First Generation Burden

*Season Finale* Alvin Cailan is a chef, author, and host of The Burger Show on First We Feast. Alvin grew up in a Chicano section of LA as an AMBOY (American raised Filipino), and trained as a world-class chef with Thomas Keller before striking out on his own as founder of the now iconic breakfast brand Eggslut. Alvin and Rich Tu sit down and talk about his early days as a "tournat", how grind culture has changed, his love of Filipino cuisine, and how he has become the most high profile in voice America's Filipino food movement. 

Rashad Rastam grew up as a skate kid in Philadelphia who went on to found the brand Dahsar. He cut his teeth as a BMX streetwear buyer, designer, digital producer, visual producer at a non-profit, and a brand consultant, all in one. In addition Rashad hosts the podcast Wear Many Hats, where his guests reveal their side hustle. Rich Tu met Rashad at an event promoting his collaboration with Commercial Type before the pandemic. Now, Rich and Rashad sit and talk about his journey to being a professional multitasker, the connection between typography and fashion, and why collaborating with trusted partners is important.

Beatriz Lozano is a designer, typographer, and educator who's work pushes the intersection of creativity and technology and was recently inducted into the prestigious Young Guns 20 class. Beatriz has worked with clients like Planned Parenthood, Target, NPR, and ESPN where she designed the ESPN 50 identity in 2022. She sits down with Rich Tu to talk about growing up in Detroit, Michigan, how social activism is integral to her creative identity, and how technology and A.I. will change the creative industry.

Eva Zar is a director and photographer who’s mission is to show diversity across all spectrums in her work. Within a short amount of time Eva's built an impressive client list including Fenty, Olay, MTV, and Pinterest. Eva and Rich Tu have a thoughtful and funny conversation about growing up as a Third Culture Kid in Austria and Israel, beginning her creative journey during the Syrian refugee crisis, being comfortable on big sets, and the importance of feeling at home with your chosen family.

Lauren Tamaki is an illustrator and artist with a new book out titled Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration. Lauren and Rich Tu have a hilariously emotional conversation about growing up in a talented family, her journey to authorship, and how glamour connects to Star Trek and drag. Also, Lauren discusses how a recent medical emergency has changed her outlook on life and why it's important to process trauma in order to grow. This episode is not to be missed.

Haruko Hayakawa is a CG artist and creative director who talk herself 3D when she was 13 years old. She recently took the leap as an independent artist and has worked with clients like Tom Ford, 88Rising, SKKN, and Bon Appétit. Haruko and Rich Tu talk about how her Japanese culture and food styling influence her work, the challenges of going independent, entering Web3, and how she learned 3D modeling from Gundam spec sheets.

Mamadi Doumbouya is a photographer from Guinea, West Africa. He has photographed icons like Spike Lee, Tom Hanks, and Neil Degrasse Tyson, and was recently honored as one of Forbes 30 Under 30. Rich Tu and Mamadi sit down for an exuberant conversation that covers his life in Guinea, how he found NYCSalt to jumpstart his career, how family obligation informs who he is today, and what it means to feel like a tourist in your own home.

Before Jeffstaple (born Jeffrey Ng) built a creative empire he was sneaking into Parsons' silkscreening lab to hand print his first Staple tees. As the founder and creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department, Jeff's prolific work encompasses graphic design, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing for a range of from startup brands to Fortune 500 companies. Jeff and Rich Tu, sit down to talk about his humble beginnings growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants in New Jersey, the early days of Staple, helping HipHop mature with TheFader and Rawkus, and the launch of the iconic Pigeon Dunk.

Also, they discuss the role of design in culture, how Jeff continues to embrace new technology, the ways in which Web3 reminds him of streetwear, and the time when Rich designed Staple tees based on theology.

For even more, check out his new book Jeffstaple: Not Just Sneakers (with Rizzoli), chronicling his 25 year creative journey.

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Danica Tan Lijun is a Singaporean art and animation director with a multidisciplinary background in design, animation and film. She was recently inducted into the global class of ADC Youngs Guns 20 and won the second annual COLORFUL Awards with the OneClub. Danica and Rich Tu have a conversation about her upbringing in Singapore, the creative path that brought her to LA, her recent experience at SXSW, and how she tells "tender and ferocious" coming-of-age stories.

Gabriela Namie is a designer and art director who's been recognized by the global creative industry and uses design to amplify messages she believes in. Currently she's an art director for Google YouTube Music platform, after being at &Walsh and founding Estúdio Barca in her native Brazil.

Gabriela and Rich Tu chat about the unique shared culture, growing up Brazilian Japanese, what it means to have a personl voice in design, and how A.I. can potentially change the creative industry forever.

