Fun Spicy

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast!
In this episode, I chat with Albert Li, a self-taught DJ based in Berkeley, CA.

We talk about how a random Facebook Marketplace purchase led Albert down the path of DJing, the challenges that come with finding your own voice, reading the room, and dealing with imposter syndrome — all while navigating the never-ending puzzles of adult life.

And how more often than not, the thing you’re dreading ends up becoming a really beautiful experience.

Hope you guys enjoy!

(00:01:01) Never Ending Struggle of Adulting

(00:07:21) Can a Smaller Smartphone Break the Scroll?

(00:13:56) How Albert got into DJing

(00:18:18) Learning how to DJ

(00:20:11) Importance of Reading the Room

(00:26:59) Balancing Authenticity with the Crowd

(00:29:13) Nervousness, Confidence, and Getting the Reps

(00:35:44) From Buying DJ Gear to Building his First Set

(00:40:31) Imposter Syndrome and Finding your Own Voice

(00:49:51) AI Generated Music

(00:52:51) DJ Community, Collaboration, and Sharing Music

(00:58:05) Albert’s First and Final Sets at Missouri Lounge

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast!

Today we chat with Dr. Spencer Gilles, a friend I’ve known for over 10 years. We chat about our continual struggle of actually doing the thing rather than being bogged down by backend items 🫠, how our perspectives have changed since our UCLA days 😅, the struggle of not having a path post college 🥲, and how we’re all meant to shine our own light 🌟

This episode has banter, laughs, and the kind of perspective that makes you think 🤔

(00:01:18) Struggle in Doing the Thing
(00:05:35) When your World gets Smaller
(00:12:05) Basketball Banter and “Ayo Chat”
(00:18:58) A Smaller World, A Quieter Mind
(00:27:10) The Friend who Kept Me Updated
(00:31:38) Fear as Fuel and Finding your North Star
(00:39:28) Long Road through Med School
(00:47:38) The Comfort of Having a Path
(01:05:29) Death as the Ultimate Reality Check
(01:30:02) When Something Feels Off
(01:37:06) Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We’re Inadequate

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

In this episode, I sit down with Nelson to recap our first international trip together to Peru. We talk about the food, the culture, Cusco, and the 4-day hike to Machu Picchu — which was beautiful, exhausting, and definitely harder than we expected.

We get into the highs, the struggles, and all the little moments that made the trip unforgettable.

IG: @funspicypodcast

Substack: https://substack.com/@jalajpunn

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

I recently spoke to a friend about journaling as a way of self-therapy and I kind of realized how so many of us don't necessarily make time for it even though everyone understands the positives of it. This is a reflection on the importance of journaling and checking in with yourself :)

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

In this episode, we explore how relationships influence personal growth, the power of living simply, and the impact of books and reading on our lives 😄

0:00 - Is Oakland Really Boring?

05:50 - Role of Relationships

11:24 - Living Simply: Finding Fulfillment

22:56 - Books, the Infamous Book Club, and Reading Habits

44:10 - Ethical Shopping

49:56 - Changes in Oakland: Then vs Now

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

I’ve been asking myself why I can’t focus on the things I actually care about. After revisiting the concept of pleasure vs. enjoyment, I realized I might not be missing discipline - I might be missing balance. This is a reflection on flow, distraction, and the “pretty colors” that keep pulling us away.

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

In this episode, we talk through NFL divisional playoff matchups, make our picks for the Broncos–Bills and Niners–Seahawks games, and revisit some memorable playoff players and moments.

We also dive into tech life stories and chat about Varun’s move to the Bay Area, his first impressions, and what living in the Bay is really like.

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

This episode is all about the NFL Wild Card games as Big G and I break down matchups, share our predictions, and talk through playoff storylines.

Expect plenty of football talk with a sprinkle of random riffs and banter along the way :)

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

It’s easy to follow the crowd — but it takes real courage to pave your own path.

Today I’m joined by actor and creator Deepti Menon, who shares her inspiring journey from a STEM-focused high school to art school, and eventually, into the unpredictable world of acting and freelancing.

