Mogli Maureal of Santa Monica on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Mogli Maureal shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Mogli, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Honestly, I think I’m doing a bit of both, walking a path and wandering.

There’s definitely a direction I’m moving toward. I have a sense of purpose and a North Star that guides me. But the path itself isn’t a straight, smooth trail. It’s more like one of those real-life hikes: sharp turns you don’t expect, moments where you’re climbing up, sliding down, or having to traverse sideways just to keep going. It’s a path, but it’s not predictable and that’s kind of the beauty of it.

And then there’s the wandering part. I’ve learned that in the creative world, wandering isn’t being “lost.” It’s actually where a lot of the magic happens. Wandering gives you room to explore, to stumble onto new ideas, to follow curiosity instead of a rigid plan. Some of my best work has come from drifting a little, experimenting, letting myself get inspired by things I didn’t even know I was looking for.

So I’d say I walk my path with intention, but I wander with purpose. Both are important. The path keeps me grounded, and the wandering keeps me growing.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m The Mogli, a filmmaker, photographer, and visual storyteller who’s obsessed with capturing moments that feel alive. My work lives at the intersection of travel, culture, and emotion. I’m drawn to stories that are real and raw, the kind that show who people are and what makes a place truly special beneath the surface.

What makes my brand unique is that it’s built on curiosity and connection. I’m not just creating pretty visuals; I’m chasing the feeling behind them. Whether I’m documenting a remote village, shooting in a luxury resort, or creating content for a global brand, I’m always trying to bring a sense of depth, intention, and humanity into visual stories.

Right now, I’m leaning deeper into storytelling around culture and travel, and developing a few long-form projects that explore the untold stories of people around the world. At the same time, I’m continuing to collaborate with hotels, tourism boards, and lifestyle brands that want their visuals to feel cinematic, emotional, and rooted in real experience.

At the end of the day, my work is an extension of who I am; curious, adventurous, always learning and I’m excited to keep growing and creating stories that are impactful.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world happened during my 3 month solo trip across Asia. Being out there on my own, moving through different countries, cultures, and environments changed me in ways I didn’t expect.

There wasn’t just one single event, but more like a series of small moments that added up: getting lost in a city where I didn’t speak the language, sharing street food with strangers who instantly felt like friends, watching sunsets from rooftops and beaches and mountain trails, and realizing how universal certain things are with kindness, curiosity, humor, humanity.

Traveling solo taught me two big things. First, how big the world really is. There are so many ways to live, think, love, and create. Experiencing that up close made me more open minded and more patient. Second, it showed me how capable I am. When you’re alone in unfamiliar places, you learn quickly that you can figure things out, trust your instincts, and carry yourself through challenges.

That trip reshaped the way I tell stories and the way I connect with people. It grounded me in humility, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human experience. It made me want to spend my life sharing those stories with my camera, the ones happening quietly in the corners of the world most people never get to see.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things that success never could. Lessons I honestly don’t think you learn any other way.

It taught me how to grow real tough skin. Not the kind that makes you cold or detached, but the kind that lets you stand back up after life hits you hard. When you go through tough seasons, you stop getting shaken by every little thing. You learn what’s worth your energy and what’s not.

It also taught me the power of letting go. So much of our stress comes from holding onto things; expectations, people, situations that no longer serve us. Pain has a way of showing you what’s unnecessary, what’s heavy, and what you can finally release.

More than anything, suffering made me more determined to build a better life. It lit a fire in me. When you’ve been at the bottom, you appreciate the climb more. You work harder, think clearer, and move with more intention because you know what the alternative feels like.

And ultimately, it taught me to prioritize peace. Not comfort, not perfection but peace. The kind that comes from being aligned with who you are and what you value.

Success feels good, but suffering shapes you. It teaches you resilience, clarity, purpose, and gratitude that you carry long after the moment has passed.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
One important truth that very few people fully agree with me on is this: you should start now — whatever “it” is. If not now, then when?

A lot of people wait for the “perfect moment,” the right timing, more confidence, more money, more clarity… but that moment rarely ever comes. We convince ourselves we’ll start tomorrow, next week, or “when things settle down,” but tomorrow is never guaranteed. Today is the only thing we’re actually promised.

I believe there’s real urgency in taking the first step even if it’s small, messy, or uncertain. Action creates momentum. Waiting creates fear. Most of the good things in my life happened because I decided to move before I felt fully ready.

People might disagree because starting feels risky, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. But to me, not starting is the biggest risk of all. Life is happening right now and the version of you you want to become starts with what you do today.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I could give everything my best even if no one ever praised me for it.

For me, doing my best isn’t about the applause; it’s about who I become in the process. There’s a compounding effect that comes from consistently showing up with intention in work, in life, in my creative craft, even in my health habits. When you give your all, day after day, those small efforts stack up quietly in the background. Most people don’t notice it at first, but the growth becomes undeniable over time.

It’s like planting seeds. No one sees anything happening underground, but the roots are forming. The foundation is getting stronger. Eventually, the results break through — and that’s when people suddenly “discover” you, not realizing you’ve been putting in the work long before anyone was watching.

Even if the world isn’t paying attention right now, I know that consistency pays off. Setting a personal standard and doing my absolute best in literally everything I touch, creates a life I’m proud of. And eventually, the story speaks for itself. I’ll be able to look back and say I earned every win, every opportunity, every lesson.

So yes, I’d give it my best because in the long run, it always matters. And because one day, when the world finally catches up, I’ll be ready to tell the tale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themogli.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themogli/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@_themogli
• Other: https://themogli.pixieset.com/themogliprints/