Be Around the Right People
Host: Eric Chow · Guest: Alexa Sass · April 27, 2020 · Episode 32 · 64 minutes
Transcribed from the episode audio and edited for names and terms. Speaker labels are assigned automatically and can occasionally place a line with the wrong speaker; the episode itself is the record.
Eric Chow
What is up everybody? This episode's guest is Alexa Sass. She is a second year student at UCLA majoring in psychology and sociology with a minor in global studies. So we're talking about understanding people, the impact and experience of international travel. And we're also going to hear about some of Alexa's amazing experiences professionally and personally involving those topics. And that kind of leads us into the main themes of this episode. How the people we are around shape any experience we have. And how important it is to protect your energy and surround yourself with the right kind of people, the right kind of energy. And it's not just the people we're with, it's also the information that we consume.
mental intake that we have. And that includes social media. Alexa says that our minds are kind of a sponge. They soak up information that lead us to believe certain things. And the impact that can have the impact of what we intake mentally can have on the way. We live our lives is tremendous. And that is something that we really try to dive into in this episode. So without further ado, my friends, this is episode 32. Okay, what is up, everybody? Welcome to episode 32 of the Eric Chow Empowers Podcast. Today, the guest is Alexa Sass. Alexa, why don't you introduce yourself?
Alexa Sass
Yeah, so hello everyone. I'm Alexa Sass. I'm currently a second year at UCLE studying psychology and sociology as well as minoring in global studies. And I was actually a student at Logan, so I came from Bay Area and I'm back in Bay Area during quarantine right now. But yeah, I took tripping in 2018.
Eric Chow
So... You were before me. 2018 feel like like four years ago.
Alexa Sass
No, it feels so long ago like I Forget that I was ever in high school sometimes. I'm like wow I don't know. It's so weird.
Eric Chow
It feels like it was so long ago It's like it's like it's been like two or three years ago already. This year feels like two or three years.
Alexa Sass
This year has been too much already. I'm Actually, I'm not done with it.
Eric Chow
I'm still excited to see what the year has to offer, but it just kept rough start awful Just for so many people I think but Yeah, yeah, I think for me like it got hard and like the third or second or third week of January Oh really really like my first two weeks were like I was sailing through The second third week was like, uh, then after that, it started getting better again.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, funny enough, it was going really well, I think just once Kobe died and being in LA around that time, it's a lot. Like, it's very sad, you know, and you know, I'm obviously not from LA, but just being in LA and, you know, so many people were like feeling so many things. It was like wow like it affected me too and I you know, I'm not a huge Lakers fan, but I was like wow this is really bad. Yeah, it was yeah, it was really sad Wow Yeah, that's true. I didn't think about that and then after that I was like oh man because then everybody else, you know who is from LA They're kind of they're still grieving and stuff.
So it's like wow Just being around that energy and like you want to sympathize with them Um, but yeah, it was rough around that time. I think it was that. Yeah.
Eric Chow
I remember we got it like a lot of like, there were a lot of like things going on on social and then texting people and calling people. It was kind of, yeah.
Alexa Sass
I think it impacted so many people too, just because it was so random and like, yeah. So sudden and it's kind of like a stop in the face like this can happen to anybody. But I think that was like a scary part of it for so many people, even if you weren't, you know, super involved in all of the things.
Eric Chow
Yeah. Yeah. I don't understand. You said, I wonder if I got everything, psych, so and global studies.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, some double major currently, I can show and then minoring.
Eric Chow
Okay. So, psychinsos are pretty similar. Yeah. So, I imagine that was kind of like a kind of, yeah. Yeah. And that was like a high school kind of interest and then you kind of got into it. Yeah.
Alexa Sass
Psychology is definitely an interest from high school and just also personal experiences like always been interested in like, you know, like the way that people think and like their development and whatnot. And then sociology, yeah, they were kind of overlapping in a sense, but sociology is obviously more just a much greater line, more like population based. And then I thought those went really well together. And they're both very interesting.
Eric Chow
So I was really enjoying this. It was really funny, because last semester, I took a sociology course. I love psychology too and I like everything you just said about like one loving to understand people and all that kind of thing. I love that too. So I was told sociology would be interesting, right? And I have very high hopes and I was like, man, but my professor was dry. Yeah, that class was dry. So it was miserable.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, it's really hard if you don't, I feel good and you subject, it's really hard to get into it. Especially if it's your introduction to the subject and you have an awful professor or they're just teaching it in a way that doesn't work with you. It's like, yeah, it's rough. I've had those experiences before. Man, the topic's really cool, but this professor is like...
