The Old Asian Lady Show

What does it mean to grow up Asian American in a world where you’re constantly reminded you’re “different”? In this #OldAsianLady conversation, Stephen Rong & Sarah Chang share personal stories of childhood in Virginia —navigating microaggressions, hiding parts of our culture, and struggling with self-image. From dealing with Asian stereotyping to being told “Your English is so good,” these mo...

Have you ever experienced something you couldn’t explain? Sue DeSimone and I share our angel experiences where we truly believe our guardian angels stepped with a helping hand. From her falling down a London staircase and walking away with 13 stitches instead of a broken neck, to a snapped rope on a slippery mountain trail in Taiwan that should have sent me over the cliff—something, or someone, sl...

What does the World Bank really do? This isn’t just about policies or loans—it’s about the people behind them. Dr Mae Chu Chang shares her work with impoverished countries spanning 30 years of her life. Why poverty alleviation is World Bank's core mission, and how education reform became a cornerstone of progress. What are the criteria for getting assistance from World Bank?

We’re taking a short break as we prepare for Season 3. Thank you so much for all your support—it truly means the world to us. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season, and looking forward to seeing you in 2026. In the meantime, enjoy some thought provoking clips from our past seasons. Still uploading every Tuesday. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—so you won’t miss a thing when Season 3...

Behind every survivor's smile is pain perhaps you'll never get to see. In part two of Tom Landon's journey on #OldAsianLady, we dive into the hardest chapter of his life - battling leukemia. From painful bone marrow biopsies and spinal taps, to the emotional toll of guilt, anger, and depression. Tom shares the raw truth of living through serious illness. This episode explores the role...

In part 1 of our #OldAsianLady conversation with Tom Landon, we explore what it means to grow up feeling like an outsider. From frequent moves as a military family, to challenges with bullying, to navigating ADHD and how moving to Hawaii gave him a clean slate, new confidence, and a chance to rewrite his story. This episode is about the power of starting over, and the strength it takes to keep mov...

In Part 2 of this #OldAsianLady conversation, we follow Christine Kaʻaloa's leap from reality TV to solo travel vlogging - building #GRRRLTraveler from scratch. She didn’t set out to be a YouTuber. She just didn’t want to lose her voice. We see the highlight reels—epic landscapes, solo adventures, brand deals. But what we don’t see is the behind-the-scenes truth of the grit, the fear, the hust...

What happens when your name, your skin tone, and your heritage all tell different stories? In this episode of #OldAsianLady Part 1, Christine Kaʻaloa opens up about growing up Hapa in Hawai‘i, feeling caught between cultures and struggling to embrace her multi-identities. From Japanese dance traditions to racial stereotypes to a career in New York City to teaching in South Korea, Christine shares...

Some stories don’t fit into neat categories. They stretch across oceans, languages, and generations. Wayne Coito is one of those stories. On this episode of #OldAsianLady, Wayne is Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino—and fluent in Vietnamese. He’s a son, a father, a storyteller, and a community builder. He lives between Hawaii and Los Angeles, between tradition and reinvention, between...

Some stories don’t fit into neat categories. They stretch across oceans, languages, and generations. Wayne Coito is one of those stories. On this episode of #OldAsianLady, Wayne is Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino—and fluent in Vietnamese. He’s a son, a father, a storyteller, and a community builder. He lives between Hawaii and Los Angeles, between tradition and reinvention, between...

This episode discusses learning disabilities and how understanding them can change lives. If you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone supporting a child who struggles in school, this conversation may help you recognize the signs early and respond with empathy. In this deeply personal episode of #OldAsianLady, Sharon continues her conversation with her mom, JoJene Landon — uncovering her lifelong strugg...

How much do you really know about your own mother’s past? In this deeply personal episode of #OldAsianLady , Sharon sits down with her mom, JoJene B Landon to uncover some unheard stories of her life—from a tiny sleeping porch in post WWII in Idaho, to working as a domestic at 8, to joining the Army because she was broke, to being finally diagnosed with Dyslexia by John Hopkins after already attai...

