Nestled high in the North West region of Vietnam is a small village called Ta’Van. Here you will find three different ethnic groups of Vietnamese people living in harmony.

In this episode Steve shares a heartwarming connection with Giang, although not local to the region Giang is a big part of this close knit community. His coffee shop/bar is on the village main road ( although it’s so small it feels more like a hamlet )

Giang's immediate warmth and welcoming spirit is evident in his gleaming smile and embrace. Passionate about Nature , family and what he calls ‘slow living’.

As the crackle in the open fire in the middle of the shop burns away , Giang talks about his younger life growing up without any modern day conveniences like electricity or television. He reminisces about days spent playing outside in nature and huddling around the central fireplace as a family. The fire is a deeply symbolic community hub for Giang. Communication and storytelling is of the greatest importance to him. Giang’s love for nature and treading lightly is evident in his expression. His dream is to plant a forest in a loving act of giving back to what Nature ultimately gave him - peace and harmony.

In this episode, Steve is in Osaka with Shinji Mizuno aka Shinji Dog.

Shinji meets Steve at a local coffee shop that has been run my the same lady for over 50 years. After a traditional breakfast of toast ,butter and a strong cup of local coffee Steve and Shinji find somewhere to talk about his journey.

Shinji is very open and candid about his narrative - he started working from a young age, choosing to attend night school to enable him to work and make money during the day. His motive - to fund his addiction for Surfing.

Shinji then opens up about some of the challenges he faced whilst living in Australia where he had to work hard to integrate. After Australia Shinji made a new home in New Zealand where his love for the people and its culture grew. His expression of love and gratitude clearly evident.

His goal is to introduce some of that Antipodean spirit into Osaka, now home to Shinji and his wife. His dream is to lean on his experience as a chef and open a themed cafe that mixes New Zealand surf vibes with good food and drink.

Shinji is a fun loving passionate person who is not afraid of hard work. This episode is a positive concentrated dose of Shinji's adventurous life.

Josh and Steve unpack the creative process of being.

Josh is an Artist, Musician and Actor.

This conversation is an inquiry into that center :
What anchors us when ideas spiral?
What gives direction to the creative vortex?
And how does purpose emerge not in spite of the spiral, but because of it?

In this episode Steve and Ryu sit outside his gallery in Chigasaki, Japan. Chigasaki is a coastal town with a strong surf scene. Ryu spent his youth grappling with his own identity before realising that Art is what he is most passionate about.

His father played a supportive role growing up, teaching Ryu that the freedom to make your own decisions comes with the responsibility of dealing with consequences of your choices.

From realising that big city life can lure a person into feeling that happiness requires wealth or status to finding himself in Canada - Ryu is open and candid about his journey.

https://ryuambe.com

Ryu Ambe

ARTIST: Artist
Born June 1989

His artistic expression is based on the keywords pop, cute, and cynical.
Using his unique colors and characters, he has collaborated with numerous apparel brands and music festivals.

He occasionally creates murals in cityscapes and hotels, shop windows, and works on flat materials, as well as three-dimensional objects such as bottles, beach stones, and driftwood.

He began his career in earnest with the release of his picture book "Akaran-kun" in 2015, and held his first solo exhibition at Chigasaki's MAR-VISTA GARDEN in 2016.

His street art in his hometown of Chigasaki has become a hot topic, with murals appearing throughout the city, particularly on Yuzo Street and Southern Street.

He also travels to cities that interest him as if he were living there, as his life's work, and publishes his original work, "TRIP DIARY ZINE."
Zine Collection
LA - SAYULITA (Mexico) 2016
PARIS - LISBON - SEVILLA - MADRID 2017
NEWYORK 2018
Journey to the West 2019
THAILAND 2023
Daily Trip Zine - A Journey Across Europe 2024

Works
Summer Sonic 2018 & 2019 Official Goods, niko and..., RVCA, FRAPBOIS, RODEO CROWNS, SHIPS, CA4LA, Journal Standard, RAGEBLUE, Shonan Bellmare, MARLOWE, Caravan Coffee, Chigasaki Lasca Mural, UMI HOTEL Mural, SHONAN8HOTEL Mural, First Surfing Book Cover illustration (Published by KADOKAWA)
Tourism Ambassador for Hiji Town, Oita Prefecture
Ad-City Heaven, a Wandering Trip

Steve and Paul Van Der Spuy founder of HOM sit down to discuss his creative journey.
Paul is a Tour de Force when it comes to social notoriety. A face that most Cape Tonians know well. Oftentimes Paul can be found propped up stylishly against the bar on any given night as the sounds of local bands sprawl out onto the busy side street in downtown Cape Town.

His passion for people is underpinned by his eye for detail, Paul will go out of his way to make you feel welcome and right at home. His journey is checkered with risk, intrigue and most of all fun. He talks about his early days in the fashion world and his being instrumental in the success of Carducci a brand that blended South African flair with Italian sophistication.

Paul also shared a harrowing story about a motorcycle accident that nearly left him dead on the street. Paul's passion for life, people and authenticity is his driver - willing to take risks and appreciate every moment.

Please remember to hit like and subscribe if you enjoy the content.

Episode 34 - Steve and Kerry Lu discuss fashion, surfing and big dreams about changing the world.

Kerry Lu is logistics and marketing manager at Vast. HQ in Taipei. Kerry is an avid runner but his real passions include Surfing and fashion. Known to the Team as the style master Kerry has a soft side to his chiseled physique. Kerry care's a lot about people and he opens up about how travelling to poorer countries has broadened his horizons.

These pilgrimages have given him the impetus to want to make small changes both in himself but also shifting the mindset of those around him. He is positive and his resolve is that we can all make a small difference in other people's lives by getting involved with local initiatives. Kerry opens up about growing up with low self esteem but how a trip to Australia shortly after school changed everything.

Kerry's love for people and life is as inspiring as it is infectious.

In this episode of the Vast Lives Podcast, Steve is in Cape Town South Africa with James Williams.

Cape Town has recently grown in its global culinary stature with many world class chefs calling the mother city home. James Williams is the co-founder of Pizza Shed.

On a bustling Thursday evening Bree Street in downtown Cape Town springs to life. The infamous first Thursday is as vibrant and popular as the hype suggests. Cafe style culture with chairs, tables music and merriment sprawl out onto the pedestrian only street.

This culinary journey was borne out of necessity. From humble beginnings in his makeshift backyard shed to four successful restaurants. This is James story, his passion for good food and people.

Shirley Lee and Steve discuss life & leisure in bustling Taipei.

Shirley is an entrepreneur as well as an accomplished water sports athlete. Wake surfing is gaining popularity in Taiwan and Shirley is a valued member on the Taiwanese national team.

Bolong Cafe is her daytime focus, from selecting the best coffee beans from around the world to roasting and hosting pop up events. Her sense of fostering a community driven by a common love for the ocean and sustainable living is what keeps Shirley frothed on life.

To order Bolong Coffee : https://www.bolongvibes.com/