Shows
One Thousand Gurus Podcast#45: Solomon Daniels - Starting a Podcast Studio, Integrating Systems, and Advice for SolopreneursSolomon Daniels shares his journey from a car stereo installer to a podcast studio owner, revealing the challenges of entrepreneurship and the fulfillment that comes from helping people realize their creative dreams.• Growing up in Los Angeles and his career journey• How an unexpected call from a potential client forced Solomon to launch Podcast Place during the pandemic• The continuous evolution of his studio through experimentation and responding to client needs• The importance of customer experience and making people feel comfortable during the creative process• Challenges of time management as a solopreneur and the risk o...2025-08-111h 03One Thousand Gurus Podcast#44: Shasia Rangel - Industrial Design to Social Work, Mexico-America Culture Shock, and Leading with EmpathyShasia Rangel shares her journey from growing up in Mexico to building a new life in the United States, exploring her career transition from industrial design to social work and the challenges of cultural adaptation.• Studied industrial design but moved away from it• Found fulfillment in social work, helping neurodivergent adults navigate toward independence• Discovered that building a community through dance was crucial for her smooth transition to America• Faced culture shock, especially around food authenticity and differences in conversational topics• Learned valuable leadership lessons through dance, focusing on empathy and situational awareness• Beli...2025-08-0454 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#43: RJ Manalo - Music Production, forming Project: AKOOL, and the “Filipino Infinity Stones”RJ Manalo shares his journey as a Filipino-American musician, producer, and audio engineer who finds fulfillment in creating opportunities for others through Project: AKOOL.• Born on the East Coast but raised in Rancho Cucamonga, RJ was influenced heavily by his musical family• Navigated the typical Filipino-American pressure to pursue nursing while following his passion for audio and music• Started dancing in high school through b-boying before transitioning to K-pop dance• Won first place at KCON's Coverstar K vocal competition in 2019 with his friend Ed• Discovered his passion for audio engineering accidentally• Created Project: AKO...2025-07-2857 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#42: Marie Potts - Lessons of a Young Parent, Animal Advocacy, and Having a Gratitude MindsetHost J.R. welcomes his mother, Marie Potts, for a heartfelt conversation exploring her life experiences, parenting philosophy, and the values that shaped their family.• Growing up in Northern California as the oldest of five siblings and becoming a mother at a young age• The importance of unconditional love in parenting• Why generosity of spirit matters even when you don't have much materially• Animal advocacy work and the ethical problems with breeding versus adoption• The connection between gratitude and quality of life• How focusing on what you're grateful for changes your perspective• The im...2025-07-2155 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#41: Eric Y. Chen - Learning Sales & Marketing, Launching Sabobatage, and Growing Businesses from A to ZEric Y Chen shares his journey from high school student with business dreams to serial entrepreneur with multiple successful ventures, including a viral card game and shipping company.• Growing up watching his father in business ignited Eric's early interest• After starting in sales at ADP, Eric learned that listening and asking the right questions was more valuable than talking• A serious car accident in 2016 served as a catalyst for Eric to leave corporate life and pursue entrepreneurship• Created Subobatage, a Boba-themed card game that has sold over 100,000 units• Getting products into big box retail aft...2025-07-141h 01One Thousand Gurus Podcast#40: Vanessa Barrios - Authenticity in Content Creation, Dealing with Haters, and Toxic RelationshipsVanessa Barrios shares her journey from an aspiring influencer to a dynamic content creator with 300,000 followers across platforms, showing how authenticity and consistency have been key to her success.• Started content creation after a life-changing conversation with friends in an Olive Garden parking lot• Prioritizes authenticity in her content while balancing the persona her audience knows• Taking breaks when experiencing burnout to compile content and reset mentally• Found a supportive community to help manage content demands• Navigated the transition from toxic to healthy relationships through self-reflection• Believes in prioritizing yourself first as the foundati...2025-07-0757 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#39: Hazier Rios - Improving Relationships, the Influence of Media & Government, and Cultivating More PeaceEducator and psychology student Hazier Rios returns for a deeper conversation about how our education system fails to teach critical life skills while exploring ways to find peace in an increasingly chaotic world.