In Episode 104 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek talks with Jaja Chen. Jaja is co-owner of Waco Cha, an organic Boba tea bar in downtown Waco, as well as a licensed therapist specializing in burnout. Jaja discusses her Hakka Chinese heritage, the three values she impresses upon her “charistas,” and the ways she sees the Asian and Asian-American communities evolving in Central Texas. Before that conversation, Austin speaks with Nathan McCray of Spectrum Reach who explains the company’s Support Local marketing grants for Central Texas businesses.

Inside the Episode:

0:43 - Nathan McCray of Spectrum Reach
4:48 - Jaja Chen’s Waco history
6:52 - The Waco Cha story
8:45 - Moving from Taiwan to the States
9:48 - Identifying values before product
11:09 - Diversity, Community, Courage
13:20 - Courage means owning your ideas
14:15 - Jaja’s Hakka Chinese heritage
16:34 - Residing within her Hakka identity
18:16 - Asian-American culture growing in Waco
20:04 - Speaking at the House of Representatives about “The Power of Immigrant-Owned Businesses”
22:47 - Learning through Covid
24:18 - How being a social worker therapist helps in other areas of life
26:09 - Building the Waco Cha brand in Temple