ASE

If you're having trouble meditating, or just being mindful during the day, use your eating times to anchor yourself to the present. 

Can you taste the sunshine, water and earth in every bite?

After 20 years helping people with therapy and coaching, Steve McCready shares his thoughts on the art of listening.

• Introducing Steve (0:00)
• Coaching vs. Therapy for Solopreneurs (7:20)
• The Art of Listening (20:50)
• Boundaries (40:45)
• Listening to and Honoring Yourself (48:10)

Steve has worked as a therapist for two decades. He hosts The Sensitive Rebel Podcast, and offers coaching at sensitiverebel.com.

Justin Parkes, a strength and performance coach, shares how entrepreneurs can build an effective strength training routine. He also recounts his career arc from finance to fitness, and how he has built an enthusiastic community of customers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

• Justin's journey to performance training (2:40)
• Building a strength training program (11:24)
• Superman exercise for virtual workers (30:00)
• How Justin grew his business (36:10)

Justin is owner and founder of Parkes Performance Coaching, which he runs with his wife Joann in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Justin trains professional and youth athletes as well as the general population seeking better athletic performance, strength training and injury prevention.

Our performance barriers are often related to energy. Understanding the four dimensions of energy - physical (quantity), emotional (quality), mental (focus) and spiritual (force) - can help us identify and overcome what holds us back.

On April 15, 2021, I accomplished a life dream by becoming a published author.

In this episode, I share the four-year, behind-the-scenes journey of how an idea to write down my own rules for success (for my eyes only) became a #1 New Release book on Amazon, and what I've learned so far.

One lesson, that I'm still processing, is that life dreams are necessary, but the journey of becoming - the doing - is the real reward. There will always be the next thing to chase. We never really arrive. So, why not let ourselves be more happy while chasing the dream too?

Mimi Kuo-Deemer, author of Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis, shares her 20-year journey with qigong and how it can nourish mind, body and spirit. Mimi explains the core concepts of qigong, including yin and yang, the tai chi axis and 5 elements theory. She also walks us through wuji (emptiness stance), so you can get a feel for the practice.

Topics

• How Qigong Changed Mimi's Life (3:40)
• Qigong, the Tai Chi Axis and 5 Elements Theory (21:15)
• Wuji & Practicing Qigong (40:25)
• Lightning Round (1:03:10)

Mimi Kuo-Deemer

Mimi Kuo-Deemer is dedicated to sharing the ways in which qigong and other healing arts can help people meet the messy, complicated job of being human with greater awareness, compassion and ease. She is a teacher of both students and other teachers, having practiced and taught for over 20 years in China, the UK, Europe and the United States. Mimi graduated from Stanford University and received an MA with distinction from SOAS in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation.

Celine Yeh shares her journey from studying chemistry to becoming a YouTuber. How did she grow her company’s channel to over 500K subscribers and 35 million views? What is most important to make engaging and viral YouTube videos? Why did she start her own channel? And how is she able to support herself being a YouTuber and influencer?

Celine shares what life is really like behind the scenes as well as many practical tips you can use right away to grow your YouTube channel.

Topics

• From Chemist to YouTuber (0:00)
• Making Engaging YouTube Videos (8:27)
• Growing your YouTube Channel (23:20)
• Supporting Yourself as an Influencer (35:20)
• Lightning Round (57:33)

Celine Yeh

Celine Yeh co-hosts Celine & Cynthia, a YouTube channel focused on outdoor life. Celine previously worked as a marketer for Spice Taiwan, and studied Chemistry at Tamkang University.

Trying, failing and trying again.

How was your 2020? I share my annual review process and what I learned this year, despite not hitting my goals.

• Mapping the Past Year (5:15)
• Peaks, Valleys & Incongruities (7:50)
• Setting Goals & the Path Forward (13:15)
• Looking Out the Window (18:15)

How did Nicky Quamina-Woo go from being an art director in the fashion industry to a documentary photographer? Nicky shares the challenges of being an independent journalist, building trust with the people she photographs, and taking photos that resonate with viewers.

• Becoming a Documentary Photographer (4:15)
• On Being Welcomed with a Camera (20:45)
• Taking Photos that Move & Connect (38:20)

Nicky Quamina-Woo is a documentary photographer who splits her time between Southeast Asia, the African continent and New York City. Her work explores the effects of trauma within marginalized communities.

