The Level Up Latina Podcast

Brands We’d Love to Sponsor Us, Episode 204, Summer Series (#1)

The LUL Summer Series is back! Every summer we do short and sweet shows about random topics. It's a great way to get to know the Level Up Latina podcast if you're new here.

With over 200 episodes, there's something for everyone in our podcast. But this summer, we will cover it all with simple shows that make streaming fun and easy. Covering topics on love, mental health, family, and for this one: FAVORITE BRANDS!!! Take our money big and small companies b/c there's some of you we really love! Tune in to get our take on makeup companies, diaper brands, skin care lines, and so much more!

Random Show Shenanigans, Episode 203

The May random show is here. In it, we talk everything and anything that comes to mind on the most random things.... delicious Greek cuisine, bumming it in public, when's the best age to have kids, hot TV shows, and more.

Don't miss this monthly sure-to-make-you-feel-good show. And if you're new around here (welcome!) the random show is a great place to learn more about about our hosts' likes, dislikes, & personalities! Stream it today, and if nothing else, get ready to laugh!

Being Part of The Sandwich Generation, Episode 202

Know what it means to be part of the sandwich generation? It means being divided between aging parents and your own young children... somehow managing to care for both.

Being first-gen complicates this dynamic even further and so today we talk about maintaining our boundaries in our relationships with our parents (all over 65) while also parenting our children (all under 18) in new and different ways.

It's a unique situation to be sandwiched in the middle of it all, and though sometimes complicated, we see a lot of value in juggling adulthood as loving daughters AND parenting our own children. All this while making sure we don't burn out in between! Don't miss this episode!

Healing through Therapy with Special Guest, LMFT, Evelyn Mejia, Episode 201

Welcome to another episode of the Level Up Latina podcast.

This week in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we have Evelyn Mejia as our guest. Evelyn is a bilingual & bicultural Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of La Mariposita Healing.

Within her practice, Evelyn helps first-gen folks unpack early childhood wounds & intergenerational trauma. Her goal is to give her patients the tools to allow them to thrive.

Thank you streaming today's show. The topic of therapy is so important in our Latino communities. We hope this show brings our listeners a lot of knowledge, and perhaps a little healing of their own, as we chat with Evelyn about her practice, and as a bonus, her journey as a twin mom.

Welcome to Season 3 of the LUL Podcast, Episode 200

What a milestone! Today, LUL drops its 200th episode and with it we celebrate 3 seasons of the Level Up Latina podcast. Two hundred shows full of laughter, friendship, tears, confessions, learning and leveling up. If you're new to our show or someone that's seen us evolve over the years, this feel-good show is for YOU!

It'll inspire you to go after your dreams and stick to them with the utmost consistency. Stream it to hear about our favorite moments, the challenges in between, and all the special things that surprised us on our podcasting journey! Thank you for coming along with us. We are so proud of this work and hope to bring you many, many more seasons of community, support, guidance, and judgment-free amistad!

If you want to celebrate this milestone with us, let's do so virtually! Get more info. at LevelUpLatina.com for our next zoom event happening this weekend.

DON'T MISS IT!

From Medellin, Colombia to the Runway with Fashion Designer Claudia Ochoa, Episode 199

Don't miss this fascinating show where we talk with founder of CLO INTIMO, a lingerie line owned and designed by Claudia Ochoa of Medellin, Colombia. Claudia's a successful designer paving the way for other lingerie designers across New York City. Her brand was created with Latinas in mind and today you can shop CLO INTIMO at Victoria Secret, Anthropolgie, CLOstudio.com, and more. So much to learn from Claudia's resilience, hard work, and passion.

Note: while the episode begins primarily in Spanish (translated in show description)... it quickly shifts to English. As such, we hope to make it accessible to all. 

Transcript of Guest’s Stories (Spanish to English abridged & summarized):

Intro:

Cecy: “I think this is the first time we have a fashion design on the show.”

Claudia (guest): “Thank you. Makes me so happy to be opening a path for you all.”

