Visible Issue 003

VI S I BL E M AGAZI N E Crea t ed by S a mmy Noe l l e P ho t o g ra ph y b y Sammy Noe l l e Wr i t t en P i eces b y D e s D are B ar ragan, Ch ris toph er Ward , & S a m m y Noelle

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Rehumanizing your city through the art of telling stories

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 004 About Visible

Page 007 Behind The Brand featuring Joseph Padayachee of Saalt Studio

Page 014 SD Sonics featuring Eliza Vera of Hot Moms Club Page 021 Living The Dream featuring Zach Camerino Page 027 Getting It Together featuring Kate Gookin Page 033 “Hillcrest” by Evan Denton

Page 034 “ID’ing Me” by Des Dare Barragan

Page 035 Common Strangers featuring Josh Barnard Page 041 Trending In SD with Mita Aquino

Page 052 Mirrored Love featuring Ashley and Josh Henson

Page 063 Part Of The Process featuring Kate Garcia of Nurture Flora Co. Page 069 Heart and Soul featuring What The Podcast

Page 083 State Of Art featuring Kaitlyn Krikorian of State Of Art

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WHAT IS VISIBLE? a local based magazine intended to highlight the human beings that live, love, create, and work in the city.

WHY VISIBLE? we all crave to be seen by others, not in an unhealthy begging for attention kind of way, but rather to find real and tangible connection, where one is known deeply and fully.

Visible Magazine started to rehumanize a city, to breathe life back into a city by shedding light on stories of the human beings we pass by every single day.

WHO IS VISIBLE? a team of individuals who really love their city and really love people.

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THE VISIBLE TEAM INCLUDES

SAMMY NOELLE // IG: @sammynoelle Creator/Photographer/Editor-In-Chief

DES DARE BARRAGAN // IG: @desdare Lead Writer

MITA AQUINO // IG: @aquinomita Stylist

SABRINA ROUNDS // IG: @sabroonds Social Media/Communication

THIS ISSUE INCLUDES PIECES BY FEATURED WRITER, CHRISTOPHER WARD // IG: @thisiscrward

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NICE TO MEET YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! To stay connected, follow us on Instagram @thevisiblemag and share your Visible moments with us #VisibleSD

scan here to learn more about our team

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BEHIND the BRAND

FEATURING JOSEPH PADAYACHEE of SAALT STUDIO Written by Christopher Ward

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Standing on the sidewalk in downtown San Diego can feel like a disjointed experience. Car horns blaring next to parks with children laughing on playgrounds. Businesswomen and men in professional clothing walk past their homeless neighbors. San Diego sunshine is blocked by gargantuan buildings. All of the joy of San Diego is still there, but it is commingled with rushed agendas and modern surroundings. Some San Diegans are more at home in the suburbs while others thrive in our concrete jungle next to the harbor, and then there are the few exceptions who seem to tie it all together.

Meet Joseph Padayachee.

He greets us at the entrance to the building he calls home with a big smile and a kind welcome, immediately taking the focus off of the world around you and drawing you into his calm demeanor. Once we’ve taken the elevator up several floors, he leads us down a hallway past a number of doors.

“These are all loft studios,” he tells us. “It’s fun because we all know each other, hang out, have Friendsgiving and other holiday celebrations together. It feels like dorms but for creatives.”

He opens the door and the first thing I notice is the ensemble Joseph is currently wearing. At first, the outfit went unnoticed, blending in with his comfortable, easy-going demeanor. Now, with the backdrop of a gorgeous and chic studio, his clothes pop. So stylish, so clean, and still so comfortable.

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Walking through his home, the industrial feel envelops you as you walk beneath, on top of, and past slabs of concrete accented by metal pipes and fixtures. Still the concrete jungle, just from the inside looking out.

But there is Joseph’s bed. His kitchen. A candle is lit.

Relaxing music is playing. A wall of green moss (a fixture Joseph has been working on) leans up beside his kitchen counters.

Joseph fits perfectly in downtown San Diego.

Modern and relaxed.

Ambitious and kind.

Creative and purposeful.

It comes through his gentle smile framed by his immaculate fade and perfectly tousled hair. It flows through his living space, where he has made a home that creates a zen-like atmosphere through simplicity and ease. It shines in his intentional way of articulating his story without ever getting flustered.

While Joseph grew up in Sacramento, it wasn’t until college and his time spent studying abroad that he found the roots of his clothing brand, Saalt.

“I went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study architecture and then studied abroad in Florence, Italy.

While I was there I was out of money and couldn’t get a job, so I took my skills in graphic design and started making t-shirts to sell online. I was making really good money selling bootleg merch for musical artists, but I soon found out just how illegal it was.”

How did he find out? “I got a cease and desist letter from The Weeknd’s label,” Joseph laughs. “My insta was shut down, my website, everything. And I stopped, but I started to think that there might be a future for me in clothing. I would just do it the right way, the legal way.”

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“The first time I produced anything for myself, more than like six pieces of one item, I was nervous. I was used to hand-making a few pieces, but this time I had spent money having 100 of these shirts produced for me. If they didn’t sell I would have wasted a lot of money. But when I dropped them I sold 70% of them in the first 20 minutes. That was the first moment where I realized I could do this, and wanted to do this.”

Joseph claims that this first drop of his own was the sweetest money he had ever made because he took the risk of starting anew. He was making money his own way and the right way. It certainly paid off for him.

“I created my own brand called Saalt, which is based on the fact that salt was the first form of currency. That was the purest form of currency, and I believe clothing is the purest form of self-expression. You control everything about your outfit, it’s like microarchitecture for your body.”

Joseph’s love for producing clothing goes beyond his creative and business accomplishments.

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“Each piece is driven by a passion for mental health. With our self-expression comes honesty, so I purposefully integrate mental health struggles into practical pieces on the items. It’s about owning your scars, turning something ugly into an aesthetic detail.”

He shares all of this on each post when he drops his items, giving people an opportunity to engage as much or as little as they want with the mission behind the maker. They can identify with their own mental health by choosing to wear Saalt clothing, or they can simply enjoy a unique and beautiful piece that Joseph has designed.

Joseph is driven to make his voice mean more, not for the sake of personal advancement, but so that his message of mental health awareness can be heard.

“I want to fill a hole I saw in fashion, mainly that clothing had no meaning. I like streetwear but it is nothing substantial, only hype. That’s how we treat people too, but that’s not right. I want to draw attention to the human condition and the importance of a healthy mind.”

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Joseph has found his home in San Diego as well as his voice in fashion over the past few years and hopes to continue growing and creating clothing that influences people to live for a greater purpose and meaning.

“People talk about being lost and directionless, but you can’t really be because there is no set path for you to follow. You do a lot of wayfinding as I have. There are no wrong steps, just a path waiting for you to create it. I want people to know there is no wrong way to go about living their meaning, and for them to start walking in the direction they want to go.”

With just one conversation it’s clear. Joseph Padayachee has found himself exactly where he should be, in the concrete jungle of Downtown San Diego.

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Follow Joseph & SAALT on Instagram: @saaltstudio | Check out the SAALT website: saaltstudio.com

SD SONICS

FEATURING ELIZA VERA of HOT MOMS CLUB

Written by Des Dare Barragan 014

“I’m getting used to saying, ‘I am Hot Moms Club’” Meet Eliza Rose Vera, Hot Moms Club.

With a big smile and eyes filled with friendship, Eliza recounts the story of how this name came to be. She’d take daily walks during quarantine from Swami’s beach to Cardiff with her best friend, Olive. Decked out in ankle and wrist weights, they’d power walk along the road, passing beautiful moms with their babies.

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What started as a light-hearted joke transpired into a project that would break down the walls of demographics and quarantine cobwebs.

“It’s been so fun because there are so many things that it applies to. I have a hot mom. My mom is so beautiful, and she’s a single mom, who raised me on her own. She is the epitome of a hot, strong mom.”

There it was, Eliza found a name with endless marketing concepts, plus a sexy connotation that champions women and invites fun for all. We were curious to learn more about the projects and history that have led Eliza to this point.

“The real start was when I was 16 at a summer camp where all of the cool counselors played guitar.”

“I started taking guitar, and I wrote my first song at camp. Literally, this song came out of me, and that’s how I know God was so involved. All along God wanted me to pursue this dream.”

Eliza recounts her first performance: “I laid my notebook on my lap and I started playing my song.

I remember the whole camp, hundreds of people, just went silent. Then I blacked out because I was so nervous as I was singing.”

Eliza laughs, “I finished my song and I looked up.

The whole camp stood up and applauded me. I was overwhelmed with this feeling of, ‘this is why you were put on earth.’”

