Shoes Off Inside with MKT

This podcast has been chugging away for six years, which is a lifetime in the world of podcasting. First as "The May Lee Show" when Covid-19 was raging and Anti-Asian hate was exploding. Then the show evolved into "Shoes Off Inside" with May Lee, Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita. The trio of bold, outspoken and entertaining Asian American women did what they do best...speak openly an...

It's that time of year again when May, Kelly and Tamlyn share their "Favorite Things" for the holidays, BUT this year they took a bit of a turn given how challenging 2025 has been. Instead of focusing on things, they're sharing how experiences like travel, new puppies and our mothers, which have brought us both incredible joy and profound heartbreak. MKT also have a rather salt...

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but honestly, breast health is something we need to stay aware of all year. Regular screenings are key—but here’s the shocker: traditional mammograms can miss up to 50–60% of breast cancers in women with dense breast tissue. And dense breasts are common—about 40% of women in the U.S. have them, and around 80% of Asian women do. But there is a better optio...

In this heartfelt episode, May, Kelly and Tamlyn discuss the emotional journey of dealing with loss, particularly May's experience with her mother's cancer and recent passing. They explore the significance of expressing love, cultural differences in communication, and the impact of grief on personal identity. MKT also touch on the complexities of hospice care, the importance of preservin...

In this episode of "Shoes Off Inside", we attempt to talk about everything and the kitchen sink because there is so much happening every week, every day, every hour. May, Kelly and Tamlyn recorded this episode before protests against ICE raids in the Los Angeles area were inflamed by Trump's order to send in the National Guard and threats of U.S. military intervention. But make no m...

The trade war between the U.S. and the world isn’t just an abstract concept. It’s something very real and painful for small businesses, especially those that rely on products from China. In this episode, we talk to two Asian American female small business owners who are fearful about their future because of the wild swings in tariff policy. First it was a 145% tariff imposed by Donald Trump on all...

The current trade war between the U.S. and China has already sent shock waves around the world and this is just the beginning IF an agreement can't be reached. But there are some giant obstacles that stand in the way of any peace...Donald Trump's lack of understanding when it comes to China's global reach and influence AND Xi Jinping's need to show strength against a perceived...

On a daily basis, Americans and the world are being overwhelmed by the Trump administration's decisions that are deeply consequential politically, economically, socially and constitutionally. Since Trump's first term, the press has been under fire often being called the "Fake News". In this second term, the attacks are growing stronger. On March 15, the U.S. President signed an...

What happens when we take ACTION to find joy, connection and inspiration? From taking a vacation to going to see live theatre to getting emotionally invested in the livelihood of a bald eagle family (May is obsessed!), these are just some of the ways we are finding light in the darkness. But that's not to say May, Kelly and Tamlyn are ignoring the reality of what's happening around us. T...

One important pillar of a functioning Democracy is the press and the ability to freely report truth and fact to the public. But has been a steady erosion of journalistic efforts due to the current political chaos in the U.S. and that is leading to genuine fears that journalism, as we know it, will soon vanish and, instead, a type of propaganda will take its place. This is textbook dictatorial beha...

Sometimes you just need to say “What the F*K!” But then, you need to find a way to cope with all that’s going on…and there’s A LOT going on. So in this episode, May and Kelly (Tamlyn had a very good excuse not to join this time, which is explained in the show) decided to just sit down, unload and share coping mechanisms…everything from dealing with friends on the opposite end of the political spec...

This episode of "Shoes Off Inside" was originally supposed to be about how to mentally prepare for the new year ahead with the help of our guest psychologist Dr. Jenny Wang. But then, the cataclysmic LA wildfires hit and we knew we had to pivot. The destruction to homes, businesses and entire neighborhoods is so immense, it's difficult to truly understand the scale of loss. As of th...

It's that time of year! This is when May, Kelly and Tamlyn put together their list of Holiday Favorite Things! So if you need some gift ideas AND want to support AANHPI and women owned small businesses, this is the episode for you! From beautiful jewelry to yummy baked goods to silver hair care, MKT share a wide range of unique gifts for the holidays! BUT, for a few minutes at the top of the...

