Bing Chen is the Executive Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Gold House, a leading cultural ecosystem dedicated to empowering Asian Pacific creators and entrepreneurs to drive societal change. A visionary leader in media and diversity, Bing was formerly YouTube’s Global Head of Creator Development and Management, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the global creator economy. He has been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and honored as a Hollywood Reporter Next Gen Leader and ABC News History Maker. Bing also serves on numerous boards, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers. He is a Harvard-educated strategist known for building community-driven initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices. Through Gold House and beyond, Bing continues to push boundaries in media, venture capital, and cross-cultural innovation.

In this episode, Bing brings wit, vulnerability, and visionary insight to the conversation. He discusses his upbringing as a Taiwanese-American in the South, his early confidence, and how experiences in Shanghai helped shape his understanding of racism and privilege. He gives a masterclass in the creator economy, offering tips for monetization, longevity, and community building. He also dives into Gold House’s mission to make Asian-led creativity mainstream, explaining its work in film, venture, music, and health. Throughout, Bing emphasizes the importance of shared humanity over divisions and champions a collaborative, abundance-minded future.

• Parents, Prom, and the Cabbage Patch: Childhood and Family Stories: Bing shares hilarious and heartfelt stories about his parents’ immigration, cultural quirks, and growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. This includes some very memorable (and very real) parental sex talk. (2:25)
• Magic Bikes and Southern Roots: Growing Up Asian in the South: Bing reflects on his unique childhood experience in a mostly white Southern town, noting how he didn’t face racism until moving to California. He discusses confidence, energy, and how being different can actually attract others. (5:45)
• Band Geeks and Prom Regrets: High School and Identity Formation: In this personal segment, Bing opens up about high school, popularity, belonging to many social circles, and his bittersweet prom story. He touches on early lessons in connection and rejection. (8:00)
• Buffets, Boys’ Clubs, and Chubby Cattle: Food as a Love Language: Ami and Bing bond over their love of buffets, with Bing recounting how he formed a boys’ club just to avoid eating alone at Hometown Buffet. He drops a hidden gem recommendation in NYC and name-drops Chubby Cattle Group. (12:45)
• Building YouTube and the Creator Economy From Scratch: Bing gets into the serious stuff: his pivotal role at YouTube, how he helped coin “creator,” and what current creators need to know about sustaining success. This is a goldmine for anyone working in media or content creation. (14:00)
• Gold House = The Asian Disney?: Changing Culture at Scale: Bing breaks down what Gold House actually does—from investing in ventures to pushing Asian narratives in film, music, and business. He compares it to the rise of hip-hop and explains the long-term cultural strategy. (20:30)
• We’re More Similar Than We Think”: Stereotypes and Species-Level Thinking: In a profound and slightly controversial segment, Bing argues that the most damaging stereotype isn’t about race—but about our belief that we’re all so different. He emphasizes unity over hyper-specificity. (30:00)
• Candy, Concerts, and Cracking From Burnout: Rapid Fire and Vulnerability: In a fun, fast-paced wrap-up, Bing talks about burnout, sour candy as therapy, why he doesn’t complain, and his love for Tupac and Hans Zimmer. He ends on a strong note about ethics, ambition, and resilience. (37:30)

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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

Dr. Sunita Sah is a leading expert on decision-making, compliance, and ethical influence. A tenured professor at Cornell University, she has spent decades researching why people struggle to say "no" and how they can reclaim their voice. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The LA Times, shedding light on the hidden costs of compliance and the power of strategic defiance. Before becoming an organizational psychologist, Sunita was a medical doctor, an experience that shaped her insights into authority, trust, and professional ethics. Her new book, Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes, offers a practical roadmap for standing up against social pressures while staying true to one's values. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Sunita is passionate about empowering individuals to make better decisions and challenge the status quo with confidence.

In this episode, Dr. Sunita Sah provides expert insight into the psychological and social dynamics of defiance and compliance. She explains that people often feel a deep internal tension when confronted with situations that contradict their values but struggle to act due to societal conditioning, fear of consequences, or reluctance to challenge authority. Sunita shares personal stories about growing up in a strict Indian household, her journey from medical doctor to organizational psychologist, and how her fascination with compliance and influence led her to research this topic. She introduces key concepts from her book, including the "Defiance Compass," a framework for determining when and how to defy, and emphasizes that defiance is a skill that can be learned and practiced over time. She also reassures Ami about her difficult parenting moment, highlighting the importance of assessing safety before acting. Sunita’s research underscores the hidden costs of compliance and how individuals can reclaim their agency by standing up for their values in meaningful ways.

