“So…what exactly do you do?” - Many people find it hard to provide a straightforward answer about their careers. The hot take? Most career journeys that are actually interesting are messy, non-linear, and would probably confuse LinkedIn algorithms!On this episode, Isabel is joined by journalist-turned-startup COO Isaac Cheung to talk about their career pivots, professional identity shifts, and why some people grow more in two chaotic years than others do in ten comfortable ones.With a combined 22+ years of professional experience across TV news, finance, technology, fashion, hospitality, and startups, Isabel and Isaac unpack the lessons they've learnt from making unexpected career moves and leading global teams.Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=VQWHyykUSsqOkzPswz04jQ----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Jun 10
1 hr 18 min
Mui Thomas is the world’s first athlete living with Harlequin Ichthyosis.Born in Hong Kong but abandoned at birth, Mui is the fourth oldest survivor of the rare genetic skin condition with an incidence rate of 1 in 300,000 births. She joins Proudly Asian to share her journey growing up with a visible difference, learning to embrace her visibility, and finding strength in the very things that once made her feel isolated. Having worked as a rugby referee and yoga teacher, Mui actively uses her platform to challenge perceptions and advocate for greater understanding around visible differences. She also tells us about the new book - “An Unexpected Adoption” - written by her adoptive parents. Follow Mui: https://www.instagram.com/mui_thomas92/Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=oI8hLtDyR4GIm7ufLN02vA----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
May 19
1 hr 3 min
May is Lupus Awareness Month and as a platform that highlights voices often overlooked or misrepresented, we want to shine a light on communities that live with invisible illnesses.For this week’s episode, Sapphire Shen, a Hong Kong makeup artist and creative director, joins us to talk about her experience living with Lupus and raising awareness about the long-term autoimmune disease through the non-profit organisation she founded - My Lupus Diary.Born and raised in Hong Kong and diagnosed with Lupus in her early adulthood, Sapphire also talks about how she navigates work and life with a chronic disease and common misconceptions about invisible illnesses.Follow Sapphire: https://www.instagram.com/shensapphire/Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=FgCz8UwRTVWsDRFUVFIPbg----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
May 5
59 min
Ali Nuraly and Xeniya Tregubenko, the Kazakh founders of Central Asian restaurant Yurt, join Proudly Asian to talk about opening Hong Kong’s first Central Asian restaurant and bringing ingredients such as horse meat to Hong Kong.Born and raised in Kazakhstan, Ali and Xeniya are on a mission to put Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan on the table and widen the region's cultural representation. They also talk about Central Asian representation in dining, and what they want you to know about Kazakhstan.Follow Yurt: https://instagram.com/yurt.hkProudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=wk-mxhM-ToOepJgF1c3lBQ----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Mar 17
1 hr 13 min
Washam Limbu, a Nepalese award-winning mixologist based in Hong Kong, joins Proudly Asian to talk about making a name for himself in the competitive mixology scene and the creative process behind crafting cocktails. Born in Nepal and raised in Hong Kong, Washam has spent nine years building his career in the F&B industry. In 2025, he was named Hong Kong’s Young Mixologist of the Year. But for Washam, cocktails are more than drinks. They are a way to share Asian flavours and cultural stories on a global stage.**Special Thanks to Florence Yeung, Coco Ma, and Curtis @InfatuAsian Podcast for the guest intro!Follow Washam: https://instagram.com/bartenderwashamProudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=wEe5dYexTJ2e5RqBfiVj1w----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Feb 24
1 hr 51 min
Heinok Fan, a Sydney-based and Hong Kong trained dentist and yoga instructor, joins Proudly Asian to talk about mental health support access through an Asian cultural lens, where these conversations are often delayed, softened, or avoided altogether. Having worked as the Move Partners Lead at The New Normal Hong Kong and a Mind HK Ambassador, Heinok also reflects on recent tragedies, including the Tai Po fire and the Bondi mass shooting, and unpacks the different layers of mental health support needed in emergencies and crises for different communities such as victims and families, first responders, frontline workers, and the wider society that goes through collective trauma. Heinok also offers practical daily self-care tips during the episode, including a step-by-step guide to an easy deep-breathing exercise.Useful link: Tips to manage overwhelm during global events and relentless bad news Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=9cPfKfs-SPGBQykPHWEtRQ----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Feb 10
1 hr 27 min
Proudly Asian turned four!! 🎉This anniversary episode is a moment to reflect and look back on what Proudly Asian has taught us over the past four years. From conversations about self-love, identity, and chosen family, to discussions around cultural in-betweenness and mental health, this episode brings together seven lessons that stayed with us long after the microphones were turned off.You’ll hear reflections inspired by guests across Season 6, including voices who reminded us that not fitting in can be a strength, that softness can be powerful, and that sometimes simply showing up is enough.Whether you’ve been here since Season 1 or you’re just discovering Proudly Asian, this episode is a reflection on four years of storytelling, learning, and holding space for voices that deserve to be heard.Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=Y8Qp-2nhQTKs-4T04Ty-rw----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Jan 27
39 min
Happy 2026 and welcome to Season 7 of Proudly Asian! Carina Wong, a graphic designer from Hong Kong and creator of Carbi the Rice Ball, joins Proudly Asian to talk about her creative career, the journey creating her rice ball characters that got the attention of Pop Mart, and how she keeps ideas coming.Follow Carina: http://instagram.com/carina.illustrationsProudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=puxbclshS5-DtDhIZa4n6g----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Jan 13
38 min
October is a big month for mental health and neurodiversity - it’s World Mental Health Day, Dyslexia Awareness Month, and ADHD Awareness Month.Satomi Ogata, a Japanese HR leader and neuroinclusion advocate with over 15 years of global HR experience across the United Nations and US tech companies, was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in adulthood.In this episode, Satomi talks about her lived experience working across cultures, what it takes to build truly neuroinclusive workplaces, and why embracing different ways of thinking is key to creating better teams and a better world.Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=Gx9pP4GOSf2eC1DsfwSGzQ----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Oct 10, 2025
1 hr 1 min
Imán Daniels, a Cape Malay teacher born and raised in Cape Town, grew up between multiple cultures before moving across the world to South Korea and Hong Kong. She talks to us about growing up in South Africa, the nuances of being Cape Malay, and what it means to navigate the world when few people truly understand her background. Proudly Asian Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hmol1gJIFlnJVn6zyeJTm?si=vHFLpZjLQPyX4DTEz_ufFA----------------------------------------Stay Connected with Proudly Asian:Website - proudly-asian.comInstagram - instagram.com/proudly.asianYoutube - youtube.com/@proudlyasianpodcastSupport us - ko-fi.com/proudlyasianEmail us - [email protected]
Sep 23, 2025
1 hr 12 min
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