Today’s guest is Léa Taranto, a disabled Chinese Jewish Canadian writer who lives with OCD and comorbid disorders, and the author of the debut YA novel A Drop in the Ocean.   In this episode, we explore how she transformed her early experiences and diaristic writing into autofiction, unpack harmful tropes about mental health and treatment, and get a glimpse into her upcoming projects.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s returning guest is pop culture commentator, Twitch streamer, and cybersecurity analyst Tara Edwards. In this episode, we discuss two films that have come out this year, both of which carry a culturally specific lens centered around demons, sinners, and music: “Sinners” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” We dive inside both films to compare and contrast their thematic elements, usage of music and spirituality, and their impact within their respective cultural spheres.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s returning guest is Paul Silva, aka the Creative Alchemist. He is a guide, coach, and collaborator that blends intuition, creativity, and spiritual insight to help multi-passionate entrepreneurs and creatives break through barriers and create meaningful lives and businesses. Through his work, he helps people clarify their ideas, navigate creative blocks, and move from stuck to in-motion with curiosity, discipline, and presence.   When he’s not coaching, Paul is exploring the world through photography, video, writing, and storytelling, bringing a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the messy, rewarding process of creating. In this conversation, we talk about embracing change and life chapters from a place of leadership, lessons from Paul’s sobriety, and the ever-evolving journey of a creative.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is the incomparable multidisciplinary theatre-maker, musician, performer, and writer Diana Oh. They were known for combining experimental theatre, art installation and ritual to create deeply communal and transformative spaces, which include signature projects like “My Lingerie Play,” “The Infinite Love Party,” “My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre,” and “Art Chxrch.” They can be heard on the audio drama “Give Me Away,” which just premiered its third season.   Diana tragically passed away on June 17, 2025, and their loved ones, as well as the theatre community, are grieving this immeasurable loss while celebrating the joy Diana brought to our lives. The following conversation was recorded in May, 2016 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. We talked about the highs and lows of being an artist, and different ways to sustain ourselves in a rapidly changing media landscape.    If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that you are not alone. In the U.S.and Canada, you can call or text '988' to connect with a trained crisis responder, 24/7, for free and confidential support with mental health, emotional distress, or suicidal thoughts. For listeners outside North America, please seek out local mental health resources or crisis lines in your area. Your life matters, and there are people ready to listen and support you.

Today’s returning guest is writer, editor, and my friend Tara Edwards. In this episode, we dive inside the hit television medical drama “The Pitt,” and analyze the storytelling elements that make the show one of the television breakout hits of 2025.    Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is multi-disciplinary writer, producer and dramaturg Aisha Josiah, from London. She is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has also written for publications such as Media Diversified, The Upcoming, and Mouthlondon. She has served as the editor of the independent theatre blog Fringebiscuit since 2014.   In this conversation, we dive inside Aisha’s nomadic and multicultural upbringing, her passion for exploring postcolonial narratives, and the art of dramaturgy and criticism.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s returning guest is Sol Smith, the author of “The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery” and a certified autism specialist who is autistic, dyslexic, and living with ADHD. He spent more than two decades as a college professor before shifting his professional focus to coaching other autistic and ADHD people to gain autonomy in their lives. Sol’s speaking skills have earned him a following of hundreds of thousands on TikTok and led to educational seminars about neurodiversity with corporations around the world.    In this conversation, we dive inside the different paths for diagnosis, the scientific and social factors that impact allistic and autistic people, and different roadmaps towards self-acceptance, fulfillment, and community.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s “Side by Side” guest is Billy Wynne, the author of “The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment through the Radical Art of Lessening.” As a student of Buddhism and mindfulness for 30 years, he received his meditation teaching certification under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, and his lay Zen Buddhist ordination from the Zen Center of Denver, where he teaches classes and serves on the board.    In this conversation, we unpack the practice of lessening in a world built on the pursuit of having more, and its connection to Buddhist concepts such as detachment, freedom, and suffering.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Elena Armijo, a Master Certified Coach and former professional opera singer who specializes in executive and leadership coaching for high-performing clients. She is the founder of the C-Suite Collective, an executive coaching agency offering in-depth, customized programs for high performers, and, she is the host of The Collective Corner, a podcast where badass, inspiring, and compassionate conversations get to flourish.    In this conversation, we discuss the most pressing issues with clients and business leaders in 2025, and the way communities move forward during moments of crisis and conflict.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s “Side by Side” guest is Phil Ginley, a filmmaker, programmer and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Having produced several short films, Phil is currently a programmer at the microcinema Spectacle Theater, where they've moderated Q&A’s with filmmakers such as Dylan Mars Greenberg for her film SPIRIT RISER. They are currently promoting a posthumous retrospective for the films of experimental theater auteur Antero Alli.    In this conversation, we dive inside Phil’s formative experiences growing up around cinema and television, the value in supporting local and community-driven arts and culture projects, and the pros and cons of digital versus physical media.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s “Side by Side” guest is Kate Rose, the author of “Written in the Stars: The Astrology of Soulmate, Karmic, and Twin Flame Relationships.”   As a therapist, relationship expert, spiritual Intuitive and astrologer, Kate uses the stars to help her clients clarify their purpose and recognize the blocks that are keeping them from living the life they are destined to live.   In this conversation, we dive inside universal relationship dynamics within dating and relationships, the foundational elements of a person’s astrological chart, and ways we can develop our chart and honor our strengths.