What 3 words do YOU choose to describe + define you? I’ll go first!“OTHER BROWN GIRL” (circa 2020)“NEXT THING JING” (circa 2025)My 2 top questions from my clients + executive entrepreneur workshops:“How do I build a brand that feels, looks, and sounds like me?” “How do I tell my story with authenticity + vulnerability?”Words are brand sonar signalsStories like currents that pull you forwardSent out to share your voice + vibeTo find + magnetize your tribe in the wild…What “safe spaces" help you step out of your comfort zone? To speak and write like no one else is in the room? Online. Offline. Unedited. Unfiltered.Writing your story down is as powerful as speaking your truth. Owning what makes “you you” with total strangers Stepping out of comfort zones (a.k.a old, outdated stories, patterns you’ve outgrown)On today’s episode, we're diving deep into:→ How words evolve personal brands, life stories, and movements→ How a powerful OPEN MIC night restored my faith in humanity→ How Literary Cleveland sparked my OTHER BROWN GIRL era→ How a friend’s “I double dare you to do an IMPROV night!” launched me→ How reading my senior poem at a Board of Education meeting ignited me→ How writing and reciting my dad’s eulogy inspires + guides me→ How speaking up + out against alpha abuse helps others→ How this “OBG” is re-defining “woke” word watch lists(a.k.a. free blogging = free podcasting = free to be me)So, what's YOUR story? What words do you choose each day for YOU as YOU?Not the story someone else wants to define for you to be.Not your “resume” story.Your “eulogy” story that will live on.The story and words that inspire others to be as brave and true as you, the real you.Share below! Follow along, connect, hit subscribe and leave a review. Thanks for listening and for being here!………………..Ready for a 360° re-set? For a work life and real life you love again? To see yourself in your dreams again? Let’s design-map out what’s next for you — personally, professionally, and organizationally. Through 1:1 or team strategy sessions, half-day or full-day 360° NEXT THING NOW workshops. This is your sign. DM for details.  #TellYourStory #BuildYourBrandConnect + Stay in touch with the NEXT THING NOW community!Explore NEXT THING NOW Meet-UpsListen to Next Thing with Jing Podcasts Sign-Up for 1:1 + Group 360 Reset Workshops🔗 LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Other Brown Girl

Forget waiting – your "next thing"? It's already within you. It's about stepping into your power, story, energy, and truth. And designing a life that finally feels like yours. No more doubting. No more waiting. No more social scrolling calling it “research”. Your "next thing" isn't out there. It's what shows up when you show up. Your evolution. And it all starts with one decision: to begin. The life you’re dreaming of isn’t waiting for permission—it’s waiting for you. Believe bravely and begin boldly. Do the thing that will change everything and set it all in motion. Maybe it’s starting that business or writing that book. Or maybe it's reclaiming your time, your energy, or your voice to say, “You know what? I’m meant for more than this…” That thing you’re dreaming of? It’s closer than you think. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just yours. The story you’re ready to write, the leap of faith you’re ready to take, the life you’re ready to live once and for all—it’s one step, one choice, one "next thing" at a time. Your "next thing" life? It’s your signature story that you may be afraid to re-write or say outloud. No more wiating for the perfect time or sign. This. Is. It. Step into your potentiual and the power of your new story. Say yes to your becoming and blooming. Because in the end, it’s not just about what you do—it’s what you believe. Claiming a new narrative and your next chapter like you mean it. Designing a life that finally truly feels like yours. Your story isn’t over—it’s just beginning. It isn’t waiting for permission—it’s waiting for you. To do the bravest, scariest, fiercest, hardest, most human, most truthful, most audacious thing that makes “you you” – to live the life that’s waiting on the other side. This episode is that sign. What's your "one thing" that could change everything? Share below! Follow along, connect, and hit subscribe and leave a review. Thanks for listening and for being here! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-lauengco/ https://www.instagram.com/juju.jing/ https://www.jinginc.com/ https://www.otherbrowngirl.com/

