Chief Executive Auntie artwork

Chief Executive Auntie

39 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratings

The podcast exploring the work lives of Asian Americans beyond the conventional doctor, lawyer, and engineer.

Self-Improvement Education Business Careers
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Episodes

Episode 37: Reach Out with Assistant Editor Ashley Hong

January 04, 2021 17:07 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

In this episode, I speak with Penguin Random House Editor Ashley Hong (she/her) about what makes a book marketable and her path to the publishing world with a couple detours through Grey's Anatomy and computer science. Ashley's website: https://ashleysunghae.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 36: Make Active Choices with Habbi Habbi Co-founder Hanna Chiou

January 03, 2021 18:57 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MB

In this episode I talk to Hanna Chiou, the co-creator of one of my favorite products, the Habbi Habbi Reading Wand and Global Library. We discuss her journey from global consulting to toy and book manufacturing as well as the power of seeing your identity in books. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 35: Feminist Asian Dad Eugene Hung

January 03, 2021 13:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MB

Feminist Asian Dad Eugene Hung (he/him) shares about his journey from teacher to blogger and activist and back to teacher, what his kids really think of his blog, and how he amplifies female voices without taking away space. Eugene's blog: https://feministasiandad.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Mini Episode 34: 8 Numbers You Need to Know for Your Business

December 29, 2020 00:21 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MB

In this mini episode, my business bestie joins me in going through our year-end reviews, talking specifically about which income metrics are *actually* informative and important. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 33: Technical Writer and Novelist Sam Brandt

December 07, 2020 13:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MB

Sam Brandt (they/them) provides a fascinating (seriously!) glimpse at technical writing, which I now think is the most underrated niche in the writing world. Marketing copywriters get customers and clients in, but good documentation keeps them coming back for more. Tune in to hear Sam talk about what a technical writer really does all day, how being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult helped them understand their work and life better, and the power of putting their identity into their fiction wo...

Mini Episode 32: Another Way to Raise Your Rates

November 09, 2020 13:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MB

In this (ironically long) mini episode, I talk about how to raise your overall rates by reducing the amount of time you spend working. Here are 7 ways to improve your business efficiency and your bottom line. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 31: Opportunities for All Of Us with Rebecca Kuang

November 02, 2020 13:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MB

In this episode, I somehow manage to not pee myself while talking to Rebecca Kuang, award-winning author of The Poppy War trilogy about her writing process, changing her major (we’d all be sad if she’d stayed in economics and finance), and the many complexities of Asian/Asian American representation in stories and publishing. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Mini Episode 30: Price Shaming and Other Stupid Judgey Nonsense

October 26, 2020 15:36 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MB

In this episode, Auntie throws down over freelancers and creatives price shaming one another and pours the tea about what a "good" client actually means. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 29: Find People Like You with Sophie Kim

October 19, 2020 12:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

In this episode, Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate Sophie Kim shares the benefits of taking a gap year, her experience as poet laureate, and her hopes for her creative work during and beyond her education at Harvard. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Mini Episode 28: My Business Skip List

October 12, 2020 12:00 - 10 minutes - 9.57 MB

In this episode I discuss the words and phrases I don't use in my brand communications and why it's not really about "not offending people." (Which seems like a perfectly worthy goal to me, but what do I know.) To ask a question or leave a comment, you can call or text to 614-585-2289. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 27: Be True to Your Story with Preslaysa Williams

October 05, 2020 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB

In this episode I chat with romance author and actress Preslaysa Williams about the 5am writer’s club, what feedback to take and what to ignore, and the magic that comes with writing your true identity into your work. We also talk about what it’s really like to be a working actress. (You may have seen Preslaysa on The Secret Files of Shelby Woo on Nickelodeon!) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Mini Episode 26: Your Business Emergency Plan

September 28, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MB

In this mini episode, I discuss the need for an In Case of Emergency plan for your business and how to start putting one together. My pal Anna's recession-proofing toolkit: https://www.annafhetzel.com/recession Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 25: Overcome Your Fear and Advocate for Yourself with Jen Chen Tran and Jenny Chen

September 21, 2020 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MB

Literary agent Jen Chen Tran and editor Jenny Chen talk about the different sides of book publishing. We discuss how to get started in the publishing industry, what they look for in books, and how to get better representation at every step of the publishing process. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Mini Episode 24: A Different Kind of Late Fee

