What 40 Asian American Women Taught Me About Burnout and Why It Left Me More Hopeful Than Ever (Part I)

What 40 Asian American Women Taught Me About Burnout and Why It Left Me More Hopeful Than Ever (Part I)

Episode Overview: A few weeks ago, Lindsay facilitated a burnout workshopfor more than 40 Asian American women through the Asian American Mental Health Project. She arrived prepared to discuss stress, recovery, boundaries, and the lessons she learned from her own experience with burnout. Instead, she left thinking about something entirely different. What surprised her wasn't that the women were tired. Itwas that they were ready for change. They were questioning responsibilities they had carried for years - sometimes decades - and asking whether the roles, expectations, and obligations they had inherited were still working for them. In this solo episode, Lindsay reflects on the threebiggest insights she took away from that workshop. Together, these women explored what it means to be the default responsible one, how many women disappear from their own decision-making, and why openly talking about these experiences can be such a powerful catalyst for change. Beneath the burnout, Lindsay found something unexpected: anger, grief, hope, and a growing willingness among women to imagine a different way forward. Connect with Courage Class on TikTok,Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast [http://www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast] Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ [https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠] Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387 Disclaimer:  Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu and content posted by Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from thispodcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should not regard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health conditionthey may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professional for any such conditions.

How Do We Raise Kids For A Future We Can't Predict?

Episode Overview: The future our children will inherit looks dramatically different from the one we were prepared for. For many Asian American families, the roadmap was clear: work hard, get good grades, go to college, find a stable career, and build a secure life. But in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, rapid technological change, and evolving career pathways, that traditional formula no longer feelscertain. In this episode of Courage Class, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Christopher Hoang, Interim Director of Technology Services at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, where he helps support more than 80 school districts and nearly 2million students across Los Angeles County. Together, they explore one of the most pressing questions facing parents today: How do we raise children for a future we can't predict? Drawing from his unique perspective as an educator, technology leader, and father, Dr. Hoang shares practical insights on parenting in the age of AI, helping children develop critical thinking and creativity, navigating uncertainty, and whycommunication may be the most important skill families can cultivate moving forward. This conversation goes far beyond technology. It challenges deeply held assumptions about success, achievement, authority, perfectionism, and the ways many Asian American families were raised. Dr. Hoang encourages parents to move away from control and certainty and toward curiosity, flexibility, and meaningful conversation. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the traditional "go to college, get a good job" pathway may no longer be enough • Why adaptability, curiosity, creativity, and communication may matter more than traditional definitions of success. • How to navigate AI as a parent and educator from fostering critical thinking and responsible technology use to understanding the questions every parent should be asking their child's school. • Why AANHPIs may need a new parenting playbook - one that moves beyond perfectionism, unquestioned authority, and achievement-driven expectations toward conversation, connection, and resilience. About Dr. Christopher Hoang Dr. Christopher Hoang serves as the Interim Director of Technology Services at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, supporting technology initiatives across more than 80 school districts serving nearly 2 million students. A former classroom teacher and educational leader, Dr. Hoang works at the intersection of education, innovation, and technology implementation. His work focuses on helping schools thoughtfully navigate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while keeping students' needs at the center of decision-making. As both an educator and parent, he brings a practical and compassionate perspective to conversations about learning, technology, and preparing children for an increasingly complex future. Connect with Dr. Hoang: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hoang/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hoang/] Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast [http://www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast] ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ [https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠] Music Credit: DayNigthMorning fromPixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387 Disclaimer:  Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu and content posted by Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should not regard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health conditionthey may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professional for any such conditions.

You Are More Than You Achieve: Dr. Jaki Yi on Perfectionism, Mental Health & the Model Minority Myth

Episode Overview: In this episode of Courage Class, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Jaki Yi, psychologist, researcher, educator, and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington Bothell, for a wide-ranging conversation about Asian American mental health. This conversation covers a little bit of everything - in the best possible way. Together, they explore the Model Minority Myth and its impact on identity, self-worth, and family expectations. They discuss perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, hustle culture, scarcity mindset, emotional attunment, and why so many high-achieving students silently struggle beneath the surface. The conversation also touches on parenting, mental health stigma, therapy, emotional intelligence, and the skills young people will needto thrive in an AI-driven future. Whether listeners are parents, educators, students, leaders, or individuals working through their own relationship with achievement, this episode offers practical insights and compassionate reframes that can help them better understand themselves and those around them. About Dr. Yi: Dr. Jaki Yi is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington Bothell. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from New York University. Her research focuses on how Asian Americans navigate systems of oppression, particularly experiences with race, racism, mental health, perfectionism, and social justice. Dr. Yi teaches courses in Asian American Psychology, multicultural counseling, and clinical psychology, and has extensive experience providing culturally responsive counseling and mental health support to racially minoritized communities. Her work helps illuminate the often unseen psychological experiences of Asian Americans and offers practical pathways toward healing, self-compassion, and collective well-being. Connect with Dr. Yi: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakiyiphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@jakiyiphd] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-yi/ Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast [http://www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast] ⁠⁠ Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ [https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠] Music Credit: DayNigthMorning fromPixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

