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The Marty Party Podcast
The Marty Party Podcast
Author: Marty Chen
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Hi everyone, welcome to the Marty Party Podcast.
This is me asking questions about lifestyle, habits, and ideas to people that inspire me. I hope to identify the paths and pivotal moments that make them who they are today, and how they choose to live. This is my way to get a peek into the lives of young thought leaders, and I hope to share this journey with all of you.
Hope you enjoy!
This is me asking questions about lifestyle, habits, and ideas to people that inspire me. I hope to identify the paths and pivotal moments that make them who they are today, and how they choose to live. This is my way to get a peek into the lives of young thought leaders, and I hope to share this journey with all of you.
Hope you enjoy!
16 Episodes
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Hi everyone, happy new year! As we kick off 2026, many of us are thinking about New Year's resolutions—new goals to achieve, new versions of ourselves to become. But what if the real question isn't about getting more done, but about coming more alive? Paul Millerd is the author of The Pathless Path and Good Work, and writes one of the most thoughtful newsletters on work, meaning, and designing a life on your own terms. Eight and a half years ago, Paul left behind a high-status consulting career at McKinsey—not to get rich or start a startup, but to figure out what kind of life he actually wanted to live. Since then, he's hacked a living through freelancing, selling books and courses, basically doing whatever he needs to stay on this path that he loves. In this conversation, Paul shares the mantra that's made him happier than he's ever been, why he designs his life around time instead of money, and practical experiments you can start right now to discover what truly gives you energy. One thing Paul said that really stuck with me: "I'd rather buy time than buy stuff. And you're allowed to buy time—but if you're employed full-time, this is hard to see because all your time has already been sold." I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Follow Paul Millerd's work: https://pathlesspath.com/ IG: @pathlesspaul
My guest in this episode is Steve Chung—former exec at Fox and CJ ENM, and now COO of Azuki, one of the most disruptive forces in next-gen anime and Web3. I've been trying to get Steve on the podcast for almost two years, and it's well worth the wait. In this conversation, we go beyond the buzzwords. Steve breaks down the bold moves Azuki is making to build what a next-gen media company could actually look like—blending storytelling, community, and new tools like AI and blockchain to reimagine what's possible in 2025 and beyond. We talk about: Why Japan's anime industry is maxed out—and how AI might help tell more stories, not replace creators How Azuki went from being one of the biggest NFT collections in history to launching a their own anime anthologies, now airing across Southeast Asia and US cable What it really means to build fandom-first—and why Steve believes general entertainment is dead The wild story of how Steve pitched Fox a digital strategy deck...and walked out with a job offer Towards the end, Steve gets personal—sharing career advice that stuck with me: why asking great questions is more valuable than having all the answers, and how a mindset shift from "sometimes you win, sometimes you lose" to "sometimes you win, sometimes you learn" changed the game. Whether you're into anime, startups, Web3, or just want to hear from someone who's been at the intersection of East and West media for two decades, this one's for you.
In this episode I dive into the inspiring journey of my childhood best friend turned Zumba sensation, Prince Paltu-Ob. From breaking into the top tier hip-hop dance crew in the Philippines to becoming the country's number one Zumba instructor with a thriving dance studio and music career, Prince's story is nothing short of extraordinary. Princess is a force to be reckoned with in the world of dance and fitness. As the number one Zumba instructor in the Philippines, Prince has not only carved a niche for himself but has also become a Zumba Education Specialist, licensing individuals worldwide to become Zumba instructors. Prince shares the intimate details of his dance journey, exploring moments of denial, self-defense mechanisms, and the realization that sometimes, embracing the unexpected can lead to profound personal and professional growth. What stands out is his vulnerability, his honesty about not knowing where life would take him, and the courage it took to defy stereotypes and preconceptions. As we wrap up this episode, remember that life's twists and turns are mere stepping stones to the grand stages we envision. Prince Paltu-Ob's story is a reminder that every setback is a setup for a grander comeback. Join us as we explore the man behind the moves, his journey from Taiwan to the Philippines, and the unexpected turns that led him to inspire a global community.
