Heartbeat Narratives

Your favorite babyface giant slayer is behind the mic today! Nate Dube is dynamic, forward-thinking conservationist and pro wrestler based in Hawaiʻi. He has blended his two passions into one scrappy, value-driven character in the ring: "The Naturalist" Natron Richards aka THE Natural I.S.T." Nate is a self proclaimed 'āina advocate and feral beast wrestling to spread environmental awareness and inspire action. In Lion King-esque fashion, he is known to enter the ring with a native Hawaiian plant raised above his head as a nod to his love for planet Earth. In his day-to-day job, he manages the Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) which protects Hawaiʻi's native forests from encroaching invasive species which threaten Hawaiʻiʻs food security, freshwater reserves and the aesthetic beauty of our islands. In his free time, he dons the black leotard, letʻs his hair loose and can be found among other athletes who have found a home in the bruiser lifestyle. Follow Nate at @thenatural_ist. Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

0:58 Introducing "The Naturalist" Natron Richards aka THE Natural I.S.T."

2:20 Always had dream of becoming a professional wrestler (and saving the planet)

3:50 Childhood memories with his grandfather and uncle watching WWF (World Wrestling Federation)

6:54 What does it feel like to be in the wrestling ring?

8:07 Professional wrestling in a vehicle for storytelling about conservation

10:27 Dedicated to conservation and invasive species management

11:28 Native Hawaiian land management

12:50 Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee

13:50 Hawaiʻi manages 4 of the 100 worst invasive species in the world

15:12 Mālama Maunalua

15:55 Conservation happens in the mountains, oceans and wetlands

16:20 What are the benefits of protecting our native forests?

18:40 The importance of native ʻōhiʻa trees for our water aquifers

20:18 How residents can protect native forests

21:57 Why do you care so much about the environment?

24:51 Wrestling can be a career path

25:56 The wrestling gimmick

27:18 "I'm meant to be doing this."

29:46 The greatest loss

32:38 Physical toll on the body

36:09 Come cheer on @thenatural_ist!

Show Art Photo Credit: @mattsuzakiphoto

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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.

This was a fun one. Bábàc Saiedi is our guest on today’s episode and his appreciation for Hawaiʻi’s culture, people and natural beauty resonates in his stories. When he moved from Oklahoma to Honolulu nearly ten years ago, he found a community of like-minded individuals where he could be his authentic self. He enjoys working in technology and spends most of his free time outdoors trying to eke out every sunrise and sunset. Early on, his friends introduced him to surfing and he fell in love with the adventures he’s had on his board - both awesome and wildly humbling. In this conversation, he shares the gratitude he has for surfing in that it creates a sense of “being in the now.” Hang loose, friends.

Episode Highlights

1:11 Falling in love with Hawaiʻi

2:10 Moving from Oklahoma, surfing his first wave

3:19 Finding community and feeling the freedom to be his authentic self

6:03 What connects you so deeply with Hawaiʻi? 

8:51 Observations and openness to learning about Hawaiian culture

11:33 Surfing brings you to the present moment

14:42 Memorable waves in Waikīkī

16:53 Taking waves - and life - at face value

18:08 THE WAVE (circa 2019)

23:53 North Shore ready

24:45 Staying fit and healthy as we age

26:17 The dream is living and retiring in Hawaiʻi

26:47 Hawaiʻi's cost of living: leave, earn and return

28:57 Share aloha, receive aloha

Show Art Photo Credit: @photosbybeccahawaii

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, we are thrilled that Elaine (Molly's mom), joins us to share about the ins and outs of her career as a librarian. Her story is an example of a passion becoming a vocation. She followed her love of books (and bookmobiles!) from Minnesota to Honolulu to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to earn an M.S. in Library Information Science. We get into all the details about her life as a reference librarian - aka Google before Google - and the quirky encounters that happen when working in a public library. Elaine shares the many hats that librarians wear (or are perceived to wear), especially when library patrons have urgent needs - from taxes to horoscopes, car repairs to medical research, she's done it all over her 40 years as a librarian. Hopefully this will inspire you to snuggle up with a great book and get lost in another world. Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

0:40 Elaine's book idea was the origin of "Heartbeat Narratives" podcast

1:41 The power of bookmobiles

2:38 Choosing to be a librarian from a young age

3:41 Summers in the library, picture books, daytime reading

5:14 Do you suggest ways to engage kids in reading more readily?

