Let's Get Candid

By Crystal Leung

Welcome to Let's Get Candid, a weekly podcast bringing organic conversations to those longing for connection in this isolated time. Crystal Leung, a 26-year-old Maryland-based event planner, invites a unique guest to share stories and perspectives while creating a space to uplift ordinary people's voices. As you listen to each episode, whether it's a TV show review or an exploration of major societal issues, picture yourself having or listening to a conversation in a local coffee shop and be ready to get candid! :)

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Episode 23: Playing the AZN FLUSH: K-Pop Pack (with Esther Kang)

Let's Get CandidApr 21, 2021

00:00

41:23

Episode 23: Playing the AZN FLUSH: K-Pop Pack (with Esther Kang)

We're ending season 1 with a banger! It's been an incredible journey getting to 23 episodes of Let's Get Candid and you're in for a special treat this week. I'm joined by Esther Kang, one of my life best friends! We started off as acquaintances through church connections, but over the years we've become concert partners and confidants in all things K-Pop related. We have both been huge K-Pop multi-stans for many years and have an unhealthy obsession with attending concerts, buying merchandise, and watching variety shows. In this episode, we will be playing the AZN FLUSH: K-Pop Pack card game to share a glimmer of our routine K-Pop conversations. Normally, this game and the other packs are played while drinking alcohol, but we're just here to have fun, reminisce and relate to each other's deep love for our favorite groups and artists. Whether you're a huge stan like us or only know BTS and Blackpink by name, hope you enjoy this season finale and learn more about EXO, NCT, Seventeen, iKON, Monsta X, Wanna One, X1 & more, so much more...

AZN FLUSH: K-Pop Pack: https://aznflush.com/products/azn-flush-k-pop-pack

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Apr 21, 202141:23

Episode 22: Crash Landing On You: K-Drama Review (with Caroline Dong)

A year after Crash Landing On You, and we're STILL not over Captain Ri...anyone else? Two hopeless romantics, Caroline and Crystal, pair up to chat through all of the things that made CLOY one of our favorite dramas to-date. There isn't enough time in one episode to cover all of our favorite aspects, but you'll enjoy listening to us reminisce the most romantic scenes, the beautiful OST, and the outrageous parts that we overlook. Hear all of our fangirling over Hyun Bin and all of the moments that shook us to the core and made us cry. SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen CLOY yet, pause this podcast, grab some tissues, watch it right now, and then return here to listen to our discussion! We don't want to rob you of the experience that is CLOY!

Apr 10, 202142:21

Episode 21: Escaping the Friend Zone & More (with Angelina Bingei, Josh Chang, Eric Lai)

Reverse reverse! Last week, we had Eric and Josh answer questions that girls might be afraid of asking guys. This week, we pass the baton to them to host Let's Get Candid and ask Angelina and me all of their (and your) burning questions. I'm sure every guy has heard a girl say "it's fine" and ended up more confused than he was before he asked her if she was mad. In this episode, we'll talk about how guys can escape the friend zone, our biggest turn ons and turn offs, and why girls go to the bathroom in pairs or groups. Thank you to all of the listeners and friends who submitted juicy questions for us to answer in this episode! Although the views we presented are our own and may get us cancelled or not reflect the entire female population, we hope it provides some perspective to what girls are thinking even when we don't communicate well.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Apr 02, 202135:52

Episode 20: Can a Guy and Girl Just Be Friends? (with Angelina Bingei, Josh Chang, Eric Lai)

The wait is over! Do you ever wonder what in the world goes on inside a guy’s head? Angelina and I finally ask our guy friends, Josh and Eric, all the questions that girls are afraid to ask guys. A HUGE thank you to my listeners and friends who submitted questions for this episode. Josh is a software engineer in New York with a love for nice shoes and K-Pop girl groups Twice and IZ*ONE. Eric is a medical student with the biggest heart for boba and the most regimented workout routine. Josh is married and Eric is in a long-term relationship, which definitely spices up their answers to our questions. What does being "sexy" mean? Can a guy and girl just be friends? What is proper bathroom etiquette and what is peeing standing up really like? Find out more in this extremely candid conversation where we lay it all out (spoiler alert: the consensus is that guys are dumb).