How has streaming changed from the days when Lost and Desperate Housewives were first launched on abc.com? I've waited over two years to record this episode with Albert Cheng, who is the VP of Amazon Prime Video for the US and former COO of Amazon Studios. Years before Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, Albert made history in entertainment while at Disney by being the first to put TV episodes on iTunes and stream top broadcast shows and live feeds on abc.com. In this episode, we covered hard problems that Albert is tackling, such as solving the consumer's paradox of choice between content. He also shared his pivotal journey from being a mechanical engineer at Boeing to taking the first step into the entertainment industry at Disney. Albert also opened up on how he balances the expectation of representation as one of the few Asian American executives in media My favorite part? Learning about Albert's personal mission to break the "ME" culture by paying it forward. It's clear he embodies this mission, from making time to speak with me when I was a student at the GSB to his role as a board member for CAPE, where he advocates for greater Asian representation in media. This conversation reminded me how grounding a simple mindshift from me to we can be. Lastly, a big shout-out to Desiree for her persistent scheduling efforts over the past year and reminding me just to have fun during the call. It was an absolute blast. Hope you enjoy.
In this episode I sit down with Haley and Romain, two inspiring individuals who have embraced intentional living. Joined by their shared love for food, travel, and philosophy, we delved into a range of important life topics. From choosing a fulfilling career to establishing a healthy relationship with money, they share valuable insights that will make you question your own choices. What sets Haley and Romain apart is their remarkable ability to balance ambitious goals with a thoughtful approach to time management. As they recount their nomadic lifestyle and temporary home in Yosemite, California, you'll discover how they have found harmony between work and personal fulfillment. Haley, the epitome of inspiration, shares her journey of moving around from a young age and finding home in her partner and their cats. She reveals that home is not tied to a specific place but is wherever you make it. Romain, on the other hand, reflects on the crisis he faced in his early thirties, realizing the need to reassess his values and purpose. Through coaching and self-reflection, he made intentional choices to transform his career and lifestyle. As the conversation unfolds, they explore the concept of a nomadic life and how they have hacked it to suit their preferences. They reveal their sweet spot of staying in one place for about six months before embarking on a new adventure. Their experience proves that intentional living is not about following a prescribed path but about creating a life that aligns with your values and desires. Hope you enjoy! Marty
In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Eugene Choi, the CEO of Collab Asia, the largest creator network in Asia Pacific that manages over 1500 channels of top creators across eight countries. I've had the pleasure of knowing Eugene since my YouTube days, and he has been not only a good friend but also a mentor, providing invaluable advice for my career in the entertainment industry. In this episode, we delve into Eugene's journey of scaling Collab Asia across different markets, building a competitive advantage, and his company's investment in the future of the creator economy. We also get a glimpse into Eugene's mindset as a CEO, a father of 2 kids, and his ambitious pursuits in the media industry as a third-culture kid. Eugene describes this episode as akin to "How I built this" by Guy Raz, and I'm honored by his praises. My favorite part? Everything started when he stumbled upon the opportunity to produce K-Town, the American American version of Jersey Shore back in 2012 with Tyrese Gibson and Eddie Kim. We went back in time and explored how he took on the challenge of producing a show at a time when Asians were rarely seen on TV. Let's dive in to hear more. Hope you enjoy!
First episode in 2023. Over the holiday break, I had the pleasure of speaking with my GSB classmate Matias to learn about what he's been up to, and as part of the mission of this podcast of discovering the pivotal moments in life, I was able to learn from Matias what it was like for him growing up in Argentina, and how that has shaped him to be who he is today. It was a fascinating conversation about the pursuit of dreams and goals, and the importance of setting a North Star especially in times of ambiguity. That, and the fact that Matias just has crazy stories to share, makes this episode so fun and rewarding. One thing that I'm reminding myself of is the notion that we often overestimate what we can do in 1 year, but underestimate what we can accomplish in 10 years, so if you've already set your new year's resolution for the year, I'd encourage you to take another look and ask yourself, what is the lifestyle that you want to live by in 2033, and does your 2023 goal help build towards that vision. Hope you enjoy it. Wishing you a fantastic 2023!
Hi everyone, I'm so excited to share this episode with you. I've been wanting to record this the moment I met Tony, and now it's finally here. Tony is a true inspiration, and he exemplifies what it means to hustle and chase after our dreams. As an introduction, Tony Yang is the founder of Dream3, a Web3 platform that's taking a cinematic approach towards NFTs to solve Hollywood's content bottleneck of finding and developing new IPs. During this period of economic downturn, there's probably no better time than to provide some inspiration to keep chasing after what matters most to you. We kicked off about how Tony sold out his company's NFTs, how he grew his Twitter followers from 2,000 to 100k in 5 months, and what he's doing to shape the future of entertainment. But this episode isn't about NFTs or Web3, but more about chasing after the big dream. 30 minutes in, Tony and I started talking about the movie, Rush Hour, and how everything Tony has done so far is just a path for him to produce Rush Hour 4. Yup, we're talking about a boy who loves the Rush Hour franchise so much that he wrote his own script for Rush Hour 4 and found all kinds of ways to get in front of Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, and Brett Ratner to pitch them his idea. If you've listened to the episode of Tim Ferriss interviewing Jamie Foxx on how he broke into Hollywood, this is my version of that, with, I dare say, even more ingenuity and absurdness that you'll stop and say, "Holy shit, is this for real?" I kept joking to Tony that he should just make a movie of him trying to make a movie and call it "Finding Jackie Chan". Seriously, you'll believe me when you listen to his story. Above all else, Tony's story reminded me what it means to hustle and to keep chasing those dreams alive because they're what matters most. Enjoy! Enjoy!