Hello January! Tme to tap into your SUPERNOVA energy and your word for 2025! This year, my word is SUPERNOVA. Because I'm all about expanding into my (and your) brightest, most radiant self just like a star who propels and transcends itself through an epic burst of concentrated transformational light. You know, that fiery, fierce illumination that comes from deep within your soul?  Listen in and hear more about what SUPERNOVA energy means to me and how you can embrace change to turn your own story or evolution into a powerful message – personally, professionally, and organizationally. Think about it. We each have a unique light, a vibrational energy that's just waiting to be shared with the world. Sharing your story and humanity is like alchemy, a cosmic alignment that helps us heal and connect with others. Remember when we were kids, creating stories in the dark? We instinctively knew how to find our light and protect it. Let's recapture that child-like wonder and use it to illuminate our path forward to be SUPERNOVA bright, bold, and brave. In this episode, you'll hear: → How my little kid fascination with stars and their magic led to SUPERNOVA as my word for the year → How I wrote my own original prayer as a five-year-old to overcome my fear of the dark → How sharing stories can help you reclaim your power and truth → Why it's time to start a “new now" story with your word for 2025 and beyond Hit that subscribe button and leave a review. What's your word and story for 2025? Let me know below! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-lauengco/ https://www.instagram.com/juju.jing/ https://www.jinginc.com/ https://www.otherbrowngirl.com/

Welcome back to season 3 of NEXT THING WITH JING! It's been a minute (or two and a half years plus to be exact...) with a "new now" upon all of us. This calling and comeback? It's all about resilience. Looking back, looking forward, and lifting each other up with fierce truthfulness. Embracing change and a new era with a deeply personal glimpse of what's transpired since I first shared my story and launched my first podcast episode way back when. Me emerging from cancer with many endings, beginnings – but guess what? I'm back and ready to shine and share "all the things" with brave clarity and connection like never before. I'm getting super honest and sharing my journey, holding nothing back. We're talking about: → Finding strength in vulnerability and radical transparency: I'm sharing how I reclaimed my power after facing some seriously dark times. It's about refusing to be silenced, breaking free, and choosing to heal. → The power of storytelling: How writing and podcasting helped me process my experiences and find my voice again. Transforming trauma into triumph, pain into purpose. → Embracing imperfection: Life is messy, and that's okay. It's about letting go of the need to be perfect and giving ourselves permission to be fully human. → Choosing hope and joy: Even when things feel dark, there's always a glimmer of light to guide us. Our own. It's about being fierce and refusing to let darkness win. This new year and new beginning is about a fresh start and a "new now" full of possibility. → How starting over, embracing our truths, and stepping fiercely and truthfully into our next chapter with courage, grace and grit begins with us. What would you tell your older self? Share in the comments below...Follow along, connect, and hit subscribe and leave a review. Thanks for listening and for being here! P.S. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes where I'll share more about what makes me "me" – and hopefully inspire you to discover what makes you "YOU"... https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-lauengco/ https://www.instagram.com/juju.jing/ https://www.jinginc.com/ https://www.otherbrowngirl.com/

Delighted to welcome JENIKA MAY GONZALES, a multi-talented Filipino-American graphic designer and always inspiring Cleveland foodie to the pod! Jenika works with diverse clients including Cleveland’s most beloved brands — Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Market Garden Brewery, Church and State, Fount, and Océanne to name just a few. Designing for independent artists, small boutiques, businesses, and editorial clients, all with a playful, clean, and elegant approach. JENIKA enjoys being outdoors, traveling, exploring new food adventures, and pretending like she’s a wannabe iron chef! Celebrating Filipino family faves like “pancit” (rice noodles served on birthdays promising long life) and “Kamayan” (traditional Filipino feasts eaten by hand on a tropical bed of banana leaves), we dive deep into her family’s remarkable resilience. From early morning trips to the Filipino open markets for her family’s catering gigs to Jenika’s own courageous journey emigrating to Parma as an #OtherBrownGirl teen coming-of-age after being raised by her grandparents in the Philippines, listen in to hear her inspiring advice to her 14-year-old younger self and younger nieces. “As a child, I was always in the kitchen, whether it was with my grandma or mom. I learned that there are many bridges that are built when it comes to food. Now, I also get to create those bridges and relationships through food.” In 2017, JENIKA GONZALES organized a Lumpia Po pop-up raising $6,000 to help her siblings immigrate to America. Delivering homemade Filipino eggrolls - a.k.a “Lumpia” - made with love along with delightful Bento of Joy boxes for the holidays, Jenika’s passion for food, family, and friends inspires us all. Featured as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business' “Notable Immigrant Leaders” and one of Cleveland Magazine’s “Most Interesting People,” JENIKA is an advocate and immigrant storyteller for OPAWL (Ohio Progressive Asian Women’s Leadership), a grassroots organization empowering women and non-binary people in the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community in the CLE and beyond. “I think home for me now is finding a genuine connection, whether it’s to your job or food or person. I am one with you. I see you, I feel your hurt, your anger, your frustrations. Our stories are complex, but they are beautiful. There’s something to be proud of…” Tune in as we dish on design, identity, generational storytelling, and Filipino-American AAPI culture. Follow along on Jenika’s swoon and spoon-worthy IG accounts @Jenikaeatsmeats and @lumpiapo for more. https://www.jenikagonzales.com/ https://www.opawl.org/advocacy/love-has-no-borders/ https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/people/articles/jenika-gonzales-most-interesting-people-2022 https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/07/cleveland-foodie-looking-to-elevate-filipino-cuisines-local-presence-one-lumpia-at-a-time.html https://www.instagram.com/jenikagonzales/ https://www.instagram.com/jenikaeatsmeat/

