For today's Spotlight/Barbershop episode, I'm happy to welcome Dennis Yu to the show.Dennis Yu, is a Merchant Success Team Lead and the Co-Chair of the AAPI Employee Resource Group at Shopify. In addition to his long career in sales and business development in corporate America, Dennis is an angel investor focused on e-commerce, and Asian found/led startups and is also the host of the Great Minds Think Differently Podcast where he interviews business leaders from underrepresented groups to share their storiesToday we're going to discuss the Asian American experience in corporate America, the bamboo ceiling, and how our eastern influences can affect how we are perceived at work. "What the heck is Bamboo Ceiling?Harvard Business Review article describes it as the phenomenon that Asian American white-collar professionals are the least likely racial group to be promoted into senior leadership, even though they are the most likely to be hired into technical roles.AAPI made up roughly 6% of the country’s population but represented only 3% of the CEOs of S&P 500 firms.In this episode, we discuss:1:15 - Intro to episode 2:29 - Dennis Yu introduction3:00 - Moved to Orange County where it was predominately white. Didn’t speak a lick of enlightenment5:00 - his interest in retail came from his family business. His father had a manufacturing sportswear company7:00 - getting hired on the spot after hustling to get a job at a trade show12:00 - did you ever notice any bamboo ceiling/model minority while working?12:48 - When you get to leadership executive levels, you start to see Asian representation dwindle down15:00 - How did you manage the eastern stereotype in the corporate setting?15:40 - Took on Confucius's idea and studied Phil Jackson, and Steve Kerr and how they were able to mix the two West and East to succeed in a hyper-competitive world 16:25 - closed mouths don’t get fed18:23 - Leadership program at Shopify to help train Black, Latins, and Asian Americans18:38 - Being minorities in a room, sometimes you have a lot of cultural conditioning or a lot of things you try to be overanalytical 21:00 - Mike talks about himself struggling with overthinking and struggling to reframe 21:56 - how often do you find yourself in a meeting and you want to comment but you start to overanalyze and miss your opportunity to speak 22:45 - describing model minority and bamboo ceiling 25:55 - In New York, the Asian community comprises the highest poverty rate in the state. 27:58 - when did you decide you wanted to help underrepresented communities?29:38 - had a coffee chat with the chief diversity officer and expressed his biggest problem was a lack of role models that looked like him 33:51 - mental health in the Asian community is taboo / what are things we can do to help ourselves 37:25 - Dennis recalls one of the most stressful and overwhelming times of his life juggling multiple priorities 43:00 - practical meditation practices to help alleviate stress 45:15 - “Be Like Water”FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian MeSupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo share their thoughts on the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Asian American history being taught in public schools.In this episode, we discuss:1:25 - Mike gives a life update 3:45 - Leo gives his update (Mexico, traveling in Europe, Leo’s birthday)7:31 - Chesa Boudin SF DA gets recalled10:36 - Leo talks about his thoughts on Chesa Boudin12 - Mike talks about a Japanese victim that was killed in a hit and run by a repeat offender 22 - Criminals are getting bolder and bolderSupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo give a recap on AAPI Heritage Month. In this episode, we discuss:2:14 - Intro2:33 - how AAPI month came about originally 3:40 - Mike & Leo share their thoughts on AAPI Heritage Month6:00 - The celebration was birthed during a time when our parents were around but it has not taken on a different meaning for the newer generation 8:00 - Companies taking advantage of AAPI month11:20 - Leo shares his experience of how companies marketed themselves during AAPI month12:30 - Seeing Asian leaders/influencers invited to the white house13:50 - There are a lot of Asian Americans behind the scenes in different industries17:00 - Youtube event in NYC24:00 - Asians aren’t as united even for AAPI Heritage Month26 - Gold House GalaFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this episode, Mike and Leo talk about being the token Asian person in different social settings. Inspired by a tweet written by author Min Jin Lee, Mike & Leo explore the nuances of being the token Asian person, what it means, and what to expect.In this episode, we discuss:1:15 - What inspired today's topic3:50 - Leo shares his perspective on being the Token Asian guy5:30 - How Leo's never been in a position where he felt he didn't want to hang with other Asians7:30 - Mike shares his theory on why some Asians feel like they should be the only Asian person amongst a group of non-Asians10:30 - it's easier for your race to hate on you because we come from similar backgrounds and look similar 13:05 - Leo's experience as the only token Asian guy at influencer events 21:00 - How to go about being the Token Asian person the right wayFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo talk about why there hasn't been a new podcast episode in over a month, why a notable podcast featuring two Asian-American guys is breaking up, and what's going on with the new mega jail going up in Chinatown in New York.In this episode, we discuss:2:00 - Intro4:00 - Mike talks about the interview experience 7:00 - Moving back to San Francisco, Ca9:00 - Blue-collar workers deserve respect 11:00 - Intro to the second topic: reflecting on a similar Asian American podcast 19:00 - Coming up with a new podcast name 21:00 - Intro to the third topic: construction of the mega jail in Chinatown, New York23:00 - Leo offers his perspective on the mega jail 25:00 - In the past, construction led to the erasure of street signs that included Chinese translations for Chinatown natives FOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

