Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to raise your child in another country? In today’s episode, I bring my old high school friend, Connie Ma, onto the podcast to chat about the unique experience of raising a family abroad, particularly in Taiwan. Connie shares her journey from the United States to Taiwan, highlighting the challenges and joys of integrating into Taiwanese society. We discuss language immersion, educational systems, parental support, and cultural differences in parenting...

In a world filled with so many influences and voices, how do you return back to your core self and rediscover your life’s purpose? Or in the words of today’s guest, how do you start living from the inside out, rather than the outside in? We’re so excited to sit down with John Kim, known for his work as The Angry Therapist. After going through a divorce, John shared his self-development journey online, growing a community through his frankness and vulnerability. He brings the same to our...

In a previous episode, I talked about the importance of play and how I have been trying to incorporate more of it into my life. *Spoiler alert* In that episode (In My Play Era, I Took a Heels Class) I talked about how scheduling a playful activity like a dance class actually wasn’t the best way to get into a state of play. In this episode I share a moment when I unexpectedly, and without planning, found myself in a state of play. How and doing what? You’ll have to listen to find out...

When you go through big life changes, it can frequently feel like you’re unbalanced and losing control of your circumstances, even if the changes are good ones. This year, Mel’s taking big steps by moving cross-country, while Janet is stepping out of her comfort zone into a new era of carefree play. As we enter new chapters in life, what is the best way to measure progress and re-center ourselves? Are there books, practices, and self-help podcasts that we love to turn to, to help us navigate...

Last time we chatted about New York, I announced I was moving. Now, it's been a few weeks moving to a new city and it's been tough! From all the emotional goodbyes in Cali, adjusting to living with a partner, to dealing with changes, it's been a roller coaster of a few weeks.  Tune in to see what the move has been like lately & what feelings I've been encountering while dealing with this change. __________________________________________ Host: Melody Cheng Editor: Victoria...

Regardless of how many personal & professional events you’ve been to, we’ve all experienced awkward social interactions before. Sometimes you enter a room and realize you don’t know anyone there, or maybe your social battery runs out mid-conversation. Or what if someone you recognize starts talking to you, but you absolutely can’t remember their name? We share our best advice for how to navigate these sticky situations, along with our tried and true tips & tricks for how to hype...

On this episode of Spill the Baby Tea, I bring on my husband, Philip, to dive into the intimate topic of why we made the decision to keep our baby's face hidden from social media. As parents navigating the complexities of modern parenthood in the digital age, we share all of the reasons considered, as well as our reflections (2 years later) behind this choice. From concerns about online privacy and data security to protecting our child's autonomy and emotional well-being, we explore the...

As you navigate the dating world, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and to watch out for those green, beige, and red flags. We’ve had our fair share of red flag experiences that have taught us more about ourselves and what we’re unwilling to compromise on. If a guy isn’t super action-oriented, or if someone doesn’t want to have kids, these could be major red flags, or even deal breakers for a relationship. And what about red flags when it comes to 1st date locations? Zoos and...

In this episode, I chat with Alexis Fernandez, the host of Do You F*cking Mind, a podcast that uses brain health and neuroscience as a jumping board to teach listeners how to improve their self-perception and view of the world through physical and mental alignment. We talk about how breakups can be a catalyst for big positive life changes, managing anxiety and burnout, a lot of tips around sleep hygiene, how nutrition can impact mental health, understanding overthinking, social relationships,...

Many of us know the joy (and sometimes frustration) of growing up with siblings, but the bond shared between twins is something only approximately 3% of the world can understand. So what better way to learn than to invite the experts! Our good friends Jason and Justin Rodjanapanyakul have joined us today to share all about their experience living and working together as twins. From growing up in a monastery as “baby monks”, to starting a music duo on YouTube as the JRod Twins, to now...

In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked yet profoundly transformative journey of self-growth. Recently, I came across a comment that struck a chord. The listener, who has been with us since the beginning, remarked on the noticeable growth they observed in me over the past few years. This observation made me realize that I’ve done a lot of quiet self work the last few years that had benefited me greatly.  So if you’re someone that either 1) values personal growth 2) feel stagnant...

Yes, it’s true, Mel is officially moving to New York City! Not only is this a big deal for her to move from West to East Coast, but she’s also taking a major step in her relationship by moving in with her boyfriend Ray. It’s never easy to step out of your comfort zone, but as someone who’s always wanted to experience living in new places, this move is coming at the perfect time for Mel. She’s so excited to share why she’s moving to NYC, what she’s most excited (and nervous) about, and…is this...

