IndieCo

This episode goes behind the algorithm and into the real work of getting a founder's story seen — through YC application season, the doubts nobody posts about, and the community that actually moves the needle. Rafia Zainab breaks down what separates a forgettable application from one that lands, and why the answer isn't a growth hack, it's a real story told well, to the right people. I...

What if the leadership skill that actually drives performance is the one most executives dismiss as soft? In this episode, Rajesh Ramakrishnan, co-author of  The Nurturing Quotient  (Penguin) and former MD of Perfetti Van Melle India, joins Leah Cioco to unpack NQ: the third quotient redefining what great leadership looks like in a world burning its people out. From the MILE framework to the four...

Raluca-Adelina Luca was a nurse before she was a founder. She watched stress escalate in patients — saw the exact window where intervention could have changed the outcome — and couldn't do anything about it. So she built something that could. ALMA is a closed-loop wearable that detects physiological stress signals before conscious awareness and responds through haptic feedback. No screen. No app....

In this episode, we sit down with author Christine Munroe, a multilingual storyteller whose life across Europe and North America has deeply shaped her voice and perspective. From her early career as a translator to building a life in Germany’s Black Forest, she shares how language, travel, and culture inform her work across genres. Christine opens up about writing under multiple pen names and navi...

He never thought he’d make it but he did. Start August right by listening to Mark Jamer, a YSEALI SEED Fellow from UPLB and an incoming Fulbright UGrad Scholar. The YSEALI Fellows programs brings emerging leaders in these fields from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam (ASEAN member countries) to the United States for an intensive four-...

Gian Francis Mari P. Dizon known as Nayik or Kiyan was born on July 29, 2004, he grew up in the province of Batangas with his Mom and two sisters. He's currently an 11th Grade Accountancy, Business, and Management student at De La Salle Lipa and is part of graduating trainees of Tier One Entertainment's Amplfy Academy. Currently, he's the Executive Assistant of DougBrockTV's Douglas Brocklehurst,...

Mong Palatino is a Filipino blogger, activist, environmentalist, and former legislator. He is the Philippines’s first elected youth representative from 2009 to 2013. His book, 'Blogging the City: Spaces of Dissent' was published in 2021. He will also be speaking at our event titled, "The Art of Narrating the Self in the Personal Essay" on July 30! Partner and collaborate with us: https://forms.gle...

Jarod Anjelo Lustre is a writer and artist who was raised by his grandmothers in Sampaloc, Manila. Exposed to his family's struggles at an early age, he was influenced to use his talents to speak out against the common injustices that Filipinos face. He believes that art as an expression of passion and strife can inspire people to stand up for themselves and others. He will also be speaking at our...

Phillippe Angelo Hiñosa, 22, is a Sociology student at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He writes about family, education, politics, and society based on his personal life. He will also be speaking at our event titled, "The Art of Narrating the Self in the Personal Essay" on July 30! Partner and collaborate with us: https://forms.gle/xash81foTJ5GkJDT8 Give us a tip to support us: https:/...

Martti Franca is a Manila-based independent singer-songwriter who creates deeply intimate indie-folk pop music rooted in personal experience and reflection in both sound and writing. Although he is more recognized for his heartbreak hits such as Spaces and Things She’ll Never Know, he strongly advocates mental health awareness in songs such as Twenty-Five and San Francisco. He also advocates for t...

Ceej Frankera is an independent singer-songwriter shuffling between Los Angeles, California and Manila, Philippines. She is a modern-day torch singer — her lyrics explore themes like love, self-care, and figuring out her world through music. Her debut single ‘Record’ was released on Aug. 6, 2020, and other singles such as ‘Fly’, 'By Your Side', and '2022', have garnered a total of over 228K stream...

Formed in 2017, Seizure Salad’s brand of melodic pop-punk infused hard rock has electrified audiences in and around Metro Manila. They released their first Spotify single, “Burning Light,” on January 4, 2021, but have been releasing material on Youtube and Soundcloud since their inception. Their music runs the gamut from moody and ambient musings to all-out punk fueled rampages, taking cues from l...

Drawing from numerous influences ranging from funk and soul to rock and roll, The Great Dane is a band movin’ and groovin’ to their own tune. In the bedroom or on the dance floor, they’re here to rock with you and give you a good time. Upcoming Releases Lost (Single): June 17 Days Go By (Single): June 29 Giving Tree (EP): July 1 Stay tuned for their upcoming episode on Saturday! They will also be...

