Coffee Matcha and Soul - The Podcast

In the Season 2 finale of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul ,  Guillermo Iván ,  Zair Montes , and  Saro Varjabedian  come back together for an honest, reflective conversation on one of life’s most enduring questions: What gives life meaning? Rather than searching for a single answer, the group explores how meaning is something each person must define for themselves—and how it is often shaped, and someti...

In Episode 9 of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , the full group reunites to sit down with  Dr. Peter Lin , a licensed psychologist, professor at  St. Joseph’s University , and a leading voice in the integration of  Western psychology and Eastern Buddhist philosophy . Trained at  Columbia University  and  Weill Cornell , Dr. Lin specializes in mindfulness-oriented psychotherapy and has developed academ...

In Episode 8 of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Saro Varjabedian is joined by returning Season 1 guests Victoria Negri and Ashley-Lauren Elrod to discuss the release of Ashley’s new book, Maya’s Magic Word, and to explore a far more complicated and urgent question: What does equality actually mean when power seems unevenly protected? The conversation moves beyond theory and into current cultural tensio...

In Episode 7 of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Saro Varjabedian sits down with Chris Perna, former Worldwide Studios Director of Art at Epic Games, whose work helped shape iconic titles like Gears of War, Unreal Tournament, and Fortnite. Chris reflects on his creative journey—how following his natural curiosity, instincts, and love of experimentation led to an “epic” career in games. The conversation...

In Episode 6 of Season 2 of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Saro Varjabedian and Zair Montes are joined by John Kammer, founder of Guardian AIngels, an AI-powered journaling app designed to help people navigate the grieving process. Together, they explore the deeply human intersection of grief, technology, and ethics—examining how AI can be used as a compassionate tool for reflection and healing, while...

In Episode 5 of Season 2 of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul ,  Saro Varjabedian ,  Zair Montes , and  Victoria Negri  come together for an open, honest conversation about  toxic masculinity  and the evolving meaning of manhood in today’s world. The discussion explores how cultural expectations around masculinity—such as emotional suppression, dominance, and rigid definitions of strength—can become harm...

What does artificial intelligence mean for artists, filmmakers, and the future of creativity? In Episode 4 of Season 2 of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Victoria Negri joins Zair Montes and Saro Varjabedian to fill in for Guillermo Iván for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on AI and its growing role in the creative world. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping art and filmmaking—from ne...

Episode 3 of Season 2  of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul  turns up the heat as  Guillermo Iván ,  Zair Montes , and  Saro Varjabedian  dive into a playful yet meaningful roundtable on  sex, flirting, and how culture shapes the way we express desire . From unspoken body language to cultural norms, taboos, and expectations, the trio explores the fascinating ways societies around the world teach us how t...

Can artificial intelligence ever become conscious? In Episode 2 of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , we take you on location to the beautiful  Grey Café , where hosts  Guillermo Iván ,  Zair Montes , and  Saro Varjabedian  sit down for a roundtable discussion that blends philosophy, technology, and soul. Together, they explore some of today’s most fascinating questions: What’s the difference between in...

What does it mean to wake up—not just spiritually, but as a human being? In this deeply personal episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , hosts  Zair Montes  and  Guillermo Iván  sit down with fellow co-host  Saro Varjabedian  to discuss his new book, " Tim and Robot: A Spiritual Agnostic’s Guidance to a Newly Formed Consciousness." Together, they explore the essence of  spiritual agnosticism —find...

In this profound but refreshing season finale, Zaire Montes, Saro Varjabedian, and Guillermo Iván reflect on the transformative conversations that shaped Coffee, Matcha, and Soul. Each dialogue opened new doors to self-discovery, guiding the way toward personal evolution and a deeper understanding of the soul. This is the culmination of a journey—one that inspires us to keep searching, growing, an...

Are artists born, or are they reincarnated to carry on the creative legacy of past generations? In this fascinating episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , hosts  Saro Varjabedian, Guillermo Iván, and Zair Montes  sit down with  Jonathan Stuart Cerullo —a renowned  Broadway director, choreographer, and producer —to explore the  timeless spirit of the artist. With an illustrious career spanning  Br...

What happens when you stop ignoring your body and start truly listening? In this powerful episode of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, hosts Saro Varjabedian, Guillermo Iván, and Zair Montes sit down with the unstoppable Mo Brown Suga—a dynamic film director, producer, actress, host, voice-over artist, music producer, and screenwriter—to discuss her journey as a multimedia powerhouse and her deeply perso...

What is humanity?  Is it defined by our greatest acts of kindness or our darkest moments of cruelty? In this thought-provoking episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , we sit down with  Fernando Travesí —award-winning novelist, playwright, and human rights activist—who has witnessed both the best and worst of humanity firsthand. From working in conflict zones in  Albania, Sierra Leone, and Colombia...

How do you break through your own barriers? In this powerful episode of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, filmmaker and endurance athlete Victoria Negri shares her transformative journey of running the grueling Daytona 100-mile marathon. She opens up about the deep emotional layers behind her running—how it began as a tribute to her late father, turned into a personal struggle with self-punishment and an...

How do you transform not just your body, but your mind and soul, too? In this inspiring episode of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Irene Jean shares her journey of rebuilding self-confidence through fitness. From struggles to victories, she opens up about how working out became more than just exercise—it became a path to self-empowerment. If you’re looking for motivation to start or continue your own j...

In this episode, we sit down with  Anibal Romero —a renowned immigration defense attorney, SAG actor, producer, and social media influencer with over 800K followers—to explore the intersection of law, media, and advocacy. With over 20 years of legal experience, Anibal has appeared on  CNN, MSNBC, Telemundo, and Univision , using his voice to fight for immigrant rights. As a member of the  Internat...

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning film director and producer Nicholas Di Blasi to explore the art of finding joy in everything we do. From the highs and lows of filmmaking to everyday life, Nicholas shares his insights on staying inspired, embracing challenges, and turning passion into purpose. Whether you're in the creative industry or just looking for a fresh perspective on lif...

How do life’s experiences shape the path to success? In this inspiring episode of Coffee, Matcha & Soul, Alvin Hall—author, award-winning television and radio broadcaster, and financial educator—takes us on a journey through his extraordinary life. From his humble beginnings in rural Wakulla County, Florida, to becoming a leading voice in financial literacy and a celebrated media personality,...

How do you rise from the pain of the past and turn it into a force for good?   In this deeply moving episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul ,  Ashley-Lauren Elrod —Emmy-nominated producer, mental health advocate, and survivor—shares her powerful journey of overcoming childhood abuse, reclaiming her strength, and transforming her pain into purpose. Through resilience, healing, and self-discovery, sh...

What does it truly mean to embrace your authentic self? In this profound episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , Iranian American actress, writer, filmmaker, and trans activist  Pooya Mohseni  shares her powerful journey of self-realization. Growing up during the Iranian Revolution, she faced deep struggles as a person born in the wrong body. Yet, through courage and determination, she immigrated...

What is the soul? And do we all define it the same way? In this very first episode of  Coffee, Matcha & Soul , hosts  Saro Varjabedian, Zair Montes, and Guillermo Iván introduce the heart and vision behind the show. As they dive into one of their signature deep conversations—this time about the nature of the soul—they explore whether they’re speaking the same truth in different words or holdin...