapa Michelle Waterson who is half Thai. Michelle is an American Mixed Martial Artist and competes in the UFC. MMA is the fastest growing professional sport. Michelle is ranked #6 in the UFC strawweight division. Raised in Colorado, Michelle studied karate from the age of 10 and holds a black belt in the American Free Style Karate, and also trained in WuShu, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, and wrestling. She started out as a ring girl, and she trained really hard and made her MMA debut in 2007. She made her debut without having any amateur fights. Michelle you're a badass, and we think you're awesome! #BruceLeeMoment Our moment this week comes from Robby M. who shared with us this poem and his #BruceLeeMoment: Everything I know how to do, I learned first and foremost from Bruce Lee, I copied everything he did to the point where I got obsessed and erroneously thought myself to be his Reincarnation. Doing that, I realized I missed His central tenet of Life, Be Yourself! Express Yourself as creatively, profoundly, powerfully, dynamically, skillfully, and Honestly as humanly possible at all times no matter what the cost or situation." Share your #AAHAs, #BruceLeeMoments, and #TakeAction progress with us at hello@brucelee.com Find the full version of our show notes at BruceLee.com/podcast

    42min
  7. Flowing with Judy Joo

    01/05/2025

    Flowing with Judy Joo

    This week's guest on this special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for AANHPI and Mental Health Awareness month is chef and entrepreneur Judy Joo! Judy Joo is a Korean-American chef, author, and TV personality whose path to culinary success took a sharp left turn from Wall Street to the world's finest kitchens. From an engineering degree at Columbia to becoming the only female Iron Chef UK, Judy has built a career rooted in bold decisions, fearless creativity, and a deep love for the flavors of her heritage. Shannon kicks off this May season celebrating her friend Judy's powerful story of reinvention and perseverance. Together they talk about the importance of work ethic, kindness, celebrating one's culture, mentorship of the next generation, and following your heart as Judy prepares to launch her newest cookbook, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less (available May 6, 2025). And listen in as Shannon reveals a bucket list wish of her own around food! Make sure to catch Judy doing her thing right now as a judge on the new Food Network show House of Knives or visit one of her wildly popular restaurants Seoul Bird to get down with some Korean fried chicken at several locations and stadiums around the world. Or maybe you need to follow Judy to discover what disco fries are! Whatever the case, sit back and enjoy this conversation with the inspiring Judy Joo as we celebrate the importance of representation and wellbeing this May on the Bruce Lee Podcast BLF edition! Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Judy…. Get Judy's new book:  K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less  – Available: May 6, 2025. See Judy on Food Network's House of Knives Website: https://www.judyjoo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judyjoochef/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudyJooChef/ X: https://twitter.com/judyjoochef

    1h20min
  8. Linda Lee Cadwell - Making "Enter the Dragon"

    03/10/2018

    Linda Lee Cadwell - Making "Enter the Dragon"

    This week we have one of our favorite guests back on the show, Shannon's mom, Linda Lee Cadwell! Linda joins Shannon and Sharon to talk about the making of Enter the Dragon. With rare insights into Bruce Lee's process and experience on the set of Enter the Dragon, Linda shares behind the scenes stories, discusses how important this movie was to Bruce Lee, and talks about the lasting impact Enter the Dragon has had in action films. It is always wonderful having Linda on the Bruce Lee Podcast, and we are grateful every time she can join us for an episode. Thank you Linda for sharing these behind the scenes stories on the making of Enter the Dragon! We'd love to hear from you! Please write to us at hello@brucelee.com or tag us on social media @BruceLee #BruceLeePodcast. Help support the Bruce Lee Podcast and check out our Podcast Bundle on the Bruce Lee Store!

