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In this heartfelt conversation, Becca Samsson reflects on how her California upbringing shaped her lifelong connection to nature and her career in sustainability. Growing up in Southern California, she developed an intimate relationship with the Pacific Ocean and the natural landscape, and all her favorite childhood memories took place outdoors. As Becca shares, "All of my memories with my siblings and my family are in California nature," from making sand angels on Santa Barbara beaches to hiking in the foothills with her mother. This early connection was reinforced by her grandmother, who taught her to conserve water while shampooing her hair, and her twin sister, who pointed out exhaust residue on leaves when they were just ten years old. These formative experiences instilled in her a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility toward the natural world.

Now living in the Netherlands and raising her son, Roman, Becca has observed fascinating cultural differences in how people relate to nature and sustainability. While California's wild landscapes—from deserts to mountains to national parks—fostered her environmental awareness, the Netherlands presents a more controlled relationship with nature, shaped by centuries of water management and land reclamation. Becca intentionally creates opportunities for Roman to build his own intimate connection with nature, taking him to parks every Friday where he gently touches flowers and plays with rocks and dirt. She explains that "children that had more intimate memories with nature or more intimate experiences with nature as young children grew up with more sensitivity and environmental responsibility as they get older." The family's car-free lifestyle, relying entirely on bicycles even in the rain, ensures that Roman experiences the elements daily, which Becca believes builds character and maintains that essential connection to the natural world.

In her sustainability work, Becca has learned to bridge the gap between environmental values and business realities. While she wishes "saving the world was a good enough business case," she's found that positioning sustainability as a value proposition for companies is essential. Recently shifting her focus from carbon emissions to nature-based solutions, she's excited about this new direction because everyone has intimate memories of nature, unlike carbon, which remains abstract and inaccessible to most people. Drawing on her Jewish upbringing and the concept of Tikkun Olam—fixing the world—Becca believes that caring for the climate is fundamentally about recognizing that "this is our home and I want to take good care of it, not just for me, but also for everyone I know and also everyone that I don't know." Her advice is simple but profound: find small ways to connect with nature, whether that's stopping to observe a brilliant red autumn leaf for five seconds or walking in the rain without an umbrella, because "if we build a meaningful relationship with nature, we won't let it go to hell."

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In this touching episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh interviews HR veteran Michelle Nyrop to share how her small-town Minnesota background influenced her impressive global career. Growing up in a town with only 100 classmates, Michelle describes her personality as "Minnesota Nice"—not naive or conflict-averse, but driven by a natural eagerness to connect with others. Her parents, who rarely traveled, would take Michelle and her sister on Harley Davidson rides without a destination, often responding to "Where are we going?" with "We're going crazy." This carefree approach to exploration laid the foundation for Michelle's outlook. At 20, she flew to England for her first study abroad experience, and upon entering her dorm, she "flopped on the bed, cried for hours, and then sat up and thought, 'Huh. I can do just about anything.'" That moment of bravery empowered her to undertake future challenges, such as relocating her family to Hong Kong to work in HR within a different cultural environment.

Michelle's approach to wisdom and leadership focuses on observation, engagement, and learning from everyone she meets. She states, "Wisdom isn't about being smart and teaching and telling, it's about being open and listening and learning." Over her 30-year HR career, which has impacted 70,000 people, she made time each week to connect with individuals outside of immediate work needs, believing that "those are the seeds that sow wisdom if you're smart enough." She rejects the idea that her mentorship is purely selfless, asserting that engagement nourishes her soul: "What could you want more in life than to be part of that?" Her Minnesota Nice personality has been both a strength and a challenge, as some mistook her warmth for weakness. She learned to use it to her advantage, noting that "I can say complicated things to you because you trust me. Your guard's not up because I'm not coming at you without a relationship."

A pivotal insight in Michelle's career came from attending a speaker series where a female government leader who had worked with dictators was asked how she could work with such awful people. The leader's response—"What if I hadn't?"—transformed Michelle's thinking about altruism and impact. She realized that "altruism is the enemy of progress" and that walking away from difficult situations or people means they never improve. This led her to work with leaders who didn't align with her personal values, knowing, "I can't fix that person, but I can make it better every day." Her experience living in Hong Kong taught her another crucial lesson: "I am not personally the arbiter of right or wrong, good or bad, rude, not rude." She learned to expand her "box of tolerance," understanding that cultural differences require flexibility and that effectiveness demands moving beyond rigid altruistic ideals while maintaining core integrity.

Michelle's recent decision to step away from corporate life to travel with her mother to Ireland brought her journey full circle. Reflecting on the woman who once drove to the Minneapolis airport to see what it looked like before sending her daughter abroad, Michelle now creates experiences her farm-raised mother never imagined possible. Sitting together on the Cliffs of Moher with a rainbow appearing overhead, Michelle felt profound gratitude for "those quiet moments where you remind yourself, 'Gosh, I'm so grateful for this moment.'" She closed the conversation with wisdom from a Chinese proverb she learned in Asia: "A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch but in its own wings." 

For Michelle, this captures her entire philosophy—don't worry about jobs or circumstances that will inevitably change, but rather "focus on your flight. What's m

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 The Seesaw of Stride and Harmony -Alana Zamora 

In this deeply philosophical episode, marketing leader Alana Zamora explores the delicate balance between ambition and inner peace with host Taran Singh. Zamora, who describes herself as an "ambassador for compassion," shares how her professional journey in advertising evolved from print to digital to AI, always keeping her learning and adapting. Her approach to life centers on finding harmony amid chaos, which she beautifully articulates: "When I first think of harmony, I do think of the simultaneous combination of notes and music where there's highs and lows, but ultimately it's just this pleasing or agreeable sound." This musical metaphor extends to her philosophy of navigating complex workplace relationships and personal challenges by receiving negative energy as opportunities for education and growth.

Zamora challenges conventional thinking about failure, arguing that what we typically call "failure" is simply missing expectations rather than true defeat. "I don't even like the word failure... it really is just missing expectations—missing expectations, you missed a target," she explains, drawing from her athletic background to reframe setbacks as learning opportunities. Her perspective suggests that the absolute failure lies in not trying at all, rather than in falling short of goals. This mindset extends to her views on AI's impact on marketing careers, where she sees human connection and authentic energy as irreplaceable elements that technology cannot replicate, making professionals more valuable rather than obsolete.

The conversation reveals Zamora's deep connection to nature, particularly trees, which serve as her grounding force and meditation anchor. Her most peaceful memory involves lying beneath a tree in Hawaii during a high school volleyball trip—a moment she returns to whenever seeking inner calm. "You're suddenly so small, and you're suddenly looking at this tree going, 'What have you experienced? My goodness, what you've been through and you're still so peaceful,'" she reflects. Her closing wisdom emphasizes radical self-compassion as the foundation for harmony: "If you can start by having compassion for yourself and being very mindful that you are a vulnerable creature that has just as many insecurities as other people, you can reflect that and trust that every other human is going on with that." This approach, she suggests, allows people to navigate life's pivots and challenges with greater grace and authenticity.

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In the latest episode of "The Mountain in Us," host Taran Singh interviews Debbie Feit, a marketing expert and author who found an unexpected voice as a poet after experiencing a significant personal loss. Debbie recounts her childhood in a conservative Jewish household in Brooklyn, highlighting the cultural traditions, Hebrew prayers, and strict rules for keeping a kosher home that influenced her early years. She shares a touching story about her father’s considerate flexibility during a visit to McDonald's. This moment showed his respect for her choices and foreshadowed larger themes of faith and identity that would appear later in her life.

The conversation shifts as Debbie shares her story of her father’s sudden death, which became the catalyst for her foray into poetry. She recounts how he passed away in Jerusalem, a city he loved dearly, after a lifetime devoted to his faith and community. This grief ignited a wave of creative expression in a new poetic form. Debbie describes how this burst of poetry grew into her upcoming chapbook, *The Power of the Plastic Fork: A Daughter's Highly Unorthodox Kaddish*—a collection that reimagines the traditional Jewish mourning ritual through ten deeply personal poems, each representing one member of the minyan.

