Hanging Out with Nolan Hong: Recent Episodes
Nolan Hong: Hawaii Emcee, Actor, Entrepreneur
A talk story podcast about life, work, family and anything else that comes up. Listen in as I chat with friends & strangers, people from all walks of life about all kinds of things! The variety of guests we’ve had on ranges from entertainers, musicians, educators, ghost story tellers, professional snugglers, animal communicators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and more.
OOPS I accidentally published this to the wrong feed! I'm going to leave it here though and if you enjoy it, please search "Here in Hawaii" for all the new episodes over there!
In this episode, we sit down with Daniela Stolfi-Tow, the local girl behind 808 Viral — one of Hawai‘i’s biggest digital platforms. From her early days growing up on O‘ahu into the wild world of viral content, Dani shares how she built and continues to nurture a space that celebrates local humor, culture and community.
If you're not already, follow https://www.instagram.com/808viral and https://www.instagram.com/hawaiicreators/ for all kine good fun local content.
🌺 Please join us in supporting our partners
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“Here in Hawaiʻi” is similar to “Hanging Out,” but with a focus on local stories inspired by aloha. Our goal is to strengthen understanding and connection between communities by telling stories that bring to light the shared values that make Hawaiʻi so special. Subscribe to Here in Hawaiʻi for new episodes every week, and stay subscribed to Hanging Out for new episodes coming out sporadically
You can find Here in Hawaiʻi on your podcast app, and at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
https://www.youtube.com/@hereinhawaiitv
https://www.instagram.com/hereinhawaiitv
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/here-in-hawaii/id1725207809
Why is theatre the ideal place to raise a child? MJ shares her insight from 40 years in theatre, including the power of showing students how what they learn in classes like math, physics and social studies can be applied in real life in the theatre.
Get your tickets for Kaimuki High School’s spring performace of THE ADDAMS FAMILY!
March 29 to April 7, 2024
https://honoluluboxoffice.com/shows/2024/3/29/khspac-the-addams-family
Come join us in our facebook group, Here in Hawaiʻi! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
We were super lucky to have our astrological charts read by Alice Inoue in July 2023, and even more lucky to have her sit down with us at the end of 2023 to talk about what actually happened, and what we can expect for 2024!
Join Alice (and us!) online for her virtual event – 2024 The Year of Personal Power. January 21, 2024 at 4pm HST. Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-the-year-of-personal-power-tickets-754219279167
Interview recorded December 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Here in Hawaiʻi! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
Kaʻanoʻi grew up dreaming of one day becoming a fashion designer and having her own clothing line. She shares how she got past her tendency to play it safe and overthink things, and started her clothing company Keha Hawaiʻi, during the pandemic no less. We talked about the stories behind her designs, the value of her family’s support, and what she would have done had she not pursued her dream of fashion.
https://kehahawaii.com/
IG: @kehahawaii
FB: https://www.facebook.com/kehahawaii
Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace 12/16 & 17: http://www.melekalikimakamarketplace.com/
Interview recorded December 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Here in Hawaiʻi! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
Butterfly Dad, Henry, is the owner of Paradise Monarchs. He shares how working in the hotel industry got him out of his introverted shell, and how covid led to him learning how to raise monarch butterflies, which has turned into an incredible and unique business.
https://paradisemonarchs.com/
https://www.instagram.com/paradisemonarchs/
Interview recorded November 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Here in Hawaiʻi! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
We’re at the start of a big new adventure – making a TV show! We decided to make an update episode to share the backstory on deciding to do it, the “why” behind the show, our individual “whys” and what we’re hoping for with the show.
Please join us in the facebook group! We’re really hoping to get your thoughts on the show as it comes to life 🙂
Recorded November 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Here in Hawaiʻi! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hereinhawaii
Dr. Martin is a professional speaker and certified leadership trainer. We talk about the experiences that lead to her focus on highlighting the leadership skills women possess and how to utilize them for success.
https://www.talkstorywithme.com/
Interview recorded September 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Jayme is using her training in French, Korean and American baking styles to make custom cakes, macaroons and cupcakes at Pua Cake Studio in Wahiawa. She shares how her desire to try lots of different things – including working in the fashion industry and hotel industry – led to opening her own business.
https://puacakestudiohawaii.com/
ig: @puacakestudiohawaii
Interview recorded August 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Ira has an incredible back story in how he created his own successful digital company, became a professional photographer covering everything from corporate events to the red carpet at the Emmys, and even did a TED Talk! And I haven’t even mentioned that the man has 8 children!
https://bowmandigitalmedia.com/
Interview recorded July 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Dr. Jodi is Hawaii’s Keto Doctor! She’s a Doctor of Pharmacy and accredited Metabolic Healthcare Practitioner who has been in healthcare for over 27 years. We talk beef (both the food and schoolyard fight kine), her wild stories of being a drag racer, and what’s true and (more importantly) NOT true about a keto diet.
https://www.theketoprescription.com/
Interview recorded July 2023
Come join us in our facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
We talk about her life journey, starting her career in marketing in the tech world and then “falling” into her current role as executive director of Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit that provides mental health counseling for individuals, couples, and families, regardless of ability to pay. Rachelle also shared about how she went from […]
Michel is a coach for spiritual entrepreneurs and Jamie’s business bestie! We talk about her path to becoming a spiritual entrepreneur, making a difference in the world by serving others, her favorite spiritual practices (numerology and Vedic astrology), past life experiences, and how her family feels about her being on “the woo woo train” 😆 […]
(Content warning: suicidal ideation) Dan opened up about the life experiences – depression and suicidal ideation, substance abuse and divorce – that led him to the work he does now. As a life coach and support partner, Dan helps people work on silencing their inner critic. I was really inspired by Dan’s perspective on different […]
Carole is Executive Director of Nā Keiki O Emalia (NKOE), a nonprofit on Maui whose mission is to provide peer grief support for children, teens, and their families to help them heal after the death of someone important to them. Since the fires, NKOE has been offering emergency services to families including providing essentials, toys […]
Nadia is a professional artist who also teaches art to children and teaches adults how to use art as therapy. She talks about how she started out her career in art – working in ARCHEOLOGY! She really digs (get it?) into the some fascinating stories and how her art studies applied to her work in […]
Haylin is a therapist, parent and owner of Spill the Tea Cafe, an inclusive mental health clinic for teens. I asked her all my questions about parenting (I had A LOT, sorry and thank you Haylin!). She shared about her journey learning to support her transgender child, and opened up about what inspired her passion […]
Haylin is a therapist, parent and owner of Spill the Tea Cafe, an inclusive mental health clinic for teens. I asked her all my questions about parenting (I had A LOT, sorry and thank you Haylin!). She shared about her journey learning to support her transgender child, and opened up about what inspired her passion for her work as a therapist, and her experience getting therapy for herself.
https://spilltheteacafe.org/
https://www.haylindennison.com/
Michelle and her husband own the J. Dolan restaurants – the best pizza on the island! She’s also the Individual Giving Coordinator at Honolulu Museum of Art. She shared about her experiences in the Peace Corps, how traveling shaped her to desire to serve, how her family lost all of their worldly belongings in a house fire and how the community came together to support them. She also tells us the strangest topping they’ve ever had on a pizza!
Enjoy J. Dolan’s pizza at http://jdolans.com/
Support Honolulu Museum of Art at https://honolulumuseum.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Michelle and her husband own the J. Dolan restaurants – the best pizza on the island! She's also the Individual Giving Coordinator at Honolulu Museum of Art. She shared about her experiences in the Peace Corps, how traveling shaped her to desire to serve, how her family lost all of their worldly belongings in a house fire and how the community came together to support them. She also tells us the strangest topping they've ever had on a pizza!
Enjoy J. Dolan's pizza at http://jdolans.com/
Support Honolulu Museum of Art at https://honolulumuseum.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Kimo was one of the original crewmembers of the Hōkūle'a. He shares how it all started along with stories of their first voyage, and also about his experiences working in rescue before joining Hōkūle'a.
Find Kimo's book, "Hōkūle'a Ohana Wa'a, Family of the Canoe,” at http://familyofthecanoe.com/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Just us with a totally random check in! This time we’re talking about Invisalign, Jamie’s first haircut in almost 10 years, how Nolan always clicks on facebook ads, and the Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park & Hallmark movies.
https://www.instagram.com/krislabangphotography/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Just us with a totally random check in! This time we're talking about Invisalign, Jamie's first haircut in almost 10 years, how Nolan always clicks on facebook ads, and the Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park & Hallmark movies.
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Diana Gremillion and Arliss Dudley-Cash are back to talk about their podcast, "The Body Positivity Podcast." They share about the value of being authentic and honest with yourself and those around you, and the healing that can occur when you choose to have those difficult conversations about your self-image and worth.
Follow Diana and Arliss' podcast:
https://bodypositivitypodcast.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bodypositivitypodcast/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Dr. Lenny is back! He was originally on the podcast 5 years ago for Episode 14 which seems like a lifetime ago! Lenny has been eating carnivore which I heard about but had no idea what it was or why anyone would do it. So he explained it and shared his own life-changing experiences with it. If you’re not interested in the carnivore diet, lemme just say that according to Lenny, it means eating bacon and not eating vegetables! Now you’re intrigued huh? So was I lol.
Lenny’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRMZYYSyIhtmn9hVHgjsezA
Email him at ons@protonmail.com
Check out Kris Labang Photography at https://www.hawaiiweddingphotography.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/krislabangphotography/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Dr. Lenny is back! He was originally on the podcast 5 years ago for Episode 14 which seems like a lifetime ago! Lenny has been eating carnivore which I heard about but had no idea what it was or why anyone would do it. So he explained it and shared his own life-changing experiences with it. If you're not interested in the carnivore diet, lemme just say that according to Lenny, it means eating bacon and not eating vegetables! Now you're intrigued huh? So was I lol.
Lenny's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRMZYYSyIhtmn9hVHgjsezA
Email him at ons@protonmail.com
Check out Kris Labang Photography at https://www.hawaiiweddingphotography.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/krislabangphotography/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Māpu plays Noelani on the hit Disney+ series “Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.” We talk about her journey from growing up on Maui, attending a performing arts school as a daughter of a professional musician, and pursuing her dreams of being a performer. She also shares some of her experiences on set, how she met her husband, and of course we talk about DOOGIE!
Follow Māpu on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/missmapuana/
Listen to “Local: A Memoir” by Jessica Machado, narrated by Māpuana Makia – https://www.audible.com/pd/Local-Audiobook/B0BB85LRZQ
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Paul is an author and life coach who uses trials and traumas to understand the power of response vs reaction. He shared about being bullied in school, how he learned to deal with imposter syndrome, and we somehow even managed to talk about the Partridge Family
Learn more about Paul at https://www.paulnlarsen.com/
Come join us at International Market Place for our monthly taping of Let’s Play The Game! You can find all the info at https://letsplaythegameshow.com/
Sign up for my newsletter at https://nolanhong.com/email
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Paul is an author and life coach who uses trials and traumas to understand the power of response vs reaction. He shared about being bullied in school, how he learned to deal with imposter syndrome, and we somehow even managed to talk about the Partridge Family :)
Learn more about Paul at https://www.paulnlarsen.com/
Come join us at International Market Place for our monthly taping of Let's Play The Game! You can find all the info at https://letsplaythegameshow.com/
Sign up for my newsletter at https://nolanhong.com/email
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Keao is a gifted animal communicator who helped us immensely a few months ago. Our dog Natto was exhibiting extremely unusual behaviors, so much so that we took her to the emergency vet. They couldn’t explain what was going on, her test results all came back normal and healthy. Luckily a friend referred us to Keao, and she helped us understand what Natto was trying to tell us and she’s been back to normal ever since (knock on wood).
In this episode, Keao tells us about her abilities to connect people with their pets, how she got them and how it all works. She also shares some experiences and connections throughout her career including being invited to do readings for celebrities at the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
Learn more about Keao at https://www.connectwithkeao.com/ and follow her on IG @love2connect
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Keao is a gifted animal communicator who helped us immensely a few months ago. Our dog Natto was exhibiting extremely unusual behaviors, so much so that we took her to the emergency vet. They couldn't explain what was going on, her test results all came back normal and healthy. Luckily a friend referred us to Keao, and she helped us understand what Natto was trying to tell us and she's been back to normal ever since (knock on wood).
In this episode, Keao tells us about her abilities to connect people with their pets, how she got them and how it all works. She also shares some experiences and connections throughout her career including being invited to do readings for celebrities at the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
Learn more about Keao at https://www.connectwithkeao.com/ and follow her on IG @love2connect
If you have a minute, please check out our ʻOhana Legacy Videos website (https://poplegacyvideos.com/) and let us know if you have any feedback – me@nolanhong.com
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Tessa is a veteran wedding planner and Joseph is an incredible wedding photographer, and together they launched "Unveiling Paradise" – a podcast focusing on destination weddings. They shared stories from working at countless weddings throughout the years, wedding trends they like, and how they each got into their careers (somehow their paths involved a PhD and culinary school?!). We also talked about how the wedding industry was hit during the COVID lockdowns, and how they got together to advocate for our community of wedding professionals.
Tessa and Joe's podcast, Unveiling Paradise – http://www.unveilingparadise.com/
Fred and Kate Events (Tessa's wedding planning company) – https://fredandkate.com/
Joseph Esser Photography – https://esserphotography.com/
Oahu Wedding Association – https://owa3.wildapricot.org/ Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Heather is the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center. We talked about seeing the effects of HIV in the San Francisco community where she was living in the 90s and how that inspired her work today. She also shared about her mental health journey, her recovery from addiction and how being open and vulnerable has made her a more effective leader.
Learn more about the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center at https://www.hhhrc.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Heather is the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center. We talked about seeing the effects of HIV in the San Francisco community where she was living in the 90s and how that inspired her work today. She also shared about her mental health journey, her recovery from addiction and how being open and vulnerable has made her a more effective leader.
Learn more about the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center at https://www.hhhrc.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
It’s the follow up to Ep. 207 “Our Popos,” this time we’re talking about the grandparents we were close to, Jamie’s paternal grandma and Nolan’s maternal grandfather. Join us on zoom for a free workshop! We’re teaching how to record an oral history interview with your loved one using your smartphone and things you have […]
Maile is the CEO of INPEACE, a local nonprofit based in Waiʻanae. She talked about the organization’s mission, how they provide educational programs to Native Hawaiian communities with ʻohana-focused models, how they develop their team and programs from within the community, and how important that has been to the success of their work. We also […]
Maile is the CEO of INPEACE, a local nonprofit based in Waiʻanae. She talked about the organization's mission, how they provide educational programs to Native Hawaiian communities with ʻohana-focused models, how they develop their team and programs from within the community, and how important that has been to the success of their work. We also got into her personal story, how she found her calling, and the driving force that keeps her going.
https://inpeace.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Kelly has been a professional wedding planner for 20 years, getting her start before wedding planning was really a thing. She shares about the evolution of weddings over her career and how couples' needs have changed, her best advice for planning a wedding, and why things like a professional emcee are so important. We also talk about her new business, Borrowed Blooms, which brings ultra realistic faux flower arrangements to weddings – a game-changer for the wedding industry!
https://www.aperfectdayhawaii.com/
https://www.borrowedbloomshawaii.com/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Chardonnay is a recording artist, a business owner and a farmer! She shares the origin of her name, along with the funny way her dad tells people why they named her that. We also get into her music career and how that led to her meeting the woman who would become her wife. She also shares about helping run her wife's food truck/catering company, and her family farm where they have 600 pigs!! Needless to say we, covered A LOT in this episode.
https://www.instagram.com/chardonnay.music/
https://www.chardonnaymusic.com/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Diana is an international speaker, author, master life coach and cohost of the Body Positivity Podcast! She's the daughter of Filipino immigrants and grew up in New York before making her way to Hawaii. She shares about being in class just 2 blocks away from the Twin Towers when the 9/11 attacks happened, leaving her career on Wall Street to become a chef and eventually cooking a Michelin-starred meal for President Obama, and the road that led to her current calling in life – helping people achieve dreamy and delicious results in their lives 😋
Learn more about Diana at https://www.dianagremillion.com/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
Keoni is Executive Director of Lanai Cat Sanctuary. He shares the incredible story of why and how it was created, and how houses more than 700 cats with zero fleas, and each cat has a name! Keoni's grandpa was a co-owner of the historic Oahu fine dining restaurant, John Dominis, and Keoni shares an entertaining memory of "fishing" in the restaurant's legendary fish pond and the fallout at school when he wrote about his adventure.
