This week, we welcome Lucía Garrett, founder of Pato Pato and the brilliant mind who coined the term "Spanish-first kids." As someone currently raising Spanish-dominant children myself, I was so excited to dive deep into this intentional approach to bilingual parenting. Lucía shares why the Spanish-only stage is so crucial for our kids and how we can stay confident in our choices, even when family members question us or when we feel like we're not doing enough.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

What You'll Hear:

• What it means to raise "Spanish-first kids" and why this approach gives Spanish the head start it needs before English takes over
• How to handle pressure from family, self-doubt about your Spanish skills, and the fear that your kids will learn incorrectly
• Real tactics from families successfully raising Spanish-first children, including how to handle mixed-language households
• Why isolation is one of the biggest challenges and how finding your tribe makes all the difference
• What to do when your kids start resisting Spanish and try to switch to English

Ways to Follow Lucía:

• Instagram: @play_patopato
• Website: playpatopato.com
• Facebook: @playpatopato1

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alma Medina, a certified functional medicine coach and pharmacist, right here in the Chicago area. As a fellow first-gen Latina mama, we dove deep into healing from the root - addressing gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue that so many mujeres in our community struggle with. We also explored how to reclaim the nutritional power of our traditional Latino foods and why functional medicine is the key to breaking generational health cycles.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

What You'll Hear:

• Why functional medicine looks at the whole person vs. treating symptoms in pieces
• How our immigrant upbringing and traditional healing practices connect to modern holistic care
• The truth about gut health being the "command center" of our bodies
• Why Latino foods are actually incredibly nutritious (despite what we've been told)
• Practical tips for busy mamas wanting to eat intentionally without the overwhelm

Resources Mentioned:

• Continuous glucose monitors for understanding how foods affect your body
• Functional medicine lab reviews as an entry point to better health
• Meal prepping strategies for busy families

Ways to Follow Dr. Alma:

• Social Media Pages: Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok
• Website: www.soulbodyholistix.com
• Services: One-on-one coaching, group cohorts, lab reviews

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I had the privilege of sitting down with Alex Fernandez, a father and educator with over 15 years of experience. Alex has presented on restorative practices and brought such valuable insights about intentional parenting from the Latino dad perspective. Our conversation really resonated with me, especially as we discussed the challenge of breaking generational cycles while honoring our cultural roots.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

What You'll Hear:

• Why "what are you modeling?" is the most important question we can ask ourselves as parents
• How to validate our children's feelings while still maintaining boundaries
• Balancing traditional Latino values with intentional parenting approaches and handling family criticism
• Why therapy and personal growth are essential, plus how modeling accountability changes everything

Resources Mentioned:

• Mistaken Goal Chart

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Eddie Garcia, Elisa Garcia, Christina Galindo, and Jessica Bess to hear Francilia Garcia's story - a beloved wife, first-time mother, and advocate who tragically passed away from childbirth complications just weeks after welcoming her twin boys.

Through their grief, Francilia's family created Francilia's Twice the Love Foundation to raise awareness about preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and postpartum risks that claim too many mothers' lives.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode154

A note before listening: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, maternal death, and grief. The content is deeply personal and may be difficult for some listeners, especially those who have experienced similar losses or trauma. Please listen when you feel emotionally prepared, and know that it's okay to pause or step away if needed.

What You'll Hear:

• Francilia's journey through infertility and her tragic passing from pregnancy complications
• The warning signs of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome that every pregnant person and new mother needs to know
• Racial disparities in maternal healthcare and why women of color are the most vulnerable
• How to advocate for yourself during pregnancy and postpartum
• The creation of Francilia's Twice the Love Foundation and how they're supporting families while keeping Francilia's memory alive

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• Preeclampsia Foundation
• Post on maternal health statistics and research
• Annual Walk Event - Join Francilia's Twice the Love Foundation in May

Follow Francilia's Twice the Love Foundation

• Instagram: @franciliastwicethelove
• TikTok: @franciliastwicethelove
• Email: franciliastwicethelove@gmail.com

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In July 2024, I was featured in The New York Times in an article about how childcare costs are limiting women’s ability to work. The headline captured exactly how we felt at the time: stuck.

