Hija de tu Madre Podcast

On today's episode I had the great pleasure of having Annabel Garcia Torres.  She is the creator and host of Latinx On The Rise and owner of On The Rise Media. She is my inspiration as a Latina creator and I had such an amazing time listening to her outside of her natural element. Her madre's story begins in La Joya, Durango MX. Her journey continued on to Chicago where she worked various jobs from factory work to retail and ultimately owning her own store for quinceanera products. We discuss the distorted view of American saying immigrants steal jobs. The choices in jobs that immigrants are stealing can't definitely not be the same ones they are fighting for. She tells me an incredible story about the day her dad retired. The unknown resentment that sometimes comes with our parents field of work is usually never discussed. It not until we are faced with it that we truly see what our parents went through. We dive into our individual stories on going to college. How our parents reacted to each scenario. We also discuss the growth that we saw in our parents as we pushed the boundaries of moving out to go to college. How did your parents react to you going away to college?Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have the great pleasure of having Valeria Aloe as a guest. She is the author of Uncolonized Latinas: Transforming Our Mindsets And Rising Together.  Her journey begins in General Belgrano,  Argentina. In this episode she discusses the journey of her immigration to the United States. Our conversation was so uplifting and full of promise for us all. She gives many nuggets of wisdom and her positive outlook in her journey is quite remarkable.  As she tells me her journey we cover  holding on to our Latinidad  in setting that are different from what we are use to. We discuss our safe spaces that remind us of home. For example, my safe space in Colorado was a Latino market down the street. from my apartment. I went there when I wanted to hear our language, our music, and smell the spices. Have you been in a different setting and yearned for your normal? Where was your special Latina safe space.  We both agree that the responsibility of being bilingual is hard work! We discuss our separate exhausting  experiences being bilingual. Our brains are impressive but being a bilingual brain is incredibly impressive. Our conversation leads to to the expectations of being bilingual and the role it plays in our lives. Valeria Aloe's book came out last week, January 12th and is now available on Amazon!!! Check it out. You can also follow Valeria Aloe @valeriaaloe_authorSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I had the great pleasure of speaking with Andrea Zeydelis she is the creator of Better Together and the creator of @officialpoderosa Instagram page.  She is an amazing human who was so vibrant in her storytelling. Her hype is also so incredible!Her madre is from Guadalajara, Mexico. As the oldest daughter of 12 she started working at a very early age. She picked up the craft of hairstyling which allowed for her family to live a comfortable life. Her contentious relationship with her father built her to know she wanted something different for herself. That life was found in a young Italian man that was studying in Guadalajara at the time. I discuss how her story reminds me of Sandra Cisneros' short story Never Marry a Mexican. The conflict in the identity behind being a Mexican is always so unfortunate. Not only by other cultures but between us Mexicans as well. If you haven't had the opportunity to read that short story I advise you to do so as soon as possible. It captures an identity crisis that many of us Latina's face routinely. I will always praise this work by Cisneros.In speaking of the identify crisis we face, Zeydelis confirms hers. She reflects on being from Long Island being half Mexican and half Italian. Where the population is mostly Italian and Irish, she was not Irish or considered fully Italian. So the struggle for her was even deeper than most of us usually face. Despite it all she thrived and recognized a valuable life lesson. Throughout our discussion we ultimately unearth that nobody wants to eat a bland salad. Instead what makes a salad extraordinary is the array of items it contains. Listen and find out what this is all about. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have the other half of Otra X Favor podcast, David Hernandez. A fellow Salvi and Austinite. Finding out our families were in such close proximity both in El Salvador and in the states was unbelievable to me. His madre is from Sonsonate, El Salvador even from the same Colonia de Santa Marta like mine! Her journey to come to the United States stemmed from the journey that her own mother began. From one luchadora to the next their consejos will always be able to live on because we all saw it with our own eyes. The guerrera mindset that these women encompass is unmatched.  Through the work of a wonderful local organization Casa Marianella, that provides shelter and help to immigrants here in Austin, they were able to jump start their life. It was wonderful getting to hear the story of the help that this organization has provided first hand. This story is a special story because it depicts how one person can create a safe haven for immigrants that eventually changes a life. If given the chance of a new life, we as children to immigrant parents, have seen the value that it will bring to this country. We discussed the things we missed out on since both of our parents didn't drive. The isolation that sometimes it came with when we couldn't do the things our other friends were doing. Having to say no I cannot go to that, not because we didn't get permission ,but because we didn't have the means of transportation. When we were already feeling the isolation because we were different the added obstacles were an added struggle. I wish that if you are listening to this episode and feel inclined please donate to Casa Marianella here.  Casa Marianella welcomes displaced immigrants and promotes self-sufficiency by providing shelter and support services such as ESL classes, legal help and more.Their  ultimate vision is that all immigrants arriving in Austin will have safe housing and access to the services they need to be successful.Feliz Navidad!Support the show

