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Stories

June 23, 2023

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Jed is a first-generation Filipino-American who was born in Los Angeles, California and later on moved to San Diego when he was a teenager. He has spent 11 years in the military, serving as a Navy Corpsman for the Marines and later became a specialized X-ray tech. He was deployed to different countries like Afghanistan, Qatar, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Palau, and Solomon Islands. It was this during this time that he witnessed the need for better medical care in the world.

He always had an entrepreneurial mindset that started off early in high school, when he created a local clothing brand. This transitioned to his adult life where he continued to make fashionable lifestyle wear mixed with fitness culture.  Although he had a passion for creating merchandise for others to wear, he wanted to create something that would have a deeper meaning and have the ability to help more people. He realized that he could combine his entrepreneurial mindset with his TikTok audience and quickly discovered that he could reach more people.

He started to use his newfound influence to raise awareness about issues that he is passionate about, and that’s when he realized he could do more. 

This sparked an inspiration for him to rebrand his long-time lifestyle clothing line into RADDEPT. With every sale, his company donates 10% to a charity that provides radiological services in underserved communities around the world. His goal is to make fashionable clothing for healthcare workers while also making a positive impact on the world.
Jed is proof that one person can make a significant impact on the world. His story reminds us that even the smallest actions can lead to something greater. We all have the power to create positive change in the world, and it’s never too late to start.

HOW THE MILITARY MOLDED ME AS THE PERSON I AM TODAY

The military helped me mature as a person. People always compare their “10-year transformation,” how they have changed physically, and honestly, mine was a complete mental 180. I grew up as a child of a single mother. We were pretty poor, and at times we were homeless, bouncing around to my mom’s friend’s houses. She worked in the real estate realm, and the companies she worked for were either shutting down or downsizing due to the economy. 

I started rebelling around high school so she kicked me out to live with my uncle in San Diego. He was a prior Corpsman in the Navy and became a solid role model. Eventually, after high school, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for 3 years while attempting to complete the prerequisites for nursing school. I ended up joining the Navy so I could have nursing school paid for when I finally applied.

What was supposed to be a 4 year in and out Naval career, turned into an 11-year career that molded me into the person I am today. I excelled with being able to do the grunt work while developing excellent leadership traits. I used my background to help mentor the junior personnel and still continue that habit to this day. I remain in contact with peers, mentors, and mentees, and they all have a significant impact on my life.

THE BIGGEST BARRIERS IN HEALTHCARE

With my military experience, I have noticed that the biggest barrier to accessing quality healthcare for underserved communities is their access to ancillary services. During my last deployment to pacific countries, I recognized that the host nation’s patients had access to primary care visits and surgeries, but the patients had to pay out of pocket for ancillary services like medical imaging.

If you asked me about the significance of radiology before I ended up in this role, I would have laughed and said, ”They don’t do anything but push buttons.” But after completing school, I learned that Radiology has a significant impact on medical treatment – from early detection for diagnosis to being the eyes in the operating room or figuring out the next step for lifesaving intervention.

This deployment opened my eyes to the fact that many patients outside the United States are seriously prone to a lot of diseases that are uncommon in our country. Healthcare quality (although heavily scrutinized by the media) is actually pristine in America and we are lucky to have all these safety protocols in place.

With my military experience, I have noticed that the biggest barrier to accessing quality healthcare for underserved communities is their access to ancillary services.

jed rodriguez

RAISING AWARENESS FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES THROUGH RADDEPT

The first step I hope to achieve this year is to establish a community with my brand RADDEPT. The power of a community can achieve great accomplishments. My first milestone this year is to give 10% of each purchase to charity. I hope to collaborate with more people to be able to give more.

I plan to shine light on the effectiveness and importance of ancillary services. There is always a spotlight on becoming a doctor or a nurse. I plan on creating relatable merchandise for ALL healthcare workers. I’d like to be able to create products that I could donate to countries like the other ones I have previously traveled to and administered care to.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

My biggest advice for someone who wants to make a positive impact on the world but doesn’t know where to start is to take the first step and go for what they want.

One thing that always resonated with me was “Lay one brick a day and eventually, you would have built a well.” This is how I tackle the majority of my life goals. Small baby steps and take it one day at a time. If I keep focusing on the bigger picture, then it becomes overwhelming. Small daily/weekly goals and all those combined will help accomplish the bigger goals.

Also, surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Have mentors and mentees, everything you learn is important, but it is more important to spread the knowledge to the next person!

My biggest advice for someone who wants to make a positive impact on the world but doesn’t know where to start is to take the first step and go for what they want.

jed rodriguez

CONNECT WITH JED RODRIGUEZ

Social media is super important in today’s society. One thing I have learned from having my previous brand for years was the power of ad spending and email marketing. Now, I realized that TikTok could also act as a running ad, and I plan to maximize social media by influencer marketing and collaborating with other creators in the healthcare niche, in order to drive awareness and change.

Tiktok: jroddynotricch

ig: radxdept

www.raddept.com

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Some artists create for attention or fleeting trends, but Trysen creates with intention, guided by a deep sense of responsibility to the culture that shaped him. Growing up in Hawaiʻi, he learned that Aloha is not just a feeling, but a way of living rooted in care, respect, and connection.

