Above the bridge

Thaddeus Park

Entertainment and conversation 

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    Episode 191 MACI ONO ( Fitness Influencer )

    Send us Fan Mail Some conversations hit different because they refuse to pretend. Maci Ono is back, and we go way past gym clips and highlight reels into the messy middle where real change happens: grief, low motivation, depression, identity shifts, and the daily choice to keep showing up anyway. If you’ve ever put on a hoodie, gone full incognito, and tried to talk yourself out of the workout you know you need, you’ll recognize yourself here. We get honest about the pressure of being “the inspirational one” on social media, what it feels like to disappear for months, and the tools that helped Maci climb out: accepting the low without getting stuck, leaning on family and friends, getting back into therapy, and changing the environments that keep you coping in ways that make tomorrow worse. We also talk about how social media can warp your expectations when you’re watching everyone else’s 15% and comparing it to your full 100%. Then we dig into the physical side of setbacks. Macy shares the reality of post-surgery complications after skin removal, how it changed her training, and how body image and body dysmorphia can flare up even after major weight loss. From there we connect it to food, binge eating stigma, and the balance skills that actually help with weight loss maintenance: avoiding extreme restriction, dropping the all-or-nothing mindset, and learning how to reset immediately instead of waiting for Monday. If you want a mindset that lasts, a healthier relationship with food, and a more realistic way to think about discipline and mental health, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

    Episode 191 MACI ONO ( Fitness Influencer )
  2. Jul 20 ·  Video

    Episode 190 NELSON SUA ( Shield )

    Send us Fan Mail A kid can survive almost anything, but they don’t survive it unchanged. Nelson Sua up in Hawaii inside a home marked by violence, fear, and a family legacy that later gets labeled “Brotherhood of Crime.” He’s honest about what that kind of childhood does to your identity, your nervous system, and your sense of what’s normal. Then he walks us through the moment he finally decides the story ends with him, especially after becoming a father and realizing his kids deserve a different future. Things get even heavier when Nelson learns later in life that the man he called dad is not his biological father. That revelation sends him into a dark spiral of numbness, drinking, and chasing anything that will quiet the pain. What changes the direction isn’t a self-help hack or a perfect plan, but a powerful faith experience he describes as immediate peace the moment he steps into church. From there, we talk about forgiveness, daily discipline, and how to share faith without using it to shame people. Today, he puts that transformation into action through Boss Ministry and SHIELD, his anti-bullying program focused on Strength, Honor, Integrity, Empowerment, Leadership, and Discipline. We get into bullying in Hawaii, cyberbullying that follows kids home, and why real prevention has to involve schools, families, and the community, not just assemblies and slogans. If you care about youth mentorship, breaking generational cycles, and building safer schools, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you heard.

    Episode 190 NELSON SUA  ( Shield )
  3. Jul 13 ·  Video

    Episode 189 DJ JAVI ( Hawaii Dj )

    Send us Fan Mail Most people judge a DJ by the loudest 30 seconds. We wanted to talk about the other 99 percent of the job: the decisions nobody sees that keep a club alive, a dance floor full, and a night moving in waves instead of burning out early. We’re joined by DJ Javi, one of Hawaii’s most versatile DJs, to break down the real mechanics of nightlife. We talk DJ battles, mentorship, and the Hawaii DJ community ethos of showing up for each other’s gigs. Javi explains why “reading the room” is not a vibe-based cliché, it’s a skill: watching who is dancing, who is stuck at the bar, and how to sequence songs so the crowd builds naturally. We also get into the business side of DJing, why cold asks for peak-time slots fail, and how newer DJs can earn bookings through demos, feedback, and consistent presence. Then we go deep on emo nights in Hawaii: how the concept spread from the mainland, why some sets land and others don’t, how to balance mainstream sing-alongs with deeper cuts, and even how to keep mosh pit energy safe in a club environment. Along the way, we touch on how social media changed nightlife behavior, how different venues demand different strategies, and why undercutting rates hurts the whole scene. If you care about Hawaii nightlife, DJ culture, Serato and Rekordbox workflow, or how a great DJ thinks in real time, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a DJ or promoter friend, and leave a review with the best lesson you’ve learned from a night out.