We dive deep into courage, rejection, resilience, and the realities of adulting — the things no one really prepares you for when you’re chasing a creative life.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

You can follow Deepti on IG and her website

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Let’s jump in!

(0:34) Craziness of Being on Set

(6:34) STEM Focused High School to Art School

(13:34) Path to Acting

(17:24) Career Paths from Art School

(21:48) Struggles & Resilience in Acting

(33:12) Balancing Life, Freelancing, and Acting

(45:31) H.A.G.S and Adulting

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy Podcast!

Today I’m joined by Jeff the Mortgage Pro — a former teacher who made the leap into the world of mortgages.

We dive into his journey, break down home buying 101, and talk about what the 2025 housing market really looks like.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

You can also follow Jeff on YouTube and Instagram for more insight 😄

Let’s jump in!

(0:26) Life & Career Advice: Navigating Big Changes

(17:16) Home Buying 101: Down Payment and Mortgage Insurance Explained

(26:30) Credit & Risk: What Buyers Must Know Before Applying

(28:12) Offers & Pre-Approval: Strategies for Strong Home Offers

(33:11) Choosing a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust

(36:52) Contingencies & Market Norms: What’s Usual, What’s Negotiable

(44:45) 2025 Mortgage Market Outlook: Trends, Risks, and Opportunities

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast!

Today I’m joined by Rafay, cofounder of Rounds.so — a platform that started by helping candidates prep for technical interviews, and is now tackling a surprising new challenge: cheating with AI.

We’ll dig into Rafay’s journey learning to code, how Rounds began, and what he’s seeing change in the world of technical interviews. Let’s jump in!

(0:26) Learning How to Code

(8:08) Imposter Syndrome & Excitement of Reading

(16:44) Biggest Lesson Learned in College

(21:53) Importance of Learning How to Learn

(27:02) Origin of Rounds

(33:06) Pivoting to Solve Technical Interview Cheating Problem

(39:23) Rounds AI Assessment

(40:46) Cheating on Technical Interviews

In this episode, I reflect on the trap of chasing external validation — how fleeting it is, how deeply it shapes our choices, and how reframing it through one powerful question changed my perspective.

I share a personal journey toward internal fulfillment and encourage you to ask: What would you regret most if you didn’t act on it?

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast.

Like most people, you probably don’t consider yourself creative. But the truth is you are creative and it shows up in many every day activities — from putting together a killer outfit or whippin up a new recipe in the kitchen.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Pia—an entrepreneur, creative coach, and bestselling author of Welcome to the Creative Club who went from working as a Creative Director to helping others bring their wildest ideas to life.

We talk about what creativity really is, how confronting the reality of death can push us to take bold risks, and how you can start unlocking your own creative potential—wherever you are right now.

(0:55) What is Creativity?

(3:38) Advice to People who Think they’re not Creative

(10:55) Practicing Intuition without Expectations

(24:25) Impact of Death and Taking the Risks

(29:20) What is a Creative Coach?

(38:21) Is it Important to Finish Things?

(46:47) How to Tap into Creativity?

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in college? Like there wasn't a single moment to relax, with thoughts constantly racing through your mind? Now imagine adding the demands of being a college athlete to that experience.

Today's episode features Walker, a college football athlete at Wake Forest University, who discovered mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace to help manage his hectic student life. While these apps were helpful, he struggled to find meditation content that truly matched his current emotional state. This inspired him to create the Ascend Meditation App—an AI-driven platform that makes personalized mindfulness accessible.

We discuss his journey through college football, the Ascend meditation app, finding purpose, and the bittersweet conclusion of his college experience 😕

So let’s get right into it!

(01:16) Being on ESPN + Path to College Football

(07:39) Path towards Mindfulness

(10:57) Why has Mindfulness Blown Up in the Last Few Years?

(14:33) Ascend Meditation App

(16:50) Life Lessons from Football + Finding Purpose

(22:26) Routine w/Ascend Meditation App

(24:23) Biggest Lesson Learned from Ascend

(27:57) Advice to People doing Creative Projects

(29:16) Graduating College + Lessons from College

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast.