On today's episode I have Ricardo Contreras Plaza, co-host of Otra Por Favor Podcast. Podcast of two Latino hombres speaking on various topics  and living life in Austin, TX.Ricardo's madre is originally from Mexico City. She was mesmerized by the Eagles  and her life in the United States. And just like that one day she was Already Gone. Ricardo tells us the story of her mother leaving one night.  That is when their journey to the United States as a family began.Their journey to the United States happened twice. As they were living life in California something unexpected happened. Their life in Mexico after getting a taste of the United States still had a hold on his mother. And just like that she was gone again. The second journey left Ricardo poniendose las pilas and truly recognizing his parents sacrifices. Ricardo's story is one with plenty of scary situations.We discuss the feelings of anger we faced during the last administration's era. As a DACA recipient, Ricardo discusses his feelings about education and the value he sees in it.Follow them on Instagram at OtraxFavor and check their website.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have my first Hijo de tu Madre. My very dear friend and someone I truly look up to, Flaco Fernandez. In my time in Colorado I met some great people and he was one of them. He served as my brother while I was away from mine. Like many other's he did not steal anyone's job he sacrificed everything for what he has.From Durango, MX he tells us his story of coming to the United States and what that was like as a young adult. Stepping into a new life away from a close knit family. He had to encounter a racist comment when he do not have the vocabulary to defend himself in English. How so many have to walk away from those situations and the long lasting effects of those words.I think a lot of us have those ready words for those that might someday say, " you're in the United States you need to speak English." Flaco and I both live through knowing what that must feel like for our parents that are Spanish-only. I think for most of us in this situation those words are the cause of so much resentment for America.  The blood boils within us thinking about it even. Being a child to immigrants will always come with honor, but it also comes with guilt. We discuss what that is like for us. Flaco not only went to school and worked till 2am. He also started off as an assembler and is now a production supervisor. He didnt stop there, he is now the owner of his own ice cream shop Yummy Rolls. A ice cream shop located in Colorado that thrived during the pandemic. He is now looking for a second location. Follow or visit his shop Yummy Rolls on Insta and Yummy Rolls on Facebook.I am beginning to dislike calling it the American Dream.  Lin-Manuel Miranda says it best, Immigrants Get The Job Done. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I interview my very own madre in the flesh! This is a Spanish Only episode so if you are Spanish challenged you will not be able to tune in. In this episode I speak to my mom about us and our relationship. I discuss my hiatus and my struggles with the podcast after the Delta spike.  This conversation discusses the struggles that I went through as a first generation Latina myself. The constant battle with our immigrant parents to explain our choices. The rhetoric, that I think most of us have to hear, implying that we do not think their jobs are worthy because we try to advance. I think as a 1st generation Latina I struggled with that the most. Having to fight that battle against their struggles and implying that I didn't have my own. I also uncovered what was really the issue as to why she didn't want me to go to school.  Then, ultimately get to hear what I think we all sometimes are never told. The journey of my mother's story doesn't end at her crossing the Rio Grande. It continues through the raising of three kids as a single mother. It also continues through her hard work in the service industry. It mainly continues with me, her hija de mi madre. We are all a beautiful depiction of the product of immigration. We are bold, strong, and resilient.  I am proud of you.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have Lizeth Cuyan who is the co-host to Modern Day Mujeres. A podcast from DFW. These ladies discuss lifestyle, relationships, and many more topics that need to be discussed  within our community. Check them out!Lizeth's madre's story begins in Durango, MX. At 2 years old she set out to make the journey with her mom. If you know two year olds you know they are not the ideal traveling partners. Especially in a journey in which you need to move quietly and virtually unseen. She speaks about this journey and the obstacles they had to overcome to reach her father on the other side. We are seeing more and more stories of unaccompanied minors. The decision of wether to bring your child or leave them behind is the hardest decision one can make as a parent. There is no right or wrong answer in a life of survival. Sometimes the toughest part of our journeys is realizing that our parents cannot go back to see their loved ones when hardships take a toll. It is even harder realizing that you yourself cannot make the same trips as your peers because you cannot leave the country. Liz discusses when she learned about being unable to take a trip outside of the United States. It came with so many more questions as it did answers. Did you listen to Rock en Espanol growing up? How did it make you feel? Liz and I discussed what this particular music meant to us. What stage in our lives we were in when we started screaming "Beaner" by Molotov. Was that just me or are you normal? Listen to Liz's playlist and also check out a the docu-series she recommends about Rock en Espanol called Break It All: The History. I hope you enjoy this episode. It was full of painful memories and tears. Through it all we agreed that we are thankful we had the power to identify our pain to create it into strength.Support the show

On today's episode I have Bessy Martinez. She is the Latina behind Austin Latina Bloggers. Her madre's story comes to us from El Salvador. Her story is part of a collective book of refugees stories. In this episode we have a detailed account of her mother's experience during this trying time in El Salvador. Her story as a refugee and how the church constructed an organized Underground Railroad for these individuals.The things that her mother saw made her fight for the injustices in El Salvador. She continued her work in the United Stated by speaking out against these tragedies. Bessy and I discuss her feelings of being a refugee child and some of the struggles she had to overcome. Living in South Texas came with being surrounded by other Latinos, but it also came with hiding who she really was. The nothing of, "why them and not me" was something she had to deal with as her story was being told in newspapers and tv news reports. Our community is yearning for our stories to be told. We crave to share our beautiful culture and bring light to its intricate story here in the United States. Even though Bessy and my story are both vastly different we still understand that our mother's sacrifices amount to so much. They amount to way more than we can be thankful for, but we are striving to make something out of their teachings. Follow Bessy Martinez @austinlatinabloggers on Instagram.The book we mentioned is called Sanctuary: The New Underground Railroad. It can be purchased on Amazon here. The YouTube video called Sanctuary Movement-Freeman Reports: Stacy Merkt can be seen here. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I speak with Christie Lazo from Vida with Christie Podcast. Her madre's story comes from Lima, Peru. As the political climate was changing in Peru her parent's started seeing drastic changes. They had lucrative jobs but even they became subjects to the political issues. Their lives took them to Canada! I have often wondered how people get up there and I got a chance to discover that on this episode. Most often immigration comes with the sacrifice of leaving everything behind. What sometimes we miss to understand are those stories of ones that leave a life full of promise. A life that they thought would allow for comfort, politics destructs. As political issues arose their futures did not look the same. As they made the decision to leave and immigrate to another country they truly lose everything. Their university degrees counted for nothing. Christie explains how Canada, interestingly enough, was more accepting of her than her own people in Peru. We also dive into indigenous roots and colorism.  I share what I think my indigenous feature is and how I feel about it. Do you have indigenous features? If so, do you embrace them or would you rather change them?I hope that this episode brings light to really realizing the importance of hearing your parent's stories. Life is too short to uncover this when they are no longer with us. The beauty of Christie's mom's life will always live within her. Knowing her story will allow for her strength to live on. Follow Christie @vidawithchristie on Instagram and listen to her podcast anywhere you listen to podcast.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have Mariana from Earthside Candles. Her madre's story comes to us from Guadalajara, MX. Her parent's promised her the ideal American vacation but it became a permanent stay. Can you imagine leaving everything thinking that you will come back to it in a few days? In this story Mariana discusses how she believes her mother's trust issues are due to this giant shock. We discuss our secret lives as Latina's growing up with little or no supervision. As our parent's worked we had to supervise ourselves and sometimes our siblings. The story of children to immigrants does not always stop at being a translator or guide in life. It is a variety of different things. Mariana also illustrates for us  her idea of taking a little from each culture to create her own sense of self. In our culture we have Quinceañera's that are filled with meaning in every aspect. As 1st generation Latina's we start to dissect them. Then we create our own interpretation to merge with our own American identity. Find out how we incorporated our American identity into our own parties. What did you incorporate for your quinceañera that was not traditional?Follow Mariana on Instagram @eartsidecandleco or visit her website. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have Cheldy Moran. Her madre's story begins in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Fun fact: The name in Mayan is Xelaju. In this town her madre yearned for some of most basic necessities that we take for granted. Her want to provide this for her family was what began her migration to the United States. This selflessness is truly incredible. In this conversation Cheldy talks about her life living in the infamous 90210 area. As grateful as she is for the experience it also came with its hardships. As a daughter to immigrants her sense of belonging was difficult to attain during this time. Experiencing this lifestyle and understanding that it wasn't her own was difficult. The sense of not belonging was a continued feeling she carried through her college career even. Have you ever felt guilt for having something your parents didn't get a chance to have? Or the guilt you feel for doing something for yourself that your parents don't seem to understand. Most often we have these feelings that we don't know what to do with. Cheldy and I unravel our feelings with this common struggle. I open up about this in particular. It was a hard pill to swallow to say the least. I hope that these feelings are not as common and I hope we validate our success despite our traumas. It was a pleasure to have this conversation and I hope you enjoy!Follow Cheldy @cheldy_dayana Story discussed on episode found here: Human smuggling suspected in a crash that killed 13 in Imperial County Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I speak to Elizabeth Ramos, co-host of Hija de tu Madre Crime Podcast. Her madre's story begins in Zacatecas, Mexico. At a very young age she not only left as a young woman but as a soon to be mom. As we celebrated Dia de las Madres yesterday I felt it was important to shed light on this incredible story. The sacrifices of mother's are one thing, but the sacrifices of an immigrant mother are on another level.Motherhood is a very complex issue. I can now attest that as a mother,  in