On this episode of Future Ancestors, Jason & Kat sit down with Actor/comedian and "Motel Guy" Brian Acosta, who grew up in a New Jersey motel and turned that life into a mission of everyday kindness. We talk empathy, parenting, healing from trauma, and the viral “Free Room For U” movement, and a powerful update on Jolene (a guest at the motel), who was once lost to addiction, that is now hundreds of days clean and giving back, reminding us what grace can do.

Listen in and find out what it means to build a life around empathy and how growing up in a New Jersey motel shaped Brian's purpose and why he opens doors (literally) for people in crisis at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel.

We Talk About:

• Growing up inside a working motel & learning business the human way

• Empathy as practice: “not looking away” and asking “Are you good?”

• Using comedy, music, and poetry to process trauma

• Parenting with transparency, boundaries, and books over screens

• “Free Room For U” and the story that stays with Brian: Jolene’s return

If you're learning to break cycles, lead with empathy, and imagine new ways to care for each other, this episode is for you, and if this conversation inspired you, please pass it on: share the episode with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe, like & follow us wherever you're tuning in from, and leave us a review on Apple/Spotify, and connect with us on Instagram @futureancestors.tv or at www.FutureAncestors.tv

Stay connected to Brian Acosta Arya here: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianacostaarya/#

What happens when you want to be proud of your Filipino roots but were never taught the language, the dances, or the stories?

In this powerful episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with Vanessa Manzano, founder of the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, a grassroots movement reconnecting generations to their heritage. Vanessa shares how she went from being one of the only Filipinas in her Massachusetts town to building a cultural institution that serves hundreds of Filipino Americans across the tri-state area.

We talk about:

• Why Filipino Americans often feel “not Filipino enough”

• The shame of not speaking Tagalog and how to unlearn it

• Challenging the pressure to “do things the old way”

• Building bridges between generations (without losing ourselves)

• Creating safe spaces for identity, language, and pride

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your culture, or if you’re raising kids who you hope will stay connected, this episode is for you.

Learn more about the Filipino School: https://www.filschool-us.org Follow us on Instagram: @futureancestorspod Subscribe and leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

In this powerful episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with cultural worker, educator, and our protest safety Kuya, Kalaya'an Mendoza, to discuss the sacredness of protest, the meaning of Kalaya'an (Freedom), and the revolutionary act of keeping one another safe. Drawing from his deep work in organizing, security culture, and Filipino liberation, Kalaya'an shares wisdom on how we show up, not just in the streets, but in community, in lineage, and through love.

We reflect on the past 10+ years of movement building, his training in self-protection and mutual defense, and how queerness, softness, and spirituality all belong in struggle. This is more than a conversation about protest. This is a reminder that our bodies are sacred, our people are worth protecting, and our freedom is intertwined.

Whether you're a longtime organizer or just finding your voice, this episode will ground you in ancestral courage, practical safety tips, and the truth that freedom is always collective. 

We cover:

• What Kalaya'an means beyond the word “freedom”

• How Kalaya'an got trained in protest safety and people protection

• Why queer, trans, and femme folks must lead in community safety

• The role of love, tenderness, and trust in liberation work

• Preparing spiritually and practically before you go out

• The importance of cultural work in revolutionary movements

• Honoring protest as a sacred offering

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

In this episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with award-winning educator, poet, and author Tony Dela Rosa to unpack identity, erasure, and radical visibility through the lens of Filipino American experience. From his childhood in Oceanside and Ohio to his current doctoral work in Wisconsin, Tony shares deeply personal stories of assimilation, racialization, and resistance, including a harrowing "wrestling test" with white classmates that still lives in his body.

We dive into his debut book, Teaching the Invisible Race, which challenges how Asian Americans, especially Filipinos, are rendered unseen in classrooms and curricula. He breaks down the origins of his spoken word journey, the importance of ethnic studies, and how cross-racial solidarity, especially with Black communities, has always been part of our history and future.

We talk about poetry as soul work, how racial literacy can transform education, and why Asian American men need to show up more in anti-racist movements. Tony also shares his vision for building communities rooted in truth, joy, and policy change, and drops a few bars along the way.

Whether you're an educator, artist, or future ancestor yourself, this is a conversation that will stay with you.

🎙️ In this episode, Tony shares:

• Teaching the Invisible Race (available via Bookshop, Bel Canto Books, and Republic of Letters)

• The importance of Asian American history mandates

• Building the NYC Men Teach AAPI initiative

• Spoken word as resistance and education

• Solidarity between Black and Filipino communities

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

What does it mean to rise in a space where your culture is rarely seen, and make it better because you’re in it?

