From Passion to Progress: The Filipina Leader Behind NYC's New Community Center

Jay Ross (aka PocketKings) – Designer, Creative, Filipino Streetwear Visionary

In this powerful episode of the Future Ancestors Podcast, hosts Kat Serrano and Jason Encite sit down with Jay Ross, the Filipino American designer behind PocketKings, the rising handmade fashion brand known for its iconic kimonos and culturally rooted streetwear. Jay opens up about growing up disconnected from his Filipino identity, discovering his voice through creativity, and finding purpose through grief, fatherhood, and rediscovering his roots. He shares how sewing by hand turned into a brand, how his wife pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and how his designs became sought after by major artists, including Michael K. Williams, Taboo, and Henry Golding. From competing in Filipino basketball leagues to hustling through poker, navigating loss, honoring his parents, and building a fashion house that refuses to compromise its purpose — Jay's journey is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and ancestral guidance. In this episode, we explore: * Growing up Filipino in NYC and searching for belonging * How grief shaped Jay's creativity and emotional depth * The spiritual + ancestral connection behind his kimono designs * Why PocketKings resonated with celebrities — without paid placements * His unreal basketball story in the Philippines * How he designs with intention, not hype * The role his wife played in launching the brand * Why he believes his work is "an answered prayer" If you love conversations about culture, identity, creativity, fashion, and healing — this is one of the most heartfelt episodes yet. Follow Jay Ross / PocketKings: Instagram: @PocketKingsbk Watch the full episode on YouTube: FutureAncestors.tv Follow us on IG: @FutureAncestors.tv

Becoming Our Ancestors' Wildest Dreams with Dr. Kevin Nadal

In this episode of Future Ancestors, we sit down with Dr. Kevin Nadal, an award-winning author, educator, and one of the most influential voices in the Filipino American community. We're talking about decolonizing the mind with Dr. Kevin Nadal on identity, healing, and legacy. A distinguished professor at John Jay College and the CUNY Graduate Center, Dr. Nadal has spent his career exploring identity, mental health, intersectionality, and Filipino American psychology. From being the first openly gay president of the Asian American Psychological Association to co-founding the LGBTQ Scholars of Color Network, his work has helped generations heal from colonial trauma and reclaim pride in who we are. In this conversation, Dr. Nadal opens up about his family's migration story, what it means to decolonize the mind, and how Filipinos have always been warriors for justice, even when history tried to erase us. He shares the importance of representation, community healing, and the spiritual connection to our ancestors that continues to guide his purpose. In this episode, you'll hear: * Filipino American Psychology & Generational Healing * Queer Identity & Representation * Decolonization & Mental Health * Community, Kapwa, and Liberation Work * Parenting, Legacy, and Future Ancestors If you've ever wondered how our personal healing ties into the collective liberation of our people, this episode will remind you that we are our ancestors' wildest dreams. If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. Don't forget to subscribe, like & follow us wherever you're tuning in from, and leave us a review on Apple/Spotify, and connect with us on Instagram @futureancestors.tv [https://www.instagram.com/futureancestors.tv/] or at www.FutureAncestors.tv [https://www.futureancestors.tv/] Follow Kevin Nadal on Instagram to follow his journey: @kevinnadal [https://www.instagram.com/kevinnadal/]

He Turned Courage Into Care: Nurse & Creator Chris Franz on Healing, Humanity, and Hope

