Sala Talks with Dr. Kat Besas

Dr. Kat Besas

Welcome to Sala Talks — a storytelling podcast exploring identity, ambition, healing, faith and creative becoming through a first-generation immigrant lens. Hosted by Dr. Kat Besas, a Filipina-American Doctor of Nursing Practice, speaker, storyteller, and creative exploring what it means to build a life beyond survival. Through vulnerable solo episodes and heartfelt conversations, we unpack bicultural identity, mental health, therapy, family dynamics, creativity, purpose, and personal growth. In many Filipino homes, the Sala is the living room — a space where stories are shared and people gather in community. You belong here. Welcome to the Sala. New episodes every Wednesday. Follow along: IG: @katbesas Podcast IG: @salatalks ⚠️ Disclaimer: The content on this podcast is based on lived experiences and is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada).

  1. 3 hr ago

    Bayanihan: The Village Behind The Dream with Sarap

    Success is often celebrated as an individual achievement—but what if our greatest dreams were never meant to be built alone? This week, I'm joined by sisters Jenelyn San Antonio and Jennifer Aliwalas, the heart behind Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill in Bakersfield, California. From humble beginnings as a food truck to building a thriving family-owned restaurant, their story is about so much more than entrepreneurship. Together, we explore the unseen side of building a dream: the sacrifices, burnout, family conflict, difficult decisions, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up—especially when the people you're building with are the people you love most. More importantly, we talk about the Filipino values of Kapwa and Bayanihan—the belief that our humanity is interconnected and that we rise by lifting one another up. In a culture that often celebrates independence, this conversation is a powerful reminder that there is strength in community. Whether you're building a business, navigating family dynamics, chasing a dream, or simply longing for deeper connection, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: ✨Growing up Filipino and how food became the center of family and community✨The journey from healthcare professionals to restaurant owners✨Building and sustaining a family business✨Burnout, stepping away, and finding your way back✨The unseen sacrifices behind entrepreneurship✨Navigating conflict while protecting family relationships✨Why success doesn't always belong to one person✨Kapwa, Bayanihan, and the power of collective dreams✨Representing Filipino culture through food✨What ambitious women can learn about asking for help and not carrying everything alone If this conversation resonated with you, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. It helps us continue creating meaningful conversations that remind us we're never alone. ✨Follow & Connect:Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill:Instagram: @sarap.grill Host Instagram:  @katbesas  Podcast Instagram: @salatalks  Remember—you are enough, and you were never meant to build your life alone. #SalaTalks #FilipinoPodcast #FilipinoAmerican #FilipinoFood #Sarap #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #SmallBusiness #FamilyBusiness #Kapwa #Bayanihan #CommunityOverCompetition #BurnoutRecovery #PurposeDriven #FirstGen #FirstGeneration #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #Storytelling #BuildTogether

    Bayanihan: The Village Behind The Dream with Sarap

  2. 22 Oct

    The Cost of Becoming and The Loneliness of Transition with Dr. Kat Besas

    What happens when the life you built no longer fits—but the life you're becoming hasn't fully arrived yet? In this solo episode of Sala Talks, I’m talking about the cost of becoming and the loneliness that can come with seasons of transition—especially when everything looks “good” from the outside, but internally, you know something has shifted. We talk about: ✨ Why growth can change what fulfills you✨ Outgrowing old versions of yourself✨ Carrying a vision before there’s evidence it will work✨ Why growth often requires subtraction, not addition✨ Grieving friendships, identities, timelines, and expectations✨ Learning to trust yourself when others don’t understand the path✨ Why peace can feel lonely before it feels safe✨ Finding God in the space between who you were and who you’re becoming If you're in an in-between season right now, this episode is for you. 🤎 🎙️ Subscribe to Sala Talks for more conversations about identity, purpose, growth, and building a life beyond the expectations placed on us. 📲 Follow me on Instagram & TikTok: @katbesas #SalaTalks #PersonalGrowth #LifeTransitions #FindingYourPurpose #WomenInTheir30s #SelfDiscovery #BecomingHer #FaithAndGrowth

