Above the bridge

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn a quiet gym into a memory people carry for years? We sit with Paco Loco—Philly-born, Hawaii-made—who built a career at the crossroads of sports, comedy, and DJ culture. From ushering the wildest sections at Lincoln Financial Field and riding with Eagles legends to announcing Kobe Bryant’s final summer-league game before the draft, Paco shows how a single...

Send us Fan Mail Caregiving rarely arrives with a manual. When Megan Taniguchi’s grandmother survived a heart attack and then a stroke, Megan walked away from her job, moved in, and learned how to keep her family together—one blood pressure reading, one bath, one prayer at a time. We invited Megan back to share the unfiltered truth: the daily routines that stabilize fragile health, the medical ski...

Send us Fan Mail Stadium lights. A turn of the head. A breath held before the snap. We sit with the founder of Shang Hi Media to unpack how self-taught skills and a deep love for community transform youth sports into stories families keep for life. What begins as a COVID-era creative outlet becomes a craft rooted in respect—reading plays before they form, catching the quiet moments people miss, an...

Send us Fan Mail The story of Hawaii’s hip hop isn’t a straight line—it’s a flow that bends through island reggae, battle rap, day parties, and studio nights that run past last call. We sit down with Rappa Nui to trace that path from Puna to Oahu, where a poetry-loving kid grew into a meticulous writer who prefers the booth to the spotlight but still knows how to light a room when it counts. We di...

Send us Fan Mail A national championship ring on one hand, a turntable on the other. That’s the unexpected arc of DJ Nasty Nate, who traded Auburn football practices for late nights in Honolulu’s Chinatown and found a craft worth building from the ground up. We dive into the real playbook for breaking into Hawaiʻi’s DJ scene—no clout chasing, no gimmicks. Nate walked us through how showing up to c...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how a single song can spark a movement? We sit down with Uncle Dave—educator, musician, and community builder—to explore how Menehune Beach Bum Boogie led to a purpose bigger than charts or gigs. He shares a candid journey from Pololo Valley to 34 years in the classroom, working with at‑risk students and discovering that Aloha becomes powerful only when it moves from s...

Send us Fan Mail A five-hour flight talk, a dare to build something new, and the belief that R&B can still make a whole room sing—this is how Laid Back came to life. We kick off the year with DJ Hapa Boy to trace the journey from a chance question at lunch to a full-fledged R&B day party crafted with intention and island flavor. No filler, no gimmicks—just great DJs, careful curation, and...

Send us Fan Mail The most honest year-end recap happens across a kitchen table with sneakers by the door and game film still fresh in our heads. I sat down with my daughter, Aria, to trace the real story behind her varsity leap: the extra lifts, the OC16 nerves, the bad game that shook her, and the next-day reset that proved her mindset is built for pressure. It’s a tour through the grind you don’...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what a city looks like from the driver’s seat? This episode we sit down with Christina, the voice behind Beauty and the Bus, to pull back the curtain on Honolulu transit—equal parts comedy, chaos, and community. She shares how an encouraging regular nudged her into the job, the nerve-wracking first days behind a flat, oversized wheel, and the little tricks it takes t...

Send us Fan Mail Five years on the mic feels different when you slow down and look back. We open with gratitude—listeners, guests, and day‑one sponsors—and then dive into a story of reinvention with our friend and radio pro, Becky Mits. She takes us from a tough November layoff to a whirlwind weekend in San Diego that led to a new home, a new team, and a role that finally fits: executive producer...

Send us Fan Mail  This week we sit down with Maegan, the baker behind Meggles Makes, to trace how a childhood love of crepes and banana bread turned into a dessert brand locals plan their week around. From her first Ziploc brownie sales to sellouts at Whiskey Smoke, she walks us through the honest steps of going full time: tightening costs, pricing for profit, managing inflation, planning bake day...

Send us Fan Mail This week Atbpod sits down with Kyani Bateman model, mentor, and cofounder of Pakolea—to trace her path from kid commercials and pageantry to building a community-first agency with her partner, photographer Darren. She shares how social media became a living portfolio, why brands care about personality as much as pictures, and how a fierce feed can coexist with a grounded, aloha-d...

