This week, Jessica sits down with Cynthia Rodriguez, a San Diego-based educator with over 20 years in the classroom, proud Cindy from the South Side of San Antonio, and now a thriving empty nester whose kids are taking Manhattan by storm. They pour a glass, skip the agenda entirely, and just talk.

What We're Drinking:

Timestamps:

0:00 — Welcome, Cynthia's bio, and what's in the glass tonight

10:00 — From San Antonio to San Diego: comparing cities, surviving Texas heat, and why California weather is not a small thing when you've lived through South Texas summers

20:00 — Raised to be independent: what it looks like when your dad raises three daughters like three men, and the complicated gift of not needing anyone once you're finally in a relationship

30:00 — Tejana identity, Texas politics, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and why if you're pissed off about what's happening, you already know what to do

40:00 — Aunt Carmen, a Tinder match, a forgotten wallet, and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2015 that changed the whole plan

50:00 — A text in the middle of the West Texas desert, two weeks to pack up a life, and two kids who had to trust their mom knew what she was doing

1:00:00 — Empty nesting as a reframe: who was Cynthia before she was a mother, a teacher, a wife? And how do you find her again?

1:10:00 — Salsa and bachata at the Rosin Box in Liberty Station, passion projects, and what it means to finally be present for the people who've been waiting

Connect with Cynthia:

TikTok: @DiaryOfAnEmptyNester

Connect with Wine & Chisme:

Instagram: @thewineandchisme

TikTok: @thewineandchisme

Latiné Wine Brand Directory: https://www.thewineandchismepodcast.com/latine-owned-wine-brands