The most honest year-end recap happens across a kitchen table with sneakers by the door and game film still fresh in our heads. I sat down with my daughter, Aria, to trace the real story behind her varsity leap: the extra lifts, the OC16 nerves, the bad game that shook her, and the next-day reset that proved her mindset is built for pressure. It’s a tour through the grind you don’t see on highlight reels—how you hold your energy when you don’t start, how you become a better teammate, and how belief sneaks up on you one rep at a time. We also open the lens to school life and growing up in Hawaii. Sophomore year means tougher classes, early college prep, and the noise of high school drama. Aria keeps it simple with an inner circle she trusts, a sense of humor that won’t quit, and a clear boundary around what matters. The conversation drifts into travel tournaments in Vegas, Anaheim, and Maui, the joy of Disneyland, and the feeling of being more bonded as a team after a full season together. When she talks about coaches, you hear two styles—strict and structured, calm and player-first—both shaping a competitor who adapts fast. Music ties generations together. Old-school R&B—SZA, Ashanti, Miguel—becomes our common ground, a reminder that songs with depth outlast trends. We look ahead, too: a West Coast volleyball scholarship is the dream, with a return home to Hawaii after college. And we share gratitude—family rides, Starbucks bribes, and all the quiet support that makes the loud wins possible. If you’re chasing a goal, this conversation is your nudge: bounce back harder, keep your circle tight, and let consistent work do the talking. If this resonated, follow the show, drop a rating, and share it with someone who needs a push. What goal are you committing to before the new season starts?

Ever wondered what a city looks like from the driver’s seat? This episode we sit down with Christina, the voice behind Beauty and the Bus, to pull back the curtain on Honolulu transit—equal parts comedy, chaos, and community. She shares how an encouraging regular nudged her into the job, the nerve-wracking first days behind a flat, oversized wheel, and the little tricks it takes to move a 60‑footer through drivers who won’t make room. If you’ve ever ridden the 40 from Makaha to Ala Moana, you’ll feel the pulse of West Oahu in her stories. We dig into the realities most riders never see: timepoint rules that prevent leaving early, on‑route bathroom pit stops, and why she’ll run a minute late rather than stall a full bus. Christina explains how she reads the aisle, de‑escalates when someone gets loud, and calls HPD when safety is on the line. She speaks with candor about post‑Covid ridership, rail connections at Kapolei, and the difference between day-shift gridlock and night-shift serenity. The wild tales are here too—from back-row sleepers to beer spills to a legendary seat incident no one mentioned until a brave rider whispered, “Auntie, get something in the back.” Her viral rise started with a simple shaka, and now Beauty and the Bus offers a running chronicle of island life through the windshield: kupuna kindness, teen drama, houseless struggles, tourists with scooters, and everyday locals just trying to get home. We talk content craft, why sharing these moments matters, and how humor helps keep a heavy job light. Christina also opens up about career goals beyond the driver’s seat, rising street risks, and the patience it takes when phone-addled drivers cut a bus off with inches to spare. If you care about Honolulu, public transit, or just great storytelling with heart, you’ll love this ride. Hit follow, share with a friend who rides TheBus, and drop a review to tell us your best or wildest bus story.