Send us Fan Mail A coach who builds tougher teams with softer hands. A singer who swapped liquid courage for real conviction. A Hawaii-born artist designing a sound that can live anywhere. That mix is Mahina—grounded, generous, and ready for the world. We dive into her journey from playing shortstop and coaching high school softball to writing radio-ready songs that people can’t stop singing. She...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a lifelong passion is suddenly put on hold? In this deeply personal conversation, we journey alongside a former collegiate volleyball player Kayla Kilaulani "KK" whose devastating ACL and MCL tear forced her to reimagine her identity beyond the court. Her story reveals the remarkable resilience that athletes develop and how those qualities translate to...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what happens when your dinner companion whips out their phone before you can take your first bite? In this captivating conversation with Landon from High Grindz (@high_grindz), we dive deep into the world of food content creation in Hawaii, revealing the fascinating journey from casual dining to influential posting. Landon shares how his Instagram account began as a...

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to lifelong fitness wasn't found in trendy gym routines or cutting-edge equipment, but in movements that make everyday life better?  Ky Vuong, owner of Key Fitness Hawaii, brings over three decades of expertise to this eye-opening conversation about functional fitness. Beginning with a touching story of how helping a depressed 70-year-old widower at his loc...

Send us Fan Mail Brad Miura—known to thousands as "Unkoholics"—has transformed Hawaiian social media with his simple yet compelling "what's your name and where you from?" food sampling videos. Behind this viral sensation lies a profound story of cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and the true meaning of aloha spirit. From his day job as a construction project manager...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the healing power hiding in plain sight within the fungal kingdom? Join us as we welcome back Clint Pahia, founder of Medicinal Mushrooms Hawaii, for a fascinating deep dive into the world of medicinal mushroom that are transforming health outcomes across Hawaii and beyond. What began as a deeply personal quest to help his wife manage an autoimmune con...

Send us Fan Mail Remember those days when bodyboarding was king? When names like Mike Stewart, Jeff Hubbard, and Kainoa McGee dominated our conversations and magazine covers?  Hana Ahn certainly does – and he's bringing it all back through the So Stoked Boogie Series and Triple Crown of Bodyboarding. What started as a pandemic pivot has blossomed into a full-fledged movement. When COVID-19 sh...

Send us Fan Mail From someone who once "couldn't even cook rice" to an innovative culinary force transforming Hawaiian ingredients, Chef Mari's story is a delicious journey of passion and perseverance. She reveals how exposure to diverse food cultures in Los Angeles sparked her culinary awakening before returning to Hawaii to study at KCC Culinary. What makes her approach uniqu...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh off his wedding celebration, Thaddeus Park opens up his life to listeners in this intimate Q&A episode, tackling questions submitted through Instagram that range from deeply personal to light-hearted and everything in between. Thad shares the joy of his recent nuptials, describing the red and gold-themed event (a nod to his beloved 49ers) as "one of the best days of...

Send us Fan Mail Journey through two decades of island reggae with Walt G of Kawao as he shares the remarkable path from baseball fields to Hawaiian music stardom. What began as neighbors jamming on ukuleles evolved into one of Hawaii's most beloved musical groups, with hits like "Girl, Let Me Know" becoming local classics. Walt offers rare insight into the band's creative proc...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Maci Ono, a fitness influencer who transformed her body and discovered that the physical journey was only half the story. In this raw conversation, Maci reveals how she went from 250 pounds to losing 100 pounds—and the surprising darkness she found at her "after" photo. "I felt like a prisoner to my health when I was at my biggest, and then it's funny beca...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when pandemic isolation meets a lifetime passion for cooking and a community built on genuine aloha? For Cory Vidinha, it sparked the birth of Whiskey Smoke 808, a barbecue restaurant that's become much more than a place to eat—it's a testament to family, faith, and the enduring spirit of old Hawaii. Growing up in a family where men were exceptional cooks an...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take for a young DJ to carve out a meaningful career in Hawaii's competitive nightlife scene? CJ Park, son of industry veteran Jay Park, reveals the surprising truth behind his rise from playing $20 house parties to commanding major venue residencies and opening for artists like Little Wayne and T-Pain. The journey begins with humble origins – Park recalls being...