    The Cost of Becoming and The Loneliness of Transition with Dr. Kat Besas

  3. 15 Oct

    From Engineer to Filmmaker: The Courage to Start Over with Camila Villanueva

    What happens when you've done everything "right"—earned the degrees, built the successful career, made your family proud—and yet something inside you still whispers: there's more? In this episode of Sala Talks, I sit down with Camila Villanueva—award-winning filmmaker, Founder of Cammotion Pictures, psychotherapist in training, and proud Filipino-American storyteller. Before creating films that amplify underrepresented voices, Cam spent years as a biomedical engineer developing implantable cardiac devices. By every traditional measure, she had "made it." But beneath the success was a quiet realization that the life she built no longer aligned with the person she was becoming. Together, we explore what it really means to outgrow the blueprint we inherited, redefine success on our own terms, and find the courage to begin again. Whether you're an immigrant child, an eldest daughter, a healthcare professional, a creative, or simply someone questioning the path you're on, this conversation is a reminder that it's never too late to become who you've always been. In this episode, we discuss:✨Growing up Filipino-American and the expectations placed on immigrant children✨Why so many Filipinos are encouraged toward nursing, engineering, and medicine✨The hidden cost of chasing external success✨Recognizing when you've outgrown your career✨Leaving engineering to pursue filmmaking✨The grief, fear, and freedom of reinventing yourself✨Family expectations, identity, and belonging✨Storytelling as healing and social impact✨Representation in film and why diverse stories matter✨Cam's journey into Counseling Psychology✨Following purpose over prestige About Camila Villanueva:Camila Villanueva is a proud healer, storyteller, and dreamer. She is the Founder of Cammotion Pictures, a production company dedicated to telling stories of underrepresented communities. She is also a psychotherapist in training pursuing her second master's degree in Counseling Psychology, where she hopes to help clients feel seen, heard, and find peace in their healing journeys. 📸 Follow Cam: @thecamilavillanueva🌐 Website: https://cammotionpictures.com/ Follow Dr. Kat Besas for more conversations on first-generation identity, storytelling, purpose, and creative expansion. ✨Host Instagram: @katbesas ✨Podcast Instagram: @salatalks If this episode resonated with you...✨Subscribe to Sala Talks for honest conversations on identity, purpose, healing, creativity, and building a life beyond survival.✨Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode every Wednesday.✨Share this episode with someone who's quietly wondering if they're meant for something more. ⚠️Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only and reflects our personal experiences and opinions. It is not a substitute for medical, mental health, legal, or professional advice. If you're experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency services. #SalaTalks #DrKatBesas #CamilaVillanueva #FilipinoAmerican #FirstGeneration #ImmigrantStory #EldestDaughter #CareerChange #CareerPivot #CreativeJourney #Storytelling #Purpose #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #RepresentationMatters #WomenWhoLead #WomenEmpowerment #Filmmaking #Entrepreneurship #BuildALifeBeyondSurvival

    From Engineer to Filmmaker: The Courage to Start Over with Camila Villanueva

  4. 8 Oct

    Nursing is My Foundation—Not My Ceiling with Dr. Kat Besas

    What happens when you achieve the stable nursing career you were taught to want… and still feel like there’s more inside of you? Growing up in a Filipino household, nursing represented everything I was taught success should look like: stability, opportunity, financial security, and a future my immigrant parents could be proud of. I followed the traditional path—RN, BSN, MSN-FNP—and eventually my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I built a nursing career I genuinely love. And yet, even after landing what I once considered my dream job, I couldn’t shake a quiet feeling of restlessness. Eventually, I realized: I didn’t need another credential. I needed another expression of myself. In this episode of Sala Talks, I’m sharing my full nursing journey and what it took to realize that nursing can be an incredible foundation for your life without becoming the ceiling for everything you’re allowed to become. ✨ Why nursing holds such a powerful place in Filipino and immigrant families✨ My journey from RN-BSN → MSN-FNP → DNP✨ Why achieving my “dream” nursing career still didn’t completely fulfill me✨ How I stopped confusing restlessness with needing another degree or promotion✨ What happens when your professional identity becomes your entire identity✨ Giving yourself permission to explore creativity and interests outside of healthcare✨ Why gratitude for your career and desire for something more can coexist✨ How a stable career can actually create the foundation to explore your other gifts✨ Honoring our parents’ sacrifices without allowing their definition of success to determine the limits of our lives You do NOT have to quit nursing or abandon everything you’ve worked for. Sometimes you just have to follow the curiosity. So, take the dance class. Start the business. Create the art. Start the podcast. Explore the part of yourself that keeps asking to be expressed. Nursing is my foundation—but it was never meant to be my ceiling. And maybe it wasn’t meant to be yours either. ✨JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What’s something you’ve always wanted to explore outside of your career? Tell me in the comments—I want to hear it. ✨SUBSCRIBE to Sala Talks for more conversations about identity, ambition, nursing, immigrant stories, and building a life beyond the titles we carry. ✨CONNECT WITH ME: Follow @katbesas for more on redefining success, building a multidimensional life, and exploring who you are beyond the badge. 🎙️ SALA TALKS — New episodes every Wednesday 6PM PT. #SalaTalks #NursingCareer #FilipinoNurse #NursePractitioner #NurseLife #FilipinoAmerican #FirstGeneration #CareerFulfillment #LifeBeyondNursing #BeyondTheBadge