Walt Geer is the Chief Experience Design Officer of VMLY&R and was named the Change Creator of the Year by Adweek, but took the path less traveled to get there. In recent years, Walt has become a vocal advocate for inclusion in the creative space, and talks about how a viral post on LinkedIn and asking for accountability has helped build his platform today.

Also, Walt and Rich Tu talk about the value of being a "swiss army knife", the definition of "Brand Experience" how he innovated at companies like Google, ViacomCBS (now Paramount), and Verve (to name a few) and earning some key patents along the way.

*Season Premiere* Kim Pham is the child of Vietnamese refugees and the co-founder of the Asian food brand OMSOM. Kim and Rich Tu sit down and talk about a range of topics like food shame, the importance of community, her founders' journey, and how OMSOM is fighting stigmatization of the ethnic food aisle.

Also, they discuss what it means to be "chronically online and made on the internet", and how Kim is giving life to her multitudes on TikTok and sharing her experience as a lifestyle domme. This episode is all about fighting the model minority myth, and it's a must-listen!

Esteban Serrano is a creator, television producer, and contributor to Hip Hop and pop culture for close to 20 years at places like MTV and FUSE. Over the course of his career, he has worked on iconic properties like TRL and had a hand in giving artists like A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar their first TV appearances.

Rich Tu and Esteban sit down and talk about his upbringing in West Philadelphia, growing up in a Puerto Rican and African-American household, and how he broke into the entertainment industry.

Also, they discuss Esteban's most recent endeavor, helping re-launch Yo! MTV RAPS in the United states on Paramount+, as the show’s Creative Director.

Recorded live at Soho House, in New York City.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Bobby Hundreds and Ben Hundreds met in law school and founded the iconic streetwear brand The Hundreds in 2003. They sit down with Rich Tu to talk about the early days of streetwear, their humble beginnings merging influences of hip hop, punk and hardcore, and why being the children of immigrants creates a sense of urgency and survival.

Also, they go in-depth into how The Hundreds has always been about community, embracing inclusivity in Web3, challenges of building within the Metaverse, and how they created their sold-out Adam Bomb Squad NFT collection, and the legacy they would like to leave behind when it's all said and done. This episode is packed with fashion and futurism, and not one to be missed.

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Melody Ehsani is a celebrated fashion designer based in Los Angeles and the Women's Creative Director for the global brand Foot Locker. Melody and Rich Tu have a refreshing conversation about how she turned a passion for justice into a creative journey through self-discovery and spirituality.

They cover a range of topics, including growing up in L.A. in a first generation Iranian home, finding God on her own terms, moving to China to design her first sneaker, and the unique challenges of creating for a self-owned brand versus a huge corporation. Also, they uncover a never-before-discovered easter egg on her classic Fearless Jordan 1 collab. 

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REO is a music producer and dynamic futurist poised to change the way the world views digital art. His work in both music and digital art have lead him to into the metaverse with high-ticket NFTs, and collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé and Kanye West. REO opens up about finding his true identity as an artist, discovering his West African roots, and how he hacked the educational system.

Also REO and Rich Tu discuss how NFTs have empowered this generation of digital artists, what's creatively possible in the Metaverse, and they take a peek behind the curtain of Kanye's Donda listening parties and what it takes to create on that level.

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Walshy Fire is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer who is a part of the Grammy-nominated dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer. In this special episode, Walshy talks to Rich Tu about how he quit a corporate day job at IBM to pursue his dream in the music industry, becoming a part of the Black Chiney sound system, and later on the joining Major Lazer. They also talk about his music influences, the importance of the New York club scene in the 90's, why cultural validity matters, and the importance of positive music.

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Anna Park is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in the past few years with her large scale charcoal drawings that simultaneously equals parts hedonism and Americana. A recent grad, she has shown in major galleries around the world, and gained the attention of the likes of KAWS and Billy Eilish. Anna and Rich Tu talk about her artistic process, what it was like growing up in Utah as a Korean immigrant, how parental expectations within Asian culture is intense, and why it's important to take a break to protect your mental health. 

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*Season 8 Premiere* We're back! Daniel Buezo is a designer and co-founder of LA-based streetwear upstart Kids of Immigrants and the perfect guest to kick off the new season. Daniel sits down with host Rich Tu to talk about his early days growing up on the East Coast in a first gen Honduran family, being acutely aware of the sacrifices his parents made, and how he avoided trouble to pursue a college degree in social work. Also, Daniel opens up about how he and co-founder Weleh Dennis worked behind-the-scenes for two years before launching the KOI brand in 2016, how their approach to collaborations has evolved, and why it's important to focus on love and community against all odds. This is a conversation you can't miss. 