In this solo episode, I share the real story behind that moment and how my family made the strategic decision to move from Chicago to León, Guanajuato. I break down the real cost of living for a family of four in the U.S., the childcare math that so many moms are quietly navigating, and the mindset shift that helped us stop blaming ourselves and start thinking strategically.

If you’ve ever looked at your numbers and thought, “Why does this feel impossible?”, this episode is for you.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode153

What You'll Hear:

• The reality many moms are experiencing with childcare and work
• The real cost of living for a family of four in Chicago (and why the math didn’t work for us)
• How childcare costs can create a hidden barrier for women trying to re-enter the workforce
• The mindset shift that helped us not feel stuck
• How moving to Mexico created breathing room for our family financially and emotionally

Resources Mentioned:

• New York Times feature (July 2024)
• Episode 151: 3 Things You Must Do Before Moving Abroad
• Free Moving to Mexico Discord Community
• 1-on-1 Moving to Mexico Consultation
• Wall Street Journal on Americans relocating abroad

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Mamis Abroad series, I sit down with Karina Wright, a content creator, community builder, and certified no-gatekeeping reina! Karina made the bold decision to move back to the motherland with her husband and teenage son, and she has been sharing every step of the journey with her growing community at @karinalifeinmexico.

She is giving our people real, practical resources on how to find remote work, navigate the emotional load of returning, and build a life on your own terms. Whether you are thinking about making this move or just need some inspiration to dream a little bigger, this episode is for you!

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode152

What You'll Hear

• Why finding remote work is the #1 thing holding Latinas back from moving abroad
• What it's really like to move with a teenager, and why kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for
• How Karina built a no-gatekeeping Discord community to help Mexican citizens and descendants repatriate
• The honest, emotional conversation about identity, belonging, and what it means to return to a country that is yours but also feels brand new

Resources Mentioned

• Follow Karina: @karinalifeinmexico on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube & Facebook
• Karina's Discord Community
• Regresando a Mexico Workshop
• Resume Revamp Service
• Returning Home to Mexico E-Guide

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the three action steps I wish I had before we made the move to Mexico - the same ones that helped our family go from dreaming about life in Mexico to actually living it. Whether you're thinking about moving abroad for a year or permanently, this episode is your reality check and your permission slip all in one.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode151

What You'll Hear:

• Why immigration paperwork is the very first thing you need to tackle before anything else
• How to honestly compare your current cost of living to your potential expenses abroad
• Why moving countries magnifies who you are, and what happens when you don't have emotional clarity before you go
• Resources to Help You Get Started

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• How to Get Dual Citizenship digital products
• Moving to Mexico Discord Community
• 1-on-1 Move to Mexico Consultation
• Living in Mexico Series with my husband
• Cost of Living Comparison Website

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the "Mamis Abroad" series, I sit down with Alyssa Bolaños, the Latina mom behind @casabolanos, who made the radical decision to leave the U.S. with her family and embrace world schooling abroad. We dive deep into what it really takes to uproot your life, sell everything you own, and create a new future for your kids outside of the United States. Alyssa's story is raw, honest, and incredibly inspiring, especially for those who've been feeling that whisper of "what if we just... left?"

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode150

What You'll Hear:

• How the current administration pushed Alyssa and her husband to make the move they'd been dreaming about
• Why Alyssa chose to honor her family's sacrifices by making her own radical choice for her kids
• The overwhelming (but doable!) process of relocating internationally
• How Alyssa is giving her kids a childhood filled with real-world learning, language immersion, and experiences that go beyond traditional schooling
• Finding home as a third culture kid and embracing life as a "citizen of the world" while living abroad

Resources Mentioned:

• Boundless Life: World schooling program for families (use code: ALYBOL94 for $450 USD / €400 EUR off)

Follow Alyssa's journey:

• Instagram: @casabolanos
• TikTok: @casabolanos
• YouTube: @Casa_Bolanos
• Website: www.casabolanos.com

Support the show

SHOP MY NEWEST PRODUCTS - "How to Get Dual Citizenship in Mexico" E-Guide & Digital Course 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