NBA Arena Host. TV Presenter. Video Producer.

I’m an on-camera host and video producer specializing in food and lifestyle. As a producer for Making It Media, I host “Destination LA” which airs on CBS and Amazon Prime.

I’m also the first Asian American woman to be an arena host for an NBA team. Prior to the pandemic, I hosted home games at Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors.

You can also spot me on INSIDER visiting the first Michelin-starred ramen in the US, learning how to make mochi at a 117-year old sweet shop, and biting into the best Thai fried chicken in LA.

How does being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American and/or community ally play a role in your life?

Being Taiwanese-American has always brought me a deep sense of pride and connection. My mother grew up in Kaohsiung so every winter break while I was growing up would be spent seeing my her parents – my Ah Ma and Ah Gong. I always looked forward to these trips because my grandparents would spoil my sister and I rotten. Since we could only stay for one week, in those precious days, they would make it count by ensuring we had the funnest excursions and the tastiest meals. In particular, I looked forward to Ah Ma’s famous lion’s head meatballs.

I always remembered Taiwanese people emanating a kindness and hospitality that filled my heart with warmth and my belly with extra servings of delicious local specialities. All those visits to Taiwan made me feel so loved. Those experiences have made me someone who aspires to now project unto others that same kindness and goodwill that I was so generously gifted as a child.

If you could teach future generations 1 thing about being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American or Taiwan, what would it be?

Do not ever forget your roots. Take the time to learn about the history of where we come from and the lessons these stories leave behind.

My Ah Gong was imprisoned for many years in the White Terror. Therefore my mother spent much of her upbringing without her father. It wasn’t until I was almost an adult that my mother decided to tell me. It was a painful memory that was difficult for her to talk about.

As immigrants, there can be a tendency to leave behind stories of suffering and adversity and focus on a better life in the United States. But it’s important to keep these memories alive, to recognize the resilience of Taiwanese immigrants, and to never take our blessings in America for granted.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

The future of Taiwanese America is the future of America. I see Taiwanese Americans elevating into roles of leadership, influence, and visibility that help transform and define what it means to be an American.

Favorite memory of Taiwan/Taiwanese America?

Shortly after I entered high school, I flew to Taiwan by myself for the first time. I took the high speed rail into town and while looking for my Ah Ma’s house, I got lost. I asked a city gardener for directions and she gave me verbal instructions for which direction to go. I thanked her and off I went.

Unfortunately I had taken a couple of wrong turns so it took me an extra hour to find my way. When I walked down the right street, I spotted the city gardener. She had memorized the address I had shown her and after her shift, had biked to my Ah Ma’s house to make sure I had arrived alright. I was touched by her concern and the extra time she took to verify that I was safe.

Favorite Taiwanese food?

I have so many…steamed bawan, o ah jian, o ah mee swah