Create and Flow: Recent Episodes
David
In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Yumi Sakugawa is an interdisciplinary artist and author of several books including I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You and Your Illustrated Guide To Becoming One With The Universe. She has many different ways of expressing herself creatively - illustrations, comics, writing, etc., so we wanted to sit down and chat about her process.
In this episode, we discuss how we can grow creatively from tools shared in the book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:49] Choosing the creative outlet for projects
[5:50] Balancing intuition and structure for her creative projects
[15:29] The Artist’s Way & The Artist’s Date
[34:08] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Yumi and her work.
Website → https://www.yumisakugawa.com/
Instagram → @yumisakugawa
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → @willakana
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
David Hong
Instagram → @davidhongg_
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
In this episode, we discuss the root causes of analysis paralysis, our experiences with it, and how people live the "good life" from Arthur Brook's newest book, From Strength To Strength.
[00:00] Intro
[11:23] Margin of safety
[17:20] Value structuring and living the "good life"
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
In this episode, we go over the role models (both dead and alive) who shaped our worldview and way of thinking.
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
In this episode, we share our moments of discomfort and how we built the tolerance for it
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
In this episode, we discuss how we can be better learners and teachers, the educational system, and what skills are needed to thrive in today's world.
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
[00:00] Intro
[1:07] The nuance of learning & the current educational system
[22:12] Crafting the right identity, and what society sometimes crafts for us
[35:59] The new skills needed to thrive in this era
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Mayuko is a software engineer turned content creator on YouTube. After working in Silicon Valley tech companies like Intuit, Patreon, and Netflix for six years as an iOS Engineer, she became a full-time creator in 2020. Her work aims to help people find their way through the tech industry by sharing her own experiences navigating this world through technology, career advice, and lifestyle videos. She is passionate about discussions around mental health, cultural identity, and creating technology with empathy and compassion.
In this episode, we dive into the nuances of being and staying creative, share ways of gathering inspiration, and learn how Mayuko transitioned into a full-time video creator.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[0:56] The insight that allowed Mayuko to create her first YouTube video
[5:50] How Mayuko learned to create videos
[7:40] When to start buying better equipment for video creation
[9:28] A potential reason why it could be so easy for people to negatively compare their work with others
[13:16] Being consistent through “tough” times
[18:07] What is fun about making videos?
[21:42] Deciding when to commit as a full-time content creator
[27:32] Pros and cons of being your own boss
[36:00] Ways to not get overwhelmed with too much work
[41:32] Filling up your “creative well”
[42:46] Breaking the routine for inspiration
[52:42] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Mayuko and her work.
Website → https://www.hellomayuko.com/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/hellomayuko/videos
Instagram → @hellomayuko
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → @willakana
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
David Hong
Instagram → @davidhongg_
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Kimmy Yam is a reporter for NBC News, covering critical topics on race - especially pertaining to Asian Americans.
In this episode, we discuss Kimmy's background and what brought her into journalism. How our inputs (what we consume) affect our outputs (our thoughts and beliefs). And her writing/journalism process.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:22] Painting a more accurate picture in media/journalism for Asian Americans
[6:27] The big reason for diving into writing and journalism
[13:53] Being a better writer
[19:29] Kimmy’s journalism process
[22:00] Choosing which books to read, or what content to consume
[33:21] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Kimmy and her work.
Her articles → https://www.nbcnews.com/author/kimmy-yam-ncpn1063966
Twitter → @kimmythepooh
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → @willakana
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
David Hong
Instagram → @davidhongg_
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Brennen Mejia is an acrobat turned actor best known for his role as the Red Power Ranger in the Power Rangers Dino Charge series. He's also starred in other shows such as SuperGirl and American Horror Story.
He does his own stunts, is a master at the one arm handstand, is a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor, streams, and much more. He's absolutely crushing everything he sets out to do.
In this episode, we discuss the way Brennen approaches goal settings to best acquire the skills he wants to achieve, and the mindset he's adopted in order to handle the high level of uncertainty and rejections in the entertainment world.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:05] Why the transition from acrobats into acting
[3:40] The “typical” week for Brennen
[4:34] Managing the chaos and the “dead” time in the acting world
[6:01] Injuries and setbacks
[13:36] Whether to diversify oneself as a creative across social media platforms
[15:53] Standing out in auditions and on social media
[18:12] Greatest challenge of putting yourself out there as an artist
[20:18] Greatest highlight of putting yourself out there as an artist
[22:02] Advice on putting yourself out there
[30:07] Choosing which goals/projects to go after
[33:53] Brennen’s longterm goals
[36:49] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Brennen and his work.
