Episodes

  • Mental Health and the Asian Community with Anise Health

    Mental Health and the Asian Community with Anise Health
    Jan 28 2026
    Episode Overview: This week, Lindsay discusses the importance of culturally attuned therapy with Israa Nasir, a trained therapist and current Director of Clinical Strategy at Anise Health, an Asian-focused online therapy platform. They explore how impactful cultural context is in mental health care and the comprehensive services offered by Anise Health, including therapy, behavioral health coaching, peer support groups, and more. Learn about the unique challenges faced by Asian individuals in seeking mental health support and the innovative solutions provided by Anise Health to bridge these gaps. This episode aims to emphasize the significance of culturally relevant care for optimal healing and growth created especially for the Asian community. Episode Outline: 01:44 The Importance of Culturally Attuned Therapy02:24 Introducing Israa Nasir and Anise Health03:07 Micro Actions for Mental Health07:47 Culturally Attuned Care Explained10:44 Barriers to Mental Health Care in Asian Communities15:43 Anise Health's Matching Process21:00 Training and Development for Clinicians24:38 Introduction to Anise Health's Mission25:50 Holistic Programs and Services26:13 Behavioral Health Coaching27:52 Peer Support Groups29:32 Digital Resources and Corporate Engagements33:06 Insurance and Accessibility37:41 Success Stories and Family Dynamics44:18 Encouraging Community Check-ins What you learn in this episode:Identify what culturally attuned care means and why integrating culture at the start (not downstream) can accelerate healing.Recognize the cultural + structural barriers that delay Asian mental health care (stigma/shame, language gaps, mistrust, access and insurance).The comprehensive support structures Anise providesTake one courageous next step: check in withone community member in a genuine way to normalize support, reduce shame, and make help-seeking easier.About Israa Nasir:Israa Nasir is the Director of Clinical Strategy at Anise Health. She is a therapist by training and has extensive experience in clinical strategy and program development. Born in Pakistan, raised as an expat in the Middle East, then as an immigrant in Toronto, Canada, Israa grew up navigating many cultures. Her global upbringing taught her a deep appreciation for the beauty of different cultures. She has held leadership roles at startups focused on bridging gaps in mental health access and innovation. She is also a public speaker and author of Toxic Productivity. Israa is excited to develop initiatives that redefine mental health care delivery and create last impact.Connect with Israa: IG and Tiktok: @well.guideLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/israanasir/⁠Website: ⁠https://www.israanasir.com/⁠ About Anise HealthAnise Health is a mission-driven tele-mental health organization dedicated to serving diverse and historically underserved communities. The platform offers an evidence-based model of care that centers cultural context from the very beginning - designed to better support people of color than traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy.Through a holistic, culturally attuned care model, Anise Health works to reduce disparities in mental health access and outcomes. Their work within the Asian community shows higher engagement and stronger continuity of care, demonstrating how culturally responsive support can meaningfully improve mental health experiences for BIPOC individuals.Website: ⁠https://www.anisehealth.co/⁠Instagram or Tiktok: @anisehealthTo learn more about their peer wellness groups, sign up for their newsletter ⁠here⁠ (scroll to the bottom).Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:@courageclasspod@drlindsaykwockhuWebsite: ⁠www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:⁠https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠⁠Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Spirituality is Returning to Yourself: Micro-Boundaries, Energy, and Self-Reflection

