Heartbeat Narratives

"For the next seven generations" · In this episode, photographer and visual storyteller Lee Gavin, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, shares how his work weaves together culture, grit and resilience. Based in Pendleton, Oregon, Lee uses photography to document Native life across Turtle Island (North American continent) capturing honest human moments grounded in everyday lived experience.

He and Molly reflect on Cayuse and Native Hawaiian connections to land and the ancestral values that shape both his creative practice and his worldview, offering insight into what it means to be Indigenous in the modern day. The conversation dives deep into human-oriented storytelling, the power of representation, and living in alignment with our purpose.

Lee and Molly first met through NPR’s Next Generation Radio Indigenous program in Albuquerque in 2024,. This conversation builds on their shared commitment to telling stories that reflect the many ways to be Native in the 21st century.

Follow Lee's work on Instagram: @miyoxet.arts

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Introducing Lee Gavin

01:31 — Growing up in Portland and life on the Umatilla Indian Reservation

02:42 — Our relationship with land

05:50 — Modern Indigenous identity

09:47 — Finding joy through photography

13:13 — Resisting stereotypes of Native life and identity

17:58 — Art, documentation, and showing community from the inside

22:15 — Holding stories

26:30 — Resilience, hardship, and staying grounded in daily life

29:53 — Following inspiration

35:21 — Purpose, risk, and showing up

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Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

LINE DANCING · Some of the best conversations happen when you least expect them. At 11 p.m. on a Saturday night in Hilo, Molly interviews Malachi, a 22-year-old born and raised on Big Island who recently found an unexpected new passion: line dancing.

Decked out in his palaka shirt and cowboy boots, Malachi shares how a TikTok dance and a friend’s invitation led him into a community he now looks forward to every week. His line dancing curiosity quickly became a favorite pastime.

Malachi talks about learning the dances and meeting new people,. He also shares why he chooses to stay positive through life’s ups and downs. Pull on your boots and enjoy this mini-sode! 

Episode Highlights

01:10 — born and raised big island

01:54 — good vibes

02:35 — tiktok dance = a new obsession

03:55 —  favorite songs

04:42 — from hula to hip-hop to line dancing

05:44 — cowboy boots, palaka shirts

06:04 — beginner line dancing tips: just jump in

07:07 — live, laugh, love ✌️

09:11 — be kind 

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Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

Join me for a short reflection on story collecting in the wild featuring unexpected narratives from my life lately :)

-Molly

Episode Highlights

00:29 — stand up comedy got me thinking

03:07 — spring chaos

04:01 — a night at the ... valet

06:04 — recruiting strangers for my podcast

07:10 — meeting auntie marilyn at long's

10:05 — a pit stop in kalihi

11:21 — old hawaiʻi

13:43 — life lately

14:03 — hungry, hungry hawaiian  

16:30 — cartastrophe 🛒

17:45 — waking up to the moment, paying kindness forward ✨

18:50 — upcoming heartbeat guests

Listen & Subscribe

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• Heartbeat Narratives Website

Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In today’s conversation, we invite you to meet Emily Reno, founder of Mezclada, whose journey through farming, travel, dance, and entrepreneurship has shaped a life rooted in curiosity and vibrancy. Now based in México, where she has reconnected with her ancestral roots, Emily shares how her experiences abroad and within agriculture inspired her to create Mezclada with the belief that farming should be “viable for everyone, not just those with access to wealth and privilege.”

Through her consulting work and her podcast, The Transcendent Farmer, Emily supports farmers, especially women, in accessing land, funding, and emotional resilience while navigating an often demanding industry. Her work brings together regenerative agriculture, behavioral psychology, spirituality, and systems thinking in a way that is both practical and personal.

At the center of Emily’s philosophy is the idea of the “transcendent farmer,” someone who approaches agriculture not just as a profession, but as a way of living in relationship with the land, intuition, and the greater community. 

Molly and Emily initially connected through their shared experience in the 2025 New Voices AMPLIFY program through AIR Media, a fellowship designed to help independent podcasters grow their shows and reach more listeners. Learn more at: https://airmedia.org/announcing-airs-2025-new-voices-amplify-fellows

Episode Highlights

02:05 — broadcasting from central méxico

Connect with Emily and Mezclada: 

Listen & Subscribe

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Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

KITCHEN CHEMISTRY · Today we’re joined by Rachel Fukumoto and Micah Kekoa Davis to share their unexpected - and adorable - love story that all started in the kitchen. The two met in culinary school on Oʻahu and quickly became best friends, never expecting their connection to turn romantic. Now married and living in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, Rachel works as a farmer grant writer while Micah is a sous chef. Together, they’re building a life of joy and presence, indulging inJapanese comfort food, pasta nights, and endless teasing. They reflect on the funny turns their relationship has taken, from late-night talks and awkward DMs to a rom-com-worthy reunion in New York City. They also share stories about living in a jungle yurt during the pandemic, navigating a millennial + Gen Z age gap, choosing not to have children, and learning how to communicate well. Their banter strikes the balance between playful and reflective, and centers on navigating life with your best friend. Enjoy! 