    51min
  9. Originate and Innovate

    11/08/2016

    Originate and Innovate

    How did Bruce Lee interpret the ideas of Originating and Innovating? This week we discuss Bruce's unique take on these ideas. His definition of these words have nothing to do with the buzzwords of business. Originating is the process of self-actualizing and becoming your true self and innovating is what gets created in the world when you are connected to your authentic energy. "We tend to have more faith in what we imitate than what we originate. We feel we cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone and we are not alone when we imitate." Most of us are seeking validation by imitating the path or success of others even if it's against our true nature. But our mission in life should be to originate by letting our true inner light shine through. #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week's shoutout goes to pioneering comedian, actress, singer and activist Margaret Cho. Margaret was the first Asian American lead actress on a network TV show (All-American Girl, 1994) and paved the road for a generation of Asian comedians and actresses. We want to acknowledge Margaret for being brave enough to be her unique self and resist cultural pressures to be a quiet, obedient, demure and powerless Asian woman. Thank you for shining your true inner light. #BruceLeeMoment (Bruce Lee's philosophy in action IRL) This week's #BruceLeeMoment comes from Ian Khouv of London, England who wrote in to share his story. Hi Shannon, Just got done listening to the first episode of your new podcast and can't wait for tomorrow's commute to hear the next one! I can hear the passion, enthusiasm, and fun that shines through. Your father Bruce and your brother Brandon have been lifelong inspirations to me. At first, it was mainly through the 'kick-ass Kung Fu' tapes that my own Dad let me watch but as I grew older, it was indeed the philosophy of Bruce that continues to inspire me to this day. As a Chinese boy growing up in London, England, Bruce showed me that an Asian man could be anything he wanted to be, including the real life superhero that Bruce was. This is a lesson that I will be passing on to my son (also called Brandon). My #bruceleemoment actually is several small moments scattered through time. I've always found that being a 'Bruce Lee fan' was a way to cut through differences between people and has always been a common thread that I can use to unite people. I've used 'being a Bruce Lee fan' to break up arguments; stop from being bullied when I was young; and to start conversations with people around the topic of being Chinese. Today this #bruceleemoment transpires in my life mainly from what Bruce said on the interview on Pierre Burton's show: "You know what I want to think of myself? As a human being. Because, I mean, and I don't wanna sound like 'as Confucius says' but under the sky, under the heaven, man, there is but one family. It just so happens, man, that people are different." I currently work for a secular human rights charity and no truer words have been spoken with regards to equality than what your father spoke. Bruce Lee still plays an active role influencing my day-to-day. I've recently enrolled in a Philosophy degree partly due to your father's writings. I feel like Bruce's philosophy is truly accessible to the common man and can be applied so readily to everyday life. Philosophy can be a daunting subject to dip your toes into when the writings of Hegel, Wittgenstein, and Nietszche loom but Bruce is able to encapsulate in an aphorism what many take chapters to illustrate. Apologies for the long email. The podcast just inspired me to reach out to you and to let you know the impact Bruce had on me and continues to do so. Keep up the good work! Kindest regards, Ian Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com

