DO YOUR BEST · This week, Heartbeat Narratives turns 1! To mark the milestone, we welcome the most requested guest, Amund Gismervik, a steady presence who has quietly shaped the podcast behind the scenes. Note: he is the guitarist behind the podcast's intro and outro music! A lifelong athlete with a deep passion for springboard and platform diving, Amund has transformed his love for the sport into coaching. Born and raised in Norway, he followed his zest for diving to Hawaiʻi on a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scholarship and later represented Norway in the 10-meter platform at the 2012 London Olympics. In this conversation, Amund shares what makes his heart beat - from adrenaline and meticulous training to travel, and life beyond competition. This episode is a reflection on courage and doing your best, offering an example of what can unfold when you fully show up for what you love. Episode highlights 00:00 Heartbeat turns 1! 02:07 Amund’s journey from Norway to Hawaiʻi 07:29 Discovering a lifelong love for diving 10:37 Lessons learned through international competition 17:41 Olympic dreams and a defining moment 23:22 Training, coaching, and growth 30:26 Life beyond diving 🎥 Videos Instagram Reel — Amund at 2025 Singapore Masters ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNerOk0R9F6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link (Instagram reel showing Amund’s performance at the event — can be embedded where supported) Vimeo — Amund Gismervik Interview / Feature ➡️ https://vimeo.com/160323413?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci (Video titled Amund Gismervik om valget som overrasket alle — a personal piece/interview) Vimeo

EVERY WORD COUNTS · In this episode, playwright Sean Dunnington shares stories that travel as freely as he does from Hawaiʻi Island to New York, Singapore, and beyond. He reflects on growing up in the misty hills of Waimea, finding refuge in theater, and learning how art can belong anywhere including libraries, community circles, and far off stages. The conversation drifts through queerness, power, memory, and the magic of theatricality when life is mirrored onstage. Sean explores how his writing has evolved from personal survival to creative world building, and how playwriting can be a communal, living practice. This fun, flowing conversation is a reflection of the radical intimacy of telling stories out loud. Episode Highlights 02:12 Opening SceneGrowing up in Waimea and peering into the world of theater. 05:06 Finding the StageDiscovering playwriting as refuge and an invitation to imagine new worlds. 09:37 Moments of IllusionFormative theater experiences and the performances that transformed spectatorship into devotion. 12:40 Behind the ScriptThe writing process, deadlines, and the challenges of making meaning on the page. 20:26 Ensemble BuildingThe creation of Tree Moss Collective and reimagining what playwriting in Hawaiʻi can be. 24:49 The Circle WidensPlaywriting as communal process, storytelling as listening, and theater as a place of healing. 33:19 Final CurtainWhere to find Sean’s work and what comes next beyond the stage. To explore more of Sean work and writing, visit https://www.seandunnington.com/ and learn about Tree Moss Collective at https://www.treemosshawaii.com/

Health Content Advisory: This conversation centers on pregnancy and birth, including personal experiences. Please listen with care – mahalo. In this life-affirming episode, we sit down with PuaOEleili Pinto - mother of two, cultural health provider, and keeper of lomilomi, lāʻau lapaʻau, and Hawaiian childbirth traditions. Raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, with ancestral roots across Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, Pua honors her lineage through both research and lived practice via Ēwe ʻOiaʻiʻo, the company she founded to teach Hawaiian healing and birth. She shares how Hawaiian history, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, sound, and land restoration shaped her journey and guided the reclamation of ʻŌiwi birthing practices. Reflecting on her own birth experiences, Pua explores rebuilding trust in body wisdom, blending Hawaiian and Western healing methods, and restoring birth as a family-centered journey. The conversation also touches on food sovereignty, highlighting traditional Hawaiian food and the distinction between food and medicine, and the critical role of restoring Hawaiian forests as the foundation of well-being for all life. This episode is a reminder that indigenous practices are living, vital, and essential for healing families and communities today. Episode Highlights 00:52 – Exploring Hawaiian birth practices 01:30 – Connecting to home: Kailua 05:32 – Navigating joy and challenges in Hawaiian healing 07:21 – In her ancestors' footsteps - re-membering birth practices 10:09 – Traditional Hawaiian medicine 14:27 – Connecting past and present in birthing practices 24:16 – Creating safe birthing spaces 26:57 – Discovering pregnancy and early challenges 29:05 – Helping others overcome birth trauma 30:29 – Empowering couples in birth 32:29 – The role of ancestral practices in birth 37:22 – The importance of Hawaiian diet in pregnancy 38:38 – Advocating for Hawaiian food and food sovereignty 42:35 – Restoring the Native Hawaiian forest 46:00 – Future hopes --- 🌺 Pregnancy & Birthing Resources PuaOEleili’s Online Birth Course 👉 https://ewe-oiaio.mykajabi.com/ Cookbooks & Resource Library 👉 https://ewe-oiaio.mykajabi.com/resource-library Must We Wait in Despair 👉 https://uhawaii-manoa.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=01UHAWAII_MANOA:MANOA&docid=alma9919353764605682&context=L ʻO ʻOe nō Paha Ia e ka Lau o ke Aloha An Essay by Kīhei de Silva 👉 http://www.hikaalani.website/uploads/3/4/9/7/34977599/o_oe_no_paha_ia_for_hweb.pdf Nohopapa – Hawaiian Cultural Heritage Stewardship Services 👉 https://www.nohopapa.com/projects Motherwit – Postpartum Food Delivery 👉 https://motherwit.co/ Kauluakalana 👉 https://www.kauluakalana.org/ Native Books Hawaiʻi – Grow Hawaiʻi Book: 👉 https://www.nativebookshawaii.org/products/go-native Hawaiʻi Forest Institute – Go Native: Growing a Native Hawaiian Urban Forest: 👉 https://hawaiiforestinstitute.org/our-projects/go-native-growing-a-native-hawaiian-urban-forest/ Awaiaulu Kīpapa – Hawaiʻi History Educator Resources 👉 https://awaiaulu.org/kipapa/ 📚 PuaOEleili's Academic Research Pua kanikawī kanikawā: The Intimacy of Hawaiian Childbirth 👉 https://philpapers.org/rec/PINPKK Native Hawaiian Complementary Feeding Practices as Told by Grandparents 👉 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8242222/ --- Episode Photo: PuaOEleili Pinto and Kicking Bird Photography