Eliza continued from that point as a closet musician throughout high school and surprised all her friends by dropping her first solo album on the last day of senior year. She then moved from New York to San Diego for college and made friends by sharing her music with others; often playing guitar through her open dorm room door. Eliza eventually became USD’s campus musician which fostered her desire to pursue music as a career. Her first attempt to do music fulltime quickly dissolved once she discovered that gigging was not for her.

“I kinda gave up and moved to Thailand!”

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She literally moved to Thailand folks! Fueled by a desire to travel and a need for change, Eliza was propelled into the unexpected. After a memorable experience teaching English, she traveled to South East Asia and became very ill. With bacteria in her blood, and Mono affecting her throat, Eliza lost her voice and thought she would never sing again.

“I thought, ‘Whelp, who am I?’”

With her identity in music stripped away Eliza went through a deep depression. Which led her to the thought, “If I can’t sing, what am I doing?”

It took Eliza’s body about two years to fully recover and once she regained her strength she began applying for jobs. She was soon hired for her current marketing position with Titan Growth in Rancho Bernardo. Eliza tells us that Titan Growth has been so kind and understanding as she simultaneously pursues her career in music.

While working at Titan Growth, Eliza auditioned to sing on a soundtrack for an independent movie that ended up being bought by Netflix and the producer invited her to co-write a song for the show!

“I had been let down so many times at that point, so I remember thinking, ‘This probably isn’t real.’”

But it happened. Jack Williams and Eliza met and co-wrote the song. Bonded through creating, the two fell in love and began pursuing music together. The band Swimming In Circles was born.

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“Swimming In Circles was the first project that I felt had gained real momentum.”

“We went on tour and were recording in a really nice studio. Both those things were checkpoints for me of ‘doing it’ for real.”

As taxing as touring can be, Eliza described how much fun it was and how being on tour further confirmed that this is what she was created to do.

Then quarantine hit our world and all music stopped.

Eliza explained that when music went away, she and Jack no longer shared anything in common.

“I was afraid to let go of Jack for so long because it felt as though that would be letting go of my career, my dream. I always felt like I couldn’t do this without him.”

Jack and Eliza parted ways and Swimming In Circles came to a close. She moved into a small room with nothing more than a twin bed and a bookshelf and took time for herself to pour into what she loved. In the midst of taking songwriting courses and quarantine walks, Eliza began writing for herself but also for friends who were experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The first song I wrote as Hot Moms Club is a song called ‘Brian’. I wrote it for my friend Brian at the beginning of the pandemic when he thought he had COVID.” “I hadn’t written in so long, but he was the reason I pulled out my guitar. Writing him a song was the only way I knew to make him feel better or comforted.”

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Faced with the fear of death, at a time when all the shelves were empty and it felt like the world was ending, Eliza returned to the one thing she knew she could still give to other humans. This was yet another reminder of what she was made to do.

“I think my formula is putting no pressure on myself because I used to do that so often and songs never came out the way I wanted them to.”

Eliza wrote her first song at camp sitting down with her guitar and a willing heart. Now she’s found that picking up her guitar and playing daily is a discipline that unblocks her internal barriers, allowing the songs to flow out.

“Sometimes a song comes out line by line, but I no longer put pressure on the amount of time a song takes to be written.

Some songs take me two months to write.”

In the process of growing her craft, Eliza has learned to approach songwriting with grace and intentionality. In that space, there’s no longer a pressure to make her art meaningful.

She can simply just be. This is even showcased in her band name. The name Hot Moms Club is a wall breaker that creates space for people to be themselves.

“I want people to come and feel like they are a part of it and not feel judged. I think we all need something like that, especially after quarantine.”

Eliza shares how people can be so easily swayed into addiction or the distractions that come with being involved with the music industry. Ultimately, this can cause many to stray away from the heart of the music they originally set out to make.

Filled with gratitude, she thanked God for saving her when He did and expressed that she now has the strength needed to sustain the momentum of Hot Moms Club.

“I would have crashed and burned if I had been who I used to be and had this opportunity back then.”

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This shift in faith came for Eliza right when quarantine hit.

What could have easily pushed her into isolation became an opportunity of solitude that returned her to the core of who she’s always been. “I want God to be the main force in my brand and my music career, but I also want to do it in a way that doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable and is welcoming to everyone. That’ll be by me just being me and genuine to myself.”

Eliza’s heart to create a project that invites humans of all kinds mirrors the love that has forever transformed her world.

Eliza, you are one hot mama, we’re so excited to hear more from you.

Follow Eliza and Hot Moms Club | @hotmomsclubmusic Her EP is available on May 24, 2022 on all streaming platforms.

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LIVING THE DREAM FEATURING ZACH CAMERINO | Written by Christopher Ward

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Have you ever met a videographer who started their career at 10 years old? If not, meet Zach Camerino.

“I started filming videos when I was 10,” says Zach, “But my first gig was when I was 12 when I filmed my godparents’ son’s wedding.”

“You got paid for that?” we asked.

“Well, no. It was more like I asked if I could and they said yes.”

And from what I can tell, it seems as though Zach has maintained a similar business model ever since.

“I started a YouTube channel when I was 12,” Zach shares. “It was called Geek Central Blog, and I essentially reviewed entertainment, everything from theme parks to awards shows. I just started reaching out to all of these corporations like Nickelodeon, Disney, and others. I got to go to some pretty cool things and was invited to cool events like the Frozen premiere.”

While some might find that experience amazing because of the celebrity sightings, crowds of people, and general red carpet mayhem, for Zach it was all about the networking.

“I loved meeting people behind the camera, and so many of the people I now consider mentors were people I met there.

It was a lot easier back then because I was a 14-year-old kid asking questions and people wanted to share about what they were doing.”

Zach didn’t just chase the big-ticket events.

At one point he know people at every news station, communicated with other bloggers, and connected with as many people as he could in the industry.

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But the production industry is a big one, and it seems that nearly every experience of human life is filmed.

This involves cameras and a host of specialists with various expertise, from videographers to directors to audio engineers to editors. Zach had an incredibly diverse field to choose from but found a niche that seems to suit him perfectly.

“I am passionate about live multi-camera directing.”

Many people have likely not heard of this specific profession before, but the name itself provides all the insight you need. Live settings. Multiple cameras. Quick and detailed direction. This position is an essential part of live concerts, award shows, and similar events. Multi-camera directors, also known as “broadcast directors”, have a full view of every camera angle and call out which shot goes to the live broadcast and how long to keep it on screen. That’s Zach’s passion.

“I watched a YouTube video of someone who’s been in the industry for years doing this for an awards show and was totally enthralled, so I reached out. Next thing I knew I had an invitation to the Academy of Country Music Awards show in Las Vegas and sat right behind him for the entire event, watching him call the shots and taking as many notes as I possibly could.”

You can’t help but get excited while listening to Zach talk about it, he loves it. “It was like getting an entire college course on the subject in just one night, it was incredible.”

And with that statement, the layers of Zach’s excellence and passion are evident - showing what makes him so good at multi-camera directing!

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Zach is also incredibly disciplined. “I didn’t have a normal high school experience,” Zach says of his time at Rancho Bernardo High School. “I never went to football games unless I was filming them.

I got out of class early so that I could leave and go to work. I filmed as many weddings and birthday parties as I could and connected with as many people as possible in the industry. I was making vlogs and reviewing theme parks and my stuff was featured on the news a few times. I wasn’t too interested in high school events, because of how passionate I was about videography.”

In addition, Zach has incredibly disciplined habits and routines that all keep him focused. He admits that the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic were difficult because so much of what he loved was taken away.

But being determined to continue directing, Zach got back to it as soon as he could.

The most obvious facet of Zach Camerino that lends itself to directing is his love for leadership.

“I think besides skill, the most important thing a director can have is great leadership abilities. I have worked under some people who made it miserable to be at work while I have also experienced just the opposite. I care immensely about creating environments where people can flourish and take risks and create something amazing together.”

You don’t have to have worked with Zach to clearly see all the qualities he possesses that are necessary to lead well. He is humble, likable, detail-oriented, committed to excellence, and ready to do whatever it takes to create incredible products. At 21-yearsold with nearly a decade in the industry under his belt, Zach is presently in and continuing towards a fulfilling career.

“I still make videos and cover everything from filming to directing to editing. And I do get to do some of the multi-camera directing too at my church in Rancho Bernardo. I like what I’m doing and want to continue in this direction for as long as this season lasts.”

If you want to work with someone who is passionate about capturing reality in beautiful ways or to see his diverse portfolio consisting of documentaries, commercials, films, and live broadcasts, check out Zach’s website, zachcamerino.com.

