A podcast exploring identity, mental health, culture, faith, and human stories from the in-between.

Afleveringen

• She Left Tanzania for Korea—But Found Something Even Bigger 탄자니아 에서 온 서울여자 주보라씨의 하루 03.07.2026 45min

  In this episode of Take 1.5, we meet a woman whose journey from Tanzania to South Korea became far more than an international move. It became a calling.After leaving Tanzania in 2009 to pursue higher education in Korea, she found herself building a life between two cultures—and ultimately becoming a bridge between them. Today, she works in public relations, translation, interpretation, and diplomatic communications, connecting people, institutions, and opportunities across Tanzania and Korea.Together, we talk about identity, belonging, cultural diplomacy, and what it's like to call two countries home. We also explore the power of language, the importance of cross-cultural understanding, and why creating meaningful human connections may be one of the most important forms of diplomacy.If you've ever felt caught between cultures, dreamed of living abroad, or wondered how one person can make a global impact, this conversation will leave you inspired.Because sometimes the biggest journey isn't the one across continents—it's the one that leads you to your purpose.
• You're Probably Not Sleeping as Well as You Think| Sleep Researcher Dr. Hyun Kim 당신의 수면은 충분 할까요? 24.06.2026 56min

  We all know sleep matters—but most of us don't realize just how much it affects our brain, mental health, and long-term health.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hyun Kim, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, to explore the science of sleep. We discuss why quality sleep is essential, how poor sleep impacts memory, mood, and overall health, and what the latest research says about sleep and Alzheimer's disease.Dr. Hyun Kim (김현 박사)also shares practical, evidence-based tips to help you sleep better and protect your brain for years to come.
• The Art of Nunchi: Culture, Entrepreneurship, and Modern Heirlooms 눈치로 만드는 주얼리, 그리고 창업 이야기 14.06.2026 41min

  What does it mean to create something that lasts for generations?In this episode of Take 1.5, I sit down with Jane Dua, founder of NUNCHI, a Korean-American fine jewelry brand redefining what modern heirlooms can be. Jane shares her journey as a Korean American entrepreneur, the inspiration behind building a jewelry company rooted in both heritage and contemporary design, and how culture continues to shape her work.We explore the meaning of "nunchi"—the uniquely Korean concept of social awareness and intuition—and how it influences leadership, creativity, and navigating life between cultures. Jane also opens up about entrepreneurship, family, identity, and the desire to create pieces that carry stories across generations.Whether you're interested in business, design, Korean culture, or the experiences of growing up between worlds, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into building something meaningful that honors both the past and the future.Jane DuaFounder, NUNCHIKorean-American Fine Jewelry & Modern Heirloomsjane@livenunchi.comlivenunchi.com | @livenunchiNew York, NY
• Serving the Overlooked: One Pastor's Mission 장애인과 함께 사회를 섬김니다 | 캐롤라이나 밀알 선교회 이승민 목사 03.06.2026 44min

  장애인과 함께 사회를 섬김니다캐롤라니나 밀알 선교단 704-860-1388 charlotte@wheatmission.orgPastor Steve Lee is the Director of Carolina Milal, a ministry serving individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Charlotte community. A pastor, husband, and father of three, Steve has dedicated his life to building communities where every person is seen, valued, and supported.Steve's journey began when he immigrated to the United States at the age of 17, settling in Gastonia, North Carolina. Arriving as a teenager, he faced culture shock, racism, language barriers, and the challenges of finding his place in a new country. Those early struggles helped shape his resilience, compassion, and understanding of what it means to feel like an outsider.Steve later joined the United States Marine Corps, an experience that profoundly influenced his character, leadership, and faith. In this episode, Steve shares his immigration story, his experiences navigating life as a young newcomer in the South, his time in the Marines, and the calling that led him to disability ministry. We also discuss how churches and communities can become more inclusive, the unique challenges faced by families of individuals with disabilities, and why true belonging requires more than good intentions.This is a conversation about faith, perseverance, service, and the power of creating communities where everyone has a place.
• How to Stand Out and Get Into Private Boarding School 보딩스쿨 합격생들은 뭐가 달랐을까 23.05.2026 45min

