In this episode, I speak with Penguin Random House Editor Ashley Hong (she/her) about what makes a book marketable and her path to the publishing world with a couple detours through Grey's Anatomy and computer science.

Ashley's website: https://ashleysunghae.com/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this episode I talk to Hanna Chiou, the co-creator of one of my favorite products, the Habbi Habbi Reading Wand and Global Library. We discuss her journey from global consulting to toy and book manufacturing as well as the power of seeing your identity in books.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Feminist Asian Dad Eugene Hung (he/him) shares about his journey from teacher to blogger and activist and back to teacher, what his kids really think of his blog, and how he amplifies female voices without taking away space.

Eugene's blog: https://feministasiandad.com/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this mini episode, my business bestie joins me in going through our year-end reviews, talking specifically about which income metrics are *actually* informative and important.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Sam Brandt (they/them) provides a fascinating (seriously!) glimpse at technical writing, which I now think is the most underrated niche in the writing world. Marketing copywriters get customers and clients in, but good documentation keeps them coming back for more. Tune in to hear Sam talk about what a technical writer really does all day, how being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult helped them understand their work and life better, and the power of putting their identity into their fiction work.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this (ironically long) mini episode, I talk about how to raise your overall rates by reducing the amount of time you spend working. Here are 7 ways to improve your business efficiency and your bottom line.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this episode, I somehow manage to not pee myself while talking to Rebecca Kuang, award-winning author of The Poppy War trilogy about her writing process, changing her major (we’d all be sad if she’d stayed in economics and finance), and the many complexities of Asian/Asian American representation in stories and publishing.

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In this episode, Auntie throws down over freelancers and creatives price shaming one another and pours the tea about what a "good" client actually means.

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In this episode, Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate Sophie Kim shares the benefits of taking a gap year, her experience as poet laureate, and her hopes for her creative work during and beyond her education at Harvard.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this episode I discuss the words and phrases I don't use in my brand communications and why it's not really about "not offending people." (Which seems like a perfectly worthy goal to me, but what do I know.)

To ask a question or leave a comment, you can call or text to 614-585-2289.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this episode I chat with romance author and actress Preslaysa Williams about the 5am writer’s club, what feedback to take and what to ignore, and the magic that comes with writing your true identity into your work. We also talk about what it’s really like to be a working actress. (You may have seen Preslaysa on The Secret Files of Shelby Woo on Nickelodeon!)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

In this mini episode, I discuss the need for an In Case of Emergency plan for your business and how to start putting one together.

My pal Anna's recession-proofing toolkit:

https://www.annafhetzel.com/recession

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Literary agent Jen Chen Tran and editor Jenny Chen talk about the different sides of book publishing. We discuss how to get started in the publishing industry, what they look for in books, and how to get better representation at every step of the publishing process.

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In this mini episode, I finish a project 7 months late and talk about why project delays can be so stressful and at least one thing you can do about it.

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Steph Wu never described herself as a creative or a writer when she was growing up, but she is now an experienced and accomplished journalist and novelist. Steph is the Articles Director at Conde Nast Traveler and the co-founder of Mochi Magazine, an online publication for Asian American women that I now have the honor of leading. We chat about what a food and travel editor really does all day, our role models (or lack thereof), and the future of journalism.

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In this mini episode, I talk about a haircut gone...at least a bit wrong, and what to do when faced with a project that you might not be fully qualified for (or excited about).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

I'm pleased to welcome Cynthia Pong back to Chief Executive Auntie. Cynthia is a feminist career strategist and now self-published author. Tune in for her career advice during COVID-19, an inside peek at writing and self-publishing her book, and a very special offer for Chief Executive Auntie listeners.

• Cynthia's website
• Cynthia's book: Don't Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

I wanted to be a writer even when I was a young child, but I gave up on that dream before I reached high school partly because I didn't know of anyone who looked like me who was in writing, publishing, or media. Turns out they were out there, I just didn't know to look for them. This season of Chief Executive Auntie will feature Asian American writers, authors, journalists, editors, and agents in all sorts of industries and roles. Tune in starting August 24. Subscribe in your favorite podcast player so you don't miss a thing!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode Recap:

Joanne and I talked about

• The existential dread we’re all feeling right now (1:19)
• The questions she asked before leaving her full-time job (6:15)
• How she got started in writing (15:20)
• Her book, Game Changer (18:25)
• How she writes diverse stories without writing A Book About Race (26:51)
• Writing about real-world events like coronavirus...or not writing about them! (37:30)
• Being flexible about creativity and believing in the inherent value of your story (41:06)

Guest Bio:

Joanne Machin is a copyeditor, life/career coach, and romance author. She is based in the Seattle area.

Links and Resources:

• Joanne’s website
• Joanne’s Twitter
• Joanne’s Instagram



Stay in Touch:

To suggest a guest or submit a question, Ask Auntie anything here: https://chiefexecutiveauntie.com/contact/

 

To join Auntie's podcast insiders and get special access to upcoming guests, subscribe here: https://chiefexecutiveauntie.com/podcast-insiders/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations

Episode Recap:

Dr. Lam and I talked about

• A day in the life of a retinal surgeon (1:27)
• How he finds time to write with a full-time job and four kids (6:13)
• His process for writing historical novels (8:17)
• How a history major became an eye surgeon (15:08)
• Why doctors don’t want their kids to become doctors (21:57)
• The luxury of a liberal arts degree (23:44)
• Balancing your dreams with practicality (30:19)

Guest Bio:

Andrew Lam, M.D., is the award-winning author of three books. Born in Philadelphia and raised in central Illinois, he graduated summa cum laude in history from Yale University, where he studied military history and U.S.-East Asian relations. He then attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by specialty training in ophthalmology and retina surgery at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine, a partner at New England Retina Consultants, and an attending surgeon at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Links and Resources:

• Dr. Lam’s author website
• Repentance (available at Indiebound)
• Saving Sight (available at Barnes & Noble)
• Two Sons of China (available at Amazon)



Stay in Touch:

To suggest a guest or submit a question, Ask Auntie anything here: https://chiefexecutiveauntie.com/contact/

 

To join Auntie's podcast insiders and get special access to upcoming guests, subscribe here: https://chiefexecutiveauntie.com/podcast-insiders/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chief-executive-auntie/donations