Heartbeat Narratives

DO YOUR BEST · This week, Heartbeat Narratives turns 1! To mark the milestone, we welcome the most requested guest, Amund Gismervik, a steady presence who has quietly shaped the podcast behind the scenes. Note: he is the guitarist behind the podcast's intro and outro music! A lifelong athlete with a deep passion for springboard and platform diving, Amund has transformed his love for the sport into coaching. Born and raised in Norway, he followed his zest for diving to Hawaiʻi on a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scholarship and later represented Norway in the 10-meter platform at the 2012 London Olympics. In this conversation, Amund shares what makes his heart beat - from adrenaline and meticulous training to travel, and life beyond competition. This episode is a reflection on courage and doing your best, offering an example of what can unfold when you fully show up for what you love.Episode highlights00:00 Heartbeat turns 1! 02:07 Amund’s journey from Norway to Hawaiʻi07:29 Discovering a lifelong love for diving10:37 Lessons learned through international competition17:41 Olympic dreams and a defining moment23:22 Training, coaching, and growth30:26 Life beyond diving 🎥 VideosInstagram Reel — Amund at 2025 Singapore MastersVimeo — Amund Gismervik Interview / Olympic and UH Mānoa Feature   Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

EVERY WORD COUNTS · In this episode, playwright Sean Dunnington shares stories that travel as freely as he does from Hawaiʻi Island to New York, Singapore, and beyond. He reflects on growing up in the misty hills of Waimea, finding refuge in theater, and learning how art can belong anywhere including libraries, community circles, and far off stages. The conversation drifts through queerness, power, memory, and the  magic of theatricality when life is mirrored onstage. Sean explores how his writing has evolved from personal survival to creative world building, and how playwriting can be a communal, living practice. This fun, flowing conversation is a reflection of the radical intimacy of telling stories out loud.Episode Highlights02:12 Opening SceneGrowing up in Waimea and peering into the world of theater.05:06 Finding the StageDiscovering playwriting as refuge and an invitation to imagine new worlds.09:37 Moments of IllusionFormative theater experiences and the performances that transformed spectatorship into devotion.12:40 Behind the ScriptThe writing process, deadlines, and the challenges of making meaning on the page.20:26 Ensemble BuildingThe creation of Tree Moss Collective and reimagining what playwriting in Hawaiʻi can be.24:49 The Circle WidensPlaywriting as communal process, storytelling as listening, and theater as a place of healing.33:19 Final CurtainWhere to find Sean’s work and what comes next beyond the stage.To explore more of Sean work and writing, visit https://www.seandunnington.com/and learn about Tree Moss Collective at https://www.treemosshawaii.com/. Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Health Content Advisory: This conversation centers on pregnancy and birth, including personal experiences. Please listen with care – mahalo.In this life-affirming episode, we sit down with PuaOEleili Pinto - mother of two, cultural health provider, and keeper of lomilomi, lāʻau lapaʻau, and Hawaiian childbirth traditions. Raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, with ancestral roots across Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, Pua honors her lineage through both research and lived practice via Ēwe ʻOiaʻiʻo, the company she founded to teach Hawaiian healing and birth. She shares how Hawaiian history, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, sound, and land restoration shaped her journey and guided the reclamation of ʻŌiwi birthing practices. Reflecting on her own birth experiences, Pua explores rebuilding trust in body wisdom, blending Hawaiian and Western healing methods, and restoring birth as a family-centered journey. The conversation also touches on food sovereignty, highlighting traditional Hawaiian food and the distinction between food and medicine, and the critical role of restoring Hawaiian forests as the foundation of well-being for all life. This episode is a reminder that indigenous practices are living, vital, and essential for healing families and communities today.Episode Highlights00:52 – Exploring Hawaiian birth practices01:30 – Connecting to home: Kailua05:32 – Navigating joy and challenges in Hawaiian healing07:21 – In her ancestors' footsteps - re-membering birth practices10:09 – Traditional Hawaiian medicine14:27 – Connecting past and present in birthing practices24:16 – Creating safe birthing spaces26:57 – Discovering pregnancy and early challenges29:05 – Helping others overcome birth trauma30:29 – Empowering couples in birth32:29 – The role of ancestral