Set The Stage w/ Viv J

Hello, glitter angels.  I sit down with Patricia, whom I met at VASA, to talk about her journey from Brazil to the States, culture shock, language, community, and the traditions she still carries with her. We also talk about Brazilian culture, learning Portuguese, and ideas of how immigrant stories can teach us about belonging and resilience. This conversation means a lot to me because I’ve been r...

Hello angels! I introduce the new season and rebrand, and talk about why waiting for the “perfect time” to create is holding you back. I share my unorthodox process for coming up with concepts in under an hour, how visual storytelling shapes our perceptions, and why it’s okay if your methods seem a little strange to other people. It’s about time I provide additional tips that have helped me on gen...

This episode dives into talking about how things have changed over the past year. As you know, at this moment, it has been twelve months since I graduated from college. Do I even remember it like it’s yesterday… I would have to say that I felt like I had suffered a lot, issues that include long distance, uncertainty, greater transition, anxiety, fears, and so on. On top of that, I felt that all my...

This episode challenges the traditional “puzzle piece” symbol for autism and the idea that autistic people are mysterious or incomplete. Drawing from films like Kaleidoscope of the Plushies (from when I applied for film school), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and The Croods, I suggest more colorful, dynamic ways of seeing neurodivergent identity. Autistic people are not missing pieces– they ar...

Post‑grad life has not been easy. In this episode of Set the Stage, I open up about losing my sense of self after graduation, feeling stuck between my old life and my new one, and how all of this connects to being autistic. I talk about: What I’ve learned 6+ months after graduating Outgrowing my childhood home and old versions of myself Feeling lost and unsure how to build new relationships Common...

Perhaps you might have heard that line, as it comes from my favorite movie, How to Train Your Dragon. I figured, as April is known to be Autism Awareness + Acceptance Month, I decided to dig into some big topics regarding to that subject.  As much as it seems personal to share, I could not put into words as a young teen. In this episode, I refer to the question that Hiccup answers, “So Why Didn’t...

So you didn’t get into the school you wanted.  In this episode, I open up about my college application journey as a high school senior during the pandemic and my recent experience as a post-grad applying to film schools. I talk about coping with rejection, what was expected of me, and how I’ve been navigating it all. Honestly, out of all those experiences, as an autistic woman, it has been emotion...

In this International Women’s Week special, I’m unleashing full “big cat energy” and owning my identity as a queer woman in my early 20s. I’m breaking down the gender binary (man box, gender expectations, gendered misconceptions/assumptions), sharing what my heart taught me when I felt completely lost, and telling real stories from the gym floor, personal training, and finding spaces where I final...

For this next huge topic, taking on another one that is not easy to speak about, and that is friendship. This correlates to how I struggled with it as an autistic person. These days, I still find it hard to talk about it, especially after graduating from DePauw, and saying goodbye, which made it even harder. If you are in a similar phase, you do not have to survive post-grad on your own. By commit...

In this episode, I discuss a huge topic that I took the time to write about. This wasn’t simple to talk about, but nowadays, hearing that my work is “great” just bothers me. We talk about why and how I find this a problem.  To me, “great” just does not feel enough. I would prefer to hear terms bigger than that, and delivering more genuineness.  Additionally, I speak of some trauma roots, linguisti...

Welcome to Episode 7 of Set the Stage! For this one, I discuss a prompt that I have spent a few days writing of. It was tough to talk of as I was brainstorming because I had a lack of words to describe the plushies and special interests that have become an integral part of who I am. Yes, I speak of brief story overviews of the movies I have seen, but also contributing to how they have become impor...

Welcome to 2026! New year, new beginnings! This is episode 6 of the series. And because of this, it’s about time that we talk about where I personally am setting for the year. We’re speaking of goals and hopes, and briefly reflecting on 2025, but at the same time, I’m sharing some tips that have helped me achieve them. All that matters is often finding a system to navigate around you in a way that...

It is about time that we discuss the subject of communication. First off, I understand how hard it can be to navigate. It is such a complex subject in terms of what we want to say. At times, there are people out there who do not watch the way they say certain things, without knowing that these could be considered harmful to neurodivergent individuals. Those can lead to misjudging a lot, making ass...

It’s no brainer that I am obviously full Korean, born and raised in the States. There were moments in my life where I faced some difficulties, such as dealing with racism, misconceptions, pressures that my family went through, and codeswitching, to name a few. And another thing, I do discuss briefly of my family background since you might have seen what they look like from previous videos. I got s...

I got to interview my personal trainer, Chris Milano, from VASA Fitness, as we talked about wellness and health, and how those two aspects collide. We both discuss finding silver linings in the middle of how life may take us in a direction we do not expect. He discussed things he noticed during his pursuit of medicine, while I share similarly to how life hits us. While filming, I felt glad that Ch...

https://roejua.wixsite.com/viviennejproductions - Viv's Websitehttps://linktr.ee/therealviviennej - Viv's LinksYou have entered the second episode of the series. We dive into one of the subjects as listed. In this case and point, we discuss neurodivergence dos and don’ts, as well as tips on navigating around individuals who identify as neurodivergent. If you are a student or an educator wh...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Set the Stage! You have now entered a new series. You might have recognized me through my vlogs on YouTube. The thing is, it’s such a shame that I’m not doing college vlogs anymore. The great note, however, is that we have a new addition to the channel. This is my first time setting up a podcast section/web show, so I’m accustomed to speaking in front of a camera frequently...