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*Season Finale* Cris Ramos Greene is a Spanish-American writer and author of the memoir Embrace That Girl. Her writing has also been featured in Thought Catalog, The New Tropic, and BuzzFeed. Rich and Cris discuss her debut book, which tells the heartfelt and humorous story of navigating adulthood and searching for meaning and love in Miami. They talk about the creative process and the importance of taking risks, her early days in advertising, and how the pandemic changed her approach to the book. And for you artists out there, they talk about the book cover process from the author’s point of view. 

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Dometi Pongo is a correspondent for MTV News and the host of True Life Crime. He is also the son of Ghanaian immigrants and a Chicago native, who has used his love of music and thirst for knowledge to walk the line between journalism, activism, and pop culture. Rich and Dometi talk about his pre-MTV days as a rapper-turned-radio host in Chicago (as well as a veritable handbook of useful tips for any aspiring journalists), being raised with pride in his African identity, and why black men should have more intergenerational conversations. Also, they discuss why it was important for Dometi to share his Ghanaian homeland with others in order to re-write the Eurocentric history book. This episode is a must-listen!

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Alexandra Cuerdo is an award-winning director and writer recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World. Her feature directorial debut ULAM: Main Dish is the first Filipino food documentary to achieve worldwide distribution and she recently released a book with Eggslut founder Alvin Cailan, titled AMBOY: Recipes From the Filipino-American Dream. Rich and Allie have a laugh-filled conversation about her beginning in the film industry as George Clooney's assistant and how Ulam stemmed from a love of tradition, food, and the desire to see more brown faces in film. Also they discuss how her recent Asian rave documentary Dancing on My Own became a much more personal story about coming out to her mother. 

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Michael Coveto is a rising star in the Latin music scene and also the last in-person interview for First Gen Burden before all hell broke loose in 2020. Michael and Rich sat down to talk about growing in a Mexican American household, how he dropped out of SVA to pursue music full time, and why it was important for him to go bi-lingual and embrace his Latin roots for his latest album All Or Nothing. Also, they talk about the current Latin explosion, and why it was always destined to happen. *recorded earlier this year*

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Juan Villanueva has made a name for himself as a designer and activist who uses his craft to diversify the classroom, decolonize the industry, and speak truth to power. Juan and Rich delve into his Peruvian heritage, his education at Cooper Union and how he landed a full-time gig at the prestigious type foundry Monotype. They discuss his recent exit from the Type Directors Club, and how his BIPOC design scholarship has become critical to his mission of bringing diverse talent into the industry. Also, they talk about controversial statements by Massimo Vignelli in the film Helvetica, and if they do more harm than good.

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Gail Anderson is a designer, author, educator, and two-time lifetime achievement award winner. Gail sits down with Rich to discuss her Bronx upbringing as a first generation Jamaican American, and being the first in her family to receive a college education. They also talk about her legendary career in design, how she got to Rolling Stone Magazine and her equally iconic tenure at SpotCo. And they also discuss how the School of Visual Arts is addressing the pandemic and social justice.

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Shayla Lawson is an author and poet, with a fierce and humorous new voice. She stops by First Gen Burden to discuss her new book This Is Major: Notes on Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope, a relevant, insightful, and riveting collection of personal essays on the richness and resilience of black girl culture. Rich and Shayla talk about her upbringing in Kentucky and her creative journey, all the reasons why All American Girl's "Addy Walker" doll is a terrible idea, and the challenges of creating narratives that are free of the influence of white supremacy. Also, they ponder comic books, and whether X-Men's attempt at a civil rights' metaphor actually does more damage than good?

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In this special episode, Rich talks to Luck Sarabhayavanija, the founder of Ani Ramen. They talk about the early days of Luck's self-proclaimed "hospitality addiction" which lead to forming a successful restaurant group set for great success in 2020. Amidst the pandemic, they discuss how the group has pivoted towards a non-profit focused on feeding local communities and frontline workers by partnering with celebrity hairstylist Mark Bustos. Also, they talk about the challenges of getting into the restaurant game, and the future of the hospitality industry.

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In this double-sized season finale of First Gen #StayHome Edition Rich has two special interviews during Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. First, Gavin Alaoen from MTV digital design stops by to talk about how he's preparing to be a father again, what content he's binging right now, and post-COVID predictions. Then slam poet, Beau Sia make his first appearance on First Gen to talk about his legendary career (that includes MTV's Spoken Word Unplugged, Def Poetry, and SlamNation) and reads two excerpts from his collection of poems Well Played.