    37min
  10. Walk On

    22/09/2016

    Walk On

    "Walk on." There's a story behind this famous quote. In 1969, Bruce severely injured his back during a routine training session because he didn't warm up properly. He was told he could never practice martial arts again and may never walk normally. Devastated by this news, Bruce became a researcher of his injury, his body and ultimately created his own path to healing. The journey was long and there were many ups and downs. At one point he took one of his business cards and wrote "Walk on" on the back. He put this card where he could see it to remind him every day to move forward with his recovery. No matter what anyone else said, he would always "Walk on." It is from this year-long recovery period that produced much of Bruce Lee's writing. Since he was confined to his bed, Bruce would read and write constantly to stay active. In one of his writings Bruce says: "Whether I like it or not, circumstances are thrust upon me, and being a fighter at heart, I sort of fight it in the beginning. But soon realize that what I need is not inner resistance and needless conflict, rather by joining forces to readjust, I need to make the best of it." "Walk on and leave behind all the things that would dam up the inlet or clog the outlet of experience." Later when writing to a friend about his back injury: "But with every adversity comes a blessing because a shock acts as a reminder to oneself that we must not get stale in routine." It's not the situation that's the problem. It's how you react to it. Bruce Lee used Buddhism's Eight-fold path in relation to martial arts, but Shannon believes her father also used this path to design his recovery. "You must see clearly what is wrong. You must decide to be cured. Speak so as to aim at being cured. You must act. Your livelihood must not conflict with your therapy. The therapy must go forward at the staying speed. You must feel it and think about it incessantly. And learn how to contemplate with the deep mind." "Walk On" is an action phrase. Here's how you can take action with what we discussed this week: Think: Do you have a phrase that you use that helps you? Or what could be a phrase that you can create that can help you with whatever you are struggling with right now? Please share your phrases with us, we'd love to hear from you. Share via social media with the hashtag #BruceLeeMoment #AHAA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week's #AHAA shout-out goes to actress Constance Wu, currently on the TV show "Fresh Off the Boat. "Recently, she ignited a Twitter-storm in response to the news of Matt Damon being cast in a movie called "The Great Wall" which is about China's Great Wall. Constance starts off strong: "We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world. It's not based in actual fact. Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela." Bruce Lee was a huge advocate for casting people of color in leading roles and did not believe that America would only accept White lead characters. Thank you Constance for speaking truth and being awesome! #BruceLeeMoment This week we have an email from a fan named Bryon Yu: Hi my name is Byron from San Diego, CA. I've been listing to your podcast for a few days now and it's been very inspirational. It's awesome that you focus on Bruce Lee's philosophies, because there truly is more to him than the martial arts he's known for. As a Chinese-American, I've always struggled with finding the balance between the culture I am born into and the culture I am born from. And hearing how one of the most famous Chinese-Americans thinks definitely helps me puts things into perspective. Perhaps it's not so important to find a defined middle path, but to simply walk the path you believe is good and right. Thank you Shannon, Sharon, and the podcast team for doing this! Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com.

    36min
  11. Confrontation

    31/08/2017

    Confrontation

    When Bruce talked about confrontation he was talking about it on two levels, physical confrontation and then confrontations between people in everyday life. As you become ore rooted and secure in yourself, the natural tendency is to feel that you can more easily avoid confrontation, that you don't need to prove yourself. What Bruce has learned from being challenged is: What is your reaction to being challenged? How does it affect you? If you're secure then you treat it lightly. Part of being able to handle confrontation is self-work. "Wisdom does not consist in trying to wrest the good from the evil, but in learning to ride them as a cork adapts itself to the crests and troughs of the waves." "The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of an engagement, you ought not to be thinking whether it ends in victory or defeat." A lot of times confrontation has nothing to do with you and has to do with the other person being wrapped up in something that triggers them. "A struggle of any nature can never be settled satisfactorily until the absolute fact is touched." "See that there is no one to fight, only an illusion to see through." "Intelligence, intelligence, is sometimes defined as the capacity of the individual to adjust himself successfully to his environment or to adjust the environment to his needs." If there is a confrontation presented to you, you want to wait a beat before reacting. "Who is there that can make muddy water clear? But if allowed to remain still, it will become clear of itself. Who is there that can secure a state of absolute repose, but keep calm and let time go on and the state of repose will gradually arrest." It's not about what happens, it's about your reaction to what happens. It's not a sign of weakness to stay calm and not respond to someone who is be aggressive towards you, it's a sign of strength and patience. "It's not a shame to be knocked down by other people, the important thing is to ask when being knocked down, why am I being knocked down? If a person can reflect in this way, there is hope for the person." Most of the time when Bruce was talking about confrontation, he was talking about physical confrontation. When someone is actually attacking you, you can discover your emotional response to confrontation, it's an amplified reaction of how you feel in other non-physical situations of confrontation. "If you want to see an opponent clearly, you must throw away prejudices, likes, and dislikes, and so forth. Then, your mind will cease all conflict and come to rest, in this silence, you will see totally and freshly." Take Action: Start with noticing your response to confrontation and conflict. What is going on within you? What can you learn about yourself? #AAHA Tamlyn Tomita is a Japanese born American actress. She made her acting debut in The Karate Kid Part II and was also in The Joy Luck Club, Four Rooms, and Day After Tomorrow. Recently, Tamlyn was in the news for standing up against the white washing that's been happening in Hollywood. Tamlyn was sent a script that she found extremely offensive, and she spoke out publicly about how terrible the script was and how it used offensive Asian stereotypes for the characters. We think it's awesome that she stood up for herself and her heritage, much in the way Bruce Lee did, especially because it's difficult to get roles as a minority in Hollywood. We think you're awesome Tamlyn! #BruceLeeMoment From listener Karen M.: "I have been struggling with Add/ADHD and dyslexia may entire life 55 years. I have always been on edge feeling like I have not been good enough because of my disabilities. Listening to your podcast about Bruce Lee has given me a chance to look at things in a different way. Letting me know that it's ok if i have to do things a different way." Share your #AAHAs, #BruceLeeMoments, and #TakeAction progress with us at hello@brucelee.com Find the full version of our show notes at BruceLee.com/podcast