Mar 27, 202133:11

Episode 19: What Does It Take To Change Careers? (with Wesley Wang)

A job's stability is so appealing when you're in your 20's because the income brings freedom, status, and independence. If you listened to Episode 1, you are familiar with my decision to leave a lucrative job to pursue a new career. I'm so excited to talk with one of the most influential people in my career switch for this episode - Dr. Wesley Wang, PT, DPT! Wesley and I have been friends for many years, coworkers in church college ministry, and he was also my flag football coach for five years! He paved the way for me to begin my new career with his incredible story and encouragement to me as a young professional obsessed with the security of my shiny new job. Wesley worked at Accenture before pursuing his dream of going to physical therapy school and then made a second career pivot from working in a clinic to starting his brand and ACL repair programs for athletes and uses his large social media platform to represent Christ and speak on issues related to Asian American identity. Life came full circle, and it's an honor to have him on this episode to reminisce our career switches and what it took for us to take a leap of faith.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Connect with Wesley: www.instagram.com/wesleywang.dpt

Mar 19, 202137:30

Episode 18: You: TV Show Review (with Petros Lee)

You. Not you, but You - the Netflix series about a man's obsession with an aspiring female writer and the ultimate question: What would you do for love? Today, Crystal and Petros Lee (two rocks in a pod) will discuss all that makes this series binge-worthy but also cringe-worthy, given that it's a thriller and all. To what lengths would you go for love? We get all up in the nitty-gritty of the series and dive into the ethics of it all, and question why we love Joe Goldberg despite his psychopathic behavior. Join us as we debrief our pros and cons with the series, the insanity, themes, and surprises/plot twists (because this series is A LOT DOT COM). If you have not caught up to Season 2 of the series, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS, so please pause this episode and resume after you finish!

Mar 05, 202141:05

Episode 17: Nah Sis, This Ain't It: Toxic Relationships (with Angelina Bingei)

Toxicity and manipulation are not it. We've all made small compromises that amass to losing your identity in a relationship without receiving anything in return. We don't need that negative energy in our lives, but it's inevitable with imperfect people involved in a relationship. How do we differentiate between a person's areas for growth and toxic traits? Listen to this episode to hear about how Ange's ex forgot her birthday multiple times and how Crystal gets bamboozled by dense mofos. We also get honest about our own toxic traits and how we should correct those behaviors to attract better people in our lives.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with Angelina: www.instagram.com/theangebean

Feb 26, 202132:33

Episode 16: Seminary & Pastoral Ministry (with John An & Joseph Kim)

This episode is the first episode with two guests! I got to catch up with John An and Joseph Kim, who are both in seminary and serving in their local churches as pastoral staff. Although we hear our pastors speak a lot from the pulpit (or from the Zoom screen), it's not very often we get to listen to their thoughts in a candid conversation. I found it refreshing to hear their perspectives, and it made me appreciate the pastors at my church even more! They are people, just like you and me. Listen to this laidback episode to hear about their calling to seminary and how we can better support our pastors and friends who are fulfilling their callings to full-time ministry.

John An's church in Burlington/Graham, NC: Hanmaum Burlington Church (https://hbcem.com)

Joseph Kim's church in Bethesda, MD: Rosebrook Presbyterian Church (https://www.rosebrookchurch.com)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with John: yohanjan@yahoo.com

Connect with Joseph: joseph@rosebrookchurch.com

Feb 19, 202142:02

Episode 15: Swiping Left and Right (with Sarah Joung)

Happy Valentine's Day! Modern dating - is it fate or just the result of an algorithm? Despite the fears of cat-fishing and expectation versus reality, it's much more common today for people to be on dating apps and even get married to someone they met online. In this episode, Sarah Joung and I dish about online dating before and during COVID, our preferred dating apps, and app etiquette. We expose the prompts of our dating profiles and share the pressure to find a significant other and some crazy online dating stories. Do we believe it's possible to match with our soulmates in this digital age? No matter how many times you've deleted your apps (we've all been there), join us in this judgment-free, exposing conversation!

Feb 12, 202142:06

Episode 14: Work Smarter, Not Harder (with Kevin Hsieh)

Whether you are a workaholic or an entrepreneur, you are probably familiar with the term "work smarter, not harder." Today, Kevin Hsieh joins us to discuss his business as a tennis coach after completing undergrad pursuing a career in physical therapy. We talk about his parents' reaction, the struggles he faced as a hustler, the perks of having your own business, and how we can help normalize unconventional careers. If you have a great business idea but need help to bring it to life, tune in to hear Kevin's tips for getting started and learning all the things that school doesn't teach you about making money.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with Kevin: www.instagram.com/k.hsieh

Feb 05, 202137:26

Episode 13: Wait, Are We Official Now? (with Pearl Mak)

