Old Asian Lady

What if failure wasn’t the end—but the start of becoming who you really are?

In Part 1 of this soul-stirring episode of #OldAsianLady, we sit down with Sophie Lee, a young Taiwanese entrepreneur whose story is anything but conventional. From dropping out of Taiwan’s rigid education system to rebuilding her confidence in the U.S., Sophie’s journey is a masterclass in self-discovery, cultural dissonance, and fierce independence.

Sophie...

What happens when you dedicate your life to an art form—and the world around you changes faster than your dreams can keep up?

In Part 2 on #OldAsianLady, we reunite with Jean-Jacques Chen, an animator whose career has spanned continents, mediums, and evolving technologies. From his early days obsessing over Dragon Ball and sketching every stroke by hand, to becoming a versatile creator working in MVs, film, and even video games, JJ ...

In Part 1 of this deeply personal #OldAsianLady interview, Jean-Jacques Chen—a French-born, Belgian-raised, Taiwanese shares his own creative journey balancing Western individualism with Eastern expectations.

From the streets of Brussels to the mountains of Taiwan, JJ opens up about:

- How early interest in cartoons & drawing lead to animation

- Dealing with the tolls of family expectation & obligation

- Grappling with failure...

In Part 2 of our thought provoking conversation, #OldAsianLady welcomes back Karen Chung—retired professor at National Taiwan University (NTU), linguist, polyglot, and developer of EarBug. After 30+ years in Taiwan’s top academic institution, Karen reflects on her legacy, the gaps in English Language education, and the Echo Method she believes can fix Taiwan’s listening and pronunciation struggles.

Karen shares:

- Insights into cross...

In this compelling episode of #OldAsianLady, we sit down with Karen Chung, a linguist and retired NTU professor whose life is a testament to the quiet, profound transformation that comes with staying—staying in a place, in a culture, and in the uncertainty of one's own evolving identity.Originally from the U.S., Karen arrived in Taiwan over 4 decades ago and found a home. She has woven herself into the fabric of a country that,...

Today’s #OldAsianLady guest is Antonella Gismundi, an Italian data analyst with a fascinating background in linguistics & psychology, now thriving in Taiwan!

She shares:

- How a six-month adventure in Taiwan turned into 16 years of discovery and lifelong learning.

- Culture shock starting from her shoes melting in the heat.

- How speaking Italian, English, or Mandarin influences her personality in different ways.- Discovering fac...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, a Canadian with a multifaceted career opens up about his bold move to Taiwan in 1999. His experiences as a journalist, broadcaster, teacher, writer, and voice over artist. Now after 26 years, Brian is moving his cross cultural family back to his home country reflecting on the uncertainties of returning to a familiar yet changed landscape.

Join us as we explore the emotional, cultural, and practic...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, Sandra opens up about her years working in the Middle East, facing racial prejudice, managing her cross-continental business and what happens when your personality doesn’t match your culture’s expectations. She shares the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way.

- When being “too outspoken” feels like a cultural misfit - Facing racial bias and finding resilience

- The personal trauma t...

In this episode of #OldAsianLady Michelle reflects on her evolution as a Teacher, Obsessive Creative, Wife & Mother embracing the messy beauty of growth, change, and life’s infinite possibilities all while navigating life in Taiwan.

Michelle shares:

- The Dance of Balancing Marriage, Parenting and Personal Pursuits

- Joys and Struggles of Being an Intercultural Family in Taiwan

- Finding Artistic Flow and Fulfillment Across Multi...

In this #OldAsianLady episode (Part 1), Michelle shares her personal journey from Houston to Taipei, struggles with cultural identity, overcoming personal trauma, and discovering her purpose through art and teaching.

She touches on:

- Growing up Taiwanese American

- Struggling in Taiwan’s local school system vs thriving at American Schools

- How trauma changes us

- Overcoming generational pain

- Breaking the mold

💡 "I didn’t want t...

In this episode of Old Asian Lady, Mrinal Gokhale—IndianAmerican business analyst, author, and speaker—opens up about growing up not understanding why she just didn't fit in, her late autism diagnosis, and how she broke the silence around South Asian mental health.

- Learning she had Autism at 25, while her brother was diagnosed at 2
- Damaging impact of the model minority myth
- Balancing cultural identity, expectations, and stigmas
...

On this episode of Old Asian Lady, Jaime shares his journey from Panama to Silicon Valley to Taiwan. How his passion for solving problems led to building a top global app-PicCollage. He opens up about navigating cultural identity as a Chinese Panamanian and thoughts about raising his multilingual sons.

Topics:

– Life as a 3rd-gen Chinese Panamanian

– Entrepreneurship & Innovation

– The future of AI in Tech

More about Jaime:

IG: @Pic...

In this episode of Old Asian Lady, Shashwati shares her story working across three countries as a filmmaker, editor, and storyteller. She started her career in New York City with Michael Moore and her biggest takeaway from this legend was to be fearless. A lesson she still keeps close to her heart.

We cover her

- Challenges being a woman filmmaker

- Inspiration & creative process- Cultural Perspectives of the industry in India, ...

Imagine the unthinkable: Living with epilepsy for 30 years without knowing it and how my life drastically changes overnight.

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, Helen's story is one of courage, resilience, and renewed hope.

- The blackouts, injuries, and the constant threat of accidental death.

- The heartbreak after flunking the epilepsy surgery tests in the U.S.

- The second chance with Taiwan's world-class brain surgery.

To...

Growing up, my parents sacrificed and provided me with a solid foundation but to find myself, I had to forge my own path. Helen Immigrated from Taiwan to the US when she was 7. Growing up as an Asian American, she embraced her life but found herself questioning who she really was. After decisions to change her degree and relocate herself to Maryland, she found true purpose working with the Nonprofit Industry. After years of giving ...

A Professional Dance Artist reflects on her journey from Zoology to Dance and redefining herself after motherhood, questioning her place and identity.

In this episode of #OldAsianLady, WeiShan returned to Taiwan after 11 years studying and performing abroad in London, Tokyo, and San Francisco. At this age of 43, she struggles to find her path amidst life's disappointments. Knowing there are many things she still want to do yet ...

A Retired Veteran Army Chaplain shares his journey from Military Brat to His Calling for the Ministry reflects on what "Service" and “Home” really means.In this episode of #OldAsianLady, my brother Jonathan Landon shares his story about:

• Growing up as a Military Brat - joys & sadness of constantly moving.
• Finding his calling as a Chaplain in the US Army and Priest in the Episcopal Church.
• Emotional tolls of being dep...

Erin shares how life’s biggest decisions & transitions shaped her journey—from the US to Taiwan and now back to starting over again in the US

She had early interest in working in the CIA rather than the FBI - preferring international work as a handler or analyst. She always wanted to study Chinese and her Grad School Master's degree in Taiwan was on Military Strategy, the People's Liberation Army/Navy, and Chinese Campaign Strat...