Vicinity
By Vicinity
Sabrina Mutukisna founder of Buit Here Oakland
We sit down with Sabrina: entrepreneur, community builder, and co-creator of the Entrepreneur Guaranteed Income Fund and Built Here, Oakland.
From growing up in a Sri Lankan immigrant family running small businesses to launching a social enterprise that hired youth, Sabrina’s journey is rooted in hustle, heart, and a deep belief in the power of community. She shares how being raised around resourcefulness and collective care shaped her approach to entrepreneurship — and why small businesses deserve not just encouragement, but real, sustained support.
We talk about building from love instead of scarcity, navigating burnout, and redefining wealth through wellness, interdependence, and joy. Sabrina also reflects on Oakland’s unique spirit — where people open doors for one another, where creativity is abundant, and where the future of entrepreneurship is deeply communal.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, organizer, artist, or simply someone dreaming of building something meaningful, this conversation is an invitation to imagine what's possible when we bet on each other — and ourselves.
Naomi Peña Founder & CEO of The Art Party
Naomi Fierro Peña (she/her/ella), is the Founder & CEO of That Art Party, art and play for BIPOC adults.
That Art Party is an amalgamation of all the things that make me - and perhaps us - human. Naomi started this experience as an altar to the inner child who was forced to grow up too soon, to problem-solve the world, and to serve everyone else before herself. I see you. As a queer, woman of color, she started That Art Party as a sacred space to honor our need for creative rest.
Vicinity is a podcast about small businesses, neighborliness, and the magic of being, well, in the vicinity of other creative and passionate humans.
In each episode, the host, Ari Takata-Vasquez, interviews a creative guest to find out what their journey has looked like (spoiler, it’s not linear), how they stay in it when things get tough, and most importantly, what brings them joy. Ari uses her unique background as a small business owner, design, and artist to connect topics ranging from architecture, inspiration, good governance, vulnerability, and urban design. From each discussion, we pull out the gems and give you ideas you can put into practice.
#4 Marv Lahens
Episode 4
Marv Lahens is a multidisciplinary designer, art director, furniture maker, and more. As the founder of Maison Oge, he created a like of beautifully crafted goods with a highly unique perspective. With his new company, Self Furnished, Marv is pushing the bounds of digital fabrication, democratizing the design process, and building connections between consumers and the process of making their goods.
See Marv's work at mahviii.com // maisonoge.com // selffurnished.com
Follow Marv on Instagram @mahviii @maisonoge @selffurnished
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Get show notes & transcription at the Vicinity Website.
Credits:
Vicinity is produced and edited by Viscera Studio including original illustrations by Cia Gould.
Outro music by Jack Sriacha, Music by Jack Sriracha. Check them out on all Streaming services and @brotherfarr on Instagram.
Intro music and commercial break music by Understory (Miles Bianchi & Ari Takata-Vasquez).
#3 Mike Nicholls
Mike Nicholls is an Oakland, CA-based award-winning creative director, book designer, brand strategist, publisher, visual artist and community builder. He translates ideas into visionary creative solutions utilizing over 20 years of design experience and natural talent. Mike is also the founder of Umber Studios, a platform highlighting creative perspectives that matter. His work has been recognized by such places as Blavity’s Afro Tech, Print Magazine, Muse by Clio, and Communication Arts. www.thisismikenicholls.com | www.thisisumber.com
Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes.
Get show notes & transcription at the Vicinity Website.
Credits
Vicinity is produced and edited by Viscera Studio including original illustrations by Cia Gould.
Outro music by Jack Sriacha, Music by Jack Sriracha. Check them out on all Streaming services and @brotherfarr on Instagram.
Intro music and commercial break music by Understory (Miles Bianchi & Ari Takata-Vasquez).
#2 Brittany Luby
In this episode our guest is Brittany Luby, we talk with her about her path to starting a brand and becoming a freelance designer. We also discuss the importance of finding balance and self-care in these hectic times and the value of building and supporting your communities. Brittany is a color lover and tree hugger practicing graphic design in Oakland, California. She enjoys branding and print design projects with clients full of heart and soul.
Brittany's Instagram
HeyMa Creative
HeyMa Goods
Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes.
Get show notes & transcription at the Vicinity Website.
Credits
Vicinity is produced and edited by Viscera Studio including original illustrations by Cia Gould.
Outro music by Jack Sriacha, Music by Jack Sriracha. Check them out on all Streaming services and @brotherfarr on Instagram.
Intro music and commercial break music by Understory (Miles Bianchi & Ari Takata-Vasquez).
# 1 Joshua Farr
It's official! We're live!
Welcome to the first episode of Vicinity, a podcast by Viscera Studio, where we get curious about someone in our community -- we learn more about the fabric of their story and what makes them joyful. Each week we explore those intersections-- connecting the dots between creativity, art, design, good governance, artistic practice, and more. And ultimately ask: who else is in the vicinity?
Episode 1
Joshua Farr is a multi-disciplinary artist residing in Oakland, California. A native to the Bay Area, his artwork mirrors the natural and industrial beauty that has always been synonymous with Northern California. These captured moments are referred to by the artist as "delightful mediocrity", or the beauty in the mundanity of daily existence while we make our Way Back Home. May this art give you space to pause and delight in the artwork of the Creator that surrounds us.
Subscribe to get notifications of new episodes.
Get show notes & transcription at the Vicinity Website.
Credits:
Vicinity is produced and edited by Viscera Studio including original illustrations by Cia Gould.
Outro music by Jack Sriacha, Music by Jack Sriracha. Check them out on all Streaming services and @brotherfarr on Instagram.
Intro music and commercial break music by Understory (Miles Bianchi & Ari Takata-Vasquez).
Introducing Vicinity- launching January 17th!
Mark your calendars, Vicinity launches on January 17!
For people near and far
Vicinity is a podcast about small businesses, neighborliness, and the magic of being in the vicinity of other creative and passionate humans. Every week, host Ari Takata-Vasquez interviews a fellow maker/creative/business owner and talks about their journey.
Show Notes
When you meet someone new, do you ever wonder how many times you’ve crossed paths with that person back when they were strangers? Me too. I wonder what the rest of their life looks like? Do we know any people in common? What events in the universe aligned for us to meet? What makes them joyful? This curiosity usually leads me to more and more questions and, as I pull at each of those threads, I find a more beautiful fabric.
Vicinity is a podcast exploring those intersections, where we connect the dots between creativity, art, design, good governance, community, and more. And ultimately ask: who else is in the vicinity?