Nicky is the recipient of the Nikon-Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage grant in 2020 as well as an awardee of the inaugural Reuters Storytelling grant for her work about the intersection of western medicine and witchcraft. Her clients have included CNN, The Washington Post, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Beyond Borders, and The Guardian.

Nicky trained at the Parsons School of Design, where she is also a visiting professor.

Change happens from the outside in, not from the inside out.

We need to play with new ways of working, being and engaging with others to reshape our image of what we can do and what's worth doing.

• Outsight (0:00)
• The Paradox of Authenticity (6:10)
• Play with Yourself (9:30)

Is it possible to live for today AND tomorrow? Darren shares one approach to be kind to your past, present and future self.

1. What work, activities, and experiences bring you joy AND compound positively?
2. Are you honoring “past you” by learning, adjusting, and living courageously?
3. Are you honoring “future you" by giving him/her at least 10% of your time, attention and money?

• Live for Today or Tomorrow? (0:00)
• Making Yesterday a Dream of Happiness (5:13)
• Making Tomorrow a Vision of Hope (7:20)
• Being Kind to Past, Present & Future You (12:00)

Elaine Pofeldt is an independent journalist whose work has appeared in Forbes, Fortune, and Fast Company. Her book, The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, explores how entrepreneurs are scaling to $1 million in revenue prior to hiring employees. In this episode, Elaine draws on her experience as a Journalist, Senior Editor and Author to share how you can get more media exposure as a solopreneur - and publish your next book.

• Introducing Elaine Pofeldt (0:00)
• Elaine's Journalism & Freelancing Career (3:30)
• The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business (12:30)
• Tips to Get Media Coverage (27:30)
• Why Write a Book? (42:10)

Elaine Pofeldt is an independent journalist who specializes in small business, entrepreneurship and careers. She is the author of The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, and is writing a new book Tiny Business, Big Money to be published in Fall 2022. Her work has appeared in Money, CNBC, Inc., Fast Company, and Forbes and she is a contributor to the Economist Intelligence Unit. She is also a ghostwriter.

As senior editor at Fortune Small Business magazine, Elaine was twice nominated for the National Magazine Award for her features. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their four children, and enjoys taekwondo, yoga and running.

Elizabeth Tan shares her intertwined journeys leading her family business, Heatwave Shoes, and starting the non-profit Sight to Sky, which provides eye care to people in remote communities along the Himalayas. She also opens up about the challenges of having a job, running a NGO and raising a daughter, and what’s she’s learned about goals and work-life balance.

• Growing up in a family business (6:40)
• Expanding Heatwave Shoes (15:00)
• Founding Sight To Sky (27:00)
• Balancing Work & Life (54:45)

Elizabeth Tan is a Venture Partner at Quest Ventures focusing on sustainability and impact. As CEO, Liz grew her family’s business, Heatwave Shoes, to 50 stores in 10 countries, and is Founder of Sight to Sky, which delivers eye care to remote communities in India and Nepal. The Straits Times named Elizabeth as a Singaporean of the Year finalist in 2018. Liz got her B.A. in History from McGill University and MPA from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

A month ago my salsa friends and I shared our personal challenges over smoothies. Most revolved around feeling more whole and complete with ourselves and our lives. I've thought about that conversation for weeks.

Here is my unsolicited advice to friends in their 20s searching for purpose, work, home and satisfaction. More than anything, this episode is a reminder to myself to love and live the questions - cause they never go away.

• Satisfaction? (6:20)
• Home? (9:35)
• Work? (13:30)
• Purpose? (17:10)

How did Chang Tsi Tzu (Anny), a college senior with no work experience, grow City Wanderer from a college assignment to a social enterprise that has impacted over 11,000 high school and college students in 23 cities worldwide? And after seven intense years building City Wanderer, why is she leaving her “dream job” to start anew?

• Starting City Wanderer (3:45)
• Growing & Sustaining City Wanderer (20:30)
• Attracting Talented Employees & Volunteers (39:35)
• Balancing Personal & Professional Life (47:30)

Anny Chang is a changemaker focused on education and youth empowerment. In 2013, she founded City Wanderer, which offers youth real world challenges and experiential learning outside the classroom. Anny got her B.A. in Sociology from National Taiwan University, and enjoys backpacking and writing.

