Heartbeat Narratives

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 orderi...

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 beau...

ZEST & ZIPLINING· Molly and Dina 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 t...

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...

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,...

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 t...

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 l...

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 he...

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 spa...

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 rhythm...

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...

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 Augus...

In this mini travel episode of Heartbeat Narratives, Molly meets Leah Robb on a sunny morning by the river in Copenhagen, Denmark at Islands Brygge. Leah shares how swimming, from high dives to icy winter baths, has become a profound way to move through grief. What started as a tribute to a loved one’s suggestion of "winter bathing," has grown into a ritual of healing and helps her embrace difficu...

At Singapore’s National Botanic Garden, Molly sits down with Paul for a lively conversation about his love for his country. Paul, a fourth-generation Singaporean and tour guide, reflects on the nation’s independence in 1965 and its transformation into a vibrant global city in just 60 years. He shares what brings him joy - from family and friends to the colorful cultures, foods, and traditions that...

Aloha friends, this episode gave me the opportunity to reflect on my travels this summer and what it means to cultivate empathy across borders. From witnessing an American naturalization ceremony, to watching an international diving competition in Singapore, to experiencing Norway’s election this September, my thoughts have been spinning about what it means to be a global citizen. How do we treat...

Welcome to Singapore’s Little India, where the air is buzzing with voices, incense, the the heavy heat of the sun. Amid the vibrant bustle is Nagaraj, a street vendor from Tamil Nadu, India who has spent the past decade handcrafting flower garlands of jasmine, marigold, and roses. Woven for celebrations including weddings and festivals like Pongal (Harvest festival) and Deepavali (Festival of Ligh...

Two hearts = one solution. In this love story episode (recorded in a classroom), DJ and Hye Jung Tano interview each other about the beginnings of their relationship as math teachers at the same Honolulu school. DJ, a football coach from Kailua, Oʻahu, and Hye Jung, a waterwoman with roots in South Korea, Florida and now Hawaiʻi, built a foundation of trust through years of friendship before givin...

This mini episode takes you on a short stopover in Sydney, Australia as Molly (in her search for coffee and cabs) has happenstance meetings with Jane and Louie who each live and work in the city,  ✨ Molly shares her rose, thorn, and bud with reflections about embracing her middle name, Noelaniokekai (Noelani) and leaning into our own voices and character amidst the efficiency of AI. Think: "make...

In this episode, we dive into the life of Dan Worden, athlete, nonprofit founder, ocean safety expert, adventurer, and photographer, known to many as @adventuremandan through his social media following. Growing up in Oregon with dreams of swimming at a Division 1 school, Dan’s path eventually led him to the University of Hawaiʻi, where joining the swim team, biomechanics research, amazing friends...

Seven-year-old Elle Nishimoto is a rising second grader with a big heart and dozens of stories to share. From breakdancing battles to running her own Honolulu-based shave ice business, Little House of Pure Aloha, Elle shows how creativity and hustle can start anytime. She talks about loving her baby brother, supporting classmates even when it means standing out, and the joy that comes from being b...

Today we’re joined by Nanea Lo, a fellow Native Hawaiian podcaster , and the unapologetically joyful voice behind Naughty + Native . Nanea who is from Papakōlea, Oʻahu shares her path of understanding native joy as a way to reclaim identity as a Kanaka Maoli wāhine and to live in her purpose to uplift the lāhui (Hawaiian nation) in everything that she does. We talk story about what it means to liv...

Meet Chie Shimada, a multifaceted artist and tour guide based in Kyoto, Japan. Trained as a traditional Maiko (apprentice geisha) at age 15, Chie once embodied centuries-old customs before stepping into new roles as a grammar school teacher, hip hop dancer, DJ, and surfer. She shares how her ever-curious personality and pull towards the extremes has led her to the elegance of Japan’s history and t...

In this episode, Kevin, a tax attorney takes us back to Kauaʻi in the 1950s, where nature shaped his sense of home. He reflects on the tension between logic and the subtle pull of intuition and how we must learn to trust our gut feelings to connect back to ourselves. Kevin shares how certain truths live in the body, beyond what words can reach. We talk about love at first sight, finding connection...

In this episode, Daniel Etika Masifilo shares a journey that spans the football field, ancestral lands, and the inner work of reconnecting with his identity. Raised between cultures in Ewa Beach, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, with roots in Tonga, Norway, and Switzerland, Daniel speaks about his desire to belong, rediscovering his name, and embracing the ever-shifting path forward through the deep internal work...

Still buzzing from Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter concert, this special episode of Heartbeat Narratives takes you into the heartbeat of Houston through the voices of the BeyHive on June 29, 2025. From Galveston to Tokyo, Louisiana to Hawaiʻi, fans reflect on what Beyoncé means to them as an artist, icon, and source of empowerment. We hear from best friends to mother-daughter duos, each sharing how Queen...