    Spirituality is Returning to Yourself: Micro-Boundaries, Energy, and Self-Reflection
    Jan 21 2026
    Episode Overview:Lindsay sits down with Corie Chu, intuitive energy healer, Reiki Master Teacher, and numerologist, for a deeply grounding conversation about what spirituality actually is and what it’s not.Together, they unpack how spirituality has been made inaccessible by rigid rules, rituals, and “shoulds,” and why the most powerful spiritual practices are often the simplest and most personal. From watching the sunset, to coding, to remembering childhood Qigong movements stored in the body, Corie reframes spirituality as anything that helps you feelanchored, honest, and connected to yourself.Corie also shares her journey from hustling in the entertainment industry to full-time healing work, and how chronic imbalance, overgiving, and suppressed emotions can show up in the body over time. The conversation explores emotional release, intuitive energy healing, and why healing can’t be rushed - your body knows what it’s ready to release, and when.A powerful portion of the episode centers on boundaries as aspiritual practice, especially within collectivist andvAsian cultural contexts. Corie introduces the concept of micro-boundaries - small, compassionate shifts that protect your energy without burning bridges - and unpacks how guilt,obligation, and overgiving can quietly erode our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.They also dive into numerology as a tool for awareness (not destiny), the importance of free will, and why self-reflection -brutally honest, courageous self-reflection - is one of the most transformative practices available to us.Episode Outline: 01:44 Defining Spirituality07:25 Personal Journey to Energy Healing11:33 The Importance of Balance and Self-Care16:04 Discovering Qigong and Returning to Self20:58 Understanding Intuitive Energy Healing29:25 Boundaries as a Spiritual Practice 35:14 Navigating Family Dynamics and Boundaries36:08 The Importance of Compassionate Boundaries39:45 Cultural Influences on Boundaries47:16 The Consequences of Overgiving54:51 Understanding Numerology01:00:39 The Power of Self-Reflection01:03:20 Defining Courage and SpiritualityWhat You’ll Learn: Why spirituality doesn’t have to bewoo-woo - and can be anything that helps you return to yourselfHow overgiving and chronic stress livein the body (and what happens when emotions go unprocessed)Why boundaries - especially micro-boundaries - are a spiritual practice in collectivist and Asian familiesHow to protect your energy without cutting people off or betraying your valuesWhy healing can’t be rushed and how your body decides what it’s ready to releaseHow numerology can be used as a tool for awareness not destinyAbout Corie ChuCorie Chu is a Reiki Master Teacher, a certified numerologist, and an intuitive energy healer. After spending over a decade working as a publicist in Hollywood - touring globally with film studios, executives, and A-list talent - she left the entertainment industry to pursue healing work after experiencing burnout. Her path led her through South America and ultimately into deep study of Reiki, energy healing, numerology, and embodied practices that honor emotional and energetic wellbeing. Today, Corie blends her corporate-world insight with intuitive healing, helping clients release stored emotional energy, set healthier boundaries, and reconnect with themselves in grounded, practical ways. Connect with Coriehttps://coriechu.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/coriechuhealing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corie-chu-ab129a21/?originalSubdomain=hk Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:@courageclasspod@drlindsaykwockhuWebsite: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Burned Out, But Everything Looked Fine

    Burned Out, But Everything Looked Fine
    Jan 13 2026

    Episode Overview:

    In this episode of Courage Class, Lindsay shares her personal journey from burnout in 2024 to self-discovery and life transformation. She discusses how she navigated through a period of intense stress, leading to skyrocketing blood pressure, and how she managed to bring it under control.

    Through therapy, running, and introspection, Lindsay discovered the importance of listening to her own needs and emotions.

    She emphasizes that change is deeply personal and should be tailored to one’s individual context. She also highlights the significance of physical activity in achieving emotional and mental clarity.

    Lindsay ends by encouraging listeners to find their own path and introduces the upcoming season filled with expert insights on spirituality, mental health, sleep, and nutrition.


    Episode Outline:

    00:00 Introduction and Personal Story

    02:03 The Turning Point: Health Scare

    03:46 Struggles and Realizations

    05:07 The Sabbatical and Running Journey

    06:36 Emotional Breakthroughs

    08:05 Communicating Needs and Making Changes

    12:44 The Importance of Context in Change

    14:59 The Power of Physical Activity

    17:40 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes


    Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

    @courageclasspod

    @drlindsaykwockhu

    www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast

    ⁠⁠Sign up for CourageClass Notes, a weekly newsletter:

    https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Setting Intentions for the New Year: How to Build a Vision That Feels Right with Nicole Cruz

    Setting Intentions for the New Year: How to Build a Vision That Feels Right with Nicole Cruz
    Jan 6 2026

    Episode Overview:

    In this first episode of Courage Class Season 2, Lindsay sits down with Nicole Cruz, leadership coach and founder of Nicole Cruz Coaching, to explore what it really means to create a vision for your life that’s rooted in who you are, not just what you do. Many of us - especially in the Asian and Pacific Islander community - were raised to equate success with hard work, achievement, and meeting expectations.

    But what if the path to fulfillment isn’t about doing more, but aligning more deeply with what truly matters? Together, Lindsay and Nicole will discuss how to create intentional, culturally grounded goals and vision boards that reflect your authentic values and life desires. Nicole will walk Lindsay through a review of her own vision board from last year to show, in real time, how to shift from achievement-based goals to meaningful, purpose-driven intentions.


    Episode Objectives:

    • Reframe the meaning of success: Learn how to move from achievement-based goals toward intentions rooted in joy, purpose, and authenticity.
    • Understand cultural influences on goal-setting: Explore how familial expectations, cultural scripts, and hustle culture shape how we define success.
    • Learn how to build an intentional vision board: Get practical steps for designing a vision board or annual plan that reflects who you want to be, not just what you want to achieve.
    • Experience a real-time coaching moment: Listen as Nicole reviews Lindsay’s previous vision board, offering live feedback and insights on how to make it more intentional and aligned.
    • Walk away with a sustainable practice: Develop a framework for goal-setting that prioritizes joy, balance, and inner alignment—so your intentions actually feel good to live out.

