Girl Talk

How Do I Help Someone with Addiction? with Maddy Sesepasara | Island Fever Podcast

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, hosts Vae, Krit Fanene-Manuwai, and Donato Fatuesi sit down with Maddy Sesepasara of the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) to explore one of the most difficult questions many families face: How do I help someone struggling with addiction? Whether you're navigating substance use yourself or supporting a loved one on their journey, this conversation offers compassionate insight into addiction, recovery, harm reduction, and healing. Maddy shares her path into community health work and how supporting MVPFAFF+ Pacific Islanders through addiction recovery, HIV prevention, sexual health, and harm reduction services has shaped her understanding of community care and healing. Together, the hosts reflect on their own experiences with substance use, the circumstances that led them there, and the realities of finding a way forward. From harm reduction and sobriety to sexual health, HIV prevention, stigma, and community care, this conversation explores the many layers of recovery and what it truly means to support someone without judgment. The hosts openly discuss their recovery journeys, the consequences that pushed them toward change, and the tools that help them stay on the path today. This conversation is vulnerable, honest, emotional, affirming, and deeply practical for anyone navigating addiction, recovery, mental health, or supporting someone they love. It also offers an important look at how MVPFAFF+ communities experience addiction, healing, and access to care, while highlighting resources available to those seeking support. 🌈 Topics Include:• Addiction and substance use recovery• Supporting a loved one struggling with addiction• Harm reduction vs. sobriety• HIV prevention, PrEP, and sexual health resources• MVPFAFF+ health, healing, and community care• Mental health and trauma in Pasifika communities• Recovery journeys and staying on the path• Accessing support services and resources ✨ About Our Guest Maddy Sesepasara is a community health advocate with the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC), an organization dedicated to reducing health disparities and increasing access to care throughout Hawai'i. Through outreach, education, and direct services, Maddy supports individuals navigating substance use, HIV prevention, sexual health, and recovery. A significant part of Maddy's work includes serving MVPFAFF+ communities across Hawai'i, providing culturally responsive care and resources for Queer, Trans, and gender-diverse Pacific Islanders. Through this work, Maddy has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges, barriers, and strengths that shape addiction, recovery, and healing within our communities. 🔔 Subscribe to Island Fever Podcast for conversations centering Queer & Trans Pacific Islander voices, storytelling, culture, healing, relationships, and community. For more resources:www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever [http://www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever] Follow Island Fever Podcast:Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandfeverpodcast [http://www.instagram.com/islandfeverpodcast] Watch, share, and join the conversation. 💜

How Much of My Personal Life Should I Share Online with Shar Tui'asoa | Island Fever Podcast

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, hosts Vae, Krit & Donato sit down with Shar Tui'asoa, the creative force behind Punky Aloha, to explore how much of our personal lives is relevant and appropriate to share on social media. Shar opens up about navigating visibility, vulnerability, and the responsibility that can come with building a platform online. Together, they unpack conversations around identity, queer Pacific Islander experiences, healing, mental health, culture, storytelling, and art as activism. From celebrating Pasifika women in their fullness to reclaiming narrative power online, this conversation dives into what it means to show up authentically in digital spaces without losing yourself in the process. Whether we are the disruptors, educators, advocates, or storytellers online, we are driving Pasifika excellence simply by showing up fully as ourselves. We don’t need outside validation — we need courage, community, and the willingness to be seen. This conversation is vulnerable, hilarious, emotional, affirming, and deeply unfiltered — offering insight for anyone navigating visibility, identity, boundaries, creativity, and community in the age of social media. 🌈 Topics include:• Oversharing vs authenticity online• Queer Pacific Islander visibility• Pasifika representation in media & art• Art as activism and storytelling• Navigating boundaries in public life ✨ About Our Guest:Shar Tui'asoa is the founder and creative visionary behind Punky Aloha, a Hawai‘i-based lifestyle and illustration brand known for celebrating Pacific Islander women, Pasifika culture, and radical self-love through bold art and storytelling. Through every medium, her work centers Pasifika joy, social activism, and authentic Pacific Islander representation. Her artwork has been featured in collaborations with major brands including Apple, Disney, Pixar, Sephora, and The New York Times, and she is currently working on her first two picture books as both author and illustrator with Harper Kids, an imprint of HarperCollins. 🔔 Subscribe to Island Fever Podcast for conversations centering Queer & Trans Pacific Islander voices, storytelling, culture, healing, relationships, and community. For more resources:www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever [http://www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever] Follow Island Fever Podcast:Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandfeverpodcast [http://www.instagram.com/islandfeverpodcast] Watch, share, and join the conversation. 💜

