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After losing his Lola, Walbert Castillo and his cousins traveled from across the US to Iligan City in Mindanao to retrace her roots. With just hours left before their flight home, he picked up a bamboo stick at a cemetery and uncovered his great-grandfather's buried tombstone.

That moment became the spark for Istorya, the award-winning Las Vegas Filipino pop-up restaurant that tells the story of Philippine history through food, starting with the pre-colonial era. Over breakfast at Kalye on New York City's Lower East Side, Kat talks with Walbert about growing up Filipino American in the Chicago suburbs and being the only Filipino in the room as a journalist at USA Today and later at AWS. He also shares his master plan to tell the full Filipino American story, one culinary chapter at a time.

Monica Blanco then joins the conversation to talk about building Istorya together in Las Vegas and why caring for the people doing the work matters as much as the work itself. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire round on suman with latik, pianggang manok, and what it means to be Filipino.

Plus, a sneak peek backstage at SIX: The Musical on Broadway with Kay Sibal, who plays Katherine Howard.

For anyone in the diaspora who has ever felt disconnected from their roots, this episode is a reminder that the path home is still there, sometimes just beneath the surface.

Chapters 00:00:00 Cold open 00:00:25 Welcome: breakfast at Kalye NYC with Walbert Castillo of Istorya 00:01:08 Losing Lola and returning to Iligan City, Mindanao 00:01:47 Finding family through Facebook groups and renting pickup trucks 00:02:48 The only Filipino in the room: journalism, USA Today, and AWS 00:03:48 Growing up Filipino American in Chicago and Elgin 00:04:23 Reconnecting with roots alongside cousins 00:04:51 The cemetery: a barge ride and racing the clock 00:07:56 The bamboo stick: uncovering his great-grandfather's tombstone 00:09:11 Quick break: a moment from another Future Ancestors episode 00:09:34 From the cemetery to Istorya 00:11:50 The Philippines as a cultural confluence: Chinatown, the Muslim south, Spain, and Mexico 00:12:18 Chapter one: pre-colonial history and the master plan 00:13:12 Backstage at SIX on Broadway with Kay Sibal (Katherine Howard) 00:13:37 Monica Blanco joins: building Istorya together in Las Vegas 00:16:55 Care, team, and taking care of the people doing the work 00:20:26 This or That 00:22:14 Rapid fire: suman with latik, pianggang manok, and best advice 00:25:00 "To be Filipino means…"

Hosted by: Kathryn Serrano Follow Future Ancestors: Instagram & TikTok @futureancestors.tv | YouTube @FutureAncestorsTV | futureancestors.tv

Fresh off an hour-plus headlining set at Ligaya in New Jersey, Filipino American comedy pioneer Rex Navarrete sits down with Jason "Encite" Hortillas to talk legacy, laughter, and the culture that shaped him.

Rex has spent decades building Filipino American stand-up. He pays respect to the comics who paved the way before him, reflects on the new wave of Filipino comedians in the US and Manila, and explains why he's been saying Filipino food is the future for years. He also gets into his Portland collab, the classic SBC Packers bit fans still quote, and what it took to win over East Coast crowds with a goofy style nobody had seen before.

It's a short, funny, heartfelt conversation about leaving work behind that outlives your name. That's what being a future ancestor is all about.

Chapters 00:00:00 - Live after Rex Navarrete's set at Ligaya, NJ 00:00:57 - "Icon" and "pioneer": Rex on the OG title and his comedy mentors 00:01:56 - The DVDs, the bootlegs, and a new project for the streaming age 00:02:40 - The new wave of Filipino American and Manila comedians 00:04:06 - "Filipino food is the future": Bourdain, fusion, and the diaspora 00:05:51 - Talilo, Iloilo, and Portland's Filipino Community 00:07:01 - SBC Packers: the bit that won't retire, and writing for legacy 00:09:07 - Chef King Phojanakong, Kuma Inn, and bringing goofy comedy to the East Coast 00:11:09 - How Rex sees himself as a future ancestor

Know a Filipino-owned business we should visit? Tell us at futureancestors.tv

All past episodes and links: futureancestors.tv Watch Full Episodes on YouTube: @FutureAncestorsTV or Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @futureancestors.tv

It's Filipino American History Month, and we're stepping into the roastery with Robert Sonza, founder of Himig Coffee Roasters, to talk about Philippine coffee and the history in every cup.

After nine years as a barista, Robert started wondering why he'd never tasted coffee from the Philippines. That question led him to his first bag of Philippine coffee, roasting classes in New York, and a small sample roaster at home. He started out selling in New Jersey, and soon orders were coming in from across the country. We talk about how coffee took root in Lipa, Batangas, how the Philippines became a major coffee supplier before coffee rust hit, and the work to bring Philippine coffee back today.

Plus: the difference between arabica, robusta and liberica, where kapeng barako gets its name, and why Robert's work is about supporting Filipino coffee farmers.