New on #NextThingWIthJing! Delighted to welcome writer STEPHANIE GINESE to the pod as she launches her potent debut book of poetry! Drawing inspiration from rap, comedy, and legendary international family love stories, join us as we explore GINESE’s proud Puerto Rican roots and early elementary school love of Edgar Allen Poe. Following in her grandparents’ footsteps as writers, poets, and political activists while drawing on her own rebellion, passion, sensitivity “superpowers” and love for “the island,” tune in to discover how GINESE came to title her book, Unto Dogs, and what she would tell her younger self about power and the faithful pursuit of agency. STEPHANIE GINESE is a writer & wannabe comedian from South Lorain, Ohio. She is the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and an Italian immigrant father. She currently lives in Cleveland with her two children. Unto Dogs is her debut book of poetry. Ginese is the Residency Coordinator at SPACES. A published poet and writer, her work focuses on cultural identity, Caribbean politics, and the feminine experience. Her work has been featured in Palabritas Journal at Harvard, Chifladazine, St. Sucia, Homology Lit, and Wax Nine. Her debut collection of poems, Unto Dogs, is due for publication July 23, 2022 via Grieveland. She was the recipient of a 2021 Unidos Por El Arte grant from the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center for her literary work. She currently sits on the planning committee for Cleveland Drafts and the programming committee for Literary Cleveland. She also led a series of workshops for the “Neighborhood Voices” project for Literary Cleveland, which culminated in a published anthology. She served as the Director of Programs in Residence for Twelve Literary Arts for three years, in which time she co-created and developed the Barbara Smith Writer-In-Residence program. As well as the publishing arm of the organization, Twelve Arts Press. Ginese is currently working on completing her Associate of Arts degree at Cuyahoga Community College, with plans to complete a Bachelors of Fine Art in Creative Writing. She hopes to find herself in a writer’s room for film or television in the near future. Order “Unto Dogs” by STEPHANIE GINESE https://www.grieveland.com/store/p16/unto-dogs.html Website: https://www.sginese.com/ Instagram: @st.ginese Twitter: @StGinese Literary Cleveland Inkubator Panel Talk: https://inkubator.litcleveland.org/