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Jane Shi, a poet, editor, and the author of her debut poetry collection echolalia echolalia. She is an alumnus of Tin House Summer Workshop, The Writer's Studio Online at Simon Fraser University, and StoryStudio Chicago. In this conversation, we explore Jane’s early connection to poetry and wordplay, the ethos behind her collection, and the illusory nature of writer’s block.   Living on the stolen and occupied lands of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, she wants to live in a world where love is not a limited resource, land is not mined, hearts are not filched, and bodies are not violated.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Happy Ali, the author of “The Intuition Bible: How and Why to Tap Into Your Inner Wisdom.” With a B.A. in psychology from UCLA, he is a prophetic dreamer, certified master NLP practitioner, certified master clinical hypnotherapist, and host of the “Happy Insights” podcast. Happy’s spiritual journey began in 1995 when he dedicated his life to the exploration of metaphysical disciplines after a near-death experience inspired a dramatic awakening.    In this conversation, we explore Happy’s early life growing up in a family of prophetic dreamers, the power of joy and fun in unleashing our intuition, and ways we can find our unique expression of intuition.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is award-winning writer and editor Erika W. Smith, who has been working in the media industry for over a decade, covering the latest in sex and relationships, entertainment, travel, and astrology. She’d previously held staff positions at Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, BUST magazine, with additional writing published at VICE, Allure, and Vulture.    In this conversation, Erika shares some of her insights and experiences as a contemporary working writer, from pitching in the newsroom, to traditional publishing and ghostwriting. Photo by Kim Hoyos   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Wendy Baird, the owner and Creative Director of Insight180, a brand consulting and design firm for b2b businesses, non-profits, and those who “sell the invisible.” She has been advising companies on positioning strategy, name development, brand identity, design, differentiation, and strategies for growth for more than 25 years.   Wendy has written and spoken on topics such as social responsibility, authentic branding, fostering high-performance b2b culture, conscious business practices, finding your voice, Human Design in business, and more. She is a board member of Conscious Capitalism of Central Maryland. As a Reiki practitioner, singer and vocal coach in her spare time, she is known to break into song unexpectedly.   In this conversation, we explore Wendy’s musical upbringing, the art of branding and seeing people’s essence, and the delight of being a multi-passionate creative.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Becca Powers, the author of "A Return to Radiance" and "Harness Your Inner CEO." A Fortune 500 high-tech sales executive, keynote speaker, and CEO of Powers Peak Potential, she has worked with industry giants Cisco, Dell, Royal Caribbean International, and Office Depot. With an impressive record of leading large teams and hitting $500 million in annual revenue, Powers has earned the coveted President’s Club award seven times. She is also a certified Kundalini yoga teacher and Reiki master.   In this conversation, we dive inside Becca’s comeback journey after burnout, the connection between awareness and safety, and the power of recognizing and changing generational patterns.    Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s conversation was held as part of the multidisciplinary writing workshop led by me and former “Side by Side” guest, Ashley Griggs. We invited special guests into the space, where workshop participants got to ask questions about the industry and the craft of writing. Today’s conversation spotlights television writer Ashley Sims.    Born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. She received her Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Georgia before moving to New York and completing her MFA at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She got her professional start working as a Staff Writer for the Peabody Award winning series "UnREAL." After "UnREAL," Ashley spent the next 3 years on the ABC drama "A Million Little Things" before landing at CW's "4400" as a producer.    In this conversation, Ashley shares her insights on claiming your voice and cultivating relationships within the industry, and the benefits of being an evolving artist.    The Fall session for "Embracing the Multidisiplinary Writer" will commence September 29. Click here to learn more.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s conversation was held as part of the multidisciplinary writing workshop led by me and former “Side by Side” guest, Ashley Griggs. We invited special guests into the space, where workshop participants got to ask questions about the industry and the craft of writing. Today’s conversation spotlights playwright, screenwriter, television writer, and actor Chloé Hung.   Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Chloé has been called a “writer to watch” by The Globe and Mail. A graduate of NYU’s MFA dramatic writing program, her theater work has been seen on stages like the The Kennedy Center, the Banff Playwrights Centre, the Geffen Theatre, and the New Jersey Repertory Company. In the film and TV world, Chloé has written for “Queen Sugar” and “Cherish The Day” on OWN,  and “The Watchful Eye” on Freeform. She is a Film Independent Screenwriters Lab fellow, and her screenplays have been shortlisted by the The Black List and the Fusion Film Festival.    In this conversation, Chloé shares some of her early memories that sparked her imagination, the journey of balancing personal with paid writing, and the skills that writers should cultivate in addition to writing itself.   The Fall session for "Embracing the Multidisiplinary Writer" will commence September 29. Click here to learn more.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guest is Sam Bennett, the author of “Get It Done,” “Start Right Where You Are,” and most recently, “The 15-Minute Method: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Getting It Done.”  A writer, speaker, actor, and creativity/productivity specialist, she is the founder of TheRealSamBennett.com, a company committed to helping overwhelmed creatives and frustrated overachievers get unstuck. Sam is also a popular course instructor on LinkedIn Learning with over a million class participants worldwide.    In this conversation, we talk about her journey of modeling the 15-minute method while completing the book, the way arts and humanities can disrupt disengagement in the workplace, and the myth of laziness and overwhelm.   Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home

Today’s guests are Lauren Borden and Katherine Folk-Sullivan. By merging their expertise in coaching, leadership training, and intuitive energy work, they are the co-founders of Whole Human Coaching, an intuitive mashup of mentor-coaching, skills training, and mastermind groups.   In this conversation, we dive inside Lauren and Katherine’s experiences as coaches and facilitators, we look at some of the biggest challenges coaches face beyond being sufficiently trained, and we discuss ways we can embrace collective effort over rugged individualism.    Side by Side Episodes | Robert Kuang Home