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Follow Zach on Instagram| @zachcamerino

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GETTING IT TOGETHER FEATURING KATE GOOKIN | Written by Des Dare Barragan

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At age 25, Kate Gookin has wisdom and drive beyond her years. With titles like photographer, marketing freelancer, business owner, clothing designer, dog owner, and girlfriend, she has stepped outside the box of trends and expectations to seek and embrace who she is. The journey to cultivating this tenacity began with a move from Portland to San Diego.

“Portland had run its course for me, I grew up there,” says Kate.

As cool as Portland may be, Kate was ready to grow and felt like she could no longer do that there. She was ready to live in a different area, preferably one with good weather and a major airport.

“I had tried to move to San Diego a year prior but it just didn’t work out.”

“I was looking for a job in Portland and couldn’t find a marketing job that would pay any more than I was making. I couldn’t even get interviews in Portland. I started looking in San Diego and I was immediately getting interviews and got my job pretty quickly.”

“After a lot of ‘no’ in Portland, that was really affirming that it was time to go.”

Kate worked at her first San Diego marketing agency for about 9 months and acted in a heavy project management role. This wasn’t a role she wanted to keep, but she gained knowledge about how teams and agencies work and the type of clientele they work with. These skills became extremely valuable in her next venture as a full-time freelancer. From that point on, each freelance gig she took was a hop up in pay, and Kate realized that she had unknowingly set limitations in her own mind about how much she could get paid and what she could be paid for.

After a while of not doing photo work, Kate began exploring the brand side of photography. During that time, Kate also discovered lofts in the city and found her current living space. She envisioned setting up paper rolls and creating a studio in her loft.

Once she calculated the benefits of getting back into photography with an in-home studio, Kate made the move. In the midst of a pandemic, she set her mind to take social distancing as an opportunity for a creative year.

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“I was just scrolling on Upwork and I saw this one job. I hadn’t applied to any, it was the first one I applied to that was a photo job. They listed their budget as $10,000, and I was like ‘Whaaat?’”

Kate had confidence that she could execute the job well, so she quickly put a portfolio together and submitted it. She just had a feeling that she would get the job. And that feeling was right. She landed the job, pitched the company a higher amount, and did a whole campaign with them that resulted in a $25,000 payout!

“When I got the job, I was so excited that I read the email. I was home by myself and, out of excitement, I ran and jumped on my bed and I broke my bed frame!”

The visual image of an ecstatic Kate breaking her bed is just too good. Kate made a ballsy decision to rent her loft and stepped out in boldness by applying to a job that some may say she was underqualified for, and in turn, manifested the opportunity and year she had hoped for. As she took on more photo projects, she discovered a new energy that she hadn’t experienced in marketing alone. A move from a data-heavy world to one that demanded new creativity.

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“It was a good switch from what I had done before, and I think that’s my sweet spot. For a long time, I thought I had to pick just one thing to do with my life, but now it feels as if I change what I’m doing every six months. I thought that was a toxic behavior of mine at first, but I don’t think that anymore. I am interested in so many things, and I’m relatively good at a couple of things. So, why would I not allow myself to experience and try them all?”

By grasping onto the freedom of freelancing and the opportunity to ebb and flow between artistic fields, Kate’s diverse career path has aided in diminishing creative burnout.

“You can’t just quit everything that you don’t like, life isn’t like that. But if I have the ability to stop doing the things I don’t enjoy and work in areas that I like, why would I not do that?”

After hearing about how Kate has pressed through common beliefs and placed trust in her abilities professionally, we leaned in to learn how this has translated into her personal life.

“Every time I go home to Portland, it’s really hard because I feel like the version of me I was when I lived there is so different from who I am now. And I love the way that I am now more than who I used to be.”

Kate explains how frustrating it can be when others around you don’t see you for who you are, but rather as who you have been.

In the past, Kate held herself back from change and growth because of other people’s perceptions of her, and she would subconsciously conform to limitations on things like her age, image, and gender.

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“We try to frame ourselves to be what everyone expects us to be. I would teach myself to like things because that was what everybody else did.”

It was her move to San Diego and her shift toward freelancing that really sparked Kate’s new mindset of no longer apologizing for herself. She now holds to the truth that it’s not her responsibility to make herself palatable for other people.

“I really got a chance to explore myself a little bit and act the way that I wanted to.”

“ I didn’t have a ton of people around me to influence the way I acted, spoke, or dressed, so I was really able to decide for myself.”

Work became the main avenue for Kate to explore her identity. In the freelance culture, employers are more interested in the work you can produce than what’s written in your resume. So Kate applied to jobs that she had the talent for even though she may not have necessarily had the experience or education for them. This new assurance in her work life produced the ‘just do it’ framework for her personal life.

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“I’m big on just telling myself what I want to achieve and accomplish, as well as what I am. The moment I stopped talking poorly about myself, I realized people like me and like to be around me. I’m good at what I do and would tell myself and other people that even when I didn’t believe it. It taught me to believe it. I think that was a big deal for me and helped me step into myself.”

Kate has learned to lean into change instead of being immobilized by things like the fear of failure, fear of self, or the perceptions of others. She grew up in a community that had a very conservative Christian culture and she lacked women influences that pursued jobs outside of the home.

Kate snickers, “On my 16th birthday I made my resume. How lame is that, first of all! No sweet 16 for me. All I could think about was that I could finally get a job!”

Being a young woman with a drive for the workforce set her apart from others her age and the influences she grew up with .

Kate explains that she is no stranger to struggle and loneliness. Her journey through loneliness has driven her to know herself better and be okay with being by herself. Those seasons of loneliness allowed her to reevaluate who she is and what she enjoys in life. Kate explains that she is very comfortable alone, but she is even happier with a tight-knit group of people in her circle.

She recalls telling her boyfriend, “I want you in my life, but you don’t complete my life. You add to it in such a way that I care about, and I view friendships very similarly. I take friendships very seriously.”

“I want to continue to be a better person and I want people around me to continue to be the best versions of themselves too. I love finding people that have that same energy about it and are equally as driven to improve themselves while also having meaningful relationships with those around them.”

Kate is a woman who embodies powerful and passionate independence. She chooses to see and celebrate who she is, all while championing the different lifestyles of others. She truly has become the role model that her younger self desired.

Follow Kate on Insstagram and TikTok | @getittogetherkate

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“Hillcrest” B y Ev a n D e n t o n 033

“ID’ing Me”

A poem by Des Dare Barragan The thing about travel Is, I don’t always know who I am They’ll ask for an ID But it’s a card with a snapshot A picture, not the whole me

What if I’m going there, To meet a piece of me that’s missing A loved one, a farewell An adventure, a getaway to breathe A job, a dream New truth, Or mindsets to see

I swear, traveling there I’ll be in a state of mind To remember all the places I left me behind

Do we have to know who we are to move?

Or does the act of motion move us closer to discovering who Maybe we should ask for an “I owe you” on the ID ‘Cus there’s something in me, that still needs Where I’m going to be

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COMMON STRANGERS FEATURING JOSH BARNARD | Written by Sammy Noelle and Christopher Ward

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If there’s one thing Josh Barnard is not, it’s a quitter. Through what seems like endless waves of unexplainable and unfortunate events, Josh has remained resilient. Rather than being left jaded and closed-off, he continues to allow his circumstances to mold him into a better version of himself day by day.

At first glance, not many people would guess the whirlwind of a life that Josh has gone through. He is a joyful and lighthearted soul, constantly affirming the strengths of those around him. But just like all of us, underneath the general knowledge of who Josh is, there’s a deeper story that’s ready to be uncovered the moment someone asks.

“I draw a lot of strength from seeing that we are all very weak,” Josh discloses. “We go through the same troubles and heartaches. I am inspired by the people around me and the little things they do to stay afloat in hard times.”

The resiliency of others has been a constant and inspiring motivator for Josh, especially throughout his teen years, when he was thrown into a long-lasting and unsuspecting situation.

“When I was a junior in high school I was selected to be a part of a training program for a very elite organization. It was very exclusive and would set me up for a really great career once I had completed college.

At the end of my initial training, I was one of the two people selected out of 30 to move forward during high school and college.”

Josh tells of all the incredible opportunities he had as a part of this program. He met influential people, was mentored and groomed for an elite job, and had access to more resources than many high schoolers may even know existed.

“I loved it!” Josh confessed. “I felt so important. I used to walk around thinking about everything I knew, what I was experiencing, and how nobody else around me could even dream of it.”

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His involvement throughout high school was on a volunteer basis and there was every intention for it to be the same through college. Once Josh graduated, he would get a two-week break before heading straight into his work with the organization. But, just as everything had so far, circumstances began changing for the better, and Josh was moving through the program faster than originally planned.

“They told me they wanted to give me an actual paid position sooner, during my sophomore year of college. So we started going through a crazy rigorous process.

