Yellow Chair Collective: The Podcast

Esther Lee is a therapist and advocate for social justice. She highlights the complexity of people's stories and the need to challenge assumptions and stereotypes. Takeaways Continuous education is essential for personal and professional growth. Challenging assumptions and stereotypes is crucial in understanding people's stories. Self-care and resilience are important for preventing burnout. Somatic work and labeling emotions can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and others. Intentions play a crucial role in shaping outcomes and experiences. Setting intentions is essential for cultivating healthy relationships. Defining personal values and living them out is key to setting intentions. Accountability and grace are important in the process of setting and achieving intentions. Surrendering and starting with oneself is a powerful approach to personal growth and relationship-building. Observing the future can inform present actions and intentions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 01:20 Continuous Education and Learning 03:26 The Complexity of People's Stories 04:18 Finding Joy in Small Spaces 05:26 Staying Humble and Curious 06:54 Challenging Assumptions and Stereotypes 08:53 Surprising Moments of Humility 10:09 Transitioning from Legal Work to Therapy 11:45 Realizing the Limitations of Advocacy 13:06 Experiencing Burnout and Crisis 16:23 Transitioning to Therapy and Somatic Work 20:15 Recovering from Crisis and Building Resilience 27:27 Understanding Somatic Work and Labeling Emotions 32:19 Deepening Relationships and Self-Understanding 35:53 Exploring Herbalism and Energy in Healing 37:11 The Role of Intentions 38:19 Intentions in Relationships 39:35 Setting Intentions for Healthy Relationships 41:38 Setting Intentions in Romantic Partnerships 42:09 Starting with Values 43:17 Living Out Values 44:36 Personal Values: Reverence and Release 46:11 Accountability and Grace 49:02 Surrendering and Starting with Yourself 50:08 Observing the Future

In this conversation, Brandon Shindo, CEO of  @kandbtherapy  shares his personal and professional growth journey. He discusses overcoming burnout, finding balance, and the necessary steps he took to achieve a thriving private practice and a healthy relationship. Brandon reflects on the influence of his Japanese American heritage and the lessons he learned from his elders. He also explores the concept of healthy masculinity and the importance of listening and understanding in relationships. Brandon offers advice on navigating difficult relationships and finding love after experiencing setbacks. In this conversation, Brandon reflects on the lessons he learned from his grandmother and how her death impacted his life. Takeaways Overcoming burnout and finding balance is essential for personal and professional growth. Seeking help and being vulnerable are crucial steps in achieving a healthy work-life balance. Cultural influences shape our work ethic and understanding of masculinity. Finding peace and safety in relationships requires active listening and understanding. Lessons from difficult relationships can lead to personal growth and the ability to find healthy love. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Favorite Movie 00:42 Personal and Professional Growth 02:21 Overcoming Burnout and Finding Balance 03:23 Lessons from Early Career 04:22 Seeking Help and Vulnerability 05:51 Shifting Priorities and Finding Balance 06:54 Lessons from Elders and Changing Mindset 08:48 Taking Care of Family and Reprioritizing 09:48 Appreciating Life and Embracing Vulnerability 11:06 Cultural Influence on Work Ethic 12:35 Lessons from Japanese American Heritage 16:06 Lessons from Japanese Elders 17:06 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Traits 19:23 Defining Healthy Masculinity 21:30 Finding Peace and Safety in Relationships 23:33 Lessons from Manipulative Relationships 26:02 Navigating Healthy Relationships 28:44 Generosity and Kindness in Relationships 31:43 Finding Love After Difficult Relationships 34:56 Lessons from Adversity 36:17 Lessons from Brandon's Grandma 37:10 Maladaptive Coping

In this episode, Helen and Megan discuss the messaging around body image and the impact of beauty standards on individuals, particularly those who are considered 'other' in society. They explore the intersection of beauty standards and racism, as well as the importance of questioning and unlearning these standards. Megan emphasizes the need to view the body as a relationship and to approach body change with intention and curiosity. They also discuss the role of yoga in honoring the body and cultivating a positive relationship with it. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of challenging societal norms and embracing self-acceptance. Takeaways - Question & challenge beauty standards - the body messaging - View the body as a relationship and cultivate a connection with it - Approach body change with curiosity, ie motivations behind it - Practice self-acceptance to foster a healthier body image LINKS - Events YCC: https://yellowchaircollective.com/ycc-events/⁠ - Sign-Up for a Support Group: https://yellowchaircollective.com/support-group/ - Listen to Episode #36 About Perfectionism & Body w/ Megan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JgrdwbGW9eIkxcn69McEH Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:59 The Messaging Around Body Image 02:55 The Intersection of Beauty Standards and Racism 04:29 The Impact of Otherness on Body Image 06:07 The Eurocentric Beauty Standards 07:54 Unlearning and Taking Action 09:04 Questioning Beauty Standards 11:09 Viewing the Body as a Relationship 13:18 The Third Door: Acceptance and Action 16:09 Motivations for Body Change 18:06 The Cult of Productivity and Unhealthy Disciplines 19:35 Rigidity and Tying Self-Worth to Rules 22:05 Approaching Clients and Loved Ones with Body Dysmorphia 25:31 Practicing Yoga as Body Connection 26:01 Honoring the Body through Yoga 29:17 Cultivating a Relationship with the Body 29:59 Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

