FutureAncestors.tv

FutureAncestors.tv
  • 5.0 (15)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

FutureAncestors.tv is a multimedia platform and podcast that explores the Filipino American experience through the voices of those who live it. The history of the Philippines and the United States is both parallel and intertwined. A story of migration, resilience, and identity that continues to evolve. From farm fields to film sets, from nurses to next-gen creatives, artists, and innovators, generations of Filipinos have always built something bigger than themselves. Our history runs deep, across islands, oceans, and generations. Every story adds another line to the blueprint we're leaving behind. Through storytelling, conversation, and cultural reflection, Future Ancestors preserves the wisdom of the past while leaving a blueprint for the next generation. We're here to honor our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the next generation by shaping a more rooted, connected, and liberated future.

  1. 11/25/2025

    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

    52 min
  2. Becoming Our Ancestors' Wildest Dreams with Dr. Kevin Nadal

    10/31/2025

    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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Follow Kevin Nadal on Instagram to follow his journey: @kevinnadal

    1h 32m
  3. He Turned Courage Into Care: Nurse & Creator Chris Franz on Healing, Humanity, and Hope

    10/24/2025

    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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Follow Chris Franz on Instagram to follow his journey: @chrsfranz

    45 min

  4. 10/24/2025

    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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Follow Rachelle Ocampo on Instagram to follow his journey: @rockyrach16

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

    10/10/2025

    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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Follow Hillari Alison's journey on Instagram @hillarialison

    38 min
  6. Kay Sibil Backstage at SIX the Musical Playing Catherine Howard on Broadway

    10/03/2025

    Kay Sibil Backstage at SIX the Musical Playing Catherine Howard on Broadway

    In this special Future Ancestors episode, we're in Kay's dressing room for SIX the Musical as she's getting ready to play Catherine Howard. Sharing the heart, humor, and hustle behind the crown. Kay opens up about the unusual timing of auditioning for The Voice and SIX in the same week, why Catherine Howard's story matters, and how she brings her Filipina identity to the stage,  from a shimmering high pony to a hand-painted sampaguita eye look. We also celebrate a historic 2025 for Filipinos on Broadway (hello, Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss), trace the path paved by icons like Lea Salonga and Eva Noblezada, and talk comfort food (arroz caldo!), family roots in Manila and Tarlac, and using your voice, loudly and lovingly. What you'll hear: Backstage prep with a Broadway queen The Voice vs. SIX and the confidence that changed everything Filipina representation, legacy, and speaking up Cooking, culture, and staying grounded on an eight-show week Watch the dressing room tour on our Instagram @futureancestors.tv or on our YouTube @FutureAncestorsTV 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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Follow KaySibil's journey here:  Instagram: @kaysibil

    19 min
  7. (Part 2) From Motel Kid to "Motel Guy": Brian Acosta on Empathy, Grace & Second Chances

    09/26/2025

    (Part 2) From Motel Kid to "Motel Guy": Brian Acosta on Empathy, Grace & Second Chances

    From mixtapes to motels, hip hop history to poetry slams, here's part two of Brian Acosta's story. Known online as the "Motel Guy," Brian sits down with hosts Kat Serrano and Jason "Encite" on the Future Ancestors Podcast to talk about his journey from rapping at 15 to meeting Jay-Z at his family's New Jersey motel, to navigating Hollywood, TikTok, and the poetry scene in New York City. We Talk About: Growing up in a motel that became part of hip hop history His early rap persona "Eilis" and the influence of MTV culture Lessons in rejection, resilience, and finding peace in solitude Hosting at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café and building community through art Why he gives back freely without chasing brand deals or merch What it means to leave a blueprint as a future ancestor Brian's story is raw, funny, and deeply human, a reminder that legacy isn't built by perfection, but by showing up with honesty, care, and love. Listen in and discover how Brian is his blueprint for the next generation. If this conversation inspired you, please pass it on: share the episode with a friend. 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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Stay connected to Brian Acosta Arya here:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianacostaarya/#

    44 min
  8. (Part 1) From Motel Kid to "Motel Guy": Brian Acosta on Empathy, Grace & Second Chances

    09/26/2025

    (Part 1) From Motel Kid to "Motel Guy": Brian Acosta on Empathy, Grace & Second Chances

    On this episode of Future Ancestors, Jason & Kat sit down with Actor/comedian and "Motel Guy" Brian Acosta, who grew up in a New Jersey motel and turned that life into a mission of everyday kindness. We talk empathy, parenting, healing from trauma, and the viral "Free Room For U" movement, and a powerful update on Jolene (a guest at the motel), who was once lost to addiction, that is now hundreds of days clean and giving back, reminding us what grace can do. Listen in and find out what it means to build a life around empathy and how growing up in a New Jersey motel shaped Brian's purpose and why he opens doors (literally) for people in crisis at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel. We Talk About: Growing up inside a working motel & learning business the human way Empathy as practice: "not looking away" and asking "Are you good?" Using comedy, music, and poetry to process trauma Parenting with transparency, boundaries, and books over screens "Free Room For U" and the story that stays with Brian: Jolene's return If you're learning to break cycles, lead with empathy, and imagine new ways to care for each other, this episode is for you, and if this conversation inspired you, please pass it on: share the episode with a friend. 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 or at www.FutureAncestors.tv Stay connected to Brian Acosta Arya here:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianacostaarya/#

    59 min
See All (51)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

FutureAncestors.tv is a multimedia platform and podcast that explores the Filipino American experience through the voices of those who live it. The history of the Philippines and the United States is both parallel and intertwined. A story of migration, resilience, and identity that continues to evolve. From farm fields to film sets, from nurses to next-gen creatives, artists, and innovators, generations of Filipinos have always built something bigger than themselves. Our history runs deep, across islands, oceans, and generations. Every story adds another line to the blueprint we're leaving behind. Through storytelling, conversation, and cultural reflection, Future Ancestors preserves the wisdom of the past while leaving a blueprint for the next generation. We're here to honor our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the next generation by shaping a more rooted, connected, and liberated future.

Information

  • Creator
    FutureAncestors.tv
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    FutureAncestors.tv