When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Bryant Lin’s Journey

In this episode, Soon Yu interviews Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician at Stanford, who shares his compelling journey from doctor to patient. The discussion begins with Dr. Lin's professional background, including his pivotal role in founding the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) and his focus on lung cancer in the Asian community. The irony unfolds as Dr. Lin, who has been advocating for lung cancer research among non-smokers, particularly in the Asian population, is diagnosed with stage four non-small cell lung cancer himself. Despite the devastating diagnosis, Dr. Lin's story is one of resilience and hope. He emphasizes the importance of human connection in medicine, the impact of storytelling, and the role of hope in patient care. Dr. Lin also discusses his ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for early-stage lung cancer research and broader health initiatives in the Asian community. This episode is a powerful narrative of facing adversity with purpose, driving change, and finding serendipity in the most challenging circumstances.

03:59 Dr. Lin's Diagnosis Journey
07:35 Challenges in Healthcare Access
13:37 Importance of Screening and Early Detection
26:21 Impact on Dr. Lin's Perspective as a Physician
26:31 The Human Side of Medicine
30:28 The Role of Hope in Medicine
38:13 The Power of Storytelling
43:29 Letters to My Sons
52:17 Future Projects and Legacy

One Mother's Sacrifice Inspires Daughter's Mission to Move Families Forward.

In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Ritu Narayan, the CEO of Zum, a company revolutionizing the school transportation system. Ritu shares her journey from India to becoming a tech leader in Silicon Valley, discusses her family's influence and the challenges she faced while building Zum. The conversation delves into Zum’s transition from serving individual parents to securing large school district contracts, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pivotal moments that shaped the company. Ritu emphasizes the importance of staying passionate and making daily progress for aspiring entrepreneurs. This episode provides insights into scaling a technology-driven business and innovating within a traditionally stagnant industry.

2:24 Ritu's Family Inspiration and Background
4:15 Challenges and Sacrifices in Education and Career
12:29 Transition to the US and Tech Industry
20:19 The Birth of Zum: From Idea to Execution
27:08 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Stanford
31:25 Evaluating the Revenue Model and Lessons from Entrepreneurship
39:40 Pivoting to B2B
51:14 Rock Bottom Moments
57:30 Ritu’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs