Aconic

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.

From Joy Luck Club to the Oscars: How Janet Yang Made AAPI Stories Mainstream in Hollywood | EP:23

In her most recent role as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars), Janet Yang helped move AAPI stories from the margins to the mainstream, reshaping how Hollywood sees and celebrates Asian voices. A quiet insider turned cultural trailblazer, Janet reflects on her journey from being the only Asian kid in her Long Island neighborhood to producing The Joy Luck Club and Empire of the Sun, and on helping make the Oscars more inclusive than ever. She shares how moments of exclusion fueled her lifelong mission to bridge East and West, the lessons she learned from mentors like Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone, and how a painful incident at the 2016 Oscars ignited a movement for representation that led to Gold House and beyond. This episode offers a powerful look at how one woman’s persistence turned isolation into influence and changed Hollywood forever.

Jeremy Lin Opens Up: Why He Retired and What Comes Next | EP:22

Just days before announcing his retirement, Jeremy Lin sat down with the Aconic Podcast for his final interview as an active player. In this candid conversation, Jeremy opens up about the decision to step away from basketball, the questions he wrestled with, and what might come next. He shares raw reflections on purpose, impact, and faith, asking himself, “Am I really living up to who I said I wanted to be?” Jeremy discusses whether his greatest contribution now lies off the court, using the resources and platform he’s built to serve others, especially marginalized youth through his Foundation. For the first time, Jeremy reveals how he struggled to balance on court demands with being fully present for his off-court mission, and why he believes “mental health is more important than Kumon.” This exclusive conversation offers an unfiltered look into the mindset behind one of the most impactful decisions of his life and the possibilities for his future beyond the game. Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with leaders and icons.

Clinical Professor of Medicine, Dr. Bryant Lin, Hosted by Soon Yu

When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Bryant Lin’s Journey In this episode, Soon Yu interviews Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician at Stanford, who shares his compelling journey from doctor to patient. The discussion begins with Dr. Lin's professional background, including his pivotal role in founding the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) and his focus on lung cancer in the Asian community. The irony unfolds as Dr. Lin, who has been advocating for lung cancer research among non-smokers, particularly in the Asian population, is diagnosed with stage four non-small cell lung cancer himself. Despite the devastating diagnosis, Dr. Lin's story is one of resilience and hope. He emphasizes the importance of human connection in medicine, the impact of storytelling, and the role of hope in patient care. Dr. Lin also discusses his ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for early-stage lung cancer research and broader health initiatives in the Asian community. This episode is a powerful narrative of facing adversity with purpose, driving change, and finding serendipity in the most challenging circumstances. 03:59 Dr. Lin's Diagnosis Journey07:35 Challenges in Healthcare Access13:37 Importance of Screening and Early Detection26:21 Impact on Dr. Lin's Perspective as a Physician26:31 The Human Side of Medicine30:28 The Role of Hope in Medicine38:13 The Power of Storytelling43:29 Letters to My Sons52:17 Future Projects and Legacy