Viva la Mami - Latina Motherhood, Modern Parenting, Latina Well-Being

In this solo episode, I'm sitting down with you to share some big news. My family and I are moving back to Chicago after a year and three months of living in México. I talk about how this season has taught me to move through uncertainty, and I share two mindset shifts that are helping me through the change. I also share the lesson my three- and five-year-old boys taught me about resilience. And after five years, seven seasons, and 25,000 downloads, I'm officially saying goodbye to the podcast, for now. Gracias for being part of this journey!

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode175

What you'll hear

• Why my family made the decision to return to the US, and what living in México gave my kids
• Mindset shift #1: pivoting or pausing doesn't erase what you've already built
• Mindset shift #2: you can grieve and decide something new at the same time
• What my kids' reaction to our move taught me about facing change without fear
• Why I'm pausing the Viva la Mami podcast after five years, and what's next

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In this episode, I sit down with my fellow Chicagoan Nina Sanchez, publisher and co-founder of ¡Viva! Los Libros, a bilingual children's bookstore that's now becoming a press. We talk about why less than 1% of books published in the US are bilingual, why "authentic" Spanish books aren't always what they seem, and how Nina wrote her first book, Somos: We Are, as a love letter to Latine kids during one of the scariest seasons our community in Chicago has lived through. If you've ever struggled to find books that look and sound like your family, this conversation is for you.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode174

What you'll hear

〰 Why the bilingual book gap still exists, and what the numbers say about representation for Latine kids
〰 The truth about translated books, and Nina's question: "authentic to whom?
〰 How ¡Viva! Los Libros is writing stories in English and Spanish side by side, instead of translating one into the other
〰 The story behind Somos: We Are, a bilingual book of affirmations for Latine children
〰 Practical tips for building your child's bilingual library, plus how Nina is redefining madrehood

Resources mentioned

〰 ¡Viva! Los Libros
〰 Instagram: @vivaloslibros_chi
〰 Somos: We Are by Nina Sanchez, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda
〰 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

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In this episode, I sit down with Daniela Palacios, founder and CEO of Para KIDS!, a bilingual children's media company helping families raise kids who are proud of both their languages and their cultures. Daniela's journey started as an older sister watching her younger brother struggle to speak Spanish — and it turned into a mission to make sure no kid grows up feeling disconnected from their language or their culture. We talk about what it really means to raise a bilingual child with love, play, and practical tools, and why giving yourself grace matters just as much as giving your child the right resources.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode173

What you'll hear:
〰 Daniela's story as an ESL student and older sister, and how watching her brother struggle with Spanish shaped Para KIDS!
〰 Why "bilingual joy" matters more than perfect grammar or a strict timeline
〰 Practical, everyday ways to bring language and culture into your household (without turning it into a chore)
〰 What to say to yourself when you feel like your own Spanish "isn't good enough" to teach your kids
〰 Why bilingual books are changing the game for families where one parent doesn't read in English — or in Spanish

Resources Mentioned:
〰 Para KIDS! website — parakidsbooks.com
〰 Instagram — @parakidsbooks
〰 Sara's New Country and New Friend / El nuevo país y la nueva amiga de Sara — available on Amazon
〰 Email: [email protected]

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

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www.vivalamami.com

In honor of Latinx Breastfeeding Week, taking place September 8-14, I sat down with Vanessa Morones, a perinatal program manager, WIC breastfeeding peer counselor, and co-chair of LATCH (Latina Chicana Task Force) and the Latinx Lactation Collaborative.

We talked about why La Semana de la Lactancia exists, the predatory history of formula marketing, the myths and creencias many of us grew up hearing, and how to normalize extended and tandem breastfeeding in our own families. I also open up about my own relactation journey and what it taught me about the power (and vulnerability) of this experience.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode172

What you'll hear:

• Why Latinx Breastfeeding Week was created and how it connects to Hispanic Heritage Month
• The history of predatory formula marketing and how it shaped generational breastfeeding beliefs
• Common myths and taboos in Latino families - el susto, "se te va a secar la leche," and more
• The real barriers Latina mothers face today, from returning to work to lack of culturally responsive resources
• How to wean gently, what long-term breastfeeding really means, and why there's no shame in however a mom chooses to feed her baby

Resources Mentioned:

• Latinx Lactation Collaborative
• LATCH (Latina Chicana Task Force
• Global Health Media Project
• WIC breastfeeding peer counseling programs
• The PUMP Act

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

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Visit the Viva la Mami Website
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For this episode of the Mamis Abroad series, I sat down with Bianca Alba, founder of This Latina Travels. This episode is for every mami who has ever seen someone else's trip on Instagram and thought, "why not me?" We get into the mindset shifts, the guilt, and the very real logistics of traveling as a mom, whether that's a family vacation, a solo mom-cation, or your first trip abroad. Bianca shares us practical tools to make it happen. If you've ever felt like travel was a luxury reserved for someone else, this episode is your permission slip.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode171

What You'll Hear

• Why travel doesn't have to mean "across the world"
• How to reframe mom guilt around solo travel
• What travel hacking is, and tips to travel smart
• How to raise globally-minded kids
• Breaking generational narratives around "who gets to travel"

Resources Mentioned

• This Latina Travels - thislatinatravels.com | Instagram: @thislatinatravels
• Discount code PODCAST for 20% off Bianca's shop

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

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Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

In this episode, I sit down with Abbey Ashley, founder of The Virtual Savvy and one of the leading voices in virtual assistant education, to answer a question I get from mamis in my community all the time: what can I do for income if I move abroad?