practices in birth37:22 – The importance of Hawaiian diet in pregnancy38:38 – Advocating for Hawaiian food and food sovereignty42:35 – Restoring the Native Hawaiian forest46:00 – Future hopesPregnancy and Birthing Resources:PuaOEleili's Cultural Birth Education Website: Ēwe ʻOiaʻiʻoPuaOEleili’s Online Birth CourseCookbooks & Resource LibraryMust We Wait in DespairʻO ʻOe nō Paha Ia e ka Lau o ke Aloha – An Essay by Kīhei de SilvaNohopapa – Hawaiian Cultural Heritage Stewardship ServicesMotherwit – Postpartum Food DeliveryKauluakalanaKaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Project“Grow Hawaiʻi” Book – Native Books HawaiʻiHawaiʻi Forest Institute – Go Native: Growing a Native Hawaiian Urban ForestAwaiaulu Kīpapa – Hawaiʻi History Educator ResourcesPuOEleili's Academic ResearchPua kanikawī kanikawā: The Intimacy of Hawaiian ChildbirthNative Hawaiian Complementary Feeding Practices as Told by GrandparentsEpisode Photo: PuaOEleili Pinto and Kicking Bird Photography Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING · Meet Harry Baden, a wildland firefighter based in Montana who followed an unexpected path from Minnesota to Hawaiʻi and into a life of fire service. In this episode of Heartbeat Narratives, he shares the fun, camaraderie, and standout moments that come from working long days on the fire line with friends who quickly become family. Harry talks about how discipline, training, and his athletic background influenced the way he approaches both the physical grind and the mental focus the job demands. He talks about the balance between intense, high stakes work and the joy found in teamwork, laughter, and shared purpose. At its core this episode is about adventure, friendship, and finding meaning through service. Mahalo for listening! Episode Highlights01:01 From Minnesota to Hawaiʻi01:39 College days, diving boards, and big energy02:24 How Harry traded campus life for the fire line03:40 Training days, chainsaws, and learning the craft06:06 Life inside the flames and what it really feels like10:07 Crew chemistry, trust, and lifelong friendships12:57 Fueling the body for long days and longer hikes16:38 Stories from the frontlines24:14 Thinking about fire life?  Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

COURAGE TO COMMERCE · In this mini episode, we meet Reshma in the bustling marketplace at Katong Square in Singapore, where commerce and community come alive. She shares how losing her job at 50 sparked the courage to turn her lifelong love of fashion and handmade goods into a vibrant, affordable boutique. Reshma’s journey is a joyful reminder that reinvention is part of life and taking the courageous jump into entrepreneurship can lead to meaningful new beginnings.  Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

SPEARFISHING · In this episode, Cindy Kan shares her perspective as a waterwoman, spearfisher, and lifelong ocean lover. She reflects on how the Pacific has taught her balance and presence, shaping the way she moves through life both in and out of the water. Her story follows a path from Vancouver, Canada to the reefs of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi where learning to source her own food strengthened the kinship she feels with the islands. Cindy shares about turning points that led her to the practices that now ground her, including free diving and sustainable harvesting. Through her eyes, the ocean is both a teacher and an ice box, especially for a waterwoman who is always learning and loves a fresh seafood meal. Ocean enthusiasts and foodies, this one is for you! Episode Highlights01:44 Her heart belongs to Hawaiʻi04:05 Discovering a deep love for the ocean07:08 Memorable spearfishing adventures16:13 Finding her place in a male-dominated sport22:18 Connecting with the fish22:57 Sustainable spearfishing23:43 Honoring the ocean29:05 Chefs, community, and invasive species30:35 Favorite book: “Hawaiʻi’s Reef Fish: Food, Science, and Tradition”33:37 The infamous fish picture (on the apps)35:38 The perfect spearfishing day40:20 Gratitude found in the oceanResourcesBooks: "Hawaiʻi’s Reef Fish: Food, Science, and Tradition" by Cassandra Pardee and Craig OmoriNamea HawaiʻiNative Books Hawaiʻi"Native Use of Fish in Hawaii" by Margaret Titcomb Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

As Heartbeat gets close to turning one, I’ve been thinking about how much joy this whole pod-life journey has brought me. And with my birthday this month, it felt like the perfect time to share a fun bit of serendipity - I discovered a video time capsule from when I was sixteen. I popped in a few audio clips at the end so you can get a quick peek into my teen years (midwest accent and all). Aloha nui  -MNM Episode Highlights00:00 — Aloha future me02:09 — Roses, thorns & throwbacks04:49 — Joy, but make it early-2000s07:21 — Time08:20 — The cassette tape that time-traveled15:00 — 20 years later17:27 — Sweet sixteen - meet mini me (circa 2005) Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

