Murphy Pines shares their journey of self-discovery, from growing up across multiple countries to embracing queerness and building community through art and authenticity. Their story reveals how breaking free from societal expectations can lead to profound healing and connection with oneself and others.

• Growing up across three continents and moving 16 times created adaptability but challenges with maintaining relationships
• Career aspirations evolved from designing chairs to film directing at BuzzFeed to creating independent art
• Coming out as queer at 27 marked a pivotal shift from living on "autopilot" to authentic self-expression
• Practicing "relationship anarchy" - defining connections based on authentic desires rather than societal expectations
• Healing from trauma involves acceptance and grace rather than eliminating triggers or achieving perfection
• Reconnecting with nature helps combat loneliness and provides wisdom about relationships and boundaries
• Creating the world we want to see by living it rather than waiting for permission or validation

Guest bio:
Murphy Pines is a multi-disciplinary artist and storyteller whose work explores themes about emotions, vulnerability and authenticity. Murphy has had a broad range of experience spanning from their years at Buzzfeed to directing music videos, designing props on animated shows and creating a successfully funded kickstarter.

• IG: @hereismysecret / https://www.instagram.com/hereismysecret/
• IG: @hereismyclubhouse / https://www.instagram.com/hereismyclubhouse/
• Linktree: @murphyscottage / https://linktr.ee/murphyscottage

Links/resources:

• “I’M HERE” Deck (cards - website)
• About Time (movie - Wikipedia)
• How Deep Will You Go (card game - website)
• “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (book - Wikipedia)
• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar (sushi restaurant - website)
• Adrienne Maree Brown (author - website)
• Yumi Sakugawa (artist/author - website)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Julie Huynh shares her journey from dentistry aspirations to becoming a UX designer while exploring how continuous learning and the "I know nothing" mentality have shaped her personal and professional growth.

• Originally from Chicago, inspired by role models like Michael Jordan and Michelle Kwan
• Pursued biological sciences at UCI but added Asian American studies to balance scientific and creative thinking
• Discovered UX design through a human-computer interaction class, finding alignment with her natural skills
• Explains the distinction between UI (visual elements) and UX (how people interact with products)
• Describes how empathy is central to UX design through understanding diverse user needs
• Discusses baking as a parallel passion that taught her progression from precise rule-following to confident adaptation
• Advocates for "putting in the reps" and consistent practice as essential for growth in any field
• Shares how community work provided low-stakes opportunities to develop leadership and creative skills

Guest bio:
Julie is passionate about lifelong learning and bringing people together. She's originally from Chicago, but grew up in Orange County. She spends all of her waking hours dividing time between working full-time as a user experience designer, freelance graphic designing, volunteering, working on various hobbies, and being there for family and friends.

• Design IG: @designedby.julie - https://www.instagram.com/designedby.julie/
• Design website: https://www.jbhuynh.com/
• Dance IG: @jujubeatsz - https://www.instagram.com/jujubeatsz/
• Cake IG: @cakehuynhner - https://www.instagram.com/cakehuynhner/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huynhjulie/

Links/resources:

• KKAP @UCI KCN 2012 (dance performance - YouTube)
• Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones (Amazon - affiliate link)
• The Accountant (movie - Wikipedia)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com

Alex Hung shares his journey from HR professional to Chief of Staff, offering insights on career advancement, financial management, and relationship wisdom gained through years of professional and personal experience.

• Starting in HR with an unrelated degree taught Alex the reality that your college major often doesn't matter for career success
• Changing jobs every two years can yield 15-20% salary increases compared to the typical 2-7% internal raises
• The "squeaky wheel gets the oil" - you must make your accomplishments known rather than silently working hard
• Alex's investment choices that have provided better returns than traditional S&P 500 investments
• Taking a year off from dating helped Alex reset his priorities and become comfortable with being alone
• Looking for a partner who aligns on future goals matters more than shared hobbies or interests
• Understanding emotional versus logical approaches helps navigate relationship dynamics

Guest bio:
Alex is the Chief of Staff at a start-up that provides back-office solutions for property managers, focusing on business enablement and strategy to grow the business, and unblock operational challenges. He loves debating with friends to challenge his ideas and opinions. His best friend is his white and grey shih tzu, Teddy.

• IG: @hungonlife / https://www.instagram.com/hungonlife/
  LinkedIn: @AlexanderHung / https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-hung/

Links/resources:

• Kaba Modern @Vibe17 (dance performance - YouTube)
• Eye warmer / massager (Amazon - affiliate link)
• All-In Podcast (YouTube channel)

One Thousand Gurus Podcast:
Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world.

www.onethousandgurus.com
Instagram: @OneThousandGurus
TikTok: @onethousandgurus
YouTube: One Thousand Gurus Podcast
Email: onethousandgurus@gmail.com