Magnolia Talks

What happens when the life you've been running on autopilot suddenly forces you to stop? In this episode, Mo Fong sits down with Tracy Kreiss — leadership and mental wellness coach, author of 21 Day Shadow Work, ICF Sacramento board member, and someone who has spent 25 years helping professionals develop as leaders. Tracy shares how her husband's diagnosis with Lewy body dementia became the wake-up call that pulled her off the hamster wheel and into a completely different way of living and leading. Together, they explore why so many high performers operate in survival mode without realizing it, what conscious leadership really means, how shadow work uncovers the limiting beliefs we've been carrying since childhood, and why self-love — not the bubble bath kind, but the deep internal dialogue kind — is the foundation for every meaningful relationship, including leadership.

What happens when the company you built to save lives almost breaks you in the process? In this episode, Mo Fong sits down with Jane Chen — New York Times bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break, co-founder of Embrace (whose portable incubator has helped save over a million babies), TED speaker, and Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Jane shares how losing everything she thought defined her forced her onto a healing journey that completely changed her understanding of resilience, identity, and leadership. Together, they explore why high achievers tie their self-worth to productivity, how to listen to the wisdom of your body and emotions, the power of Inner Family Systems (parts work) for self-compassion, and what surfing taught Jane about surrendering control. If you've ever pushed past exhaustion and called it resilience, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew.

Her book is called Writing an Identity Not Your Own — but swap one word, and it becomes a guide for every coach. In this episode, Mo Fong sits down with Alex Temblador, award-winning mixed Latine author and journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and Architectural Digest. Alex grew up in a mixed Mexican and white household with a queer brother and a sister with intellectual and physical disabilities, and she witnessed bias up close long before she had the language for it. Together, they explore how words shape bias in ways we don't even realize, why identity is intersectional and never fixed, the difference between identity-first and person-first language, how to audit your coaching practice and business for unconscious assumptions, and why seeking discomfort is where real growth happens. Alex's advice: expect mistakes, look for them, reflect on them, and keep going.

What does it mean to create a "third cultural space" where everyone can flourish? In this episode of Magnolia Talks, Christina Burrows shares her journey as a mixed-heritage woman navigating multiple cultures—from growing up with a Korean mother and British father to living across six countries and building a career in intercultural leadership coaching.We explore what cultural agility really looks like, why the dominant culture is often invisible to those within it, and how tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory can reveal our "cold shower moments" of growth. Christina challenges us to move beyond both assimilation and resistance, inviting us instead to stretch toward one another and co-create spaces where differences are recognized, valued, and bridged with intention.About Christina: Christina Burrows is the founder of Jigsaw Intercultural Leadership Coach, which supports individuals and teams in cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and cultural agility to build stronger connections across differences. Drawing from her experiences living in the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and the US, with a professional background in secondary and higher education, pastoral ministry, and global nonprofit leadership, Christina partners with leaders to achieve their personal and professional goals, empowering them to flourish in every area of life.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to Mo-Lei Fong for directing and hosting this season of Magnolia Talks, Jean Yi for producing, and Gabriel Fong for contributing artwork.

What does it take to step into visibility when everything in your cultural upbringing has taught you to stay small? In this opening episode of Season 3 of Magnolia Talks, Sheena Yap Chan shares her powerful journey from feeling ashamed of her Asian identity to founding the Confidence Through Visibility Movement.We explore the courage it takes to be seen as an Asian woman, the cultural scripts around self-promotion and perfectionism that hold us back, and why "ready, fire, aim" might be the mindset shift we need. From dyeing her hair blonde to reclaiming her authentic self, Sheena's story illuminates how visibility isn't just about personal branding—it's about dismantling stereotypes, building resilience, and creating space for the next generation of leaders.About Sheena: Sheena Yap Chan is a Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author, keynote speaker, strategist, and award-winning podcaster. She is the founder of the Confidence Through Visibility Movement and host of the Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, which is ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 1.3 million downloads. Her debut book, The Tao of Self-Confidence, was named one of the top 20 bestselling self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority, while her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap, is a bold call to reimagine leadership by making visibility and self-trust core competencies.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to Mo-Lei Fong for directing and hosting this season of Magnolia Talks, Jean Yi for producing, and Gabriel Fong for contributing artwork.

