M Chan / Sifu Mimi Chan

64. Brett Jones on cultivating simplicity in strength training

63. Gabriela Roldan on Antarctica, Argentina, and Penguins

Meet Gabriela Roldan! I met Gabriela after attending her lectures on board my cruise to Antarctica and South America. Many of you have been asking me to share more about my travels to the great white continent, and when I decided to podcast about it, I knew I had to have Gabriela on the show. She has such an extensive knowledge of the history and culture of the area. We also discuss her hometown at the end of the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. I couldn’t resist the urge to ask the expert about the effects of climate change she has witnessed over the years in the region.

Antarctica Extras

I’m going back to China

62. Derek Johnson on unconscious bias

I sit down with Derek Johnson who was a previous guest on the podcast. Last time we spoke about the divide between the public and law enforcement agencies. Today we discuss the hot topic of unconscious bias and how it relates to law enforcement officers. We delve into recent shootings and his take on arming teachers in school. I also couldn’t talk about these hot topic issues without comparing it to one of my favorite shows, HBO’s The Wire.

61. Julio Ricardo Varela on Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria, and Tostones

Today I sit down with Julio Ricardo Varela (cohost In the Thick, LatinoUSA) to discuss the devastation after Hurricane Maria that still plagues the island today. We also go deeper into the underlying problems that the island has faced for decades. Julio hopes that the attention Hurricane Maria has brought to Puerto Rico will result in real action and changes being made that are long overdue. We also talk tostones and dominoes, so listen on as we delve into the culture of Puerto Rico.

60. Star Wars Fans: May the 4th Be With You!

May 4th has become a Star Wars fan day for the past several years. According to Starwars.com: While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. StarWars.com, as well as the official Star Wars social media channels (hashtag #StarWarsDay), help spread the word and showcase fan activity. Each year fans celebrate with their own traditions by throwing Star Wars themed parties, hosting film marathons, having lightsaber fights, dressing in cosplay, or even attending a large public event. May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May, and it has been the traditional start date of Disney Star War weekends. I sit down with Brian again to chat Star Wars traditions and review The Last Jedi. Spoiler alerts for those that have been in a cave and have not yet seen the most recent film. May the 4th be with you all!

Sifu Mimi and Oscar in the Azores Islands

59. Adventures of Mimi and Oscar: The culture of sea life, Italy, and Spain

Oscar and I just returned from our transatlantic cruise to Italy and Spain. We love talking about our travels and today we are sharing stories about our recent adventure. Listen in for more on Italy, Spain, Azores Islands, life at sea and learn why we call Oscar the ‘taxi cab whisperer’. Warning: We do discuss a lot of amazing food, so do not listen to this episode hungry!

Chan Family Retreat

58. Vinny Vurro on the power of language

Vinny Vurro is the owner of Felice Center for Pediatric Rehabilitation in Orlando, which offers speech, occupational, and physical therapy for children. Vinny believes in treating his patients like family and strives to help each patient reach his/her maximum potential in speech and language development.

Rest in Peace Dennis Banfield

57. Ricky Watters on football and life after the NFL

Ricky Watters is a running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Seattle Seahawks. As a football fan, I enjoyed learning more about Ricky’s journey to the NFL and the hard core training it took to play at an elite level. We also talk about life after the NFL and his current passion for helping others through motivational speaking. I met Ricky and his family when they joined Wah Lum many years ago, and although they have moved back to the West Coast, I am happy we have kept in touch. It was fun to learn about what really happens when you are on the field on ‘Any Given Sunday.’