77 episodes
First Generation Burden Rich Tu
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- Arts
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4.8 • 37 Ratings
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*Webby Award Honoree* First Generation Burden was created in 2016 and focuses on the intersection of immigrants and the creative community. We celebrate the unique and diverse immigrant population in America through longform interviews. Basically, it’s just a bunch of fun conversations with good people. Hosted by Rich Tu.
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
Follow us at @firstgenburden and @rich_tu Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support
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76. 'We Can Express Ourselves Through Work Ethic' w/ Jeffstaple, founder & creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department
Before Jeffstaple (born Jeffrey Ng) built a creative empire he was sneaking into Parsons' silkscreening lab to hand print his first Staple tees. As the founder and creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department, Jeff's prolific work encompasses graphic design, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing for a range of from startup brands to Fortune 500 companies. Jeff and Rich Tu, sit down to talk about his humble beginnings growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants in New Jersey, the early days of Staple, helping HipHop mature with TheFader and Rawkus, and the launch of the iconic Pigeon Dunk.
Also, they discuss the role of design in culture, how Jeff continues to embrace new technology, the ways in which Web3 reminds him of streetwear, and the time when Rich designed Staple tees based on theology.
For even more, check out his new book Jeffstaple: Not Just Sneakers (with Rizzoli), chronicling his 25 year creative journey.
LINKS
This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support -
75. 'There is No Playbook to Success" w/ Danica Tan Lijun, Animation Director
Danica Tan Lijun is a Singaporean art and animation director with a multidisciplinary background in design, animation and film. She was recently inducted into the global class of ADC Youngs Guns 20 and won the second annual COLORFUL Awards with the OneClub. Danica and Rich Tu have a conversation about her upbringing in Singapore, the creative path that brought her to LA, her recent experience at SXSW, and how she tells "tender and ferocious" coming-of-age stories.
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support -
74. 'Just Make It Art' w/ Gabriela Namie, Art Director at Google, YouTube Music
Gabriela Namie is a designer and art director who's been recognized by the global creative industry and uses design to amplify messages she believes in. Currently she's an art director for Google YouTube Music platform, after being at &Walsh and founding Estúdio Barca in her native Brazil.
Gabriela and Rich Tu chat about the unique shared culture, growing up Brazilian Japanese, what it means to have a personl voice in design, and how A.I. can potentially change the creative industry forever.
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support -
73. 'Success is Defined By How Many People I Can Help ' w/ Walt Geer, Chief Experience Design Officer at VMLY&R
Walt Geer is the Chief Experience Design Officer of VMLY&R and was named the Change Creator of the Year by Adweek, but took the path less traveled to get there. In recent years, Walt has become a vocal advocate for inclusion in the creative space, and talks about how a viral post on LinkedIn and asking for accountability has helped build his platform today.
Also, Walt and Rich Tu talk about the value of being a "swiss army knife", the definition of "Brand Experience" how he innovated at companies like Google, ViacomCBS (now Paramount), and Verve (to name a few) and earning some key patents along the way.
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support -
72. 'Chronically Online and Made of the Internet' w/ Kim Pham, co-founder of OMSOM
*Season Premiere* Kim Pham is the child of Vietnamese refugees and the co-founder of the Asian food brand OMSOM. Kim and Rich Tu sit down and talk about a range of topics like food shame, the importance of community, her founders' journey, and how OMSOM is fighting stigmatization of the ethnic food aisle.
Also, they discuss what it means to be "chronically online and made on the internet", and how Kim is giving life to her multitudes on TikTok and sharing her experience as a lifestyle domme. This episode is all about fighting the model minority myth, and it's a must-listen!
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support -
71. *LIVE* 'Don't Wait, Just Produce' w/ Esteban Serrano, creative director for Yo! MTV Raps
Esteban Serrano is a creator, television producer, and contributor to Hip Hop and pop culture for close to 20 years at places like MTV and FUSE. Over the course of his career, he has worked on iconic properties like TRL and had a hand in giving artists like A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar their first TV appearances.
Rich Tu and Esteban sit down and talk about his upbringing in West Philadelphia, growing up in a Puerto Rican and African-American household, and how he broke into the entertainment industry.
Also, they discuss Esteban's most recent endeavor, helping re-launch Yo! MTV RAPS in the United states on Paramount+, as the show’s Creative Director.
Recorded live at Soho House, in New York City.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/firstgenburden/support
Customer Reviews
These are the convos you have when you’re kickin’ it after rehearsal or a session
This cross-section of creatives and x-gen immigrants (NTBCW gen x per se) are both inspiring and hilarious.
Great Interviews!
Since Rich is a very well versed creative himself. I believe that this has given him the knack for asking the right questions. Questions that get the creatives he’s interviewing to really open up about their process and the personal moments behind their work.
For me as a listener, these in-depth moments really give insight to the work of the creatives Rich has on the show.
First Gen Burden is definitely a must listen for any creative wanting to learn more about the process behind some of the best creators doing it today!
Inspiring
Such a great podcast, very inspiring stories.