    44min
  12. The Intelligent Mind

    13/06/2018

    The Intelligent Mind

    "An intelligent mind is an inquiring mind. It is not satisfied with explanations, with conclusions; nor is it a mind that believes, because belief is again another form of conclusion. An intelligent mind is one which is constantly learning, never concluding – styles and patterns have come to conclusion, therefore they have ceased to be intelligent." Bruce Lee trained his mind as diligently as he trained his body. An intelligent mind is a curious mind that is constantly learning. "Knowledge is the past; learning is the present." In the past, memorizing facts was what was considered intelligent and not everyone had access to educational resources. Now, we have computers, the internet, and smart phones that give us wide access to information, so having an intelligent mind is about how we use that access to information. "Not "what" to think but "how" to think." There are all kinds of intelligence, not just intelligence based on how much you know or how many facts you can recall. "Intelligence is the understanding of self." "Intelligence is sometimes defined as the capacity of the individual to adjust himself successfully to his environment, or to adjust the environment to his needs." The intelligence of understanding yourself is challenging. It requires you to look deeply at both the good and the bad. Sometimes people show a performance of intelligence through eloquent words and fact recall, but have no understanding of their self. These people tend to rely on using other people's words and quotes in everyday conversations, instead of voicing their own thoughts and words. If you are only using other people's words without putting them into practice, then you are living a performance.  It is good to use quotes from inspirational people such as Bruce Lee, but you should not use them in a superficial way. "Learning is discovery. The best way of learning is not the computation of information, but discovering and uncovering what there is in us – our own abilities, our own eyes, in order to find our potential." Bruce Lee held the belief that self-education makes a great person and to use your mind instead of being used by your mind. The intelligent mind is the mind that we are using. It is important that your mind and your outward expression be as in line as possible. When the words do not match the actions, there is a feeling of inauthenticity that is felt by you and everyone you are in relationship with. With an intelligent mind it is important to notice and be open to feedback you receive from your environment and relationships. "Life is something for which there is no answer. It must be understood from moment to moment." If you make the shift from a fixed mind to a curious mind, then you can invite discussion instead if shutting down discussion.  "A conditioned mind is not a free mind." "Real freedom is the outcome of intelligence." If you are adaptable, if you are always learning and present, then the ability to be more free comes from that. Understanding yourself is difficult because examining your self and looking within can be painful. Use what is going on inside yourself to fuel your curiosity. The study of imperfection can perfectly lead you to a more free existence. If you saw Bruce Lee walk into a room, he was fluid, real, present, and alive in his mind. The intelligent mind is an alive mind, a mind that is actively engaged. "You have to raise your mind up to absolute awareness." Conversing and engaging with new people can be difficult, especially now when we can go on our phones and use that isolated activity as a shield in social situations. Mindfully entering a new space requires awareness and conversing with people in a meaningful way requires being fully present and engaged. "If you learn concepts and information, then you don't understand. You only explain. When a man thinks, he stands off from what he is trying to understand."  "Drop and dissolve inner blockage." "A concentrated mind is not an attentive mind, but a mind that is in a state of open awareness can concentrate. We are concerned with the total process of living, and to concentrate exclusively on any particular aspect of life, belittles life." Sometimes a concentrated mind is needed in order to solve a specific problem, but the mistake is to bring the concentrated mind into all situations, instead then you need an attentive mind. You can concentrate and be open and aware of your surroundings at the same time. "The thought of a distracted mind cannot be sincere. Sincere thought means thought of quiet awareness." When your mind is distracted you cannot be fully sincere or fully engaged with what is happening.  "What is" is more important than what should be. Too many people are looking at "what is" from a position of thinking "what should be"." Often we become preoccupied with thoughts about what we would like a situation or person to be, and miss what is actually happening or who that person actually is. Let people be who they are, and just observe, learn and be curious.  "When you are awake, you must be fully awake and conscious about everything. This is a wonderful mental exercise." "The important thing is to be alert, to question, to find out, so that your own initiative may be awakened."  We'd love to hear from you! Please write to us at hello@brucelee.com or tag us on social media @BruceLee #BruceLeePodcast Help support the Bruce Lee Podcast and check out our Podcast Bundle on the Bruce Lee Store!

