EPISODE · Aug 14, 2025 · 50 MIN
The Power of Story, Struggle, and Staying the Course w/ Sun Yi | Ep 371
from The Futur with Chris Do · host The Futur
Register for AdobeMax using the code FUTUR25 for $400 off a full pass. See you there! In this episode, Chris Do sits down with brand strategist and storyteller Sun Yi to unpack the truth behind internet personas, the realities of creative entrepreneurship, and how storytelling unlocks influence. From building his agency out of a New York apartment (and sleeping in the office) to helping others reframe their own narratives, Sun shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career—including how his wife Gigi helped turn a struggling business into a thriving one. They explore the tension between craft and commerce, emotional thinking vs. structure, and what it really takes to raise your prices, trust your gut, and teach others to say “I never thought of it that way.” Whether you're building a brand, running a creative business, or trying to find your voice online, this episode is a masterclass in owning your story—on and off camera. Timestamps: (00:15) Internet Personas vs. Real Life: Who Is the Real Sun Yi? (03:00) From Freelance to American Red Cross: Building an Agency from Scratch (10:50) The Gigi Effect: How Business (and Marriage) Saved the Company (22:00) Leadership, Loyalty, and Letting Go in Business (30:20) Why Sun Doesn’t See Himself as Creative—and Why That’s His Superpower (38:05) The Mechanics of Storytelling: How to Make People Say “I Never Thought of It That Way” (44:00) Myth-Truth Sandwiches, Logic Traps, and Reframing Beliefs (47:20) Da Vinci, Multidisciplinary Thinking, and Finding Your Niche Check out today's guest, Sun Yi: Sun's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun.yi/ Sun's YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/sunYiCo/ Check out The Futur: Website: https://www.thefutur.com/ Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shop Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/ Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/ Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishere TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere Check out Chris Do: Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdo TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo Threads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo Zaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo Behance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Register for AdobeMax using the code FUTUR25 for $400 off a full pass. See you there! In this episode, Chris Do sits down with brand strategist and storyteller Sun Yi to unpack the truth behind internet personas, the realities of creative entrepreneurship, and how storytelling unlocks influence. From building his agency out of a New York apartment (and sleeping in the office) to helping others reframe their own narratives, Sun shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career—including how his wife Gigi helped turn a struggling business into a thriving one. They explore the tension between craft and commerce, emotional thinking vs. structure, and what it really takes to raise your prices, trust your gut, and teach others to say “I never thought of it that way.” Whether you're building a brand, running a creative business, or trying to find your voice online, this episode is a masterclass in owning your story—on and off camera. Timestamps: (00:15) Internet Personas vs. Real Life: Who Is the Real Sun Yi? (03:00) From Freelance to American Red Cross: Building an Agency from Scratch (10:50) The Gigi Effect: How Business (and Marriage) Saved the Company (22:00) Leadership, Loyalty, and Letting Go in Business (30:20) Why Sun Doesn’t See Himself as Creative—and Why That’s His Superpower (38:05) The Mechanics of Storytelling: How to Make People Say “I Never Thought of It That Way” (44:00) Myth-Truth Sandwiches, Logic Traps, and Reframing Beliefs (47:20) Da Vinci, Multidisciplinary Thinking, and Finding Your Niche Check out today's guest, Sun Yi: Sun's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun.yi/ Sun's YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/sunYiCo/ Check out The Futur: Website: https://www.thefutur.com/ Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shop Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/ Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/ Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishere TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere Check out Chris Do: Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdo TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo Threads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo Zaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo Behance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Power of Story, Struggle, and Staying the Course w/ Sun Yi | Ep 371
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