Alex shares his story and growth as a studio music producer, balancing being a doctor and growing A2K, his parent's perspectives on his aspirations and what her is doing, his favourite quotes and life philosophies, as well as Melbourne's local music scene. From Alex: "I am a 2nd year junior doctor working in Metro Melbourne (aka Resident Doctor). Undertaking what’s called a General Year doing rotations in different areas- this year have worked as an Emergency Doctor, Addiction Medicine Doctor and most importantly a doctor on a Metro Melbourne COVID ward, as well as a doctor for COVID carpark testing sites (have spent a large portion of my year working with COVID lol). I’m interested in Critical Care Medicine and one day hoping to pursue a career in Anaesthesia." Follow him on IG @a2kwong and on Spotify! Timestamps 11:21 Growing up and aspirations 15:34 Parental perspective 18:33 Getting Started in Music 21:00 Starting to Produce Music 27:32 Melbourne's Music Scene 29:07 Making it 33:00 Balancing between Music and Medicine 38:20 Origin of A2K 43:44 Future of A2K ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Angela and Anny share how they created Subtle Asian Traits, what goes behind moderating the group, their current and future plans. They discuss the importance of representation and how although the Asian diaspora share similar values, there are still differences amongst the group. Subtle Asian Traits was created in September 2018 after seeing the gap in the internet for a place where all Asians could personally share their shared experiences in a light-hearted format without judgement. As a group of friends who met at a weekend language school we always had Asian related jokes about our unique shared experiences that we would share together. We saw there had been plenty of asian pages but they all had a feeling of disconnectedness, nothing like the intimacy a group page could offer. We felt that this page would provide us with a sense of confidence for once in our lives, safe from any judgement by others. We wanted a place where we could openly discuss our different upbringings and instead of burying it away, and finally do the opposite, to be proud of it. Visit the group at subtleasiantraits.com Join the group on Facebook here, follow on Instagram here, and subscribe to their YouTube channel here. Timestamps 11:42 Personal Introductions 17:20 Beginning of SAT 24:03 Managing SAT 31:08 Growing SAT 33:02 Current Projects 38:16 Trip to Facebook HQ 44:26 Future of SAT 46:26 Angela and Anny's Future 48:33 Asian Australian Representation ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Alex speaks on his experience as a junior doctor working in the "dirty" COVID Wards and dealing with "SCOVID" patients, as well as volunteering to help at pop-up testing sites in Melbourne. This episode was recorded on 23rd October 2020 before the easing of Melbourne's restrictions, but this is a timely reminder of the struggles which our frontline healthcare worked through while we individually did our bit for the community. Alex Kwong is a junior doctor by day, and music producer A2K by night. Please follow us on our socials to keep up to date for when we release his full episode. Follow Alex on Instagram @a2kwong and listen to his music on Spotify here. ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Kathryn discusses media representation for Asian-Australians, the behind the scenes of being a social media content creator, signing with IMG models, and being an "influencer". While she is completing her graduate diploma of legal practice, Kathryn continues to manage what she considers a hobby, She is a signed model and a make-up artist with a sizeable Instagram community and audience. She prides herself on authentic content and engagement with her community, which has led her to pursue other platforms such as live-steaming on Twitch Follow Kathryn on all her socials: IG @kathryynn YouTube @Kathryn Tan Twitch @kathryntan Tiktok @kathryynntan Twitter @kathryynnt Yes, we know none of them match up HAHA Timestamps 02:50 This or That 07:22 Studying Law 13:21 In House Lawyers 16:26 Freelance Make Up 20:19 @Kathryynn 21:41 Taking Instagram seriously 23:26 Working with Brands 27:03 Signing with IMG 31:35 Streaming on Twitch 38:04 The "Influencer" Label 42:27 Asian Australian Representation 49:00 Growing Up 52:56 Advice ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Jess shares her experience doing nude photography and the process of creating mental health shoots, working as a "professional" photographer, creating a community and a culture, educating through empathy, and starting difficult conversations on Transgender issues in the Asian Australian community. While she is completing her honours year for Psychology, Jess runs multiple photography gigs as well as her own business JXDNG Photography, where she does commercial shoots such as product shots and maternity shoots, as well as some creative works. She uses her photography as a means to connect with others and hopes to capture the essence of human connection - its stories, its rawness and its beauty. Her recent works celebrate the beauty of women and their relationship with themselves, others and the world. PLATFORM  is your one stop discovery button for local artists and talks of healing.  Platform works to act as THE PLATFORM for artists to support artists, for people to support artists, for people to support people. It includes interviews with artists Jess has had the honour to work with and stories of souls that have inspired her. She hopes that when you read these you find yourself less alone, more empowered and vitalised with creative energy. Visit Jess at www.jxdngphotography.com Follow her on IG @jxdngphotography and @platform.exhibitions Timestamps 02:43 This or That 09:29 Getting into photography 11:00 Career in Photography and Traditional Asian Parents 14:51 Becoming Professional 17:16 School Photography Incident 24:21 JXDNG Photography 25:41 Creative Work 26:57 "Sporadic" and Mental Health Shoots 30:48 Nude Photography for International Women's Day 32:47 Inspiration for Platform Exhibitions 37:05 Community and Culture 40:35 COVID 42:15 Creating Conversations 44:15 Transgender Conversations in the Asian Community 46:45 Education and Empathy 50:21 Advice for budding creatives 53:11 Jess' Future ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Victor shares his coaching philosophy of empowerment, transitioning from swimming to powerlifting, injury, starting and running an online coaching service and his personal mental health toolbox. He was inspired by the warm and welcoming powerlifting community to start his own coaching career in order to empower others. Victor highly values the importance of up-skilling and educating his athletes to take ownership over their lifting. His passion for clinical psychology shines through as he discusses strengthening the general population's mental health base line and provides his own personal mental health toolbox for YOU to use in your daily life. Visit Victor at liulift.com Follow him on IG @victorthedictator Timestamps 02:52 This or That 04:52 Victor's Background 09:37 Hardest Part of Swimming 13:45 Transitioning to Powerlifting 15:36 Sporting Community 18:06 Competitions 20:58 Injury 25:01 Starting Coaching Career 27:26 Beginning of LiuLift 28:23 Empowerment and Coaching 33:35 Running LiuLift 34:43 Online Coaching 36:55 A Coach's Experience 38:30 Victor's Future 39:06 Studying Psychology 40:56 Mental Health and Strength Model 42:54 Exercise and Mental Health 44:31 Personal Mental Health Tool box ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Pam and Jenny share their decision of moving away from stable and traditional careers to running their own businesses, what it takes to juggle multiple commitments, the role bubble tea plays in Asian Australian culture and the hustle that was required to build Bubble Tea Club to where it is today. They originally started the Bubble Tea Club to give everyone access to store-bought quality bubble tea at home as well as a club where all of us who love bubble tea can come together. What they want to do is to be able to send cheap and affordable bubble tea to everyone everywhere as well as share bubble tea stories together as a club! Visit Pam and Jenny at bubbleteaclub.com.au Follow them on IG at @bubbleteaclubau Timestamps 04:38 This or That  10:23 Jenny's Background 13:01 From Optom to Business 14:25 Pam's Background 16:29 Why not the traditional pathway? 20:30 Juggling multiple commitments 21:57 How Pam and Jenny met 23:55 Starting BBT Club 25:51 Why BBT? 29:25 Market for BBT 30:53 Division of Responsibilities 32:09 Community and Growth 34:08 Building Skills 37:30 Growth Mindset 40:37 Future of BBT 42:06 BBT as Asian Australian Culture 45:40 The Evolution of History 48:21 Meaning of TNN ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

