From Organizational Psychologist to the “Asian Oprah” | Dr. Marissa Pei

What does it look like to build a platform dedicated to hope, balance, and positivity in a world that often feels dominated by negativity? In this episode of the Starter Girlz Podcast, Jennifer Loehding sits down with organizational psychologist, author, and media personality Dr. Marissa Pei, often known as the “Asian Oprah,” to explore the journey that led her from teaching at UCLA to hosting a globally recognized talk show focused on happiness and personal mastery. Before stepping into media, Dr. Marissa spent years teaching organizational psychology and studying workplace dynamics, leadership, and human behavior. But a conversation with a student opened the door to something unexpected — a new path that eventually led her behind the microphone. What followed was the creation of her long-running talk show Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It: Get Balanced with Dr. Marissa, where she has spent more than a decade interviewing thought leaders, celebrities, and experts while sharing conversations centered around resilience, perspective, and the pursuit of happiness. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE • The journey that led Dr. Marissa from teaching organizational psychology to hosting a global talk show • The unexpected moment that opened the door to her media career • Why she intentionally created a show focused on solutions rather than negativity • How childhood experiences can shape our beliefs and self-perception • The role gratitude and perspective play in how we experience life • Why personal mastery matters more than external success • How she continues to inspire millions through conversations centered on hope and balance • What motivates her mission to help people rediscover their capacity for happiness ABOUT DR. MARISSA PEI Dr. Marissa Pei is an organizational psychologist, author, speaker, and media personality often referred to as the “Asian Oprah.” She is the host and producer of the award-winning talk show and podcast Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It: Get Balanced with Dr. Marissa, which has aired for more than a decade and reached millions of listeners across major platforms including iHeartRadio and YouTube. Prior to entering media, Dr. Marissa taught at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business and worked with organizations and Fortune 500 companies on leadership, workplace dynamics, and communication. Through her speaking, writing, and media work, she focuses on helping people develop personal mastery, resilience, and a healthier relationship with themselves and the world around them. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Life Doesn’t Suck Mindset 00:33 - Podcast Welcome and Mission 01:30 - Meet Dr Marissa Pei 02:11 - Sponsor Spotlight 02:58 - StarterGirls Resources 03:43 - Dr Marissa Bio and Hello 06:14 - How the Show Began 08:18 - No Headlines Just Solutions 12:56 - Multi Hyphenate Energy 20:03 - Manifesting the Radio Show 26:00 - Why People Connect 27:34 - Trauma to Happiness Message 29:14 - You Are Not Broken 31:27 - Self Worth vs Success 32:34 - PhD Jokes and Hyper Rationality 33:32 - Building a Show and Protecting Your Vision 35:22 - Work Burnout and Perfectionism Traps 37:35 - Praise Rules and Belief Bias 39:18 - School as Self Discovery 42:05 - Gratitude Sandwich Daily Practice 44:28 - Choose Your Focus Choose Your Life 48:24 - Surprising Guests and Deep Stories 55:05 - Stand Up vs Speaking and Where to Find Her 57:34 - Closing Thanks and Final Takeaway CONNECT WITH DR. MARISSA PEI Website: https://linktr.ee/drmarissa YouTube: https://youtube.com/@docbalance Instagram: https://instagram.com/docbalance CONNECT WITH STARTER GIRLZ Website: https://startergirlz.com Take the 2-Minute Success Block Quiz to discover what may be holding you back. Join the Starter Girlz community newsletter to stay updated on new episodes and insights. Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? Apply here: