Latina Leadership Podcast

They told us the history books were complete. They were not. Most of us walked through twelve years of school and never heard the names of the people who fought, in courtrooms and city councils and newspaper columns, so that a Latina could vote, run for office, and be counted as a full citizen. That history was here the whole time. We just were not handed it. Dr. Sarah Zenaida Gould is the Executive Director of the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute, MACRI, the only national museum dedicated to preserving and sharing Mexican American civil rights history. A historian who has spent two decades in museums, she sat down with Anjelica inside MACRI in San Antonio, the city she calls the cradle of the movement, during Fiesta on the Texas Road Trip. In this conversation you learn why San Antonio holds this history, how Mexican Americans fought for the vote, and how to find your voice in a room that was not built to hear it. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast Learn more about our guest: MACRI: somosmacri.org Email MACRI: [email protected] 2026 MACRI Symposium: May 29 to 30 in San Antonio, livestreamed  

You trained for years to become one thing. Then the path bent somewhere you never planned for. Sound familiar, amiga? Dr. Erika Cavazos started as a physician in Mexico. When she moved to Texas she landed in a public health department, and from there she kept following her curiosity into graduate school, into a hospital administration role, and finally into a field most people cannot even define: biomedical informatics. Today she teaches it as faculty at the same university where she once sat as a student. In this Laredo conversation she explains what biomedical informatics actually is, how it brings specialists to communities that have few, and how she built all of it while raising three kids.

Patty Kirby owns Madison Avenue Marketing Agency, one of the first female owned agencies in Laredo, a city she says won the geographic lottery on the border. She came up through the 2008 crash, opened her doors in 2019, and watched the business grow right through the years everyone told her it should have closed. Seven years in, she has the receipts and the canas to prove it. In this episode she shows you how to lead without treating every deadline like a crisis, why collaboration beats competition for small agencies, and what it actually feels like to start over when your only child leaves home

They tell you the border is something to be afraid of. McAllen tells a completely different story. A festival city. A grant written in the area code. A chamber that opens the door for a hundred dollars. The narrative you have been handed about South Texas was never the whole picture, and one day in the 956 makes that obvious. On this road tour stop, Anjelica Cazares and Monica Vallejo sat down with five of the people who actually run McAllen's events and entrepreneurship machine: Joe Garcia of the McAllen Convention Center, Lee Wooldridge of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Amy De Laos and Carlin Williams from the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and Yajayda Flores, who directs the entire convention facilities campus. Between them they touch over 500 events a year and the programs that turn an idea into a registered business. You will walk away knowing how to get funded, how to get on a vendor list, and how a city decides to bet on its own founders. This is the map, amiga.

You're tired. Between running your business, showing up for your family, and constantly fighting against the systemic barriers placed in front of us, it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. The news cycle is exhausting, and sometimes you just want to tune it all out. Today's guest, the incredible J.C. Frias, gets it. As a fierce community advocate and voice for South Texas Latinas, J.C. has built a platform connecting the dots between pop culture, politics, and our everyday lives—all while learning how to navigate the very real burnout that comes with carrying the torch as a first-generation trailblazer. In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to stay civically engaged without emptying your cup. You'll learn how to set boundaries with your activism, why your small business is inherently political, and tactical steps to make an impact right in your local community today.

You called in. No insurance. Private pay. And the quote came back: $10,000. For one test. That number and the fact that it dropped to $1,500 the moment Bobby Pulido asked to pay cash is why a Tejano legend who spent 30 years selling out stages is now knocking on doors in 11 Texas counties asking for your vote. Jose Roberto Pulido Jr. Known across generations as Bobby Pulido, built his career from a two-record-label bidding war at 21 years old. Son of Tejano icon Roberto Pulido, Bobby earned an academic scholarship to St. Mary's University in San Antonio, studied political science, and left 21 credit hours short of his degree when music pulled him in. Grammy recognition, decades of chart success, and songs still sung at every quinceañera and karaoke night across South Texas, that is his resume. Now he is running for U.S. Congress in District 15, a district covering the Rio Grande Valley across 11 counties all the way north toward Gonzales County, and he is bringing the same ganas he carried onto every stage. In this conversation, Bobby breaks down why the American healthcare system is broken by design, what Citizens United did to political accountability, and why your vote at the city council level matters just as much as the one you cast in November. This is a conversation about structural power for every amiga who has ever done the math on a deductible and decided not to go.  

