Cultural Kultivators

This week we are closing out Season 2 and the final episode of Cultural Kultivators with Unsung Heroes student guest host, Jerard Del Mar! In this episode, Jerard interviews his father, Mario Del Mar.  In this conversation, Mario reflects on the hardships he faced growing up in Cebu, Philippines and the trials and tribulations of his immigration journey in pursuit of the American Dream. With an unwavering drive to make a life for himself, he shares his experiences of code switching, microaggressions, and the values of Filipino and American culture which shaped him into the man, mentor, and father he is today.  As we pass the torch on the Cultural Kultivators show, we look toward the future with hope and pride. This journey has been about more than just stories—it’s been about honoring our values and preserving the richness of our oral histories. Now, it’s time for the next generation of storytellers to take the stage and continue cultivating a legacy of connection and cultural resilience. Thank you for being a part of this incredible chapter with us. To stay connected and inspired, follow Kindred Kapwa as the story continues. This project was made possible with support from California Arts Council and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org. We’d love it if you could take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback is essential—not only does it help us improve, but it also strengthens our efforts to secure the funding needed to keep this platform alive. As a thank you, we’re offering some awesome Kultivate Labs swag for folks that participate and leave their email! https://forms.gle/VeA2qCohUQwAd3Nj8  WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this episode we welcome a very special guest host: Soluna! She is a local Bay Area highschooler and graduate of our Unsung Heroes youth podcast program. In this student-produced episode, Soluna interviews co-founding member of Sama Sama Cooperative and a current advisory board member for Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity, Lisa Juachon!   10 years since the start of Sama Sama Cooperative Summer Camp, Lisa speaks about her and other families' determination to fill a gap in children’s education by teaching kids about social justice and solidarity, finding and cultivating community within the diaspora, and their own culture and history. As a sanctuary of love, solidarity, and shared values, it gave Lisa’s children an extended family—a network of 20 aunties and uncles, helping to raise them with compassion and care. For Lisa, Sama Sama was a place of true community and belonging, “it was a place where we could express our values of bayanihan, of Kapwa, our social justice values.”  Soluna and Lisa's conversation is a reminder that in moments when division and fear are amplified, building intentional community is one of the most radical and necessary acts we can undertake. Tune in to see how Avatar: The Last Airbender and Filipino Martial Arts come together in this special episode! Follow Sama Sama Cooperative on Instagram! @samasamacooperative This project was made possible with support from California Arts Council and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org. We’d love it if you could take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback is essential—not only does it help us improve, but it also strengthens our efforts to secure the funding needed to keep this platform alive. As a thank you, we’re offering some awesome Kultivate Labs swag for folks that participate and leave their email! https://forms.gle/VeA2qCohUQwAd3Nj8 Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Your support means everything to Cultural Kultivators and the Filipino American community we celebrate in every episode.  WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week we are kicking off the end of the year with a very special guest host: Amelia! She is a local Bay Area highschooler and graduate of our Unsung Heroes youth podcast program. In this student-produced episode, Amelia invites multidisciplinary writer, Zee Lacson, to talk about her journey as a published YA author of The Woolgathering Trilogy and her most recent novel, Twice Removed.  Amelia relived a dream with Zee, a firm believer in following your heart, the power of love, and all things Star Trek. Before rekindling her love for the arts and transitioning to writing, Zee had pursued careers in mechanical engineering, early childhood education, and photography. With stories inspired by culture shock and her own risk taking, Zee explores what it means to be whole when you’re torn between two worlds as an immigrant in between two generations, and a literal manananggal, or as Zee likes to put it: twice removed.  From revealing the in’s and out’s of the publishing world, the difference between “Pantsers” and “Plotters,” this is a must listen episode for aspiring writers and readers! Follow Zee’s writing journey on Instagram and books: @zeelacson on Instagram and https://zeelacson.com/ This project was made possible with support from California Arts Council and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org. Music Credits: "Nighttime Breeze" by Ann Zhou We’d love it if you could take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback is essential—not only does it help us improve, but it also strengthens our efforts to secure the funding needed to keep this platform alive. As a thank you, we’re offering some awesome Kultivate Labs swag for folks that participate and leave their email! https://forms.gle/VeA2qCohUQwAd3Nj8 Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Your support means everything to Cultural Kultivators and the Filipino American community we celebrate in every episode.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Happy Halloween and upcoming All Souls Day! This Wednesday, we are so excited to host podcaster, animator, and occultist, Sapphire Sandalo! As the host of SpectreVision Radio’s Stories with Sapphire podcast, she is also known for her work on The Ghost Town Terror and Paranormal Caught on Camera.   In today’s conversation, Sapphire delved deep into her unique take on the paranormal, approaching it with culturally inclusive curiosity and the mysterious interplay between intention, intuition, and manifestation. She also shares her views on recontextualizing her experiences of her Catholic upbringing in conversation with the cultural and spiritual practices we observe today.    For listeners looking to get more in touch with their spirituality or connect with their ancestors, this episode is for you. We invite you to find what makes your soul sing and follow the alignment with your authentic self across time, past, present, and future.  Stay tuned to witness the power of vision boarding, how to watch for “Godwinks,” and the unexpected tie between dolphins and roses. You can catch Sapphire on Instagram @sapphire_sandalo and on the web at www.storieswithsapphire.com and youtube.com/sapphiresandalo! We’d love it if you could take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback is essential—not only does it help us improve, but it also strengthens our efforts to secure the funding needed to keep this platform alive. As a thank you, we’re offering some awesome Kultivate Labs swag for folks that participate and leave their email! https://forms.gle/TAw7aRupB4DWpBAE9 Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Your support means everything to Cultural Kultivators and the Filipino American community we celebrate in every episode. WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com  Instagram: @balaykreative   Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this week’s episode, we’re honored to sit down with special co-host, Luna Salaver and the King of Latin Soul, Joe Bataan!  As the first recording artist to create Latin Soul music, Joe has made a lasting impact through his innovative combination of genres, including Boogaloo, Salsa, and Disco, leading to hits like “Gypsy Woman” and “Young Gifted & Brown.” Joe Bataan’s stories beautifully illustrate lessons that tie right into the 2024 Filipino American History Month theme of “Struggle, Resistance, Solidarity, and Resilience.” His origins of growing up in Spanish Harlem, New York amidst crime and incarceration shows that resilience is about continually adapting and finding ways to stay true to your path, no matter the obstacles. In embracing his identity as an Afro-Filipino musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, Joe shares his journey of peddling his music from coast to coast, gaining a grassroots following of not only Filipinos, but people of color from all walks of life. With the gift of his life experience and wisdom, Joe also built a career counseling at risk youth in correctional facilities. His ability to evolve, whether through genres like Disco and Rap, or through his role as a mentor, is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength that the Filipino American History Month theme celebrates. Stay tuned to find out the secrets behind Joe’s success: spirit, health and knowledge!  