that I know the instinct of protection, it is fierce and it is mighty. Her madre knew that making this journey would mean a world of opportunity for her unborn child.Elizabeth takes us back to a time in Mexico where she use to hunt for fish and birds. I divulge information on my mother's favorite animal to eat in El Salvador. We then discuss on how far removed we are from the process of eating an animal organically speaking I guess. We often do not understand why our parents make us eat everything on our plate. When we start discussing these stories we start to unravel their stints through hunger through their journeys. We also begin to understand their struggles through these episodes. We uncover some feelings of guilt that we have being a child to immigrant parents. What we are stiving for and some things that we are trying to mend. As we all may have traumas that we don't want to recognize I think it's still important to acknowledge that we may have them. It may be harder to uncover them but they are buried deep within us waiting for the right time to be healed. As a whole, I think we are incredible humans that continue to strive for everything our parents crossed over for. In this episode I invite you to wholeheartedly learn about your madre's story. Do not wait until its too late to hear her version.  Do not let it die without you knowing her whole truth. Please follow Elizabeth Ramos on Instagram @hijadetumadrecrimepodSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I have the twin sister duo, Carmen and Cristina. They are the hilarious hosts of Novelas Con Cafecito. Where they watch novelas and talk shit about them. Their journey as well as their parent's is an incredible story. Born to a Saldadorean father and a Mexican mother their parents story began while taking English classes. Their mother was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Cristina and Carmen have heard the story of their mother's migration from a very young age. A specific date in American history doesn't have the same tone in their family. When we hear these stories we often discuss the sacrifices our parents  endured for a better life. We have not heard the sacrifices children to immigrant parents sometimes have to make.  Cristina and Carmen discuss why turning 18 was so important to them. While most people want to turn 18 for the independence, their reason is incredible. We also discuss how hard it is to be a part of a culture you sometimes have a disconnection with. Culture that is American sometimes is foreign to us. The “classics” that Americans consider to be great are sometimes meaningless and not entertaining to us. Sometimes to fit in we just conform to the narrative that these “classics” are good. When in reality most of them are not that good. Trying to fit in we buy into this idea of their greatness. Now I feel liberated in a sense to not pretend that I like that crap. It's okay to tell people that Nirvana sucked if its not your jam.Follow and listen to Novelas Con Cafecito. You can listen to their podcast on all major platforms you usually listen to podcast. You can follow them on instagram @novelasconcafecito.  Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I spoke with Sandra Botero. She is the mastermind behind Hero Couture.  Imagine coming to the United States 3 days before a monumental historic tragedy.  You don't know the language and you do not understand what the anger is all about. That is the climate her family found themselves in. Her father came to the U.S. and secured a residency and her mother became a housewife. The idea of the America she had in her mind was truly different than what she was faced with. Despite that her ingenuity on how to try to communicate was incredible. We discuss racism and micro aggressions.  Before we didn't identify them as such. Now we are learning to identify that things like, "you don't sound/look Latina" are a form of microagressions. I hope that as we are identifying these comments we learn to use our power to stop them. We also discuss how our translations in Spanish don't always have the same meaning in English. As it is a hot topic at my house I found a way to relate to a fellow Latina in my frustrations. I hope that by these conversations most of you start understanding that you are not alone. That our Latina/o brains work overtime and there is true beauty in our imperfections. Follow Sandra Botero @heroicouture Designs for women that love the chic geek look. She highlights WonderWoman and RBG in all of their power! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On today's episode I spoke with Yvette Perez. She is the creator of Finding Vettey. Her madre's story comes to us from Jalisco, Mexico. Her madre's father was part of the Bracero Program. As you all may know I love history and the Bracero Program was always so interesting to me. As immigration is a hot topic the Bracero Program just goes to show how America can dispose you like you were last week's trash so quickly. The Bracero Program started in 1942 as a way to allow Mexicans to come work in the United States for a short period during World War II. While all their men were off to war they brought in Mexican labor at low wages to use them for hard work. Yvette's madre came here to then also continue in working in the fields like her father had done before her. Our conversation touches on topics of language. Often someone that speaks with an accent or one that doesn't speak the English language is often criticized or made fun of. We have to look at the overall picture and understand the damage we are doing to those people by doing that. My mother does not speak English till this day. She often says that she hated learning because she hated how people made fun of her. As most often birds do when you clip their wings, they don't fly. How can we expect for people to embrace the English language when their efforts are most often the butt of someones jokes?We discuss the struggles of going to college as 1st generation Latinas. Admitting that we have no idea how we got there! Yet being grateful for our Mexican American friends that exposed us to the idea. We also dive deep into the reason why we left the nest. The fight to leave the nest and how hard it sometimes is to break that cultural barrier. I encourage you to learn about the Bracero Program. In understanding our history you will begin to understand our present. Follow Yvette at @findingvettey and follow her beautiful shop of artisan products from our gente. Support the show

