First Generation Burden

Isaiah Steinfeld is a tech executive who started his creative journey in the punk and hardcore scene. Also, he’s is a first gen Filipino, on the national board at AIGA, and a Global Head of Startups at Amazon AWS.

We get into his early days at #LYFT, #GenerativeAI, and what it takes to excel at large organizations like #Nike and #Amazon. Also, we talk about what inclusion in the tech world means, and how the creative industry is on the verge of meteoric change due to A.I.

Also, pardon the audio for the first 16 minutes. It gets sorted out =)

*Season Finale* Alvin Cailan is a chef, author, and host of The Burger Show on First We Feast. Alvin grew up in a Chicano section of LA as an AMBOY (American raised Filipino), and trained as a world-class chef with Thomas Keller before striking out on his own as founder of the now iconic breakfast brand Eggslut. Alvin and Rich Tu sit down and talk about his early days as a "tournat", how grind culture has changed, his love of Filipino cuisine, and how he has become the most high profile in voice America's Filipino food movement. 

Rashad Rastam grew up as a skate kid in Philadelphia who went on to found the brand Dahsar. He cut his teeth as a BMX streetwear buyer, designer, digital producer, visual producer at a non-profit, and a brand consultant, all in one. In addition Rashad hosts the podcast Wear Many Hats, where his guests reveal their side hustle. Rich Tu met Rashad at an event promoting his collaboration with Commercial Type before the pandemic. Now, Rich and Rashad sit and talk about his journey to being a professional multitasker, the connection between typography and fashion, and why collaborating with trusted partners is important.

Beatriz Lozano is a designer, typographer, and educator who's work pushes the intersection of creativity and technology and was recently inducted into the prestigious Young Guns 20 class. Beatriz has worked with clients like Planned Parenthood, Target, NPR, and ESPN where she designed the ESPN 50 identity in 2022. She sits down with Rich Tu to talk about growing up in Detroit, Michigan, how social activism is integral to her creative identity, and how technology and A.I. will change the creative industry.

Eva Zar is a director and photographer who’s mission is to show diversity across all spectrums in her work. Within a short amount of time Eva's built an impressive client list including Fenty, Olay, MTV, and Pinterest. Eva and Rich Tu have a thoughtful and funny conversation about growing up as a Third Culture Kid in Austria and Israel, beginning her creative journey during the Syrian refugee crisis, being comfortable on big sets, and the importance of feeling at home with your chosen family.

Lauren Tamaki is an illustrator and artist with a new book out titled Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration. Lauren and Rich Tu have a hilariously emotional conversation about growing up in a talented family, her journey to authorship, and how glamour connects to Star Trek and drag. Also, Lauren discusses how a recent medical emergency has changed her outlook on life and why it's important to process trauma in order to grow. This episode is not to be missed.

Haruko Hayakawa is a CG artist and creative director who talk herself 3D when she was 13 years old. She recently took the leap as an independent artist and has worked with clients like Tom Ford, 88Rising, SKKN, and Bon Appétit. Haruko and Rich Tu talk about how her Japanese culture and food styling influence her work, the challenges of going independent, entering Web3, and how she learned 3D modeling from Gundam spec sheets.

Mamadi Doumbouya is a photographer from Guinea, West Africa. He has photographed icons like Spike Lee, Tom Hanks, and Neil Degrasse Tyson, and was recently honored as one of Forbes 30 Under 30. Rich Tu and Mamadi sit down for an exuberant conversation that covers his life in Guinea, how he found NYCSalt to jumpstart his career, how family obligation informs who he is today, and what it means to feel like a tourist in your own home.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

*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!

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

Bobby Hundreds and Ben Hundreds met in law school and founded the iconic streetwear brand The Hundreds in 2003. They sit down with Rich Tu to talk about the early days of streetwear, their humble beginnings merging influences of hip hop, punk and hardcore, and why being the children of immigrants creates a sense of urgency and survival.

Also, they go in-depth into how The Hundreds has always been about community, embracing inclusivity in Web3, challenges of building within the Metaverse, and how they created their sold-out Adam Bomb Squad NFT collection, and the legacy they would like to leave behind when it's all said and done. This episode is packed with fashion and futurism, and not one to be missed.

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Melody Ehsani is a celebrated fashion designer based in Los Angeles and the Women's Creative Director for the global brand Foot Locker. Melody and Rich Tu have a refreshing conversation about how she turned a passion for justice into a creative journey through self-discovery and spirituality.

They cover a range of topics, including growing up in L.A. in a first generation Iranian home, finding God on her own terms, moving to China to design her first sneaker, and the unique challenges of creating for a self-owned brand versus a huge corporation. Also, they uncover a never-before-discovered easter egg on her classic Fearless Jordan 1 collab. 

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REO is a music producer and dynamic futurist poised to change the way the world views digital art. His work in both music and digital art have lead him to into the metaverse with high-ticket NFTs, and collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé and Kanye West. REO opens up about finding his true identity as an artist, discovering his West African roots, and how he hacked the educational system.

Also REO and Rich Tu discuss how NFTs have empowered this generation of digital artists, what's creatively possible in the Metaverse, and they take a peek behind the curtain of Kanye's Donda listening parties and what it takes to create on that level.

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Walshy Fire is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer who is a part of the Grammy-nominated dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer. In this special episode, Walshy talks to Rich Tu about how he quit a corporate day job at IBM to pursue his dream in the music industry, becoming a part of the Black Chiney sound system, and later on the joining Major Lazer. They also talk about his music influences, the importance of the New York club scene in the 90's, why cultural validity matters, and the importance of positive music.

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Anna Park is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in the past few years with her large scale charcoal drawings that simultaneously equals parts hedonism and Americana. A recent grad, she has shown in major galleries around the world, and gained the attention of the likes of KAWS and Billy Eilish. Anna and Rich Tu talk about her artistic process, what it was like growing up in Utah as a Korean immigrant, how parental expectations within Asian culture is intense, and why it's important to take a break to protect your mental health. 

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*Season 8 Premiere* We're back! Daniel Buezo is a designer and co-founder of LA-based streetwear upstart Kids of Immigrants and the perfect guest to kick off the new season. Daniel sits down with host Rich Tu to talk about his early days growing up on the East Coast in a first gen Honduran family, being acutely aware of the sacrifices his parents made, and how he avoided trouble to pursue a college degree in social work. Also, Daniel opens up about how he and co-founder Weleh Dennis worked behind-the-scenes for two years before launching the KOI brand in 2016, how their approach to collaborations has evolved, and why it's important to focus on love and community against all odds. This is a conversation you can't miss. 

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*Season Finale* Cris Ramos Greene is a Spanish-American writer and author of the memoir Embrace That Girl. Her writing has also been featured in Thought Catalog, The New Tropic, and BuzzFeed. Rich and Cris discuss her debut book, which tells the heartfelt and humorous story of navigating adulthood and searching for meaning and love in Miami. They talk about the creative process and the importance of taking risks, her early days in advertising, and how the pandemic changed her approach to the book. And for you artists out there, they talk about the book cover process from the author’s point of view. 

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Dometi Pongo is a correspondent for MTV News and the host of True Life Crime. He is also the son of Ghanaian immigrants and a Chicago native, who has used his love of music and thirst for knowledge to walk the line between journalism, activism, and pop culture. Rich and Dometi talk about his pre-MTV days as a rapper-turned-radio host in Chicago (as well as a veritable handbook of useful tips for any aspiring journalists), being raised with pride in his African identity, and why black men should have more intergenerational conversations. Also, they discuss why it was important for Dometi to share his Ghanaian homeland with others in order to re-write the Eurocentric history book. This episode is a must-listen!

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Alexandra Cuerdo is an award-winning director and writer recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World. Her feature directorial debut ULAM: Main Dish is the first Filipino food documentary to achieve worldwide distribution and she recently released a book with Eggslut founder Alvin Cailan, titled AMBOY: Recipes From the Filipino-American Dream. Rich and Allie have a laugh-filled conversation about her beginning in the film industry as George Clooney's assistant and how Ulam stemmed from a love of tradition, food, and the desire to see more brown faces in film. Also they discuss how her recent Asian rave documentary Dancing on My Own became a much more personal story about coming out to her mother. 

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Michael Coveto is a rising star in the Latin music scene and also the last in-person interview for First Gen Burden before all hell broke loose in 2020. Michael and Rich sat down to talk about growing in a Mexican American household, how he dropped out of SVA to pursue music full time, and why it was important for him to go bi-lingual and embrace his Latin roots for his latest album All Or Nothing. Also, they talk about the current Latin explosion, and why it was always destined to happen. *recorded earlier this year*

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Juan Villanueva has made a name for himself as a designer and activist who uses his craft to diversify the classroom, decolonize the industry, and speak truth to power. Juan and Rich delve into his Peruvian heritage, his education at Cooper Union and how he landed a full-time gig at the prestigious type foundry Monotype. They discuss his recent exit from the Type Directors Club, and how his BIPOC design scholarship has become critical to his mission of bringing diverse talent into the industry. Also, they talk about controversial statements by Massimo Vignelli in the film Helvetica, and if they do more harm than good.

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Gail Anderson is a designer, author, educator, and two-time lifetime achievement award winner. Gail sits down with Rich to discuss her Bronx upbringing as a first generation Jamaican American, and being the first in her family to receive a college education. They also talk about her legendary career in design, how she got to Rolling Stone Magazine and her equally iconic tenure at SpotCo. And they also discuss how the School of Visual Arts is addressing the pandemic and social justice.

