Filipina-American actress, host, and award-winning entrepreneur Jelynn Malone is on a mission to put the Philippines on the global stage—from Hollywood sets to specialty coffee farms. As Co-Founder and Chief Brand & Marketing Officer of Mostra Coffee and the lead of the new medical dramedy Nurse the Dead, Jelynn shows what it looks like when a Filipina builds her own lane at the intersection of culture, creativity, and impact. This episode dives into how she turned her family legacy, cultural pride, and a clear sense of purpose into platforms that uplift Filipino stories and livelihoods worldwide.
In this episode we’ll cover…
- How growing up in a family of Filipino entertainers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in San Diego shaped Jelynn’s vision for her life
- The identity journey from being the only Filipina in a predominantly white neighborhood—and feeling shame about her roots—to claiming her Filipina identity as her superpower
- The pivotal moment seeing her tita star in Miss Saigon and realizing Filipinas could be leading women in media, not just side characters
- Jelynn’s path from professional dancer in Hollywood to actress and host, and why she felt called to use media as a tool for representation
- The origin story of Mostra Coffee: a trip to the Philippines, witnessing deep poverty, and the decision to build a business that creates jobs and champions Philippine specialty coffee
- What it means to lead a purpose-driven brand that supports Filipino coffee farming communities while also stepping into a major acting role as a Filipina nurse in Nurse the Dead
🧭 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro bloopers, host welcome & who is Jelynn?
02:01 How Crystal & Jelynn met + the power of Filipina community
03:21 Growing up Filipina in San Diego: family legacy, arts & identity
07:20 From Hollywood dancer to media representation advocate
09:04 Trip to the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga & the seed for Mostra Coffee
11:10 Choosing coffee to uplift the Philippines & create jobs
13:18 What makes Philippine specialty coffee special (and why it matters)
15:23 Paying farmers fairly, partnering with big brands & staying true to the mission
17:52 Defining your bigger why & keeping the doors open in a crisis
19:12 Trust, values & what makes strong co‑founder relationships
22:30 Scaling Mostra, returning to acting & leading as a multipassionate Filipina
31:45 Landing “Nurse the Dead” & Filipina representation on screen
40:30 Advice for Filipinas carving their own path + closing reflections
Importance of Episode:
For Filipinas who are the “firsts” in their families, Jelynn’s story is a powerful reminder that you’re allowed to be many things at once—artist, entrepreneur, cultural advocate, and leader. This conversation offers a real-life example of how to turn cultural pride into concrete impact, from economic empowerment in the homeland to authentic representation on screen. If you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your roots, this episode will show you how they can actually fuel each other.
✨ CONNECT WITH JELYNN:
* Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1650175/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jelynnmalone
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jelynn.sophia/
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelynn-malone-969357209/
📣 FOLLOW US:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/filipinaontherise
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@filipinaontherise
Website & newsletter: https://filipinaontherise.com
#FilipinaOnTheRise #JelynnMalone #MostraCoffee #FilipinaExcellence #FilipinaLeadership #FilipinaEntrepreneurs #AAPIWomen #RepresentationMatters #PhilippineCoffee #PinayPower
Brought to you by OptiNizers, a remote talent agency that connects businesses with highly skilled Filipino remote professionals who help entrepreneurs delegate smarter, reclaim time, and stay focused on what truly drives growth.
As a business owner, podcaster, and multi-business owner, I’ve learned that real progress doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from building the right partnerships. OptiNizers matches you with carefully vetted, continuously trained remote talent aligned with your goals, so you can scale with confidence.
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