Ever wondered how to juggle a thriving 9-to-5 career while pursuing your passion project? Meet Bianca Alba, a public health baddie by day and a travel podcaster by night. In this episode, Bianca shares her inspiring journey—from working on the frontlines of major public health crises like the Zika outbreak and COVID-19 to creating This Latina Travels, a podcast dedicated to empowering women of color to explore the world fearlessly. We dive into her roots in Bolivia, her experiences as a first-generation Latina college graduate, and how she discovered self-love while starting fresh in a new city. With six continents under her belt, Bianca is on a mission to break barriers so more mujeres like us can take up space across the globe. Tune in for real talk on public health, travel, and balancing work with a side hustle—one passport stamp at a time!

In this episode:

- How this first-gen Boliviana transformed a CDC deployment to Puerto Rico into her dream life

- The inspiring journey behind the creation of This Latina Travels podcast- Balancing life as a “public health baddie by day” and “a full-time traveler around the clock”

- Real talk on breaking barriers in federal spaces that lack Latina leadership

- Why time—not money—is the ultimate key to exploring the world

You’ll walk away with practical career tips on:

- Using your day job strategically while pursuing passion projects

- Finding jobs and employers that fit your lifestyle

- Building authentic connections and community before you even need them

- Taking calculated risks in your career and stepping outside your comfort zone

- Creating a sustainable career path that enables personal growth

Connect with Bianca:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

X

Website

Connect with Fiorella Lopez Lima:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Linktree⁠

⁠Book Free Discovery Call⁠

⁠YouTube⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Instagram (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠

⁠Instagram (Latinas Ahead)⁠

⁠Tik Tok (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠

⁠Tik Tok (Fiorella Lopez Lima)⁠

Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina

(00:51) Episode Overview

(01:45) Episode Kickoff

(02:51) Childhood & Upbringing 

(06:39) College Experience as a First Gen Latina 

(10:35) Master’s Degree & Starting a Career in Public Health

(13:17) Self-Discovery in a New City 

(17:01) Deployment to Puerto Rico & Career Growth

(21:36) Creating This Latina Travels During COVID-19

(29:08) Balancing Full-Time Job and Travel Podcast 

(31:35) What’s Next for This Latina Travels

(32:57) Advice for Listeners

(34:02) Connecting with Bianca

(34:51) Connecting with Fiorella