Heartbeat Updates

00:06 launching my substack! + heart circles subscribe here 🤎

01:03 Uncle Monroe / Sulubika positive health update

monroe's openkeys benefit concert details - june 6 @ international marketplace center stage from 12-2pm

Episode Highlights

02:29 welcome to the menu
03:30 food is their love language
05:14 aloha rachel & micah
07:45 a culinary school meet-cute
09:50 besties first
10:51 foodland to forever: the turning point
15:28 first date
17:53 "last hurrah"
21:09 getting back together 
23:11 long-distance: hi > nyc
23:37 the vegas plot twist
24:56 *the rom-com moment*
25:57 the rules of long distance
27:21 lāhainā fires bring micah home
29:22 yurt life on the big island
31:20 new york through her eyes
32:37 navigating a 7-year age gap
36:51 the things they love most
40:25 what's next?
42:06 soulmate à la carte + fav movies 

Listen & Subscribe

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• Heartbeat Narratives Website

Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

A CUP OF PEACE · In this episode of Heartbeat Narratives, a quiet walk through the streets of Kamakura, Japan leads to an unexpected conversation with Naoko Noguchi-san and her husband, Katsuyo-san, the couple behind and owners of, Idobata Coffee, a small coffee truck they began together after retirement as part of their “second life.” Naoko-san reflects on the joy of meeting people from around the world and the peace found in global connections. From across the Pacific, this episode celebrates aloha, kindness, and the quiet ways coffee can bring people together.

Idobata Coffee: http://www.idobata-kotsubo.net/

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
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• Heartbeat Narratives Website

Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

In this episode, we’re joined by “Otto” (name changed for privacy), a German-born, Hawaiʻi-based ocean lover who lives by a reduce, reuse, and recycle mindset - finding value in what others often overlook. We get into his life shaped by discipline, curiosity, and the occasional late-night dumpster dive. From free diving in the Pacific to "adventure diving" into dumpsters, Otto shows how resourcefulness and sustainability can be fun. He also opens up about his experience learning to manage obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and how seeking mental health support has become an important part of building a balanced routine. With roots in East German efficiency and respect for structure, he shares how budgeting and spotting loopholes help him create stability in an expensive place. This conversation is thoughtful, a little unexpected, and a reminder that value isn’t always where you think it is. Friends, grab your budget and get ready for this one!

Episode Highlights

00:53 — Germany to Hawaiʻi on a budget ✈️

02:21 — How he afforded staying after graduation

03:28 — What makes his wallet (and heart) beat 💸

04:40 — A money mindset that actually sticks

07:02 — East Germany lessons in saving everything

10:46 — Building an efficient, low-cost life

14:04 — Dumpster diving 🗑️

16:31 — The childhood cup hustle

22:26 — Grocery hacks that save real money in Hawaiʻi 🛒🥬🥒🍅

26:48 — Everyday life as a treasure hunt for value 💰

🌱 Sustainable Living Resources

♻️ Reuse, Share & Community Giving

Freecycle Network Give and receive items for free in your community to keep usable goods out of landfills.

🔗 https://freecycle.org

Buy Nothing Project Join a hyperlocal sharing network built on generosity—no buying or selling required.

🔗 https://buynothingproject.org

Little Free Library Access free books through neighborhood book-sharing boxes around the world.

🔗 https://littlefreelibrary.org

🍽️ Food Waste Reduction & Food Access

Too Good To Go Save perfectly good surplus food from local restaurants and stores at a discounted price.

🔗 https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us

Feeding America Find local food banks, access resources, and learn how to reduce food insecurity and waste.

🔗 https://feedingamerica.org

🌿 Urban Foraging & Sustainable Living

Falling Fruit Discover public fruit trees and edible plants near you with this global foraging map.

🔗 https://fallingfruit.org

Freegan Info Explore guides on dumpster diving, urban foraging, and low-waste living practices.

🔗 https://freegan.info/what-is-a-freegan/freegan-practices/urban-foraging/diving-and-the-law/

⚖️ Laws, Guidelines & Sustainability Education

FindLaw Search and learn about local laws related to property, trespassing, and waste collection.

🔗 https://findlaw.com

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Waste Basics) Learn the fundamentals of reducing, reusing, and recycling from official U.S. guidelines.

🔗 https://epa.gov

🤝 Sharing Economy & Sustainable Culture

Shareable Get inspired by stories, tools, and ideas centered on community-driven, sustainable living.