Do you ever cringe at your past relationships, or is it just us? Today's episode with Pearl Mak has many juicy anecdotes about our exes and boyfriends you didn't ask for, but we delivered anyway! Thank goodness we both matured since the first time we had a relationship, but those experiences gave us important life lessons - including how to be honest with yourself and reconciling with your exes. Listen to us spill the tea on who we think should pay on a date & when to meet the parents and the never-before-told embarrassing stories that are making their debut in this episode. P.S. we mentioned her boyfriend, Daniel, in this episode and now they are engaged! Congratulations, you two! Love you both and wish you a happy forever :)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with Pearl: www.instagram.com/pearlmmak http://bit.ly/387imJL

Jan 29, 202142:49

Episode 12: High Functioning Mental Illnesses (with Victoria Cheng)

Did you know that nearly one in five U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness? Mental illness takes many forms with various levels of symptoms and treatments. Today, Victoria Cheng and I discuss our experiences with high functioning mental illnesses, specifically depression and anxiety, as Asians within the Christian church. The term 'high functioning mental illness' describes those living with an almost undetectable mental illness, which provides the illusion that they "have it all together". Anyone can be affected by mental illnesses, and it is not something to be ashamed of, although it exists as a taboo and fear in many Asian American Christian circles. We hope that this episode encourages more discussion about mental health and provides ideas on managing your well-being. If you are struggling with your mental health and need someone to talk to, consider looking for a licensed counselor or trusted person who can help.

BetterHelp - accessible and affordable professional counseling: https://www.betterhelp.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with Victoria: www.instagram.com/victoriaylcheng

Jan 22, 202141:01

Episode 11: No But, Where Are You REALLY From? (with Jung Cho)

Have you ever been asked, "Where are you REALLY from?" We're joined today by Jung Cho to explore our identities as Asian Americans and minorities. We talk about our friends, communities, families, and experiences in school and all the things that make us unique and different as Asian Americans. Is being Asian American an advantage or disadvantage? When did we realize that we were different, and how did we reconcile our identities living in the U.S.? Listen to hear how sassy Jung is and find out more about our take on being Asian and American!

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Clubhouse: @crystalxleung

Connect with Jung: www.instagram.com/jcho0307

Jan 15, 202135:28

Episode 10: Hospital Playlist: K-Drama Review (with Samuel Chan)

The drama that Crystal finished in one sitting has a special place in Korean and international viewers' hearts. Today, Samuel Chan, k-drama connoisseur, joins us to chat through all that makes Hospital Playlist one-of-a-kind. We'll cover the cast, music, medical drama, and themes of friendship and relationships. If you have NOT watched the series yet, you have permission to pause this episode to watch it immediately & tune into our debrief after because there will be SPOILERS! We have warned you :)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Watch Hospital Playlist here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81239224

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Connect with Samuel: www.instagram.com/samuel.s.chan

Jan 08, 202133:40

Episode 9: A December to Remember (with Casey Leung)

Merry Christmas from the Leung sisters to you and yours! It's our favorite holiday and time of the year - friends and family are reunited, the streets are filled with cheer, and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! We're so blessed to have Casey home during this holiday season and recognize that many cannot be with their loved ones and our hearts and prayers go out to them. In today's episode, we will be answering ten questions about Christmas to get into the season's spirit and share what Christmas means to us! Press play to listen to this reunion and quality time of a Jie Jie and Mui Mui (Chinese for older and younger sister)i. Take care, and may this holiday season bring rest and joy into all of your lives!

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod
Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung
Connect with Casey: www.instagram.com/caseywleung

Dec 18, 202030:16

Episode 8: Grad School During A Pandemic (with Jerry Zhang)

In a world of remote work and online school, teachers and students in all education levels are navigating the new challenges without any precedents. In this episode, Jerry Zhang and I discuss online graduate school during a pandemic and the challenges and blessings. Do we prefer Zoom University over in-person classes? Would we recommend grad school during a pandemic? Take a study break and play this episode to hear our advice and what we think are the pros and cons of this learning age.

Dec 11, 202028:07

Episode 7: Enneagrams at Work (with Hailey Barr)

When work wives both decide to start a podcast during COVID-19 without ever talking about it with each other first, you know we just had to plan an epic collaboration. Today, we're joined by Hailey Barr, who is one of the hosts of "1 Book, 2 Lives". Besides having a shared love for all things Disney and Harry Potter, we both work at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and keep each other sane in the everyday ups and downs of adulting by attending too many events (shoutout to Enchant DC and the Fab 5 book talks) and doing photoshoots in our work neighborhood. We'll cover our enneagrams (another passion of ours), work friendships, our bosses, what working in higher education is like, and how much life has changed since we last saw each other before the pandemic.

