Leo Rodríguez on Art, Cultura, and Corazón a Corazón

Leo Rodríguez on Art, Cultura, and Corazón a Corazón

Leo Rodríguez was born in Dalton, Georgia and raised his first eight years in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. In this episode, he talks about how that upbringing shapes how he shows up in the world, why he describes himself as a multipotentialite instead of searching for one calling, and how that shows up in his work as a creative strategist, DJ, and the founder of Corazón a Corazón, a poetry night and open mic built on community and intention.  We talk about his mom's role in shaping how he sees his roots as a strength, what it really takes to build a space people want to come back to, and why he's chosen to keep Corazón a Corazón small and meaningful instead of scaling it into a business. In this episode, Leo shares that:  You don't need only one "true calling." Leo reframes being a multipotentialite as a strength, not a lack of focus, drawing on diverse interests (writing, DJing, strategy) that all inform each other.  Roots can be reframed as a superpower. Leo's early years in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, followed by a culture shock to Dalton, Georgia, shaped how he shows up in the world, how he solves problems and even his empathy for other cultures.  You don't have to monetize everything you love. Leo intentionally keeps some creative outlets, like Corazón a Corazón, free from the pressure to scale or generate income, preserving them as a space for authentic expression instead.  Follow Leo: 📲 Instagram: @leorodriguezz 🎶 Corazón a Corazón: @_corazon.a.corazon_ Stay Connected with Cultura Convos: 🎙️ Listen to more episodes of Cultura Convos wherever you stream podcasts.  📖 Get my children's book, Two Homes, Dos Casas, in English/Spanish or Spanish-only editions:  edithsuarez.com/books  📲 Follow along: @itsedithsuarez  🌐 www.edithsuarez.com [http://www.edithsuarez.com] ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/culturaconvos Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527637/support]

My Turquoise Pants Moment in West Africa: How the Stories We Are Told and Never Told Shape Everything

What happens when you show up somewhere carrying assumptions you did not even know you had? In this solo episode, I share the story of packing turquoise pants for Burkina Faso, West Africa and what that cringe worthy thrift store moment revealed about the stories I had been carrying as truth without ever questioning them. From being so nervous telling my parents I was leaving for two years to arriving in West Africa and realizing an entire continent had been reduced to a stereotype in my mind, this episode goes deep on something that shows up in all of our lives: the stories we are told and never told shape everything. How we see other cultures, other people, and even ourselves. In this episode I share: * Where my inherited assumptions actually came from * How World Vision commercials, National Geographic, and limited representation shaped my entire worldview * Why examining our stories is the starting point to reframing our own story  * How to be intentional about what you expose yourself to * What your own turquoise pants moment might be trying to teach you This is exactly what Cultura Convos was built for. Real, nuanced conversations that help us write and rewrite our stories from a place of strength. What is your turquoise pants moment?  Share it with me:  hola@edithsuarez.com [hola@edithsuarez.com] or LinkedIn, and IG.  Read the original blog entry: edithsuarez.com/blog  Get Two Homes, Dos Casas: edithsuarez.com/books  Visit my website: edithsuarez.com If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who you think will love it. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527637/support]

Food, Familia, and Finding My Why: My Journey with Food, Cultura & Identity

What does food really mean to you? In this solo episode, I dive into my personal journey with food. From growing up eating Mexican food every day to the moment everything shifted when my dad had a stroke in high school. I share how witnessing this sparked a lifelong curiosity about health, ingredients, and the deep connection between cultura and what we put on our plates. From tacos de lengua to roasted eggplant mole, from my family joking that all I eat is lechuga lechuga to honoring my ancestors' way of eating, this episode is all about food, familia, and the ongoing journey of becoming more intentional about how we nourish ourselves and seeing the abundance of ingredients in our roots. In this episode: * Growing up eating Mexican food and the memories attached to it * How my dad's stroke became my first real pivot with food * Why I walked away from labels like "vegan" and "vegetarian" * How this journey allowed me to see the abundance of ingredients in our cultura * Why eating healthier doesn't mean letting go of your cultura ✨ Get my children's book Two Homes / Dos Casas and more at 👉 edithsuarez.com/books Cultura Convos is a space for stories and reflections of identidad y cultura because there's no one identity that defines us. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527637/support]

Turning Health Challenges Into Healing: Dominique Sade on Qigong and Wellness

In this episode of Cultura Convos, we explore Dominique Sade’s journey of reconnecting with her roots and the different layers of her healing and wellness path. Dominique, founder of Dominique Sade Healing & Wellness Institute, opens up about how her health challenges became a turning point that led her to discover Qigong, commit to the practice, and eventually teach it in a way that is rooted in lived experience. Qigong is a holistic mind-body practice that combines gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation to support energy flow, reduce stress, and restore balance in the body. In this conversation, we explore: * Reconnecting with her ancestors * How health challenges can reshape your path * Experiencing and practicing Qigong * What led her to begin teaching Qigong This conversation is a reflection on healing as a journey, one that is influenced by our roots, our experiences, and the choices we make to come back to ourselves. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on identity, culture, and personal transformation. Connect with Edith Get Edith's Childrens Book Two Homes, Dos Casas, which is about a little girl who visits her parents first home for the first time, which is in a different country. At first she doesn't like it... [http://edithsuarez.com/books/] Watch the episodes on YouTube  Follow Edith on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/itsedithsuarez/] Subscribe to Edith's personal letter [https://edithsuarez.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527637/support]

EP 10 | Afro-Latina and Black Identity, Dominican in the South and the Nuances of Who We Are

In this episode of Cultura Convos, I sit down with Angie, NYC-born, Southern-raised, an NYU graduate with a Master’s in International Human Resources, and a mother navigating career, family, and life with intention. What began as a challenge with reading eventually grew into a deep love for it and even became a form of personal expression and rebellion. Through that journey, Angie found her voice in ways that continue to shape who she is today. We explore what it was like growing up Dominican in the South and how she embraces her identity as both an Afro-Latina and a Black woman. This conversation speaks to the nuances of identity and the reality that we are not defined by a single label, but by layered experiences that continue to evolve over time. If you have ever felt in between, found joy in reading, or perhaps not reflected at all in certain spaces, this episode is a reminder that all parts of you belong. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform and watch the full conversation on YouTube. Subscribe and join the community at edithsuarez.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2527637/support]