Fittingly named after speed performance brand “Mallory Ignition,” I had a blast connecting with Multidisciplinary Visual Artist MALLORIE FREEMANS’s creative spark, spunk, and spirit – mesmerized by her family’s fierce Filipina-Irish entrepreneurial adventures full of “wild energy,” charisma, and family legend-making. Whether pursuing intuition and teenage dreams to looking for truth and the real story behind her larger-than-life 1960s pop singer mom, Mer-Lyn, and fierce leather pants-donning Filipina seamstress grandma “Lola” Fe, we explore where their stories began and blend with Mallorie’s own creative fire and highly original work. From cosmetology school to art conservation to her 800-piece sugar-coated chocolate exhibit in abandoned homes, we trace Mallorie’s intriguing, non-traditional journey and quest for family folklore. Tune in as we tracer trails of online stardust and “the many lives” left behind by her then rising Filipino-American starlet mom. Like a Netflix series and one-hit-wonder that lingers in your heart and imagination, Mallorie’s first-generation immigration story – by way of Atlantic City, Las Vegas, The Johnny Cason show, Dick Clark, and Frank Sinatra – may leave you starstruck, too. MALLORIE FREEMAN was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio by her mother, Mer-Lyn, a pop singer who recorded music with ABC Paramount at just 16 years old. Her mother later became a modeling agency owner, television producer, and makeup artist. Mer-Lyn’s entrepreneurial spirit and DIY nature influenced Mallorie from a young age. Mallorie attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago after graduating High School. She also attended the Cleveland Institute of Art but is mostly self-taught. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she works with non-traditional media, such as chocolate installations in abandoned spaces, and text-based textile works using synthetic hair. Mallorie has participated in a number of regional + national exhibitions. In addition to her art practice, Mallorie is also a professional art handler, specializing in archival conservation, preservation, and installation. She has been employed at a number of galleries and art institutions including, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Progressive Art Collection, and has recently moved to Detroit, MI after accepting a position as Production Associate with Library Street Collective. Exhibition at BRICK for the CAN TRIENNIAL All venues open July 8th - August 31st. Reception August 5th 5-9 pm https://cantriennial.org/event/north-collinwood-reception/ Cleveland Print Room: The Suitcase Project https://www.clevelandprintroom.com/the-suitcase-project SCENE: Cleveland Artist Mallorie Freeman Explores Her Mother's Past For Next Series https://bit.ly/3OGOE0X ABC Paramount: Promise by Mer-Lyn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwHnFFFbFWg ABC Paramount: You’re The Only Boy I’ll Ever Love by Mer-Lyn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OALsiycaTyI Artful Cleveland: ARTworks Profile https://artfulcleveland.org/2016/05/17/artworks-profile-on-mallorie-freeman/

New on the pod! Humbled and honored to welcome international artist, activist, educator, and documentary filmmaker EMILY HANAKO MOMOHARA. Listen in as we explore 1940’s AAPI feminism, patriotism, resilience, perseverance, leadership, and “gaman (我慢)” – Japanese for “silent endurance” from Zen Buddhist origin meaning "enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.” Tune in to a riveting behind-the-scenes glimpse into Momohara’s upcoming film premiere of NAMBA, inspired by the true story of May Namba. From Japanese American grandparent FBI files to incarcerated Japanese American Omikuji cookie makers in the San Francisco Bay area unexpectedly inspiring counter-culture fortune cookie branding and marketing, we share tales of Momohara’s Okinawan family and my Filipino family journey to the States by way of Hawaiian pineapple plantations. (I promise you will never look at a fortune cookie or pineapple the same way again!) A true time capsule tribute, Momohara masterfully transforms multi-generational trauma, revealing how her own family’s incarceration story intertwines with May and May’s granddaughter, Miyako. NAMBA will premiere at Cincinnati’s National Underground Freedom Center Harriet Tubman Theater on July 16th with additional screenings at Seattle’s Wing Luke Asian Art Museum Takeuchi Story Theatre on July 30th, and future Portland and virtual dates forthcoming. NAMBA is a coming-of-age journey in the midst of war and bravery, introducing us to May Namba, a Japanese American woman incarcerated during WWII, a portion of American history not often told. We learn the story of May Namba, narrated by her granddaughter Miyako Namba. Beginning with the summer of 1941, Momohara chronicles the bombing of Pearl Harbor and President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 that sent Japanese Americans to prison camps, and the impact it had on those Americans. May was incarcerated in Minidoka, Idaho, one of 10 such prison camps. Of Japanese-British-American ancestry, EMILY HANAKO MOMOHARA grew up outside of Seattle, Washington in a mixed-race family. Her work centers around issues of heritage, multiculturalism, immigration, and social justice. Momohara has exhibited internationally including in the Changjiang International Photography & Video Biennale, Chongqing, China; a 2-person exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum titled Sugar Islands; and the Okinawa Prefectural Museum in Naha, Japan. Momohara was featured in a number of public art projects such as the For Freedoms 50 State Initiative billboard campaign and 2021 AAPI Heritage Month program. Her billboards have been featured at the International Center for Photography, NY; Utah Museum of Contemporary Art; and StandBy in Tokyo, Japan.  She serves as Associate Professor of Studio Art at the Academy of Cincinnati. She is currently a board of trustee at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center and member of Ohio Progressive Asian Women’s Leadership (OPAWL). Emily Hanako Momohara ehmomohara.com https://www.instagram.com/ehmomohara/?hl=en "NAMBA - A Japanese American’s Incarceration and Life of Resilience" https://namba-movie.com/ Minidoka National Historic Site I National Park Services https://www.nps.gov/miin/index.htm