Dec 04, 202041:02

Episode 6: Count Your Blessings, Not Your Carbs

COVID-19 and this year of 2020 have made it very difficult to practice gratitude. However, once we step back and reflect on what we are thankful for, it makes everyday things more visible. Being grateful doesn't necessarily make the year more bearable, but it can help us be more empathetic, patient, and intentional. It doesn't minimize or neglect the hurt, pain, and injustice you experienced in this year or your life. In this special episode, I interrupt our regular podcast programming to reflect on what I am thankful for despite all of the hardships that have happened this year. Regardless of what is going on in your life, I hope this episode encourages you to count your blessings, not your carbs. Furthermore, consider checking up on your loved ones or people who are alone this Thanksgiving season and make sure that they know that they are loved :) Happy Thanksgiving!

Part 1 of the Thanksgiving Tag: https://youtu.be/FR7qV9wpZp8

Thanksgiving questions used: www.dailygood.org/story/349/20-questions-for-thanksgiving

Nov 27, 202025:59

Episode 5: Weddings in the Time of Corona (with Hannah Kim)

Let the wedding bells ring...but over Zoom. It's wild that the term "COVID Bride" is an actual thing, and I've tallied up the number of virtual weddings I attended in 2020 to total SEVEN. Today, one of the sweetest and strongest people I know, Hannah (Kim) Lee, joins us for an episode! That's right; she just got married! Hannah is an event planner at the Chamber of Commerce by day and has an outstanding wedding planning business. Hear us catch up with each other and bond over our passion for event/wedding planning. If you're a COVID bride, Hannah will share some tips from planning her wedding, her clients' weddings, and what transitioning into married life has been like during this unprecedented time.

Nov 20, 202033:50

Episode 4: The Social Dilemma (with Jesson Chen)

Amid impending election results and a global pandemic, we are on our phones and computers more than ever. Social media is a powerful tool, but it is also increasing addictions and other mental illnesses, particularly in younger users. This week, Jesson Chen joins us to talk about the recent Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, which discusses the rise of social media addictions and the other ways that social media may do more harm than good. With the increasing intelligence and manipulation of social media, the rise of influencers, and fake news, can any good come out of social media? Are we addicted to social media? Will we continue to use social media after watching this? Whose responsibility is it to refocus social media? Listen to hear our perspectives!

Nov 06, 202040:39

Episode 3: Asians in Nontraditional Careers (with Jonathan Hsu)

Lawyer. Doctor. Engineer. Accountant. Are these the Big 4 career options in the eyes of our Asian immigrant parents? Today's episode features Jonathan Hsu, a freelance dancer and dance photographer who hosts the "Still In Motion" podcast! Jonathan is my go-to when it comes to anything technology, dance, or photography related. His work is fantastic, so make sure you check it out! Join us in this discussion about our experiences of being Asian in a nontraditional career. We explore how we got here, our parents' reactions, role models in our industry, and where we see ourselves in 5 years in these nontraditional roles. We've come a long way in normalizing career options, but we still have a long way to go!

Oct 23, 202041:50

Episode 2: All the Crocs in the Club (with Angelina Bingei)

All the crocs in the club, drop it like it's hotttt. Introducing my ultimate hype woman who's down (low) for anything, Ange Bean (aka Angelina Bingei)! Aside from brunch and boxing, we vibe on dancing and 90s music. Join us as we reminisce about our nightlife experiences in the DMV area pre-COVID and our best/worst memories, which often included tequila, Crocs, and McDonald's french fries. Do we think that clubbing and nightlife are a necessary part of living it up in your early to mid-20's? Put on your crocs, turn on some Snoop Dogg tracks, grab some Kombucha, and listen to find out!

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: www.instagram.com/crystalxleung www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Connect with Angelina: www.instagram.com/theangebean

Oct 09, 202030:44

Episode 1: I Quit a Lucrative Job to Find My Passion

It's finally here - the first episode of the "Let's Get Candid" podcast! A special guest will join each following episode to share perspectives on an exciting and relevant topic. Today's episode is about my transition from a career as an auditor in a Big Four accounting firm to an event planner in higher education and all the ups and downs in between. My career switch is a topic that I've gotten many questions about in the past few years. I'll share some lessons that I've learned about career switches from my own mistakes and my mentors' wisdom (shoutouts included!). If you're feeling stuck in your current career path or don't know what exactly you want to do in the future, may this sharing be valuable to you!

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to 'Let's Get Candid' and leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Connect with us: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetcandidpod

Connect with Crystal: https://www.instagram.com/crystalxleung https://www.youtube.com/crystalxleung

Oct 08, 202031:13