5:32  Molly "borrowing" books as a toddler

6:47 The big leap! Moving from Minnesota to Hawaii to enter a Library Information Science Master's program

9:59 Remembering 1979 at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa

11:12 Saying "yes" to opportunities

12:09 Blossoming in Hawaiʻi

12:50 Home

13:50 Inspiring the second librarian in the family

14:28 The Google before Google, the best bibliographies

15:50 What it was like being a public reference librarian

16:46 Librarians are frontline workers

19:44 What types of people are drawn to the librarian profession?

21:29  Questions about tax forms, car repairs, the list goes on...

22:45 Best and strangest interactions at the public library

25:50 Favorite reads and selecting books

29:00 E-books and e-readers are changing the literary landscape

30:41 Libraries are valuable community centers

32:28 How can patrons make your work as a librarian easier?

34:08 Get to know your librarian - they will help you with everything!

34:53 Career highlights

36:55 Was there a book that changed your life?

38:14 What does good storytelling look like to you?

39:38 Harry Potter: reading the right book at the right time

42:14 A career of variety

44:07 Passion as vocation, and it all started with a good book

Show Art Photo Credit: 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 today’s episode, we are traversing through Copenhagen with a new friend, Tim Jansen! Tim is a birdwatching enthusiast and has an incredible knack for sharing travel tips for the city of Copenhagen in Denmark. Originally from the Netherlands, Tim is a student and biking tour guide that Molly met in September 2024. He was so knowledgeable, kind and well-versed in the history and urban landscape of the city that she was inspired to ask him if he’d be willing to be a Heartbeat Narratives guest. Thank goodness he said “yes!” to an overzealous podcaster girl from Hawaiʻi. He shares about pursuing a Master’s degree in Forest and Nature Management, bird and agroforestry research in Uganda and his love of observing Dutch woodpeckers and nut hatches. 

Episode Highlights

1:25 Originally from the Netherlands studying Master's degree in Copenhagen

2:59 Love being in nature watching birds

3:33 What sparked your interest in birds?

4:53 Favorite bird and bird song

6:42 Are there must-see birds on your watch list?

8:13 Ugandan project studying birds and the agroforestry landscapes/systems that attract them

9:30 Results of research

11:11 Be on the lookout for mute swans, the national bird of Denmark

12:33 Are there birds in the Netherlands that you're most familiar with?

13:26 For visitors to Copenhagen what are the top three things you recommend doing?

1. Explore Kristiania

2. Add more days to explore other neighborhoods

3. See the City Center

Show Art Photo Credit: Tim Jansen

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.

Welcome to our first interview of Heartbeat Narratives! We welcome Taylor who shares her love with others through baking. Sourdough bread is her speciality and she even launched her own company called Sweet T's Test Kitchen. Taylor reflects on her time in Hawaiʻi as a student, details her "sourdough journey," and how she puts a vegan twist on all of her favorite Mexican dishes from her youth. As the cherry on top of the episode, we also hear about her full-time job working in animal welfare at the local humane society. Taylor's story is rooted in empathy and we know that her positivity and love for others will shine through this conversation.

Episode Highlights

1:16 California to Hawaiʻi and back 

2:11 Hawaiʻi still feels like home

3:58 Bringing joy to others through food

7:42 The origins of Sweet T's test kitchen

9:47 Childhood recipes with a vegan twist: tamales and pozole

10:55 The greatest compliment

12:05 Memorable encounters with customers

13:17 Inspiration from Nana and Grams: grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk shakes

14:49 The process: balancing baked good orders and working hybrid

17:33 Working full-time in animal welfare

21:01 Empathy and sharing love

Show Art Photo Credit: 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! Welcome to Heartbeat Narratives, a podcast about the people, places and passions that we love. Through storytelling, guests from Hawaiʻi and around the world explore what what brings them joy. Host and producer, Molly Mamaril, intends for this podcast to be an uplifting space for listeners to glimpse the inner lives of different people. Her hope is that we will recognize that everyone has a valuable story and that we can cultivating more meaningful relationships by leading with curiosity. Starting with you, what makes your heart beat?  

Episode Highlights

0:23 Welcome to Heartbeat Narratives!

3:37 Molly's backstory between Hawaiʻi and Minnesota

5:40 Studying journalism and environmental science + discovering the Hawaiian worldview grounded in oral history

7:25 Hula: storytelling through movement

9:51 The origins of Heartbeat Narratives: the stories of our neighbors

11:03 Highlighting everyone's experiences

12:13 Podcast love

13:21 Uncle Pono Shim and finding the lōkahi (unity)

14:53 Aloha

15:59 Being an observer to great storytelling

18:07 Deeper conversations and new friendships

19:00 Mahalo for listening

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.