September 14, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

In this mini episode, I finish a project 7 months late and talk about why project delays can be so stressful and at least one thing you can do about it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 23: Create Your Own Path with Food and Travel Editor Steph Wu

September 07, 2020 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MB

Steph Wu never described herself as a creative or a writer when she was growing up, but she is now an experienced and accomplished journalist and novelist. Steph is the Articles Director at Conde Nast Traveler and the co-founder of Mochi Magazine, an online publication for Asian American women that I now have the honor of leading. We chat about what a food and travel editor really does all day, our role models (or lack thereof), and the future of journalism. Support this podcast at — https:...

Mini Episode 22: Don't Undercut Your Clients

August 31, 2020 12:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MB

In this mini episode, I talk about a haircut gone...at least a bit wrong, and what to do when faced with a project that you might not be fully qualified for (or excited about). Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode 21: Make a Move with Career Coach Cynthia Pong

August 24, 2020 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MB

I'm pleased to welcome Cynthia Pong back to Chief Executive Auntie. Cynthia is a feminist career strategist and now self-published author. Tune in for her career advice during COVID-19, an inside peek at writing and self-publishing her book, and a very special offer for Chief Executive Auntie listeners. Cynthia's website Cynthia's book: Don't Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Season 2 Trailer: Asian Americans Who Write

August 17, 2020 12:00 - 3 minutes - 3.42 MB

I wanted to be a writer even when I was a young child, but I gave up on that dream before I reached high school partly because I didn't know of anyone who looked like me who was in writing, publishing, or media. Turns out they were out there, I just didn't know to look for them. This season of Chief Executive Auntie will feature Asian American writers, authors, journalists, editors, and agents in all sorts of industries and roles. Tune in starting August 24. Subscribe in your favorite podcas...

Episode 20: Author, Editor, and Coach Joanne Machin

April 27, 2020 11:10 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MB

Episode Recap: Joanne and I talked about The existential dread we’re all feeling right now (1:19) The questions she asked before leaving her full-time job (6:15) How she got started in writing (15:20) Her book, Game Changer (18:25) How she writes diverse stories without writing A Book About Race (26:51) Writing about real-world events like coronavirus...or not writing about them! (37:30) Being flexible about creativity and believing in the inherent value of your story (41:06) Guest ...

Episode 19: Retinal Surgeon and Author Dr. Andrew Lam

April 06, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

Episode Recap: Dr. Lam and I talked about A day in the life of a retinal surgeon (1:27) How he finds time to write with a full-time job and four kids (6:13) His process for writing historical novels (8:17) How a history major became an eye surgeon (15:08) Why doctors don’t want their kids to become doctors (21:57) The luxury of a liberal arts degree (23:44) Balancing your dreams with practicality (30:19) Guest Bio: Andrew Lam, M.D., is the award-winning author of three books. Born ...

Episode 18: Ovee Health Co-founder Maddy Siriouthay

March 30, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MB

Episode Recap: Maddy and I talked about How to explain to traditional Asian parents that you write about vaginas all day (3:13) Maintaining personal boundaries when writing publicly about sexual health (4:58) A typical day for a digital content creator (9:12) The power of operating out of spite (21:13) The importance of using our privilege to speak up (28:41) Guest Bio: Maddy Siriouthay is the co-founder and COO of Ovee, a sexual and reproductive health hub that empowers vagina-haver...

Episode 17: Freelance Writer and BTS Stan Virginia Duan

March 23, 2020 17:45 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MB

Episode Recap: Virginia and I talked about How her blogging career started (1:48) How she homeschools four children in Mandarin (5:45) Her social media management work and partnership with Sagebooks (13:35) The importance of a supportive partner (26:27) Managing multiple freelance gigs (33:35) Guest Bio: Virginia is a writer, blogger, and bilingual homeschooling mom of 4 based in the Bay Area. Links and Resources: Virginia’s blog, Mandarin Mama Virginia’s YouTube channel Virginia...

Episode 16: Asian American Mental Health Providers

March 10, 2020 13:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MB

Episode Recap: I got to speak with Dr. Anna Huang, PhD, Dr. Martin Hsia, PsyD, and Dr. Joseph Lee, MD about the everyday reality of being a mental health care provider. We debated what the best kind of doctor is, and discussed some of the challenges and rewards of being a therapist. Guest Bios: Dr. Anna Huang, PhD. is a licensed psychologist with doctoral and master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University (APA accredited). She provides individ...

