On today’s episode, I sit down with Misty Marquam, powerhouse fundraiser, auctioneer, and founder of Marquam Agency—the nation’s only fundraising auction agency led by and for minorities. As we unpack her remarkable journey, we talk about what happens when possibility shifts: Misty never imagined auctioneering (or fundraising) was even an option, let alone something she could build as a woman of color and a single mom.

We dive into the barriers that nonprofits face when fundraising—the reluctance to ask for money, the urge for humility, and the stigma around not being self-sufficient. Misty shares how she’s healing her own “money wound,” reframing scarcity into abundance, and aligning values between organizations and their donors to make the fundraising ask feel not just possible, but joyful.

We also laugh about wild moments from live events (elementary school auctions = parents unleashed!), and talk honestly about the historical baggage tied to auctioneering itself. Misty’s work is about reclamation—turning a once-exclusive practice into a tool for collective thriving and representation.

So, if your organization or community is experiencing funding cuts and feeling stuck in scarcity, this conversation is your invitation to clarity. Misty’s approach shows us that fundraising can be easy and fun—when it’s rooted in values, authenticity, and alignment.

I invite you to listen and reflect: What resonates for you? Where could possibility—maybe even abundance—show up in your work when you’re clear on your goals and invite others in?

About Misty Marquam:

Misty Marquam, founder + Principal Auctioneer at Marquam Agency, is a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm. Specializing in fundraising events, data-driven revenue strategy and equity, Misty works tirelessly as organizations’ mission ambassador. She has but one goal for her partners: bring the fun while showing them the money! As a woman of color, Misty proudly advances diversity within the auction industry where less than 16% of auctioneers are women and fewer than 5% are people of color or minorities. 

Marquam Agency is the first and only fundraising auction agency in the NATION comprised of minorities with emphasis on serving the underrepresented. Innovating FUNdraising since 2006, this native Oregonian, foodie and mother of two is a World Wide College of Auctioneering grad, a Benefit Auction Specialist (only 1% of auctioneers worldwide hold this designation) and a member of the National Auction Association. When not exceeding goals, Misty adores music, dancing, singing, bonfires, nature and general merrymaking. We believe you'll not have a better time supporting your favorite cause with anyone else!

Where to find Misty:
Website: http://www.MarquamAgency.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marquamagency/

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
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• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Malia Wright, an incredible trauma-informed embodiment expert, to talk about riding the waves of uncertainty, transition, and collective change. These days, it can feel like everything is chaotic: there’s burnout, heaviness, and a pressure to do all the things for our communities and the world. But what if that slow, steady ember inside us is actually enough?

We get honest about the overwhelm that comes when you’re trying to make a difference and witness so much harm around you. Malia beautifully reframes the idea of capacity as something deeply personal, cyclical, and nuanced. She shares her wisdom on asking for help, tuning into our bodies, and recognizing that sometimes the most powerful action is just checking in on a neighbor or baking brownies for someone who needs connection.

We also talk about how clarity in times of chaos often starts with getting “hyper-local”—connecting to those directly around us and remembering our shared humanity. This episode is an invitation to let go of perfection and comparison and to trust the gradual fire within. Whether you’re the “quick burn” activist or the “200-year torchbearer,” your way of showing up matters in the tapestry of collective liberation.

I hope our conversation leaves you feeling a little more grounded, a bit clearer, and reminded that it’s okay not to do it all. Sometimes, sustaining yourself and your ember is the most radical act.

About Our Guest:

Malia Wright is Trauma Informed People & Culture Embodiment Expert, specializing in Embodied Movement, Collective Trauma Healing, Somatic Human Design, and Ayurveda. Through consulting, coaching, and workshops, I combine curiosity and mindfulness to support personal and collective healing. Named by colleagues, “The Queen of Nuance,” She helps organizations and individuals create inclusive, adaptive environments that foster authentic connection, resilience, and well-being.

Resources to check out: 

PHENOMENA, an eco-somatic retreat in Pahoa Hawai'i, March 4-10, 2026 for changemakers, creatives and visionaries at the edge of transition.https://www.ebbwithus.com/phenomena-retreat

Where to find Malia:

Website: http://www.maliawright.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maliawrightmerer/
Instagram: @maliaewright

Connecting with Patti: 

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

In today’s episode, I get to sit down with Heidi Quenga, a cultural leader, advocate, and the driving force behind Kutturan CHamoru Foundation (KCF), the oldest Chamorro dance house outside the Mariana Islands. We talk about what it means to sustain a grassroots, tuition-free community for 33 years and counting, and how that journey is so much more than just keeping the doors open.

