In this episode, I dive deep with one of my great college friends to understand more of his life and what he was passionate about. From leaning into his Taiwanese culture to having a passion for teaching, Daniel always wanted to help everyone around him be better. As we unpack our realizations of understanding we came from a privileged life, we also understand the amount of hard work we got to be where we are. You’ll also hear about our great college memories and how the pandemic affected us both negatively and positively. Also, have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in a lion dance costume?! Daniel gives the major exclusive of one the biggest traditions of Lunar New Year.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:17 – Guest Intro
1:52 – Featured Funko Pop
3:34 – Leaning Into Our Cultures
11:03 – POV: Lion Dancing
19:28 – From Lion Dancing to Hip Hop Dancing
22:56 – Living a Privileged Life
36:48 – A Passion for Teaching
45:55 – Sharing the Love to Teach
48:21 – Reliving College Memories
53:00 – How Covid Took Away Our Senior Year
56:51 – Reliving College Memories Pt. 2
1:03:15 – How the Pandemic Affected Us
1:15:28 – Flowers to Guest
1:17:02 – Song Association
1:19:45 – Big 3 Questions

Iconic Dance Videos With Us In It:
-Performance: https://youtu.be/eQF09-eHFwI?si=4xttVd_oY6Xju6Zm
-Workshop: https://youtu.be/L9ZyC1hhgog?si=bHjQEzpShNraQ3vv

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

In this episode, I dive deep into Jon Hill’s story of the car accident that stripped him of the one thing he was super passionate about, running. We dive deep into his comeback mentally and how he can express it in other ways. In addition, Jon helped talked me through some mental struggles I was having as a content creator and not being afraid to try new things. Other topics we touched on include:

-It’s okay to be a master of multiple things, you don’t just have to master one!
-Saying yes to a trip to Honduras that shaped his mindset on trying new things
-How to have a more positive outlook on life versus the negative.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:14 – Guest Intro
1:06 – Mental Health Status
2:21 – Featured Funko Pop
6:11 – The Car Accident That Changed Everything
13:04 – Professional Athlete Experience
17:22 – Overcoming Mental Obstacles
21:38 – We’re Not That Special
27:23 – Growing Emotional Intelligence
30:25 – Experiencing Difficulties in the Pandemic
39:03 – Saying Yes to New Experiences
46:11 – A Jack of All Trades is a Master of None
50:21 – How Not to Be Afraid of Trying New Things
54:00 – You Don’t Have to Take Life So Seriously
59:39 – Best Relationship Advice
1:08:58 – Flowers to Guest
1:10:01 – Song Association
1:15:46 – Big 3 Questions

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

In this episode, I got to sit down with my online fitness coach, Steven Chen, and discuss the journey of accomplishing fitness goals. Everyone starts a fitness goal and then drops it 3 months after the new year. How can we prevent that from happening? Listen more to hear about Steven’s philosophy and how to battle that. Steven goes in depth about how he started his fitness journey, how he became an online fitness coach, and his philosophy to maximizing your fitness potential. Other topics in this episode include:

-Live discussion between client and online fitness coach
-How to accomplish your fitness goals whether that’s building muscle or losing weight
-How to overcome the fear of the gym

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:22 – Guest Intro
1:43 – Featured Funko Pop
3:23 – Why Start Fitness?
8:18 – Making the Nutritional Switch
14:55 – How Steven Became an Online Fitness Coach
21:52 – Lessons From Being a Coach
24:48 – Live Discussion Between Client & Coach
30:13 – How Difficult It Is to Accomplish Fitness Goals
36:37 – How to Manage Multiple Things
39:07 – How to Build Consistency
43:49 – What Fitness Myths Are Out There
48:13 – How to Build Muscle Mass
53:36 – How to Lose Weight
56:12 – Steven’s Philosophy on Aesthetics
58:06 – How to Get Over the Fear of the Gym
1:03:04 – Steven’s Personal Goals
1:08:13 – How Randy Started Dancing
1:13:30 – Flowers to the Guest
1:14:54 – Song Association
1:17:55 – Question from the Audience
1:20:07 – Big 3 Questions

Steven Chen Socials: @steven_chenfit
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

From dropping out of school to finding his true passion, Pirak Som is paving a whole new path for himself. He was able to find this new profound passion for health and wellness after suffering injuries and realizing his initial path for computer engineering wasn’t for him. After spending some time with himself, he is re-learning new ways of life and putting a lot of energy into what he is actually happy doing in life. Pirak’s deep love for family and community is the ignition for his fiery passion in life.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:13– Guest Intro
1:31 – Featured Funko Pop
2:23 – Turning Injury into Passion
7:46 – Recovery from an Injury Mentally
15:33 – Passion for Teaching the Game
23:12 – Understanding Our People Pleasing Tendencies
29:29 – Pirak’s Roots
33:53 – Pressure Makes Diamonds
41:13 – Celebrating Wins in Life
46:33 – Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone and Re-learning
51:57 – Pirak’s Drop Out Story
1:06:12 – Finding Yourself in Solidarity
1:10:10 – Breaking Down Negative Thoughts
1:15:23 – Being Okay with Changing Your Identity
1:20:14 – Focusing on the Journey and Not the Destination
1:24:28 – Growing as a Podcast Host
1:28:58 – Dealing with Past Memories
1:32:57 – Questions from the Audience
1:36:50 – Song Association
1:39:05 – Flowers to Guest
1:39:37 – Big 3 Questions

