The CreativeLife podcast with Jenny Yang

The CreativeLife Podcast Ep.9: Joz Wang Blogs Harder Than You [Download] [Stream]

Jenny Yang — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:56:29 +0000

Episode 9 – Jocelyn “Joz” Wang

You know you were a true “early adopter” when you were blogging before most people could imitate the grating screech of dial-up internet! Jocelyn Wang (more commonly known online as Joz Joz Joz) was blogging about her personal life when the internet was not yet littered with people who were comfortable sharing photos of what they ate for dinner last night. There was life before Facebook!

Jocelyn 'Joz' Wang knows writing and living online.

Download Episode 9 mp3 (right click on the link and click “Save As”): Jocelyn “Joz” Wang
Listen to Episode 9 with Wizzard Player: Jocelyn “Joz” Wang
Subscribe to The CreativeLife on iTunes: Jocelyn “Joz” Wang

In this podcast we talk about missing out on a Taiwanese-American rite of passage, “The Love Boat,” and how her an overdramatic post about the big sty in her eye could get ANY traction online. Also, we discuss what it means to get comfortable with having an online persona including making the decision to write about a very personal loss in the family. I mean…she even made national news because her likeness was used in some racist camera craziness! (Yeah. Cameras can be racist too?)

There’s also tons of nuts and bolts discussions about what it means to be a blogger or even attempt to make a living from producing content on a blog platform versus other formats. We learn all about how Joz was flexing her online journalistic presence through her collaborative Asian American issues blog, 8Asians.com.

Though this interview was recorded last year, let’s all congratulate her for becoming the new Asian American Journalists Association – Los Angeles chapter President, National Advisory Board Representative!

If you liked what you heard, please comment in iTunes AND donate by simply clicking the Paypal button at top right hand corner at http://www.creativelifepod.com.

MUSIC:

Episode 9 of The CreativeLife podcast features the talented work of independent artist Giana Nguyen.

Giana Nguyen – Singer/Songwriter

Giana Nguyen - Singer / Songwriter

FROM Giana’s Website:

“Her voice is strong and smoky, with range that could easily win votes on American Idol…That spirit of longing and perseverance can be heard in her self-released debut album, “For Now.”” - David Whiting, Front Page Columnist/Editor at Large, The Orange County Register

And when you’re done listening to it…leave a comment at the end of this post, or on iTunes. Send me your feedback and comments! What did you like about the interview? What did you learn that you hadn’t thought about before? What was something that you wanted to learn more about the creative process? What question were you DYING for me to ask but I never did!?

Thanks for visiting The CreativeLife podcast with Jenny Yang, a podcast & blog about the art, business, & soul of living the Creative Life. If you find this interesting, subscribe to the RSS feed, visit our Facebook Page or add us on Twitter!

Filed under: Asian American, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Guests

VIDEO: John Cleese on Five Factors to Foster Creativity

Jenny Yang — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:59:46 +0000

Yup. It’s the guy from Monty Python! Love this latest snippet from our friends at brainpickings.org: John Cleese on five factors for Creativity.

1. Space (“You can’t become playful, and therefore creative, if you’re under your usual pressures.”)

2. Time (“It’s not enough to create space; you have to create your space for a specific period of time.”)

3. Time (“Giving your mind as long as possible to come up with something original,” and learning to tolerate the discomfort of pondering time and indecision.)

4. Confidence (“Nothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.”)

5. Humor (“The main evolutionary significance of humor is that it gets us from the closed mode to the open mode quicker than anything else.”)

Head over to BrainPickings.Org, one of our favorite sources for inspiration to see the full post: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/04/12/john-cleese-on-creativity-1991/

John Cleese on Creativity

Filed under: Creativity Tips

Ken Nordine’s “Green” is Dope. Words to Jazz Animated to Font.

Jenny Yang — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:46:06 +0000

Thanks to my musician friend, Monk Turner. This might be the inspiration for a Monk/Jenny collaboration to come!

Ken Nordine is a new favorite. How did I not know about him? Watch this beautiful font animation of Ken Nordine’s words to jazz.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Filed under: Jenny's CreativeLife, Music, Oh. That's Good.

A Girl You Should Date (Book Love)

Jenny Yang — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:55 +0000

I had to repost this awesome blog that’s been circulating about “A Girl You Should Date” by Norah.

What’s beautiful about this is the girl you should date is the one who loves books and words. Books and words are love to some of us. And I’d like to think that we are awesome because of it.

Enjoy!

Clipped from: nonamerah.wordpress.com (share this clip)

–

Also. Thanks for your patience on the uploading of fresh interviews. We’re a little backed up here at the podcast. But we do plan on getting you fresh episodes in February! Very fun stuff!

Filed under: Jenny's CreativeLife, Oh. That's Good., Writers/Bloggers

True Retro: Detailed Recreations of Old Portraits [Oh. That's Good.]