A serendipitous encounter in Kīhei opens the door to the enchanting world of Maui musician Don Lax, whose hurdy-gurdy and violin shimmer with their own personalities. Don shares the spellbinding history of these instruments and brings them to life with music that feels as if it drifted in from another era. As he and Molly talk story on the sidewalk of a grocery store, Don reflects on his globe-trotting childhood and the Christmas violin that set his musical path in motion. He also shares his rare gift for hearing and playing the song of a person’s soul, turning frequencies into melody - even offering a spontaneous musical interpretation of Molly’s heart. Don can often be found playing outside the Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods most Sunday nights from 6 PM to 8 PM. Enjoy the whimsy and wonder of this conversation!Learn more:Don V. Lax Website: https://www.mauiviolin.com/Soul Song Readings: https://www.mauiviolin.com/soul-song-readingsDon V. Lax YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@donvlax Episode Highlights00:00 A chance encounter in Kīhei, Maui00:47 Discovering the heart of the hurdy-gurdy03:23 Violin magic06:02 The beginning of a musical path08:35 Playing the song of the soul09:31 Music across Maui10:44 The ocean’s healing presence11:59  Follow your joy - why else be alive? Photo credit: Don LaxEpisode Art: Molly Mamaril Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Pop, pop, POP! It’s SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! 🍿At Lani’s Island Snack Shack in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, Cassi of Kravin' Munchies brings pure joy to every conversation about handmade treats and the laughter-filled energy of the shop. Cassi dives into the beginnings of those flavored popcorn experiments and the mouthwatering power of Lani's beloved teri burger (with mustard!) that customers can’t stop ordering. Be sure to support your favorite small businesses today! Enjoy this mini-sweet treat episode.🍬Follow along:🍧 Kravin' Munchies — https://www.instagram.com/kravinmunchies/?hl=en🍔 Lani’s Island Snack Shack — https://www.instagram.com/lanisislandsnackshack/?hl=enPhoto Credit: Kravin' Munchies Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Content Advisory: This episode contains sensitive themes, including discussion of suicide and suicide awareness. Please listen with care -  mahalo.In this season of gratitude, I’m excited to share an episode recorded with a close college friend of mine, Coco, an artist in every sense of the word. During a reunion at our alma mater in St. Paul, Minnesota, we revisit our college years and the beautiful, ever-evolving creative path they’ve carved through dance, theater, and - of course - the influence of Beyoncé(!).Coco opens up about their journey of self-discovery and healing through art, including a pivotal memory of organizing a Suicide Awareness Show in honor of a close friend. Our conversation explores the power of performance, how confidence can be a choice, and what it means to find a sense of home within the arts community as a queer Black person.Along with plenty of giggling, you’ll hear about our dramatic 19-year-old selves, our carefully curated Cowboy Carter concert outfits, and how Coco’s long-held creative ambitions are taking shape. Mahalo for listening with love.Episode Highlights00:47 College memories take center stage01:18 From Sierra Leone to St. Paul02:43 We had the walkie talkies04:24 When creativity calls04:47 A performance from the heart06:31 Art as medicine14:14 Reunion magic17:51 Friendship forever18:34 Titanic Dreams, because main character energy19:48 Beyoncé love20:38 Enter the Beyhive25:58 Find home in the Twin Cities dance community31:13 Confidence as a choice33:32 Final bow Instagram & TikTok: @unapologetically_cocoYouTube: youtube.com/@unapologeticallycocoPhoto Credit: CocoEpisode Art: Molly Mamaril Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

ZEST & ZIPLINING· Molly and Dina Hammersland meet atop Mount Ulriken in Bergen, Norway, where Dina works as a zip line guide overlooking her ancestral homeland. It is the most beautiful "view from the office" you could imagine. She shares how growing up on a multigenerational family farm surrounded by sea, mountains, and animals shaped her love of nature and adventure. She talks about the rush of adrenaline that fuels her, from parachuting in Australia to cold water dips and the joy of helping nervous visitors leap into freedom on the zip line. The conversation weaves in sustainable tourism, language, and Dina’s lifelong love Japan. It is clear that she moves through her world with curiosity and enthusiasm, bringing that forward in everyone she meets. Episode Highlights00:30 Dina’s love for the mountain 01:16 The thrill of zip lining01:55 Ancestry in Bergen03:57 There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing ("Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær")07:22 Visiting Norway with a leave-no-trace mindset08:49 Adrenaline in everyday moments13:06 Obsessed with Japan15:45 Joy is better shared (but solo moments matter too!)  Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

