In this deeply personal episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her longtime friend Claudia Jimenez for an honest and reflective conversation about friendship, identity, confidence, and the quiet work of becoming who you were always meant to be.

Spanning more than two decades of shared history, Katie and Claudia reflect on meeting as young single mothers, raising daughters side by side, and supporting one another through career shifts, financial loss, divorce, and personal reinvention. Claudia shares her journey from working simply to survive to rediscovering her intelligence, worth, and voice through education, therapy, and courageously stepping outside her comfort zone.

The conversation explores unlearning limiting beliefs passed down through family, culture, and society, particularly around being a woman, self-confidence, and perceived capability. Claudia opens up about staying silent for years in a marriage that no longer aligned with who she was becoming, and how finding her voice ultimately changed the course of her life.

Katie reflects on her own journey of reclaiming confidence, leadership, and faith, including confronting long-held self-doubt around business and ability. Together, they discuss friendship that endures without guilt, the power of community, the importance of modeling growth for their daughters, and why healing often begins when we finally tell ourselves the truth.

This episode is a reminder that strength is often quiet, growth is rarely linear, and finding your voice can change everything.

Unlearning old beliefs is essential to growth. Katie and Claudia reflect on how beliefs formed in youth, about intelligence, capability, and worth, shaped their lives for years. True growth began when they questioned and released those narratives.

Finding your voice may come at a cost, but silence costs more. Claudia shares how staying silent for years affected her identity and relationships, and how reclaiming her voice ultimately led to difficult but necessary change.

Safe friendships allow growth without guilt. Their enduring friendship demonstrates that real connection does not require constant contact. Trust, understanding, and mutual support create space for growth without resentment.

“I stayed silent for ten years. Finding my voice changed everything.”

“I believed I wasn’t smart because that’s what I was told, and I carried that for years.”

“We are our biggest critics. Nobody else sees us the way we see ourselves.”

In this deeply moving episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Zelene Zaragoza, a police dispatcher and lifelong member of the San Gabriel Valley community, for an emotionally honest conversation about cancer, grief, survival, and the lifelong impact of loss.

Zelene shares the story of losing her mother to stage-four gallbladder cancer when she was just nineteen years old. What followed was a rapid six-month journey that reshaped her understanding of love, strength, and resilience. She reflects on grief as a lasting presence, one that evolves but never fully disappears, and on the importance of speaking her mother’s name and carrying her legacy forward.

Dr. Chu opens up about her own breast cancer diagnosis, the moments of denial and fear, and the profound realization of illness during a solitary MRI appointment. She speaks candidly about body image, identity, and the long journey toward self-acceptance after a double mastectomy, including the transformative moment when her daughters helped her reclaim her sense of beauty and worth.

Together, Katie and Zelene explore the many layers of cancer’s impact, not only on those diagnosed, but also on families, children, and caregivers. They talk about tears, anger, faith, laughter, and the quiet moments of grace that help people continue choosing life even after unimaginable loss.

This episode is a powerful reminder that strength is not the absence of pain. It is the courage to feel deeply, to honor those we’ve lost, and to keep moving forward with intention, compassion, and light.

Strength includes tears, grief, and vulnerability. Katie and Zelene reflect on how true strength comes from allowing emotions to surface rather than suppressing them. Healing begins when we give ourselves permission to feel fully.

Cancer reshapes how we see life, loss, and what matters. Whether surviving cancer or losing someone to it, the experience fundamentally alters perspective. Small frustrations fade, and gratitude, presence, and connection become central.

Legacy lives on through stories, laughter, and purpose. Speaking loved ones’ names, sharing their stories, and embodying the values they lived by keeps their presence alive and gives meaning to continued life.

“Strength isn’t the absence of tears. It’s letting them fall and still choosing life.”

“I think every person cancer touches reaches a crossroads of how they’re going to choose life.”

“Your survival is not an accident. It is purpose, protection, and grace.”

Zelene Zaragoza is a first-generation American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She works as a police dispatcher and has a deep passion for helping others. After experiencing the loss of her mother to cancer, Zelene draws strength from her family, friends, and faith. In her free time, she enjoys spending meaningful moments with loved ones and giving back to her community.

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her longtime colleague and friend Dr. Alan Berg, a highly respected cataract and LASIK surgeon, for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about purpose, kindness, humility, and how we choose to move through life.

Rather than focusing on titles or accolades, the conversation centers on what it truly means to live on purpose. Dr. Berg shares his philosophy of making every day count, choosing gratitude, and taking responsibility for how he shows up, regardless of circumstances. He reflects on the importance of kindness, helping others without expectation of recognition, and finding fulfillment in simply doing the right thing.