On today's episode I spoke with Marcela Da Luz-Le. Her and her madre came to the United States from Brazil. Marcela tells us what she remembers about the beauty of Brazil at such a young age. After leaving the workforce for some time her mom found that living in Brazil was not ideal. Out of necessity, like most immigrants, she and her mom had to find a way to the United States. Marcela tells the story of her mom's struggles in this new country. As she tries to navigate it as a single mom with a young child. Marcela herself is then faced with her own obstacles. We often think about the United States as an all mighty force. Yet we often try not to question its flaws. Marcela is an example of how the education system in the U.S. needs work. Others come to this country most often more advanced in math and reading than their counterparts. She faced issues with trying to understand why she was being taught things she already knew. Marcela touches on  what she refers to as things she had to "unlearn". It was eye opening to realize that most of the time we do have to "unlearn" things to assimilate. We shed away a part of us to be a part of this bigger picture. Marcela is dedicated to creating a space to highlight children to immigrant parents that were not DACA recipients but still DREAMERS. Truly a topic that needs to be discussed. As we keep driving our existence we keep finding people that need to be represented. Through us finding these hidden figures we can elevate our overall objective.You can follow Marcela's journey @marceladaluzle on Instagram. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On this episode I speak with Mireya Hernandez about her madre's story. As we discuss the topic of immigration, we need to also discuss how it all evolved. Mireya's mother came to the U.S. legally due to her parents having permisos to work in the fields. From a very young age she knew that her plan was to come to the U.S. and work in the fields like her family. The story of farm work is a daunting task that requires hours of hard work under all environmental elements. We hear her madre's story and then her change of career into hospitality. We discuss the topic of translating and what it means to us. How difficult it can be but how rewarding it truly is. We share stories of helping others, in hope that at some point, someone has done the same for our parents. The power that 1st generation children have is incredible, VALEMOS POR DOS! I hope that as we are speaking about being bilingual we acknowledge how hard it is at times. Despite that also appreciate how it makes us ever more powerful and amazing!Mireya is a chiropractor at Simple Health in Long Beach. If you live in the area check her out!!! You can follow her on Instagram at SimpleHealth or visit her website SimpleHealthlb. You can also follow Mireya on Instagram @MsMiri.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On this episode I had the great pleasure of having a conversation with Yesenia Villar. Her madre's incredible story was a tremendous sacrifice. The stories of our immigrant parents sometimes involve having to bring the children along for the journey. As a mother myself, I cannot imagine what her madre went through during her journey and how she held it all together.  This is a story that is filled with separation from a spouse for a number of  years to having to be separated from her own children during the journey. It's a lot to overcome but the resiliency to survive is always present. Our conversation lead to many traumas we have held on to. From the fear of opening doors to why we are territorial over space. We shared the same upbringing when it came to our own education. Sometimes our parents didn't know the importance of an education because it wasn't taught to them. So for us, education was something that somehow flourished within us. Through this conversation we were able to divulge the importance of  our voices being heard. As Yesenia states our history books are very Eurocentric, so it's up to us to retell our stories ourselves. It's up to us to stand up and demand that our stories are told by our standards. I was thoroughly grateful to have had the opportunity to share this story. My wishes are always to try to do justice to how incredible these stories truly are. Support the show