What Does It Mean to PROTECT Trans Kids with Haylin Dennison

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, Vae, Krit, and Donato sit down with Haylin Dennison to unpack what it actually means to protect Trans Kids -beyond politics, fear, and misinformation. Haylin opens up about her journey as the proud mama of a Trans Kid, sharing honestly about the moments she got it wrong, the growth that transformed her understanding, and the fierce love that now drives her advocacy through Spill The Tea Cafe. Together, they explore what gender-affirming care really is, what it isn’t, and why affirming environments save lives. This conversation is vulnerable, hilarious, emotional, affirming, and deeply unfiltered — offering insight for parents, families, educators, allies, and anyone navigating conversations around gender identity and support.Trans kids remain among the highest-risk groups for suicide, and in Hawai‘i, nearly 50% of trans youth have attempted suicide. Haylin speaks candidly about learning to move from fear to understanding, and why creating affirming spaces for trans youth matters now more than ever. 🌈 Topics Include:• Parenting and supporting Trans Kids• Gender-affirming care explained• Debunking myths about trans youth• Mental health and suicide prevention• Creating affirming family and community spaces• Raising LGBTQ+ youth in Hawai‘i• Healing, accountability, and growth as a parent• Building safer futures for QTPI youth ✨ About Our Guest:Haylin Dennison is a mental health professional and proud owner of Spill the Tea Cafe in Honolulu, Hawai‘i — a community-centered space rooted in healing, affirmation, and connection. 🔔 Subscribe to Island Fever Podcast for conversations centering Queer & Trans Pacific Islander voices, storytelling, culture, healing, relationships, and community. For more resources: https://www.spilltheteacafe.org/ www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever https://transfamilysos.org/ https://transresourcehub.wixsite.com/my-site/parent-resources https://pflag.org/ https://www.genderspecialist.com/ Follow Island Fever Podcast:Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandfeverpodcast Watch, share, and join the conversation. 💜

Reconciling Faith with Being Queer

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, Vae, Krit, and Donato sit down with Randy Soriano - a powerhouse community organizer behind Pride 365 and the Hawai‘i Rainbow Film Festival, whose work continues to champion MVPFAFF+ visibility and advocacy across Hawai‘i. Randy opens up about growing up in a deeply religious and conservative family, and the complicated journey of reconciling faith, identity, and belonging. Together, they unpack what it means to live boldly and authentically while navigating cultural expectations, spirituality, and community accountability. This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and deeply affirming for anyone who has ever questioned whether there was space for both their faith and their queerness to coexist. 🌈 Topics include: • Growing up queer in religious spaces • Faith, shame, and healing • Activism and community leadership • Building visibility for MVPFAFF+ communities in Hawai‘i • Choosing authenticity despite fear For more resources: Pasifika Rooted Therapy – Island Fever Resources This episode was made possible by the support of: • Kaimana Beach Hotel • IOANE Foundation • Don't Drink the Water (DDW) Cafe • Ha'aheo Zablan • Rated R Hawai'i • SoCal PICRT • Prism Foundation • Popua Pyland & Tua Pyland Credits: Hosts: Vaelupe Ma'aele, Kristian Fanene Manuwai, Donato Fatuesi Production Crew: • Peter Filimaua • Michael Tui'asoa • Mele Tui'asoa • Ryan Tui'asoa Executive Producers: Aisea Laungaue & Kristian Fanene Manuwai Producer: Donato Fatuesi Island Fever Podcast is fiscally sponsored by UTOPIA Washington. Watch, share, and join the conversation. 💜

AAPI Solidarity with Bretman Rock!

It's AAPI Heritage Month and we're on location in Hawai'i talking all things solidarity with our fave Filipino superstar Bretman Rock!