It seems like the year always goes by so fast. Seems like it just started and then poof, it’s over!

In today’s episode, I reflect on the year 2024, sharing my thoughts as a way for my Future Self to remember it.

My substack - https://substack.com/@jalajpunn

So let’s get right into it!

(00:01:08) Living by Yourself makes you Realize the True Importance of having People Around

(00:03:47) Decision making is an Art and just like any Art, you can get Better at it

(00:05:46) Playing a Team Sport makes you Feel like a Kid Again

(00:07:50) Faith can only Remain if there is Consistent Time spent Towards it

(00:09:11) Having Structure for your days is Essential

(00:10:37) Break up the Chores throughout the Week

(00:11:37) Cooking is a Never Ending Journey

(00:13:09) Keep an Eye on Screen Time

(00:14:27) Building a Community is a Slow Process

(00:15:44) It’s Easy to Push Things Off

(00:16:32) Going on Adventures is Critical to Breaking out of your Routines

Have you ever sat by yourself and done nothing? It’s so easy to be consumed by the external world of deadlines, relationships, and media while forgetting to check in with yourself and actually seeing how you’re REALLY doing.

Meditation or mindfulness is a tool that helps you with that. People tend to think of meditation as a way to be calm. That’s one aspect of it but the greater part of this process is witnessed through the changes you go through as a person.

Today’s episode feature Joey, a professional boxer who credits meditation for changing his life. We discuss silent 10 day retreats, the benefits of meditation, and finding balance between meditation and his professional boxing career.

So let’s get right into it!

(00:01:10) Discipline

(00:02:58) Intro to Vipassana

(00:04:28) Meditation Retreat Structure

(00:05:51) First Retreat

(00:10:46) Meditation and Progress

(00:17:02) Affect of Meditation on Life

(00:19:57) Advice for the 10 Day Retreat

(00:22:58) Meditation and Boxing

(00:27:43) Path of Boxing

(00:31:19) Finding Creativity in Boxing

(00:33:59) Boxing and Fear

(00:37:38) What do You Want out of Life?

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Fun Spicy podcast.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? That's a question you probably haven't thought about in a while, I bet. Many kids, including myself, would've said "professional athlete." Did you know less than 2% of college athletes go pro?

It's easy to glamorize the life of a professional athlete without actually knowing anything about it. Today's episode features Kevin, one of these "less than 2 percenters." We discuss identity, the pressure that comes with success, self-doubt, and the consistency of committing to the hurt locker.

So let’s get right into it!

(00:01:05) Why Running?

(00:04:31) Desire to be part of the Cool Kids

(00:10:22) Ups/Downs with Success

(00:13:57) Hurt Locker & Streakiness of Committing to the Difficulty

(00:26:06) Fear & Running

(00:28:05) Self Doubt

(00:37:17) Is Doubt Necessary for a Good Life?

(00:46:31) Life as a Professional Athlete

(01:00:15) Advice to finding a Partner

In our daily routines, we find ourselves immersed in countless trials and challenges, each one seemingly blending into the next. Amidst this constant whirlwind, it's all too easy to push aside or delay contemplating life's ultimate purpose. The question itself can be daunting, yet embracing it has the potential to unveil profound insights and recalibrate our priorities in unexpectedly enriching ways.

In this episode, I chat with Sim who I met at UCLA. We talk about how a simple question of life’s purpose ignited his curiosity to search for the supreme truth. This led him down a path of spirituality and religion, resulting in significant personal and mindset changes that would impact the rest of his life.

You can find more of his talks on https://www.youtube.com/@basicsofsikhi

Don't miss an episode if you're curious, looking for a laugh, or eager to learn from someone else's life experiences!

