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A career can look perfect on paper and still feel cold the moment you walk into the room. That’s the feeling Wendy names when she talks about interning in high-budget advertising agencies, and it’s the spark that pushes our conversation into something deeper: how creativity becomes a mental health tool, not just a hobby.

Wendy grew up in Ho Chi Minh City during Vietnam’s post-war recovery, where the “war” wasn’t always spoken about, but it was present in the mood, the stories, and the ways people coped. From an entrepreneurial family that also loved sculpture, music, and writing, she learns early that art is a language for what’s hard to say. After moving to California, she builds community through theater and advocacy, then discovers expressive arts therapy and the power of integrating visual art, movement, music, drama, and creative writing to help people express what feels stuck.

We also get real about the work itself: active listening, slowing down, and showing up as an agent of hope in community mental health. Wendy shares what it’s like supporting refugees living with PTSD, working with youth at risk, and navigating systems that add time limits and paperwork to human healing. Along the way, we talk about self-care for helpers, why distraction is such a profitable trap, and how journaling and simple reflective practices can keep you anchored.

We close with Wendy’s community-facing projects, including a gallery show featuring youth artwork and her vision for sustainable community art events in San Diego. If you care about art therapy, expressive arts therapy, healing through art, abstract painting, and building real community, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a creative friend, and leave a review with the one idea you want to practice this week.

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Finding the Spirit in Art: A Conversation with Satsuki Shibuya

On this week’s episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh invited us on a journey that felt both intimate and expansive, as he sat down with Japanese-American multidisciplinary artist Satsuki Shibuya. What unfolded was a conversation about names, identities, and the quiet, powerful pathways of intuition and spiritual expression.

From the very start, Satsuki shared the story of her name—rooted in the Japanese month of May and echoed in a gentle flower she discovered as a child. That story was more than a memory; it was a meditation on identity. For years, Satsuki had felt the weight of her uncommon name in an American childhood, wishing for something simpler, like Jennifer or Sarah. Yet, as she grew into her spiritual self, that name became an anchor—her “marker” on Earth, a frequency that keeps her grounded in this life.

The conversation drifted seamlessly into her early love and struggle with music. Beginning piano at three, she often wrestled with the discipline and technicality of practice, yet she felt deeply connected to the act of creation itself. Her journey led her to a pivotal moment of transformation: a two-year illness that forced her into stillness. In that time, she questioned the meaning of her work, her purpose, and the pace of life. Emerging from that period, she shifted from chasing external validation to listening inwardly. Her art became less about output and more about alignment.

Satsuki’s evolution as an artist mirrors a spiritual awakening in motion. Her watercolor practice began as a meditative experiment and blossomed into a channel for emotional and energetic expression. Today, she weaves together painting, poetry, and even sound-like frequency notations, creating a dialogue between her inner and outer worlds. Her pieces often begin in the intangible—dreamscapes, sensations, or intuitive whispers—and emerge as visual meditations that invite viewers to feel rather than simply look.

Perhaps the most resonant part of their dialogue was Satsuki’s reflection on fulfillment. She reminds us that life’s purpose is not a singular answer waiting at the end of a linear path. Instead, it is found in small acts of alignment, in the daily choices that honor the soul’s quiet pull. The true joy is in the practice of becoming, over and over again—a cycle of ebb and flow, stepping away and returning with renewed passion.

As the episode closed, it felt less like the end of an interview and more like the soft landing of a meditative journey. Satsuki Shibuya’s story reminds us that whether through art, music, writing, or simply living with intention, our truest expressions begin by listening inward, trusting the unseen, and allowing our spirit to guide the brush.

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Join host Taran Singh as he sits down with illustrator, designer, and community anchor Erin Ellis to explore the beautiful intersection of art, nature, and personal growth. In this episode, Erin opens up about her "zigzag" journey across different landscapes, tracing her path from her childhood roots in New Jersey to her current coastal home in Monterey. Together, they discuss how her environment directly fuels her creative process and shapes her perspective as an artist.

Erin shares the fascinating transitions that defined her early career and personal search for independence. She reflects on her college years in Baltimore and a formative seven-year chapter in San Francisco, where she fell in love with coastal living. She also candidly recounts a brief, eye-opening experiment with rural farm life in Pennsylvania, an experience that taught her she ultimately thrives best when surrounded by vibrant culture and active communities. 

