OTG welcomes back Aeden Pham for a special "random show" episode where they break from the traditional interview format to engage in a free-flowing conversation covering personal finance, mindset shifts, anime preferences, and life optimization strategies. Topics include:

• Money management fundamentals
• Redefining personal value
• Creating positive environments requires shifting from proving our value to sharing experiences
• Anime and why One Piece is amazing
• Daily reflection practices
• Project management tips
• Asking good questions facilitates better communication and understanding in all relationships

Guest bio:
Aeden Pham is a published researcher, has 2 masters degrees, and has studied in 5 different countries. Professionally, he has worked in multiple industries including service, non-profit, entertainment, and technology. Aeden is an award-winning singer, dancer, writer, and film director also enjoys investing their time in various activities, such as stand-up comedy, archery, ice skating, and video/board gaming.

• IG: @aedenanthony / @iamajrp
• Aeden’s Linktree

Links/resources:

• Aeden’s Linktree
• I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi (audiobook - Amazon affiliate link)
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel (book summary)
• One Piece (anime - Wikipedia)
• Death Parade (anime - Wikipedia)
• Future Diary (anime - Wikipedia)
• Glenn Clancy (Aeden’s vocal coach - Instagram)
• “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress by Jeremy Jordan (musical song - YouTube)
• “Wildflower” by Park Hyo-Shin (Korean ballad - YouTube)
• “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj (song - Wikipedia)
• “Love in the Ice” by TVXQ (Japanese ballad - YouTube)
• J.R.’s Beauty & The Beast solo duet at a karaoke bar (viral video - Instagram)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Kan Dang shares how dance transformed his life, shaping his identity, confidence, and sense of purpose through years of dedication to the art form and mentorship of young dancers.

• Credits dance with developing his social skills and helping him overcome natural introversion
• Discusses how comparing yourself to others is unhealthy as everyone has different strengths and journeys
• Recommends Haikyuu as his favorite anime for its fantastic character development and inspiring moments
• Defines success as happiness rather than traditional markers like financial security
• Emphasizes the importance of showing up for people and making time to connection

Guest bio:
Kan is a technically inclined creative and community-minded soul who is passionate about cultivating a safe, empowering environment. He has been a part of organizations such as the Kaba Modern Family and Culture Shock Los Angeles. In his free time, you can catch him playing video games; watching anime; playing trading card games; and going on adventures with his wonderful girlfriend Tiffany.

• IG: @kandaaang / https://www.instagram.com/kandaaang/

Links/resources:

• Kaba Modern Welcome Week 2012 (dance showcase)
• Haikyuu (anime - wikipedia)
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (videogame - wikipedia)
• Stardew Valley (videogame - wikipedia)
• Your Name (anime movie - wikipedia)
• Rock Lee scene from Naruto (YouTube)
• My Hero Academia, 2nd movie, final battle scene (YouTube)
• Demon Slayer (anime - wikipedia)
• Zoro’s “nothing happened” scene (YouTube)
• Dandadan (anime - wikipedia)
• Home-y Made Meals (charity organization)
• Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger (book summary)
• Homies, 3rd Place @Vibe 2025 (dance competition - YouTube)
• Atomic Habits by James Clear (book summary)
• The Pitt (TV show - Wikipedia)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Lachlan Ma shares his journey from UC Irvine graduate to TikTok talent acquisition partner, exploring how finding his ikigai helped him navigate career choices and balance diverse passions.

• Born in Sydney, Australia to parents from Hong Kong and the Philippines
• Discovered his passion for recruiting after internships in finance, law, and accounting
• Explains the Japanese concept of ikigai - finding purpose at the intersection of passion, skills, market demand, and world needs
• Built TikTok's first engineering team in Australia and helped develop TikTok Shop from its early confidential stage
• Created a monetized K-pop YouTube channel and is launching a tech recruiting channel to share industry insights
• Attributes success to his "might as well do it" mindset that improves productivity and goal achievement
• Advocates for developing a strong online presence as essential for job seekers in today's market
• Balances corporate demands with personal passions through deliberate systems and prioritization

Check out his new YouTube channel "Level Up with Lachlan" launching in March 2025 for insider recruiting tips and career development strategies.

Guest bio:
Graduated from UC Irvine in 2020 (During Covid), first started working as a University Recruiter in Fortune 500 at CVS Health recruiting pharmacists, then became a Talent Acquisition Partner at TikTok specializing in global expansion for engineering teams in Australia, U.S., and Europe. He has built a K-pop news YouTube channel that is monetized and is currently building a tech recruiting channel giving free advice and insights to job seekers from a tech recruiter perspective. On the side, he dances with Passion Project and Espiritu.

• IG: @lachlan.ma / https://www.instagram.com/lachlan.ma/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachlan-ma/

Links/resources:

• Ikigai by Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles (book summary)
• The Mindset Mentor Podcast & Rob Dial (podcast - website)
• GRV @Vibe2025 (dance performance - YouTube)
• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins (book summary)
• Level Up With Lachlan (YouTube channel)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Ray Lee returns to discuss his journey as a concept artist transitioning from Los Angeles back to South Korea, sharing insights on international work opportunities and maintaining artistic integrity in the changing gaming industry.

• Working as an international concept artist
• The differences between US, European and Asian job markets
• Having multiple career plans (A, B, C) helps artists navigate industry instability and layoffs
• AI tools are being integrated into major gaming studios
• Artists can partially protect work from AI scraping through privacy settings and emerging technologies like "Glaze"
• Building a strong portfolio requires following industry trends while maintaining a personal artistic identity
• Having a mentor provides targeted feedback that accelerates growth beyond what online courses can offer
• Digital nomadism and online platforms are creating new opportunities for artists to work globally

Guest bio:
Ray Lee is a Concept Artist/ Environment Concept Artist/ Digital Art Teacher in Los Angeles, California. He creates 2D Concept Art, including Environment, Props, Illustration, Logo, and Character design to professional standards, showing his design's problem-solving quality in the Game and Entertainment Industry. He has a passion for creating gaming universes that captivate players’ imaginations.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayleeart/
• Website: https://www.starlight-vision.com/
• IG: @rayleeart - https://www.instagram.com/rayleeart

Links/resources:

• OTG episode #22: Ray Lee - How AI Affects Art, Studying Internationally, and the Complexities of Concept Art | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389613/episodes/16433824

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Eric Pan shares his journey from an introverted child in Chicago to a successful UCLA graduate heading to Boston Consulting Group, offering insights on consulting, leadership, and finding balance along the way.

• Moving from Chicago to UCLA
• The distinction between being "nice" (surface-level politeness) and "kind" (genuinely helping others)
• Strategy consultants function as "doctors of business" diagnosing problems and prescribing solutions
• Success in consulting requires both structured thinking to analyze problems and communication skills to convey solutions
• Never self-disqualify from competitive fields—networking and persistence can overcome barriers
• The "duck syndrome" describes appearing calm while frantically working beneath the surface
• Leveraging your calendar helps manage multiple commitments and responsibilities
• Every friendship is a "leaky bucket" requiring constant maintenance—focus on depth over breadth
• Servant leadership means removing obstacles for team members rather than wielding authority
• Financial advice: invest in your Roth IRA as early as possible to benefit from compound interest

Guest bio:
Eric is a soon-to-be-graduated senior at UCLA. He's served on the executive board for both a consulting and investment banking organization and is an incoming associate at Boston Consulting Group. Outside of his professional life, he's a dancer on Koreos and ACA All Day!

• IG: @eric_p.an / https://www.instagram.com/eric_p.an/

Links/resources:

• Boston Consulting Group (Wikipedia page)
• John Oliver on McKinsley (YouTube video)
• Stanford Duck Syndrome / Floating Duck Syndrome
• Atomic Habits by James Clear (book summary website)
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (book - wikipedia page)
• Christopher Nolan (director - wikipedia page)
• Tenet (movie - wikipedia page)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Travis Trinh transforms from a sheltered, introverted kid to an extroverted nerd who embraces fitness, cosplay, and engineering with equal passion. His journey shows how anime influences, leadership experiences, and the Cobra Kai philosophy of "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy" can shape a fulfilling life.

• Growing up in a sheltered environment in Santa Clarita before attending UCSB
• Evolution from introvert to extrovert through college experiences and leadership roles
• Finding his path as a manufacturing engineering supervisor after initially wanting to "make cool stuff"
• Starting the first K-pop dance team at UCSB
• Bowling a perfect 300 game after consistent practice and professional coaching
• Using anime philosophy from Dragon Ball and others as life inspiration
• Applying the Cobra Kai motto as a framework for proactive living and personal growth
• Breaking down fitness and nutrition to simple mathematics: "It's just numbers"
• Achieving 10-11% overall body fat through calorie tracking and consistent workouts
• Approaching cosplay with creativity and fitness to bring characters to life
• Finding success through consistency rather than complicated systems

Don't be scared to pursue what you want to do. Failure is not going to kill you, it's just going to make you stronger. Keep life simple and just go for it.

Guest bio:
Travis Trinh, the closet nerd who grew into an extroverted nerd! Travis is also an anime, cosplay, fitness, and bowling enthusiast.

• IG: @officialT_T / https://www.instagram.com/officialt_t/

Links/resources:

• Seventeen - Rock With You w/ Untitled (dance cover)
• Seventeen - Super w/ Untitled (dance cover)
• Pokemon TCG Live (website)
• Rent-A-Girlfriend (anime - wikipedia)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

A profound conversation with Alex Cristal on the intricacies of self-discovery, time management, and the importance of solitude. We dive into the dynamics of building a supportive community, how different relationships serve distinct roles in our lives, and reflections on emotional and spiritual well-being.

• Exploring the power of solitude for self-awareness
• The significance of community in personal growth
• Understanding and managing time as a finite resource
• Evaluating emotional and spiritual well-being (PEMS)
• Defining soulmates and their roles in our lives
• The importance of various relationships: playmates, mindmates, and helpmates
• Reflections on life experiences and lessons learned

Keep an eye out for more engaging discussions to help you reflect on your own journey!

Guest bio:
Kaba Modern 2010-2014 - Coordinator 2012-2014, Culture Shock LA 2014-2024, HVAC Parts Specialist, Jiu-Jitsu Amateur, Welding Amateur.

• IG: @alexcristal__ / https://www.instagram.com/alexcristal__/

Links/resources:

• KM @PACN 2011 (dance performance)
• KM @UCI Welcome Week 2010 (Alex’s choreography)
• The Bear (TV show - wikipedia)
• Worst & best relationship advice (On Purpose with Jay Shetty - IG video)
• Interstellar (movie - Wikipedia)
• Art of Manliness (website)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Dr. Jessica Kwong shares her inspiring journey from karate to physical therapy and dance. Her story highlights resilience, passion, and self-discovery.

- Background in karate since age 5
- Transition from athlete to physical therapist
- Experiences with injuries and rehabilitation
- Dance as a form of self-expression
- The importance of community support and mentorship
- Resilience in overcoming setbacks
- Insights on self-advocacy and chasing passions
- Finding joy in multiple interests
- Life lessons from mentors and experiences

Jessi encourages everyone to pursue what makes them happy and to chase their dreams without regret.

Guest bio:
Dr. Jessica Kwong is a physical therapist, team USA Karate athlete, and kpop cover dancer. Jessica has been practicing karate since she was five years old, and took her hobby to an international level since the age of 15. As a USA representative, she has been able to travel the world, experience different cultures and compete against the world’s best. Through injuries sustained from sport, she found her passion for physical therapy and the rehabilitation process. After graduating with her doctorate from USC, she works in the outpatient orthopedic setting. She treats a wide range of patients, and continues to compete internationally as a USA karate athlete. When she’s not in the clinic or on the tatami, she finds joy in doing kpop dance covers with friends, former teammates of Koreos UCLA, and other dance teams of the kpop dance community. Jessica is blessed to lead a life where she can pursuing her passions and what brings her happiness.

• IG: @jessixjj - https://www.instagram.com/jessixjj/
  Twitter/X: @jessica_kwong - https://x.com/jessica_kwong

Links/resources:

• Koreos - BTS Black Swan (dance cover)
• Koreos - BTS Dynamite (dance cover)
• Psoas release tool (Amazon affiliate link)
• The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi (audiobook - affiliate link)
• “Live More & Love More" by Cat Burns (song - Youtube)
• The Hundred-Foot Journey (movie - wikipedia)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com