(00:00:38) Introduction to Spirituality

(00:03:44) Something Bigger is Happening

(00:10:48) Meaning of Waheguru

(00:15:29) Pushing Forward

(00:24:01) Personal/Mindset Changes

(00:26:37) Maya

(00:42:00) Focusing on God

(00:48:38) Importance of Sangat

(00:51:21) Taking Advantage of Maya

(00:58:03) Balancing Human & Spiritual Life

(01:04:12) Life’s Purpose

Contemplation on the constant nature of change, its emotional toll, and its essential role in personal growth and gratitude for life's experiences.

Explores free thinking, societal influences, and life's purpose, comparing life to a video game and discussing the quest for personal spirituality 😊

The pandemic was a challenging transition that caused many to reassess their priorities in our fleeting lives. A few years vanished instantly, and that time is irreplaceable. We simply aged and moved forward. Aging comes with its own challenges, including personal change and witnessing friends take on life's responsibilities. As we grow older, we gain a better understanding of society and strive to contribute positively to leave the world a better place.

In this episode, I chat with my friend Naish who I’ve known from middle school. We chat about how the pandemic shifted his perspective on spending time with friends, the complexities of navigating life as we grow older, and the contentious issue of whether stakeholder capitalism is truly beneficial for society.

Don't miss an episode if you're curious, looking for a laugh, or eager to learn from someone else's life experiences!

(00:00:21) Are you proud of yourself?

(00:03:36) Power of Art

(00:06:18) Looking Back on the Pandemic

(00:14:36) Turning 30

(00:19:43) Advice you’d give to your Younger Self

(00:22:37) Navigating Life taking Friends Away

(00:26:11) Rise of Stakeholder Capitalism

(00:28:19) Companies Influencing their Employees

(00:34:30) Is it Possible to be a 100% Free Thinker?

(00:37:23) The Good Ol’ Days

In this week’s recent thought, I talk about why student driver bumper stickers are not working 😃

In this week’s recent thought, I talk about stakeholder capitalism 😃

In this week’s recent thought, I talk about highs and lows 😃

Joining a sports league, particularly a sport you haven't played in years, brings its own surprises. It's not often that you find a group of like-minded individuals who are diverse in thought and experience, making it enjoyable to participate in a sport that now feels somewhat unfamiliar.

In this episode, we chat with Marissa about our personal and team improvements throughout our sand volleyball season.

Don't miss an episode if you're curious, looking for a laugh, or eager to learn from someone else's life experiences!

(00:00:23) Zog League Results

(00:03:25) Zog League Competition Level

(00:06:06) Team Improvements

(00:10:46) Personal Improvements/Observations

(00:19:27) Long Rallies

(00:22:26) Alec League

(00:26:24) Alec League Expectations

(00:30:31) Zog League Fav Moments

During the COVID pandemic, plants and gardening surged in popularity as they were among the few activities that could be enjoyed in quarantine.

In this episode, we chat with Diana, a plant enthusiast who discovered her passion during the pandemic. She shares her experiences with plants and provides practical advice for their care and upkeep. We also delve into the challenge of choosing the right plant and offer tips on what to consider when purchasing from a large retailer.

Don't miss an episode if you're curious, looking for a laugh, or eager to learn from someone else's life experiences!

(00:00:00) Superbowl

(00:02:26) Fruit Picking in the Neighborhood

(00:13:04) Plants as a Home Decor Item

(00:15:59) Plant Journey

(00:19:22) Plant Maintenance

(00:22:15) Choosing a Plant for Your Space

(00:36:46) Dream Plant

Moving, even just a street over, let alone across the world, can be daunting 🤯

Join us for a casual chat with Prit as he recaps his exciting journey from India to UCLA, his thoughts on the missing sense of community in the U.S., his love for the popular sport of Cricket in his home country, and his memorable experience at the OSHO Meditation Camp.

Don't miss an episode if you're curious, looking for a laugh, or eager to learn from someone else's life experiences!

(00:00:00) From India to UCLA (00:12:16) Living in India (00:16:27) Lack of community in America (00:34:10) Popularity of Cricket in India (00:43:30) OSHO Meditation Camp

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Tyson as we recap our volleyball experience with Volo Sports and make predictions for our sand volleyball season with ZogSports

Quick preview on what this podcast will be about :)