39 GEN - a Yo San University podcast

The Healing Art: Finding Power in Clinical Vulnerability with Dr. Andrea Thorpe

In this episode of the 39GEN  podcast, host Emily sits down with Dr. Andrea Thorpe, acupuncturist, herbalist, and newly appointed faculty member at Yo San University. Andrea shares profound insights from her decades-long journey in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explaining why it is fundamentally a healing art rather than just a set of clinical protocols. She dives deep into the clinical reality of female hormonal and menstrual health, contrasting the limitations of allopathic medicine with the root-cause, deeply validating approach of Chinese medicine. Ultimately, Andrea delivers a powerful message to students and seasoned practitioners alike: the most potent tool you have is your own vulnerability, curiosity, and authenticity.

From the CDC to the Clinic: Bridging Public Health and Chinese Medicine with Dr. Anisa Kassim

In this episode of the 39GEN Podcast, Emily sits down with Dr. Anisa Kassim, Chief Academic Officer at Yo San University, to explore her journey through the global healthcare landscape. From serving in Afghani refugee camps and working as a fellow at the CDC to becoming an acupuncturist with a specialty in pediatrics, Anisa shares her unique perspective on why every TCM practitioner is, at their core, a public health advocate. The conversation dives into the intersection of global health sustainability, the fundamental pillars of public health like biostatistics and environmental health, and Anisa’s personal pivot from federal government work to clinical practice. She also discusses her deep passion for pediatric acupuncture and the rewarding challenge of treating the next generation, ultimately illustrating how individual wellness ripples out to improve society as a whole.

The Policy Pivot: Loans, Legislation, and the Future of Acupuncture With CSOMA

In this special edition of the Yo San University 39GEN Podcast, Emily sits down with CSOMA board members Dr. Julie Tran, Dr. Ra Adcock, and Dr. Robert Hoffman for a deep dive into the ‘perfect storm’ hitting acupuncture schools in 2026. This episode explores the critical impact of the RISE Act and the impending end of Grad Plus loans on July 1st, alongside the controversial California bill AB 2668, which threatens to drive up student debt by mandating a doctorate for entry-level licensure. Together, the panel discusses the urgent need for competency-based education, national exam standardization, and strategic advocacy to protect the future of integrative medicine and the next generation of practitioners.

Dual Cultivation: Dr Robert Hoffman on Integrating Identity + Profession in Times of Change

This episode features Dr. Robert Hoffman, President and CEO of Yo San University, in conversation with host 39GEN Emily. Dr. Hoffman shares his remarkable transition from a high-stakes, 30-year career in the music industry—where he worked as a producer and engineer for icons like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Quincy Jones—to becoming a leader in the field of Chinese medicine. He discusses how the lifestyle of the music business and a transformational relief trip to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami led him to pursue acupuncture at age 40. Throughout the interview, Dr. Hoffman explores the parallels between being a music producer and a medical practitioner, the importance of surrounding oneself with a talented team, and how Daoist philosophy (specifically the concepts of Xing and Ming) guides his approach to leadership and personal destiny.

East Meets Evidence: Acupuncture and Modern Medicine for Fertility and Trauma with Nicole Lange

Acupuncturist Nicole Lange joins Sean to dive deep into trauma, fertility, and what real whole-person care looks like in practice. Nicole shares her early path into TCM, how personal experiences led her to specialize in reproductive health and trauma, and why she structures care around a 25 percent troubleshoot, 75 percent cultivate-wellness ratio. The two unpack somatic healing, Stephen Porges’s idea of neuroception, and why felt safety in the clinic, the vibe, the pacing, and touch, is foundational to any lasting result. They explore boundaries and burnout, the lighthouse metaphor for building a practice, and the power of patient education, not as marketing, but as the core of medicine. Nicole talks East-West integration for fertility, trauma-informed care, and the small, cumulative choices that change outcomes, from sleep and food to relationships and money stress. Sean shares personal stories on knots in the body, movement, and habit stacking, and the pair close on a simple mantra for life and healing, it’s like this now. If you are curious about TCM, fertility support, somatics, or how to build a sustainable, heart-centered clinic, this conversation is a blueprint.