The Mountain in Us

Send us Fan Mail A city can look familiar and still be disappearing in real time. We sit down with Claire Evans, a Fresno-based photographer who shoots film and builds living archives of the Central Valley by stepping into backyards, kitchens, skate parks, and neighborhoods that don’t always get the investment or attention they deserve. We talk about Fresno as an agriculture-centered place with de...

Send us Fan Mail The Mountain in Us is a heartfelt podcast about the paths that shape us, the passions that carry us, and the quiet moments that help us find our purpose. Hosted by Taran Singh, each episode invites listeners into honest, soul-stirring conversations with artists, makers, and creatives whose stories reveal the beauty of growth, vulnerability, and becoming. In this episode, Taran spe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mountain in Us , host Taran Singh sits down with Kiara and her lovable companion, Mochi, for a warm and candid conversation about life, identity, and the companions who help shape our journeys. Kiara opens up about her Puerto Rican roots, her connection to home, and the deeper meaning woven through music, culture, and everyday experience. The conversation also d...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, guest interviewer Diana flips the script, interviewing host Taran Singh to learn more about the person behind The Mountain in Us podcast and the poetry book Time and Knots . Growing up in the Himalayan mountains shaped how Taran sees the world, and he explains why he named his podcast after them: "The mountain is a place where we go through ups and do...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt conversation, Becca Samsson reflects on how her California upbringing shaped her lifelong connection to nature and her career in sustainability. Growing up in Southern California, she developed an intimate relationship with the Pacific Ocean and the natural landscape, and all her favorite childhood memories took place outdoors. As Becca shares, "All of my me...

Send us Fan Mail In this touching episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh interviews HR veteran Michelle Nyrop to share how her small-town Minnesota background influenced her impressive global career. Growing up in a town with only 100 classmates, Michelle describes her personality as "Minnesota Nice"—not naive or conflict-averse, but driven by a natural eagerness to connect with...

Send us Fan Mail  The Seesaw of Stride and Harmony -Alana Zamora  In this deeply philosophical episode, marketing leader Alana Zamora explores the delicate balance between ambition and inner peace with host Taran Singh. Zamora, who describes herself as an "ambassador for compassion," shares how her professional journey in advertising evolved from print to digital to AI, always keeping he...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of "The Mountain in Us," host Taran Singh interviews Debbie Feit, a marketing expert and author who found an unexpected voice as a poet after experiencing a significant personal loss. Debbie recounts her childhood in a conservative Jewish household in Brooklyn, highlighting the cultural traditions, Hebrew prayers, and strict rules for keeping a kosh...

Send us Fan Mail The Cosmic Play of Clay, Collision, and Colors"   Host: Taran Singh   Guest: Kim Larkin – Experiential futurist, creative, and gardener based in Taos, New Mexico   Key Themes & Takeaways:   1. Taos & the High Desert      - Kim shares her journey to Taos, New Mexico, drawn by its rich cultural history, stunning landscapes, and deep connection to nature.      - She high...

Send us Fan Mail Leslie Li, a global adventurer and expectant mother, joins host Taran Singh for an honest conversation about overcoming the fear of missing out in our hyper-connected world. Born into China's Zhuang minority and influenced by immigrant hustle culture, Leslie explains how her journey from Switzerland to Silicon Valley was filled with constant comparison and achievement anxiety...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt podcast episode, Nancy Ayala opens up about the profound loss of her brother, Jose, and her journey toward acceptance and healing. She reflects on their close bond, describing him as both a brother and a father figure who shaped her life with love, music, and unwavering support. Nancy shares how her initial struggle with grief—a feeling she once saw as "the...

Send us Fan Mail Some stories don’t just get told—they burn their way into you. In this powerful episode, writer Elly Donado guides us through the streets of Queens that shaped her, sharing how she transformed childhood trauma into breathtaking art. From experiencing over 30 moves (often packing her life in trash bags instead of suitcases) to discovering writing as her lifeline, Elly reveals how o...

Send us Fan Mail In this evocative episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh welcomes Emily—an open-water swimmer, Orcas Island resident, and mushroom cultivator—to explore what it means to find home in the wild embrace of the sea. Against a backdrop of the Salish Sea's shimmering waves, Emily describes the marine life that animates her world: "Otters trotting along the shore, porp...

Send us Fan Mail In this compelling episode, Taran Singh sits down with Jacqueline, filmmaker and writer, for a raw conversation about the transformative power of intuition. Jacqueline opens with a profound insight about her creative awakening: "At 13, I realized stories could do what conversations couldn't - they let people borrow courage through someone else's journey." She t...

Send us Fan Mail Liz Ma's journey exemplifies the transformative impact of a "rude awakening". After years of feeling disconnected despite a successful consulting career and worldwide travels, a freak accident forced her to stop. A severe injury resulted in vertigo, impaired vision, and a body that could no longer keep up with her hectic lifestyle. This painful pause became her turn...

Send us Fan Mail Rachel Wu's story begins in urban Inner Mongolia, far from the nomadic stereotypes many imagine. "Classmates would ask if I rode a horse to school—I'd say, 'No, I took the bus like everyone else!'" She laughs. Rachel carried her family's hopes as an only child, especially her mother and grandmother, who pushed her to seek opportunities beyond Chi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mountain in Us , host Taran Singh speaks with Kristin Joy Ekkens, founder of Exponential Joy and a Michigan-native storyteller dedicated to spreading joy, purposeful living, and adventures.  Kristin’s journey begins in Michigan’s inner city, where her parents’ commitment to community taught her the value of belonging—growing up surrounded by Michigan’s natur...

Send us Fan Mail In this soul-nourishing episode, Collette Alvis shares more than her  Guyanese recipes & Culture—she offers the secret ingredients to a life well-lived. Like the perfect curry, her story balances bold flavors of resilience with subtle notes of faith, all simmered in the broth of cultural heritage. Each dish she describes—from golden roti to hearty chana(Chick Peas)—carries gen...

Send us Fan Mail In this compelling episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh sits down with Mackenzie Beckstad—poet, author, and advocate for queer representation—to explore themes of Belonginging,  identity, resilience, and creative expression.   Key Highlights:   1️⃣ Upbringing & Religious Shifts: Mackenzie shares her journey growing up in Utah and the seismic shift she experienced wh...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, everyone. I enjoyed hosting Hannah V Warren on the podcast today. She’s a poet, translator, and keen observer of life. She's the author of the poetry collection Slaughterhouse for Old Wives' Tales and two chapbooks. Hannah is a creative force, full of originality, surprise, and depth, and it was such an honor to have her on the show.   Hannah shared her journey into...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to "The Mountain in Us" podcast, where host Taran Singh explores individuals' exciting, challenging, and heartfelt journeys. In this episode, Taran talks with Vic Alvarez, a Cuban-American educator, writer, and editor, as she expects her first child, Isabel, around Christmas. Vic shares her excitement and apprehension about motherhood, her strong cultural he...

Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode of The Mountain in Us , host Taran Singh engages with the inspiring Diana Nguyen, a multifaceted professional with a remarkable journey from finance to fashion.  Diana shares her story of growing up in an immigrant family in Los Angeles, shaped by the propelling strength of her single mother and large extended family. Her career began in accounting, but...