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! I hope that this Valentine's you are showered with whatever your heart desires. Mine is hot Cheetos and I am readily available to eat them all to my hearts content. On this episode I touch on a little bit of my feelings on this impeachment caca. Not to totally take away from the week of love but it has to be said. IMMIGRANTS ARE THE TRUE PATRIOT, PERIOT!On this Vlog I go into some of the issues, we as Latina's, married to our gringos sometimes go through. Doesn't mean we are love less just means that sometime we go through some things we didn't think we would have to. I never thought I would be married to a gringo but here I am felix como una lumbriz. I hope you all enjoy!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

I got the speak with Christine Jahan about her madre's Peruvian story. All of our stories are not the same but they sometimes come with similar struggles. The dream of wanting to travel is a vision her madre had, meeting her father gave her that opportunity. The dream is not always an easy one as our visions depict them to be. The struggle in not knowing the language and having to build your relationship from scratch without your family support is difficult. In this episode Christine and I dive into our struggles fitting in as Latina's. How having frizzy hair sometimes impeded our confidence. Although our teenage years weren't rough we still battled with things we couldn't really put our finger on. Now looking back we realize that it was probably because there were invisible racism that caused us to not get the guy we truly wanted to date. Have you ever had to hear, you are smart for a Latina? Or maybe not even that, but you know it's implied. It is a conversation Christine speaks on and I have my opinion on what will illuminate that notion. We discuss everything from marrying white men to the insecurities we had in having children with them! I had a great conversation and its always great to find another Latina that can relate to the life of marrying a white man. You can find Christine Jahan on Instagram @christinejahan and on her website. Check her out she does amazing work!Support the show

Welcome Biden Administration! Aren't we all just able to breathe a little better now? I know it was for me. In this Vlog I divulge my feelings on what Inaguration meant for me. I express my feelings on how I felt on that day. I also reveal my favorite part of it all!My Vlog focuses on the people who we need to strive to be, those who elevate others. As Cynthia Grande has done by becoming a Latina lawyer who focuses on immigration and small businesses, we need to elevate others in any way we can. In the grand scheme of things we all win by uplifting our fellow Latinas. Most of the time it won't cost you a penny and the gratitude behind it is much more meaningful. Once you get to the top look back and ask who is next. We all need to acknowledge our individual privilege and work on how that can help someone else. We are seeing how the government is working they will not break ties with their party. They are solid defending that grand bruto. In these times we need to do the same, let's lock arms and march forward. Our numbers will show the strength we posses and the things we can do are incredible!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

I spoke with Cynthia Grande, a LAWTINA specializing in immigration and small business law. Our conversation took us down the memories of watching our mom's work. Many times we had to accompany our parents to their workplaces. Whether it be cleaning houses, sewing clothes, or being there while she took care of other kids. We as children to immigrant parents witnesses the hard work and dedication. Seeing that work unfold gave us the ability to strive for better lives for ourselves. In so many ways we did it to prove that their hard work was not in vein. Cynthia discusses what being an immigration lawyer is all about. Her career path helps many of our parents reach their dreams of citizenship or owning a small business. Having a bilingual Latina helping our parents is so incredible. It is amazing that we are starting to take up the space more and more to help in this field. Thank you Cynthia for all you do. If you are looking for immigration help look no further. Follow Cynthia Grande on Instagram @cyngrande or visit her website. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