Eric Chow
I was really lucky because I had a good buddy of mine who was also in the class and we would carpool home together because we live really close by. So we were getting in the car. and we'd be like, man, I nearly fell asleep again. What are we eating now? But then we would end up talking about what we discussed in class and we would have the most interesting conversation and then that we would be like, all right, we're good.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, and so funny because my first realization of what sociology really was, I realized I was like, you know, I feel like this is what people say when they say like what they talk about. because they're talking about different populations and the intersection between race and education level, all of that stuff that people would categorize as like, oh, you're woke or politically correct or whatever. And I was like, wow, that's very interesting. There's a subject to put down that. I was like, yeah. Leveling up your wokeness. Yeah, I feel education. based on based on what you know it says is educated you know that's I felt that I was like oh wow I actually understand what they're saying yeah no that's good I never thought about that that's good and then global studies what about how did you get into that one yes so I took an international trip to the Dominican Republic back in high school like with this program global done yeah
Eric Chow
I was in the program I was in the program I went to all the meetings and then I forgot why but I had to I had to pull out It's okay. I don't know why maybe I was going on vacation and I was like I'd rather go on vacation with the family maybe mm-hmm or maybe something happened.
Alexa Sass
I don't know It was amazing it like It was such a synchronicity and I didn't know it was a synchronicity at the time who's before I had been tripping but it just came at such a perfect time in my life and It was awesome like I met such amazing people I and that was my first time you know going internationally to a country or what yeah going abroad so I was super excited and Yeah, and I usually don't do like trip or anything like with my family and stuff. So going on this trip by myself was really like, whoa, really like I was super like nervous, excited.
And also the fact that you couldn't have had your phone like there's just so many things that yeah, I just love that trip. And I like I felt the highest I've ever felt conscious wise like I was just on top of the world. I felt like I was on top of the world. And ever since then I've been really interested in international service because that was like what the whole trip was about pretty much. And I didn't know how into it I was going into like college applications and stuff because I realized I could have applied to be like a global cities major or international development major and things like that.
But I didn't know how much I really liked it until... I did another service trip and I was like, oh, no, I really like this stuff. So last summer, I did a service trip to Peru. And that's when I decided I was like, if I can, my new global studies and somehow worked out with all the classes I was taking, I was like, I'm going to do it because it's really interesting. And I really like this. What do you like about it? I think just how much you learn about yourself while learning about other cultures is really It's really, really interesting. And I think that's why I like the first global glimpse trip so much, because I feel like I learned so much about what I value.
And I guess I just reassessed the things that I valued and just got an understanding of like, I don't know how to explain it, just what, yeah, it's really hard to explain. And every time I try to explain to someone how I feel when I go on a trip, it's really hard. very enlightening and empowering, you know, to say the least. And it makes the end every time I tell somebody, you know, about these trips, I think the best way that I kind of can digest it is like, whatever I learned there, I hope to bring back to, you know, the state and apply whatever lessons I learned and bring it back here.
And I feel like You don't get those same kinds of experiences while you're in the United States. So being able to have different experiences and then bring them back, I think, is what I see in the cards with it. Yeah, I really like that. I love that. It's just a very... It's just one of those things, it's like once you go, you're like, wow, people can't see my hand movements.
Eric Chow
Well, you know what, it makes sense to me. So, hopefully it's just that as well. It makes photo sense to me. And like, you know, even if it doesn't make sense to listeners, you can tell our conviction.
Alexa Sass
So it's fine. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. So yeah, I think that happens every time I talk about it. Like, whoa, but it's awesome. You're great.
Eric Chow
No, you were great. I think traveling kind of does that. And you know what they just think I found too? When you like, you travel and you're like, you're learning all this stuff and you feel great, you're enlightened and all that, right? You come back and you're still feeling great. And at some point it kind of dies down. Like you still kind of have that drive, but it's like kind of like not as apparent.
Alexa Sass
And then you go on another trip and you just like rekindles it. Yeah. That's the best. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's like an excuse to travel, which is great. Yeah. Yeah, I would take any excuse. But. And I think that's when I noticed like I actually really like this stuff when that wants to like learn more and see more like didn't die. I was like I can continuously do this and still like it. So I think I really enjoy this.
Eric Chow
Yeah. Love it. Love it. And I imagine that kind of overlaps with like some of the things you're interested in like outside of school.
Alexa Sass
So what are you, what are you involved in? What are you interested in?
Eric Chow
So I like, I really like working out. Like I like, I like things that helped me develop myself. Those are kind of my hobbies, so to speak. So I really like digital art, which is kind of my like express way to Like if people sometimes people journal, you know, I used to journal but now I really like people are not kind of my means of expression I really enjoy yoga I feel like things just that kind of overlaps with hobbies will also help So sweet and yeah, like I said working out running Yeah, like I say at the mile now I'm like, oh, I want to go for fun.
Be the other day. Yeah, I hate to. I hate to do. It was miserable. But now it's like, I did stuck in here at this house where, I mean, I love my home, but like, yeah, can I go for a run please? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. No, that's good though. To have all those like hobbies that are really about health and whether it's exercise or Expressing yourself and like taking time for yourself. That's great. That's phenomenal. I was uh It's funny you mentioned like digital art too is like that kind of your your method of doing that because I was just listening to another podcast maybe a week ago or something like that with a lady named Lisa bill you and She was saying she's like she's a very Her and her husband are very like entrepreneurial.