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING · Meet Harry Baden, a wildland firefighter based in Montana who followed an unexpected path from Minnesota to Hawaiʻi and into a life of fire service. In this episode of Heartbeat Narratives, he shares the fun, camaraderie, and standout moments that come from working long days on the fire line with friends who quickly become family. Harry talks about how discipline, training, and his athletic background influenced the way he approaches both the physical grind and the mental focus the job demands. He talks about the balance between intense, high stakes work and the joy found in teamwork, laughter, and shared purpose. At its core this episode is about adventure, friendship, and finding meaning through service. Mahalo for listening! Episode Highlights 01:01 From Minnesota to Hawaiʻi 01:39 College days, diving boards, and big energy 02:24 How Harry traded campus life for the fire line 03:40 Training days, chainsaws, and learning the craft 06:06 Life inside the flames and what it really feels like 10:07 Crew chemistry, trust, and lifelong friendships 12:57 Fueling the body for long days and longer hikes 16:38 Stories from the frontlines 24:14 Thinking about fire life?

COURAGE TO COMMERCE · In this mini episode, we meet Reshma in the bustling marketplace at Katong Square in Singapore, where commerce and community come alive. She shares how losing her job at 50 sparked the courage to turn her lifelong love of fashion and handmade goods into a vibrant, affordable boutique. Reshma’s journey is a joyful reminder that reinvention is part of life and taking the courageous jump into entrepreneurship can lead to meaningful new beginnings.

SPEARFISHING · In this episode, Cindy Kan shares her perspective as a waterwoman, spearfisher, and lifelong ocean lover. She reflects on how the Pacific has taught her balance and presence, shaping the way she moves through life both in and out of the water. Her story follows a path from Vancouver, Canada to the reefs of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi where learning to source her own food strengthened the kinship she feels with the islands. Cindy shares about turning points that led her to the practices that now ground her, including free diving and sustainable harvesting. Through her eyes, the ocean is both a teacher and an ice box, especially for a waterwoman who is always learning and loves a fresh seafood meal. Ocean enthusiasts and foodies, this one is for you! Episode Highlights 01:44 Her heart belongs to Hawaiʻi 04:05 Discovering a deep love for the ocean 07:08 Memorable spearfishing adventures 16:13 Finding her place in a male-dominated sport 22:18 Connecting with the fish 22:57 Sustainable spearfishing 23:43 Honoring the ocean 29:05 Chefs, community, and invasive species 30:35 Favorite book: “Hawaiʻi’s Reef Fish: Food, Science, and Tradition” 33:37 The infamous fish picture (on the apps) 35:38 The perfect spearfishing day 40:20 Gratitude found in the ocean Resources Book: "Hawaiʻi’s Reef Fish: Food, Science, and Tradition" https://www.nameahawaii.com/products/hawai%CA%BBis-reef-fish-food-science-and-tradition https://www.nativebookshawaii.org/products/hawai%CA%BBis-reef-fish-food-science-and-tradition

