For our first LOVE STORY of Heartbeat Narratives, we welcome middle school sweethearts, Gigi and Jesse, to reflect on nearly 20 years of being together. With their baby daughter, Samara, in tow, they reminisce about Jesse's memorable *first sight* of Gigi at age 13, their slow-burn high school romance, and the perks of growing up together in Minneapolis. They talk about their cultural backgrounds and how these influences have shaped their relationship. Gigi moved from Italy to Minnesota and has Ghanaian roots, while Jesse was raised in Minnesota and identifies with the Hawaiian diaspora. From midnight phone calls in the early 2000s to starting a family in 2024, they share their hopes for the future, all while staying forever kids at heart as they navigate life together. Host, Molly Mamaril, looks forward to sprinkling in occasional love story episodes as a way to honor - and answer - the question, "Who makes your heart beat?" Episode Highlights 0:23 Intro to Gigi, Jesse and Samara 1:10 What brings you joy? 1:57 Middle school sweethearts 5:10 Grow up, glow up 6:48 *First Sight* 9:40 Gigi and Jesse's cultural roots - Ghana, Italy, Hawaiʻi, Minnesota 12:37 High school was a sloooow burn 17:06 Getting the scoop from the hairdresser about Jesse's love life 17:35 Midnight phone calls, building the foundation 19:51 Mother-in-law's intuitive dream 20:42 Teacher observations of their budding romance 21:39 Who makes your heart beat? 22:00 Experiencing growing pains together 23:40 Love bubble, reading eachother's minds 25:06 Sprinting to Georgia's heart 26:08 Marriage advice 27:45 3 things you love about eachother 30:02 Forever kids at heart Episode art photo credit: Molly Mamaril
For our first LOVE STORY of Heartbeat Narratives, we welcome middle school sweethearts, Gigi and Jesse, to reflect on nearly 20 years of being together. With their baby daughter, Samara, in tow, they reminisce about Jesse's memorable *first sight* of Gigi at age 13, their slow-burn high school romance, and the perks of growing up together in Minneapolis. They talk about their cultural backgrounds and how these influences have shaped their relationship. Gigi moved from Italy to Minnesota and has Ghanaian roots, while Jesse was raised in Minnesota and identifies with the Hawaiian diaspora. From midnight phone calls in the early 2000s to starting a family in 2024, they share their hopes for the future, all while staying forever kids at heart as they navigate life together. Host, Molly Mamaril, looks forward to sprinkling in occasional love story episodes as a way to honor - and answer - the question, "Who makes your heart beat?"
Episode Highlights
0:23 Intro to Gigi, Jesse and Samara
1:10 What brings you joy?
1:57 Middle school sweethearts
5:10 Grow up, glow up
6:48 *First Sight*
9:40 Gigi and Jesse's cultural roots - Ghana, Italy, Hawaiʻi, Minnesota
12:37 High school was a sloooow burn
17:06 Getting the scoop from the hairdresser about Jesse's love life
17:35 Midnight phone calls, building the foundation
19:51 Mother-in-law's intuitive dream
20:42 Teacher observations of their budding romance
21:39 Who makes your heart beat?
22:00 Experiencing growing pains together
23:40 Love bubble, reading eachother's minds
25:06 Sprinting to Georgia's heart
26:08 Marriage advice
27:45 3 things you love about eachother
30:02 Forever kids at heart
Episode art photo credit: Molly Mamaril