What if a photograph could help you see yourself in a way you've never seen yourself before?

In this powerful episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let's Talk Story, host Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano (MAGEK) welcomes Esther Patterson, Hawaiʻi-based portrait photographer, storyteller, and founder of Captured Imagery.

Born into an Amish family as the ninth of eleven children, Esther grew up in a world without electricity or cars, surrounded by traditions and expectations that shaped her early life. But as a teenager, she began asking questions, trusting her inner voice, and discovering a passion that would ultimately become her life's work.

Today, Esther uses photography to help women feel seen, celebrated, and documented—not simply for how they look, but for who they truly are.

Together, Michelle and Esther explore:

• Finding your voice and trusting your inner guidance.

• Moving beyond limiting beliefs and expectations.

• The power of affirmations backed by intentional action.

• Leading with love in life, motherhood, and business.

• Esther's Empowered Mama Portrait Experience and its celebration of 44 mothers.

• How photography can become a meaningful experience of self-discovery and healing.

• Creating portraits and stories that connect generations.

  
  

Michelle also shares her personal experience being photographed by Esther, including the emotional significance of wearing her late mother's jewelry during her portrait session.

This conversation reminds us that you don't have to become someone else to be worthy of being celebrated.

You are already worthy of being seen.

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let's Talk Story

Hosted by Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano (MAGEK)

🌺 Your Voice Is Your Superpower! Never Forget Your Voice!

Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with someone who needs to remember their worth.

#WalkingInALOHA #EstherPatterson #CapturedImagery #WomenEmpowerment #Storytelling #Motherhood #Legacy

What happens when your heart is broken, your prayers seem unanswered, and you're struggling to understand God's plan?

In this deeply moving episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let's Talk Story, host Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano welcomes Chaplain Juanita Burgess, author, speaker, coach, and founder of Lead & Thrive Co., for an honest conversation about grief, faith, healing, and finding the courage to keep going.

Juanita shares her journey into chaplaincy, the heartbreak of experiencing two miscarriages, and the difficult questions she brought to God during one of the most painful seasons of her life. Those experiences inspired her devotional, Bowing with a Broken Heart.

Michelle also shares part of her personal journey through domestic violence and the importance of recognizing the pain that can hide behind the words, "I'm fine."

Together, they explore why grief cannot be rushed, how compassionate presence can bring comfort when words fail, the importance of community, and what it means to recognize God's rhythm—including the moments when we're called to rest.

One powerful reminder from Juanita:

"He's not measuring how much you love him by how much you silently endure."

Whether you're navigating loss, supporting someone through heartache, or learning to trust God through uncertainty, this conversation reminds us that healing is a journey, faith makes room for honest emotions, and we don't have to walk through grief alone.

🌺 Connect with Chaplain Juanita Burgess

Chaplaincy and speaking: https://juanitaburgess.com

Coaching: https://leadandthriveco.com

Books: The Knowing Place Devotional and Bowing with a Broken Heart Devotional https://youneedmybook.com/

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let's Talk Story

Real Stories. Real People. Real Transformation.

Hosted by Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano

Your Voice Is Your Superpower! Never Forget Your Voice!

ALOHA Always! 💜🌺

MENDED: When God Turns the Broken Pieces Into Purpose with Jessica Cruz

What if the broken pieces of your life are becoming part of God's masterpiece? 💜

On this powerful episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story, host Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano welcomes Jessica Cruz, Christian author, speaker, mentor, podcast host, and founder of Mended J Missions.

Jessica courageously shares her journey through childhood abuse, betrayal, unhealthy relationships, heartbreak, and the search for healing. But her story doesn't end in brokenness. Through faith, surrender, and discovering her identity in Christ, she began rebuilding her life with God at the center.

🌺 In this heartfelt conversation, we explore:

💜 Breaking cycles of unhealthy relationships and rediscovering your worth.

🙏 Going on a date with God! Jessica shares how a 40-day fast, a special dinner at Olive Garden, and a 90-day Proverbs 31 journey transformed her relationship with God. Michelle shares her own unforgettable God Date in Hawaiʻi, revealing a beautiful, unexpected connection between their stories.

💜 Learning to establish healthy boundaries, communicate honestly, and love without losing yourself.

🌺 Finding healing through faith, grace, and a supportive church community.

✨ Understanding that healing has no deadline and your past does not define your God-given purpose.

🦋 Discovering how God can transform the broken pieces of our lives into something beautiful—just like stained glass illuminated by His light.

One of Jessica's most powerful reminders:

"Do not put a time frame on your healing. Healing is always a process."

