First of All

Love is a many splendored thing. Also...is love in the room with us right now when it comes to modern dating? When it comes to finding a special someone who can respond to texts in a timely manner, follow through or even initiate plans ahead of time, have basic manners, practice decent hygiene, maintain healthy boundaries with exes, ask a thoughtful question or two, be nice to your friends, & remember your birthday, amongst many other seemingly basic things... it can all feel, well, friggin impossible these days. In this episode, Minji sits down with returning guests and dating experts Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu to investigate the agony and joy of finding/receiving/manifesting love in an era that's fraught with burnout and disillusionment. How are we all actually doing? What are the blind spots to address and healthier ways to approach this journey? Is it worth it? Julie and Yue share insights that have been deeply researched and assembled beautifully in their new book How To Be Dateable, with some very personal reflections from our hosts. Let's all hold hands, take a cleansing breath, and get focused (and a little vulnerable) with this thing called love. Happy Valentine's Day, FOA fam. <3 Follow Our Guests Julie Krafchick & Yue Xu: Instagram (@dateablepodcast) [https://www.instagram.com/dateablepodcast/] Get the How To Be Dateable book NOW at: https://www.dateablepodcast.com/book [https://www.dateablepodcast.com/book] Follow Minji On: * Instagram (@minjeezy) [https://www.instagram.com/minjeezy/] * Instagram (@firstofallpod) [https://www.instagram.com/firstofallpod/] * Bluesky (@minjeezy) [https://bsky.app/profile/minjeezy.bsky.social] ▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" [https://open.spotify.com/track/0JTPzok6lcxjJ39oUKKTPT?si=132eda64118444d2] by Uzuhan ▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective [http://www.podcastpotluck.com/] Audio Engineer @marvinyueh [https://twitter.com/MarvinYueh] Social Media Manager @JulianaDeer [https://www.instagram.com/junanaderp/]

What a year January 2025 has been. WHAT. A. YEAR. If you're one of the many humans trying calmly (or desperately) to navigate the new normal in (yet again) unprecedented times... you are so not alone. Not by any means. In this episode, Minji unloads her heart and mind on the state of the world, and the good ol' U S of A more specifically. She acknowledges that these challenging times are not for the faint of heart, and that one way or another we all must decide to step up the plate with courage, clarity, empathy and fight.

We're nearing the finish line for one of the most highly anticipated, highly stressful, highly impactful elections of our lifetimes. While we'd all felt we'd been through the worst of it in 2016 and then again in 2020, the unprecedented times have continued on...and on...and on. In the midst of all the division and angst, extremely important conversations have emerged - many that fortunately and unfortunately won't go away after this coming Tuesday passes. We have tough questions to answer, like how much of a difference we can/do actually make, what's working well and depressingly broken in the systems around us, who can we trust, and what can we do about feeling so hopeless nowadays (just to rattle off a few)? In this episode, Minji sits down to get grounded and educated by Nancy Yap, the hardworking and dedicated executive director of CAUSE, a 501(c)(3) with a mission to advance the civic and political empowerment of the API community. Nancy comes from a very humble background of little to no political interest, and now dedicates her career to advancing civic engagement, persisting vocally in her stance that we CAN and ARE making a difference. How??? Together they discuss the implications of actually showing up, the importance of community, the psychological wear and tear of our current culture, and ways to keep our eyes on what matter most in leadership, accountability, and real actual CHANGE. For those of you on the fence or simply worn out, this is for you. This is also for those warriors who haven't given up and just need a refuel in this final stretch of a critical moment in history. Stay the course & everyone MAKE SURE TO VOTE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 5TH!! Follow Our Guest Nancy Yap at: Instagram (@causeusa) [https://www.instagram.com/causeusa] Follow Minji On: * Instagram (@minjeezy) [https://www.instagram.com/minjeezy/] ▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" [https://open.spotify.com/track/0JTPzok6lcxjJ39oUKKTPT?si=132eda64118444d2] by Uzuhan ▫️ Follow the show on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstofallpod/] ▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective [http://www.podcastpotluck.com/] Audio Engineer @marvinyueh [https://twitter.com/MarvinYueh] Social Media Manager @JulianaDeer [https://www.instagram.com/junanaderp/]

