Skip to main content
MAEKAN

MAEKAN

By MAEKAN

MAEKAN is a publisher and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about creative accountability, participation, and culture within a broader global community. MAEKAN's focused on equipping creators with the tangible and intangible tools to succeed and define the future of creative culture.

We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Head over to patreon.com/maekan if you're interested in supporting us and being part of our larger community which includes regular newsletters and a vibrant Discord community.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
PodBean Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
TuneIn Logo
Currently playing episode

Jayscale — Intersecting Philanthropy and Photography

MAEKANJan 10, 2018

00:00
23:14
Indestructible: The DSPTCH Origin Story With Richard Liu
Jul 27, 202138:44
Building the Brand — Adam Studios
Jul 09, 202033:43
Two Acres at a Time — Kristyn Leach of Namu Farm

Two Acres at a Time — Kristyn Leach of Namu Farm

Namu Farm is a quaint two-acre property located an hour and a half outside of San Francisco. In a time when the topic of food and industry generally focuses on scale and size, a visit to the farm is a timely reminder of where our food comes from. The whole operation is overseen by Kristyn Leach, an unexpected representation of the modern-day farmer who aims not only to produce honest, ethical food, but also empowers communities through narratives of food and experience. As a Korean-American adoptee, some of the crops that grace the rows of the farm were not part of her upbringing, but their existence has allowed her to gain a very unique insight into a heritage that was never second nature.

Namu Farm exists as a partnership between both Kristyn and Namu Gaji, a brother-run restaurant group that also includes the more casual dining establishment known as Namu Stonepot. The two have been staunch supporters of revisiting what farming means today and willingly absorbing all the challenges that have come along the way.

A few hours spent shadowing Kristyn with the bright sun beating down overhead yielded some fascinating insights into the complexities of not only how our food makes its way to the table, but also how food and ethnic culture have some positive externalities that help bring light to the stories of the otherwise voiceless.

See the images over at MAEKAN.com.

Nov 16, 201930:38
Lars Williams — Creating Sense Memories with Empirical Spirts
Sep 20, 201923:52
MAEKAN & BYBORRE — Redefining Comfort: Céline Pham
Apr 02, 201916:48
502 Bad Gateway — An Antidote to Online Fast Fashion

502 Bad Gateway — An Antidote to Online Fast Fashion

 502 Bad Gateway is the best life decision Seth Footring has made in  recent years. By day, Seth works in the photo and eCommerce department  of ASOS in London, by night—and in all other spare waking hours—he  focuses his efforts on being the creator and Editor-in-Chief of a brand  new men’s fashion publication. The first issue of 502 Bad Gateway  was released in January this year and contains long articles about  Tender, Olubiyi Thomas, the Massimo Osti Archive, and Sampaix Studio,  plus graphic elements that are decidedly in the opposite direction of  the average glossy fashion mags. After making the decision to start and  complete a personally driven project, Seth’s choices revolved around  bringing to life the type of publication he wanted to read and  indicating that there is a “right” way to operate in the fashion  industry that isn’t talked about sufficiently. Charis Poon spoke with  Seth in London about the necessity for 502 Bad Gateway’s existence and  the trials he underwent to make it happen.


Hosted by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Sebastian Petrovski
Design of 502 Bad Gateway by Xuan Phan


See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/502-bad-gateway-an-antidote-to-online-fast-fashion/


 

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 

Mar 22, 201934:12
Understanding Our World Through Objects — Johanna Agerman Ross

Understanding Our World Through Objects — Johanna Agerman Ross

The value of an object is different for everyone. If you’re practical above all else, an object’s function, efficiency, and affordability are probably the most important aspects. If you’re drawn to beautiful things, the way an object looks and fits within an environment are more appealing. If you’re curious how the puzzle pieces of geography, politics, and history fit together, you might find an object’s inspiration, fabrication, and evolution of the most interest. Someone who is a combination of all of the above plus interested in telling the stories of objects to better enable society is Johanna Agerman Ross.


Hosted, Narrated, & Text by Charis Poon

Audio by Elphick Wo

Photos by Chris Tang



See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/understanding-our-world-through-objects-johanna-agerman-ross/

 


What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.


Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at
MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions.


MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 

Mar 14, 201923:51
Remembering Triple X — Hong Kong's Underground Mecca

Remembering Triple X — Hong Kong's Underground Mecca

 Gone before its time, XXX (known popularly as “Triple X”) was a club not  far from the MAEKAN Office that was a hotspot for underground culture  and music on Hong Kong’s Kowloon side. The venue of choice for acts like  OKOKOK, Yeti Out and Eric Lau,  among many others, it closed in late 2018 amid a background of public  noise complaints, sky high rents and lack of official support from the  city. When street culture meccas like this one go down, it deals a  serious blow to the independent community, especially one eking out an  existence in a decidedly creatively inhospitable city like Hong Kong. 


 Audio by Elphick Wo


See the full story here: https://maekan.com/article/remembering-triple-x-hong-kongs-underground-hot-spot/


What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.


Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions.


MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 

Mar 07, 201947:37
MAEKAN & BYBORRE — Redefining Comfort: Rebecca Kelley

MAEKAN & BYBORRE — Redefining Comfort: Rebecca Kelley

Comfort. It’s something essential to our lives.

The degree of comfort we experience can impact how we view the world around us. Comfort can take shape in a practical sense. Are we dry? Are we able to move freely? Are we confident about how we look?

Comfort can also apply psychologically. Are we comfortable with the challenge ahead and the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next?

In abundance, some would say too much of it creates complacency. Too little of it, and you’re unable to settle into a rhythm, because you’re only focused on reducing the discomfort.


Interview & Photos by Eugene Kan

Video by Ralph Sarmo


See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/maekan-byborre-redefining-comfort-rebecca-kelley


 

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.


Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at
MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.


MAEKAN.com


Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 




Feb 18, 201919:44
Floating in Time — Daniel Arsham Brings Us Static Mythologies

Floating in Time — Daniel Arsham Brings Us Static Mythologies

“Looking back at it, it feels like I’m jumping around a lot, but all  of the different types of work, whether it’s an installation or in the  architecture studio that I have, they’re all in service of the same  goal—which is to take our everyday experience, things that we know, and,  sort of, make them do things or make them act in ways we don’t expect.  And that subtle shift outside of our everyday experience is a kind of  invitation to explore that region outside of our everyday.”

A rack of sixteen Spalding basketballs—except they’re made of pink  selenite crystal with gaping erosions in their forms. A Los Angeles  Lakers bomber jacket with logo stitching across the front—except it’s  unwearable, made of pyrite and ash, the crystals emerging from erosions  on the shoulder and sides. What appears to be the hydrostone likenesses  of Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and Big Bird hanging out together, but  they’re wrapped in cloth and tied with rope, ready for delivery or  perhaps for unwrapping—immediately familiar and uncomfortably unfamiliar  at the same time. Issues of National Geographic, Vogue, Life Magazine, and Sports Illustrated from the year 3018—the year that, apparently, the Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl.


Story & Photos by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo


See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/floating-in-time-daniel-arsham-brings-us-static-mythologies


What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at
MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 

Feb 04, 201911:34
MAEKAN Session — The Need for Criticism

MAEKAN Session — The Need for Criticism

The growth of social media gives off the perception that the world’s smaller and more connected, but conversely, this doesn’t necessarily make the world easier to understand. In our MAEKAN Session titled The Need for Criticism, we focused on the concept of critique in a social-media dominated creative landscape.


This session was our most globally expansive to date, with a panel dialing in from Australia, Asia, and America. The panel members originally met through a WhatsApp group centered around film photography. Through this connection, the speakers often spoke about critique and how that has changed in relation to a social media-driven environment. How does critique affect the creative landscape of 2018, and how can we grow more accustomed to the ways in which we receive critique?