🔗 https://shareable.net

Episode Art:  Molly Mamaril

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Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

YOGA · What if the way you move on your mat could change how you meet the world? Today’s guest is Devi Sakti, a Honolulu-based yoga teacher (RYT 500) who was born and raised in the Bay Area. She honors her Indian heritage while staying rooted in ancestral wisdom and grounded in the modern world. She moves between the lineage of yoga and her lived experience as a millennial woman who works in tech and loves pop culture. Devi's teaching style blends Sanskrit, philosophy, playfulness, and real life in a way that feels both accessible and intentional. She teaches a strong, fiery Vinyasa practice shaped by movement, dance, and creative expression. This conversation offers a refreshing perspective on yoga that is expansive, relatable, and lived rather than performed. Mahalo for tuning in! 

Follow Devi's yoga journey here: https://www.devisaktiyoga.com/

Episode Highlights

01:27 Finding joy in teaching yoga ✨

03:14 Devi’s origin story on the mat 🌱

04:11 Culture, roots, and movement

06:28 From physical practice to deeper philosophy

08:01 Yoga in the West and the teacher’s responsibility 🌍

10:27 Honoring lineage while teaching in modern spaces

15:03 Joy as resistance 🔥

18:07 Lessons that follow you off the mat

19:45 Sanskrit, made simple 📖

20:32 Saying yoga words without fear

21:18 Language, loss, and what gets erased

21:41 Teaching Sanskrit with care and respect

22:45 What yoga really means

23:51 Practice as liberation

24:49 Living yoga beyond the studio

25:43 Anxiety, awareness, and reframing the mind

28:04 Finding the students who find you

30:17 What makes Devi’s heart beat

31:20 Pop culture, joy, and the little things

32:53 What’s next for Devi

35:52 Namaste 

Listen & Subscribe

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Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

WHIMSY · What if the cure for burnout was… bubbles? 🫧✨✨In this episode, Molly chats with David (aka Uncle Bubble), the human behind Honolulu’s dreamy nighttime bubble parties where strangers become a community and “dancing ugly” is highly encouraged. What started as a quirky pandemic experiment turned into a full-on movement of joy, play, and unexpected healing.

Alongside his bubble work, David is also pursuing his doctorate in occupational therapy, exploring how to help the body release tension and reconnect through movement, play, and presence - something that subtly weaves its way into every bubble-filled gathering.

They talk about following what lights you up, creating spaces where people can just be, and why a little absurdity might be exactly what we all need right now. Consider this your official invitation to let loose, chase some bubbles, and remember how to play.

Episode Highlights

00:53 meeting uncle bubble 🫧

02:04 how the bubble journey began

02:59 pandemic “joy drops”

05:42 what actually brings us joy

06:29 dancing ugly

07:54 bubbles meet bodywork

11:29 enter the joy portal 🌀

14:16 wild & wholesome bubble encounters

17:16 purpose, passion & ikigai

20:44 self-care pillars that keep us grounded

25:04 big dreams: the nonprofit vision

28:13 where to find david + upcoming events 📍

Check out Davidʻs bubble adventures at:

https://www.instagram.com/thatbubbleguyhawaii/

https://www.instagram.com/bubbaloha/

Listen & Subscribe

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• Heartbeat Narratives Website

Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.

"Love is all that matters" · This dynamic conversation with Chaplain Brianna Higa of Kailua, Hawaiʻi was the culmination of an unexpected meeting that unfolded into something beautiful. She shares what it looks like to sit with people in moments of fear, transition, and letting go, and how presence alone can be an offering. We learn about the role of a chaplain, how it differs from traditional roles in church settings, and the importance of meeting people where they are by honoring and respecting their individual belief systems - whether rooted in Buddhism, Christianity,  Islam or beyond. We explore the path that has led her to a life of purpose through interfaith care and hospice work, supporting individuals and families as they navigate grief, loss, and end-of-life transitions. From the quiet moments of honoring a person’s story to witnessing love at the end, Chaplain Brianna offers a grounded perspective on what it means to be present with another human being. We are reminded that, in the end, everything comes back to love.

Episode highlights

01:33 What chaplains really do

02:37 Interfaith care and presence

05:25 Finding chaplaincy through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

09:35 Hospice work and death talk

11:50 Self care in nature

13:07 Everyday chaplain moments

13:54 Navigating cultural differences with authenticity

18:18 Witnessing grief without fixing

21:25 Confession and forgiveness

23:03 Living differently and practical tips

24:38 Presence before disaster

25:40 Presence over hustle

26:57 End of life truths

28:49 Silence as ministry

31:04 Training a quiet mind

32:02 Retreats and emptying out

33:43 Faith practices worldwide

36:14 Becoming a chaplain

38:12 Interfaith respect required

42:05 Books for the journey

45:46 Hope and softening

47:02 Gratitude

Books mentioned by Chaplain Brianna Higa

Episode Photo Credit: Brianna Higa 

Listen & Subscribe

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• Heartbeat Narratives Website

Guest Inquiries
Interested in sharing what brings you joy? Complete our Guest Interest Form

Heartbeat Narratives Book Recommendations
Our curated reading list that inspires and connects: Heartbeat Narratives on Bookshop.org

Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.