Naturopathic Doctor Stephanie Berg shares how we can boost our immune systems during Covid-19. She also shares her journey from lawyer to naturopathic doctor, and how we can employ naturopathic principles to stay healthy working on our own.

• Boosting Immune System during Covid-19 (3:00)
• Naturopathic Principles for Optimal Health (15:15)
• Managing Stress & Behavior Change (40:35)
• Optimal Sleep (52:45)
• Body Listening & Peak Fertility (1:05:20)

Dr. Stephanie Berg is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor focused on women's health and fertility, and passionate about toxin-free living and natural health and wellness. She practices in Sherman Oaks, California. Stephanie got her B.A. in Anthropology from Princeton University, J.D. from Stanford Law School and her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) from Bastyr University. Stephanie practiced business law for six years before becoming a doctor.

What is Xiu Yang? And how can we apply its ancient principles of self-cultivation to take care of ourselves and the world? Yoga, qigong and meditation teacher Mimi Kuo-Deemer shares how we can bring more of our whole, balanced selves to work, relationships & life.

• The Art of Xiu Yang (3:50)
• Unity, Vastness & Gardening (15:00)
• Living Seasonally (32:13)
• Cultivating Spaciousness (43:23)
• Freeing the Inner Critic (49:40)

Mimi Kuo-Deemer has practiced and taught yoga, qigong and meditation for over twenty years in China, the UK, Europe and the United States. She is a graduate of Stanford University and SOAS, where she received a distinction in her MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation.

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Mimi lived in China for over 14 years where she worked as a photojournalist. She co-founded and co-directed Yoga Yard, Beijing’s first and leading yoga studio. She now lives in the British countryside, and teaches primarily at London's triyoga, where she offers classes, teacher trainings and immersions in yoga, qigong and mindfulness meditation. She also is a regular contributor to the online wellness site, movementformodernlife.com.

Yous Sopanha lost his father and 100 relatives during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. He shares his family's story of survival and growing up with 1,000 orphans. We also discuss his work and approach to life. What are the challenges of being a self-employed tour guide while supporting dozens of family members? And why does he keep giving with an open heart?

• Surviving the Khmer Rouge (3:30)
• Keeping an Open Heart (27:25)
• Being a Self-Employed Tour Guide (36:05)
• Stress, Hopes and Dreams (51:10)

Yous Sopanha has worked as a professional tour guide for over 15 years in Angkor Archaeological site in Siem Reap, as well as in other tourism sites around Cambodia. He holds two Bachelor Degrees from Phnom Penh University in Social Science (history, philosophy). Previously, he taught culture and history as a high school teacher and was the program manager at Cambodia World Family NGO. 

Can you imagine a life centered around what you love to do the most? Professional salsa teacher Jimmy Yoon joins ASE to discuss ashe (the power to make things happen), building community, terraforming, and stumbling into his life's purpose. His dance career might be accidental, but a deeper look into Jimmy's journey reveals a blueprint to win friends and influence people.

• Ashe! (4:00)
• Building Community & Trust (14:00)
• Terraforming, Undeniability & Authenticity (35:30)
• Committing to Your Best Life (50:30)

Jimmy Yoon has taught salsa across North America, Europe and Asia for over 15 years. He co-founded the DC Style Salsa Academy, Washington DC's largest social dance school, and Salsanerd.com, where you can learn salsa online. He currently lives in Saigon, Vietnam.

Paul Millerd has a unique story to tell about his journey from management consultant and MBA to digital nomad, writer and coach. In many ways it is harder for those of us with prestigious jobs and degrees to reinvent ourselves and live our ideal life. Paul has thought deeply about the future of work and carving one’s own path in the world, and has helped hundreds of people reinvent themselves.

In this episode, Paul and I discuss mindsets, tools and models to face the challenges of reinvention and the unknowns of self-employment.

• The Challenges of Reinvention (2:30)
• Mindsets, Models & Tools (24:25)
• On Money & Imagination (44:25)

Tuimi shares her musical journey from songwriter to singer to producer - and from Germany to Vietnam - to launch her first two singles, Purpose and Menina. What is it like getting started as an independent artist?