This episode is with Shawn Maghboulegh. He's a serial entrepreneur, master marketer, and a trusted ally to content creators. Over the past 3 years, Shawn has played a major role in the creator space. Even though he doesn't see himself as an agent, he's personally landed hundreds of brand deals for creators, ran several content houses that generated massive publicity and attracted celebrities such as Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber, and prominent NBA players. I had a fascinating talk with Shawn - we talked about how 2021 was the perfect storm for content houses that will never be replicated again, what's the mindset like for a 17 year old content creator today, as well as his hope for all of us who are deeply ingrained with social media - that in a world where the lines between reality and perception gets blurry, we should always strive to live for ourselves instead of living for the image. Enjoy!
This episode is with my good friend Eric. I've known him since high school when I first moved back to the US and he's always been known as the guy that makes awesome music videos, but somewhere along the line he's stopped making content. Fast forward 10 years later, after building his career in finance, after business school, after ending a 7 year relationship, he decided to move to NY where we reconnected. He talked about wanting to start a YouTube channel and we grabbed a beer near K-town. A few weeks later I saw the first video, and then fast forward again to now, Eric's made 80+ videos on his YouTube channel, including some famous series "Love in the time of corona" where he broadcasted his dating experience to the public, and "stooptalk" where perfect strangers share their deepest secret with Eric on a magical stoop right in front of his apartment, and my favorite episode so far, How I found Love in New York City. I've had a ton of fun learning about his creative process, how he's able to outsource some editing work so that he still has a life while having a full time job, but more importantly, the satisfaction he's able to get by connecting with people on a deeper level. As his channel mission states, behind any person there's a story. Hope you're as inspired as I was from listening to Eric's story. Enjoy! Book recs by Eric: Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
This is the only podcast episode I've recorded in 2021, but it is a culmination of the many lessons that I've learned at Stanford, specifically as we touch upon energy management and how do we cope with stress. In this episode, we've covered how Gus came about becoming a venture capitalist, his big why that gets him to do what he does today, and the compassion he has for every person to be more mindful about brain, body and energy. As we march into 2022, one of the key lessons i've picked up is around the topic of practicing different mental models to help drive better decision, to give myself more options between a protective mindset and a mindset that's more secure and is able to imagine new perspectives in life. We're all stressed by different things, and life will keep throwing curveballs at us, and it's never more important to learn about how we can better manage our energy to improve the choices we create in our brain that will ultimately lead to better decisions. Hope you enjoy and wish you an amazing 2022 ahead. More on Gus: https://www.trinityventures.com/team/gus-tai https://medium.com/@gustai
"To win the long game, I had to learn to separate the process from the result." Today's episode is a lengthy one that's broken into 2 parts. I'm joined by Meng Chiang, a long time friend who's currently the wine director for Quality Branded, one of the top 50 restaurant groups in the US. Meng currently runs the wine program for 3 of its restaurants in New York City. To me, Meng's career has always been impressive by all the different standards. He first quit his job at a prestigious law firm to become a professional poker player. Then a few years later, he did another 180 and entered the restaurant world as a sommelier. In the first part, we'll hear about how Meng navigated his twenties between careers by exploring what he found fun and how he succeeded through ruthless self-discipline. We'll then zoom out and learn about how COVID has impacted restaurants in New York City. In the 2nd part, we'll switch gears and dive deeper into why Meng picked wine, or the service industry, as his career and also discuss some of the recent scandals that have surfaced in the wine industry. As usual, we'll finish the podcast with Meng sharing his favorite failures, quotes to live by, book recommendations, as well as a few pointers on wines to enjoy across different price points. Hope you enjoy!