Nobody is sending a camera crew to Harlingen, Texas to ask what the women there are building. Nobody is calling the vendor at Booth 14 of the Harlingen Bazaar to ask how she started. Nobody asked the 19-year-old with a perfume cart what she figured out before she turned 20. That's exactly why we went. Episode 9 of the Latina Leadership Podcast was recorded live during the Texas Road Tour, deep in the Rio Grande Valley, in a city that runs on ganas, faith, family, and the particular stubbornness it takes to build something when the system is not built for you. Dr. Paulina Sosa Quintanilla, founder of Latinx Voices and holder of a doctorate in public health informatics from Johns Hopkins, opens the conversation on Latino health equity and what it means to pull up your own chair to the decision table. Then Anjelica walks into the Harlingen Bazaar, and the community takes it from there. By the end of this episode, you will have heard from a health advocate, an anime shop owner, a Bible journaling entrepreneur, a salsa maker who turned trauma into three thriving booths, a 19-year-old who found her wholesale supplier on TikTok, and a tea house owner building the kind of community space she wishes she had. Every single one of them started before they were ready.

We've all been there, sitting on the sidelines of our own communities, feeling like the systems around us weren't built for us, and honestly, wondering if our single voice even matters. It's easy to stay in the comfort of our living rooms, but that comfort often comes at the price of the change we desperately want to see for our children and our neighborhoods. On today's episode, we sit down with Linda Macias, the City Commissioner for District 2 in Brownsville, Texas. After the sudden loss of her mother to COVID-19, Linda transformed her personal grief into a calling for public service, proving that leadership isn't about titles, it's about the radical act of showing up for your neighbors. You are going to learn why local municipal elections are the most powerful lever you have for immediate change and how to find the courage to step into spaces where you feel "uncomfortable" until you finally belong.

Third spaces are becoming a luxury and Latina communities are feeling it most. Monica Vallejo and Anjelica Cazares get into why gathering together is getting harder, what it costs us when it does, and what one road trip through Texas has to do with all of it. Our Monica, community leader and co-founder of the Cristina Project, gets real about reinventing yourself after your kids leave, choosing joy when the world is heavy, and why 53 feels like 25 when you refuse to let regret run the show.

Latinas don't negotiate because we lack confidence, that's the myth. María del Pilar Casal, who oversaw a $400M brand portfolio at Televisa Univision before leaving at 37 to start her own business, breaks down the one salary negotiation tactic that changes everything, and why building your own table is not a backup plan but a power move. This conversation covers the real reason Latinas leave money on the table (hint: it's not mindset), what 15 years in influencer marketing taught her about power and authenticity, and what she is learning in her first year of founding her own business while raising a newborn. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Lucia Mercado knows that room. Born and raised in Riverside, California, she became one of the first — if not the only — person in her family to earn a college degree. She navigated financial aid alone, weathered a CPA internship that ended without warning, and eventually found her footing not in a corporate office but at a Chico pop-up market with five handmade necklaces and a borrowed booth space. Today she runs Mercado Productions, producing 15+ events a year including the Lunar Market, Divine Sundays, and the Día de los Muertos festival that grew from 500 attendees to over 3,000 in three years. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

You built the resume. You showed up. And still that voice follows you into every room: Who do you think you are? It tells you you're too much. Or not enough. Or that the real you the dancer, the writer, the one who wanted to major in something that actually lit you up doesn't belong here. That voice has a name. And Cynthia Platero has been working with it for years. Cynthia Platero is an executive coach and the founder of Coaching Creatives, a practice built on one belief: everyone is creative, and that creative self is the key to doing the work you're actually here to do. With over a decade in human resources, a background in finance and compensation analytics, and a first-generation college experience that cost her a dance major, Cynthia brings the full picture the corporate, the cultural, and the deeply personal into every coaching session.  In this conversation, you'll learn how to recognize when imposter syndrome is trying to protect you versus hold you back, and what it actually looks like to make decisions aligned with your thoughts, your heart, and your gut. Two sentences. Real tools. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast  

