Aconic

TAAF, Gold House, Stanford GSB Asian Alumni Chapter Founders

The Aconic Podcast features candid conversations with successful Asian and AAPI icons who share their personal journeys of challenges and triumphs. Hosted by Soon Yu.

  1. JAN 21

    From Netflix's "Love in Taipei" to the Future of Storytelling | Abigail Hing Wen & Ashley Liao

    In this deeply human conversation, host Soon Yu is joined by Abigail Hing Wen (author, filmmaker, and creator of The Veil) and Ashley Liao (actor, poet, and advocate) to explore creativity, identity, and mental health through the lens of what it means to stay human in an age increasingly shaped by AI. The discussion begins with their groundbreaking work on Love in Taipei and expands into the importance of Asian American representation, coming-of-age stories, and choosing creative paths in industries that often reward conformity. Ashley shares candid reflections on mental health struggles, vulnerability, and learning to extend gentle love to herself. Abigail also opens up about rejection, power dynamics, and advocating for visibility in corporate and creative spaces. The conversation then turns toward the future of storytelling and AI. Abigail discusses The Veil, a novel centered on clean AI, ethical creation, and the tension between innovation and humanity. Together, they examine how AI is changing Hollywood, authorship, and creative labor. We also dive into the associated risks of AI such as deep fakes, consent, and cultural erasure. Ashley explains why imperfection, empathy, and emotional presence remain uniquely human and irreplaceable. This episode is a thoughtful exploration of resilience, leadership, creativity, and identity, offering insight for artists, technologists, leaders, and anyone navigating personal growth in a rapidly evolving world.

  2. 12/17/2025

    Jane Marie Chen: Why A Million Lives Saved Can't Fix What Is Broken Inside

    Aconic host Soon Yu sits down with Jane Marie Chen, entrepreneur, bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break, leadership coach, and co-founder of Embrace Innovations. Embrace created a life-saving infant warming blanket that has helped save over one million babies worldwide. Despite extraordinary success, Jane shares the truth few leaders talk about: even after saving a million babies, she still felt like a failure. In this powerful conversation, Jane opens up about resilience, leadership, mental health, and the hidden emotional toll of high achievement. She explores how cultural expectations, generational trauma, and self-criticism shaped her leadership—and why outward success alone cannot heal what’s broken inside. Soon and Jane dive into: -The difference between grit, endurance, and true resilience -Why psychological safety in teams starts with inner psychological safety -The pressure many Asian and AAPI leaders face around achievement and identity -How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helped Jane heal -Why self-respect must come before filial respect -Letting go of beta blockers and fear around public speaking This episode offers a deeply human perspective on resilience, authentic leadership, psychological safety, and self-acceptance. If you’re a founder, leader, creator, or anyone navigating personal growth, this conversation will change how you think about success.

    1h 18m

  3. 11/19/2025

    Dan Tani: From Internment Camps to the International Space Station

    Join Aconic as we interview Dan Tani, former astronaut, as he shares his extraordinary journey.    His resilience facing adversity started with his family being shaped by the Japanese-American internment camps. But through his optimism and belief in the good in other people, brought him all the way to walking in space aboard the International Space Station.  Hear his stories of ingenuity, hope, and human connection from his parents’ dignity during hardship to his own adventures in engineering, rockets, and space exploration. Whether you’re seeking motivation, life lessons, or a deep dive into what makes a hero, this conversation is full of insight and inspiration. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more stories that explore the human spirit and extraordinary journeys. Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with Asian leaders and icons.

    1h 1m

  4. 10/15/2025

    From Joy Luck Club to the Oscars: How Janet Yang Made AAPI Stories Mainstream in Hollywood | EP:23

    In her most recent role as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars), Janet Yang helped move AAPI stories from the margins to the mainstream, reshaping how Hollywood sees and celebrates Asian voices. A quiet insider turned cultural trailblazer, Janet reflects on her journey from being the only Asian kid in her Long Island neighborhood to producing The Joy Luck Club and Empire of the Sun, and on helping make the Oscars more inclusive than ever. She shares how moments of exclusion fueled her lifelong mission to bridge East and West, the lessons she learned from mentors like Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone, and how a painful incident at the 2016 Oscars ignited a movement for representation that led to Gold House and beyond. This episode offers a powerful look at how one woman’s persistence turned isolation into influence and changed Hollywood forever.