We have a chat with our good friends Ben Ma and Brian Truong, the masterminds behind one of Australia’s leading automotive aftermarket parts dealers, Zero Offset. Ben and Brian discuss where it all began, their personal journey as friends and business partners, the current landscape of Melbourne’s Car scene, and the hustle that was required to build Zero Offset into what it is today. Visit Ben and Brian at www.zerooffset.com.au  Follow them on their IG @zerooffset, @mabenny and @brian_mk7.5r Timestamps: 03:47 This or That 09:28 Benny Intro 11:35 Brian Intro 13:27 Meeting each other 18:36 First business ventures 20:33 Asian Clubbing Scene 22:53 Zero Offset Beginning 24:39 The "jump" 25:29 Benny joining the team 28:34 Luck vs Opportunity 31:05 Juggling commitments 34:29 Growth mindset 37:13 Traditional pathway 38:50 Starting earlier 42:06 Toxic community 47:37 Asians in car scene 48:32 Networking within the industry 50:40 TNN Meaning ---------------------------------------- Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

Kerry talks to us about quitting his corporate job in the middle of lockdown, financial literacy for our generation, and the shift of values Asian-Australians have with money. Kerry is the author and founder of the finance blog GenZInvestors.com, where he provides practical advice which you, yes YOU, can use to start your investing journey. Join Will and Anthony as we talk about Kerry’s journey from copywriting and freelancing while juggling a corporate job, to quitting that job and working on his blog full time - have a suss of his blog and sign up for his weekly newsletter, where he gives you some hot tips at GenZInvestors.com Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official

In this episode we talk about living in Melbourne during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the importance of checking up on your friends. Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians through meaningful storytelling with leading Asian Australian voices and organisations. Join us - Anthony, Nhat and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal. Follow and connect us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official