*Season Finale* Alvin Cailan is a chef, author, and host of The Burger Show on First We Feast. Alvin grew up in a Chicano section of LA as an AMBOY (American raised Filipino), and trained as a world-class chef with Thomas Keller before striking out on his own as founder of the now iconic breakfast brand Eggslut. Alvin and Rich Tu sit down and talk about his early days as a "tournat", how grind culture has changed, his love of Filipino cuisine, and how he has become the most high profile in voice America's Filipino food movement. 

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
 Thanks to DesGin for their support

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83. 'It Starts With Us' w/ Alvin Cailan, Author, Chef and host of The Burger Show

Rashad Rastam grew up as a skate kid in Philadelphia who went on to found the brand Dahsar. He cut his teeth as a BMX streetwear buyer, designer, digital producer, visual producer at a non-profit, and a brand consultant, all in one. In addition Rashad hosts the podcast Wear Many Hats, where his guests reveal their side hustle. Rich Tu met Rashad at an event promoting his collaboration with Commercial Type before the pandemic. Now, Rich and Rashad sit and talk about his journey to being a professional multitasker, the connection between typography and fashion, and why collaborating with trusted partners is important.
Listen to Rich's appearance on Wear Many Hats here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-136-rich-tu/id1536111608?i=1000588523490

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
 Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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82. 'I'm Always a Student' w/ Rashad Rastam, founder of Dahsar & Host of 'Wear Many Hats'

Beatriz Lozano is a designer, typographer, and educator who's work pushes the intersection of creativity and technology and was recently inducted into the prestigious Young Guns 20 class. Beatriz has worked with clients like Planned Parenthood, Target, NPR, and ESPN where she designed the ESPN 50 identity in 2022. She sits down with Rich Tu to talk about growing up in Detroit, Michigan, how social activism is integral to her creative identity, and how technology and A.I. will change the creative industry.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel

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81. 'We Design With An Accent' w/ Beatriz Lozano, Designer and Educator

Eva Zar is a director and photographer who’s mission is to show diversity across all spectrums in her work. Within a short amount of time Eva's built an impressive client list including Fenty, Olay, MTV, and Pinterest. Eva and Rich Tu have a thoughtful and funny conversation about growing up as a Third Culture Kid in Austria and Israel, beginning her creative journey during the Syrian refugee crisis, being comfortable on big sets, and the importance of feeling at home with your chosen family.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
  Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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80. 'Soft But Not Vulnerable' w/ Eva Zar, Director and Photographer

Lauren Tamaki is an illustrator and artist with a new book out titled Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration. Lauren and Rich Tu have a hilariously emotional conversation about growing up in a talented family, her journey to authorship, and how glamour connects to Star Trek and drag. Also, Lauren discusses how a recent medical emergency has changed her outlook on life and why it's important to process trauma in order to grow. This episode is not to be missed.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
 Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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79. 'If I'm Gathering a Gang, I'm Getting Librarians' w/ Lauren Tamaki, Illustrator and Author

Haruko Hayakawa is a CG artist and creative director who talk herself 3D when she was 13 years old. She recently took the leap as an independent artist and has worked with clients like Tom Ford, 88Rising, SKKN, and Bon Appétit. Haruko and Rich Tu talk about how her Japanese culture and food styling influence her work, the challenges of going independent, entering Web3, and how she learned 3D modeling from Gundam spec sheets.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
  Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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78. 'The Beauty of Being Self Employed' w/ Haruko Hayakawa, CG Artist & Creative Director

Mamadi Doumbouya is a photographer from Guinea, West Africa. He has photographed icons like Spike Lee, Tom Hanks, and Neil Degrasse Tyson, and was recently honored as one of Forbes 30 Under 30. Rich Tu and Mamadi sit down for an exuberant conversation that covers his life in Guinea, how he found NYCSalt to jumpstart his career, how family obligation informs who he is today, and what it means to feel like a tourist in your own home.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
 Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
 Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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77. 'Every Artist is Constrained in Some Way' w/ Mamadi Doumbouya, Photographer