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Laura Mueller Soppart is a real estate developer and the founder of Built Interest, a firm focused on bringing a human-centered perspective building cities. Laura stops by First Gen #StayHome Edition to talk about her German and Spanish origins, how she ended up interning for Barack Obama's White House, and the learnings from working on large real estate projects like the Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn. Also, Laura and Rich discuss what it takes to work on large city initiatives, and how real estate initiatives might change post-pandemic.

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Adam Garcia, founder of The Pressure and member of Apple Music Team gives an update on how the pandemic has changed his perspective on what we give meaning to, personal content strategy post-COVID, and how to throw the best ZOOM party to make all your friends jealous. Also, Rich and Adam talk about who won the infamous DJ Premier versus RZA battle!

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Nicolas Chidiac, the Chief Strategy Officer at Rokkan stops by First Gen #StayHome Edition to talk about his Lebanese heritage, growing up in Greece, and living around the world, from London to Dubai, and eventually the United States. He charts his path in the advertising industry (at places like Saatchi and Leo Burnett), and talks about the tension between mathematics of strategy and creativity, as well as some industry predictions post COVID-19. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Kathleen Tso and Vicki Ho of super dope Banana Magazine stop by with a vibes check on all things AZN in 2020 and talk about the launch of issue 6. They discuss the origins of the magazine, their learnings in the competitive indie magazine world, and the importance of Asian representation in media (highlighting their latest feature on Asians in Comedy and Ronny Chieng).

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Diego Guevara (Global Design Director at Nike), makes his first appearance and talks about growing up in Ecuador before moving to Miami to become a multi-faceted creative working with clients like the CBS Sports, Latin Grammys, J Balvin and the NFL. He also talks about how he landed his role as Nike, and how's he's maintaining his mental and physical health during the quarantine.

ALSO, Diego and Rich play a rousing game of Do / Marry / Kill with some iconic pieces of Nike history. This one is not to be missed.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, illustrator and educator Shreyas R Krishnan (hailing from Chennai, India) appears for the first time to talk about her illustration career, how she collaborates with other artists from around the world, and the importance of work that highlights gender non-binary communities. Also, she talks about how teaching at Washington University in St Louis has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Design Director of Vault49 Kervin Brisseaux checks in to talk about how he's stayed busy while, how being on the same page is important when working from home, and he's staying fit while in quarantine. Also, Kervin gives a breakdown of what video games and anime are on his must-list (spoiler alert, Final Fantasy VII is definitely on there).

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, designer and creative director Zipeng Zhu checks in from the Catskills, and discusses his approach to making content in the midst of the pandemic, how baking he's taken up cooking, and why Asian bigotry is even more stupid when you have terrible grammar. ALSO, we read the COVID-19 sex guide. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Designer and Artist Ricardo Gonzalez (ItsALiving) ZOOMs in from Durango, Mexico and to talk about he now makes murals remotely, staying isolated but focused, how skating has kept him fit, and the importance of sharing things right now. Also we talk about how his recent HUF collab came to fruition. 

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, MTV motion designer, Florencia Massu talks about how her family stuck together (while apart) when her parents developed COVID-19 symptoms, the importance of staying positive, and how ZOOM LIFE was always a thing in an international family.

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In this episode of First Gen #StayHome Edition, Rich catches up with Sandie Cheng of the Now in Color Podcast. They talk about the rise of anti-Asian bigotry, the perception of content post-COVID-19, and the "Myth of Assimilation".

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*SEASON 5 FINALE* Rich sits down with Veda Partalo, the VP of Brand and Marketing at Spotify Premium. They talk about how she spent her childhood as a Bosnian refugee, alongside 2 years in a Hungarian refugee camp. That eventually leads to in Minneapolis, MN where social activism and youth culture save her life, and lead her into marketing and advertising, with roles at Untitled, Mcann, and Droga5. It's an incredible story that both dramatic and humorous is the best way possible.

More Listening:

Alissa Nevita is an expert in marketing and advertising in the sportswear industry, having worked with Flight Club, Bleacher Report, Complex, and Undefeated, among others. Rich and Alissa talk about Indo-Caribbean culture (her family hails from Guyana), growing up in Queens, and how its important to find a career path that appropriate for you. Also, they discuss representation of women in streetwear, and how it's important to speak up in big meetings in order to "Be the Change".

Bonus Episode: Rich and Sophia sit down for an SEO AMA* where they dig into her digital footprint in a fun and off-the-cuff game. We find about even more about Sophia like the origin of "The Bun", the Best and Worst Bandwagon Moments of 2019, and her opinion of CROCS (Yay? or Nay?)

Also, just how many Sophia Changs are out there???

