Eleanor Tomczyk: Finding Resilience and Identity Beyond Borders
Release Date: 03/28/2024
Color of Success
Joe Daru is no stranger to thriving in new environments. From living in various countries to playing professional baseball, and now acting and directing, Joe shares how he continues to navigate his life and career. He highlights: How he developed skills through baseball, such as competitiveness, motivation, and work ethic, which he now applies to his career in Entertainment. The importance of open-mindedness and flexibility, particularly when living in various countries His fight scene with QUEEN, Michelle Yeoh in The Brothers Sun His dream project (spoiler alert: It's related to baseball)...
info_outlineColor of Success
We are fortunate to have Producer, Winnie Cheung and actress, Celia Au on the show to discuss their short film, Last Call which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Midnight Short Program. This short fantasy thriller takes you on the psychological journey of a traumatized motorcyclist who daydreams about a sultry serpent woman and is haunted by her enchanting voice. Winnie’s credits include being a co-producer on the SXSW Audience Award Winner “Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror” in 2021, and has won several awards at Sundance and more. Inspired by David...
info_outlineColor of Success
In Season 7's premiere, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa and Dr. Stephanie J. Wong engage in an important conversation addressing: Dr. Oriuwa's experience being the only Black student in her medical class at University of Toronto Racial trauma in psychiatry to treat patients Challenges of connecting with friends and self-care in professional and personal settings Being honored with a Barbie made in her likeness and the impact this has on children feeling seen Strategies to navigate these challenging socio-political times in society. To learn more about Dr. Oriuwa's work: Bio: One of Time...
info_outlineColor of Success
I sat down with fellow Bay Area native, David Lim, one of the stars S.W.A.T. on CBS. He shares his personal experiences, career journey, and challenges he faced in the mortgage industry, acting, and modeling. We discussed the importance of resilience, self-belief, and adaptability in overcoming obstacles and achieving success in various fields. David shares the story of how he met his wife, and how they co-founded a jewelry company following a burglary of their home, losing sentimental pieces. Bonus: My mom gets to ask her fan questions! S.W.A.T is on CBS every Friday at 8:00 pm and...
info_outlineColor of Success
Dr. Samuel Jamier, Executive Director of the New York Asian Film Festival/Foundation (NYAFF), tells me about his childhood, growing up as a Korean adoptee in France and how his experiences led him to his current role of promoting stories from around the world. He shares his thoughts about reducing stereotypes and advancing representation in film, including: Supporting quality films with multi-dimensional characters vs. blanket support of films with actors who identify with under-represented groups Encouraging increased viewership of films with subtitles Volunteering with the . ...
info_outlineColor of Success
In an emotionally raw interview, actress, Peggy Lu opens up about her family's immigration story, her parents' emphasis on earning a doctorate (which she did), and how following her dream of being creative and having fun led her to work with Tom Hardy in the Venom trilogy. Peggy discusses her mother's wisdom, working as a pharmacist, and how crying is a release for her. I was lucky to connect with Peggy who is charismatic, fun, and emotionally intelligent. Bio: Peggy Lu is a professional actor fluent in Mandarin Chinese who can be seen as the incomparable ‘Mrs. Chen,’ owner of a...
info_outlineColor of Success
In collaboration with renowned activist, Malala Yousafzai, Director & Producer, Sue Kim presents “The Last of the Sea Women,” an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors who wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, the haenyeo divers of South Korea’s Jeju Island are renowned for centuries of diving to the ocean floor—without oxygen —to harvest seafood for their livelihood. Today, with most now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, their traditions and way of life are in imminent danger. But these fierce, funny, hardworking women refuse...
info_outlineColor of Success
In this episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong welcomes Theodoric Chew, the co-founder and CEO of Intellect, Asia Pacific's leading integrated mental health care service provider. Theodoric shares his personal journey with mental health, which inspired him to create Intellect—a platform that now serves over 3.5 million members globally. He discusses the challenges and nuances of providing culturally relevant mental health care across different Asian countries, the stigma surrounding mental health in Asia, and the importance of education and access to care. Host: Dr....