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this conversation also reminds us why sharing our stories, recognizing harmful patterns, and creating spaces for healing matter.

CONNECT WITH JESSICA CRUZ

🌺 Mended J Missions:
https://linktr.ee/MendedJMissions

📖 Mended Broken Pieces: A Journey From Brokenness to Purpose
https://a.co/d/0eaFyu0I

🎙️ When We Speak: Broken to Mended
https://open.spotify.com/show/1IilT0zKu0LKYiZ01NJNtw

CONNECT WITH WALKING IN ALOHA; LET'S TALK STORY

▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@WalkingInALOHA_MAGEKBlessings

𝕏 X:
https://x.com/michelle_magek

🎙️ Riverside:
https://riverside.com/studio/michelle-a-g-ebalaroza-kawanos-studio

Your Voice Is Your Superpower! Never Forget Your Voice!

🌺 Real Stories. Real People. Real Transformation. ~ ALOHA Always

#WalkingInALOHA #LetsTalkStory #JessicaCruz #MendedBrokenPieces #GodDates #FaithAndHealing #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #ChristianPodcast #GodGivenPurpose #ALOHAAlways

What if the voice in your head is the only thing standing between you and the life you want?

Ly Smith reveals how high-achieving people can move from reacting to pressure, self-doubt, and burnout to becoming the conscious creator of their days, their leadership, and their future.

On this episode of Walking in Aloha Let's Talk Story, host Michelle Ebalaroza Kawano sits down with keynote speaker, self-leader strategist, mindset coach, certified life coach, NLP master practitioner, and multi-time bestselling author Ly Smith for a deeply personal and practical conversation about rewriting self-talk from the inside out.

Ly opens up about the defining seasons that shaped her message, including a life-altering car accident in college, years of burnout while pushing through school and multiple jobs, and a hidden season of depression masked by outward success. She shares the exact moment on a Hawaiian sunset beach when she realized she had been living as a reactor instead of a creator, and how that realization changed everything.

You'll discover:

• The difference between living as a reactor and stepping into creator mode
• How the Candy Method works, including Clarity, Affirmation, Necessity, Discipline, and the Y for You
• Why "I have to" and "I should" are often fear-based language, and how to reframe them into choice
• How mirror work can help you replace harsh self-criticism with honest self-leadership
• Why recognizing the genius, gifts, and greatness in others is often the key to recognizing them in yourself

Michelle also weaves in her ALOHA Always framework throughout the conversation, making this episode especially powerful for anyone craving faith-filled perspective, emotional healing, and practical tools for leading themselves with more intention. Ly's story is a reminder that success on the outside means little if your inner dialogue is tearing you down.

If you've been operating on autopilot, feeling stuck in overthinking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or quiet desperation, this conversation will help you pause, reset, and choose a better way forward.

It's essential listening for leaders, creatives, parents, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to stop reacting and start creating.

Ly Smith helps high achievers rewrite the inner dialogue shaping how they lead and live. Her work includes UpCycle Coaching, the G3 Collective, and her signature Candy Method, which helps people uncover the genius, gifts, and greatness already within them.

Get Ly's free Five Minute Self-Talk Reset at rewriteyourselftalk.com and start replacing the inner critic with language that actually supports your growth.

Forgiveness for Change: Releasing the Burden and Choosing Freedom | Anthony Keven Keane

How do you forgive childhood trauma, abuse, abandonment, betrayal, failure, and the people whose words shaped how you saw yourself? And how can faith in Jesus Christ, forgiveness, renewing your mind, and understanding your God-given identity help you move from trauma to healing, freedom, and purpose?

In this powerful episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story, host Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano sits down with Anthony Keven Keane, author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Forgiveness for Change, speaker, and Certified Insight & Goals Coach, for an honest conversation about Christian forgiveness, childhood trauma, mental and emotional healing, overcoming shame, suicide survival, faith, identity in Christ, neuroplasticity, and turning pain into purpose.