*Search Engine Optimization Ask Me Anything

Sophia Chang returns! One year after her first appearance on First Gen Burden, Rich and Sophia have a total format-busting episode that tries to give you a caffeine-induced rush of design talk and ridiculousness. They talk about her recent projects with Adidas Originals (and how mall culture affected her life), the iPad sketch workshop she did at Apple, how to navigate a brand collaboration, and the most recent issue of UNDO Magazine. Also, Rich discovers how she landed her first big sneaker collab with Puma several years ago. This episode is not to be missed!

Episode 40 (!), is double-sized with two fashion-focused interviews with models Kadeem Hudson (family from Jamaica) and Joanna Pauline (originally from the Philippines). We cover the gamut of representation in the industry, the mentality behind-the-scenes right before stepping on the runway, gender neutrality, and how beauty standards figure into the business of fashion (especially Asian nose politics). Just in time for New York Fashion Week, this one is deep dive into the world like you haven't heard before.

Andy Chen and Waqas Jawaid are the founders of Isometric Studio, a visual identity and graphic design consultancy based in New York City. They specialize in creating brand identities and exhibitions for some of the biggest institutions in the country like Princeton, Google, Cooper Hewitt, and the Museum of the City of New York. Rich sits down with Andy and Waqas to talk about how they met and how they acknowledge identity in their work (including their own, Andy being of Taiwanese descent and Waqas hailing from Pakistan). Also they describe their process of navigating large organizations through the lens of activism.

Also, what DO they think of the Museum of Pizza???

This week, Rich Tu speaks with Mara Lecocq, who leads Brand and Community at Fishbowl, a social network for professionals in the creative industry that allows for honest and semi-anonymous conversations. Also, she’s the founder of Where Are the Boss Ladies, the largest database of senior women leaders in advertising. And she’s the founder of Secret Code, a customizable children’s book that can star any young girl as a tech hero. Additionally, Mara has a storied career in advertising, having worked at AKQA, 72andSunny, and BETC Paris on brands like Starbucks, Nike, Verizon, and McDonalds.

Rich and Mara talk about her upbringing in the Philippines, her mixed French and Filipino heritage, and how her talent has allowed her to live all over the world. In her own words, Mara loves "helping the disempowered rise through their professional development", and the main takeaway from this conversation is that the creative industry can innovate itself by taking a good look at who is steering the ship.

Adam Garcia is an artist, creative director, dancer, and even a dungeon master. Currently, he is a residing in Los Angeles and works in Apple Music's creative team. Additionally, Adam created The Pressure studio, was a creative director at Instrument, and even worked on the Yeezy II during his time at Nike. Rich and Adam catch up after a couple years of no contact, and discuss being born into a mixed raced family in South Texas, growing up in Minnesota as a designer and dancer, and how we came to fully embrace his Tejano and Mexican heritage.

And as a finale, Adam graces us with a found passage in the style of his reading podcast, Dope Excerpts. 

Noreen Morioka & Nicole Jacek are two of the most awarded designers who have sat down with Rich, having worked with some of the biggest clients in the world including Nike, Airbnb, Nickelodeon. Also, most recently, they held the roles as Co-Heads of Design at Weiden + Kennedy. The two of them discuss how they make their partnership work in a variety of contexts, how they wrestle with identity, and what it takes to be a great leader. Also, the group does a 3-person post mortem on the Portland experience, and they discuss the logistics of genetic engineering to create a better generation of creative.

*Webby Award Honoree* 

In another special LIVE episode, Rich sits down with an international group of creatives from the halls of MTV, VH1, CMT, and Logo. It's a heartfelt event in front of a captive audience. Hear stories about coming to America, the trials of seeking a green card, and how we can overcome great tragedy and find optimism under the harshest of circumstances. You do not want to miss this one.

Panelists include: Misha Brea, Antonia Baker, Tanya O’Neill, Ruslan Ivanov, and Florencia Massu

*Special Episode*

In this special LIVE episode, Rich sits down with Benjamin Evans, the Inclusive Design Lead at Airbnb. While growing up in the UK, Benjamin showed a lot of promise in the culinary arts and acting (somewhat inspired by his father, fitness personality Mr. Motivator). During his years spent as both an actor and tech entrepreneur, an incident in Chile (and spurred on by #airbnbwhileblack) lead to Benjamin joining Airbnb's Anti-Discrimination Team, where he is helping guide the global platform's path towards inclusive design. They discuss global culture, how they've changed the user experience, and how we have to acknowledge bias in order to overcome it. Also there's an audience Q&A that gets a little spicy. This is one episode that's got brains AND drama.

Produced by AIGA NY, and recorded at Parsons The New School in New York City. Hosted by Rich Tu.

