BIG FAN

Welcome to episode two of our newest block of Big Fan Podcast episodes!  This episode is a timely one, on the heels of the premiere of Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. My amazing friend and friend of the pod, Ann Vu Ngo, is here to chat about the intent and impact of movies like Raya and the Last Dragon, Mulan (2020), Crazy Rich Asians, and more. Why are only 6% of speaking roles in Hollywood box office hits given to Asians and Pacific Islanders? How are big companies like Disney doing to try to reverse this statistic? We also discuss the controversies surrounding Marvel's handling of this new debut, who Ann grew up watching on TV, and which Asian stereotypes we need to ex-nay immediately.  Ann and I had such a blast getting into the weeds of this topic and are so excited to see Shang-Chi when we both get a chance. If you are able, go support! Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Seven Rings is in theaters now!!

With our first episode after a brief hiatus, Big Fan pod is back and better than ever with a number of amazing episodes lined up for the month of September and October! The first of these is a conversation with one of my best friends and friend of the pod, Mollie, to talk about back to school, college experiences, freshman year struggles, and what we think of it all now. Spoiler, it wasn't all fun and games. But we are so happy with what ended up being. Join us for tips, tricks, (rants) and encouragement for those who are going to college for the first time, going back to school, or have had their own college/school experiences and want to get nostalgic ✨

Korean dramas have been hitting Netflix and the hearts of MANY Americans hard in 2020, since COVID has kept us all quarantined in our homes and glued to our tv's. Yet, the 2020 Korean hits only scratch the surface of what Asian media can (and has) meant to so many people for decades and decades.  In this episode, Jonah and Nikki trade tv favorites! Jonah gave Nikki his number one Anime recommendation and Nikki gave Jonah her number one Kdrama. Here to represent what they know best, they chat about the similarities, the differences, what they notice culturally, linguistically, and more from each of the two shows. So, if you are interested in taking in some great recommendations and entering the wonderful world of asian media, this podcast episode is for YOU! Or if you just want to hear a cultural comparison or just a lot of fan-girling, we'd recommend sticking around for this one :) Thank you for listening!!

Nikki is joined by the wonderful Ann Vu Ngo to discuss the uncharted world of motivational speakers.  For decades, a select group of people have gained significant momentum in dishing out motivation and inspiration through interviews, conferences, speeches, books, and more. Everybody and their mother's have heard of Oprah and Tony Robbins... and we ourselves have come to know speakers like Jay Shetty and Rachel Hollis. But what is their deal? Are they legit or are they problematic? And why are people so drawn to them? In this episode, Ann shares her personal experience with motivational speakers and how they have impacted her own trajectory while Nikki tries to differentiate between motivational speakers and our modern-day "influencer." If you have ever googled "inspirational quotes" before, or pinned an impactful quote on Pinterest.... you're gonna seriously enjoy this one! Thank you so much for listening to episode three of season two!!

In the second episode of season TWO of BIG FAN podcast, Nikki and her best friend Lizzie return to chat about Lizzie's upcoming wedding, what their preferences are, and certain trends in the wedding industry that do (and DO NOT) make sense. It is the wedding planning podcast: This or That Edition!! Thank you so much for listening and supporting!

WE ARE BACK and better than ever! Join Jonah and Nikki in the season premiere of BIG FAN podcast as they discuss and review all the hits and misses of Kpop in 2020. We decide our winners for categories such as "Best Comeback," "Best Collaboration," "Best Dance Break," "Best Drama of the Year," and so many more. Disagree with us? Let us know! Make sure to follow us at @bigfanpod on Instagram to tell us who you would've picked as your winners for 2020!

Nikki and her sister Megan grew up watching many, many Christmas movies. They hold a special place in their hearts..... So much so, that they have turned into self-proclaimed Christmas movie "experts" (others may say Christmas movie snobs but that's neither here nor there). But in the spirit of the new Christmas season, the girls sat down to pit their favorite Christmas movies head to head to decide one ultimate winner! Hallmark movies, the classics, we talk about all of our childhood (and current) faves. Which Christmas movie would be your number one? BONUS: We also go over what classifies a movie as a "Christmas movie" and it might not be what you think... Movies discussed in this episode: 1. Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) 2. Miracle On 34th Street (1947) 3. A Christmas Story (1983) 4. Elf (2003) 5. The Princess Switch (2018) 6. White Christmas (1954) 7. Jingle All the Way (1996) 8. Home Alone (1990) 9. Christmas with the Krank's (2004) 10. The Santa Clause (1994) 11. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) 12. The Polar Express (2004) 13. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 14. The Holiday (2006) 15. Eloise at Christmastime (2003) 16. Home Alone 3 (1997) 17. Holiday in Handcuffs (2007) 18. A Christmas Carol (1984) 19. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 20. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) 21. Holiday Inn (1942) 22. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) 23. The Santa Clause 2 (2002) 24. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) 25. Miracle on 34th Street (1994) 26. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

No new episode this week--just a short message (or current state of the union address?) as we enter into a busy but also not really busy season. Thank you to all of my listeners, all of my friends, and all of my family who have supported myself and this podcast this year. I am looking forward to a period of rest and rejuvenation soon as we end season 1 of Big Fan Podcast. Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a little bonus episode for ya as Ann and I recap the latest episode of the Bachelorette! Enjoy!

What a crazy season of the Bachelorette it has been so far and Nikki and Ann are here to DISCUSS.  Join the two as the chat more about Claire and Dale's “happy ending” and Tayshia finally entering to redeem the whole season... leading into a much more personal conversation about how and when the girls knew the person they were dating was they’re "one"  Thank you so much for listening and supporting Big Fan pod!!

