Thai Nguyen

Thai Nguyen

In this episode, Kara sits down with Vietnamese American fashion designer Thai Nguyen, aka the fairy gown mother, to talk about the Kelly Marie Tran call that changed everything, designing an áo dài in 16 hours, family, love, embracing his Vietnamese heritage, and why he believes quality always beats quantity. Thai Nguyen is a couture fashion designer. Born in Vietnam, went on to graduate from FIDM, and in 2008 opened Thai Nguyen Atelier in Little Saigon, Orange County. A central inspiration in Thai’s work is the áo dài, Vietnam’s traditional dress. He blends cultural heritage with high fashion, elevating this iconic garment with couture craftsmanship. He has dressed people you may know, such as: J.Lo, Ariana Grande, Cindy Crawford, Kelly Marie Tran just to name a few. He dresses women for insane red carpet moments at the Met Gala, the Oscars, but also dresses women on one of their most important days: their wedding day. Thai is also a familiar face on television, most notably as a co-host and designer on Netflix’s Say I Do, where he creates custom wedding gowns for deserving brides with moving personal stories. He built an empire. And the women he dresses, on the red carpet and in the fitting room, walk out of his atelier feeling, in his words, like fairy tale versions of themselves. Which is why he calls himself, the fairy gownmother. Instagram: @thainguyenatelier | https://www.thainguyenatelier.com/ | Order Mai’s Áo Dài Book written by Thai :https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Mais-Ao-Dai/Thai-Nguyen/9781665917346 This is an AAGC Originals Podcast, brought to you by Asian American Girl Club. https://open.spotify.com/show/2iiTyiAhiuZD6LCBCeCOkp Executive produced by Ally Maki, Jenna Ushkowitz, Tia Samn and Kara Wang Intro Music: (OMG) by Gloria Kim https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ni3UTucdl8y2j3EG4w5PB Edited by: Jacob Ho Special Thanks to Oscar Alva Follow AAGC! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianamericangirlclub/ Sign up for updates for the latest content, merch, and so much more! https://app.fanded.com/club/asianamericangirlclub https://www.asianamericangirlclub.com

Sherry Cola

In this special episode, Ally joins Kara as they sit down with Sherry Cola for a full circle moment. Three friends and collaborators in a room. They talk about the Good Trouble scene that still lives in their group chat, staying humble when Hollywood, and what she learned from her radio street team days. Sherry Cola is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She broke out in the 5-season series Good Trouble, with break-out roles in Lionsgate’s Joy Ride and Sony Picture Classics’ Shortcomings. She has continued to proudly represent her AAPI and LGBTQ+ communities with roles in Apple TV’s Shrinking and Netflix’s Nobody Wants This. This summer, you can catch her in Netflix’s Little Brother and Disney's Camp Rock 3. Instagram: @shrrycola This is an AAGC Originals Podcast, brought to you by Asian American Girl Club. https://open.spotify.com/show/2iiTyiAhiuZD6LCBCeCOkp Executive produced by Ally Maki, Jenna Ushkowitz, Tia Samn and Kara Wang Intro Music: (OMG) by Gloria Kim https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ni3UTucdl8y2j3EG4w5PB Edited by: Jacob Ho Special Thanks to Oscar Alva Follow AAGC! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianamericangirlclub/ Sign up for updates for the latest content, merch, and so much more! https://app.fanded.com/club/asianamericangirlclub https://www.asianamericangirlclub.com

Amy Liu

In this episode, Kara sits down with Amy Liu to talk about building Tower 28, the lessons she's learned as an entrepreneur, the importance of representation, and why women need to have more conversations about money. Plus, Amy shares the beauty products she swears by and even reveals her go-to Din Tai Fung order. Amy Liu is the Founder and CEO of Tower 28 — the best-selling, sensitive skin-friendly beauty brand she launched in 2019 after a 20-year career building prestige brands like Smashbox and Kate Somerville. As a longtime eczema sufferer herself, she built Tower 28 to be a safe space for sensitive skin — and it's now the only beauty brand to fully adhere to the National Eczema Association's Ingredient Guidelines across every product. She's been honored with the CEW Visionary Award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and recognized at the Goldman Sachs Builders and Innovators Summit. Please welcome Amy Liu. IG: @amyliu_t28 , @tower28beauty Tower 28: www.tower28beauty.com This is an AAGC Originals Podcast, brought to you by Asian American Girl Club. Executive produced by Ally Maki, Jenna Ushkowitz, Tia Samn and Kara Wang  Intro Music: (OMG) by Gloria Kim https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ni3UTucdl8y2j3EG4w5PB Edited by: Jacob Ho Special Thanks to Oscar Alva Follow AAGC! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianamericangirlclub/ Sign up for updates for the latest content, merch, and so much more! https://app.fanded.com/club/asianamericangirlclub https://www.asianamericangirlclub.com

