Microphone Munchies: Recent Episodes
JJ Wong
Food for thought that'll get you hungry for more. New podcast episodes every Thursday. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Enjoy and thank you for listening.
Feel free to send me your thoughts at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com.
Some thoughts on my recent trip to South Africa. What an experience. I love the country and its people! The music, dance, and culture. Absolutely amazing. Amapiano and GQOM to the world!!!
We're back! Happy 2022 everybody! Today I talk about my latest addiction - Yerba Mate / Chimarrão! It is a drink indigenous to South America that was (and still is) popular among the indigenous Guaraní and Tupí people. Today it is very popular in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Southern Brazil, and also in Syria and Lebanon.
Check out Circle of Drink on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/Circleofdrink) if you want to learn more. They have lots of great videos and resources about mate. I do not know them personally and I am not sponsored by them.
Enjoy and please let me know what your favourite mate brand is! You can also check the YouTube version of this video at We're back! Happy 2022 everybody! Today I talk about my latest addiction - Yerba Mate / Chimarrão! It is a drink indigenous to South America that was (and still is) popular among the indigenous Guaraní and Tupí people. Today it is very popular in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Southern Brazil, and also in Syria and Lebanon.
Check out Circle of Drink on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/Circleofdrink) if you want to learn more. They have lots of great videos and resources about mate. I do not know them personally and I am not sponsored by them.
Enjoy and please let me know what your favourite mate brand is! You can also check the YouTube version of this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPIYoubJNlU).
Feeling bleh? No stress, it happens to all of us. Here are some quick tips to get you back on track.
Ever achieved something or received something you always wanted and then... didn't feel happy? Let's explore why.
We're back! Today I discuss the lessons I learned on my recent trip out to Western Canada - Banff, Jasper, Vancouver. Have you ever
Shout out to @princeoftravel and @realricky on Instagram for the great travel tips and advice!
Check them out if you're interested in travel, points, rewards and all that fun stuff - especially in a Canadian context. Not an ad or a sponsored post. They actually give useful, no-BS advice.
Today's a special episode because it's my first time with a guest, Aurora!
We talk about belonging, multiculturalism, and dance.
You can check her out on Instagram at @megbah.
Enjoy!
I've always hated my body. But life is much better when you repair your relationship with yourself.
"Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it. You can influence it...Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again." - Steve Jobs
Been away for a while, but I'm back! Here's what I've learned on my recent adventures longboarding, cooking, and failing. Hope they're helpful to you.
Been stressed and not sleeping well lately. Here are some lessons I've learned about being kind to yourself, as well as some ideas for sleeping better if you can't sleep. Hope it's useful! Have a good one :)
Enjoy! Book mentioned: "The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life" by Chris Guillebeau
Keep moving!
Why are things worth the way they are? What does it mean to Bet On Yourself? Let's discuss that today. Thanks for listening.
I talk about my inner struggles with abundance and poverty mindsets. Hopefully, something's helpful to you too! Thanks for listening.
Spring is coming! I hope! Today I talk about some goals and ideas for 2021 that maybe might help you as well.
Today I talk about music. Specifically, the book "The Spirit of Music" by Victor L. Wooten, "The Defiant Ones" documentary series on Netflix, and my own journey with reclaiming dance for myself. Enjoy!
Some reflections on dance as therapy, fighting Zoom burnout, and the magic of sleep. I hope you have a great week!
Trying something new! From now on I'll also put the podcasts up on YouTube so you can watch/listen there if you don't want to use any of the podcast apps. Happy Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year everyone!
Today I'm talking about 3 important lessons I learned in 2020 that changed my life. Money is in your hand, not your heart. Lean into your weirdness. Create with intention and story.
Enjoy and as always, thanks for listening!
Links I mentioned:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-rich-got-richer-during-covid-19-heres-how-american-billionaires-performed/
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/high-wage-vs-low-wage-economic-recovery-us/
https://antongorlin.com/blog/photography-composition-definitive-guide/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/09/california-arrest-attack-oakland-chinatown-asian-hate-crimes
Hope you're having a good week! This episode talks about what I learned after my first term at Oxford, and the superpowers of curiosity and helping others. Enjoy!
Podcast mentioned:
"WorkLife with Adam Grant: Think Again: JJ Abrams Takes Adam’s Job"
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/worklife-with-adam-grant/id1346314086?i=1000507161376
What a crazy week.