What if your coaching tools could help clients reconnect with who they truly are — and release what’s holding them back? In this closing episode of Season 2 of Magnolia Talks, Jen Lin shares how Human Design and Energy Balancing became foundational in her work.We explore how Energy Balancing helps clients move through stress and stuckness by releasing internal saboteurs, while Human Design offers a powerful framework for understanding one’s innate makeup and way of being. At the heart of it all? Supporting clients in embracing and living as their most authentic and unique selves.About Jen: Jen Lin is a career and well-being coach where she has enjoyed empowering hundreds of people to discover and live to their full potential. In her coaching, Jen helps people connect the intelligence of their mind to the wisdom of their body, as a Teacher & Advanced Practitioner of Eden Energy Medicine where she has helped people strengthen their body’s energy. Jen also helps people make authentic decisions to live as their unique self, as a Human Design Professional Analyst where she has guide people in understanding who they truly are. Jen also enjoys training thousands of people in developing their leadership skills, as a teacher and former engineering director at Google.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to ⁠Diane Kim⁠ who has beautifully directed, hosted and edited this season of Magnolia Talks.

What does it mean to lead from intuition — and how can we root that leadership in both spirit and community? In this episode of Magnolia Talks, Alisha Herrick shares her deeply personal path that led her to found Earthwise Coaching and the Wise Path Tarot.We explore the power of intuitive leadership at a time when traditional scripts are dissolving, and how reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, body intelligence, and spiritual practice offer a more grounded, expansive way forward. Drawing from the Tendikyo religion, Alisha shares how spiritual coaching creates space for presence, transformation, and heart-centered leadership — not just in boardrooms or office buildings, but in communities.About Alisha: Alisha is a Leadership Development expert and Intuitive Leadership Coach, dedicated to helping professionals—both experienced and emerging leaders—develop confidence, authenticity, and emotional intelligence in their leadership journey. As the Founder of Earth Wise Coaching and a Learning & Development Manager at Hyundai Capital America, she blends evidence-based coaching, emotional intelligence, and intuitive insight to guide professionals toward greater self-awareness, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.Alisha has designed and led programs that empower individuals to navigate high-pressure environments while staying true to their values. Her unique approach integrates practical strategies with deep self-inquiry, helping clients unlock their leadership potential, trust their intuition, and make empowered decisions.Whether working with rising leaders, coaching executives, or facilitating transformative workshops, Alisha is passionate about helping people lead with clarity, courage, and heart.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to ⁠Diane Kim⁠ who has beautifully directed, hosted and edited this season of Magnolia Talks.

What does it really take to build a coaching business that’s not only successful — but sustainable and deeply fulfilling? In this episode of Magnolia Talks, Bea Kim shares how she built a lasting practice grounded in somatic wisdom, neuroscience, and bold experimentation.We explore her journey into coaching, who she serves (and why), and how her unique approach helps clients reconnect with what they truly want — not just what’s expected of them. From reframing the immigrant mindset to choosing service over people-pleasing, she offers hard-won insights on building a business with integrity, intention, and impact.About Bea: Bea Kim is an executive and life coach who supports working parents and leaders as well as companies like Google, DirecTV, and Nasdaq to help their teams optimize their lives for work and home. She has also served as a group coach for Stanford Graduate School of Business and has founded multiple companies in the edtech, wellness, and DEI space. Bea has over 15 years of experience in technology and client services across multiple industries. She believes the best thing you can do for your teams and your kids is to work on yourself. Previously, Bea sold an education startup in 2012. In her spare time, she loves watching detective TV shows, researching skincare products, and spending time with her husband Eric and two kids, Owen (9yo) and Stella (6yo).You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to ⁠Diane Kim⁠ who has beautifully directed, hosted and edited this season of Magnolia Talks.

What does it look like to reclaim your narrative as an Asian woman in leadership? In this episode of Magnolia Talks, Denise Ang shares her journey into coaching and the founding of the Asian Women Empowerment Network — a space born from both passion and purpose.We explore the unique challenges Asian women face in the workplace, and how cultural values can be leveraged as strengths rather than barriers. Denise's coaching journey helps to show how culturally relevant coaching practices can support clients in rewriting the scripts they’ve inherited and owning their success stories with confidence and clarity.About Denise: Denise Ang is the Founder of the Asian Women Empowerment (AWE) Network, dedicated to helping Asian women enhance their visibility as leaders and develop skills in self-advocacy, executive presence, and personal branding. As the Founder of Denise Ang Coaching and Consulting, she coaches Asian women to embrace authentic leadership, rewrite their script, and own their success story. Denise supports Asian women leaders and serves on the boards of the Asian Women Coaching Collective and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Western Region. With extensive experience in business strategy and partnerships, Denise currently leads Strategic Partnerships for Android at Google. Denise has an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College London. Denise is also trained in negotiation in Harvard Law School.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to ⁠Diane Kim⁠ who has beautifully directed, hosted and edited this season of Magnolia Talks.