Stick around as Robert roasts a batch of barako and leads us through a cupping to taste the difference for ourselves.

📌 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:20 Robert's coffee story 01:00 Does the Philippines grow coffee? 02:06 First sip of Philippine coffee 02:31 Learning to roast 03:55 From passion to business 04:53 The history of Philippine coffee 06:41 Philippine coffee's comeback 07:14 Arabica, robusta and liberica 08:33 Where kapeng barako gets its name 09:35 Roasting barako 10:07 Finding his roast style 10:26 His favorite customer moment 11:05 Doing it for the farmers 12:27 Cupping: tasting the difference 14:10 Where to find Himig Coffee Roasters 15:05 Robert as a future ancestor

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Go to Himig Coffee Roasters to purchase your coffee and follow Robert Sonza's journey on Instagram.

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Ever wrestled with feeling Filipino enough or American enough? Kat Serrano and Jason "Encite" Hortillas sit down with John Sapida, president of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Metro New York chapter, at Kamalig Grill by Jayhan.

Born in the Philippines and raised in New Jersey from age nine, John shares how a graduate school museum studies project led him to FANHS and a his work preserving Filipino American history. Over sisig, fish balls, and kwek-kwek, the conversation covers Filipino labor history, José Rizal's visit to New York, the pensionados (government-sponsored Filipino students who came to the U.S. in the early 1900s), and this year's Filipino American History Month theme of intersectionality.

For anyone just starting to explore their roots, John offers simple ways to begin documenting your family history, starting with a food memory, a song, or an object your family brought from the Philippines. Wherever you are in your journey, it's okay. That's the bayanihan spirit.

This episode is sponsored by Kamalig Grill by Jayhan, a Filipino-owned restaurant in Jersey City, NJ, inspired by the kamalig, a traditional Filipino structure that honors rural life, tradition, and hospitality. Comforting, affordable Filipino food made to bring families together. Visit them at 195 Mallory Avenue, Jersey City, NJ, or follow @kamaliggrillbyjayhan on Instagram, and tell them Future Ancestors sent you.

Mentioned in this episode Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS): Website FANHS Metro New York: Website | Instagram Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

Know a Filipino-owned business we should visit? Tell us at futureancestors.tv

All past episodes and links: futureancestors.tv YouTube: @FutureAncestorsTV | Instagram & TikTok: @futureancestors.tv

Is Philippine Independence Day June 12 or July 4? Kat Serrano and Jason "Encite" Hortillas kick off Season 3 of Future Ancestors on location at Weekend Material, a Filipino-owned curated vintage jewelry studio in Jersey City, NJ.

After a break to rest and realign, the hosts are back with a new season focused on Filipino American identity. In this premiere, they unpack the difference between June 12, 1898, when Filipinos declared independence from Spain, and July 4, 1946, when the United States formally recognized it. They also explore why Philippine independence connects to Puerto Rico, Guam, and Cuba through the Spanish-American War, and what it means to pass this history on to the next generation.

Kat and Jason also catch up on what Future Ancestors has been doing in the community: Filipino folk dance classes for kids, a talk at Rutgers University on social media and history, and a Kalayaan book reading for 400 students in Westchester. This season, Future Ancestors records on location at Filipino-owned businesses across New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

This episode is sponsored by Weekend Material, a Filipino-owned curated vintage jewelry studio in Jersey City, NJ. Hazel curates a collection of vintage jewelry, pieces with a past, ready for a future with you. Find her at pop-ups across New Jersey and New York, or book a studio visit, available by appointment only. Email [email protected] or DM @weekendmaterial on Instagram, and tell Hazel Future Ancestors sent you.

Mentioned in this episode Kalayaan: Filipina Heroines of World War II by Kathryn Serrano

Know a Filipino-owned business we should visit? Tell us at futureancestors.tv

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In this powerful episode of the Future Ancestors Podcast, hosts Kat Serrano and Jason Encite sit down with Jay Ross, the Filipino American designer behind PocketKings, the rising handmade fashion brand known for its iconic kimonos and culturally rooted streetwear.

Jay opens up about growing up disconnected from his Filipino identity, discovering his voice through creativity, and finding purpose through grief, fatherhood, and rediscovering his roots. He shares how sewing by hand turned into a brand, how his wife pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and how his designs became sought after by major artists, including Michael K. Williams, Taboo, and Henry Golding.

From competing in Filipino basketball leagues to hustling through poker, navigating loss, honoring his parents, and building a fashion house that refuses to compromise its purpose — Jay's journey is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and ancestral guidance.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up Filipino in NYC and searching for belonging

• How grief shaped Jay's creativity and emotional depth

• The spiritual + ancestral connection behind his kimono designs

• Why PocketKings resonated with celebrities, without paid placements

• His unreal basketball story in the Philippines

• How he designs with intention, not hype

• The role his wife played in launching the brand

• Why he believes his work is "an answered prayer"

If you love conversations about culture, identity, creativity, fashion, and healing, this is one of the most heartfelt episodes yet.