Ian Córdova grew up in a small pueblo in Michoacán with nine million streams on Spotify and a Billboard credit—and he's still more himself when he's making regional music. Hear how authenticity, family influence, and the courage to blend genres became his path. In this conversation, Ian shares: Why regional music feels like home, even as his career expands into reggaeton and hip-hop How family became his first creative collaborators (especially his brothers) The artists who shaped his sound: Gerardo Ortiz, Alfredo Olivas, Javier Rosas The moment he chose music over a conventional job What's coming this year: a blend of regional and urban releases Why staying true to yourself is the long-term commercial strategy Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Episode 9: How a Mexican-American Grammy Winner Builds the Stage She Never Had Las Patronas: SXSW Edition — Sounds of Musica Mexicana Presented by Sony Music Latin Mexican pop, bilingual identity, self-belief, and building platforms for the next generation Las Patronas took their microphone to South by Southwest as part of their Sounds of Musica Mexicana coverage, presented by Sony Music Latin. And one of the most interesting brains they sat with was a Grammy winning Mexican-American producer and pop artist who grew up in Rockford, Illinois, thinking she'd spend her life behind a computer. She didn't. She built something that didn't exist for her when she started and now she's building it for the girls behind her. In this conversation: what it actually takes to believe in yourself before anyone else does, how music works like a math equation (and why that makes complete sense), and what it looks like to use your platform to kick a door open for someone else. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Have you ever felt like your toughest, saddest moments are just holding you back? We've all been right there, feeling stuck in our emotions, especially when navigating the heavy pressures of our careers and cultural expectations. Today, we are changing that narrative completely with Oscar Ortiz, one of the most exciting new players in Música Regional Mexicana. He is a gifted singer-songwriter born in Tijuana who knows exactly how to channel deep feelings into massive, tangible success. In this special episode recorded live at SXSW, you will learn how to turn your sadness into your greatest creative superpower. We also dive into the real art of manifestation and what it takes to build a career that feels less like work and more like living your ultimate purpose. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Head over to our website and follow our socials to keep updated, join the conversation: Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Healing burnout isn't about taking a week off  it's about finally listening to what your body has been signaling for years. Desiree Vazquez left a decade in television after an autoimmune diagnosis, moved to Madrid, and built a mindfulness practice now reaching Levi's, Chipotle, public school students, and women's healing circles across the country. This episode covers nervous system regulation, sound healing, Latina ancestral wisdom, the guilt around resting, how to talk to older generations about mental health, and why community might be the most underrated wellness tool right now. 00:00 — Why Latinas struggle to rest without guilt 00:51 — Who is Desiree Vazquez and what shifted her path 01:40 — What was really happening beneath the surface during her TV years 07:46 — How do you start exiting survival mode when you don't know where to begin? 10:55 — Why Latinos need to blend ancestral wisdom with neuroscience 14:35 — From Levi's to first graders: how mindfulness works across every space 17:04 — Losing both grandmothers to mental health disorders and what that mission became 22:25 — How to talk to older generations about healing without losing them 27:04 — What does it mean to be a new-generation Latina healer? 31:56 — Why community is the most underrated wellness tool right now Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Someone slid into her TikTok comments to tell her they were tired of women writing songs about men. She read it. She kept writing anyway. Mariangela already knew the playbook. Jenni Rivera knew it. Alicia Villarreal knew it. Writing your own story out loud, as a woman, has always made someone somewhere uncomfortable. That has never been a good reason to stop. Mariangela is a singer-songwriter from Monterrey, Mexico, who performed live at SXSW 2026 at the Sony Latin Artist Showcase. She grew up in the mariachi of her high school, taught herself guitar on YouTube because it was the only way they'd let her sing, and walked away from a philosophy degree and a path to law to follow the one thing that had always been calling her back. She arrived at SXSW without industry connections, without a machine behind her name, and with a very clear understanding of exactly who she makes music for: women. In this conversation, Mariangela shares the moment she released "Mariposa," what happened in the hour before it dropped, and what a 107-year-old bisabuela has to do with the reason she cannot stop creating. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast

Two brothers. A father at the grill every Saturday. Grandparents who ran a restaurant for 28 years, lost it, and set up their equipment in the garage the next morning and kept making tacos. That is where "Prueba de Fuego" comes from. That is why 150 million people hit play. Joel and Leonel Espinoza grew up in Edinburg, Texas deep South Texas, Rio Grande Valley  with roots in Nuevo León, Mexico. They started Hermanos Espinoza in 2022 with two goals: take the financial burden off their parents and make music that sounds like where they come from. Joel plays accordion and sings lead; Leonel plays 12-string bajo sexto. They kept the classic norteño instrumentation and built something new on top of it. "Prueba de Fuego," their breakthrough original, surpassed 150 million streams. Their debut album, "Linaje," produced by Ernesto "Neto" Fernández  the same producer behind Peso Pluma released in 2026. In this episode of Las Patronas, Anjelica Cazares sits down with Joel to talk about writing your own songs, staying humble when success arrives fast, and what it means to name an album after your bloodline. You will walk away knowing exactly what it looks like to put your family's work ethic into music. Chapters: 00:00 - The teaser: how do you stay humble when success comes fast?  00:22 - Who are Hermanos Espinoza and where do they come from? 02:30 - What makes their norteño sound different? 05:45 - Why "Prueba de Fuego" connected with 150 million listeners 08:30 - Staying grounded: faith, family, and the same person at the top and bottom 11:30 - Linaje: the debut album, producer Neto Fernández, and what comes next Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

You've heard it from someone in your family. Probably more than once. "Te miras más bonita callada." Stay small. Play the role. Don't want too much. And a lot of us obeyed not because we believed it, but because we didn't yet know we had a choice. Josseline Carr immigrated from El Salvador at nine years old and built a life in Jasper, Indiana a small town with cornfields and not many Latinos. She's a real estate agent in the process of opening her own brokerage, co-manages a construction company with her husband since 2019, and recently got certified as a motivational speaker through Speaker Magnetica. She is also the founder of the upcoming conference "Libérate de tu Jaula de Oro." She built all of it while raising three kids and doing the hardest work at the same time: healing the wounds she carried since childhood. In this conversation, Josseline names what the golden cage actually is, where it comes from, and what it took her 32 years to finally decide. You will leave with something concrete: the first step to breaking free.