Five years on the mic feels different when you slow down and look back. We open with gratitude—listeners, guests, and day‑one sponsors—and then dive into a story of reinvention with our friend and radio pro, Becky Mits. She takes us from a tough November layoff to a whirlwind weekend in San Diego that led to a new home, a new team, and a role that finally fits: executive producer who still jumps on the mic with a fresh perspective. The reason she said yes wasn’t a bigger market; it was a healthier culture. Real collaboration, clean communication, and space to bring her voice when it counts. Becky pulls back the curtain on modern morning radio: day‑ahead prep, log timing, phones, prizes, news beats, music flow, and why her single‑30 POV balances cohosts with families. We get into craft—cutting crutch words, board work, and the weird magic of talking solo for three minutes without a net. Life in San Diego comes with tradeoffs and perks: stolen packages and street noise, but also Padres games, SeaWorld throwbacks, LA concerts, and actual hoodies weather. She’s honest about privacy too—enjoying low-key anonymity after Hawaii and keeping a new relationship off social while still sharing life on-air. We also celebrate personal milestones: wedding memories, a father–daughter dance that shook the room, and the everyday work of parenting a teenager with trust and guardrails. On the business side, we break down “Leid Back,” our R&B day party built for grown energy—great DJs, early evenings, sold‑out vibes, and smart scaling. If you’re chasing a pivot, this conversation is a blueprint: protect your mindset, choose your rooms carefully, and let gratitude fuel momentum. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop a rating with one takeaway you’re bringing into your next chapter.

This week we sit down with Maegan, the baker behind Meggles Makes, to trace how a childhood love of crepes and banana bread turned into a dessert brand locals plan their week around. From her first Ziploc brownie sales to sellouts at Whiskey Smoke, she walks us through the honest steps of going full time: tightening costs, pricing for profit, managing inflation, planning bake days, and shooting content that actually converts. What makes this journey pop is the mix of craft and community. Maegan shares how Kaneohe neighbors became customers, how Corey and the Whiskey Smoke family opened doors, and why certain flavors win next to barbecue. We get into the signature ube cheesecake that converts skeptics, the year-round staples that anchor the menu, and the seasonal surge of pumpkin chantilly, pumpkin crunch, and pumpkin cheesecake that flies off shelves. She’s candid about experiments that flopped, why she added gluten-free options, and how she reads demand signals so she can scale without overbaking or disappointing regulars. At the core is a steady mindset fueled by faith and family. Maegan talks about losing her dad, the push he gave her to chase big dreams, and the daily rituals that keep her grounded—journaling, prayer, and showing up even when the week hits hard. A chance moment with a diner who stopped to pray for her becomes a turning point, a reminder that resilience is as essential as butter and eggs. If you’re building a food business, you’ll find practical tactics here: batching work, using Instagram trends with intention, pairing flavors for context, and letting customer feedback shape production. If you’re looking for courage, you’ll find that too. Craving more? Follow Meggals Makes for weekly restocks at Whiskey Smoke, watch for the Thanksgiving menu, and get there early if you want a slice. If this conversation fed you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a push, and drop a review to help more listeners find us.

This week Atbpod sits down with Kyani Bateman model, mentor, and cofounder of Pakolea—to trace her path from kid commercials and pageantry to building a community-first agency with her partner, photographer Darren. She shares how social media became a living portfolio, why brands care about personality as much as pictures, and how a fierce feed can coexist with a grounded, aloha-driven life. Kyani pulls back the curtain on runway realities: quick changes, six-inch heels, and the mental game that starts long before call time. She breaks down the difference between influencers and professional models, explains how to make reels and day-in-the-life content work for bookings, and tells the unfiltered stories rolled ankles, missed cues, and all that forged her resilience. We explore Hawaii’s collaborative backstage culture versus Miami’s every-model-for-themselves pace, underscoring how character shows on stage and in the camera. The heart of the episode is Pakolea’s model-first blueprint. The academy teaches posing, runway technique, comp cards, consent, and ethics; the agency represents ready talent with fair, modest commissions so models keep more of their pay. No height gatekeeping, no mean-girl energy just a clear interview process to protect culture and safety. Kyani encourages smart choices about paid vs unpaid work, networking with intention, and taking uncomfortable opportunities that expand skill and confidence. She also opens up about building a business with her boyfriend , communicating through creative decisions, and keeping trust at the center. We wrap with big goals: more global bookings, pop-up workshops from LA to New York, and a personal dream to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway. If you care about modeling, content creation, or creative careers built on values, this story is your blueprint. Listen, share with someone chasing their first casting, and leave a review so we can bring more conversations like this to your feed.