The episode concludes with Debbie reading her poem, "Ode to the potted plants…," which uses the vivid memory of purifying un-koshered utensils in houseplant soil to explore themes of cleansing, loss, and acceptance. Through this personal sharing, the conversation highlights how stories of grief and faith can resonate universally, crossing cultural and religious boundaries. Debbie’s journey—from strict tradition to unorthodox expression—serves as a potent reminder that even in our most individual struggles, we often find shared meaning and connection.

Personal website

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Pre-order "The Power of the Plastic Fork"

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Quotes from the episode that stayed with me:

“It felt like my head cracked open and all this poetry came pouring out.” — Debbie

“As a writer, I couldn’t have written a better ending for him myself.” — Debbie

“Not everything can be made new again, no matter how deep it is buried.” — from her poem

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The Cosmic Play of Clay, Collision, and Colors"  
Host: Taran Singh  
Guest: Kim Larkin – Experiential futurist, creative, and gardener based in Taos, New Mexico  

Key Themes & Takeaways:  

1. Taos & the High Desert  
   - Kim shares her journey to Taos, New Mexico, drawn by its rich cultural history, stunning landscapes, and deep connection to nature.  
   - She highlights the interplay of Indigenous (Taos Pueblo), Spanish colonial, and modern influences in the region.  
   - The solitude and slower pace of life in Taos encourage mindfulness and a deeper relationship with time and the earth.  

2. Gardening as Therapy & Connection  
   - Kim’s garden is a circular, adobe-surrounded space where she cultivates plants suited to the high desert climate.  
   - Gardening grounds her, offering lessons in patience, cycles of growth, and resilience—mirroring life’s challenges.  
   - She emphasizes the communal aspect of gardening, sharing harvests with neighbors and friends as an act of reciprocity.  

3. Time, Nature, and Human Constructs  
   - Gardening and desert living dissolve the illusion of "urgent time," replacing it with natural rhythms (seasons, moon cycles).  
   - Kim reflects on how futurism must honor history—collapsing past, present, and future to create meaningful visions.  

4. Art & Storytelling for Transformation  
   - Kim recommends The Future You by Brian David Johnson, a book that uses storytelling frameworks to reshape personal and collective futures.  
   - She shares her collage art as a tool to reframe personal narratives, turning guilt or shame into creative fuel.  

5. Wisdom for Listeners  
   - Slow down. Taos teaches detachment from false urgency and consumerism.  
   - Engage with the earth. Gardening fosters presence and humility.  
   - Rewrite your story. Creativity (like collage) can help reclaim agency over your journey.  

 Notable Quote:  
"Gardening reminds me that time doesn’t belong to us—we exist within it. The plants, the weeds, the seasons—they all have strategies. There’s so much to learn from just observing." —Kim Larkin.  

Closing Note: A meditation on growth, both in soil and soul, this episode invites listeners to cultivate their own "mountain within"—through nature, creativity, and honoring the layers of history beneath their feet.  

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Listen to the full episode for Kim’s stories about hot springs, desert rats, and the magic of seed-to-table greens! 🌿🎨

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Leslie Li, a global adventurer and expectant mother, joins host Taran Singh for an honest conversation about overcoming the fear of missing out in our hyper-connected world. Born into China's Zhuang minority and influenced by immigrant hustle culture, Leslie explains how her journey from Switzerland to Silicon Valley was filled with constant comparison and achievement anxiety. The episode examines how a career shift to tech and impending motherhood unexpectedly became catalysts for redefining success on her terms.  

The conversation becomes more emotional as Leslie shares practical strategies she has developed to fight FOMO, including setting digital boundaries and dance therapy. She explains her "Seasons Philosophy"—the bold idea that we aren't meant to do everything, but to choose what fits each chapter of life. Listeners will connect with her stories about apologizing to her unborn baby during stressful times and how a trip to Fiji showed the difference between material wealth and true richness.  