Growing up between two worlds often feels like you're divided, never fully belonging to either. For many of us, navigating the intersection of our family's heritage and our daily lives in the U.S. creates a unique sense of disconnect. Sylvia Gallardo spent 18 years as an educator and ESL specialist before taking the bold step to write her bilingual picture book, I am from aquí and allá. She recognized firsthand that the stories we tell our children matter, and that growing up bicultural is something to celebrate, not overcome. In this episode, we dive into the urgency of representation in literature and the strategic choice to self-publish. You'll learn how to own your narrative, validate your unique cultural identity, and lead with purpose in your community. Share Your Story Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Found this powerful? Please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join our community of support and storytelling. Prefer audio? Find the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latina-leadership-podcast/id1539009007 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OD36YHq4caQaCY5iYfMO4 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8755c9e9-bba6-4e6a-9283-9fab5696a017/latina-leadership-podcast Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Head over to our website and follow our socials to keep updated, join the conversation: Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Learn the secrets of high-stakes negotiation and servant leadership with Dallas Sports Commission's Monica Paul. As Latina professionals, we often find ourselves navigating spaces where we are the first, the only, or the one expected to carry the heaviest mental load. Whether you're trying to scale a business, negotiate a massive contract, or simply figure out how to advocate for yourself in a room full of big personalities, the pressure to perform flawlessly while honoring your cultural values can feel overwhelming.  Enter Monica Paul, the Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission and the force of nature leading the North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee. Monica didn't just watch history happen; she wrote the playbook, securing nine World Cup matches for her region, more than any other city in North America. But before she was commanding the global stage, she was learning the value of grit and integrity on her family's farm in Caldwell, Texas. In this episode, we unpack exactly how Monica went from taking a $50-a-week job at the Olympic Training Center to transforming Dallas into the number one sports business city. You'll learn her strategic approach to building win-win partnerships, how to create a lasting community legacy, and why taking that terrifying first step is the key to unlocking your biggest career moves. 00:00 - Small Town Values Meets World Class Ambition 03:01 - Securing 9 World Cup Matches: Behind the Scenes 05:00 - The Power of Saying "Yes" Before You're Ready 09:18 - The North Texas Sports Foundation & Legacy 13:43 - Getting Big Personalities on the Same Page 19:50 - Advice for Women Entering Sports Tourism Share Your Story. Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected].

Ready to step into your power and unlearn the narratives holding you back? Dive into the most transformative moments of Season 12 and discover how real Latinas are redefining leadership, legacy, and community! 00:00 - Welcome to the Finale: The Quilt of Season 12 01:44 - Episode 1: Leading with Purpose & The Power of Our Voices 03:06 - Episode 2: Owning the Room & Phoenix Confidence 04:52 - Episode 3: Latinas and the Future of Work 06:39 - Episode 4: Culture, Family, and the Hustle 08:14 - Episode 5: Resilience in Real Time 10:00 - Episode 6: The Business of Us 11:31 - Episode 7: Our Permission Slip 12:54 - Episode 8: The Voices We Carry & Finding Connection 14:47 - Episode 9: The Passport You Already Have 16:29 - Episode 10: Si Se Puede Mija (The Language of Legacies) 17:41 - Episode 11: Money, Self-Worth, & Negotiating Your Salary 19:13 - Episode 12: Healing Our Minds & Accessing Care 20:49 - Episode 13: What's Next? Reflect, Share, and Keep Telling Your Stories Share Your Story! Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected].

Stop mistaking your exhaustion for "strength." Therapist Lucia Fernandez joins us to explain why your healing is the ultimate act of honoring your ancestors, and how to start without the guilt. Chapter Marks 00:00 - The Cost of the "Strong Latina" Narrative 01:57 - What Cycle-Breaking Looks Like in Real Life 04:51 - Why You Are an "Ecosystem" (Systems Therapy) 07:31 - Survival vs. Values: Why We Normalize Pain 11:10 - How to Find Therapy on a Budget (Tools & Apps) 17:55 - Your 1-Step Homework for the Week Share Your Story: Your story matters. Have you reclaimed your voice from a difficult experience? Share it with us. DM us on Instagram: @LatinaLeadershipPodcast or email us at [email protected]. Connect With the Community: Don't miss a beat of the Latina Leadership Podcast! Head over to our website and follow our socials to keep updated, join the conversation: Website: latinaleadershippodcast.com Instagram: instagram.com/latinaleadershippodcast Facebook: facebook.com/LatinaLeadershipPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/latina-leadership-podcast

Are you working twice as hard but getting paid half as much? Stop shrinking and start negotiating, learn the exact mindset shift that helps Latinas claim their worth and close the gap. Evie Prete is here to silence that voice. A mechanical engineer turned negotiation powerhouse, Evie went from shrinking herself in corporate spaces to negotiating nearly $200,000 in raises for herself and over $750,000 for her clients. As the host of the Págame podcast, she doesn't just teach negotiation tactics; she teaches the internal healing required to wield them effectively. In this episode, you will learn why "hustling harder" is keeping you underpaid and how to shift your mindset from "needing to prove" to "reporting on value." You'll walk away with a specific, 10-minute exercise to prepare for your next negotiation grounded in facts, not fear.

We often think of legacy as something left behind in a dusty will or a bank account after we're gone. But what if your legacy is actually a "compact package" of history and faith passed down through the very phrases your parents whispered in your ear? For many of us, navigating the "first-gen tightrope" means balancing individual success with the deep-seated cultural weight of familismo, the loyalty we feel toward those who sacrificed for us to be in the room. Today, we are joined by Yurisa Garcia, a high school counselor and the founder of the Si Se Puede Scholarship. Yurisa took her father's mantra and turned it into a financial lifeline for students in the Rio Grande Valley, proving that leadership isn't just about climbing the ladder, it's about throwing a rope back down. In this episode, you will learn how to identify your "received gifts," recognize the friction points in your own community, and design a "catalytic intervention" that creates a lasting impact without needing a million-dollar checkbook. Amiga, your legacy isn't waiting for you at the finish line. It's in the "Si se puede" you whisper to yourself today and the door you hold open for the woman coming up behind you. You are already a leader, now go translate that wisdom into action.

Erasing the Map: How to Unlearn Your Deepest Fears with Listener Michelle.  Reframing solo travel, generational fear, and the superpower of unlearning. We all walk around carrying maps we didn't draw. From the moment we are born, we absorb stories about what is safe, what is dangerous, what paths are open to us, and which ones are strictly off-limits. For Latina professionals, especially first-generation trailblazers, these maps are often drawn with heavy borders of caution, scarcity, and inherited fear. You might feel a deep pull to expand your life, your career, or your perspective, but something heavy is holding you back. In this episode, we meet Michelle, a listener who grew up in Colombia in the 90s, believing the world was wildly out of reach. Fast forward 25 years, and she has traveled to 100 countries, 65 of them solo. Michelle is not just a world traveler; she is an expert in the art of dismantling inherited fear. Today, we are talking about the most powerful skill Michelle learned on her journey: unlearning. Whether you are navigating corporate spaces, starting a business, or just trying to exist outside of the stereotypes handed to you, you will learn the exact three-step blueprint for taking off the lenses you were given and seeing your potential with your own eyes. "Travel was not teaching me to discover the world. Travel was teaching me to unlearn it. Unlearning became my true passport." — Michelle Mentioned in this Episode Gabriel Garcia Marquez ("Gabo"): The Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author whose magical realism inspired Michelle's journey. 100 Years of Solitude: The iconic novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Mexico City (Zócalo): The location of Michelle's first solo trip in 2001. Key Takeaways Name the Inherited Map: Acknowledge the beliefs you hold about your potential, career, or the world that feel like givens rather than choices you made. Find Your Counter-Narrative: You just need one crack in the old story. Read a book, listen to a podcast, or talk to someone who successfully lives outside the narrative of fear. Practice the "Tea-by-Tea" Method: Transformation doesn't require a grand leap. Have a coffee with a coworker you don't understand, or try food from a culture you were taught to be wary of. Use Unlearning as a Leadership Strategy: Challenge standard operating procedures and biases in your workplace to create room for real human connection.

Cultural Conditioning & Hustle Culture: Las Patronas on Breaking Generational Cycles and Self-Acceptance From a young age, Latina women are heavily conditioned by family expectations on how to look, what to eat, and how to behave, creating a heavy mental load that follows us into our professional lives. In this episode, Mary Ann and Monica, leaders from the Houston-based collective Las Patronas, sit down with us at the historic Alley Theatre to discuss how to break these generational cycles and find power in sisterhood. What You Will Learn Overcoming Cultural Conditioning on Body ImageLatina women often navigate a double-edged sword regarding their bodies; they are pressured by family to "finish their plate" but then punished by cultural expectations when their weight begins to show. Monica and Mary Ann discuss how seeing these taboos represented on a main stage helps grown women and little Latinas alike navigate self-acceptance, body image, and the realities of aging, including the struggle to embrace gray hair. The Roots of Latino Hustle CultureThe relentless drive experienced by modern Latina leaders directly mirrors the survival instincts of their immigrant parents, many of whom worked in 1980s garment factories. Our guests unpack how witnessing their undocumented mothers' struggles with immigration raids and citizenship tests fuels today's constant need to produce, leading to the high-functioning anxiety that drives Latina entrepreneurship. Breaking Generational Cycles Through SisterhoodHealing intergenerational trauma requires unlearning the shame associated with cultural loss, such as losing the Spanish language due to assimilation pressures in the 1970s. Through community efforts like the nonprofit Raíces Unidas and initiatives like "Project Prom," Latina leaders are channeling the resilience of their mothers to model unconditional love and strength for the next generation of sons and daughters. Mentioned in this Episode•Alley Theatre: Hosting "Las Patronas Night" on February 12th. Get your ticket at alleytheatre.org/laspatronas. Use promo code LAS PATRONAS to get $10 off! •Real Women Have Curves: The vivacious comedy play set in a 1980s garment factory. •Josefina López: Playwright of Real Women Have Curves.•Lisa Portes: Director of the play. •Raíces Unidas: A nonprofit organization founded on the principle of unconditional community love. •Project Prom: A partnership initiative collecting dresses, shoes, and accessories of all sizes to help young people feel special. • Dr. Laura Murillo: Featured guest for the post-show reception. Episode Quote: "We hustle because we know how hard our families worked to get us here." — Las Patronas