Do you believe in miracles??? After 2 years of hosting "Shoes Off Inside" virtually, May, Kelly and Tamlyn FINALLY recorded an episode IN PERSON and they made sure to get into some GOOD TROUBLE! Sitting on the floor in May's living room eating musubi, mochi donuts and drinking boricha, the outspoken threesome tackled the subject of Childless Women, who have recently come under attac...

The threesome is down to two for this episode because SOMEONE forgot about our recording date and overslept! LOL! But as the saying goes, “The show must go on!” So May and Kelly chat up a storm from the frivolous to the very serious. From French wine, cheese and fashion to the disinformation enveloping the hurricanes that are devastating Florida and beyond. Tamlyn was sorely missed, but the ladies...

The ladies of "Shoes Off Inside" took a little time off for summer...a combination of globe-hopping, caretaking and gearing up for the country's most consequential elections in modern history. This is an episode that is full of surprises, insight, admissions and TMI (hint...the squatty potty is a topic). But May, Kelly and Tamlyn get down to serious business with a heartfelt and inf...

Would you be willing to travel on your own dime to all 50 U.S. states and sit down with a total stranger over a meal? Well that's exactly what Shari Leid, former attorney turned life coach, did and she lived to tell the many tales. Her purpose was to find connection and common ground in our growingly divided country. All of her connections were women of all ages, backgrounds and experiences....

The month of May is when the spotlight burns brighter on the AANHPI community! All month long we celebrate the diversity of Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and that means honoring everyone from the most prominent political and media figures to the unsung heroes who are tirelessly working to elevate our voices.  In this episode, May, Kelly and Tamlyn talk about their commitment...

At the heart of this episode is the hotly debated issue of the "coddled" generation. These are Gen Z'ers and, now, Gen Alpha who have been overprotected by parents from the real world with all of it's challenges, pain, and dangers. But ironcially, these same kids have been severely underprotected from social media. According to psychologist and NYU professor, Jonathan Haidt, th...

When it comes to movie stars with the full package, one of our Asian American brothers is at the top of that list...the one and only Daniel Henney! From starting as a model in the U.S. and Asia, to becoming a full-blown heart throb on TV and film in South Korea and worldwide, Daniel continues to entertain the masses. He stars in the series "Wheel of Time" and has a new Korean movie comin...

It's time for our Favorite Things Gift List just in time for last minute shoppers like May, Kelly and Tamlyn who haven't even begun! Once again, we are featuring everything from delicous food, both sweet and savory to holiday ornaments to organic wine to the first Asian American doll, and even a punk rock band! Many of the businesses we feature are API owned and share their profits with...

The numbers don't lie...the senior population is booming while the younger generation is shrinking due to fewer and fewer people having children. That means there is a growing need for caregiving within families, which is leading to more multigenerational households. That's nothing new for Asian families, but we're seeing this trend of multigenerational living increase across all co...

For many of you who have been watching and listening to this show, you've gotten to know May's Golden Retriever, Eggy, pretty well. She would often make cameo appearances during the show knowing exactly where the camera was. Eggy's story, like many rescue dogs, is amazingly touching and inspiring. On October 14 2023, Eggy crossed the rainbow bridge after nearly 16 years. May wanted...

The ladies of "Shoes Off Inside" took an unintentional break for part of the summer, but that's not a bad thing, especially for Kelly Hu, who traversed Europe, then felt the "burn" and mud at "Burning Man". Meanwhile, Tamlyn was busy attending and emceeing various events elevating the API and Japanese American communities. And May was gearing up for her new posit...

This is the episode we've ALL been waiting for, especially Kelly Hu since she suggested this topic when we first launched "Shoes Off Inside". We are talking about SEX, a subject that most everyone is interested in openly or secretly. The problem is, not a lot of people, especially women, are comfortable talking freely and specifically about sex. That's why we invited sexpert an...