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

In this special Future Ancestors episode, we're in Kay's dressing room for SIX the Musical as she's getting ready to play Catherine Howard. Sharing the heart, humor, and hustle behind the crown.

Kay opens up about the unusual timing of auditioning for The Voice and SIX in the same week, why Catherine Howard's story matters, and how she brings her Filipina identity to the stage, from a shimmering high pony to a hand-painted sampaguita eye look. We also celebrate a historic 2025 for Filipinos on Broadway (hello, Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss), trace the path paved by icons like Lea Salonga and Eva Noblezada, and talk comfort food (arroz caldo!), family roots in Manila and Tarlac, and using your voice, loudly and lovingly.

What you'll hear:

• Backstage prep with a Broadway queen

• The Voice vs. SIX and the confidence that changed everything

• Filipina representation, legacy, and speaking up

• Cooking, culture, and staying grounded on an eight-show week

Watch the dressing room tour on our Instagram @futureancestors.tv or on our YouTube @FutureAncestorsTV

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 KaySibil's journey here:

Instagram: @kaysibil

From mixtapes to motels, hip hop history to poetry slams, here's part two of Brian Acosta's story. Known online as the "Motel Guy," Brian sits down with hosts Kat Serrano and Jason "Encite" on the Future Ancestors Podcast to talk about his journey from rapping at 15 to meeting Jay-Z at his family's New Jersey motel, to navigating Hollywood, TikTok, and the poetry scene in New York City.

We Talk About:

• Growing up in a motel that became part of hip hop history

• His early rap persona "Eilis" and the influence of MTV culture

• Lessons in rejection, resilience, and finding peace in solitude

• Hosting at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café and building community through art

• Why he gives back freely without chasing brand deals or merch

• What it means to leave a blueprint as a future ancestor

Brian's story is raw, funny, and deeply human, a reminder that legacy isn't built by perfection, but by showing up with honesty, care, and love. Listen in and discover how Brian is his blueprint for the next generation.

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/#

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.