Bruce Lee Podcast

This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon is honored to welcome Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi to the show.

Everyone knows Kristi as a champion on the ice, but in her years since winning gold she has also become a devoted author, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for youth literacy. Born in California to Japanese-American parents, Kristi's mother was born in a WWII internment camp while her grandfather served as a U.S. Army lieutenant. Kristi's journey reflects strength across generations and is one of legacy and service.

Kristi shares how a treasured Dorothy Hamill doll ignited her early passion for skating, and what it felt like to meet her idol moments before the biggest performance of her life. She also reflects on her touring years with Stars On Ice.

Kristi opens up about the values her parents instilled in her around service and gratitude—and how those principles ultimately led her to found Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to early literacy and family engagement. Through her foundation, Kristi is helping ensure that children in underserved communities not only have access to high-quality books, but also the support needed to build a lifelong love of reading.

Finally, Kristi opens up about a new passion she's been engaged in, and it's VERY Bruce Lee of her! Join Shannon and get to know how Kristi is continuing to shape an inspiring legacy that continues across generations!

This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon welcomes Rudy Mata to the show.

Shannon first met Rudy at the LA County Youth Mental Health Summit hosted by the Department of Youth Development, where his story and message left a lasting impression. Rudy's journey is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. In the face of overwhelming odds, he committed himself to his growth and education and continues that path as he works toward a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Today, Rudy is a registered Substance Use Disorder Counselor, youth advocate, environmentalist, artist, and poet—and above all, a father!

Rudy is a true testament to the truth that our past does not define our future but it can influence and cultivate a meaningful future if we let it. His life's work centers around self-worth, generational healing, and creating safe, nurturing spaces for youth. Through his involvement with organizations like InsideOUT Writers, the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), ExpandLA, and Green Arrow Co-Lab, Rudy is building therapeutic and creative environments where at-risk youth can reconnect with their inner strength and break cycles of trauma.

Whether through poetry, healing circles, or community gardening, Rudy leads with heart. He is a living reflection of Bruce Lee's philosophy of self-actualization, sharing one's learnings and paying it forward. Their conversation explores how they met, the impact of Rudy's work, and what it truly means to support youth mental health with intention and love. Tune in and enjoy!

This week on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May, Shannon sits down with her friend, Katie Soo.

Katie is a creative force, tech innovator, and passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in storytelling. With a career that spans Hulu, HBO Max, DC Universe, Dollar Shave Club, and more, she has been instrumental in building and launching some of the most iconic and disruptive brands in entertainment and media. But what Shannon admires most about Katie is that behind every strategic move is a deep sense of imagination, heart, and a commitment to mentorship and community.

In this episode, Katie talks about how it's been to navigate leadership, tech, and Hollywood as an Asian American woman—and why creating access and pathways for others has always been central to her purpose. Katie was also instrumental in helping Warrior to get a 3rd season at Max so you can thank her, Warrior Fans! Katie shares how she continues to champion bold, creative storytelling as well as her reflections on the power of mentorship and the importance of holding the door open for others.

Katie also has a robust creative life beyond the boardroom — from writing her first children's book, to serving on numerous nonprofit boards, to raising her own family to creating inspiring content on social - Katie is the ultimate community connector, creator and friend to those around her!

Tune in and listen to see why Katie is such a powerful reminder that true leadership is grounded in personal passion, a desire to lift others up, and boundless imagination.

This week's guests on the special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for the month of May are The Twinjas—Ollie and Jonny Ho—and professional MMA fighter, stunt performer, and coach Austin Liu.

Shannon has known Ollie and Jonny Ho, known as The Twinjas, their whole lives. Their father, Steven Ho (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Conan O'Brien), has been a previous guest on the podcast and is a longtime friend. Identical twins and martial arts prodigies, the boys are making waves across entertainment, athletics, and fashion.

They've trained since the age of four and have competed across multiple martial disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, and more. Their infectious energy and talent have earned them roles on a number of series, and they are regular contributors to the official Bruce Lee social media accounts.

Joining them is professional fighter, stunt performer and coach, Austin Liu. Austin is also one of the martial arts instructors for both the Camp Bruce Lee and Warrior Academy programs at the BLF, where he shares his passion for working with youth by bringing Bruce's philosophies of personal growth and confidence to the next generation.

Join Shannon as they discuss how all three guests first found martial arts, how Bruce Lee's legacy has influenced their journeys, and what it means to grow into your power—both physically and mentally. Hear directly from two youths as they drop some real gems about how their lives have been positively affected and enriched by training in martial arts.

Scroll down for more information about all our guests and listen to today's episode as all of them express how they embody Bruce Lee's spirit of self-actualization, adaptability, and service!

This week's guest on this special edition Bruce Lee Foundation takeover of the Bruce Lee Podcast for AANHPI and Mental Health Awareness month is chef and entrepreneur Judy Joo!

Judy Joo is a Korean-American chef, author, and TV personality whose path to culinary success took a sharp left turn from Wall Street to the world's finest kitchens. From an engineering degree at Columbia to becoming the only female Iron Chef UK, Judy has built a career rooted in bold decisions, fearless creativity, and a deep love for the flavors of her heritage.

Shannon kicks off this May season celebrating her friend Judy's powerful story of reinvention and perseverance. Together they talk about the importance of work ethic, kindness, celebrating one's culture, mentorship of the next generation, and following your heart as Judy prepares to launch her newest cookbook, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less (available May 6, 2025). And listen in as Shannon reveals a bucket list wish of her own around food!

Make sure to catch Judy doing her thing right now as a judge on the new Food Network show House of Knives or visit one of her wildly popular restaurants Seoul Bird to get down with some Korean fried chicken at several locations and stadiums around the world. Or maybe you need to follow Judy to discover what disco fries are! Whatever the case, sit back and enjoy this conversation with the inspiring Judy Joo as we celebrate the importance of representation and wellbeing this May on the Bruce Lee Podcast BLF edition!