You can find Joe Bataan at https://www.joebataanmusic.com/ and preorder his book “Streetology” at mahalpublishing.com We’d love it if you could take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback is essential—not only does it help us improve, but it also strengthens our efforts to secure the funding needed to keep this platform alive. As a thank you, we’re offering some awesome Kultivate Labs swag for folks that participate and leave their email! https://forms.gle/TAw7aRupB4DWpBAE9 Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Your support means everything to Cultural Kultivators and the Filipino American community we celebrate in every episode. WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com  Instagram: @balaykreative   Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Kicking off Filipino History Month (FAHM), we’re honored to spotlight the storytelling journey of documentary filmmaker and video editor, Sondy Lucille! Sondy’s work captures the power of oral and visual storytelling, as well as cultural preservation. With a keen eye for detail and determination to shift the painful narratives embedded in our history, Sondy’s films delve into mixed heritage, Asian diasporic experiences, and how globalization molds identity in multicultural homes and communities. Sondy reflects on her dual heritage as Filipino and Mauritian which has fueled her desire to research her family histories and find solidarity in the shared struggles of Filipino Americans. Dear Watsonville – Sondy’s most recent project touring the festival circuit – sheds light on the untold stories and memories of the Manong/Manang generation with a  distinct focus on Watsonville, California—a place often remembered for the violence and racism towards Fil-Ams. By weaving together family photo albums, hand drawn illustrations, and oral histories, her work seeks to preserve the experiences of first-generation Fil-Am immigrants through the memories of their second generation descendants. She encourages filmmakers to embrace imperfection and to “free yourself from the shackles of filmmaking rules” — in order to approach filming as a form of self-expression. Sondy also emphasizes the importance of film fellowships for Asian-American and BIPOC filmmakers and recommends “creating your own experience” by using unconventional, experimental spaces to gain valuable production and post-production expertise. She also challenges listeners to be curious and to look into their family histories and documents, as a means to recognize the power of storytelling of our shared heritage. Follow her journey on Instagram @sondy.lu and @dearwatsonville and on the web at sondylu.com. The Watsonville is in the Heart digital archive can be viewed at wiith.ucsc.edu and on Instagram at @wiith.ucsc Catch a screening of Dear Watsonville at the SF Indie Fest coming this October 17th - 27th!  WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com  Instagram: @balaykreative   Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this week’s episode, we’re honored to sit down with Kultivate Labs’ very own Desi Danganan, Founder/Executive Director of Kultivate Labs, a trailblazing cultural strategist, and human catalyst who is helping revitalize San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural District. With a nearly two-decade career spanning tech, hospitality, branding / marketing, and community organizing– he has dedicated his career to uplifting our local Filipino-American community and empowering the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and culture bearers. From the days of Poleng Lounge and Summit SF, to Plinth Agency and Kultivate Labs, Desi discusses the obstacles of balancing cultural preservation with economic development, addressing income inequality, and building a more livable, enriching community without displacing its members. Desi’s vision for “developing community through abundance, not sacrifice” is transforming SOMA Pilipinas into a corridor of creativity and cultural pride that is inspiring folks as far as Winnipeg, Canada to develop their on Filipino communities Desi also challenges us to realize our role as the bridge between the younger and older generations of creatives and entrepreneurs by creating an ethic of self-forgiveness and learning from one’s mistakes. He also encourages us to envision collective liberation and economic alternatives to revitalize our community, ultimately embodying his advice to “enlarge the table.” Follow his journey on Instagram @kultivatelabs and on the web: kultivatelabs.org/team and linkedin.com/in/desi-danganan/ WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com  Instagram: @balaykreative   Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this week’s episode, we are excited to welcome former UC Davis professor turned farmer, Dr. Robyn Rodriguez! As a widely published researcher, highly-sought after speaker, and long-time community organizer, she founded the Remagination Farm and Lab, a research and educational consultancy service encompassing the School for Liberating Education and the Amado Khaya Initiative. In this conversation, Dr. Rodriguez shares with us how the origins of the Reimagination Farm located in Lake County, California were inspired by her late son, Amado Khaya, her transition away from academia, and realizations brought on by the pandemic. For many, the pandemic posed a time of great loss as well as a reckoning of the old systems designed for social inequalities and ecological destruction. In a radical approach to a more authentic way of living, Dr. Rodriguez talks about embracing the end of these systems, not with fear, but with excitement as an “invitation to get back to the land.”  In weaving and braiding her background as an educator and sociological researcher into her life as a farmer, she welcomes visitors and guests on the farm to come and learn regenerative agricultural practices as well as surrendering to the forces of nature and what it has to teach us. Join Dr. Rodriguez at the Reimagination Farm on Saturday, September 7th to celebrate her first fall harvest/Anihan in commemoration of when Filipino agricultural workers, led by labor leader Larry Itliong, walked off the job on September 8, 1965, to protest years of poor wages and working conditions in the Central Valley’s grape fields. Follow her journey on Instagram @madprofessora @liberating.education @remaginationfarm @amadokhaya and on the web: drrobynrodriguez.com, liberatingeducation.thinkific.com, remaginationfarm.org, and amadokhaya.org.  WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Join us this week as we sit down with Cambio & Co. co-founder and CEO, Gelaine Santiago! Award-winning social entrepreneur and storyteller, Gelaine shares the inspiration and the journey behind the Toronto and Manila based Filipino jewelry company.       In this conversation, Gelaine navigates the nuances of entrepreneurship under our capitalist systems and its potential for activism and social change. Embracing the ethos of her work and leadership, Gelaine is on a mission to build more ecosystems and not empires in a radical shift towards more collective wealth and joy.    Listen for a behind the scenes look at Cambio & Co.’s partnerships with local, Filipino artisans whose work centers modern design and traditional craftsmanship made with locally sourced materials. In uplifting these collaborators, Gelaine urges us to get curious about long held beliefs we might hold that have a more sinister, colonial mindset at play.    Tune in to learn about the haters who inadvertently inspired the Cambio & Co. team to lean into community led conversations and the power of education. In Gelaine’s words, dare to “Reimagine what it means to be proudly Filipino.”   You can connect with Gelaine at www.gelainesantiago.com and on Instagram @gelainesantiago.  To shop Cambio & Co.’s latest products, visit @cambio_co on instagram or https://www.shopcambio.co/.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE?   BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California.   EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Joining us this week is multi-passionate teaching artist and dancer-choreographer, Niki Saludez! As part of the original cast of the newest Broadway musical by Alicia Keys, "Hell's Kitchen,” Niki shares his journey from internet kid studying Lady Gaga music videos to achieving what it takes to dance on a Broadway stage. In this episode, Niki takes us back to the catalyst of his transformative journey in New York City: a fateful dinner party that led to his meteoric rise. Listen for the magic that happens “when preparation meets opportunity,” in spaces which demand nothing less than your best self.  In opening up about the levels of physical and mental wellness of a Broadway dancer, Niki stresses the importance of community and the power of staying true to one's artistic path. His story inspires us all to listen to that inner voice, even when the path ahead is uncertain, because it's often in those daring moments that we find our true potential.  For the aspiring creatives, Niki's advice is clear: embrace discomfort, listen to your inner excitement and let it guide you.  Catch Niki on stage and get your tickets to “Hell’s Kitchen” at https://www.broadway.com/shows/hells-kitchen/ ! Follow Niki’s journey on Instagram: @TitoNiki. WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this week’s episode we are honored to welcome Abi Balingit! As the 2024 James Beard Emerging Voice Award Winner, Abi opens up about the success of her first book, Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed.  From her “Hotline Bling It” blogger days to experimenting with recipes in her low-lit New York apartment, Abi shines brightest as a Do-It-Yourself champion. As a self taught baker, she shares the origins behind The Dusky Kitchen blog and the impact her upbringing in a multigenerational Filipino-American household had on her culinary palate.  For creatives struggling with self-sabotaging perfectionism, Abi encourages us to build habit based strategies and to courageously “own your work.” She also gets candid on the transition from hobbyist to winning career-defining awards and the industry’s commodification of art.  Stay tuned for a sneak peek at Abi’s upcoming project, Trinket Dish! To keep up with Abi, you can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok (@theduskykitchen) where you can explore new recipes like her Calamansi-Fish Sauce Shortbread Cookies! WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Join us this week as we sit down with Bay Area multidisciplinary artist, ChiChai! As a past Balay Kreative resident artist, she catches us up on her most recent projects, large scale murals in Yerba Buena Gardens and the gateway to the SOMA Pilipinas District, Pagsasama Sama. Muralist, fashion designer, mixed media maker and more, ChiChai honors indigenous craftsmanship and her connections to Mama Earth in her work as a youth educator. Whether teaching or creating, her work is intersectional in its roots to nature, feminism, and the dismantling of colonial mindsets,  inspiring youth to see themselves reflected around them in our collective landscape. For young Pinay creatives, ChiChai shares her impact in uplifting greater visibility for Pinays and the Filipino American Community at large and urges us to follow our guts. Her work echoes ancestral patterns and purposefulness throughout the realms of both public art and fashion, works of both function and heritage. Tune in for a behind the scenes look into ChiChai’s creative process, mural easter eggs and Icelandic tide pools! You can keep up with ChiChai at her website Chi-chai.co and her newsletter by providing your info in her contact form. WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California.   EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

