Podcast
Reppin
Hosted by Evelien Kong · EN
Here, we're human first.
Reppin is the representation podcast where remarkable people drop the performance and just be human for a minute. Not the brand. Not the press version. The actual person — who they are, what they stand for, what they represent.
Representation isn't just about race, gender, or identity. It's about what you stand for. What you've survived. What you choose to own.
Host Evelien Kong is a TV producer and director with 20+ years of experience — she sits down with notable people you've heard of and THINK you know. No pretense. Real conversations. Listen in and find out who they really are, what they show up for and what they represent.
For anyone who has ever felt unseen, misrepresented, or reduced to a single story.
Follow Reppin. New episodes twice a month.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Golf Champion… and Privilege
4d ago00:52:21Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you reach the top of your field — and still feel completely alone? I sit down with world-class golfer and long-drive champion Alexis Belton for a conversation about what success doesn’t always show you — being visible, accomplished, even celebrated… and still feeling invisible in the spaces you move through. And maybe more people understand that than we say out loud. In a world where we’re more connected than ever, so many people are still navigating loneliness, disconnection, and that quiet question of where they actually belong. Alexis shares her experience of this as a Black woman in the traditionally exclusive world of golf — and how isolation became the catalyst for something bigger: building community, creating opportunity, and turning personal experience into collective connection. We also talk about privilege, access, and the unwritten rules that shape who gets to feel comfortable in a room and who doesn’t. And how privilege, at its core, is access — access to information, opportunity, networks, confidence, and the unspoken permission to belong. Whether we notice it or not, that shapes every space we move through. Alexis opens up about using golf as a connector, why she joined ONE Campaign — a global organization working to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease while expanding access to health and economic opportunity, especially in Africa — and what she’s learned about vulnerability, advocacy, and building a legacy that’s rooted in impact, not image. This conversation isn’t really about golf. It’s about what it does to a person when they succeed at the highest level and still don’t feel seen. And what changes when you stop normalizing that feeling — and start building something that makes space for other people instead. If you’ve ever felt alone in success, out of place in a room you were “supposed” to belong in, or like you’ve had to figure it all out without a map — I really want you to listen to this one. ONE Campaign: https://www.one.org/us/ Alexis Belton's webpage: https://www.alexisbelton.com/ Alexis' foundation: https://beltondrive.com/ Reppin's page: https://www.reppin.tv/ Reppin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/ Reppin's Music: DJ ACE https://www.djace78.com/about Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Hip Hop & Bruce Lee can inspire your own power
2w ago00:51:48Tap to summarizeWhat do Bruce Lee, hip hop, and you have in common? More than you think. Acclaimed author and cultural critic Jeff Chang joins us for a conversation that goes way beyond Bruce Lee—and straight into identity, race, representation, belonging, and the pressure to become someone else just to fit in. Based on his acclaimed book Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America, Jeff unpacks how Bruce Lee became a symbol of visibility, confidence, and self-definition for generations of people who felt underestimated, stereotyped, or erased. But this episode expands far beyond one icon. We get into Hollywood, racism, stereotypes, imposter syndrome, belonging—and the unexpected link between Asian American identity and hip hop culture. Jeff Chang brings a deeply human perspective shaped by growing up navigating race and identity, facing racism at Berkeley, and slowly turning those experiences into voice through music, activism, and storytelling. That lived experience is what grounds how he understands—and writes about—culture, identity, and belonging. At its core, this episode is about identity and belonging—and the power of culture to help people finally feel seen. If you’ve ever felt caught between worlds, underestimated, or like you had to fight to belong—this conversation meets you there… and reminds you: the story has always been yours to own. Listen to Reppin on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReppinPodcast Follow Reppin on Instagram: @reppin_podcast Visit the Reppin website: https://reppin.tv Learn more about Jeff Chang: https://jeffchang.net/ Open Music By: DJ ACE https://www.instagram.com/djace78/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What No One Tells You About Infertility, Marriage & Finding Hope I Candace Wohl
