On this episode of Be More Vocal, Nick Rolan Gonzaga and I came together for our longest episode yet! As a Filipino who ended up attending college in Tennessee, there's a lot to be said for Nick's diversity and cultural experiences. I had the pleasure of discussing the nature of culture with him and ended up speaking on church culture, the riots and protests of 2020, racial identity, and of course, food.

What I find separates Nick from a lot of others however when it comes to cultural identity is his philosophy that you should embrace your own unique experience and not try to be fake or promote a persona of yourself. Yes stereotyping is a thing but there's no need to buy into that when your own experiences are just as authentic as someone else's. You are Californian by having a connection to it; not from the brands you wear or where you live or the food trucks you've visited...we talked about food a ton!

So please enjoy this discussion and let us know your thoughts. As always, you can find me on Instagram at be_more.rad and Twitter at be_rad_ly.

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Special thanks to:

-Mosu Beats (@mosubeats on Twitter & Instagram) for the background music!

Tracks (in order):

-Black Cherry

-Nick Gonzaga

IG: nick.rolan & okjichus

Twitch: twitch.tv/okjichus (he streams regularly and has a podcast!)

On this episode of Be More Vocal, I am joined by Junior Theology major Oliver Nelson. As a student, he faces the struggles of balancing life and work, as any of us do. Yet through his personal experiences and upbringing, Oliver has struggled more than just at face value. He has faced many battles, but overcome even more and he shares these struggles today.

With God as his mentor, guide, and coach, Oliver navigates the boxing ring of life with its highs and lows, seeking to trust in the process and see things through with optimism. Have you found yourself at the end of your rope? How are you coping with your circumstances and what can you change? If you apply yourself in your lowest point, you'll experience the greatest change. That produces beauty in the struggle.

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Special thanks to:

-In Love with a Ghost (@LVGHST on Twitter and https://www.youtube.com/c/InLoveWithAGhostMusic/videos on YouTube) for the background music!

Tracks (In Order):

-We Were Friends

On this episode of Be More Vocal, I sit down with Charles-Michael Ulett, founder of Charles' MUSE Ltd. Co. and a fellow Podcaster (Search Charles' Muse Audio & Noir Nobility on Anchor).

Charles is known for many things: He's an innovator, adventurer, researcher, outdoorsman, craftsman, gamer, etc. (I could go on for ages). But most of all, he is someone who peruses what he wants at any cost. Charles works hard, seeks to do the best job possible, and this translates into his story. As you listen to Charles explain his experiences, allow yourself to reminisce on your own wants and remember that anything you desire is within your reach.

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Special thanks to:

-Mosu Beats (@mosubeats on Twitter & Instagram) for the background music!

Tracks (in order):

-Chai Latte

"A person's dreams...never die! Am I right?"

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On this episode of Be More Vocal, I am joined by Rafael Nual, a senior business major at Southern Adventist University. I have known Rafael since my freshman year, but what captivated me from the very start was his ability to enamor people with his charm and energy. He has been known to be the life of the party, the social butterfly, the man who always strives to reach new heights. I'd call him a dreamer.

Throughout his time at university, he has grown and developed himself into a vocal individual who seeks to inspire and lead in all aspects of his life. Whether it be through preaching/ministry or taking time to help others express themselves creatively, Rafael has always made sure to value people's ambitions and push them to the forefront of their being. In this episode, we discuss how to cultivate these ambitions, the difference between dreamers and visionaries, and how to ensure we don't stop dreaming. If you have found yourself at the end of your rope or feel as if you are tied down to your circumstances, use this episode to give you the chance to step back and reflect. What do you want? It's always been possible. After all...dreams never die!

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Special Thanks to:

-Audio from One Piece, Episode 147:

"The Pirate's Summit! The Man Who Talks of Dreams and the King of Underwater Exploration"

I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS AUDIO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO TOEI ANIMATION

This episode was originally recorded to be one hour long, however only half of the recording was saved. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to recover it at this moment, but expect a part 2 when it can be recovered.

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On this episode of Be More Vocal, I am joined by Raymond Harrison, who takes us on the journey to discover what is at the heart of discipline and prayer. Raymond has been a mentor to myself and many others throughout our youthful years and to sit down with him and discuss this topic was a pleasure. We explore the act of discipline which is rooted in discipleship and examine what exactly goes into governing that. Is it tough? Does it leave room for freedom and choice? How can I become more disciplined? These questions are cross-referenced with spirituality, found in a relationship with God. Prayer becomes a form of communicating with God, but how does a disciplined individual experience a different relationship with God?

I hope you all can find yourself more in tune with your desires and goals as you listen to this special episode. Even more so, I pray you can experience the full journey with me someday when I can recover Part 2.

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Special thanks to:

-In Love with a Ghost (@LVGHST on Twitter and https://www.youtube.com/c/InLoveWithAGhostMusic/videos on YouTube) for the background music!

Tracks (In Order):

-we've never met but, can we have a coffee or something?

-flowers (feat. nori)

On this episode of Be More Vocal, I am joined by Anderson Wright, aka Walter, who shares with me the experience and concept of 'The Index Card'.

It unravels the difficulty of keeping unbiased memories and explores a medium in which we can reliably remember thoughts/experiences/concepts through having an emotional connection at its core.  This is sustained by systems we create in our day to day lives to curate how our own unique index cards appeal to us.

This is especially helpful and relevant to those pursuing further education, but also for those who desire more organization in their lives and want to attempt to manage their thoughts and process them in a timely manner. I hope you enjoy!

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Special thanks to:

-Mosu Beats (@mosubeats on Twitter & Instagram) for the background music!

Tracks (in order):

-Katsu Curry

-Sakura Mochi

-Malboro