Happy Pride Month! Queer-Pinay duo, AstraLogik, joins us this week to talk all things sound and healing. As the show’s first live recording session, they curated an inclusive soundbath experience with our in-studio audience. In this episode, the pair share their trajectory of their creative process and how they discovered their “why” in the simplification of their instrumentals. In order to actualize their mission of ultimately resonating with more people, Chen and Charito strive to meet their listeners where they’re at with themselves.  They also open up about the realities of pressure coming hand in hand with growth. Their recent collaborations and projects like Pinay Voltron are revealed to be born out of evolving past the competitive conditioning they’ve been led to embody.  Between the pair’s Aries-Fire energy, Tiger Moms, and chiropractic practice, discover the magic behind Chen and Charito’s transmutation of trauma into life and artistry! Keep up with their music journey on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2eQwBFXh8c3xcnUpB7SEQ5?si=e347d08c5f1e41b2 WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week on Cultural Kultivators, we sit down with comedian and writer Kevin Camia, who is currently on tour with Sheng Wang. From his early influences of comedy legends like Andy Kaufman and Martin Lawrence to the serious undertones of historical research and personal resilience, Kevin opens up about the complexity of his craft and his approach to life's challenges. Kevin shares the profound impact of mentors like Allan Manalo and explores the nitty gritty of creating characters that resonate with real historical figures, such as writing for "Larry" in "Larry the Musical." Discover the San Francisco comedy scene that shaped his early days and listen to Kevin’s invaluable wisdom for those navigating the unpredictable waves of the entertainment industry. Kevin's reflections on maintaining authenticity while battling industry ups and downs are particularly important for young creatives and entertainers. Join us as we uncover the blend of humor, history, and heart with Kevin Camia—a true cultivator of cultural and comedic landscapes.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week, we are thrilled to welcome mama of 5, educator, and founder of Raising Ancestors: Adrienne Esguerra!  In this crash course on what it can look like to decolonize and re-indigenize the youth of future generations, Adrienne shows us that it does start with the revolutionary act of parenting. Building in solidarity with other BIPOC scholars and educators, Adrienne’s breakdown of the Raising Ancestors’ frameworks proves that it takes a village.   At the heart of her Raising Ancestors work is raising her blended, systems-impacted, immigrant family in a multigenerational Filipino home, inspiring her to create a space that acknowledges their experiences while empowering parents to heal generational trauma through a decolonized lens. Find out how one mama’s great leap of faith and divestment from the 9 to 5 of clinical work ignited a pathway for collective liberation! For our expecting parents or current listeners looking for a safe place to explore their roles as culture bearers and raising liberated kids, this episode is for you.  To learn more about Adrienne and how to apply to the Raising Ancestors Summer Camp, visit: https://www.raisingancestors.com/ and their Instagram @raisingancestors.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This week we are welcoming a triple threat- powerhouse team, Sarap Shop restaurant owners: Kristen and James Brillantes and JP Reyes! Join us as the trio share their journey from a celebrated Bay Area food truck to their brick and mortar grand opening this past March. They dive deep into what it takes to come together as a dream team, which for Sarap Shop, means trailblazing a more inclusive business culture by incorporating our shared humanity and identities rooted in family systems, community networks, and fun.  From our titas’ family management roles to healing sibling relationships, tune in to their approach on how Filipino culture and family dynamics take shape in our everyday working environments. In Kristen’s words, discover how business can be a, “vehicle for the lifestyle you want.”  The Sarap Shop team is also the leading force behind Kultivate Labs’ Business Accelerator program, Seed Network. Through the Anchor Creatives and Entrepreneurs Collective (ACE), their efforts to support small businesses continue to shape the commercial district in SOMA, Pilipinas. Learn more about their work here: https://www.seednetwork.biz To aspiring food-preneurs, find out how a food truck shaped wedding ring turned into a staple at the Warriors’ stadium! @thesarapshop   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Join us this week as we explore Jenn Ban’s journey as a queer, Filipinx-American multidisciplinary artist whose work lies at the intersection of healing and artistic living.  Between being born into a military family, growing up in a red state, and leading her Catholic youth group, she shows us that learning and unlearning is an art in itself.  Learn how Jenn lives and breathes Reiki into her tattoo sessions as a powerful modality of healing and intention. From spiritual hygiene practices and the origins of her Dito Lang exhibit, to working with street based artists in Manila, listen in to find out how Jenn made the shifts from her pre-med path to the artist we see today. Tune in for a behind the scenes look into Bituin Studio, San Francisco’s newest Filipino-American owned and operated body art studio, a collaborative effort of co-founders Jerome Noveras, Thank You Saint, and Jenn Ban! @bituinstudio You can keep up with Jenn on her instagram @jenn.ban and book your next tattoo session with her at @sacredskinadornments   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week we are honored to welcome leadership coach, business consultant, and Art of Hustle founder, Anthem Salgado!  In a metaphorically painted world of tree pruning and sports tournaments, Anthem takes us on a deep dive into his approach to professional development and artistic living. In this info-packed dialogue, he explores the starving artist narrative that many of us are all too familiar with. He advocates for a radical shift in our approach to money as a resource and reclaiming a sense of community in the arts field.  Anthem provides valuable lessons on the mindset behind "losing properly" while also responding to the asks of the universe when pursuing your creative endeavors. For budding Fil-Am entrepreneurs, this episode offers essential insights on optimism, effective leadership, and advice rooted in action.  Discover the gems behind the Paloma Concordia success story, Anthem’s PIES wellbeing check, and the humble origin story of Art of Hustle! WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week we are proud to welcome Bay Area rapper and Kreative Growth 2023 alumni: Mikey Vee! Get the scoop on his highly anticipated debut album, R.E.M. (Realest Expression of Myself) inspired by 17th century painter Rembrandt and his unlikely source of inspiration. A virtuoso at translating challenge into ingenuity and imagination, Mikey opens up about his creative process of self imposed artistic limitations as a practice of experimentation and introspection. Dig deep on the anatomy of some of Mikey’s favorite songs on the album like “Danaё”’s disco violin track and greek mythology lore.   Mikey stands as a testament to the breadth over depth argument, demonstrating that being well rounded can be the key to your success. Unpack the J Cole vs Kanye strategy and how he’s taking his impact to the next level as the founder of Golden Oras, an outreach and creative collective.  Find out what the video game Horizon Zero Dawn, the Tesla Bot, and a Baroque painter have in common and Mikey’s laundry list of book recommendations!   You can follow Mikey’s music journey on Instagram @mikeyveemusic and the Golden Oras Collective at @goldenoras.official WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