    Nursing is My Foundation—Not My Ceiling with Dr. Kat Besas

  5. 1 Oct

    Nurse By Day, Artist By Night: The Reality of Chasing A Dream with Calinnah

    What does it really take to chase a dream? Social media often glorifies the leap—quitting your job, following your passion, and trusting that everything will work out. But for many of us, especially children of immigrants, the reality is far more complicated. In this episode of Sala Talks, I sit down with Calinnah—Filipino American independent artist, registered nurse, singer-songwriter, content creator, and host of the Cozy with Calinnah podcast. Unlike many of us who became healthcare professionals before rediscovering our creative passions, Calinnah's story unfolded in reverse. She was a creative first. After years of pursuing art while working retail jobs, she made the decision to become a nurse—not because she gave up on her dream, but because she wanted to build a life that could sustain it. Together, we explore the realities of balancing creativity with responsibility, building a sustainable creative life, overcoming comparison, preventing burnout, and why stability doesn't have to compete with your purpose—it can actually make it possible. Whether you're a healthcare professional, creative entrepreneur, first-generation woman, or simply someone trying to balance your responsibilities with the life you're dreaming of, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to choose between stability and purpose. In this episode, we discuss:✨ The reality of chasing a creative dream✨ Why social media glamorizes entrepreneurship✨ Using a stable career to fund your passions✨ Balancing nursing, music, podcasting, and content creation✨ Comparison, self-doubt, and staying committed to your vision✨ Building a sustainable creative life✨ Burnout and protecting your creativity✨ How nursing influenced her music and artistry✨ The inspiration behind her new single, Short-Staffed✨ Advice for anyone feeling "too late" to pursue their dreams 🎵 Follow Calinnah: @calinnah🎙️ Podcast: Cozy with Calinnah🌐 Website: https://calinnah.live/ Follow Dr. Kat Besas for more conversations on first-generation identity, storytelling, purpose, and creative expansion. ✨ Host Instagram: @katbesas✨ Podcast Instagram: @salatalks ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only and reflects our personal experiences and opinions. It is not a substitute for medical, mental health, legal, or professional advice. If you're experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency services. #SalaTalks #DrKatBesas #Calinnah #CozyWithCalinnah #FilipinoAmerican #RegisteredNurse #NurseCreator #SingerSongwriter #IndependentArtist #HealthcareCreatives #CreativeEntrepreneur #WorkLifeBalance #Burnout #Purpose #Entrepreneurship #WomenEmpowerment #FirstGeneration #PersonalGrowth #BuildALifeBeyondSurvival

    Nurse By Day, Artist By Night: The Reality of Chasing A Dream with Calinnah

  6. 24 Sept

    Permission to Take Up Space with Dr. Kat Besas

    Welcome back to Season 2 of the Sala Talks Podcast!  In our season premiere, Permission to Take Up Space, I’m introducing this season’s theme: She is Rooted & Rising — a celebration of Filipina women who are honoring where they come from while giving themselves permission to explore who they’re becoming. We’re talking about identity, creativity, ambition, and what it means to move beyond survival and the traditional definitions of success many of us inherited. This season is for anyone who has ever wondered: *s there more to life than the path I was taught to follow? Because we can honor the sacrifices that brought us here without limiting the possibilities of where we can go next. Survival was the gift our ancestors gave us. Expansion is what we do with that gift. Welcome back to the Sala. 🤎 🎧 Subscribe to Sala Talks for new episodes.✨ Follow Dr. Kat Besas: @katbesas on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook💬 If this episode resonated with you, leave a comment and tell me: What are you giving yourself permission to explore? #SalaTalks #SheIsRootedAndRising #PermissionToTakeUpSpace #Filipina #FilipinoAmerican #FirstGen #ImmigrantStories #RedefiningSuccess #LifeBeyondTheBadge #FilipinaCreator