Jenny Yang — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:11:54 +0000

Love these photos. My costumer friend, Jana, sent this link to me because it reminded her of the “Dear Photograph” project I wrote about earlier this year! So awesome. These features the work of Photographer Irina Werning. These are photos she is doing for Zefrank’s “young me now me” project.

I especially appreciate Werning’s attention to detail on recreating the lighting and props to go “true retro” and reinhabit the old photograph for the modern subject. A hint of melancholy is unmistakable throughout. Or maybe that’s just me.

Werning will be in India. Here are the details below. ENJOY!

WILL BE IN NEW DELHI, INDIA IN NOVEMBER WITH THE PROJECT. LOOKING FOR SUBJECTS THERE, PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR PICS TO backtothefuturepics@gmail.com

(If you try this at home email it to zefrank’s wonderful young me now me project (2006) at http://www.zefrank.com/youngmenowme/)

What do you think? How do you like these versus the Dear Photograph project? What photo would YOU do if you tried to recreate something? Please comment below and let me know!

Filed under: Oh. That's Good., Photography

The CreativeLife Podcast Ep.8: Steve Nguyen’s IT Guy By Day, Producer and Community Building Superhero By Night [Download] [Stream]

Jenny Yang — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:55:08 +0000

Episode 8 – Steve Nguyen

Steve Nguyen, Producer and Community Building Superhero. Art by Technodrome1 Photo: Tommy Su of SnapItStudio

What’s behind the stunner shades and shiny earring? I turn the mic on Steve Nguyen, and attempt to uncover the man, the myth, the mystery that is Steve Nguyen of Stickblade Productions and channelAPA.com. Who knew he became legend at UC Riverside playing Superman and other characters with his theatrical, masked “flash-pranks” during lecture classes?

Download Episode 8 mp3 (right click on the link and click “Save As”): Steve Nguyen
Listen to Episode 8 with Wizzard Player: Steve Nguyen
Subscribe to The CreativeLife on iTunes: Steve Nguyen

He puts all hyphenated artists to shame with his multi-project multi-tasking. I peel back the layers like an onion of truth until we’re both in tears of conversational joy. (yeah. i said that.) We cover some serious ground in intimate conversation with one microphone on my lounge couch in Highland Park. One 7up and an hour and a half later we finally get some details.

And, hold on! Did you know he once appeared as an Asian student character on “The Man Show” with Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel? Not his proudest moment, but highly educational.

Some things you’re gonna learn: how important building community is for Steve, Steve’s vision for providing the ultimate platform for talented Asian Americans in media and entertainment, what he did behind the scenes in one of the “Fast and Furious” movie productions, and the inspiration behind his latest passion project, the animated short film about a survivor of the atom bomb in Japan called “Hibakusha.”

We give a shout-out to professional photographer Tommy Su of Snapit Studios (http://snapitstudio.com/) because we got some GOOOOD cafe food in Monterey Park together with Steve after the interview. Mm. Mm!

With socially awkward comes different and innovative. – Steve Nguyen

If you liked what you heard, please comment in iTunes AND donate by simply clicking the Paypal button at top right hand corner at http://www.creativelifepod.com.

MUSIC:

Episode 8 of The CreativeLife podcast features the talented work of independent artists Anna Su (“Oh My Stars” and “Howling Tree” from “Howling Tree” 2010) and Andrew Figueroa Chiang and the Blazing Rays of the Sun (“Baby Please”). Be sure to catch Andrew and support him when he competes at the November 5th, Kollaboration concert in Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre!

Anna Su Music

FROM ANNA SU’S WEBSITE:

Los Angeles-based musician, Anna Su, explores music as community property, drawing influences from the sounds of her travels and experiences. Through haunting melodies and heartfelt lyrics, mixed with the floor-stomping pulse of her eclectic band, Anna Su’s songs bring players and listeners together to celebrate the simple joys of making music.

Debut album, “Howling Tree” now available on iTunes and Bandcamp

Produced by Nate Vaughan, Mixed by Al Fleming
Mastered by Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters, Recorded at Bronson House, Runaway Sound & Hollywood Sound Systems, Drums engineered by Meredith Jung, Artwork by Molly Burgess. All songs by Anna Su except “Over Ourselves” by Anna Su and John Isaac Watters & “City Ain’t That Much Fun by Anna Su and Rachel Vaughan.
Featuring: Al Fleming, Will Gramling, Kris Karlsson, George Krikes, Mike Lindsay, Niccolo Menichini, Alex Rhodes, Gavin Salmon, Brian Song, Dave Torstenson, Nate Vaughan, Rachel Vaughan & Dave Wilson

Andrew Figueroa Chiang and the Blazing Rays of the Sun

FROM ANDREW’S WEBSITE:

Andrew Figueroa Chiang is every bit an entertainer. A sweet-voiced songwriter with a genuine love of performing, Andrew has the unique ability to transform any space into a joyful one. His disarming charm, off-the-cuff comedy, and heartfelt delivery make his shows both moving and fun.