Website → https://www.brennanmejia.com/
IMDb → https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2385783/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BrennanMejia/videos
Instagram → @brennanmejia
Twitter → @brennanmejia
Tik Tok → @brennan_mejia
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Nikhil Pandey (Captain Sinbad) is a productivity/self-help YouTuber who recently left his corporate job after his videos started doubling his normal salary, and after he bought his own house. But it wasn't a simple stroll in the park. Nikhil started off pursuing acting in Los Angeles, but after realizing he couldn't sustain the journey, he got a normal career while still creating videos in his own time at around midnight.
Nikhil has a humbling start to his career by simply starting off with his iPhone to create videos until he reached 1k subscribers, and saving up enough to buy an actual camera.
In this episode, Nikhil dives deep into the darker moments he had to go through to reach the success he currently has, the disempowering relationship with his parents, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[0:52] Starting the YouTube channel
[6:23] What is it like conversing with your parents today?
[10:49] The evolution of the YouTube channel
[18:06] Meaning and significance of Carpe Noctem
[19:55] The main issue people face when seeking consulting with Nikhil
[29:30] Why Nikhil didn’t quit his day job sooner
[36:39] Producing quality content without sacrificing sleep
[48:29] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Nikhil and his work.
Website → https://captainsinbad.com/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/CaptainSinbad/videos
Instagram → @nrajapandey
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Half Taiwanese and half White, these sisters created a design studio called Hello Lucky. It encompasses children's books (Sabrina is the author & Eunice is the illustrator), fabric, greeting cards, TV shows (coming soon), and much more.
Starting this venture in their thirties, the Moyle sisters seek to create sustainable products and empower other women in art and business.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:11] Why Sabrina chose to study business after already studying art
[4:23] How a request to create a greeting card turned into creating a full design studio
[7:33] Going through the meandering twenties
[12:30] The fine line between creating for yourself and what’s trending
[18:18] How and why the sisters joined forces to do creative work together
[21:19] Would they have approached it differently in going all-in on being a full-time "creative"?
[22:52] Integrating past skills to create success in later life
[26:23] What makes a successful collaboration occur
[31:41] The ups and downs of the business in the beginning
[39:27] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Eunice and Sabrina and their work.
Website → hellolucky.com & moylesisters.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/helloluckycards
Twitter → https://twitter.com/helloluckycards
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we go over why Stoicism is so helpful in modern times, how we apply it, and who our favorite Stoics are.
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Mic Nguyen (@nicepantsdude) is a writer and comedian who has written for such illustrious websites as NBC News, Racked, and his mom’s 60th birthday e-vite. When he’s not tweeting you can find him doing stand-up on stage, working on a sci-fi short story about sneakers, or co-hosting the Asian, Not Asian comedy podcast. He lives in Brooklyn.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:01] Beginning Stand-up comedy
[10:09] The art of creating a joke
[18:44] Coming back after consistently failing
[24:44] Exploring other domains to create your own path
[32:56] Start of Asian Not Asian podcast
[37:50] Being a better comedian through podcasting
[39:35] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Mic Nguyen and his work.
Website → https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nicepantsdude
Twitter → https://twitter.com/itsmicnguyen
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we go over what it means to play the long game.
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we go over the wins, losses, and overall lessons of 2021
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:56] David's Goals
[6:32] Will's Goals
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we go over the wins, losses, and overall lessons of 2021
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:43] David's wins
[6:27] Will's wins
[9:38] David's losses
[24:08] Will's losses
[29:56] David's lessons
[43:19] Will's lessons
[51:00] Energy givers and drainers for David
[56:23] Energy givers and drainers for Will
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Maurene Goo is a writer for marvel and she is a critically acclaimed author having published multiple young adult novels, some of which are currently being adapted into the big screen.
Current Projects
- Silk (Comic book series of a Korean-American Marvel heroine - part of the spider-verse)
- Throwback (Young Adult novel launching Spring of 2022)
Notable Past Projects
- Since You Asked
- I Believe in a Thing Called Love - movie
- The Way You Make Me Feel
- Somewhere Only We Know
Her book has been translated into multiple languages.
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Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:57] The decision on becoming a writer
[6:08] The exposure to books and writing
[8:31] An author as a career path
[11:24] Pulling stories from one’s own life
[17:21] Process of turning books into films
[19:32] Maurene’s writing routine
[30:16] Would you do anything differently?
[37:24] Getting involved with Marvel
[40:28] Is the writing process the same with different genres?
[43:29] Being self-motivated
[50:37] Balance between doing what you enjoy and following the trends when you’re not interested
[54:25] If you already had everything in the world, what’s the ideal day
[57:58] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Maurene Goo and her work.