Today we're talking about money as a human story. I don't usually talk about money, but it's an important topic and in my opinion, what's happening right now ties in with a lot of other struggles and realities facing the world today. Everything is connected.
“Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” - Anna Lappé
Book mentioned: "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty
Disclaimer: I'm not a financial advisor. I'm just a learner like you. I'm probably wrong about many, many, many things. Let's learn together.
Feeling "blehhhhhh" lately? Me too. Here are some ideas that can help you get out of the rut. Enjoy!
Happy New Year everyone! I'm 15 days late, but better late than never :) I just finished my exams, so I'm back!!! Thank you for understanding and enjoy this episode as I discuss what I learned during the exam process as well as reflect on the passing of time and what stoicism can teach us about this crazy life we live. Thank you for listening.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you and your family and loved ones are safe and well. If you're feeling bleh in life, this episode's for you. I discuss the topic of motivation (specifically for language learning, but also for work and life in general), and other ideas that will help you recharge and get your energy back. Thanks for listening, and enjoy!
I've always had a bad relationship with money. But now I've learned that spending money on learning is usually a better investment than anything else.
I'm excited to see what I can learn from "The Ultimate Language Learning Guide" by Nathaniel Drew and Johnny Harris. In this podcast, I'll explain why.
Note: This is not a sponsored podcast. These are my own personal opinions.
URL for "The Ultimate Language Learning Guide": https://brighttrip.com/course/language/
Happy Thursday! Here are two of my new favourite things. Enjoy and thank you for listening.
Thank you for all your kind comments! I'm grateful for each and every one of you listening to this show. You can always reach out to me at @thejjwong on Instagram as well. Today I'm talking about how to break the cycle when you're feeling stuck in life. It always happens to me during the winter T_T.
I was today years old when I learned that I've been brushing my teeth wrong my entire life. The realization made me reflect upon how easy it is to misunderstand words and to keep old beliefs that no longer make sense in our lives.
Enjoy! Thanks for listening :)
What I learned from Dune, two musicians I saw fighting this morning, and Georges St-Pierre, one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
WizKid's new album "Made in Lagos" is incredible. Maybe the best album I've heard all year. Today I'm talking about music. The song I mentioned in the podcast is a classic from WizKid, "Ojuelegba".
Thanks for listening, and enjoy!
Happy Thanksgiving. This episode is about learning to let go (of all that stuff you're hoarding up at home...)
Enjoy and thanks for listening.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Today's podcast is about family and reflection.
I hope your families and loved ones are all safe and well.
Eat plenty of mooncakes! :)
Ideas that will help you face your fear and be more courageous.
The book I mention is "Think Like a Monk" by Jay Shetty.
Thanks for listening!
I'm always afraid to create art. I'm scared that my podcast will be terrible. I'm terrified that my writing will be worthless.
But creating is human. If you're human, you're an artist.
Here are some ideas and thoughts that can help you overcome your own fears of creating things that matter. You are your own competitive advantage. Your vulnerability is your strength.
Thanks to my brilliant sister Katie for her insights. Check out her work at https://www.katherineklw.com/. She also does commissions if you're looking for character art (https://www.katherineklw.com/commissions).
As always, feel free to email me your thoughts at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com
I appreciate all of you. Have a great weekend and thanks for listening!
Being injured sucks. Here are some lessons I've learned that may help you in your own process of recovery. I was never that athletic growing up, and it's very frustrating when you're trying to live a healthier life, but you keep getting injured.
If you haven't exercised in a while and feel guilty about it, this episode's for you too!
I hope you all feel better soon and enjoy your own fitness journey.
I've been feeling quite lost lately. I hope some of the ideas in this podcast can help you if you're feeling the same way.
I just finished two great books. "No Mud, No Lotus" by Thích Nhất Hạnh, and "Reflections on the Art of Living" by Joseph Campbell and Diane K. Osbon. The movie TENET is also on my mind.
Here are some of my rambling philosophical thoughts that hopefully make you think of new ideas and helps you on your own journey through life.
You can always email me at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com.
Enjoy
People don't change from facts - they learn through emotion. Reading fiction is the best way to change your life and perspective. It allows you to experience the world through someone else's eyes, and your ego won't be threatened. After all, it's fiction, right?