This year, Andrew released his first EP! The self-titled, acoustic record is full of earnest performances, energetic arrangements, and big harmonies.

Andrew is currently playing solo and with his rock and roll band – the Blazing Rays of the Sun. He thinks it would be very nice to meet you.

LINKS:

Steve as “The Chinese Kid” on “The Man Show”
The Hibakusha Kickstarter fundraising page
channelapa.com – Steve’s website featuring Asian American entertainment
Steve Nguyen FlipHD with memoirist Lac Su
Steve as Superman in UC Riverside class prank

Filed under: Asian American, Films and Filmmaking, Music, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Guests

Thoughts on The CreativeLife: “Who needs pants?…”

Jenny Yang — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:38:35 +0000

Here are some thoughts on living The CreativeLife…inspired by old childhood photos I’ve scanned. Many people draw parallels between having a creative spirit and feeling “like a kid again.” These are just some thoughts on recapturing the kid and the creative in all of us. [See all "Thoughts on the CreativeLife"]

What do you think? Have you seen any photos of yourself as a child and thought, “Wow! I wonder if I can recapture that spirit for my creativity now?”

Filed under: Creativity Tips, Jenny's CreativeLife, Photography, Thoughts on The CreativeLife

Bobby Lee Next to George Washington?: Asian American Artists at the Smithsonian in DC

Jenny Yang — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:11:08 +0000

'Shimomura Crossing the Delaware' is a knock-off of the iconic 19th century painting, 'Washington Crossing the Delaware." via The Voice of America

Loving this feature story on Asian American artists being featured in the Smithsonian! Crazy! I mean they have displayed portrait art of comedian Bobby Lee next to whatever old white guy’s marble-carved bust all in the same building! That’s blowing my little Asian American mind.

This painting (featured above) shows what it would look like if it was all Asian Americans as Washington crossing the Delaware and winning the Revolutionary War to found the nation. Ha!

Too bad I’m not in DC. Would definitely check this out.

(Source: “Asian-American Artists Explore Their Identity.” Voice of America. September 24, 2011)

Filed under: Asian American, Events, Oh. That's Good., Visual Art

“Tiger Cub” Mike Chang on Glee Gets an “Asian F” but an A in My Heart [Oh. That's Good.]

Jenny Yang — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:15:55 +0000

Source: "Asian F" Tumblr.com tag search

Can’t lie. I teared up when I watched Glee this week. During the Glee Season 3 Episode 3 called “Asian F”, the usually quiet and non-singing Asian guy in the Glee Club, Mike Chang, gets a major storyline (finally). In this episode he’s confronted by his Asian (Not Tiger Mother but Father) dad for getting an A- in Chemistry (or what Glee called an “Asian F”) and gets support from his mom.

Mike Chang's mom is supporting his passion for dance! (sniffle. sniffle)

If I overlook the fact that the concept of an A- being equal to an F for Asians is played out and stereotypical, I really love the kind of conversation that Mike Chang’s storyline has stirred! I really loved a lot of the posts supporting Mike Chang’s commitment to do what he loves – to dance and perform (and AWESOME animated GIFs that crop up on Tumblr). But one in particular captured my heart…it’s a rundown of lessons learned by threesixninja:

You can’t always get what you want.

Never give up on your dreams. Even if your dreams for yourself aren’t the ones your parents have for you, live it and convince them otherwise thatthis is what you want to do. However, if your dreams would need you to step on others and ruin relationships, back off. Friends are more important than anything else.

You shouldn’t let one relationship change you. (I mean, look at Kurt, Mercedes!)

Sometimes you have to be faced with hard choices where in either choice, you hurt someone. Even if you try to let both have their own way, it wouldn’t be enough for the other. But then sometimes, you really have to choose who and/or what is more important to you.

If you don’t get what you want, celebrate the one who did. Don’t hate them for it. They may deserve or need it more than you do. You could have a million chances for that, but not a lot for the relationship you have with them.

The spotlight isn’t always on you.

You can always do better than your best if you try.

With all its faults in reinforcing the stereotype that Asian Americans have crazy high standards with cold-hearted parents, I really love that it’s a super high-profile moment in popular culture where a likeable and rather vulnerable character like that of Mike Chang can encourage people to see him as being more complex than simply his hot dance moves and quiet demeanor. More than just for Asian Americans, it’s great to have a young role model for kids to see that there is a world where parents can be supportive of your “non-traditional” career choices.

It warms my heart.

For an more in-depth analysis of the episode, check out Jeff Yang’s new corner of the blogosphere on the Wall Street Journal! Congrats Jeff Yang (um. No relation.)