  What does it really take to stand out in private boarding school admissions?In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Kim — 🇺🇸 U.S. middle school math teacher & education consultant — to talk about boarding school admissions, extracurricular activities, and what schools are actually looking for in students today.🏫 Public & private school consulting📚 Extracurricular activity advising🍎 Online math classes & consulting inquiries: DMWhether you’re a student or parent interested in U.S. education and boarding schools, this conversation offers practical insight and real advice.미국 보딩스쿨과 사립학교는 어떤 학생을 원할까요?이번 영상에서는 🇺🇸 미국 중학교 수학 교사 & 미국 교육 컨설턴트 Rachel Kim 선생님과 함께 보딩스쿨 입시, extracurricular activity, 그리고 학생들이 어떻게 자신만의 강점을 만들어가는지 이야기 나눕니다.🏫 공립·사립 학교 상담 & Extracurricular Activity 상담🍎 수학 온라인 수업 · 컨설팅 문의 : DM미국 교육과 보딩스쿨에 관심 있는 학생, 학부모님들께 도움이 되는 현실적인 이야기들을 담았습니다.구독, 좋아요, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다 🤍#보딩스쿨 #미국교육 #사립학교 #유학 #미국학교 #Extracurricular #BoardingSchool
• 당신의 화는 진짜 문제가 아니다 — Why Your Anger Isn’t the Real Problem 07.05.2026 50min

  In this episode, I sit down with Susie Runkle, a Korean American Christian life coach, daughter of the King, wife, and mother of two teenage daughters, for an honest conversation about healing, anger, resentment, and emotional freedom. Susie shares her personal journey of working through childhood wounds, shame, and suppressed emotions while learning how to “adult” with peace and self-awareness.We talk about faith, identity, family dynamics, emotional triggers, and what it means to break unhealthy cycles instead of passing them down. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Susie offers encouragement for anyone struggling with anger, resentment, or feeling stuck in old patterns.If you’ve ever felt weighed down by shame, emotional pain, or unresolved wounds, this conversation is for you.Follow Susie:Instagram: @AdultingEmpoweredEmail: susrunlegacy@gmail.comSubscribe for more conversations on mental health, identity, healing, and life in the in-between.
• Not Okay? Here’s What to Do 괞찮은척은 이젠 그만 25.04.2026 43min

  When “I’m fine” stops being true, what’s the next step?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jang Cho, MD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, to talk about how to recognize when you need help, what kind of support actually makes sense, and how to ask for it—even when it feels uncomfortable.We get into the gray areas: therapy vs. medication, what to do if cost is a barrier, and why so many people wait too long before reaching out. Dr. Cho also shares her perspective on cultural stigma and the unique challenges many Asian American families face when it comes to mental health.About the guest:Jang Cho, MD is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed her general psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.  Afterwards, she continued her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Cho’s passion is in cultural psychiatry, especially in mental health of Asian American children and adolescents. In the past, she has headed a free mental health clinic called Hope Clinic for under-served Korean Americans in the Washington DC Area. She is a co-founder and a former chair for the Asian Caucus in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has given various talks locally and nationally, and has been a co-author of a textbook chapter on Asian American Mental health. She is a proud owner of Thrive Psychiatry PLLC- a telepsychiatry practice that focuses on children and families of diverse backgrounds for patients in NY, DC, MD, VA, WA and CA. She can be reached at www.thrivepsychiatrypllc.com.**Here are the resources: 1. Therapist Directory – Asian Mental Health Collective2. Asians For Mental Health Directory3. Korean Americans only- MSG Mental Health Directory
• What We Don’t Talk About: Sex, Shame, and Sunday Faith | 왠지 말하기 어려운 얘기들: 성, 수치심, 그리고 교회 이야기 15.04.2026 51min

  왠지 말하기 어려운 얘기들: 성, 수치심, 그리고 신앙What We Don’t Talk About: Sex, Shame, and Sunday FaithIn this episode, we gently step into the conversations we tend to avoid—sex, shame, and faith. Topics that are deeply connected, yet often left unspoken.Roy, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former pastor, brings a unique perspective shaped by years of working with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. He sees himself as a bridge between the Church, the addict, the betrayed partner, and the divorced—helping each side find the language to understand one another better.Together, we talk about how shame takes root, how faith can both support and complicate healing, and why these conversations feel so hard to have—especially in our communities. This isn’t about having all the answers, but about creating space for honesty, nuance, and real understanding.A thoughtful, human conversation about the things we don’t usually say out loud.About the guest:Roy is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Southern California, specializing in sexual addiction treatment and betrayal trauma recovery. He is also a former pastor. He describes himself as a broker between the Church, the addict, the betrayed partner, and the divorced—helping all parties to find language to better understand one another. Roy hosts the SA Speakeasy podcast, The Same Boat podcast, and soon will co-host the On-Screen Kimistry podcast which discusses Asian American representation in film. Roy loves learning about compost, watching trashy reality shows with his wife Jenn, and dreaming with daughter Audrey about living in Europe.
• Dr. Hyun Kim on Boundaries, Expectations & Self-Care | Let's Talk 마음이야기 EP 01 04.04.2026 54min