On this clip of Yellow Chair Collective: The Podcast, we are  joined by guest Carrie Zhang, founder of Asian Mental Health Project.Carrie shares her  journey of self-discovery and the importance of incorporating self-care practices not selfish but an act of self-preservation and community welfare Link to watch more: From Loneliness to Connection: Carrie Zheng's Journey to Creating the Asian Mental Health Project

On this 5-Minute Moment, Helen sits down with meditation practitioner and teacher, Jonathan Fong Ly to explore the mythos and pressure around meditation and emphasize that it can be as simple as closing your eyes and sitting down. This clip also delves into different types of meditation, the importance of gratitude and awareness, and the cognitive triangle.

A clip from our podcast episode with writer and founder of Untigering, Iris Chen. Iris shares a powerful story about her child biting other children at preschool, she emphasizes how validating her child's emotions and understanding their needs led to pro-social strategies to navigate stress and anxiety. She reminds us that behaviors are signals of underlying needs, and by meeting those needs, the behaviors tend to resolve themselves. Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/QZ-D6wgV67o Follow Iris Chen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untigering/?hl=en Blog: https://untigering.com/ Buy Untigering Book: https://untigering.com/untigering-⁠peaceful-parenting-for-the-deconstructing-tiger-parent/ Connect with Iris: https://msha.ke/untigering Follow Yellow Chair: Links to all: ⁠https://yellowchaircollective.carrd.co/⁠

Reflection of the Day: What if we treated our bodies like another relationship? What would that relationship look like for you? Is it a healthy one or an abusive one? Watch the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7AvIiky8xXRQTYkSdPAYRB

A candid talk on Trauma, Immigrant Identity and Mental Health with the Co-Directors of Yellow Chair Collective - Soo Jin Lee, LMFT & Linda Yoon, LCSW Linda and Soo Jin sit down for an in-depth conversation about overcoming limiting beliefs, embracing their Asian-American identity, dealing with trauma and starting their service-oriented company. These inspiring women share their experiences with marginalization, traumas, and cultural struggles, and their journey towards establishing an organization that bridges generational gaps through connection and understanding Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:12 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 03:29 Impact of Trauma on Personal and Professional Life 03:58 The Struggle of Being an Immigrant 06:04 The Fear of Failure and the Drive to Succeed 07:17 The Challenge of People Pleasing 09:02 The Journey of Self-Acceptance 16:52 The Importance of Discussing the Undocumented Experience 17:31 The Significance of a Holistic Private Practice 20:07 The Power of Connection and Community 22:24 Conclusion and Call to Action

Mashup of various experts to delve into critical issues surrounding disordered eating and body perception within the Asian-American community. Preorder Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720465/where-i-belong-by-soo-jin-lee-lmft-and-linda-yoon-lcsw/ Interested in Groups Email - groups@yellowchaircollective.com Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction & Announcement 00:48 Understanding Body Dysmorphia and Disordered Eating 01:51 Unlearning Negative Food Biases 03:17 The Role of Cooking in Disordered Eating 10:35 The Impact of College Life on Eating Habits 20:41 Decolonizing the Body and Reclaiming Belonging 21:06 Understanding Racialized Body Image 24:52 Embracing Emotions and Breaking Conditioning 31:00 The Importance of Taking Breaks and Self-Care 33:01 Conclusion

We interview Kelsey Blackwell, a renowned somatic coach, author, writer and advocate for women of color to share her views on decolonizing the body. She explains the importance of acknowledging and working through racial trauma and systemic oppression.  Follow Kelsey -Get “Decolonizing the Body” Book - https://shorturl.at/bfGQ3 -Website: https://www.kelseyblackwell.com/ -Newsletter: https://kelseyblackwell.substack.com/  -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decolonizingthebody/  Follow Yellow Chair - https://yellowchaircollective.carrd.co/  Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Kelsey's Backstory 00:21 Decolonizing the Body: A Focus on Women of Color 00:30 The Writing Process and Audience Targeting 01:39 Understanding Decolonization and its Impact 03:38 Kelsey's Personal Journey into Somatics 06:12 The Genesis of the Book 'Decolonizing the Body' 07:21 The Role of Surrender in Kelsey's Life 07:32 Challenging the Traditional Job Concept 08:37 Navigating Fear and Uncertainty 19:55 The Importance of Collective Thinking 23:10 Practical Steps to Connect Back to the Body 30:17 Breaking the Oreo: Addressing Racial Trauma 36:41 Reclaiming Anger and Asserting Boundaries 16:03 Advice for Women in their Late 20s