Kelly Mi Li Reveals Dream Guests on Her Stir the Pot Talk Show

Fans first got to know Kelly Mi Li on Bling Empire, though she’s showing a whole new side of herself on her talk show, Stir the Pot. Kelly, 39, dishes about what fans can expect to see on the show during an exclusive interview with Life & Style, and she also teases who her dream guests for the show are. “Sean Evans from Hot Ones would be such a fun guest! I’d love to flip the script and have him try our Hot Jiang challenge on my show!” she says. “As for a Bling Empire costar, I’d say Kane [Lim]. He’s always bringing the energy and I think we’d have a hilarious (and maybe slightly chaotic) episode together.” Below, Kim teases even more about Stir the Pot, as well shares a motherhood update and more.

Fans have gotten to know you on Bling Empire. Can viewers expect to see another side to you on the talk show?

Bling Empire captured a very specific chapter of my life — one that was full of self-discovery, growth and learning through some of my tough moments. The talk show reflects where I am now: more authentic, way more secure in who I am, and honestly, just a lot happier. It’s been really empowering to create an unfiltered space where I can lead with curiosity and connect with others in a deeper, more intentional way.

What makes your talk show stand out compared to others? Did you take any inspiration from other talk shows?

I wanted the show to feel like you’re sitting down for dinner at home with a friend. It’s not a formal interview, but a real conversation where you can relax, open up, and just be yourself. I’ve always admired Oprah, of course, and I also love how Hot Ones uses spice to break down walls and get people to open up (maybe that’s why I connect with it so much, because I LOVE spicy food). We’ve taken inspiration from shows that break the mold and added our own cultural twist with hot pot.

And honestly, none of this would be possible without GoldenTV. It’s rare to find a space that not only champions AAPI voices but actually gives us the freedom to tell our stories authentically. That support means everything, and it’s a big part of what makes this show so meaningful to me.

You’ve been doing the talk show for about a month. What has been the most surprising part so far? Have any memorable moments stood out to you?

What’s surprised me most is how personal the conversations have gotten — even with guests I’ve known for years. I’ve had longtime friends like Golden Brooks, Lindsay Price and Peng Peng Lee on the show, and even though I’ve known them for many years, I still learned so much more about them — the challenges they’ve faced and what’s shaped them into who they are today.

Golden spoke with so much wisdom about motherhood and what it means to represent Black women authentically on screen. Peng Peng shared her gymnastics journey, from being named team captain in the 2012 Olympics to dealing with the absolute heartbreak of not being able to compete due to injuries. Then there were guests like Gia Kim, who I didn’t know before, but her story about how both she and her brother ended up starring in XO, Kitty, and her relationship with her mom — it really stayed with me. And Jenn Tran talked about navigating heartbreak after The Bachelorette, finding joy on Dancing with the Stars and now going back to PA school. Every guest brings something unexpected, and many of the conversations have left me feeling so inspired. I’m excited to keep creating space for more stories like these — and can’t wait to see where the next chapter of the show takes us.

You welcomed your daughter, Milli, in April 2023 and have said she can have an attitude. Can you share any updates about how she’s doing now that she’s almost 2?

Milli’s doing so well! She’s talking more, dancing and singing all the time, and she’s really starting to voice her requests—sometimes very clearly, especially when it comes to snacks! Her vocabulary is expanding too—words in Mandarin, English and even some sign language. She’s also started negotiating nap time like a mini lawyer, which honestly cracks us up. But what melts me the most is how sweet and thoughtful she is. If you give her something, even her favorite food, she’ll always offer it to everyone around her first. She just has the kindest little heart.

What is your favorite thing about motherhood?

Watching her grow into her own person is honestly the most magical part. The way she sees the world — with so much curiosity and joy — reminds me to slow down and just be present. The biggest surprise? How impossible it is to keep the house organized. I clean one area, turn around, and it’s like a toy explosion happened. There are stuffed animals in the kitchen, building blocks in my shoes … and don’t even get me started on the stickers. Stickers everywhere. It’s a whole adventure — but honestly though, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Do you have plans to expand your family with more children? Or are you happy being a family of three?

I’m an only child, so I really want to give Milli a sibling. I think there’s something so special about sibling bonds. That said … finding the time is the tricky part! Between work, family and everything in between, it’s a lot — but it’s definitely something that’s on my mind.

You’ve kept your relationship with partner William Ma relatively private. Is there a reason you’ve chosen to keep your romance out of the spotlight? Can fans expect to see more of him in the future?

After living so much of my life publicly, I’ve learned how important it is to keep certain things just for yourself. William and I have something really special and keeping that just for us has been a conscious choice. He’s super private, doesn’t even have social media! He’s always there behind the scenes though, cheering me on and while I sneak him into my Instagram posts here and there, he still hasn’t been convinced to do a red carpet with me. I’m working on it … stay tuned.

Tune into Stir the Pot every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on ChimeTV available through the Charter SPECTRUM TV® SELECT PLAN or streaming anytime on the GoldenTV app.