In 2015, cum laude graduate of De La Salle Lipa, AB Journalism, Zee Luistro, decided to upload content on YouTube. It was a smorgasbord of sorts: interviews, travel vlogs, memes, and anything he could think of. (Mukhang may papatunayan ha!)

“I think my inspiration for content creation started from my love for stories. I love films, movies, series, and anything that allows people to see life from a different lens. Even before I formally entered the content creation space, I was already fascinated by people — how they talk, how they remember things, how they laugh, how they carry their pain, and how a simple conversation can reveal something deeper about their life,” Zee shares. (Ay gusto ko yan, deep!)

One of his videos went viral, but he felt something was still lacking in his online platform journey. (Di kaya ako hinahanap niya?!)

“I remember having a viral video before about being Batangueño. It was one of my most viewed videos at the time, but I did not really focus on it because I was still experimenting with other styles and trying to portray a certain character in my content. I was inconsistent, but I think that inconsistency was also part of the process,” Zee recalls. (Ako nga, process pa lang sa paggawa ng lumpia, di ko rin alam!)

Zee’s perseverance eventually led him to a format that highlights his talent. (Ayan na, babanat na si koya!)

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“Before, I knew I was talkative and that I had some skill in public speaking, but I did not realize that those exact things would eventually help me find my space online. Now, I think I am more comfortable with who I am. I no longer feel the need to force a version of myself just to fit a format. I am learning to embrace the kind of storyteller I naturally am,” he adds. (Walang atrasan! Ang humarang, giba!)

He recently launched the “Podtanda Natin” podcast, which features interviews with personalities who have interesting stories to share. (Ay nag-guest ako dyan ha!)

“The name plays on the idea of ‘tandaan natin’ — the things we should remember. For me, it is about collecting conversations that are worth keeping. These are stories that may be funny, emotional, nostalgic, reflective, or even uncomfortable, but they all say something about being human,” Zee explains. (Basta kami, pinag-usapan lang namin dyan kung may plaster ako sa mga love scenes ko!)

The podcast is the very first project of ZeeLuistro Studios. (Magpo-produce pa raw siya ng iba!)

“For me, ZeeLuistro Studios is not just about producing content. It is about building an archive of meaningful conversations. I want it to become a space where stories are remembered,” he says. (Baka siya na mag-launch ng career ko!)

Aside from heading his podcast and production team, he is also busy with his marketing and research company and community service. In order to equip himself with more knowledge about leadership, he is pursuing further studies in Development Policy at De La Salle University Manila. (Kulangan na lang maging scientist na siya!)

“My dream project for the show is to build a living archive of Filipino stories across generations, communities, and industries. I want to feature people from different walks of life — artists, teachers, celebrities, community leaders, public servants, cultural workers, advocates, and ordinary people whose stories are deeply worth remembering,” Zee shares. (Baka mamigay na siya ng jacket, o mas bongga pa!)