Website → https://www.maurenegoo.com/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/maurenegoo/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/maurenegoo
Connect with Us
Will Akana
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, David shares his experience with the Hoffman Process and talks about spirituality with Will
Podcast Mission:
- Learning to live a fulfilling life through creating and being in a state of flow
- Showcasing other creatives (those who chose the unconventional paths)
- To help all of us take a moment and reflect (to see whether we're climbing the right mountain or not)
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we discuss the potential dark side of self-development - thinking you're better than others, negatively comparing, etc.
The theme of the Podcast
- In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[02:55] Fixing negative comparisons
[9:49] Investing in self-development and the doubt that comes with it
[12:51] Reminders from a peer group
[15:59] The benefits of posting on social media
[20:28] When you feel like you're better than others
[22:57] Will's current journey
[24:44] Hard Rules for better decision making
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we discuss whether people need a routine in order to be creative and successful.
The theme of the Podcast
- In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:24] Do you need a routine to be creative?
[3:46] Will's creative routine
[4:34] A-Players with a routine
[8:50] Setting an appointment with yourself
[10:10] David's routine
[16:33] Routine around social media
[18:57] What if you don't have time for a routine
[27:31] Scheduling time for creativity
[32:01] Overall thoughts on routine and creativity in the modern world
[33:58] Stephen King and George R. R. Martin
Books Mentioned:
- The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
- On Writing by Stephen King
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
In this episode, we dive into how we got into the self-development space.
The theme of the Podcast
- In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:10] David's rock bottom
[5:47] How David came out of his low point
[15:36] Will's turning point, coming of complacency
[26:02] The upside of taking action
[31:42] Best books to start with
Books Mentioned:
- Start With Why by Simon Sinek
- Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- Grit by Angela Duckworth
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
Join us as we dive into the Samurai lore and pull out the practical lessons from it
The theme of the Podcast
- In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:52] Q&A 1 - Bushido
[6:39] Lessons from the Samurai
[11:16] Lessons from Musashi Miyamoto
[28:19] Q&A 2 - Book of Five Rings and Dokkodo
[29:50] What Musashi Miyamoto would be like today
[33:33] The practice of "negative visualization"
Books Mentioned:
- Book of Five Rings
- Hagakure
- Dokkodo
- Musashi
- The Lone Samurai
- The Obstacle Is The Way
- 33 Strategies of War
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
David Hong is a fitness coach, dancer, actor, and writer
This is the first episode where we get together as if we're in a mastermind group, but we want to share the journey with everyone.
The theme of the Podcast
- In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:52] Failures and lessons from voice acting
[3:08] Q&A 1 - Benefits of being in a rut
[6:22] Networking lessons
[9:28] Q&A 2 - How to get unstuck and break the habitual patterns
[16:21] Resetting our dopamine system
[22:47] Q&A 3 - The book that impacted us the most
[38:12] Q&A 4 - How our Asian upbringing/environment shaped us
{45:21] Recent wins
[48:02] Goals for the week
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkan...
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eId...
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.
In a world filled with distractions, and in a world where it's so easy to compare ourselves with others, it's hard to get out of our own heads and CREATE. This is where I converse with modern creatives across all disciplines - dancing, acting, writing, content creating - learning how they got "good" at their craft and how they learned to be creative.
Normal episodes will resume next week!
Connect with me!
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://spoti.fi/3isGUll
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Kenny is an actor represented by Seattle Artist Agency
Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on helping others be more creative.
The goal is to also give the younger Asian community role models to look up to.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's see how these modern Artists do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:42] Why Kenny chose acting
[10:10] Building relationships with hard people
[20:57] How to get into acting during the pandemic
[26:50] What it means to be committed
[31:02] Navigating the world of agents and managers
[37:25] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Kenny Yang
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kennyjyang
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://www.davidhonglim.com/podcast
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Kristina Yu is a freelance designer and illustrator who runs her own online brand called Cheery Human Studios, selling all sorts of goods such as prints, tote bags, mugs, and much much more with her own lovely illustrations on it.
In this episode, we talk about how she got out of her 9-5 to fully pursue her artistic endeavors, and how she built her creative skills in her post-university years.
Follow Kristina Yu (Cheery Human Studios)
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cheeryhumanstudios/
Website → https://cheeryhumanstudios.com/
Popshop Live Shows → https://popshop.live/cheeryhuman
Resources Mentioned
Sketch Design Repeat - https://www.sketchdesignrepeat.com/
Art Brand Alliance - https://artbrandalliance.com/
Illustrators for Hire - https://www.illustratorsforhire.com/
Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on helping others be more creative.
