Aconic

Why Crashing at 100mph Didn't Stop Samantha Tan from Breaking Barriers in Car Racing

Samantha Tan joins the Aconic Podcast to share her incredible journey from a small rural town in Canada to becoming one of the most recognized drivers in international endurance racing. As the first Asian woman to win a major international endurance championship, Samantha opens up about her path into motorsports, the mindset required to compete at the highest level, and the challenges of building a racing career in a male dominated sport. In this episode we explore Samantha Tan Racing, her partnership with BMW, and what it takes to compete in global endurance events like the 24 Hours of Dubai. Samantha also shares powerful insights about representation in sports, overcoming stereotypes, and using adversity as motivation to win.

Kristi Yamaguchi on Determination, Representation, and Becoming an Olympic Champion

Kristi Yamaguchi, the first Asian-American Winter Olympic gold medalist and trailblazer, shares her powerful journey from world champion figure skater to becoming a symbol of the Asian American Dream. In this episode, Kristi reflects on determination, discipline, and identity, opening up about winning Olympic gold at 20, representing the Asian American community, and finding purpose beyond competition. She discusses the pressure of the Olympic stage, the meaning of representation, her work advocating against Asian hate, and how her foundation is transforming early childhood literacy in underserved communities. Kristi also shares the inspiration behind her children’s books and how perseverance over perfection, shaped her success. Kristi also talks about her work with her foundation, Always Dream and its mission to ensure children have access to high-quality books in the home environment and extensive family engagement support. This is an emotional, insightful conversation about legacy, resilience, and what it truly means to dream big.

From Netflix's "Love in Taipei" to the Future of Storytelling | Abigail Hing Wen & Ashley Liao

In this deeply human conversation, host Soon Yu is joined by Abigail Hing Wen (author, filmmaker, and creator of The Veil) and Ashley Liao (actor, poet, and advocate) to explore creativity, identity, and mental health through the lens of what it means to stay human in an age increasingly shaped by AI. The discussion begins with their groundbreaking work on Love in Taipei and expands into the importance of Asian American representation, coming-of-age stories, and choosing creative paths in industries that often reward conformity. Ashley shares candid reflections on mental health struggles, vulnerability, and learning to extend gentle love to herself. Abigail also opens up about rejection, power dynamics, and advocating for visibility in corporate and creative spaces. The conversation then turns toward the future of storytelling and AI. Abigail discusses The Veil, a novel centered on clean AI, ethical creation, and the tension between innovation and humanity. Together, they examine how AI is changing Hollywood, authorship, and creative labor. We also dive into the associated risks of AI such as deep fakes, consent, and cultural erasure. Ashley explains why imperfection, empathy, and emotional presence remain uniquely human and irreplaceable. This episode is a thoughtful exploration of resilience, leadership, creativity, and identity, offering insight for artists, technologists, leaders, and anyone navigating personal growth in a rapidly evolving world.

Jane Marie Chen: Why A Million Lives Saved Can't Fix What Is Broken Inside

Aconic host Soon Yu sits down with Jane Marie Chen, entrepreneur, bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break, leadership coach, and co-founder of Embrace Innovations. Embrace created a life-saving infant warming blanket that has helped save over one million babies worldwide. Despite extraordinary success, Jane shares the truth few leaders talk about: even after saving a million babies, she still felt like a failure. In this powerful conversation, Jane opens up about resilience, leadership, mental health, and the hidden emotional toll of high achievement. She explores how cultural expectations, generational trauma, and self-criticism shaped her leadership—and why outward success alone cannot heal what’s broken inside. Soon and Jane dive into: -The difference between grit, endurance, and true resilience -Why psychological safety in teams starts with inner psychological safety -The pressure many Asian and AAPI leaders face around achievement and identity -How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helped Jane heal -Why self-respect must come before filial respect -Letting go of beta blockers and fear around public speaking This episode offers a deeply human perspective on resilience, authentic leadership, psychological safety, and self-acceptance. If you’re a founder, leader, creator, or anyone navigating personal growth, this conversation will change how you think about success.

Dan Tani: From Internment Camps to the International Space Station

Join Aconic as we interview Dan Tani, former astronaut, as he shares his extraordinary journey. His resilience facing adversity started with his family being shaped by the Japanese-American internment camps. But through his optimism and belief in the good in other people, brought him all the way to walking in space aboard the International Space Station. Hear his stories of ingenuity, hope, and human connection from his parents’ dignity during hardship to his own adventures in engineering, rockets, and space exploration. Whether you’re seeking motivation, life lessons, or a deep dive into what makes a hero, this conversation is full of insight and inspiration.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more stories that explore the human spirit and extraordinary journeys.Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with Asian leaders and icons.