3w ago00:37:24Tap to summarizeMy next guest has proven you should never underestimate the power of determination and hope. Meet Candace Wohl, she is a writer, public speaker and women’s health advocate. Her evolution towards becoming that advocate began when she and her husband Chris, who were in their late 20s then, were thrown onto the private and painful roller coaster of infertility.After 6 years of enduring an assault of medical procedures and investing their entire life savings, they were still unable to conceive. As they went through devastating lows, they also began documenting their struggles and created a blog called Our Misconception. They worked to break down the stigma of infertility and provided the unique perspective of a man and a woman. They shared information and mistakes to help others navigate and approached this shrouded issue with a lighter touch.Since then, Candace’s blog garnered national attention and has been named Best IVF blog in 2019 and they’ve been profiled in Glamour and Cosmopolitan Magazine and were featured on MTV’s Award Wining documentary series True Life.Find out how Candace and Chris transformed their pain into power, how they harnessed their strength using humor and light and how they persisted through grief. See how she’s paying it forward and find out if she and Chris were able to have the family they desperately wanted.Candace’s Blog Our Misconception: https://ourmisconception.com/Candace’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmisconceptionCandace’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourmisconception/Be sure to check out our instagram https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/ to get an update on Candace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why So Many of Us Don’t Feel Like We Belong | HBO’s Eugene Yi
3w ago00:46:37Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually mean to be seen—and to belong—without having to earn it, explain it, or change yourself just to be understood? That’s the question at the center of this conversation with Eugene Yi, an Emmy-winning director known for powerful documentary work including Free Chol Soo Lee, The Rose: Come Back to Me, and his latest HBO film The A-List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas. On the surface, The A-List brings together 15 voices across the Asian American and Pacific Islander community—Connie Chung, Sandra Oh, Bowen Yang, Kumail Nanjiani, alongside people you may not know yet, but should. But this is not a celebrity documentary. It’s intimate by design: no performance—just people speaking honestly. A story rooted in AAPI identity, diaspora, and lived experience. And what stands out is that even these leaders and public figures have felt like they didn’t belong in the rooms they were in. This is a universal challenge. People trying to find their place.People trying to be understood. And what you see in this film is a community of people who have felt unseen—realizing those shared experiences don’t just connect us, they strengthen what community actually is. If you’ve ever felt unseen, you’re not understood or need to change everything you are to belong. This conversation on REPPIN will help you feel less alone in that experience, and see it differently. Full Conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZiWLvhmTMaaWX2w8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Angie Thomas: The Power Of Story
May 400:43:35Tap to summarizeStories don’t just reflect the world—we use them to understand it. And few writers do that more powerfully than Angie Thomas. Angie is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, the global bestseller that sparked worldwide conversation and became a major film. She’s also the author of On the Come Up and the fantasy series Nic Blake and the Manifestors. Her work consistently centers people and communities that are often overlooked—bringing their voices, experiences, and humanity into focus in a way that feels honest and grounded. She was the very first guest I ever had on Reppin… and helped launch this show. So having her back is a very special full-circle moment. In this episode, we talk about The Hate U Give, Nic Blake, why history still belongs in fantasy, and how stories travel across cultures—shaping how young readers see the world and themselves. We also get into the larger conversation happening right now around books like hers—and why it matters more than most people realize. If you care about the stories that shape how we see the world—and each other—you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how they shape how you’re seen too. Full video on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZ... YouTube: @ReppinPodcast Instagram: @reppin_podcast Angie's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiethomas/ 🎧 Listen, follow the show, and if this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Adam Kinzinger's Breaking Point
Apr 2000:56:35Tap to summarizeBreaking Point: Adam Kinzinger on January 6 and the Courage to Stand for Your Values What happens when standing by your values could cost you everything — your career, your friendships, even your sense of belonging? In this episode of Reppin, I sit down with former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Air Force veteran, and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger to talk about the moment that became his breaking point: the January 6 United States Capitol attack. After 12 years representing Illinois in Congress, Adam Kinzinger made a decision that would define his career — speaking out after January 6 and choosing principle over party. The fallout was immediate: backlash, threats, lost friendships, and a life that would never look the same again. But this conversation goes beyond politics. On Reppin, Adam Kinzinger opens up about the fear and chaos inside the Capitol that day, the emotional toll that followed, and the faith that helped him navigate one of the hardest chapters of his life. He also shares why he founded Country First, a movement working to rebuild trust in American democracy and create space for Americans across political divides to disagree without losing their humanity. At its core, this episode is about courage, integrity, and the resilience it takes to stand by your values — even when the cost is high. 