SEASON FINALE! Gavin Alaoen is the Social Art Director at MTV. He also created the "McKayla is NOT IMPRESSED" meme, and was the last person to Boomerang Bobby Shmurda before he was incarcerated. He is also a fellow First Generation Filipino-American who grew up on the West Coast, only to find himself in the hallowed halls of Music Television. Gavin and Rich talk about the recent VMAs, Popeyes chicken sandwich, the DNA of a successful Meme, and how fatherhood has changed his perspective. Also, there’s a cameo from Sandie Cheng from the Now In Color podcast. 

Shira Inbar is a designer and educator who has worked with some of the biggest names in the creative world, but still finds the time to actively pursue social justice. Rich Tu and Shira discuss her upbringing in Israel and how she helped find justice for migrant workers at a young age. Also, they talk about how typography is intimately connected to religion, how motion design is like dancing, and the Yale philosophy of design (prepare to be challenged).

Kervin Brisseaux is a first-generation Haitian-American whose illustration style incorporates fashion, music, and other facets of pop culture. He's also a Design Director at the world-renowned brand design agency Vault49. Rich Tu and Kervin talk about all of his influences (including 90s movies that defined our lives), how he almost became an architect, and how he defied a conservative upbringing through art and culture. Also, there's a lot of sneaker talk, and how Virgil and StockX are helping (or hurting?) The Culture.

Designer and Typographer Ksenya Samarskaya has an amazing story to tell. Rich and Ksenya talk about how she, her mother, and her grandmother fled Russia as Jewish refugees during the fall of the Soviet Union. They lived among various refugee communities overseas before eventually settling in the Pacific Northwest, where Ksenya began her creative journey, leading her to work at firms like Hoefler + Frere-Jones and Apple, and eventually starting her own firm Samarskaya + Partners.

Donate to Help Families Separated During the Mississippi Raids: actblue.com/donate/ms-raids

Meet Ekua.PM (also known by her initials EPM). She hosts a podcast called Afrolit, highlighting the stories of metropolitan Africans, like herself. Ekua's also a media personality, a DJ, and co-founded her own collective called The Faro, known for curating fun cultural experiences for the public and private sector, having worked with Africa Fashion Week, OkayAfrica and Global Citizen.

Rich and Ekua sit down and have a joyful discussion about her journey and upbringing, the differences between East and West Africans, similarities in the ways immigrants parents raise their kids, and what it means to be a "Third Culture Kid".

This is a the second part of our conversation with Juan Carlos Pagan and Ahmed Klink, the co-founders of Sunday Afternoon. This time we talk about pettiness and haterade in the creative industry (of which there is A LOT), the pros and cons of the perception of youth, the toxicity of fear culture, and sacrifices of opening your own studio. Also who owns StefanSagmeister.com? All is revealed (and it’s pretty funny).

This is Part 2 of a two part conversation.

Listeners will be familiar with our guests Ahmed Klink and Juan Carlos Pagan. Ahmed and Juan Carlos are co-founders of the studio Sunday Afternoon and collectively have worked with the likes of Vanity Fair, Bacardi, The New York Times, Nike, Adidas, Travis Scott, Migos, Pinterest... the list goes on. Rich has a free-flow round table discussion with our guests, about owning a business as POCs, our emotional relationship to brands, and how we can post-rationalize anything.

This is Part 1 of a two part conversation.

Today Rich talks to Leyla Rosario. Leyla is an award winning Producer, Director, and Film Maker from The Bronx. We talk about her Puerto Rican heritage, growing up in New York, and how she first broke into the film and advertising world, where she’s worked with clients like Rolex, Hennesy, Cadillac, and most recently the director Michel Gondry.

She’s also the Executive Producer and Co-Creator of “The Gig”, an online series about Women of Color Producers in the entertainment industry. And we talk about the need for representation behind and in front of the camera, what it MEANS to be a Woman of Color in the Ad Game, and how Leyla was able to bounce back from a recent tragedy. 

This week, Rich talks to designer and typographer Wael Morcos. They discuss Wael’s upbringing in a small suburb of Beirut in Lebanon, and how he began his creative journey, from getting his undergrad at Notre Dame in Lebanon to receiving his MFA at RISD in Rhode Island, and co-founding the studio MorcosKey. Also, they get into the intersection of Identity and Academics in design, how one brings their culture into their work in a meaningful way, and the "importance" of awards. 

This is a special collaboration with $6.99 Per Pound Podcast and First Generation Burden. Rich Tu sits down with Jaeki Cho and Joann Park to talk about their origins in South Korea, the commonalities between Korean and Filipino culture, and what it means to be the "other". We're gettin' real #immigrantexcellence up in here.

$6.99 Per Pound is a podcast featuring interviews with leaders and professionals from a wide variety of fields. Paying homage to Korean-owned hot food delis in New York City, the inquisitive duo Joann Park and Jaeki Cho treat listeners to a buffet of HOT takes on career, culture and community.