Climate change is a topic that brings up existential dread in so many of us, it can overwhelm us, fill us with dread, and/or incite anger and feelings of hopelessness. It feels like an impossible problem to solve. In this episode, Minji sits down with filmmakers Danny O'Malley and Alex Rivest, co-directors of the film Canary, a look into the life of a real life superhero - glacier and climate scientist Lonnie Thompson. Lonnie has spent the past several decades of his life venturing into some of the scariest, coldest, most remote parts of our earth to gather data that has educated the world's science community on the existence and acceleration of climate change. While politics and societal chaos have taken over the facts and solutions available to leaders, there is still power within the hands of humankind ourselves. Together they unpack the journey to make the film itself and a recognition of Lonnie's legacy as a reminder that the most impossible feats are achievable with persistence, determination, luck, and faith. Follow Our Guests Danny O'Malley and Alex Rivest: Instagram (@dannyomalley.film) [https://www.instagram.com/dannyomalley.film] Instagram (@rivest) [https://www.instagram.com/rivest] CANARY (film link) [https://canary.oscilloscope.net/] - Minji will sponsor the first 20 people to watch Canary; send proof of your rental to firstofallpod@gmail.com Follow Minji On: * Instagram (@minjeezy) [https://www.instagram.com/minjeezy/] ▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" [https://open.spotify.com/track/0JTPzok6lcxjJ39oUKKTPT?si=132eda64118444d2] by Uzuhan ▫️ Follow the show on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstofallpod/] ▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective [http://www.podcastpotluck.com/] Audio Engineer @marvinyueh [https://twitter.com/MarvinYueh] Social Media Manager @JulianaDeer [https://www.instagram.com/junanaderp/]

Female relationships can be insanely fulfilling...and also complicated... and sometimes downright traumatic. At some point or another, many of us humans have encountered one (or many) a mean girl. In this episode, Minji sits down with returning guest Priska - singer/songwriter and one half of the Two Horny Goats Podcast - to unpack the trials, tribulations, and lessons from dealing with layered female relationships, including friends, frenemies, bullies, family members, and more. The conversation is kicked off by the controversy surrounding Blake Lively and the questionable marketing and events surrounding the film "It Ends With Us". They dive deep into some difficult personal experiences and the impact its had as they figure out how to develop healthier relationships with themselves and other women. Trigger warning: discussions around DV abuse Resources for those experiencing and/or recovering from DV mentioned in the closing of this episode: 1. No More: NO MORE is a groundbreaking, global initiative comprised of the largest coalition of nonprofits, corporations, government agencies, media, schools, and individuals addressing domestic and sexual violence. Visit their website at: www.nomore.org. [https://www.nomore.org/] 2. The National Domestic Violence Hotline: A 24/7 confidential service that provides support, resources, and information for those experiencing domestic violence. You can reach them at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website at www.thehotline.org [http://www.thehotline.org]. 3. Futures Without Violence: An organization dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. They provide resources for both survivors and those looking to support the cause. Learn more at www.futureswithoutviolence.org [http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org]. Follow Our Guest Priscilla Liang-Kim aka Priska: Instagram (@priskamusik) [https://www.instagram.com/priskamusik/] twohornygoats.com [https://www.twohornygoats.com/] Follow Minji On: * Instagram (@minjeezy) [https://www.instagram.com/minjeezy/] * Instagram (@firstofallpod) [https://www.instagram.com/firstofallpod/] ▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" [https://open.spotify.com/track/0JTPzok6lcxjJ39oUKKTPT?si=132eda64118444d2] by Uzuhan and " [https://open.spotify.com/track/5cKXWL2gO6VUwMey396Uqu?si=78950106f2e94bf3]How Will I Know" cover by Priska ▫️ Follow the show on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstofallpod/] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/firstofallpod] and support our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/firstofallpodcast] ▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective [http://www.podcastpotluck.com/] Audio Engineer @marvinyueh [https://twitter.com/MarvinYueh] Social Media Manager @JulianaDeer [https://www.instagram.com/junanaderp/]