They have like their business and they're Really really hard workers like they spend a lot of time and they work really hard on that but she was like yeah, sometimes I like her way of expressing herself is art And she's like she has her own like little studio kind of space and in their house a small little studio space and a lot of people and she was saying a lot of people ask her like well how you sell your art Because you know, she's an entrepreneur. She's like into that stuff. So like, why don't you just sell it? And she was like, no, no, no, no.
This is just for me. This is just my like expression. And she's like, and she gave like a hell of specific time. She was like Sunday, like 11 a.m. or like noon or like something, something. She was like, yeah, I'm here for like two, three hours. My husband knows not to bother me. Like. She was like, we got all these rules set off. Yeah, literally. It's like, it's crazy. But it was really, really like, it's really cool.
Alexa Sass
I think it's so funny. I think I need to take a page. I know I really like to do art. And I used to sell like my art, but like for stickers, but I used that money to fundraise for my trip. So in a way, it wasn't profit based. But or and you know what? There's nothing. Yeah, she just decided that no. Yeah, but I think that's really cool. That is really cool.
Eric Chow
Very interesting, especially her being like entrepreneur. She has her own show actually, just like it's called women of impact. Women of impact. I haven't listened to too much, but it's phenomenal. And I can only say that because I followed her and I followed her husband, so I know it's phenomenal. I haven't listened to too many episodes myself. I've listened to her a lot. So yeah, I'm sure it's phenomenal. But yeah. And then another thing I was thinking about as we were like talking, as we've been just talking about like some of the things you got excited about. I think people really make the experience of anything like so much better like it depends on the people. Oh yes. That's like the topic can be great but it's the people.
Alexa Sass
Yeah because you know energy energy is so real and if people give off you know negative energy or or energy that you just don't naturally vibe with it can change the whole. feeling in the situation for you. So I definitely agree with that.
Eric Chow
Yeah, yeah. Sometimes I'm like, I'm like, okay, time to get away from the situation. Cause just cause I'm like, no, I can't. Yeah. I have to have to protect it.
Alexa Sass
Yeah. And I love people. I love people so much. Sometimes it just doesn't work. Like that issue doesn't work and it's like dry.
Eric Chow
But there's no way somebody can do that.
Alexa Sass
Trying to make a sic. Yeah. No. Oh, can you? Can you?
Eric Chow
Yeah. Oh, no. Okay. Cool. We're good. Cool. It's fine. Whenever there are like things that come up, I just cut it out and edit and no one ever knows it happened. Love that. I know. I was thinking I was like, should I say, can you? No, it's fine. Um, I just, because I go through the entire episode anyway, it's my story.
Alexa Sass
You're proud of this. You don't have to do.
Eric Chow
This is what happens when you do 32 episodes.
Alexa Sass
You kind of know what you're doing a little bit.
Eric Chow
No, that's a lot. That's really awesome though.
Alexa Sass
Back in back in August I started. Yeah, that's pretty good. That's almost like that's like quick a week, right?
Eric Chow
Really close really close. Yeah close close to just about that's what I'm trying to do. I'm waiting for that one year that one year out of the week. Oh, we have to be exciting. That's going to be an exciting day.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, it's pretty awesome that's the thing. See, that's the problem, right? I don't know what I'm going to do for that. I know. You feel like it has to be like, oh, perspective. But it's okay. You know what?
Eric Chow
Tripping ideology, whatever. Have no expectations. Yes. There we go. Yeah, and I was also thinking too like several weeks ago I was thinking about like a seven eight year anniversary Like a lot like a seven eight year anniversary And see that one I have a plan for because at that point I'm hoping I'll have like a decent like space dedicated Podcast and then we're gonna like bring in like three guests that were like oh geez
Alexa Sass
That's the plan. See, I got a plan for that one.
Eric Chow
I don't know about it. I think if I had it's okay. Yeah, I'm thinking like 70 I even did like math that day I was like I think that's like episode 337 if I do like a roughly episode a week take a couple weeks off here I like did the math it was ridiculous.
Alexa Sass
I don't know why I did that Hey, you know what sometimes I really get excited for things I know it's gonna happen like way in the future, but I start like planning and like thinking about it and like Hey, manifestation exactly. So I try to manifest it. No, yeah, I totally do I do I'm a huge planner. Yeah Yeah See you try something I've been really quite bad at planning It's okay though, sometimes over planning is just I kept so frustrating. I'm trying to kind of going back to the quarantine. Like, I'm trying to let myself just go through the days, you know, and not quite. And it feels good for a change. Maybe we need to take a picture.
Eric Chow
Maybe we need to take a page out of each other's book on this case. No, yeah. Like you could just take some of my spontaneity and then I'll take some of your planning. Oh, Viguchi. No, yeah. How has quarantine been for you?
Alexa Sass
So it's been, it has us in downs. I was at a time in LA where I was like, I'm ready to go home. Like I miss home. And then, you know, the whole quarantine thing happened. And I was like, Oh, I'm going to have to be home for like months, like six months. So I wasn't expecting that. But I was so excited. And. Yeah, so for the first couple weeks I was fine. I had a routine going on Just because like I said, I'm a huge corner so I like to just naturally stick through the team and then after school settled in because I was on spring break after school settled in and I kind of got adjusted to also doing school online and then working online and still trying to develop myself professionally and personally like trying to do all these things I'm tired.
