Filipina on the Rise

Cinelle Barnes is a memoirist, essayist, and educator from Manila, Philippines, and is the author of Monsoon Mansion, a memoir we primarily discuss on this episode. Her debut memoir was listed as a Best Nonfiction Book of 2018 by Bustle and nominated for the 2018 Reading Women Nonfiction Award. Barnes was a Women Writing the […]

Alexis Bustos is a San Francisco-based Interaction Designer, who is making waves while promoting Pinay Excellence in the world of User Experience Design & Research! She is consistently advocating for inclusive design and accessibility in tech. She holds a BFA in Interaction Design from California College of the Arts and is currently an interaction designer at […]

Deirdre is a special education teacher working with third grade students in Prospect Heights, living in Brooklyn New York. Most of her experience comes from working with kids with severe autism, and she’s been advocate for all learners, including kids with dyslexia, intellectual disabilities and emotional disabilities. Deirdre believes that the Filipina voice needs to be elevated. While she does a...

Gabes is a researcher, artist, theologian, speaker, and psychotherapist in training, and her life’s work is to demonstrate how there’s nothing “post-” about post-colonialism. She recently completed a Master’s in Theology and Culture at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, focusing on colonialism and is completing her Master’s in Counseling Psychology. Gabes currently works for The Allend...

Kristen Brillantes is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Sarap Shop, a San Francisco-based, Filipino-American food truck and catering company, that serves an inclusive Filipino comfort food menu. Previously, she was the Head of Design Operations at Stripe, a large fintech company, and before that held leadership development roles at Google and Google Ventures. She is also a Business coach and designe...

Berna Anat is a financial consultant and financial literacy educator who is dedicated to making personal finance education more funny, accessible and more “brown” for people everywhere. Her mission to help others find financial freedom and is creating a financial revolution helping people of color and minority communities take back the power of money. On this episode, we talk about:Her journey, fr...

In March 2013, Yana Gilbuena had the epiphany that she wanted to bring Filipino food and Kamayan to all 50 states. At the time, she was working a completely different job, and didn’t have any formal training as a culinary chef. 6 years later, Yana is an acclaimed Nomadic Chef, founder of Salos Series, and […]

Jessica Caloza was 4-years-old when she immigrated from the Philippines to California. She is now Los Angeles’ Commissioner on the Board of Public Works, the first Filipino in the position and one of the youngest in City Hall. How did she get here? Together, we discuss her journey and what transitioned her into public service and government. We also discuss her commitment and lens in public servic...

Have you ever thought about starting something new that involves risk or making career change? Ever struggled with the thought of, "I should have been here by now?" What about gaining clarity? In this special episode, Nicole Cruz (Life Coach) tackles topics of clarity, career change, limiting beliefs, and the different dynamics that being 1st/2nd generation Filipina and different cultura...

Givelle Lamano is a top-rated Oakland Criminal Defense & DUI attorney and runs her own practice, Lamano Law Office. She has represented people from all walks of life ranging from gang members appealing their life sentences to corporate management officials in wrongful termination claims. Givelle is also the co-founder of the Three Strikes Justice Center, a non-profit organization focused on al...