In this podcast, I discuss one of the best books I've read this year (or in my life) called Dominicana by Angie Cruz. It describes the immigrant experience of a young 15-year old girl from the Dominican countryside who is married to a 30 something year old man she doesn't love in order to move to New York and try to make a better life for herself and her family.
As always, thank you for listening and for sharing this podcast. If you have any comments or feedback, please feel free to email me at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com
Have a wonderful day!
Have a great weekend everyone! Here are some things I learned from my first week in my Master's program that hopefully help you as well.
Everybody experiences imposter syndrome, even your professors!
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to email me at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com. Hit subscribe so you don't miss any podcast episodes. I would really appreciate it if you could leave me a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts for Microphone Munchies as well. Thank you for listening!
How do you choose what to do next in life? It's not easy. There are no guarantees of success. Today we discuss some ideas and questions that will help you gain clarity and advance toward the future you want. Good luck!
If you have any feedback, comments, or questions, please email me at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com. Please feel free to giving me a rating on Apple Podcasts (Microphone Munchies). That would help a lot. Thank you!
Books Mentioned: "The Champion's Mind" by Jim Afremow
It's been a while. Thank you everyone for listening!
Be kind to yourself.
Books mentioned: - "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
and
- "Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior" by Phil Jackson
If you have any comments or feedback, please email me at microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com.
Have a wonderful week!
Black Lives Matter. This is not a political issue, it's a human issue. Black Lives Matter for Asian Canadians. Why? Because Black people face the most systemic racism and prejudice of any group of people in Canada and around the world. Any sort of systemic racism and discrimination hurts us all because it means that we as a society think that it's "ok" to discriminate. As Asian Canadians, our own history of being discriminated against should make us more empathetic and understanding toward the plight of our Black Canadian brothers and sisters.
"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Links to help through donations and signing petitions: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Books mentioned: "The Skin We're In" by Desmond Cole.
"Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matters in Canada" by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson, Syrus Marcus Ware
"The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill
"I don’t identify with any of the places that I’ve lived in. I also identify with all of them."
Do you ever feel like you don't belong? Maybe you don't know who you are or where home is?
This episode is for you. You belong. You're ok.
Thanks for listening. If you don't want to miss any new episodes, please share and subscribe. New episodes come out every Thursday.
Enjoy.
Show Notes:
[Where is Home?] Medium Article: https://medium.com/@jjwong/where-is-home-f6bcbc5a4e1
If you are learning a new language or have ever thought about learning a new language, this episode is for you.
Learning languages changed my life. Yes, you can do it too.
I hope this episode helps you become a better language learner.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to message me.
Email: microphonemunchiespodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @thejjwong
Show notes:
[Article]: How to Become "Fluent Forever"
https://medium.com/learning-languages/how-to-become-fluent-forever-9c8faeeec5b
[Book]: "Fluent Forever" by Gabriel Wyner
[Trevor Noah]: "Don't Lose Your Accent / Learning Accents"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCEdIqFCck
[Linguist]: Dr. Stephen Krashen [Comprehensible Input]
"The lens through which your brain views the world shapes your reality. Change the lens, change your happiness, change every single outcome at the same time." - Shawn Achor
On Friday, I watched Chris Do's incredible talk on Youtube, "What You Believe Becomes Reality" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7T1Zs28Deo).
Here's what I learned.
"Kipo, a sheltered girl, gets a crash course in survival when a mutant attack sends her to the surface, far from the safety of her underground home."
I stumbled upon this amazing animated show yesterday on Netflix. Watch it! It's incredible.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
We all have bad days. We're only human.
"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
- Steve Jobs
“I am Moana of Motunui. You will board my boat, sail across the sea, and restore the heart of Te Fiti.” - Moana
PS Moana is the best Disney movie EVER.
Football taught me everything. Stay safe, healthy and stay positive!
"The only moment of possible happiness is the present. The past gives regrets. And future uncertainty." - Arsene Wenger
Victoria Concordia Crescit. Arsenal Till I Die - Up Gunners!
I felt lazy, unproductive and unmotivated this week - That's okay!
Today I talk about the joy of small things and finding bits of happiness every day.
"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dyer
(PS the song I'm excited about is "Donne moi l'accord" by Dadju and Burna Boy)
Enjoy!
I hope that you, your family and loved ones stay safe and healthy. Today we will explore how life changes so fast, and what we can do when we feel powerless in the face of life. Thank you for listening.
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor Frankl
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
I love Brazil.