Driven by a strong intuition and a desire for connection, Erin's journey eventually took her across the globe to New Zealand on a working holiday visa. This episode captures the essence of an artist constantly tuning in to her surroundings, learning which environments make her soul thrive, and bringing those lessons back into her design work. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about intuition, the call of the sea, and finding your true creative community. 

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A painting can start as a crystal-clear vision and still arrive somewhere totally unexpected. That gap between what we imagine and what we can actually translate onto canvas is where Renata Cuellar lives and works, and it’s why this conversation feels so honest for anyone trying to build a creative life.

We sit down with Renata, a Colombian-American professional artist and soulful curator, to trace the path from childhood sketches to formal training at a Long Island painting school where she learned to truly see color, structure, and light. We also talk about the reality behind the “artist” label: the immigrant-family pressure to choose a safer route, the detour into psychology and cognitive science, and the pivotal moment when she admits she doesn’t feel right unless she’s making art.

From there we get practical about making art a career. Renata breaks down what an art commission really is, how she approaches client communication, and why the hustle is not optional if you want consistent work. She shares how spirituality and prayer show up in her process, how she learns when to stop working a piece, and how running and time in nature help her solve visual problems, find new color inspiration, and recover through injuries while staying creative.

If you care about art education, mixed media, commissions, creative entrepreneurship, or finding your unique style in the age of AI, you’ll leave with language you can use and habits you can try. Subscribe for more conversations, share this with an artist friend, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re putting into practice.

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Grief can be quiet, delayed, and strangely practical. It can look like showing up to school, going to parties, keeping the jokes going, and only realizing later that you've been carrying something heavy for years. We talk with Filipino-American poet, educator, and community activist Tryshna Malonzo about what it means to reclaim your life when loss has rearranged your inner world, and how writing can become a place where every part of you gets to speak.

We start with the origin of her name, inspired by the mantra "Hare Krishna," then move into childhood memories of her grandfather's steady care and the rituals that made home feel safe. Tryshna opens up about Alzheimer's, visiting a care home, seeing her lola slowly escape, and the moment the final phone call makes everything real. From there, she reflects on a college era shaped by substances, performance, and shame, and the slow pivot toward honesty, self-respect, and self-care.

The heart of this conversation is practice: journaling for healing; yoga and mindfulness for reconnecting with the body; spirituality and nature as anchors; and community as a source of accountability. Tryshna also shares how she chooses poems for open mics by returning to her journals, letting the present moment guide what she reads, and trusting that sharing story is part of liberation. 

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What line or idea from Tryshna's story are you taking into your space?

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Your life can look successful on paper and still feel like you’re running at full speed with no sense of wholeness. We talk with Katherine Leviste, a California-born creative powerhouse with roots in ophthalmology research and a mind tuned to creativity, community, and human systems. She shares how she learned to separate herself into neat boxes- the “professional” version, the caretaker, the creative- and how that fragmentation eventually started to hurt more than it helped.

We use one unforgettable thread to make it real: hamster wheels. Katherine asks whether we truly choose our wheels or inherit them from family expectations, culture, and career pipelines. Then she tells the wild and oddly profound story of building a hamster rescue as a kid, complete with a business model, rehab plan, and a wall of cages. It becomes a lens on leadership, agency, and the kind of courage that starts long before you have credentials or certainty.

From there, we go into the hard stuff: identity collapse, burnout, and the moment you realize the healthcare system can break the people trying to heal others. Katherine unpacks why medical education still feels dogmatic in an era of exploding information, and why she’s choosing to step outside the sandbox to build tools that can plug back in. We also talk nervous system regulation, music as therapy, “The Body Keeps the Score,” dopamine audits, social media detox, and how to turn down outside noise so you can finally hear yourself.

If you’re rethinking success, rebuilding after a tough season, or trying to integrate your ambition with your humanity, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend on a hamster wheel, and leave a review with the part that hit you hardest.

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A city can look familiar and still be disappearing in real time. We sit down with Claire Evans, a Fresno-based photographer who shoots film and builds living archives of the Central Valley by stepping into backyards, kitchens, skate parks, and neighborhoods that don’t always get the investment or attention they deserve.

