The Raccoon Round Table

David and Chris discuss their approach to change and the emotions that come with it. They reflect on some decisions they've made, and compare their recent experiences to the changes they've faced in the past. What we talk about today: - The fear of the unknown vs. welcoming change - Having more experiences with change and how it helps you become more comfortable with it - Mentality before and during a change

Michael joins the conversation to share how he made the decision to leave an established career in California and move his family to the East Coast for an amazing opportunity at The Washington Post.  What we talk about today: - Moving on from the San Diego Union-Tribune and teaching as a professor at Palomar College to accept a position as a News Designer at The Washington Post. - That feeling or "itch" that makes you ask yourself: Could I do better? Is there something else for me? - The decision making process and involving his wife and family.  - What impacts the decision: family, partner, career.  - Making a list of all the requirements before making the change; both professionally and personally. - Understanding how his parents made a life changing decision to benefit the family, and how he found himself in a similar position. - What the opportunity of working at The Washington Post means to him.

David and Chris continue their conversation on goal setting for the upcoming new year. In their previous episode, they introduced their "Six F's of Life" (inspired by Brandon and Heather Turner's Ultimate New Years Goal-Planning date.) This time, they cover the five questions you should ask yourself in each category.    - Our "Six F's of Life": Fitness, Family/Friends, Faith/Spiritual, Financial, Freedom, Filipino American Identity.   5 Questions to ask yourself in each "F"  - Where are you currently with this category?  - What did we do amazing last year?  - What could we have done better last year?  - Where do we want to be in 5 years?  - What can we do this year to get on track with this 5 year vision?

David and Chris prepare for 2023 by live impromptu goal setting for the next year. Inspired by Brandon and Heather Turner's Ultimate New Years Goal-Planning date, David and Chris add their own "F" to the list of "Six F's of Life."  - Our "Six F's of Life": Fitness, Family/Friends, Faith/Spiritual, Financial, Freedom, Filipino American Identity. - Use the same "F's" or modify it to fit you. - Do this activity and tell us your goals for next year!

Monica and Alison join the conversation to share their mental health journeys, what encouraged them to find the right resources, and what worked best for them. What we talk about today: - Experience with therapy and finding a connection and safe space - Mental health in the Filipino American community - Multiple sides and perspectives can be true at the same time - Finding your voice and accepting that you are enough - Books, social media and other resources

Allysa, David and Chris share their experiences with communicating with their parents as they were growing up.  What we talk about today: - Conversations that were encouraged and discouraged. - We're still learning how to communicate with our parents. - How communication with our parents changed from then and now. - The other ways our parents communicate their love. - Traits we inherited from our parents.

Dr. Lily Ann Villarza joins the conversation to share her journey to becoming the Chair of Philippine Studies Department at City College of San Francisco. She shares her passion for helping others discover themselves and understanding what it means to be Filipino.  What we talk about today: - The Filipino American experience and identity. - Filipino American Renaissance from generation to generation.  - Values surrounding career paths and the differences among generations.  - The work behind Filipinos establishing the Philippines Studies department.  - The "aha moment” she lives for as an educator.  - Filipino people, events and communities you should search and the resources available - Understanding why October is Filipino American History Month, and not Filipino American Heritage Month Contact Lily Ann: - E-mail: [email protected] - IG: philippinestudiesccsf

Veronica Velasquez joins the conversation to share her journey becoming a Physical Therapist, sharing her PT life on Social Media, and the importance of financial literacy.  What we talk about today: - Her multiple career avenues: physical therapist, content creator, teaching assistant in DPT program, and real estate investor. - Finding the right career path by giving herself room to explore while in college. - Being authentic to yourself while acknowledging the journey and sacrifices of previous generations. - Life as a Filipino in Physical Therapy and representation. - Pros/Cons of a career in Physical Therapy. - Why she shares her day to day on social media despite some reluctance, and one of the biggest lessons she has learned from it. - Her growth journey and breaking barriers in the Filipino culture - Financial literacy!  Contact Veronica: - IG: @thisptlife - Email: [email protected]

Rachelle Ibanez-Cadiz joins the conversation to discuss the importance of learning about your family's history and appreciating their journey.  What we talk about today: - How Rachelle's grandparents and father immigrated from the Philippines - The drastic differences in the livelihood and experiences between the generations - the sacrifices of previous generations searching for better opportunities  - the contrast of listening to our parents’/grandparents’ stories when we were younger and now - the reason why she wanted to learn more about her history and heritage - appreciating the journey of our parents and those before us - wishing you had more conversations with those who aren't with us anymore  Contact Rachelle: - IG: @rawrzenabi and @cadizkitchen