What does it really mean to coach from a place of cultural alignment and inner truth? In this opening episode of Season 2 of Magnolia Talks, we explore Minal Mehta’s journey in discovering her purpose — and how that journey led her to blend Eastern healing modalities with modern coaching practice.We dive into the tension between the “how” and the “why” that so many clients bring, the limitations of Western psychology in multicultural contexts, and the power of reconnecting with ancestral wisdom to serve both ourselves and others. For Asian women (coaches), there’s something uniquely resonant — and empowering — about reclaiming these tools.About Minal: Minal is the founder of The Ineffable Leader, a Leadership Development & Executive Coaching service. She partners with ambitious leaders to design and build amazing careers on their own terms. She helps leaders create massive impact while approaching life with joy and ease. Minal marries her vast experience as a Tech Executive at companies like Google, YouTube, LinkedIn & Amazon with a 10-year journey learning about Meditation, Psychology, Zen & other modalities to position her clients on a trajectory that’s not just upwards, but right for them. This exploration of human potential started when Minal had her second child and all systems broke. She knew there had to be a way to win at work AND enjoy life - so she set out to create the process that has now helped dozens of people align work and life. Her clients are from companies like Google, Meta, Uber, Microsoft, Linkedin, Gitlab, and Remitly as well as various startups. Minal is also on the coaching staff at Harvard Business School. Outside of work, Minal has a lot of interests. She’s currently dedicated to parenting a 9-year old and a 12-year old, perfecting her handstand and improving her singing.You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Extra special thanks to Diane Kim who has beautifully directed, hosted and edited this season of Magnolia Talks.

On the fifth and last episode of this season’s Magnolia Talks, we chat with Hojeong Kim, the founder of BetterSelf.ai, about AI in the coaching world. With her expertise and insight, Hojeong takes us through a dialogue about AI’s rapid growth, its ethical implications on a human-focused industry, and its impact on the transformation of coaching. Together, Diane and Hojeong address some of the misconceptions and fears that surround coaching and AI, as well as provide a positive outlook on how coaching will continue to not evolve alongside the world, but also better the communities within it. About Hojeong: Originally from Korea, Hojeong earned a PhD in Physics and transitioned into the tech industry, leading data science and analytics teams. Witnessing the challenges women face in balancing professional and personal aspirations, she started the Kim Coaching Group, with its flagship program, the Women Leaders Community. As a certified professional coach, Hojeong helps women navigate unique challenges and sculpt their own success. With the belief that "Everybody needs a little help sometimes," she also built Betterself.ai, a free AI coaching app trained by human coaches to offer 24/7 support and allow coaches to train AI in their style, giving potential clients a taste of their coaching without setting an appointment. You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Special thanks to the Podcast Director, Sabrina Ku; Podcast Host, Diane Kim; Audio Engineer, Sonia Wong; and our Music Engineer, Chris Fong Chew!

In the fourth episode of Magnolia Talks, we invited Dorothy Liu to chat about how identity, culture and inclusion has impacted her role as an Asian American woman coach and “equity amplifier”. This episode takes a look at the importance of connecting with one’s values and the need for inclusive leadership who strive to co-create spaces for individuals to express themselves. In light of the challenges faced by young people today (especially post-pandemic), Diane and Dorothy chat through the vital role that coaches play as supporters and provide advice on how to stay authentic to oneself. About Dorothy: After 15 years in the tech industry and another 20 founding and leading my own business & marketing strategy consultancy, Dorothy pivoted to coaching. She has always been driven by what could be different and what could be better for anyone and coaching enables me to do that. Dorothy works with both established and emerging leaders as well as parents of “neuro-spicy” kids (ADHD, adoption, and other complexities). A large part of Dorothy’s clientele is comprised of third-culture kids who strive to balance their deep ethnic or ancestral norms in the context of their Western upbringing, working to bridge that gap and integrate all sides of their identity to give voice to who they uniquely are. The parallels of leadership at work and leadership at home are never ending and Dorothy actively serves both needs. You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Special thanks to the Podcast Director, Sabrina Ku; Podcast Host, Diane Kim; Audio Engineer, Sonia Wong; and our Music Engineer, Chris Fong Chew!

