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Quyns Empowerment Hour, November 14, 2015

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Show Headline
Blind Master Chef Champion’s Recipe for Life - Christine Ha
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with Quyn Lê Erichsen

As Christine Ha began to lose her sight and was paralyzed on both sides of her body, her world seemed to crumble around her. Although she eventually regained control of her body, Christine lost almost all of her sight. Listen to our intimate conversation where Christine shared her darkest moments and her greatest triumphs.

Guest, Christine Ha

Guest Name
Christine Ha
Guest Occupation
MasterChef Winner and Author
Guest Biography

Christine Ha is the first ever blind contestant and season 3 winner of the competitive amateur cooking television show, MasterChef USA on FOX, with Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich. She defeated over 30,000 home cooks across America to secure the coveted MasterChef title, a $250,000 cash prize, and a cookbook deal.

“The lady has an extraordinary palate, a palate of incredible finesse. She picks up hot ingredients, touches them, and she thinks about this image on the plate. She has the most disciplined execution on a plate that we’ve ever seen. But the palate is where it’s just extraordinary. And honestly, I know chefs with Michelin stars that don’t have palates like hers.” –Chef Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef judge

Christine also has a Master of Fine Arts from University of Houston’s nationally acclaimed Creative Writing Program. During her time there, she served as Fiction Editor for Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts. She is currently working on a memoir.

Christine’s first cookbook, Recipes From My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food (Rodale, 2013), was a New York Times best-seller. She has been featured on NPR and the BBC; made guest appearances on “MasterChef” Vietnam; and travels around the globe to give inspiring keynote addresses and cooking demonstrations, including a TEDx talk at University of California, San Diego, in May 2015. Her latest foray into television is a Canadian cooking show on AMI called Four Senses (Varner Productions), on which she is a co-host with Carl Heinrich, season 2 winner of “Top Chef” Canada. “Four Senses aims to encourage visually impaired individuals to get cooking in the kitchen and will begin production of its third season this fall.

Christine received the 2014 Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind, a recognition formerly bestowed upon Ray Charles, Patty Duke, and Stevie Wonder among others. Christine resides with her husband and two dogs in Houston, Texas.

Quyns Empowerment Hour

Show Host

Quyn's Empowerment Hour is a radio talk show aimed to inspire you, touch your heart and transform your life! Join Quyn every other Saturday 9PM PT for an hour of insight and inspiration for your heart, your spirit and your soul! The show discusses topics pertaining to empowerment and emotional and social well-being. You will hear from well-known experts and inspiring and amazing individuals sharing their expertise and their stories. You will also get to hear personal stories and experiences shared by listeners such as yourself. The show is aired every other Saturday 9PM Pacific Time and it reaches audience worldwide!

Quyn Lê Erichsen, M.Ed., is a Psychotherapist, Life Coach and Inspirational Speaker. Quyn's unique life experience as a blind woman, a boat person from Vietnam and a refugee has driven her to realise her dream of shining light where there is darkness, bringing hope to those in despair and healing the wounded hearts of many people in the world.

  • Courage To Come Back Award Finalist, 2015
  • Achievement of Excellency in Academia and Psychology, presented by Don Davies, Member of Parliament, 2010
  • The NEADS Equity Through Education Student Award, National Educational Association of Disabled Students, 2009
  • The AEBC National Achievement Scholarship, Alliance of Equality for Blind Canadians, 2005
  • The Dean's Honour List, McMaster University, 2003-2007
  • The Achievement Awards of Excellence, McMaster University, 2003, 2005
  • The University Scholarship, McMaster University, 2004, 2005
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