Ginger Lim-Dimapasok joins the conversation to share how she and her husband founded Cafe 86, the front runner of ube centric desserts and pastries. What we talk about today: - The origin story of Cafe 86 - "The House that Ube Built" - Ginger's career path and journey from the Philippines to the US to pursue culinary arts - The love and support from her parents to pursue her true passion, and how this influences her as a mother to her children - Why she and her husband decided to start a business - The power of networking within the Filipino American community - Maintaining the identity for her children growing up Filipino American so that they can stay rooted in our culture - Her experience on Food Network's Chopped Sweets and talking home the win - The vision and future of Cafe 86 Contact Ginger: - IG: @cafe_86 and @gingaroo - Website: https://www.cafe-86.com/

Raccoon Rounds celebrates Filipino American History Month! David and Chris share their experiences growing up Filipino American. They admit that they were not aware October was FAHM until earlier this year, but have made it their goal to learn more. What we talk about today: - Our responsibility to learn more about our Filipino American history - The importance of learning our history - David and Chris' experiences visiting the Philippines - Being part of the movement and vision we have for Raccoon Rounds

Jason joins the conversation to share how he uses his skillset to not only advance in his career, but also for his true passion: traveling. He is a family man with 4 kids and works a 9-5, but makes time to share his love for traveling and building a travel hacking community.  What we talk about today: - His career path to become an auditor for a telecommunication company - His passion is to travel for less and nearly free - Taking his skillset and curiosity from his everyday job and applying this to his passion - The power of asking the question; asking himself how do people travel with miles and taking initiative to find out - "It''s like going to Costco, it's that easy" - The coolest thing he's done travel hacking: spending only $15 per person after using Citi points to fly with Qatar Air Suites, worth 18k one way for two - An introduction to travel hacking - Filipino American perspective on using credit cards - Why he decided to build a travel hacking community - Making time for your passion Contact Jason Francisco: - IG: @daddytravelsmiles - Facebook Group: Daddy Travels Miles & Points - Blog: https://www.daddytravelsnow.com

David and Chris reflect on their own experiences after speaking to Dan Angkiangco (Ep 60). They look back at a time when they felt their mind, body and soul were misaligned; and how this impacted not just their physical wellness but especially their mental health. What we talk about today: - self reflection and how we may have neglected out mental health - pursuing physical fitness for the wrong intentions - seeking help and helping others when we notice signs of need - hoping everyone listening will take the time to self reflect and take a good look at every aspect of their health

Sheila Akbar joins the conversation to share her story and how she decided to pursue what was meaningful to her; helping students define success for themselves and empowering them to find their own way. At Signet Education, Sheila designs curriculums, runs the business and meets with clients What we talk about today: - Growing up in an immigrant family with high expectations - Although she did well in school, she did not pursue what her parents wanted, and instead pursued what was meaningful to her - Sheila and Signet Education help students and their parents tackle different challenges - Understanding that this is a process and a career path isn't going to be a straight line - Failure is not an end but a moment to step back and reflect, and the skill of reflection is a muscle that needs to be built through practice - The Life Wheel, a tool to rate your satisfaction in a role or experience - Anxiety from comparing yourself to others and uncertainty - Expectations from families and culture - How her personal experience helps her show parents the bigger picture and reduce uncertainty - The importance of representation and mentorship - Sheila's advice to those who are trying to define success Contact Sheila Akbar: - http://signeteducation.com/ - [email protected] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaakbar/

Dan Angkiangco joins the conversation to provide his expertise around physical wellness. Dan is a coach and mentor with a background in kinesiology and integrative wellness. What we talk about today: - Shifting from pursing game art and design to a career in fitness and health. - The self finding process and overall healing. - Outgrowing a position and deciding o start his own studio through his vision and philosophy called Ludus Enkrateia. - Being honest with yourself and having someone in your corner who will be honest with you about your true potential. - Pursing your greatest potential and highest self; self mastery and self cultivation. - His approach and philosophy to coaching and physical wellness programs. - Alignment of the physical and mental mindset; mind body connection. - How connected is your "why" to your fitness. - Being disruptive to his industry. Learn more about Dan by checking out: - His new book "Light the Path for Arya" - EEkiguys podcast - Coming soon: DE Paths Coaching and his exercise programming through self mastery

Kristine joins the conversation to share her experience as a Preschool Special Education Teacher. What we talk about today: - Her 10 year career as a teacher - Teaching was always her calling after knowing that she wanted to work with kids - Enjoying the learning process and other signs that teaching is the right path for you - The importance of high quality early childhood education - Challenges teachers face pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and as we enter the endemic - Her passion to continuously learn about how to help and teach children with special needs - Preparing for the new school year - The rewarding factors of being a teacher