  Let's Talk 마음이야기 EP 01- Mental Health SeriesMy first guest, Dr. Hyun Kim, clinical psychologist, researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and author of Boundaries (Korean), shares a powerful conversation on expectations, responsibility, and finding your voice as someone living between cultures.We talk about the cost of staying silent, the mental load that follows us into adulthood, and how even our sleep and cognitive health are shaped by the pressure to meet everyone else’s needs.This episode is about learning to speak up, set boundaries, and finally make space for yourself—without losing who you are.About the guest:Hello there! I am a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and New Jersey and am also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. I am most passionate about helping people live a full life by managing mood and sleep difficulties. I aim to reach these goals through research, clinical work, and psychoeducation. Learn more about my background (here) and services (here).안녕하세요,저는 뉴욕 컬럼비아 의과대학 소속으로 정신건강의학 연구를 진행하며 또한 다양한 심리치료서비스를 제공하는 임상심리학자 입니다 (뉴욕/뉴저지 테라피스트). 주로 수면, 뇌, 그리고 감정 (우울증, 불안장애)을 공부하며, 연구에 기반한 정보를 통해 보다 많은 사람들이 더 행복하고 풍요로운 삶을 살 수 있도록 여러가지의 서비스와 교육을 제공하고 있습니다. 저의 연구와 임상경력에 대해 더 알고싶으시면 여기, 저의 임상/강연 활동이나 인스타그램, 블로그 글에 관련해서는 밑의 링크를 클릭하여주세요.https://www.kimhyunphd.com/
• The Next Chapter After 25 Years In Publishing 실비아킴 대표의 새로운 도전 21.03.2026 42min

  Sylvia Kim knows how to build something that lasts.For over 25 years, she led Mom & I magazine, growing it into a trusted voice within the Korean American community. As a single mother, she built both a career and a community rooted in trust and connection.In this episode, we talk about reinvention, cross-cultural leadership, and what it takes to start a new chapter after decades in one path.Find us on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms. Follow and leave a comment!!
• What If Confidence Isn’t the Problem?Why So Many Women Feel Invisible 여성 리더에게 배우는 ‘자신감 장착’ 방법 14.03.2026 42min

  Women Entrepreneurs 3Today’s guest, Sheena Yap Chan, has spent years exploring that question. She’s a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and host of The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, where she’s interviewed over 800 women about self-worth, visibility, and leadership.Through her work — including her books The Tao of Self-Confidence and Bridging the Confidence Gap — Sheena helps women move from self-doubt to self-trust.In this episode, we talk about the pressure to be perfect, the fear of being seen, and why visibility can be one of the most powerful tools for building confidence.
• Can Makgeolli Become America’s Next Big Drink? 미국에서 막걸리 파는 교포 사업가 케롤 MAKKU 07.03.2026 47min

  Carol Pak is the Founder & CEO of Sool, the parent company of Makku, and a mother of two young children, balancing boardrooms and bedtime stories.Raised in a supportive and loving Korean family in New York, Carol grew up inspired to lead. That early foundation — family first, work hard, dream big — shaped her path from corporate innovation to entrepreneurship. Before launching Sool in 2017, she worked at ZX Ventures (owned by AB InBev), where she led the launch of a new alcoholic beverage brand in China.Now, she’s on a mission to introduce a traditional Korean rice drink — makgeolli — to the U.S. market in a fresh, accessible way. With strong partnerships, including a close working relationship with a Korean production company, Carol is building a bridge between heritage and modern taste.In this episode, we talk about growing up with big dreams, choosing family alongside ambition, and what it really takes to globalize culture — without losing where you come from.
• The 3:30 AM Reality of a Working Mom: Career, Kids & Cost of Balance 워킹맘의 하루는 새벽 3:30에 시작된다 27.02.2026 36min

  In this episode, we talk with Evelyn Moon, founder, mother, mentor, and a Korean American lawyer who grew up speaking Korean as her first language. She shares the challenges of becoming an attorney while navigating cultural barriers, raising a child, and leading her own firm.Evelyn opens up about the reality of work-life balance as a working mom, and why she’s passionate about mentoring the next generation of women walking a similar path.About the guest: Evelyn Moon is the Founder and Principal Attorney at Evelyn Moon Law PC, a dedicated and compassionate immigration attorney with over 19 years of industry experience representing corporate, investor, and individual clients worldwide. With big firm partner background and sophistication and currently a firm owner, she takes pride in helping her clients navigate immigration challenges, expand into new opportunities, and ultimately achieve their immigration goals in the U.S. with much more personalized services. Evelyn has been a featured speaker at numerous AILA, EB-5 and other business conferences and seminars, covering a wide range of immigration topics, including work visa options for students, E-2 and EB-5 investment visas, L-1A and EB-1C visas for multinational executives and managers, and PERM-based green card applications. She is licensed to practice law in California and the District of Columbia and is fluent in English and Korean.
• Why So Many of Us Struggle with Family & Emotions | Haley’s Story 엄마도 사실은 상담이 필요하지 않았을까? 13.02.2026 50min