info_outlineColor of Success
In this episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong sits down with Shauntel Murphy, a corporate leader and the founder of Wishing You Well in Life. Shauntel shares her powerful journey through the challenges and triumphs she faced as a woman of color in corporate America. Together, they dive deep into: Highlights: Overcoming Bias in Corporate America: Shauntel reveals the persistent biases she encountered due to her race and gender and how she continuously had to prove herself in the workplace. Becoming a Cultural Bridge: Shauntel discusses her role as a cultural...
info_outlineColor of Success
In this episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong sits down with the remarkable BAND!T, a Grammy-nominated engineer and two-time Billboard charting producer. BAND!T, born in Queens, New York, and now residing in Los Angeles, shares his journey as a first-generation Korean American making a significant mark in the music industry. From dealing with panic disorder as a child to working with some of the biggest names in music, BAND!T’s story is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of pursuing one's dreams. Key Highlights: Early Struggles with Panic Disorder:...
info_outlineWelcome to a special episode of the Color of Success Podcast! Today, we had the pleasure of hosting the incredible Eleanor Tomczyk, a memoirist, blogger, and speaker whose journey takes us through the realms of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging in a complex world. Here's a brief overview of what we discussed:
About Our Guest: Eleanor Tomczyk is an African American baby boomer, an ex-evangelical conservative Christian turned memoirist, and humorous blogger. She has published three impactful books - "Monster's Throwdown," "Fleeing Oz," and "The Fetus Chronicles," with her fourth, "House of Oz, Undone," set to release in the fall of 2024. Eleanor's work uniquely captures the essence of her life's trials and triumphs, offering profound insights into love, grace, hope, and joy amidst adversity.
Host: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong
Guest: Eleanor Tomczyk
In This Episode:
- Eleanor's Journey: From being born in a unfortunate circumstances to becoming a celebrated author, Eleanor's story is one of overcoming the odds through love, grace, and resilience.
- The Impact of Mental Health: Eleanor discusses the profound impact her mother's mental health had on her upbringing and her path to forgiveness and understanding.
- Finding Love and Community: She shares how meeting her husband in a community that initially offered belonging and support played a crucial role in her healing process.
- Navigating Religion and Spirituality: Eleanor reflects on her experiences with religion, from finding solace in faith to confronting the challenges and eventual disillusionment with institutionalized religion.
- Advocacy for Mental Health: The conversation highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support, contrasting Eleanor's generational perspective with the more open attitudes of younger generations.
- Eleanor's Work and Upcoming Book: Details on where to find Eleanor's published works and anticipation for her next book, "House of Oz, Undone," which explores the intersection of faith and political ideology.
Final Thoughts: Eleanor's journey is a testament to the power of storytelling in navigating life's complexities and finding one's voice amidst adversity. Her work not only entertains but also enlightens, offering a beacon of hope and resilience for those traversing their paths to self-discovery and healing.
Stay Connected:
- To learn more about Eleanor Tomczyk and her work, visit EleanorTomczyk.com.
- Check out her blog, "How the Hell Did I End Up Here?" at howthehelldidIenduphere.wordpress.com for more of her insightful musings.
- Eleanor's books are available on Amazon and other major book retailers. Be sure to check out her upcoming release, "House of Oz, Undone."
Thank You for Listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to the Color of Success Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us grow our community and continue bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from our guests.
- Sponsor Highlight: Munn Avenue Press - Empowering aspiring authors to publish and market their books. Visit munnavenuepress.com to start your publishing journey.
- Host Announcement: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong's new book, Cancel the Filter: Realities of a Psychologist, Podcaster, and Working Mother of Color, focuses on mental health experiences professionally and personally. You can pick up a copy here: https://a.co/d/8ezSFrh