How does a New York nurse go from cardiothoracic recovery and ambulatory care to leading a nursing department, hosting a health podcast, and advocating for AAPI representation, all while still making time for skincare education? You can find out with our next guest, Christian "Chris" Franz. Chris shares what it was like to be a brand-new RN on the COVID-19 frontlines, the moral injury of losing patients, and how that experience fueled his mission to fight medical misinformation with his show, Friends of Franz. We unpack Chris's Filipino American identity, the pride (and stereotypes) around Filipinos in healthcare, building compassionate clinical teams, and why representation in media literally saves lives. Chris also opens up about severe acne, confidence, and practical skincare for men, plus the "local Hannah Montana" life of swapping scrubs for events between shifts. In this episode, you'll hear: * Becoming an RN in cardiothoracic surgery and ambulatory care * A raw look at early ICU COVID nights and moral injury * Starting Friends of Franz to counter health misinformation * Filipino culture, caregiving, and AAPI healthcare leadership * Confidence, vulnerability, and real-world skincare insights for men Press play to hear Chris Franz turn courage into care from ICU nights to fighting misinformation and leave inspired. If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. Don't forget to subscribe, like & follow us wherever you're tuning in from, and leave us a review on Apple/Spotify, and connect with us on Instagram @futureancestors.tv [https://www.instagram.com/futureancestors.tv/] or at www.FutureAncestors.tv [https://www.futureancestors.tv/] Follow Chris Franz on Instagram to follow his journey: @chrsfranz [https://www.instagram.com/chrsfranz/]

From Passion to Progress: The Filipina Leader Behind NYC's New Community Center

Public health advocate and AAPI community leader Rachelle Perez-Ocampo (President, NAFFAA New York, co-host of Makilala TV) joins Future Ancestors to discuss caring for a community, navigating burnout, bureaucracy, and achieving big wins. From navigating pandemic motherhood to securing a federal grant to establish a Filipino community center in Little Manila, Woodside (Queens). In this episode * Growing up Filipina in a majority-white neighborhood and finding identity through campus organizations * Why community work can be toxic and draining, and how Rochelle protects her peace * The inside story of winning New York State's largest grant for a Filipino group and what the center will offer * Pandemic parenting, pods, and rebuilding support systems * Grassroots vs. policy work, and why empathy + optimism are Rachelle's superpowers * Makilala TV: a decade of Filipina voices on air and why representation still matters Listen now to see how optimism + organizing can change a community. If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. Don't forget to subscribe, like & follow us wherever you're tuning in from, and leave us a review on Apple/Spotify, and connect with us on Instagram @futureancestors.tv [https://www.instagram.com/futureancestors.tv/] or at www.FutureAncestors.tv [https://www.futureancestors.tv/] Follow Rachelle Ocampo on Instagram to follow his journey: @rockyrach16 [https://www.instagram.com/rockyrach16/?hl=en]

Hillari Alison: Filipino-Norwegian R&B Star on "Desperate Soul," New Beginnings, and Music for the Soul

From church performances in the Philippines to headlining in New York City, Hillari Alison is living proof that faith, family, and fearless creativity can take you anywhere. In this Future Ancestors Podcast episode, hosts Jason "Encite" and Kat Serrano sit down with the 20-year-old Filipino-Norwegian singer-songwriter who's redefining R&B and soul for a new generation. Hillari shares her inspiring journey from Negros Occidental to Oslo, her viral breakout with "Desperate Soul," and her award-winning rise, earning two Norwegian Grammys and international recognition from Billboard and Complex. In this episode: * Hillari on growing up Filipino-Norwegian and finding her sound between cultures * How "Desperate Soul" changed everything at just 17 * Her journaling-to-songwriting process and the power of reflection * The story behind her sophomore EP, New Beginnings, and the mantra "I'll bloom wherever I'm planted" * Staying grounded through family, faith, and gratitude * Her dream of becoming a household name was built on authenticity and soul Hillari's message is simple: music for the soul. Her voice, wisdom, and vulnerability remind us that every chapter, no matter how uncertain, is a new beginning. If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend: pass the episode on. Don't forget to subscribe, like & follow us wherever you're tuning in from, and leave us a review on Apple/Spotify, and connect with us on Instagram @futureancestors.tv [https://www.instagram.com/futureancestors.tv/] or at www.FutureAncestors.tv [https://www.futureancestors.tv/] Follow Hillari Alison's journey on Instagram @hillarialison [https://www.instagram.com/hillarialison/]