As Heartbeat gets close to turning one, I’ve been thinking about how much joy this whole pod-life journey has brought me. And with my birthday this month, it felt like the perfect time to share a fun bit of serendipity - I discovered a video time capsule from when I was sixteen. I popped in a few audio clips at the end so you can get a quick peek into my teen years (midwest accent and all). Aloha nui -MNM Episode Highlights 00:00 — Aloha future me 02:09 — Roses, thorns & throwbacks 04:49 — Joy, but make it early-2000s 07:21 — Time 08:20 — The cassette tape that time-traveled 15:00 — 20 years later 17:27 — Sweet sixteen - meet mini me (circa 2005)

A serendipitous encounter in Kīhei opens the door to the enchanting world of Maui musician Don Lax, whose hurdy-gurdy and violin shimmer with their own personalities. Don shares the spellbinding history of these instruments and brings them to life with music that feels as if it drifted in from another era. As he and Molly talk story on the sidewalk of a grocery store, Don reflects on his globe-trotting childhood and the Christmas violin that set his musical path in motion. He also shares his rare gift for hearing and playing the song of a person’s soul, turning frequencies into melody - even offering a spontaneous musical interpretation of Molly’s heart. Don can often be found playing outside the Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods most Sunday nights from 6 PM to 8 PM. Enjoy the whimsy and wonder of this conversation! Learn more: Don V. Lax Website: https://www.mauiviolin.com/ Soul Song Readings: https://www.mauiviolin.com/soul-song-readings Don V. Lax YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@donvlax Episode Highlights 00:00 A chance encounter in Kīhei, Maui 00:47 Discovering the heart of the hurdy-gurdy 03:23 Violin magic 06:02 The beginning of a musical path 08:35 Playing the song of the soul 09:31 Music across Maui 10:44 The ocean’s healing presence 11:59  Follow your joy - why else be alive? Photo credit: Don Lax Episode Art: Molly Mamaril

Pop, pop, POP! It’s SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! 🍿 At Lani’s Island Snack Shack in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, Cassi of Kravin' Munchies brings pure joy to every conversation about handmade treats and the laughter-filled energy of the shop. Cassi dives into the beginnings of those flavored popcorn experiments and the mouthwatering power of Lani's beloved teri burger (with mustard!) that customers can’t stop ordering. Be sure to support your favorite small businesses today! Enjoy this mini-sweet treat episode.🍬 Follow along: 🍧 Kravin' Munchies — https://www.instagram.com/kravinmunchies/?hl=en 🍔 Lani’s Island Snack Shack — https://www.instagram.com/lanisislandsnackshack/?hl=en Photo Credit: Kravin' Munchies

Content Advisory: This episode contains sensitive themes, including discussion of suicide and suicide awareness. Please listen with care. Mahalo. In this season of gratitude, I’m excited to share an episode recorded with a close college friend of mine, Coco, an artist in every sense of the word. During a reunion at our alma mater in St. Paul, Minnesota, we revisit our college years and the beautiful, ever-evolving creative path they’ve carved through dance, theater, and - of course - the influence of Beyoncé(!). Coco opens up about their journey of self-discovery and healing through art, including a pivotal memory of organizing a Suicide Awareness Show in honor of a close friend. Our conversation explores the power of performance, how confidence can be a choice, and what it means to find a sense of home within the arts community as a queer Black person. Along with plenty of giggling, you’ll hear about our dramatic 19-year-old selves, our carefully curated Cowboy Carter concert outfits, and how Coco’s long-held creative ambitions are taking shape. Mahalo for listening with love. Episode Highlights 00:47 College memories take center stage 01:18 From Sierra Leone to St. Paul 02:43 We had the walkie talkies 04:24 When creativity calls 04:47 A performance from the heart 06:31 Art as medicine 14:14 Reunion magic 17:51 Friendship forever 18:34 Titanic Dreams, because main character energy 19:48 Beyoncé love 20:38 Enter the Beyhive 25:58 Find home in the Twin Cities dance community 31:13 Confidence as a choice 33:32 Final bow Instagram & TikTok: @unapologetically_coco YouTube: youtube.com/@unapologeticallycoco Photo Credit: Coco Episode Art: Molly Mamaril

ZEST & ZIPLINING· Molly and Dina Hammersland meet atop Mount Ulriken in Bergen, Norway, where Dina works as a zip line guide overlooking her ancestral homeland. It is the most beautiful "view from the office" you could imagine. She shares how growing up on a multigenerational family farm surrounded by sea, mountains, and animals shaped her love of nature and adventure. She talks about the rush of adrenaline that fuels her, from parachuting in Australia to cold water dips and the joy of helping nervous visitors leap into freedom on the zip line. The conversation weaves in sustainable tourism, language, and Dina’s lifelong love Japan. It is clear that she moves through her world with curiosity and enthusiasm, bringing that forward in everyone she meets. Episode Highlights 00:30 Dina’s love for the mountain 01:16 The thrill of zip lining 01:55 Ancestry in Bergen 03:57 There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing ("Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær") 07:22 Visiting Norway with a leave-no-trace mindset 08:49 Adrenaline in everyday moments 13:06 Obsessed with Japan 15:45 Joy Is Better Shared (but solo moments matter too!)