Abbey breaks it all down - what a VA business actually is, what skills you need to start, how to land your first client, and whether this model can truly support a life outside the US. If you've been dreaming of raising your family in another country without giving up your income, this one is for you.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode170

What you'll hear:

• What a virtual assistant actually does, and why this business model is made for moms who need flexibility
• Which skills are in demand right now (including what's changing with AI and why now is actually the best time to start)
• How to land your first paying client with no portfolio, no experience, and no big following
• What a realistic income timeline looks like, and how to build financial stability from the start
• Why this business model is 110% location-independent and what that looks like in real life

Resources Mentioned:

• FREE training - Become a Booked Out Virtual Assistant
• The Virtual Savvy 90-Day Accelerator
• The Virtual Savvy free Facebook community (140K+ VAs, free job leads): thevirtualsavvy.com/community

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

I'm kicking off Season 7 of Viva la Mami, and I'm doing it a couple weeks later than I planned, and I'm telling you exactly why. In this bonus episode, I catch you up on everything: why the season launch got delayed, what our first summer in Mexico actually looked like, and the lesson I keep coming back to when life doesn't go according to plan. I'm also sharing what's ahead this season - new guests, more Mamis Abroad stories, and solo episodes where I open up about my own journey.

What You'll Hear

• Why Season 7 launched later than planned, and why I'm not apologizing for it
• A recap of our first full summer living in León, Guanajuato
• What's coming this season: subject-matter guests, more Mamis Abroad episodes, and solo episodes
• A reminder (for me and for you) that it's okay to let go of the plan when life asks you to

Resources Mentioned

• Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
• Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE
• Free 20-minute college consulting consultation

Support the show

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

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In this solo episode, I share about why I don't consider myself an expat, even though I moved from the United States to Mexico. I break down what the word "expat" actually means, who it tends to describe, and why I believe it's rooted in privilege. I also share why I see myself as an immigrant instead, coming back to the country my parents fled decades ago, and what it's been like navigating that identity almost a year into our move to México.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode168

What You'll Hear:
〰 The real definition of "expat" and who it typically applies to
〰 Why being a daughter of Mexican immigrants changes my relationship to this move
〰 The difference between cultural tourism and cultural immersion during your first year abroad
〰 Why I believe "expat" is a privileged word that avoids the term "immigrant"

Resources Mentioned:
〰 Join the VLM newsletter for deeper reflections like this one
〰 1:1 relocation consultations for families considering a move to Mexico
〰 Send your thoughts: [email protected] or DM me on Instagram @vivalamami

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

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Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

En este episodio en español de mi serie Mamis Abroad, tuve el honor de conversar con Sandra Bermúdez, de "Sandra Sin Filtro", una mamá venezolana que ha vivido no una, sino dos migraciones: primero de Venezuela a México, y después de México a Estados Unidos.

Hablamos de lo que significa crear comunidad desde cero, de criar hijos que se sienten orgullosos de ser de varios lugares, y de esas diferencias culturales - grandes y pequeñas - que una siente en carne propia cuando se muda de país.

Para obtener notas detalladas del episodio, visita vivalamami.com/episode167

Lo que vas a escuchar:
〰 Cómo construir una comunidad de mamás cuando llegas a un país nuevo y no conoces a nadie
〰 Por qué salir de tu zona de confort es la clave para no sentirte sola en la maternidad
〰 Cómo hablarles a tus hijos sobre su identidad cuando son de varios países a la vez
〰 Las diferencias culturales entre Latinoamérica y Estados Unidos
〰 Consejos prácticos para preparar a tus hijos emocionalmente antes de una mudanza internacional

Recursos mencionados:
〰 Pódcast de Sandra: Sandra Sin Filtro
〰 Sandra en redes: @sandrasinfiltro
〰 Dona a Hogar Bambi, apoyando a niños venezolanos afectados por los terremotos

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

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Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

In this episode of the Mamis Abroad series, I sit down with Vanessa Mota, a Dominican-American content creator, digital publisher, author, and founder of My Dominican Kitchen.

Vanessa made the boldest move by packing up her life in New Jersey and moving solo to the Dominican Republic. She has spent 12 years building her bilingual food brand for the Dominican diaspora, and now she's creating from the island itself. We talk about the empty nest season, what it really means to come home to your roots, and why you don't have to be ready to take the leap.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode166

What you'll hear:
〰 Why waiting until you're "ready" to make a big move is the one thing keeping you stuck
〰 How to stop losing yourself in motherhood at any season, so that when your kids fly the nest, you already know who you are and what you want
〰 What it really feels like to return to your family's homeland, and why that ancestral connection might be exactly what your creativity has been missing
〰 How to actually make living abroad work financially, even if you don't have a location-independent business yet
〰 Why your next chapter doesn't need a perfect plan - just one next best step

Resources Mentioned:

〰 Visit My Dominican Kitchen's website: mydominicankitchen.com
〰 Follow Vanessa on Instagram: @my.dominican.kitchen
〰 Support and purchase Vanessa's cookbook

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com