From Survival to Authenticity: Reclaiming Your Asian American Identity

About the Episode: What if the pressure to be successful, agreeable, hardworking, and "good" was never really yours to begin with? In this powerful conversation, NYU professor and researcher Dr. Dale Maglalang joins Courage Class to unpack the hidden history behind the model minority myth, how it was constructed, why it persists, and the very real consequencesit has on Asian American identity, mental health, and belonging. Together, we explore the origins of the model minority myth, the concept of racial triangulation, and the ways systems of oppression have historically positioned Asian Americans in relation to other communities of color. Dr. Maglalang alsochallenges us to rethink assimilation, embrace cross-racial solidarity, and develop the critical consciousness needed to understand both our history and ourselves. While the first half of this conversation offers an important historical and academic deep dive, the second half focuses on practical ways we can reconnect with ourvalues, build authentic relationships, strengthen our identities, and resist the pressures of a one-dimensional narrative. Most importantly, this episode offers hope: that understanding the systems shaping our lives can help us stop blaming ourselves, reclaim our stories, and imagine new possibilities for who we can become. About Dr. Dale Maglalang Dr. Dale Maglalang is an Assistant Professor at New York University's Silver School of Social Work and founder of the Asian American Critical Consciousness Project. His research examines how racism, discrimination, and systems of oppression impact health and well-being, particularly among BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized communities. Through his work, Dr. Maglalang seeks to develop practical, evidence-based tools that help individuals andcommunities heal, thrive, and pursue collective liberation. Connect with Dr. Maglalang NYU website: https://socialwork.nyu.edu/faculty-and-research/our-faculty/dale-dagar-maglalang.html [https://socialwork.nyu.edu/faculty-and-research/our-faculty/dale-dagar-maglalang.html] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-maglalang-phd-ma-msw-mph-0b004577/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-maglalang-phd-ma-msw-mph-0b004577/] Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast [http://www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast] ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ [https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠] Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387

We All Carry Something: Healing What Was Passed Down

About the Episode: Growing up, many of us were never taught the language of trauma, healing, mental health, or self-compassion. Therapy? Nope. Healing? Nope. “I love you?” Nope. Emotions? Absolutely nope. In this conversation, licensed marriage and family therapist Soo Jin Lee, LMFT joins Courage Class to explore intergenerational trauma, identity, belonging, perfectionism, burnout, and healing - especially within Asian American communities. Soo Jin is the Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective and co-author of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma andEmbracing Asian American Identity. Together, we unpack how inherited survival patterns quietly shape the way we move through the world - showing up in our anxiety, relationships, silence, pressure to achieve, and constant need to prove our worth. But this episode is not about blame or shame. It’s about awareness. It’s about healing. And it’s about recognizing that we have the power to interrupt cycles that were never meant to be carried forever. In this episode, we discuss: * What intergenerational trauma actually is * Why so many Asian Americans struggle with perfectionism and burnout * Why healing begins with awareness and self-compassion * Practical healing tools like box breathing and grounding exercises This is one of our most important conversations yet. If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” emotionally responsible for everyone else, or stuck in survival mode -this episode is for you. About Soo Jin Lee: Soo Jin Lee is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective, and co-author of Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity. As a Korean bilingual and bicultural therapist, her work centers on intergenerational trauma, identity, belonging, perfectionism, burnout, and culturally responsive mentalhealth care within Asian American communities. Through therapy, writing, and community healing spaces, Soo Jin helps individuals move from survival mode toward authenticity, self-compassion, and healing. Connect with Soo Jin: Website: https://yellowchaircollective.com/ [https://yellowchaircollective.com/] Where I Belong: Healing Trauma andEmbracing Asian American Identity https://www.whereibelongthebook.com/ [https://www.whereibelongthebook.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soo-jin-lee [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soo-jin-lee] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowchaircollective/ [https://www.instagram.com/yellowchaircollective/] About Yellow Chair Collective Yellow Chair Collective is a multicultural mental health practice focused on creating empowering, inclusive, and culturally responsive healing spaces. Specializing in psychotherapyservices that honor each person’s lived experiences, YCC places a particular emphasis on serving Asian American communities through conversations around identity, belonging, intergenerational trauma, and mental health. Their work isrooted in the belief that healing should not only be effective, but also compassionate, de-stigmatizing, and community-centered. Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube: @courageclasspod @drlindsaykwockhu Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast [http://www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast] ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter: https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠ [https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠] Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387