"To win the long game, I had to learn to separate the process from the result." Today's episode is a lengthy one that's broken into 2 parts. I'm joined by Meng Chiang, a long time friend who's currently the wine director for Quality Branded, one of the top 50 restaurant groups in the US. Meng currently runs the wine program for 3 of its restaurants in New York City. To me, Meng's career has always been impressive by all the different standards. He first quit his job at a prestigious law firm to become a professional poker player. Then a few years later, he did another 180 and entered the restaurant world as a sommelier. In the first part, we'll hear about how Meng navigated his twenties between careers by exploring what he found fun and how he succeeded through ruthless self-discipline. We'll then zoom out and learn about how COVID has impacted restaurants in New York City. In the 2nd part, we'll switch gears and dive deeper into why Meng picked wine, or the service industry, as his career and also discuss some of the recent scandals that have surfaced in the wine industry. As usual, we'll finish the podcast with Meng sharing his favorite failures, quotes to live by, book recommendations, as well as a few pointers on wines to enjoy across different price points. Hope you enjoy!
I am so excited to share this episode with you. I've got MISS KO on my show! She was one of the first female hip hop artists that had a major breakthrough in the music industry in Taiwan. In 2012, she won the best new artist award at The Golden Melody Awards which is equivalent to the Grammy's in the Greater China market, and I personally believe she paved the way for the rising hip hop scene in Taiwan today. Christine has been back in New York for almost 2 years and has been pretty quiet on social media, so I'm ecstatic that I had the chance to catch up with her. In the episode, we'll get to learn about what she's been up to, and reflect back on her journey from a newcomer from New York into Taiwan's hip hop scene, as well as her current thoughts on creating music as an asian artist amidst the rise of K-Pop and other asian artists in the US. I loved that she offered a completely different perspective than what a label may want to pursue versus what the artist may want - that it's not so much about the race or where we came from, but recognizing the talent and artistry first. We ended the episode laughing about our favorite failures and a quote in Chinese to encourage us to stay foolish so we can keep learning. Hope you guys enjoy this!
From this episode I've had the privilege to connect with Jason Ve, the VP of Strategy and Business Development at 88rising. (They rep Rich Brian, Nikki, Joji!). Side plug: Please check out Joji's new album that was just released this week. You will be hooked by the song "Tick Tock". Guaranteed. For the next 30 minutes, we'll hear more about what 88rising does as a music label, and then move to Jason to learn about some of the defining moments in his career in the music industry. We've also discussed some of the challenges Jason went through as an Asian American gay male in the finance and the entertainment industry, and how there's still a lot of work to be done to increase representation and empower individuals from all backgrounds. I truly admire how jason has been able to tie his personal beliefs and interests into his work, and it's a testament that having purposeful work is a key criteria in finding fulfillment and happiness in life. Hope you guys enjoy the episode! Learn more about Jason here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonve/ https://coldteacollective.com/how-embracing-identity-helped-jason-ve-land-jobs-at-google-disney-and-88rising/ https://podmailer.com/podcast/the-first-act-podcast/interview-with-music-technology-executive-jason-ve
From this episode I'm joined by Will Chang, the co-founder of PartingPro, a start-up that helps digitize the funeral home business. I've known Will back in college from UCLA as an alum, so we never had a conversation beyond hi. Earlier this year, I started noticing that he's been posting a lot on instagram where he's sharing different learnings and experimentations that he's doing, from him doing the invisible stairs from a pull up bar, new tiktok dance videos, and influencers that he's been following to learn about the world. I thought, wow I need to reach out to talk to him. Going into the interview, I had a lot of questions prepared for Will in trying to understand some of his pivotal moments and favorite failures in life, but we ended up spending a lot of time talking about relationships. Will shared about his dating journey, from college, to a 10 year relationship, to learning about online dating. Along the way, he's shared what he's learned about attachment theories, what love is, and how to practice loving. We also spent some time on health, habits and some hacksr to turn goals into reality. I've had a lot of fun, and also really appreciate how transparent will was about sharing his life, including some of his most vulnerable moments. He's really shown me what being mature means, and he's a living example of continuous self-development. Episode highlights How to hack yourself and keep experimenting? [7:06] How to get a 6 pack (it's not 1orking out your belly) [11:30] How your instagram profile says about your datability [19:13] How Will upped his dating game [22:06] What do "professional daters" instagram profiles looks like? [27:39] How quarantine was a rehab for love [37:36 ] Lessons learned from being in a 10 year relationship [43:16] Will's pivotal moments [45:37] Will's start-up and what being a co-founder means [57:13]


