  5. 09/18/2025

    Jeremy Lin Opens Up: Why He Retired and What Comes Next | EP:22

    Just days before announcing his retirement, Jeremy Lin sat down with the Aconic Podcast for his final interview as an active player. In this candid conversation, Jeremy opens up about the decision to step away from basketball, the questions he wrestled with, and what might come next. He shares raw reflections on purpose, impact, and faith, asking himself, “Am I really living up to who I said I wanted to be?” Jeremy discusses whether his greatest contribution now lies off the court, using the resources and platform he’s built to serve others, especially marginalized youth through his Foundation. For the first time, Jeremy reveals how he struggled to balance on court demands with being fully present for his off-court mission, and why he believes “mental health is more important than Kumon.” This exclusive conversation offers an unfiltered look into the mindset behind one of the most impactful decisions of his life and the possibilities for his future beyond the game. Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with leaders and icons.

  6. 08/13/2025

    Clinical Professor of Medicine, Dr. Bryant Lin, Hosted by Soon Yu

    When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Bryant Lin’s Journey In this episode, Soon Yu interviews Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician at Stanford, who shares his compelling journey from doctor to patient. The discussion begins with Dr. Lin's professional background, including his pivotal role in founding the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) and his focus on lung cancer in the Asian community. The irony unfolds as Dr. Lin, who has been advocating for lung cancer research among non-smokers, particularly in the Asian population, is diagnosed with stage four non-small cell lung cancer himself. Despite the devastating diagnosis, Dr. Lin's story is one of resilience and hope. He emphasizes the importance of human connection in medicine, the impact of storytelling, and the role of hope in patient care. Dr. Lin also discusses his ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for early-stage lung cancer research and broader health initiatives in the Asian community. This episode is a powerful narrative of facing adversity with purpose, driving change, and finding serendipity in the most challenging circumstances. 03:59 Dr. Lin's Diagnosis Journey 07:35 Challenges in Healthcare Access 13:37 Importance of Screening and Early Detection 26:21 Impact on Dr. Lin's Perspective as a Physician 26:31 The Human Side of Medicine 30:28 The Role of Hope in Medicine 38:13 The Power of Storytelling 43:29 Letters to My Sons 52:17 Future Projects and Legacy

  7. 07/16/2025

    Founder & CEO of Zum, Ritu Narayan, Hosted by Soon Yu

    One Mother's Sacrifice Inspires Daughter's Mission to Move Families Forward. In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Ritu Narayan, the CEO of Zum, a company revolutionizing the school transportation system. Ritu shares her journey from India to becoming a tech leader in Silicon Valley, discusses her family's influence and the challenges she faced while building Zum. The conversation delves into Zum’s transition from serving individual parents to securing large school district contracts, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pivotal moments that shaped the company. Ritu emphasizes the importance of staying passionate and making daily progress for aspiring entrepreneurs. This episode provides insights into scaling a technology-driven business and innovating within a traditionally stagnant industry. 2:24 Ritu's Family Inspiration and Background 4:15 Challenges and Sacrifices in Education and Career 12:29 Transition to the US and Tech Industry 20:19 The Birth of Zum: From Idea to Execution 27:08 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Stanford 31:25 Evaluating the Revenue Model and Lessons from Entrepreneurship 39:40 Pivoting to B2B 51:14 Rock Bottom Moments 57:30 Ritu’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

  8. 07/02/2025

    CEO of Weee!, Larry Liu, Hosted by Soon Yu

    From Side Hustles to Direct Delivery: Larry Liu’s Journey to Building Weee! In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Larry Liu, the CEO of Weee!, America's largest online Asian supermarket. Larry delves into his immigrant journey, the early challenges in America, and his relentless hustle from reselling backpacks to launching Weee!. They discuss Larry's initial struggles to secure funding and how, through sheer determination and community support, he pivoted Weee! from a group-buying model to a successful grocery delivery service. Larry's story underscores the importance of resilience, leveraging community networks, and the ability to pivot for entrepreneurial success. His journey is a testament to how recognizing and addressing the fundamental needs of underserved communities can lead to groundbreaking business opportunities. 01:57 Larry Liu Growing up 06:09 His First Side Hustle 08:58 From Friends to Co-Founders 11:36 Coming to the US 17:08 Early Days in Folsom and the Seed of an Idea 32:38 The Birth of Weee! 33:47 Early Challenges and Self-Funding 49:16 The Pivot to Grocery Delivery 59:51 Future Plans and Vision

See All (27)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Aconic Podcast features candid conversations with successful Asian and AAPI icons who share their personal journeys of challenges and triumphs. Hosted by Soon Yu.

Information

  • Creator
    TAAF, Gold House, Stanford GSB Asian Alumni Chapter Founders
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © SCY Advantage Corp
  • Show Website
    Aconic

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