The goal is to also give the younger Asian community role models to look up to.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's see how these modern Artists do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:57] How Kristina found her creative field
[6:37] Learning to draw in the later years
[9:33] Dealing with feeling behind
[11:06] Story behind Cheery Human Studios
[12:58] Ways to start selling products online
[14:18] A way someone can come out of a 9-5 job
[16:53] How Kristina started her entrepreneur journey
[19:53] Day in the life of an online entrepreneur
[26:13] Standing out in art
[31:45] How Kristina’s upbringing shaped her
[33:29] The next goals
{35:27] How to collaborate effectively online
[39:14] Habits to build new skills
[42:47] Rapid-fire questions
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://www.davidhonglim.com/podcast
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Manny Shih is an actor in the LA area.
Like many others, he pondered a lot about what he wanted to do with his life. After some life circumstances, he made a career switch from pursuing Physical Therapy to Acting. We also dive into the practical ways of getting started in Acting, as well as handling rejections.
Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on helping others be more creative.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's see how these modern Artists do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:45] Physical Therapy to Acting
[17:43] Finding what to pursue in life
[25:22] Manny's next challenge to overcome
[28:07] Practical ways of getting into acting
[31:14] How Manny handles rejections in the acting world
[35:34] Manny's inspirations
[39:37] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Manny Shih
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/mannyshih
Twitter → https://twitter.com/mannyshih
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
For more Podcast episodes → https://www.davidhonglim.com/podcast
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Jeremy Sry is a fitness content creator covering all the major social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. He’s also an actor, entrepreneur, and past bodybuilder.
Jeremy co-founded an apparel company called Winners Collective which you can check out at: https://www.winnerscollective8020.com/
Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on the premise that being creative can allow us to be more "childlike". And I think that can help a lot of people with mental distress (depression, anxiety, etc.) because we're immersing ourselves in a state of flow and curiosity.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[2:06] Stepping away from the traditional career path and carving one's own
[11:57] Do people need to hit rock bottom?
[15:36] Navigating the noise on social media
[22:17] How to stay motivated in posting content
[25:34] Enjoying the process as a content creator
[27:49] The eighty twenty principle in practice
[30:37] The upsides of being obsessed
[35:58] Staying fit while being a foodie
[42:02] Basic perspective on nutrition
[49:04] Convincing the nontraditional path to parents
[57:49] Rapid fire questions
Follow Jeremy Sry
Website → https://www.jeremysry.com/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jeremysry/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJS7YIi-fgyRogGp6FgPUPw
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremysry
80TWENTY Series Podcast → https://anchor.fm/winners-collective/episodes/Episode-1---The-80Twenty-Series-e15c98r
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Sierra Katow is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, podcaster, and full-stack developer.
Stand-up comedy is her main pursuit, which you can find on YouTube and in person by searching for her shows on her website at sierrakatow.com.
Besides stand-up, her more recent work includes writing for the HBOmax animated series, Close Enough. Voicing two characters in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon and many many more. The list goes on.
Oh, did I mention she’s a Harvard graduate majoring in computer science? This girl does so much.
This was a fun conversation. We dove deep into the way she approaches stand-up and scriptwriting, and how that’s refined over time.
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Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on the premise that being creative can allow us to be more "childlike". And I think that can help a lot of people with mental distress (depression, anxiety, etc.) because we're immersing ourselves in a state of flow and curiosity.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:38] Sierra’s stand-up comedy origin story
[5:26] Stand-up comedy in 2021
[9:03] Juggling stand-up, acting, and writing
[12:57] Sierra’s day in the life
[15:54] How Sierra entered writing scripts
[21:23] What Sierra would do differently
[24:22] Career reflections before college
[29:22] Most impactful book from the past couple of years
[39:04] Rewarding ourselves
[41:34] Do you need life experience to do stand-up or writing?
[45:25] Sierra’s current goals
[47:46] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Sierra Katow and her work.Website → http://www.sierrakatow.com/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sierrakatow/
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@sierrakatow
Twitter → https://twitter.com/sierrakatow
Sierra's Podcast (Stay Podsitive) → podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stay-podsitive-with-sierra-katow/id1448933369
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Cameron Sun is a filmmaker and a YouTuber who has amassed almost 1.5 million subscribers. He was born in Boston, raised in Shang Hai, and then came back to New York during his High School and University years.
He specializes in creating skits around superheroes and their powers, all gathering millions of views per episode, with one, in particular, about the x men’s wolverine that garnered 147 million views. We're here to find out his system in creating viral content.