Before Jeffstaple (born Jeffrey Ng) built a creative empire he was sneaking into Parsons' silkscreening lab to hand print his first Staple tees. As the founder and creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department, Jeff's prolific work encompasses graphic design, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing for a range of from startup brands to Fortune 500 companies. Jeff and Rich Tu, sit down to talk about his humble beginnings growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants in New Jersey, the early days of Staple, helping HipHop mature with TheFader and Rawkus, and the launch of the iconic Pigeon Dunk.
Also, they discuss the role of design in culture, how Jeff continues to embrace new technology, the ways in which Web3 reminds him of streetwear, and the time when Rich designed Staple tees based on theology.
For even more, check out his new book Jeffstaple: Not Just Sneakers (with Rizzoli), chronicling his 25 year creative journey.
LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
  Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel

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76. 'We Can Express Ourselves Through Work Ethic' w/ Jeffstaple, founder & creative director of Staple and Reed Art Department

Danica Tan Lijun is a Singaporean art and animation director with a multidisciplinary background in design, animation and film. She was recently inducted into the global class of ADC Youngs Guns 20 and won the second annual COLORFUL Awards with the OneClub. Danica and Rich Tu have a conversation about her upbringing in Singapore, the creative path that brought her to LA, her recent experience at SXSW, and how she tells "tender and ferocious" coming-of-age stories.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel

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75. 'There is No Playbook to Success' w/ Danica Tan Lijun, Animation Director

Gabriela Namie is a designer and art director who's been recognized by the global creative industry and uses design to amplify messages she believes in. Currently she's an art director for Google YouTube Music platform, after being at &Walsh and founding Estúdio Barca in her native Brazil.
Gabriela and Rich Tu chat about the unique shared culture, growing up Brazilian Japanese, what it means to have a personl voice in design, and how A.I. can potentially change the creative industry forever.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
  Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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74. 'Just Make It Art' w/ Gabriela Namie, Art Director at Google, YouTube Music

Walt Geer is the Chief Experience Design Officer of VMLY&R and was named the Change Creator of the Year by Adweek, but took the path less traveled to get there. In recent years, Walt has become a vocal advocate for inclusion in the creative space, and talks about how a viral post on LinkedIn and asking for accountability has helped build his platform today.
Also, Walt and Rich Tu talk about the value of being a "swiss army knife", the definition of "Brand Experience" how he innovated at companies like Google, ViacomCBS (now Paramount), and Verve (to name a few) and earning some key patents along the way.

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel



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73. 'Success is Defined By How Many People I Can Help ' w/ Walt Geer, Chief Experience Design Officer at VMLY&R

*Season Premiere* Kim Pham is the child of Vietnamese refugees and the co-founder of the Asian food brand OMSOM. Kim and Rich Tu sit down and talk about a range of topics like food shame, the importance of community, her founders' journey, and how OMSOM is fighting stigmatization of the ethnic food aisle.
Also, they discuss what it means to be "chronically online and made on the internet", and how Kim is giving life to her multitudes on TikTok and sharing her experience as a lifestyle domme. This episode is all about fighting the model minority myth, and it's a must-listen!

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Audio produced by Timothy Simonson / @timwicked
  Illustration by Eugenia Mello / @eumiel
  Recorded at Canal Street Market, thanks to DesGin for their support

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72. 'Chronically Online and Made of the Internet' w/ Kim Pham, co-founder of OMSOM

Esteban Serrano is a creator, television producer, and contributor to Hip Hop and pop culture for close to 20 years at places like MTV and FUSE. Over the course of his career, he has worked on iconic properties like TRL and had a hand in giving artists like A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar their first TV appearances.
Rich Tu and Esteban sit down and talk about his upbringing in West Philadelphia, growing up in a Puerto Rican and African-American household, and how he broke into the entertainment industry.
Also, they discuss Esteban's most recent endeavor, helping re-launch Yo! MTV RAPS in the United states on Paramount+, as the show’s Creative Director.
Recorded live at Soho House, in New York City.

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.

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71. *LIVE* 'Don't Wait, Just Produce' w/ Esteban Serrano, creative director for Yo! MTV Raps

Bobby Hundreds and Ben Hundreds met in law school and founded the iconic streetwear brand The Hundreds in 2003. They sit down with Rich Tu to talk about the early days of streetwear, their humble beginnings merging influences of hip hop, punk and hardcore, and why being the children of immigrants creates a sense of urgency and survival.
Also, they go in-depth into how The Hundreds has always been about community, embracing inclusivity in Web3, challenges of building within the Metaverse, and how they created their sold-out Adam Bomb Squad NFT collection, and the legacy they would like to leave behind when it's all said and done. This episode is packed with fashion and futurism, and not one to be missed.

LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
  Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.

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70. 'We Can All Speak ETH' w/ Bobby & Ben Hundreds, founders of The Hundreds

Melody Ehsani is a celebrated fashion designer based in Los Angeles and the Women's Creative Director for the global brand Foot Locker. Melody and Rich Tu have a refreshing conversation about how she turned a passion for justice into a creative journey through self-discovery and spirituality.
They cover a range of topics, including growing up in L.A. in a first generation Iranian home, finding God on her own terms, moving to China to design her first sneaker, and the unique challenges of creating for a self-owned brand versus a huge corporation. Also, they uncover a never-before-discovered easter egg on her classic Fearless Jordan 1 collab. 
LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
  Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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69. 'If You Knew What You Had Was Rare, You Would Never Waste It' w/ Melody Ehsani, Fashion Designer

REO is a music producer and dynamic futurist poised to change the way the world views digital art. His work in both music and digital art have lead him to into the metaverse with high-ticket NFTs, and collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé and Kanye West. REO opens up about finding his true identity as an artist, discovering his West African roots, and how he hacked the educational system.
Also REO and Rich Tu discuss how NFTs have empowered this generation of digital artists, what's creatively possible in the Metaverse, and they take a peek behind the curtain of Kanye's Donda listening parties and what it takes to create on that level.

LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery
 For more on Rich Tu x MINI x American Immigration Council, go to: MINI.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
 Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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68. 'I Stopped Trying to Put Myself in a Certain Category' w/ REO, Music Producer and Visual Artist

Walshy Fire is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer who is a part of the Grammy-nominated dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer. In this special episode, Walshy talks to Rich Tu about how he quit a corporate day job at IBM to pursue his dream in the music industry, becoming a part of the Black Chiney sound system, and later on the joining Major Lazer. They also talk about his music influences, the importance of the New York club scene in the 90's, why cultural validity matters, and the importance of positive music.
LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery
 For more on Rich Tu x MINI x American Immigration Council, go to: MINI.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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67. 'I Want to Evoke an Emotion, I Want to Touch a Button' w/ Walshy Fire of Major Lazer

Anna Park is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in the past few years with her large scale charcoal drawings that simultaneously equals parts hedonism and Americana. A recent grad, she has shown in major galleries around the world, and gained the attention of the likes of KAWS and Billy Eilish. Anna and Rich Tu talk about her artistic process, what it was like growing up in Utah as a Korean immigrant, how parental expectations within Asian culture is intense, and why it's important to take a break to protect your mental health. 
LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery
 For more on Rich Tu x MINI x American Immigration Council, go to: MINI.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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66. 'It's Burnt Wood on More Burnt Wood' w/ Anna Park, Fine Artist

*Season 8 Premiere* We're back! Daniel Buezo is a designer and co-founder of LA-based streetwear upstart Kids of Immigrants and the perfect guest to kick off the new season. Daniel sits down with host Rich Tu to talk about his early days growing up on the East Coast in a first gen Honduran family, being acutely aware of the sacrifices his parents made, and how he avoided trouble to pursue a college degree in social work. Also, Daniel opens up about how he and co-founder Weleh Dennis worked behind-the-scenes for two years before launching the KOI brand in 2016, how their approach to collaborations has evolved, and why it's important to focus on love and community against all odds. This is a conversation you can't miss. 
LINKS

 This is a special collaboration with The OG magazine. For more, go to: TheOnline.Gallery
 For more on Rich Tu x MINI x American Immigration Council, go to: MINI.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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65. 'Unity Within Our Community Creates Opportunity' w/ Daniel Buezo, co-founder of Kids of Immigrants

*Season Finale* Cris Ramos Greene is a Spanish-American writer and author of the memoir Embrace That Girl. Her writing has also been featured in Thought Catalog, The New Tropic, and BuzzFeed. Rich and Cris discuss her debut book, which tells the heartfelt and humorous story of navigating adulthood and searching for meaning and love in Miami. They talk about the creative process and the importance of taking risks, her early days in advertising, and how the pandemic changed her approach to the book. And for you artists out there, they talk about the book cover process from the author’s point of view. 
LINKS

 Check out FirstGenBurden.com for all the episodes.
 Follow us @firstgenburden and Rich Tu / @rich_tu
  Thanks to Listening Party and DesGin for their support.


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