That belief now guides both his art and his creative studio, Inspire to Create Media. Through murals, design work, and storytelling projects, Trysen uses his business as a platform to protect culture while helping others share their stories with intention.

1. Reviving Local Stories Through Murals

 

Photo courtesy of Trysen Kaneshige, Founder of Inspire to Create Media

At the core of Trysen’s work is listening. On Kauaʻi, he spends time learning from residents about their histories, struggles, and sources of pride before creating any artwork. This approach reflects the values he also brings into Inspire to Create Media, where storytelling always begins with people.

The murals that follow are rooted in real voices. They transform blank walls into visual records that help locals feel represented and allow visitors to understand the island through the community’s lived experience.

 

2. Designing With Aloha in Mind

 

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Aloha influences how Trysen collaborates, how carefully he considers each element, and how much intention goes into every decision. Design, for him, is about respect as much as aesthetics. That same mindset shapes the design work produced through Inspire to Create Media. 

Whether creating branding, apparel, or custom visuals, his goal is to make work that feels warm and grounded. Each piece is designed to reflect care, balance, and a sense of home rather than fleeting trends.

 

3. Empowering Youth and Community Spaces

 

Photo courtesy of Trysen Kaneshige (fourth from left), Founder of Inspire to Create Media

Beyond client work, Trysen uses both his art and his studio to invest in the next generation. Through partnerships with schools and wellness programs, Inspire to Create Media supports projects that turn shared spaces into places for expression and growth.

By involving young people in the creative process, he helps build confidence and identity. These initiatives focus less on the final product and more on giving youth a voice and a stronger connection to their roots.

 

4. Building a Global Bridge From Island Roots

 

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While his work is deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi, its reach continues to grow beyond the islands. Through collaborations with global brands like Volcom and OluKai, Trysen shares an authentic island perspective with a wider audience.

These partnerships amplify his message without compromising its foundation. By staying grounded in culture, he shows that it is possible to connect with the world while remaining true to where you come from.

 

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Carrying Aloha Forward

At its core, Trysen’s work—through his art and his studio, Inspire to Create Media—is an ongoing act of care. Through each project, he honors his home, uplifts his community, and uses creativity as a way to carry Aloha forward with intention, respect, and lasting impact.

More than anything, his work reflects a belief that culture is something you actively protect and pass on. By choosing collaboration over ego and meaning over trends, Trysen ensures that Aloha is not only preserved, but lived, felt, and shared with future generations.

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From Jackie Chan’s Assistant to Building Paire: How Nathan Yun’s Vision for Better Essentials Became a $15M a Year Brand

Nathan Yun did not start his career thinking he would one day build a consumer brand. His early years were spent on film sets and in editing rooms, learning how stories are shaped and how audiences respond to them. Working as an assistant to Jackie Chan gave him a front-row view of storytelling at its highest level. He watched how a single film could reach millions of people and create a shared emotional moment across cultures.

Yet over time, he noticed something that stayed with him. The inspiration was real, but it faded quickly. Once the credits rolled, people returned to their usual routines. That contrast made him question what lasting influence really looked like. Was it found in big, unforgettable moments, or in the small things people interacted with every day?

Paire grew out of that question, built not around trends or marketing tactics, but around everyday essentials, starting with socks. If stories could move people for a moment, Nathan believed products could shape how they lived every day.

From Film Sets to Daily Habits

Nathan came to understand that while stories stay with people selectively, habits are formed through repetition. Clothing, especially everyday essentials, plays a quiet but constant role in daily life. When something feels uncomfortable or wears out too quickly, people notice it immediately, even if they never say it out loud.

This insight marked a turning point. Nathan no longer wanted to create something people felt for a moment. He wanted to build something they could rely on every day. From the beginning, Paire was shaped around that idea.

Instead of chasing trends, the brand focused on fit, fabric, and longevity. The goal was simple: to make essentials people would reach for again without thinking.

Nathan Yun (right), Founder of Paire

Learning How to Build Before Building His Own

Before launching Paire, Nathan spent five years at furniture startup Brosa, where he learned what it takes to grow a business beyond an idea. As the company expanded from a ten-person team to more than one hundred employees, his role evolved from content creation to leading brand and marketing.

During that time, he saw how forecasting affected inventory, how data guided growth, and how pressure increased as operations scaled. He also witnessed what happened when demand moved faster than systems, and how costly it could be to build those systems too late.

Those experiences shaped how Nathan approached entrepreneurship. He did not want to build Paire on instinct alone. He wanted a clear understanding of supply chains, margins, logistics, and customer behavior before committing to his own brand.

Nathan Yun (far right), Founder of Paire

The Trip That Made the Mission Personal

The purpose behind Paire became clear during a trip to India. Away from polished storefronts and online campaigns, Nathan saw the fashion industry in a very different light. He witnessed environmental damage near production sites and spoke with workers whose livelihoods depended on high-volume manufacturing.

“That experience made it clear something needed to change,” Nathan explains. What stayed with him most was how disconnected these realities were from everyday shopping habits.

