Keoni Chats

Pauline Lee joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Pauline is the founder of the Program for Intellectual Empowerment (PIE). We talk about the beginning of the program and the challenges she encounters with keeping it going. Pauline shares how her religious following has kept her going on the path she is on. She has a strong passion to give neurodivergent individuals opportunities. This led her to create the Unified Art Studio. A place for students to paint and take on real world challenges and provide a safe space for them to meet new people. Follow Pauline here: https://bit.ly/3Sfjq4n. Check out their website here: https://www.piempowered.org/.

Arturo Basurto joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Arturo and I were one time co-workers and from that time together, he made a positive impression on me with his positivity and curiosity. Arturo is a professional Disc Golfer and we talk about how he discovered the sport. He grew up in California and decided to move to Oregon on a whim. We talked about that decision and all the life adjustments he had to make once it was complete. Follow Arturo here: https://bit.ly/4beatAZ, https://bit.ly/43b6LGr. Read Arturo's stats here: https://bit.ly/3D5q7Cj

In this third episode of the Creator Check-In: The Struggles with Creativity, I discuss editing and marketing. I open up about my overly ambitious approach to weekly episode releases and the mental and emotional limits that took me. As this show was finding its format, I didn't have the financial capability to purchase the software that was available to me in college. This made me have to resort to stock software and be limited by their abilities. In the beginning, I was using Zoom to supplement the interview. As I was shifting from Zoom to in-person interviews, I had to slowly make investments to improve the quality. Due to the weekly episodes format, there was no marketing strategy. As that changed, one started to take form and it felt great giving the episode more attention. Just as the new adjustments are being applied and the excitement is building, tragedy struck.

In the second episode of the Creator Check-In: The Struggles with Creativity, I discuss my growth with interviewing. I grew up with an extroverted father so casually talking with people was easy for me. The issues I encountered was having a guided interview while trying to push a narrative forward. I talked about being too reliant on retaining information (all from memory) and how that led to a poor interview with the first stranger of the show. I didn't even mention how long it took to get use to hearing my voice and overcome my stutters and pauses. Next episode I discuss the editing process and the countless hours.

In the first episode of the Creator Check-In: The Struggles with Creativity, I broke down the latest break from the Keoni Chats podcast show and the thought process that led to this mini series. As I did the NFL Roster Breakdown series on the KCM Sports show, I realized that I can produce a show that is not in an interview format. Once I got a layout of the topics I wanted to speak about in this episode, I got back behind the microphone and opened up about my own struggles with creating the Keoni Chats show. In this episode, I talk about taking the idea and starting to run with it. Next episode I discuss my struggles with interviewing. 

Josh Stofiel of Evoke Visual Solutions joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Josh through my last job. The company he was working for at the time was being absorbed and I remember when I first saw him, I thought that this is a guy that I could enjoy working with. As his time grew at the new place, our passing interactions grew more friendly and memorable. When he left that job for another opportunity, we lost contact with each other but those fun moments stuck with me. When I found out that he co-found Evoke and continued with his printing career, I wanted to bring Josh onto the show. We talked about his printing career but he opened up about his struggles with education and the extent he went on to avoid repeating his mistakes. Check out Evoke here: https://www.evokevisualsolutions.com/ .

When making a trip back to Portland, Brian Weber stops by and is this week's guest. Brian and I were high school classmates. During this conversation, A lot of his stories and experiences started to emulate my own. We talk about his pathway to becoming a Police Officer with the city of Astoria, Oregon. He opens up about the many rejections he faced and how he was able to find an alternate route to achieve his dream. The last memory I have of Brian was a kid that blended into the background. But when he was with his friends, lit up and was very engaging. Brian opens up about how his training to be an officer helped him grow as a person. Follow Brian here: https://bit.ly/3TC3WYF

Adam Becenti becomes the newest member of the two-timer club, as he returns to be this week's guest on Keoni Chats. A lot of Adam's first episode revolved around his participation in the Black Lives Matter movement and his support to community causes. We built off that episode and talked about his work as the Tribal Affairs Director at the Oregon Department of Human Services and having a balance between his work and his culture. What always sparked my curiosity about Adam was how he finds the line between work and culture when his job involves his culture. We also talked about his participation at speaking engagements at schools such as University of Colorado and University of Oregon. Follow Adam here: https://bit.ly/3wlbVkX , https://bit.ly/3uxp9un , https://bit.ly/3UGDXRQ 

