Christine knew from a young age, that she wanted to use her skills to empower others. After recognizing her connection and passion for ceremonial cacao, yoga, and wellness, she realized that she was a magical being on the path to remembering.

Her book A Child of Magic, as well as the adapted screenplay Lana Livia and The Ancestral Magic, are both based on her own journey of remembrance, serving as a reminder to reconnect with the innate magic within and around us.

After her father took his life, she felt she had lost a part of herself that she’d never be able to connect with again. That is until she discovered Mayan cacao from Guatemala. While there, she reunited with her heart, her ancestry, and her ancestral plant medicine. She felt a clear connection and a deep knowing that she was meant to work with cacao ceremonially, not only for her own healing but for the healing of the world. Ever since this discovery, she’s been sharing cacao in the ceremony through The Maltyox (Gratitude) Method and her stories with communities worldwide.

After facilitating healing and transformation within many communities, including Poosh Wellness, Alo Yoga, and countless masterminds, she’s taken what she’s learned to write her next book — a guide for readers to experience full self-liberation through harnessing the power of gratitude.

Her wish is to cultivate love and enrich others' lives by sharing her gifts, her truth expression, and her magical creations. To embody gratitude, the love, light, & magic and inspire others to do the same. She hopes with all of my creations she can inspire others to live in their truth and tap into their magic.

In this week’s episode, Christine shares her recent spiritual experiences, including her journey to her ancestral lands. In Guatemala, she was able to reconnect with her roots and suppressed feelings. She learned about her ancestral spirituality and has dedicated herself to sharing this knowledge with Latin Americans who are also looking to tap into their roots. Listen to Christine’s episode to hear more about her incredible journey! 

Keep up with Christine on their website and Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is a trailblazer who has melded political organizing expertise and executive leadership to become a widely recognized change-maker in the governmental, political, and civic arena. She takes charge as Executive Director at Latino Victory with a mission perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a successful leader and passionate advocate: building political power within the Latino community and ensuring that Latino voices are included in the nation’s policy and fiscal agenda. Today, Katharine is a sought-after strategist. She has appeared on various “power lists,” including City and State New York’s top political consultants list. She is also a regular political commentator on Telemundo as well as other media outlets in English and Spanish.

Sindy Marisol Benavides is the President and CEO of Latino Victory of Latino Victory, a progressive organization dedicated to building Latino political power at the local, state, and federal levels. Sindy is a recognized national civil rights leader deeply committed to uplifting the voices of vulnerable and underserved populations. With nearly two decades in the non-profit sector, Sindy has helped build organizations to scale from the bottom up through strategy development, governance, communication, partnerships, and outreach. As a proud Honduran-American, Sindy immigrated to the United States with her family and has experienced the American Dream. She now devotes her career to public service, ensuring that countless young people, women, and immigrants have the same opportunity. 

In this week’s episode, Katherine and Sindy join us for the first episode of a very special collaboration between the Latino Victory Fund and Hella Latin@! Our amazing guests discuss how they got into politics, why policymaking is so important to them, and how they are currently making a difference in American politics. If you have been disappointed in the state of our country, this episode is a breath of fresh air. Listen in to hear more about the actions Katherine and Sindy are taking to make immediate and long-term changes for the betterment of our communities. 

Keep up with Katherine on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website. 

Keep up with Sindy on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Yomarie "YoMo" Castellano is a proud Puerto Rican and female hair loss empowerment coach and advocate. As a hair loss warrior for the past 10 years due to Androgenic Alopecia, YoMo understands the emotional and physical impacts of hair loss. Her mission is to help women facing challenges in their hair loss journey reclaim their confidence, ignite their inner ch*ngona, and thrive through personalized coaching. She provides guidance and support to help women cultivate a positive self-image and navigate the obstacles surrounding hair loss. Hair Loss Bonita is YoMo's brand and movement, dedicated to empowering women with hair loss to embrace their inner beauty, reclaim their power, and overcome challenges.

In this week’s episode, YoMo opens up and shares her incredible story of strength and resilience. After leaving her abusive father with her family, YoMo settled in Milwaukee where she grew up. She later battled with alcoholism, the same disease she lost her father and grandfather. Now she’s five years sober and is now a female hair loss empowerment coach after losing much of her hair to alopecia. YoMo has become the representation she needed for thousands of women around the world. Tune in to hear how she became sober and what she’s doing to feel beautiful inside and out. 

