In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, musician and recording artist Polartropica. - | Guest Spotlight | - Polartropica gives us an inside look at her origins as a musician and the ups and downs and complexities of developing as an artist in today’s digital world. Polar shares many gems in this interview, from playing in an orchestra as a youth to her experience of defining her creative direction as an up-and-coming artist. Join us on the journey, and thanks for listening! Follow Polartropica: https://www.instagram.com/polartropica/ Keep up with Polar:https://linktr.ee/polartropica

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, active business consultant / retired breaking news journalist Mariko. First, Kevin and Mariko share how they linked up (2:00) then… - | Guest Spotlight | - Mariko shares her origin story (5:45), her experience jumping between the worlds of Japan and the US (8:40), how she got her start in Journalism (12:40), getting called into Reuters for an interview (15:10), the experience of working at Reuters as a breaking news journalist (20:00), winding down from a high intensity job (23:20), working with Vice on a piece in India (26:00), maintaining ethics in journalism (30:16), transitioning from a career in journalism (34:50), supporting small businesses in Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo ~ Bunkado & Uprisers (37:00), her last transition from Japan to the US (42:00), meeting Edmund Kim & practicing Ju Jutsu (51:00), challenges in journalism and in business (58:00), processing emotion and practicing detachment (1:04:10), Mariko’s current projects and things shes’s looking forward to like the Uprisers Family Drive & community engagement (1:12:00), Mariko shares here perspective on experiencing time (1:14:15), shares opinions on thoughts & mistrust in how information is currently disseminated (1:21:00), and shares final words of advice. (1:25:30) Follow Mariko: instagram.com/marikolochridge Follow Little Tokyo is Open: instagram.com/littletokyoisopen linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guests, Jiu Jitsu instructor Edmund and MMA enthusiast Kyle to tell us about teaching at the MMA gym Triunfo as well as… - | Guest Spotlight | - Kyle introduces himself and how he got into jiu-jitsu (3:50), MMA gym culture (6:15), Ed shares his start in jiu-jitsu (7:15), becoming a black belt in Kendo (11:00), leaving MMA (15:00), traveling and the universal language of jiu-jitsu (23:10), cultural differences in jiu-jitsu (28:00), the great equalizer of the mat (34:00), emotions on the mat feeling while feeling another fighter out (38:00), the strategy of jiu-jitsu (41:50), the thrill of the fight (44:20), being a bouncer/ security (56:50), the mindset self-growth (55:00), more on life and growth (1:04:00), LA’s Little Tokyo Fight Club (1:15:00) and the gang shares final thoughts (1:13:00). Thank you so much Triunfo, for allowing us to record in their excellent gym! Check out Triunfo: https://www.triunfomma.com/ Follow Edmund: instagram.com/edmundkimmm Follow Little Tokyo Fight Club: instagram.com/littletokyofightclub linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, entrepreneur and designer Kenji…Kenji catches up on what he’s been up to and shares more on his brands, Vision and House (2:50) as well as… - | Guest Spotlight | - Kenji’s origins in entrepreneurship (10:10), getting hands-on with experimenting and sharing the his journey (15:00), his reasoning for deciding to do everything himself (17:50), getting involved in marketing (23:00), managing content in the digital landscape (33:00), surprising lessons learned while on his journey (35:00), being in the production/ creation phase (40:00), using technology like AI for his business (44:00), the most pivotal lesson learned while on his journey (51:50), things ken is excited about (57:40), what Kenji enjoys personally (1:03:00), being the face of his business (1:08:00), and shares final words of advice for fellow entrepreneurs (1:10:00). Follow Kenji: instagram.com/ikendoit.studio linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, artist Finito (Alfonso) Juarez, and discusses visual representations of different cultures (1:45) and... - | Guest Spotlight | - Alfonso tells us about himself and his art (8:00), meeting Matthew from Cricket (10:30), learning to appreciate art (13:30), what started his practice of completing a painting every day (16:00), choosing to be an artist as a 1st generation Mexican American (19:30), creating art in public (24:00), the most interesting aspect of his artistic journey (28:00), what inspires his art (34:25) sharing empathy in existing (37:30), manga’s impact on his life (46:30), Alfonso talks about his passion for fashion & creating custom pieces (52:00), his process for curating art (56:45), what Alfonso is looking forward to next and future collaborations (1:05:30), and the gang shares final thoughts. (1:13:00) Follow Finito Juarez: instagram.com/finitojuarez linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, photographer Avery and quickly chat about Kanye’s recent apology to the Jewish community (2:41) as well as… - | Guest Spotlight | - Avery talks about getting started in photography (10:00), teaching photography in Kenya (13:00), what got Avery interested in