Learn more about Lanai Cat Sanctuary: https://lanaicatsanctuary.org/
Come join us in our new facebook group, Hanging Out in Hawaii! https://www.facebook.com/groups/hangingout
With the new COVID Booster out, we all have many questions and so we are lucky to have Dr. Jill Omori join us for a live Q&A about the shot. Dr. Jill Omori (Ep 44) is the Infectious Disease Officer for the City and County of Honolulu and Director of the Office of Medical Education, […]
Nick gives stargazing shows all across Oahu with his company, Stargazers of Hawaii. We talk about how he left his career in construction to pursue his passion in astronomy. He answers my questions about the universe, distant galaxies, what the coolest thing he’s seen, and yes, we talk ALIENS! He also shares about his other […]
Kara is the Hawaii Regional Director at Catapult Learning, an education service company supporting struggling learners. She shared her experience with learning struggles throughout high school and college, which inspires her to help educators and students through her work today. We talked about being the daughter of a teacher and how that influenced her to […]
Laura is a professional speaking coach who grew up with a stutter and is an introvert by nature. She shares how she became an award-winning speaker and now helps others do the same. We also get into how she got into stand-up comedy, what it’s like to slay one night then absolutely bomb the next […]
Our attempt at telling the stories of our grandparents. We started with the grandparents we didn’t know as well – Jamie’s maternal grandparents and her paternal grandfather (whom she called Popo), and Nolan’s maternal grandmother (whom he called Popo). We ran out of time so come back for Part 2 😊 Learn more about Pop […]
Dr. Fong started his podcast, “Asian America: The Ken Fong Podcast”, in 2015 and it currently has over 600k downloads. He tells his story of how he was a Biology major when he got his calling to become a Baptist pastor, which he did for over 30 years. We also go into how he became […]
Dani is the founder of 808 Viral and owner of BOSS Hawaii. We talked about her Gypsy ethnic background (I didn’t know that was an ethnicity) and how she dedicated a time in her life to lead activism to protect Gypsies from racial injustice and stereotyping. She shared the crazy story about how she met […]
In 2004, I discovered the most beautiful singing voice I ever heard — it was Kauʻi. Instead of becoming the next Whitney Houston, Kauʻi dedicated her life to teaching and even created a nonprofit that connects students to Hawaiian values and life skills through music. We talk about working with students on the west side […]
John is the CEO of Kupu Hawaii, a local nonprofit that provides hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education for young adults, with the goal of fostering our next generation of environmental and cultural stewards. We talk about how he and his wife came to start the org, the funny story of how he […]
Arliss is a business and life coach who teaches people the art of self love. She shares how she was studying for her PhD in Neuroscience when a diagnosis of terminal rare genetic disease changed her life to a path of radical self love and care, and how she has made it her life mission to share that with others.
Learn more about Arliss at https://soullutions.com/
https://www.facebook.com/arliss.dudleycash.1
https://www.instagram.com/arliss.dudley.cash/
Clyde has over 300 film and TV credits!! We talk about growing up in Hawaii, being one of the few Asian actors getting consistent work in Hollywood, choosing not to fall into the stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters (even when he was directed to do so), his journey to sobriety, and some really cool stories about auditioning and working on some of my favorite shows and movies of all time -- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Young Rock!
TIA CARRERE hangs out with us for Episode 200!!! She shares about getting discovered at the Food Pantry in Waikiki at age 17, singing with Daniel Ho at Brown Bags to Stardom, what she learned about how to survive and thrive in Hollywood, and lots more. It’s a great discussion about self-worth and staying grounded […]
Olin is a serial social entrepreneur, innovator, and community organizer. We talked about growing up in KPT where he was stabbed at the age of 7, serving in the Peace Corps in Russia in a city where the economy was collapsing, how Asperger's Syndrome is his super power and curse, and why his mission in life is to spread kindness.
Olin is currently focused on clean energy and STEM education. He founded multiple companies and nonprofits, holds multiple patents, and his designs have been adopted by Global 1000 companies across five different industries. His inventions have also been used in several institutions such as the Olympics and MIT. As one example, he invented and launched the first commercial crowdfunding service which scaled to channel $100 million to fund causes worldwide. One nonprofit he co-founded is Purple Maiʻa, focused on Hawaiian-grounded stem programs in education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. He has spoken at conferences worldwide including a keynote speaker at Microsoftʻs Annual Developerʻs Conference. His community service includes the U.S. Navy, the Peace Corps, and numerous nonprofits. In 2020, he along with some friends designed and hand built ventilators when Hawaiʻi had insufficient supply. He’s a past Petra Fellow (Center for Community Change) and East West Center Fellow (general engineering and Asian industrialization). Olin and his wife Alison have two boys, both students at Kamehameha Schools.
Connect with Olin at https://www.facebook.com/olagon
Olin is a serial social entrepreneur, innovator, and community organizer. We talked about growing up in KPT where he was stabbed at the age of 7, serving in the Peace Corps in Russia in a city where the economy was collapsing, how Asperger’s Syndrome is his super power and curse, and why his mission in […]
Dr. Aquino is president and founder of Hawaii Workforce Pipeline. She shares about her career journey — from going to school as a data research analyst doing testing on mice and the effects of marijuana and other drugs on humans, then finding her calling through interning at hospitals, and how she is now working to […]
Steven is a growth cultivator and founder of Humanity Consulting. Before this, he was an Air Force Officer, research program manager, and astrophysicist. We talked about his love and interest in the stars and space, and if he knows if aliens are real or not 😲 He was really open about his personal journey, how […]
Geoff is the owner of Dream Float Hawaii. We talked about what floating is, how he got started in his business, his interest and passion for learning about health and healing, and stories from driving Uber. Learn more about Dream Float Hawaii at https://www.dreamfloathi.com/
Jen is the Principal and Chief Joy Officer of Community Impact Advisors. She shared about her fascinating background — her parents worked for the FBI (?!!) and her dad analyzed surveillance footage and worked the Imelda Marcos case (?!), they adopted Jen from an orphanage in Japan, which she was able to visit as a […]
Ken is the principal instructor of Pearl City High School’s broadcast and digital media program. We talked about his 20+ years in television as a director and technical producer for all the major Hawaii news stations and video production companies, how he got his college degree 20 years after dropping out, how his high school […]
This conversation blew my mind! Samantha shared relationship advice and also went into her own relationship story and how it led her to the life and career she has today. She also tells a crazy story about her 8-hour heart surgery where SHE WAS AWAKE THE WHOLE TIME!! Samantha is an Author, Professional Keynote Speaker, […]
Bryan is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi. He shared how his childhood experiences led to his lifelong commitment to helping others and working in community support, and a crazy story about dropping out of college on orientation day and going across the country by himself in search of his next step […]
Ron Mizutani was one of Hawaii’s first Hawaiian news anchors. He worked in TV news for KHON for over 30 years, and later went on to become the CEO of Hawaii Foodbank. Today he’s the President and CEO of PBS Hawaii and an advocate for mental health. Ron is currently working on a book about […]
Savy is CEO/Founder of Gimme a Break, a nonprofit whose mission is to care for caregivers by giving an emotional and physical break as well as resources for continued well-being. We talked about how she helped her Japanese-speaking mom learn English while she was still in school, how she found her passion for helping people […]
Ashley is a digital marketing expert and owner of Baxter Digital Media Group. We talk about growing up on a farm in Texas, wanting to be a professional barrell racer (?!!), how she got rid of her Texas accent (and how it comes back), and going from working in marketing for Fortune 500 companies to […]
Dr. Jill Omori (Ep 44) is the Infectious Disease Officer for the City and County of Honolulu and Director of the Office of Medical Education, John A. Burns School of Medicine. With the COVID-19 case numbers surging in Hawaii, we asked her to join us for some Q&A related to testing, quarantine at home, what […]
Lynn is president of the Nisei Veterans Legacy. She shares about her father who was a member of the 442nd, her 30-year career with the federal government, what it was like working at the Pentagon, being in Washington D.C. when 9/11 happened, and how that event played a critical role in her career. Learn more […]
Erin is Hawaii’s Willie Wonka as she had built a chocolate empire in Manoa Valley. We had a sweet conversation about being authentic and vulnerable as a business owner and as a brand. She also shared her lessons learned from the pandemic which led to her publishing her book — which you can find on […]
Robert Cazimero is an icon of Hawaiian music, with a career that spans over 4 decades. This was an AMAZING hang out sesh. Robert shared stories about his parents, growing up one of 12 siblings, getting his start with Peter Moon’s The Sunday Manoa, performing with his brother Roland as the Brothers Cazimero, becoming a […]
Jamie and I are back with another check in episode. Just us, talking about our experiences with depression and anxiety — realizing we needed help, getting therapy, getting on medication. We’re not experts at all and this is not medical advice! We’re just sharing our own personal experiences and hoping that it may be of […]
Paul is the swiss army knife of audio in the UK. He’s been a radio Dj for over 3 decades, and is now also a podcaster, a live streamer, a wedding entertainment coordinator, and owner of an audio equipment retail shop and a recording studio. Aside from his silky smooth voice, he also has a […]
Our first ever siblings episode features friends of the show, Kyle Shimabukuro (Ep 1) and Jill Chung (Ep 59). We got them together to share hilarious childhood stories, Kyle’s pranks on Jill, gut busting Dad stories, how they experienced the ballistic missile false alarm, and probably one of the most random (and ignorant) discussions we’ve […]
To get Jamie on camera willingly would take a miracle, or it could be because live video experts Luria and Kali are gurus in empowering people to be their YOUniquely You™ selves 🙂 We talk about how Luria got her online career started and came up with the idea to take Live Streaming Pros to […]
Sheldon Tawata and Alfie Gonzales are part of the Kuilei Outreach Program at Kapiolani Community College and they host a podcast called Kuilei Courageous Conversations. We talk about how they’re helping Hawaii high school students find their path in life and guide them as they plan for life after graduation. They share their insight into […]
Tif runs the Fur Angel Foundation, a Hawaii nonprofit that rescues, rehabs, and rehomes dogs. We talk about how she and her friends came up with the idea to start this organization and her love for learning and education. It’s a pretty great story about how she came to love school because it definitely didn’t […]
Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng is so passionate about teaching and making the world a better place. We talk in depth about how she does both and where it all comes from. She also shares stories about her childhood, bartending while going to college, and of course what it’s like growing up with a brother who just […]
John Pullum is an entertainer, motivational speaker, magician, and former host of several tv shows on the Discovery Channel such as “More Than Human”. John’s whole mission in life is to make the world a happier place and boy does he do that. We talk about how he got started in magic at the age […]
Just us, airing out some marital issues! We talk about our recent pseudo car accident, clarifying shampoo, work from home life, LEDA, why Jamie’s a good listener (and a stalker), and why Nolan thought Jamie was an old lady.