As our first Season 2 guest, we’re bringing in a fellow story teller from across the country, Future Ancestors Podcast co-host and Kalayaan “Filipina Heroines of World War II” author: Kathryn Serrano!  In this Tri-State area x Bay Area crossover, Kathryn gets candid about using our privilege decisively and effectively as Filipino-Americans in a way that embraces the intentions of our family and ancestors who wanted better for us in the diaspora. She also lets us in on her journey of aligning closely with our ancestors and using their her-stories to fuel her own potential through historical immersion. In her words, sometimes this means, “being okay with the pain” of unlearning and re-remembering as a process of becoming. In a reframe of the Fil-Am Identity Crisis, Kathryn reminds us that the forces of exclusion and hunger for self understanding reflects a powerful appetite and capacity to know history, know self.  Open up Women’s Herstory Month with two powerful Pinays and stay tuned to find out who put Salvador Dali in second place. Stay for unpopular opinions on religion and surrendering control! Bahala na! For the latest updates on Kat and her work, you can follow the Future Ancestors Podcast, Mahal Publishing, and her instagram (@thekatosphere). WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative TikTok: @balaykreative Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week we are proud to end Season 1 with our very own Nicole Salaver! In this special insider episode, Nicole shares the origin story of Cultural Kultivators, her artistry, and the deeply rooted inspiration behind her creative force: the love and mourning of her late father. From her early, humble beginnings slinging Uncle Pat’s VHS camcorder in the L.A. summer heat to an Asia World Tour and making the big move to New York City in her 30s, Nicole continues to combat the stigma of the “starving artist” and follows the footsteps of her family heritage as a creative disruptor. Whether the feat is memorizing 30 pages of script every night or challenging pervasive racism and sexual harassment in the film industry, Nicole is a personified act of defining success for one’s self, in which we choose to fight for a seat at the table, or build a whole new table within a creative balay (house)! Stay tuned for what it’s like on set with Lucy Liu and why every young person should become a waiter! WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week, we are thrilled to welcome singer-songwriter and Birds of Prey actress, Ella Jay Basco! Niece of Dion and Dante Basco, Ella Jay and her family are no strangers to Hollywood. In 2020 she hit the big screen with her debut film role and gives us a behind the scenes look inside of the set of Birds of Prey and becoming Cassandra Cain.  Ella Jay also takes us back through her childhood of a highly artistic and creative family, from as early as 6 months old starring in numerous commercials to Grey’s Anatomy and narrowing down her talents and passion for acting. Her story illustrates the world of a difference it can make when our parents and families are on board with us, full steam ahead.  For young creatives, her biggest piece of advice is to work hard at finding out who you are by giving as much as you can to the things you love. Whether she’s crunching on Fruit Loops with Margot Robbie and making waves in the entertainment industry or leading her siblings in their band “The Sibs,” we look forward to seeing what's next in her artistic journey!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