This episode isn't just about recognizing FOMO - it's about having the courage to miss out intentionally. Leslie's transformation from achievement addict to present-minded mother-to-be provides a strong roadmap for anyone feeling stuck in comparison cycles. Whether you're facing cultural expectations, career changes, or parenthood, her story shows that joy exists beyond the endless pursuit of more.  

Featured Quote:
"I used to think success was a checklist. Now I know it's a conversation between who I was, who I am, and who my child needs me to be.- Leslie Lee  

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In this heartfelt podcast episode, Nancy Ayala opens up about the profound loss of her brother, Jose, and her journey toward acceptance and healing. She reflects on their close bond, describing him as both a brother and a father figure who shaped her life with love, music, and unwavering support. Nancy shares how her initial struggle with grief—a feeling she once saw as "the nastiest in the world"—gradually transformed as she learned to reframe it as an enduring expression of love. Her story underscores the importance of allowing oneself to feel grief fully, rather than burying it, as the first step toward healing.  

Nancy emphasizes the role of community and small, intentional acts of self-care in her healing process. She credits her best friend, Ruth, for listening without judgment, and journaling for giving her a safe space to process emotions she couldn’t voice aloud. Over time, she found solace in honoring her brother’s memory, whether through playing his favorite music or cherishing family traditions. Her journey illustrates that healing isn’t about moving on, but about carrying love forward in new ways, like her deepened connection with her parents and her commitment to living more intentionally.  

The conversation closes with a universal takeaway: grief and healing are not linear, but both are rooted in acceptance. Nancy’s resilience shines as she urges others to speak their love openly ("always say ‘I love you’") and to embrace life’s fleeting moments. Her story is a testament to the idea that healing begins when we stop resisting pain and instead allow it to remind us of what—and who—matters most.

 Quotes from Nancy in the conversation:  

On grief and love:

"Grief is just a feeling that you have—it's the love that you have for the person that you lost."  

On healing:  

"The only way you’re going to be able to heal is if you let it out. Don’t hold anything inside."  

On family bonds:  

"I saw [my brother] like a second dad… We were basically his kids. He spoiled us, and we got closer as we got older."  

 On living fully after loss:  

"Life is so short. Instead of focusing on the sad moments, try to embrace the happy ones, for as much as you can."  

On gratitude:  

"When you lose someone, you learn to appreciate more of what you have now on this earth."  

Each quote captures Nancy’s resilience, love, and hard-earned wisdom. Let me know if you’d like others highlighted!

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Some stories don’t just get told—they burn their way into you. In this powerful episode, writer Elly Donado guides us through the streets of Queens that shaped her, sharing how she transformed childhood trauma into breathtaking art. From experiencing over 30 moves (often packing her life in trash bags instead of suitcases) to discovering writing as her lifeline, Elly reveals how our deepest wounds can become our most potent creative fuel. Her concept of the "boomerang of breath" will change how you think about resilience—every inhale carrying struggle, every exhale releasing transformation.

We didn’t have suitcases, but what I carried in my notebook? No one could take that." Elly’s journey as a first-generation Colombian-American is a story of resilience and transformation an epic scale. She breaks open the duality of her work: one raw, autobiographical novel asking "How did I survive?" and a whimsical mermaid fantasy answering "What if I’d thrived?" The conversation turns radiant as she describes Queens’ kaleidoscope of cultures—where "you could travel the world in ten blocks" and neighbors became family. Listeners will clutch their hearts when she shares how losing her childhood teddy bear taught her to "grieve in one hand and write with the other."

"You don’t just survive your story—you dance with it. And honey, I came to move!" The episode crescendos with Elly’s infectious joy, proving that healing isn’t linear—it’s a rhythm. She leaves us with this truth: "Your breath always comes back changed." Whether you’re a writer, a dreamer, or anyone who’s ever rebuilt themselves from scraps, Elly’s story will arm you with ink and hope. Available now wherever you get podcasts!  