Wayne is an entrepreneur and co-creator of RaceWorz, one of the most unique and popular car shows in California. After college at UH, he moved to California to work at a little start-up called YAHOO (we get to hear some cool stories about the rockstar lifestyle that came with working inside the tech boom). After […]
Jodi is a recently retired teacher and the daughter of the late Ron Bright, a local icon in Hawaii performing arts and education. She shares great stories about her dad and family and her passion for teaching. We also talked about the nonprofit in her father’s memory, “I’m a Bright Kid Foundation” and how it’s […]
At the age of 12, Ally was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer. Since then, she has been sharing her journey in hopes of inspiring others. But of course, there’s more to Ally than her diagnosis. We got to talk her about her experiences and perspectives as a teen growing up in Hawaii and […]
We had a special listener request for an episode dedicated to the Filipino culture. So Maria, an immigrant from the Philippines who moved to Hawaii as a child but spent her summers in the Philippines, is here to share her family stories, her culture, and why every Filipino family has a giant wooden spoon and […]
Haley was 2019 Miss Hawai’i Teen America & she’s the current Royal International Miss Pacific Island Teen 2021, and her mom Erica is owner of Gymboree Play and Music. They gave us a very real look into the mother-daughter relationship from both perspectives. We talked about their different experiences with bullying and how their relationship […]
Cy is a local actor whom you may recognize from several local commercials (including a series of spots with Nolan). We hear about his crazy story of deciding to move from Hawaii to LA in 6 days to take a job with Disney’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Plus some other great stories of his experiences […]
Chelsea is a model and fitness coach. We talked about going from self-admitted tomboy to pageant queen, and how injuries and other setbacks took her off the path towards her goals, but she worked on her mindset to recognize other opportunities to keep moving forward. Chelsea’s website Chelsea on instagram
Ann is an American paracanoeist who competes in international-level events. She’s a World Champion in outrigger canoe and adaptive surfing, and is a Paralympian in the sprint kayak. Along with being a championship athlete, she’s an occupational therapist. In 2000, Ann was paralysed from the chest down due to an accident in Utah when a […]
Alan is known for his culinary mastery and his world famous restaurants, but in this interview we get to experience his storytelling and the life philosophies that made him the success that he is. We talk about how he makes the best of what is available to him, not only in the kitchen but in […]
Breana is not only the general manager of International Market Place in Waikiki, she’s also one of the youngest to ever hold that position in the company. While we talk about her journey to where she is today, she also schools me on camping (and GLAMPING), growing up in Michigan, how a snow-loving person like […]
Just us this week! We get into the rough road of real estate that we’ve been on for almost a year now, why it was so devastating for Jamie every time we lost out on a bid, how we got through it, and how manifesting worked out with the home we’re moving into right at […]
Jenny is an artist out of London, England who specializes in live art sketching and murals. She explains what Live Sketching is and her process in how she does it. Jenny is not only a talented artist but full of humor and great stories. A truly delightful episode! Follow Jenny on Instagram Jenny’s website
Pua is a creative entrepreneur who became one of the OGs of the Hawaii podcast game when she co-created the “Best Life Ever” podcast back in 2015. She went from business coach to business owner when she opened Pualena Digital Design last year. We talk about life lessons and how the many twists and turns […]
Life guidance expert Alice Inoue joins us for a record-setting 3rd time! We talk about the year that was 2020 and how life is all about balance. She shares some mindsets to improve your life and how to navigate 2021. She also explains astrology, dispelling misconceptions and how it all works. Info on her 2021 […]
Solomon is a Native Hawaiian artist, illustrator and visionary. He shares his experiences, learnings and inspirations that shape his philosophies on how we can heal our islands, our nation and our world. Plus, you’ve heard of the “golden rule”. Well Solomon shares the “platinum rule” and it’s 🤯 Follow Solomon on Instagram
It’s been a rough 5 months. We talk about why it’s been so hard for Nolan to get back to recording. We didn’t remember if we talked about losing Chad on the podcast so apologies if this is repetitive… We also talk about positive stuff with the kids and step-dad life, and the turning point […]
Elizabeth is a body positive surfer who is using her social media to expand the image of the surfer girl to include women of all shapes and sizes. We talk about how she survived being lost at sea in the Gulf of Mexico as a teen, how she overcame her fear of the ocean thru […]
Queena is a messaging mentor, coach, entrepreneur and podcaster. We talk about building a business, fear of failure, dealing with childhood trauma in our relationships, her 14 years in Rhode Island and her business ventures. (This was recorded in March 2020, follow Queena on instagram and facebook to see what she’s up to now that […]
Pono is our neighbor, and he joined us back in March to pay tribute to Gloria Takaoka, the most wonderful lady who took care of our whole neighborhood. Aunty Gloria was one-of-a-kind, and Pono’s friendship with her should be the premise for a sitcom. From newspaper clippings taped to his door, to pinwheels from Daiso, […]
Aleeka is a development manager with the American Cancer Society. She shares how she ended up in Hawaii, how she deals with fears, writing a book with her husband, her experience with race issues, fake news, having difficult conversations, Black Lives Matter, health equity & racial equity. The Vog by Aleeka & William Morgan Solitaire […]
Holy smokes 2020. It’s just us today with an update as to how we’re doing 5 months into quarantine, anxiety being around people, and what it’s like to go to a funeral during the pandemic.
Jeff is Executive Director of Habilitat. He shares about growing up in Texas when busing started, his experience with addiction and treatment programs, approaching substance use as a symptom instead of the problem, and his take on the war on drugs. Stronger Together Habilitat episode Habilitat website For this Stronger Together segment, Joan Naguwa, Executive […]
JB is Casting Director at Universal Studios Japan. We talk about how he ended up in Japan, growing up in Hawaii, his job looking for talent around the world, how the pandemic has been in Osaka, celery juice, Costco in Japan, his dogs, pythons and a log cabin in the woods!
Ho’o is a musician and performer. She shares about realizing she was trans, coming out to her family and her church, learning to be comfortable with who she is, stereotypes and life in quarantine.
Moses is an actor and storyteller. He shares about growing up half-Black, half-Hawaiian on Maui, and his perspective on what is happening now following the killing of George Floyd. We also talk about his career as an artist, following his dreams, and his upcoming projects. Follow Moses on Facebook and Instagram.
It’s our first episode of Pride Month 2020 🌈💕 Jacce Mikulanec (Ep 141) joins us again to share his coming out story, and he gives us a look at what was going on behind-the-scenes at the Hawaii State Legislature during the fights for marriage equality and civil unions.