Today we’re bringing you an episode from our level-up segment, where we provide actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only educate you but motivate you to take action.Today’s topic is all about the power of networking, why it matters, and how you can apply networking to different areas of your life.What’s Networking? Networking involves establishing and developing long-term relations of mutual benefit with people you meet in different places. So whether you are part of a sports league, attending a conference, or in the queue to order a morning coffee, you can make a lifetime connection.Why is Networking important?Business standpoint, the more connections you make, the more opportunities come at you. In addition, the more people you network with, the more you are exposed to different cultures, professions, and personalities, ultimately making a well-rounded person who can adapt to different social settings.In this episode, we discuss:0:00 - Intro1:47 - It’s not what you know; it’s who you know3:00 - Leo talks about how he used networking early in his career in Finance6:00 - How the word “networking” can come off in a negative way7:00 - Mike and Leo talk about how networking led to their friendship and working on different projects together 8:00 - Leo breaks down his step-by-step how-to on Networking8:25 - How to network in a professional setting9:29 - Networking outside of work12:30 - What to do when things get awkward at a networking event?15:30 - How to tell someone who wants to network with you to use you17:40 - How to network if you’re unestablished23:42 - How to follow up once you’ve made a connection25:52 - Sometimes, your most considerable opportunities come from the smallest of interactions 28:30 - Successful networking ultimately comes down to the relationships your nurture and build29:00 - 3 things you shouldn't do when it comes to networkingFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

Welcome back to the Asian Menswear Podcast. In this episode, Leo talks about his experience attending NBA All-Star Weekend as a guest for Mountain Dew. Mike and Leo both grew up playing basketball and All-Star weekend was always an important event to look forward to every year. If you enjoy playing basketball, follow the NBA, or are just interested in learning about what makes the All-Star games special, then you'll enjoy this episode. In this episode, we discuss:Timestamps:1:00 - Intro 1:45 - What’s the NBA All-Star Weekend?3:15 - The last time NBA All-Star was in Ohio was twenty years ago4:30 - Leo talks about what one of the drawbacks of hosting a significant event in Cleveland was7:20 - Going over all the sponsors present at NBA All-Star Weekend8:50 - Legendary Michael Jordan made an appearance for the 75th anniversary of the NBA11:19 - the differences between a big market city vs. a small market city 13 - Not seeing any other Asian Americans at the event 16 - Leo reflects on going from watching the all-star game as a kid to attending the event as a guest19 - discussing how the All-Star games aren’t as exciting as they used to beFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

