F*ck Saving Face

As a culture, we don’t talk about grief — and from the people I’ve interviewed with who’ve lost someone, who are needing supporting, others around them simply don’t know what to say. Depending on what you feel you’ve lost, whether it’s a relationship, a dream, or someone dear to your heart, today’s mindfulness practice is based on Toni Parker, Ph. D.’s post with The Gottman Institute about “6 Step...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains talk of suicide. Various losses in Christina's life brought her back over and over again to the practices and teachings in meditation and yoga. Before focusing on yoga full-time, Christina served the White House for 9 years in the White House Office of Management and Budget; and then served as President Obama’s Deputy Director of the White House Initiati...

Trigger Warning: Suicide.  In this episode, you'll hear the three times I felt like I wanted to commit suicide — namely my experience with postpartum depression. How long it took me to figure out something was wrong; how I had to get on medication to treat my PPD; how as a smart, college-educated woman, I couldn't use my intelligence to navigate out of my emotions that didn't make s...

In the pursuit of your dreams, you may encounter a lot of self-doubt — in addition to moments of challenge and triumph. Today's mindfulness practice, inspired by Sylvia Boorstein, is rooted in the idea of lovingkindess or metta . You'll also hear a Goethe quote about committing what you really want, and how this quote played out for me in a story of serendipity that happened after I devo...

In this episode, you'll learn why – even though your Asian parents may want you to become a lawyer or a doctor – there's an opportunity for you to explore what truly makes you come alive professionally and personally. Learn about how I failed math (twice!) in school and how I became a writer (a travel writer who has been invited to one-of-a-kind luxurious experiences around the world), y...

I learned in therapy that emotions aren't linear — they can come out of nowhere, seemingly when it doesn't make sense. After this week's episodes all about mental & emotional health, if you find yourself feeling raw, you're in the midst of going through therapy, or you're considering finding a therapist, then good on you! This mindfulness practice is designed to help s...

Sharon Kwon is a psychotherapist for BIPOC and immigrant populations struggling with racial trauma and identity at Yellow Chair Collective. Recently, she wrote two articles for The Huffington Post that have gone viral, titled This Is What No One Tells You About Being Asian In America In 2021 and I Hated Myself For Not Being White For Most Of My Life. Here’s How I Stopped. She is also a psychiatric...

In this episode, you’ll find out why I’m such an advocate of mental & emotional health — and my own journey into therapy. You’ll hear about my eating disorder, my living in Shanghai, China and working as an editor, and what I had to do to get the kind of help I needed. For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visit: https://www.fcksavingface.com/podcast/episode-13-you-should-go-t...

In this mindfulness practice, I talk about the different koshas (sheaths) that cover your soul, and how to integrate all the parts of you, to remove blocks, and to feel all your feelings. Give this mindfulness practice a quick listen. For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visit: https://www.fcksavingface.com/podcast/episode-12-mindfulness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Rahi Chun was born Charles Seung-Kwon Chun in New York City to parents of Korean heritage. A certified Somatic Sex Educator and creator of Somatic Sexual Wholeness, he is also host of the Organic Sexuality Podcast, exploring practical methodologies for restoring, reclaiming, and realizing our sexual pleasure, health and wholeness. Previously, he was an actor having appeared in over 100 episodes of...

I've probably watched more porn than anyone you know. You'll find out why in this episode. Let's explore sexuality, sensuality, and how to heal the stories that you may have learned growing up in an Asian American household, where topics like sex and masturbation were beyond taboo — maybe you were shamed about them, too.  Here's to healing our bodies, minds, and souls. For more...

Did you know that many cultures refer to the ocean as "mother" because of the rocking and lulling of the waves. Listen to today's mindfulness practice, where I share how I'm friends with legendary surfer Bill Hamilton (Laird Hamilton's dad) and what tip he gave me that transformed the way I approached life. Try this simple practice, whether you're a surfer or not! For...

In this episode we talk with former pro surfer, Margaret Yao Calvani, co-owner of Bing Surfboards, about motherhood, leaving the expectation of a “traditional career” Chinese parents would be proud of, raising biracial children and, of course, surfing. Listen to our interview which we recorded at her home in Encinitas, California — I hope you laugh and nod your head in understanding as much as I d...

A lot of people don't know that I was proposed to and engaged in my mid-20s — I legit don't think about it and you'll find out why in this episode. You'll also hear my dear friend, Margaret Yao Calvani, in this week's series of episodes as she talks about growing up Taiwanese-American, becoming a professional surfer, raising biracial children, and being an entrepreneur.  F...

When it comes to your Asian American family, there can be a lot to forgive, especially if you were a parentified child or experienced tiger parenting as we explored in this week's Monday and Wednesday episodes. Try this simple mindfulness practice, inspired by Hawaiian traditions.  For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visit: https://www.fcksavingface.com/podcast/episode-06-m...

Iris Chen is the founder of the Untigering movement and author of "Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent." Her mission is to promote peaceful parenting, intersectional unschooling, and anti-oppression, especially among Asian communities. After spending 16 years living overseas in China (land of the tiger parent!), she now resides in her native California with...

If you're a child of immigrant parents, then you may have had the experience of being a "parentified child," where you were forced to take on the role of an adult. If you were ever forced into the role of caretaker for your younger siblings or had to become a referee in your parent's arguments, this episode is for you. For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visi...

If this week's topics have been "activating" for you, bringing up feelings and responses you may not have realized you had, this mindfulness practice is designed to help you heal and to bring all the disparate parts of you home to create a real sense of wholeness. For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visit: https://www.fcksavingface.com/podcast/episode-03-call-your...

How do you embrace all facets of your identity, when you’re made up of multiple marginalized populations? Judy speaks with Susan Epps, a self-proclaimed goofy nerd, educator and mom of two who always finds a way to infuse humor and levity when tackling life's toughest issues.  As a veteran independent school senior administrator, Equity & Inclusion consultant, affinity group facilitator,...

Judy shares in our first episode what F*ck Saving Face is all about! And, why we’re launching this podcast NOW — as well as a personal essay about how to find your safe spaces in the world, especially if you’ve ever felt an outcast in your family. For more show notes and links to the things I mention, visit: https://www.fcksavingface.com/podcast/episode-01-find-belonging Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Welcome to the Fuck Saving Face podcast, a space where we learn how to become and celebrate the New Asian in America. In this podcast, we’ll cover:  Mental, emotional, and physical health topics specifically for Asian-Americans Conscious parenting, if you were raised by a tiger mother and have a cub of your own Relationships, marriage, divorce, and dating, especially SEX Spirituality Finding your...