It’s KELLY HU!!! She shares about her first acting gig on Growing Pains, moving to LA, learning the craft of acting, her amazing dog Mushu & her work with nonprofits. She’s freaking fantastic and an inspiration to pursue everything fearlessly! #BOFOHawaii – http://buyonefeedone.com/ David Bowie quote – https://youtu.be/7HqTQyQ6wc0
We’re taking another break from the podcast. We plan to be back, please get on our list for updates, https://bit.ly/3cmORDi and go to our website for videos we already shot, https://nolanhong.com/ (SHOWS tab). Please take care & we hope to be back soon! For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Dr. Jill Omori, […]
Patrick is kumu hula of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu in San Francisco. We talk about bringing his hālau and Keali‘i Reichel to Burning Man, what his dad did for him, teaching hula at San Quinten State Prison and the community created in a hālau. For this week’s #StrongerTogether nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with […]
Viet is an actor living in New York City. We talk about life in NYC at this point of the COVID crisis, leaving Hawaii to go to the Manhattan School of Music, and his experiences with Nolan at KCC and their beloved teacher & mentor Lina Doo. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with […]
Shawn is a life coach based in Wailuku. We talk about how a timeshare brought him to Hawaii, finding love on a cruise ship, driving the monorail at Disney World, and what he does as a life coach. He also shares tips on dealing with fear and anxiety. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke […]
Fa’amata is Nolan’s Samoan friend with a southern accent! He’s an Assistant Principal & father of 4 in Jonesboro, Georgia. We talk about growing up in Georgia, dealing with teenagers, getting recruited to play college football & his career-ending injury. For this week’s nonprofit spotlight, we spoke with Keith Kuboyama of Family Programs Hawaii.
Melanie is an associate director & casting director on Broadway. We talk about life in NYC when it’s the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic compared to during 9-11, understudying Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon & working in Vietnam as the pandemic spread. Kanu Hawaii’s volunteer database to get involved in virtual volunteering
It’s our 1st quarantine edition! Cynthia is a filmmaker living in LA. We talk about getting discovered for her fan videos, dealing with depression, coming out, working for Invicta Fighting Championships, and documenting two of Ronda Rousey’s fight camps. Cynthia’s YouTube channel Cynthia on Instagram
Jacce is Pres. & Exec. Director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. We talk about getting chickens in the mail, growing up in Iowa, studying archaeology on Rapa Nui, working in politics, performing kabuki, and meeting President Obama twice! The site we were talking about in the end: https://popcm.me/kidsathome/
Alice is back to help us understand how to manage our mindset during the coronavirus pandemic. We talk about countering worry, creating your reality, learning through challenges, being specific about good things & the benefit of taking a calming breath. Follow Alice on Facebook (The affirmation we tried to remember at the end of the […]
Emily does public relations for small businesses and nonprofits that give back to the community. We talk about living in New Orleans & New Zealand, the behind-the-scenes at the United States Congress, and now starting her own business. Check out Emily’s business, Loihi Consulting
Mrs. Suiso is the Exec Director of Searider Productions at Waianae High School. We talk about how the award-winning multi-media program evolved from a Spanish class, her hopes for the future of creative media in Hawaii & her family farm, Makaha Mangoes.
Dr. Chad is a chiropractor & life facilitator, focusing on the mind-body connection. We talk about listening to your body, how the body remembers events like fear or trauma, how network care chiropractic helps heal the body and learning to heal yourself.
Doc is a podcaster and owner of Etched Aloha. We talk about going from the East Coast to Waikiki, paramedic to radio jock; the value of wasted time, becoming an entrepreneur, and the miracle of the Instant Pot. Check out Doc’s podcast at https://solid.fm/ Doc’s youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/docrock808 Doc’s business: https://www.etchedaloha.com/
Nolan meets his idol! Billy V is the voice of basically every event in Hawaii. We talk about how he met and married his wife, his love of Star Trek, and go behind the scenes of his amazing career in radio, TV and UH athletics.
Unexpectedly just the 2 of us on this episode! We talk about how we got to the point where we were able to take a family trip with Jamie’s ex-husband and the kids – from the divorce to adding Nolan as stepdad into the family.
Allison is a fashion designer with a retail store in Ala Moana! We talk about getting into fashion design, getting her jeans manufactured and into Nordstrom, going from wholesale to retail, and from a solo entrepreneur to managing a team.
Will is an actor, playwright & director. We talk about the joys of older siblings, how karaoke got him into acting, his process of writing plays and directing, working on a big budget movie, and PSA: don’t give stink eye when you’re driving!
Liann is a corporate lawyer and yoga instructor. We talk about judging people at yoga class, changing professions, taking care of a sick doggie and getting a new puppy, and making the decision to get off the path you thought you were supposed to be on.
Just the 2 of us today. We look back at the year, our mistakes and accomplishments, decisions we made and how they turned out. We get into how Jamie ended up reconciling with her mom following Ep. 93 and remember Aunty Gloria.
Eddie is a grant writer, videographer & podcaster! We talk about Hip Hop Karaoke, growing up in Texas, getting into nonprofit work, his experience of being black in Hawaii & Nolan’s search for the perfect purse. Check him out on the Deeper Cuts Podcast! Follow Eddie on Instagram Deeper Cuts Podcast Eddie’s work on Vimeo
Randy is a hypnotist. We talk about video games, his career in radio, becoming step-dad to a girl, relationship coaching, how the brain looks for problems, making the choice to be happy, hypnosis for smoking cessation, and suppressed memory.
Along with all of his titles, Egan is a fantastic storyteller. We talk about how his brother Enson got him into Jiu Jitsu, the craziest root canal story, and his inspiring journey from losing every match to becoming the world champ at racquetball.
Alice is a Life Expert, author & founder of Happiness U. She shares about growing up and feeling out of place in Taiwan, moving to the US and going to school in Compton, finding balance and ease, counterfactual thinking, face blindness & astrology. Follow Alice on Facebook Alice’s event: 2020 The Year of Manifestation with […]
Sorry everybody, we thought it would be a short break but it ended up being super long… We explain it here, what’s been going on with Nolan’s diagnosis and treatment, and how we’ve been dealing with everything. Thanks for sticking with us!
Another behind-the-scenes look at our marriage and probably way too much information… We talk about taking a break from releasing new episodes and why…
Sorry about the late episode… Nolan explains what happened and gives us a look into the alternate universe of his brain, and how that affects taking care of his responsibilities.
These brothers are 17, 13 & 11, and the sons of Jamie’s high school classmate. We talk about life in Utah with 5 siblings, another kid’s basketball trauma, fashion choices, stand-up comedy, parents posting on facebook, spending habits & sugar addiction.
He updates us on his life as a stuntman for Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum PI (including a story about breaking his neck in 6 places), going to Dubai for the Special Olympics World Games, and he shares some behind-the-scenes stories from his Super Brawl days.
Richie is a real estate investor and one of Nolan’s dearest friends. We talk about working together on the teen pregnancy prevention touring show, dealing with ADHD, flipping houses and accidentally buying a meth house. Go to the end of the episode (around 1:37) for Richie’s contact info and info on his upcoming class.
A recap of our trip to France, with revelations about Nolan’s anxiety, our first experience with a panic (or anxiety?) attack, what we learned about parenting, being shy on a trip with a bunch of strangers, and our favorite things about the experience.
This is an emergency episode, recorded the night before our trip to France. No guest, just us, omg. After 5+ attempts at recording, this turned into a very real talk about how we communicate with each other. Yikes.
100 episodes later, Jen (Ep 16) is back! We talk about live-action Disney remakes, our favorite podcasts, whether or not to pour the tea for your aunty in Hong Kong, Joy Luck Club, and love languages.
Colette is the Dean of Academic Affairs at Windward Community College, and she was a professsor of Hawaiian history at KCC for nearly 20 years. We talk about her experiences as an administrator and her research on Queen Kapiolani.
Nolan’s mom started a journal when he was born, which we’ve been calling The Book of Nolan. In this episode, he reads excerpts from his first year of life and her first year as a mom 🙂
Coach Rolo is head coach for the UH Warriors! We talk about player codenames, his career as a player and how getting benched affected him, what it’s like to be a head coach, mentoring and motivating kids, and we get deep into pizza. It’s awesome.
Steph (Ep 3) is back! We talk about getting back into performing and reprising her role as Isabel MacGregor in “The Princess and the Iso Peanut”, how that led to her becoming a coach at Egan’s Bootcamp, and her health coach aspirations.
Jessie could be Nolan’s twin. We talk about all the things they both love: NBA, hip hop, professional wrestling and sandwiches. Something happened during the interview that messed with Nolan’s head, stay tuned for What’s Poppin’ at the end for all that…
Saxon is an actor and entrepreneur. We talk about bombing his first audition, shooting a Chinese action movie in Mexico, doing his mission in Japan, bringing kendama to the mass market in Hawaii, and he and Nolan share their experiences with anxiety.
Chris was head of Columbia/TriStar and is the founder of UH’s Academy for Creative Media. We talk about his journey from making Super 8 movies with homemade explosions to surviving on free sauerkraut, to working on Jerry Maguire and his vision for Hawaii.
