Hood Girls Travel Too The Podcast

In the last episode we left off sharing our fast-paced Iceland & Paris leg of our journey and were getting settled into our rental house in Costal Spain. 

Well... after that the journey took an unexpected turn; big feelings, internal struggles and open/honest communication. So in this week's episode we're giving you context about why the trip turned out differently than expected. 

Next week we'll pick up with the journey and you'll hear all about our fun, funny and at times nail-biting adventures in Spain!

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This episode we're checking in to talk about last minute packing panic, 24 hours in Iceland and the hard-hitting reality of jet lag that hit us like a ton of bricks on our way to Paris.

Enjoy the day-to-day journey with us on instagram @HoodGirlsTravelToo 

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This week's episode is the start of our "Notes from the road" series, where we invite you to join us on our 8 week journey through Europe.

In this episode you'll get to meet my travel buddy, hear all about how the idea for the trip first came up, the steps we took to kind of bring the trip together and where we are now in our preparation for the trip considering we are in the final countdown with just 14 days to go.

As we document this journey, we truly invite you to ask us questions and to practice curiosity. If there's something you want to know about our journey, our planning or just about us feel free to DM us. Some of your questions may potentially be part of our ongoing series where we take you along with us on this journey and check in to know how we're doing where we are and where we're headed next.

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After a much needed break... we back y'all. 

In this very brief episode, we are checking-in... what we've been up to, how we've been navigating the dumpster-fire reality we're living in and what is next for the Hood Girls Travel Too community. 

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My guest today is Laura Cardona, 

Laura, also known as the Buena Vida Life Coach, is a Colombian Born, NJ-raised, Former NYer now turned Californian. Breaking barriers, she became the first in her family to attend college and pursue her passion for film and storytelling. Laura had a successful career in entertainment for 17 years but eventually heard the calling and transitioned into the role of a Life Coach. Her mission now is dedicated to creating a positive and supportive space for the Latina/e/x community, where everyone gets equipped with the tools and mindset needed to thrive and achieve their full potential. Her coaching style is characterized by a unique blend of gentle loving guidance and savvy real talk, providing her clients with an empathetic and realistic approach to personal development. Laura’s driving force is the unwavering belief that Latinas have the inherent right to balance their busy lives, have a strong sense of self-worth, AND live a joyful fulfilling Buena Vida. 

My next guest is Laura Tejeda 

Laura is a lifelong East Los Angeles resident. She has a Masters's Degree in Organizational Leadership and serves as an Equity & Social Justice practitioner in the non profit sector. Laura is also a multimedia journalist with experience as freelance writer for L.A. TACO and content producer for De Los, the LA Times Latino Initiative. She is the founder of Instagram-based page @hungryineastlos which began in efforts to challenge gentrification in East LA and support family-owned & people of color-owned businesses in East LA and beyond.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when her episode drops later this month. 

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My guest today is Maritza Diaz, 

Maritza is a Latina content creator and tech industry professional, is also a dedicated full-time mom. Before embracing motherhood, travel was her passion, offering her a sense of liberation and self-discovery. However, her world turned upside down when she experienced pregnancy during the pandemic and struggled with postpartum depression. Despite these challenges, she later found that being a mom ignited a new excitement for travel, both solo and with her family. I can’t wait for you to meet her!

@MitzyDays

Visit her website 

My next guest is Laura Cardona, 

Laura, also known as the Buena Vida Life Coach, is a Colombian Born, NJ-raised, Former NYer now turned Californian. Breaking barriers, she became the first in her family to attend college and pursue her passion for film and storytelling. Laura had a successful career in entertainment for 17 years but eventually heard the calling and transitioned into the role of a Life Coach. Her mission now is dedicated to creating a positive and supportive space for the Latina/e/x community, where everyone gets equipped with the tools and mindset needed to thrive and achieve their full potential. Her coaching style is characterized by a unique blend of gentle loving guidance and savvy real talk, providing her clients with an empathetic and realistic approach to personal development. Laura’s driving force is the unwavering belief that Latinas have the inherent right to balance their busy lives, have a strong sense of self-worth, AND live a joyful fulfilling Buena Vida. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when her episode drops later this month. 

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Michelle Aguilar, formerly Michelle Arredondo is a Chicago native and former Flight attendant, currently working a 9-5 in higher education. She is also the external communications manager for Rise & Thrive Latinas.

I am grateful to Michelle for choosing to lead with vulnerability. I’m grateful to her for the energy she came into this convo with and the stories shared.

My next guest is…

Maritza Diaz, a Latina content creator and tech industry professional, is also a dedicated full-time mom. Before embracing motherhood, travel was her passion, offering her a sense of liberation and self-discovery. However, her world turned upside down when she experienced pregnancy during the pandemic and struggled with postpartum depression. Despite these challenges, she later found that being a mom ignited a new excitement for travel, both solo and with her family. I can’t wait for you to meet her! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when her episode drops later this month. 

