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After years of working at odd jobs, Yang has found his first lead role and left Yu knocked back in tears during his audition.
A Lemon. The $1,500 Toyota Corolla with no power windows, a busted side door, and poor brakes is what Jimmy O. Yang rode around Los Angeles to prepare for his role as Willis Wu, an overlooked Asian American everyman in the series “Interior Chinatown.”
The result? “Pull over, call whoever got you in here. If you can’t, you gotta go…” A rude remark from the studio’s guard as Yang recalled in a Zoom with the Los Angeles Times (LA Times) even though he was No.1 on the call sheet.
The experience reminded Yang of his life story as a Hong Kong immigrant moving to the United States. Yang stated in the interview, “Willis’ journey is such a metaphor for the Asian American experience because we are the model minority, but at the same time we are invisible. People talk about Black and white, but where do we fall? You’re just not seen for who you are.” In an article by SCMP, the actor-writer-comedian further exemplifies, “Willis laments feeling like a background actor in someone else’s story and longs to be in the spotlight, but that’s hard if you look like me.”
At the age of 13, Yang relocated to Los Angeles feeling the intense culture shock. “My goal was to just assimilate so I don’t get made fun of,” Yang recalled. In the school’s locker room, he was mocked for wearing whities instead of boxers. During 8th grade, his peers had mustaches and dunked basketballs while he barely hit puberty. Using a fake address, he enrolled in Beverly Hills High School and immersed himself in American pop culture. Unable to rap, Yang learned to incorporate his violin into the hip-hop beats he made through a software named Fruity Loops.
Despite his parents’ harsh opposition, Yang acknowledges, “I don’t think they were, like, anti-art by any means. My dad probably wishes he could have been an actor or a musician. It just truly wasn’t a real job for him. He wanted me to be financially stable, and not be homeless.” Yang started working at a string of odd jobs from selling used cars to DJing at strip clubs. Stand-up comedy, which Yang has now become notorious for besides acting, became his informal acting, writing, and directing school.
Persistent in his passion, Yang landed small speaking roles in series like “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” where he was misunderstood as a background actor for his ethnicity, and “Silicon Valley,” originally a one-off guest role or a one-note cliché. Yang’s fame finally came in Crazy Rich Asians. Yang claims, “If I botched an audition, I never blamed the fact that they weren’t looking for an Asian actor. It didn’t deter me. But looking back, we had very limited opportunities. Since ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ I think there’s more.” The success has made Yang’s father, Richard Ouyang, proud – even helping him with commercial and acting gigs with his son.
The series “Interior Chinatown” became an immediate connection to Yang. According to the LA Times, Charles Yu, creator of the series which was adapted from his National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, was inspired by, “people who have these backstories, but they don’t get to tell those stories”. He was astonished by Yang’s performance as he felt a connection between Yang’s multicultural background, multilingualism, and his natural ability for acting.
Despite the grueling six months of shooting, doing comedy, drama, and Kung Fu every week, Yang happily states, “It was very grueling. But of course, it’s a beautiful story worth telling.” At the end of the day, whether it is for better or worse, Yang’s days of being a sidekick are finally over.
Featured Image Source: Mike Taing from The Wrap
- 4 min read
Stories
Do you ever feel like you’re juggling a hundred things at once—your career, family, personal goals—and wonder how to keep it all together?
Dr. Tiffany Moon knows exactly what that’s like. As a mother, doctor, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s empowerment, she has mastered the art of balancing multiple roles without losing sight of her passions. Not only did she figure out how to manage all these roles, but she’s also thriving in each of them.
Driven by her love for creativity and her desire to inspire others, Dr. Moon ventured into entrepreneurship, launching Aromasthesia Candles and Three Moons Wine. Most recently, she founded LeadHer Summit, a leadership conference designed to uplift and empower women from all different professional backgrounds.
Here’s how Dr. Moon is redefining success by finding joy in balancing her work, passions, and family—while staying true to her authentic self:
The Heart Behind Her Success
Dr. Tiffany Moon’s journey to success was deeply influenced by her immigrant parents, whose sacrifices fueled her ambition. Watching them work tirelessly to create a better life for their family shaped her determination to thrive—not just for herself, but for her twin daughters.
“I saw firsthand the struggles they faced, and I knew I wanted to create a better life for myself and my children,” she reflects.
