{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabove-the-sides.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Faloha-is-love-with-brooke-conway-dRFfVDPL","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"\"Aloha is Love\" with Brooke Conway","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/98e3bd82-6cec-49d2-8573-04b3e21ccf14/c0f73c0e-f088-404f-84da-fed6f5f97fcb/above-20the-20sides-202025-20logo.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"In this heartfelt episode, Brooke Conway reflects on the themes of identity and belonging as she traces her path from San Francisco to Samoa, Hawaiʻi, and Sicily. She shares how the spirit of aloha (and some incredible meals along the way) have helped her build connections and navigate healing. A chance meeting with Pono Shim became a turning point in her growth and offered her wisdom that continues to guide her through grief, motherhood, and her Social Work career. Brooke speaks to the power of values like akahai (grace) and oluolu (gentle strength), especially in moments of personal and collective challenge. This episode invites you to reflect on you own stories and to respond to the world with compassion. Mahalo for listening! \n\nEpisode Highlights\n00:33 Introduction to Brooke Conway\n02:31 San Francisco to Samoa to Hawaii: Where might we land?\n05:37 Three homes\n08:26 Sicily: reconnecting with ancestral roots\n13:45 Food as aloha, connection, identity\n16:21 Meeting Uncle Pono Shim: right place, right time\n17:54 Unlocking the healing medicine\n22:43 Sitting with the aloha practice during difficult times\n26:03 Leaning in to akahai (grace) during her grandmother's passing\n31:15 Stories as medicine\n33:26 Mental health and wellness - aiming for unity from \"above the sides\"\n34:48 Oluolu (gentle strength)\n37:39 Weaving the aloha values into Social Work\n39:39 Nelson Mandela interview with Oprah: Action and Unity vs. Humility (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoRiqZHCjiE)\n41:15 Nelson Mandela as centered in self, not self-centered\n42:45 Watching current events with a critical eye: Is there an aloha response present? Am I seeing this situation through heavenʻs perspective? Am I seeing the world through the lens of my trauma?\n46:21 Is my hana my trauma response - or is it divinely inspired?\n48:26 Aloha and motherhood: kids are our greatest teachers\n\n\n\n\n"}