• Critical gaps in education, particularly around relationship-building and communication skills• The financial struggles teachers face with absurdly low departmental budgets• How modern media has become less original as arts education gets deprioritized• The challenge of finding authentic leadership in modern social movements• Redefining love as something that requires effort rather than Hollywood perfection• Finding peace by disconnecting from technology and practici...2025-06-3047 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#38: Yerson Ochoa - Authenticity in Friendship, How to Improve Your Dancing, and the Dark Side of Content CreationWe explore the multifaceted relationship between dance as an art form and profession with talented choreographer and dancer Yerson Ochoa, diving deep into the technical aspects of movement while uncovering the power of authenticity both on and off the dance floor.• Maintaining authenticity as a dance teacher by showing both good and bad days creates stronger community connections• Building sharp, clean dance technique requires consistent training, conditioning, and developing muscle memory• How to improve weight shifting and balance• K-pop idol dancing differs from "dancer dancing"• Social media creates pressure to present perfected versions of ourselv...2025-06-231h 05One Thousand Gurus Podcast#37: Clark H. Fielding - Excellence in Your Career, Challenges of Being an Employer, and Having Values that Ground YouClark Fielding shares his journey from personal injury attorney to founding his own boutique law firm, offering wisdom on career development, entrepreneurship, and maintaining work-life balance while raising a family.• Clark's formative experience on a two-year church mission to Brazil• The "sorting hat" theory of career development• Importance of staying curious and exploring different subjects when determining a career path• Founding Fielding Law in 2019• Why relationships and building a strong network are crucial for long-term career success• Red flags when hiring• The value of in-person office work for skill development, especially for early-care...2025-06-161h 00One Thousand Gurus Podcast#36: Murphy Pines - Guerrilla Advertising, Relationship Anarchy, and Healing from TraumaMurphy Pines shares their journey of self-discovery, from growing up across multiple countries to embracing queerness and building community through art and authenticity. Their story reveals how breaking free from societal expectations can lead to profound healing and connection with oneself and others.• Growing up across three continents and moving 16 times created adaptability but challenges with maintaining relationships• Career aspirations evolved from designing chairs to film directing at BuzzFeed to creating independent art• Coming out as queer at 27 marked a pivotal shift from living on "autopilot" to authentic self-expression• Practicing "relationship anarchy" - defining connecti...2025-06-0957 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#35: Julie Huynh - The Path to UX Designer, Mastering Your Craft, and Upgrading Our Life to 2.0Julie Huynh shares her journey from dentistry aspirations to becoming a UX designer while exploring how continuous learning and the "I know nothing" mentality have shaped her personal and professional growth.• Originally from Chicago, inspired by role models like Michael Jordan and Michelle Kwan• Pursued biological sciences at UCI but added Asian American studies to balance scientific and creative thinking• Discovered UX design through a human-computer interaction class, finding alignment with her natural skills• Explains the distinction between UI (visual elements) and UX (how people interact with products)• Describes how empathy is central to UX desi...2025-06-021h 01One Thousand Gurus Podcast#34: Alex Hung - From HR to Chief of Staff, the Velocity of Money, and Understanding WomenAlex Hung shares his journey from HR professional to Chief of Staff, offering insights on career advancement, financial management, and relationship wisdom gained through years of professional and personal experience.• Starting in HR with an unrelated degree taught Alex the reality that your college major often doesn't matter for career success• Changing jobs every two years can yield 15-20% salary increases compared to the typical 2-7% internal raises• The "squeaky wheel gets the oil" - you must make your accomplishments known rather than silently working hard• Alex's investment choices that have provided better returns than tra...2025-05-261h 00One Thousand Gurus Podcast#33: Hazier Rios - Educating the Future Generation, Emotional Communication, and Improving Little by LittleHazier Rios shares his journey from psychology student to educator, and how these experiences shaped his understanding of human connection and emotional well-being. His unexpected path into teaching multiple subjects revealed profound insights about student needs and the importance of hope in education.