What’s Your LAYON?

In this conversation with my friend Kat Jardenil, we talk about keeping the 9-to-5 that pays the bills and building the work that lights you up. Kat moved countries, shifted from corporate into IT, and, slowly, grew a life centered on yoga, meditation, sound healing, and her nonprofit dream: a dog sanctuary where rescues are loved and walked, not left waiting. We get into: moving from urgency to a...

Robbie Danger Webb never saw themself as an outdoor kid. They grew up being told the world was dangerous. Today, they're attempting a Guinness World Record as the first openly transgender person to circumnavigate the world by bicycle. In this conversation, Robbie and I talk about doing something radical even before you know what it is, finding community in unexpected places, Oreos as road fuel, an...

This episode is about something we use every day but don’t always think about -- the way we communicate. Jess co-founded Plain Language Matters, a communications agency built on a simple but powerful belief: everyone has the right to understand information that affects their life. We talk about: how plain language is connected to access and justice building a movement inside (and outside) governme...

Lecturer, startup founder, tribunal chair, and ex-firefighter, Kieran Thorpe lives by one rule: adventure is the through-line. In this episode, he shares how an adult ADHD diagnosis reframed his hyper-focus as a superpower, the fuel behind his restless drive for adventure, his interest in startups and psychology. We talk about purpose, risk, and why the simple act of showing up can change everythi...

What does purpose look like when you’re raising kids, navigating public service, and trying to create something that’s never existed before? In this episode, Janeca Gross shares her story of migration, motherhood, and carving out new paths for herself, her children, and her community. From chasing legal dreams and working full-time in government, to founding Katha Kollectiv, a Filipino-Australian...

Carlo Vergara,illustrator, playwright, teacher, and creator of the iconic queer superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah, joins Carmen Licopit for a candid conversation about creativity, mental health, and purpose. Carlo opens up about being a late bloomer, the pressure that followed his early success, and the spiral that came when expectations didn’t match outcomes. He shares how a single image of swallowin...

To many, he is “SerPao”, educator, writer, and advocate for Filipino literature. But to me, Paolo Paculan is also a classmate, carpoolmate, and friend from way back. In this episode, we reconnect not just to catch up, but to rediscover the layon, the purpose, that’s shaped his journey. We explore the stories behind Florante at Laura, Ibong Adarna, and his retelling of Noli Me Tangere, and how his...

From student to guest — Jeb Favis shares his journey from burnout in sales to purpose in youth ministry, and why finding your layon isn’t always a straight path.25 years ago, Jeb Favis was my student. Today, he’s a Youth Ministry Coordinator in California, but his path here was anything but straight. In this episode of What’s Your LAYON?, Jeb shares: Navigating family separation as a teen and find...

In this episode of What’s Your LAYON?, Carmen sits down with her childhood friend, Cherie Altea, also known as Jar of Salt, an independent artist, storyteller, and five-year breast cancer survivor. Cherie shares her journey from childhood doodles to solo shows in Manila and Singapore, the messy but magical path of becoming a professional artist, and how divorce, illness, and moving countries resha...

She’s the COO of a global company. She’s the founder of the Victoria Heartstrong Organization, funding the education of underprivileged girls. And she’s the author of Becoming Sheroes, a book co-written with 14 Filipina leaders. Most people would pick one lane. Monica Maralit chose all three. In this episode, Monica gets real about the dangers of comfort, the courage it takes to start before you’r...

In this first episode of What’s Your Layon?, host Carmen Licopit shares her personal story of finding purpose, direction, and intention after a career transition. “Layon” is a Filipino word that means purpose — and it’s the heart of this podcast. Carmen talks about the life changes that inspired her to create What’s Your Layon?, why the word matters to her roots, and how moments of uncertainty can...

Welcome to What’s Your LAYON? — the podcast about purpose, pivots, and the beautiful mess of starting again. In this short trailer, host Carmen Licopit shares what “layon” means, what sparked this podcast, and what to expect in Season 1 — real stories from people finding their next chapter.🎧 Hit follow now so you don’t miss a moment.