Why am I tired during quarantine? Like this is a very like special time, I think, where people are finally allowed to just kind of breathe and develop themselves and just breathe. And I kind of got to a point where I was like, I think I'm trying to go against the grain and like, like try harder to prevent myself from like relaxing too much. and then it got too tiring. So yeah, I think now I'm going to point one way. I'm still going to obviously do the things I need to do and try to develop myself the best that I can and wherever I can, but not put so much pressure in myself to do so much doing this time.
So yeah, I think overall quarantine has been really good. I'm glad to be healthy, happy and safe and same with my family. I think that that just told Bubba Monroe with me trying to over plan and over like be over productive when I into a time where I don't need to be super productive. That would help me hear the whole teach that.
Eric Chow
I think that's something that that's something I've been thinking about a lot too because like it's like some days I was telling someone this the other day. Some days if you look at like what I'm doing like if you like follow me for a day some days It's like man. This guy's busy. Yeah This is bad bad at this guy's like a CEO at this point my my dad likes to make fun of me sometimes like you feel I'm like and then there's other days where I'm just like I'm just like I'm just like kind of winging it. I feel like that's just my at this point.
It's like, if I feel like being productive, I'll be productive. I have to have a day like that. I'll do it, you know, yeah, yeah, take the time to do something. Although I will say the best part about some of the things I do.
Alexa Sass
Like this is work, but it's also not really work.
Eric Chow
Yeah. Like, yeah. Some of these things are very easy. So good. Or maybe not easy but like very comfortable. Enjoyable. Yeah. There we go. That's what it is. Yeah. That's good. That's awesome. So you talked about like developing yourself, let's see professionally and personally and you're working.
Alexa Sass
What do you do?
Eric Chow
Yeah. So I am an administrator assistant in this. Let me try to explain this. So we have a multicultural center that you say like. It's a nonprofit organization and within that organization there is a bunch of different projects and a lot of them are based on different cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. So I'm currently working for the African-American project which basically we work to retain college students. So just doing peer counseling, like putting out events and stuff for students just to help them. Yeah, just get like peer support and like retainers in college. Awesome. And then with the with regards to the personal and professional development, what are you doing right now?
Alexa Sass
Right now I well, I was actually planning to study abroad this summer, but you know, oh, in Spain and do Spanish. I was really excited. But, you know, all this stuff happened, so obviously it's canceled. So I was like, okay, let's see if I could find an internship or something. Hopefully if some were still happening, you know. And there are so many thinkerness videos happening because I was going to apply for an internship at Wirghulghulgh, you know, the awards that I did first in Championship with. And I was like, oh my gosh, so excited. And then first, like, I guess the deadline was like, I'm 27th of something, but I don't know.
I guess they found somebody before the deadline, so they just closed the whole thing altogether. So then they're like, oh, no more internship position open. Like we're good. And I'm like, oh man, I know. I'm like, what is this? Do you have to do these? But yeah, and then I ended up finding this really cool organization called Goli Abroad, which essentially like Global Glams but they're geared more towards minority students and it was remote positions, they're like this is perfect especially because we don't know how summer is gonna look so that was like this perfect and yeah that was the kind of whole thing for Nasty with that and also with the study abroad I have a mentor and I was talking to her and she connected with she connected me with somebody who does like international work And she was telling me, you know, it's good that you didn't get to go study abroad in Europe because if you want to do international work, it's really important to have experience in developing countries, which is usually where a lot of international organizations are geared toward, otherwise.
So if you have experience in Latin America, but it would be really great to have experience in Africa, which is somewhere I would definitely want to go to guard like this. I was like, you know, maybe this is the perfect opportunity for me to look more into programs in Africa and I started doing that and I found a program really like way better than the one in Spain. So it was just a huge thing. And I was like, it's amazing. But yeah, so hopefully if things work out next summer, they can go abroad in Africa. So bully. Awesome. Thank you. But yeah, that's kind of where I'm at professionally.
Where in Africa? Ghana guys I'm really excited because I did a 23 and me test also and Well for a lot of black people, you know, they don't know where their or their country of origin is from so I did one and I Got like Ghanaian and Nigerian so probably it makes me my grandparents or something so I'm like, oh, I'm really excited about Ghana
Eric Chow
I, this is interesting to me because I had an art history professor earlier in my college career and okay first of all that class was interesting because I'm not, I can't art. Like so I'm bad. I got you like an, I'll draw like a tree but that's it, I'm done.
Alexa Sass
It's okay, I'm not perfect either. I like digital art but the zooming is all that.