Heidi shares her story of growing up away from her ancestral home and how that longing for belonging led her to become a bridge for generations hungry for culture and connection. We laugh about bringing great-grandmothers and great-grandkids together in class, and get real about what keeps us showing up even in times of contraction, when resources are tight and energy is low.

We also dive into another side of leadership: ancestor guidance and why every gathering, whether it’s preparing for a dance festival, organizing a fundraiser, or just making fried rice, is an offering.

This conversation is an invitation to remember that healing, culture, and clarity don’t happen in isolation. They bloom when we welcome each other fully, grow through generations, and honor the wisdom that lives in our roots and rituals. I hope KCF's journey brings you hope and clarity, whether you’re starting, leading, or just longing to belong. Pause and ask: What’s possible for me, right now?

About Our Guest:

Heidi Chargualaf-Quenga is a highly respected cultural leader and advocate dedicated to preserving Chamorro and Pacific Islander heritage. She has serves as the tenured Executive Director of the Kutturan CHamoru Foundation (KCF), a tuition-free 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Long Beach, California, since 1993, advancing Chamorro culture through music, dance, language, and peer mentoring rooted in the Mariånå Islands. She is the first Pacific Islander to receive a California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence and holds the title of Fafa’någue (Certified CHamoru Cultural Instructor). Heidi also serves as Vice President of the Pacific Islander Health Partnership and Steering Committee Member for the SoCal Pacific Islander Community Response Team.

Kutturan CHamoru Foundation is the oldest Guma' (CHamoru Dance house) outside the Mariana Islands and the oldest in the Continental US.

Where to find KCF, Kutturan CHamoru Foundation:

Website: https://kutturanchamoru.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kutturanchamorufoundation/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KutturanChamoruFoundation/

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter :https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode, I sit down with Isa Sasi of SoCal PICRT for a heartfelt conversation about healing, leadership, and what it really looks like to build community from the inside out. Together, we dig into the journey of stepping from volunteer work into paid activism, and all the growth and vulnerability that comes with finally getting to serve your people and make a living doing it.

Isa shares her own full-circle story, from being a young college volunteer mentored by her executive director, to now taking space in advocacy and policy conversations that once felt intimidating. We reflect on what’s possible when someone sees your potential before you do, and how mentorship across generations both pushes and protects us. We get honest about burnout, the pressure to multitask, and how hard it is to balance caregiving at home with showing up for community.

Healing, for us, isn’t the marker of fixing what’s broken. It’s the ongoing shift in how we relate, rest, and grow together. I ask Isa about those moments of interpersonal healing and the ways SoCal PICRT centers wellness, from weekly one-on-one check-ins to a brand new committee focused on self-care and collective joy.

About Our Guest:

The Southern California Pacific Islander Response Team (SoCal PICRT) is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting Pacific Islander communities across Southern California. SoCal PICRT focuses on culturally responsive outreach, health access, advocacy, and community engagement to ensure that NHPI voices are heard and needs are met. Their coalition is spread throughout Southern California covering Central Valley all the way down to San Diego. Through collaboration, education, and direct support, we strengthen community resilience and foster a space where Pacific Islander identities and experiences are celebrated.

Isa Sasi is an Advocacy Coordinator with SoCal PICRT. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Sign up for Fresh Wave 5k: https://www.socalpicrt.org/events-1/fresh-wave-5k-fundraiser-1

Where to find SoCal PICRT:

Website: https://www.socalpicrt.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socalpicrt/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLL35ln1B0jjn-08D9BijlA

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On this episode, I step into an incredibly moving conversation with the remarkable men of the FOU Movement, a brotherhood that is living proof that change is possible, no matter how long your journey has been or where it began.

We talk story about the power of transformation, from lives shaped by gangs, violence, and incarceration, to new paths of faith, purpose, sobriety, and service. Valentino, Vika, Nelson, and Salilo get real about how they turned their pain and past harm into daily hope for themselves and their communities. They share what it means to lean on each other, honor their Pacific Islander roots, and create spaces where healing and leadership ripple out, changing families, neighborhoods, and sometimes even generations.

Together, we dig into what actually makes sustained change possible. How do you heal from old wounds? What does reclaiming your life—even after nearly thirty years behind bars—actually look like in practice and spirit? And what keeps this work going, especially when doubt, struggle, or the weight of the past comes knocking?

From “hopeless dope fiends to dopeless hope fiends” and, in Valentino’s words, now “hope dealers,” these men show us that the clarity we seek isn’t about erasing the past, but letting it shape us into someone new.

If you’ve ever wondered if real change is possible, tune in and take heart. And if you’re looking for a daily word of hope, reach out—there just might be a devotional for you, too.