Jaeki Cho is a Queens native whose insight on race and culture have been quoted on MSNBC, The New York Times, BBC Radio, MTV, and Forbes. He co-produced the feature documentary Bad Rap, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and is currently streaming on Netflix. He’s a partner and creative director for lifestyle boutique Alumni. Before his entrepreneurial pursuit, he was a music journalist, writing for Complex, VIBE, Billboard, and working as an editor for XXL.

Joann Park is a Content Strategist, Producer and Community Builder based in New York City. By day, Joann works at CNN’s Great Big Story, a cinematic media company, where she oversees content programming and audience development. She has also worked for MTV, CBS & Kore Asian Media. In 2018, Joann was also honored as a Cynopsis Rising Star, an title that recognizes emerging leaders under 30 in the media industry. Joann has organized and moderated panels for CNN, Vox Media, Phillip Lim and The Cosmos to advance the creative Asian American community.

Rich sits down with artist and entrepreneur Sophia Chang. You may know her thru collaborations with Adidas, Infiniti, Stella Mcartney, Puma, and most recently Dr Martins. She also just started her own agency WeAscend and art directs the magazine platform UNDO Ordinary, and which focuses on empowerment thru the lens of health and wellness. Today we talk about her Taiwanese upbringing in Queens, New York, and how her lifelong interests in Hip Hop and Streetwear helped make her the creative force that she is today.

First Generation Conversation is a live version of the First Generation Burden Podcast, with creatives who represent a cross-section of the underserved immigrant population in New York and beyond. We discuss the trials and triumphs of these individuals, their methods of breaking past barriers, and what it means to represent yourself and your culture in today’s creative industry. Our inspiring panelists include illustrator and designer Eugenia Mello from Argentina, artist and jewelry designer Kelly Shami from New York City, and multidisciplinary designer/art director Zipeng Zhu from China. Produced by AIGA NY, and recorded at Purpose in New York City. Hosted by Rich Tu.

Today is a special collaborative episode with the Now In Color podcast and Sandie Cheng. In honor of Veterans Day, Sandie tells the story of the forgotten Chinese-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War, focusing specifically on Joseph Pierce. We also discuss Sandie's Chinese and Taiwanese upbringing, how she personally identifies, the affirmative action lawsuit against Harvard, and the differences between Ken Jeong and Awkwafina.

Ty Turner is a wardrobe and fashion stylist for TV and entertainment, having worked with MTV, BET, and Jordan Brand and on shows like Wild N Out, TRL, 106 and Park, 50 Central. We get into her family’s origins in Ghana and West Africa, and what it was like growing up in Brooklyn, as well as her new project ENVSN FEST, a new festival geared towards young female empowerment. We also talk about how she initially broke into the entertainment business through the music industry, her love of fashion, and how important is it to be yourself in an industry driven by perception.

Bashan Aquart is the Executive Creative Director of AKA, an entertainment agency in New York City and one half of the Director duo Jams & Bash. Notably, one of their clients this year was The Band’s Visit, which won the 2018 Tony Award of for Best Musical. We talk about his upbringing in Newark, New Jersey with a Jamaican and Southern background. We also discuss how his family’s professional music careers affected his youth get into the importance of understanding culture and storytelling and how that was engrained in him in his early days at SpotCo. We also grade the Space Force logos (they’re not good).

Rich talks to Derek Roberts, a designer and art director currently living in England. His family came to the UK from the Caribbean by way of St Vincent and Barbados. We talk about his early days in England and how he got his start in the product and apparel world by taking creative risks. This eventually got him a job in Ohio, at Abercrombie and Fitch, which led his dream job at Nike. And we also get into how he connected with the classic American brand Pendleton where he got to work with the Marvel and Star Wars brands.

Ro the Show is a fighter, trainer, and an IBJJF Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan American Champion and World Champion. We talk about his upbringing in the Philippines, his first memories of arriving in New York as a child, how he started fighting, and what it means to fight. We also discuss his core values, and how he dug himself out of personal lows to become the success that he is today.

Kelly Shami is an artist and jewelry designer based in New York City, and is currently the Creative Producer at Parkwood Entertainment. We talk about growing up in New Jersey with roots in Syria and Lebanon. Also we discuss her personal fashion, her start with Nylon Magazine, her collaborations with Pintrill and Nike, and her upcoming book on cocktails. We even get to discuss why the Yankees are the best sports team New York has to offer.

Andre Andreev is a director raised on action movies and pick-up soccer. In his native Bulgaria his mother managed a local movie theater while his father worked as a graphic designer. We discuss how he came to the United States, by way of Seattle, how he met his business partner Dan Covert and started Dress Code, and how their recent experience at the Tribeca Film Festival was with their short film about Milton Glaser "I HEART NY".