Eric Chow
Anyway, but it was art history. Some of the units were interesting because for example the first unit of course Italian Renaissance, right of course. I've been to Italy. Oh cool. Yeah. Actually that might have been the reason I didn't go on global glibs. I'm forgetting the years. Mm hmm. That might have been. Yeah, that would have been cool. I'm not sure. But I went to Italy and so every time he would show something I'd be like... Ha, saw that. So I'd be like, you know, I'd be like, okay, this is cool. And then another unit was like, we were talking about samurai swords, which is a very interesting thing.
But since I did martial arts for a long time, and one of the arts that I, one of the styles that I did was Japanese. And so learning about samurai was like, okay, I'll do this. Yeah. But then he got to the, it's a, it's a old culture in Africa called the Yoruba. And it's right out like I think it's really like close to where Ghana and Nigeria used to be. I'm pretty sure I'm I'm a memory's a little foggy here. Yeah, for me, I couldn't like relate to anything because you know I've never been there. I'm not. Yeah, but it's still interesting. And then that was also his favorite unit because he had actually studied that.
Like he went there and like did a lot of great stuff and he met some like descendants of like some really amazing like well-known in the culture like artists. He was interviewing them. But dude somehow I think he's trying to get uh oh I don't know. Oh dang. He was gonna have an exhibit in the Vatican this year. I don't know if that's actually happening anymore but...
Alexa Sass
Your professor?
Eric Chow
Yeah, that's so cool Because isn't the Vatican. Oh my god. I'm just talking to somebody like it briefly. It's like where is it? Where is it? You know, Rome there you go. I was gonna say Italy, but see So it's a separate country, but it's like it's like if you look at the map of Italy you'll have to like cut out a little circle for Yeah, but yeah, it's oh my gosh. Yeah That's a family professor. I went there too. Oh yeah. Like I went there and there was like, you have to like go through like security. Like there's so much stuff to enter the Vatican.
It's like you just... And it's like the real art to you, not like... And you have to like walk... like there's... you have to be there through a tour. Or who are like approved like in order to enter the Vatican. Like the tour groups. Or you have to wait in the long ass line. So like there's a line for the tours and then there's a line for everybody else. And those are like even worse. So like it's hard to enter. And then but like this dude was like yeah. We can press it. We walked in through like a special entrance. I'm like, bro. That's impressive.
He made me famous one day like famous I have his office number I also have his email. I have his business card. I don't really know where it is. I lost it. He gave me a book. He wrote a book on the Yoderber and so now I have it. The dope process. Yeah, I tried reading it and I can't do it. I can't do it. I know. There were like eight pages before the introduction. I can't. I don't know. I tried. I gave up on like page two. Okay. You're human.
Alexa Sass
Yeah. If he gets famous, I'll sell it.
Eric Chow
No, but actually. I'll just be like, ignore the note he wrote me in the front. Not for you, obviously. Yeah. It's the worst. So where's something? Exactly, exactly. But yeah, let's see. So that's kind of your, you got an internship, you got an opportunity to go abroad. One got canceled and then another one happened. And then you're doing the other thing with the African American thing at UCLA.
Alexa Sass
Awesome. Where do you want to take it? This is all you know. I know, I know. Never gonna podcast me fire.
Eric Chow
I feel like why was I about to say neither have I?
Alexa Sass
Know yeah, I feel like it gives me there's so many things. I'm I love to have that I love to share But it just like it comes naturally, you know what I mean? Do that ever happen to you like you're in a podcast and like you know, but after the fact you Think of something you like man Wish I did that. Wish I had that idea at the moment.
Eric Chow
Um, I don't think it usually doesn't usually happen to me on the podcast actually. Oh, like, wow. I don't know. Usually, usually I end up pretty good. Um, usually what'll happen though is, and this is when I do solo episodes when I have like a couple of different ideas. So I really want to talk about this. But since usually when I do an episode, it's usually based on the guest. Like I don't I never go into it with like I'm gonna talk about X Y Z unless the XYZ comes from my guest so It's always based on the guest and so anytime I feel like I have to share something I make that a solo episode Okay, and then I'm kind of I'm kind of just free To do whatever I want to do So that usually doesn't happen to me.
But what does happen to me sometimes is this is interesting. Sometimes when I'm like editing and I'm listening back to it usually a few days later, so I don't really remember everything that happened. I'll find myself like in my head saying a response to something and then I'll end up hearing my actual response to whatever was just said and I'm like, man, we're perfect.
Alexa Sass
Go me. That's funny. Like, hey, you out in the bag. Literally. I know. Literally. Like fuck.
Eric Chow
Or I'll like laugh at the same time in my head when I hear myself laugh and I'm like that happened to be the like the other day.
Alexa Sass
I'm not even that's like stenser. And it's so funny. Yeah.
Eric Chow
No, I think well, you know what? I'll share this with you. Just see if anything ends up coming up. Sure. I think, you know, like I told you before. This podcast exists because I wanted to empower myself to share whatever I also wanted to empower the guests to share whenever And you know what I use you know I said the first word that I always want to use when I describe it is empowerment, right? But the last bit I also use the second thing I would use is When I think about it, it's empowering people to live consciously, meaningfully and authentically. Those are the, those are the three, and those are also in the episode like, discrete, like how I describe not even the episode, the podcast, like description.
