A podcast exploring identity, mental health, culture, faith, and human stories from the in-between.

In this episode of Take 1.5 , we meet a woman whose journey from Tanzania to South Korea became far more than an international move. It became a calling. After leaving Tanzania in 2009 to pursue higher education in Korea, she found herself building a life between two cultures—and ultimately becoming a bridge between them. Today, she works in public relations, translation, interpretation, and diplo...

We all know sleep matters—but most of us don't realize just how much it affects our brain, mental health, and long-term health. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hyun Kim, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, to explore the science of sleep. We discuss why quality sleep is essential, how poor sleep impacts memory, mood, and overall health, and...

What does it mean to create something that lasts for generations? In this episode of Take 1.5, I sit down with Jane Dua, founder of NUNCHI, a Korean-American fine jewelry brand redefining what modern heirlooms can be. Jane shares her journey as a Korean American entrepreneur, the inspiration behind building a jewelry company rooted in both heritage and contemporary design, and how culture continue...

장애인과 함께 사회를 섬김니다캐롤라니나 밀알 선교단 704-860-1388 charlotte@wheatmission.orgPastor Steve Lee is the Director of Carolina Milal, a ministry serving individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Charlotte community. A pastor, husband, and father of three, Steve has dedicated his life to building communities where every person is seen, valued, and supported. Steve&#39...

What does it really take to stand out in private boarding school admissions? In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Kim — 🇺🇸 U.S. middle school math teacher & education consultant — to talk about boarding school admissions, extracurricular activities, and what schools are actually looking for in students today.🏫 Public & private school consulting📚 Extracurricular activity advising🍎 Onl...

In this episode, I sit down with Susie Runkle, a Korean American Christian life coach, daughter of the King, wife, and mother of two teenage daughters, for an honest conversation about healing, anger, resentment, and emotional freedom. Susie shares her personal journey of working through childhood wounds, shame, and suppressed emotions while learning how to “adult” with peace and self-awareness. W...

When “I’m fine” stops being true, what’s the next step? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jang Cho, MD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, to talk about how to recognize when you need help, what kind of support actually makes sense, and how to ask for it—even when it feels uncomfortable. We get into the gray areas: therapy vs. medication, what to do if cost is a barrier, and w...

왠지 말하기 어려운 얘기들: 성, 수치심, 그리고 신앙 What We Don’t Talk About: Sex, Shame, and Sunday Faith In this episode, we gently step into the conversations we tend to avoid—sex, shame, and faith. Topics that are deeply connected, yet often left unspoken. Roy, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former pastor, brings a unique perspective shaped by years of working with sexual addictio...

Let's Talk 마음이야기 EP 01- Mental Health SeriesMy first guest, Dr. Hyun Kim, clinical psychologist, researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and author of Boundaries (Korean), shares a powerful conversation on expectations, responsibility, and finding your voice as someone living between cultures. We talk about the cost of staying silent, the mental load that follows us into adul...

Sylvia Kim knows how to build something that lasts. For over 25 years, she led Mom & I magazine, growing it into a trusted voice within the Korean American community. As a single mother, she built both a career and a community rooted in trust and connection. In this episode, we talk about reinvention, cross-cultural leadership, and what it takes to start a new chapter after decades in one path...

Women Entrepreneurs 3 Today’s guest, Sheena Yap Chan, has spent years exploring that question. She’s a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and host of The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, where she’s interviewed over 800 women about self-worth, visibility, and leadership. Through her work — including her books The Tao of Self-Confidence and Bridging the Confidence Gap — Sheena helps women move from s...

Carol Pak is the Founder & CEO of Sool, the parent company of Makku, and a mother of two young children, balancing boardrooms and bedtime stories. Raised in a supportive and loving Korean family in New York, Carol grew up inspired to lead. That early foundation — family first, work hard, dream big — shaped her path from corporate innovation to entrepreneurship. Before launching Sool in 2017, s...

In this episode, we talk with Evelyn Moon, founder, mother, mentor, and a Korean American lawyer who grew up speaking Korean as her first language. She shares the challenges of becoming an attorney while navigating cultural barriers, raising a child, and leading her own firm. Evelyn opens up about the reality of work-life balance as a working mom, and why she’s passionate about mentoring the next...

