One Thousand Gurus Podcast

RJ Manalo shares his journey as a Filipino-American musician, producer, and audio engineer who finds fulfillment in creating opportunities for others through Project: AKOOL.

• Born on the East Coast but raised in Rancho Cucamonga, RJ was influenced heavily by his musical family
• Navigated the typical Filipino-American pressure to pursue nursing while following his passion for audio and music
• Started dancing in h...

Host J.R. welcomes his mother, Marie Potts, for a heartfelt conversation exploring her life experiences, parenting philosophy, and the values that shaped their family.

• Growing up in Northern California as the oldest of five siblings and becoming a mother at a young age
• The importance of unconditional love in parenting
• Why generosity of spirit matters even when you don't have much materially
• Animal ...

Eric Y Chen shares his journey from high school student with business dreams to serial entrepreneur with multiple successful ventures, including a viral card game and shipping company.

• Growing up watching his father in business ignited Eric's early interest
• After starting in sales at ADP, Eric learned that listening and asking the right questions was more valuable than talking
• A serious car accident in 2...

Vanessa Barrios shares her journey from an aspiring influencer to a dynamic content creator with 300,000 followers across platforms, showing how authenticity and consistency have been key to her success.

• Started content creation after a life-changing conversation with friends in an Olive Garden parking lot
• Prioritizes authenticity in her content while balancing the persona her audience knows
• Taking breaks whe...

Educator and psychology student Hazier Rios returns for a deeper conversation about how our education system fails to teach critical life skills while exploring ways to find peace in an increasingly chaotic world.

• Critical gaps in education, particularly around relationship-building and communication skills
• The financial struggles teachers face with absurdly low departmental budgets
• How modern media has becom...

We explore the multifaceted relationship between dance as an art form and profession with talented choreographer and dancer Yerson Ochoa, diving deep into the technical aspects of movement while uncovering the power of authenticity both on and off the dance floor.

• Maintaining authenticity as a dance teacher by showing both good and bad days creates stronger community connections
• Building sharp, clean dance techniqu...

Clark Fielding shares his journey from personal injury attorney to founding his own boutique law firm, offering wisdom on career development, entrepreneurship, and maintaining work-life balance while raising a family.

• Clark's formative experience on a two-year church mission to Brazil
• The "sorting hat" theory of career development
• Importance of staying curious and exploring different subjects w...

Murphy Pines shares their journey of self-discovery, from growing up across multiple countries to embracing queerness and building community through art and authenticity. Their story reveals how breaking free from societal expectations can lead to profound healing and connection with oneself and others.

• Growing up across three continents and moving 16 times created adaptability but challenges with maintaining relationshi...

Julie Huynh shares her journey from dentistry aspirations to becoming a UX designer while exploring how continuous learning and the "I know nothing" mentality have shaped her personal and professional growth.

• Originally from Chicago, inspired by role models like Michael Jordan and Michelle Kwan
• Pursued biological sciences at UCI but added Asian American studies to balance scientific and creative thinking<...

Alex Hung shares his journey from HR professional to Chief of Staff, offering insights on career advancement, financial management, and relationship wisdom gained through years of professional and personal experience.

• Starting in HR with an unrelated degree taught Alex the reality that your college major often doesn't matter for career success
• Changing jobs every two years can yield 15-20% salary increases com...

Hazier Rios shares his journey from psychology student to educator, and how these experiences shaped his understanding of human connection and emotional well-being. His unexpected path into teaching multiple subjects revealed profound insights about student needs and the importance of hope in education.

• Graduate of UCI with a BA in Psychology, former president of Active Minds
• Working with his mother at her hair sal...

Joseph "JJ" Lacanilao aka MILO shares his journey from drama kid to open format DJ and how embracing authenticity shaped his career in music and nightlife. Through finding his creative voice despite traditional family expectations, JJ has built a meaningful career creating safe spaces for self-expression through music.

• Discovered his passion for performing in middle school through drama classes and musicals

OTG welcomes back Aeden Pham for a special "random show" episode where they break from the traditional interview format to engage in a free-flowing conversation covering personal finance, mindset shifts, anime preferences, and life optimization strategies. Topics include:

• Money management fundamentals
• Redefining personal value
• Creating positive environments requires shifting from proving our value to sharing experiences
• A...

Kan Dang shares how dance transformed his life, shaping his identity, confidence, and sense of purpose through years of dedication to the art form and mentorship of young dancers.

• Credits dance with developing his social skills and helping him overcome natural introversion
• Discusses how comparing yourself to others is unhealthy as everyone has different strengths and journeys
• Recommends Haikyuu as his favorite anime for its fantas...

Lachlan Ma shares his journey from UC Irvine graduate to TikTok talent acquisition partner, exploring how finding his ikigai helped him navigate career choices and balance diverse passions.

• Born in Sydney, Australia to parents from Hong Kong and the Philippines
• Discovered his passion for recruiting after internships in finance, law, and accounting
• Explains the Japanese concept of ikigai - finding purpose at t...

Ray Lee returns to discuss his journey as a concept artist transitioning from Los Angeles back to South Korea, sharing insights on international work opportunities and maintaining artistic integrity in the changing gaming industry.

• Working as an international concept artist
• The differences between US, European and Asian job markets
• Having multiple career plans (A, B, C) helps artists navigate industry instabi...

Eric Pan shares his journey from an introverted child in Chicago to a successful UCLA graduate heading to Boston Consulting Group, offering insights on consulting, leadership, and finding balance along the way.

• Moving from Chicago to UCLA
• The distinction between being "nice" (surface-level politeness) and "kind" (genuinely helping others)
• Strategy consultants function as "doctors of b...

Travis Trinh transforms from a sheltered, introverted kid to an extroverted nerd who embraces fitness, cosplay, and engineering with equal passion. His journey shows how anime influences, leadership experiences, and the Cobra Kai philosophy of "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy" can shape a fulfilling life.

• Growing up in a sheltered environment in Santa Clarita before attending UCSB
• Evolution from intro...

A profound conversation with Alex Cristal on the intricacies of self-discovery, time management, and the importance of solitude. We dive into the dynamics of building a supportive community, how different relationships serve distinct roles in our lives, and reflections on emotional and spiritual well-being.

• Exploring the power of solitude for self-awareness 
• The significance of community in personal growth 
• U...