Together, Katie and Alan explore topics such as imposter syndrome, self-worth, presence, friendships, random acts of kindness, and the power of choosing joy even on difficult days. Dr. Berg’s calm, grounded perspective offers a refreshing reminder that peace does not come from success or validation, but from acceptance, humility, and intention.

This episode is a quiet yet powerful reminder that legacy is not built through grand gestures, but through everyday choices. How we treat others, how we face challenges, and how we decide to live each day ultimately defines the life we lead.

Every day can be a good day if you choose it. Dr. Berg explains that while not every day is easy, it is our responsibility to decide how we respond. Choosing gratitude and perspective allows even difficult days to hold meaning.

Kindness does not need recognition to matter. True kindness is shown in quiet actions. Helping someone because it is right, not because it will be noticed. Legacy is built through consistent, unrecognized acts of goodness.

Living on purpose means being present and grateful. Purpose is not about achievement or status. It is about appreciating what you have, valuing relationships, and making the most of each moment.

“It’s my responsibility to make it a good day.”

“If you’re not happy with yourself, only you can change that.”

“Why wouldn’t you help someone if you can?”

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Kathy Cruz, a respected leader in the optical industry and a passionate advocate for women, community, and intentional living, for a deeply honest conversation about boundaries, healing, faith, and rebuilding yourself when life doesn’t go as planned.

What begins as a lighthearted discussion about family traditions and everyday life unfolds into a powerful dialogue about the emotional labor many women carry quietly. Kathy shares her journey of navigating family expectations, caregiving roles, and the difficult but necessary decision to set boundaries in order to protect her mental health and peace.

Together, Katie and Kathy reflect on pivotal life moments — layoffs, divorce, caregiving, trauma, and identity shifts — and how those experiences became invitations to rebuild from a place of self-trust and clarity. Kathy opens up about therapy, redefining her identity beyond long-held roles, and reclaiming her maiden name as an act of self-honoring.

The conversation also highlights Kathy’s leadership within the Optical Women’s Association, including the importance of creating safe, unplugged spaces where women can reconnect with themselves beyond titles, productivity, and expectations.

This episode is a reminder that boundaries are not walls against others — they are bridges back to yourself.

Boundaries are acts of self-preservation, not punishment. Kathy explains that setting boundaries is not about hurting others, but about protecting your mental health and honoring your needs.

Rebuilding starts internally, not professionally. True rebuilding begins with self-awareness, reflection, and healing. Career clarity follows personal clarity — not the other way around.

Safe spaces create stronger leaders. Unplugged, judgment-free environments allow people to heal, reconnect, and return to life and leadership more grounded and aligned.

“You’re not setting a boundary against someone — you’re setting a boundary for yourself.”

“I had to rebuild myself personally before anything else could work.”

“Legacy isn’t something you leave behind — it’s something you’re actively creating.”

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her close friend and longtime colleague Dr. Linda Vu for a warm, thoughtful, and deeply personal conversation about purpose, faith, clarity, and the courage to move forward even when the path ahead is unclear.

Together, they reflect on decades of serving a diverse, immigrant-rich community in the San Gabriel Valley and the legacy created through hundreds of thousands of patient encounters. Dr. Vu shares her journey of stepping away from the comfort of employment to open her own practice, navigating uncertainty, impostor syndrome, and the fear of not being “ready.”

Through honest reflection and heartfelt storytelling, this episode explores how clarity often comes after action, not before it. Dr. Chu and Dr. Vu discuss identity, confidence, healing, and the quiet ways patients can teach us to value ourselves more deeply.

Filled with humor, wisdom, and moments of deep insight, this conversation is a reminder that impact is built through presence, kindness, and connection — not perfection or certainty.

You don’t need clarity to begin — you just need the first step. Dr. Vu shares how growth happened by moving forward without a perfect roadmap, trusting that each step would reveal the next.

Purpose is often revealed through service to others. Years of patient care reminded both doctors that true impact goes beyond clinical outcomes — it lives in human connection and compassion.

Faith and community create courage when certainty is missing. Family, faith, and support systems made it possible to take risks, knowing that even if things didn’t go as planned, they wouldn’t face it alone.

“You don’t always have to have a clear pathway — you just have to get started.”

“It’s okay to not have clarity, as long as you take the first step.”

“If I can make every patient leave feeling just a little bit happier, I’ve already done my job.”

Website: https://www.lindavision.com/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Tony Sommer, whose journey spans military service in the U.S. Air Force, corporate leadership, and ultimately a purpose-driven career in optometry and myopia management.

Recorded in an Atlanta hotel just hours after Dr. Chu landed, this intimate conversation weaves together stories of service, family, fear, faith, and vulnerability. Tony reflects on leaving the military to prioritize family, navigating the corporate world, and discovering fulfillment through meaningful, values-aligned work. Along the way, he shares moments of courage, including confronting deep fears, redefining success, and learning to surrender control.