Driven by this desire, Dr. Moon achieved remarkable milestones early on. By 19, she had graduated from Cornell University, and by 23, she completed medical school, quickly establishing herself as a respected anesthesiologist. However, her goals extended beyond her medical career. She also stepped into entrepreneurship to show her daughters that women can lead, build businesses, and create their own opportunities without sacrificing joy.
“I want my daughters to know that they don’t have to give up parts of themselves to fit into a box others might create for them,” Dr. Moon explains. “Being true to who they are is the most powerful way to lead and succeed.”
Navigating Challenges and Finding Her True Self
Like many of us, Dr. Moon faced pressures to meet the expectations placed on her, both by society and herself. As a first-generation Chinese American, she felt the weight of cultural norms that pushed her to be the perfect daughter, doctor, wife, and mother. This constant striving for perfection left her feeling exhausted and burnt out.
It wasn’t until she took a step back that she realized something needed to change. Through therapy, self-reflection, and surrounding herself with supportive mentors, Dr. Moon learned to let go of the need for perfection and embrace her true self. She began to prioritize her own well-being, and in doing so, she found a sense of freedom and joy that had been missing.
“It was a long process, but it’s something I now advocate for, especially with other women who feel like they have to do it all.“
In her book, Joy Prescriptions, Dr. Moon shares her journey of overcoming perfectionism and embracing vulnerability and authenticity, inspiring others to follow a similar path.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
Beyond medicine, Dr. Moon’s entrepreneurial spirit has flourished. She’s combined her love for creativity and her professional knowledge to launch two successful businesses: Aromasthesia Candles, a line of candles inspired by her medical career, and Three Moons Wine, which she started with her husband. Both ventures reflect her belief that you don’t have to limit yourself or strive for perfection—you can embrace all the different facets of who you are and explore them fully.
But perhaps her most meaningful venture is the LeadHer Summit, a leadership conference dedicated to empowering women across various industries.
The LeadHer Summit 2024, set to take place from November 8 to 10 at the JW Marriott in Dallas, TX, is designed to inspire women to connect, grow, and take bold steps in their careers and personal lives.
The 3-day event features keynote sessions, hands-on workshops, and panel discussions led by 25 expert speakers. Attendees will have the opportunity to build meaningful connections through networking opportunities and celebrate in style at the exclusive Glam Gala.
For more information, visit leadhersummit.com
Creating a Legacy for the Next Generation
At the heart of everything Dr. Moon does is her desire to leave a positive legacy for her twin daughters. She wants them to grow up knowing they can chase their dreams and still be true to who they are.
For Dr. Moon, success isn’t about sacrificing joy but about finding purpose in everything you do. Through her own life, she’s inspiring women everywhere to embrace authenticity and live fearlessly, showing that it’s possible to lead with both heart and ambition.
Connect with Dr. Tiffany Moon
Instagram: @leadhersummit @tiffanymoonmd
TikTok: @tiffanymoonmd
Facebook: Tiffany Moon, MD
LinkedIn: Tiffany Moon, MD, FASA
- 4 min read
News
NewJeans is onto another journey of global stardom, this time, it is towards a quite interesting, new audience. Their song “ETA” has surprisingly witnessed a resurgence after 1 year of its release, which many humorously referred to as “NewJeans Renaissance.” It all happened when Vietnamese American streamer Jason “theween” Nguyen, ranked 15th globally and 10th in the U.S. on Twitch, celebrated reaching 100,000 subscribers by playing the track during his livestream, becoming the 2nd most-subscribed Twitch streamer.
The viral meme of him and his friends passionately screaming the song lyrics “What’s your ETA?” took the internet by storm. Thanks in part to Jason’s live stream and the song’s inherent quality, this track’s daily streaming exploded. From September 29 to October 2, the song reached 322,985, 424,271, 563,295, and 659,860 streams on Spotify. On October 1 and 2, “ETA” became the most streamed song by NewJeans, despite its 1-year release.
However, besides the song as an upsetting observation of modern romance, Jason has challenged a stereotype long-fixated on K-pop listeners. K-pop, especially in Western countries, was a novel concept until recent years. Since the global expansion of K-pop, it has gained a significant amount of popularity. Just when it seems like the world is more open to a new musical force, stereotypes remain or even worsen.