Text by Alek Rose

Moderated by Eugene Kan

Panelists featuring Sean Marc Lee, Young Kim, Jovell Rennie, James Bailey, and Donnel Barroso


See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/maekan-session-the-need-for-criticism


What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at
MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com 

Jan 09, 201901:02:56
To Be a Member of a Club You Never Wanted to Join — Conversing with Mike Shinoda

To Be a Member of a Club You Never Wanted to Join — Conversing with Mike Shinoda

Studies suggest that mental illness just may be the new normal—with an overwhelming amount of the population suffering from depression, anxiety, or a deep rooted sadness at one point or another in their lives. While some may attempt to ignore symptoms, it’s important we don’t isolate ourselves and these feelings, but rather, remove the stigma attached to mental health by speaking openly. Mike Shinoda wants to promote this narrative, and ensure that we are checking in with ourselves, and others.

Interview, Narration, and Text by Samantha Goretski
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christina Choi

See the full story here:
www.maekan.com/article/to-be-a-member-of-a-club-you-never-wanted-to-join-conversing-with-mike-shinoda

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Dec 02, 201842:36
Building the Brand — Community Governance

Building the Brand — Community Governance

In this Building the Brand, Eugene sits down with Scott to talk about the role of community governance in a brand strategy. It's never been easier to start and build a brand today, but a side effect of this is building loyalty has become that much harder. Instead of freely providing what the brand has to offer up front—or even simply dictating it to your audience—how about building a community that has some say in how things are run? Hosted by Eugene Kan & Scott Mascek Text & Transcript by Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/building-the-brand-community-governance What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Nov 27, 201826:25
Observations Abroad with Joan Wong — Part II

Observations Abroad with Joan Wong — Part II

Joan Wong worked at Penguin Random House in New York for the past five years as a book cover designer. Her more well-known work includes the paperback covers of the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan, Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. She could easily have stayed at her job indefinitely and followed a fairly predictable path of success as a designer. However, in evaluating her next steps, this plan sounded a little too safe. She decided to leave her full time job in order to embark on a year long trip around the world that began in October 2017. This second conversation between myself, Charis, and Joan took place near the end of her trip, but looks back at the second third of her journey. Hosted & Narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Illustration by Joan Wong See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/observations-abroad-with-joan-wong-part-ii What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Nov 25, 201821:43
Celebrating and Evaluating — A Recap of Unexpected Connections

Celebrating and Evaluating — A Recap of Unexpected Connections

I have a trick for when I meet new people in order to get more quickly into a substantiative conversation. I resist, for the entire meeting if possible, asking the person that I’ve just met what they do for a living. I’m not always able to swerve clear of what’s considered small talk—I still tend to talk about the weather more than is advisable—but I try to be honest and ask open questions that leave room for the conversation to develop in many possible ways. The artist David Choe, in his 45-minute session on stage at the Unexpected Connections conference, said that he would begin by telling the 450 people in the audience the thing he least wanted to share. Think what our interactions with each other would look like if we adopted that practice in our daily lives. That’s what happened, in a scaled-back way, throughout the day in Long Beach during the conference hosted by Imprint and ourselves in early November. People in attendance were open with each other immediately, in the kind of way that typically takes being on a third date or having had a second pint. Conversations started where you’d typically get to 30 minutes in rather than at square one.

Long Beach wound up being important as a location, more so than just being the neighborhood Imprint and InterTrend are located in (InterTrend and Imprint Venture Lab are both managed by Julia Huang, the mastermind behind the conference) though it was important to us that we show support for local culture. What wound up making Long Beach appropriate was its removal from downtown LA—the people present really thought about being there and made a commitment to stay at the conference for an extended period of time. Rather than people floating in for the specific talk they were interested in and then coasting out again, there was a dedicated group of people prepared for deep engagement. People would recognize each other and conversations that were started in the morning continued on to the afternoon and then flowed into drinks at the Long Beach Museum of Art. Speakers being present for more than just their appointed slot of time also demonstrated commitment to availability and the sharing of knowledge.

