How to Talk to [Mamí & Papí] about Anything

After an incident of harassment, Carla began to question being in a church that wouldn't protect her. But the hardest part of walking away was talking to her Honduran parents about it. And Doralis Coriano Ortiz, a psychotherapist who helps BIPOC clients navigate adverse religious experiences shares strategies for speaking with loved ones about a crisis of faith. Featured Expert :  Doralis Coriano...

Julie finds it hard to buy her Korean mom a gift she won't criticize. She also suspects her mom's reactions are not just about the objects. And Yin J. Li, a psychotherapist who works with clients from the Asian Diaspora, helps us identify and understand hidden family tensions so we can better address them. Featured Expert :  Yin is a Portland-based psychotherapist with a private practice called Th...

Last year, Odalys talked to us about her Cuban grandmother’s toxic behavior and how familismo made it hard for her parents to address it. Today, she reflects on how their difficult relationship shaped her and how opening up about it on our podcast helped her begin to process it all. If you loved this episode, listen to Odalys's (aka Ody) original episode, When Familism Hurts . We’d love to hear yo...

When we met her, Louise was overwhelmed by how her Vietnamese-Chinese family relied on her for translation and administrative help. She comes back to speak candidly about creating better boundaries with her mom, sharing responsibilities with her brother, and managing her feelings around it all. If you loved this episode, listen to Louise's original episode, How to Get Help When You're the Designat...

At the onset of the pandemic Harold was frustrated with his parents for not following COVID-19 safety guidelines. He returns to the show for a moving conversation with Juleyka about how this turbulent year impacted his relationship with his family. He also shares some good news that keeps him moving forward. If you loved this episode, listen to Harold's original episode, Parents’ Reason for Ignori...

Irina talked to us about being the mediator between her Cuban and Russian parents, and her more Americanized younger brother. She returns to tell us how the advice from our expert helped her, and reflects on why moving across the country altered the family dynamics. Irina is the host and creator of Pandemic Mama podcast. If you loved this episode, listen to Irina's original episode, She's Stuck in...

Walter couldn't tell his Mexican parents about the pressures he faced in college and law school. And when he decided he needed a break before taking the bar, he faced increased self-doubt.  If you loved this episode, listen to Walter's original episode, He's the First to Go to College. We’d love to hear your stories of triumph and frustration so send us a detailed voice memo to virginia@lwcstudios...

Last year, Estefanía had a hard time speaking with her Puerto Rican dad about systemic racism and anti-blackness. She returns to the show as a licensed clinical social worker to share her insights from working through similar issues with her own first-gen clients. If you loved this episode, listen to Estefanía's original episode, Dad Denies Systemic Racism. We’d love to hear your stories of triump...

Our OGs are back! For the next few episodes, we're checking in with some of our original guests. When we spoke last year, Daniella struggled to help her parents understand her son's developmental delays. Since then, he has received an official diagnosis and is teaching the whole family how to support him best. If you loved this episode, listen to Daniella's original episode, Mom Has to Teach Grand...

After living in the U.S. for 40 years, Eddie's parents surprise him with the news that they're moving back to South Korea. And, psychologist Sarah H. Moon  helps us grieve and celebrate our parents' lives and triumphs. Eddie Kim wrote an article about his experience for MEL magazine titled "When Your Immigrant Parents Move Back Overseas, Where Is Home?" Find it here . Featured Expert:   Sarah H. M...

The pandemic has made Annika reconsider having children, but the pressure from her Indian relatives is intense. And sociologist Farha Ternikar breaks down cultural expectations around motherhood, and offers guidance for pushing back. Annika Sharma is the author of Love, Chai, and Other Four Letter Words , and co-host of   The Woke Desi podcast . You can learn more about her here .  Featured Expert...

Conny and her 4-year-old daughter love Halloween, but since celebrating the holiday goes against the family's religious beliefs, Conny's mom strongly opposes it. And therapist Catalina Fortich is back to share tips for handling healthy conflict. Featured Expert:   Catalina Fortich is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master of Science degree from Nova Sout...

