hot pursuit by AsianBossGirl

2023 was a busy year for ABG, both professionally and personally. We started simulcasting on YouTube, Helen had her wedding, Janet moved several times, and Mel traveled to Japan & Taiwan! So since this is our first episode of 2024, we thought it’d be a good opportunity to sit down and reflect on 2023 so that we can set intentional goals for the new year. What are significant lessons we learned las...

As a follow-up to the last Spill the Baby Tea episode, Helen invites her husband, Philip (@wongfuphil), to share his perspective on the highs and lows of parenthood. They revisit the cons discussed in the previous episode, adding new insights such as the challenges of maintaining a sense of self, the struggles of making time for each other, and the unexpected lifestyle shifts. They also explore ad...

Happy Holidays from AsianBossGirl! This is our last episode of 2023, and we hope that everyone is enjoying time with loved ones, eating good food, and appreciating some well-deserved rest & relaxation. We’d like to take a moment to look back on one of our favorite episodes, where our parents speak about how they incorporated Western holiday traditions into our upbringing as 2nd-generation Asian Am...

It's the last episode of 2023! In celebration of making it through one full year of continuous episodes, I'm answering some questions from listeners who submitted to my callout on @janetdoubleu (thank you!). How do I get back on track when I fall off of a healthy habit? What do I emphasize in my dental health? How do I calm myself before sleep? Do I stalk my ex on social media? I talk about all of...

We’re back with another Q&A episode with questions that were “secretly” submitted by one another (Check out Part 1 here!) and this time, things are getting a little 🌶️ spicy! We did not hesitate to ask things we’ve always been curious about: Does Mel see herself as the “best friend” character? Why does Helen hate feet so much? Are Janet’s yoga skills useful for sex?  We also stirred the pot with s...

Today’s topic is a reflective one. I just came back from my 2023 vacation to Asia & it was amazing. Traveling opens you up to the world, but it also has a way of revealing truths about yourself. I don't know what it is, but I always come back with some kind of clarity or something I need to do. Take a listen and let me know if you share similar feelings! __________________________________________...

In the final round of our 1-on-1 conversation series, Janet and Helen share how they went from meeting each other as “a friend of a friend” to the close, protective sisterhood they now share. Their friendship dynamic holds many similarities (they’re always down for a night out or new adventure), but also many differences (having traditional vs. non-conventional life paths, or being extroverted vs....

Buckle up for the ride of a lifetime – parenthood! In this episode, Helen takes you through the ups and downs of motherhood and parenthood, from the unparalleled wonder of seeing the world through your child’s eyes to the feeling of overwhelming responsibility and the very real, and very scary, financial strain. If you're on the fence about having a child and curious about what awaits, join Helen...

Today, we’re diving deeper into conversations about mental health and therapy, including questions from our own perspectives, as well as topics we’ve seen others talk about recently. We’re covering a wide range of issues, from letting go of perfectionism and recovering from burnout, to navigating emotional intimacy in relationships. We’re so excited to have Alyssa “Lia” Mancao on the podcast to gu...

When a loss happens (a death, a job, a breakup, whatever) some people experience emotions right away. For me, I usually cry a bit but then soldier on and attend to the To Dos. Only when things calm down do the feelings come. So when I went through a pretty big breakup back in August, while I cried when it initially happened, I became focused on the logistics of moving out, finding a new living sit...

We grew up reading pop culture magazines (like Seventeen and Cosmo) and consuming content through shows (E! Entertainment and MTV). But Asian stars and stories were rarely featured. Today, we’re curating our own pop culture series in podcast format, covering everything that’s new in the world of Asian entertainment, business, fashion, and more! In this episode, we share some celebrity gossip (Dani...

Continuing the topic of college friendships, I chat with my bestie, Sally Le about how this college friendship evolved once we graduated college. How did we go from those innocent, FRIENDS-loving, eager college students to career focused young adults thrown into the real world? How did our friendship stick despite being "long distance"? I also share with Sally why she means so much to me in my 30'...

