Pulse of Polynesia

Send us Fan Mail What stories are hidden inside 100-year-old glass plate photos? In Part 2, we go deep into two extraordinary archival collections — the Solf Collection and the Tetens Collection — that are rewriting what we know about Samoa's colonial era. From German governors and Samoan chiefs to a scientist who fell in love with the islands, these 750+ digitized images bring our ancestors...

Send us Fan Mail 🌊 Welcome to Pulse of Polynesia — Part 1 Who Gets To Tell Our Story? | Reclaiming Samoan History In this powerful episode, hosts Leaso Filoialii and Crystal sit down with writer, historian, and photographer Tony Brunt to explore the untold journey of preserving Samoa’s photographic history before it disappears forever. From forgotten private albums… to crowdsourcing identities th...

Send us Fan Mail History lives in these photos.  These are not strangers. These are our people. Our bloodlines. Our ancestors. Every face carried a story… leadership, sacrifice, identity, survival, and culture passed down through generations. Some walked through colonization, war, division, and change — yet still carried themselves with dignity and mana. As you watch, look closely. You may recogni...

Send us Fan Mail 🌊 Welcome back to Pulse of Polynesia — The History They Never Taught Us | Part 3  In this powerful continuation, hosts Leaso Filoialii and Crystal sit down with Beauman Fuimaono (@thestoryofbeau) to unpack the hidden history of Samoa — the stories erased, reframed, or never taught in classrooms.  We dive deep into the legacy of Mataʻafa Iosefo, the Samoan warrior chief who stood...

Send us Fan Mail “Sometimes healing doesn’t start… until you go back home.” We don’t always realize how much we’re carrying until it finally catches up to us. In this moment from Pulse of Polynesia, we talk about growth, reflection, and what it means to reconnect with where you come from. This is more than a story. It’s something many of us feel… but don’t always say out loud. Watch. Reflect. Take...

Send us Fan Mail He gave up everything… for his son. And still had to live with the pain of losing his mom. This is the side people don’t talk about. In Part 2 of our conversation with Beauman Fuimaono, we go beyond the surface — into sacrifice, grief, identity, and the truth about Samoan culture today. This isn’t just a story… This is reality for many of us. 🔥 WHAT WE COVER Choosing his son over...

Send us Fan Mail ​ @thestoryofbeau   Beauman Fuimaono You can’t gatekeep the pe‘a. This isn’t just a tattoo… it’s identity, discipline, and culture passed down through generations. The tatau carries meaning, structure, and history — not trends. Let’s learn it. Respect it. Understand it. #tatau #polynesian #pasifika #culture #identity #heritage #Respect #communitysupport #fypシ #YouCantGatekeep #Pe...

Send us Fan Mail #PulseOfPolynesia #BeaumanFuimaono #TheStoryOfBeau #SamoanPodcast #Part1 He was criticizing someone on the radio… Then it hit him — he wasn’t even in the game. That moment changed everything. And what happened next… took him from Samoa to Sweden. This is PART 1 of our powerful conversation with Beauman Fuimaono — media personality, storyteller, and proud Samoan now based in Sweden...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 3 of our conversation with Mele Kanuch, we move beyond awareness… into healing, faith, and purpose. This conversation goes deeper than mental health. It’s about understanding who we are as Pacific Islanders—our trauma, our culture, our responsibilities… and how we begin to heal without losing ourselves. This conversation is for you. 🎙️ Pulse of Polynesia — Voices. Stories....

Send us Fan Mail “Are they being disrespectful… or do they just need support?” In Part 2 of this powerful conversation on Pulse of Polynesia, Mele Kanuch breaks down a truth many of our communities have misunderstood for generations—the difference between mental illness and neurodivergence, and how lack of awareness continues to impact our people. From cultural expectations and discipline… to gene...

Send us Fan Mail In this emotional clip, Crystal Steffany shares the story of her cousin—her struggles, her pain, and the questions that never leave us after loss. “I keep asking myself… could I have been better? Could I have understood more?” This isn’t just a story.  It’s a wake-up call for our families, our culture, and our community. We have to talk about it.  We have to understand it.  We hav...

Send us Fan Mail ⏱ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 0:00 We Don’t Talk About This… (Hook) 0:58 Welcome to Pulse of Polynesia 1:20 Meet Mele Kanuch (United Minds) 2:05 Mele’s Background & Upbringing 3:30 Why Mental Health Isn’t Talked About 4:11 “Brush It Under the Rug” Culture 5:32 The “Happy People” Myth 6:50 Suppression → Anger, Addiction, Self-Harm 7:44 Suicide Rates in Our Communities 8:45 Mele’s Sto...