We are so excited to welcome another powerful pinay, writer, actor-comedian based in L.A.: Joy Regullano! From Sesame Street writer to Modern Family cameos, YouTube sketch artist to creator of Asian American comedy musical, Supportive White Parents, Joy is a multitalented creatrix in the entertainment scene. This week she speaks with us about her journey as a former pre-med track student at UC Berkeley and her switch to theater while detailing an experience many of us struggle with: bringing our parental figures into the fold of our dreams. As creatives, we’re often reluctantly and somewhat unknowingly designated to expand the horizons of what’s “possible” within our family and past/current generations. For Joy, part of this sometimes means meeting our parents where they’re at. She also opens up about the responsibility that comes with screenwriting for children’s shows and raising the next generation as an act of service. In normalizing BIPOC experiences on screen, Joy brings intention and sensitivity to writing stories and characters that are relatable, funny, and embraced as a fundamental mirror for children to see themselves in. She reminds us that we all have something important to say and something important to offer the world. In Joy’s words, we encourage you to, “write the story that no one else is ever going to write." WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all of our listeners! For our first episode of the year, we are running it back full circle with past Kreative Growth artist, Ouida! As a SF born and raised singer-songwriter with rising national and international recognition, Ouida gives us an inside scoop on the new Bolo Music Group, Ruby Ibarra and Ian Santillano’s latest project announced last October. Trailblazer in her own right, she sheds light on her journey towards finding her “why” in music, taking us through her introspective pathfinding around the associations and self-beliefs we all make when relying on institutions to validate our worth. For Ouida, all it came down to was the music. With the joy and the pitfalls of the entertainment industry that she experienced from management to breaking into songwriting, she emerged resilient with wisdom born out of falling for the mistakes early on. In navigating the industry herself, she encourages against the commodification of art, to keep artistic integrity for artists and by artists. As a Filipino-Irish American, she also touches on how straddling between the “nowhere and everywhere” informs her music, sense of collaboration and belonging, rejecting the preconceived notions of authenticity that often comes with exploring what it means to be biracial. Bring in the new year with this powerful conversation on joy, resilience, and living in your truth!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