Text by Charis Poon
Photos by Christina Choi

See the full recap here:
www.maekan.com/article/celebrating-and-evaluating-a-recap-of-unexpected-connections

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Nov 19, 201830:59
Good Earth for Good Herb — Summerland and the Perfect Ceramic Bong

Good Earth for Good Herb — Summerland and the Perfect Ceramic Bong

An eternal summer on a coast of smooth white sand represented in ceramics. Liam Kaczmar set out to make what he couldn’t find elsewhere when he dreamed up Summerland. His one-man operation in San Francisco has allowed him to escape the dissatisfaction he found in: having to put in 70-hour weeks for bosses, having to settle for poorly designed bongs, having to put his design and art direction skills to work making other brands look better. Summerland as Liam envisions it brings access to imagining something better for those firmly engrained in stoner culture and those who are intrigued by the idea for the first time when they come across one of his bongs on the shelf of a clothing boutique. Hosted by Alex Maeland Text, Narration & Transcript by Alek Rose Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Carmen Chan See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/good-earth-for-good-herb-summerland-and-the-perfect-ceramic-bong What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Nov 19, 201833:08
From the Portfolio of Guillaume Ferrand

From the Portfolio of Guillaume Ferrand

Guillaume Ferrand is an illustrator who approaches his work with careful research, deliberate intentions, and a willingness to experiment. He draws inspiration from literature, old movies, classical paintings, architecture, fashion collections, tiles—anything and everything he comes across can feed into his creative output. Besides being an illustrator who is able to draw on many resources, Guillaume uses his artistic series as ways to think about who he is and question his own behavior and prejudices.

Illustrations by Guillaume Ferrand
Audio by Elphick Wo

Follow this podcast with the visuals for the full story here:
www.maekan.com/article/from-the-portfolio-of-guillaume-ferrand

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Nov 13, 201814:31
An Hour with Tan Dun — Master Composer and Force of Culture

An Hour with Tan Dun — Master Composer and Force of Culture

Recently, MAEKAN teamed with Hong Kong’s most renowned publication SCMP to produce a story on Tan Dun, a master composer and living Chinese national treasure. Most familiar to international audiences for his work scoring Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he amassed a great body of work that combines Western and traditional Chinese theatrical conventions before finding more mainstream success with film scores and composing for China’s milestone events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Script, Narration & Text by Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Christopher Lim See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/tan-dun-master-composer-and-force-of-culture What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Oct 17, 201816:41
Shochu & Soju — Yardbird's Elliot Faber Breaks Down The World's Favorite Rice Wines

Shochu & Soju — Yardbird's Elliot Faber Breaks Down The World's Favorite Rice Wines

As the distilled spirit of choice in South Korea, soju has quickly gained popularity alongside the country’s cultural exports. No stranger to the different spirits of the world, especially those in Asia, Yardbird beverage director, and Sake Samurai Elliot Faber knows a thing or two about soju and its Japanese cousin, shochu. We sat down with him in Seoul to hear the differences and similarities between the two spirits in terms of their production, consumption, and culture. Interview by Tara Babbins Narration by Nate Kan Photos by Jason Schlabach & Jung Jaiuk See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/shochu-soju-yardbirds-elliot-faber-breaks-down-the-worlds-favorite-rice-wines What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Oct 07, 201812:16
Authenticity and Transparency in Fashion Media — The Fashion Law with Julie Zerbo

Authenticity and Transparency in Fashion Media — The Fashion Law with Julie Zerbo

Julie Zerbo began The Fashion Law while she was still in law school, using it as a way to ground the theory that she was learning in something concrete. Julie’s website originates around the explosion in popularity of fashion blogging. Those who were not formally part of the industry could attempt to carve their own path inwards. Many of these platforms faded into obscurity just as quickly as they began. But the refreshing candor of The Fashion Law, alongside an intense level of rigor for the craft, gained her a significant following who want to see beneath the surface. The Fashion Law reader isn’t satisfied with what meets the eye. Script & Narration by Alek Rose Interview by Eugene Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Heather Sten See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/authenticity-and-transparency-in-fashion-the-fashion-law-with-julie-zerbo What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Sep 30, 201828:47
There is No Handbook — Chapter-by-Chapter with Director Decatur Dan