Keep up with YoMo on their website and Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Karen Santos is a Peruvian American portrait and branding photographer whose specialty lies in creating images that are dynamic, colorful, soulful, and honest. She's really passionate about using her creative medium to highlight and celebrate communities of color, particularly our Latino community. She believes that imagery has the power to elevate marginalized communities through positive representation. She runs her own photo studio in Oakland, California, and travels to New York and LA often for photography commissions.

In this week’s episode, Karen shares how her months-long sabbatical to explore her Peruvian heritage changed her life forever. After finding out she was 87% Indigenous Andean, she wanted to learn more about where she came from and how that affected her artistic style and her never-ending work ethic. Now, she’s a portrait photographer specializing in the most eye-catching headshots we’ve ever seen! Through her work, she’s connected with the most amazing network of women role models from every industry. Fun fact: we met at a networking event in Silicon Valley and I hired her for an event at LinkedIn! Today, Karen is looking forward to enjoying a soft life and embracing a vibrant future. Listen to Karen’s episode to learn more! 

Keep up with Karen on their website and Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Mariana Fernández's journey as a fitness instructor is deeply rooted in her upbringing and fueled by a passion for empowering others. Born in Tampico, Mexico, and raised in San Diego with a family of athletes, Mariana's early experiences instilled in her a love for movement and a profound understanding of the mind-body connection.

Drawing from her diverse background in theater arts and fitness, Mariana seamlessly blends her expertise into her teaching style. Her classes at Peloton, which she joined in 2020, encompass a wide range of offerings, from invigorating yoga flows to tread classes and meditations designed to cultivate inner peace and happiness. Whether guiding students through mindful movements on the mat or inspiring them to find their stride on the tread, Mariana's classes are a reflection of her commitment to holistic well-being.

Central to Mariana's teaching philosophy is the desire to bridge the gap between physical and mental wellness while honoring her Mexican heritage. Through her classes, she infuses elements of Mexican culture, creating a space where her community feels seen and celebrated. Mariana's teaching approach is characterized by a unique blend of warmth, tough love, and infectious energy, creating an environment where students are encouraged to push beyond their limits, no matter where they are on their fitness journey. 

Mariana's goal remains the same in every class: to empower her students to embrace their full potential in practice and in life. With her unwavering dedication to uplifting others and her dynamic teaching style, she invites her community to join her on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and joy.

In this week’s episode, Mariana Fernández shares her journey of living between Mexico and the U.S., feeling both too Mexican to be a foreigner and too foreign to be a true Chilanga. As Peloton’s first bilingual instructor, she discusses the importance of picking herself up, staying true to herself, and not letting challenges define her. Mariana also acknowledges the need for Latinos to fight for respect and opportunities, and how supporting each other with compassion and empathy can help us all thrive. Tune in for an incredible episode with this amazing person! 

Keep up with Mariana on her Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

In this week’s episode, your favorite dynamic duo discusses how we’re healing their toxic behaviors and tendencies. The first step to healing is acknowledging, right? Tune in to hear me unpack my toxica tendencies, Pabel’s almost bad call with an investor, and how we’re achieving their versions of the American Dream.

Keep up with Pabel on his website, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Hady Mendez, a Puerto Rican Brooklyn native, opens up about her journey of feeling like she was "too much" but "never enough" — especially in corporate spaces. As CEO of Boldly Speaking, Hady helps organizations recognize the power of diversity and the value of offering equitable opportunities to all employees. As a speaker and facilitator, Hady works to promote inclusion in teams and ERGs, making sure everyone feels like they truly belong.

Her mission is to transform the experiences of women and people of color everywhere. She aims to empower underrepresented employees by equipping them with the skills to self-advocate, self-promote, and capitalize on leadership roles within ERGs and throughout organizations.

In this week’s episode, Hady shares her experience as a Latina in corporate and how she eventually left it all behind. In her professional career, Hady was constantly made to feel like she was both too much and not enough. As a result, she struggled with feelings of unworthiness and impostor syndrome. Now, she owns her own business and helps women get their dream jobs and their dream pay. Tune into the full episode to hear how she made the transition and learned to be confident in herself. 

Keep up with Hady on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Best friends for almost 12 years turned business partners for almost 2 years, Lucia and Nancy are trailblazing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry. Both 1st generation Latinas of Dominican descent, merged their backgrounds, career experience and love for creativity to create innovative and personalized design solutions.

