Heartbeat Narratives

This mini episode takes you on a short stopover in Sydney, Australia as Molly (in her search for coffee and cabs) has happenstance meetings with Jane and Louie who each live and work in the city,  ✨ Molly shares her rose, thorn, and bud with reflections about embracing her middle name, Noelaniokekai (Noelani) and leaning into our own voices and character amidst the efficiency of AI. Think: "make...

In this episode, we dive into the life of Dan Worden, athlete, nonprofit founder, ocean safety expert, adventurer, and photographer, known to many as @adventuremandan through his social media following. Growing up in Oregon with dreams of swimming at a Division 1 school, Dan’s path eventually led him to the University of Hawaiʻi, where joining the swim team, biomechanics research, amazing friends...

Seven-year-old Elle Nishimoto is a rising second grader with a big heart and dozens of stories to share. From breakdancing battles to running her own Honolulu-based shave ice business, Little House of Pure Aloha, Elle shows how creativity and hustle can start anytime. She talks about loving her baby brother, supporting classmates even when it means standing out, and the joy that comes from being b...

Today we’re joined by Nanea Lo, a fellow Native Hawaiian podcaster , and the unapologetically joyful voice behind Naughty + Native . Nanea who is from Papakōlea, Oʻahu shares her path of understanding native joy as a way to reclaim identity as a Kanaka Maoli wāhine and to live in her purpose to uplift the lāhui (Hawaiian nation) in everything that she does. We talk story about what it means to liv...

Meet Chie Shimada, a multifaceted artist and tour guide based in Kyoto, Japan. Trained as a traditional Maiko (apprentice geisha) at age 15, Chie once embodied centuries-old customs before stepping into new roles as a grammar school teacher, hip hop dancer, DJ, and surfer. She shares how her ever-curious personality and pull towards the extremes has led her to the elegance of Japan’s history and t...

In this episode, Kevin, a tax attorney takes us back to Kauaʻi in the 1950s, where nature shaped his sense of home. He reflects on the tension between logic and the subtle pull of intuition and how we must learn to trust our gut feelings to connect back to ourselves. Kevin shares how certain truths live in the body, beyond what words can reach. We talk about love at first sight, finding connection...

In this episode, Daniel Etika Masifilo shares a journey that spans the football field, ancestral lands, and the inner work of reconnecting with his identity. Raised between cultures in Ewa Beach, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, with roots in Tonga, Norway, and Switzerland, Daniel speaks about his desire to belong, rediscovering his name, and embracing the ever-shifting path forward through the deep internal work...

Still buzzing from Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter concert, this special episode of Heartbeat Narratives takes you into the heartbeat of Houston through the voices of the BeyHive on June 29, 2025. From Galveston to Tokyo, Louisiana to Hawaiʻi, fans reflect on what Beyoncé means to them as an artist, icon, and source of empowerment. We hear from best friends to mother-daughter duos, each sharing how Queen...

To celebrate National Postal Worker Day, we’re stamping this episode with extra love and bringing back our favorite mail carrier, Reyna! In this delightfully unfiltered conversation, Reyna returns to the mic to deliver more behind-the-scenes gems from life on the route. From coconuts and tuna to postal lingo and stamp hacks, we hear about the weird and relatable moments of the job. With humor and...

Live from Tokyo, Jamie Christy shares his path from growing up Japanese-American in Minnesota to reconnecting with his roots while living in Kawasaki, Japan. He opens up about the complexities of relearning Japanese as a native speaker and how language continues to shape his identity. From The X-Files and John Grisham novels to the intricacies of Japanese legalese, Jamie reflects on the quirky and...

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! In this episode, Scott Nishimoto - dad, husband, community leader, and emerging poet - joins us to share poems from his chapbook, Beautifully Ordinary. He talks story about the highs, lows, and everyday joys (and hiccups) of parenting. A proud Honolulu townie, Scott reflects on how fatherhood has deepened his sense of presence and purpose, with poems l...

In the spirit of National Movie Night, we’re diving into a conversation with Rino Nakajima - a Disney superfan whose life has been shaped by the stories she grew up watching. Originally from Hiroshima, Japan and now living in Hawaiʻi, Rino talks about how movies like The Little Mermaid and Mulan have helped guide her through everything from studying Swahili in college to landing her dream job at D...

In honor of the United Nations' World Environment Day, we're excited to welcome Frank Oscar Weaver to todayʻs episode. Frank is a talented educator, filmmaker, and host of the Indigenous Earth Community Podcast which recently celebrated 5 years on air! Frank is also a fellow AIR Media New Voices AMPLIFY podcaster, and when he and Molly first connected, they quickly discovered a shared passion for...

Aloha and welcome back to a mini episode of Heartbeat Narratives! In this bite-sized reflection, I’m looking back on the first five months of the podcast - what I’ve learned and what’s coming up next. Since January, we’ve reached listeners in 29 states and 19 countries which energizes me to stay curious and continue to amplify stories of joy from Hawaiʻi and beyond. And as always, I’m also going t...

Meet Jen Roberts, a retired firefighter with a passion for adventure and a deep love for serving Hawaiʻi. She’s lived a dynamic life - bartending, fighting fires, and leading a women's motorcycling club - all while embracing each moment with gusto. Jen shares career-defining stories, from delivering a baby on the H-1 freeway to the meaningful work of The Pantry in Kalihi, where her team coordinate...

We appreciate you tuning in to Heartbeat Narratives! On this podcast, we celebrate stories of joy through organic conversations about the passions, places and people that our guests love. Letʻs continue to build our connections with others in our circles by leading with curiosity and aloha. Episodes are released every other Wednesday!  Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts Spotify Substack Youtube...

It's game on in today's episode as we sit down with Aunty Helen Nakano, the enthusiastic founder of Hanafuda Hawaiʻi. From her childhood in the 1940s on South King Street to teaching across Kauaʻi and Japan, Aunty Helen shares her journey of reviving the traditional Japanese card game, Hanafuda, for players across the islands. Learn how she’s using these “flower cards” to bridge generations and in...

If you love food, you will fall in love with Rachel Fukumoto, a business owner and agricultural enthusiast based in Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi. In this insightful episode, we learn about Rachel's foodpreneur endeavors through her business, The Pastry Farmer. From living in a convent on a sustainable farm to training to become a farmer, she shares her winding path into agriculture and her deep-rooted desire t...

To celebrate the 62nd Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaiʻi this week, we honor the legacy of Karl Veto Baker, a kumu hula of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, alongside Michael Lanakila Casupang. With five decades of experience as a hula dancer and teacher, Kumu Veto reflects on his journey that began in 1975 under the mentorship of renowned Kumu Hula, Robert Cazimero, whose 50th year of dancing is being hono...

Snap happy is a real thing. In this episode, Tâm Koppelaar, our new Dutch bestie shares about why he loves photography. From an unexpected airplane friendship to scenic hikes and a cozy Friendsmas party, Tâm brings a sharp eye and sarcasm to our conversation. We follow his journey from the Netherlands to Hawaiʻi, tracing the spark that turned a “real” camera into a gamechanging tool for storytelli...

For our first LOVE STORY of Heartbeat Narratives, we welcome middle school sweethearts, Gigi and Jesse, to reflect on nearly 20 years of being together. With their baby daughter, Samara, in tow, they reminisce about Jesse's memorable *first sight* of Gigi at age 13, their slow-burn high school romance, and the perks of growing up together in Minneapolis. They talk about their cultural backgrounds...

Valentina is a heart-forward social worker with a decade of experience serving houseless communities in both Hawaiʻi and California. Born in Honolulu and raised in San Diego, she moved back to the islands to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Through her undergraduate capstone project, she discovered a deep passion for helping others during an internship at a large shelter in the city. Sin...

What did we learn, honey? Let them bee!  In this buzzworthy episode, Darin Olson, a master beekeeper based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, shares his deep knowledge of bees and their critical role in our food system. Originally from Illinois, Darin's beekeeping lineage dates back to the 1400s in Norway, giving him true perspective on the craft (and, of course, an inherited sweet tooth). He describes how bee...

Monroe, known in the musical world as Sulubika, is an Oʻahu-based street musician. He is a gifted flautist who has spent years traveling with various artists and groups across Turkey, Italy and beyond, eventually making his way to Oʻahu. Urban Honolulu residents may recognize him by the trills of his flute at community parks and well-trod street corners. Monroe recognizes that music, and all forms...

This is a mini episode to say Happy Heart Day ♡ Even if you don't celebrate Valentine's Day, it's always worthwhile to connect in a heart x heart conversation to unpack and reflect. Molly highlights the unexpected surprises of producing this podcast, shares a recent "heart" moment and introduces Roses & Thorns. She also has a few dream interviewees for future episodes so be on the lookout for stor...