Step into a heart-led conversation with Megan Lebre, host of the South Bay Buzz podcast, as she sits down with award-winning Puerto Rican author and parenting mentor, Mari Bellas.

Mari’s new bilingual children’s book Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky no habla Inglés: A Bilingual English-Spanish Picture Book (Lil' Libros Bilingual Book) is a "story honors the beauty of family, the strength of language, and a culture enriched with plantains, dominoes, and warmth. Tío RickyDoesn’t Speak English/Tío Ricky no habla inglés is a heartwarming tribute to the kids who translate not just words, but emotions, traditions, and even love. "

Together, Megan and Mari talk about the joy and challenges of raising bilingual kids, the power of storytelling to nurture empathy, and why seeing your culture reflected in books matters.

If you care about language, identity, and the way local stories shape our future, this one’s for you.

• Subscribe to South Bay Buzz with Megan Lebre for more conversations that connect us through authentic stories. Follow Megan on Instagram @thesouthbaybuzz and join the newsletter at southbaybuzz.com to stay in the loop.

• To stay in touch with Mari, please email [email protected]. For more information, please visit www.mariterewrites.com or connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.
• To RSVP for the October 13th Book Launch Reception, please visit pages: a bookstore website: https://pagesabookstore.com/event/2025-10-13/special-author-event-mari-bellas
• Thank you to Orange Door Spaces for sponsoring today's podcast episode! Bring your co-working and events to life by visiting www.orangedoorspaces.com today!