Oh. And..um. I just can’t help myself. This was taken earlier this year at an awesome conference in Los Angeles put on by the great folks at Visual Communications. Teehee!

Filed under: Asian American, Model Minority Myth, Oh. That's Good., Television

Thoughts on The CreativeLife: “Sometimes I wish I could CREATE NOW like I used to…”

Jenny Yang — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:38:38 +0000

Filed under: Creativity Tips, Jenny's CreativeLife, Photography, Thoughts on The CreativeLife

The CreativeLife Podcast Ep.7: Quan Phung, Television’s “Cultural Translator” [Download] [Stream]

Jenny Yang — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:05:08 +0000

Episode 7 – Quan Phung

Quan Phung, an Executive Producer of the NBC comedy "Whitney," handles the business to showcase the art. Pictured standing in front of Whitney actors' photos. Stuber Production Offices, August 30, 2011.

Former Fox Broadcasting Executive, television producer and Asian American arts community leader Quan Phung grew up translating between his Vietnamese heritage and American culture…

Download Episode 7 mp3 (right click on the link and click “Save As”): Quan Phung
Listen to Episode 7 with Wizzard Player: Quan Phung
Subscribe to The CreativeLife on iTunes: Quan Phung

…and is now bridging creative and business cultures in network television.

Jenny and Quan had a lot to discuss. They were both Coro Fellows in Public Affairs in Los Angeles. Then Quan decided that producing was his passion rather than the business of politics and policy. He is now Head of Television for Stuber productions and Executive Producer of a hot new NBC prime-time comedy, “Whitney.” (“Whitney” Thursdays, 9:30PM PST on NBC)

How does one journey from working in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to developing Emmy-award winning series like “How I Met Your Mother” and “My Name Is Earl for Twentieth Century Fox Television”?

We also sourced questions from Quan’s friends at youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com, fellow Visual Communications Board member Phil Yu of angryasianman.com, and Jenny’s colleagues – actors Daegan Palermo and Ben Whitehair, writer Brian Kane, screenwriter Jonathan Peters and television writer Josh Kamensky (Well, look at that! A veritable hit parade of Asian American blogging superstars and white guys with thoughtful questions).

Find out what a producer actually does for a show, how you get a job as a writer, the virtues of a multi-camera show, when executives decide to work with a comedic talent to develop a show, and whether Quan wears boxers or briefs (Just for the record, that last question? Not mine).

I don’t think that I put out that that I’m the Asian American male voice. No. I’m also the immigrant voice. I’m also the oldest son’s voice. I’m also the San Diego-raised voice. So there’s a lot of different things that I hopefully bring to the table besides just being an Asian American man. Because I think that’s not acknowledging the diversity of what people are.

- Quan Phung, The CreativeLife podcast with Jenny Yang, Episode 7

Whitney on NBC - Thursdays 9:30PM PST (SOURCE: NBC)

The short pilot episode audio clip of NBC’s “Whitney” featured in this podcast was used courtesy of NBC.

"Whitney" TV Show Live Taping at NBC Universal Studios, August 30, 2011. I'm in the front to the left! (Source: NBC Whitney)

If you liked what you heard, please comment in iTunes AND donate by simply clicking the Paypal button at top right hand corner at http://www.creativelifepod.com.

MUSIC:

Episode 7 of The CreativeLife podcast features the powerhouse voices and beautiful music of independent artists Alice Tong (“Sayin’ Hi” and “Capitalist Junkie” from “please be brave before the lions they come”) and Sue Jin (“Cant’ Help Falling In Love” cover).

Alice Tong Music

FROM ALICE TONG’S WEBSITE:

Alice Tong is singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist living in Oakland, CA. Her piano, guitar, ukelele, and harmonica playing are influenced by indie folk rock, jazz, and alt country, while her rich vocals are inspired by jazz, soul, and blues.

Her album of all-original songs entitled, “please be brave before the lions they come” was recorded in Los Angeles with a host of extremely talented musicians and producer/engineer Glenn Suravech (worked with Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, Brett Dennen, Wallflowers, etc.).

Sue Jin's soulful sounds featured in Episode 7 of The CreativeLife podcast with Jenny Yang

FROM SUE JIN’S WEBSITE:

Sue Jin is a soulful singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, an Associate Artist for Tuesday Night Cafe, and K-12 educator, who has performed on both television and radio.

Her album, “Worth the Tears” (2008) is available for review/purchase on iTunes.Her sophomore album, “Worthy” is scheduled to be released November, 2011.