The Voices We Carry: Rosanna, Maritere, and Paola on Reclaiming Leadership Hola, amiga. In this special episode, we move beyond standard self-improvement to witness stories of survival, reclamation, and the profound strength of the Latina experience . We feature three powerful video submissions from listeners—Rosanna, Maritere, and Paola—who demonstrate how leadership is often found in the rebuilding of a life after something tried to break it . Persistence as a Form of Leadership Rosanna, a survivor of domestic violence, shares the reality of her seven-year court battle to maintain a relationship with her daughter, Destiny . Her story illustrates that leadership is often the stubborn, daily act of not giving up, redefining strength as the ability to endure sterile courtrooms and supervised visits to keep a family bond alive.  Reframing Cultural Responsibilities as Superpowers Maritere, the founder of Mija Books, discusses her new book Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English and flips the script on the common Latino experience of being a child translator . She transforms the narrative of translating for family members from a burden or chore into an act of love, linguistic pride, and a unique "superpower" that builds cultural confidence . From Surviving to Post-Traumatic Growth Paola, a relationship coach and insurance agent, opens up about her journey from domestic abuse survivor to helping women move from "anxious to secure" . Her segment highlights the necessity of safe spaces within our community and the profound realization that moving forward requires understanding that there is nothing "wrong" with you—only a need for a safe environment to heal . Mentioned in this Episode - Mija Books: A company creating diverse children's books. - Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English: A children's book by Maritere. - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: The song played by Destiny during a supervised visit . - Post-traumatic Growth: The psychological transformation described in Paola's journey . Quote of the Episode "Your voice isn't your weakness — it's your material."

In this special outdoor episode recorded at an Oklahoma state park, Anjelica and Monica of Las Patronas tackle essential questions about navigating life and leadership. They discuss finding your true north through intuition and community, the creative freedom in knowing there is no single path to success, and the non-negotiable tools for resilience like integrity, music, and the courage to let go of what no longer serves you. This is a raw and grounding conversation about trusting yourself, protecting your peace, and remembering that the spark to move forward comes from within.

Where does self-improvement meet self-compassion? Following our conversation on the external pressures of building "The Business of Us," this episode turns inward to the quiet pressures we put on ourselves. Host Andrea Diaz shares a listener's powerful story about "romanticizing" daily life and finding joy in the mundane. Instead of another rigid plan for the new year, we discuss the three essential "permission slips" you need to move forward. You will hear about permission to let go of last year's unfinished business, permission to chase a feeling instead of just a milestone, and permission to build through tiny, consistent actions. This is a conversation about replacing the harsh internal critic with a more curious and forgiving guide, so you can build a year that feels sustainable and truly your own.

When you're the first in your family to build a business, the business plan is only half the story. In this episode, host Andrea Diaz shares listener Vanessa's journey from a corporate role to founding a pet photography studio and the community project "Girls Do the Work." Vanessa gets real about the heavier weight of risk she carries as a daughter of immigrants, explaining that failing didn't just feel personal, it would feel like letting my family down. We explore the psychological concepts behind these pressures, like the cumulative stress of economic insecurity and how our drive is deeply tied to family networks, offering a new map for navigating entrepreneurship that honors both your dreams and your foundation.

What does resilience really look like when you're living it? In this episode, we go beyond the motivational posters for an honest look at the everyday grit it takes to move forward. Through intimate listener stories, from navigating corporate spaces to building a creative life, host Andrea Diaz explores the quiet power of finding your people. We'll talk about the science of how our brains handle chronic stress and how we can start to make meaning from our toughest challenges. This is a conversation about the real time toolkit we build, not to simply bounce back, but to build a stronger way through.

In this honest conversation, Anjelica and Monica of Las Patronas explore the real work of maintaining adult friendship, especially in the season of empty nesting. They discuss how time, intention, and clear communication become the pillars of sustaining close bonds, sharing a relatable story about how a simple misunderstanding over a text nearly caused a rift. The episode gently acknowledges that some friendships may naturally fade with different life paths, while emphasizing that the most meaningful ones are worth the effort, the vulnerable conversations, and the mutual commitment to show up for each other.