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Shayla Lawson is an author and poet, with a fierce and humorous new voice. She stops by First Gen Burden to discuss her new book This Is Major: Notes on Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope, a relevant, insightful, and riveting collection of personal essays on the richness and resilience of black girl culture. Rich and Shayla talk about her upbringing in Kentucky and her creative journey, all the reasons why All American Girl's "Addy Walker" doll is a terrible idea, and the challenges of creating narratives that are free of the influence of white supremacy. Also, they ponder comic books, and whether X-Men's attempt at a civil rights' metaphor actually does more damage than good?

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In this special episode, Rich talks to Luck Sarabhayavanija, the founder of Ani Ramen. They talk about the early days of Luck's self-proclaimed "hospitality addiction" which lead to forming a successful restaurant group set for great success in 2020. Amidst the pandemic, they discuss how the group has pivoted towards a non-profit focused on feeding local communities and frontline workers by partnering with celebrity hairstylist Mark Bustos. Also, they talk about the challenges of getting into the restaurant game, and the future of the hospitality industry.

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In this double-sized season finale of First Gen #StayHome Edition Rich has two special interviews during Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. First, Gavin Alaoen from MTV digital design stops by to talk about how he's preparing to be a father again, what content he's binging right now, and post-COVID predictions. Then slam poet, Beau Sia make his first appearance on First Gen to talk about his legendary career (that includes MTV's Spoken Word Unplugged, Def Poetry, and SlamNation) and reads two excerpts from his collection of poems Well Played.

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Laura Mueller Soppart is a real estate developer and the founder of Built Interest, a firm focused on bringing a human-centered perspective building cities. Laura stops by First Gen #StayHome Edition to talk about her German and Spanish origins, how she ended up interning for Barack Obama's White House, and the learnings from working on large real estate projects like the Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn. Also, Laura and Rich discuss what it takes to work on large city initiatives, and how real estate initiatives might change post-pandemic.

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Adam Garcia, founder of The Pressure and member of Apple Music Team gives an update on how the pandemic has changed his perspective on what we give meaning to, personal content strategy post-COVID, and how to throw the best ZOOM party to make all your friends jealous. Also, Rich and Adam talk about who won the infamous DJ Premier versus RZA battle!

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Nicolas Chidiac, the Chief Strategy Officer at Rokkan stops by First Gen #StayHome Edition to talk about his Lebanese heritage, growing up in Greece, and living around the world, from London to Dubai, and eventually the United States. He charts his path in the advertising industry (at places like Saatchi and Leo Burnett), and talks about the tension between mathematics of strategy and creativity, as well as some industry predictions post COVID-19. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Kathleen Tso and Vicki Ho of super dope Banana Magazine stop by with a vibes check on all things AZN in 2020 and talk about the launch of issue 6. They discuss the origins of the magazine, their learnings in the competitive indie magazine world, and the importance of Asian representation in media (highlighting their latest feature on Asians in Comedy and Ronny Chieng).

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Diego Guevara (Global Design Director at Nike), makes his first appearance and talks about growing up in Ecuador before moving to Miami to become a multi-faceted creative working with clients like the CBS Sports, Latin Grammys, J Balvin and the NFL. He also talks about how he landed his role as Nike, and how's he's maintaining his mental and physical health during the quarantine.

ALSO, Diego and Rich play a rousing game of Do / Marry / Kill with some iconic pieces of Nike history. This one is not to be missed.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, illustrator and educator Shreyas R Krishnan (hailing from Chennai, India) appears for the first time to talk about her illustration career, how she collaborates with other artists from around the world, and the importance of work that highlights gender non-binary communities. Also, she talks about how teaching at Washington University in St Louis has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Design Director of Vault49 Kervin Brisseaux checks in to talk about how he's stayed busy while, how being on the same page is important when working from home, and he's staying fit while in quarantine. Also, Kervin gives a breakdown of what video games and anime are on his must-list (spoiler alert, Final Fantasy VII is definitely on there).

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, designer and creative director Zipeng Zhu checks in from the Catskills, and discusses his approach to making content in the midst of the pandemic, how baking he's taken up cooking, and why Asian bigotry is even more stupid when you have terrible grammar. ALSO, we read the COVID-19 sex guide. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Designer and Artist Ricardo Gonzalez (ItsALiving) ZOOMs in from Durango, Mexico and to talk about he now makes murals remotely, staying isolated but focused, how skating has kept him fit, and the importance of sharing things right now. Also we talk about how his recent HUF collab came to fruition. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, MTV motion designer, Florencia Massu talks about how her family stuck together (while apart) when her parents developed COVID-19 symptoms, the importance of staying positive, and how ZOOM LIFE was always a thing in an international family.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Rich catches up with Sandie Cheng of the Now in Color Podcast. They talk about the rise of anti-Asian bigotry, the perception of content post-COVID-19, and the "Myth of Assimilation".

