Heartbeat Narratives

Aloha friends - today on Heartbeat Narratives, we’re sitting cross-legged on the floor in Kaimukī, Honolulu, with the windows open and the trade winds carrying stories. Our guest, Angelina Elido, is a traveler in every sense of the word. This past year, you could find her dog sledding across icy Minnesota landscapes, building earthships in New Mexico and ideating a wellness retreat in Turkey. We talk about what it means to come home to Kalihi, Oʻahu, and how to dissolve old patterns and reframe our thoughts. By prioritizing her interests, Angelina shares how she is chasing her joy by proactively cultivating communities of connection. The conversation is about finding our own rootedness and how to follow your dreams NOW. Enjoy this larger than life interview with Angelina - the girl who is everything, everywhere, all at once. 

👉 Follow Angelina’s journey on
📸 Instagram: @angelinaelido
🎥 YouTube: Angelina Elido

01:21 — Home in Kalihi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
02:37 — Minnesota to New Mexico adventuring: homesteading, acting, earthships
03:53 — Building a regenerative community through earthships
08:31 — “Dog sledding was epic”
12:03 — Unplugging from technology, campfire connections
14:31 — Travel business ventures
17:03 — “Life is short” — follow your dreams
20:06 — Life hacks and the power of reframing
24:41 — CONNECTION is everything
26:18 — Next big project: “It requires a village to make a village”
29:43 — Creating a new reciprocal economic model for community
32:56 — Book recommendations
35:23 — Building an empathetic world, starting from within

Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home — Toko-pa Turner

The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self — Martha Beck

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times — Pema Chödrön

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy — Jenny Odell

The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man — Christopher Bird & Peter Tompkins

Photo Credit: Angelina Elido

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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 SERVICE OF THE SEA · On this episode, longtime Mālama Maunalua volunteer and science educator Ralph Dykes joins from Maunalua, Oʻahu where he has spent over 15 years helping restore the native marine ecosystem. A consistent presence who kayaks every day, Ralph reflects on what it means to care for a place over time and why that kind of steady, local effort matters. He shares stories from his life shaped by service, including growing up after Pearl Harbor, serving in the Navy, and teaching science for decades before dedicating his retirement to mālama ʻāina (caring for the land). This conversation, recorded from the shoreline of Paikō Beach, is a grounded look at quiet leadership and what being in service of the sea means for Hawaiʻi. 

Episode Highlights

01:05 – Meet Ralph Dykes - science educator and Mālama Maunalua volunteer

03:01 – Life before the classroom... and what came after

03:41 – From Navy ships to Honolulu shores

05:35 – Teaching science, coaching students, and lessons that stuck

09:52 – Restoring an ecosystem, one kayak trip at a time

13:34 – Volunteering: why community matters more than ever

17:05 – What keeps Ralph inspired after all these years

18:23 – Advice for the next generation

To learn more about Mālama Maunalua or volunteer, please visit: https://malamamaunalua.org/

Photo Credit: Alex Awo

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
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• Youtube
• 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.

ROOTS, REGGAE & RHYTHM. Dr. Sunaina Keonaona Kale, an ethnomusicologist and member of the Hawaiian diaspora, explores the connections between reggae music and her growing interest in her Hawaiian identity. The conversation traces how reggae found a home in Hawaiʻi and how its rhythms echo the islands’ own expansive sense of community and belonging. Sunaina shares her own path of reconnecting to her genealogy through fieldwork, family stories, and unintended (but helpful) “me-search.” The discussion dives into questions of identity, ancestry in Polynesia, India and Europe, and the evolving meanings of being Hawaiian in the modern world. This episode is an unfiltered exploration of how music can shape who we are and where we call home.

Sunaina was recently featured in a University of California article about how reggae came to Hawaiʻi, exploring the evolution of the islands’ unique reggae sound and its deep cultural roots.

She also appears in the documentary In Hawaiian Hands – Part 1, which highlights local voices and stories of connection to place and culture. Part 2 of the film was released recently.