As we close out 2023, we are proud to welcome our final Unsung Heroes guest host, Rochelle Berdan! This episode features their mentor and friend, Jordan Raye, a queer, non-binary healer whose vulnerability turns out to be their greatest strength. Together, they dive deep into what healing intergenerational trauma looks like as an ongoing, non-linear process. Tune in for a deeply emotional and candid examination into how growing up Fil-Am is different for everyone. For Jordan, they grew up surrounded by secrecy and complicated relationships with some of their family. Yet despite all of their hardship, they’ve grounded themselves in reclaiming their experiences, identities, and found much healing through dancing, chosen family, and unapologetically showing up as they are. In a world where generational trauma exists, generational joy and wisdom exist too because, “In the same way love can look differently and have so many definitions. Healing isn’t definitive. It’s an ongoing definition.” As Jordan says, the real work of healing is not linear but it does start with you. Trigger Warning: This episode contains mentions of sexual violence & child abuse that may be triggering for some individuals. Apply for next year’s Unsung Heroes Youth Podcast Scholarship Here! WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Our next guest host episode for this week features Bay Area high school student, Benedict Del Rosario! Right in time for the holidays, this student-produced episode dives into Filipino cultural celebrations and its role in forming a strong sense of identity, belonging, and community. As Benedict interviews his father, Reynaldo, a first generation immigrant, we witness the importance of storytelling and the tradition of passing down oral history as a way to preserve cultural practices across generations. We also learn about the Del Rosario family’s history of resistance and resilience, highlighting the role of personal heroes, like Benny’s great uncle Pepe, who actively participated in the guerrilla movement against the Japanese invasion of World War II. From the Cultural Kultivators team to our local and international listeners abroad, we hope this conversation encourages all of us to dig a little deeper with our elders this holiday season and discover something new about our own traditions and roots! Apply for next year’s Unsung Heroes Youth Podcast Scholarship Here!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week we are kicking off the end of the year with a very special guest host: Luci Herrera-Set! Luci is a local Bay Area highschooler and graduate of our Unsung Heroes youth podcast program. In this student-produced episode, Lucy invites her uncle, Michael Herrera, to talk about his journey as a teacher nurtured by the Pin@y Educational Partnerships program (PEP). From teaching Oakland first graders to striving to open up a restaurant in the homeland, Michael opens up about how important it is to be resilient when overcoming life’s biggest transitions and the sometimes not so quiet self-doubt that creeps in for many of us. Despite the challenges of assimilation that we as first, second, and third generation Filipino-Americans face, Michael hopes to leave a lasting legacy for future generations, whether that’s building a home base in the Philippines or teaching Filipino-American youth to embrace their history for a better path into the future. In his words, “Don’t be afraid to fail, accept that and really trust in your community,” he reminds us that developing a growth mindset and leaning into our mistakes is what will see us through to our goals. Follow Michael’s food journey on Instagram! @ninong_loy_kitchen Apply to the 2024 Summer Unsung Heroes Youth Podcast program here: https://balaykreative.com/unsung-heroes   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This week’s special guest brings decades of experience working with at-risk youth in San Francisco: Rudy Corpuz Jr.! Founder and Executive Director of United Playaz, a violence prevention program that serves the youth, Rudy has dedicated his life to the rehabilitation and development of previously incarcerated folks and our youth as an ex-felon.   In this episode, Rudy shares with us how he got started at Balboa High School as a gang prevention counselor for Filipino youth and his first major case and inspiration for United Playaz: breaking up a multiracial brawl. He also shares with us the challenges of healing a community he once harmed, answering the call to service by keeping power in the people’s hands and minds.    As we play the long game in building generational abundance, Rudy’s vision embraces ex-felons and the previously incarcerated by giving them job opportunities and a community to come back to. Join us this week to learn more about Rudy’s approach to teaching self discipline and cultural history to our young kings and queens of the future.    It takes the Hood to save the Hood. Visit unitedplayaz.org to learn more!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