This is our favorite relationship talk ever. We get into rage naps, what to do when your partner is upset, and they share an amazing story about an epic fight on their around-the-world trip. Check out Annie & Curtis at Mango Season Music & Weddings! Mango Season Music Mango Season Weddings iTunes Spotify
Thomas is an artist. We talk about art school and he gives us a cool behind-the-scenes look at working on animated shows like Ben 10 and a new version of TMNT. Jamie messed up and deleted the beginning of the close where we thank Thomas, sorry Thomas! 🙁
Crystal is a realtor and dance instructor, and former Miss Hawaii 2013. We talk about her pageant experience including being Miss Chinatown, working for Pepsi, meeting her husband on a blind date, and teaching dance in the age of Fortnite. Crystal’s Locations Hawaii site Prisma Dance
Kathryn is an Elite Cuddle Professional! We learn all about that and it’s fascinating! Other topics: growing up in New Mexico, hot air balloons, graduating with her mom, and our checkered cuddle past. At the end we debut a new section, What’s Poppin` 🙂 Email Kathryn at cuddleinparadise @ gmail.com and follow her on Instagram!
You’ll never guess how many DVDs Walter owns. We also talk about working at Blockbuster, aliens, marriage, laundry rules, Disney princes and princesses, and his take on Disney movies. Also, Nolan has never seen a Demi Moore movie. What???
Rachel is our business coach! We talk about how she helps business owners, how she became an entrepreneur, the E-Myth closet, her secret trip to Texas (sorry Rachel’s mom!), and her big upcoming race (Run, Rachel, Run!). Check out Rachel’s business coaching site – http://synergybusinesscoaching.com/
Kurt is a photographer, and he was one of the photographers at our wedding “reception” (some of his pics below). We talk about how he ended up moving to Hawaii from Colorado, getting into photography and how he manages to take such amazing candid shots. Follow Kurt on IG – https://www.instagram.com/kurtstevensphotography/ Some of Kurt’s pics […]
Kristine is an anchor on KHON’s morning shows. We talk about her recent engagement, being a news reporter on the mainland, working the morning shift, and she asks us for advice on marriage (we’ve only been married for 1 year so not sure if it’s useful).
Our 2 awesome guest hosts, Kevin (Ep24) and Kyle (Ep1), came back for Ep 100! We talk briefly about aftermath of Jamie’s other episode, then get into the rest of her story – from the Bear Club to her many jobs. They also make her try lots of new snacks.
This episode is SO FUN! Will shares how is family went from Taiwan to the US, his experience with bullying, going from Buddhism to becoming a Christian pre-pastor, and how the Ellen DeGeneres Show helped him come out to his family.
It’s a K5 Comedy Block reunion! (missing Elroy Ruiz) Cathy is now a standup comedian and Kehau does improv comedy. We talk about the differences between standup and improv, learning from Andy Bumatai, comedy in Hawaii and going after goals.
Eileen is an animal communicator. We talk about how she learned to communicate with animals, what our pets want us to know, how animal communicators help our pets with things like moving, classes she offers, AND we find the solution to Nolan’s bird issue! Eileen’s website Email Eileen at eileen@animalcommunicatorshawaii.com or call (808) 551-7271 and leave a message
Jordan and Sara are performers. We talk about their experiences working in sketch comedy and theater in Chicago, the comedy audition process, always being ready to do your 5 minutes, and making the decision to live on the mainland to follow their dreams. Follow Sara on twitter and instagram Follow Jordan on instagram Watch Sara […]
Jon is a Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning musician, former lead singer of Pure Heart and one of the creators of HISessions. We talk about his career in music, real estate, podcasts, parenting, fishing, and what the future holds. Follow Jon on facebook and instagram for upcoming gigs Subscribe to HISessions on YouTube Support HI*Sessions on […]
James is a producer/director and the owner of Kinetic Productions. We talk about his dog Latte, filmmaking as a team sport, goal setting and Disneyland, and the super inspiring story of how he got into USC film school after 5 tries.
*Warning: This episode deals with adult topics. Jamie makes the uncomfortable yet incredibly brave decision to open up about being a survivor of child abuse. She shares what she remembers, how it affected her, and where she’s at now in her life. This interview was difficult for both of us and you’ll hear that in […]
Lisa is the President and CEO of the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations. We talk about adopting her dog at the Humane Society, how 50 is the new 40, women’s soccer, and her many empty nest/mid-life crisis ideas.
Allan is an attorney and actor. We talk about how the Vietnam War and Governor Ariyoshi affected the direction of his life, his time on a Navy carrier, working on the original Hawaii Five-0, Magnum PI and Jake and the Fatman, and how he got into theater.
Skyler is the host of HI*Sessions, a pilot for the Air National Guard, and a member of the famous Kamaka ukulele family. We talk about her experiences becoming Miss Hawaii 2012 and going into the military. (Featured Image PC: Katie Rae Bode Photography)
Our youngest guest ever and our first disclaimer! Reid is Jamie’s classmate and fellow band geek. We talk with him and his son Evan about podcasts, Evan’s school in Oregon, past bullying (or not bullying), and the origin of Nolan’s bird phobia.
Maggie Andrade, wife of Dave Mayeda (Ep 86) talks about growing up in Norway, being fluent in four languages, the search for self identity, religion, her work in family violence, and how she came to Hawaii.
Steve is Nolan’s man crush. We get into beard care, being a UN official, going from a 0.5 GPA to becoming a principal, natural intelligence and perseverance in education, parenting advice, grit and social-emotional learning.
Nolan is friends with a sociology professor?? Dave talks with us about the ultimate a-hole workout, teaching classes of 650 at the University of Auckland, the sociology of violence, and Alfonso Ribeiro’s high school experience.
This was a tough one for Nolan… He’s pretty uncomfortable about posting it, but I think it’s good to put it out and be open and honest about what he’s going thru trying to find his calling. With a weird intro by me, yikes.
Aleki is a professional wrestler. We talk about building a local pro wrestling organization, getting ready to do their debut show and being a bad guy. Check out their website for tickets and info on their training center – www.ucewrestling.com
Megann is one of the amazing singers we know. We talk about what to do when you can’t cheehoo at the Bruno Mars concert, her hilarious take on WWE, watching movies with her mom, dogs at Kahala Mall, dealing with imposter syndrome & following your dreams.
Michael is a DP. We talk about raccoons eating his steak, the Mid-Pac theater dept in the early 90s, being Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds, working on Californication with David Duchovny, and moving back to Hawaii and trying to figure stuff out. Check out some of Michael’s work on his website: http://michaelcruickshankdp.com/ And Happy Gotcha Day […]
Chad is a coach, teacher, 6x Hawaii’s fastest human, and one of Nolan’s (and Jamie’s) dearest friends. With guest co-host Brooke Nakamura, we talk about mistakes in competition, heartbreak and self-doubt. Please excuse the noise of swishing ice cubes 🙂
(PARENT WARNING: real Santa talk in here, listen without kids) Dion is an actor. We talk about his Forrest Gump life, his fascination with Presidential cars, being a bubble-wrapped Santa, family history and theater work.
Tears in my eyes again. Nolan talks about his experience having a stepdad and becoming one. I thought I knew all of his thoughts around this subject but there’s stuff in here I never heard before. This episode breaks my heart and fills it to bursting.
Jayel is Nolan’s best friend Steven’s wife (Ep 67). We talk about raising 3 boys under age 5, how a visit to the International Marketplace changed her life, and the hilarious stories of how she and Steven became a couple and got engaged.
Johnny is an event planner. We talk about the Hawaii Gay Flag Football League, musical theater, Gay Days Disney, family, his life in LA and his appearance on Ellen, and how that led to him being on birthday cards, calendars and t-shirts nationwide.
W just turned 9. We talk about not listening to your parents, gas, slow hand at jan ken po, child swap, the one thing wrong with Emmett, he rates his big brother and us, and shares some profound words of wisdom.
Austin is 21 and one of our favorite people. He talks about growing up a superfan of Lisa Matsumoto’s theater shows then doing a show in his teens. Then we get into what exactly Jamie should be worried about as her big kid starts middle school. Yikes.
Thomas is visiting from San Diego and joins us with Kyle (Ep 1), his best friend from small kid time. We learn why Thomas smells his food before eating it, what the story is behind Ghost Cat, and how Kyle manages to prank Thomas from across the ocean.
Omg guys. Jamie here. I have no words. Nolan is all by himself on this episode and gets into how we went from just friends to eloping. I was supposed to be working while he recorded this but I may or may not have been listening with tears in my eyes ♥️
Angela just finished her master’s degree in Drama Therapy. We find out what that is, how she figured out what to do with her life, filling her passion bucket, and what a therapist does in a hospital.
Road Trip #2 with Matt Chong (Ep 18)! We’re in Chicago for ALL IN, an independent pro wrestling event, and the Starrcast wrestling convention. We also introduce our upcoming 2nd podcast and talk about Matt and Jamie’s foodie/anti-foodie instagrams.