Kim joins the conversation to share her experience as a Senior Enrollment Advisor and guiding students at her University. What we talk about today: - Finding a career in advising students at universities - Her role in the frontlines for students who are in the initial phase before admission - Struggles faced by different populations and generations of students - Understanding and finding options for financing tuition - Motivations and trends behind pursing higher education - Her advice to those who are thinking about going back to school or pursuing higher education

Ryxl joins the conversation to share how she is preparing for her upcoming first year of Pharmacy School. What we talk about today: - How Rxyl made the decision to apply for Pharmacy School. - Taking a year off to gain experience and shadow professionals to help guide her to this career path. - Leveraging your network to land a job in the industry and getting advice before applying to the program. - The application process and tips on interviewing for professional school. - The jump between undergrad and graduate school. - Tips on financial aid and paying for school.

David and Chris discuss the importance of seeing people you identify with succeed and excel in different aspects of life. What we talk about today: - The recent successes of the Philippines Women's National Football Team. - The importance of representation in different careers and roles. - Perspectives on balance during the journey.

Bernard "Bernie" Paraiso (Chief Xperience Officer, DentroLux) joins the conversation to share his experiences and career path, which led to him starting a digital agency. What we talk about today: - The services his digital agency provides. - Knowing at an early age that he wanted to be his own boss. - How he would be constantly reading books and working numerous types of jobs to gain experience and to learn a variety of skills that would be helpful for the eventuality that he would be his own boss. - Mentorship, delusional optimism, and mindset.

Guy Antolin joins the conversation to share the experiences that landed her a career in Human Resources. With extensive knowledge in the field, Guy provides her top resume and interview tips for anyone actively applying to jobs or wanting to brush up on their interview skills.

Have you ever compared yourself to your peers and suddenly felt like you’re behind in life? We may not talk about this feeling with others, but it's important to know that you're not alone. This feeling may be difficult to overcome but it is something that can be managed. In this episode, David and Chris share their own experiences with feeling behind and what they've done to manage them.

Dexter joins the conversation to share his story about immigrating to the United States at the age of 21. Knowing that he would have to rebuild his career, Dexter made the transpacific move and immediately started planning and grinding. Early challenges led him to take unlikely jobs, but allowed him to pick up skills that would take him one step closer to achieving his goals. Through his work ethic and with his family in mind, he found his way to a new career aligned with his passions and has not lost his hunger for growth.

Crystal Thuy Dong is a cosmetology business owner and is an educator for those who want to be lash artists and business owners. In this episode, Crystal joins the conversation to share her experiences as a first generation Asian American immigrant from Vietnam. She discusses how she is able to practice gratitude during the grind. She touches on mindset, overcoming fear, and how to find that “deep fire passion.”

The entire Raccoon Rounds family joined the podcast for our 50th episode; Kimmie, Allysa, Alyssa, Rachelle, Rxyl, David, and Chris. We share recent updates in our lives since our last episode together in November 2021, and why we continue to contribute to this community. 

Kimmie and Allysa join the conversation to share their experience hosting the Raccoon Round Table Podcast during Women's History Month. Despite some nerves and anxieties, they both enjoyed connecting with guests and learning through the process. They also provide advice for anyone who has been thinking about starting their own podcast.

Bob Antolin joins the conversation to discuss the employee-manager relationship from the manager perspective. He offers tips on how employees should approach their manager with requests for a raise or promotion, and how managers can help develop their employees. They also talk about the Great Resignation and how everyone should be using it to their advantage.

We have all procrastinated on something, whether it's homework, projects, or cleaning up around the house. For things related to your professional life, it's important to reflect on what the consequences are for putting something off. In this episode, David & Chris discuss their own experiences with procrastination and their approach to overcome it while focusing on three areas: motivation, mindset, and habits.

Julian joins the conversation to share how he leveraged skills and interests he gained from his regular 9-5 to start his product distribution business. With some self-learning through "YouTube University" and solid networking, he was able to successfully expand his clientele. On top of this, Julian also has a creative media business which has enabled him to put his video and photography skills to good use.

Josh Dhillon, a Rheumatology Fellow, shares why he decided to a pursue a career in Medicine and reflects on advice his uncle gave him on choosing a career: think about an issue you’re really passionate about and figure out what job will allow you to work toward that cause. David and Josh also take a deep dive into what they wish they knew before starting med school and what they recommend to anyone who wants to pursue medicine.

Everyone will find themselves in a position to have to lead at some point in their lives. And whether that’s you right now or in the future, it’s important to enhance those leadership skills for your own professional and/or personal development. In this episode, David & Chris discuss their own experiences in leadership roles, their approaches to developing those skills, & how they set the tone for their teams.

Rhea joins the conversation to share how her job combines her two favorite things: Marketing and Medicine. Growing up, she always thought she wanted to be a doctor, but something was pulling her to marketing. In her journey to pursue medicine, she constantly met resistance and knew she had to be true to herself. The moment she fully switched to marketing, her career soared. Now, she works in marketing for a healthcare system and she has never looked back.

In celebration of Women's History Month, Kimmie and Allysa from the Raccoon Rounds family hosts the episodes throughout March. Kimmie and Allysa discuss the progression of talking about goals with their significant other. They acknowledge how they've overcome the difficulties of opening up and the fear of expectations. Whether it's individual or shared goals, they both emphasize the importance of communication at every level of the relationship.

In celebration of Women's History Month, Kimmie and Allysa from the Raccoon Rounds family host the episodes throughout March. Mitsy joins the conversation to share her experience of going back to school to pursue nursing as mother of two children. She found support in her community and knew when to ask for help. Despite the challenges, she emphasizes setting a good example for your children, even through the people you surround them with.

In celebration of Women's History Month, Kimmie and Allysa from the Raccoon Rounds family hosts the episodes throughout March. Britny joins the converstion to share how she balances being a mother of three boys and working multiple jobs. She also talks about discovering and pursing your passions, and the just do it mentality.

In celebration of Women's History Month, Kimmie and Allysa from the Raccoon Rounds family hosts the episodes throughout March.  Poonam joins the conversation to discuss challenges in the workplace for women, learning from difficulties and making them strengths, and what women empowerment means to her.

Maricar joins the conversation to share how she was undecided of what career to pursue during her senior year of college. Although she excelled in her administrative job, she craved for a career filled with spontaneity and creativity. After taking a deep dive in who she is, she pursued a career path dedicated to things she loves: travel and content creation.

Abbey joins the conversation to share how burnout from her previous career was taking a toll on her physical and mental health. After some soul searching, she eventually made the decision to seek a better path for herself. With a solid support system and making "silent moves" she graduated top of her program, and found a career that she loves.

David and Chris discuss their top 5 strengths, which they learned after taking a Strength's Finder Test based on this episode's book recommendation: Now, Discover Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton and Marcus Buckingham.

Jamie joins the conversation to share her experience working in Human Resources and provides her insight on different factors when looking for a new job: qualifications vs. experience, government vs. private sector. Although she loves working in HR, Jamie shares why she's currently exploring a possible career change to pursue more passions.

David Cadiz joins the conversation to share his experience serving in the Army for 8 years after graduating from High School in Kauai. He dives into the pros and cons of joining the military, and gives his advice on what you should consider before reaching out to a recruiter.

David and Chris take the time to reflect on their personal wins from 2021.  Just as much as you set goals and grind for your aspirations, you should take the time to celebrate the milestones and successes you achieve. So with the start of the new year, have you taken the time to reflect on and celebrate your wins?

Hari joins the conversation to discuss how he started a pre-med organization at his college, and how he focuses his mindset on enjoying the process and finding fulfillment. He also gave us an update on his personal statement, and what inspired him to write it more like a personal story.

Amin joins the conversation and shares his experience with climbing the corporate ladder until he started to reanalyze his "reasons why." By putting his happiness first, his mind shifted to wanting to seal his own legacy, make connections through sports, and be his own boss.

Marie joins the conversation to share her experience as a Social Media Community Engagement Coordinator. We discuss the importance of self reflection and doing what makes you happy. As well as the importance of making connections, networking, and pursuing different internships. Listen in for tips on starting a career in social media.

There might be something inside you, telling you that you're not truly pursuing what you really want. And even if you realize this, the fear of making a change can be daunting; taking the leap to change course, telling loved ones you might be starting over, and having to reach out to strangers to build a network in a new field.  But sometimes you need to hear from those who have been through it. People who made the decision to follow their passion, and have found success in a career they may have never even dreamed. 

This platform is for everyone. Helping people have the mindset to achieve the goals, get through challenges, and share their stories with a community that wants the same success.  Get a glimpse into Raccoon Rounds. Meet the team behind the movement.  Hear what we've been thankful for this year, and what we're looking forward to in this year to come.

We've all felt it; as if we're not cut out for the plans that we have made for ourselves, for the responsibilities that are given to us. Sometimes, it can be a barrier to our own success. Or at least get in the way of us reaching our full potential.  How do we get through that? Tune in to this episode to find out.

What is your why? This is part of ours.  We talk about how we approach risk, and building our resilience.

For many of us, our parents have been pretty influential in our decisions.  And even if our parents weren't, there were people in our lives who were.  How do we take all of that input into account when making choices and decisions about our futures?