About Our Guests:

The Fa'atasica O Usos (FOU) Movement stands as living proof that change is possible. We’re a brotherhood of men transformed from lives of gangs, violence, and incarceration to lives of faith, purpose, and unity. Our mission is to bring hope to those still in darkness and show that true freedom begins with Christ.

Through their recidivism program, The FOU Movement advocates with faith to help reintegrate each former prisoner into the community. Their youth outreach program provides services for vulnerable children and youth that addresses their well-being, security, care, and educational needs. And their recovery program provides men and women with a safe, clean sober living environment that allows residents the opportunity to develop life skills along with the resources and tools they'll need on their new journey toward sobriety.

Where to find F.O.U. Movement:

Website: https://www.foumovement.org
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/faatasigao.usos?mibextid=LQQJ4d
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefoumovement7133
Instagram: https://instagram.com/foumovement?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
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Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode, we get to the heart of healing, resilience, and the radical warmth needed to build community that lasts. I sit down with Phyllis Ngauamo and ‘Ainise Isama’u, the powerhouse duo behind MĀFANA—a space where Tongan culture, ancestral wisdom, and advocacy come together to create real-world impact across generations.

We talk about what it’s like to find yourself doing work your younger self never imagined: preserving traditions, teaching language classes, hosting rituals, and turning deep losses into renewed purpose. Phyllis and ‘Ainise open up about their journeys as daughters of pastors, navigating the strong tides of grief, and the extraordinary blueprints their mothers handed down. These models that remind us care and hospitality are both cultural values and powerful leadership tools.

We explore what it means to stay rooted to community when healing feels messy and nonlinear. MĀFANA, which literally means “warmth,” is a living, evolving invitation: how can we remember and reclaim what’s been handed down, even as we grieve, adapt, and dream new dreams into existence?

If you’ve ever felt alone in your own transitions, or wondered how healing might move through you and outward into your people, this conversation is for you. I invite you to listen for what resonates, and consider: who are you carrying with you as you lead? What might it look like to give yourself radical grace as you move forward?

Tune in to hear how turning pain into purpose, and remembrance into action, can light the path not just for ourselves, but for whole communities.

About Our Guests:

Ainise K. Isamau is the Executive Director of MĀFANA, where strategy meets soul. She leads with vision, builds bridges across communities, and champions the voices of Pacific Islanders from the local to national stage. With a heart for advocacy and a knack for turning big dreams into real-world impact, Ainise blends faith, leadership, and aloha spirit to keep MĀFANA moving forward — one inspired conversation at a time.

Phyllis Ngauamo is a single mother, a caregiver, program director of MĀFANA, where strategy meets soul. 

Where to find MĀFANA:
Website: https://www.mafana.org/

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with my longtime friend, Noilyn Mendoza.

We dive into what it really looks like to listen to your spirit when the work you’ve poured yourself into starts to become unsustainable. What's it like when burnout, duty, and big moments (like the 2016 election) force you to ask: are you living in alignment, or just going through the motions? Noylin shares so openly about her own decade-long journey of unlearning, the ways motherhood cracked her heart wide open, and what it means to root possibility in ancestral resilience, even when headlines make hope feel scarce.

There’s wisdom here about the hard moments: feeling lost, the heaviness of grief, and reckoning with identity and purpose when the systems around us falter. But there’s also lightness: laughter, reconnecting with community and culture, and discovering that sometimes healing is as simple (and revolutionary) as stepping outside, touching the earth, letting yourself rest, and being witnessed by people who care.

Noylin reminds us that transformation doesn’t always look like striving; sometimes it’s about slowing down, honoring our dignity, and remembering that building a better future means tending to ourselves and each other, right here and now.

About Noilyn Mendoza:

Noilyn Mendoza is a certified life and leadership coach, a savvy business and organizational strategist, and a Professional Pranic Healer. But her real title? She calls herself a "Soul Purpose Coach." Noilyn specializes in supporting changemakers who've lost their way and want to reignite their dreams. She's your bold dream navigator and champion, helping you shift from fear to action so you can start living the life you're truly meant to live. Her journey has taken her through 18 years in the public sector, advocating for immigrant healthcare access in NYC. 

Noilyn knows firsthand how easy it is to put others' needs first and forget about your own dreams. She now guides individuals at a pivotal moment in their lives to imagine again and rediscover their purpose. She's also the host of "Unlock Your Inner Creator," where she dives into enlightening conversations with brave pathfinders who dare to explore fresh ways of living, being, and doing. When she's not empowering people to step into their greatness, Noilyn engages in epic dance-offs with her kids, tends to her burgeoning green thumb, and continues her quest to fill her passport with stamps. She and her family live in sunny Southern California.