5 DAYS OF SILENCE · After ten years of dreaming about doing a meditation retreat, I finally found the courage to do it last month. In this solo episode, I share what it was like to spend five days in silence at a mountain retreat center in California. I had written it down as a New Year’s resolution because I LOVE exploring personal development strategies, but following through on this goal was SO HUMBLING. When I recorded this episode, I had just gotten back into the "real world," so I (very slowly) talk about the funny moments, spiritual downloads and realizations that floated in to my mind when there were no distractions. I hope that this reflection can serve as a touchpoint for how silence can reset our minds and hearts if we give ourselves enough time to slow down. Mahalo :) Episode Highlights 00:20 – POD NEWS! New website, listener survey, guest interest form! Plus, rate & review us - mahalo! 01:45 – Doing 5-day silent meditation retreat 06:42 – Daily breadth: a day in the life of a yogi, cultivating a meditation practice 13:14 – The vow of noble silence, meals, the four most important words, laughing 26:59 – Reemergence: From silence to society 31:40 – Closing bells

In this episode, we share space and song with Kukui, a musician, law student, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi advocate whose life flows with aloha and mele (song, poetry, chant). This conversation is a testament to her love of music and how to her, mele is moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy). After seven years away, she returns home to Oʻahu with kuleana to teach and nurture others through oli (chant), cultural protocol, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Kukui was raised in a family of musicians and has always been surrounded by music. From Afrobeats to '70s throwbacks to classic Hawaiian melodies, she hopes to create more spaces where music and ʻohana come together to kanikapila (play music). Kukui shares how patience and a “let’s learn together” mindset have shaped her path from her home in Waimānalo to studying at Ka Haka ʻUla ʻO Keʻelikōlani at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Through stories of spirituality and creative flow, she reminds us that mele transcends sound as identity, prayer, and the heartbeat of family. Episode Highlights 00:00 Welina mai, e Kukui! 00:32 Moving back to Oʻahu after 7 years 01:54 Big Mama Energy: teaching and mālama through spirituality and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi 04:55 On patience: ʻAʻohe hua o ka maiʻa i ka lā hoʻokahi 06:27 “Let’s learn together”: Hawaiian Club at UH Hilo (Hui Keaomālamalama) & Ka Haka ʻUla ʻO Keʻelikōlani 08:42 Waimānalo roots, learning Hawaiian before English 10:00 Lullabies forever: a musical ʻohana 11:58 The creative force and spirituality 17:22 Music and identity 20:32 Inspo: Afrobeats ("Soso" is a fav) and Hawaiian throwbacks (she loves "Kanaka Waiwai") 22:46 Mele is the heartbeat of ʻohana 29:06 On the horizon Enjoy mele from a special playlist Kukui created: Apple Playlist: 8/8 vibez🌈💧 https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/8-8-vibez/pl.u-4Jomz9JudERjqx Spotify Playlist: 8/8 vibez🌈💧https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1koRNqKXpvTXPQXabPWj8D?si=fLt7GK9lQ0yuFykU5XJdVQ&nd=1&dlsi=e9ec97cfc14f40a8 Check out Nā Puke Wehewehe for Hawaiian > English translations: https://wehewehe.org/ Photo credit: Kukui Episode Art: Molly Mamaril Recorded August 2025

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 Episode Highlights 01:21 — Home in Kalihi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi02:37 — Minnesota to New Mexico adventuring: homesteading, acting, earthships03:53 — Building a regenerative community through earthships08:31 — “Dog sledding was epic”12:03 — Unplugging from technology, campfire connections14:31 — Travel business ventures17:03 — “Life is short” — follow your dreams20:06 — Life hacks and the power of reframing24:41 — CONNECTION is everything26:18 — Next big project: “It requires a village to make a village”29:43 — Creating a new reciprocal economic model for community32:56 — Book recommendations35:23 — Building an empathetic world, starting from within Books That Guided Angelina on Her Journey 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

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

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. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-reggae-came-to-hawaii 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. https://www.pbs.org/video/in-hawaiian-hands-the-story-of-reggae-in-hawaii-part-1-roots-of-creation-yjkqdc/ Favorite Songs List! 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

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!

In a remote corner of Norway’s Hardangerfjord, Knut shares stories shaped by stone, silence, and saltwater. We talk about fly-catching, 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 children 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

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

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 to their homes, 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