I had so many interviews, they asked me a million questions about myself, my history, my personal life, everything. Because of the nature of the organization, nothing was off-limits, and one slip-up could mean I was out.”

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And yet Josh continued to thrive. He did well in his interviews and was racing towards the offered position when tragedy struck.

“I had one final test, a polygraph test.”

“The man who was to administer the test looked at me and said, ‘Josh, I don’t need a machine to know who’s lying. I can look at you and know.’ I was so nervous, but, just as I was advised, I went in and told the truth about everything. I had nothing to hide, they already knew everything about me.”

But that wasn’t enough.

“After I took the test, the guy who gave me the test told me, ‘Josh, this test is showing that you’ve lied on everything. If this test is true, you’ve even lied to us about your name.’”

“He even told me it was obvious I wasn’t lying, but the machine was telling him otherwise. I had failed the test, and while he was sorry, there was nothing he could do about it.”

Josh recalled driving a few blocks away and breaking down in his car, tears streaming down his face and thoughts racing through his head. He had no idea where his life was headed now.

The only option he had left was to write and send an appeal straight to the main office of the organization, and hope that it was accepted.

“My appeal was rejected, so I was out of the program and prevented from applying to similar programs as well. I spent about a year so confused with no clarity about what to do with my future. At the time of failing my final test, I was in the middle of an engineering degree, partially because it was a stable job to support an eventual family, but even more so because the organization required that I graduate with a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). I had abandoned other desires I had – desires to be a pastor, to play music professionally, to go into psychology – and now had to make peace with my degree.”

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Even in hearing Josh talk about his seasons of deep loss and confusion, it’s clear he has a fierce tenacity to be a man of great character. He acts on his principles and conducts himself in a way that aligns with his Christian faith.

And though it must have been tempting, Josh remained true to his character and convictions. He stayed true to his desire to do good in the world and follow God the best he could.

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“I started to realize how completely I had determined what was best for my life instead of trusting God. I started to ask myself, ‘What really matters?’ and found that I had everything I wanted. I was playing drums and making music with friends. I was involved in church and caring for other people. Who cares about ‘making it’? I was addicted to that idea and missed out on everything I really loved and already had.”

With that thought firmly fixed in Josh’s mind, he finished school, continued to make music, and pursued a heart of humility.

“I have a dream of going on tour as a drummer, and had plans to do just that. Just recently, I was also told that the tour I was headed out on didn’t need a drummer anymore. It sometimes feels like everything has been taken away from me.”

“But,” Josh continued, “I met this drummer once. He was talking about touring and he said, ‘I think God can take me further than I can take myself. I don’t need to put myself in all the right circles and get my name out there.

God has my phone number. He has my address. He knows where to find me.’ Which is so freeing because I can just focus on enjoying today and being ready if he does invite me to go on tour or something else.”

Josh continues to carry undeniable joy with him, an important and impressive feat for someone who has had their imagined future broken down in the blink of an eye. This joy is a thoughtful and wise joy, clearly acquired through surviving heartache and disappointment.

“I have experienced even more heartbreak since then, but I am determined to keep my eyes on the main thing.

As soon as I take my eyes off of my hope in Jesus, I, like Peter, begin to sink.”

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Josh’s faith serves as a refreshing contrast to what so many have experienced with religious organizations. It is real and tested.

“I have been able to see that God is good and that he is working everything for my good, even though I don’t always know what good is. Knowing God and seeing that He is good daily enables me to trust Him as He takes away the dreams I thought I had for myself.”

Josh has only recently shared this part of his journey with a few close people, having “kept quiet out of fear that people would judge” him. But courageously, he opened up and shared this fresh wound with us. He believes in acting upon his convictions. And because he believes that we can draw strength from each other’s weaknesses, Josh wants to share his weak moments in hopes of bringing strength to those around him.

Just like Josh, strength is ready and available for all of us, even when we are at our lowest. May we be encouraged by his story, and courageously share our moments of weakness. It just might be our own vulnerability that gives others strength.

Follow Josh on Instagram | @_joshua_b

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TRENDING IN SD With Mita Aquino | Featuring Carolan Frisina

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THE WHY a forward by Mita Aquino

One of the things I’ve come to love about San Diego is the contrast in culture, style, and people as you travel from neighborhood to neighborhood.

WELCOME TO

Hillcrest

If you’re in search of a lively, energetic neighborhood with bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and more, Hillcrest is the place to be. And it doesn’t stop there – Hillcrest is one of the more colorful neighborhoods in San Diego. Walls are splattered with art and buildings differ in color from business to business. It’s beautiful to see, and it only felt fitting to pair the vibrancy of Hillcrest’s people and environment with outfits consisting of pops of color!

As I style people, something I’ve come to love is watching them as they model each outfit and seeing their confidence grow when they step in front of the camera. Sammy does an incredible job at visualizing the environment an outfit is being shot in and suggesting poses that best fit the style, all while creating a comfortable space where the person she’s photographing can move and pose freely in ways that make them feel good. There’s an art to it and Sammy Noelle has mastered it.

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Carolan

MEET

There are people in this world that can pull off any style and Carolan’s one of them. These pictures are certainly evidence of that.

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LOOK ONE Top: Serenity Sweater | Skirt: Lola Mini Skirt | Shoes: The Kia Boots from Princess Polly | Sunglasses: A New Day at Target

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LOOK TWO

Top: Knit Top from Princess Polly | Pants: Zaire Mom Denim Jeans | Shoes: The Kia Boots from Princess Polly | Sunglasses: Wild Fable at Target

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LOOK THREE

Top: Garden Tank from Princess Polly | Pants: Rodrigo Denim Jeans | Shoes: White Cowboy Boots by Therapy | Sunglasses: A New Day at Target

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LOOK FOUR Shirt: Graphic Tee from Billabong Pants: Leather Pants from Edikted Shoes: The Kia Boots from Princess Polly Purse: Gucci Super Mini Marmont

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LOOK FIVE Top: White Button Down from Cotton On Shoes: White Cowboy Boots by Therapy Purse: Dior Book Tote

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MIRRORED LOVE FEATURING ASHLEY AND JOSH HENSON | Written by Des Dare Barragan

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We met Ashley & Josh at their home in Rancho Penasquitos. As we walked in, we were greeted with warmth, laughter, and a giant hug from their border collie/lab, Scout. That initial encounter was a precursor to the candid love story they were about to share. They spoke unhindered, in a way where we could tell they’d had these same conversations in private.

Even as they revealed the struggles in their marriage, it was never one person knocking the other down. Instead, we saw a beautiful couple standing together in confidence, knowing that love has brought them closer through all the things this life brings.

Visible: “Let’s talk about your guys’ love story, how you met and how it’s kind of grown over the years.”

Josh: *Looks at Ashley* “Do you want to give the scandalous version?” *laughs*

Ashley: “I was his youth pastor, he was a student.” *everyone laughs*

Ashley continued by telling us that she was attending college in Oklahoma, while her parents lived in Missouri.

Her dad took a position in the church down the street from her and asked if she would fill in as the youth pastor for a couple of months.

Ashley: “Even though we’re a year and 8 months difference – I’m a year and 8 months older – grade-wise, what is it, 4 years? He was in the youth group, so technically I was his youth pastor!”

Josh: “I became really good friends with her brother, and we just all started hanging out a lot. Then he kind of bailed on us – he got a girlfriend! – so we just started hanging out.”

Josh and Ashley playfully bantered, recalling the events in their relationship as it progressed from pastor-student to friendship and then transpired into something more: the story of two best friends.

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Ashley: “And then you went on a mission trip to Albania. While he was gone for those two weeks, I felt like I was wandering around trying to figure out what to do without Josh here. It didn’t feel the same. And while you were in Albania, people were having talks with you.”

Josh: “The guy that I went with was our leader. He caught us multiple times at Walmart together, like just hanging out going to Walmart.”

Ashley interjects: “We’re in Oklahoma so there’s nothing to do.”

Josh continues: “So you hang out at Walmart,” *laughs* “He was like dude, you just don’t go to Walmart with another girl like that.”

Visible: “You just don’t go to Walmart with anyone!”

Despite the conversation with their leader, Josh returned from Albania and he and Ashley continued hanging out as they had before. It wasn’t until Ashley initiated a DTR (determine-the-relationship) talk that things shifted; oh the gift of purposeful conversation!

This is when Josh told Ashley he wanted to remain friends to avoid making things complicated or potentially ruining what they had together.

Ashley: “But then he kept trying to kiss me!

And I was like ‘no, what are you doing? Either we do this or we don’t.”

Josh: “I just needed to stop being scared and actually do it. It really was because we were such good friends and you were the only person I hung out with. I thought, ‘what if we ruin this, or what if I ruin this?’”

