From Netflix's "Love in Taipei" to the Future of Storytelling | Abigail Hing Wen & Ashley Liao

About this episode

A conversation exploring creativity, identity, and mental health in the context of storytelling and AI with Abigail Hing Wen and Ashley Liao.

In this deeply human conversation, host Soon Yu is joined by Abigail Hing Wen (author, filmmaker, and creator of  The Veil ) and Ashley Liao (actor, poet, and advocate) to explore creativity, identity, and mental health through the lens of what it means to stay human in an age increasingly shaped by AI. The discussion begins with their groundbreaking work on  Love in Taipei  and expands into the importance of Asian American representation, coming-of-age stories, and choosing creative paths in industries that often reward conformity. Ashley shares candid reflections on mental health struggles, vulnerability, and learning to extend gentle love to herself. Abigail also opens up about rejection, power dynamics, and advocating for visibility in corporate and creative spaces. The conversation then turns toward the future of storytelling and AI. Abigail discusses  The Veil , a novel centered on clean AI, ethical creation, and the tension between innovation and humanity. Together, they examine how AI is changing Hollywood, authorship, and creative labor. We also dive into the associated risks of AI such as deep fakes, consent, and cultural erasure. Ashley explains why…

People in this episode

Host: Soon Yu

Guests: Abigail Hing Wen, Ashley Liao

Topics covered

• creativity
• identity
• mental health
• Asian American representation
• storytelling
• AI
• personal growth

Keywords

• mental health
• creativity
• AI
• storytelling
• Asian American representation
• personal growth
• vulnerability
• innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hollywood, AI

Books & works: Love in Taipei, The Veil

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