Episodes

  • Sound, Light, and Saying Yes - Hugo Meets JG

    Sound, Light, and Saying Yes - Hugo Meets JG
    Jun 2 2026
    This week on Sol Meets Heart, Hugs reconnects with his former Philadelphia neighbor JG (Justin Geller) — sound designer, light architect, music producer, and one of those rare people who just makes the world feel more alive. JG's career is built on saying yes before he knows how, learning fast, and translating the invisible into something you can walk through and feel. They cover his journey from electronic music obsession to designing immersive installations for places like Longwood Gardens and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, what it means to be creatively fulfilled by helping others realize their visions, and the 15-minute habit that reignited his own music after five years of silence. JG also previews his first new Remote Places track in nearly seven years. If you've ever wondered how to plant small seeds that grow into the life you actually want — this one's for you.

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    1 hr
  • The Gift Was His Life: Barbering, Faith, and Finding Inspiration - Hugo Meets CBJ

    The Gift Was His Life: Barbering, Faith, and Finding Inspiration - Hugo Meets CBJ
    May 26 2026
    Hugo reconnects with an old friend — Josh "CBJ" McKenzie, master barber and owner of The Craft Salon Suite in Grand Prairie, Texas. They hadn't seen each other in over a decade, but some conversations pick right back up like no time passed at all.

    Josh traces his journey from a kid secretly practicing fades on his little brother with a pair of broken clippers from his grandmother's closet, to becoming a barber who's cut the hair of professional athletes and built a space where other creative barbers can thrive. He talks about what it means to see art in a haircut, how drawing black-and-white portraits as a child taught him everything he needed to know about a fade, and why the barbershop has always been more than just a place to get a cut — it's a community.

    But the heart of this episode is what Josh kept quiet for a long time: his battle with kidney disease, the months he spent on dialysis while still running his business, and the moment God told him don't worry about it — and he chose to listen. His kidney transplant didn't just give him his health back. It gave him a new perspective, a louder purpose, and the courage to finally share his story so someone else could be inspired by it.

    This one's about faith, resilience, and what happens when you stop trying to figure it all out and just trust the process.

    Don't lose faith. Lose fear.

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    59 mins
  • We Have Forgotten to Be Human: Identity and Belonging - Hugo Meets Jad El Reda

    We Have Forgotten to Be Human: Identity and Belonging - Hugo Meets Jad El Reda
    May 19 2026
    Hugo sits down with Jad El Reda — sports editor at LA Times en Español, son of Lebanese immigrants, born in Colombia, raised between cultures, and now rooted in Los Angeles. Three worlds. One man. And a story that doesn't fit neatly into any box.

    Jad opens up about what it means to carry multiple identities at once — feeling the weight of what's happening in Lebanon and Colombia simultaneously, growing up in a Colombian-Arabic school where two languages and two worlds collided, and eventually finding his footing in the US through the universal language of sports. They talk about using journalism as a platform to shine light on stories and people who deserve to be seen, coaching youth soccer as an act of love, and why Jad refuses to believe he's "made it" — because the moment you stop growing, you stop living.

    And then, toward the end, Jad delivers what might be the most honest message of the entire episode: we have forgotten to be human. No religion required. No ideology. Just the simple, radical act of caring for one another before the game is over.

    Don't lose faith. Lose fear.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    56 mins
  • Accepting the Gift: Ego Deaths, Spiritual Identity, and the Courage to Be Yourself - Hugo Meets Amanda

    Accepting the Gift: Ego Deaths, Spiritual Identity, and the Courage to Be Yourself - Hugo Meets Amanda
    May 12 2026
    Hugo sits down with Amanda Dollinger — meditation teacher, spiritual guide, branding creative, and someone he's admired from afar for years. This one goes deep. Amanda opens up about resisting her calling for as long as she possibly could, the "innumerable ego deaths" it took to finally accept who she is, and what happens when you spend years trying to fit a gift into a mold that was never made for you.

    They get into the mental health crisis and its connection to self-acceptance, the danger of tying your identity to your career, and why the future belongs to the most authentic version of you — not the most productive one. Amanda also takes on one of the worst pieces of advice in her industry (hint: it involves the algorithm and a whole lot of junk food content), and shares what spirituality has truly taught her about worth, worthiness, and what it means to just be.

    This episode is a mirror. It's for anyone who's ever felt like they don't fit the archetype — and needed someone to remind them that the archetype was never the point.