As Filipino American History Month comes to end, we are proud to lead with this next episodes’ guest, Terry Valen! Organizer with the Bay Area Seafarers Coalition and Executive Board and International Coordinating Body Member of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA). In this episode, Terry bridges international gaps by connecting migrant struggles in America to working class conditions in the homeland. From workers rights in San Francisco, Excelsior, and Daly City, to the rice farms of Luzon and Jollibees of Manila. Terry also enlightens us about the impact of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but in our hometown with money and resources being diverted towards this national, special security event, highlighting the wealth gap that many San Franciscans struggle with in their daily lives. According to Terry, APEC’s militarization, threat to food sovereignty and basic access to needs is a historic opportunity for international solidarity. With Terry’s 20+ years of experience in organizing and building solidarity amongst class, race, and immigrant lines, he continues to remind us of our responsibility to exercise our rights to both free speech and assembly.   To find out more information about Terry and the events in November, visit https://linktr.ee/No2APEC  The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely that of the guest’s and does not necessarily reflect the views of Kultivate Labs or its associated programs.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In honor of Filipino-American History Month, we are proud to share space with Luna Salaver!  As the first half of the famous Jose Rizal quote goes,“Know History, Know Self,” Luna brings us home through nearly 100 years of Salaver family history in the Bay Area. From 10 cent Taxi Dance Halls to the introduction of Tinikling in the Bay Area and the Third World Liberation Front, Luna walks us through the decades since the patriarch of the family, Canuto Salaver, first immigrated to San Francisco in the first wave of 20th century migration from the homeland and became one of the first business owners in the original Manilatown. Her mother, Estrella’s efforts in the arts and culture scene and brother, Pat’s sacrifices for the establishment of ethnic studies at SF State laid the foundation for schools across the United States. Luna’s own advocacy work in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District mirrors her family’s legacy of activism and continues to shape our community today. Whether it’s launching a podcast or simply sharing Merienda while pouring over old photographs with your Lola, Luna urges us to learn our history through our elders, our peers, and presents a moment of personal reflection: How do we as a community take our ancestors’ efforts and struggles further? And no matter where you are in the world, how will you be part of the living body of collective, Filipino History?   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

Happy Filipino-American History Month! We are incredibly honored to welcome Gayle Romasanta as this week’s writer, art-tivist, mother, and executive director of the Filipino-American Development Foundation. Gayle unwraps her process behind her latest work Larry: The Musical about Larry Itliong with us and her decades long experience working in community. A true powerhouse of the Filipino American community, she brings us into the fold with her wisdom as a scholar and activist in the crucial movement of raising a generation of creators, artists, and feelers who come from a long lineage of working class fighters and the Manong generation as a form of resistance. As we navigate the trauma of being deemed cheap labor and the racial violence we experience in our daily lives, Gayle urges us to continue fighting for the soul and core of who we are as a people in the stories we tell ourselves, our children, and our collective. She also offers a reframe of the realities of full time parenthood, artist-hood, and community organizing and the illusion of “balance” when your craft, family, and community demand nothing but the best of you and your gifts. Her advice? Create by any means necessary! Just do it!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

Find out what it takes to represent the Philippines in the Women’s World Cup in this week’s episode with Sarina Bolden! Bay Area local turned international star, Sarina lets us in on the secrets behind her success: her growth mindset, taking her mental health seriously, and good coffee.  Behind Sarina’s many successes, is her soul searching journey outside of her identity as an athlete, finding that it’s both passion and a growth mindset that will see you through, whether it’s taking a long break, starting a new career, or traveling in order to come back to yourself and your purpose.  In this episode, we also discuss the perpetual identity crisis we as fellow Filipino Americans experience in trying to answer the question, what exactly does it mean to be Filipino? In fielding these questions on an international level and in the media, Sarina transcends national borders and language barriers with unmistakable Filipino American pride: “it’s how you represent and carry yourself.”  Tune in for nitrogen ice bath advice, coffee recommendations, and travel tips!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

We are so excited to welcome AJ Rafael, a talented singer-songwriter and a Youtube pioneer who has amassed over 1 million subscribers on YouTube and 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.   A Filipino American game changer, AJ dives deep into his relationship with music and the healing effects music had in processing and honoring his late father’s memory. At the heart of his artistry is also community or kapwa and a way for listeners to get in touch with the universal and restorative potential of music.    Since the height of his popularity, AJ has broken into the music industry while embracing the strengths which set him apart: the heavily underrated DIY-savvy hustle which proves how a genuine love for connecting with others, no matter what medium or discipline, can lead you to a grounded sense of empowerment and purpose.  For OG fans and new listeners, check out this episode for a behind the scenes look at his upcoming Take Me Back Tour!   Music Credits:  “We Could Happen (Lofi)” “She Was Mine” “We Could Happen” All by AJ Rafael    WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

What gives Chef Frances Tariga-Weshnak, Top Chef star and Morimoto’s Sushi Master winner, her edge? Find out this Wednesday with guest hosts, Kristen Brillantes and JP Reyes of Kultivate Lab’s Seed Network and Bay Area food truck favorite, Sarap Shop!  Born and raised in Manila, Chef Frances opens up about the ways that operating in survival mode ultimately impacts our collective experience as a culture and how we can come together for future generations to carve out a joyful existence despite the violence that comes with poverty, substance abuse, and scarcity mindsets.  In the eye of the storm, is Chef Frances’ journey of personal growth through therapy and doing what it takes to achieve your dreams. Which for her, sometimes means killing an eel. As a bright source of inspiration for Pinays, new immigrants, aspiring chefs, and queer creatives,  Chef Frances is proof of how important staying true to yourself is in outlasting your ability to chase the bag, moving from surviving to thriving.  Hone your skills, your time will come, and most importantly: It’s okay to be you. Come for the inspo, stay for the food recs!   Music Credits: “Cooking Dance” - Lil B “The Food” - Common “Stir Fry” - Migos   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

