In this episode, Chu Tang opens up about how friendship has shaped her journey from refugee camps to thriving as a creative artist and entrepreneur. Along the way, she found that friendship — real, unconditional friendship — was the thread that held her life together.
Chu shares how her second book, Finding Real Friends, was born out of gratitude for the support she received while writing her first. She hopes it helps young adults rediscover the meaning of friendship in an age of social media, where connection can often feel superficial.
Throughout the episode, Chu and I explore how friendship shapes identity, provides healing where family might not, and teaches us forgiveness and empathy. Chu’s stories — from childhood friends to creative collaborators to new business allies — show how authentic relationships help us grow into the best versions of ourselves.
As Chu says, friendship is both simple and sacred: it’s about trust, love without judgment, and choosing people who help you see your potential.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why true friendship requires trust, action, and acceptance
How friendships can fill roles that even family can’t
Why some friendships are “seasonal” — and how to let go with grace
How to build genuine friendships in a social-media-driven world
Noteworthy quotes from Chu in this episode:
“I think if we come from that space [ what’s in it for me], it's very hard to find true friends because we will tend to attract people with agenda.”
“And then also we have to forgive our friend because it's like us forgiving ourselves.... No, we don't go to school to learn how to be a good friend….So sometimes friend[s], they make mistakes and then so do we.”
“A true friend is someone that I could totally depend on…without them prejudging…someone who allows me to be who I am…no judgment…love who I am.”
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Website: www.allhealth.info
Book: Finding Real Friends: Stay by My Side (available on Amazon)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chu.tang.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chu_muy_tang/#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/health-wellness-consultant/
Connect with Anne Brinkman
Website: www.betteryour.life
LinkedIn: @coachannebrinkman
Free confidence recordings: www.betteryour.life/audio
Newsletter: get notified of new podcast episodes or blog posts: https://better-your-life-coaching.ck.page/
Free discovery session: get support on your own personal growth journey: http://www.betteryour.life/schedule
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In this episode, Chu Tang opens up about how friendship has shaped her journey from refugee camps to thriving as a creative artist and entrepreneur. Along the way, she found that friendship — real, unconditional friendship — was the thread that held her life together.
Chu shares how her second book, Finding Real Friends, was born out of gratitude for the support she received while writing her first. She hopes it helps young adults rediscover the meaning of friendship in an age of social media, where connection can often feel superficial.
Throughout the episode, Chu and I explore how friendship shapes identity, provides healing where family might not, and teaches us forgiveness and empathy. Chu’s stories — from childhood friends to creative collaborators to new business allies — show how authentic relationships help us grow into the best versions of ourselves.
As Chu says, friendship is both simple and sacred: it’s about trust, love without judgment, and choosing people who help you see your potential.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why true friendship requires trust, action, and acceptance
How friendships can fill roles that even family can’t
Why some friendships are “seasonal” — and how to let go with grace
How to build genuine friendships in a social-media-driven world
Noteworthy quotes from Chu in this episode:
“I think if we come from that space [ what’s in it for me], it's very hard to find true friends because we will tend to attract people with agenda.”
“And then also we have to forgive our friend because it's like us forgiving ourselves.... No, we don't go to school to learn how to be a good friend….So sometimes friend[s], they make mistakes and then so do we.”
“A true friend is someone that I could totally depend on…without them prejudging…someone who allows me to be who I am…no judgment…love who I am.”
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Website: www.allhealth.info
Book: Finding Real Friends: Stay by My Side (available on Amazon)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chu.tang.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chu_muy_tang/#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/health-wellness-consultant/
Connect with Anne Brinkman
Website: www.betteryour.life
LinkedIn: @coachannebrinkman
Free confidence recordings: www.betteryour.life/audio
Newsletter: get notified of new podcast episodes or blog posts: https://better-your-life-coaching.ck.page/
Free discovery session: get support on your own personal growth journey: http://www.betteryour.life/schedule
In this episode of Books to Better Your Life, Anne Brinkman sits down with author and career coach Sandy Johnson to discuss her inspiring new book Experience Not Required. Part memoir, part self-help, and part adventure story, Sandy’s book encourages readers to embrace the freedom of being a “rookie” and step into new experiences—even when they don’t know how to begin.