Anthony shares a deeply personal journey marked by childhood abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, homelessness, business failures, bankruptcy, marital betrayal, alcohol abuse, and a suicide attempt. He also shares how his relationship with God became part of a years-long transformation—not an overnight change, but a process of surrender, forgiveness, healing, and intentionally renewing his mind. forgiveness-for-change-with-ant…

One of the central truths of Anthony's story is that forgiveness does not mean approving what happened, denying the pain, or excusing the person who caused it. Forgiveness is about releasing the burden and choosing freedom. He explains how holding onto another person's actions and words can allow them to continue living “rent-free” in our minds long after they have moved on. forgiveness-for-change-with-ant…

Michelle and Anthony also explore the connection between biblical renewal of the mind and neuroplasticity, including how repeated thoughts and beliefs can reinforce patterns in the brain—and how Anthony intentionally uses Scripture-based affirmations to challenge beliefs formed through trauma and shame. forgiveness-for-change-with-ant…

In this episode, you'll hear about forgiving others and yourself, healing from childhood trauma, breaking generational patterns, overcoming limiting beliefs, servant leadership, emotional healing, authentic relationships, recognizing God's presence in difficult seasons, and rebuilding your identity through Christ.

Anthony also introduces the idea of “sparks”—people God places along our journey, sometimes for years and sometimes for only a moment, whose presence can redirect the course of our lives. forgiveness-for-change-with-ant…

And when Michelle asks Anthony what he hopes people remember about his life and legacy, his answer captures the heart of this entire conversation:

“Regardless of his past, look at what God has done.” forgiveness-for-change-with-ant…

If you are struggling with unforgiveness, trauma, shame, resentment, negative self-talk, childhood wounds, betrayal, identity, or believing that your past has permanently defined your future, this conversation is for you.

Your pain is not your final chapter.
Your failure is not your identity.
God is not finished with your story.

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story
Real People. Real Stories. Real Change.

🌺 Your Voice Is Your Superpower. Never Forget Your Voice.

What do you do when there is no roadmap—because you’re one of the people creating the road?

In this episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story, Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano (MAGEK) sits down with Australian speaker, author, and motorcycle tourism pioneer Renae Kunda for a conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, love, leadership, and the legacy we leave behind.

More than 35 years ago, Renae offered to help her husband Roy with his dream of taking motorcycle adventures through Cape York. There was no Google, no established motorcycle-tourism industry to follow, and certainly no blueprint. What began with a word processor, photographs in a briefcase, a homemade brochure, and a whole lot of persistence grew into decades of pioneering work.

Guided by the ALOHA Always Framework, Michelle and Renae talk story about what it takes to keep building when no one has gone before you.

🌺 Affirmations & Actions — why Renae relies on lists, consistent action, patience, and persistence.

💜 Leadership & Love — how she captured her husband’s incredible adventures in The King of the Cape, preserving his stories for their children and grandson and turning love into legacy.

🔥 Overcoming Obstacles — how Renae and Roy navigated COVID, competition, changing technology, and the responsibility that comes with pioneering an industry.

🌿 Health & Healing — why walking, water, nature, family celebrations, continued learning, and having something to look forward to help Renae stay grounded through decades of entrepreneurship.

✨ Acute Awareness — how Renae is now turning 35+ years of lessons and mistakes into a framework designed to help the next generation of tourism entrepreneurs move faster and build stronger businesses. Her TOUR framework centers on Truth, Ownership, Upscale, and Refine.

And perhaps one of the most powerful lessons comes from a simple act Renae almost could have overlooked: responding to a young boy who once wrote asking for stickers. Years later, that boy—now a doctor—found her and told her that her letter had remained on his wall and influenced his life.

It’s a beautiful reminder:

You may never know how far one act of kindness, one decision to keep going, or one road you choose to build will travel.

For anyone sitting on an idea because no one else has done it before, Renae offers a simple formula: passion, patience, persistence, positivity, peace—and the willingness to take it one step at a time.

You don’t have to wait for someone else to pave the road.

You can build it.

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story
Real Stories. Real People. Real Transformation. Always ALOHA.

🌺 Connect with Renae Kunda:
Facebook: Renae Kunda
Website: AnissaRenae.com

If you would like to be my next guest on the Walking in ALOHA; Let's Talk Story Podcast click the link below and "Let's Talk Story"!

https://calendly.com/magek-blessings/walking-in-aloha-lets-talk-story-podcast-guest

What happens when caring deeply for others begins to cost you your own peace, identity, boundaries, and dreams?

In this episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story, I sit down with Mariam Safla, founder of the Soul-Led Empath Movement, transformational coach, speaker, and creator of the Radiance Pathway and Empath Code. For more than 20 years, Mariam has explored personal development and healing while helping highly sensitive people release emotional burdens, reconnect with themselves, strengthen their relationship with God, and reclaim their gifts.

Mariam shares her journey from feeling overwhelmed by the emotions and needs of others to learning that compassion does not require carrying everyone else’s burdens.

🌺 Through the ALOHA Always Framework, we explore:

💜 Affirmations & Actions — moving beyond empty words and examining the beliefs underneath people-pleasing, self-sacrifice, and feelings of unworthiness.