My husband and I zero in on his home country, South Korea, to discuss a few  differences he and I have noticed while living in both America and Korea in the past 10 years.  Jigon is the most relaxed, even-keeled person I have ever met in my life so this is sure to be a soothing episode after last week's chaotic (but still great) SPECTRUM episode. After the week we have all had, what a great time to just sit down and learn more about where other people came from, our differences within that, and honor the meshing and intertwining of cultures.

This week, we get a bit more *controversial* and have our hand at the popular Jubilee series "Spectrum," which gathers people of similar backgrounds and asks for their stance on several different topics. Nikki and her friends, Mollie, Lizzie, and Ellie, (all millennials, all young female professionals) sit down to discuss. Here are the statements addressed in this episode: 0:44 Episode begins Agree or Disagree: 04:21 *The AP/College Classes we took in high school were worth the time. 09:31 * I am fearful of contracting COVID-19. 13:13 * I would buy an artist's work even if they committed a crime. 25:02 * I would work a high paying job on something that I am not passionate about. 32:42 * I feel comfortable talking about my how much I make to a colleague. 41:12 * There are disadvantages to being my gender. 45:18 * People have the right to live where they choose. 49:37 * I feel pressure to get married/find a partner. 56:23 * I experience too much stress for my age. 63:30 * I believe that older generations have set our generation up for success. 64:33 * I believe that we are setting up the next generation for success.

Nikki and Ann discuss their favorite self-care "aesthetics," how social media hurts (and helps?) self-care, and share a huge announcement!  Listen to part 2 on Ann's new podcast "girlwiththemic"

Intro starts around 0:42, discussion starts around 5:52 I am reunited with Jonah, my Kpop-loving best friend, to discuss the impact and influence that BTS and Blackpink are currently having on America. Full transparency: my Fitbit logged this podcast recording as a workout... But that is only because this was SO MUCH FUN to make! I am actually so impressed with the analysis and overall cultural commentary this episode ended up being.  So if you are a longtime Kpop listener, BTS/Blackpink-only listener, or just someone who is interested in current trends and pop culture, give this episode a listen and let us know what you think. Thanks all!!  "If you like this song, try this one..." BTS & Blackpink Recommendation List

About three weeks ago, we put out a podcast episode titled "Messy Desks and Coffee 24/7... Do we love HUSTLE CULTURE?" And turns out, we do. We love routine, we love working hard, and we love achieving success. But after just one month back at school at the university we both work at, Ann and I discovered that we had been previously speaking from a place of  hustle but more importantly... BURNOUT.  Listen in on a looooong overdue check-in about these scary feelings, how to identify burnout, and what to do once you realize you are IN IT. We are so excited to hopefully encourage all of the listeners in this one! I can speak for myself, it was such a therapeutic conversation to have. :)  Podcast starts after 01:24.  Thank you all of our listeners! We hope you enjoy!

Nikki and Mollie are back with PART 2 of their conversation regarding body confidence, body positivity, health, and fitness journeys. The duo talked last week about both of their upbringing's in a small town and how that really influenced who they became (and are becoming) as young adults in a much-larger circle. For more context on this week's episode, listen to that episode first! It is titled: Small Town, Big Pressure: A Conversation About Body Positivity, Popularity, and *Releasing Weight*" on Anchor, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Then come on back to this special continuation. It's a good episode, y'all. It's a really, really good one! Thank you for all of the positive comments and 5 star reviews! If you are enjoying Big Fan pod, please consider rating and reviewing our podcast on Apple Podcasts. See you next week, and thank you for listening! Social Media: Big Fan podcast's Insta: @bigfanpod Mollie's insta: _molliemarie_ Other resources: https://bodyimagemovement.com/ https://healthateverysizeblog.org/ @stephanieyeboah's "Fattily Ever After"

Nikki is joined by her long-time friend, (and first time guest on the podcast!!!) Mollie, to talk all about growing up in a small town - the mental, emotional, and PHYSICAL changes that have occurred as a result of our upbringing. We get real honest and real vulnerable, jumping into a conversation about being a "bit bigger" than the societal average of a small, tight-knit community. How did this affect the both of us in the long-term? What happened as a result? And where do we stand now, especially within the larger debate regarding body positivity, "plus-size" vs. "straight-sized," and reclaiming the word "fat"? Follow us on Instagram! @bigfanpod Mollie's instagram: @_molliemarie_ The Bird's Papaya: @thebirdspapaya https://emilydiscovers.com/2020/06/13/the-history-of-body-positivity/

Jonah and Nikki sit down to discuss several August 2020 KPOP comebacks! The songs covered in this episode are listed and linked below, in order of discussion: Nunu Nana by JESSI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYto4QevRAo) No Shy by ITZY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTowEKjDGkU) Gunshot by KARD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_tP-vcTjq4) THANXX by ATEEZ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eStMLC_rp0) Dumdi Dumdi by G-Idle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPQ5mqovXHo)

Nikki and Ann dive into what it means to "hustle" as young professionals today. They share experiences and personal goals that have led them to their own point of burn out in the past, as well as discussing some goals that have been extremely motivating. But what is the line between hustle culture and workaholism? Is it just a "millennial thing?" If you are motivated by seeing other people's productivity and hustle or aren't sure if your current job is one that you are willing to die for, this episode may be for you! And thank you so much for giving us a place to have these conversations!

Nikki and her husband, Jigon, sit down to discuss all of the wonderful details from their wedding day! Since TECHNICALLY, they are no longer newly-weds, the two look back on all of the feelings, potential problems, do-overs, and joys of honoring two cultures in one wedding day. Hope everybody enjoys listening!