January 2022 - The Quake City Portal

QCP #009 | A Trip Across the World and Into the Multiverse with Jethro

Listen on Apple Podcasts here.

Jethro is, what I like to call for fun, my younger brother from another mother. He’s the youngest son of my dad’s twin brother. Currently residing in Manila, by way of Cagayan de Oro Philippines. With his short stay in Manila, he immersed himself in his art within the underground hip-hop community. Through finding his artistic medium, he fixated his lens on the vibrant, unsung scene of the culture in Metro Manila.

However, his passion was only realized during a difficult time. At six foot four, he was a highly scouted youth basketball player by some of the most prestigious universities in the Philippines. As a professional basketball hopeful, his career took an abrupt stop after blowing his knee during the recruiting process. Without resources for surgery, It forced him to rethink his path. With help from his family and friends, he found his way – pulled by the gravity of a creative life. Through teaching himself the craft of editing and networking, the discipline he learned from basketball earned him some professional opportunities with film editing.

QCP #008 | Toño Ramirez | Finding The River of Our Authentic Self

Apple podcast link | click here.

Toño Ramirez is a free spirit, a truth-seeker, an explorer. I’ll stop there because he, in my opinion, is only bogged down by more labels. I first met him on a trash cleanup organized by Vince of RefuseRefuseSF.org (our first guest on the podcast).

Toño (alias used for privacy purposes) earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, a master’s degree from UC Berkley, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. All degrees in his background are in the field of Mechanical Engineering.

I was hoping to have a discussion to learn about engineering, and how they might apply to set goals, to create something actionable for me and whoever listens. However, I ended up keeping my notebook closed and tucked away because what follows is something more spontaneous, honest, alive, and profound in so many ways I never expected. This conversation touches on many topics and would be beneficial for those who currently struggle or who have struggled with loneliness, compulsions and addictions, depression, or anyone questioning their self-worth.

I hope you’ll hear Toño is someone that has done the work and is an example of if you look and let the universe do its thing, embrace your truth, embrace your truest self with love, that (in his words) “the universe/everything will conspire to reward you.”

Please enjoy this dip into a winding river of conversation with Toño Ramirez.

NOTES | MENTIONS:

QCP #007 | The New Filipino American Folk Tales of Daly City

Daly City is one of the closest suburbs in the outer borders of San Francisco, located directly to the South. It’s home to one of the densest populations of Filipinos, anywhere outside of the Philippines, comprising 33% of the total population in a 2010 census.

From the late ’80s to the early 2000s, Daly City helped to raise some of the world’s most famous DJs, and dance groups. It was a big part of the history here on the west coast for the Filipino and Hip-Hop communities.