Formed in 2015, Pugfish is a musical collective based in Manila, Philippines. Inspired by artists such as Crying, Wild Party, and Japanese Breakfast, Pugfish's sound attempts to combine unique structures and fun textures that fall under an alternative pop outfit. There's really no one genre that fully captures the electrifying feel of the group's sound. The Indiependent Collective The Indiependent...

The OK Club is a six-piece indie-pop band whose members’ influences almost have nothing in common. They combine indie and alt-rock with jazz and anime OSTs. The Indiependent Collective The Indiependent Collective is a new media company pushing boundaries through socially-engaged conversations. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theindiependentcollective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ind...

Times are tough, but Marivi Soliven, Amanda Cua, and Myra Aquino sure know how to push through despite these uncertain times. The Indiependent Collective proudly held Blissful Blooming: Discovery Through Self-Awareness  via Zoom on May 28, 2022, which is a roundtable discussion in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Panelists Marivi Soliven, Amanda Cua, and Myra Aquino openly shared...

On this episode, Caitlin, Talya, and Leah talk about the ghost that solved her own murder. Teresita Basa, an Edgewater Hospital employee, was discovered dead in her apartment in February 1977, with a knife protruding from her chest. After months of inquiry, officers discovered little to no leads, and the case was closed. All of that changed when Teresita's spirit came from the dead in the summer o...

Myra Aquino is a writer-director who grew up in Guam and the Philippines. She is a 2020 graduate from the UCLA MFA Directing program and her work has been supported by the Delia Salvi Memorial Award, the UCLA Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, the Sony Streisand Fellowship, and the Norris Fellowship.  Most recently, she was selected to participate in the 2021 Women in Film x Black...

Amanda is the Founder and CEO of BackScoop, a daily newsletter that makes it easy to stay informed with everything SEA business and startups. Subscribe to BackScoop today: https://www.backscoop.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backscoop/ LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cua/ OTHER PROMOTIONS & LINKS: Partner and collaborate with us: https://forms.gle/xash81foTJ5GkJDT8 Give u...

Another fun IndieCo debate where chosen applicants tackled the question, "What is more important: passion or practicality?" For the passion team, we have Atty. Aye and Ivan. Meanwhile, for the practicality team, we have David and Dr. Stephanie. Partner and collaborate with us: https://forms.gle/xash81foTJ5GkJDT8 Give us a tip to support us: https://indie-co-membership.helixpay.ph/ The Indiependent...

Marivi is most well-known for her novel The Mango Bride, which will soon be a film produced by and starring MegaStar Sharon Cuneta. Marivi writes, "The Mango Bride offers a personal glimpse into extreme poverty in Manila and what growing up in deprivation can do to someone. The book explains how the mail bride system works horribly and how women who try to escape their misery for a life of dreams...

Jewelle Villarisco, also known as Jewie's Art Space, is an Artist-Illustrator, Content Creator, a Youth Leader, and Mentor for a progressive high school called Freedom Academy. She mostly draws for children’s storybooks and has done countless portraits and commissions. She hopes to use her art platform, Jewie’s Art Space, to talk about love, true positivity, and kindness. Jewelle currently resides...

Hellydgreat / Elijah started to create comics about a cute couple, Helly and Damian, in 2018. This is to show the relatable and fun reality of a relationship. Not only is she interested in digital art, she also made paintings using watercolor, acrylic, and gouache. Listen to this episode and learn why and how she finds peace and happiness in making and sharing her art. Check out this episode's vid...

Aj Bacar is a graduate of BS Electronics Engineering in De La Salle University with Honorable Mention. In 2013, he also became the Arts and Graphics Editor of Ang Pahayagang Plaridel, the official filipino publication of DLSU. He is also awarded as the Best Editor and Best section in that year. In 2015, he entered a leading telco company as a cadet engineer and practiced Project Management in the...

Another fun IndieCo debate where chosen applicants tackled the question, "Is it fair to ‘unfriend’ someone over political differences?" For the affirmative team, we have Paolo and Eldrin. Meanwhile, for the negative team, we have Joshua and Jan. ___ OTHER PROMOTIONS & LINKS: Register now here for our April 30 event, titled: "The Art of Pursuing Your Passion | A Roundtable Discussion with Filip...