LINKS:

The CreativeLife blog about Whitney’s Live Studio Audience Taping Experience
Swimming with Sharks (1994) – movie about working in the entertainment industry written and directed by George Huang
All American Girl (1994) – TV series created by and starring Margaret Cho
21 Jump Street (1987-1991) and Dustin Nguyen as Harry Truman Ioki
My Lovely Sam Soon – popular Korean drama (On Hulu)
Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs – leadership training program
Quan Phung LinkedIn public profile
Definition of “Stunt Casting“

Filed under: Asian American, Comedy, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Guests, Television

Great Tool: paper.li Personalized Twitter News Publishing & The Creative Entrepreneur Daily [Press][Gratitude]

Jenny Yang — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:36:28 +0000

Wake up, grab a cup of coffee and cozy up to your very own personalized virtual twitter newspaper.

Mmm...a morning cup of coffee with your paper.li virtual twitter-sourced newspaper. (Photo by Ballistik_Coffee_Boy, courtesy of Creative Commons)

Tara Agacayak‘s got a great twitter-sourced compilation of the day’s best info on creativity. You can create your own daily newspaper by linking to your social networks and publishing online with the click of a button via paper.li.

paper.li scans your network’s posts and gleans only the ones you want according to the keyword search of your interest to create a virtual and personalized newspaper.

Why not put together your own daily “newspaper” focused on a specific interest from your twitter contacts? It’s a great way to digest info from your twitter-verse without just scrolling through a boring twitter feed.

Clipped from: paper.li (share this clip)

I love seeing my CreativeLife posts and media sourced INTO her “Daily”! In this recent version, it includes my short video of female bloggers from the 2011 BlogHer conference answering the question, “What does living the Creative Life mean to you?”.

Thanks, Tara for the Creative shout-outs!

Do you have a more creative way to get your twitter and social networking information these days?

Filed under: Gratitude, Life Organizing Tips

Update!: Watch NBC’s Whitney Premiering This Thursday and Upcoming Podcast Episodes (Quan Phung and Steve Nguyen)

Jenny Yang — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:49:19 +0000

‘Tis the season to watch TV, Fa La La La Laaaa La La La Laaaaa.

It’s the season of premiere’s and a great chance to prep for the relaunch Episode 7 with Quan Phung! This Thursday night, 9:30PM on NBC is the premiere of “Whitney,” a new half-hour comedy following “The Office” that is Executive Produced by our podcast relaunch guest Quan Phung (Board President, Visual Communications).

Whitney on NBC Premieres this Thursday! (LINK) I watched the live-taping of Episode 5 from the audience!

But what happened to the previously announced Episode 7 with Steve Nguyen of channelapa.com? Life happened. But it WILL be coming after we get out Quan Phung’s episode later this week to coincide with the premiere of Whitney. Sound okay to you?

In the meantime, this is me:

Plugging away. Plugging away.

I’ve also been working on my future Jenny Yang website that will be the online HUB of all my creative projects. Phew! Takes a lot of time!

Thank you for your support and patience! Cheers!

Filed under: Asian American, Comedy, Jenny's CreativeLife, Podcast Guests

Teaser: What Does Upcoming Guest Atsuko Okatsuka and Dani Pudi (NBC’s Community) Have In Common?

Jenny Yang — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:58:42 +0000

The answer? They have the same manager. And they both share a quirky and unique personality with an honest and compelling on-screen presence. Upcoming podcast relaunch guest Atsuko Okatsuka is blazing her trail in acting and film and I am super-stoked for her.

I recently had the pleasure of FINALLY seeing Atsuko’s award-winning and critically-acclaimed feature film debut in “Littlerock” (Dir. Mike Ott). She was both star, and co-writer for this tale that can be crudely described as an inverted “Lost In Translation.”

My Hot Summer Afternoon Treat: 88 minutes of loveliness in "Littlerock"

The Los Angeles run of the film at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 has just ended, but they are still showing in select cities until October. If you get a chance, support these filmmakers on the rise and my uber-talented friend, Atsuko Okatsuka!

And if you can’t catch Littlrock in theaters, look out for the follow-up film they just finished shooting that was funded by film festival awards for Littlerock! Well shoot! Apparently it’s nice to get financing when folks in the film community believe in your work!

Here’s the trailer! And look out for her upcoming The CreativeLife podcast episode!

What do you think? Any other up-and-coming filmmakers and actors that you’ve been excited about?

Filed under: Asian American, Events, Podcast Guests

Attention All Creatives: Blogging is Mandatory! [VIDEO][BlogHer Conference 2011]

Jenny Yang — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:00:01 +0000

If it’s not online, it does NOT exist.

Say it with me.

If it’s not online, it does NOT exist.

Whether you are an artist, musician, comic, producer, composer, or freelance whatever, staking out some prime online real estate is a mandatory line item on the budget. Telling quick and regular stories about your journey gives your audience another way to engage with you and your voice. These days, people expect to get the type of transparency and personality behind the entrepreneur or creative that is promoting their talent or product.