Confessions Of A Tiny Teacher Founder Tasha Emmerson joins me in this week's Keoni Chats. Tasha and I have similar social circles, but this was the first time we've talked with each other. Her openness and engaging nature made this conversation quickly comfortable. We talked about her upbringing with absentee parents, and having to be the parental figure for her sisters. Tasha opened up about her marriage to her husband and being involved with each other for almost two decades. As Tasha became a mother of 2, and her teaching career was taking off, the world was introduced to COVID. This would lead to the creation of Tiny Learning Box. Follow Tasha Here: http://bit.ly/3tiPCeE . Visit Confessions Of A Tiny Teacher website here: https://bit.ly/3tsHEiU

I met Keith Nelson for the first time in this week's Keoni Chats.  He was born and raised in Portland, OR and we are both alumni from the same high school and college. I reached out to him through our high school's facebook group and he graciously accepted. This chat was a challenge for me, not only because this is our first time meeting, but because of his extensive resume and figuring out where to go first. Keith is a Comedian and Actor of over 30 years. Outside of the comedy stage, Keith has been in projects such as: Electives, Not for Nothin', and Mobsters and Mormons. Keith and I talked about the importance of being on time in his world and he shared some stories from the stand up comedy world. Check out his website here: https://www.keithrossnelson.org/ . 

After keeping up with Angela Lackey through social media for so long, it was time that I brought onto the show for this week's Keoni Chats. Ever since Angela and I were calling each other “co-workers,” she had talked about clothes and her fashion line Diversified Clothing Brand. We talked about the beginnings of Diversified Clothing Brand and some of her future plans for the company. Angela is a former professional athlete so she brings the same focus and energy to her brand as she did when she was playing basketball. We talked about the multiple hats she has to wear (for now) and how she keeps going, even when COVID began to spread. Check out Diversified Clothing Brand here: https://diversifiedclothingbrand.com/ .

Olan Muller opens up about his journey in this week's Keoni Chats. Olan was one academic year younger than me but our paths always found a way to each other. During our time together in high school, we did dragon boats together and our social circles overlapped. Olan and I talked about his new look of shoulder length hair and a mustache. We also talked about his unconventional path that began during his middle school years as his childhood home went further and further into the distance. Olan opened up about always being on the move and how he is transitioning to his career as an Air Traffic Controller. Follow Olan here: http://bit.ly/44CH1R2 

As Bryton Wilson is getting settled into his new home, he takes a break from unpacking and we reconnect in this week's Keoni Chats. I met Bryton when I was working at Nike and he was working at Apple. As the Nike Apple Watch was being released, he would be in the Nike store to answer any customer questions. When we weren't talking about watches, Bryton and I would talk about everyday life. I kept up with Bryton as he went deeper into the photography and videography world as a freelancer. We talked about the progression from a hobby to a business and how he is shifting his focus to projects he really enjoys. View Bryton's website here: https://brytonw.com/ 

Dom Huynh returns for another conversation in this week's Keoni Chats. The last time we spoke was late 2020 so trying to cover his life since then was tricky but really fun to hear about. After pairing up with Dillon Vibes (former guest), Dom gained some traction in the fitness world as he was casted for some fitness equipment commercials. I asked Dom about that experience and keeping in shape as he ages. We also talk about his character “Hank” in the movie Obsessed With The Babysitter and how he was able to mold that role into his vision. Before our chat, Dom wrapped up a stint on the Disney Cruise line ship playing the character of Shang-Chi. He dived into that experience as well as techniques on unwinding in a small space. Find Dom's films here: https://imdb.to/3BOUGId. Follow Dom here: https://bit.ly/3jsXzma; https://bit.ly/31C7LTo; https://bit.ly/37ExmiA