This season of holiday gatherings with friends and family is a great time to remind yourself of what you’re thankful for. However, with busy lives and so much going on, gratitude doesn’t always come easily. After all, we are built for survival, not happiness. So this week, we wanted to remind ourselves to slow down and reflect on what we’re grateful for, with a replay of one of our favorite episod...

As Helen's world expands with her now-toddler, her relationships with her mommy friends have grown deeper and more significant. Cathy Nguyen is one of those friends! When Helen was pregnant, Cathy thoughtfully dropped off her pregnancy pillow, pack and play, and breast friend and said - “Take this, you’ll need it.” For Helen, it made a world of a difference to feel that level of unasked-for suppor...

We’ve done many Q&A episodes with listener-submitted questions, but on today’s episode, we’re going to be asking questions for each other! These are Q’s that listeners might be curious about (How do we feel about being called influencers?), things we’ve always wanted to ask (When was the last time you were truly happy?), and questions about ABG specifically (What new team members do we need?) - al...

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and who can benefit from it? Is trauma limited to single-event experiences? How does Gen Z approach mental health versus previous generations?  To help me answer these questions is Dr. Monica Band, an award-winning practicing mental health therapist and educator, specializing in providing trauma-informed care for Black, Indigenous, Peopl...

Today’s topic of aging is more somber than usual. Walking through many stages of life with our parents is a blessing for us, but it’s still difficult to come to terms with the passage of time. As physical changes become more apparent, aging is not an avoidable subject. How do we navigate these conversations with our parents and siblings, particularly if it’s taboo to talk about? How will we addres...

Friendships are a topic we get asked about a lot & I get it. It plays such a huge role in our lives! In today's two part series, I want to dive into a very special friendship of mine, that I haven't had the chance to share about on the pod. I'm talking about college friendships. This one, in particular, began in the dorms of UCSD transfer housing & it blossomed into one of my most precious adult f...

Last time we played the card game “Let’s Get Deep”, we got to explore conversations we didn’t expect to have. So we’re doing another episode, and this time, we’re diving even deeper. What are embarrassing things we do when we’re alone? Do we believe in second chances? And would we trade 5 years of our life expectancy to become extremely attractive? __________________________________________ Hosts:...

There is nothing more frightening than what is happening in the world right now. How do we talk to our kids about conflict and war? As parents, we can only hope to create a world where our children can feel safe to navigate his/her own emotions. In this episode, we cover some tips on how to approach the conversation of tragic world events with your child and provide them with support and comfort. ...

Halloween is fast approaching: many people are flocking to horror nights, exploring haunted houses, and watching movie thrillers. However, as people who get too easily scared and try to avoid these spooky encounters, we wondered: what are the reasons why humans might seek out horror and scary experiences? So we did a deep dive into this topic, exploring the psychological and relational benefits of...

Just because you’re alone, doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. Listen in as I share my thoughts on loneliness and how I've been living my life so that I can be alone without being lonely. Leave a 👉🏽👈🏽 in the comments if you enjoyed this episode! I'm also curious if you have tips for combatting loneliness - leave 'em in the comments so we can all get ideas :D Also, let me know what other subjec...

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month in the United States. Although research suggests that over 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, this experience can feel extremely isolating and lonely for families. It certainly did for our guest today, Anne Phung Nguyen Guzman, who experienced 2 miscarriages before giving birth to her beautiful baby boy last summer. Lack of support and empathy from he...

After getting fed up with the self loathing I had with my body image, I decided to finally do something about it. I started to consistently work out for the first time in my life. The "not athletic" girl joined OrangeTheory. I share my insecurities approaching my first HIIT class, the feeling of accomplishment to the rocking results that shook me back to a negative headspace. Now, in 2023, I also...

Continuing our 1-on-1 friendship series, this time it’s Mel and Helen’s turn to share the history and nuances of their duo dynamic! With just a 4-year age gap, there’s a lot that they have in common (any other friend duos out there who are always unfiltered & unhinged??), but there are also distinct differences between them (morning runs vs. sleeping in) that bring a unique perspective and balance...