The Mountain in Us

Taran Singh
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals

“The Mountain in Us, a podcast where “The Journey gets its voice.”  I’m Taran Singh, your host. Here, we greet the thrills, jolts, ascents, and descents of our uncharted adventures.  As a poet, I have explored the adventures and ethos of human existence through the ink. I naturally gravitated towards podcasting, where observation, listening & silence create a bonding spell. In each episode of The Mountain In Us, I sit down with a kindling guest whose journey is more than a milestone; together, we unravel the human spirit of exploration, expression, and purpose. These conversations are candid, rejuvenating, and connective.  I’m optimistic that the breadcrumbs from our trails will resonate with your beat and boost your courageous sojourns and perspectives. www.inkofsingh.com

  1. Jul 17

    Ink, Roots & Redemption - Tryshna Malonzo

    Send us Fan Mail Grief can be quiet, delayed, and strangely practical. It can look like showing up to school, going to parties, keeping the jokes going, and only realizing later that you've been carrying something heavy for years. We talk with Filipino-American poet, educator, and community activist Tryshna Malonzo about what it means to reclaim your life when loss has rearranged your inner world, and how writing can become a place where every part of you gets to speak. We start with the origin of her name, inspired by the mantra "Hare Krishna," then move into childhood memories of her grandfather's steady care and the rituals that made home feel safe. Tryshna opens up about Alzheimer's, visiting a care home, seeing her lola slowly escape, and the moment the final phone call makes everything real. From there, she reflects on a college era shaped by substances, performance, and shame, and the slow pivot toward honesty, self-respect, and self-care. The heart of this conversation is practice: journaling for healing; yoga and mindfulness for reconnecting with the body; spirituality and nature as anchors; and community as a source of accountability. Tryshna also shares how she chooses poems for open mics by returning to her journals, letting the present moment guide what she reads, and trusting that sharing story is part of liberation.  Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What line or idea from Tryshna's story are you taking into your space? https://ateteakaye.substack.com/ www.inkofsingh.com

    Ink, Roots & Redemption - Tryshna Malonzo

  2. Jul 11

    Courage, Belonging, & Longing - with Katherine Leviste

    Send us Fan Mail Your life can look successful on paper and still feel like you’re running at full speed with no sense of wholeness. We talk with Katherine Leviste, a California-born creative powerhouse with roots in ophthalmology research and a mind tuned to creativity, community, and human systems. She shares how she learned to separate herself into neat boxes- the “professional” version, the caretaker, the creative- and how that fragmentation eventually started to hurt more than it helped. We use one unforgettable thread to make it real: hamster wheels. Katherine asks whether we truly choose our wheels or inherit them from family expectations, culture, and career pipelines. Then she tells the wild and oddly profound story of building a hamster rescue as a kid, complete with a business model, rehab plan, and a wall of cages. It becomes a lens on leadership, agency, and the kind of courage that starts long before you have credentials or certainty. From there, we go into the hard stuff: identity collapse, burnout, and the moment you realize the healthcare system can break the people trying to heal others. Katherine unpacks why medical education still feels dogmatic in an era of exploding information, and why she’s choosing to step outside the sandbox to build tools that can plug back in. We also talk nervous system regulation, music as therapy, “The Body Keeps the Score,” dopamine audits, social media detox, and how to turn down outside noise so you can finally hear yourself. If you’re rethinking success, rebuilding after a tough season, or trying to integrate your ambition with your humanity, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend on a hamster wheel, and leave a review with the part that hit you hardest. www.inkofsingh.com

    Courage, Belonging, & Longing - with Katherine Leviste

  3. Jun 20

    The Call of the Frame | Claire Evans

    Send us Fan Mail A city can look familiar and still be disappearing in real time. We sit down with Claire Evans, a Fresno-based photographer who shoots film and builds living archives of the Central Valley by stepping into backyards, kitchens, skate parks, and neighborhoods that don’t always get the investment or attention they deserve. We talk about Fresno as an agriculture-centered place with deep cultural diversity, and how urban sprawl can quietly push older communities to the margins. Claire reflects on why documenting what already exists matters, from stories tied to historic areas like Japantown to everyday scenes that become priceless once they’re gone. She also shares the personal side of documentary photography: how walking first pulled her toward a camera, why asking for a portrait never stops being scary, and how trust changes when you photograph people you actually know. You’ll hear unforgettable moments from her work, including photographing her friend Kiwi in traditional Hmong clothing while she plays guitar, plus a visit to a Punjabi family farm where animals, memorabilia, and hospitality shaped the story. We also get into film photography workflow, why patience is part of the art, and why Claire feels most responsible documenting her own “turf” in the Central Valley. If you care about community storytelling, local history, and photography as advocacy, this conversation will leave you seeing your hometown differently. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find these Fresno and Central Valley stories. www.inkofsingh.com