From free services like Blogger, WordPress and Livejournal to full-blown search engine optimized (SEO), branded, self-hosted masterpieces with e-commerce and community forums, the world of blogging BOGGLES the mind. What is a creative to do? There are so many components! Blogging is where writing, technology and commerce meet. Where can I find the unholy union of grammar geeks, tech heads, and small business self-starters? Particularly if you want to learn all this in a mostly female setting?

ENTER: The BlogHer Conference 2011

My dear friend Sandy of The Inspiration Habit and I set out on a mission: discover how we can become lady blogger champs. Why blog? Self-expression, building community and possibly a small business?

I got excellent advice on taking my websites and writing to the next level. I also met a bunch of awesome bloggers. Since sifting through faceless business cards is the last thing I want to do after meeting tons of new people, I captured video of them. Check out their websites after the jump!

AND you can find them in person on this new video where they answered the question:

Thank you to all the awesome people I met at the conference and those featured in this short video! Loved hearing your answers about what living a life of creativity means to you!

What types of conferences for creatives or entrepreneurs have been helpful for you? What types of meetups locally have really nurtured your creative life? Tell me about it! Comment at the end of this post!

BlogHer 2011 Conference New Friends Roll Call!

Kelly @ 3 Boys and a Dog - http://3boysandadog.com/

What’s life like for a mother of three boys and a pooch? You find out here!

Clipped from: 3boysandadog.com (share this clip)

Lisa @ Yours In Bridal - http://yoursinbridal.wordpress.com/

Lisa presents information for vendors who work in the bridal industry! Not just ANOTHER blog for brides to be. She’ll give you the inside scoop.

Clipped from: yoursinbridal.wordpress.com (share this clip)

Cindy @ Splendid Little Things - http://www.splendidlittlethings.com/

This is the destination for “the modern woman’s take on home economics.”

Clipped from: www.splendidlittlethings.com (share this clip)

CJ’s Mom @ Raising My Rainbow - http://raisingmyrainbow.com/

A very specific and intriguing blog about the life of a mother raising a gender non-conforming child. Love the blog title!

Clipped from: raisingmyrainbow.com (share this clip)

Ann Marie @ The Succulent Wife - http://www.thesucculentwife.com/

The duo behind this blog is vivacious and passionate. You can just tell by speaking to them. Here you can find a fun lifestyle blog for baby boomers.

Clipped from: www.thesucculentwife.com (share this clip)

Patricia @ Boomer Wizdom - http://boomerwizdom.com/

Pat’s energy was definitely oozing with wisdom and gravitas. Here she talks to boomers about “common sense for owning your own time.” She also gave me a great idea about how I can extend my home/office organizing service beyond my local geography! Thanks Pat!

Clipped from: boomerwizdom.com (share this clip)

Rebecca @ Daily Rebecca - http://www.dailyrebecca.com

Rebecca personality and sense of humor was apparent in just the short conversation I had with her. Check out this portal into her world!

Clipped from: www.dailyrebecca.com (share this clip)

Diana @ Hormonal Imbalances - http://www.hormonal-imbalances.com

If you’re ever curious the life of a “crunchy housewife,” then Diana’s blog is for you!

Clipped from: www.hormonal-imbalances.com (share this clip)

Sandy @ The Inspiration Habit - http://theinspirationhabit.blogspot.com

My dear friend on this Creative Life journey documents her own process of making a habit out of her inspiration.

Clipped from: theinspirationhabit.blogspot.com (share this clip)

Filed under: Events, Jenny's CreativeLife, Writers, Writers/Bloggers, Writing and Blogging

My 5 Moments of Clarity at Live Studio Taping of NBC’s “Whitney”! [Podcast Relaunch Preview]

Jenny Yang — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:25:31 +0000

UPDATE 11/20/2011

So many folks have found my blog by searching for live Whitney taping tickets! Well. If you’re here because of that…here it is: http://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Whitney That’s the link to get yourself some live show tickets to watch the taping. The Whitney show in NBC DID get picked-up for the full season so there will be plenty more shows to put on!

And if you’ve attended the live studio taping, be sure to come back and drop me a comment to let me know what YOUR experience was like! Let’s compare notes.

Cheers!
Jenny Yang

—

The chances for success of a new TV show are probably as low as the success rates of opening a new restaurant. So I was curious to get my first-hand sneak peek of NBC’s new fall comedy, “Whitney.”

Thanks to upcoming podcast relaunch guest, Quan Phung, I had a chance to attend a live-taping of the fifth episode of this much-ballyhooed female-driven comedy (The eponymous star is both show creator, writer, and Executive Producer). (And, yes. I did just put side-by-side parenthetical statements. And I just used the word “ballyhooed.” Deal with it.)

Will “Whitney” be more “I Love Lucy” or more “The Paul Reiser Show“? The show premieres this fall on September 22nd and my relaunch podcast episode with Quan Phung will drop that same week. You can decide for yourself!