This episode dives into the beautiful and complex dance between our cultural roots, family responsibilities, and personal ambitions. Through an extraordinary, real-life story from a listener spanning teenage motherhood, homeownership, higher education, and building an accidental business empire, we explore how the very things that feel like pulls in opposite directions can actually become our greatest source of strength. We'll unpack the social science behind family as a strategic foundation, challenge the myth of "work life balance" with the more powerful concept of a "portfolio of purpose," and offer practical insights on turning daily tensions into sustainable fuel. It's a conversation about building a successful, authentic life not by leaving parts of yourself behind, but by letting your whole story, your cultura, your familia, and your hustle power your unique journey.

In this heartfelt episode of Las Patronas, Monica and Mary Ann share an intimate conversation reflecting on their lives with deep gratitude for their children and the fulfillment of their nonprofit work, while also honestly acknowledging the ongoing search for personal purpose as they navigate the transitions in their lives. Together, they explore the importance of taking risks, embracing mistakes, and cherishing traditional life experiences as essential parts of a lifelong journey toward growth and self-discovery.

In this powerful episode, we explore the evolving landscape of work for Latinas, moving beyond the anxiety around AI and automation to uncover a path of profound opportunity and agency. Weaving together an incredible listener story of heritage, resilience, and community building with insightful research on technology's impact, we discuss how to leverage our unique cultural strengths our bilingualism, emotional intelligence, and deep community ties to not just adapt to the future, but to actively design it. This conversation offers a practical and empowering blueprint for turning challenges into leverage, using new tools with intention, and building a career and life rooted in authentic purpose and collective power. Tune in for a dose of clarity, strategy, and inspiration to claim your space in the new world of work.

In their debut episode, Anjelica, Mary Ann, and Monica open the doors to their friendship in "This Is Not An Episode." This warm and lively conversation is all about connection, how three distinct lives intersected through chance encounters and shared spaces, and grew into a chosen sisterhood built on trust, laughter, and deep understanding. They revisit the memories that solidified their bond, from everyday moments to grand adventures, revealing the unique role each plays in their trio. More than just a story of how they met, this is an invitation to experience the genuine and supportive dynamic that makes their friendship the foundation of Las Patronas.

We're rewriting the confidence playbook together this week, exploring how confidence for Latinas isn't about being the loudest voice, it's rooted in the quiet strength we inherit, the resilience we've earned, and the community we build. Through three powerful listener stories from incredible survival and rebirth, to bridge-building leadership, to authentic storytelling, we break down what it really means to own your space at work, in leadership, and in media. This episode is packed with real talk and practical takeaways to help you advocate for yourself, speak your truth, and show up unapologetically as who you are. Tune in and discover how your story is the foundation of your most authentic confidence.

Season 12 is here, amiga, and we're kicking things off with a powerful episode. Your co-host, Andrea Diaz, is taking the mic to dive into the heart of this season's theme: your story. You've already started sharing your incredible journeys with us, esas historias of resilience, growth, and triumph, and in this episode, Andrea explains why this act of storytelling is so revolutionary. She explores how our shared narratives are the bedrock of Latina leadership, how they dismantle isolation, build comunidad, and fuel our collective rise. We'll talk about finding your voice, claiming the power of your heritage, and why one story can inspire hundreds. This is more than a podcast episode; it's an invitation to see your experience as the leadership blueprint it truly is.

Season 11 of the Latina Leadership Podcast was one for the books, filled with bold stories, powerful lessons, and unforgettable mujeres redefining leadership in their own ways. In this special Best of Season 11 episode, co-host Andrea Diaz takes you on a heartfelt journey through the highlights of the season, revisiting moments that inspired, challenged, and uplifted our comunidad. Andrea reflects on powerful conversations with Jessa McKinnis, Isabella Arguello Bacy, Ashley Molina Kabba, Janet Murguía, Carlos Eduardo Espina, Jenny Solares, Ana Cruz Hollingsworth, the Pompa Sisters, Jessica Zenteno, Melissa Rojas, Toni Chapman, and Veronica Pedersen. Each story celebrates courage, growth, and the beauty of leading with corazón. This episode honors Latina resilience, creativity, and unity while giving a glimpse into the exciting future of Season 12.

In this episode, we sit down with Veronica Pedersen, CEO and Co-Founder of Timeless Skin Care, to explore her journey of resilience, purpose, and integrity in the beauty industry. Inspired by her mother's passion for skincare, Veronica built a brand that champions honesty, quality, and care, values that helped Timeless grow from a small start-up to a trusted global name. Veronica opens up about the challenges of being a Latina entrepreneur in a competitive field and the lessons she learned along the way, from staying grounded in integrity to finding meaning in everyday actions. She shares her vision for giving back through financial literacy initiatives and her hope to empower future generations of Latinas to pursue success with purpose. This episode is a reminder that true beauty begins with authenticity and that leadership built on integrity has the power to create lasting change.