Where to find Noilyn:
Website: https://www.theradiantu.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theradiantu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theradiantu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlockYourInnerCreator
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noilyn

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode [spoiler alert], I imagine what it would be like if Michael the Architect from “The Good Place” walked into a coaching session—clipboards, bow tie, and all. If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll appreciate the twist: Michael starts out as a demon running a torture-based neighborhood but, through a winding journey (and plenty of resets), finds himself wanting to change and lead with care.

This arc is hilarious but also deeply human and, honestly, familiar to so many of us. I see it happen with leaders who entered their work ready to make things better, only to get lost in old patterns of control and perfectionism. Maybe you, too, have found yourself swinging between over-managing and apologizing, longing to lead with purpose but feeling stuck and a bit confused.

I break down five challenges Michael (and real-life leaders) face: moral awakening and identity crisis, leadership confusion, guilt and over-functioning, control and fear of uncertainty, and longing for meaning. Along the way, I share coaching strategies for navigating these transitions—slowing down, building trust, letting go of what you can’t control, and finding real healing.

This episode is an invitation: If you’ve ever felt like you’re living through a cosmic plot twist, wrestling with guilt, or redefining what leadership means for you, you’re not alone. You’re allowed to change and to begin again. 

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode of What We Made Possible, I had the privilege of sitting down with Sheila “Shy” Burmistrova, founder and CEO of Narra Collective, the only 100% women and Filipino-owned coworking space in the greater NYC area and Jersey City area. If you’ve ever wondered what it could feel like to belong in a space built around genuine care, community, and Filipino hospitality, this conversation will feel like a warm invitation home.

Shy opens up about the deeply personal journey that led her to create Narra, weaving together experiences of motherhood, immigration, and countless rejections (104 to be exact!) before finally launching her business. We dive into what it means to build something out of need—from feeling isolated as a new mom in a new country, to intentionally crafting a space for BIPOC founders and creatives seeking connection and support.

I loved hearing about how Shy’s approach centers learning by doing, embracing “spaghetti on the wall” experimentation, and listening deeply for what her community truly needs. Whether you’re a woman of color, a parent, or simply someone navigating big transitions, Shy’s story reminds us that “everything is possible”—especially when we move with courage, build meaningful support, and refuse to let setbacks define our path.

This episode is a heartfelt reflection on resilience, clarity, and the incredible transformations that come when we create environments of real belonging. If you’re searching for hope or clarity in your own leadership journey, I invite you to listen in—and remember: sometimes the space we’re searching for is the one we’re called to build ourselves.

About Sheila “Shy” Burmistrova:

Sheila “Shy” Burmistrova is the Founder and CEO of Narra Collective—the only 100% woman- and Filipino-owned coworking space in the greater NYC area. With a background in early-stage startups, operations, and commercial real estate, Shy brings a rare blend of vision and execution to her work—reimagining what workspaces can feel like when built around people, not just productivity.

Centered on community, inclusivity, and Filipino hospitality, Narra exists for creatives, founders, and families often left out of traditional workspaces—and is now home to 80+ members and hundreds of community guests.

Resources mentioned:
Narra Collective’s 1 year anniversary celebration: https://www.joinnarra.com/event/narra-collective-anniversary-luncheon-and-networking

Where to find Shy:
Narra Collective Website: https://www.joinnarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narra.collective/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558925484668

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast

On today’s episode, I’m trying something a little different: I dig into what happens when the places and missions we care about most end up breaking our hearts. Inspired by Sarah Wynn Williams’ memoir Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, I walk through the personal cost of working inside institutions that say they want to “change the world,” but whose actions betray their people and values.

Sarah’s journey as a global policy leader at Facebook/Meta is raw and relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to do good within a complicated, sometimes harmful system. She came in with so much belief and hope for making change, only to find her ideals slowly chipped away. From being overlooked as a woman and mother to confronting the real-world impact of neglected policies, Sarah’s story is painfully familiar to so many of us working in nonprofits, philanthropy, or social change jobs.

In this conversation, I imagine how I might coach someone like Sarah through three of the hardest challenges: identity disruption, moral injury, and finding your voice again after institutional betrayal. I explore the question: Who am I now, and how do I reconnect to possibility after disappointment?

If you’re wrestling with burnout, guilt, grief, or just feeling stuck in a place that no longer aligns with your values, I hope you’ll hear hope here. We don’t bypass the pain, but we do make room for clarity and self-compassion. You're allowed to change, to rest, and to begin again.

• Website: https://www.malayasolutions.com
• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
• Book a consult for team coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/team-coaching-consult
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/

Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/podcast