My verdict on this fifth episode?: FUNNY!

The audience warm-up comic gave me an autographed copy of the Whitney show program. Hm. What should I do with it? (Photo Credit: Michelle Ko)

Unfortunately, I cannot share photos of me lounging on the set (boo), stealing a pint of tasty seasoned shrimp from craft services (yum) or details of the plotline (funny!).

I CAN share 5 tangentially-related moments of clarity I experienced while sitting front row on hard seats for four and a half hours of Hollywood magic.

Krumping has officially jumped the shark when a skinny white girl from the audience wearing a tight white mini-dress can win a $50 gift card by krumpin’ like she’s tryin’ to snap some vertabrae.
Writing clever jokes that move a story forward and reflect interesting characters all within a handful of short scenes takes some SERIOUS skill.
Multi-camera comedies shot in front of a live studio audience with stories built around stand-up comedy talent can work. All hail “Seinfeld,” “Roseanne,” and “Cheers.” ’Nuff said.
Punch lines are funnier when they are more specific. Harry Potter > Warlock.
Home-viewing experiences of sitcoms could be MUCH funnier if we can recreate the audience warm-up comic and booming party jams during commercial breaks. ”RAISE YOUR GLASS!” ”TO THE WINDOW! TO THE WAAALL!!!”

Other fun tidbits: met head writer and show runner Betsy Thomas (fierce funny lady coolness), saw brooding comedy manager legend and Executive Producer Barry Katz stand a foot in front of me, and saw how multiple takes with tweaked punchlines and writing make for better laughs.

Have you experienced live studio tapings of shows before? What was that like for you? Did you learn anything about the creative process? Did it inspire you? Please share a comment with me!

Filed under: Comedy, Podcast Guests, Television

The 12 Must-Read Blogs That Feed My Creative Life [Oh. That's Good.]

Jenny Yang — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:37:40 +0000

We are constantly bombarded with information. Mobile info, social media stuff, TV/DVR/Netflix, books (there’s still books?), those magazines I’m too ashamed to subscribe to but that I still pick up in the checkout line….

AAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!

Beat that information overload! I use my trusty RSS FEED/BLOG reader via http://www.google.com/reader. There are others out there, but I love how it integrates with my Gmail account.

Here is a rundown of the ONLY blogs I read nearly every day to feed my CreativeLife podcast. They are standouts in a crowded field of creativity, writing, and inspiration blogs. They leave me feeling less overwhelmed and a little more enlightened.

YOU LIKE ANY OF THESE? ANY I’VE MISSED? PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT AND LET ME NOW WHAT YOU THINK!

1. Tiny Buddha @ www.tinybuddha.com - “Simple wisdom for complex lives”

Tiny Buddha is just that: bite-sized messages of peace. The design is simple and clear. They always deliver thought-provoking and concise blogs that remind me to take a breath and take it easy on myself. Blog post examples include, “How to Deal with Criticism Well: 25 Reasons to Embrace It” and “3 Things Tweens Teach Us About Living and Enjoying Life.”

Clipped from: tinybuddha.com (share this clip)

2. White Hot Truth with Danielle LaPorte @ wwww.whitehottruth.com - “Because self-realization rocks”

Danielle LaPorte has an amazing way of putting things. Her words snap, crackle and pop off the screen. She uses fun and active language to cut to the heart of the matter. The posts are often short, full of mental exclamations and always passionate. Her fierce and sparkly personality comes through when she talks serious personal growth topics, for instance, “why self-improvement makes you neurotic.”

Clipped from: whitehottruth.com (share this clip)

3. Brain Pickings @ wwww.brainpickings.org - “A discovery engine for interestingness”

Brain Pickings is an extremely thoughtful and tightly-edited weekly newsletter that is consistently packed with compelling ideas and creativity resources. Their roundups on great street art books, must-see TED Talks, and the most current ideas in all things creative keep me coming back for more. It was through Brain Pickings that I discovered the “Holstee Manifesto” that hangs above my home office, spurring me to really “seize the day.” Check it out on the roundup of the best manifestos below.

Clipped from: www.brainpickings.org (share this clip)

4. Pick the Brain @ www.pickthebrain.com - ” website dedicated to self improvement with a focus on personal productivity, motivation, and self education”

I always find myself bookmarking the articles on Pick the Brain to keep me thinking clearly and motivated, even in the face of self-doubt and all that other stuff that happens when you figure out creative projects.

Clipped from: www.pickthebrain.com (share this clip)

5. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think @ www.my168hours.com

Laura consistently presents great tips on how we can make the most out of the 168 hours that we have in a week. One standout post has been her list of 100 dreams. That idea is definitely on my agenda.

