In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with my friend Valentina Roberta. We discussed her business, but before that, we talked about her childhood, which was such a pivotal point in her life. Childhood experiences shape us, and Valentina's story is no exception. She left her home as a little girl to find a job in the city, determined to never experience hunger again. Despite the trials she faced, she remains a gentle and kind-hearted person who values building genuine friendships.

Valentina shared how, during a challenging time when her husband lost his job, a brilliant idea came to her—this was the beginning of their Antique & Collectible business. I hope you find inspiration in her story, just as I did while recording this episode.   Be inspired by her journey. 

Welcome back to another episode! On this episode,  I had the pleasure  of speaking  with Analleli Villegas Barrera. She shared her experiences growing up in San Diego as an Oaxaqueña and navigating life as a DACA recipient in a border city. Our conversation delved into some potentially controversial topics like Chicanismo and Indigeneity, as she shared her perspective.

Analleli also opened up about the challenges of being the oldest child in her family and making tough decisions that at the moment felt like it would break her world apart .We discussed how our choices often come with consequences, but sometimes they lead to the best outcomes.

It was truly refreshing to explore these themes and allow ourselves to break free from the expectations society places on us. Our conversation served as a reminder to embrace authenticity and live beyond the limitations we impose on ourselves.

Enjoy  this episode. 

This is a special episode where Hector Hernandez from Unidad Popular Benito Juarez , Jose Eduardo Chavez & Patsy Mejia from Madera Guelaguetza Committee, and I sat down to have a conversation about what the Guelaguetza is and how it came to be in their cities/ regions in California Central Valley. Throughout this conversation, you will hear the pain that the community has experienced due to biases, prejudices, oppression, and so much more. You will also hear the good and the bad we have been dealing with within our Oaxaqueño community due to generational trauma BUT you will also hear the beauty that flows in the Oaxacan community when they come together. Enjoy this conversation y que Viva Oaxaca Y su Gente. 

** PS this episode is 45 Minutes. 

In this episode, I had the privilege to have a conversation with Jose Hernandez, and this was pretty special because we are familia. In this episode, he shared about the challenges he encountered in childhood in the Central Valley and the catalyst that led him in his new Journey as he is getting ready to open his business ( Auto dealership). He shared his reason for embarking on a business and the bigger impact he wants to create in his community. A little spoiler his mom is one of the people he looks up to, influencing him to strive for more. Remember, don't underestimate 4'11 :)! Enjoy this episode and share it with others! 

In this episode, I was privileged to talk with Ramiro Antonio Reyes. He shared his experience of embracing his indigenous roots and his parents' influence on his life. Through the conversation, you will hear how Ramiro expresses his admiration for his parents and their identity as Oaxaqueñ@s. He shares how we belong in the places we find ourselves and that there is no reason to believe anything less. You will also hear his frustration on the topic of cultural appropriation as it is growing. Ramiro also shares about his professional life and the different stepping stones that have led him where he is. He advises us to seek help; we don't have to do things alone.

In this episode, we spoke with Raul, who defines a true definition of resilience and shows how strong our people are. I encourage you to take a minute and digest his story, as it is profound. In the first two minutes, he shared how as a minor, he almost lost his life trying to reach US soil.; but thankfully, he is here to share his story with us. He shared what it was to be a teenager working in the fields as a First-generation immigrant and how different it looks for those who are children of immigrants. We talked about how our status can inflict futuristic thinking, that has caused mental health troubles. We spoke about addictions that affect our community and  so much more. 

We are back with another episode!
In this episode, we spoke with Gianna Nino Tapias about being a medical student in  Stanford, the challenges that come with that, and how her roots as indigenous have helped her stay resilient. We also talked about injustices our communities have and continue to encounter, such as discrimination, inequitable pay, and so much more. A reminder that this conversation is about our personal experiences: disclosure this episode was recorded about a year ago, so as you can guess, a lot has happened between the day we had this conversation and now. Still, this conversation is so relevant at this time. Thank you so much to Gianna for this conversation and your patience. It was an honor to have the opportunity to listen to your story! Here is the link to give context to our conversation when we were talking about what she shared on social media. Enjoy this conversation. 
 

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/video/stanford-grads-viral-tweet-highlights-pay-disparity-farmworkers-72363462

In this episode, I had the honor and privilege to have a conversation with IndigeMoney we talked about  investing,  scarcity mindset, generational wealth, and so much more.  Questions arose as we talked about money and the high percentage of Indigenous living under the poverty level. Through our conversation we discussed about  the mindset and how generational mindset transfers such as our parents to us. This conversation was so enriching. Enjoy and let us make moves as a community. 

In this episode, I had the pleasure to speak with Yolanda Mello. Our conversation was full of raw topics. Such as the negative stigmas keeping women ( her) from receiving an education, her faith journey, her interracial marriage, the challenges and negativity we face within the family unit.  It was an honest conversation about what we go through, but sometimes we don't say it outloud. I am sure more than one person can relate to her story because I definitely did. But in the end, it is about growth and confidence. Enjoy and share. " Don't be afraid to embrace who you are!" 

In this episode, I talked to Martha Flores about what it means to grow up in two mundos( worlds) as her mother is Oaxaqueña, and her father was born in Mexico City and grew up in Guerrero.  We talked about her journey through higher education and graduating through the pandemic, as well as finding her voice not to remain silent anymore. Thank you so much, Martha, for this opportunity. Enjoy and share, share.
Follow on IG: @oaxacaempoweredgeneration.