Lucia Genao is the visionary founder and principal designer of Lucia Genao Interiors, a business she launched in 2022 after relocating from New York City. With nearly two decades of design expertise, this esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology alumna breathes life into functional and exquisite spaces. From admiring her father's house-building skills at a young age to fueling her passion for architecture and boundless creativity, Lucia's journey has been nothing short of inspiring. Her artistry shines through in every project, as she curates thoughtful commercial spaces and homes, blending clean lines and opulent details, creating timeless, luxurious havens that embrace each client's unique preferences.

Nancy Pineda is an accomplished strategic project manager with over two decades of experience in the corporate world, contributing her expertise to renowned Fortune 100 companies like American Express and JP Morgan & Chase Co and now a fintech company, Mobility Capital Finance (“MoCaFi”). Her profound knowledge encompasses business strategy, administration, operations, project, and change management. As a side hustle, Nancy is the driving force behind the business operations of Lucia Genao Interiors. Nancy's dedication knows no bounds; she fearlessly dives into hands-on work during installation periods, building furniture and skillfully ninja-chopping pillows!

Recently, both Lucia and Nancy have relocated to North Carolina. Lucia, along with her husband and two children, enjoys creating family memories, exploring the outdoors, listening to music, and savoring delicious food. Meanwhile, Nancy finds joy in traveling, powerlifting, and trying out new culinary experiences.

In this week’s episode, Nancy and Lucia share how they met, how they started a business together, and how they continue to uplift each other every single day. This episode is filled with a ton of fun anecdotes - including how Lucia proposed to her husband, and how Nancy became Luca’s business partner. These two prove that complete strangers can be as important to you as family. Check out Nancy and Lucia’s episode now.

Keep up with Nancy and Lucia on their website and Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Michael "Juan Bago" Diaz is a Dominican-American comedian born in New Rochelle, NY, and raised in Connecticut. Diaz started off with aspirations of becoming an actor before diving into sketch comedy. His goal of one day becoming an actor led him back to Washington Heights, NY, where his parents met and many family members still lived. In 2004, a friend connected him with the founder of the New York Latino Film Festival and he wrote and sold his first comedy feature. It sold out at the Latino Film Festival and he created a name for himself, [gained] the buzz. From there, he never looked back and has been an independent filmmaker in comedy ever since. In 2006, Diaz premiered "The Story of Juan Bago," a tale about an underachieving "loser" in his mid-20s who lives at home with his parents and "doesn't bathe very often.” 

In addition to "Bago Briefs," Diaz recently launched a podcast titled "Translators" with cohost Jaime Fernandez. Comedians Michael Diaz & Jaime Fernandez are fed up with the representation of Latinos in mainstream media and literature. “The Translators” podcast, features the abundance of creative talent the Latin community has to offer that is often overlooked and misrepresented. Join Michael & Jaime as they uncover the passion, path, and process of each guest to reveal what has made them successful in their highly competitive fields and challenge the myths that come with Latinx stereotypes. Even though we’re speaking the same language, some people still need Translators! 

In this week’s episode, Juan shares his experience writing and selling a comedy show as a Latino in the entertainment industry. As a kid, he had a hard time figuring out his identity. Growing up, he thought he was mulatto because he was black and white, and he learned he was Latino he was also shamed for his use of Spanglish. As an adult, Juan is more confident about his identity and who he is, no matter what anyone else has to say about it. He uses that certainty to create hilarious characters and uplift Latino creators in the industry. Check out this episode to hear more about the amazing work he’s doing in TV, podcasting, and beyond! 

Keep up with Juan on his website and Instagram.

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Juliana Londoño is a proud Latina, bilingual, and licensed mental health therapist in NJ. Her business focuses on the intersectionality of mental health and the Latino/BIPOC communities. Her mission is to bring awareness, education, and resources through various outlets. Juliana has served as a thought leader, keynote speaker, and podcast guest. 

She has collaborated with #WeAllGrow Latina, LinkedIn News, and has been featured on Univision and NY Pix11 News. Juliana is a graduate of the Bank of America Women's Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell University. She is currently enrolled in the NASDAQ Entrepreneurship Program, The Milestone Circle. She is a community advocate and volunteers with America Needs You-NJ and Leading Young Women. During her free time, she enjoys figure skating, completing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time in nature. 

In this week’s episode, Juliana shares her experience as a Colombian immigrant living in America and her work to destigmatize mental health resources in Latine communities. Growing up, she found strength in her mother’s resilience and tries to embody her “make a way, find a way” attitude in her everyday life. Her work focuses on addressing the cultural context that prevents the Latine community from seeking mental health help. Juliana hopes to provide safe spaces for her people so they can receive the support they deserve. 

Keep up with Juliana on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.