Castilleja Podcasts

When Bernice Feller decided to move into Channing House, a retirement community in Palo Alto, she thought she was about to lose her independent and spirited lifestyle. Three years after her move, the 84-year-old Bernice is an active member of the Channing House community, proving that you can life life to the fullest at any age. In this podcast, she laughs and dines with friends.Audio Link

Listen in as Monica Mark, a talented young dancer and choreographer who was born in London and raised in New York, shares unique stories her lifelong passion for music. You can hear about the hundreds of concerts she attended while living in New York City as a teenager in the nineties, compare favorite artists, and learn about her unique musical hobby. Find out this major music fan's view on the benefits of following your passion!audio link

Hsiang Cheng is a 24 year old car mechanic who moved to the U.S. from Taiwan when he was only 4.Childhood memories stay vivid in his mind and his name reminds him everyday of the move he and his mother made to America. All the interesting and strange activities Hsiang participates in are part of his comedic and silly personality.Audio Link

Oso Peligroso is a high school band from Los Altos, California. Though only having started in mid 2007, Oso has made a name for themselves in their community.In this podcast episode, you will get the chance to learn more about Oso Peligroso through their guitarist, Simon. He will share the history of their formation and his thoughts of their sound.Audio Link

Blake is a sophomore at UC Berkeley. He has spent the majority of his life fighting against the stigmas that are associated with having ADHD, which culminated in his writing of a book. This podcast explores Blake's name and his thoughts on being B.E.S.T.audio link

Phoebe Barber shares some of the challenges she’s had to overcome after immigrating to the United States to escape a communist-ruled Vietnam in 1978. In this podcast, she talks about becoming a cosmetologist despite her mother’s objections, how she bought her own business, divorcing her good-for-nothing husband, and what she's gained from raising a child on her own.audio link

A podcast profile of Michael Romano, an SAT tutor based out of Palo Alto, California. Profile details the 3 things that are essential to knowing Michael and has a track of Michael singing an original song.Audio Link

This podcast profiles Sara, a dental hygienist with an infectious good nature. She willingly puts her patients and family before herself teaching us all a lesson on happiness; happiness is best achieved by helping others.audio link

Stephanie Hammons is the executive manager of a corporate fitness club in Sunnyvale, California. In this podcast, she reflects on her high school years and how she chose her career, and offers some advice.audio link

Born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, Eger Korolevsky grew up in a tight-knit family. Moving to the US, though, changed his definition of “family relationships”, as his new American stepfather, Chuck, did not participate in any of the activities that he enjoyed with his father. Eger talks about what he misses in Kyrgyzstan and how he wishes he could bring together the two worlds he loves.audio link

Yuying Chen addresses the challenge she found in learning the English language after she came to the United States from the Guangdong province in China. She also shares some words and phrases that could prove useful when in China.audio link

Kate Manbert shares her favorite memories of her kids and from her childhood. She talks about her parents' embarrassing antics and her kids dancing to music.audio link

Lily Garcia is a Mexican immigrant who works as a cleaning woman. Her job, however, does not define her. She loves her family and her children, and she moved to the United States so that they would be given more opportunities for education. Leaving Mexico was difficult for her, but she is nothing but optimistic, and she hopes to return one day to her relaxing and simple life in Mexico. Audio Link

Lumi runs the restaurant Fuki Sushi in Palo Alto. This podcast is about Lumi's interactions with children as she works at the restaurant, something that she clearly enjoys.Audio Link

Hilda Alvarez is a single mother, who works two jobs, but is also looking for someone to spend the rest of her life with. This podcast tells the story her love life and her current boyfriend.Audio Link

Donald is a security guard for Ardenwood Plaza in Fremont. One of his hobbies is baseball, though he prefers watching to playing. Many morals spring from his job as well as his favorite passtime. Audio Link

Listen to Yen Lu's escape from Vietnam after the Vietnam War. Yen Lu lived in Saigon, and two days before the city fell to the communists, her family escaped first to the Philippines, and one year later they came to South Carolina.Audio Link

Kelly Fee is a senior at Stanford University, on the school's gymnastics' team, majoring in International Relations, and minoring in Spanish. She grew up in a town about 45 minutes away from Chicago with her mother, father, and two sisters. In this podcast, Kelly talks about how her love for gymnastics started and how the sacrifices she has made for it, including going to high-school for only half days, has changed her life.Audio Link

Penelope Susan Kerhin is fifty-nine years old and is the single mother of three children, Zachary, Jamie Ruth, and Alexandra. She lives in Palo Alto, California. She is a nurse at Lucille Packard's Children Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In this podcast, Penny discusses her favorite mottos, the people that she admires, her hobbies, her traditions, and her wonderful sense of humor.Play Audio

Annelie Myers was born on May 6, 1927 in Passau, Germany. In this podcast, she tells a story about one of her many experiences during World War II with her best friend, Gretel, who is half Jewish.Audio Link

Sarah is a stay at home mom and one of my mother's good friends and fellow book club members. With her quirky personality and lack of a a verbal filter, Sarah turns the seemingly dull task of hosting parties for some little children into an amusing prospect.Click here to listen to the audio podcast if the above player is not workingAudio Link

Li Ming Feng is not your ordinary housewife who shops and cleans – she dances, sings Chinese opera, and hunts for the secret to happiness. In this podcast, Li Ming examines different ways of being happy in the East and in the West. She brings her unique Chinese-American perspective to the table, having endured everything from the Cultural Revolution to cultural and spiritual assimilation in the US.

Paul Bartlett shares a childhood memory from when he was living in Cairo. This story typifies Paul by showing how he is normal while letting the listener hear little parts of his character that make him different, interesting, and special.

Thoa Nguyen is a typical middle-aged woman who knows what she wants in life: to help others less fortunate. This podcast follows Thoa's story as she developed into how she helps her community and who she is as a person today.Audio Link

Charlotte Carnevale is 24-years-old and lives in Palo Alto. Charlotte went to Bowdoin College in Maine and graduated almost three years ago. She adopted Barnaby, her pet rat, when she lived off campus senior year. In this podcast, Charlotte talks about some highlights from her time with Barnaby.Play Audio