There is No Handbook — Chapter-by-Chapter with Director Decatur Dan

Rarely do creatives start their careers with a particular defined path. It requires a few bumps and bruises, and wrong turns to find the right path. Decatur Dan, otherwise known as Daniel Hall, has come up through the ranks in a way that’s almost a requisite for success… your own way. His initial start creating content began as the streetwear boutique in Atlanta known as Standard. Regular meetings with Atlanta’s vibrant hip-hop scene allowed a new chapter to emerge as a music video director for the likes of 2Chains, Future, and more. Script & Narration by Eugene Kan Transcript by Alek Rose Audio by Elphick Wo Video by Daniel Hall Photos by Alex Maeland See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/there-is-no-handbook-chapter-by-chapter-with-director-decatur-dan What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Sep 24, 201851:25
Product Research Through Culture — Behzod Sirjani and How Slack Humanizes Work

Product Research Through Culture — Behzod Sirjani and How Slack Humanizes Work

Researcher and photographer Behzod Sirjani has dedicated his career towards the understanding of culture. It has come through the lens of both social media, at Facebook and more recently with remote and digital work at Slack. The interactions we’ve engaged in online have changed significantly from our face-to-face communications of the past, and as such, we now see our peers much differently. Our access to their interests, their views, and how they interact is on full display. These cultural nuances, through Sirjani’s role as Senior Researcher at Slack, present themselves as key determinants of how digital work culture moves forward. The inclusion of photography has also given him an added tool to force him to observe and be present as things play out around him. Interview by Eugene Kan Transcript & Text by Alek Rose Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Behzod Sirjani See the full story here: https://www.maekan.com/article/product-research-through-culture-behzod-sirjani-and-how-slack-humanizes-work What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Sep 21, 201852:37
MAEKAN Travel Diary — Conversing through Football in Egypt

MAEKAN Travel Diary — Conversing through Football in Egypt

Hey, everyone. My name is Umar Issa. I’m from Los Angeles, California and recently I took a trip to Egypt for a few weeks.
Egypt is a place I’ve wanted to visit for so long. It’s known in Arabic as Umm al-Dunya which means “mother of the world”. And I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to spend some time this summer exploring the land of our ancestors.

Narrated and text by Umar Issa
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Umar Issa

See the full story here:
www.maekan.com/article/maekan-travel-diary-conversing-through-football-in-egypt

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Sep 08, 201803:25
Anything Can be Fascinating — Avery Trufelman of 99% Invisible on Telling Stories Well

Anything Can be Fascinating — Avery Trufelman of 99% Invisible on Telling Stories Well

Avery Trufelman is a producer at 99% Invisible, an extremely popular podcast created by Roman Mars. She crafts stories about things overlooked and believes anything can be a good story when told correctly. “If you go far enough away and zoom out and look at larger pictures everything is fascinating; if you zoom in and in and in closer and closer and deep into histories and linguistics of anything everything is fascinating. Like everything has a context, everything has a person behind it, everything has some sort of conflict.” Listen to Avery and Charis untangle what it means to be a podcaster/producer and delve deep into the possibilities of storytelling.

Hosted, narrated, and text by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Stanley Cheng

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/anything-can-be-fascinating-avery-trufelman-of-99-invisible-on-telling-stories-well

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Sep 01, 201844:09
Sights & Sounds — Chris da Canha

Sights & Sounds — Chris da Canha

Chris da Canha is a skateboarder and photographer who hails from Durban, South Africa, but currently calls South Korea home.
A regular contributing photographer for MAEKAN, he has shot many of our stories in Seoul, where he is currently based. These include our stories on RYSE, Cody Hudson and most recently Kang Seunghyuk of WORKSOUT.

Photos by Chris da Canha
Audio by Elphick Wo

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/sights-sounds-chris-da-canha

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Aug 30, 201813:40
Building A True Cannabis Lifestyle Brand — Ariel Stark-Benz of Mister Green

Building A True Cannabis Lifestyle Brand — Ariel Stark-Benz of Mister Green

Weed. Marijuana. Bud. Pot. Reefer. Dope. Herb. Mary Jane. Chronic. Broccoli.

Every region, person, and demographic seemingly have their own preferred definition for cannabis. Mind you, the short list above only spans the English language. The universal nature of cannabis has made it a particular interesting part of popular culture fabric. The fact that so many differing perspectives exist mean that the resulting experiences we create for them also have the likehood to change and adapt whether it be a user, grower, storyteller, or in the case of Ariel Stark-Benz, the retailer.

