Aconic

Harry Shum Jr. has built a remarkable Hollywood career, from Glee and Shadowhunters to Grey’s Anatomy, Crazy Rich Asians, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. But his success was anything but overnight.As a struggling dancer, Harry was once told that if he hadn’t made it by 25, he never would. Instead of giving up, he followed his father’s advice: take life step by step.In this episode of Aconic, Harry joins Soon Yu to reflect on the years of hard work, rejection, and unexpected breaks that shaped him, from dancing for Beyoncé to going from “Other Asian” on Glee to fan favorite.Now starring in Grey’s Anatomy and competing on Dancing with the Stars, Harry opens up about resilience, representation, relationships, and why taking the stairs instead of the elevator can lead to the most meaningful success.It’s a conversation about trusting the process, staying true to yourself, and recognizing that every step forward matters.

Before Ali Ahn became a standout on Netflix’s The Diplomat and joined the Marvel universe in Agatha All Along, she was an actor wondering whether Hollywood would ever know what to do with her.After moving to Los Angeles, Ali was told by her agents that they didn’t see a future for her there. She returned to New York, moved into an illegal basement apartment, and found herself questioning whether pursuing acting had been a mistake. Then came the breakthrough she never expected: Broadway.In this deeply personal conversation with Soon Yu, Ali opens up about the years of uncertainty behind her success, the imposter syndrome that hasn’t disappeared even as her career has taken off, and growing up Korean American with the weight of her family’s history always close behind. Her paternal grandparents escaped North Korea during the Korean War, and their sacrifices shaped how she understood opportunity, ambition, and the freedom to choose an unconventional life.Ali also shares the painful story of making her Broadway debut in The Heidi Chronicles on the same day as her grandmother’s funeral—and what that experience taught her about ambition, sacrifice, and protecting yourself in a demanding industry.From Broadway to The Diplomat, Ali’s career has challenged the narrow boxes Asian American actors have historically been asked to fit into. Her story isn’t simply about making it in Hollywood. It’s about expanding what’s possible while still carrying the doubts, expectations, and sacrifices that came before.

For decades, much of Asian American history was dismissed, overlooked, or considered impossible to document. Professor Gordon H. Chang helped change that.A pioneering historian and one of the founding figures of Asian American studies, Gordon uncovered the records, photographs, artifacts, and personal collections needed to preserve stories that had been hidden in plain sight. His groundbreaking work restored the history of Chinese railroad workers and established their experiences as an essential part of American history.In this episode of Aconic, Gordon shares his unconventional journey from antiwar activist to Stanford professor, how he built a field that many doubted existed, and why recovering the stories of everyday Asian Americans remains critical today. He also explains what history teaches us about the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype, America’s relationship with Asia, and what artificial intelligence can—and cannot—do to preserve our past. Because Asian American history isn’t separate from American history. It helped build America.

Before Jane Wu became the acclaimed producer and director behind Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai, she spent decades mastering the art of visual storytelling behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic moments.But her path was anything but obvious.From immigrating to the U.S. from Taiwan and finding her voice through art, to breaking into a male-dominated industry, failing spectacularly at storyboarding, and ultimately helping shape Mulan, The Avengers, Game of Thrones and more, Jane’s journey is a story of persistence, mastery and learning to trust your own voice.In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, Jane shares how the experiences that once made her feel like an outsider ultimately became her greatest strengths and prepared her to bring the groundbreaking world of Blue Eye Samurai to life.It’s a conversation about failure, cultural authenticity, creative courage and what becomes possible when you stop trying to fit in and start trusting what only you can bring to the table.

When an Instagram message landed in Dion Lim's inbox, everything changed.What began as another morning in the newsroom became the start of a journey that would transform her career—and help bring the rise of anti-Asian hate into the national conversation.In this deeply personal conversation, the Emmy Award-winning journalist shares how years of trying to fit in gave way to finding her voice, why telling the truth came at a personal cost, and how learning to ask for help became one of the most important stories she ever told.This is a conversation about identity, courage, journalism, and what happens when one person's voice gives an entire community permission to speak.