Sandy shares the sparks that led her to writing, from childhood inspiration with Harriet the Spy to publishing her first articles, and ultimately to embarking on adventures like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and running a race in the Sahara Desert. She opens up about the discomfort of learning something new, the power of recommitting when doubt sets in, and how confidence grows not before action, but because of it.
Together, Anne and Sandy explore themes of adventure, belonging, confidence, and possibility—reminding us that trying something new doesn’t require expertise, only a willingness to begin.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why embracing the role of “rookie” can be freeing rather than embarrassing
The connection between discomfort, persistence, and growing confidence
How sharing your dreams out loud invites support, resources, and new opportunities
Noteworthy quotes from this episode:
“Confidence isn't something that you just decide you're going to feel. I need to feel more confident. It's a result of actually doing.”
“When we're little kids, we just say out loud, oh, “I want to be an astronaut,” “I want to be the president.” We say things because we have no idea about what's required to get there. And as adults we know what's required. So we just shut things down as that's not possible. That's the problem.”
“Everybody that ever tried something new or invented something didn't know anything, we are figuring it out as we go along.”
“I find that a lot of us, when we get to a certain stage of life we are afraid to admit that we haven't done something before. We want to appear capable and experienced and even experts. And it can be embarrassing to say “I don't know how” or “I haven't done this before” “
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Experience Not Required by Sandy Johnson — Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback)
Visit Sandy’s website: experiencenotrequired.ca
Connect with Anne Brinkman
Website: www.betteryour.life
LinkedIn: @coachannebrinkman
Free confidence recordings: www.betteryour.life/audio
Newsletter: get notified of new podcast episodes or blog posts
Free discovery session: get support on your own personal growth journey
Books to Better Your Life
In this episode, Chu Tang opens up about how friendship has shaped her journey from refugee camps to thriving as a creative artist and entrepreneur. Along the way, she found that friendship — real, unconditional friendship — was the thread that held her life together.
Chu shares how her second book, Finding Real Friends, was born out of gratitude for the support she received while writing her first. She hopes it helps young adults rediscover the meaning of friendship in an age of social media, where connection can often feel superficial.
Throughout the episode, Chu and I explore how friendship shapes identity, provides healing where family might not, and teaches us forgiveness and empathy. Chu’s stories — from childhood friends to creative collaborators to new business allies — show how authentic relationships help us grow into the best versions of ourselves.
As Chu says, friendship is both simple and sacred: it’s about trust, love without judgment, and choosing people who help you see your potential.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why true friendship requires trust, action, and acceptance
How friendships can fill roles that even family can’t
Why some friendships are “seasonal” — and how to let go with grace
How to build genuine friendships in a social-media-driven world
Noteworthy quotes from Chu in this episode:
“I think if we come from that space [ what’s in it for me], it's very hard to find true friends because we will tend to attract people with agenda.”
“And then also we have to forgive our friend because it's like us forgiving ourselves.... No, we don't go to school to learn how to be a good friend….So sometimes friend[s], they make mistakes and then so do we.”
“A true friend is someone that I could totally depend on…without them prejudging…someone who allows me to be who I am…no judgment…love who I am.”
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Website: www.allhealth.info
Book: Finding Real Friends: Stay by My Side (available on Amazon)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chu.tang.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chu_muy_tang/#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/health-wellness-consultant/
Connect with Anne Brinkman
Website: www.betteryour.life
LinkedIn: @coachannebrinkman
Free confidence recordings: www.betteryour.life/audio
Newsletter: get notified of new podcast episodes or blog posts: https://better-your-life-coaching.ck.page/
Free discovery session: get support on your own personal growth journey: http://www.betteryour.life/schedule