We’re so glad that Josh didn’t let fear stop him, because now the rest is history! Ashley (31) and Josh (29) will be married for 8 years in August.

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Visible: “Does it feel like it’s been that long?”

Josh: “If I really think about all the things we’ve done and where we’ve been, then yes. But in this moment it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.”

Ashley: “Looking back on our story and our history, it for sure feels like we’ve been married for 8 years, maybe longer. But day in, day out it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.”

Ashley: “One of the reasons that it does feel like we’ve been married that long is I look back on parts of our marriage. When we first got married I had a full-time job, wore pencil skirts, and met with Hobby Lobby executives, and he was in school. And now that we’re out here it’s totally flipped. I hang out with middle and high school students and you have patients. I feel like I was mature then, but now I do not feel mature! So, that’s what makes it feel longer.’

Ashley and Josh explained how in Oklahoma culture, marrying at ages 24 and 22 was considered old. They shared the differences they’ve seen in cultural expectations here in San Diego. In Oklahoma, they may have already had multiple children, while in San Diego they’ve been encouraged to move at their own pace. This juxtaposition of cultures, both valuable and unique, displays how geography can really influence your story.

Similar to relationships, the place in which you live can move you closer to who you really are.

Visible: “With being married in Oklahoma, and then being married here — what were the differences in your relationship because of the culture?”

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Josh: “I would say I think we as people changed in some ways, being away from our family. We became our own people, not under the shadows of our families. Being where we’re from, we essentially lived down the road from our parents.

I feel like we became different people out here.

Just because we got to be exposed, pushed a little bit out of our comfort zones being from a conservative world, going to a different kind of style of church even.”

Ashley: “For me specifically, what really changed, you’re right, was us as people. We lived down the street from my family, and I’m super close to my family, they’re my best friends. So, I think getting out of that bubble was good because it took us out of a community that we were comfortable in.”

Moving from a familiar, pre-existing community, to a place where they had to create their own urged Ashley and Josh to grow as individuals in a way they arguably wouldn’t have otherwise.

As a result, they now have a community they’ve chosen and are proud of.

Josh: “I feel like we’ve grown closer together because, for me, I feel like I needed to be around you more; connect with you more. When I had my friends back home, I wanted to hang out with my friends, and go play basketball with them. But now I’ve found peace and a lot more enjoyment in just you and me hanging out. I want to hang out with you.”

Visible: “Making a big move early in your marriage, we’re sure brought tension or challenges, or was it pretty smooth sailing?”

Ashley: “The move was actually pretty chill. I think we were ready to get out and do something. And again we came from a world where we were always asked, ‘When are you going to have kids? When are you going to this?’ and that just wasn’t who we were. I think we were ready to get out, so the move wasn’t hard. And we had another couple move with us. I think once we got here, that was really hard because Josh started school. He was in PT school and it overtook his life and I was just here.”

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Josh came to San Diego with an instant community at PT school, whereas Ashley came only knowing her husband and the couple they traveled with. Ashley tells us that the first year was the hardest and where they learned to communicate better. They evaluated their priorities as a team and after multiple conversations and whispered arguments (shout out to navigating fighting while living with roommates), learned how to honor one another in marriage first, while still pursuing individual dreams.

Ashley: “I remember saying, ‘I can’t keep going like this.’”

Josh: “We learned to compromise, and just connect, growing closer together. It was like I wanted to do school and I treated you like you could take a back seat. That was my mindset because if I could get this done, we’d be set for life, we’d be good. That was a good learning moment that I’m grateful for. I realized it’s just school, this is more important.”

Ashley: “I had been taught my whole life that you support your husband, you sacrifice for your husband. I believe those things to an extent. Because of church culture and Oklahoma culture, that kind of got distorted into, ‘I sacrifice myself for him.’ I quickly realized that all of my identity was in my husband. I wasn’t getting attention from you, but you’re where all my confidence and identity came from.”

Josh: “It didn’t help that all the jobs that you wanted, that felt like you, kept getting denied or you couldn’t find anything. So you had to settle for dog walking and receptionist at HOA which are not your things at all.”

Ashley: “That first year, we also learned that I needed to figure out who I was, what God called me to, and I needed to pursue that, too. And that didn’t mean that Josh was put on the side, it just meant we could both have dreams and pursue them, versus one of us sacrificing for the other. In my head, to be a good wife meant I did whatever needed to be done for Josh to get through school, and obviously I was unhappy.”

Visible: “That’s super valuable, and a lot of people need to hear that. Learning to support and respect your husband as a leader out of a place of knowing who you are. That’s huge!”

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Ashley expressed her gratitude for who Josh is and how he’s always responded with a “you should totally do that!” attitude. He truly sees his wife and what she’d be great at.

Before leaving Oklahoma, Josh had a position as a youth pastor and Ashley begged him not to go to PT school because she just knew he was supposed to be a pastor. Women typically aren’t pastors in Oklahoma, so she never considered that call for herself until they moved to San Diego. She had the desire but thought it was for her husband. It wasn’t until they moved that Ashley was able to see herself more clearly.

Visible: “What is something that you really admire about the other person, that you’ve seen as a consistent characteristic/attribute throughout your relationship?”

Josh: “Her passion in general. I feel like it’s always been the most consistent thing about you. Like when you find something you love, you’re so passionate about it. Whether it’s me, whether it’s ministry, or even scripture and your faith. That’s something I’ve always admired.

Sometimes it’d be too much, but I think when I look back, I kind of envied it. I wish I was that passionate!

It’s always pushed me too.”

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Ashley: “There are a million things, but specifically Josh’s kindness. I said that even when we got married, I felt like he reflected the kindness of the Lord, where I’m not even close to that. He sees good in people when I instantly write them off, or I’m super cynical but you always see the good in people, which I wish I could do because we’re called to see that. Every single one of us is created in his (God’s) image, so we’re called to see all that. You reflect goodness and kindness. And with that, even his openness and encouragement, because he’s so kind.”

Ashley starts tearing and the pitch of her voice raises a few notches. *We start tearing*

Their words towards one another were so gentle, so sweet. This is the stuff we can’t make up.

Ashley praises therapy, Jesus, and all the things that have helped her realize that things like the kindness she admires most about Josh, are also things she’s fought with him about due to her own feelings of inadequacy. A wonder of relationships is that even when we feel weak, we get to lavish in the strength of the other person.

Visible: “Is there a characteristic or attribute that you’ve grown in because of who the other person is?”

Ashley: “I feel like I’ve grown in a lot of things because of you, but one would be that I am very quick to respond to things — something happens and I just spew words and don’t think about it — again it’s because of the kindness, and also because Josh is patient and chill, he waits to respond to things. Something I’ve learned, just in this past year (again shout out to therapy), is to be slow to anger, slow to my words, and slow to action. Take time to pray, and be wise about decisions. That comes from you. That’s something you do.”

Josh: “I would say for me, you’ve taught me how to stick up for myself. Because of my kindness, I would also say I use it as an excuse. When asked to stay later, I’d make the excuse of: ‘I’m just trying to help out.’ You’d tell me I have to stick up for myself and not let people walk all over me.

I’ve learned how to set boundaries because of you, which in turn means I’m not taking you for granted. You’ve taught me sticking up for myself is also sticking up for our relationship.

You’ve reminded me of my worth too. You’ve taught me just to be more confident and know my worth. That’s another thing I’ve always admired about you, is your confidence.”

Following Josh’s answer, Ashley recalled the story of when she had a cyst removed from her chin.

A friend was originally going to drive her to the procedure because Josh would not take off work.

Josh came to realize how important it was for him to be there, and be the one to drive her. Plus, he got to witness the full procedure firsthand, he saw and heard it all! There’s no love like a love after removing a cyst!

It’s funny how when we retell our stories aloud, it brings us to a place of gratitude and we’re reminded how much we really love the humans involved.

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We ended the conversation just like our time together began, in laughter and warmth, with a greater picture of what a genuine relationship and love can be. Ashley and Josh left us with practical tips on how to prioritize relationships and pursue individual identity.

Things like scheduling intentional time with one another, instead of letting everything bleed together. Even doing the most simple things together matters, as long as it’s quality time. Having an intentional calendar may seem unromantic but it’s how they’ve made balance a real thing in their marriage.

Ashley and Josh, keep loving the way you do. Thank you for sharing how loving one another has changed you for the better, in turn, you’ve given us perspective and motivation for our own relationships.

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Follow Ashley and Josh on Instagram | @acleve @joshyhenso

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PART

of the PROCESS

FEATURING KATE GARCIA OF NURTURE FLORA CO. Written by Christopher Ward, Joshua Segui, and Sammy Noelle

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Kate Garcia grew up in Laguna Nigel. Her house was large and immaculate; every piece of foliage was carefully manicured and intentionally placed. Nothing askew, overgrown, or untended.