In the Season 3 opener, Rich talks to Ida Woldemichael, a Harlem based creative director with Everytown. The heart of her work is design for political activism, and branding. Her work spans from design with top-tier agencies to notable non-profit organizations including: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Clinton Foundation, Hillary for America, NYC Votes, and USAID. We talk about her family's origins in Eritrea, her experience working on the Hillary campaign and the disappointment of election night, and the role of multiculturalism in commercial design.

Alexandra Beener is a producer living and working in New York City. She was born in Seoul, Korea and was adopted into a non-Korean family as a baby. We talk about the complexities of foreign adoption, her identity issues involving race at a young age, and the what it means to be a minority even in your own family.

Joe Carolino is an Art Director and Designer at Nike in Oregon. He grew up in a Vietnamese household in Washington's section 8 housing and only realized his true Filipino parentage as an adult at 22. We talk about how he joined a gang at nine years old, found love in graphic design, and what the discovery of his biological father's history as a drug dealer in the 80's meant to him and his family. Also, we discuss about his latest project called FlyBox which is based in his love of 90's Basketball. It sounds intense, but we have a really fun time.

Zipeng Zhu is an art director, designer, illustrator, animator and Young Guns winner living in New York City. We talk about his upbringing in China, where he grew up speaking Cantonese and Mandarin, while learning English in a Chinese boarding school. We discuss his journey to the United States to study at SVA, his first professional experiences at Sagmeister & Walsh, and the challenges of being an immigrant business owner in the United States. And then we end on Justin Bieber's dick, firrealz.

Christine Sienicki is a dancer, model, and actress who has been a member of the legendary Radio City Rockettes since she was 18 years old. We talk about her upbringing (being of Filipino, Czech and Polish descent), her first big gig performing at the Super Bowl, and the steps it took to join the Rockettes. Also, we joke around a lot and tell a couple of stories that we've never told before.

Khary Randolph is a comic book artist and creator from Boston, Massachusetts who found his way into comics' inner circle with a who's who's of properties under his belt including Spider-Man, X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hellboy, and Teen Titans. He's recently worked on "We Are Robin" for DC and co-created the character Mosaic for Marvel. We talk about his upbringing, his transition into the competitive field of comics, and the challenges of inclusion and diversity within the creative field.

Nishat Akhtar is a graphic artist living in Portland Oregon. Originally from Philadelphia, educated in Brooklyn she traded tall buildings for taller trees. We talk about how her parents came from India to the United States at the beginning of the Asian immigration boom of the 70's, growing up in Philly, going to high school with Kobe Bryant, and what representation and multiculturalism means when you're an immigrant minority. If you have zero brown friends in your life, this is your starter course. You're welcome.

Shane Griffin is an Irish born artist, working in all fields of visual arts. Including design, illustration, film directing, and fine art. Named an ADC Young Gun in 2012, & Print Magazine's New Visual Artist '15 Under 30' in 2015. We talk about his upbringing in Ireland, his arrival in New York, his work, how he uses light, what it means for an artist to get away with something, and his near death experience at Art Basel in Miami.

THEN, we drink some beers and talk about Rogue One and the new Blade Runner trailer (*spoiler alert*).

Matt Vu is a designer at Nike, and a native Oregonian via Vietnam. We talk about how his father left his homeland after the Vietnam War and came to the United States. We discuss a range of topics including streetwear, West vs East, Hip Hop stories, 90s nostalgia, and social justice. We basically cover everything.

Born in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua and raised in Durango, Mexico. Ricardo Gonzalez (aka @ItsALiving) is a graphic designer focused on lettering, typography, calligraphy & typeface design. We talk about his upbringing in Mexico, being a skater, painting murals all over the world, and our mutual disdain for the word "influencer". Also, we get to the bottom of the origin of "ItsALiving".

Juan Carlos Pagan is a New York based Artist, Designer, and Typographer. Juan has been honored for his work by The Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, ADC, One Show, Cannes Lions, Clios, Fastco, and Print Magazine. He also designed the branding for the ubiquitous social media platform Pinterest. His grandfather was a political refugee in Cuba who fled to Puerto Rico, eventually arriving in New York. We talk about his beginnings and his design process.

Ahmed Klink is a filmmaker and photographer based in New York City who has photographed Steph Curry, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, Migos, and Future among others. He was born in Lebanon in in the 80′s where he managed to escape a raging Civil War at age 2. Ahmed found shelter in France, where he grew up and lived for 20 years before moving to the United States of America. We talk about his work, his life, and what he wants to conquer next.