    Permission to Take Up Space with Dr. Kat Besas

  7. 30 Jul

    Coming Back Home to Myself: Faith, Creativity, and Calling

    Welcome back to the Sala for the final episode of Season 1 of the Sala Talks Podcast. 🌿 In this deeply personal season finale, I reflect on the journey that brought me back home to myself — through faith, creativity, healing, and storytelling. Throughout this season, we explored the immigrant experience, achievement as survival, perseverance, identity, grief, purpose, and the pressure to constantly strive. But in this final episode, I share the inner transformation that changed my life the most:learning that success without alignment still leaves you feeling empty. From therapy and bicultural identity…to dry January, gratitude journaling, creativity, and rediscovering God…this episode is about what happens when you finally stop performing and start listening to yourself again. One of the habits that genuinely shifted my mindset this past year was practicing daily gratitude journaling. It became a small but powerful way for me to slow down, reconnect with myself, and appreciate the life I already had while building the life I wanted. I linked the gratitude journal I personally use below in case it supports your journey too. 🤍 Gratitude Journal Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/49s2u3S This is not just the end of Season 1.It’s the beginning of a new chapter. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “not enough,” living between two worlds, or trying to redefine success on your own terms — this episode is for you. Thank you for being here with me in the Sala. 🤍 Support the mission and wear the message. Explore the She is Rooted & Rising (SRR) collection linked below. Your support helps make future episodes and conversations possible.✨SHOP HERE: https://sheisrootedandrising.com/collections/all ⸻✨ FOLLOW & CONNECT Hot Instagram: @katbesasPodcast Instagram: @salatalks If this episode resonated with you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with someone who may need to hear this conversation. Your support truly helps this platform grow and allows these stories to reach more people.⸻⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The views shared in this podcast are based on personal lived experiences and are intended for educational, inspirational, and informational purposes only. This podcast does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Please seek support from a qualified professional for individualized care. If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing emotional distress, please contact a licensed mental health professional or call/text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support. ⸻ #SalaTalks #KatBesas #FilipinoAmerican #FirstGeneration #HealingJourney #FaithAndCreativity #WomenEmpowerment #ImmigrantStory #MentalHealthAwareness #BiculturalIdentity #CreativeJourney #PositivePsychology #FilipinaCreator #PodcastLaunch #FaithJourney #SelfDiscovery #InnerHealing #WomenInMedia #FilipinaAmerican #ComingHomeToMyself

    Coming Back Home to Myself: Faith, Creativity, and Calling

  8. 23 Jul

    When Your Calling Looks Unconventional with Natasha Shrank

    Welcome back to another episode of Sala Talks. In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Natasha Shrank — entrepreneur, mother, and Founder of Scarlet Rope Permanent Jewelry — for a heartfelt conversation about faith, creativity, motherhood, and learning to trust God with your calling. Over the last few episodes, we’ve been unpacking perseverance, identity, and the version of success many of us were taught to chase—especially within immigrant families and high-achieving communities. But what happens when the path God is calling you toward looks completely different from the “safe” path? In this conversation, Natasha shares the story behind Scarlet Rope, the biblical meaning behind her brand, the seasons where she had to pause her dreams, and how becoming a mother reshaped her relationship with creativity and purpose. We also talk about balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, surrendering control, and learning that creativity is not just something we do—but a part of who we are. In this episode, we discuss:✨ Faith and entrepreneurship✨ Creativity and purpose✨ Motherhood and identity✨ Trusting God in uncertain seasons✨  Redefining success✨  Building a business rooted in meaning and connection✨ Returning to yourself after seasons of pause If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE with someone who may need this conversation. Support the mission and wear the message. Explore the She is Rooted & Rising (SRR) collection linked below. Your support helps make future episodes and conversations possible.✨SHOP HERE: https://sheisrootedandrising.com/collections/all Follow Natasha Shrank & Scarlet Rope Permanent Jewelry:📍Instagram: @scarletrope Follow me for more conversations around identity, healing, faith, creativity, and building a life beyond survival.📍Host Instagram: @katbesas📍Podcast Instagram: @salatalks ________⚠️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this podcast are based on the personal lived experiences of the host and the guests, and are intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast does not substitute professional medical, mental health, and legal advice. Please seek support from a qualified professional for your individual needs. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.________#SalaTalks #KatBesas #NatashaShrank #FaithAndCreativity #ChristianWomen #WomenEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #Motherhood #CreativeJourney #FaithBasedBusiness #WomenInBusiness #PurposeDrivenLife #HealingJourney #FirstGen

    When Your Calling Looks Unconventional with Natasha Shrank
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Trailer

About

Welcome to Sala Talks — a storytelling podcast exploring identity, ambition, healing, faith and creative becoming through a first-generation immigrant lens. Hosted by Dr. Kat Besas, a Filipina-American Doctor of Nursing Practice, speaker, storyteller, and creative exploring what it means to build a life beyond survival. Through vulnerable solo episodes and heartfelt conversations, we unpack bicultural identity, mental health, therapy, family dynamics, creativity, purpose, and personal growth. In many Filipino homes, the Sala is the living room — a space where stories are shared and people gather in community. You belong here. Welcome to the Sala. New episodes every Wednesday. Follow along: IG: @katbesas Podcast IG: @salatalks ⚠️ Disclaimer: The content on this podcast is based on lived experiences and is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada).

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Kat Besas
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kat Besas. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Sala Talks with Dr. Kat Besas