Get fascinated and tune in with Pakistani-born, Toronto-raised fashion phenom AIMON ALI, the iconic influencer bringing impeccably chic, sophisticated community events to a runway near you. (Oh, and fun facts? Her name means “elegance” and she loves to unwind and de-stress by watching Korean variety shows!) Blending her psychology and business background with her love of all things fashion, AIMON is the creative force behind her megawatt brands Fashion Talks, Fashion Talks Magazine, and Fashion Talks Foundation for the Cleveland Museum of Art and the NBA All-Star Games. Sharing how she is “a lot for a lot of people” and how experiencing culture shock and being “the other” and “the only” in the room helped her pivot and elevate in unexpected ways personally and professionally, Aimon gives us a captivating glimpse into her imaginative mix of drive, design, diversity and inclusion – while creating high fashion and high impact on and off the runway. Now based in Cleveland, Ohio AIMON ALI is a fashion entrepreneur as well as an experienced Fashion Runway Show Producer, Stylist, and Creative Director from Toronto, Canada. With 7+ years of experience in the Canadian Fashion Industry, she has done events in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver. After her move to Cleveland, she started exploring the creative industry in Cleveland in search of the fashion she loved and was used to. She soon realized there was something missing. There were so many amazing creatives with some amazing work but no outlet when it came to elevated fashion. So she made it her goal to bring elevated and diverse events to Cleveland. Events you don’t have to think twice about before attending. Events based on quality, high fashion, and community. The Runway at Cleveland Museum of Art on Juneteenth : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ft-foundation-presents-the-runway-tickets-290115010807 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fashiontalks/ Webiste for Fashion Talks: https://fashiontalkss.com/ Website for FT Foundation : https://www.fashiontalksfoundation.org/ Aimon: https://www.instagram.com/aimon.ali/

Celebrating PRIDE month and recorded live on Memorial Day, I caught up with my friend Cleveland Heights MAYOR KAHLIL SEREN to talk about his vision and inspiration behind his historic 100-year win, his deep love of family, his admiration for his activist moms, and how his childhood shaped him to be the modern leader he is today. Named after a Lebanese poet and a certain pink water dragon, Serendipity – Seren for short! – by his 4-year-old-brother, we discover how MAYOR SEREN never wanted to run for office or become a politician. We also dive deep into “learning over knowing” and how facing our fears without flinching (and liking a little danger even...) can lead to your next thing in the new now. Kahlil Seren was sworn in as the 1st elected Mayor of Cleveland Heights on January 1, 2022. Born in Cleveland Heights, Kahlil grew up in East Cleveland and Beachwood before moving back to Cleveland Heights where he served on City Council from 2015 to 2021. During his time on Council, Kahlil focused on improving housing policy in Cleveland Heights by introducing legislation requiring banks to pay a bond to maintain foreclosed vacant housing and mandating that landlords pay their property taxes and code violations in order to renew their rental occupancy permits. As Vice Mayor, Kahlil also championed the adoption of grant-funded CitizenServe software, which streamlined the building permit and housing inspection processes of the city. Kahlil Seren previously worked as a Policy Advisor for Cuyahoga County Council, the legislative and budgetary authority for Cuyahoga County. In that capacity, he advised Council on policy design and program management, primarily in the areas of Workforce, Economic, and Community Development.  https://www.clevelandheights.gov/1448/Mayor-Kahlil-Seren https://twitter.com/kahlilseren https://www.instagram.com/kahlilseren/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/MayorSeren [email protected]