Aconic

Before Ali Ahn became a standout on Netflix’s The Diplomat and joined the Marvel universe in Agatha All Along , she was an actor wondering whether Hollywood would ever know what to do with her. After moving to Los Angeles, Ali was told by her agents that they didn’t see a future for her there. She returned to New York, moved into an illegal basement apartment, and found herself questioning whether...

For decades, much of Asian American history was dismissed, overlooked, or considered impossible to document. Professor Gordon H. Chang helped change that. A pioneering historian and one of the founding figures of Asian American studies, Gordon uncovered the records, photographs, artifacts, and personal collections needed to preserve stories that had been hidden in plain sight. His groundbreaking w...

Before Jane Wu became the acclaimed producer and director behind Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai, she spent decades mastering the art of visual storytelling behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic moments. But her path was anything but obvious. From immigrating to the U.S. from Taiwan and finding her voice through art, to breaking into a male-dominated industry, failing spectacularly at storyboarding, a...

When an Instagram message landed in Dion Lim's inbox, everything changed. What began as another morning in the newsroom became the start of a journey that would transform her career—and help bring the rise of anti-Asian hate into the national conversation. In this deeply personal conversation, the Emmy Award-winning journalist shares how years of trying to fit in gave way to finding her voice, why...

The Aconic Podcast welcomes Lanhee Chen, a Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford, CNN’s first AAPI political commentator, and host of “Crossing the Lines,” discussing how “losing well” shaped his values, resilience, and commitment to balanced, empathetic political discourse. Chen shares his immigrant family background from Taiwan, growing up from a small Midwestern town to Southern California’s ev...

In this powerful episode of the Aconic Podcast, Gary Locke shares his extraordinary journey with host, Soon Yu, from growing up in Seattle public housing to becoming the first Chinese American governor in U.S. history and later U.S. Ambassador to China. Locke opens up about: - his immigrant family’s sacrifices - anti-Asian racism growing up - the assassination plot against him as governor - affirm...

Victor Koo built one of the largest video platforms in the world as co-founder and former CEO of Youku - often called the “YouTube and Netflix of China” - creating billions in value and reaching millions of people. But at the height of that success, something didn’t add up. In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, Victor shares his journey chasing achievement across tech, media, and finance… to real...

Samantha Tan joins the Aconic Podcast to share her incredible journey from a small rural town in Canada to becoming one of the most recognized drivers in international endurance racing. As the first Asian woman to win a major international endurance championship, Samantha opens up about her path into motorsports, the mindset required to compete at the highest level, and the challenges of building...

Kristi Yamaguchi, the first Asian-American Winter Olympic gold medalist and trailblazer, shares her powerful journey from world champion figure skater to becoming a symbol of the Asian American Dream. In this episode, Kristi reflects on determination, discipline, and identity, opening up about winning Olympic gold at 20, representing the Asian American community, and finding purpose beyond competi...

In this deeply human conversation, host Soon Yu is joined by Abigail Hing Wen (author, filmmaker, and creator of  The Veil ) and Ashley Liao (actor, poet, and advocate) to explore creativity, identity, and mental health through the lens of what it means to stay human in an age increasingly shaped by AI. The discussion begins with their groundbreaking work on  Love in Taipei  and exp...

Aconic host Soon Yu sits down with Jane Marie Chen, entrepreneur, bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break , leadership coach, and co-founder of Embrace Innovations. Embrace created a life-saving infant warming blanket that has helped save over one million babies worldwide. Despite extraordinary success, Jane shares the truth few leaders talk about: even after saving a million babies, she still...

Join Aconic as we interview Dan Tani, former astronaut, as he shares his extraordinary journey.    His resilience facing adversity started with his family being shaped by the Japanese-American internment camps. But through his optimism and belief in the good in other people, brought him all the way to walking in space aboard the International Space Station.  Hear his stories of...

In her most recent role as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars), Janet Yang helped move AAPI stories from the margins to the mainstream, reshaping how Hollywood sees and celebrates Asian voices. A quiet insider turned cultural trailblazer, Janet reflects on her journey from being the only Asian kid in her Long Island neighborhood to prod...

Just days before announcing his retirement, Jeremy Lin sat down with the Aconic Podcast for his final interview as an active player. In this candid conversation, Jeremy opens up about the decision to step away from basketball, the questions he wrestled with, and what might come next. He shares raw reflections on purpose, impact, and faith, asking himself, “Am I really living up to who I said...

Dipanjan (DJ) Deb, Co-Founder & CEO of Francisco Partners, joins Tina Shah Paikeday to share his journey from humble beginnings to leading one of the world’s most respected investment firms. He speaks on the power of education, building resilience, and leading with authenticity.

When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Bryant Lin’s Journey In this episode, Soon Yu interviews Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician at Stanford, who shares his compelling journey from doctor to patient. The discussion begins with Dr. Lin's professional background, including his pivotal role in founding the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) and his focus on lung cancer in...

One Mother's Sacrifice Inspires Daughter's Mission to Move Families Forward. In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Ritu Narayan, the CEO of Zum, a company revolutionizing the school transportation system. Ritu shares her journey from India to becoming a tech leader in Silicon Valley, discusses her family's influence and the challenges she faced while building Zum. The conversation delves into Z...

From Side Hustles to Direct Delivery: Larry Liu’s Journey to Building Weee! In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Larry Liu, the CEO of Weee!, America's largest online Asian supermarket. Larry delves into his immigrant journey, the early challenges in America, and his relentless hustle from reselling backpacks to launching Weee!. They discuss Larry's initial stru...

ACONIC Rising: Stanford, Robots, and a Tiara: The Unconventional Reign of Tiffany Chang This episode is part of our new series  ACONIC Rising , which features younger guests on their journey to becoming Aconic. In this episode, Miss Asia USA Tiffany Chang shares her journey from an introverted knitter to a Stanford student, nonprofit founder, and pageant titleholder defying stereotypes. She o...

Geoff Yang, co-founder of Redpoint Ventures : From Building Network Routers to Building a Network of Entrepreneurs, Hip Hop Artists and Olympians In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, Soon Yu interviews venture capital titan and Redpoint Ventures co-founder Geoff Yang as he shares his extraordinary journey of building influential networks that extend far beyond Silicon Valley. From early bets on...

Lisa Ling, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist: How Family Sacrifice and a Hunger for Truth Shaped One of America’s Most Fearless Reporters Join host, Soon Yu on the Aconic Podcast for a deeply reflective conversation with journalist Lisa Ling. In this episode, Lisa opens up about the forces that have shaped her remarkable journey: grappling with identity as an outsider, confronting early career r...

From Cargo Ship Passenger to Secretary of Transportation: The Trailblazing Legacy of Secretary Elaine Chao In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of  The Aconic Podcast , host Soon Yu sits down with Secretary Elaine Chao to explore her remarkable journey—from arriving in America as a seasick 8-year-old on a 37-day cargo ship to becoming the first Asian American woman to serve in two U....

Balancing Babies, Books, and Boardrooms: The Inspiring Journey of Sheila Lirio Marcelo In this heartfelt episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon interviews Sheila Marcelo, the visionary entrepreneur behind Care.com and Ohai.ai. From navigating an unplanned pregnancy as a 20 year old sophomore in college to founding a company that became a lifeline for millions of families, Sheila’s journey...

The Future Will Be Bought: How Bing Chen is Funding the Way In this episode, Soon welcomes Bing Chen, the visionary founder of Gold House, a cultural ecosystem championing Asian creativity. The discussion covers Bing's remarkable journey, his influences, and the transformative work of Gold House. From his beginnings, the impact of losing his father, to his pivotal role at YouTube in shaping the cr...

Embracing Growth, Grit, and Grace with Guy Kawasaki. In this episode of The Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Guy Kawasaki, the renowned evangelist for Apple and Canva, author of 16 books, and the host of the 'Remarkable People' podcast. Guy expounds on his philosophy around the three G's: growth, grit, and grace, and how they've shaped his career and life. He shares personal anecdotes,...