Favorite Songs

Island Music / Island Reggae / Jawaiian
Brother Noland – “Coconut Girl”
Bruddah Waltah – “Hawaiian Lands”
Nā Wai Ho‘olu‘u o Ke Ānuenue – “Girlie Girlie”
Kapena – “Masese”
Fiji – “Come on Over”
Sean Na‘auao – “Fish and Poi”
Three Plus – “Honey Baby”
Natural Vibrations – “One on One”
Anuhea – “Simple Love Song”
J Boog – “Let’s Do It Again”
Irie Love ft. Fiji – “It Is Wut It Is”
Common Kings – “Wade In Your Water”
Sons of Yeshua – “We Are Mauna Kea”
Paula Fuga (with Jack Johnson) – “Country Road / Give Voice”
Maoli – “Whiskey Doesn’t Work”
The Vitals – “Kali Ana Au” (a Hawaiian-language cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain”)
Iam Tongi – “Cool Down”

Underground Roots
Butch Helemano – “Joshua”
Maacho – “Somebody Moved Me”
Ooklah the Moc – “Hell Fire”
Humble Soul – “Frequency”
Ruff Neck Posse – “Down Inna Babylon”

Episode Highlights

00:00 – 🎙️ Meet Dr. Sunaina Kale

01:10 – 🌊 Finding Home Across the Pacific

01:47 – 🎶 Nerding Out on Identity & Sound

05:15 – 🌺 Reggae With Aloha

08:03 – 🎧 How Reggae Took Root

11:14 – 💃 Favorite Jams & Behind-the-Scenes Stories

22:41 – 🌱 Roots in Hawaiʻi, India and Europe, Belonging and Spirituality

36:52 – 🤎 Reflections

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
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• Youtube
• 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.

Sham, a passionate skateboarder and coach, shares about his love of skateboarding and how it became a lifelong source of joy and confidence. From his first drop-in as a teenager to teaching kids as young as three at Skatebruh in Singapore, he talks about finding flow, pushing past fear, and embracing every fall as part of the ride. Now at 40, Sham continues to chase that same thrill that first sparked his love for the sport. Enjoy! 

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Substack
• Youtube
• 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 a remote corner of Norway’s Hardangerfjord, Knut shares stories shaped by stone, silence, and saltwater. We talk about fly-catching (for fun!), reindeer stew, and what it means to create without rushing. His world is one of quiet craftsmanship, reflection, and strong ties to the land and family. From building a simple pier to teaching loved ones how to sail, Knut’s life is woven into the rhythms of nature. This episode explores the slow intelligence of living close to the earth and the clarity that can come from doing less. It is a conversation about presence, connection, and the kind of peace that grows over time. Tusen takk (a thousand thanks) for listening! 

Episode Highlights / Episodens høydepunkter

00:37 — Introduksjon av Knut / Introduction of Knut

00:56 — Family dinner, reindeer stew, and fly catching skills / Familiemiddag, reinsdyrgryte og fluefanging

01:42 — Connection with nature / Forbindelse med naturen

04:17 — Togetherness / Samhold

05:57 — Living in harmony with the fjord / Å leve i harmoni med fjorden

07:31 — Building, creativity, and resourcefulness / Bygging, kreativitet og oppfinnsomhet

09:42 — Fruit farming in Hardangerfjord / Fruktproduksjon i Hardangerfjord

12:00 — Fishing and the art of self-sufficiency / Fiske og kunsten å være selvforsynt

12:53 — Daily life and quiet contemplation / Hverdagsliv og rolig ettertanke

14:40 — Inner peace / Indre fred

18:11 — Gratitude / Takknemlighet

20:18 — Closing thoughts / Avsluttende tanker

Photo credits: Knut, Molly Mamaril

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 this heart-to-heart conversation, Paulette Erato, host of La Vida Más Chévere de Childfree Latinas, shares her journey of rewriting life’s narratives. Based in Los Angeles and rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage, Paulette brings humor and relatable insights to the theme of joy. She opens up about taking a non-traditional path, practicing radical self-kindness, and embracing the quiet strength of soft power. Together, we unpack what it means to let go of societal “shoulds” and redefine success on our own terms. Through her stories, Paulette reminds us that it’s never too late to pivot - and that following our dreams is always a path worth taking.

Mahalo for tuning in!

⏱ Episode Highlights:

01:07 – Paulette’s Origin Story: From Life to the Mic

01:49 – La Vida Más Chévere

07:01 – Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs

08:35 – Radical Self-Kindness

13:51 – Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

29:50 – TED Talk Dreams & Latinas in Podcasting

🔗 Connect with Paulette Erato
🌐 Website: pauletteerato.com
🎙️ Podcast: La Vida Más Chévere de Childfree Latinas – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

📸 Photo Credit: Paulette Erato
🎨 Episode Art: Molly Mamaril

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Substack
• Youtube
• 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 of Heartbeat Narratives, we talk story with Hiʻilei, a carpenter from Lāhainā, Maui who shares how following your intuition can lead to a fulfilling career. From her early days on the basketball court to navigating a male-dominated industry, she shares how grit and discipline shaped her path in the construction industry. Hiʻilei reflects on the heartbreaking Maui wildfires of August 2023 and how she found her calling to rebuild homes across Lāhainā. She opens up about walking in her purpose, trusting in Ke Akua and managing self care while off the job. With the dream to have Lāhainā ʻohana return home, Hiʻilei's sincerity invites us into her day-to-day life and what 'rebuilding' means in all senses of the word. Mahalo nui for listening. 