Ashby Rodriguez and I take our usual small talk a step further in this week's Keoni Chats. Ashby is married to former guest David Rodriguez. We talked about how their relationship started and how they endured long distance. Ashby and David are renovating their homes without any proper training outside of what they call “YouTube University.” We talk about how they handle a home project gone sideways. I met Ashby as she was working for the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV). I wanted to know more about how she doesn't take the heaviness of her work with her back home. We also talked about her experience teaching in Peru, at a young age, and her naive braveness when it came to living in a foreign country. Follow Ashby here: https://bit.ly/3GZNVWM

Kelsey Sievert virtually joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Kelsey during my time at the University of Oregon. While in Eugene, my roommate and I took in a stray cat (that ended up being pregnant with three kittens). Kelsey and I went on a couple dates, and while that never led to anything, I still thought of her as a great friend and gave her a kitten. One aspect that made me want to talk with her was that she is a professional makeup artist. I wanted to know how early covid affected her and how she adapted. We also talked about the grief for her brother. I usually try to learn from my guest but talking with Kelsey about her grief helped me gain a new perspective on mine. Since leaving Eugene, Kelsey has outstood two marriages and is in her third; I wanted to know how she didn't give up on love. Follow Kelsey here: https://bit.ly/3FCdxsl; https://bit.ly/3JREU3Z; https://bit.ly/3ZVyLtc

Edward Bernier V steps away from the microphone and cameras to join me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Edward in middle school and even then, we never had a conversation longer than a sentence. I kept track of Edward's musical career as he dove further and further. He would find traction as he would perform live and start to open for big name artist. He really caught my eye when I saw his music video for his song The Accused. The editing and lyrics sparked my curiosity. The more I listened to his music, the more I wanted to talk with him about his journey since I last saw him. Follow him at the links below to engage with his art. Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3xQAYts YouTube: https://bit.ly/3IzpShI IG: https://bit.ly/3YZhDlK Facebook: https://bit.ly/3IPvwgG

Chris Avery takes a moment to reflect on the road traveled in this week's Keoni Chats. Before becoming a cheerleader for the University of Oregon, Chris played football in California and thrived under the strict schedule of a student athlete. As he started out at the University of Oregon, he found himself missing that routine and structure and his studies showed it. Once he became a cheerleader, he was able to discover how important a routine is for him. After this chapter of his life ended, he had to discover the next physical challenge - bobsledding. While Chris did not compete in the Winter Games 2022, he gained so much perspective and tools to add to his routine and growth. Follow Chris here: https://bit.ly/3Hyu5l2

Dr. KJ Paik puts the stethoscope down for the day and sits down with me for this week's Keoni Chats. I have known KJ for the majority of my life. This ranges from our days playing pop warner football to our last days sharing the high schools hallways. We talk about life after high school and his decision to switch to a medical career after studying business. KJ started his medical career during the height of the pandemic. He was thrown into fire from the start and while he will never know how the hospital operated prior to the pandemic, he was able to find the specialty that spoke loudest to him. We also spoke about how he balances his life with his hectic work.

For this week's Keoni Chats, I reconnect with my former high school classmate Natalie Isaacson. I met Natalie during our junior year as she was fresh off a move from Washington down to Oregon. Prior to coming to Oregon, she made a promise to herself that she would pursue singing and when I first met her, she was excelling in the choir group living up to that promise. Natalie was always easy to talk with and made connecting easier. We talked about the transition she experienced moving from Washington to Oregon then the transition she experienced afterwards that led her to Arizona. Natalie is in Arizona pursuing a career in Teaching and adapting to being in the learning environment with students younger than her. Follow Natalie here: https://bit.ly/3hYQJKx

Erick Kelly steps off the sprung floor to sit down with me for this week's Keoni Chats. Erick is the second youngest sibling out of four boys. I did Boy Scouts with the elder two Kelly brothers with Erick joining as my time was ending. Erick is the co-owner of PDX Tricking. Tricking is a combination of flips and twists. We talked about his shift towards the activity and having to balance four jobs to become a co-owner. While trying to find the Tricking community in the PNW had obstacles, Erick was able to bring them all together with the creation of Rose City Gathering. Check out PDX Tricking here: https://www.pdxtricking.org/ Follow Erick here: https://bit.ly/3WNx1ky