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Joining me today is Bianca Alba.

Bianca is a proud Latina and first-generation college graduate. She was born in the heart of South America in Cochabamba, Bolivia and is the oldest of four sisters. Bianca holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Public Health. Despite many years of schooling, Bianca managed to pay off all her student loans and feels liberated by being debt-free.

Bianca is the voice and creator of “This Latina Travels!” – A podcast about travel through the eyes of a First Generation Latina traveler/college grad sharing all her travel experiences first-hand! As a little girl, living in a single-parent household, trips and vacations were just a dream and felt unreachable. This Latina Travels is more than just Bianca telling you about her experiences, but it is a true reflection that dreams can become reality! To date, Bianca has traveled to 6 of the 7 continents in the world and her goal is to encourage and support women who look like her to travel the world too!

My next guest Michelle Aguilar (Formerly Arredondo) 

Michelle is a Chicago native. Former Flight attendant, Currently working a 9-5 in higher education. She is also the external communications manager for Rise&Thrive Latinas a convener and curator of spaces for Latinas to connect, build community, and work toward collective healing. I’m so excited for you to meet her! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when her episode drops later this month.

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Joining me this week is Stephanie Hebron Ortiz, Stephanie is a Healthcare Analyst and has been working in Healthcare for the past 9 years. She has a degree in  Communications and just completed a Masters in Public Health in Health Policy and Administration from UIC. She’s worked as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, high school teacher, Executive Assistant, Contract Management and did theater for 5+ years. She’s passionate about both Domestic Violence and Community Medical Advocacy. 

- She strives for overall well being, justice, accessibility and equity! Her goal is to continue to work to address the Public Health needs within the USA and Puerto Rico. Specifically in the areas of self and collective advocacy and women’s health. As she works toward this goal she is a seasoned traveler and plans to continue to travel, have fun and nurture her creative side!

Connect with her on Instagram @Salvaxeflor 

For those who are listening, Stephanie and I met at a book club meetup that we are both members of called Rise and Thrive Latinas. If you are in the Chicagoland area and are interested in sitting in community with some truly dope women and supporting emerging Latina authors, I sincerely recommend checking it out. You can find them on Instagram at @RiseAndThriveLatinas. Although that sounded like a commercial, it’s not. I just have found a lot of joy in that space since becoming a member and want to highlight it for that reason. Also, I’ve met a lot of amazing women who are friends outside of that space too. And we all know how challenging it can be to cultivate new friendships as adults so I am so grateful for the RTL space for that reason as well. 

Joining me next episode is Bianca Alba. Bianca is a proud Latina and first-generation college graduate. She was born in the heart of South America in Cochabamba, Bolivia and is the oldest of four sisters. Bianca holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Public Health. Despite many years of schooling, Bianca managed to pay off all her student loans and feels liberated by being debt-free.

Bianca is the voice and creator of “This Latina Travels!” – A podcast about travel through the eyes of a First Generation Latina traveler/college grad sharing all her travel experiences first-hand! As a little girl, living in a single-parent household, trips and vacations were just a dream and felt unreachable. This Latina Travels is more than just Bianca telling you about her experiences, but it is a true reflection that dreams can become reality! To date, Bianca has traveled to 6 of the 7 continents in the world and her goal is to encourage and support women who look like her to travel the world too!

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🎙️ Season 2 Episode #2  Meet Erica Gardunio

Erica is the face and brains behind @viajerica_ a platform she created to highlight her journey exploring new places. Viajerica is a play on the Spanish word Viajera which means traveler. For Erica the name embodies the spirit of her journey well. A journey she wholeheartedly embraced after a career shift from nursing to healthcare tech to “whomp whomp” unemployment. She took that unexpected career curveball and used it as an opportunity to explore the things that light her up and make her feel most alive. She’s taking this time to do it different, to do it her way and to share that journey with us all through the Viajerica Platform. 

🎧 Listen to her episode now on all your favorite podcast platforms. Link in bio. 

👀 Our next guest is Stephanie Hebron Ortiz, Stephanie is a Healthcare Analyst, passionate about Domestic Violence and Community Medical Advocacy. She strives for overall well being, justice, accessibility and equity for all! Her goal is to continue to work to address the Public Health needs within the USA and Puerto Rico. Specifically in the areas of self and collective advocacy and women’s health. As she works toward this goal she is a plans to continue to travel, have fun and nurture her creative side. You might recognize Stephanie from the episode we did last season discussing access, privilege and the impacts of over-tourism in places like Puerto Rico. She was essential to that conversation and I encourage you to make a mental note to go back and listen to that episode if you haven’t already. It’s a powerful conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when her episode drops on January 2nd so you can join us in starting off 2025 with Stephanie’s story!

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