🎧 If you care about leadership, democracy, and principled conversations that challenge the status quo, this episode is for you. • Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6 • The moment he chose principle over party • The personal cost of speaking out • Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout • How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation • Why he founded Country First • What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity What you’ll hear in this episode • Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6 • The moment he chose principle over party • The personal cost of speaking out • Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout • How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation • Why he founded Country First • What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity Learn more about Adam's organization: COUNTRY FIRST https://www.country1st.com/ Follow Adam on his instgram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_kinzinger/?hl=en WATCH this conversation on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZiWLvhmTMaaWX2w8 Listen to Reppin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 Follow me on the gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast Music by: DJ ACE the Cut Lieutenant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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XO, Kitty’s Gia Kim on Identity, Confidence & Representation
Apr 600:40:26Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Reppin, we talk with Gia Kim from Netflix’s hit teen series XO, Kitty about her role as Yuri Han, LGBTQ+ representation, and turning life challenges into confidence and personal power. Gia opens up about playing Yuri, the confident “queen bee” at an international school in Seoul, navigating friendship, love, identity, and being one of the few openly gay characters at the center of a global teen drama. She also shares her own journey across Seoul, Hong Kong, New York, and Beijing, facing imposter syndrome and painful challenges—and in this conversation, she reveals a deeply personal experience she’s never talked about before and how she transformed it into resilience, personal power, and growth. This conversation goes beyond acting. It’s about representation, multicultural identity, and the real-life experiences that shape who we are. And it’s a story about storytelling—how a character or show can inspire, give voice, and even change a life. Why Listen: See how Gia channels her life into Yuri Han, making the character authentic and relatable. Hear a raw conversation about self-doubt, growth, and confidence. Understand why Netflix teen hits like XO, Kitty matter for LGBTQ+ and global representation. Discover how storytelling can inspire, empower, and make a real difference. Watch / Listen: Full video on Spotify Clips on YouTube: ReppinPodcast Follow Evelien on Instagram: @reppin_podcast Follow Gia Kim on Instagram: @thisisgiakim Subscribe, share, download, and leave a review—help others discover stories that inspire, represent, and make a real difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ready Or Not! Here Comes Warrior Olivia Cheng
Mar 2300:56:29Tap to summarizeOlivia Cheng on Warrior, Netflix’s Marco Polo, Ready or Not 2 & Owning Your Voice If you know Olivia Cheng, you know she brings fearless, complex women to life. She’s Ah Toy on Warrior, Mei Lin on Netflix’s Marco Polo, and now starring in the hit sequel Ready or Not 2. Today on Reppin, Olivia joins me to talk about her life, leadership, and how she found her voice — on-screen and off. Olivia has built a career playing strong, layered, unforgettable characters. In this episode, she dives into Ready or Not 2, stepping into a high-council family leader role in a deadly “double-or-nothing” hunt. She also opens up about her life — those messy, human truths we all carry — and how that fuels her craft. You'll gain insight into where her cultural pride, grit, and perspective comes from. She talks honestly about bullying, racism, and moments that could have held her back — and how she turned those experiences into empathy, strength, and leadership. You’ll also get a chance to see the real Olivia Cheng — the person behind the roles — as she shares personal stories and challenges that shaped her perspective and how those experiences help bring these incredible characters that we love to life. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Joining Ready or Not 2, the hit sequel, and the high-stakes “double-or-nothing” twist 🔥 Why Olivia is drawn to complex, powerful women 🔥 How exploring the shadow self shapes her craft and storytelling 🔥 Growing up between cultures and finding identity, pride, and resilience 🔥 Turning challenges into empathy, strength, and leadership 🔥 Representation through Warrior (Ah Toy), Marco Polo (Mei Lin), and Ready or Not 2 and its impact on audiences 🔥 Using your voice and platform to create real-world change If you care about storytelling, leadership, Asian representation, and finding your voice, this episode with Olivia Cheng is inspiring, real, and unmissable. 🎧 Listen now to Reppin and see the depth, humanity, and fearless energy Olivia brings to every role — from Warrior to Marco Polo to Ready or Not 2. Olivia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatoliviacheng/ Listen to Reppin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 Reppin's gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Reppin's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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From Spotlight to Self-Discovery: Laura Sohn returns!