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

I got to sit down with one of my hometown friends, Nick Desrocher, as he shares with us his relationship with anxiety for decades now! From acknowledging it to finding the right mechanisms that work best for him, Nick has immersed himself in understanding the brain and how to cope with it in his everyday life. Nick also speaks on what it’s like to be a young entrepreneur and his passion for how the brain works in the world of marketing!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
2:17 – Featured Funko Pop
7:04 – First Instance of Feeling Anxiety
12:48 – Dealing with Anxiety
19:04 – Developing a Healthy Relationship with Anxiety
24:42 – Mental Health in Sports
34:23 – Mind and Body Connection
42:57 – Best Advice to Deal With Anxiety
45:21 – Creating Your Own Business
49:26 – Choosing Entrepreneurship Over 9-5
56:09 – Attracting New Clients
1:01:04 – Struggles of an Entrepreneur
1:07:16 – Advice to New Entrepreneurs
1:12:55 – The Creation of Highest Version
1:21:59 – Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
1:24:11 – How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health
1:30:36 – Stigma of Men and Mental Health
1:36:34 – Song Association
1:40:57 – Big 3 Questions

GroClix’s socials: @groclix on IG
Nick’s socials: @nick.desrocher on IG
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

This was an episode filled with tears but also filled with much much laughter. I invited a good friend of mine, Peter Lorn, on the podcast to discuss his story on how he manages the loss of his mother at an early age and how that has shaped him to be the best father he can be. In addition, Peter’s story teaches that you don’t have to take the traditional route to reach success and to focus on you. As long as you start your day off with positivity and be grateful to wake up yet another day, it’s just going to make your day a lot better. Furthermore, we listen to Peter’s dance journey as we think back to memories and talk about how dance changed our lives.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:23 – Guest Intro
1:15 – Featured Funko Pop
2:37 – The Loss That Changed Peter’s Life
11:28 – The Meaning of Family
19:50 – Starting the Day with Positivity
24:46 – Understanding Vulnerability
28:40 – Taking the Non-Traditional Route
59:28 – Chuck E. Cheese to K-Pop Covers
1:10:42 – How Dance Changed His Life
1:19:51 – Peter’s Message
1:25:58 – Flowers For Our Guest
1:26:49 – Song Association
1:30:27 – Questions from the Audience
1:32:30 – Big 3 Questions

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

What an episode to unpack! I sit down with my friend, Li Chen, who changed his career trajectory from actuary to becoming a biostatistician. The turning point in his life took place during a profound experience, which made him see whole new outlook for his future! Listen in as we discuss:

• How you are not confined or restricted to your initial life choices
• It’s okay to be playful with life and try new things no matter what part of life you are at
• How to get the most out of life even when life throws you a lot of challenges

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:24 – Guest Intro
2:12 – Featured Funko Pop
4:53 – Experience Immigrating to the States
12:46 – Going Through Childhood Alone
16:20 – Finding Confidence in Your Decisions
23:25 – Handling Others Perspectives of Us
29:02 – Picking a Career That Wasn’t Our Passion
39:23 – Realizing This Isn’t What’s Best
44:16 – Finding New Purpose Through a Profound Experience?!
54:42 – Dealing with Failure Every Single Day
58:24 – Passion for Health & Wellness
1:05:19 – Building Health to the Fullest Potential
1:12:10 – Competition Races = New Challenges
1:18:38 – Internal Validation vs. External Validation
1:24:04 – Challenging Our Own Labels
1:32:07 – Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone
1:41:46 – Doing The Hard Things
1:46:25 – Flowers to the Guest
1:47:30 – Song Association
1:49:13 – Questions from the Audience
1:53:58 – Big 3 Questions

Li Chen’s Socials: @li.chhen
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

In this episode, we welcome back our very first guest on the podcast, Zachary Aglugub! We catch up with Zach as he and his wife are expecting a new baby boy and discuss how that has changed his life! As we all know, Zach is continuing his journey of growth, and this time, he's taking a different approach to his fitness. This episode is filled with laugher, tears, and deep conversations about understanding ourselves and the direction we want to go in!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:23 – Guest Intro
1:49 – Featured Funko Pop
3:26 – Becoming a Soon To Be Father
9:42 – Creating a “Team” With Your Partner
13:35 –Setting an Example as a Father
18:01 – Things to Build a Strong Relationship
26:13 – Having Uncomfortable Conversations
35:06 – Benefits of Getting a Fitness Coach
48:28 – Debating the Effects of Ego
52:29 – Struggling With Understanding One’s Self
1:03:52 – Struggles of Celebrating Our Wins
1:09:00 – Finding Purpose and Fulfillment
1:15:49 – The Feeling of Getting Let Go
1:27:11 – Appreciation/Flowers to Guest
1:28:55 – Song Association
1:31:06 – Big 3 Questions

Zach’s Social: @agluegun
Zach’s Fitness Coach: @francisrances
My Fitness Coach: @steven_chenfit
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion