Uncle Sam’s Reality TV Game Show: Starring Erika Perez Pt. 2

Finding Home: Real Estate, Identity, and Small-Town Roots with Casa Casttaneda

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/fan_mail/new] Welcome back to La Chismosa del Valle! Host America Castillo kicks off a brand-new second season with a deeply personal catch-up before diving into an insightful interview with real estate duo and brothers, Alex and Humberto Castaneda. From navigating career shifts and mental health struggles to moving past the "fame game" of activism, America sets the stage for a conversation about what it truly means to search for "home." Then, she sits down with the brothers behind the Casa Casttaneda brand. Alex (a high school friend of America's) and Humberto share how they transitioned into real estate, the work ethic they inherited from their trailblazing contractor father, and the psychological impact of navigating identity and Latino culture while growing up in the suburbs of Simi Valley. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * America’s Season 2 Update: Returning to work, navigating life with bipolar disorder, stepping away from corporate code-switching, and finding peace in fresh starts. * The Roots of Casa Casttaneda: How Alex and Humberto combined their love for real estate, an eye for design, and business savvy to form their own brand. * A Father’s Legacy: Lessons learned from their father, a landscape contractor who designed high-profile Hollywood homes (including a famous feature on MTV's The Hills). * The Suburb Identity Crisis: A candid look at growing up in Simi Valley, moving past the embarrassment of cultural names, and learning to reclaim and take pride in Latino roots. * Entertainment Meets Real Estate: How the brothers use their entertainment backgrounds and lessons from film festivals like LALIFF to build an authentic social media presence. * Community Over Competition: Breaking down the gatekeeping and criticism that can happen within the community, and why there is more than enough room for everyone to succeed. Episode Timeline / Chapters * 00:02 – Welcome back to Season 2! America’s life updates, mental health journey, and leaving corporate culture behind. * 11:15 – Reminiscing about LALIFF (Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival) and a funny celebrity editor mix-up. * 13:10 – An open letter and heartfelt apology to Simi Valley. * 17:46 – Interview starts: Introducing Alex & Humberto Castaneda. * 21:00 – Inheriting a strong work ethic from their entrepreneur father and his Hollywood design legacy. * 26:15 – Moving from Inglewood to Simi Valley: Navigating the suburbs and reclaiming cultural identity. * 40:27 – Alex’s journey through art school and entering entertainment management. * 45:30 – Merging the entertainment industry with modern real estate branding. * 51:15 – The reality of networking: Finding your true people and avoiding the gatekeepers. * 56:10 – Real talk on language barriers, holding each other accountable, and supporting the Latino community. * 01:01:40 – What’s next for Casa Castaneda? Future social events and professional networks. Quotes from the Episode > "When you're an immigrant... you have an identity crisis. A lot of it was just learning how to accept myself while also balancing my community." — America > Castillo > > "Every day is an audition. People forget that being a realtor is really, really hard... what people are seeing is us being graceful with ourselves."  > — Humberto Castaneda > > "The Latino community is big and we can all really support each other if we just see each other for who we are and don't criticize." — Alex Castaneda Connect with the Guests: * Casa Castaneda: @casacasttaneda * Alex Castaneda: @alexcasttaneda * Humberto Castaneda: @humberttocasttaneda Enjoyed the Episode? * Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Season 2! * Leave a review - it helps the show grow immensely. * Follow America on social media to stay up to date on art, projects, and upcoming episodes: IG: @lachisomsadelvalleofficial, TT: @lachismosadelvalle Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.  Follow along on social media. IG: @lachismosadelvalleoffical, @la_ameriquita  Tik Tok: @lachismosadelvalle

Faith, Fine Art, and the Founder Journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/fan_mail/new] This week, we’re exploring what happens when personal reflection meets professional ambition. I share a candid look at my experience with Lent discussing the specific habits I stepped away from and the surprising lessons that surfaced when I cleared the air. That mental clarity couldn't have come at a better time, as I’m officially pulling back the curtain on two major milestones: the launch of my dedicated art account and the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. From the first "post" jitters to the logistics of building a brand, I’m sharing the raw, behind-the-scenes reality of turning a creative passion into a professional path. Key Highlights: • The Lenten Fast: A breakdown of what I gave up and the spiritual/mental growth that followed. • Artistic Origins: Why I decided to create a separate space for my artwork and what I hope to achieve with this new platform. • The Leap into Entrepreneurship: The challenges and triumphs of starting a business and the mindset shift required to go from "creative" to "founder." • Connecting the Dots: How discipline in my personal life is directly fueling the momentum in my creative career. Your Turn: Who’s Next? As the show grows and enters this new chapter, I want to bring on guests who inspire, challenge, and move us forward. I’m looking to you for suggestions! Is there a specific artist, entrepreneur, or visionary you’d love to hear an interview with? Send me your guest nominations via DM or in the comments this show is built with you in mind, and I can’t wait to see who you want to hear from next. Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.  Follow along on social media. IG: @lachismosadelvalleoffical, @la_ameriquita  Tik Tok: @lachismosadelvalle

Uncle Sam’s Reality TV Game Show: Starring Erika Perez Pt. 2

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/fan_mail/new] America dives into the world of surveillance, showing how constant monitoring shapes fear, behavior, and memory. From Erika Perez’s mother, who had to check in regularly with immigration, to America herself, triggered by everyday sounds like a doorbell, this episode exposes how tech, government systems, and societal pressure turn lives into a high-stakes game. A look at privacy, trauma, and what it really means to live under watch. Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.  Follow along on social media. IG: @lachismosadelvalleoffical, @la_ameriquita  Tik Tok: @lachismosadelvalle

Uncle Sam’s Reality TV Game Show: Starring Erika Perez Pt. 1

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/fan_mail/new] When personal data becomes public drama, where do you draw the line between community and control? America unpacks a digital unraveling from online stalking to realizing her digital paranoia was the truth then turns to Erika Perez’s story to reveal how surveillance and systemic power shape real lives. The players are everywhere, the rules are unclear and the algorithm is watching you. Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.  Follow along on social media. IG: @lachismosadelvalleoffical, @la_ameriquita  Tik Tok: @lachismosadelvalle

Vanesa Carrillo: From the Border to Tech and the Start of Latinas & Lattes

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/fan_mail/new] Say hi or share a story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2139515/open_sms] In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Carrillo, a first-generation Latina, product marketing manager at Microsoft, and founder of Latinas and Lattes, before she gets too big. We talk about navigating college, showing up in professional spaces, and finding our way through career and identity shifts. Our conversation made me reflect on my own early 20s—especially now as I turn 30. We talk about growing up bilingual, being ESL kids, dealing with imposter syndrome, finding faith, and learning how to ask for help. Vanessa shares her journey from El Paso to Georgetown to working in tech, and how her experiences led her to create Latinas and Lattes, a nonprofit helping Latinas in Seattle connect and support one another. We also talk about rejection, rest, and what it means to choose yourself when the world often expects you to shrink. Whether you're figuring things out at 23 or starting over at 30, this episode is your reminder that you're not behind—and you're definitely not alone and every Latino has their own story. ☕️ Enjoying the podcast? Support La Chismosa del Valle on Buy Me a Coffee so I can keep telling stories from our community. Every cafecito helps cover production costs and keeps this space going for everyday Latinos doing dope things. https://buymeacoffee.com/la_ameriquita [https://buymeacoffee.com/la_ameriquita] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2139515/support] Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism. Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ameriquita, @lachismosadelvalle Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.  Follow along on social media. IG: @lachismosadelvalleoffical, @la_ameriquita  Tik Tok: @lachismosadelvalle