The Level Up Latina Podcast

Bodies & Stress, Episode 207, Summer Series (#4)

Talking all things stress and bodies on this short and sweet episode. Very on brand for a summer series blitz. One of our loyal and longtime listener's asked us about our take on cortisol levels so we went there... from stress hitting us as adults, to how it manifested, and how we finally coped! There's a bit of TMI but a whole lot of truth in this one. Don't miss it! 

How Are You Most Like Your Family?, Episode 206, Summer Series (#3)

We are covering a short and sweet topic on family similarities. Good or bad... we all get our personalities, quirks, and looks from somewhere? Today, we talk about how that pans out for each of us, what we love, like, and don't like about the comparison.

Don't miss this silly one. In it, we also mention the up and coming BREAKTHROUGH BRUNCH and tease to info. on this amazing event being live on our website. Well... all info. for the 2nd annal event is in fact up online. Visit LevelUpLatina.com for all the details! Get your ticket today, learn more about what the event entails.... and don't forget to level up!

Relationship Q&A, Episode 205, Summer Series (#2)

On this episode of the LUL podcast we chat relationships with a sprinkle of date night Q&A, solo date ideas, the best time for quickies & why. It's a sweet and simple feel-good show to brighten any day this summer. We hope you'll stream and get to know us even if there's moments of TMI, cute cooing babies, and whatever the heck else can happen on the show!  And while you're listening don't forget to review our podcast and tell us why you love it. Stream anywhere your favorite pods appear!

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!