Julian is one of the most decorated basketball players to come out of Hawaii. We talk about literal growing pains, food poisoning, his career, and the life of a professional athlete including hecklers, music and, um, protection.
Daryl is an actor, a stand-up comedian and Owner-Operator at Action Zone Wrestling, a local pro-wrestling organization. He’s also known for his iconic roles as the “Das my bank” guy, the “never shake a keiki” guy, and in Beyond Paradise. Go see Daryl and Andy Bumatai at the Blue Note, Sept 14 at the Blue […]
Mr. Sato is our 10-year old guest Kai’s favorite teacher (Ep 38). We talk about not getting into HBA as a kindergartener to teaching 5th grade at that same school, starting a fishing class and coming up with nicknames for students.
Everybody should have a best friend like Steven. The boys talk about Bruce Lee, philosophy, their first MMA fights and the transition from fighter to father. Related episodes: TJ Thompson (Ep 2), Dave Yeung (Ep 11), and Chris West (Ep 12, 13).
Courtney is an events manager. We talk about moving to Hawaii sight unseen, moving back to Chicago and coming back again to Hawaii, becoming an outdoorsy person, Chicago pizza and volunteering.
Lisa (center in the pic) is a biologist and innovation & technology specialist. Topics: more things first generation kids learn from their parents, marine biology and coral bleaching in Guam, IT and web design. Lisa’s sister Eva and their 2 dogs joined us in the studio.
Noelle is a performer and preschool teacher. We talk about navigating the island without google maps, pager codes, dealing with panic attacks and anxiety, performing, ghost hunting and arts in education.
Bip and Nino are two of Nolan’s oldest, closest friends. It’s a “unique” friendship centered on professional wrestling. This episode isn’t an interview as much as it is just hanging out with three old friends rehashing their kooky history together.
Grant is a singing comedian and YouTuber. We talk about making money on YouTube, live streaming, Tanacon – a YouTuber conference that became a huge controversy last month, optimism and relentless pursuit of your passion. Grant’s YouTube channel Shane Dawson video featuring Grant PewDiePie video featuring Grant
Kaulana started performing magic in Waikiki at 14. We talk about bullying, finding your passion, and running Torch Hawaii which he started at age 16. We also get into collecting Funko Pops and geek out on Game of Thrones. Links Magician Kaulana website Facebook Instagram Torch Hawaii facebook
It’s our first teenager! Kailen is 19. His mom is Zan (Ep 52) and his step-dad is Charles (Ep 47). We talk about his summer job, growing up with two sets of parents and siblings, and get recommendations on paying for college and parenting.
Jill is Jamie’s parenting guru. We talk about how she turned a Christmas tree into a volcano, her family tradition of pranking, and how creative she is with disciplining her kids, including the story of the tattletale bear, which changed Jamie’s life. Get your tickets to see Jill and several of our previous guests in […]
Nara is a performer and Jamie’s friend from small kid time. We talk about going to Priory and Kamehameha, class reunions, driving Lyft, parenting as a performer, and we get a corndog-cooking lesson from Nara’s daughter.
Jude spent 19 yrs working at the historic Hawaii Theatre and shares stories from his time there including things you may not know about the structure and history of the building, great backstage stories about famous performers, and ghost stories!
Nancy is a high school teacher and a photographer. We get the details on her recent eye surgery, her royal roots, being a tomboy in a pageant, getting bullied, and the ups and downs of being a teacher in a public high school. Follow Nancy’s company, Shoots! Photography on facebook & instagram 😀
Myrtle was the Dir of Student Employment at UH. We talk about moving from Hong Kong to Hawaii, and life lessons learned at the pineapple cannery. This is the only pod where you’ll hear about Chiang Kai-shek and Miley Cyrus in the same conversation 🙂 The women’s group Myrtle talks about: American Business Women’s Association […]
Chad is a local podcaster and stand-up comedian. We learn a lot about ducks, what it takes to be a stand-up comic, singing Journey with a porn star, and jumping off the roof to tackle a bully. Check out Chad’s podcast, What’s Up With That Bro. Don’t miss Chad’s birthday show at O’Toole’s, 5/18/18!
Tanna and Alyssa (Ep 39) talk about Eden in Love adopting a village in Sri Lanka for 5 years. Jeff Power and Celeste & Jay Pietersz of Global Hope Network Intl discuss the process of coaching villages to transform themselves out of extreme poverty. Contact Jeff Power at Global Hope Network if you want to […]
Zan is married to Charles (Ep 47). She shares about her parents’ divorce, her experiences with theater, doing an exchange program in college, and teaching in Taiwan. If your kids are listening, maybe skip from 34-38 min, there’s talk about dorm life…
It’s the rebuttal episode! Tommy is married to Heather (Ep 46). He gives his side of the story, from the MC Hammer phone call in 5th grade to Myspace and making the first move. He talks about helping bring Uber to Hawaii and figuring out what’s next.
Kyle (Ep 1) and Kevin (Ep 24) interview Nolan about his complicated history with swearing, we hear Carrot Girl: A Story of Redemption, Nolan shares something he never told anyone, and the last hour is therapy. It’s a crazy long one, but we hope you enjoy! The Kyle-zilla pic won’t upload to this site, so you […]
It’s Nolan’s mom! She shares stories of growing up the only girl with four brothers, her adventures in the Air Force, living in Alabama and Taiwan, and raising Nolan as a single parent while working in the family restaurant.
Tony is a professional reseller, making more now than he did when he had a full-time job. He shares how that works and how he jumped into this entrepreneurial life as a new father. We also talk about his background teaching dance and doing choreography.
Charles Kupahu Timtim is possibly the most interesting man in Hawaii. He spent his early years in Maine, setting lobsters free in the parking lot, then moved to Papakolea, and became one of the founding members of CHANT, working with Mackey Feary and Kealiʻi Reichel.
Heather is the Director of Behavioral Health at Helping Hands Hawaii. We talk about moving from Chicago to Arizona to Kalihi, tattoos, Myspace, and her career in therapy and case management. Nolan ends with the most real outro ever. Jamie refuses to edit.
Paul is Jamie’s baby cousin, who had a baby and opened a chiropractic practice with his fiancé Kate two months ago. They specialize in correcting posture, which affects everything about the body from migraines to allergies (they explain in the episode). More about Paul and Kate’s business, Foundation Spine and Posture: Facebook Instagram Website
Dr. Jill is the Director of Predoctoral Education at the UH med school. We talk about dating in intermediate school, the possibility of a zombie apocalypse, how she ended up becoming a doctor and teaching at the med school, and her work with the homeless. Click to donate to Hawaii H.O.M.E. Project, the organization founded by […]
He’s the associate editor of Frolic and co-founder of Slug Media. We talk about how he found his way to doing social media strategy and guerrilla marketing, his food review videos, and he also brought a tasty treat from Tokyo for Jamie to try! Thomas’ blog Bites of Chinatown Walking Tour Fat Kid Friday hits […]
The Hoku Award winner talks about getting bullied, growing up in Missouri and Hawaii, how winning a pageant made her never want to enter another one, and what happened to her Hokus. Go to benandmaila.com to see Ben and Maila’s calendar of upcoming events. Ben and Maila on Facebook Maila on Instagram Ben and Maila […]
The owner of Honolulu Kitchen talks about figuring out how to make his famous deep fried manapua, growing up working at his family’s noodle factory, doing magic tricks as a teppanyaki chef, and the amazing things his wife, a shaman, has foretold for him. Honolulu Kitchen on Instagram Frolic review Yelp
Nolan & past guest Matt Chong talk about attending a Hollywood red carpet movie premiere, how they each got into comics, Marvel vs DC, and their attempt to buy light-up sneakers. Apologies for the road noise, they recorded on the drive from LA to Vegas.
This was one of our most inspirational conversations. Tanna, owner of Eden in Love, and Alyssa, Eden’s creative director, talk about business, how they approach relationships and life, and fashion (specifically, Jamie’s fashion problems).
10-year-old Kai is our most entertaining guest yet! We discuss food, candy, what he wants to be when he grows up (including but not limited to boxer, food reviewer and veterinarian), and we find out why he actually LIKES to clean the toilet.