Fellow Pinay Michaela Canete joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Michaela through her partner and got to know her through a couple group dates. Michaela and I covered many topics but her experiences as a Rose Festival Queen in 2017, really set a strong foundation for her for the rest of her life. We also spoke about a new goal for herself that has helped her during all the phases of her life. Michaela moved from the Philippines at a young age and while adjusting to American life was achievable, some stressors followed her everywhere. Follow Michaela on this platform: https://bit.ly/3Dp0jyg

After settling into her first Nomad location out of the PNW, Annie Weaver joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Annie is one of three sisters, while also being a twin. Annie and I shared the same high school together and while we never spoke to each other, this conversation felt like we had been talking for years. We spoke about her family dynamic and the decision to have a nomadic life. I always viewed Annie as quiet as I would have more engagement with her twin sister, but we spoke about her using her voice to steer her career to the right direction. Follow Annie on social media here: https://bit.ly/3DTt0nU ; https://bit.ly/3xR0EH1

Kai Limuaco (aka DJ OreGuam) takes the first seat in the new studio for this week's Keoni Chats. Kai and I wrestled in high school and our social circles always overlapped. I remembered Kai as a fun loving guy but we barely had classes together so I never knew how he was academically. We talk about his decision to forgo college due to anxiety and his journey that led him to becoming a DJ. With being a DJ and being in front of people, we also spoke about what Kai is like when he is by himself. Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3AgIuyu, https://bit.ly/3QWFUEM

Anthony Holton takes the seat and is my guest for this week's Keoni Chats. When I initially reached out to Anthony, I had no idea what to expect because we never had long conversations while in high school. We talked about his journey with sharing his emotions and what it's like for him to stay connected with people. Anthony also shared what it was like moving from LA and growing up with a dad as a professional basketball player. Follow Anthony here: https://bit.ly/3SxKZ83

The chase is over as Ben Collins finally joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Ben was one of the first people I asked to be a guest on this show but opted to work on himself before taking the seat. Geesh did this guy work on himself as we talk about everything from his time as a guitarist, jumping from band to band, to the incident that pushed him to sober living. We talked about the connection of songwriting with comic book writing and the origins of that passion. Check out his website now https://thegonzoraven.com/ and read the writing pieces that were talked about in this episode. Along with the Gonzo Raven social media accounts, follow Ben at these platforms: https://bit.ly/3zesJZZ ; https://bit.ly/3cmYXco

From one-time football player to Vice President of Personal Capital, Kevin Corbin stops by for this week's Keoni Chats. Kevin has bounced around following college but found his home back in Oregon. I played freshman football with Kevin where he sustained a knee injury making him convert to basketball. We talk about the hardship of handling that injury at a young age. Kevin found Economics and the financial world during his time at the University of Oregon. We talked about his interesting family dynamic as he and his dad were the only ones in a home filled with women. Follow Kevin on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3OYvJ1p ; https://bit.ly/3yag2gV

Nick Newcom joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Nick and I met in middle school but our friendship didn't grow until high school. We are both younger brothers and we spoke about the challenges of creating our own path. Following high school, Nick had a stint in the military and that threw me off completely. I wanted to learn more about his mindset heading into and being deep in the military. Check out my chat with Nick now and learn about the depth of his thinking and how it can make him stand out from a crowd.

Fresh off Adelsheim's Vineyard, Emily McMullen sits down with me for this week's Keoni Chats. This will serve as Emily and I's first conversation outside of email. We talked about a wide variety of topics including the life of a mother during early COVID to jumping to Adelsheim after being a teacher. While it was tricky balancing the conversation to cover both work and life, Emily surprised me when she shared about some trauma she experienced early in her life. Dive into my chat with her now and find out how she keeps her smile and upbeat personality through a family motto. Check out Adelsheim here: https://www.adelsheim.com/.

I reunited with my former Nike Portland coworker Katrina Wilson. Katrina and I only shared a handful of weeks together but I always thought of her as a reliable and dependable person to get the job done. She has had a few jobs since leaving Nike and one of those is continuing her law career that she started in high school. We spoke about the hardship of that kind of work as well as being a mother of two. Katrina lost her mother relatively late in her life and while it is still not easy to process, the effect it had on her is felt in this episode. Check out her company The Little Golden Pineapple here: https://thelittlegoldenpineapple.com/

Longtime friend and sibling-like figure Rolando Rado drops in for this week's Keoni Chats. Rolando is my brother's age but we always spent time together either watching WWE or attending a ComiCon. As he progressed through life, I noticed that Rolando's tough exterior started to soften up and he was being more open. We talk about his military experience and the moment that led to his PTSD. While he is no longer in active duty, he is helping those that have lost loved ones to the military. Check out my chat with him now and find out how he found the right way to let people in. Follow him on this platform: https://bit.ly/3pYbqY0

The Keoni Chats show goes international as I sat down with Laurel Barker (formally Green) for this week's episode. At the time of this recording, Laurel checks in from Japan with her husband Andrew in the military. Laurel and I met back in middle school as we would spend our summer days at the local bowling alley. Laurel attended Brigham Young University where she would get an internship with Disney. This fit Laurel too well. We talked about that experience and becoming a mother. With her husband Andrew in the military, Laurel has to play both strict and fun parent and we dive into that tough balancing act. Check out my episode with her now and find out how becoming a mother took priority over her business and some medication. Check out her business here: https://www.laurelgreengraphics.com/ Follow Laurel on this platform: https://bit.ly/36MF5N2, https://bit.ly/35i8AFX

The Oregon based, funk music singer Samira Lobby joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Samira and I have both called the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication building - Allen Hall - a second home and that was the first spark that led to me wanting to have this conversation. While it was challenging to make this interview different from previous podcast interviews she's had, I really enjoyed the different topics we jumped in. Samira shared her opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement, her involvement in her various communities and much more. Check out Samira's website here: https://www.samiralobby.com Follow Samira on these platforms: https://bit.ly/34vKl77

Kristiana Kamara leaves the warmth of Arizona and returns to Oregon for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Kristiana in high school and when we talked about our time under that roof, I realized that I knew close to nothing about her. Kristiana is the eldest of six sisters and her parents were far from ideal. She had to grow up quickly. Despite her childhood being shortened, she is able to relive it with her two daughters. After leaving the cold and rainy Pacific Northwest, Kristiana found a new life in Arizona. Tune into my chat with her now and find out about her new life in Arizona. Follow her on this platform: https://bit.ly/3AUrWg1

Jen John virtually makes the trip down Interstate 5 and joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Jen through my partner and the first sentence she used to describe Jen was that she is sober. This was the first sign that I wanted to hear her story and get it out to the public as alcohol is engraved in a lot of society. I had so many questions for her at that moment that bringing her on as a guest was in the near future. What added to my motivation to get her story out, was her survival of a school shooting. The emotional and mental work Jen has done to move forward with life is uplifting and inspiring. Follow Jen on this platform: https://bit.ly/3A0K338

The explorative traveler Lena Harris virtually returns to Oregon for this week's Keoni Chats. Lena is also a Duck TV alumnus and we spoke about her discovery of the program and how it helped propel her career in sports journalism. We conversed about the process of handling rejection while continuously hunting down the next journalism opportunity. While she ultimately decided to switch careers, sports is still a spark in one of her many fiery passions. Now a few years post college, Lena and her husband Richard started a business called Nomadic Weekenders, where they talk about their travels to various towns and their discoveries.Check out their website here: https://www.nomadicweekenders.com/. Follow Lena on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3JpgFbd, https://bit.ly/3pALKAR, https://bit.ly/314K1u2

EJ Akins is this week's Keoni Chats guest. EJ and I had a short time together while in high school and shared a year of football together. He virtually returns back to Oregon and we talk about topics that made me, as the host, reevaluate some aspects of my life. EJ opens up about his outside view of Portland's Black Lives Matter movement. He was always seen with a smile on his face so we talk about his drive to keep smiling and being joyful. He speaks on keeping up with friends he made during middle or high school, which is astounding. EJ is also an ambitious man as he is the owner of two small businesses with family roots behind them. Check out EJ's website here: https://www.ejakins.com . Follow EJ on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3IVCNcZ, https://bit.ly/3GW8BwH, https://bit.ly/3GRpFnl,

Ben Creighton finds time in his busy schedule to be this week's guest on Keoni Chats. Anytime I thought about the combination of sports and Journalism, Ben was the first person I thought of. When I first embarked into this field, I immediately thought of my first interaction with Reporter Ben back in high school for the student newspaper. As I kept up with his career, I was more inspired to work harder in the Journalism field as he represented sports networks like ESPN and the PAC-12 Network. Check out his episode now and find out about the origins of his broadcasting career. Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3casqTk; https://bit.ly/3CiscEt; https://bit.ly/3FdV3f1; https://bit.ly/3wMYo1F.