• Songwriting & Vietnam (1:25)
• Life as an Independent Artist (19:10)
• Callings, Plans & Purpose (33:54)

Tuimi is an artist and songwriter of Vietnamese descent from Dresden, Germany. She currently resides in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

What’s often forgotten about Kobe's #mambamentality

Kobe Bryant has inspired millions to work hard and be excellent. But what makes hard work, curiosity and tenacity a whole lot easier?

Do you have a morning ritual? If you’re like me, you’ve tried to do certain practices in the morning - meditation, tai chi, visualizations - but they’ve never stuck.

This episode is about picking ONE morning ritual and making it so easy to do that it becomes an automatic part of your morning - no motivation required.

Sweeping out the old to let in the new.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Chúc mừng năm mới!

新年快樂!

Thoughts on standing out and growing your audience when starting from scratch.

After graduating from one of Vietnam's top universities and studying finance in Australia, Ho Thai Binh chose to return to his hometown, Vung Tau, and work for the provincial government. But that wasn't enough to pay the bills nor "cool" enough for his girlfriend. That was the turning point. Could he make a living by making a difference in Vietnam? Binh shares how he has spent his 20s trying to solve social problems in Vietnam.

• Building a social impact career in Vietnam (3:50)
• Starting SSVN and SiGen (17:00)
• Running a social enterprise (40:20)

Ho Thai Binh is Co-Founder and Director of Survival Skills SSVN, which provides first aid training in Vietnam, and SiGen, which develops mosquito free catch basins for urban sewers. Both enterprises won Top 10 Blue Venture Awards for social entrepreneurship in 2019. Binh graduated with a Bachelors of Commerce from RMIT Vietnam and got a Masters of Commerce in Applied Finance from the University of Queensland.

So long, 2010s!

I spent this decade trying to do creative, fulfilling work that could support a location independent lifestyle.

In my case, that was starting a business that gave world-class MBA admissions advice to thousands of applicants - especially from developing countries - for free.

This episode is quite personal and not easy to share, but I hope that it encourages you to do your own decade in review. Looking at the past 10 years:

• What are you most proud of?
• What were your biggest lessons? (hint: look at your failures)
• What can you let go of moving into the next decade?

For me, these proud moments & lessons were:

• Splitting Income from Time Working | Find and Nourish Tribes (1:53)
• Living in Medellin, Colombia | Run Towards Dreams that Scare You (8:26)
• Dad's Heart Surgery | Legacy is What You Give to Others (17:30)
• The Flow of Life | Clear What, Flexible How (21:45)

Four lessons I need to re-member, re-learn and re-live. I often forget them, and fall short. Publishing them helps keeps me accountable.

Happy New Year everyone. Wishing you a thrilling and fulfilling next decade.

Can you stay true to your art while making a living? At age 15, Boo Junfeng knew he wanted to make films, even though this wasn't a career path in Singapore. In this episode, Junfeng shares the career choices that allow him to make films close to his heart.

Boo Junfeng has written and directed two feature films – SANDCASTLE (2010) and APPRENTICE (2016), both screened at Cannes Film Festival, and several award-winning short films. In 2008, he became the first recipient of the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts – the valedictorian honour of Lasalle College of the Arts. He was also accorded the Young Artist Award (2009) and the Singapore Youth Award (2011) by the Government of Singapore, and the Rising Director award at the Busan Film Festival (2016).

• On calling, and balancing art and commerce (3:16)
• Making Apprentice, his second feature film, over 6 years (16:45)
• How Junfeng works (30:30)
• Social media, censorship, and streaming (43:35)

Last year I started asking friends and strangers about their perfect day. I realized 90% of my Kindle books were written by white males from western societies. The thinkers I admired shared a similar worldview. Where could I find different ideas about the good life?

I wanted to learn from a broader spectrum of lived experience. Rich or poor, young or old, accomplished or not – it didn’t matter. I wanted to listen to everyone, even that random dude across the street in Vietnam. We idolize the rich, famous and powerful. Maybe the average, everyday man and woman had something to teach me.

The interviewees were 17-69 years old and hailed from 10 countries. Most were from the US and Vietnam, not surprising given I’m an American living in Vietnam. Slightly less than half were females.

I had no expectations. If anything, I yearned to hear wildly different ideas about their perfect day. Yet after 30 interviews, I’ve found that people mostly want four things: connection, autonomy, progress and a peaceful state of mind.