    45min
  13. Linda Lee Cadwell – Stories of Bruce

    09/05/2018

    Linda Lee Cadwell – Stories of Bruce

    This week we have a special guest on the podcast, Shannon's mom Linda Lee Cadwell! Linda joins us to share her firsthand stories of Bruce and their life as a family. She talks about Bruce's back injury, how Bruce was better than her at English grammar, and how Bruce charmed his way up to first class with the Cha Cha. It is always a pleasure to have Linda on the podcast, and we love that she was able to join us for this episode. Thank you Linda for sharing your stories with us! We'd love to hear from you! Please write to us at hello@brucelee.com or tag us on social media @BruceLee #BruceLeePodcast. Help support the Bruce Lee Podcast and check out our Podcast Bundle on the Bruce Lee Store!

    49min
  14. Flowing with Katie Soo

    15/05/2025

    Flowing with Katie Soo

    This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon sits down with her friend, Katie Soo. Katie is a creative force, tech innovator, and passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in storytelling. With a career that spans Hulu, HBO Max, DC Universe, Dollar Shave Club, and more, she has been instrumental in building and launching some of the most iconic and disruptive brands in entertainment and media. But what Shannon admires most about Katie is that behind every strategic move is a deep sense of imagination, heart, and a commitment to mentorship and community. In this episode, Katie talks about how it's been to navigate leadership, tech, and Hollywood as an Asian American woman—and why creating access and pathways for others has always been central to her purpose. Katie was also instrumental in helping Warrior to get a 3rd season at Max so you can thank her, Warrior Fans!  Katie shares how she continues to champion bold, creative storytelling as well as her reflections on the power of mentorship and the importance of holding the door open for others. Katie also has a robust creative life beyond the boardroom — from writing her first children's book, to serving on numerous nonprofit boards, to raising her own family to creating inspiring content on social - Katie is the ultimate community connector, creator and friend to those around her! Tune in and listen to see why Katie is such a powerful reminder that true leadership is grounded in personal passion, a desire to lift others up, and boundless imagination. Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Katie Soo…. Website:  www.katiesoo.com  Instagram: @katie_soo