In this warm and inspiring episode, Toni Chapman, Culinary Content Producer and Author, opens up about her journey through food, culture, and identity. As a proud Afro-Latina, Toni shares how her heritage has shaped the way she cooks, creates, and connects with others. She talks about preserving family recipes, honoring the flavors that raised her, and finding joy in sharing approachable, comforting dishes that bring people together. Toni also gives us a glimpse into her upcoming cookbook, Everything's Good, a collection of cozy classics with a Latin Caribbean twist designed to make everyone feel at home in the kitchen. Beyond the recipes, Toni reflects on the importance of representation for Afro-Latinos in media and business, the challenges of navigating multiple identities, and the beauty of staying true to your roots. Her story is a reminder that food is more than nourishment: it's community, history, and love on a plate.

On this episode, we sit down with Melissa Rojas, founder of Chasing Camilla. Melissa shares her journey from working in Los Angeles as a personal assistant to rebuilding her life after a difficult separation. At her lowest point, she felt like everything had fallen apart. She started over with an Etsy shop, creating designs inspired by Mexican culture and her experiences as a mother. That small start grew into Chasing Camilla, a brand that reflects her creativity, heritage, and resilience. Melissa's story shows that starting over is possible and that every step forward can lead to something meaningful.

Meet Jessica Zenteno, a true amiga of the community whose path took her from nursing student to fearless advocate and holistic wellness guide. Jessica shares how she blends healing practices with her passion for leadership and resource-building, showing us that true change starts when we care for ourselves as much as we care for others. She talks about the challenges our communities face, fear, uncertainty, burnout, and how we can push back by setting boundaries, honoring our worth, and leaning on one another. Most of all, Jessica reminds us that every story matters. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that healing and leadership go hand in hand, and that we rise stronger when we rise together.

Amiga, this episode is extra special with sisters Karina and Melissa Pompa sharing their journey as entrepreneurs and visionaries. Karina talks about starting as a stay-at-home mom and growing into the proud owner of two successful salons. Melissa opens up about her path in real estate, building wealth, and creating opportunities for others. Together, they built the Pompa Building, a space designed to empower mujeres in the beauty industry and beyond. They share how their late father's love and encouragement continue to guide their work and inspire their legacy. This heartfelt conversation is filled with faith, hustle, and comunidad, showing what's possible when Latinas lead with purpose and heart.

In this episode, we sit down with Ana Cruz Hollingsworth, founder of Rollos de Mujeres Media. Ana takes us into her journey, growing up in Mexico in a challenging environment and building a successful career in U.S. media. She shares what it was like navigating language barriers, cultural differences, and the reality of being the only woman in male-dominated spaces. Ana created Rollos of Mujeres Media as a space to uplift women's voices, share resources, and spark honest conversations. She opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, negotiating pay, pushing back against misconceptions, and understanding that true success takes time, effort, and resilience. Through it all, she reminds us, amiga to amiga, that leadership starts with owning your story, embracing your values, and recognizing the power you already carry.

Amiga, Jenny Solares isn't just making funny videos: she's building a life and a community she loves. In this episode, she opens up about her journey from bingeing makeup tutorials to creating content that reaches millions, all while honoring her Guatemalan roots. We get real about the highs and lows of life online, burnout, the pressure to please, and the magic that happens when you create from the heart. Jenny's story is a reminder that success isn't about chasing trends; it's about showing up as you. Don't miss this one, amiga!

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Carlos Eduardo Espina, social media powerhouse, law school graduate, and dedicated community advocate. Carlos shares how he turned online citizenship classes during the pandemic into a movement that now reaches millions across TikTok, Facebook, and beyond. He opens up about the realities facing Latino and immigrant communities, the power of staying informed, and why voting and community involvement are essential for shaping the future. He calls on all of us to stand united, speak up, and prepare for the road ahead. Amiga, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

In this episode, we're joined by Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS, who's been leading the charge for Latino communities for over 20 years. She breaks down how UnidosUS has fought for healthcare access, homeownership, DACA protections, and registered over a million new Latino voters (sí, ¡un millón!). Janet keeps it real about the challenges, like budget cuts and anti-immigrant policies, and how her team is pushing back through advocacy, legal action, and communication power. If you've ever wondered how to make an impact or where to plug in, amiga, this conversation is for you!

Amiga, if dating apps have ever made you feel unseen, this episode is for you. Ashley Molina Kabba, founder of Alyst Dating, created a space made with minority professionals in mind because love should feel safe, intentional, and true to who we are. She shares how she turned frustration into innovation, launched her own tech startup, and stayed grounded through it all. We talk about imposter syndrome, being the only Latina in the room, and why saying yes to your ideas matters. You don't want to miss this one!