WILLIAM LI
ENTREPRENEUR, WRITER and TV HOST
September 2022
Meet William Li. He’s a man who wears many hats (and dashingly so) from magazine contributor, tastemaker and now, cofounder of The Hao Life, a thoroughly modern plant-based wellness brand rooted in Chinese centuries-old remedies. And listen, William knows. William grew up in NYC’s Chinatown and soon spread his wings to take a big bite out of the Big Apple. Corporate life? Check. Restaurant and lifestyle writing for Town and Country Magazine? Check. Food lover and bon vivant who you’ll always want at your dinner parties? Check. Now, The Hao Life, where he and cofounder Danielle Chang (you maybe have already seen them on your screens— this is the duo behind Emmy-nominated TV series ‘Lucky Chow’ with Season 5 out this fall) have brought together the best of Chinese medicine in a way that’s simple, safe and effective for you. And we love that. Let’s ask William a few questions, shall we?
Follow William @williamlinyc
Follow The Hao Life @thehaolife
Who are you?
Native NY-ker, Son of Chinatown, Home Cook, Dog Dad, Husband, Magazine Contributor & Entrepreneur
What’s on your mind?
How can I continue to shine a light on Asian excellence? And what I’m eating next.
Where are you right now?
Physically in my kitchen upstate. Mentally, planning for the future of The Hao Life.
When did you start?
2020…at the height of COVID, Asian hate, and when I turned 50. Seemed like the perfect time for Danielle (my partner) and I to do something good!
Why do you do what you do?
Growing up, the kitchen cabinet was the medicine cabinet. I know the power of traditional Chinese medicine firsthand. Wanted to modernize it & share it.
What is your favorite meal to eat?
DIM SUM!! No other meal hits all the flavor notes and offers that level of variety. Runner Up: Korean BBQ.
What is your favorite meal to cook?
Roast Chicken with veggies in a cast iron skillet. My go-to comfort meal. One Pan. Simple. Delish!
Wise words
Ai yah!! So many! But… “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” - LAO TZU