    1h
  15. Podcast Live Event: Guest Osric Chau

    27/07/2017

    Podcast Live Event: Guest Osric Chau

    We had our first live taping of the Bruce Lee Podcast last Thursday, July 20th celebrating the podcast's one-year anniversary and honoring the 44th anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing. When we started the podcast a year ago, on July 20th, it was to commemorate that day with a beautiful remembrance of Bruce Lee and the gifts that he left behind for all of us. The podcast format allows us to discuss Bruce Lee's philosophy more in-depth and share his legacy with everyone for free. Special guest Osric Chau joined us for the event and shared his experiences completing the Bruce Lee Podcast Challenge, shared his thoughts on Bruce Lee, and gave an #AAHA shout-out. Osric Chau was born in Vancouver, his father is from Hong Kong and his mother is Malaysian. He trained in Wing Chun for many years and wanted to be a stuntman, but was discovered and his first film was Kung Fu Killer (2008) with David Carradine. Since then he's been in 2012, What Women Want, The Man with the Iron Fists, and was in recurring roles in Supernatural and now on Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. We were lucky to have Osric join us for the evening before heading down to Comic Con in San Diego. For the podcast challenge we asked people to complete three action items (listed at brucelee.com/podcast-challenge) We asked Osric to complete the challenge and he graciously said yes. He said this about his overall experience: "I loved it, this was probably one of my favorite things I've done in recent memory. It literally changed my life and I think it will continue to change my life." He's decided to incorporate the challenge into his life and continue doing the action items! Osric shared with us some of his affirmations: - "Today's my day, tomorrow's someone else's. I will make the most out of every minute to the fullest of my capabilities." - When confronted with an obstacle I will see it as a challenge to accomplish my goal in a better and creative way; it's an opportunity to think outside my box." - "Smaller Goals. I will focus on and set smaller goals for today, goals I can start and accomplish today. Smaller goals that lead to my larger and more ambitious goals." For the "I would feel better in my body if…" action item, Osric thought at first he didn't have anything to improve since he already eats well and exercises, but then realized he hates stretching. Realizing this is his weakness; it took Osric all week to remember to do stretches, but then after thinking about it often he found himself stretching while watching TV or doing something else. This is similar to how Bruce Lee would do his stretches, while reading or doing something else. In the final action item, the Harmony Challenge, "Letting others be," Osric thought it would be easy since he considers himself a cheerful, kind person, but then he realized how much he enjoys gossip. When sitting in the makeup trailer people enjoy gossiping and he used to join in, but during this challenge the extra awareness made him step back and not participate in the gossip. Instead of wanting to put others down, he wants to raise people up Thank you so much Osric for joining us for the live event and for participating in the podcast challenge. We know that just by sharing your challenge experience you'll inspire many people out there with your vulnerability and sharing your journal and experiences. #AAHA Osric's Awesome Asian and Hapas nomination goes to Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani. Kumail is known for being on Silicon Valley and stars in the movie "The Big Sick," (in theaters now!) which he co-wrote with his wife Emily about their relationship. It's possibly the first movie to star a Pakistani actor in the lead role and it's getting excellent reviews. Osric says he's seen it once already and loved it and is thinking of seeing it again. Kumail, we think you're awesome! Share your #AAHAs and #BruceLeeMoments with us at hello@brucelee.com Find the full version of our show notes at BruceLee.com/podcast

    1h2min
  16. Flowing with Rudy Mata

    22/05/2025

    Flowing with Rudy Mata

    This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon welcomes Rudy Mata to the show. Shannon first met Rudy at the LA County Youth Mental Health Summit hosted by the Department of Youth Development, where his story and message left a lasting impression. Rudy's journey is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. In the face of overwhelming odds, he committed himself to his growth and education and continues that path as he works toward a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Today, Rudy is a registered Substance Use Disorder Counselor, youth advocate, environmentalist, artist, and poet—and above all, a father! Rudy is a true testament to the truth that our past does not define our future but it can influence and cultivate a meaningful future if we let it. His life's work centers around self-worth, generational healing, and creating safe, nurturing spaces for youth. Through his involvement with organizations like InsideOUT Writers, the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), ExpandLA, and Green Arrow Co-Lab, Rudy is building therapeutic and creative environments where at-risk youth can reconnect with their inner strength and break cycles of trauma. Whether through poetry, healing circles, or community gardening, Rudy leads with heart. He is a living reflection of Bruce Lee's philosophy of self-actualization, sharing one's learnings and paying it forward. Their conversation explores how they met, the impact of Rudy's work, and what it truly means to support youth mental health with intention and love. Tune in and enjoy!  Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Rudy…. Learn more about these organizations Rudy works with and supports: Flow Youth Center InsideOUT Writers Green Arrow Co-Lab Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) ExpandLA Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) Help support local small businesses, like Rudy's partner Alina:  @NailedBy.Muva