From circular keyboards to copper sculptures, KK’s life is anything but ordinary. In this moving episode of #OldAsianLady, I sit down with Kurt Ken Kaminaka—a third-generation Japanese-American (Sansei) born in Hawaii - whose creative journey spans music, visual art, real estate, and film making. But beneath the vibrant artistry lies a story of profound grief. His most personal and transformative...

What happens when you leap into the unknown—and stay for 40 years? In this heartwarming episode of the #OldAsianLady, a Minnesota native moved to Hawaii on a whim and built a life filled with love, loss, and quiet courage. His journey from bartending, golf and Saying No to navigating other challenges along the way, Ross Butterfield shares the lessons that shaped him—and the golden rule that still...

After taking a short break, Old Asian Lady is back with stories encountered during my travels this summer. Stay tuned because Season 3 is coming soon!

In this Part 2 episode on #OldAsianLady, Sophie Lee continues with her amazing journey. From starting two companies to buying her first home in Taipei at 24, Sophie opens up about the emotional toll of grinding through three jobs, learning on the fly, and building a life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Sophie shares: - The reality of starting a business with friends and what she’s learned -...

What if failure wasn’t the end—but the start of becoming who you really are? In Part 1 of this soul-stirring episode of #OldAsianLady, we sit down with Sophie Lee, a young Taiwanese entrepreneur whose story is anything but conventional. From dropping out of Taiwan’s rigid education system to rebuilding her confidence in the U.S., Sophie’s journey is a masterclass in self-discovery, cultural disson...

What happens when you dedicate your life to an art form—and the world around you changes faster than your dreams can keep up? In Part 2 on #OldAsianLady, we reunite with Jean-Jacques Chen, an animator whose career has spanned continents, mediums, and evolving technologies. From his early days obsessing over Dragon Ball and sketching every stroke by hand, to becoming a versatile creator working in...

In Part 1 of this deeply personal #OldAsianLady interview, Jean-Jacques Chen—a French-born, Belgian-raised, Taiwanese shares his own creative journey balancing Western individualism with Eastern expectations. From the streets of Brussels to the mountains of Taiwan, JJ opens up about: - How early interest in cartoons & drawing lead to animation - Dealing with the tolls of family expectation &am...

In Part 2 of our thought provoking conversation, #OldAsianLady welcomes back Karen Chung—retired professor at National Taiwan University (NTU), linguist, polyglot, and developer of EarBug. After 30+ years in Taiwan’s top academic institution, Karen reflects on her legacy, the gaps in English Language education, and the Echo Method she believes can fix Taiwan’s listening and pronunciation struggles...

In this compelling episode of #OldAsianLady, we sit down with Karen Chung, a linguist and retired NTU professor whose life is a testament to the quiet, profound transformation that comes with staying—staying in a place, in a culture, and in the uncertainty of one's own evolving identity. Originally from the U.S., Karen arrived in Taiwan over 4 decades ago and found a home. She has woven herself in...

Today’s #OldAsianLady guest is Antonella Gismundi, an Italian data analyst with a fascinating background in linguistics & psychology, now thriving in Taiwan! She shares: - How a six-month adventure in Taiwan turned into 16 years of discovery and lifelong learning. - Culture shock starting from her shoes melting in the heat. - How speaking Italian, English, or Mandarin influences her personalit...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, a Canadian with a multifaceted career opens up about his bold move to Taiwan in 1999. His experiences as a journalist, broadcaster, teacher, writer, and voice over artist. Now after 26 years, Brian is moving his cross cultural family back to his home country reflecting on the uncertainties of returning to a familiar yet changed landscape. Join us as we explore the...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, Sandra Fu opens up about her years working in the Middle East, facing racial prejudice, managing her cross-continental business and what happens when your personality doesn’t match your culture’s expectations. She shares the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way. - When being “too outspoken” feels like a cultural misfit - Facing racial bias and fi...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady Michelle reflects on her evolution as a Teacher, Obsessive Creative, Wife & Mother embracing the messy beauty of growth, change, and life’s infinite possibilities all while navigating life in Taiwan. Michelle shares: - The Dance of Balancing Marriage, Parenting and Personal Pursuits - Joys and Struggles of Being an Intercultural Family in Taiwan - Finding Artis...