Episode 15: Feminist Career Coach Cynthia Pong

February 10, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB

Episode Recap: Cynthia and I talked about Her customized approach to career coaching (2:20) What to do when you’re overworked and underpaid (6:25) The problem with “Charge your worth” (8:33) Cynthia’s foundational coaching program (12:00) Some of the biggest challenges common to professionals of color (18:14) The power of just starting (22:31) Practical tips for leaving a toxic job situation (25:24) Guest Bio: Cynthia Pong, JD is a feminist career and negotiation coach based in New...

Episode 14: Bawdy Bookworms Founder Thien-Kim Lam

February 03, 2020 13:30 - 34 minutes - 78.1 MB

Content Warning: On this episode, we discuss sex, pleasure, and erotica. You may want to listen away from your boss or kids, but it might also be a great opportunity for conversation! (Maybe not with your boss, though.) Episode Recap: Thien-Kim and I talked about The work from home mom life (2:26) Doing whatever you want by pissing off your Asian parents so badly they don’t care about anything else you do (10:28) How Bawdy Bookworms got started (12:18) Talking to kids (and maybe your p...

Episode 13: Ask Auntie THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU TURN 25

December 30, 2019 14:28 - 52 minutes - 120 MB

Episode Recap: Aunties JDF and Virginia sound off about the important things to do before you turn 25. How to step outside of your comfort zone The surprising benefits of living alone How to keep money out of the hands of old white men Why I still can’t watch The Farewell Why you should be less frugal How to socialize without alcohol or spending money JDF and Virginia’s best advices Stay in Touch: To suggest a guest or submit a question, Ask Auntie anything here: https://chiefexecu...

Episode 12: Passion Planner Actress Ambassador Nikki Soohoo

December 23, 2019 11:00 - 29 minutes - 67.9 MB

Episode Recap: Nikki and I talked about The daily habits of Passion Planner CEO Angelia Trinidad (4:10) Living and working with your BFF (5:51) The role of Kickstarter in growing Passion Planner (10:44) The ups and downs of being a working actress (15:18) How acting and entrepreneurship balance her life (17:00) The magic power of writing down goals and color-coding your planner (18:52) The importance of choosing good people to be around (23:44) Guest Bio: Nikki Soohoo is an actress...

Episode 11: 2 Bros and a Bard Co-Founder Jeff Basladynski

December 16, 2019 19:10 - 38 minutes - 87.3 MB

Episode Recap Jeff and I talked about The importance of having a diverse “party” supporting your business quest (10:12) Using his background in marketing to elevate the creative careers of his other staff members. (13:35) The challenges of scaling a business selling handmade products (26:24) Guest Bio: Jeff Basladynski is the co-founder of 2 Bros and Bard. He started out making wooden Tetris earrings for his girlfriend now wife, then branched out into coasters, cutting boards, butcher ...

Episode 10: Nimble Made Co-founder Tanya Zhang

December 09, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 80.5 MB

Episode Recap Tanya and I talked about Working with a life partner (not recommended for everyone!) (3:48) Her decision to leave corporate life (14:14) Challenges of running a startup (20:15) Holding physical inventory in a tiny New York apartment (32:28) Guest Bio: Born and raised in LA, Tanya Zhang studied Interdisciplinary Computing & the Arts from UC San Diego and Minor in Writing. She has worked as art director, brand designer, and UX/UI consultant, and now freelances full time wh...

Episode 9: Artist and Educator Trisha Hautéa

December 02, 2019 14:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MB

Episode Recap Trisha and I chatted about A day in the life of a real digital nomad (1:31) How she uses her diverse background in art and education (4:21) “How can I do what I like but also get compensated for it” (5:53) Why your major maybe doesn’t matter as much as you’ve been led to think (13:24) The unconventional ways Asian parents show support (17:08) The challenges of uneven cash flow, late invoices...and what to do about it (19:19) How Little Ning Books started as a way to div...