Episode Highlights
00:00 Welina mai Hiʻilei 

01:43 Lāhainā 

02:13 Becoming a carpenter 

04:40 Basketball laid the foundation for hard work, grit, resilience

06:47 Maui wildfires in August 2023

08:13 Changing the narrative for herself 

09:52 Walking in purpose: rebuilding homes for Lāhainā ʻohana

12:58 Giving aloha no matter what -  loving on others is key 

13:55 Dreams for the future of Lāhainā - getting families home

15:24 Focusing and self care

17:35 What makes your heart beat? 

18:38 Advice for those interested in carpentry and construction 

20:32 Working in a male dominated industry, balancing the inner feminine and masculine

21:57 Build merit: how to hold your own on job sites

25:15 Tools and tricks 101

26:53 On the horizon 

Photo credit: Hiʻilei

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
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• Youtube
• 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 mini travel episode of Heartbeat Narratives, Molly meets Leah Robb on a sunny morning by the river in Copenhagen, Denmark at Islands Brygge. Leah shares how swimming, from high dives to icy winter baths, has become a profound way to move through grief. What started as a tribute to a loved one’s suggestion of "winter bathing," has grown into a ritual of healing and helps her embrace difficult emotions. As an artist, Leah has also transformed her experiences with loss and a friend’s addiction into art exhibitions that spark conversations and inspire young people. Together, Leah and Molly reflect on resilience, mindset and transforming pain into purpose.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – A Sunny River Meet-Up in Copenhagen, Denmark

00:38 – Diving into Joy

01:39 – The Spark of Winter Bathing

04:05 – From Grief to Gallery

06:53 – Words to Live By

Explore Leah’s work: Art Website | YouTube: Leah Robb the Arm-Wrestling Artist

Book: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times 

Photo Credits: Leah Robb and Molly Mamaril 

Episode Art: Molly Mamaril

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Substack
• Youtube
• 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.

At Singapore’s National Botanic Garden, Molly sits down with Paul for a lively conversation about his love for his country. Paul, a fourth-generation Singaporean and tour guide, reflects on the nation’s independence in 1965 and its transformation into a vibrant global city in just 60 years. He shares what brings him joy - from family and friends to the colorful cultures, foods, and traditions that shape day-to-day life. Paul also jokes about Singapore’s nickname as the “red dot” (a tiny speck on the map beside Malaysia and Indonesia) and how residents can help it shine as a united community. This mini-sode offers is a glimpse into Singapore through the eyes of someone who proudly calls it home.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Strolling into Singapore

00:47 Fourth-Generation Roots

01:32 From Kampong Days to Global City

02:22 What Brings Paul Joy

03:22 A Colorful Mix of Cultures

04:49 The “Red Dot” That Shines

Episode Art: Molly Mamaril

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Substack
• Youtube
• 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.

Aloha friends, this episode gave me the opportunity to reflect on my travels this summer and what it means to cultivate empathy across borders. From witnessing an American naturalization ceremony, to watching an international diving competition in Singapore, to experiencing Norway’s election this September, my thoughts have been spinning about what it means to be a global citizen. How do we treat others with grace and empathy as we each pursue our higher callings - and allow space for others to do the same? Iʻm carrying gratitude for how the past few months have led me to these new layers of understanding people and places; and Iʻm open to the spontaneous "downloads" that come next. There was so much to reflect on that I couldn’t call this one a mini episode! Mahalo for listening and learning alongside me.

🌍 Episode Highlights:

00:28 – Singapore: Reflections from the Lion City

04:50 – Thorn: We are what we eat

05:11 – Bud: Diving in

08:56 – Rose: Global citizenship + becoming a US Citizen (naturalization ceremony, immigration process)

14:58 – Election Day in The Land of the Midnight Sun

16:28 – Norway's King Harald V and his viral speech on equality

20:27 – Future episodes & ways to engage with Heartbeat

Listen & Subscribe

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Substack
• Youtube
• 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.