Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos
Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos
Podcast Description
Life doesn’t always go as planned—but what if the plot twists lead you somewhere even better?Welcome to Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos: Kwentuhan on Life’s Plot Twists, Ikigai, and New Chapters.The best conversations happen off the record—raw, unfiltered, and unexpected. That’s exactly what this podcast is about. We dive into the behind-the-scenes stories of people who’ve navigated life’s biggest plot twists—from career shifts to love, passion projects, and everything in between.Here, we don’t just talk about the wins—we embrace the messy middle, the transitions, and the highs and lows that come with them. We unpack the pivotal moments that changed everything, the lessons learned, and the books that helped our guests find their way.Because sometimes, the biggest plot twists are what lead us to our Ikigai—our reason for being. Whether it’s a career, a passion project, or a new path you never saw coming, these twists shape the journey, giving life meaning and direction. And sometimes, all it takes is one book—or even just one page—to shift your perspective.Maybe you'll find that moment in a story from this podcast. Maybe you’ll discover it in Reko, your go-to platform for relatable books by Filipino authors. (Shameless plug )Or maybe, this episode is exactly what you need right now. New episodes drop every Saturday at 5PM. For those at a crossroads, taking chances, or figuring things out—this one’s for you. Because the best stories always come with a plot twist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of personal growth, career transitions, and discovering one's ikigai through the lens of unexpected life changes. Episodes delve into topics such as creative pursuits, financial literacy, and self-discovery, with specific examples including the journey of a shy individual becoming a spoken word artist and an engineer turning into a financial coach.
Life doesn’t always go as planned—but what if the plot twists lead you somewhere even better?
Welcome to Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos: Kwentuhan on Life’s Plot Twists, Ikigai, and New Chapters.
The best conversations happen off the record—raw, unfiltered, and unexpected. That’s exactly what this podcast is about. We dive into the behind-the-scenes stories of people who’ve navigated life’s biggest plot twists—from career shifts to love, passion projects, and everything in between.
Here, we don’t just talk about the wins—we embrace the messy middle, the transitions, and the highs and lows that come with them. We unpack the pivotal moments that changed everything, the lessons learned, and the books that helped our guests find their way.
Because sometimes, the biggest plot twists are what lead us to our Ikigai—our reason for being. Whether it’s a career, a passion project, or a new path you never saw coming, these twists shape the journey, giving life meaning and direction. And sometimes, all it takes is one book—or even just one page—to shift your perspective.
Maybe you’ll find that moment in a story from this podcast. Maybe you’ll discover it in Reko, your go-to platform for relatable books by Filipino authors. (Shameless plug 
)
Or maybe, this episode is exactly what you need right now.
New episodes drop every Saturday at 5PM.
For those at a crossroads, taking chances, or figuring things out—this one’s for you. Because the best stories always come with a plot twist.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Hindi ko naman din talaga plan mag-publish in the first place.”
Next thing you know—she’s a published author with two romance novels and more on the way.
In this episode, Gia sits down with Kyra Isabel, a full-time data analyst and mom who unexpectedly became a self-published romance author. What started as a way to fill evenings while her husband was away and her toddler was asleep turned into a creative passion that’s now touching readers’ lives.
They dive into how a month of writing became two published books—plus the challenges of maintaining boundaries between work life and creative pursuits, finding time to write with a toddler, and the ins and outs of self-publishing. But more than that, this convo unpacks how Kyra found her ikigai in sharing stories that make an impact, even when it wasn’t part of her original career plan.
And of course, they explore why romance novels—especially those set in the Philippines—matter more than some might think, and how fiction can be just as impactful as non-fiction in shaping how we view relationships and ourselves.
🎙️ In this episode, we talk about:
· How Kyra juggled data analytics, motherhood, and writing simultaneously
· The moment she realized she could finish a book in just one month
· Going from teenage “emo” blogger to romance novelist
· Why she chose Business Management instead of arts in college
· Her journey from marketing to data analytics
· The challenges and rewards of self-publishing
· Why she created romance novels set in the Philippines
· Using her data analytics skills to market her books on social media
· How Twilight became her gateway to reading and writing
· Finding her ikigai in “sharing stories that leave an impact”
· The importance of maintaining work-life boundaries with a WFH setup
· Embracing life’s uncertainties and transitions
· Why “Lost and Found” would be the title of her life story
🎯 Who This Episode Is For:
📌 Working parents balancing careers and creative passions
📌 Aspiring authors who think they “don’t have time” to write
📌 Data and tech professionals with creative sides
📌 Romance readers looking for Filipino representation
📌 Anyone figuring out how to pursue their passion alongside a full-time job
📌 People navigating unplanned career paths and unexpected opportunities
📌 Those who think they’ve lost touch with creative interests from their youth
📚 Books Mentioned in the Episode:
📖 Between Then and Now by Kyra Isabel
📖 Between Here and There by Kyra Isabel
📖 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
📖 Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
📖 The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
📖 Geronimo Stilton series
📌 About the Guest
Kyra Isabel is a self-published author of two romance novels set in the Philippines, a full-time data analyst, and a mother to a toddler. She studied Business Management in college and previously worked in marketing before transitioning to data analytics. What began as a way to fill her free evenings has become a growing writing career with more books on the way.
🤝About Suking Aklatan
A partnership between Booksale and REKO, Suking Aklatan is a new initiative built to support Filipino authors and make books even more accessible to Filipino readers.
Kyra Isabel’s books are part of the Suking Aklatan project, with her print books available at participating Booksale branches and ebooks on the REKO platform.
📲 Follow for updates:
REKO – @reko.books on IG/FB
Booksale – @booksalephils on IG/FB
Kyra Isabel – @kyraysabelwrites on IG and TikTok
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Disclaimer
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