And that's really what it is. So it's like letting my guests do that. And also letting the audience get that. You know, when they listen, are they having, are they leaving it with a little better energy? Are they leaving it with a more optimistic and kind of better perspective? Or are they leaving with some kind of insight or strategy that they can apply in their life? And obviously that part is subjective. Yeah. You know, everybody's going to take something different away, which is cool. But it's offering as many of those like hooks for them to grab on. That's the way I think about it.
Alexa Sass
I think for me, a topic that I can always talk about. Social media at our age. At our age, that's just the huge thing. And I think that's why when I first reached out to you, I said that I really liked that you're doing this at this age because at this age, it's... so important to have healthy kind of like either mentors or healthy information because even though you know you've got to an age or you get to like 18 or whatever and you think you know you know a lot and you do and a lot of people experience someone's things like you know so much.
You're still technically a sponge and I feel like I'm learning that too. I'm like I'm 19. I get you in college and I feel I still feel like I'm soaking up so much that subconsciously affects me every day that is like I'm very conscious and careful about what I intake and what I watch or what or how much I watch or Things like that. So and especially having like younger siblings I'm very conscious of that as well. Also growing up in this generation is like the development of Instagram. It's so important to just be very conscious of not only how much but like what you're taking as you would put in.
Eric Chow
I agree especially. I feel like it's funny because like my IG is the feed. Super well catered. Oh man, it's so great. I do a pretty good job on that one. Twitter is hard to control.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, it's really you know and social media is such a beautiful thing because You know it allows you to express and connect with so many people and I think it's like doing me right now, yeah, like it's really amazing and I think I don't know what happened but I got to an age where I was like I started realizing the things that other people say or post like why is it unhealthy like It turned into this thing that was supposed to be so innocent like we're connecting we're sharing and But it could be so evil and so nasty and so like it forms people's opinion subconsciously and it makes me think of that really what they believe and I think for me like I say that just because I see a lot of people that have similar opinions on Twitter or on Instagram or whatever.
But I don't know, I really like to know from the person like, what do you truly believe? Like are you saying it just because you feel like it's the right thing to say on Twitter or you feel like it's the right thing and people will agree with you or what do you really feel? And I feel like whenever I genuinely have conversations with people, for those people that I see on Twitter, So much more comes out and so much like authenticity comes out and I think that's so important and I wish that people were able to share that on Twitter or like Instagram or whatever without feeling like they have to shape their opinion around something else or they'll get a talk.
You know what I mean? I hate that Twitter attacking. So annoying. It's so annoying. And I think there's, yeah, and I think there's definitely a difference between Twitter attacking and like Twitter conversations, which sure. Because someone can say something so just obviously wrong. But to them, they may think that's the right thing in the world. And you don't know what that person has been through in a person's lens. So then, you know, people people attack them, but it's like, you know, maybe you should have a conversation with them. Like, why do they think that? You know, and not even necessarily change their mind. Just maybe give them information. I don't know. I just, I don't always ask me.
Eric Chow
I agree with you. Yeah. I think with that last thing, especially you said, like, I remember having a conversation fairly recently, like somebody was like, um, F-R-E-F. Obviously I won't share like the details. Yeah They had an opinion on something and I was like and instead of like going into what my opinion was I was like, oh What do you think about it? Yeah? Yeah, and sometimes yeah, and then from there it was like okay it became like more of a respectful conversation.
Alexa Sass
Mm-hmm And I yeah, and I think that's so important because sometimes it's it's counter it's not the word counterintuitive go counter active when you argue you know about it because even if you want them to believe in their opinion or believe in your opinion or see what you think is right, you know, they're not gonna respond or you know, humans aren't gonna respond to you yelling at them or being like, oh my god, you're so wrong. We're like, oh my god, look at this person. It's like, you know, if you want change or if you want people to hear you, you know, there's definitely a way to go about it that respects both the other person's opinion in your own.
And I feel like people are so quick, especially on Twitter, to like jump at people like, wow. And for me, that's why I took a break, because I was so, I felt like my opinions were not authentically mine. And I was like, do I really believe this or is it just because I follow some social media and this is what so many people are seeming as like? I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean
Eric Chow
100% I think you still will I think I think I'm still gonna be doing it a fucking seven.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, no, I feel like I'm still gonna be like that just in general as human beings like we are so receptive to You know what we intake and it's so like subconscious like it impacts us impacts us so much like whether it's about parents or from my friends You know how people are like oh you catch on to your friends lingo and like your friends depending on whatever on you hang out with them Same thing with everything else. Yeah, it's the same thing with everything else. But for some reason, like social media, it's sometimes it gets so nasty.
Eric Chow
And I think, I think what's interesting is, you know, like we said earlier, people make the experience, right? That's we were talking about way earlier in the podcast. And it's like, it's the same thing. And what social media did is it made it really easy to share your opinion or see other people's opinion. And then, you know, I've read this probably several weeks ago. Like, you know, if I want to take care of my body, right? It's very easy to figure out, okay, I'm doing a diet. I'm going to eat X, Y, and Z. And it's very easy to be like, okay, I won't eat this.