    Don't lose faith. Lose fear.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    53 mins
  • From Peru to the Stage: Stubbornness, Identity, and the Grind of Live Music - Hugo Meets Alex Withmory

    From Peru to the Stage: Stubbornness, Identity, and the Grind of Live Music - Hugo Meets Alex Withmory
    May 5 2026
    Hugo sits down with Alex Withmory — a fellow Peruvian, a wildly talented drummer, and someone Hugo has been rooting for since they crossed paths on a music video set seven years ago. In this one, they get into what it was like coming to LA barely knowing English, finding your footing in a music scene where Peruvians are few and far between, and how stubbornness can be your greatest strength and your biggest obstacle at the same time.

    Alex opens up about what it means to build your identity around your craft — and what happens when you start to question whether that's enough. They also touch on the role of AI in the music industry, why live music might be the last thing technology can truly replace, and the beauty of just saying yes to gigs and seeing where they take you.

    Don't lose faith. Lose fear.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    54 mins
  • Art, AI & the Grind: Staying Human - Hugo Meets Rey Paez

    Art, AI & the Grind: Staying Human - Hugo Meets Rey Paez
    Apr 28 2026
    Hugo sits down with longtime friend and digital artist Rey Paez for a raw, real conversation about what it means to keep creating when the world feels like it's working against you.

    Rey opens up about a tough year — slow commissions, quiet events, and the economic pressure that makes every artist ask "is this still worth it?" — and why he keeps picking up the pencil anyway.

    They go deep on AI: Rey's honest fears about a future where creativity gets replaced, and Hugo's perspective as someone who uses AI as a tool to move faster without losing his voice. Together, they explore what makes human art irreplaceable, the value of personality-driven branding, and why the next chapter for creatives might be less about the work itself and more about who you are.

    This one's for every creative who's ever felt defeated and came back anyway.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    1 hr
  • He Lost His Team, Made the News & Kept Going - Hugo Meets Jeremiah Salmonson

    He Lost His Team, Made the News & Kept Going - Hugo Meets Jeremiah Salmonson
    Apr 21 2026
    What happens when a sports journalist, a community radio kid, and a whole lot of heart walk into a podcast? This.

    In this episode of Sol Meets Heart, Hugo sits down with Sacramento-area sports journalist Jeremiah Salmonson — beat writer for the Kings and A's, co-host of the Section 105 podcast, and one of the most authentically hardworking people in the game.

    Jeremiah opens up about what it really takes to build a career in sports media from the ground up — from hosting a community radio show at 14 with zero pay, to covering NBA press scrums and accidentally cutting off DeMar DeRozan twice in two days. 😬

    We also get into:
    -Why baseball is the most romantic sport (and how to fall in love with it)
    -The Oakland A's leaving and what it means to lose your team
    -The unglamorous side of sports journalism — bad questions, missed access, and bouncing back
    -The viral foul ball moment that made the local news (by name 👀)
    -Doing work you love vs. work you have to do — and finding the balance
    -The NBA's "Star Whistle" — a conspiracy theory Jeremiah kind of believes
    -Beat the Streak: the MLB app game with a $5.7M jackpot no one's ever won

    Plus — the Sol Cards question that had Jeremiah sweating: What's a conspiracy theory about your industry that you believe… answered through the lens of resilience?

    This one is full of laughs, real talk, and a genuine friendship that jumps right off the screen. Don't sleep on it.

    Subscribe for new episodes every week if it moved you.

    Find Jeremiah: X/Twitter: @JeremiahSalmons
    Podcast: Section 105 on YouTube
    Writing: sportsradioservice.com

    Follow me on Instagram @solmeetsheart
    Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hugtalk/id1482580660?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
    Podcast on Spreaker https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Gut, Grit & Groove: A Journey Through Healing and Sound - Hugo Meets Basstian Vega

    Gut, Grit & Groove: A Journey Through Healing and Sound - Hugo Meets Basstian Vega
    Apr 14 2026
    What does it actually take to rebuild when your body, your dreams, and your sense of self, if they all fall apart at the same time? In this episode, Hugs sits down with Sebastian — music producer, DJ, and all-around force of nature — for a raw and real conversation about survival, purpose, and the music that saved his life.

    Sebastian opens up about the health crisis that left 85% of his body unable to function, how Western medicine gave him answers that didn't add up, and the energy healer who finally gave him answers. But this isn't just a recovery story — it's a story about what happens when you stop waiting to be found and start doing the work.

    From growing up undocumented in the US to finding freedom on a dance floor, from spiritual breakthroughs to building mental models that keep him from breaking down — Sebastian doesn't hold back. And neither does this conversation.

    If you've ever felt trapped, doubted your gifts, or told yourself you don't want something just so you don't have to chase it — this one's for you.

    You were not built to fit in. You were built to stand out.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sol-meets-heart--3691166/support.
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    59 mins