Ever since I applied to become an American citizen, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be the "perfect" American. To answer this question I have to face a childhood trauma before I take my oath.

This is the final episode of season two. Stay close to me on social media or my website for details on the next season! ¡Hasta pronto!

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

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EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

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#158. In this solo Spanish-language episode of DIFERENTE, I explore why it's so challenging to listen to our intuition while seeking perfection.

En este episodio de DIFERENTE exploro la dinámica entre la intuición y el deseo a llevar una vida perfecta.

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ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

#157. In this episode I catch up with my friend, fellow podcaster and artist, Stephania Ramos to chat about the common thread that unites so many of us multi cultural folks, the idea that love needs to be somewhat toxic to be real. I call this type of love, "amor de telenovela", you know where slapping someone is a turn on, "no" often means "yes", and being passive aggressive and playing hard to get is the only way to win.

That's the impression of love Stephania and I had growing up, and it stained every relationship we both had. Until one day we each realized the secret to letting go of that toxic idea of love had nothing to do with other people or canceling Telenovelas, and everything to do with ourselves.

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JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM or TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

#156 - In this Spanish-speaking episode of DIFERENTE, I catch up with my BFF from Aguascalientes, Mexico Stephania Ramos, after more than 20 years of not seeing or speaking to one another. (That's a story for the next episode.) Steph and I talk about the multiple culture shocks we lived when we moved to the U.S., each of us at a different age, and how these experiences taught us how to love ourselves and our accents.

En este episodio de DIFERENTE, me vuelvo a conectar con mi BFF de Aguascalientes, Mexico-Stephania Ramos-después de mas de 20 años de no saber nada de ella. Platicamos sobre las adversidades que vivimos debido al choque cultural de mudarnos a Estados Unidos, y cómo estas experiencias nos enseñaron a amarnos a nosotros mismos y a nuestros acentos.

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM or TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

#155 - Arianna Davis, Senior Director of Editorial & Strategy at Oprah and Hearst Magazine's New Multiplatform Lifestyle Brand, and the author of "What Would Frida Do, A Guide to Living Boldly", joins me for this DIFERENTE conversation. We talk about the things we've learned, through Frida Kahlo's story, about sex, feminism and how not to be in a toxic relationship.

This Women's History Month, Frida's story reminds me that it's important to continue the discussion on intersectional feminism and feeling safe in our bodies regardless of sexual orientation.

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM or TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Dimitrios Mylis

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

#154 - Do you think your parents gave you a specific name so that you could be called something else? Something that doesn't really sound like your name, but it makes people comfortable, it's easier this way.

I know my parents named me Maribel (Mah-REE-bel). That was always my name, until we moved to the U.S., and one day my dad picked up a call from someone wanting to know if MaryBell was home. My name would not return until the last quarter of my senior year in college, when I finally realized I had been trying so hard to fit in for so many years, that I had forgotten who I really was.

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM or TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Dimitrios Mylis

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

As people of multicultural and multiracial backgrounds, we're often hit with the most random and intrusive questions. Constantly being asked to define ourselves in order to be properly catalogued, and boxed in, according to society's expectations.

Why is that? And why do people of multi-racial identity have to divide themselves into percentages, 50% this, 30% that, rather than embracing all their ethnic backgrounds as wholes? I know the math doesn't make sense, but neither does having to explain yourself every day.

In this episode we explore the BIG question and what biracial identity means in today's world with professional gofer, spokesperson and fellow podcaster, Cheyenne Woods.

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM or TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Dimitrios Mylis

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra

One of the coolest things I've learned from another culture is how to meditate. Meditation was never part of my life as a child in Mexico, or even as a teenager in Ohio. I discovered it later in life, when I was struggling to figure out how to "tone down" my Latina fury-a title I gave to my reactionary personality back then. Little did I know that it wasn't a matter of appeasing anything, but re-directing my energy, becoming more mindful meant practicing not only how to process emotions better, but how to be kind to myself and others. Years later I realized that I didn't need to tone down anything, I just had to get to know myself better in order to focus my energy correctly.

As a Latina, it took me a long time to realize that there's NOTHING wrong with having a passionate, fiery, or "sassy" outlook, and meditation helped me discover this, and so much more!

That's why I love learning about meditation and sharing the gift of mindfulness with others.

Feel free to use this meditation playlist I curated to help get you on your way!

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: @Maribel_QS. And learn more about me at maribelqs.com

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Latina media producer and curiosity expert Maribel Quezada Smith brings you the bilingual podcast, DIFERENTE. Where we celebrate and explore the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures. Learn, grow and be inspired by stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

----more----

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer, Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor: Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme music by Andres Sierra