Ana Sheila wants her traditional Mexican mom to know about her cannabis use. But the stigma around recreational drug use stops her. And Oriana Mayorga, an activist with Students for Sensible Drug Policy, shares strategies for speaking with parents about drugs with a social justice lens.    Ana Sheila is the cohost of Tamarindo Podcast. Featured Expert:   Oriana Mayorga (she/her/hers) is a communit...

V. Chau is pushing back against their mother's preoccupation with their weight and eating habits. And psychologist Yuying Tsong, who studies Asian American body image, speaks with Juleyka about disordered eating within immigrant families. Featured Expert:   Yuying Tsong is a psychologist and Professor in the Department of Human Services at California State University, Fullerton. A mixed-method res...

Gisselle wants to be a different kind of mom, but her gentle parenting choices sometimes rub up against how her Dominican parents interact with her two boys. And Leslie Priscilla, founder of Latinx Parenting, speaks with Juleyka about "Chancla Culture" and decolonizing our parenting without antagonizing those who raised us. Featured Expert:  Leslie Priscilla is a first generation non-Black Xicana...

Chai is looking for chemistry, love and romance, but her Indian mother has a different idea, and feels responsible for finding her a husband. And Varsha Mathur, a dating and relationship coach, speaks with Juleyka about how to help parents understand what you want in romantic relationships. Featured Expert:  Varsha is a dating & relationship coach and speaker. She is a graduate of Accomplishment C...

Kathy's Ecuadorian mom never talked about sex or sexuality with her. As a mom herself, Kathy is trying to do things differently with her tween daughter.  And sex educator Brittany McBride shares strategies for affirming family conversations about our bodies. Featured Expert:  Brittany McBride is the Associate Director, Sex Education at Advocates for Youth. She is responsible for strengthening the...

Prisca grew up feeling controlled and intimidated by her older brother and distanced herself from him as an adult. But her Nicaraguan parents never saw anything wrong with the dynamic. And Diane Orozco, a psychotherapist who helps first-gens heal from trauma and abuse, speaks with Juleyka about how to navigate estranged relationships within our families. Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez is  the auth...

Elizabeth is navigating the dating world as a DACA recipient while feeling the pressure from her Mexican family to get married and settle down. And Genesis Games, a therapist specializing in helping millennial Latinos manage their romantic relationships, returns to the show to help us decide when and how much personal information to share with a potential partner. Featured Expert:  Genesis Games i...

Elise separated from their Catholic upbringing after coming out, but their very religious parents keep trying to bring them back. And Meg Griffiths, a professional dialogue facilitator, speaks with Juleyka about creating trust across diverging spiritual beliefs within our families. Featured Expert:  Meg Griffiths’s professional background is at the intersection of education, dialogue, ministry, an...

Years after her father's murder, and following another tragic loss, Melissa recognized she needed help. She went to therapy, but also realized she was being cast out by her Chinese-Jamaican family as a result.  And, Amy Lew, a therapist specializing in trauma and mixed-raced identity, speaks with Juleyka about finding our own ways to grieve with or without our loved ones. Featured Expert:  Amy Lew...

While studying to become a physician associate, Vanessa decided to take a leave of absence to avoid burning out, but greatly feared disappointing her Colombian parents. And Sunny Nakae, a medical school dean who specializes in access and equity, shares strategies for developing self-compassion while pursuing demanding academic careers. Our expert this week is Dr. Sunny Nakae, Senior Associate Dean...

Bianca had to convince her Cuban mom that divorcing and celebrating her true identity is, ultimately, good parenting. Then, sexuality educator and social worker Aida Manduley shares strategies for helping our loved ones redefine what family and loving relationships look like. Our expert this week is therapist, educator and activist Aida Manduley, learn more about their work here . Aida recommends...

Rae gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. She developed postpartum depression while caring for her baby under lockdown, and tried to explain to her Chinese-Jamaican family what she was going through. And, psychiatrist Leena Mittal, who specializes in maternal mental health, speaks with Juleyka about normalizing this experience, which is the most common complication of pregnancy. Featured Expert...

Liz is excited about exploring her sexual orientation and fluidity, but thinks her more conservative Colombian mother will not be as open to the idea. And, sex educator Stephanie Campos offers us strategies to bring our loved ones along, once we're ready. Featured Expert: Stephanie Campos, MPH, has been teaching about sex, consent, and LGBTQ issues for over a decade, from homeless shelters and inn...