We talk about Fresno as an agriculture-centered place with deep cultural diversity, and how urban sprawl can quietly push older communities to the margins. Claire reflects on why documenting what already exists matters, from stories tied to historic areas like Japantown to everyday scenes that become priceless once they’re gone. She also shares the personal side of documentary photography: how walking first pulled her toward a camera, why asking for a portrait never stops being scary, and how trust changes when you photograph people you actually know.

You’ll hear unforgettable moments from her work, including photographing her friend Kiwi in traditional Hmong clothing while she plays guitar, plus a visit to a Punjabi family farm where animals, memorabilia, and hospitality shaped the story. We also get into film photography workflow, why patience is part of the art, and why Claire feels most responsible documenting her own “turf” in the Central Valley.

If you care about community storytelling, local history, and photography as advocacy, this conversation will leave you seeing your hometown differently. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find these Fresno and Central Valley stories.

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The Mountain in Us is a heartfelt podcast about the paths that shape us, the passions that carry us, and the quiet moments that help us find our purpose. Hosted by Taran Singh, each episode invites listeners into honest, soul-stirring conversations with artists, makers, and creatives whose stories reveal the beauty of growth, vulnerability, and becoming.

In this episode, Taran speaks with Lauma, a deeply expressive artist from Latvia whose life is rooted in nature, craftsmanship, and creative truth. She shares memories of childhood summers, the stillness of forests, the tenderness of family, and the way the natural world continues to guide her art and spirit. From discovering her creative path later in life to learning through ceramics, travel, and transformation, Lauma opens her heart about what it means to create with feeling, trust uncertainty, and embrace the unfolding of life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, doubtful, or too perfectionist to begin, her pottery lessons land hard: clay teaches beginner’s mind, failure, and letting go of control when the kiln decides the outcome. Listen, share this with a creative friend, and leave a review. What part of your life is asking you to create with less control and more courage?

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In this episode of Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh sits down with Kiara and her lovable companion, Mochi, for a warm and candid conversation about life, identity, and the companions who help shape our journeys. Kiara opens up about her Puerto Rican roots, her connection to home, and the deeper meaning woven through music, culture, and everyday experience.

The conversation also dives into the story of Mochi — how he came into the picture amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, how he adjusted to city life, and how his playful personality, big energy, and endless affection brought a new rhythm and joy to Taran’s world. From snowy adventures to sock-stealing mischief, Mochi steals the spotlight in the most charming way possible.

Along the way, the episode explores what pets teach us about patience, presence, resilience, and unconditional love. Equal parts funny, heartfelt, and reflective, this is a conversation about companionship in all its forms and the little moments that make life feel fuller.

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In this special episode, guest interviewer Diana flips the script, interviewing host Taran Singh to learn more about the person behind The Mountain in Us podcast and the poetry book Time and Knots. Growing up in the Himalayan mountains shaped how Taran sees the world, and he explains why he named his podcast after them: "The mountain is a place where we go through ups and downs. There is obscurity of vision, there is the thrill of life. There are so many emotions that one can tie up to a mountain that is so relevant to our lives." For his podcast, Taran looks for everyday people willing to share their real stories—the messy parts included—not just the highlight reel of their successes.

Taran opens up about how he writes poetry, sharing that his best ideas come from spending time in his garden and talking with different people. He reads a beautiful poem, "Lotus Lungs," from his upcoming book, Lotus Hue, which is coming out in spring 2026. When Diana asks about creative blocks, Taran keeps it real: "I don't force myself to write that much. If something comes to me, I would probably scribble it on a note. Things will come out when they need to come out." He also admits that early in his writing journey, he worried a lot about whether his work was good enough, but he's learned to be more patient with himself.

The conversation wraps up with Taran sharing what matters most to him—helping people slow down and reconnect with themselves in our noisy, fast-paced world. He wants readers to feel less affected by all the chaos around them by getting more in tune with who they really are. His advice? Focus on getting to know yourself better: "We are the secret ingredient to our own recipe. We can't change the world, but we can change our own frequency of tuning." Whether through his poetry or his podcast, Taran's message is simple: take a breath, look inward, and remember that everyone's journey is unique.

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