    Episode Outline:

    00:00 Introduction

    02:04 Redefining Success

    04:53 Personal Journey and Realizations

    09:44 Cultural Influences on Achievement

    15:38 Shifting from Achievement to Alignment

    27:05 Shifting Focus from Achievement to Experience

    29:49 The Importance of Being Present

    32:49 Vision Boards and Values

    35:25 Critiquing the Vision Board

    40:06 Exploring Feelings and Intentions

    48:34 Permission to Be Curious and Dream

    52:32 Final Thoughts and Definition of Courage


    About Nicole:

    is a leadership coach and TEDx speaker who supports first- and second-generation professionals navigating success, identity, and purpose. The first in her family to graduate from a U.S. university, she spent over a decade in corporate leadership before leaving a six-figure career to redefine success on her own terms. Today, Nicole helps others honor their heritage while building lives rooted in intention, alignment, and fulfillment.


    Connect with Nicole Cruz: IG, FB, and Tiktok:

    @nicolecruzcoaching

    https://nicolecruzcoaching.com/


    Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

    @courageclasspod

    @drlindsaykwockhu

    www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast


    ⁠⁠Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:

    https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠


    Music Credit:DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Bonus Episode: The Best Lessons of Season One

    Bonus Episode: The Best Lessons of Season One
    Dec 30 2025

    Episode Overview:

    As Season One of Courage Class comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the collective insights that emerged.

    This season explored wellness, leadership, and identity through an Asian and Asian American lens, centering conversations on:

    · rest and burnout

    · honoring elders while choosing our own path

    · culturally attuned mental health care

    · developing our voice in community

    · creativity and mentorship

    Something that kept coming up again and again: honoring our cultural history and evolving beyond survival-based patterns are not mutually exclusive. In fact, meaningful progress requires both.

    Thank you to the guests and community members who contributed their voices and lived experiences. This work reinforces the importance of culturally grounded spaces for reflection, healing, and growth and the impact Courage Class can have.

    Now LFG 2026!
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Rising Together: Investing in the Next Generation of AAPI Girls and Women

    Rising Together: Investing in the Next Generation of AAPI Girls and Women
    Nov 5 2025

    Episode Overview:

    Lindsay sits down with ASPIRE (Asian SistersParticipating in Reaching Excellence) leaders Sophia Lai (Board Chair) and Michelle Chen (former Program Manager, Youth Leadership Program) to explore what it takes to nurture the next generation of AAPI girls and women.

    They discuss the cultural and structural challenges AAPI girls face, why identity-rooted mentorship matters, and how ASPIRE’s programs turn mentees into mentors—creating a self-sustaining pipeline of leadership, sisterhood, and belonging. Listeners gain insight into how they get involved and support this vital initiative.

    Guests

    • Sophia Lai, Board Chair - Former director of the 2019 Asian American Women in Leadership Conference; longtime volunteer and builder of mentorship ecosystems
    • Michelle Chen, (former) Youth Leadership Program Manager - Led cohorts, cultivated safe spaces, and watched mentees return as mentors and conference volunteers


    About ASPIRE

    ASPIRE empowers Asian American girls and women through identity development, mentorship, and education. Programs include the Youth Leadership Program (YLP), professional mentorship tracks, and community-based initiatives. Alumni frequently return as mentors, creating a tiered, intergenerational network that compounds impact.

    Episode Guide

    00:34 Welcoming ASPIRE Leaders + Leadership Pathways

    07:16 Challenges Faced by AAPI Women

    16:27 Importance of Mentorship

    20:06 ASPIRE's Unique Programs

    22:06 Diverse Experiences in ASPIRE

    22:22 A Success Story: From Student to Mentor

    25:09 The Impact of ASPIRE's Mentorship

    28:00 How to Get Involved with ASPIRE

    29:29 Qualities of an Ideal Mentor

    32:30 Future Plans for ASPIRE

    33:19 Personal Reflections on Mentorship

    36:51 Rapid Fire Questions

    Connect with ASPIRE

    Website: www.girlsaspire.org

    Email: mentorship@girlsaspire.org

    IG: @girlsaspire


    Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

    @courageclasspod

    @drlindsaykwockhu

    www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast⁠⁠


    Sign up for Courage ClassNotes, a weekly newsletter:

    https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠


    Music Credit:

    DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Math for AAPI Learners

    Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Math for AAPI Learners
    Oct 28 2025

    Episode Overview:

    Dr. Theodore Sagun - professor, researcher, and teacher educator at UCLA - joins us to dismantle the “natural math genius” myth and paint a picture of culturally responsive math instruction where students’ identities, languages, and thinking are at the center.