Then Kate moved to Virginia.

“Everything was so different!” Kate says of her Virginia experience. “I had spent ten years in Laguna Nigel where everything was perfectly placed, and then it was like I was in an entirely different world.

There was so much space and so much plant life that did whatever it wanted with that space. Vines were overgrown and moss lived on trees and everything just coexisted in natural ways. I loved it!”

While her childhood home was beautiful, she came to realize that beauty could come in many forms, both tame and free. Flashing forward to the present day, Kate’s backyard in Spring Valley is flourishing with numerous flowering plants filling the soil.

Different is the perfect way to describe her home, her business, and even the path she took to get where she is today.

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After a brief stint in Virginia, Kate moved back to Southern California and began college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. That’s where she met her husband, Lucas, and many lifelong friends while pursuing her degree in English and acquiring her teaching credential.

“I was a middle school teacher for four years, which was so incredibly difficult. I was at some pretty tough schools and was exhausted, but when I had my daughter, Lisey, and only got 6 weeks off for maternity leave, that’s when I thought about making a transition.”

She entered the wedding industry as a florist while continuing to teach and loved it immediately. Kate’s schedule was quickly filling up shortly after starting her business. So much so that merely 6 months after the birth of her business, she left teaching to pursue florals full-time.

Kate describes her immediate joy at feeling more proficient as a florist than she had as a teacher, as well as the wonderful gift of having more time at home with her daughters. “They’re a part of the business,” she laughs. “They are always around, whether they are playing on their own or helping me.

I love it.”

Those early years were successful. Her company, With Flourish, was growing quickly: she had six employees in 2019 and was ready to hire two full-time employees as she approached a 2020 wedding season in which she had 55 weddings booked.

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Then came COVID.

“My husband and I bought this house and we moved in the same exact day as the shutdown was enacted.

It was a bit scary, because my business, the entire wedding industry, was put on hold. But it gave me so much time to think and dream and plan.”

As she did, Kate began a gradual yet profound transition in her profession. While Kate would remain in the wedding floral industry, her business model would start to look more like Kate Garcia, Individualist and Rebel, than it ever had before.

“When I was first doing weddings as With Flourish, it always felt like I was copying someone else. I was simply mass-producing the same arrangements picked out of magazines over and over again. It got boring.”

Monotony, however, was not the only weight on Kate’s mind. Kate realized that she was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the way florals were traditionally done.

“You have refrigerated flowers that are all so fragile because they have been grown to look nice for one day, and until then they are kept in cold boxes and essentially on life support. Then when I would get them I could only hope they would last, and I had many times when they didn’t and I had to scramble and start from scratch. The industry isn’t done in a sustainable way either, and that’s something I really care about.”

So Kate took her six years of experience as a wedding florist and decided to do something different. In 2021, Kate launched Nurture Flora Co.

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“Nurture Flora Co. is my business now, but it contains so much more of myself and my soul in it.” This statement is not some mere turn of phrase; Kate grows the flowers for her arrangements in her own backyard.

Looking out over her garden, the only attribute it shares with her childhood home in Laguna Nigel is that it is in Southern California. In all other aspects, her garden is as wild and free as she remembers the foliage in Virginia.

Flowers flourish out front, with Monarch butterflies resting on everything from vines growing on an archway to some onions hiding amongst the flowers.

The backyard is bursting with even more life. Every inch of available soil is filled with thriving plants. Flowers, food, greenery, and chickens. Yes, roaming amongst the flowers and flourishing plants are dozens of chickens, two bunnies, two cats on leashes, and two little girls frolicking barefoot. Garden boxes, trees, bushes, vines, and even pallets turned into fencing with plant boxes in them. Every plant thrives and provides Kate with the resources she needs to give brides a one-of-a-kind experience for their once-in-a-lifetime day.

“I plant flowers for specific brides and their requests.

I can pray over them and send them pictures updating them on the growth of their plants. It’s much more of an experience and collaboration between myself and the couples I get to work with.”

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In doing so, Kate has made the entire process of providing flowers for a wedding both personal and sustainable.

She grows the flowers and picks them on the day of the wedding, so they are fresh, beautiful, and far sturdier than wholesale flowers which are stored in a freezer.

Kate’s studio is in the garage at the front of her house, where you can see her commitment to her craft.

While admiring her various vases and centerpieces, a set of candles catch our eyes and she responds with a smile, “Oh yeah, I made those.” She takes candles from previous weddings, melts them down, strains them to remove impurities, and then remolds them for use in other weddings. “It’s way cheaper this way,” she notes, with a laugh.

Despite the care and dedication, occasionally things can go awry. In one case, flowers may get scorched in a San Diego heatwave, but Kate is resourceful and determined to always make something beautiful for her clients.

“I have two local farms that I go to in order to help supplement what I have. I can always make something beautiful, but the brides also have to be more flexible and trusting. I will capture their vision and produce something gorgeous, but if they are looking for cookie-cutter products and exact colors, they shouldn’t (and usually don’t) choose to work with me.”

While these mishaps may crop up now and then, Kate says that, overall, the experience is far more reliable because she knows her plants and soil. Her confidence is evidence of the deep trust she has in both her process and her products.

Kate Garcia provides couples with a stunning floral display for their wedding day, and her arrangements are the culmination of an incredible experience that starts from the moment the couples first meet her. She invites them into her life as they tour her garden. She sets couples at ease through her knowledge of her soil, the Southern California climate, and her unique passion for people. It is this passion for people that influences and defines Kate’s dazzling floral displays in ways that few people capture in their work and art. Your wedding is meant to be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. Why shouldn’t the process of getting your flowers be the same?

If you are interested in viewing Kate’s work, you can find it on her website, nurtureflora.co, and Instagram page, @nurturefloraco. Nurture Flora Co. is personal and profound, stylish and sustainable, individualistic and inspiring, collaborative and rebellious, wild and beautiful - much like Kate Garcia.

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HEART SOUL

and

FEATURING RYAN, JOHN, CARA, AND ANI OF WHAT THE PODCAST Written by Sammy Noelle

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What The Podcast?! It’s a podcast, that’s for sure. A podcast featuring co-hosts Ryan Tafolla and John Albright. Two best friends who love to make people laugh and talk about what is going on in the world today.

But wait, there’s more! These two are joined every week by producer Cara Tafolla and the lovely Ani Skovmand. Four best friends talking about anything and everything week by week in a way that makes a listener feel like they are in the room with them; what more could you want in your weekly dose of content?

J: “The podcast started in 2020. I was looking for my next creative venture, and I knew I wanted to do a podcast in the style of two people talking about pop culture. I remember I was sitting at a gathering of friends with Ryan and I was talking to him with a very brief, vague concept.

Visible: “First things first, introduce yourselves and tell us how the podcast came to be!”

J: “We were SO wrong.”

We met with the What The Podcast (WTP) team for dinner and drinks at Lazy Dog in Mission Valley to hear what this podcast is all about.

John: “I guess that’s me. This is John, by the way, whoever is quoting me.”

*Laughs*

I said, ‘Yeah, I’m just looking for another person to, you know, talk about pop culture’ and he listened to me and didn’t say anything. Which was so nice because I should have thought of him. And then the next day he texted me saying, ‘Hey, by the way, that thing you were talking about last night, I’d be interested in it.’”

At that moment, it all just clicked for John and Ryan. They sat down together in November of 2020, thinking that it would be just the two of them with microphones talking about all things pop culture. Little did they know the team was not complete quite yet. *Laughs around the table*

J: “Cara was there on the first episode and Ryan’s sister, Olivia, was there and they ended up sitting in and giving us advice.

They were kind of talking while sitting next to us.”

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Ryan interjects: “We kept talking to them and asking them questions. And they weren’t on a microphone, so it was kind of weird.”

Cara: “They were like, ‘Chime in if you need to say or fact-check anything!’ And the entire first episode we would try to without a microphone.”

R: “ Listen to the first episode. It’s a - it’s a journey.”

J: “Well, it was my first episode of podcasting with a co-host, and it was Ryan’s first podcast ever. So we were just trying to figure it out. The next week Olivia and Cara had mics. And now, the show doesn’t even happen without all four of us. The dynamic just kind of works that way now. That’s basically how it started.”

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There’s a brief interview intermission as everyone’s drink order arrives at the table.

Cara: “For the listeners, Ryan has a Maple Bacon Old Fashioned.”

R: “There are no listeners. This isn’t a podcast episode.”

Everyone laughs while cheers-ing their drinks. John spills his beer.

Ani: “For the listeners, John just spilled his beer.”

Visible: “Walk us through each of your roles on the team.”