Hosted by Alex Maeland
Transcript by Alek Rose
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Carmen Chan

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/building-a-true-cannabis-lifestyle-brand-ariel-stark-benz-of-mister-green

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Aug 18, 201801:23:13
Straight Outta Saigon — Jenni Trang Le Talks Vietnam's Film Industry

Straight Outta Saigon — Jenni Trang Le Talks Vietnam's Film Industry

In this first story to come out of Saigon, Elphick recalls his chat with film producer Jenni Trang Le. A near 10-year veteran of the Vietnamese film industry, her work has continued to push the envelope of cinema in Vietnam overcoming obstacles that include tight budgets, fickle box offices and government censorship.

Script by Nate Kan
Transcript by Charis Poon
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Christopher Lim

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/straight-outta-saigon-jenni-trang-le-talks-vietnams-film-industry

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Aug 15, 201828:51
Calming the Freelance Rollercoaster — Cushion App Built by Jonnie Hallman

Calming the Freelance Rollercoaster — Cushion App Built by Jonnie Hallman

Jonnie Hallman has dedicated the past four years to building an app called Cushion to help ease the minds of freelancers. A long time freelancer himself, he meets the needs of freelancers with useful, smart features and also through giving a digital tool personality and warmth. Interview by Eugene Kan Text, Narration & Illustrations by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/calming-the-freelance-rollercoaster-jonnie-hallmans-cushion-app What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Aug 10, 201820:60
Building the Brand — 28 Days with Alek Rose

Building the Brand — 28 Days with Alek Rose

In this Building the Brand, Eugene and Charis sit down with Alek Rose, MAEKAN's second full-time apprentice who we had the pleasure of working with these past 28 days. Half debriefing, half feedback session, this episode examines some of the insights the soon-to-be graduate Alek has gained, as well as challenges he faced in his short few weeks in Hong Kong. Hosted by Eugene Kan, Charis Poon & Alek Rose Text by Nate Kan Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Christopher Lim & Nate Kan See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/building-the-brand-alek-rose What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Aug 01, 201825:25
Rooted in Californian Nostalgia — 40s and Shorties Grows Up

Rooted in Californian Nostalgia — 40s and Shorties Grows Up

Charis Poon interviewed Adem Niazi and Drewbyrd from 40s and Shorties during their short trip to Hong Kong. Listen as the two co-founders speak about building the brand and how it has enabled them to share their own story of being rooted deep in California's culture. Text, Interview & Narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Christopher Lim See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/rooted-in-californian-nostalgia-40s-and-shorties-grows-up What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Jul 31, 201830:17
Sights & Sounds — Gideon de Kock

Sights & Sounds — Gideon de Kock

Gideon De Kock is a Hong Kong based street photographer originally from Cape Town, South Africa. He used to work as a full time musician while in South Africa, has a background in sound engineering, and still occasionally plays guitar and bass and mixes audio.

After moving to Hong Kong, Gideon cut his teeth as a photographer shooting the streets and back-alleys of the city. His approach to photography is loose, with a focus on details and salt-of-the-earth subjects. Gideon currently works at a boutique creative agency and will be releasing a solo photo book this August.

Photos by Gideon de Kock
Audio by Elphick Wo

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/sights-sounds-gideon-de-kock

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Jul 22, 201809:16
The Golden Years — Detroit Techno's Warehouse Scene

The Golden Years — Detroit Techno's Warehouse Scene

“See you at the Packard” was what Detroit youth would say as they parted ways at the city’s coffee shops, before regrouping after sunset. Opened in 1903, the Packard Plant was a grand statement of the booming American car industry. Yet the mid-century recession meant the 3,500,000-square-foot plant was left abandoned. In 1957, the plant closed its doors to the auto business, and in its replacement laid the foundation to a musical subculture that shaped electronic music today: techno.