Anna Nickels takes a virtual trip down i5 for this week's Keoni Chats. I usually have some kind of plan heading into an interview but as soon as we started talking, this conversation blindsided me. Anna opens up about her thinking process and her fear of talking about deep issues and her mental health while in high school. She is a former college softball athlete (now coach) and Anna reflects on the journey and the crossroads she faced. We talk about the evolution of her faith not just due to the pandemic, but as she grew up and moved around. Follow Anna on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3nD0wEY; https://bit.ly/3mqUqYM; https://bit.ly/3BtvvYW

On this 60th episode, I bring back my episode 1 guest in Branden Shimada (aka Branden Kota). With this being my first episode with a returning guest, my goal was to make it different. Branden opens up on his childhood and the supporters and opposers he faced on his journey. We also spoke about producing music and creating eye-catching music videos during the pandemic. Check out his episode now and find out the meaning behind one of his latest hits called “Questioning.” His music can be found here: https://spoti.fi/3BGvQbA; https://apple.co/3mUpGyJ; https://bit.ly/2YJxAD2 . Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3AJ1ofX; https://bit.ly/3pb8OGI; https://bit.ly/2Xpp8YU

I reunited with fellow UOSOJC alumni Gus McTigue in this week's Keoni Chats. Gus' creativity always stood out in class and I am ecstatic to have him on the show. We spoke about the stresses of handling multiple projects and the importance of making sure that each project got the same amount of attention. From his time behind the camera, Gus has developed deep ideologies on the world and being able to explore those was beyond fun. Check out his episode now and learn about his experience with filming “Who's on Top.” Check out his website here: https://www.gusmctigue.com/. Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3ily6xx, https://bit.ly/3is93c1, https://bit.ly/3Faj3AE

The last time Albert Joo (or Flannel Albert) and I shared a room together was 13 years ago in high school. Albert finds time before heading back to LA for a visit and is this week's guest on Keoni Chats. Once the “holy crap, it's been awhile” glow subsided, we had a deep conversation about everything from leaving the United States after his freshman year of high school to being an introvert working in an extrovert business as a singer and performer. Albert also had to work through not following the path that his parents wanted for him and find his own path. Check out his episode now and discover how Albert unwinds after a performance. Check out his music here: https://spoti.fi/2XpXqL8; https://apple.co/3nJ436o; https://bit.ly/2XIn2TQ Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/39h4f4r; https://bit.ly/3zmLI1b

Paddle sport athlete, crossfitter and Pizza Schmizza manager Aaron Boje virtually sat down with me for this week's Keoni Chats. Aaron's responsibilities as a husky dog dad to Hoku-lele cause this interview to shift from an in-person to a video interview. Reflecting back on the 15 years I've known Aaron, there were a lot of facts about him that I did not know. Check out his episode now and find out what was a motivator behind his drastic body change. Follow him on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3jSLDOp; https://bit.ly/3zJx5pA. Follow Aaron's Pizza Schmizza here: https://bit.ly/3BLw1Co; https://bit.ly/2YzLIyh; https://bit.ly/3zT4DSg

Fresh off the first year in her pursuit of a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, former D1 soccer athlete Emily Walker joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Emily during her playing days at Lane Community College and immediately got the impression that she is a fierce competitor. Emily comes from a military family, for which he brought a ferocious and intense mentality to the field and to the classroom. That same upbringing made it hard for her to accept help but when it came to her medical retirement from sports, she worked to overcome that hurdle. Follow her on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3j6gQNk; https://bit.ly/3D5XzUk;