Send us Fan Mail What we don’t talk about… still affects us. Time to bring it to light. #Awareness #PacificVoices #UnitedMinds @unitedminds_co #FYP Support the show

Send us Fan Mail “Mele Kanuch opens up about her father—growing up in misunderstanding, labels, and silence… and later finding clarity through understanding neurodivergence.  A powerful reflection on compassion, family, and seeing people for who they truly are. 💛  🎙️ Featuring Mele Kanuch, United Minds” #PulseOfPolynesia #UnitedMinds #MentalHealthAwareness #Neurodivergent #PasifikaVoices #FamilyS...

Send us Fan Mail 🌺 DESCRIPTION Welcome to another powerful episode of Pulse of Polynesia 🌺 In this episode, we sit down with Junior Aumavae — former NFL athlete, community leader, and man of faith — as he shares his journey from American Samoa ➝ Alaska ➝ the NFL. This is not just a football story. This is about: • Faith when no one is watching • Pain that builds purpose • Growing up unheard but...

Send us Fan Mail He was the best in the state… but had no support at home. This is the part of the story no one sees. In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Junior Aumavae, the story goes deeper. This is where the layers come off — the pressure, the pain, and the reality behind being “the best” but still feeling unsupported. Junior opens up about growing up in Alaska, carrying expectations, a...

Send us Fan Mail What do you say… if this was your last hour? In this final part of our conversation with Junior Aumavae, everything comes full circle— from purpose, leadership, and culture… to legacy, faith, and the conversations we wish we could still have. This isn’t just about success. It’s about why you’re here—and what you leave behind. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:42 – NFL advice: connectio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Pulse of Polynesia , we sit down with community advocate Oreta Mapu-Tupola to discuss the silent pressures many Polynesian women and Pacific Island families carry and how our communities can begin healing from generational trauma. Pulse of Polynesia is a podcast dedicated to amplifying Polynesian and Pasifika voices , sharing stories of culture, leadership, resi...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of this conversation, we explore the deeper side of success — faith, identity, fatherhood, integrity, and the long grind behind the scenes . This episode goes beyond music and speaks to anyone navigating pressure, social media noise, family responsibility, and personal growth. This isn’t about where you’re from — it’s about who you become when life tests you. If you’ve e...

Send us Fan Mail Every story has a beginning — this is his. In Part 1 of our conversation with Poetik, we step into the foundation of his life: the village that raised him, the music that shaped him, and the people who poured into him before the world ever knew his name. This episode isn’t just about music. It’s about identity, belonging, gratitude, and how our beginnings quietly prepare us for wh...

Send us Fan Mail This episode shares the story behind Uso Beer — not to promote alcohol, but to highlight a cultural movement led by four Pasifika entrepreneurs reshaping conversations around unity, identity, and responsible celebration. Jack, Love, Sione, and Ghanit created something deeper than a beverage — a legacy rooted in brotherhood, culture, and a mission to change the Pasifika drinking na...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we sit down with Elijah Jenkins — a proud Chamorro, two-term Undergraduate Student Government President at the University of Chicago, Stamps Scholar, poet, storyteller, and one of the most promising young leaders of the Pacific diaspora. From growing up far from the islands…  to reclaiming his cultural identity…  to leading in elite spaces where he was of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to tonight’s live episode of Pulse of Polynesia! We are joined by Matthew Leituala, founder of Si‘ialofa, for an empowering and insightful conversation you don’t want to miss. Matthew is sharing his journey — from his background and career, to traveling with Troy Polamalu to American Samoa in 2011 🏝️🏈 — and how those experiences inspired the creation of Si‘ialofa. 💡 Toni...

Send us Fan Mail From international stages to Polynesian roots, Marina’s voice and story have inspired audiences worldwide — and tonight, she’s LIVE with us on Pulse of Polynesia! ✨ Follow & Connect with Marina Davis: 🌐 Website: marinadavis.com 📩 Email: mymarinadavis@gmail.com 📱 Contact: +61 422 435 890 📲 Instagram | TikTok | Facebook: @marinadavismusic 💬 Jump in the live chat, ask your...

Send us Fan Mail We just wrapped and edited the full Pulse of Polynesia episode featuring the one and only Ra2musik (Iosiaratulala “Lala” Fa‘ata‘a) 🙌🏽🔥. His journey is raw, real, and powerful — from his struggles, faith, and resilience to the music that’s inspiring Polynesian communities worldwide. 🎵 Songs you’ll hear about in this episode: 684 Chillin’ (the anthem that put him on the map) Lou...