• A South Asian Perspective: The Cultural Battle with Defiance: Ami and Sunita bond over their shared South Asian backgrounds, discussing how immigrant upbringings shaped their views on obedience, compliance, and the challenge of saying no. (03:31)
• The Power of a Name: Why Sunita Kept Hers: Sunita shares the story of why she didn’t change her last name after marriage, despite social pressure, and how this small act of defiance can have larger implications. (04:53)
• The Parenting Dilemma: When Should You Defy?: Ami recounts a powerful personal story about an aggressive stranger confronting her daughter at a movie theater. Sunita walks her through the "Defiance Compass" framework to evaluate whether speaking up would have been the right choice. (18:03)
• Why We Comply—Even When We Shouldn’t: Sunita breaks down the five psychological stages of defiance, explaining why we often freeze in the moment and default to compliance (28:02)
• The Hidden Cost of Saying Yes: Ami shares her struggle with ulcerative colitis and how years of suppressing her voice may have contributed to her chronic stress and health issues. Sunita discusses how unchecked compliance can take a physical toll. (34:42)
• Why Women (Especially) Struggle to Say No: Sunita introduces the concept of “insinuation anxiety”—the fear of making someone feel bad by rejecting their request—and why women often feel this pressure more acutely than men. (40:08)
• How to Build the Skill of Defiance: Sunita explains why defiance isn’t just a personality trait but a learned skill, offering actionable advice on how to practice saying no in small, everyday moments. (49:05)
• Success, Oprah, and The Cure: In a lighthearted closing, Sunita shares her definition of success, her dream collaboration (hint: Oprah!), and her love for The Cure—tying back to the importance of being true to oneself. (55:34)

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Hugh Forrest is the President and Chief Programming Officer of South by Southwest (SXSW), one of the world’s leading festivals celebrating music, film, technology, and innovation. A native of Austin, Texas, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s creative and entrepreneurial identity. Joining SXSW in its early days, he leveraged his background in publishing and technology to help grow the festival into an internationally recognized event. Under his leadership, SXSW has expanded beyond music to include industry verticals such as health tech, transportation, and artificial intelligence, all while staying true to its mission of fostering creativity and connection.

His contributions to Austin’s cultural and business landscape have earned him numerous accolades, including being named Austinite of the Year and receiving the Diversity Champion of the Year award. Passionate about collaboration and innovation, Hugh remains committed to the power of in-person interactions, emphasizing their importance in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of SXSW’s evolution, recounting its early days in the 1980s when Austin’s club owners took a chance on a fledgling festival during spring break—a decision that would shape the city’s global reputation. He discusses SXSW’s transformation from a music-focused event into a multidisciplinary hub for film, interactive media, health tech, and transportation. Addressing concerns that the festival has become too corporate, he argues that while SXSW has grown, its core mission of celebrating creativity and community remains unchanged. Throughout the conversation, Hugh also shares his personal journey, reflecting on how his deep ties to Austin have influenced his leadership and vision for one of the world’s most influential cultural events.

• Ami’s life update and travel adventures: Ami shares her recent travels, including attending the Grammys and the Super Bowl, before introducing Hugh (0:30)
• How Hugh Forrest got involved with SXSW: Hugh recalls his early days in Austin, his background in publishing, and how he was hired for his desktop publishing skills (4:10)
• The birth of SXSW: A festival born from rejection: Hugh shares how SXSW came to be after a failed partnership with a New York music event, and how Austin club owners reluctantly gave them a chance (6:42)
• SXSW’s evolution: From music to tech, film & beyond: The festival’s expansion beyond music to include film, interactive media, health tech, and transportation—shaped by Austin’s growth (10:21)
• Balancing corporate growth and grassroots creativity: Hugh addresses criticisms that SXSW has become too corporate, explaining how they balance big brands with indie creatives (14:54)
• Navigating controversies: DEI, social issues and speaker curation: Discussion on how SXSW handles political and social challenges, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (1:13)
• Personal highlights: Bruce Springsteen, David Byrne and memorable moments: Hugh shares one of his biggest regrets—missing most of Bruce Springsteen’s keynote—and reflects on other standout festival moments (24:20)
• Austin’s transformation and SXSW’s role in the city’s growth: The impact of SXSW on Austin’s economy and identity, and Hugh’s thoughts on the city’s evolution (28:11)
• Hugh’s perspective: Success, creativity and the future of SXSW: Rapid-fire Q&A on success, creativity, and what excites him about the future of SXSW (35:26)

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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.