    Episode 189 DJ JAVI ( Hawaii Dj )
  4. Jul 6 ·  Video

    Episode 188 WES NAKANO ( owner: From Above Entertainment )

    Send us Fan Mail The moment Wes said he’s putting down the mic, I felt it in my gut because I’ve known him as the voice that can move a room. We sit down and get real about why stepping back from MC duties can be the exact move a growing business needs, especially when you’re trying to protect your name, your family, and the standard your clients pay for. We talk about the path that got him here, from working a regular job while his emceeing slowed down to building From Above Entertainment into one of the most trusted names in Hawaii wedding entertainment. Wes shares how his wife Julie pushed the original vision, how a one-year “let’s try it” turned into ten years, and what actually separates a wedding DJ and MC team when the pressure is high and the timeline is tight. We also dig into growth challenges after COVID, staying current with wedding trends, and finding people who are willing to put in real work instead of chasing instant gratification. Then we get into the gear and the future: LED video walls, LED DJ booths, and how his new leg, From Above Displays, handles commercial and residential LED screen installs from planning and site visits to full setup and support. If you’re into entrepreneurship, event production, leadership, and building a service business with aloha, there’s a lot here to steal for your own life. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a friend who’s building something, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one goal you’re chasing right now that scares you a little?

    Episode 188 WES NAKANO ( owner: From Above Entertainment )
  5. Jun 29 ·  Video

    Episode 187 KEALOHILANI KEA-DAVID (Club Director / Coach of HO'OMAU ATHLETICS)

    Send us Fan Mail A club doesn’t earn trust with matching jerseys. It earns trust when coaches, athletes and parents show up with clarity, consistency, and heart. That’s where this conversation with Coach Kea lands as she shares the story behind rebranding to Ho’omau Athletics, a name rooted in perseverance and shaped by a season of real-life pressure. We get into what it looks like to build a youth volleyball culture in Hawaii that feels like family without getting soft on standards. Coach Kea breaks down the difference between a good coach and a great coach, why accountability matters more than empty praise, and how team-first habits are trained through everyday choices at practice. We also talk about the constant tension every competitive program faces: winning versus player development. Sometimes the best lesson costs points, and she explains why that tradeoff can be worth it for long-term growth. If you’re a sports parent, there’s a lot here for you too: open practices, clear parent meetings, how to handle playing time conversations, and why college recruiting often includes evaluating the parents along with the athlete. Coach Kea also shares what changes as Ho’omau heads into its third season, her move into high school coaching, how travel builds chemistry, and how she integrates faith in a way that invites rather than pressures. If you found value here, subscribe, share this with a coach or parent who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one trait you wish every coach would lead with?

    Episode 187 KEALOHILANI KEA-DAVID (Club Director / Coach of HO'OMAU ATHLETICS)
  6. May 26 ·  Video

    Episode 185 Q & A with ATBpodcast host THADDEUS PARK

    Send us Fan Mail Five years and nearly 200 episodes later, I’m still recording Above the Bridge the same way I started: showing up, hitting record, and trying to have real conversations that leave me feeling something. This annual Q and A is me answering the questions you sent in, from what made me nervous early on to the one episode that gave me confidence to do the show in front of people, and the honest truth about what it takes to stay consistent week after week. We get into the behind-the-scenes work most people don’t see when they search “start a podcast” or “grow a podcast” including booking guests, planning ahead, editing, and staying current. I also share why some interviews feel easy while others are tough, what constructive criticism actually helped me improve, and why most podcasts quit before they ever find their rhythm. I also talk about why local podcasts matter right now, especially in Hawaii. Giving local people a voice, keeping island connections strong for listeners who moved away, and sharing the way we talk and the aloha we try to live by is a big part of why I keep doing this. And I’ll tell you straight up what motivates me most: my daughter, and the idea that one day she can look back on these conversations and get to know her dad in a different way. If you’ve ever needed a reason to keep creating, press play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

    Episode 185 Q & A with ATBpodcast host THADDEUS PARK
  7. May 18 ·  Video

    Episode 184 AARON SIGA ( Construction Influencer & Owner of Hamma Built )

    Send us Fan Mail A lot of people get a past they can’t outrun, and a lot of people in construction carry more weight than anyone sees. I sit down with Aaron Siga, a Kaneohe legend who used to be known for scrapping, to talk about how he flipped that energy into something that actually builds people up: leadership, teaching, and a steady “aloha” attitude on and off the jobsite. We get into the real story behind his “hammer built” mindset, from the wake up call of prison to the grind of learning framing, metal stud work, and union life the hard way. Aaron breaks down what separates a real worker from a loud one, why the best fighters are usually the most humble, and how jobsite culture can either help apprentices grow or push them toward burnout. If you’ve ever felt stuck, underpaid, or underestimated, his approach to leveling up through responsibility and repetition hits home. Then the conversation goes deeper than construction tips. Aaron opens up about depression, suicidal thoughts, and the moments that forced him to seek therapy and rebuild his thinking. We talk about mental health in construction, the danger of screaming at people who are already struggling, and how purpose, community, and faith can pull someone back from the edge. If this connects with you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one mindset shift that helped you keep going when life got heavy?

    Episode 184 AARON SIGA ( Construction Influencer  & Owner of Hamma Built )
4.7
out of 5
22 Ratings

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Entertainment and conversation 

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