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/the-golden-years-detroit-technos-warehouse-scene

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Jul 17, 201801:06:29
Depression is Like Anything Else — Neal Brennan Mic'd Up

Depression is Like Anything Else — Neal Brennan Mic'd Up

Depression is Like Anything Else — Neal Brennan Mic'd Up Comedian and Chapelle's Show co-creator Neal Brennan opens up on how culture and society need to change perceptions of depression. Script, Narration & Audio by Kevin Chau Photos by Christopher Lim & Eugene Kan Illustrations by Jeremy Leung See the whole story: https://www.maekan.com/article/depression-is-like-anything-else-neal-brennan-micd-up What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Jul 15, 201825:45
Shedding Vanity — Establishing Purpose with Alex Valdman of Rapha

Shedding Vanity — Establishing Purpose with Alex Valdman of Rapha

Alex Valdman has worked dilligently and embraced the bumps and bruises of innovating in fashion and design. His early path in fashion was driven by the vanity of working with the likes of Kanye West and Nike, but in time he recognized vanity's detrimental effects on a creator's ultimate path.

Hosted by Eugene Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Mia Haggi

See the whole story:
www.maekan.com/article/shedding-vanity-establishing-purpose-with-alex-valdman-of-rapha

What is MAEKAN?
MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture.
We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking.

Sign-Up Today
If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions.

MAEKAN.com

Follow Us
instagram.com/maekan
facebook.com/storiesforthecurious
twitter.com/maekan
stories@maekan.com
Jul 13, 201840:39
War Machine

War Machine

David Kenji Chang spoke with Brendon Babenzien, creator of the apparel brand Noah, about taking a stand, not pulling punches, and balancing contradictions. Continue reading for the full story or listen to a condensed version of the interview above.

Text and interview by David Kenji Chang
Audio mixing by Elphick Wo
Photos by Heather Sten

See the whole story here.

What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com
Jul 01, 201847:03
Made To Last — The Knives of Hinoki

Made To Last — The Knives of Hinoki

The brand Hinoki may be best known for the S1 Gyuto Chefs Knife, but 24-year-old founder Hamish Grace is doing a lot more than just selling blades on the internet with this project.

Behind what appears to be a sleek knife brand is actually a mission to c

Jun 27, 201820:40
Trusting Your Senses — Eric Lau on Music Shaping Society

Trusting Your Senses — Eric Lau on Music Shaping Society

Eric Lau is a London based music producer focused on making music that connects people and has a positive impact on society. He looks intentionally for ways that his music and his skills can inspire and encourage others, whether it’s through mixing albums, producing original work, or teaching young people. His desire to shift society towards goodness as much as possible can be traced back to how he got started making music.

Hosted by Charis Poon & Elphick Wo
Music by Eric Lau
Mixed by st

Jun 24, 201856:38
A Playing Field for All — New Opportunities for Creatives of Color

A Playing Field for All — New Opportunities for Creatives of Color

The creative world sees itself as progressive and liberal. The beliefs that make up this mindset are easy to understand on a theoretical level, but they don’t always translate directly into practice. Each life is a collection of unique experiences: a combination of our background, our history, and our culture. Taking that complexity and simplifying it into an easy-to-follow line of progress can be difficult. Good decisions, just as much as the bad decisions, are a culmination of everything that got us to this particular point in time.

The democratization of cre

Jun 20, 201826:11
Muted Music — The Private Spaces of Karachi’s Underground

Muted Music — The Private Spaces of Karachi’s Underground

Faraz Siddiqui and Hassan Khan, Co-Founders of lifestyle brand HeF.

" data-reactid=".twey87g0iy.3.$4.2.2.0.0:$17836000003.0.0.0.0" />

Imagine moving ‘home’ for the first time in your life.

Having spent almost the entirety of her life abroad, Mahira returned to Karachi, Pakistan to explore the the city of her father’s childhood and mother’s early adulthood. Brought up on the stories of Karachi’s past, of ‘the good old days’ that seemed to have withered away under the dust and debris in the forgotten parts of town, she embarked on a journey to explore the city she was told was once filled with bars, nightclubs and discotheques—the city

Jun 14, 201828:11
Joshua Kissi on True Diversity in Stock Photography — TONL's Take on Equality
Jun 08, 201853:59
Creating a Neighborhood Hotel —  RYSE Makes Its Mark on Hongdae

Creating a Neighborhood Hotel — RYSE Makes Its Mark on Hongdae

In the face of the sharing economy, the modern idea of a hotel has largely been upended and put on the defensive. When on-demand rental places offer a plethora of choices in prime neighborhoods and with potentially more competitive prices, it pushes hoteliers to reimagine what role they should play as fosterers of hospitality and community.