"Porque tu eres la Grande" do those words sound familiar? In this Vlog I discuss being the oldest child. It's definitely different for children of immigrant parents. Its not just about having someone to play with. It's so much more, it's also being their parent. The responsibilities of being the oldest are immense most of the times. This Vlog post is a tribute to all our herman's/hermanas grandes. We love you and thank you. In this case it's me....I'm la grande. Support the show

The sister's from Call Your Sister Podcast, Astrid and Alex,  join me in today's episode. I had the pleasure of hearing the story of their Mami from the campo of the Dominican Republic.Their mother's strength that endured immigration, domestic abuse, and parenting as a single mom is incredible. We discuss our internal feelings about being a child to immigrant parents. Sometimes our feelings towards our mother's has not always been a good one. While we understand the struggle today we weren't always so understanding of their sacrifices. As children to immigrant parents we often battle with enjoying childhood and our daily responsibilities. Yet again despite those struggles we are stronger for them. We may not know if we had potential for so many other things, but the lessons we learned are empowering us. I truly loved sharing our commonalities. As hijas de madres that came from the campo to the strong independent women that they are today. You can find them on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to them on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

The Cruz sister's are the hosts of Pendejadas and Chingaderas Podcast! I am super excited to have them on my podcast as I am a huge fan of their show. In this episode with the three sisters we discuss the ambition their madre had to leave her small pueblo. In various episodes we talk about how the education system in Mexico is very different than the one here in the United States. School is not accessible to people that do not have the monetary resources . That is where the American dream becomes the only way out for some. In this episode we speak about mental illness a bit. The traumas that our gente experience most of the times go untreated. The stigma that is tied to mental illness in our community is affecting the healing in a lot of our parents. Instead of seeking proper treatment they depend on their faith and community to alleviate their troubles. Therefore, never getting it properly diagnosed. We outline the different ways that these sisters experienced school in America. From Amy going to an all white school and "getting sprinkled with what the white kids got" and how that enriched her path.  To Gabby being able to go to a school among her peers, unlike Amy,  and how that shaped her. To ultimately, Diana being able to gain from her sister's college experiences and be on her way to someday becoming a future doctor. Through this story we identify how being the eldest child to immigrant parents holds a lot of weight. The pressure to be the navigational beam is a lot of work.I hope you enjoy this episode and be sure to follow the Cruz sister's on Instagram @PendejadasandChingaderas. You can listen to their podcast on Apple Podcast or Spotify.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

2020 was a hot mess so I figured I will tip toe into 2021 with this new idea. I am creating what I like to call a  Vlog, with a v, it's a voice log. It will be an encore to the most recent episode. This Vlog will allow for additional conversation about a topic discussed in the episode. It will give you an opportunity to also hear a little bit more about me. My likes/dislike and possibly my very unpopular opinions. Overall it will allow for us to dig deeper in a topic not thoroughly discussed at the time of the episode. In this Vlog I discuss how marrying someone with a different cultures sometimes creates a distance in your own identity. I discuss Belen's Guatemalan mother and Mexican father and my Salvi mother and Mexican father.  Food is the main thing that takes the hit when cultures collide. Sometimes its for the best! I mean I get to have Mexican tamales and Salvi tamales. Although at times we lose sense of our own dishes to accommodate our significant others food wants. So I hope you enjoy this observation from the Episode 10 with Belen Amaya. If you haven't already please follow her and check out her podcast at WhatDichos.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

Belen Amaya the host of What Dichos joins me on my 10th episode!!! One thing we have in common is we like to chat!We share the life of being half Mexican and half Central American. Her madre's immigration story is one that I was not familiar with. It allowed me to understand that even I am still learning things through all of these stories. Through speaking about her madre's immigration story we highlight the most painful part of leaving your family. The concept that some immigrants never get to see their loved ones again. It is a topic that is very prominent in an immigrant's life. Most often brings much pain and sorrow to relive the last time you saw their face. We circle back to the idea of privilege. Belen mentioned it in her podcast and it is a topic we have discussed in mine briefly. It is a topic that as 1st generation we need to dive into more. Discuss what privileges we have to understand what we can do better. I invite everyone to follow Belen on Instagram at WhatDichos. Visit her website and listen to her wonderful podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast!!!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