Jenna Ushkowitz

In this episode, Kara sits down with Jenna for the conversation we have been wanting to have all year. The long road that got her here: Korean adoption, child performer since sesame street, broadway, glee, two Tonys, this show. Kara asks about what hosting this show taught her about her own undefinable life and what she is stepping into next. Jenna Ushkowitz is an actress, producer, and podcaster best known for her role as Tina Cohen-Chang on the award-winning Fox series Glee. A SAG Award winner and two-time Tony Award-winning producer, her Broadway credits include The King & I, Spring Awakening, and Waitress. On screen, her film work spans Hello, Again, Yellow Fever, Educated, Babyface, One Night in San Diego, and most recently Rosé All Day. In the world of animation, Jenna lent her voice to the 2022 HBO Max and Cartoonito musical special Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and currently voices Queen Ryung in Drew Barrymore's Netflix animated series Princess Power. She has hosted podcasts for PodcastOne, iHeartRadio, and AAGC Originals @jennaushkowitz  This is an AAGC Originals Podcast, brought to you by Asian American Girl Club. https://open.spotify.com/show/2iiTyiAhiuZD6LCBCeCOkp Executive produced by Ally Maki, Jenna Ushkowitz, Tia Samn and Kara Wang  Intro Music: (OMG) by Gloria Kim https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ni3UTucdl8y2j3EG4w5PB Edited by: Jacob Ho Special Thanks to Oscar Alva Follow AAGC! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianamericangirlclub/ Sign up for updates for the latest content, merch, and so much more! https://app.fanded.com/club/asianamericangirlclub https://www.asianamericangirlclub.com Visit www.asianamericangirlclub.com @Asianamericangirlclub

Maya da Costa & Myra Molloy

In this episode Kara sit’s down with the stars of GIRLS LIKE GIRLS, based on writer/director Hayley Kiyoko's hit single and best-selling novel of the same name and featuring all-new music from Kiyoko, GIRLS LIKE GIRLS is a heartfelt coming-of-age story set over the course of one sun-drenched summer, where new-girl-in-town Coley falls in love for the first time while learning to accept herself along the way. Starring Maya da Costa, Myra Molloy, Levon Hawke and Zach Braff. Maya da Costa stars as Coley in Girls Like Girls (Focus Features), the upcoming Hayley Kiyoko film premiering June 19, 2026. She's also set to appear in The Social Reckoning, the sequel to The Social Network directed by Aaron Sorkin. You may know her from her recurring role in Hulu's critically acclaimed limited series Under the Bridge, alongside Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough. Additional credits include Descendants: Wicked Wonderland and Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix. @maya_da_costa_ Myra Molloy made her Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown and starred in the Netflix feature He's All That alongside Addison Rae. She recurred on Hulu's The Bold Type and is set to appear in Season 2 of Netflix's Untamed opposite Eric Bana. On stage, she led the national tour of Miss Saigon, has performed for Queen Elizabeth II and the UN Secretary General, and voiced Moana in Disney's Thai-language adaptation of the film. @myramolloy Focus Features will release GIRLS LIKE GIRLS in theaters on June 19, 2026 Directed by Hayley Kiyoko Story by Hayley Kiyoko and Chloe Okuno Screenplay by Hayley Kiyoko and Stefanie Scott Produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Michael Philip, Jason Moring, Richard Alan Reid, Katie McNicol, Dee Best **Rated R | 94 Minutes @focusfeatures @girlslikegirlsfilm @maya_da_costa_@myramolloy This is an AAGC Originals Podcast, brought to you by Asian American Girl Club. Executive produced by Ally Maki, Tia Samn and Kara Wang Intro Music (OMG) by Gloria Kim Edited by Jacob Ho Special Thanks to Oscar Alva Visit www.asianamericangirlclub.com @Asianamericangirlclub