Here are some things I learned about languages during my trip to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.
Language is about communication and connection.
Language is alive.
If you're interested in Dr. Stephen Krashen and his work on language acquisition, watch some of his interviews and lectures on Youtube! He is amazing.
Thank you for listening and enjoy! Feel free to share with your friends.
You can contact me at www.jjwong.net or on Instagram @jjwongster22
Welcome to Microphone Munchies! Two years since my last podcast. I'm back and excited to learn about life with you! The podcast will focus on learning languages, teaching, dance, philosophy, and much more.
"Sweep the floor every night, and then sweep again."
"You have your theology. We dance."
Books mentioned in the podcast:
- 'Ego is the Enemy' by Ryan Holiday
- 'The Art of Work' by Jeff Goins
- 'Mastery' by Robert Greene
- 'The Power of Myth' by Joseph Campbell
Enjoy!
- JJ
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.
Today we explore Love. Love as a VERB, an ACTION.
Love is not a thingymajig.
What is love?
Tell me what you think!
- JJ
PS The quotes and ideas I used are all paraphrased. Not word-for-word. Thanks! :)
Ego is the Enemy. Consistency is key to success.
Stoic ideas from the Tao of Seneca plus thoughts and reflections on creating art despite fear and perfectionism. Happiness comes from within. The process is all there is.
"“Ego is the unhealthy belief in our own importance.”
Yep. Confirmed.
I feared releasing something unimportant, so I didn’t release anything at all.
If you would have asked me if I think I’m so important, I would have said no. But actions, not words, reveal our real values." - Derek Sivers
https://sivers.org/ego - Derek Sivers on Ego
“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.”
― Jalaluddin Rumi
On "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell - How can we harness myths and narratives to kick butt in our daily lives?
One is All. All is One.
"Truth is One. The sages call it by many names."
"Frustration is not an interruption of your process; Frustration IS the process." (Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert)
What makes humans unique and other key ideas from the book Sapiens & how we can apply the Hero's Journey into the narrative of our own lives.
Enjoy!
Stick with the process. Vulnerability is strength. Empathy is power.
We're all salespeople.
"The effect in the front is created by the work at the back"
On this Podcast we talk Dance, Stoic Philosophy, Taoism and of course, Winnie the Pooh!
Verse 63 of the Tao Te Ching:
Act without acting Give without giving Taste without tasting
Tao alone becomes all things great and all things small It is the One in many It is the many in One
Let Tao become all your actions Then your wants will become your treasure Your injury will become your blessing
Take on difficulties while they are still easy Do great things while they are still small Step by step the world’s burden is lifted Piece by piece the world’s treasure is amassed
So the Sage stays with his daily task And accomplishes the greatest thing Beware of those who promise a quick and easy way For much ease brings many difficulties
Follow your path to the end Accept difficulty as an opportunity This is the sure way to end up With no difficulties at all
"Inspiration is Perishable."
REWORK is one of the most impactful books I have ever read. Period.
Co-authored by Jason Fried and David Hansson, it's got all the realness that completely changed how I view work, business, entrepreneurship, as well as my approach to life. You don't want to miss this one!
Enjoy my blocked nose as we discuss synchronicity, the benefits of spirituality in a secular world, and shutting up so life can speak to you.
"To Know Yourself Takes a Lifetime" - Bruce Lee.
"You cannot connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
- Steve Jobs
“The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.” - Seneca
“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” – Ray Bradbury
And yes, Omelette Du Fromage is all the French I know.
Own your body and throw away your BS.
The story you tell yourself - why you can't do this, why you can't get more healthy, become a better dancer... It's baloney.
Get ready. Get to work.
"The problem in life is as you get older you become more and more like other people."
Own your weirdness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olfeooPrO6k
Failure is easy and part of the process. We're used to failing.
Winning is unknown, uncharted territory.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson.
Went through a bit of post-grad depression over the last few months. Here's an angry rant letter I wrote to myself and also what I learned from the experience. Thank you family. Thank you friends.
https://medium.com/@jjwong/angry-rant-letter-to-myself-75b355f71a4c#.sc2ffp21o is the letter in its entirety for those interested!
My favourite Rilke quote. A great friend in times of doubt and need.
"I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer."
Check out https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/06/01/rilke-on-questions/ , brain pickings is one of my favourite websites of all time!
Have an amazing day. #BlessUp