K-pop was usually linked to cute, dreamy imagery, which widely attracted teenage girls and was often seen as un-masculine. Many, especially men, did not have a positive outlook on the genre, believing that its image went against their ideals of masculinity and lifestyle. NewJeans’ songs, which exude youthful femininity and often above-board quirkiness, could easily fall into the ‘no’ lists of many men chasing after that idea. By publicly showing his admiration for the group, Jason Nguyen has proven that K-pop is an open space for all ages, genders, and sexual orientations.
While singing and dancing along to the cheerleader-chanting tunes of “ETA,” Jason has created a fun and free atmosphere, creating a welcoming space for everyone, including the male-dominated gaming and streaming communities. His open appreciation for K-pop has helped introduce the genre to a broader audience, particularly within the streaming and gaming communities, encouraging more people to embrace the music free from societal labels.
Jason Nguyen, better known as JasonTheWeen, is a Vietnamese American YouTuber and Twitch streamer. He is known for his in-real-life streams and gaming content. Jason officially joined FaZe Clan in April 2024 as part of their reboot.
NewJeans has never really left the K-pop scene, even though it’s been almost five months since their last single album, “How Sweet.” Since they first caught the world’s attention with hit after hit, their coming-of-age, iridescent music has shaped a distinctive persona in the industry. NewJeans arrived on the K-pop scene as a group of teenage girls next door navigating young love and friendships, while a transcendental ambiance hovers around them, instilling a touch of nostalgia yet mystique. This unexpected renaissance is just one more proof that NewJeans is here to stay.
- 3 min read
Stories
Eric Le Tai is not your typical product designer.
As the Founder of Collective Engram, an online design studio based in Nevada, Eric has carved out a niche for himself by blending creativity with purpose. With a background in art direction and a keen focus on user experience (UX) research, he is driven by research-based design that impacts the community and connects business brands with their customers.
But how did Eric get here?
Eric’s journey began in 2019 when he took a pivotal step by studying social impact in New York. There, he discovered how to craft digital solutions that address economic challenges. This ultimately inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship seriously. “My passion for entrepreneurship has always driven me, but transitioning from a traditional 9-5 mindset has been a journey,” Eric shared with AHN.
Despite all the hurdles that he’s encountered, Eric is proud of his willingness to take risks, embrace failure, and keep moving forward.
Through Collective Engram, Eric hopes to form a collaborative community of professionals—designers, researchers, and developers—working together to deliver innovative digital services to small businesses in need.
His mission is simple but profound: to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses by offering design and research services tailored to their needs, while also creating new opportunities for collaboration within the industry.
The Services of Collective Engram
Eric offers a wide range of services that cater to businesses and entrepreneurs at different stages of their digital journeys. His primary focus is on final design deliverables for web, applications, and print. Clients can opt for additional research services, but they are not always required.
Here’s a breakdown of the services offered through Collective Engram:
User Research (optional):
- UXR Research Report
- Competitive Analysis
- Personas
Final Designs (Figma, Photoshop, etc.):
- Visual Design Final
- Wireframe
- Interactive Prototype
Design Support:
- Design System/Components
- User Journey Flow/Site Map
- Product Strategy Workshopping
- Presentation Support
- Development Support (Hand-Off)
Any new business can benefit from creating an online website or blog for their product, but Collective Engram is especially beneficial for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups that need a professional and cohesive online presence.
For larger projects, such as application development or e-commerce platforms, Eric’s product design and research services become particularly valuable. He tailors his approach based on the client’s needs and the goals they wish to achieve with their product.
The Future of Collective Engram
Looking ahead, Eric sees exciting opportunities for Collective Engram. “My main focus is bringing in new clientele and optimizing the workflow process for different client needs,” Eric says. Currently, his primary focus is web design, but he plans to expand into larger-scale projects such as application and product design and large e-commerce platforms.
Eric is also exploring opportunities in industries like healthcare and education, where large-scale data analytics play a crucial role. In addition, he is learning the basics of front-end development to work more seamlessly with developers on future projects.
Connect with Eric
In his efforts to better understand potential clients and their needs, Eric offers free consultations for businesses interested in working with him. You may reach him at: collectiveengram.com
- 3 min read