The sports broadcaster talks about growing up with “Pops” Jim Leahey, crazy stories from when he first started announcing, including the time he thought he’d get fired for cussing on live radio, and the one performance he wishes he could take back. “Let’s Talk Sports With Kanoa Leahey” Kanoa on Twitter
Paul Kim is a musician/singer from the Bay area. We talk about his ties to Hawaii, competing on American Idol, how he started out as a rapper in high school, getting his first record deal with a label in Korea, and meeting Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men. Paul’s YouTube channel
Dr. Kealani Cook is a history professor at UH West Oahu and one of Jamie’s oldest friends. We talk about his job at the UH press, how he got his PhD, why history should be the study of power, and his book, “Return to Kahiki: Native Hawaiians in Oceania.” A suipi guide (the card game) Kea’s […]
Grant Sumile is an architect and Jamie’s middle brother. We get his view on Nolan’s proposal to Jamie, how went from academic probation at UH to becoming a partner at an architecture firm, and we get a quick history of breakdancing in Hawaii. Projects by Grant and Darin’s company, ADM Retail Planning & Architecture
It’s the directors roundtable with Ryan Kawamoto of Kinetic Productions, and Brad Watanabe of Berad Studio. We talk scrappy filmmaking, marketing in the digital age and building community. Fyi, there’s a kanikapila next door so that’s the music you hear. Ryan’s links Ryan’s IMDB Kinetic Productions Sample of Ryan’s work Brad’s links Website Hawaii Shoots […]
Roslyn Catracchia is a composer, lyricist & musical director. We talk about her adventures in cooking, why she was wandering Waikiki sobbing after a gig, and her new project with Kealiʻi Reichel and Stephen Schwartz, who wrote GODSPELL, PIPPIN & WICKED.
Grant Kimura is a marketing consultant. He shares how he went from taking naps at UH Campus Center between jobs to throwing red carpet events in LA. The 2nd half is a lot of geek talk (i.e. Star Wars vs Star Trek) – you’ve been warned.
Mark Sumile is a retired Naval officer and Jamie’s eldest brother. We talk about how he went from barely finishing high school to graduating from the Naval Academy, leadership lessons he learned in the Navy, and why Jamie only eats Happy Meals.
Debbie Nishimoto is a freelance makeup, hair & wardrobe stylist, and one of our favorite people. We talk about how she ended up in an unconventional career, dealing with the insecurities that come with freelancing, and tips for actors new to production.
Michael Ng is an actor, director and high school drama teacher. We talk about his approach to writing and directing, how he recognizes and encourages talent in his students, how self-doubt affected his career, and getting his dream role in The King & I.
Odeelo Dayondon is a triathlete and a marathon runner, and one of the most motivated people I know. He talks about qualifying for the Boston Marathon and setting a personal record at the Chicago Marathon. He also shares some crazy stories about race day.
Dorian Nakamichi is a published author and world traveler. We talk about what it was like backpacking in New Zealand, Asia and Europe, and her experiences volunteering as a roo (as in kangaroo) nanny in Australia!
Jen Kawamoto was an athletic trainer on the mainland before coming home and opening her acupuncture practice. We talk about how acupuncture works and what it can be used for, including pain management and cosmetic facial rejuvenation. Links: Jen’s business, Hawaii Sports Acupuncture Hawaii Sports Acupuncture facebook page Jen will be answering questions on our […]
Kevin Yamada is an actor. We talk about how he got thru 100+ auditions in NYC before he got cast as host of a children’s show on PBS, what it was like to act with the late great Robin Williams, and he shares some tips for up-and-coming actors. “Nut Job” scene from Old Dogs
Jan Harada is president and CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii. She talks about her love of lion dance, martial arts, and her dog, being CEO of a local nonprofit, and her hesitations getting on Instagram.
Lopaka Kapanui is back to kick off the Halloween season with more scary stories. He also answers listener questions and gives the scoops on the tours he has going on this month. Go to Lopaka’s website to book a tour: https://mysteries-of-hawaii.com/october-2017/ If you go, please post on our facebook and let us know how it is!
Matt Pablo is a performer, but he started out as a super shy kid. We talk about his mom and brother forced him into his first audition, how he started working with Don Ho at age 12, and his current job as a cast member at Disney World.
Kathleen Stuart is a singer and actor from Kaneohe, now living and working in New York City. She’s back to reprise her role as Anna in “The King and I” presented by I’m A Bright Kid Foundation. We talk about following your dreams and Captain America. Get your tickets to “The King and I” before […]
Devon Nekoba is a co-host of the 94.7 KUMU Rise and Drive morning show. We talk about how a broken amulet and paperclip got him hooked on acting, his most embarrassing celebrity interview, and why he almost got beat up in elementary school.
Matt Chong is the KING of TV game shows! Hear how he got on The Price is Right and Celebrity Name Game, go behind the scenes and find out if Mario Lopez really is that handsome in person. Matt and Emily also share their engagement story, it’s fantastic.
Rob DeMello is the sports director at KHON2. He shares how he went from struggling in high school to getting a full-ride at HPU. We talk about co-parenting, UFC in Hawaii, and Nolan reminds another guest about another embarrassing story. LINKS Rob’s reporting at KHON Facebook Twitter Instagram
Jen Lieu is a marketing specialist, but we talk about growing up with a strict Chinese tiger mom. Imagine having to recite the multiplication table if you want to eat dinner. That was Jen’s life. And kind of Nolan’s too. Hilarity ensues. Enjoy!
Jake Shimabukuro is an ukulele virtuoso, formerly of the band Pure Heart. He talks about how wanting a gig at a restaurant led to the creation of Pure Heart’s historic Hoku Award winning album, the breakup of the band, and their upcoming reunion concert. Check out our facebook page for videos of Jake playing at […]
Dr. Lenny Cocco is a chiropractor and business/life coach. We talk about the zone healing technique, his perspective on how to live life, and why Jamie calls him her miracle healer.
Part 2 with Chris West, former MMA fighter turned referee/coach. In this episode, we talk about cornering Chris “The Crippler” Leben in the UFC, dogs, and his wife’s career as a dolphin trainer. Check out the episode page for Part 1 of our interview with Chris for more pics.
Chris West is a former MMA fighter turned referee/coach. We talk about the time he got to spend the evening sitting next to Iron Mike Tyson, what ended his college football career, how he got into MMA and his fight with a K-1 kickboxing top contender.
Dave “Chinaman” Yeung is a former MMA champion in Hawaii, turned coach. We talk about his Kamen Rider collection, growing up in Kukui Gardens, old school Chinese Kempo training, and his touching tales of his beloved Jackson’s chameleons.
Annie Ushiroda was (podcast producer) Jamie’s son’s first-grade teacher. We talk about bullying, self-esteem, how she reaches different types of kids, and how what works with first-graders can work with anybody. Some of the pics she emailed to Wessy’s dad and me during the year:
Andrew Lai is a teacher and one of the funniest guys in Ohia Productions. We talk about Days of Our Lives, his Disney obsession, bacon, and what he has learned from teaching millennials.
Niki Libarios is the owner of Hawaii Doggie Bakery. We talk about running away because of math, unicorns, getting scoldings on social media, the world of dogs on Instagram, her Popo, and of course, running her business. LINKS Niki’s awesome business, Hawaii Doggie Bakery: website, IG, FB Niki’s Popo on Instagram Article: 18 Times These Shiba […]
Kiana “Kiki” Rivera is an actor, director and playwright. She talks about writing her play, “Puzzy,” which debuted at New Zealand’s Pride Festival, how her mom reacted to the play, and being one of the first Pacific Islander lesbian playwrights. Promo for “Puzzy” at Kumu Kahua Theatre:
Cat Toth Fox is a writer, teacher and social media influencer. We get into the Cherry Blossom Festival, talk video games, and hear how a Qi Gong Grandmaster changed her life. WARNING: Cat’s baby giggles throughout the podcast, prepare for cuteness! Cat on Social Media: Facebook Instagram Blog YouTube Google+
Andy (Pang) Kamoku is a drummer who performed in Las Vegas and toured the world with the worldwide phenomenon, STOMP. He takes us behind-the-scenes and we talk about the time the entire New York New York casino chanted his name. Here’s a clip we found of Andy with the Las Vegas cast of STOMP. Andy performing […]
Lopaka Kapanui is a master storyteller, actor and former professional wrestler. He shares some bone-chilling stories from his ghost tours, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his life as a professional wrestler. Feeling brave? Take a tour with Lopaka and let us know how it is (we’re waaaay too chicken to go). One of […]
Steph Sanchez is a performer, recognized for her roles in film and TV on the local and national level. We talk about moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, coming out to her parents, and moving back to Hawaii.
TJay Thompson is one of the founding fathers of MMA in Hawaii. We talk about the early days of MMA at Gussie L’amour’s, but first we get into his crazy new career as a stunt performer for Hawaii Five-O and Kong. TJay’s IMDB page Follow TJay on Instagram
Kyle Shimabukuro is a graphic designer and the creator of HiLife Clothing. We talk about building a brand in Hawaii, his advice for up-and-coming designers, and what happened when graffiti artists picked the wrong place to tag. Check out Kyle’s brands on facebook: HiLife and Throne