Much of the damage he saw came from clothing treated as disposable. When he returned home, Nathan reached out to his longtime friend Rex, a textile expert. Instead of launching a wide range of products, they chose to start small. The focus was on improving a single item and making it last.

Nathan Yun (left), Founder of Paire

Earning Trust Through the Product Itself

Nathan understood that values alone would not earn loyalty. The product had to prove itself in everyday life. The team spent months refining fabric blends, improving breathability, and testing durability through repeated wear and wash cycles.

Pricing a pair of socks at twenty-four dollars came with risk. Most consumers were used to buying socks cheaply and replacing them often. But once people tried Paire, many returned. Nearly seventy percent became repeat customers, not because of marketing, but because the product became part of their routine.

By focusing on quality and longevity, Nathan Yun built a $15M-a-year brand that shows meaningful change does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes, it begins quietly, through the simplest things we rely on every day.

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What the Creator Economy Really Needs in 2026

The creator economy is no longer a niche corner of the internet. It is a $250 billion industry, powering modern marketing, culture, and commerce. Yet for the creators at its core, the experience often remains unstable and fragmented. Inconsistent rates, shifting platform demands, and “gifting” budgets paired with outsized expectations have left many navigating an ecosystem that hasn’t caught up to their value.

As we look toward 2026, the industry is approaching a tipping point. Growth alone is no longer enough. What creators need now are standards, systems, and support that allow them to build sustainable careers—not just viral moments.

Below are five critical shifts shaping the future of creator work, and the standards Meraki is building to support a stronger, more intentional industry.

1. Stronger Structure for a Growing Industry

 

Photo courtesy of Vivian Kwan (center), Founder of Meraki Group

While creator content has never been more polished, the backend of the industry remains disorganized. Uneven pay scales, scope creep mid-campaign, and unclear paths to professional growth are still common. Creators are often met with constant brief changes or “gifting” requests that require high-level deliverables without fair compensation.

The gap: There is no shared structure defining fair rates, clear deliverables, or realistic timelines across the industry. Expectations are often implied rather than stated, leaving creators to absorb last-minute changes, unpaid revisions, and expanded usage. Over time, this places most of the financial and emotional risk on creators instead of being shared evenly with brand partners.

The Meraki solution: Meraki builds every partnership on clarity. Terms and rates are established upfront, expectations are clearly defined, and communication stays transparent throughout the process. By setting strong boundaries early, creators are protected from underpayment, and brands begin each project with a shared roadmap for success.

 

2. Education That Powers Careers, Not Just Content

 

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The biggest challenges creators face are rarely creative. They are structural. Pricing work correctly, understanding usage rights, and identifying harmful contract clauses remain major pain points—even for experienced creators.

Too often, creators are expected to learn these lessons the hard way.

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5. Representation Rooted in Voice, Not Trends

 

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The Next Era: Purpose Over Pressure

As we look toward 2026, the transition from a “Wild West” to a professionalized industry requires more than just better tools—it requires a fundamental shift in how we value the humans behind the content. 

Meraki sits at the center of this new era, bridging creative passion with real professional growth. By pushing for fair standards, ethical representation, and sustainable careers, Meraki does more than manage creators; they help protect the future of creative work.wi

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Joeydolls by Samantha Ong: A Story of a Daughter’s Search and a Mother’s Mission

Where Identity Begins

Growing up in Australia as part of a small minority shaped Samantha’s early understanding of identity. It taught her what it feels like to search for belonging, to look for pieces of yourself in the world and not always find them. Those early lessons sat quietly in the background as she moved into adulthood.

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That led her on a simple search: dolls that reflected her daughters’ culture. But what she found were options that were limited, stereotypical, and often too expensive. It was a moment that crystallized something important. Realizing how quickly children learn about who they are, the idea for Joeydolls began to take shape—quietly, but powerfully.

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The timing made it even harder. Pandemic rules slowed communication. Shipping delays stretched out timelines from weeks to months. With very little funding, every decision mattered. Every misstep cost time she couldn’t afford to lose.

Then tariffs on goods from China jumped to 145%, and suddenly even the future of the business came into question. There were moments when it all seemed impossible—too expensive, too complex, too overwhelming for one person to navigate.

But Samantha kept going. She kept refining the vision, pushing through setbacks, and holding onto the mission that started it all. And she didn’t do it alone. Throughout the long nights and the uncertainty, she was supported by a husband working multiple jobs so she could stay focused on building the brand their daughters—and so many other children—deserved.

A Brand With a Bigger Purpose

Today, Joeydolls has sold over 15,000 dolls and earned major recognition. But those numbers only tell part of the story. At its heart, the brand is Samantha’s answer to a question that began during one of the hardest moments of her life: How do we help children grow up seeing their cultures celebrated, not erased?

Joeydolls stands as that answer—a way for children to see their cultures reflected with pride, dignity, and everyday joy. What started as a search for her own daughters became a mission to help thousands of children feel seen, valued, and connected to where they come from.

A single doll can seem small. But for many families, it’s a beginning. And for Samantha, it’s proof that representation—when created with care—can grow into something far bigger than one person’s story.

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