Former Oregon Duck and 2x Super Bowl Champion Dennis Dixon stops by for this week's Keoni Chats. Dennis' lucrative college football career at the University of Oregon helped the push to turn Oregon from a well-known basketball school, into the football powerhouse it is known for today. Dennis has been drafted twice into Major League Baseball but ultimately chose to pursue the NFL and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008. Now with his football career over, Dennis is the founder of Dixon Fit, his own personal training business that expands to athletes of other sports. Check out his website here: https://www.dixonfit.com/. Follow Dennis here: https://bit.ly/3faYSqQ, https://bit.ly/3fwOfyu, https://bit.ly/3BVQDc0

Juwaan Williams shows another layer in this week's Keoni Chats. I met Juwaan at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication in a couple classes. I always saw Juwaan with a big smile on his face and laughing but we got to talk about topics that hit him the hardest. We talked about the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement in Portland, OR that garnished the attention of the Homeland Security and more recently, Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday. Juwaan is also a former athlete for the Oregon Ducks football team and we talked about handling that kind of status. Follow Juwaan here: https://bit.ly/2W6vT0w; https://bit.ly/3kNDCeb; https://bit.ly/3iKZQea; https://bit.ly/36TJeLY

Joe McNeil takes a virtual visit back to Oregon for this week's Keoni Chats. I met Joe when we were kids playing soccer together and had one year of high school wrestling together. Joe would join the ROTC ranks at Colorado State University and lead the push up group during football games. We talk about that experience and how fitness has carried his life to where he is now. Joe is currently a trainer at Max Results gym in Florida. You can book a training session with Joe here: www.maxresultspft.com . Help veterans here: https://bit.ly/2TYGxWz; https://bit.ly/2T0SnyS. Follow Joe here: https://bit.ly/3k3UNbh; https://bit.ly/3xxitZo; https://bit.ly/3AIDrqh

Torrey Henderson joins me for this week's Keoni Chats. Torrey and I met in middle school and while it felt like we went to high school together, she only used the school as the stop before heading home. Torrey opened up about raising a child, as a single parent, at the age of 22 with only a minimum wage salary. Torrey has also gone through extreme body changes as she adopted the Keto diet and opened her business Fit & Pretty Biohacking, Co. Check out her company here: https://bit.ly/35WAofU.  Follow her on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3vZ6WjV; https://bit.ly/363u8Tr; https://bit.ly/2U4gKvK;

Olivia Ontkean hangs up the dance shoes for the day and sits down with me for this week's Keoni Chats. In our first conversation in over 10 years, Olivia opens up about developing anxiety and handling depression. Following a childhood in the spotlight as a dancer, she is now helping the next generation as a coach and instructor. Olivia is also an avid cosplayer (when we had Comic-Cons) and you can see her cosplay work here: https://bit.ly/2SsbH7O . She also sells handmade jewelry at her shop called Lunabee. Check it out here: https://etsy.me/2StJPAm Follow her on these other platforms as well: https://bit.ly/2TmNVui, https://bit.ly/35cOjOm

For the 50th episode of Keoni Chats, I bring on the guy that helped me raise the show from an idea to reality in Alex Moan. Prior to becoming co-workers, he told me about his business Black Bulb Creative and that he is the Video Marketing Specialist for the company. Along with those two jobs, he also is the co-founder of Passport to Tacoland, an Instagram account that goes around the Portland, OR area and tries different iterations of tacos. As a part of Black Bulb Creative, he also is a host of the Black Bulb Podcast where he brings on artists and talks about their craft. Check out Black Bulb Creative here: https://www.blackbulbcreative.com/.

While in between feedings, Acupuncturist and new mother Whitney Green - Bautista stops by for this week's Keoni Chats. Whitney is the wife to Keoni Chats episode 3 guest, Alvin Bautista, so this felt like a continuation from that episode. This was a great glimpse into Whitney as I've only encountered her as my doctor, the sports fanatic and now a mother. If you are in Oregon, to inquire about Whitney's services, go to her website here: https://whitneygreenacupuncture.com/. Follow her on these platforms: https://bit.ly/3wsFNqq; https://bit.ly/3fBsCN1; https://bit.ly/3hHrCJT