In this episode of the Future Ancestors Podcast, we sit down with Harold De Leon, who worked his way from food runner to General Manager of one of Florida's busiest Cheesecake Factory locations. Harold shares how service, hustle, and Filipino values helped him break expectations, lead with impact, and infuse joy and pride into everything he does. From mentoring staff to managing chaos with grace.

🎙️ In this episode, Harold shares:

• His journey from college dropout to corporate leadership

• Why food is a Filipino love language and how it shows up in his management style

• How he leads with unreasonable hospitality and why it matters

• What it’s like to be a visible Filipino leader in a top 100 company

• How he builds culture through structure, service, and passion

🔥 Bonus: We talk adobo vs. kare-kare, bitter melon redemption, and why yes, the Cheesecake Factory is for your main girl, not the side piece 😅

💡 “Success looks different for everyone. I just followed what I loved — and that led me here.” — Harold De Leon

Tap into this inspiring episode about grit, gratitude, and growing beyond expectations — with love, food, and a whole lot of Filipino pride 🇵🇭

In this episode of the Future Ancestors Podcast, we sit down with Mark Anthony Agbuya, a Brooklyn-born changemaker who turned his passion for Filipino culture into large-scale impact through sports.

A former stockbroker and VP at JP Morgan turned nuclear medicine technologist, Mark is best known as the driving force behind Filipino Heritage Nights with the Brooklyn Nets, New York Yankees, and more. These events are so much more than games. They’re spaces for community pride, intergenerational learning, and cultural representation.

🎙️ Mark shares:

• What it was like growing up as one of the few Filipino families in Brooklyn

• His 9-year journey to get the first Filipino Heritage Night approved

• Why these nights are love letters to the next generation

• How he's helping nonprofits and youth orgs through every ticket sold

• The emotional moment he helped light the Empire State Building in the colors of the Philippine flag

Plus, we dive into his plans for the Filipino Heritage Yankees jacket, the magic of community collaboration, and how he's using sports as a gateway to cultural pride.

💡 “It’s not about bringing Filipinos to a sporting event. It’s about letting people be proud to be Filipino.” — Mark Agbuya

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

From working with artists like Rico Nasty and Nipsey Hussle to leading strategy at Universal Music Group, Zeena Koda has built a bold and unapologetic career in music, media, and advocacy.

In this episode of Future Ancestors, Zeena opens up about growing up Filipina in New Jersey, finding her voice in male-dominated spaces, and how motherhood and mental health have reshaped her mission. She also shares the story behind founding the Asian American Collective and what it takes to make a real impact behind the scenes.

🎧 Go inside the music industry from artist to exec 💡 Hear how Zeena turned personal challenges into purpose 🌏 Learn how she's building an AAPI legacy through community

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

From working with global stars like Ariana Grande and The Weeknd, to shaping iconic campaigns for Coachella, Rolling Loud, and 1800 Tequila, Emelyn has built a powerhouse career behind the scenes.

In this episode of Future Ancestors, Emelyn shares how she fought to carve space in a male-dominated industry, her Filipino roots in her work, and how she brings intention, culture, and storytelling into every project.

🎧 Go behind the scenes of major music festivals 💼 Learn how Emelyn built a career in creative direction 🔥 Hear what it’s like collaborating with top-tier talent

Whether you’re a fan of music, culture, or representation, you won’t want to miss this one.

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

What do ube, buko pandan, and cannabis have in common? Lisa Angulo Reed.

In this episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with Lisa Angulo Reed, the co-founder of Dear Flor, a Filipina-led cannabis brand making waves with edibles that spotlight Filipino flavors. From a career in advertising to building a startup with her husband, Lisa shares her experience of reclaiming identity, honoring Filipino heritage, and redefining how Filipino culture shows up in the cannabis space.

We talk about:

• Growing up Filipina in West Virginia

• The power of flavors in storytelling

• Parenting while building a cannabis business

• What it takes to thrive in this industry as a woman of color

• Why normalizing our ingredients’ names is part of the mission

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.

In this episode of Future Ancestors, hosts Jason and Kat sit down with Liana Sta. Ana. She's actor, writer, cultural worker, and the 2024 recipient of the Asian American Arts Alliance Van Lier Fellowship in Theater Acting. Lianah discusses her groundbreaking musical, Performing Filipina, which explores Filipina history, culture, and resistance through a compelling blend of music and theater.

Lianah, talks to us about her creative process and the significance of telling this powerful story. From her experience and family influences to her aspirations for the musical's impact, we talk about identity and creativity.

Whether you're a lover of the arts, an advocate for social justice, or someone curious about the Filipino experience, this episode offers a unique and inspiring perspective on storytelling and cultural expression.

Connect with Us Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more stories celebrating the Filipino experience! Instagram: @futureancestors.tv YouTube: @futureancestorsTV Website: www.futureancestors.tv

If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories. And if you have a guest you'd like to see on the podcast, contact us on our website.