photography (19:30), his 3-month road trip to the National Parks across America (24:50), meeting The Flagman of South Park (33:00), returning from the trip and life lessons (36:30), the most disappointing US parks (41:00), aspirations w photography (46:30), Richard Tega and the Kibera Girls foundation (55:30), Mental Health & Avery’s intense experience with the US mental health system (59:30), methods and techniques for coping and managing moods + stress (1:14:00), the gang shares final thoughts and wrap up. Learn More about the Kibera Girls Foundation: https://kgsafoundation.org/ GO Campaign: https://gocampaign.org/ Follow Avery: instagram.com/averyweinman linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, actor Joey Chan - and discuss the stirring new HBO show Last of Us (2:00), and… - | Guest Spotlight | - Joey tells us who he is (and how he got his start in acting) (14:50), making his move from the Bay Area (22:00), his process and anxieties of breaking into the industry (27:40), staying present and avoiding anxiety (29:00), Joey shares his first experience of being on set in Los Angeles (32:00), the experience of acting on set (39:00), adjusting to working with celebrities (41:00), dealing with Hollywood personalities (47:50), what surprised Joey about working in Hollywood (55:20), what Joey gets out of acting (59:00), what constitutes good acting to Joey (1:10:25), life lessons from acting (1:17:50), early characters/ personalities Joey played (1:22:40), final thoughts (1:33:30), Follow Joey: https://www.instagram.com/emceejoey/ https://linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, music artist Jose Homicide - and discuss Justin Bieber selling his masters for over $200 million (1:50), and… - | Guest Spotlight | - Jose Homicide properly introduces himself (13:15), just starting out & the early struggles of putting music together (14:35), collaborating with others (19:00), working on inspirations (23:10), Jose tells us about his recent project Holocene (28:55), producing his own music (38:20), how to know when a song is ‘complete’ (41:30), releasing music (44:00), overcoming yourself (48:40), what Jose is currently working on (56:00), experience working in the studio (59:00), rewarding experiences (1:06:30), what makes music nostalgic/ connecting through music (1:10:00), Tyler the Creator vs A$ap Rocky and youthful icons (1:14:10), difficulties with connecting to others in the current age (1:17:30), navigating social media personas (1:25:00), frank ocean and releasing music (1:34:30), looking towards the future (1:40:30), the gang shares final thoughts. (1:42:00) Stream Jose’s latest Album, Holocene: https://open.spotify.com/album/1J291IZQBjnsb0b8OAZf55 Follow Jose Homicide: https://www.instagram.com/josehomicide/ https://linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guests, music artists & entrepreneurs Kayron & Ralph (G.Show)and discuss AI-generated art on Midjourney + FN Meka and AI generative music (2:15), AI’s potential impacts on the music industry (14:15), as well as… - | Guest Spotlight | - Kayron and Ralph introduce themselves & talk about music + coding (27:15), top-tier rappers like Eminem + Lupe Fiasco (33:55), their personal approach to writing music (36:20), the genius of Jay Z (44:25), what drew Kayron and Ralph to record music (49:00), the creation of their new single “I Deserve” (1:02:10), using world travel as an inspiration for new music (1:09:20), moving through life based on your own life expectations instead of others (1:15:00), Ralph talks about his recent journey to Nigeria (1:27:00), the challenge of keeping a healthy mindset in a capitalistic society (1:34:30), Kay and Ralph share what they are looking forward to (1:39:00), and the gang shares final thoughts. (1:46:45) Stream their latest single, ‘Deserve’: https://youtu.be/jCDmEbLDwcc Follow Ralph (G.Show): https://www.instagram.com/gdotshow/ Follow Kayron: https://www.instagram.com/coolwithakay/ linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast

In this week's episode, the gang welcomes special guest, Los Angeles-based fine dining Chef Chris Ono, to talk about dishes over the holidays (1:45) and... - | Guest Spotlight | - Chef Chris talks about his profession and why we are podding in Little Tokyo (8:15), Chris shares his start in the industry and early Dj’ing (12:40), the process of graduating culinary school and starting his career (17:00), the origins of sushi (20:15), working at the Michelin star rated Providence restaurant (23:10), working at high intensities with professional chefs (26:55), powering through the pain of the profession (28:30), Chef Chris’s Hansei pop up at the JACCC in Little Tokyo (34:00), the process of creating new or updating recipes and Chris’s take on the California Roll (45:20), goals with Hansei and looking to the future (53:00), Kevin’s Budokan cinema happening on Jan 21st in collaboration with Chris Ono (56:30), Chef Ono’s favorite flavors (58:45), cheffin’ around the world (1:00:00), Chris’s favorite fast food/ taco choices/ favorite teriyaki bowl-dishes (1:03:50), organic vs GMO food (1:11:00), and share final thoughts for the new year (1:15:00). Follow Chef Chris Ono: https://www.instagram.com/chefchrisono/ Dine with Chef Ono: https://jaccc.org/hansei/ linktr.ee/thedippedpodcast