Curious Asians create is a podcast where I speak with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines about psychology, philosophy, creativity/routine, and self-improvement with the overarching theme centering on the premise that being creative can allow us to be more "childlike". And I think that can help a lot of people with mental distress (depression, anxiety, etc.) because we're immersing ourselves in a state of flow and curiosity.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:15] The fun part in making videos
[2:07] Capturing ideas and sources of inspiration
[5:40] Allocating time for creativity
[10:15] Creating a career on YouTube
[14:38] The influence of Cam's parents
[16:39] Juggling YouTube with being a University student
[18:35] The Chinese education system on work ethics
[24:08] Allocating time for inspiration
[25:10] Learning technical skills
[27:52] Filmmaking Gym
[33:05] Thoughts when navigating hard times
[40:01] Current inspirations
[44:39] Rapid fire questions
Follow Cameron Sun
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/CamsCreations
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/camfsun/
Facebook Community → https://www.facebook.com/CamsCreations
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Nico is a Filipino American Bboy and DJ, representing San Diego, CA. He's been dancing for about 13 years, and he's also an entrepreneur, co-managing 4 different businesses while still only in his mid-twenties.
Curious Asians Create is an interview-based format with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines. From the traditional landscape of dancing, drawing, and writing, to the unconventional such as cosplayers and content creators.
The topics will mainly revolve around psychology, philosophy, routine, self-improvement, and creativity, with the overarching theme centering on the premise that having a creative outlet - whether it’s a vocation or avocation - helps others with depression and anxiety by having them lose their sense of “self”.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[1:04] Posting everyday for 365 days
[13:26] How Nico's training structure changed
[19:36] Thoughts after getting injured
[27:55] 80/20 Principle in breakdance for beginners
[31:42] Resources on starting breakdance
[34:24] 80/20 for Nico and other busy people
[39:23] Nico's current training schedule
[40:43] Rapid Fire Questions
Follow Nico Castro and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nicospins
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@nicospins
Twitter → https://twitter.com/nicospins
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Will Akana is a voice actor, actor, singer, and YouTuber
Curious Asians Create is an interview-based format with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines. From the traditional landscape of dancing, drawing, and writing, to the unconventional such as cosplayers and content creators.
The topics will mainly revolve around psychology, philosophy, routine, self-improvement, and creativity, with the overarching theme centering on the premise that having a creative outlet - whether it’s a vocation or avocation - helps others with depression and anxiety by having them lose their sense of “self”.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:34] Why The Alchemist is so impactful for Will
[5:56] Will's habit tracker and his most important habit
[10:07] Will's practical sleep tips
[15:52] Getting back on track with a habit
[21:08] Will's journaling method
[32:16] Improving 1% everyday
[39:00] Being ambitious and feeling "enough"
[41:38] Reframing our negative situations
[43:23] Goal-setting
[47:56] Being present and choosing the right beliefs
[49:50] Sharing on social media
[56:13] Protocols during hard times
[59:31] Best advice Will got after his breakup
[1:00:52] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Will Akana and his work.
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willakana/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/WillAkanaVlogs
Twitter → https://twitter.com/willakana
Will's latest single → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9eIdIC1z8k
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com
Peter Sudarso is mainly known for his role as the blue power ranger in the Power Ranger Ninjas Steel series back in 2017-2018. Peter is also a YouTube celebrity starring in several videos such as Wong Fu and Jubilee. Peter stars in other popular TV shows like CW's Supergirl, and he's recently in a feature film called Paper Tigers, currently airing on Netflix.
Curious Asians Create is an interview-based format with high-performing Asian creatives across all disciplines. From the traditional landscape of dancing, drawing, and writing, to the unconventional such as cosplayers and content creators.
The topics will mainly revolve around psychology, philosophy, routine, self-improvement, and creativity, with the overarching theme centering on the premise that having a creative outlet - whether it’s a vocation or avocation - helps others with depression and anxiety by having them lose their sense of “self”.
Creativity is a skill set we can all cultivate that enables us to foster a deeper relationship with ourselves, allowing us to be truly irreplaceable human beings. Let's learn from these modern Artists how they do it.
Show Notes
[00:00] Intro
[00:53] Peter using spirit animals to label his personality traits
[25:46] Exploring other creative endeavors with less fear
[36:59] When Peter truly learned how his acting can help others
[40:59] Choosing role models
[50:00] Rapid-fire questions
Follow Peter Sudarso
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/petersadrian/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/petersadrian
Connect with David Hong
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/davidhongg_/
Sign up for my newsletter → https://www.davidhonglim.com/newsletter
✉️ Contact Me: davhyulim@gmail.com