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    Personal Journals

    When You’re Invisible

    This is my love letter to the working class people and immigrants who shaped me. Too often we focus on stories about people who have achieved positions of influence, wealth, and power. On this podcast, we won’t be doing that. Many of our guests have never been interviewed before. I want to shed light on the experiences of folks who feel invisible. What do everyday people have to say about their lives, their country, their hopes and dreams, and what they believe would make the world a better place? 

    I’m your host, Maria Fernenda Diez and I’m a first gen Mexican-American. Growing up, my family moved to different regions of the US – from the East Coast to the Midwest to the South – and we were on food stamps when I was young before we became middle class. I ended up getting an almost full ride to the Ivy League but never left my roots behind. I call myself an in-betweener because I’m part of many communities, but don’t fully fit into one single community. Although this can be lonely at times, it’s a vulnerability that can help me connect with others, have honest conversations, and build genuine connections.

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    Latest Episodes:
    Claudia and Francisco: My Parents’ Immigrant Story Jan 16, 2023
    Show notes

    My parents often had to take risks in pursuit of change, whether emigrating from Mexico or taking a leap of faith on a job that moved our family across the country. They open up about their childhoods in Mexico, and their journey from food stamps to the middle class. Being away from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Mexico, our nuclear family has always been close and we unpack what we’ve learned from each other, be it American expressions or more complex conversations about race, sexuality, and Latinidad. Our season finale breaks down their lived experiences as in-betweeners and the ways in which belonging to more than one country, culture, and socioeconomic background has expanded their worldview.

    “I cannot say that I ever had the American dream, to be honest. It's been an accident in my life. Let's put it that way.” –Francisco

    “There is a story behind each person, and if we are able to embrace those people and just recognize them as a person, what a difference that will make.” –Claudia

    Creator: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Dylan Heuer

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Jen: Bridging the Divide Jan 09, 2023
    Show notes

    The white rural working class is so often depicted in the mainstream media as just Trump supporters; but there’s a lot of layers to this community that go unseen. Jen comes from this world and she’s also a new member of my family (my sister-in-law’s sister). We talk about her experience as the first in her family to date a person of color, the isolation caused by grief, and her struggle at times to fit in with her community. You’ll witness the most in depth conversation she and I have ever had, where I discover some of our shared values despite our very different backgrounds.

    “To have a good conversation, you have to open yourself up and be prepared to just listen to what somebody else has to say.” –Jen

    Check out sites like GriefShare and others resources listed in this Love to Know article to find support.

    Creator: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Dylan Heuer

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Lani: Authenticity as an In-Betweener Jan 02, 2023
    Show notes

    Today my friend Lani lives very authentically, but she has struggled with perception and invisibility throughout her life. She unpacks the complexities of living a rough childhood that took her around the world and the nuances of her identity as a half-Korean, half-white woman who never looked like the rest of her family. She gets real about the power dynamics of past relationships and talks about how she hopes to maintain a full range of humanity and sexuality as a soon-to-be mom. From a disability that grounded her, to an OnlyFans page that empowers her, you’ll hear about all the things that have made her who she is in her strength, her power, and her joy.

    “If I get rejected and I've showed up as my whole self, that's such a blessing. It's not about me not being good enough. It just means that they know something about themselves and see something in me that isn't a good fit. Awesome. Cool. How great.” –Lani

    If you need to talk to someone about any instance of abuse there are National Hotlines you can call.

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Dylan Heuer

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Kate: Owning Our Imperfections Dec 26, 2022
    Show notes

    I wanted to interview Kate because I didn’t know much about stuttering before meeting her. One percent of the population stutters and unconscious bias can impact this group’s self esteem, work opportunities, and social life. A white 30 year old woman living in New York, Kate has had a stutter since she was a kid but always believed she would grow out of it. She confronts speech therapy techniques that she’s come to see as destructive to her mental health, shares the pivotal story of how she discovered SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young, and opens up about her journey towards authenticity.

    “I had to look into this black hole of truth, that this was my identity. This is how it is gonna be. And for the first time I started to consider, ‘How are you going to look at this with love and with care and with tenderness and acceptance?’” –Kate

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Franklin, Lucely, Gilberto, & Ines: Unsung American Heroes Dec 19, 2022
    Show notes

    Franklin Lucely, Gilberto, and Ines cleaned up Ground Zero and New York City in the aftermath of 9/11 alongside hundreds of fellow undocumented Latin American workers. These American heroes discuss their experience on the ground during the days and months following 9/11 and the illnesses they developed as a result of their service. While the country has largely forgotten them – offering only token settlements, lack of robust healthcare, and no path to citizenship – they haven’t forgotten each other. They carry each other’s life stories and are open about their lives to those who will listen.

    “Yo trabajaba 12 horas diarias los siete días de la semana.” –Franklin

    “This group of people who sacrificed so much are so forgotten and they’re remembered on 9/11 for those days and then we go back to our lives.” –Rosa Maria Bramble, LCSW

    Read more about the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Bill or https://www.rosabramble.com/ work.

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana, Dylan Heuer

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Anicia: A Seat at the Table Dec 12, 2022
    Show notes

    Anicia is an entrepreneur and works as a personal chef and nanny for the ultra-wealthy in New York City. Having met on a photoshoot, Anicia and I bonded over our shared experiences walking into these homes as educated women of color. She’s a first generation Nigerian American and discusses the complexities of power and personhood and some shocking stories from behind the scenes of this industry. In our conversation, the problems surrounding America’s fascination with celebrity and wealth collide with the desire for mobility and representation.

    “You go into survival mode and you’re like: ‘Okay, how do I just get through the next hour?’ You start to think about: 'Am I gonna need this money for the next four to six weeks?’ I think the world needs to know that it is far from privilege to be able to work with the privileged.” –Anicia


    Check out resources like the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, NYC’s Statement of Employee Rights for Household Employees, and these support groups for restaurant workers who have experienced abuse.

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana, Dylan Heuer

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Louie: Two Sides of an Institution Dec 05, 2022
    Show notes

    Louie worked alongside Ralph at the Columbia University package center, which was an oasis for me in a high stress environment. Being two Latin kids around the same age, Louie and I experienced two sides of this elite institution – me as a student, and Louie as an employee. Louie, ever positive, manages to distill life lessons from encounters with students and colleagues. He also shares his experience of being the oldest of three growing up ‘free range’ in the Dominican Republic and the clash between that and his working class life in the States.

    “They would never respect us as they should have. One day, I just thought, they're gonna go on and live their life like nothing ever happened…and I'm stuck in the mailroom, still thinking about what just happened…so I would just brush it off. Who is it hurting, that person or is it hurting you?” –Louie

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Ralph: Tales from an Ivy League Mailroom Nov 28, 2022
    Show notes

    Ralph – a Marine vet, first generation Dominican American – was the manager of the package center at Columbia University, which is where I went to school for undergrad as a scholarship kid. An unexpected bonding over Spanish led to conversations with him that helped me when I wanted to drop out. He describes his upbringing in Washington Heights as a game of ‘Cops and Robbers’ and then we rehash our early encounters, unpacking the assumptions we made about each other.

    “I think the world would be a better place if we treated each other the way we wanna be treated. If you're going through a hard time, you would want somebody to be empathetic and we should do that back, especially at that place, right? I got that.” –Ralph

    Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez

    Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore

    Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana

    Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena

    Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


    Introducing: When You're Invisible Nov 21, 2022
    Show notes

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


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