Quotes 

• - "We inhale experiences, emotions, lessons—and then exhale our reactions, creations, or even traumas. Over time, those exhales change as we take in new breaths."
• - "Ink became my protector, my voice when I felt voiceless. Those pages held what I couldn't say out loud."
• - "We'd pack our lives into trash bags and go. But it taught me how to connect quickly—because I never knew how long I'd stay anywhere."
• - "No one was there to hug me, so I'll hug you. It doesn't feel selfless—it feels almost like a healing action."
• - "Everyone can be a writer. It's a muscle that can be trained. Five words, ten minutes a day. Start with pen and paper; screens distract."

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In this evocative episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh welcomes Emily—an open-water swimmer, Orcas Island resident, and mushroom cultivator—to explore what it means to find home in the wild embrace of the sea. Against a backdrop of the Salish Sea's shimmering waves, Emily describes the marine life that animates her world: "Otters trotting along the shore, porpoises gliding past, and orcas rising with their dorsal fins—it's a reminder that we share these waters with entire universes." Their conversation begins with geography but quickly dives deeper into the emotional currents that tie us to place.  

Emily's journey to open-water swimming began with childhood lessons but transformed during night swims in Lake Washington: "Floating on my back under the stars, I realized water wasn't just a place to move through—it was a space to be." She contrasts the buoyant freedom of saltwater with the primal fear of the unknown, recalling a harrowing moment when a riptide nearly swept her out to sea. "The ocean demands humility," she reflects. "My husband rescued me by kayak, but the lesson stuck: respect the water's power, and it will teach you yours."  

The episode's heart lies in Emily's revelation that home isn't a fixed location but a feeling she finds most acutely in the water. "I've lived many places, but only when submerged do I feel truly held," she says. Taran relates this to his connection with mountains, sparking a dialogue about how elemental bonds—to earth, water, sky—can anchor us. Emily laughs, describing her "dirt therapy" (gardening) and "water therapy" (swimming), noting: "We're made of these elements. When we return to them, we remember who we are."  

Closing with practical wisdom, Emily urges listeners to cultivate their relationship with water, however small: "Start by dipping your toes. Let the cold shock wake you up." Her parting words resonate long after the episode ends: "The ocean mirrors life—sometimes calm, sometimes raging, but always asking us to show up as we are." 

Quotes Highlighted:  

1. "We share these waters with entire universes."  

2. "Respect the water's power, and it will teach you yours."  

3. "When submerged, I feel truly held."  

4. "The ocean mirrors life—always asking us to show up as we are."  

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In this compelling episode, Taran Singh sits down with Jacqueline, filmmaker and writer, for a raw conversation about the transformative power of intuition. Jacqueline opens with a profound insight about her creative awakening: "At 13, I realized stories could do what conversations couldn't - they let people borrow courage through someone else's journey." She traces her path from film school to what appeared to be a dream job, where she ultimately discovered "the most dangerous lie we tell ourselves is 'I'll pursue my passion when the timing is right.'"

The episode's emotional core reveals Jacqueline's intuitive acknowledgment point: quitting her job and following her intuition. "My intuition wasn't just whispering anymore, it was screaming through panic attacks," she confesses. The aftermath proved revelatory: "The moment I finally listened, the universe started conspiring to help me." Within months, she landed scriptwriting gigs. She developed her signature "Three R's Method" for overcoming creative blocks, noting, "Fear and intuition feel similar at first - but intuition always leads you toward growth, not just comfort."

Jacqueline leaves listeners with galvanizing wisdom: "Your creative work isn't selfish - it's how the creation speaks through you." As she prepares to launch her YouTube channel @TheFearlessCreative, she reflects: "Now when I feel that familiar resistance, I know it's not a stop sign - it's a signpost saying 'The important stuff starts here.'" This episode isn't just about creativity - it's a masterclass in building the courage to honor your deepest callings.

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