May 20, 2026

Leading Sin Miedo with Miriam Simon

1 hour 21 minutes

Wines We're Drinking:

Jessica: Concho Orange Wine (Georgian wine, made in clay pots buried underground) semi-dry, light on the nose with citrus notes

Miriam: Roscaro Moscato, sipped in a "pretty fly for a cacti" wine glass

This week, Jessica sits down with Miriam Simon, executive coach, author, and host of the Latina Mic Drop podcast, for a conversation that is equal parts chisme, healing, and straight-up inspiration. Miriam grew up in Passaic, New Jersey as one of the only Mexican kids in the neighborhood, raised in survival mode, navigating a mother's Jehovah's Witness faith, and finding her footing on a volleyball court. She had three kids by 21, listened to the tia who told her to go back to work, and quietly climbed to an executive role in the transportation industry while hiding parts of herself the whole way up. Until she didn't anymore.

Miriam opens up about coming out publicly after 20 years with her partner, the identity framework she built from her own wounds, and why she created the Sin Miedo Authority Score assessment to help Latinas stop editing themselves in the workplace. She also shares the launch of MEC House, her new press company dedicated to amplifying and publishing women's stories.

In This Episode We Cover:

[00:00] Welcome and West Coast vs. East Coast weather chisme

[01:31] How Jessica and Miriam connected through Latinas in Podcasting

[02:18] Frustration with the lack of Latiné podcast representation in mainstream feeds

[04:51] Miriam's bio: executive coach, author, Forbes Coaches Council member, Latina Mic Drop host

[06:42] The origin story of Tattoos and Pearls

[07:32] Wines we're drinking: Roscaro Moscato and Georgian orange wine

[11:23] Growing up Mexican in Passaic, New Jersey

[16:34] Where Miriam landed in the school pecking order (hint: the smart kids, but still the only Mexican girl)

[18:36] Finding community, friendship, and volleyball at the local park

[21:05] Her mother's Jehovah's Witness faith and what it cost Miriam

[22:49] Losing access to her grandparents and how religion divided her family

[25:14] Three kids by 21, a relationship that fell apart, and the aunt who changed everything

[31:20] On the red pill manosphere and why women's financial independence matters

[33:35] Meeting her partner of 20 years and coming out for the first time on this podcast

[37:55] Why it took until after the pandemic to speak openly about her identity

[40:24] The family dynamic of "everybody knew, but nobody talked about it"

[45:20] The progression from airport job to 9 promotions to executive leadership

[49:18] The mentor who said "just be you" and how that changed everything

[53:25] Learning that only 3.3% of Latinas are in managerial roles and why she stays at her 9-to-5

[54:46] What the "costume" of assimilation costs us in the workplace

[57:11] Being called cheap labor, hiding her identity as a mom, and losing wages because of it

[01:00:28] What chingona energy actually looks like in a boardroom

[01:01:25] Breaking down the Sin Miedo Authority Score assessment

[01:05:29] Asking for forgiveness vs. asking for permission, and what it really means for Latinas

[01:10:58] Why staying in a 9-to-5 can be an act of community service, not a compromise

[01:14:44] MEC House: Miriam's new press company to amplify and publish women's stories

[01:17:19] Closing wisdom: the answer is always no if you don't ask the question

Connect with Miriam Simon:

Website: miriamsimonline.com

Instagram: @IamMiriamSimon

LinkedIn: Miriam Simon

YouTube: IamMiriamSimon

Podcast: Latina Mic Drop

Take the Sin Miedo Authority Assessment

Book: Tattoos and Pearls

Press Company: MEC House

Connect with Wine & Chisme:

Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com

Instagram: @wineandchisme

TikTok: @wineandchisme

YouTube: Wine & Chisme

Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com/wine-brand-directory

Your story deserves to be heard, your voice deserves to be in the room, and your glass deserves something worth sipping. Salud, mi gente!

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By Jessica Yañez

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