    What you learn:

    • How to spot a healthy, challenging math classroom: daily check-ins, multiple ways to participate, and tasks that value reasoning over rote speed.
    • The real harm of timed tests and tracking - and how they shape fixed beliefs about "being smart".
    • Culturally responsive teaching in math: swapping textbook contexts for ones that reflect students' lives, languages, and communities.
    • Productive struggle as a life skill: how to help kids grapple, reflect, and collaborate instead of rushing to the answer.
    • Parent toolkits: questions to ask at home and at school to encourage discourse and understand what's happening in class.
    • Teacher-Family Partnerships: building trust and dialogue without demonizing teachers who are already carrying a heavy load.

    Episode Breakdown:

    04:18 Theodore's Upbringing and Early Math Experiences

    08:05 Messages About Math Success and Intelligence

    12:12 Culturally Responsive Math Instruction

    14:15 Challenges with Standardized Testing andCurriculum

    22:01 The Model Minority Myth

    25:41 Defining a Culturally Responsive Math Classroom

    29:35 Rethinking Math Instruction: Humanizing theClassroom

    30:16 Engaging Students in Diverse Learning Experiences

    32:03 The Role of Teachers in a Responsive MathClassroom

    36:53 The Concept of Productive Struggle in Math

    40:59 Encouraging Productive Struggle at Home

    47:47 Building Relationships with Teachers for BetterMath Learning

    56:12 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

    About Dr. Theodore Sagun:

     Dr. Theodore Sagun is a professor, researcher, and teacher educator at UCLA where he has worked with countless pre-service teachers in the teacher education program.


    He is the co-author of Equity Moves to Support Multilingual Learners in Mathematics and Science, Grades K-8. He is a former high school mathematics teacher and Associate Director of the UCLA Mathematics Project and has trained countless in-service and pre-service teachers to center student thinking in math and culturally relevant practices.


    At the California state level, Theodore has twice been appointed to California's Mathematics Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee, helping to shape the direction of math education for millions of students across the state of California.


    How to connect with Dr. Sagun:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodore-sagun-55b97518/


    Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

    @courageclasspod

    @drlindsaykwockhu

    ⁠⁠www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast⁠⁠


    Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:

    ⁠⁠https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠


    Music Credit:

    DayNigthMorning from Pixabay

    invitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Redefining Asian Masculinity and Mental Health

    Redefining Asian Masculinity and Mental Health
    Oct 21 2025

    Episode Overview:

    Lindsay speaks with Samuel Shin, a licensed therapist, coach, and men's group facilitator. Samuel is known for his exceptional work in helping Asian men overcome cultural stigmas, heal, and step into their authentic selves. The discussion explores the unique pressures faced by Asian men in Western and Asian societies, common emotional and identity struggles, and Samuel's transformative PIE method (Process, Integration, Embodiment) for healing. The episode also delves into Samuel's personal journey, the cultural and systemic factors affecting Asian men, and practical steps for men to start exploring vulnerability and emotional expression. Lindsay and Samuel also discuss insights for partners looking to support the men in their lives better. This is a deeply inspiring and informative conversation for anyone looking to understand and support the mental health of Asian men.


    Episode Breakdown

    00:42 Meet Samuel Shin

    02:50 Samuel's Journey to Men's Mental Health

    05:33 Exploring Masculinity and Emotional Struggles

    08:40 Holistic Healing and Alternative Therapies

    12:00 Common Struggles of Asian Men

    23:10 Systemic Issues and Societal Pressures

    26:38 Samuel's Therapeutic and Coaching Methodology

    28:21 Understanding the Root of Personal Struggles

    29:42 The Process of Transformation: PIE Method

    30:59 Challenges Men Face in Seeking Help

    32:55 Creating Safe Spaces for Men

    35:08 Building Trust and Vulnerability in Relationships

    40:38 Breakthrough Moments and Transformations

    44:28 Embodying Divine Masculinity

    50:28 Practical Steps for Exploring Vulnerability

    55:56 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects


    About Samuel Shin:

    Samuel Shin, is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Personal Development Coach, Certified Men's Work Facilitator and host of Samuel and Friends Heal the World, a podcast spreading the message of healing and transformation for the world. In his clinical work, he helps Asian men break free from cultural stigma, heal, and step into an authentic, empowered masculinity. He is also the founder of the Mindful Masculine, an 8 week program designed to help Asian men heal past trauma, build emotional resilience, and discover a more balanced, authentic masculinity using culturally responsive methods.


    How to connect with Samuel

    IG: @samuelshin.co

    Website: www.samuelshin.co


    Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

    @courageclasspod

    @drlindsaykwockhu

    ⁠⁠www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast⁠⁠


    Sign up for Courage Class Notes, a weekly newsletter:

    ⁠⁠https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠


    Music Credit:

    DayNigthMorning from Pixabay

    invitation-no-copyright-music-388387
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins