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Named one of Canada’s Top Style Influencers, Alex Liang isn’t just an influencer, luxury brand collaborator, and a Partner of the luxury real estate agency Engel & Völkers. He’s a quiet rebel who traded the glitz of social media fame for a life of deeper purpose. In this candid first installment of our two-part conversation, Alex opens up about:

• The paradox of being "Asian but not Asian enough" - growing up Chinese-Canadian in a privileged yet culturally ambiguous world
• Why he walked away from influencer culture - and what he learned about authenticity in the age of oversaturation
• The hidden rules of fashion, status, and identity - from New York’s elite circles to Toronto’s creative scene
• Socioeconomic truths no one talks about - why money and access shape identity more than race alone
• His early "borderline boring" rebellion - and how it fueled his leap into entrepreneurship

For anyone who’s ever felt caught between expectations and authenticity, Alex’s journey from Kenton Magazine founder to luxury real estate creative, offers a masterclass in rewriting the rules.

Part 2 drops next, where we dive into his career pivots, creative reinventions, and the surprising hobbies that keep him grounded. Follow @AsianRebelClub to stay tuned!

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In this episode of The Asian Rebel Club Podcast, I sit down with Jacob Tan, a two-time Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and pioneer of sustainability consulting in China. From surviving premature birth to nearly dying twice while backpacking, Jacob shares how confronting mortality shaped his unconventional path, leaving corporate stability to launch a sustainability firm when no one in China understood the concept.

Discover how Jacob’s anthropological background and global experiences taught him to prioritize impact over status, reject societal definitions of success, and build a nomadic life free from materialism.

He also reveals surprising insights from interviewing Fortune 500 VPs (who hated their jobs) and how his work bridges ancient Chinese wisdom with modern ESG strategies.

Whether you’re questioning societal expectations or seeking purpose beyond profit, Jacob’s journey is a powerful reminder to live like you’re dying - because fulfillment isn’t found in accolades, but in aligning your work with your deepest values.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub

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What does it mean to create beauty in the midst of exile?

Photographer and activist Fatimah Hossaini was forced to flee Kabul when the Taliban returned, but not before capturing the untold grace, power, and resilience of Afghan women through her lens.

In this episode, Fatimah shares the story behind her escape, her fight to reclaim the image of Afghan womanhood, and how photography became both her rebellion and her refuge.

From confronting patriarchy to rebuilding identity in exile, this is a conversation about courage, creativity, and what it truly means to be free, even in the middle of a war zone.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub

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Why do so many high-achieving Asians struggle with perfectionism, fear of disappointment, and late self-discovery?

In this episode of the Asian Rebel Club podcast, I talk with licensed therapist Jessica Lan about the deep-rooted cultural patterns that trap Asian Americans in cycles of people-pleasing, emotional repression, and rigid identities.

We explore how these behaviors show up in careers, relationships, and even hobbies (or lack thereof), and why breaking free often feels like betraying family or community.

Jessica shares her own journey from pre-med dropout to therapist, offering practical wisdom on rebuilding self-trust, navigating generational trauma, and the power of embracing imperfection.

Whether you’re wrestling with parental expectations, marital dissatisfaction, or just figuring out who you are outside of achievement, this conversation is a lifeline.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub

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Why do so many high-achieving Asians feel stuck in careers they don’t love, even when they know it’s not right for them?

In this episode of the Asian Rebel Club podcast, I sit down with licensed therapist Jessica Lan to explore the psychological fears, like uncertainty, guilt, and societal pressure, that keep people frozen in unfulfilling paths.

We dive into the two critical moments when people question their choices (college vs. mid-career), the difference between survival mode and true alignment, and practical steps to untangle what you really want.

Whether you’re burnt out, feeling lost, or just curious about rewriting your definition of success, this conversation offers validation, clarity, and hope.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
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🎙️Community Voice: Good girl. Good student. Good daughter.
The kind of “good” that quietly eats you alive.

In this raw, deeply personal episode of Asian Rebel Club, Crystal sits down with Kayla - a mixed-race woman from small-town Missouri navigating disability, betrayal, and survival - and Iris, a Filipina who rejected her family, university, and culture’s expectations by undergoing voluntary sterilization.

From violence disguised as excellence to the silent shame of being “unwanted”, they unpack the real cost of obedience and what it means to reclaim your story.
Expect vulnerability. Fire. And truth bombs that hit hard.

💥 Themes:

• Growing up mixed-race in rural America
• Divorce shame & being used for citizenship
• Choosing not to be a mother in a country where divorce is illegal

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
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• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub

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🎙️Community Voice: Wendy was the definition of a “model Asian daughter.” A violin prodigy. Straight-A student. Accepted into every top university. But underneath the achievements was a girl quietly falling apart.

Her childhood was spent under intense emotional and physical pressure from a mother who beat her for missed notes and told her she was worthless. School was her safe haven. College across the country was her escape plan. And success? Just a ticket to survival.

In this conversation, Wendy shares what happens after you get everything they told you to chase, and still feel hollow. From FIRE-ing (Financial Independence Retire Early) in her early 40s to processing trauma in silence, this is a story about shame, survival, and finally choosing joy… without permission.

We talk about:
– Growing up terrified of your own mom
– Quitting violin—and the “dream”—for good
– Why being mediocre is the ultimate rebellion
– What it’s like to retire early and still not feel free
– The invisible weight of childhood trauma that never really leaves

If you were ever the “easy kid” who lived in quiet pain… this one’s for you.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub

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What happens when chasing success almost costs you everything?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Ivan Ong, who built and listed a company on the Australian Stock Exchange in his 20s, only to find it hollow. It took a near-fatal bicycle crash and months of paralysis to force a full reset. From that rock bottom, Ivan co-founded KeaBabies—a parenting brand grounded in love, not just hustle. Today, it reaches over 6.5 million families and generates nearly US$85M in annual revenue, all without external funding.

We talk about:

• The dark side of chasing money and fame
• What spinal injury and burnout taught him about real success
• Why does he now build a business around life, not the other way around
• How he’s redefining Asian masculinity, fatherhood, and self-worth

This is a story about rebuilding - not just a company, but a life.

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Follow Asian Rebel Club:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianrebelclub
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asianrebelclub
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianrebelclub
• Newsletter (Substack): https://asianrebelclub.substack.com
• Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/asianrebelclub