No Dumb Questions with Mel
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Hi! It's Mel. As the youngest & baby of the ABG trio, I have a lot of questions about everything. I've been told I ask the things people are afraid to ask (because they're afraid to look dumb 😅). In this show, there is no such thing as dumb questions ;) and just an exploration of my curiosity about life. From those random shower thoughts, that personal question buried deep, to those random in between moments, we’re going to explore all of those in No Dumb Questions with Mel.
All Episodes
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In this heartwarming episode of No Dumb Questions, I’m thrilled to welcome Jocelyn Chung, a graphic designer, creator, and newly-published children's book author, to the podcast! We instantly connected during my last visit to Taiwan, and today we’re diving into her debut book, “When Love is More Than Words”, a story that beautifully captures how love transcends language, especially within Asian families—a theme that deeply resonates with me, having grown up with my grandparents and extended family.
Jocelyn shares the inspiration behind her book, how her upbringing in a Taiwanese-American household influenced her storytelling, and the creative journey from designer to author. We also explore the challenges she faced as a first-time author and the cultural values she hopes to pass on through her work. Whether you love children's books or simply believe in the power of love beyond words, this episode is a must-listen!
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Planning a big trip with friends can be both exciting and a little stressful. Today’s episode was inspired by one of my team members after I shared that I’m heading to Vietnam soon with my college friends! She asked me how I usually plan these types of trips, and it got me thinking—coordinating travel preferences, schedules, and personalities can be a lot to manage!
With my Vietnam trip just around the corner, I thought it would be perfect to bring on one of my best friends, Tiff, who’s also helping me plan this adventure. Tiff and I go way back—we were roommates at UC San Diego for 3 years and have been close ever since. She knows me better than almost anyone, and we’ve traveled together a few times, but this is our first big international trip!
In this episode, we’ll dive into how we’re approaching this trip, from managing everyone’s preferences to keeping things fun and organized. Whether you’re gearing up for your own trip with friends or just love hearing about travel planning, I hope this conversation gives you some helpful tips along the way!
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In this episode of No Dumb Questions, we dive deep into the world of TV writing and what it truly takes to make it in Hollywood. As someone who's always been captivated by the entertainment industry, today’s topic is particularly exciting for me. And to make it even better, we have an extraordinary guest who’s worked on incredible shows like Loot and Superstore—plus, she’s collaborated with comedy royalty like Maya Rudolph!
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Vicky Luu —an incredibly talented writer and producer in her own right.This episode feels especially personal because Vicky is not only a powerhouse in Hollywood, but she’s also my partner Ray’s older sister ;)
We’re going to explore Vicky’s journey from her early days as a Production Assistant on shows like Family Guy and the 90210 reboot, to her rise as Co-Executive Producer of hit series like Superstore and Loot. Over the past two years, I’ve come to see just how humble and down-to-earth Vicky is, despite her quiet success. She’s truly one of the most genuine people I’ve met in this industry.
So, let’s give a warm welcome to Vicky Luu!
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In today’s episode, I’m bringing back a special guest: my boyfriend Ray! Last time he was on the show, we did a fun Q&A where he answered all your curious questions. This time, we’re diving into some hot takes and having a lively discussion, since we’re both pretty opinionated. We answer hot takes like "Separate vacations can strengthen a relationship", "It's okay to sleep in separate bedrooms", to "You Don't Have to Be Best Friends".
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Well, I know that I’m not the only one having a tough year. After having some one-on-one calls with my close friends, I realize this year has rocked a lot of people already. People are facing tough times and being challenged in life! The saying “you really don’t know what people are going through” resonates more than ever.
As we’re all struggling with our own things, I thought this episode could be a good reminder to check in with yourself. In this episode, I share five essential questions to help you reflect and reconnect with yourself. These questions are designed to guide you through a self-check-in, helping you to understand your feelings, recognize your needs, and take steps toward self-care.
Join me as we explore these five questions together and discover the power of self-reflection in nurturing our well-being!
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Raise your hand if you know Jay Chou? Jolin Tsai? F4? lol One of the most common questions we get asked is “How do you stay connected to your culture?” or “Have you always been connected to your cultural identity?” In this episode, I’ll share why I’m so proud to be Taiwanese-American and how I stay connected with my cultural identity. Trust me, it’s more fun than you think!
Join me for an inspiring conversation about cultural pride, personal stories, and the little ways I celebrate my heritage every day. Whether you're reconnecting with your roots or curious about what it means to embrace your cultural background, this episode is for you!
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Did you know I never took the SAT? Yet I still earned a Bachelor's Degree from a four-year university! And guess what? I saved $27,000 on college tuition! How? I started at my local community college for two years before transferring to UC San Diego.
In today's episode, I’ll share why I chose community college despite having a 3.8 GPA in high school, what the experience was like (did I feel behind compared to my peers?), and why it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.
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Join me for a special Q&A episode where we dive into the questions YOU submitted! From updates on the bustling streets of NYC to personal reflections on happiness and anxiety, nothing is off-limits. In this episode, we tackle everything from city life to emotional well-being. Plus, I had to answer your questions on what K-Drama I'm watching next and what I'm anticipating for this summer!
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For today’s episode, it falls a bit after my 2 year anniversary with Ray. The last time I was in this long of a relationship was in high school and that was a very different time.
With us moving in together, in a new city, we are definitely in a different stage in our relationship. Today, I reflect back on our relationship, compare year 1 & 2, chat through the other insights I discovered in our relationship, and what else needs to happen before embarking on the next stage.
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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.
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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 3) working on yourself but not seeing the results that you want, let me share what’s worked for me!
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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 my life. It's a year brimming with opportunities to confront the fears that both intimidate and exhilarate me. It's a year to break down the barriers of procrastination and finally take action on aspirations. This is the year I want to truly LIVE again!
Join me as I reflect on the past year, blow out the candles on the birthday cake, and share what I hope to feel when turning 33.
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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) & talk through actionable items we take to create that space for ourselves.
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The topic of reflection and goal setting is pretty popular amongst our generation. Around this time, whether you're looking through some self help podcasts or books, "setting intentions" and "goals" are everywhere. We actually did an episode recently on the main show (ep 252) talking through these topics. After preparing for that episode & being back at home, it made me think about my mom. I wondered “what are her goals for the new year?” and it sparked an interesting dinner conversation with her. I thought it would be insightful to dive into this question on today's episode of NDQWM!
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Today’s topic is a reflective one. I just came back from my 2023 vacation to Asia & it was amazing. Traveling opens you up to the world, but it also has a way of revealing truths about yourself. I don't know what it is, but I always come back with some kind of clarity or something I need to do.
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Continuing the topic of college friendships, I chat with my bestie, Sally Le about how this college friendship evolved once we graduated college. How did we go from those innocent, FRIENDS-loving, eager college students to career focused young adults thrown into the real world? How did our friendship stick despite being "long distance"? I also share with Sally why she means so much to me in my 30's & how her role in my life is irreplaceable.
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Friendships are a topic we get asked about a lot & I get it. It plays such a huge role in our lives! In today's two part series, I want to dive into a very special friendship of mine, that I haven't had the chance to share about on the pod. I'm talking about college friendships. This one, in particular, began in the dorms of UCSD transfer housing & it blossomed into one of my most precious adult friendships.
Today, I bring on one of my best friends, Sally Le to chat through how we met, our dynamic in college & what about this friendship has stood the test of time (over 10 years!)
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After getting fed up with the self loathing I had with my body image, I decided to finally do something about it. I started to consistently work out for the first time in my life. The "not athletic" girl joined OrangeTheory. I share my insecurities approaching my first HIIT class, the feeling of accomplishment to the rocking results that shook me back to a negative headspace. Now, in 2023, I also share where I'm currently at with my relationship with my body & journey with fitness.
Again, I hope you listen with an open heart and mind for this one.
*Content Warning: There will be talk about weight gain, nutrition, and body image.
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I've been avoiding this topic for 2 years now. My relationship with my body image is something I try to protect, because it's one that has brought me a lot of pain. There was a time that I blamed my body for my unhappiness and the demon of comparison was a very large figure that took over. It's a relationship that I'd consider a "work in progress" despite being in a better mental place.
After getting to a place of contentment, I wanted to share my journey with my body image. This journey is one I never thought I'd go through and one I'm still nervous to share for many reasons. I feel like when people think of "body image issues", it looks a certain way to them. However, I learned that it's a spectrum and to not discredit any of these unsettling feelings. Everybody is different and everyone has their own relationship with their physical self.
If you choose to listen to this episode, I hope you listen with an open heart and mind. Hopefully, this episode connects with some of you.
*Content Warning: There will be talk about weight gain, nutrition, and body image.
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You already met him briefly through the episodes where we introduced our partners for the first time on ABG (ep 225 & 226). But today, I bring on Ray, my boyfriend, for the first time, onto my mini show. We've been dating for a little over a year now and have learned a lot about each other during this time. Many of you all have been following me on my dating history during my single season, and are probably curious about the person I finally found.
Thank you to those that sent in questions for Ray & tune in to learn a bit more about my partner!
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How to maintain work, life, balance is a question we get asked a lot! It's something many of us struggled with, especially with juggling social schedules and finding boundaries with WFH. However, after a few years of fine tuning some of my daily habits, I found effective ways that have helped me create more balance in my life!
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The sun's finally out & we are officially in the season of summer! Instead of letting this season pass me by, like the previous years, I've been proactive on making this summer memorable. Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about my summer essentials. From my current read, the products I can't live without, to the mindset shift I'm adopting this season. What are your summer favorites?
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Today, we are going to talk about dining out and social etiquettes when going out. I'll also be joined by a close friend & social butterfly, Tim Hwang! Whether we like it or not, there are certain behaviors and etiquettes you might personally follow AND perhaps check to see if your fellow friends or potential date follow as well. From situations like if a restaurant gets your food wrong, your friends expect you to split a large meal when you only got a drink, to seeing that your date tips below average… we're going to chat through all this in today's episode!
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Today, we’re talking about sex. No, not the juicy details! But the awkward conversation you may or may not have had with your parents (for me, my auntie) about the birds and the bees. Are you feeling awkward yet? haha
In this episode, I also recount how the conversation of sex was brought up and how my mother showed up for me in a way I never expected.
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"Bad" Habits. Are they really that bad? In today's episode, I bring on my first guest onto this mini show. You may know her from AsianBossGirl, Helen Wu! We share our most embarrassing habits (who else picks their noses?), the bad habits we do behind closed doors, the habits that annoy us like no other, and the bad habits we were able to transform into good.
What are some habits you're trying to get rid of?