R: “Absolutely. My name is Ryan Tafolla. I play the intro every episode, playing sometimes piano, sometimes a synthesizer. Sometimes it’s just nonsense. I then introduce my co-host, John Albright. His role in the podcast is kind of just like the ‘straight man,’ you know, like the ‘everyday man,’ right?”

J: “I’m a classic white guy.”

Ani looks to Ryan while laughing: “So what’s YOUR role?”

R: “I’m something of an instigator. I kind of drive the conversation. I play devil’s advocate if you will.”

Sweet potato tots arrive for the table.

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C: “I’ll chime in.”

R: “No, no, no. I got this.”

The table erupts in laughter.

In addition to bringing up the subject of death on a weekly basis, Ani takes charge of What The Podcast on all social media fronts.

R: “So she’s kind of like the wild card of the bunch.

And she knows she’s got a lot of random knowledge.”

R: “Cara is the producer of the show. She holds an iPad. She changes the camera angles. She’s something A: “I was a one-time guest that just stayed forever.” of the couch Taylor Swift fan. That’s pretty much the personality she brings to the show.” R: “And now she won’t leave.”

C: “I agree with that.” A: “I think if I tried to, you might kill me.”

R: “And then we’ve got Ani, or as I introduce her to R: “That’s true. That’s true.” every episode, the lovely Ani Skovmand.

She’s the newest member of the group here. She gives A: “So basically, none of us have real roles, except Cara.” us any historical facts that we need as well as, um, she talks about death pretty much every week.” C: “Without me, the show wouldn’t happen.”

Ani laughs.

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*Exclamations of agreement around the table.*

V: “We know that you really value the video podcast experience. What made you go more visually focused with the podcast?”

R: “I consume a lot of media that way. I like to watch stuff more, but I’ve gotten into listening because of starting a podcast and to get in that world more. But I mean, that’s just for me personally.”

J: “It was just more of a challenge. We knew we could do audio and do it well, but adding the visual element was just more fun. There are more possibilities there, like up until probably ten episodes ago, we would watch and react to TikToks every episode. We had the idea that we wanted it to be a multimedia experience.

So you could listen, but then if you had time, you could watch it. Plus we can source video clips from all that for other media platforms.”

A: “Yeah. Nowadays the biggest advertisements you can get for podcasts are through social media. And the vast majority of podcasts that have been rising in the ranks are partially visual podcasts. When we’ve had a good week on TikTok, it positively impacts the number of views and listens for the podcast. It’s a direct correlation.”

R: “And to that, it’s an added connection to the person on the other end of it. Not only am I listening to their opinions, but I’m also seeing them interact. In addition to that, a big part of what we do is the live aspect of it too. Every once in a while we’ll live stream the podcast.”

C: “Oh yeah, we’ll sometimes do it live. One time we did a 25-hour livestream to celebrate everyone’s birthday.”

That 25-hour live was actually the first time Ani was a guest on the podcast.

A: “I stopped by at 3:00 AM and left at 7:00 AM to go home, change and go to work. Then I came BACK.” 074

J: “It only took one week without Olivia (she had just left for college) on the podcast for the dynamic to be thrown off. We had the 25-hour podcast and had so much fun with Ani. That’s when we knew we had to ask her to stay for a while. “

A: “You know, you never officially asked me to join the podcast. You just kept asking if I wanted to come back every week and added me to the group chat.”

Ani’s gradual, yet intentional, addition to the What The Podcast team is a great example of John’s philosophy behind both the podcast and his own production business.

J: “Very rarely do you start something like a business and are able to have instant success. It takes time, and you need friends and family to support you in all these endeavors. I take no credit. It’s always been the people around me that made it happen.”

V: “Well, you are a unit. It seems like this wouldn’t happen without you.”

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J: “What I will say is this show, just like any creative project that I’ve ever had, exceeds my original vision tenfold. I had this idea of the show, but now that the show exists, it is what it is, and I could have never in a million years dreamt up the things we’re doing now. And that’s the reality of the way things work when you have a great community and great set of friends.”

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V: “Switching gears a little bit. When it comes to social media, what does your (Ani) personal TikTok experience look like, and how does that translate into how you create content for the podcast?”

A: “Well, I started my own TikTok for a different podcast project. So I kind of had the gear of making non-personal content. The biggest thing though is that TikTok is how we as friends interact on a daily basis.”

Ani goes on to talk about how the crew is sending about 13 TikToks to each other every day. Funnily enough, their daily exchange of social content caused her own TikTok “For You” page and the WTP “For You” page to be identical.

A: “We get so much joy out of finding ways to create the videos and content. They probably get so annoyed because I take videos constantly.”

Ani is a kind of content ninja, as she captures moments that the rest of the team sometimes doesn’t remember happening.

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While there was hesitation at the beginning of the What The Podcast journey, TikTok has now become an integral part of their weekly flow. Ryan goes on to say how for better or worse, content is being made and produced by them every single day. He talks about how TikTok is a major departure from other social platforms, because of a creator’s ability to go viral overnight. All thanks to the algorithm.

R: “At the same time it’s fleeting. Views don’t necessarily mean subscribers or podcast listeners, though it can be helpful in gaining traction for the podcast.”

After a deeper look into their weekly schedule of stats and brainstorming meetings and Tuesday night podcast recordings, Ryan brings in the way they choose subjects for their podcast episodes.

R: “Our tagline is: ‘We talk about anything and everything.’ That’s kind of the ‘what the’ of What The Podcast. So often we look at whatever happened that week in the news. Sometimes it’s politics, sometimes it’s like just our musings on social media.”

A: “Pretty much anything that’s kind of a fad. Which sounds weird. But for example, I binged the whole Squid Games series in one night so we could talk about it the next day on the podcast.”

R: “It can be difficult sometimes because we record on Tuesday nights but don’t release until Fridays. Several times there have been some major moments that happen between the recording and releasing of the episode, so we miss out on including that and have to be okay with talking about it next time. You don’t realize how hairline it can be keeping up with trends and fads.”

A: “Especially when trying to keep to a schedule.”

V: “Are you all interested in branching out beyond podcasting as a team?”

A: “I will say if we ever have the chance, my goal for us is to get on some sort of Family Feud. We would kill that game.”

R: “To answer your question, I feel it’s like so much more than a podcast now.”

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J: “We’re always trying to break through.

Thinking about what’s the next thing. How can we make a little bit of money and invest in what we’re doing here? Ultimately, that would be great. And we’re always working on different projects, but this is our shared hobby and one day we hope we can make it a reality of an income for us. That’s kind of the dream.”

A: “Yeah, we’re this group of friends and creating these memories and recording them.”

J: “It’s just having fun with my friends, but also getting it all on camera. And if something comes of it and people can enjoy it, laugh, and think we’re hilarious or stupid, that’s all a net positive. There’s no negative, really.”

With the main point of intentional time to have stimulating conversations with each other, the What The Podcast team continues to pursue this dream of a creative venture. All through having conversations about current events both globally and personally.

V: “How do you balance the amount you share of your personal lives?”

Ani discloses that she finds it difficult to withhold personal stories and events because when they’re recording, she’s simply talking with three of her closest friends.

A: “I think the hardest part is when we’re speaking about politics or sensitive subjects and we have to remind ourselves that we are, in a way, public figures who are entitled to our own personal opinions. But we also are entitled to respect others and the opinions of others.”

R: “We try to be mindful of that in pretty much every episode. Make sure we clarify and state, ‘Hey, this is just my opinion, and not the definitive opinion’ because that’s kind of become a problem in the podcast world.”

J: “Yeah, and also some of the best feedback we’ve had on episode content has come when we’ve talked about hard things, and when we don’t agree. It’s not our most comfortable wheelhouse, but at the same time, it’s what strikes people the most. So we can’t shy away from it.”

A: “We’re also really good at playing devil’s advocate.”

R: “We would be doing ourselves and our listeners a disservice if we weren’t looking at something from every angle.”

V: “It’s a great example to others because we’re sure there are things you guys like disagree on personally, but you don’t let that cause division.”

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We neared the end of our time with John, Ryan, Cara, and Ani talking about their goals for the podcast over the next few years. The crew brings up what they call “Albright Con.” A: “I envision it as a mix of Albright entertainment (John’s media production company), legendary lipsync, live music, and live podcasting. We’re going to do it because it’s ridiculous.”

In addition to Albright Con, Ryan brings in another perspective.

R: “Honestly, for me, it’s to stay the course because, as John said, we love what we do. And if we got famous tomorrow, that would be awesome. We’d continue to make good content and be best friends. But if we didn’t, we just love hanging out.”