Follow Jay Ross / PocketKings: Instagram: @PocketKingsbk

Watch the full episode on YouTube: FutureAncestors.tv Follow us on IG: @FutureAncestors.tv

In this episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with Dr. Kevin Nadal, an award-winning author, educator, and one of the most influential voices in the Filipino American community. We're talking about decolonizing the mind with Dr. Kevin Nadal on identity, healing, and legacy.

A distinguished professor at John Jay College and the CUNY Graduate Center, Dr. Nadal has spent his career exploring identity, mental health, intersectionality, and Filipino American psychology. From being the first openly gay president of the Asian American Psychological Association to co-founding the LGBTQ Scholars of Color Network, his work has helped generations heal from colonial trauma and reclaim pride in who we are.

In this conversation, Dr. Nadal opens up about his family's migration story, what it means to decolonize the mind, and how Filipinos have always been warriors for justice, even when history tried to erase us. He shares the importance of representation, community healing, and the spiritual connection to our ancestors that continues to guide his purpose.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Filipino American Psychology & Generational Healing

• Queer Identity & Representation

• Decolonization & Mental Health

• Community, Kapwa, and Liberation Work

• Parenting, Legacy, and Future Ancestors

If you've ever wondered how our personal healing ties into the collective liberation of our people, this episode will remind you that we are our ancestors' wildest dreams.

If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. 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

Follow Kevin Nadal on Instagram to follow his journey: @kevinnadal

How does a New York nurse go from cardiothoracic recovery and ambulatory care to leading a nursing department, hosting a health podcast, and advocating for AAPI representation, all while still making time for skincare education?

You can find out with our next guest, Christian "Chris" Franz. Chris shares what it was like to be a brand-new RN on the COVID-19 frontlines, the moral injury of losing patients, and how that experience fueled his mission to fight medical misinformation with his show, Friends of Franz.

We unpack Chris's Filipino American identity, the pride (and stereotypes) around Filipinos in healthcare, building compassionate clinical teams, and why representation in media literally saves lives. Chris also opens up about severe acne, confidence, and practical skincare for men, plus the "local Hannah Montana" life of swapping scrubs for events between shifts.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Becoming an RN in cardiothoracic surgery and ambulatory care

• A raw look at early ICU COVID nights and moral injury

• Starting Friends of Franz to counter health misinformation

• Filipino culture, caregiving, and AAPI healthcare leadership

• Confidence, vulnerability, and real-world skincare insights for men

Press play to hear Chris Franz turn courage into care from ICU nights to fighting misinformation and leave inspired.

If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. 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

Follow Chris Franz on Instagram to follow his journey: @chrsfranz

Public health advocate and AAPI community leader Rachelle Perez-Ocampo (President, NAFFAA New York, co-host of Makilala TV) joins Future Ancestors to discuss caring for a community, navigating burnout, bureaucracy, and achieving big wins. From navigating pandemic motherhood to securing a federal grant to establish a Filipino community center in Little Manila, Woodside (Queens).

• Growing up Filipina in a majority-white neighborhood and finding identity through campus organizations

• Why community work can be toxic and draining, and how Rochelle protects her peace

• The inside story of winning New York State's largest grant for a Filipino group and what the center will offer

• Pandemic parenting, pods, and rebuilding support systems

• Grassroots vs. policy work, and why empathy + optimism are Rachelle's superpowers

• Makilala TV: a decade of Filipina voices on air and why representation still matters

Listen now to see how optimism + organizing can change a community.

If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. 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

Follow Rachelle Ocampo on Instagram to follow his journey: @rockyrach16

From church performances in the Philippines to headlining in New York City, Hillari Alison is living proof that faith, family, and fearless creativity can take you anywhere.

In this Future Ancestors Podcast episode, hosts Jason "Encite" and Kat Serrano sit down with the 20-year-old Filipino-Norwegian singer-songwriter who's redefining R&B and soul for a new generation. Hillari shares her inspiring journey from Negros Occidental to Oslo, her viral breakout with "Desperate Soul," and her award-winning rise, earning two Norwegian Grammys and international recognition from Billboard and Complex.

In this episode:

• Hillari on growing up Filipino-Norwegian and finding her sound between cultures

• How "Desperate Soul" changed everything at just 17

• Her journaling-to-songwriting process and the power of reflection

• The story behind her sophomore EP, New Beginnings, and the mantra "I'll bloom wherever I'm planted"

• Staying grounded through family, faith, and gratitude

• Her dream of becoming a household name was built on authenticity and soul

Hillari's message is simple: music for the soul. Her voice, wisdom, and vulnerability remind us that every chapter, no matter how uncertain, is a new beginning.

If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. 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

Follow Hillari Alison's journey on Instagram @hillarialison