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*SEASON 5 FINALE* Rich sits down with Veda Partalo, the VP of Brand and Marketing at Spotify Premium. They talk about how she spent her childhood as a Bosnian refugee, alongside 2 years in a Hungarian refugee camp. That eventually leads to in Minneapolis, MN where social activism and youth culture save her life, and lead her into marketing and advertising, with roles at Untitled, Mcann, and Droga5. It's an incredible story that both dramatic and humorous is the best way possible.

More Listening:

Alissa Nevita is an expert in marketing and advertising in the sportswear industry, having worked with Flight Club, Bleacher Report, Complex, and Undefeated, among others. Rich and Alissa talk about Indo-Caribbean culture (her family hails from Guyana), growing up in Queens, and how its important to find a career path that appropriate for you. Also, they discuss representation of women in streetwear, and how it's important to speak up in big meetings in order to "Be the Change".

Bonus Episode: Rich and Sophia sit down for an SEO AMA* where they dig into her digital footprint in a fun and off-the-cuff game. We find about even more about Sophia like the origin of "The Bun", the Best and Worst Bandwagon Moments of 2019, and her opinion of CROCS (Yay? or Nay?)

Also, just how many Sophia Changs are out there???

*Search Engine Optimization Ask Me Anything

Sophia Chang returns! One year after her first appearance on First Gen Burden, Rich and Sophia have a total format-busting episode that tries to give you a caffeine-induced rush of design talk and ridiculousness. They talk about her recent projects with Adidas Originals (and how mall culture affected her life), the iPad sketch workshop she did at Apple, how to navigate a brand collaboration, and the most recent issue of UNDO Magazine. Also, Rich discovers how she landed her first big sneaker collab with Puma several years ago. This episode is not to be missed!

Episode 40 (!), is double-sized with two fashion-focused interviews with models Kadeem Hudson (family from Jamaica) and Joanna Pauline (originally from the Philippines). We cover the gamut of representation in the industry, the mentality behind-the-scenes right before stepping on the runway, gender neutrality, and how beauty standards figure into the business of fashion (especially Asian nose politics). Just in time for New York Fashion Week, this one is deep dive into the world like you haven't heard before.

Andy Chen and Waqas Jawaid are the founders of Isometric Studio, a visual identity and graphic design consultancy based in New York City. They specialize in creating brand identities and exhibitions for some of the biggest institutions in the country like Princeton, Google, Cooper Hewitt, and the Museum of the City of New York. Rich sits down with Andy and Waqas to talk about how they met and how they acknowledge identity in their work (including their own, Andy being of Taiwanese descent and Waqas hailing from Pakistan). Also they describe their process of navigating large organizations through the lens of activism.

Also, what DO they think of the Museum of Pizza???

This week, Rich Tu speaks with Mara Lecocq, who leads Brand and Community at Fishbowl, a social network for professionals in the creative industry that allows for honest and semi-anonymous conversations. Also, she’s the founder of Where Are the Boss Ladies, the largest database of senior women leaders in advertising. And she’s the founder of Secret Code, a customizable children’s book that can star any young girl as a tech hero. Additionally, Mara has a storied career in advertising, having worked at AKQA, 72andSunny, and BETC Paris on brands like Starbucks, Nike, Verizon, and McDonalds.

Rich and Mara talk about her upbringing in the Philippines, her mixed French and Filipino heritage, and how her talent has allowed her to live all over the world. In her own words, Mara loves "helping the disempowered rise through their professional development", and the main takeaway from this conversation is that the creative industry can innovate itself by taking a good look at who is steering the ship.

Adam Garcia is an artist, creative director, dancer, and even a dungeon master. Currently, he is a residing in Los Angeles and works in Apple Music's creative team. Additionally, Adam created The Pressure studio, was a creative director at Instrument, and even worked on the Yeezy II during his time at Nike. Rich and Adam catch up after a couple years of no contact, and discuss being born into a mixed raced family in South Texas, growing up in Minnesota as a designer and dancer, and how we came to fully embrace his Tejano and Mexican heritage.

And as a finale, Adam graces us with a found passage in the style of his reading podcast, Dope Excerpts. 

Noreen Morioka & Nicole Jacek are two of the most awarded designers who have sat down with Rich, having worked with some of the biggest clients in the world including Nike, Airbnb, Nickelodeon. Also, most recently, they held the roles as Co-Heads of Design at Weiden + Kennedy. The two of them discuss how they make their partnership work in a variety of contexts, how they wrestle with identity, and what it takes to be a great leader. Also, the group does a 3-person post mortem on the Portland experience, and they discuss the logistics of genetic engineering to create a better generation of creative.