This Wednesday, we welcome Josh Dela Cruz! Blue’s Clues host and Aladdin in Broadway’s 2017 theater production, Josh made history as the first Asian American Pacific Islander to host a major children's show — Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues & You!.   Before jetting off to Thailand to star in the new musical Waterfall, Josh opened up about the times he's felt "not Filipino enough” despite being a representative of the Filipino American experience in mainstream media. Grounded in his community’s love and sacrifice, he also shares how he upholds the legacy of those that came before him by living a full life and embracing life lessons. This includes showing up for yourself & your community the way your community has for you. Especially in a world where, “Friendship means little when it’s convenient” (queue Jon Wick’s theme song).   From his fresh out-of-college days and wanting to be ethnically ambiguous to his most cherished audition for West Side Story, Josh has come a long way in developing a journey mindset, embracing the process of becoming the best you that you can be.      For our aspiring actor-listeners, Josh also drops the key on how to make the dream work: the financial realities of the entertainment industry and understanding the value of your time.    Spoiler Alert: Join the Union!   Song Credits: ​​"Radiant Child" - a.K.aye "GWKS" - a.K.aye "Fully Functional" - a.K.aye   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

Joining us this week is H.P. Mendoza, Bitter Melon film director, musician and screenwriter, who invited us to soar at the Castro Theatre this past weekend with his new film on weightless grief and self recovery.     Mendoza drops the curtain on this new project, The Secret Art of Human Flight and what it was like working with Hollywood stars like Academy Award nominee, Paul Raci and Grant Rosenmeyer as well as his early childhood influences growing up as a brown, Queer, Filipino boy. San Francisco native and accomplished composer, he shares about his relationship with self-doubt and the ways he has processed through it.     In this episode, he also offers a candid examination of the pressures that we as Asian Americans experience in being measured up to Model Minority myth standards in our households, careers, and in the media. From the good, to the bad and mediocre, Mendoza is committed to celebrating the diversity of the Filipino-American experience.    Tune in for Bo Jack Horseman philosophies and what the power of sleep teaches us in the battle against imposter syndrome!   Song Credits:  "Hoi Polloi" - H.P. Mendoza "Ticklish" - H.P. Mendoza "Adult Contemporary" - H.P. Mendoza   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative  

In this week’s episode, we are coming back to our roots with a past Kreative Growth Grantee, Nikbo. As a musician and songwriter, she shares her inspiration behind her songs such as “Grief is Love” and her highly anticipated, Breathe Underwater EP. Nikbo also gives us practical ways to step into your power and potential as an artist, in what she calls “The Dig.” For our listener-creatives who might need more structure with their flow or are just beginning to invest more into your craft, this episode is for you. In sharing about her experiences as a Filipinx Third Culture Kid, Nikbo shows us that we are not alone in experiencing the pushback that comes with spiritually and emotionally exploring our identities and gifts as multicultural, multi-hyphenated, and diversely talented Filipinx peoples. And as we open up about our paths through decolonization as a deeply personal journey of exploration and oral histories, Nikbo explains the way she approaches healing in her music and her creative process with ears curiously planted in the ground to listen for what the natural world and our ‘plant-cestors’ are telling us.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

In this episode, Allison Hueman shares with us her thoughts on bridging both control and chaos in her professional career as a full time artist, pushing the boundaries of art and technology, and in parenthood.    Listen in for Hueman’s creative process and critique on the set of risks and potential of the AI revolution and how we evolve alongside it in the art world. Multidisciplinary artist with a background in graffiti and mural art, Hueman also drops the curtain behind her immersive art experience, Homebody, that uses AI as a tool to explore the social-emotional dimensions of isolation during the pandemic and the grit it took to pull it off.    For young and emerging artists, this is a must listen episode on finding the courage to bet on yourself and the impact of community and environment on your art practice. For artist-mothers and parents, tune in for an honest look that normalizes the challenges in surrendering to change and ways of adapting to parenthood as a full-time creative.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

For new and day one fans of Ruby Ibarra, this is a must listen episode bringing us into the mind of our Waray-Waray and Tagalog speaking rapper, director, and spoken word artist. Learn more about what it means to challenge colonial assimilation and redefine success by embracing our indigenous Filipino languages. Hailing from Tacloban City, Ruby sheds light on the complexities of reaching true representation, unlearning imposter syndrome, and building a legacy of inclusivity in the Bay Area music industry and beyond. Co-founder of Pinays Rising Scholarship Program, she has grounded her purpose in giving back to the community with the rise of “Us,” her 2017 collaboration with Faith Santilla and Klassy.  Join us in celebrating being unapologetically Pinay and, in Ruby’s words, “Being a fan of yourself” when it comes to authentically expressing your voice and creative energy! Walang Makakatigil!   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative

From the Tiktok generation to the Third World Liberation Front, examining the meaning of community, collective liberation and self actualization are perennial ancestor-blessed paths to walk on. Tune in to the conversation with the key scholar of Pinayism, a radical form of love and decolonization process.   In this episode, I share space with Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, founder of Pin@y Educational Partnerships and Asian American Studies Professor at San Francisco State University. Motherscholar of color, Anti-Hustler, and my Ate, Allyson is also a former professor of mine and helped shape my journey in embracing my Pinay identity and learning about our collective legacy of resistance.      Listen in for the ancestors called into the space, ways to shift in alignment with your purpose or your “why,” and Blackfoot wisdom on self actualization.   WHAT IS BALAY KREATIVE? BALAY KREATIVE is a pop-up Filipino-American arts hub in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco, California. EXPLORE BALAY KREATIVE Website: www.balaykreative.com Instagram: @balaykreative  Facebook.com/balaykreative Kumu: @balaykreative