    54min
  17. Honestly Express Yourself

    04/08/2016

    Honestly Express Yourself

    "Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate him." This week's show covers Bruce Lee's thoughts on self actualization vs. "self-image" actualization. He did not look to imitate others, he was committed to going deeply within himself to find the truth about his own unique essence and how to express it honestly in the world. He was constantly working on understanding his true self through active observation, questioning, researching and journaling. "Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own." Shannon talks about the pressures of being Bruce Lee's daughter and how her dad's philosophy ultimately guided her to discover her own true identity. She also shares a great story about how her dad challenged the producers and studio during the filming of Enter the Dragon to ensure his philosophies stayed in the script. #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week's shoutout goes to pioneering martial artist, actress, writer and director Diana Lee Inosanto. Diana is also the daughter of Dan Inosanto, student and dear friend of Bruce Lee. Diana is also the writer, producer and director of the award winning movie "The Sensei." #BruceLeeMoment (Bruce Lee's philosophy in action IRL) We hear a story from one of our team members Evelyn Wilroy about how the "Be water, my friend" episode of the podcast sparked a conversation with her mom about love, loss and the difficulty of expressing true emotions. Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media@BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com

    45min
  18. Flowing with The Twinjas and Austin Liu

    08/05/2025

    Flowing with The Twinjas and Austin Liu

    This week's guests on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May are The Twinjas—Ollie and Jonny Ho—and professional MMA fighter, stunt performer, and coach Austin Liu. Shannon has known Ollie and Jonny Ho, known as The Twinjas, their whole lives. Their father, Steven Ho (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Conan O'Brien), has been a previous guest on the podcast and is a longtime friend. Identical twins and martial arts prodigies, the boys are making waves across entertainment, athletics, and fashion.  They've trained since the age of four and have competed across multiple martial disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, and more. Their infectious energy and talent have earned them roles on a number of series, and they are regular contributors to the official Bruce Lee social media accounts. Joining them is professional fighter, stunt performer and coach, Austin Liu. Austin is also one of the martial arts instructors for both the Camp Bruce Lee and Warrior Academy programs at the BLF,  where he shares his passion for working with youth by bringing Bruce's philosophies of personal growth and confidence to the next generation. Join Shannon as they discuss how all three guests first found martial arts, how Bruce Lee's legacy has influenced their journeys, and what it means to grow into your power—both physically and mentally. Hear directly from two youths as they drop some real gems about how their lives have been positively affected and enriched by training in martial arts. Scroll down for more information about all our guests and listen to today's episode as all of them express how they embody Bruce Lee's spirit of self-actualization, adaptability, and service!  Show notes and more episodes at Brucelee.com/Podcast  Connect with Ollie and Jonny Ho aka The Twinjas... Instagram: @twinjas_official YouTube: @twinjasofficial  Threads: @twinjas_official Connect with Austin Liu.... Instagram: @liudynasty TikTok: @liudynasty X: @liudynastymma YouTube: @liudynasty