Yeah. Right? I mean, unless the pizza is right. But it's easier to be like, I'm not going to put this in my body. But with information, it's so easy. Yeah. So easy. So I think it's really good that like you know you took that break and it's like what do you surround yourself with? Yeah. That's really what's gonna affect you. And I noticed too like when you said like you pick up your people's lingo. I literally said something to someone yesterday and I was like man and then and then they were like telling me something about it and I was like Blame this person for that because this was there.
Yeah And then they're like I could totally hear them saying I'm like yeah, and now I'm saying And like and then you said something else which also got me interested like You know when you're sharing like opinions And it's like is that really what you think I? Realize this very early on in my podcast, you know, I always like I did with you I asked you to introduce yourself in the beginning I ask everybody to do that right? It's like, but like, who are you? It's such an interesting question to me because everyone will always go to describe what they do. And that doesn't always describe who they are.
So what I realized is I still continue to do this. I still continue to do this. Like, I still continue to have my guests introduce themselves because I find it like a little cool moment when it's like, when there comes to the moment in the podcast where you know this is who the person really is. because this is what they're talking, this is what they're believing, this is you know, that's x, y, and z.
Alexa Sass
That's like a cool moment for me. No, yeah, yeah, it's so funny because I've heard that before too, like, with introducing yourself. It's like, and I think that's sometimes why for me, I miss home a lot because when I introduced that myself at school, it's always the same introduction for everybody, for everything. It's like, okay, me, major, here. pronouns, you know, all that like, it's the same exacting. So now it's like, when people are into pieces, I'm like, that's the first thing that comes to mind. But I know I totally get what you're saying with like, who are you? Because like, even with me, I prefer those kinds of authentic conversations.
Like with so many people at school and stuff, like with introducing themselves at the same, like all the same way, I feel like I feel like I don't know as many people as I. quote-unquote no, you know what I mean. Exactly. So, but then so I'd be like home because I feel like with home and maybe it's just because you know obviously old friends that I've known for longer but I feel like I'm able to like express more myself or just they already have that kind of more genuine introduction with me and you know being at school there's not always the space to have such you know deep enriching conversations because everyone's like go go go I gotta do this and there's the you know I mean I definitely feel that I think that's the important thing to remember someone I was talking to someone just yesterday he's a he's a fellow podcaster mm-hmm this dude is like Alberta Canada oh wow but yeah yeah we've been
Eric Chow
I was on his show actually. But he's got a lot of people lined up right now. But anyway, he was sharing with me some good news in his life, which I'm really quite excited about. But his show is he built it around the concept of having a cup of tea with something. Because he was like, so you know how I use empowerment? His word would be storytelling. and taking a moment to pause over a simple cup of tea because like you were saying in a lot of our lives it's like so quick. Yeah. Well, it's like moving to the next thing, taking a moment, pausing and then just like talking.
That's his whole thing. That's what I think my podcast kind of like without following that has kind of done that too. It's like it's always just been like an excuse. No, yes. a more meaningful conversation.
Alexa Sass
And that's why, yeah, that's why I was interested in doing it because I was like, I, I miss having meaningful conversation. Like, you know, just college in general, I don't know if you feel the same way. I feel like I talk about this all the time to you from back home. Like, it's so hard to get just that time with other people, you know, at your school and actually get to know them. You know, even though you guys do activities together, whatever, there's always like everyone's either on the go with their mind or somewhere else. You know, yeah, a lot of times their mind is somewhere else. But yeah, I'm very much genuine confident. And I think it's so important. It's healthy. It's, yeah, it's healthy.
Eric Chow
Quite honestly, I gave up. Even trying to like really get to know anyone. Yeah. I just gave up and I was like, I'm gonna just go home and I figure out what I could do with this. No, honestly. I figure out what I could do with outside of it.
Alexa Sass
Honestly, it's really hard in college. And I think that's the funny thing, because people are like, college, you're going to meet, you know, life's one friend. They're like, all these amazing people. I need to beat Millie, but you do meet really amazing people. But like I said, like you feel it. I sometimes I feel like I really don't get to know that the way that I like to.
Eric Chow
Yeah, it has to be like a really. conscious kind of effort.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, and not everybody is like down or you know, like I said, so many, I'm guilty too. Sometimes I'm like, I don't feel like I'm not with anybody. I got tough too. But it's, yeah, it's enough.
Eric Chow
I'm very interested how it's going to be when we like go back after all. Oh, yeah. I'm very interested. Thank you. I want to see how I I'm also curious like just to see how I'm gonna interact with people back in when one thing started up again. I'm very curious. I'm not gonna be like the really friendly guy who just talks to everybody and it's almost kind of borderline annoying.
Alexa Sass
I'm not gonna be that guy, I don't know. Yeah, I have no idea how I'm gonna be out of this. I think I think I'm gonna be like craving like genuine conversations. Be like, hey, come on, you're more. Like last I don't want to hang out.
Eric Chow
I just want to talk This is why I have this this is why I have this I'm just gonna be like hey, we're not gonna hang out you want to just come record.
Alexa Sass
Yeah This is my strategy especially Let's um go ahead. Oh, I just always say especially at this age I think I just age for me at least or you know a pre-teen to like young adults, huge. Like, I have changed so much and it's like, that's why it's like so, you know, so important what you intake because I feel like that really, you know, has an effect on your future and who you become and, et cetera, et cetera. Like I see people in my family like at this point of quote, like critical time, you know, from pre-teen to young adults and You know, I don't I don't want to say not take an advantage of but I don't know they just had a rough time and I saw how it affected them like as they got older and things stopped changing for them and They weren't able to have more positive perspective.
They were just it was like a downward spiral and it made me really sad and I think that's why I'm very specific I don't know for lack of better germs about
Eric Chow
Do you know what I think? I think this is, you've brought something very good. I think people, like anyone listening to this, should start paying attention to how people behave and also what they consume. Because I think that's going to really show what you're saying. Like, you know, it's one thing to hear it, but when you start observing, like, oh, this person looks at a lot of this stuff. They behave like this and now, okay, that's what's happening. Yeah. Then you can kind of be like, oh, this has an impact. Yeah.
Alexa Sass
And it's like, that's why for me, it's like, you know, I've seen people that I love how to just like happen to them. That's why I'm like, please just take a breath, can notice where you're at and where do you want to be? How are you feeling? Do you want to continue this way? If you do, great. Do what you're doing. If you're not genuinely happy or if you're not genuinely satisfied or content, whatever, then maybe something needs to change. Or maybe, yeah, maybe it's only needs to change. And it could be minimal, too. It doesn't have to be huge. I think that's also a huge thing as well.
Eric Chow
It could be as simple as, like, instead of watching this on YouTube, I'm going to watch that on YouTube. Yeah.
Alexa Sass
Yeah, it could be a simple of like, yeah, this reason, watching who you hang out with, how much you hang out with people. How much time you spend with yourself.
Eric Chow
Yeah. And then also figuring out, hey, who do I want to hang out with? Maybe they're not even in your circle right now. Yeah. Reach out to different people. Yeah. I mean, that honestly, that's been a big thing for me. Like I should. I want to say most of the people I'm talking to these like a lot these days are people Seven months ago. I had no idea where that's cool. That's awesome. Right? Yeah, a lot of like What the fuck am I doing with the talk calling with the dude from Canada? No, yeah, no, yeah Yeah, I mean that's also the amazing thing about social media game with data, but right yeah, yeah Let's let's wrap this up with some Do you want to touch on anything any last thing before we wrap this up?
Alexa Sass
I think I think I'm okay. Yeah What I said is pretty much what I always be cautious of your intake and just be careful. Be safe, be happy, be healthy. This is perfect. I'm going to give you.
Eric Chow
So what we end with is what I call the final final words. I kind of like that last little thing that's going to be said. And what's going to happen is you can either, and this is all on you, which is I love my job. You can either A, share something just reflecting on our conversation, which has been one and a half hours long. You can either share just reflecting on our conversation, something you think the audience can take away, or you can just share something that comes to mind and that you're thinking about right now.
Alexa Sass
So I hope that you all, one, got to know me a little better. Hopefully find interest in international travel not just to experience the place But you know to have that kind of experience for yourself, especially independently super cool Definitely recommend it with a great random group of people sometimes a computer life changing in the world and also just be mindful of You know your social media intake social media is such a beautiful thing and I think it's so Yeah, it's so amazing. It's just be careful you say we're at with it see where you're out with your will you intake things Yeah, you mindful for the best of your Your being I'll share a line with with social I love which is one line is very short.
Eric Chow
It's use social media. Don't let social media use you
Alexa Sass
That's the good one. Yeah. I stole it from somewhere.
Eric Chow
I don't know where I stole it from.
Alexa Sass
Otherwise I would credit it, but I don't know where it is. That is so good. I think that could be my thing. I'm always talking about something like that. I hate it, but I love it. I'm going to use that.
Eric Chow
Take it. Take it. It's not even my own words from.
Alexa Sass
But you know, as whoever said it, I bet we'll be happy that we're passing that message on. Damn right. Thanks for coming on Alexa. Thanks for having me. It's been awesome.
Eric Chow
Hey everybody, thank you for listening to this episode of the Eric Chow Empowers Podcast. I hope you guys enjoyed that conversation I had with Alexa. I know I certainly had a blast and I think she did as well. As always, you will find her social medias in the episode description and you can always talk to me. at underscore CHOW. Let me know what you think of the episode. Let me know that you listened. I would love to hear about it. And of course, if you did enjoy this episode, I would love if you could share it across social media and tag me as well again at underscore chow.
Eric, I would also love to hear, you know, if there's anything in particular that we said that really resonated with you, that would also be really cool to listen to. But yeah, thank you guys for listening. It really does mean the world to me. I will see you for episode 33. But until then, my friends, have a fantastic rest of the day.