RYSE is a modern hotel concept borne out of Jason Schlabach and Leo Moon’s vision. Together, the two have drawn from their wealth of different cultural and business experience to create globally-unique and locally-relevant experiences. Several cultural pillars are well-represented within the confines of RYSE, ranging from world-class cuisine by San Francisco’s Tartine and David Thompson’s Long Chim, and local fashion retail heavyweight WORKSOUT.

Script & Narration by Eugene Kan
Audio by

Jun 06, 201820:21
The Outlier Way — Clothing Unwavering Against Compromise
Jun 04, 201818:51
Spinning Wheels — Ceramics and Music with Sloane Angell
May 27, 201832:02
Block Parties & Music History —  Philadelphia's DJ Matthew Law

Block Parties & Music History — Philadelphia's DJ Matthew Law

Back in Summer 2017, Elphick took a trip to North America to visit friend and fellow producer Tee (who helped to produce our Sounds of Hong Kong and Sounds of Tokyo stories). Following his stays in Toronto and New York, he decided to drop by Philadelphia to meet with DJ Matthew Law, who Elphick had met in Hong Kong a few years prior to MAEKAN’s inception.

In the catch-up that followed, Matthew shared a bit about his past and progression as a DJ and the block parties in the musically rich city that cross genres and unite generations of locals.

Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by

May 18, 201823:28
How Long Did That Take to Paint? — The Art of Matt McCormick
May 09, 201823:21
Ballers for Hire — China's Underground Basketball Scene
May 07, 201824:18
Equidistant — Ms Banks & Fotan Laiki Contrast and Compare Their Musical Worlds

Equidistant — Ms Banks & Fotan Laiki Contrast and Compare Their Musical Worlds

As a native of Hong Kong, I’m confronted with the duplicity of being a creative in a market full of opportunity, but with little structure to support it. Hong Kong is vexing in that it’s a globalized financial and cultural center similar to New York and London, but unlike those cities, it still lacks on the cultural front.

The underground creative industry, far removed from the fine art and luxury fashion arenas Hong Kong has long been renowned for, is young. The city’s imagination is often limited by a cultural attachment to convenience at the expense of passion. The overwhelming problem of exorbitant rent benefits the landlords only, and an archaic system makes innovation difficult. And yet, artists are fighting, and optimism remains. Each works towards unlocking the city’s full creative potential.

Text & Narration by Keshia Hannam

Apr 27, 201822:25
Imperfectly Perfect — Cody Hudson for RYSE Hotel

Imperfectly Perfect — Cody Hudson for RYSE Hotel

Cody Hudson is a mutual friend that has become in many ways, the artist who’s everybody’s friend. It’s hard not to like the soft-spoken artist based in Chicago. He carries himself with this outward calm that frankly puts you at ease. His work itself feels intimately connected with himself as an individual. It’s about putting something out and not getting caught up in the details. His process is both liberating and calming despite the loose lines.

Cody’s path has often been guided by curiosity. It’s been his passion to learn and take on new experiences that have served as his guiding principles towards life.

Hosted by Eugene Kan
Audio by Elphick Wo
Photos by Chris Da Canha

See the whole story 

Apr 27, 201834:17
Into the South — Connecting with The Mississippi Delta Chinese

Into the South — Connecting with The Mississippi Delta Chinese

In this story, Nate chats with NY-based photographers Emanuel Hahn and Andrew Kung. While both have a large body of experience with commercial work, the two left the big city behind for a few weeks in October 2017 to personally connect with a community in the South that’s been rooted there for generations, but remains largely misunderstood—if known at all—by the rest of America.

Part photojournalism project, part personal exploration of racial and regional identity, The Mississippi Delta Chinese is audiovisual narrative that captures the co

Apr 21, 201843:40
YETI — ORIGINS
Apr 07, 201815:38