Stro (@DirectedByStro) is one of the most influential directors on the Internet. Since the fondly-remembered days of Vine, when the biggest creators in the world lived and created together at 1600 Vine in Hollywood, Stro has been behind the camera producing, directing, shooting, and editing skits for the likes of megastars Lele Pons, Twan, Brent Rivera, and more.

Today, as the cofounder of production company Room 1041, he produces the YouTube channels for Rosanna Pansino, MyLifeAsEva, Larray, Hannah Stocking, Twan, and many more. Despite his deep friendships with creators of all backgrounds, however, this Vietnamese-Canadian living in Los Angeles has always struggled to connect with both peers of Vietnamese descent and the broader AAPI community.

In this second episode of Creators of Color, host Avi Gandhi digs into the challenges Stro has faced connecting with his own identity, and how his upbringing and experiences as the son of refugees have helped him succeed at working with the biggest creators in the world.