Dr. Chu also opens up about her own transformative experiences — leaving an abusive marriage, confronting childhood trauma, and choosing vulnerability as an act of strength. Together, they explore how their generation was taught to “suck it up,” and why unlearning that mindset has been essential for healing, leadership, and inner peace.

This episode is an honest, wide-ranging dialogue about choosing courage over comfort, releasing facades, honoring legacy, and understanding that true success has nothing to do with material goods — and everything to do with impact, faith, and connection.

Vulnerability is not weakness — it’s strength refined. Katie and Tony reflect on how openness around fear, trauma, and uncertainty has become a powerful source of connection and leadership. Vulnerability allows others to feel seen and less alone.

Success isn’t material — it’s relational and meaningful. Tony shares how releasing the pursuit of titles, status, and possessions brought clarity and peace. True success is measured by impact, wisdom, and the people you help along the way.

Courage often means choosing discomfort in service of purpose. From facing fears in the wilderness to launching deeply personal work, both speakers highlight moments where courage required stepping into discomfort to live more fully aligned lives.

“Being vulnerable now is one hundred percent a sign of strength.”

“Material goods aren’t success. Impact on others is.”

“You can’t live authentically if you’re always wearing a facade.”

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsommerjr

My latest project: https://www.treehouseeyes.com/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Jeremy Hill, a seasoned ophthalmology professional with more than 30 years of experience in medicine, for a deeply reflective conversation about faith, resilience, mentorship, and what truly matters in life.

Jeremy shares his journey of working every role in ophthalmology — from the front desk to administration — and how those experiences shaped his perspective on leadership, gratitude, and service. He reflects on the mentors who guided him, the daily habits that ground him, and the importance of becoming invaluable through learning and humility.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as both Katie and Jeremy open up about their cancer diagnoses and how those moments fundamentally reshaped their outlook on fear, faith, and surrender. Jeremy speaks candidly about trusting the process, letting go of control, and choosing to believe that no matter the outcome, you can still choose to win.

Together, they also explore parenting, boundaries, coaching, leadership, and why success isn’t measured by trophies, titles, or metrics — but by the people you help shape along the way. With honesty, warmth, and quiet wisdom, this episode is a reminder that meaning often comes from closed doors, surrender, and lessons we didn’t know we needed.

Faith transforms fear into clarity. Jeremy explains how surrendering decisions to faith removed stress and fear from major life choices. When you trust the process, decisions stop feeling like burdens and start feeling like alignment.

Winning isn’t the goal — character is. Whether coaching kids or leading professionally, Jeremy emphasizes that shaping good humans matters far more than wins, titles, or metrics. The real victories reveal themselves years later.

Closed doors are often protection, not rejection. Both speakers reflect on learning to appreciate closed doors, recognizing them as redirection toward something better rather than setbacks to fight against.

“I can either defeat it, or let it defeat me.” — Jeremy reflecting on his cancer diagnosis and the mindset that carried him forward.

“Regardless of the outcome, you’re going to win.” — A powerful reframe on faith, fear, and trusting the journey.

“Winning isn’t the most important thing — making good people is.” — Jeremy on coaching, leadership, and what truly lasts.

Website: http://iorpartners.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553224443815 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ior-partners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iorpartners/

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with leadership expert, author, entrepreneur, and speaker Tiana Sanchez for a deeply engaging and honest conversation about boldness, calling, faith, and the transformative role of failure.

Tiana shares her journey from being laid off during the 2011 recession to launching her own business and stepping into her purpose — even when it terrified her. Together, she and Dr. Chu explore what it means to make bold moves, how mindset shapes outcomes, and why failure should be viewed as an experience rather than an identity.

They also dive into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the courage it takes to speak hard truths, the influence of legacy, and the moments that feel chaotic but ultimately push us toward clarity. From business to faith to personal growth, this episode is filled with wisdom, laughter, vulnerability, and rich storytelling.

This is a conversation about owning your story, stepping out in faith, and embracing the divine delays, detours, and disruptions that shape who you become.

1. Failure isn’t final — it’s an experience, not an identity. Tiana reframes failure as something you experience, not something you are. Shifting from “I failed” to “I experienced a failure” changes how we move forward.

2. Boldness is courage in motion. Courage is the desire to act. Boldness is taking the step. Whether launching a business or speaking publicly, bold moves require movement, not perfection.

3. Legacy matters — what you build now becomes someone else’s blueprint. Legacy isn’t about fame. It’s about impact. Your intentional choices become the seeds of possibility for others.

“Sometimes you just have to leap and grow your wings on the way.”

“Boldness is an action — it’s courage in motion.”

“Divine delay. If something doesn’t go your way, it may be saving you from something you can’t see yet.”

Website: https://tianasanchez.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianasanchez/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TianaSanchezFanPage/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likearealbosslady/?hl=en