Mar 900:50:26Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you step away from the path everyone expects you to follow? Actress Laura Sohn returns to Reppin for a powerful conversation about redefining success, owning your identity, and finding belonging on your own terms. Laura broke out globally on the hit NBC drama The Blacklist, and has appeared across television in NCIS and God Friended Me. Her work spans network television and the New York stage—always bringing depth, nuance, and authenticity to the stories she tells. But this conversation goes beyond the highlight reel. Laura opens up about the pressure so many of us feel—from family, culture, and society—to chase a very specific definition of success. In her twenties, she made the bold decision to step back from a hit show and ask a bigger question: What actually matters? What followed was a period of reflection, humility, and growth. It’s an honest conversation about curiosity, culture, family, and the courage it takes to stop proving yourself—and start owning who you are. Laura is also currently starring in the New York play JESA at The Public Theater. JESA follows four Korean American sisters who reunite to perform their father’s ancestral ritual honoring the dead. What begins as a ceremony quickly erupts into sibling clashes, humor, and the messy truth about what holds people together. If you’ve ever: questioned your path felt caught between cultures or wondered where you truly belong this conversation will resonate. 🎭 See Laura live in JESA!! https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2526/jesa/ 🎧 Listen to Reppin:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 🌐 More episodes:https://reppin.tv Say hi! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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K-Pop: The Rose Finding Success On Your Own Terms
Feb 2500:42:06Tap to summarize🎙️ How The Rose Broke the K-Pop System | Behind the Music, Mental Health & Friendship | Full Interview Go behind the scenes of The Rose: Come Back to Me — the new documentary about the Korean indie rock band who defied the K-pop industry to stay true to themselves. This in-depth conversation with award-winning filmmakers Eugene Yi and Diane Quon explores the real story behind The Rose’s rise, their fight for creative freedom, and the universal themes of identity, resilience, and friendship. 🎬 The Rose: Come Back to Me isn’t just a K-pop documentary — it’s a story of courage, loyalty, and the power of choosing your own path in a system built to control it. 🔥 In this exclusive interview, we dive into: Why The Rose left the K-pop trainee system to pursue their own sound How they fought back after being exploited by their record label What it means to be a Korean rock band in a K-pop world How the film champions mental health, masculinity & vulnerability Why Asian artists are still being boxed in — and how this story breaks that mold The personal journeys of filmmakers Eugene Yi and Diane Quon, and how they walked away from neuroscience and corporate media to chase their own creative dreams 🎧 Whether you’re a fan of K-pop, The Rose, indie documentaries, or stories about mental health, immigrant identity, and artistic defiance, this episode is for you. ✨ This isn’t just a Korean music story — it’s a universal story. A story about what it means to stand up for your truth, honor your friends, heal from grief, and stay grounded in your purpose even when the world pushes back. 👊🏼 Like, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews that spotlight the power of storytelling and representation. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 The Gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en If you've seen the film post your review on Letterboxed and IMDB! Here are the links! https://letterboxd.com/film/the-rose-come-back-to-me/ https://m.imdb.com/title/tt36589890/ 🌹 Follow The Rose: 📸 Instagram: @official_therose REPPIN 📢 Listen to the full podcast episode: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Reppin's website: https://www.reppin.tv/ #TheRose #ComeBackToMe #TheRoseDocumentary #KpopBand #KoreanRockBand #MentalHealthInMusic #AsianRepresentation #BreakingTheSystem #IndieDocumentary #AsianAmericanFilmmakers #MusicIndustryTruth #FriendshipAndLoyalty #CreativeFreedom #UniversalStory #RockNotKpop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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