For the third episode of Magnolia Talks, Amy Yip, author of “Unfinished Business”, shares her unconventional journey from working at Google to quitting her job to volunteer to becoming a coach. She talks about the societal pressures she felt to settle down and have children, her struggles with infertility, and her tumultuous relationship with her parents - all while navigating her professional career and life’s purpose. In this candid conversation, Amy and Diane work through some of the ways in which Amy transformed her life and rebuilt a strong bond with her family. About Amy: Amy Yip is a Somatic Life Transformation and Mental Fitness coach, keynote speaker, award-winning author, and self-confidence trainer. She’s also a 2X TEDx speaker. Amy works with women of color leaders to strengthen their mental fitness, heal intergenerational wounds, find their voice and the courage to speak up, and have agency to let go of all the ‘shoulds’ so that they can be the authors of their own life stories. Her mission is to empower women of color to be seen, to be heard, and to f-ing rock the boat. She also received her MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her BS in computer science and BA in communications from the University of Maryland. Amy currently resides in Maryland with Greg, her best friend and husband, and her two sons Logan and Julian, the cutest kids ever. You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Special thanks to the Podcast Director, Sabrina Ku; Podcast Host, Diane Kim; Audio Engineer, Sonia Wong; and our Music Engineer, Chris Fong Chew!

In the second episode of Magnolia Talks, we have Deepa Pulipati, a marriage and family therapist (MFT) turned leadership and executive coach. With Deepa’s expertise and experience in both roles, this episode tackles the complex and often confusing overlaps between the mental health and coaching realms. While it is crucial that clinicians and coaches understand the clear boundaries between their roles, Deepa and Diane explore the synergies between them and the belief that coaches and mental health therapists (clinicians) can indeed work hand-in-hand to support clients’ well-being and growth. About Deepa: Deepa, a seasoned clinician with over two decades of expertise in resolving complex child custody disputes at the San Francisco Superior Court, seamlessly intertwines her traditional Indian roots with a rich, two-decade journey in modern Western culture. Holding a master's in Clinical Psychology and certified as an Executive Coach from the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, Deepa channels her mediation and solution-focused skills into executive coaching & working with teams to build resiliency through conflict transformation. As a faculty member at Antioch University, she loves teaching Multicultural awareness and Ethics & the Law to grad students in the Master's in clinical psychology program. Outside of her professional roles, Deepa enjoys the simple pleasures of being a mother to a lovely teenager (heading to college this Fall), an avid reader, a passionate cook, and a dedicated community builder. You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Special thanks to the Podcast Director, Sabrina Ku; Podcast Host, Diane Kim; Audio Engineer, Sonia Wong; and our Music Engineer, Chris Fong Chew!

To start off this season of Magnolia Talks, we have Mo Lei Fong, the visionary leader, President and founding member of Asian Women Coaching Collective (AWCC). In this episode, Mo shares how her powerful life story of being an immigrant, educator, business executive and coach leads her to co-founding AWCC in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In describing the philosophies and guiding principles of AWCC, Diane and Mo bring us through how the organization bridges the gap in representation, support, education and cultural relevance for Asian women coaches in the ever-growing coaching world. About Mo: Mo is an ICF certified coach, CEO and founder of LeiFongCoaching LLC, and has held executive roles at Google and Stanford University. She received her MBA from Harvard Business School, and MA in Education and BS in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. Mo’s life's purpose is to help individuals and organizations realize their fullest potential in a sustainable and meaningful way. She has learned (and is still learning) the importance of shedding self-judgment and laying down our burdens to rest more often so that we can lead with more confidence, freedom and joy. She would like to be remembered not only for what she has done to make a dent in the universe but also for the friendships that were forged, kindness that was shown, and encouragement that was given. You can find the entire series of Magnolia Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information about this podcast and AWCC, please visit https://www.awcoachingcollective.org/. Special thanks to the Podcast Director, Sabrina Ku; Podcast Host, Diane Kim; Audio Engineer, Sonia Wong; and our Music Engineer, Chris Fong Chew!