Fans of TV talent shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With The Stars” know that those hoofing it up on stage only constitute half the equation. Choreographers are increasingly—and deservingly—sharing the spotlight with performers, allowing a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into their art and method.

Taiwanese American Janet Hsieh has a job most girls would die for—she travels the world, visiting exotic locales and trying fine foods. As the host of Discovery Travel and Living’s Fun Taiwan, which is broadcast to 25 countries throughout Asia, Hsieh introduces audiences to the island’s attractions—both of the tourist and off-path variety—and wins them over with her charming personality and daring attitude.

Who would have thought that being bored out of your mind would be the best thing that ever happened to you? While looking for something to do one day, singer-songwriter Zee Avi picked up a guitar and taught herself how to play. At the time, Avi was a college dropout living at home with her parents in Malaysia. Today, she is a rising musical star living her dreams in Brooklyn, New York.

There’s no doubt that Korean pop culture (affectionately called K-pop) has become an international phenomenon. It’s gaining popularity in American pop culture, with enthusiastic fans such as Perez Hilton. For Asian American teens, the luring quality of K-pop runs a little deeper. As Facebook and Twitter feeds run rampant with the latest buzz on SNSD, Big Bang or 2PM, Korean music and all the culture that accompanies it has traveled at lightning speed across the Pacific to influence both Korean and non-Korean American teens alike.

Traditionally, Asians are brought up to respect all forms of authority, be silent unless called upon and above all, always have a calm and courteous demeanor in public. As a child, Lela Lee, the creator of Angry Little Girls was told to brush things off and smile instead of standing up for herself. When she encountered hostility at school, her mother answered: “Just be nice to them, it’s a matter of you assimilating.”

On long, tedious family vacations, some people get through an entire booklist of vacation reading. Others stay in the hotel rooms, ordering room service and playing video games. When Jon Chu got bored on a trip, he asked his four siblings to act out a scene for him to film. “We’d pretend to be robbing a bank, or go on a Jurassic Park adventure,” he recalled. Some time later, the preteen hassled his father until he bought him an electronic mixer to edit the films with.

There are no tattoos, bold makeup or crazy costumes present as Margaret Cho sits down for our video interview. Instead, she cradles a mug and excuses herself every once in a while to cough. She’s lost her voice, she explained. While such is the case in a literal sense, Cho is far from losing her voice as a multi-talented comedian, actress, author and now musician, singer and songwriter.

One night several years ago, Jen Wang and Diana Nguyen found themselves sitting by a fireplace, drinking scotch and making jokes about disgraceful Asian celebrities.

“We’d find ourselves always circling back to why it was so significant to have good Asian representatives instead of lame ones—there are so few public figures in the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) universe, that it [unfortunately] places a burden on those in the public eye to represent us all,” said Nguyen.

Chinese American Jerry Yang, who emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10 and went on to co-found Yahoo and revolutionize the way we use the internet, is often lauded as a Silicon Valley success story. Mochi had the opportunity to ask Jerry some questions about the secrets of his success, inspirations and the future of Yahoo and the internet.

Michelle Wie’s parents first recognized the athletic prowess in their four-year-old when she picked up a golf club, swung and hit a ball airborne. After a couple months of practicing in 100-yard baseball fields, one ball flew over the fence and into a house. From then on, practice was held exclusively at golf courses.

Eric Yorkie doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight. He doesn’t have a thirst for blood or super senses. He isn’t immortal.

He is, however, one of Bella Swan’s close friends in “The Twilight Saga.” Played by 29-year-old Justin Chon, he’s the nerdy Asian kid who spoke to her when she first came to Forks High School and gave her the nickname “Arizona.”

As I was browsing through YouTube videos one day, an incredibly cute Asian girl doing a makeup tutorial caught my eye. Lindy Tsang, who is known as “Bubbi” on YouTube, is originally from Ireland (with a cute accent to boot!), but I immediately connected with her cheerful-yet-sincere personality and easy-to-follow videos.

Nineteen-year-old Maurice Velazco was studying in Europe when he spotted a handsome guy at a soccer game in Wales. Despite not having any intentions to date while abroad, he put his worries of rejection and incompatibility aside and struck up a conversation with the gorgeous stranger, later known as Andrew. The two hit it off immediately, and for the remainder of Maurice’s stay, they were inseparable.

How do you explain that feeling when you get into a new place and immediately feel at home? If you’ve seen the “Sex and the City” movie, picture the moment when Carrie first opens her fabulous new walk-in closet at her Fifth Avenue penthouse, that is what it’s like. For those of us heading to college, it’s important to look for a similar connection when picking your new home for the next four years. This may be overwhelming, but here are some tips on what to look out for to find which campus is the best fit for you.

This summer, take a trip with your friends that doesn’t require a lot of planning or extra money. Try some of these ideas for quick and easy excursions.