I knew I’d be emotional the first week of daycare, but I didn’t expect to be an emotional WRECK and sick for weeks! Okay, I don’t want to scare anyone from putting their child in school because stay in school kiddos, but I did want to capture what it was like to send our little one into the WILD of the school environment. I share sick kid tips that other mama friends have shared with me that have been SUPER helpful for us, about how we prepared our brave lil warrior the weeks leading up to...

Today, we’re following up on one of Janet’s personal 2024 goals – learning how to flirt. Flirting is a bit of an art; it’s often a combination of charisma, body language, and EQ, but different things will work for different people. Sometimes though, it can be challenging to tell when someone is flirting with you, or even to make your own intentions clear without miscommunication. So we’re here to share advice on how to read flirting cues, discuss what kind of flirt we are (Playful? Sincere?)...

How many people should you date at one time? What’s the best way to ask someone about their past relationships? Listen in on my conversation with Elite Matchmaker, Cassindy Chao to find out! We also talk about having accountability partners when you’re dating, cultural differences in interracial relationships, and why someone should consider using a matchmaker. If you haven’t already, check out the first part of our convo Living Well with Janet: Dating Tips with Elite Matchmaker, Cassindy...

After a difficult breakup, many people often want space to heal, reflect, and forget. But when your ex still lives in the same city as you, it’s difficult to avoid familiar spaces that you used to share together. Your favorite bar might remind you of that person, things can get awkward if you have mutual friends, and you could even run into them at the grocery store. Whether it was a long-term relationship, a situationship, or a hookup, running into an ex can bring up some complicated...

As I approach my 33rd birthday this week, I find myself reflecting on the significance of this milestone. In many ways, turning 33 is the age that, in my adolescent mind, symbolized "being an adult", a time when I thought I would have life all figured out. It is also the age I thought I'd be married. However, the contrast between childhood expectations and the realities of adulthood has become abundantly clear. As I sit down to reflect, I can't escape the feeling that 33 is a new chapter in...

Today we’re fighting for survival and searching for love on Inferno Island. Yes, we are diving deep into Season 3 of Single’s Inferno, the Korean reality dating show that had us on the edge of our seats from start to finish. Of course, we couldn’t discuss all the gasp-worthy moments without our good friend & Korean entertainment expert Mimi Ahn! Together we discuss the nuances of Korean dating culture, what it means to have “nunchi”, and most importantly, which contestants would we choose...

Helen shares the highs and lows of the Wang family’s first-ever vacation with a 25-month-old toddler. From flying with a potty-training tot to exploring the beautiful island of Oahu, Helen spills the details of surviving a longer than 5-hour flight and her top 3 must-visit places on the island. Helen also delves into her takeaways and hot tips for family vacations, including a controversial yet ingenious hack for a parents' night out. Whether you're a parent, parent-to-be, or just curious...

Mel recently traveled to Japan & Taiwan to visit family… but she didn’t go alone! She went with her boyfriend Ray, exploring new cities like Tokyo and Kyoto together, and yes, bringing Ray to meet her extended family for the first time. During ABG’s latest Asia trip, Mel was chasing someone we have now lovingly deemed “The Fuckboi” – so going from that to bringing your S.O. to meet Grandpa?! That’s a big deal. In this episode, Mel shares the highs & lows of her vacation, helpful tips...

On a recent episode of ABG, I shared that I had a conversation with a matchmaker who offered me the tip to practice flirting more in 2024. Given we are about a week away from Valentine’s day, I’ve invited her to the pod for an extensive chat about dating. We talk about what makes two people compatible, common hang-ups that I (and probably other Asian American people) struggle with in dating, managing shifting gender role expectations, romancing versus womanizing, how a man’s relationship with...

We’ve had several amazing conversations with licensed therapists over the years, but today’s episode will focus on our own personal journeys with therapy. All three of us have gone to therapy at some point in our lives, and it’s given us many tools to reframe thoughts, better understand ourselves, and view the world with a more positive outlook. Today we’ll share what led us to therapy, tips for finding a therapist that will work with you & challenge you, and how therapy taught us that...

Today's topic is one I received a lot of votes on for a poll on Instagram. How does one maintain their independence or identity while in a romantic relationship? I've been with my partner for almost 2 years now, and while we are still learning a lot about our preferences, one thing we both learned quickly is that we both highly value our own independence. I share through the WHY aspect of this (*hint hint we both were single for a couple of years & that solo time taught us a lot) &...

For the Asian diaspora, Lunar New Year is the best time of year to reconnect with our family heritage and cultural traditions, while also creating new traditions that are unique to our experiences. Today, we’re focusing on the intersection between American and Chinese & Taiwanese cultures, drawing from our parents’ stories of how Lunar New Year was celebrated in the Motherlands. What did celebrations look like when they were growing up? Which traditions did they choose to pass to the next...