For the Pacific Islander diaspora, straddling worlds, Olilai Ngirailild offers camaraderie and encouragement through her podcast and her Instagram posts. 

“Low Key with Oli is basically an audio journal of mine that I share with the world,” Olilai said. “I discuss topics surrounding culture, motherhood, and mental health. I wanted to create a resource for all the young Olis of the world that struggle to have these conversations.”

lowkeywitholi

A post shared by Olilai Ngirailild (@lowkeywitholi)

Olilai, aka Oli, is from Palaun. In her podcast, she uses her experiences as a springboard to talk about what can be sensitive topics. 

In an episode titled, “My Mental Health Journey,” Oli recalled how her mother urged her to disclose if anyone touched Oli’s bus pass. “Bus pass,” in this case, was a euphemism for her private parts.

“I think she thought I understood what she meant but I didn’t. And every day I came home and I’d be like, ‘Mom, no one touched my bus pass!’” Oli said in the episode.

“It’s such a funny story but now that I think back to it, it makes me a little emotional just thinking that that was my mom, you know, trying her best to have that conversation when she wasn’t taught how to have that conversation,” Oli added. 

“As a parent, I really feel for that. It’s kind of unfortunate because now, thinking about that story, it’s, like, damn, you know, someone, someone did. But because I didn’t understand what she was saying, I couldn’t actually tell her,” Oli said. 

Oli creates a space for listeners to reflect on their own lives, which is, in itself, a valuable service. Most people move through life full steam ahead, filling their days with the demands of jobs, family, friends. Oli’s podcast provides listeners with, at the very least, a chance to hear, firsthand, about her life. For the introspective listener, her podcast provides a space to compare or contrast their lives with hers. An opportunity to contemplate how their life was shaped by tradition, customs and values taught by their Micronesian parents. 

“Being a second-generation immigrant is a very perplexing part of my identity. Being raised with Palauan values yet living in a more westernized culture has blessed me with different perspectives,” she told The Husk. “Finding the balance between my culture and the one I live in is definitely the focus of my podcast.”

In episodes, Oli is reassuring and empathetic, offering mental health wellness advice, her voice gentle and soothing. 

My Mental Health Journey Olilai Ngirailild Episode

Mental health was a topic Oli felt called to highlight on her platform. 

“Mental health was such an underrated topic and I’m so happy that it’s now mainstream. Many people are going to therapy, men are finally having a safe space to explore and evaluate their emotions, and we’re slowly but surely having this impact our islands,” Oli said. 

lowkeywitholi

A post shared by Olilai Ngirailild (@lowkeywitholi)

“To have a language is to have a culture, words shape our cultural values. I find it imperative for our people to check in with themselves, recognize the status of their mental health, and overall just live healthier from the inside out,” she said.

#PassionsofthePacific

In addition to sharing what she’s learned about mental health, Oli started sharing Pacific Islanders who were pursuing their passions, promoting their work with her hashtag #PassionsofthePacific.

Inspired by Hella Palauan, which created a Palauan Creatives and Entrepreneurs Guide on Instagram, Oli said started posting about creators on her account. 

“I also wanted to ensure I highlight creators along my journey. Our islanders have so much talent, love and passion to share with the world and it’s an honor when creators give me the OK to share them. They’re truly inspirational and keeps me motivated on my own projects,” she said. 

With #PassionsofthePacific, Oli said she is looking to raise awareness about the talented people living in the islands and she hopes to break barriers. 

“We know well how Micronesians face certain levels of racism, and we also know how there’s racism within our community as well. If I can create a space where we all unite and celebrate each other, that would definitely be my goal,” Oli said.

Seeing other Islanders posting about their work is inspiring, Oli said. 

“When our creators grow, we grow as well,” she added. 

For people who might not always connect with podcasts, Oli has another special project in the works, one that she hopes will promote mental health awareness and introspection among Pacific Islanders. 

“I will be creating a journal line that encourages our community to check in with ourselves, value mental health and introspection. The goal of this journal is to highlight those very same creators, as well as others that have been amazing contributions to our community. There’s journals floating all around that emphasize mental health, but I know that if I opened one that celebrated those that look like me, and come from the same culture as me, I’d be truly inspired to use it,” Oli said. 

Oli is still quite young (she’s 25!) and she’s building a platform that can lead to a lot of healing, which is no small feat. 

“ I hope to create a space for Islanders to feel heard. I want us to love ourselves, represent our culture wherever we go, while also transforming our mindsets with new ideas and perspectives,” she said. 

Keep up with Olilai on Instagram @lowkeywitholi and @olillaai_.