Welcome back to the Asian Menswear Podcast. Today we're bringing you a Level Up episode, where we bring you actionable advice and tips to apply in your own life. We want the podcast to not only educate you but motivate you to take action.Today's topic will focus on extroversion, introversion, and the different types of personalities. Why is this important? Understanding some of your core personality traits and those of the people you are close to is also helpful in communication and building better relationships overall. This knowledge can be applicable at home, at work, with your partner, and in social settings. In this episode, we discuss:0:30 - Intro5:00 - breaking down Extroversion & Introversion8:00 - at the end of the day, do you feel drained or energized?12:23 - Learning to conserve your energy on the right things 14:00 - clues you’re an extrovert 16:15 - figuring out how someone functions allow us to understand others better 17:15 - western culture places extroverts higher than introverts 19:25 - intro into enneagrams 24:00 - People can function and think completely different from you 32:20 - your personality can affect how you perform with other jobs34:00 - Use our perceived “weaknesses” and turn them into an advantageFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

It's been ten years since the amazing run dubbed "Linsanity", took the world by surprise and in today's podcast, Mike and Leo reflect on the impact Jeremy Lin had and continues to have on Asian Americans and the world. Jeremy Lin went from being overlooked and on the brink of giving up his basketball dreams to becoming a superstar and one of the most talked-about athletes in 2012. In this episode, we discuss:2:45 - Linsanity Intro 4:30 - Linsanity went viral5:25 - Leo talks about where he was when he first heard about Linsanity12:20 - Jeremy Lin was something we had never seen before 12:45 - On the cover of Sports Illustrated and GQ14:47 - Going over the Linsanity timeline19 - Jeremy's journey was a reflection of the Asian American experience20 - After the dust settled, the scrutiny came 21 - The beef between Lin and the Knicks superstar Melo23 - Receiving a substantial Houston Rockets contract26 - After ten years, we still don't have anyone remotely close to Jeremy Lin27 - Linsanity continues to be an essential moment in Asian American history 30 - How popular basketball is to Asia and Asian AmericansHOW TO RECEIVE EXTRA BENEFITS & CONTENT, BECOME A PATREON BELOW:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearSOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show

Today's Barbershop Talk podcast is a lightning movie review episode and we're rating three Asian-American-directed films that were recently released. We'll review Marvel's 'Eternals', Eddie Huang's 'Boogie', & Justin Chon's and give our honest review!We talk about the good, the bad, the ugly and give our rating out of 10.In this episode, we discuss:0-2:00 - Small talk between Mike and Leo2:00 - Episode Intro4:55 - Intro movie review for 'Eternals'6:45 - South Asian representation 8:45 - Pros of Eternals10 - Eternals was different compared to other MCU films12 - Don Lee's was refreshing but also disappointing13 - what's up with Don Lee's relationship with Angelina Jolie 16 - Mike and Leo give their ratings for Eternals19:55 - Intro to the film' Boogie.'21 - The Boogie storyline seems relatable for Leo 22 - Boogie Pros23 - Boogie Cons25 - Leo talks about the basketball element of the movie26 - The leading actor is a good basketball player in real life28 - Boogie showcased a different family dynamic we don't see often 30 - Looking at the model minority as the enemy31:40 - We give our rating for Boogie33:00 - Intro to Blue Bayou34:00 - Pros for Blue Bayou35:42 - Great to see what a solid Asian looks like36:11 - Mike goes over his pros 38:00 - Vietnamese representation in the South44:10 - Cons about Blue Bayou46:00 - Rating for Blue BayouFOR FULL VIDEO PODCAST EPISODES, BECOME A PATREON MEMBER:https://www.patreon.com/asianmenswearFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:The Asian Menswear Podcast -- @asianmenswearpodMike Tran -- @asianmenswearLeo Chan -- @levitatestyleCONTACT US:asianmenswearpodcast@gmail.comJOIN THE OFFICIAL ASIAN MENSWEAR COMMUNITY ON DISCORD:The Official Asian Menswear CommunitySupport the show