Story # 1 : Journey of fashion started with a sewing machine:

Claudia (guest/abridged): Claudia’s mother and father meet, married and didn’t have much money. They live with her father’s family. Mom wants something more. Dad offers to buy a TV or sewing machine. Mom says she wants sewing machine and begins making her own things to sell. Claudia was born exactly 8 mos. after her parents were married and many gossiped about that. But the point is Claudia was in her momma’s “tummy” hearing her mother sew and work for others sewing. So Claudia came along and began working very young. Her family wanted her to contribute and work, so she did, even if her friends didn’t. She began with a strong work ethic and philosophy to appreciate things she worked hard to earn/have.

Story #2: Growing up in the “Narco Era” in Medellin, Colombia:

Dangerous and superficial era and it was tough to get away. She didn’t agree with it. She did have a boyfriend involved in Narco activity. She had exposure to this life, but her mother didn’t agree with this and told her she had to decide on another pay. She was only 16 years old. She knew deep down she didn’t want this life and figured she had to breakup with her boyfriend as her mother demanded. Mom pushed her for good and she was ready to break away and decided to break up with him since she also was not into him as she used to be. She went on with her life and a year and a half after that her mother got a call and a woman told her “I am sorry for the loss of your daughter.” Her mom says my daughter is fine — and the person says ””wow, isn’t he the girlfriend of so and so who was killed by hanging in one part of town while his girlfriend was hung in another?” And in shock Claudia and her mother realized that she had saved her daughter. Claudia has since thanked her mother for saving her life. She says this life was scary and dangerous and she’s seen people killed at random in nightclubs for simply leaning on the wrong person. She was maybe 22 years old when she says someone was killed next to her for nothing at all and she was so ready to leave to the US. She was going to school, studying English, and wanted out of the Colombia where people were dying often during a time of violence and drug trafficking. She began on a path to leave that behind for a life in the U.S.

Random Show, Episode 198

Here it is... the random show where we talk about kids on break, redecorating our homes, interior design styles, and even embarrassing moments like choking on our white wine! Clearly, when we say random... we mean it! You know what else we mean.... we mean business at our next virtual event. Save your spot for the Leveling Up Your Career Guilt-Free Webinar happening on Sat., May 13th 11am-1230pm PST. Get more info. & tickets at leveluplatina.com!

The real versus fake bodies debate & what do men really want? Episode 197

Today we get into a hot topic brought to us by a loyal listener. She mentions how men always say they prefer natural bodies but then we see who they date or what they follow on social media & it's anything but natural.

The women of LUL chime in on everything and get super real with their under-the-knife choices, their husband's preferences, and even men & their new found fascination with cosmetic surgery. This is a super juicy topic, so don't miss it.

Annnnd, in the show you'll get your "fresh off the presses" info on our next LUL event. This virtual event is going to be so relevant for all women. Stream now to be the first to get all event details or visit leveluplatina.com!

Lessons Learned from Time Alone, Episode 196

Today, we bring you a short and sweet reflective show to share a little about our quiet and simple moments of solitude. In a world that is go, go, go all we often need is a chance to slow down solo. Listen to this episode to find a bit of inspiration even if you find alone time is your jam. There's something for everyone in this week's episode.

And as we approach episode 200, we want to remind you we love bringing you the Level Up Latina podcast. If you have show ideas we'd love to hear them.... share your feedback online find and follow @leveluplatina on instagram where you can DM your ideas or send a note via email admin@leveluplatina.com. And while you're at it, rate us wherever you listen to your favorite pods!

8 Steps for Communities of Color To Conquer the Stock Market, with Author Linda Garcia, Episode 195

It’s not ok to have favorites as a parent, but what about as podcast hosts? One of our absolutely favorite guests is back. Ms. Linda Garcia a.k.a Luz Warrior is dropping her book this month and we have her on the show sharing every thing about her journey to becoming a published author in a field where women of color are deeply underrepresented! This book is for US, mujeres!  We know Linda’s wise words will change so many lives! If you’re ready to get your hands on  Wealth Warrior 8 Steps for Communities of Color To Conquer the Stock Market, coming  out on April 11, 2023, you can pre-order it now on Target.com, Walmart.com and Amazon to name a few. SoCal listeners, don't miss a bonus book release event taking place at the Barnes and Noble at the Glendale Americana in LA at 7pm on April 11th 2023! This is an event YOU don’t want to miss and after hearing the show you’ll know exactly why. Let’s cover this amazing author and our friend (@luzwarrior @inluzwetrust) in community and support as she launches into the stratosphere with a book meant to make our very communities wealthier and wiser.