    The Call of the Frame | Claire Evans

  4. Jun 8

    From Latvian forests to a Creative Force- Lauma Slinke

    Send us Fan Mail The Mountain in Us is a heartfelt podcast about the paths that shape us, the passions that carry us, and the quiet moments that help us find our purpose. Hosted by Taran Singh, each episode invites listeners into honest, soul-stirring conversations with artists, makers, and creatives whose stories reveal the beauty of growth, vulnerability, and becoming. In this episode, Taran speaks with Lauma, a deeply expressive artist from Latvia whose life is rooted in nature, craftsmanship, and creative truth. She shares memories of childhood summers, the stillness of forests, the tenderness of family, and the way the natural world continues to guide her art and spirit. From discovering her creative path later in life to learning through ceramics, travel, and transformation, Lauma opens her heart about what it means to create with feeling, trust uncertainty, and embrace the unfolding of life. If you’ve ever felt stuck, doubtful, or too perfectionist to begin, her pottery lessons land hard: clay teaches beginner’s mind, failure, and letting go of control when the kiln decides the outcome. Listen, share this with a creative friend, and leave a review. What part of your life is asking you to create with less control and more courage? www.inkofsingh.com

    From Latvian forests to a Creative Force- Lauma Slinke

  5. Jun 7

    Mochi, My Poodle darling & a powerhouse of Love- Kiara Caban

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh sits down with Kiara and her lovable companion, Mochi, for a warm and candid conversation about life, identity, and the companions who help shape our journeys. Kiara opens up about her Puerto Rican roots, her connection to home, and the deeper meaning woven through music, culture, and everyday experience. The conversation also dives into the story of Mochi — how he came into the picture amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, how he adjusted to city life, and how his playful personality, big energy, and endless affection brought a new rhythm and joy to Taran’s world. From snowy adventures to sock-stealing mischief, Mochi steals the spotlight in the most charming way possible. Along the way, the episode explores what pets teach us about patience, presence, resilience, and unconditional love. Equal parts funny, heartfelt, and reflective, this is a conversation about companionship in all its forms and the little moments that make life feel fuller. www.inkofsingh.com

    Mochi, My Poodle darling & a powerhouse of Love- Kiara Caban

  6. 12/19/2025

    The Mountain in Us- Beyond the Name & Up Close with Taran Singh

    Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, guest interviewer Diana flips the script, interviewing host Taran Singh to learn more about the person behind The Mountain in Us podcast and the poetry book Time and Knots. Growing up in the Himalayan mountains shaped how Taran sees the world, and he explains why he named his podcast after them: "The mountain is a place where we go through ups and downs. There is obscurity of vision, there is the thrill of life. There are so many emotions that one can tie up to a mountain that is so relevant to our lives." For his podcast, Taran looks for everyday people willing to share their real stories—the messy parts included—not just the highlight reel of their successes. Taran opens up about how he writes poetry, sharing that his best ideas come from spending time in his garden and talking with different people. He reads a beautiful poem, "Lotus Lungs," from his upcoming book, Lotus Hue, which is coming out in spring 2026. When Diana asks about creative blocks, Taran keeps it real: "I don't force myself to write that much. If something comes to me, I would probably scribble it on a note. Things will come out when they need to come out." He also admits that early in his writing journey, he worried a lot about whether his work was good enough, but he's learned to be more patient with himself. The conversation wraps up with Taran sharing what matters most to him—helping people slow down and reconnect with themselves in our noisy, fast-paced world. He wants readers to feel less affected by all the chaos around them by getting more in tune with who they really are. His advice? Focus on getting to know yourself better: "We are the secret ingredient to our own recipe. We can't change the world, but we can change our own frequency of tuning." Whether through his poetry or his podcast, Taran's message is simple: take a breath, look inward, and remember that everyone's journey is unique. www.inkofsingh.com

    The Mountain in Us- Beyond the Name & Up Close with Taran Singh

  7. 11/14/2025

    Mother Nature & us - Becca Samson

    Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt conversation, Becca Samsson reflects on how her California upbringing shaped her lifelong connection to nature and her career in sustainability. Growing up in Southern California, she developed an intimate relationship with the Pacific Ocean and the natural landscape, and all her favorite childhood memories took place outdoors. As Becca shares, "All of my memories with my siblings and my family are in California nature," from making sand angels on Santa Barbara beaches to hiking in the foothills with her mother. This early connection was reinforced by her grandmother, who taught her to conserve water while shampooing her hair, and her twin sister, who pointed out exhaust residue on leaves when they were just ten years old. These formative experiences instilled in her a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility toward the natural world. Now living in the Netherlands and raising her son, Roman, Becca has observed fascinating cultural differences in how people relate to nature and sustainability. While California's wild landscapes—from deserts to mountains to national parks—fostered her environmental awareness, the Netherlands presents a more controlled relationship with nature, shaped by centuries of water management and land reclamation. Becca intentionally creates opportunities for Roman to build his own intimate connection with nature, taking him to parks every Friday where he gently touches flowers and plays with rocks and dirt. She explains that "children that had more intimate memories with nature or more intimate experiences with nature as young children grew up with more sensitivity and environmental responsibility as they get older." The family's car-free lifestyle, relying entirely on bicycles even in the rain, ensures that Roman experiences the elements daily, which Becca believes builds character and maintains that essential connection to the natural world. In her sustainability work, Becca has learned to bridge the gap between environmental values and business realities. While she wishes "saving the world was a good enough business case," she's found that positioning sustainability as a value proposition for companies is essential. Recently shifting her focus from carbon emissions to nature-based solutions, she's excited about this new direction because everyone has intimate memories of nature, unlike carbon, which remains abstract and inaccessible to most people. Drawing on her Jewish upbringing and the concept of Tikkun Olam—fixing the world—Becca believes that caring for the climate is fundamentally about recognizing that "this is our home and I want to take good care of it, not just for me, but also for everyone I know and also everyone that I don't know." Her advice is simple but profound: find small ways to connect with nature, whether that's stopping to observe a brilliant red autumn leaf for five seconds or walking in the rain without an umbrella, because "if we build a meaningful relationship with nature, we won't let it go to hell." www.inkofsingh.com

    Mother Nature & us - Becca Samson

  8. 10/28/2025

    Michelle Nyrop on Minnesota nice, Grounding wisdom, and the Leaping flights.

    Send us Fan Mail In this touching episode of The Mountain in Us, host Taran Singh interviews HR veteran Michelle Nyrop to share how her small-town Minnesota background influenced her impressive global career. Growing up in a town with only 100 classmates, Michelle describes her personality as "Minnesota Nice"—not naive or conflict-averse, but driven by a natural eagerness to connect with others. Her parents, who rarely traveled, would take Michelle and her sister on Harley Davidson rides without a destination, often responding to "Where are we going?" with "We're going crazy." This carefree approach to exploration laid the foundation for Michelle's outlook. At 20, she flew to England for her first study abroad experience, and upon entering her dorm, she "flopped on the bed, cried for hours, and then sat up and thought, 'Huh. I can do just about anything.'" That moment of bravery empowered her to undertake future challenges, such as relocating her family to Hong Kong to work in HR within a different cultural environment. Michelle's approach to wisdom and leadership focuses on observation, engagement, and learning from everyone she meets. She states, "Wisdom isn't about being smart and teaching and telling, it's about being open and listening and learning." Over her 30-year HR career, which has impacted 70,000 people, she made time each week to connect with individuals outside of immediate work needs, believing that "those are the seeds that sow wisdom if you're smart enough." She rejects the idea that her mentorship is purely selfless, asserting that engagement nourishes her soul: "What could you want more in life than to be part of that?" Her Minnesota Nice personality has been both a strength and a challenge, as some mistook her warmth for weakness. She learned to use it to her advantage, noting that "I can say complicated things to you because you trust me. Your guard's not up because I'm not coming at you without a relationship." A pivotal insight in Michelle's career came from attending a speaker series where a female government leader who had worked with dictators was asked how she could work with such awful people. The leader's response—"What if I hadn't?"—transformed Michelle's thinking about altruism and impact. She realized that "altruism is the enemy of progress" and that walking away from difficult situations or people means they never improve. This led her to work with leaders who didn't align with her personal values, knowing, "I can't fix that person, but I can make it better every day." Her experience living in Hong Kong taught her another crucial lesson: "I am not personally the arbiter of right or wrong, good or bad, rude, not rude." She learned to expand her "box of tolerance," understanding that cultural differences require flexibility and that effectiveness demands moving beyond rigid altruistic ideals while maintaining core integrity. Michelle's recent decision to step away from corporate life to travel with her mother to Ireland brought her journey full circle. Reflecting on the woman who once drove to the Minneapolis airport to see what it looked like before sending her daughter abroad, Michelle now creates experiences her farm-raised mother never imagined possible. Sitting together on the Cliffs of Moher with a rainbow appearing overhead, Michelle felt profound gratitude for "those quiet moments where you remind yourself, 'Gosh, I'm so grateful for this moment.'" She closed the conversation with wisdom from a Chinese proverb she learned in Asia: "A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch but in its own wings."  For Michelle, this captures her entire philosophy—don't worry about jobs or circumstances that will inevitably change, but rather "focus on your flight. What's making you stronger? What's giving you more utility? What new experiences can you have?" Now viewing her career as a bird flying from tree t www.inkofsingh.com

    Michelle Nyrop on Minnesota nice, Grounding wisdom, and the Leaping flights.
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About

“The Mountain in Us, a podcast where “The Journey gets its voice.”  I’m Taran Singh, your host. Here, we greet the thrills, jolts, ascents, and descents of our uncharted adventures.  As a poet, I have explored the adventures and ethos of human existence through the ink. I naturally gravitated towards podcasting, where observation, listening & silence create a bonding spell. In each episode of The Mountain In Us, I sit down with a kindling guest whose journey is more than a milestone; together, we unravel the human spirit of exploration, expression, and purpose. These conversations are candid, rejuvenating, and connective.  I’m optimistic that the breadcrumbs from our trails will resonate with your beat and boost your courageous sojourns and perspectives. www.inkofsingh.com

Information

  • Creator
    Taran Singh
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mountain in Us
  • Show Website
    The Mountain in Us