  Haley, a Brooklyn-based writer and actor, joins Take 1.5 with Min Lee for a powerful conversation about identity, Korean culture, family expectations, and generational trauma.With a background as an elementary school educator, Haley brings deep insight into social-emotional development, childhood experiences, and how early family dynamics shape the way we communicate, cope, and form relationships. Her creative work explores language, cultural identity, and the long-term impact of generational patterns.✨ If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying feelings your parents never had space to process — you’re not alone.✨ childhood and emotional development✨ family dynamics that shape who we become✨ the tension between respect and self-expression✨ and how storytelling can become a form of healingThis isn’t about blaming the previous generation.It’s about noticing what we’re carrying… and deciding what we want to pass forward.If you’ve ever felt like you’re working through emotions your family never had space to name — this one will stay with you.🎧 Listen to the full episode of Take 1.5 with Min Lee — link in bio.#Take15Podcast #GenerationalHealing #KoreanCulture #IdentityJourney #FamilyDynamics #EmotionalHealth #StorytellingAsHealing
• How This Nurse Built Income Beyond the Bedside 리치언니로 은퇴하고 싶은 Rich Nurse Jiwon Lee 29.01.2026 38min

  What if being a nurse didn’t mean choosing between caring for others and building financial freedom?In this episode, we sit down with Jiwon Lee — a New Jersey–based psychiatric nurse, educator, real estate investor, and future Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — who is redefining what’s possible in a nursing career.Since 2015, Jiwon has worked across an incredible range of clinical settings, including medical-surgical units, pediatrics, infertility, hemodialysis, and emergency departments in New York, Boston, and Nebraska. But her impact doesn’t stop at the bedside. With a Master’s degree in Health Leadership and Nursing Education, she’s served as an adjunct clinical instructor, private lecturer, and clinical operations manager at a healthcare startup.Outside the hospital, Jiwon is just as driven. She manages both long- and short-term rental properties and is involved in a joint venture real estate project — all while teaching nurses to think beyond traditional career paths. Through her platform “Rich Nurse” and her book Rich Nurse, Poor Nurse in America, she advocates for financial literacy, smart investing, and career diversification within nursing.She also serves as Media Director for KITEE (Korean-American Innovative Technology Engineers and Entrepreneurs), where she helps connect healthcare professionals with the worlds of tech, investment, and entrepreneurship.In this conversation, we talk about:✨ Breaking out of the “burnout-only” nursing narrative💰 Why financial literacy is essential for healthcare professionals🏠 How she got started in real estate while working as a nurse🧠 Mental health, leadership, and long-term career sustainability🌉 Bridging healthcare, business, and community impactWhether you’re in healthcare, curious about investing, or figuring out how to design a life beyond just one job title — this episode will expand your vision of what’s possible.
• The Korean Banchan Story Every 1.5 Generation Will Relate To| 반찬 만드는 교포 언니 셀리나 10.01.2026 38min

  Selina Lee’s journey weaves together art, storytelling, and food. Born in Seoul and raised in the U.S. as a teenager, she began her career in graphic design and publishing before following a growing passion for Korean cooking. In this episode, Selina shares how that pivot led to founding Banchan Workshop, co-authoring The Korean Instant Pot Cookbook, and building a career as a menu and recipe developer. We talk about creativity, reinvention, and what it means to carry Korean flavors into everyday home cooking.
• 콩글리쉬 하는 교포1.5세는 다 공감하는 이야기 파트2. 정체성은 어떻게 생겨날까? All About Identity Development for the 1.5 Generation 24.12.2025 27min