• Graduate of UCI with a BA in Psychology, former president of Active Minds• Working with his mother at her hair salon became a transformative experience after graduation• Became a teacher during the pandemic, teaching subjects from dance to biology despite initial reluctance• Found that taking time for one-on-one connections with students dramatic...2025-05-1956 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#32: Joseph “JJ” Lacanilao - Music & DJing, Chasing Trends, and Being Unapologetically AuthenticJoseph "JJ" Lacanilao aka MILO shares his journey from drama kid to open format DJ and how embracing authenticity shaped his career in music and nightlife. Through finding his creative voice despite traditional family expectations, JJ has built a meaningful career creating safe spaces for self-expression through music.• Discovered his passion for performing in middle school through drama classes and musicals• Became the designated "aux cord" at college parties before learning to DJ• Trained formally at Academy of DJs, now serves as staff and alumni• Discusses crowd reading and vibing• Advocates for being authentic...2025-05-1257 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#31: Random Show with Aeden Pham - Karaoke Enthusiasts, Project Management Tips, and Unexpected Hot TakesOTG welcomes back Aeden Pham for a special "random show" episode where they break from the traditional interview format to engage in a free-flowing conversation covering personal finance, mindset shifts, anime preferences, and life optimization strategies. Topics include:Money management fundamentalsRedefining personal valueCreating positive environments requires shifting from proving our value to sharing experiencesAnime and why One Piece is amazingDaily reflection practicesProject management tipsAsking good questions facilitates better communication and understanding in all relationshipsGuest bio:Aeden Pham is a published researcher, has 2 masters degrees, and has studied in 5 different countries. Professionally, he has...2025-05-051h 02One Thousand Gurus Podcast#30: Kan Dang - “That Moment” in Anime, Finding Purpose through Service, and Living Life FullyKan Dang shares how dance transformed his life, shaping his identity, confidence, and sense of purpose through years of dedication to the art form and mentorship of young dancers.Credits dance with developing his social skills and helping him overcome natural introversionDiscusses how comparing yourself to others is unhealthy as everyone has different strengths and journeysRecommends Haikyuu as his favorite anime for its fantastic character development and inspiring momentsDefines success as happiness rather than traditional markers like financial securityEmphasizes the importance of showing up for people and making time to connection Guest bio:Kan i...2025-04-281h 02One Thousand Gurus Podcast#29: Lachlan Ma - Tech Recruiting at TikTok, Goal-Setting, and Discovering Your IkigaiLachlan Ma shares his journey from UC Irvine graduate to TikTok talent acquisition partner, exploring how finding his ikigai helped him navigate career choices and balance diverse passions.• Born in Sydney, Australia to parents from Hong Kong and the Philippines• Discovered his passion for recruiting after internships in finance, law, and accounting• Explains the Japanese concept of ikigai - finding purpose at the intersection of passion, skills, market demand, and world needs• Built TikTok's first engineering team in Australia and helped develop TikTok Shop from its early confidential stage• Created a monetized K-pop YouTube ch...2025-04-211h 02One Thousand Gurus Podcast#28: Ray Lee - Adapting to AI, Navigating the Job Market, and Avoiding BurnoutRay Lee returns to discuss his journey as a concept artist transitioning from Los Angeles back to South Korea, sharing insights on international work opportunities and maintaining artistic integrity in the changing gaming industry.• Working as an international concept artist• The differences between US, European and Asian job markets• Having multiple career plans (A, B, C) helps artists navigate industry instability and layoffs• AI tools are being integrated into major gaming studios• Artists can partially protect work from AI scraping through privacy settings and emerging technologies like "Glaze"• Building a strong portfolio requires fol...2025-04-1449 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#27: Eric Pan - Balancing Life as a UCLA Undergrad, Strategy Consulting, and Servant LeadershipEric Pan shares his journey from an introverted child in Chicago to a successful UCLA graduate heading to Boston Consulting Group, offering insights on consulting, leadership, and finding balance along the way.• Moving from Chicago to UCLA• The distinction between being "nice" (surface-level politeness) and "kind" (genuinely helping others)• Strategy consultants function as "doctors of business" diagnosing problems and prescribing solutions• Success in consulting requires both structured thinking to analyze problems and communication skills to convey solutions• Never self-disqualify from competitive fields—networking and persistence can overcome barriers• The "duck syndrome" describes appearing calm...2025-04-071h 02One Thousand Gurus Podcast#26: Travis Trinh - 7% Body Fat, Bowling a 300, and Being Your Own Anime ProtagonistTravis Trinh transforms from a sheltered, introverted kid to an extroverted nerd who embraces fitness, cosplay, and engineering with equal passion. His journey shows how anime influences, leadership experiences, and the Cobra Kai philosophy of "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy" can shape a fulfilling life.