Clipped from: www.my168hours.com (share this clip)

6. The Artist’s Road @ www.artistsroad.wordpress.com - “Creativity, writing, and an art-committed life”

Patrick Ross provides comprehensivve weekly roundups of the best tweets and online posts on creativity. A really great service! There’s always something unexpected in his roundups. He’s a Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) writing student right now and it’s great to track his process on his blog. This example of his post is a roundup of the books every writer needs to read, which apparently, has garnered an avalanche of hits. Of course, he blogs about that process too!

Clipped from: artistsroad.wordpress.com (share this clip)

7. Dose of Creativity @ www.doseofcreativity.blogspot.com – “Musings on all things creative sprinkled with inspired hints and tips.”

Love their 30-Day Creativity Challenge! Creativity can happen in big and small ways. There’s always something new on this site about moving forward our creative process.

Clipped from: doseofcreativity.blogspot.com (share this clip)

8. Presentation Zen @ www.presentationzen.com – “blog on issues related to professional presentation design”

I love the level of expertise this blog dives into. They hit all angles of what it takes to present information in a compelling way. This applies to graphic presentations and storytelling. I particularly liked this post on “Storytelling Lessons from Bill Cosby.” A nice breakdown of Cosby’s communication wisdom.

Clipped from: www.presentationzen.com (share this clip)

9. Copyblogger @ www.copyblogger.com – “Online marketing that works.”

Copyblogger is the ultimate in quick tips on writing for the web. There’s a strong marketing bent, as you’d expect from a site title that’s a play on the word “copywriter.” But this site is unparalleled in squeezing quick and concise tips on the best ways to create online content. A popular post, for instance, is “7 Ways to Improve Your Writing…Right Now.” They also have a great series of posts JUST on writing headlines. Very high-quality site.

Clipped from: www.copyblogger.com (share this clip)

10 . Pintame El Dia @ www.pintameldia.com – an artist’s life

This Spanish artist’s blog about her artistic life is bilingual and a breath of fresh air. Esti lives in Bilbao and exercises enormous restraint in her poetic summaries that accompany beautifully taken photographic slices of her life. I also have a crush on her art – full of simple lines and contemplative mostly female characters. Take a step into her world.

Clipped from: www.pintameldia.com (share this clip)

11. Design for Mankind @ www.designformankind.com – “corner of the Internet where Awesome hangs out”

Artwork, design, photography and Erin’s fashion. Visual eye candy. Always colorful and stimulating. Though I’m not a visual artist, Erin’s presentations give me a nice ocular jolt every time I scroll through.

Clipped from: www.designformankind.com (share this clip)

12. Good Magazine @ www.good.is – “the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good”

What started out as simply a magazine has evolved to be a movement for bright ideas that help make good things happen in the world. Culture, art, politics, and activism come together in a tightly designed presentation of the latest innovations that are making our lives better. I especially appreciate their graphic representations of complex policy and social issues via their “infographics.”

Clipped from: www.good.is (share this clip)

Filed under: Creativity Tips, Life Organizing Tips, Oh. That's Good.

Where’s Episode 7 with Steve Nguyen of ChannelAPA.com?

Jenny Yang — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:44:08 +0000

It’s coming! We have a little speed bump to get over during this week, but soon we shall revel in the awesomeness that is Steve Nguyen. Check us out next week for this upcoming episode!

In the meantime, listen to our last episode on Ann “A’misa” Chiu! and chew on this:

Is this love?

Source: http://jessrosset.tumblr.com/post/9049697044/love-you-eat-your-face

Filed under: Podcast Guests

Fierce “Laced” Cutout Art on Female Portraits [Oh. That's Good.]

Jenny Yang — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:00:26 +0000

Melissa Meier is on to something. Take simple, serious and sometimes somber-looking female portraits, and cutout lace-like designs along the contours of their body. Visually arresting and thought-provoking, such an act does not seem so extreme when you consider all the ways women modify and “beautify” our own bodies.

I saw her exhibit at July’s Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk. The images have haunted me since, so I had to share.

See some examples of her work below and go directly to her website to see more and find out where she’ll be showing. Her work is up Downtown until August 31st.

[Source: Images reposted with permission from the artist. Melissa Meier website Originals here.]

Filed under: Oh. That's Good., Visual Art

What Would YOU Ask a Network TV Show Producer? Prepping Interview with Quan Phung, NBC’s “Whitney”

Jenny Yang — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:50:53 +0000

WRITERS! ACTORS! COMICS! If you had a chance to ask questions of a show developer and producer like Quan, what would YOU ask?

Quick Update: Gearing up for my September relaunch and I’m excited to be interviewing Quan Phung! He’s an amazing producer with an exciting project this fall on NBC’s comedy lineup.

To whet your appetite, check out NBC’s Fall Preview show presented by comedian Whitney Cummings. She’ll tell you everything you need to know to navigate NBC’s new shows.

Whitney Cummings gives us the NBC Fall TV Lineup

Filed under: Comedy, Podcast Guests, Television