My guest on this episode is Evelyn Obongen. She shares with me the wonderful story of her madre and  how the "ganas de sobrebivir" is within us all. She depicts the story of how her parents were the trailblazers in the town they came to know as their home. As a fellow Tejana we were able to relate on how at times we were disconnected from our fellow peers. From being terrible at pop culture to sometimes not understanding certain words. We had a deep conversation on how being a Latina also comes with constraints from our own people on what we should and shouldn't do. We definitely let it all out and discuss how we should not be asking for permission on how we should be defined. We also discovered that we haven't really discussed these feelings with anybody else. It definitely felt good to let that baggage out. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we should be able to put "child to immigrant parents' on our resume. Listen to this episode and I invite you to seek whatever weight  you been carrying as a child to immigrant parents. If you find it, talk about it!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

My guest is my new comadre Bernadette Molina. Like me, she is Salvi-Mex and she has written a cookbook Herencia Cookbook to honor our roots through food. Our conversation was like dos bichas just hanging out drinking horchata. We discuss our double and even triple identity as Salvadorenas, Mexicanas, and Americans. A truly beautiful conversation in which we highlight how our Salvi madres make us be the chignons we are today. She reveals the results of her and her husbands ancestry results. In doing so she welcomes us to truly dive into the true idea of what immigration is. Join me and listen to her beautiful story and buy her book! It is amazing and truly a very beautiful book with a beautiful purpose. Follow Bernadette on insta @herenciacookbook and visit her website.Don't forget to buy her book on Amazon!!!! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

My guest today is Paz Ellis, she is the author of PLANTAINS AND THE SEVEN PLAGUES​A MEMOIR: Half-Dominican, Half-Cuban and Full Life. We discover her book and all the hardships that leaving a country can create. She discusses her madre's stories and her struggles as a half Dominican and half cuban living in the United States. You can go to her website at pazellis.com and follow her on IG at pazellisauthor.Support the show

On today's episode I spoke with Adelaida Hernandez Santiago. She is a native Oaxacan and livesin California. In this episode we discuss everything from being indigenous to discrimination within our race. The conversation for me was enlightening when we discussed the importance of representation within her community. In this episode I definitely checked my privilege as a 1st generation Latina living in the United States. I truly enjoyed our discussion and I invite everyone to rethink our idea of discrimination within our own Latino community. Check out her podcast Oaxaca Empowered Generation on Spotify. You can also check her out on Instagram at Oaxaca Empowered Generation.Support the show

My guest on this episode is Lennis Perez. She tells us how her Madre immigrated to the United States TWICE! As a Venezuelans, seeing their country spiral downward quickly, they were left with no other options. We discuss how the resemblance of the early stages of Venezuela's downfall has a similar feel to today's political climate. We dive into her adjusting to living in the United Staes and how just respecting each other and having compassion can change things. You can find Lennis Perez on the following socials:YouTube ChannelInstagramFacebookLinkedInSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

I speak to my roomie for a hot minute, Melina Flores. We discuss her Madre and Padre's story. As we are going through this journey I am learning about other methods of immigration. Whether the journey is different our rich stories of strength remain the same.  Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

I have a bonus episode for y'all! I speak to my Comadres Bernadette again because she has discovered a lot more about herself. A family story that may have never come to light is discussed. The conversations about this immigration story is what we all need to do. Speak it out loud! Shout it from the mountain top! We are daughter's of immigrants! Support the show

Today's episode is very special. I speak to my comadre Bernadette Cubias Rodriguez and we discuss our intricate story. If you have not listened to my story, go back and listen because you will not believe this one. It is indeed a small world after all! We talk about understanding what being a 1st generation US Latina is all about. Our struggles navigating being the hijas to immigrant parents and our Latina Superpower!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

My guest today is my long-time friend Paola Melgar Walker. We have a great conversation about her madre's journey. We look back on how life was like as hijas to immigrant parents. We dive into some history and we learned things from each other that we didn't know about. This episode served to even open my eyes on how quiet, we as Latinas, moved through life. Follow Paola on her YouTube channel Smartt Family and on Instagram @thesmarttfamily. She has created a space for her kids to explore STEM activities. This channel is to promote raising children of color into these fields. She is doing great things! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hdtmpodcast)

On my first episode we discover my story. As an Hija to a Salvadorean Madre we discuss my Madre's story, why I wanted to start this podcast, and my goal for this podcast. Support the show