Episode 8: Jewelry Designer Peggy Li

November 25, 2019 13:02 - 34 minutes - 79.8 MB

Episode Recap: Peggy and I had a great conversation about... A day in the life of a jewelry designer (1:19) Her journey from engineering major to screenwriter (4:17) How she got her jewelry onto Buffy the Vampire Slayer (5:29) The importance of steady jobs when building a creative business (9:36) Where she gets inspiration for her designs (14:05) What happens when her pieces get featured on TV (15:26) Different ideas for scaling, pivoting, or rebalancing her business (20:04) Her adv...

Episode 7: Wedding Photographer Cassie Valente

November 18, 2019 13:58 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB

Episode Recap: Cassie and I had a great conversation about... Wearing all the business hats at once (1:30) A day in the life of a wedding photographer (6:05) Finding her own voice as a photographer (10:40) Helping clients find their true vision beyond Pinterest boards and Instagram inspo (14:51) How she prepared to leave her corporate job and do photography full-time (26:02) Her advice for aspiring wedding photographers (30:29) Guest Bio: Cassie Valente is the owner of Cassie Valent...

Episode 6: Photographer and SAHD Dae Jeong

November 11, 2019 11:45 - 37 minutes - 85.1 MB

Episode Recap Dae and I talked about Juggling primary parent and work duties Doljanchi (traditional Korean first birthday party) Changing careers multiple times The ministry of photography Guest Bio: Dae Jeong is a pastor turned photographer and work-at-home dad based in Silver Spring, MD. He is a Pittsburgh, PA native, who has also lived in MA, NY, NJ, and MI. Dae graduated from The University of Michigan as well as Calvin Theological Seminary. After several years of doing church min...

Episode 5: Ask Auntie About BUSINESS TOOLS

November 04, 2019 17:35 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

Episode Recap I shout about my favorite ways for providing a great client experience and keeping my biz shit organized. Links and Resources Dubsado CRM (affiliate link) Trello Calendly MailerLite ConvertKit Hootsuite Planoly Tailwind X Theme Divi Theme Stay in Touch To suggest a guest or submit a question, Ask Auntie anything here! To join Auntie's podcast insiders and get special access to upcoming guests, subscribe here. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief...

Episode 4: Civic Champs Co-founder and CEO Geng Wang

October 28, 2019 12:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB

Episode Recap Geng and I talked about: Finding the true pain points of your target audience Using college and graduate degrees in unexpected ways Being a non-technical guy at a tech company The risk (or lack thereof) in starting your own company Guest Bio: Geng is a proven serial entrepreneur with a keen interest in social impact. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of Civic Champs, a social enterprise that creates technology solutions for nonprofit organizations to automate volunt...

Episode 3: Poet & Professor Lisa Kwong

October 21, 2019 12:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MB

AppalAsian poet and Indiana University professor Lisa Kwong and I discuss: Growing up in a Chinese restaurant Coming to appreciate home, even if you wanted to get away for so long Creating a safe learning environment The vulnerability of teaching topics like microaggressions that relate to one’s personal experience The challenges of being an artist teaching an academic discipline Links and Resources “Searching for Wonton Soup” broadside Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel Literary Journal, V...

Episode 2: Ask Auntie About PRICING

October 14, 2019 12:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB

Auntie Jennifer sounds off on specific questions about pricing freelance or creative services. How to put a price on knowledge and connections as a consultant How to set "reasonable" prices on services when you're just starting out When is it okay to bring up the subject of money with a client Value-based pricing instead of time-based pricing How to handle rush requests Take Auntie's famous pricing workshop: http://chiefexecutiveauntie.com/pricing-workshop/ Stay in Touch To suggest a...

Episode 1: Children's Book Author Teresa Robeson

October 07, 2019 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

Teresa Robeson is the author of Queen of Physics, a picture book about female physicist Wu Chien Shung, and the forthcoming Bicycles in Beijing, a picture tour of the sights of Beijing told from the POV of two bicycles. Teresa and I talked about: Staying focused (or trying to!) while working from home Following spouses with academic careers The importance of Asian American role models The process of getting a book published Her new book (coming in 2020) Stay in Touch To suggest a gues...

Episode 0: Chief Executive Auntie

September 26, 2019 16:28 - 1 minute - 1.82 MB

Meet the Chief Executive Auntie, here to help you bust through expectations and imposter syndrome with the confidence of a mediocre white man. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Twitter Mentions

@heyjomachin 1 Episode
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