What happens when talent isn't the only thing determining whether you get your shot?

On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, author Angelica Cheng joins Joe to talk about her debut novel, The Fast Track, a YA rom-com set in the high-pressure world of Formula racing.

Angelica shares how discovering Formula One during the pandemic — and quickly noticing how few women were represented in the sport — inspired the story of Justine Kwong, a young driver chasing her dream of reaching F1 while navigating competition, sponsorships, expectations, and the constant question of whether she truly belongs.

Joe and Angelica also discuss the difference between being good enough and being allowed the opportunity to prove it, the imposter syndrome that can come with being the only one in the room, why ambition and romance make such an interesting combination, and the importance of writing messy, ambitious girls who are allowed to make mistakes without losing their worth.

It's a conversation about racing, representation, identity, competition, and how we can encourage young people to chase big dreams without letting those dreams become the sole definition of who they are.

Enjoy!

What makes somewhere — or someone — feel like home?

On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, award-winning author and illustrator Shaun Tan returns to the show to talk about his latest book, Hometown.

Joe and Shaun explore the story's wonderfully strange premise: a girl who feels completely at home among a family and community that look nothing like her, until someone who looks like her arrives and insists she belongs somewhere else.

From there, the conversation opens into questions of identity, belonging, belief, first contact, and why human beings can become so certain that their way of seeing the world is the correct one. Shaun also discusses the value of leaving room for doubt, the importance of questioning what we inherit, and how Hometown ultimately became a story about making thoughtful decisions rather than simply accepting what someone else tells us is true.

Joe and Shaun also talk about parenting, giving kids enough guidance to feel supported without making their decisions for them, and why home may ultimately be less about where we come from and more about familiarity, love, and having the freedom to change.

Enjoy!

How much of our lives should actually exist outside the frame?

On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, Joe sits down with his friend A.J. Hernandez, a Boston-based lifestyle, food, and fashion creator, for a conversation about what it means to build a life online without turning your entire life into content.

A.J. talks about finding the balance between beautiful, curated experiences and not taking himself too seriously, why authenticity can quickly become just another social media strategy, and how he decides which brands, opportunities, and pieces of his personal life actually belong on his feed.

Joe and A.J. also discuss navigating marriage and boundaries in the age of content creation, the importance of keeping some things sacred, the increasingly blurry line between real and manufactured content, and why social media can sometimes make us feel connected to people without actually maintaining the relationship.

It's a conversation about storytelling, friendship, identity, boundaries, and remembering that you can invite people into your life without necessarily giving them the key.

Enjoy!