• Growing up in a sheltered environment in Santa Clarita before attending UCSB• Evolution from introvert to extrovert through college experiences and leadership roles• Finding his path as a manufacturing engineering supervisor after initially wanting to "make cool stuff"• Starting the first K-pop dance team at UCSB• Bowling a perfect...2025-03-3157 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#25: Alex Cristal - The Power of Solitude, Chasing Side-Quests, and “Soulmates”A profound conversation with Alex Cristal on the intricacies of self-discovery, time management, and the importance of solitude. We dive into the dynamics of building a supportive community, how different relationships serve distinct roles in our lives, and reflections on emotional and spiritual well-being.• Exploring the power of solitude for self-awareness • The significance of community in personal growth • Understanding and managing time as a finite resource • Evaluating emotional and spiritual well-being (PEMS) • Defining soulmates and their roles in our lives • The importance of various relationships: playmates, mindmates, and helpmates • Reflections on life experiences and...2025-03-241h 08One Thousand Gurus Podcast#24: Jessica Kwong - Journey to Team USA Karate, Self-Talk, and Choosing Your Environment WiselyDr. Jessica Kwong shares her inspiring journey from karate to physical therapy and dance. Her story highlights resilience, passion, and self-discovery.- Background in karate since age 5 - Transition from athlete to physical therapist - Experiences with injuries and rehabilitation - Dance as a form of self-expression - The importance of community support and mentorship - Resilience in overcoming setbacks - Insights on self-advocacy and chasing passions - Finding joy in multiple interests - Life lessons from mentors and experiencesJessi encourages everyone to pursue what makes them hap...2025-03-171h 01One Thousand Gurus Podcast#23: Ali Razavi - The Mastermind Behind “Who Hurt You?”, Investing in Yourself, and Giving BackAli Razavi shares his inspiring journey from law school to founding a successful personal injury law firm, bridging business success with community service. He highlights the significance of leadership, effective branding, and philanthropy in shaping his career and impact. • Early influences and the decision to pursue law • Transition from employee to firm owner • Leadership style focused on accountability and support • Marketing strategies that stand out in personal injury law • Commitment to philanthropy and community support • Launching BuildLABetter.com to aid fire victims • Final thoughts on the nature of success and giving back...2025-03-1048 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#22: Ray Lee - How AI Affects Art, Studying Internationally, and the Complexities of Concept ArtRay Lee shares his journey from South Korea to the United States as a dedicated Concept Artist, revealing the challenges and triumphs he encountered along the way. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, consistent practice, and self-care amidst the realities of entering the competitive gaming & entertainment industry and the impact of AI on art. • Ray's early influences growing up in Korea and China • The rigorous path to breaking into the art industry • How military service help him develope resilience • Impact of mentorship on Ray's career development • The need for self-care and managing self-doubt • Bala...2025-03-0358 minOne Thousand Gurus Podcast#21: Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens - From KM to TEDx, Asians in Hip-Hop, and Cultivating Leaders of the FutureDr. Arnel Calvario Ripkins shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a diverse community to becoming a pioneering leader in the dance world. He highlights the importance of community, identity, and healing through dance while embracing the experiences that shape our lives. • Dr. Arnel’s upbringing in a culturally rich environment • The creation of Kaba Modern as a response to community needs • Impact of social media on dance and the shift from personal to digital learning • Experience with Awesome Shock and integrating dance therapy • Leadership lessons and the importance of nurturing future dancers 2025-02-241h 03One Thousand Gurus Podcast#20: Random Show with Julie Huynh - KPOP Idol Worship, Dating Culture, and the Secrets of AttractionThis episode features a fun and relaxed conversation between our host J.R. and his friend Julie, diving deep into topics like dance, idol culture, dating complexities, and personal growth. Their candid discussions are enriched by humor and warmth, emphasizing the importance of connection and self-awareness while navigating life’s various relationships. • Insights on personal dance inspirations • The impact of idol culture on self-worth • Navigating the complexities of modern dating • The importance of friendship and connection • Exploring food preferences and quirky culinary habits • Reflections on growth, kindness, and learning from experiencesGuest b...2025-02-171h 02