EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 44 MIN
"We were taught to function. Not to feel." - Finding Your Voice as an Asian American
from Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu · host Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu
About This Episode:Ko Im - award-winning storyteller andcreative - grew up in Guam, where a place where diversity didn't need to be announced, it was just lived. Then she stepped off a plane onto the US mainland for college and realized, for the first time, that race was political.That early experience - of belonging without having to fight for it - quietly became the foundation of everything Ko built: her journalism career, her published writing, her work shaping narrative at a global scale. And it's what compelled her, shortly after the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings, to stay up and write the Newsweek essay that thousands of Asian Americans said out loud what they had been holding silently for years.In this conversation, Ko and Lindsay explore what it actually takes to find your voice when your culture taught you to stayquiet - and what becomes possible when you do.What You'll Learn:How to stay rooted in your own story when the world is constantly projecting a narrative onto youWhy contentment, not happiness, is the morehonest and sustainable thing to aim for, and what it actually looks like in daily lifeHow speaking your truth publicly, even imperfectly, builds confidence and shifts something inside you that achievement alone never canWhy caring for yourself is not optional - it'sthe foundation for showing up authentically About Ko ImKo Im is an award-winning storyteller, communications leader, and community builder with over 15 years of experienceshaping narratives across journalism, publishing, and global brand strategy.Known for her ability to connect dots across culture, identity, and community, Ko brings both editorial precision and deep human insight to everything she creates.Her career spans roles as a journalist, published author, on-camera host, and content strategist - with her currentwork focused on communications and content strategy at a global scale. She is a certified wellness instructor with a grounding practice in yoga and meditation, and brings that same commitment to presence and authenticity into her storytelling work.Ko is a passionate advocate for diversity and representation, and her writing has appeared in major national outletsincluding Newsweek, where her personal essay on the Asian American experience following the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings resonated widely across the AANHPI community.She believes stories are not just communication - they are how we return to ourselves.Connect with KoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koimprofile/IG: https://www.instagram.com/konakafe/Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:@courageclasspod@drlindsaykwockhuWebsite: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcastSign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101aMusic Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387
What this episode covers
About This Episode:Ko Im - award-winning storyteller andcreative - grew up in Guam, where a place where diversity didn't need to be announced, it was just lived. Then she stepped off a plane onto the US mainland for college and realized, for the first time, that race was political.That early experience - of belonging without having to fight for it - quietly became the foundation of everything Ko built: her journalism career, her published writing, her work shaping narrative at a global scale. And it's what compelled her, shortly after the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings, to stay up and write the Newsweek essay that thousands of Asian Americans said out loud what they had been holding silently for years.In this conversation, Ko and Lindsay explore what it actually takes to find your voice when your culture taught you to stayquiet - and what becomes possible when you do.What You'll Learn:How to stay rooted in your own story when the world is constantly projecting a narrative onto youWhy contentment, not happiness, is the morehonest and sustainable thing to aim for, and what it actually looks like in daily lifeHow speaking your truth publicly, even imperfectly, builds confidence and shifts something inside you that achievement alone never canWhy caring for yourself is not optional - it'sthe foundation for showing up authentically About Ko ImKo Im is an award-winning storyteller, communications leader, and community builder with over 15 years of experienceshaping narratives across journalism, publishing, and global brand strategy.Known for her ability to connect dots across culture, identity, and community, Ko brings both editorial precision and deep human insight to everything she creates.Her career spans roles as a journalist, published author, on-camera host, and content strategist - with her currentwork focused on communications and content strategy at a global scale. She is a certified wellness instructor with a grounding practice in yoga and meditation, and brings that same commitment to presence and authenticity into her storytelling work.Ko is a passionate advocate for diversity and representation, and her writing has appeared in major national outletsincluding Newsweek, where her personal essay on the Asian American experience following the 2021 Atlanta Spa shootings resonated widely across the AANHPI community.She believes stories are not just communication - they are how we return to ourselves.Connect with KoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koimprofile/IG: https://www.instagram.com/konakafe/Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:@courageclasspod@drlindsaykwockhuWebsite: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcastSign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101aMusic Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387
NOW PLAYING
"We were taught to function. Not to feel." - Finding Your Voice as an Asian American
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.