  In this Part 2 episode of Take 1.5, Min Lee interviews Dr. Jiwon Yoo, a licensed psychologist who works closely with children, adolescents, and families. Drawing from both her clinical work and her own lived experience, Dr. Yoo discusses what it’s like to grow up navigating two cultural worlds—and how that shapes identity, mental health, and family relationships.Together, we discuss the unspoken emotional pressures many Korean American families carry, why intergenerational misunderstandings occur so often, and how cultural context matters in therapy. Dr. Yoo also discusses how children and adolescents internalize expectations, how parents and caregivers can foster healthier communication, and what it truly means to feel a sense of belonging.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt “in between,” struggled to articulate their experience, or wondered how culture quietly shapes the way we think, feel, and relate to others.🎧 In this episode:Why belonging can feel so complicatedHow culture influences mental health and family dynamicsIdentity development across childhood and adolescenceWhat culturally sensitive care actually looks likeFinding language for experiences we’ve long held inside.Subscribe to Take 1.5 for more honest conversations about identity, culture, and the spaces in between. "This Take 1.5 conversation, I reflect on her own story, the experiences of other Korean Americans, and how navigating two cultures shapes mental health, family relationships, and belonging." -Dr. Yoo
• 왜 우리는 늘 ‘사이’에 있는 것처럼 느낄까?Belonging Is Messy — Here’s Why (from a Psychologist Who Lived It) Part 1 14.12.2025 24min

  In this Part 1 episode of Take 1.5, Min Lee interviews Dr. Jiwon Yoo, a licensed psychologist who works closely with children, adolescents, and families. Drawing from both her clinical work and her own lived experience, Dr. Yoo discusses what it’s like to grow up navigating two cultural worlds—and how that shapes identity, mental health, and family relationships.Together, we discuss the unspoken emotional pressures many Korean American families carry, why intergenerational misunderstandings occur so often, and how cultural context matters in therapy. Dr. Yoo also discusses how children and adolescents internalize expectations, how parents and caregivers can foster healthier communication, and what it truly means to feel a sense of belonging.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt “in between,” struggled to articulate their experience, or wondered how culture quietly shapes the way we think, feel, and relate to others.🎧 In this episode:Why belonging can feel so complicatedHow culture influences mental health and family dynamicsIdentity development across childhood and adolescenceWhat culturally sensitive care actually looks likeFinding language for experiences we’ve long held inside.Subscribe to Take 1.5 for more honest conversations about identity, culture, and the spaces in between. "This Take 1.5 conversation, I reflect on her own story, the experiences of other Korean Americans, and how navigating two cultures shapes mental health, family relationships, and belonging." -Dr. Yoo
• Navigating Korean Americanness: A Father & Daughter Get Honest 교포 가족의 코리언 어메리칸의 의미 아빠와 딸의 너무나 다른 경험 28.11.2025 29min

  What happens when a Korean American dad and daughter realize they grew up in two completely different cultures… under the same roof?Yosef and Seul Lee open up about identity, language, family expectations, and what “being Korean American” really means across generations.Raw. Honest. Funny. Relatable.If you’ve ever lived in the in-between, this one hits home.🎙️ New episode out now👇 Tell us how YOU define your Korean Americanness.이요셉은 변호사로 일하면서 멀티패밀리 투자, 남성합창단 단장, 뉴욕한인 청소년합창단 자문, 한미장학재단 이사 등 다양한 역할을 즐기며 사는 좋은사람만나는것을 제일 좋아하는 에너지 넘치는 아빠입니다. 슬이는 헌터고 10학년에 재학 중이며 오보와 북을 연주하고, 친구들과 만나 맛있는 걸 먹고 놀고 수다 떠는 걸 진심으로 사랑하는 찐 Z세대죠. 겉보기엔 조용해 보여도 사실 개그 본능을 숨기고 있는 매력적인 아이입니다. 바쁜 와중에도 딸과의 시간을 가장 소중히 여기는 아빠와, 솔직하고 유쾌한 이슬이 함께 들려주는 이번 인터뷰, 꽤 재미있을 겁니다.
• 성공? 쉬어야 된다! Neuroscience Meets Real Life: How Your Brain Shapes Everything You Do, Think, and Say 31.10.2025 29min

  🎧 Title: Neuroscience Meets Real Life: Why Your Brain Needs to PauseWhat if slowing down is the smartest thing your brain can do? Dr. Nuri Jeong, neuroscientist and executive coach, shares how our brains shape every word, thought, and decision — and why taking a pause might be your greatest advantage.From groundbreaking research on memory to transforming brain science into real-world tools for leaders and teams, Dr. Jeong reveals how understanding your brain can help you work smarter, lead better, and live more fully.🧠 Take 1.5 — Stories from the in-between.#Neuroscience #BrainHealth #Leadership #Productivity #Mindfulness #Neuroplasticity #Wellbeing #Take1Point5Podcast #DrNuriJeong #MentalHealth #CognitiveScience #AlzheimersResearch #NeuroscienceExplained #WorkLifeBalance