Haley, a Brooklyn-based writer and actor, joins Take 1.5 with Min Lee for a powerful conversation about identity, Korean culture, family expectations, and generational trauma. With a background as an elementary school educator, Haley brings deep insight into social-emotional development, childhood experiences, and how early family dynamics shape the way we communicate, cope, and form relationships...

What if being a nurse didn’t mean choosing between caring for others and building financial freedom? In this episode, we sit down with Jiwon Lee — a New Jersey–based psychiatric nurse, educator, real estate investor, and future Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — who is redefining what’s possible in a nursing career. Since 2015, Jiwon has worked across an incredible range of clinical se...

Selina Lee’s journey weaves together art, storytelling, and food. Born in Seoul and raised in the U.S. as a teenager, she began her career in graphic design and publishing before following a growing passion for Korean cooking. In this episode, Selina shares how that pivot led to founding Banchan Workshop, co-authoring The Korean Instant Pot Cookbook, and building a career as a menu and recipe deve...

In this Part 2 episode of Take 1.5, Min Lee interviews Dr. Jiwon Yoo, a licensed psychologist who works closely with children, adolescents, and families. Drawing from both her clinical work and her own lived experience, Dr. Yoo discusses what it’s like to grow up navigating two cultural worlds—and how that shapes identity, mental health, and family relationships. Together, we discuss the unspoken...

In this Part 1 episode of Take 1.5, Min Lee interviews Dr. Jiwon Yoo, a licensed psychologist who works closely with children, adolescents, and families. Drawing from both her clinical work and her own lived experience, Dr. Yoo discusses what it’s like to grow up navigating two cultural worlds—and how that shapes identity, mental health, and family relationships. Together, we discuss the unspoken...

What happens when a Korean American dad and daughter realize they grew up in two completely different cultures… under the same roof? Yosef and Seul Lee open up about identity, language, family expectations, and what “being Korean American” really means across generations. Raw. Honest. Funny. Relatable. If you’ve ever lived in the in-between, this one hits home.🎙️ New episode out now👇 Tell us how...

🎧 Title: Neuroscience Meets Real Life: Why Your Brain Needs to PauseWhat if slowing down is the smartest thing your brain can do? Dr. Nuri Jeong, neuroscientist and executive coach, shares how our brains shape every word, thought, and decision — and why taking a pause might be your greatest advantage. From groundbreaking research on memory to transforming brain science into real-world tools for l...

🎗️ Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Real Talk with Dr. Crystal Yi 🎗️Cancer is scary, frustrating, and… sometimes ridiculously annoying. In this episode, Min chats with Dr. Crystal Yi, a general surgeon, about their personal journeys with cancer—laughing, venting, and sharing the moments that make it all human.💖 We need each other. We fight cancer together. Through faith, hope, and community, we fin...

Dior ‘Toile de Jouy’ Meets Korean Folk Art | AI x Minhwa🎨 디자이너에서 AI 프로덕트 매니저, 그리고 이제는 AI 아티스트로.기술과 예술의 경계를 자유롭게 넘나들며, 전통적 요소들을 현대적 감각으로 재해석합니다. 동서양의 문화적 배경을 바탕으로, AI와 디지털 페인팅을 통해 새로운 시각 예술의 가능성을 탐구합니다.🌍 From Designer → AI Product Manager → AI Artist. I explore the intersection of technology and...

Why should the church care about undocumented immigrants? In this episode of Take 1.5 Podcast , we sit down with Eunil David Cho , Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care and Counseling at Boston University School of Theology. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Cho is also a Korean American Presbyterian pastor who has served congregations in Atlanta, Dallas, and Boston. Born in Korea and raised in Atlant...

Caring for Aging Immigrant Parents: Expectations, Resentment, and EmpathyIn this episode of Take 1.5 Podcast, I sit down with Ruby Urquiza, LCSW, to talk about the complexities of caring for aging immigrant parents. From navigating medical systems to balancing emotional labor, we unpack the unspoken expectations that often fall on children of immigrants. Ruby opens up with an honest and vulnerable...

Hey, get to know your host of Take1.5 Podcast, Min LeeSome of you asked, and she answered. Stay tuned for Season 2, coming soon! Subscribe to this channel, Like, CommentFollow on Instagram, Spotify & AppleYour support really matters to us!