    42min
  19. Linda Lee Cadwell on Bruce Lee's Family Life

    06/10/2016

    Linda Lee Cadwell on Bruce Lee's Family Life

    In this week's episode we have a special guest Linda Lee Cadwell, Bruce Lee's wife and Shannon's mom. Linda shares stories of her life with Bruce, how they first met and what it was like to be married to and in a partnership with him. She said that Bruce considered his greatest accomplishment was being a father. She describes what kind of father he was to Brandon and Shannon, and how his unusual schedule allowed him to spend more time with his kids than other fathers at the time. Every day was different for Bruce with teaching, traveling, training or filming. Linda shares some daily rituals that grounded Bruce—he drank tea with honey and ginseng every morning, and throughout the day to maintain his energy. We also discuss the unique path Bruce decided to take in his film career. After facing discrimination in Hollywood, he chose to go to Hong Kong to create his own production company and make the films he wanted to make. "You need to know yourself, you need to believe in yourself, you have to have faith in yourself." This was a mantra that Bruce put into action in his career and in his life. Linda shares that Bruce used to say, "All knowledge is self-knowledge." He was always in the process of learning about himself and becoming himself. Linda and Bruce were married in 1964, 3 years before the US Supreme Court legalized interracial marriage. #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) This week we give a shout out to DJ Qbert, Filipino American turntablist and composer. Suggested to us by a write in from a podcast listener, we want to recognize the awesomeness that is DJ Qbert. He's been in the DJ game for a long time and started his career with group FM20 with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo in 1990. He innovated DJ turntable and scratching products and launched Qbert Skratch University. Keep on innovating DJ Qbert! #BruceLeeMoment We have an email from Michael H.: Hi, I just wanted to drop you a line to say how much I appreciate your podcast. I always knew Bruce was an amazing action star and person, but I didn't realize until now what a deep thinker he was. In particular, I thought it was really interesting that a guy as manly as Bruce was happy to try hairdressing, I wish more men were that comfortable in their masculinity. My Bruce Lee Moment involved a bully at work. The bully always made me feel small and angry. And I constantly felt like in order to compete at work I would have to get down at the bully's level and become like them. But then I thought about Bruce saying "Be like water, my friend." And I realized I could go further by flowing past the bully, and finding more innovative ways to succeed that didn't put me in the bully's path. I really really appreciate that now. Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com

    55min
  20. Affirmations Part 2: Emotions, Reason, and Conscience

    27/10/2016

    Affirmations Part 2: Emotions, Reason, and Conscience

    This week we continue our discussion of Bruce Lee's Affirmations with three more concepts: Emotions, Reason, and Conscience. Even though we are discussing each affirmation individually, Bruce Lee used all 7 together to help achieve wellbeing. 4th Affirmation: Emotions "Realizing that my emotions are both positive and negative, I will form daily habits which will encourage the development of the positive emotions and aid me in converting the negative emotions into some form of useful action." 5th Affirmation: Reason "Recognizing that my positive and negative emotions may be dangerous if they are not guided to desirable ends, I will submit all my desires, aims, and purposes to my faculty of reason, and I will be guided by it in giving expression to these." 6th Affirmation: Conscience "Recognizing that my emotions often err in their over-enthusiasm, and my faculty of reason often is without the warmth of feeling that is necessary to enable me to combine justice with mercy in my judgments, I will encourage my conscience to guide me as to what is right and wrong, but I will never set aside the verdict it renders, no matter what may be the cost of carrying them out." Take Action: Continue to develop your own affirmations, or you can use Bruce Lee's, and write them down and carry them around for you to reference daily. We'd love to hear about your affirmations, please reach out via hello@brucelee.com or via social media @BruceLee. #AAHA (Awesome Asians and Hapas) Our #AAHA shout-out goes out to Ali Wong, badass actress, comedian, and writer. She graduated from UCLA in Asian American studies, but then decided at 23 to try stand-up for the first time. Since then she's acted on several TV shows including "Inside Amy Schumer," "Black Box," and "Are you there, Chelsea?" and became a TV comedy writer best known for the series "Fresh Off the Boat." Ali Wong has continued with stand-up comedy and she's incredible in her most recent comedy special on Netflix called "Baby Cobra." If you haven't seen it already, check it out! We couldn't stop laughing. You keep being you Ali, and stay awesome! #BruceLeeMoment This week we have a lovely email from Robyn R. in Connecticut about how Bruce Lee's "Artist of Life" has helped her deal with her relationship with her estranged son. Read the full version in our show notes at Brucelee.com/podcast Share your #AAHA and #BruceLeeMoment recommendations with us via social media @BruceLee or email us at hello@brucelee.com.

    43min
Shannon Lee na Apple