J: “I think exactly what Ryan was saying. This is, this has always been about us having a good time. For sure, we’d love to do it full-time someday, but it ultimately is just to make people smile and have a good laugh.

Ryan and I have been doing that for the past 10 years separately, on the internet, just doing fun things to make people laugh.”

What The Podcast is about the hearts and minds of four best friends wanting to bring some light and meaning to the world that we live in. As Ani states, “There’s a lot of crap in this world that we talk about in a lighthearted way.”

If you are looking for some entertainment with genuine connection and intentional purpose, throw an episode of What The Podcast on the TV as you unwind or add it to your morning commute. These friends care about each other and the happenings of the world around them, and that’s something all of us could use a little more of.

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Check out the team’s favorite episodes they’ve recorded!

Ryan’s Pick: Episode 64 - What the Hinge?!

John’s Pick: Episode 43 - WTP 25-Hour Stream Cara’s Pick: Episode 71 - What the Oscar Slap?!

Ani’s Pick: Episode 44 - What the Crime Podcast?!

Follow What The Podcast on Instagram and TikTok | @whatthepodcast2020 Follow the WTP crew on Instagram Ryan: @ryantahfoyah | @divevibeband John: @jalbright619 | @albrightentertainment Cara: @caratafolla | @sunkissed_macrame Ani: @aniskovmand

Subscribe to their YouTube channel and listen to their podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

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STATE OF ART FEATURING KAITLYN KRIKORIAN OF STATE OF ART Written by Des Dare Barragan

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Simple yet elegant decor, charcuterie boards galore, the State Of Art event welcomed local artists and creatives of all kinds. Founder and event host, Kaitlyn Krikorian, was the first person to greet us at the door. She created a welcoming atmosphere as she looked each person in the eye and hugged us like she’d known us all for years. Further in were couches, chairs, and an intimate stage for the singer-songwriter booked for the night.

Past the stage, and across from the tasty food and drinks, stood a long table with four local vendors: Red Beard Leather, Toole Collective, Kied’s Recycled Skateboards, and your very own Visible Magazine.

Photographers, musicians, writers, stylists, models, social media gurus, web designers, and more entered the room. The melodic chatter rose, and this event assured us that mingling still exists! Within an hour, the place was filled and we found ourselves in a space where individuals and their creative skills were not only recognized but being united. An artist alone is a gift, but artists together, that’s a movement.

The event had a fluid-structure: mingling, artist performance, a Q&A, more mingling, then close. The artist scheduled to perform that night was Lee Coulter, a soulful singer-songwriter with original tunes that sent vibrations of love and depth that dance up our spines. In between songs, Lee stated, “Art is about people,” and that’s exactly what Kaitlyn’s event revealed.

We left in a fulfilled state from the nature of the evening’s human connection.

Visible was connected to State Of Art through Shua, an artist featured in Issue 002, who performed at the first State Of Art event. After hearing about the event we were eager to learn more, so we met with Kaitlyn to learn about her story and the beginning of State Of Art. 084

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“I’ve always been interested in community, I’m a big community person and I’m an artist. So I thought, ‘How do we get artists together to collaborate more?’ I’ve had some negative experiences in the past where artists were not supporting each other and that’s NOT the vibe.

Another reason I started State Of Art was that I’m not from here — how do I meet people to work with?”

“Those things were always stirring in the back of my mind and then one day I knew what I had to do: combine it all. I needed to make a fun and community-building event that’s geared toward getting these creatives paid work and invaluable connections that will actually further their careers.”

With the gift of seeing the needs of others, Kaitlyn started to dream up a networking event tailored for artists.

“My boyfriend is a musician. He goes to open mics all over the county and plays at restaurants and different events, so he knows a bunch of other musicians, which is awesome. So there’s this musician community in San Diego, but musicians also need graphic designers and photographers. And they’re not meeting those people at an open mic, but the hope is that they might meet them at one of the State Of Art events.”

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Kaitlyn moved 4 years ago to study film-making in San Diego. She graduated in the summer of 2020 during the height of the pandemic and is currently on a work visa as a photographer and videographer for a marketing company. Her day job allows her to maintain her visa and she continues to do her own creative work on the weekends.

“It was a big shift in my life going from a not art-centered world to an art-centered world. I’m in this micro-community in San Diego that’s artistically focused. I went to an art school and all my friends became artists.”

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Kaitlyn recalls her passion beginning at a young age with family members asking her to take photos and paying her for it. She saw that this was something people needed. It was an opportunity for paid work that she also enjoyed. She booked her first professional photo gig at age 14, and as she grew older her love for the camera was undeniable.

Kaitlyn found herself at college in Canada doing photography more than focusing on her studies in Philosophy. This inspired her to pursue an education in film-making, so Kaitlyn made the move to San Diego.

“In addition to the basic cultural differences, which aren’t that drastic, it was so amazing for me to finally be around artists who are equally as passionate as I am about this. While growing up, I was the one who was trying to make films with others and no one was into it. Then I went to film school and everyone was always on board!”

Kaitlyn found her people. Healthy collaboration has motivated her to keep the culture of belonging and community rolling post-graduation. Whether it’s working her day job or taking on weekend projects of her own, Kaitlyn’s focus is working with other creative humans. She’s found her niche working with musicians, creating editorial content and album art, and directing and shooting music videos.

“The stuff I do during the week is a lot less creative, but I kind of view it as if I was an athlete. My day job is like practice like I’m doing drills. I’m so grateful that I get a camera in my hand every single day.”

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Kaitlyn compares her weekend projects to a game day where she excels because the foundational skills of her craft have been finetuned throughout her workweek.

“For me, it’s a necessity because, as an immigrant, I’m not allowed to be here if I don’t have this day job. I actually do really enjoy it, so I’m lucky in that regard, but even if I hated it, I have to maintain the mentality of, ‘It’s the only way you’re allowed to be in this country. You gotta do it, so you might as well view it in a really positive way!”

With such a unique perspective, Kaitlyn has learned to truly value every opportunity to create.

“The common thread through all my work realms is cameras. Working with cameras is actually what I love, as well as working with people. I love interacting with people and showing them a final product that wows them. It brings me joy to go above and beyond what people were expecting in a project.”

This sentiment towards people is the same heartbeat we encountered at State Of Art.

“Our mission statement is to help artists in three ways: surrounding them with a supportive community, connecting them with paid work, and, supporting their mental health.”

The in-person State Of Art events embody all three aspects of this mission. They emphasize meeting faceto-face to connect and create a supportive community. Tickets are also sold for $20 and used to pay the performing artists. In addition, 10% of the proceeds are donated to artists’ mental health initiatives.

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Kaitlyn goes on to tell us that the long-term goal is to have chapters in North America and beyond, hosting both general networking events and smaller events that encourage collaborations across all artistic fields.

Kaitlyn would love to have a mentorship program to connect up-and-coming artists with those more established. The dream doesn’t stop there. She also hopes to create a platform for State Of Art vetted job opportunities, where artists could find and post local hiring jobs, or hire other artists that are verified by the State Of Art team.

“I just wanted that for myself. I moved to this country knowing nobody. I’d never been to California before, I’d never visited, I just packed up all my stuff and drove here. I started from scratch and thought, ‘How can I help the next person not have to start from scratch?’”

Kaitlyn is doing just that. With a team composed of her boyfriend, James Isaac, and her friend Sam Carts (who she met in film school), they are making strides in supporting artists in whatever they may need.

They’ve also received astounding support from Gabriel Conover, owner of the event location Gud Times Studio, and his assistant Bianca. With a shared vision of serving San Diego local artists, Gabriel and Gud Times Studio have allowed the State Of Art team to use their space for free. Talk about artists supporting other artists!

Kaitlyn reflects on a dream becoming reality. She did not expect to see so many people she didn’t know at the first event, and State Of Art has only gained traction since then.

“I was on cloud 9 afterward. Oh my gosh, it worked! This is exactly how I imagined it!”

This is proof that community matters and an event like State Of Art is something that people crave.

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“I have not met an artist in San Diego that is not kind and willing to collaborate. There are so many cool people here and everyone is so nice.

If you’re feeling alone, or lonely, or like you’re the only artist out there, reach out to somebody or come to a State Of Art event. Don’t be afraid of rejection because there really are so many people here that are so willing to help.”

“I wouldn’t have encountered all this kindness if I hadn’t gone out and tried to find it.”

One look at Kaitlyn’s journey to find and cultivate creative community and it’s abundantly clear; community is there if we take the time to go out and find it.

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Follow Kaitlyn and State Of Art | @kkrikorianphotography @stateofartorg

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We see you, we value you, we thank you It’s because of humans like you that Visible & its mission to rehumanize San Diego have become a reality. We hope you enjoy your Mag! Don’t forget to use your voice to make others VISIBLE.

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