5 DAYS OF SILENCE · After ten years of dreaming about doing a meditation retreat, I finally found the courage to do it last month. In this solo episode, I share what it was like to spend five days in silence at a mountain retreat center in California. I had written it down as a New Year’s resolution because I LOVE exploring personal development strategies, but following through on this goal was SO HUMBLING. When I recorded this episode, I had just gotten back into the "real world," so I (very slowly) talk about the funny moments, spiritual downloads and realizations that floated in to my mind when there were no distractions.  I hope that this reflection can serve as a touchpoint for how silence can reset our minds and hearts if we give ourselves enough time to slow down. Mahalo :)Episode Highlights00:20 – POD NEWS! New website, listener survey, guest interest form! Plus, rate & review us - mahalo!01:45 – Doing 5-day silent meditation retreat06:42 – Daily breadth: a day in the life of a yogi, cultivating a meditation practice13:14 – The vow of noble silence, meals, the four most important words, laughing26:59 – Reemergence: From silence to society31:40 – Closing bells Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In this episode, we share space and song with Kukui, a musician, law student, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi advocate whose life flows with aloha and mele (song, poetry, chant). This conversation is a testament to her love of music and how to her, mele is moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy). After seven years away, she returns home to Oʻahu with kuleana to teach and nurture others through oli (chant), cultural protocol, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).  Kukui was raised in a family of musicians and has always been surrounded by music. From Afrobeats to '70s throwbacks to classic Hawaiian melodies, she hopes to create more spaces where music and ʻohana come together to kanikapila (play music).Kukui shares how patience and a “let’s learn together” mindset have shaped her path from her home in Waimānalo to studying at Ka Haka ʻUla ʻO Keʻelikōlani at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Through stories of spirituality and creative flow, she reminds us that mele transcends sound as identity, prayer, and the heartbeat of family. Episode Highlights00:00 Welina mai, e Kukui!00:32 Moving back to Oʻahu after 7 years01:54 Big Mama Energy: teaching and mālama through spirituality and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi04:55 On patience: ʻAʻohe hua o ka maiʻa i ka lā hoʻokahi06:27 “Let’s learn together”: Hawaiian Club at UH Hilo (Hui Keaomālamalama) & Ka Haka ʻUla ʻO Keʻelikōlani08:42 Waimānalo roots, learning Hawaiian before English10:00 Lullabies forever: a musical ʻohana11:58 The creative force and spirituality17:22 Music and identity20:32 Inspo: Afrobeats (Soso is a fav) and Hawaiian throwbacks (she loves Kanaka Waiwai)22:46 Mele is the heartbeat of ʻohana29:06 On the horizonEnjoy mele from a special playlist Kukui created:Apple Playlist: 8/8 vibez🌈💧Spotify Playlist: 8/8 vibez🌈💧Check out Nā Puke Wehewehe for Hawaiian > English translations.Recorded August 2025Photo credit: KukuiEpisode Art: Molly Mamaril Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Aloha friends - today on Heartbeat Narratives, we’re sitting cross-legged on the floor in Kaimukī, Honolulu, with the windows open and the trade winds carrying stories. Our guest, Angelina Elido, is a traveler in every sense of the word. This past year, you could find her dog sledding across icy Minnesota landscapes, building earthships in New Mexico and ideating a wellness retreat in Turkey. We talk about what it means to come home to Kalihi, Oʻahu, and how to dissolve old patterns and reframe our thoughts. By prioritizing her interests, Angelina shares how she is chasing her joy by proactively cultivating communities of connection. The conversation is about finding our own rootedness and how to follow your dreams NOW. Enjoy this larger than life interview with Angelina - the girl who is everything, everywhere, all at once. 