💜 Leadership & Love — learning to love deeply without becoming responsible for everyone else’s happiness, and remembering that making yourself a priority is not the same as abandoning others.

💜 Overcoming Obstacles — breaking free from the martyr, savior, and caretaker patterns that can keep compassionate people stuck.

💜 Health & Healing — realigning with a higher vision, creating healthy boundaries, and refusing to let pain become your permanent identity.

💜 Acute Awareness — recognizing the thoughts, patterns, and internal voices that may be sabotaging your peace, relationships, and purpose.

Mariam describes a major shift in how she understands empathy: rather than absorbing everything around her, she now focuses on holding love and compassion for others without taking ownership of what belongs to them.

This conversation also includes an honest discussion of faith. Mariam shares from her Muslim background and personal practices, while I openly share where my own Christian beliefs differ. Walking in ALOHA welcomes real conversations with people from different backgrounds without asking either person to hide where they stand.

And Mariam leaves us with a beautiful question:

What is the unique light God has placed in me, and how can I allow it to shine?

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story
Real Stories. Real People. Real Transformation.

Hosted by Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano
ISA Certified Speaker | Award-Winning Author | Certified Human Rights Consultant | Certified Facilitator | Creative Life Coach

🌺 Your Voice Is Your Superpower. Unmute Yourself!
Created by the Creator to be a Creative.

#WalkingInALOHA #LetsTalkStory #ALOHAAlways #MariamSafla #SoulLedEmpath #RadiantEmpath #Empath #HighlySensitivePeople #Empathy #FaithAndPurpose #GodGivenGifts #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealing #HealthyBoundaries #PeoplePleasing #SelfLeadership #OvercomingObstacles #HealthAndHealing #AcuteAwareness #MentalFitness #KnowYourself #KnowGod #ShineYourLight #PurposeDrivenLife #MAGEKBlessings #YourVoiceIsYourSuperpower #UnmuteYourself

🐦 What Migratory Birds Can Teach Us About Courage, Change & Success | Dr. Diana Flora Padrón Novoa

What if the courage you need to move forward could be found by looking up?

In this episode of Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story, I sit down with Dr. Diana Flora Padrón Novoa for a fascinating conversation about what migratory birds—and nature itself—can teach us about courage, resilience, adaptability, leadership, burnout, and trusting ourselves through seasons of change.

Drawing from her knowledge of birds, human behavior, and her own life experiences, Diana shares powerful parallels between the natural world and the way we navigate our own journeys. Birds don't wait for perfect conditions before taking flight. They encounter changing winds, storms, exhaustion, unexpected obstacles, and unfamiliar territory—and yet they continue moving toward where they are meant to go.

Sound familiar?

🌺 Through the ALOHA Always Framework, Diana and I explore:

💜 Affirmations & Actions — Learning to trust your wings and take action even when you cannot see the entire journey ahead.

💜 Leadership & Love — What nature can teach us about cooperation, connection, belonging, and the strength found in community.

💜 Overcoming Obstacles — Navigating unexpected changes, setbacks, burnout, and the moments when life forces us to change direction.

💜 Health & Healing — Reconnecting with nature, creating space to restore ourselves, and recognizing when it is time to slow down and replenish.

💜 Acute Awareness — Paying attention to the lessons already surrounding us and becoming more conscious of how we respond when circumstances change.

One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation is beautifully simple:

Trust your wings.

You may not control the wind. You may not know exactly where the journey will take you. But you can learn to trust what God has placed within you, adjust when circumstances change, and keep moving forward.

🎙️ Walking in ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story is where real stories, real people, and real transformation meet.

Hosted by Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano — ISA Certified Speaker, Award-Winning Author, Certified Human Rights Consultant, Certified Facilitator & Creative Life Coach.

🌺 Your Voice Is Your Superpower. Unmute Yourself!

You Were Created by the Creator to be a Creative.

If this conversation encourages you, follow the podcast, share this episode with someone navigating a season of change, and remember: sometimes you don't need to know the entire route—you just need the courage to take flight.

#WalkingInALOHA #LetsTalkStory #ALOHAAlways #DianaFloraPadronNovoa #TrustYourWings #CourageToChange #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingObstacles #Leadership #LifeTransitions #BurnoutRecovery #NatureInspired #MigratoryBirds #FindingPurpose #Courage #Transformation #AuthenticLeadership #SelfTrust #GrowthMindset #FaithOverFear #MAGEKBlessings #YourVoiceIsYourSuperpower