👉 Follow Angelina’s journey on📸 Instagram: @angelinaelido🎥 YouTube: Angelina ElidoEpisode Highlights01:21 — Home in Kalihi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi02:37 — Minnesota to New Mexico adventuring: homesteading, acting, earthships03:53 — Building a regenerative community through earthships08:31 — “Dog sledding was epic”12:03 — Unplugging from technology, campfire connections14:31 — Travel business ventures17:03 — “Life is short” — follow your dreams20:06 — Life hacks and the power of reframing24:41 — CONNECTION is everything26:18 — Next big project: “It requires a village to make a village”29:43 — Creating a new reciprocal economic model for community32:56 — Book recommendations35:23 — Building an empathetic world, starting from withinBooks That Guided Angelina on Her JourneyBelonging: Remembering Ourselves Home — Toko-pa TurnerThe Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self — Martha BeckWhen Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times — Pema ChödrönHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy — Jenny OdellThe Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man — Christopher Bird & Peter TompkinsPhoto Credit: Angelina Elido Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

IN SERVICE OF THE SEA · On this episode, longtime Mālama Maunalua volunteer and science educator Ralph Dykes joins from Maunalua, Oʻahu where he has spent over 15 years helping restore the native marine ecosystem. A consistent presence who kayaks every day, Ralph reflects on what it means to care for a place over time and why that kind of steady, local effort matters. He shares stories from his life shaped by service, including growing up after Pearl Harbor, serving in the Navy, and teaching science for decades before dedicating his retirement to mālama ʻāina (caring for the land). This conversation, recorded from the shoreline of Paikō Beach, is a grounded look at quiet leadership and what being in service of the sea means for Hawaiʻi. Episode Highlights01:05 – Meet Ralph Dykes - science educator and Mālama Maunalua volunteer03:01 – Life before the classroom... and what came after03:41 – From Navy ships to Honolulu shores05:35 – Teaching science, coaching students, and lessons that stuck09:52 – Restoring an ecosystem, one kayak trip at a time13:34 – Volunteering: why community matters more than ever17:05 – What keeps Ralph inspired after all these years18:23 – Advice for the next generationTo learn more about Mālama Maunalua or volunteer, please visit: https://malamamaunalua.org/Photo Credit: Alex Awo Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

ROOTS, REGGAE & RHYTHM. Dr. Sunaina Keonaona Kale, an ethnomusicologist and member of the Hawaiian diaspora, explores the connections between reggae music and her growing interest in her Hawaiian identity. The conversation traces how reggae found a home in Hawaiʻi and how its rhythms echo the islands’ own expansive sense of community and belonging. Sunaina shares her own path of reconnecting to her genealogy through fieldwork, family stories, and unintended (but helpful) “me-search.” The discussion dives into questions of identity, ancestry in Polynesia, India and Europe, and the evolving meanings of being Hawaiian in the modern world. This episode is an unfiltered exploration of how music can shape who we are and where we call home.Sunaina was recently featured in a University of California article about how reggae came to Hawaiʻi, exploring the evolution of the islands’ unique reggae sound and its deep cultural roots.She also appears in the documentary In Hawaiian Hands – Part 1, which highlights local voices and stories of connection to place and culture. Part 2 of the film was released recently.Favorite SongsIsland Music / Island Reggae / JawaiianBrother Noland – “Coconut Girl”Bruddah Waltah – “Hawaiian Lands”Nā Wai Ho‘olu‘u o Ke Ānuenue – “Girlie Girlie”Kapena – “Masese”Fiji – “Come on Over”Sean Na‘auao – “Fish and Poi”Three Plus – “Honey Baby”Natural Vibrations – “One on One”Anuhea – “Simple Love Song”J Boog – “Let’s Do It Again”Irie Love ft. Fiji – “It Is Wut It Is”Common Kings – “Wade In Your Water”Sons of Yeshua – “We Are Mauna Kea”Paula Fuga (with Jack Johnson) – “Country Road / Give Voice”Maoli – “Whiskey Doesn’t Work”The Vitals – “Kali Ana Au” (a Hawaiian-language cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain”)Iam Tongi – “Cool Down”Underground RootsButch Helemano – “Joshua”Maacho – “Somebody Moved Me”Ooklah the Moc – “Hell Fire”Humble Soul – “Frequency”Ruff Neck Posse – “Down Inna Babylon”Episode Highlights00:00 – 🎙️ Meet Dr. Sunaina Kale01:10 – 🌊 Finding Home Across the Pacific01:47 – 🎶 Nerding Out on Identity & Sound05:15 – 🌺 Reggae With Aloha08:03 – 🎧 How Reggae Took Root11:14 – 💃 Favorite Jams & Behind-the-Scenes Stories22:41 – 🌱 Roots in Hawaiʻi, India and Europe, Belonging and Spirituality36:52 – 🤎 Reflections   Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Sham, a passionate skateboarder and coach, shares about his love of skateboarding and how it became a lifelong source of joy and confidence. From his first drop-in as a teenager to teaching kids as young as three at Skatebruh in Singapore, he talks about finding flow, pushing past fear, and embracing every fall as part of the ride. Now at 40, Sham continues to chase that same thrill that first sparked his love for the sport. Enjoy!  Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In a remote corner of Norway’s Hardangerfjord, Knut shares stories shaped by stone, silence, and saltwater. We talk about fly-catching (for fun!), reindeer stew, and what it means to create without rushing. His world is one of quiet craftsmanship, reflection, and strong ties to the land and family. From building a simple pier to teaching loved ones how to sail, Knut’s life is woven into the rhythms of nature. This episode explores the slow intelligence of living close to the earth and the clarity that can come from doing less. It is a conversation about presence, connection, and the kind of peace that grows over time. Tusen takk (a thousand thanks) for listening! Episode Highlights / Episodens høydepunkter00:37 — Introduksjon av Knut / Introduction of Knut00:56 — Family dinner, reindeer stew, and fly catching skills / Familiemiddag, reinsdyrgryte og fluefanging01:42 — Connection with nature / Forbindelse med naturen04:17 — Togetherness / Samhold05:57 — Living in harmony with the fjord / Å leve i harmoni med fjorden07:31 — Building, creativity, and resourcefulness / Bygging, kreativitet og oppfinnsomhet09:42 — Fruit farming in Hardangerfjord / Fruktproduksjon i Hardangerfjord12:00 — Fishing and the art of self-sufficiency / Fiske og kunsten å være selvforsynt12:53 — Daily life and quiet contemplation / Hverdagsliv og rolig ettertanke14:40 — Inner peace / Indre fred18:11 — Gratitude / Takknemlighet20:18 — Closing thoughts / Avsluttende tanker Photo credits: Knut, Molly Mamaril  Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Paulette Erato, host of La Vida Más Chévere de Childfree Latinas, shares her journey of rewriting life’s narratives. Based in Los Angeles and rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage, Paulette brings humor and relatable insights to the theme of joy. She opens up about taking a non-traditional path, practicing radical self-kindness, and embracing the quiet strength of soft power. Together, we unpack what it means to let go of societal “shoulds” and redefine success on our own terms. Through her stories, Paulette reminds us that it’s never too late to pivot - and that following our dreams is always a path worth taking.Mahalo for tuning in!⏱ Episode Highlights:01:07 – Paulette’s Origin Story: From Life to the Mic01:49 – La Vida Más Chévere07:01 – Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs08:35 – Radical Self-Kindness13:51 – Redefining Success on Your Own Terms29:50 – TED Talk Dreams & Latinas in Podcasting🔗 Connect with Paulette Erato🌐 Website: pauletteerato.com🎙️ Podcast: La Vida Más Chévere de Childfree Latinas – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.📸 Photo Credit: Paulette Erato🎨 Episode Art: Molly Mamaril Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In this episode of Heartbeat Narratives, we talk story with Hiʻilei, a carpenter from Lāhainā, Maui who shares how following your intuition can lead to a fulfilling career. From her early days on the basketball court to navigating a male-dominated industry, she shares how grit and discipline shaped her path in the construction industry. Hiʻilei reflects on the heartbreaking Maui wildfires of August 2023 and how she found her calling to rebuild homes across Lāhainā. She opens up about walking in her purpose, trusting in Ke Akua and managing self care while off the job. With the dream to have Lāhainā ʻohana return home, Hiʻilei's sincerity invites us into her day-to-day life and what 'rebuilding' means in all senses of the word. Mahalo nui for listening. Episode Highlights00:00 Welina mai Hiʻilei 01:43 Lāhainā 02:13 Becoming a carpenter 04:40 Basketball laid the foundation for hard work, grit, resilience06:47 Maui wildfires in August 202308:13 Changing the narrative for herself 09:52 Walking in purpose: rebuilding homes for Lāhainā ʻohana12:58 Giving aloha no matter what -  loving on others is key 13:55 Dreams for the future of Lāhainā - getting families home15:24 Focusing and self care17:35 What makes your heart beat? 18:38 Advice for those interested in carpentry and construction 20:32 Working in a male dominated industry, balancing the inner feminine and masculine21:57 Build merit: how to hold your own on job sites25:15 Tools and tricks 10126:53 On the horizon Photo credit: Hiʻilei Listen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeHeartbeat Narratives WebsiteGuest InquiriesInterested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest FormHeartbeat Narratives Book RecommendationsOur curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.orgCredits🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril🎸 Guitar: Amund GismervikA Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.