The Latinx/e In Social Work Podcast

Erica talks to Jean Carlos Osorio about his journey to being a mental health professional, a business owner, and author. Check out how Jean Carlos’ journey led him to help the Latinx/a/o/ community and get passed his own doubts to make his dreams come true Immigrant communities entering a new world in the U.S. Therapy through art, sports, and community. Building a practice that works to provide se...

Erica talks to Claudia M. Boyle about her journey from Columbia to the U.S. to fulfill her dream of becoming a licensed mental health counselor and the support Claudia’s family and community provided her to succeed and become a CEO at the Hispanic Counseling Center. Making sacrifices for your career Familial support in her goals. The importance of community in life and work Addressing the stigma o...

Our special guest interviewer, Pilar O. Bonilla, MSW, has questions for our host Erica Sandoval! Find out all about Erica’s journey to becoming a social worker, creating the “Latinx/e In Social Work” book series, “Sandoval Colab,” and the new non-profit “Siembra Today.” Topics touched upon: Erica’s journey to the mental health space.  Working with and mentoring social workers. Building a group pra...

Erica joins some amazing doctors to have a conversation about “Marianismo”, or the expectation that women have to serve and sacrifice for others before themselves. What is Marianismo Marianismo in Modern Culture Traditional Roles and Expectations for Women Self Validation While Supporting Others Navigating Family While Working Toward a Goal Dr. Damary M. Bonilla-Rodriguez is a national leading aut...

Erica joins some amazing mental health professionals to have an honest discussion about infertility, family building and mental health.  The emotions you go through trying to build a family Stigma of infertility in cultural communities. Navigating family building with fertility support awareness Dealing with the expectations of motherhood Staying positive during the fertility process Laudy Burgos,...

Erica is catching up with Latinx/e In Social Work Volume 1 authors to find out what has changed since the release of the book, and what they are doing currently. Today we caught up with one of our first guest, Madeline Maldonado, licensed clinical social worker, and Co-founder of Minette LCSW Psychotherapy Services PLLC How life has changed since Latinx/e In Social Work Volume 1  Setting goals to...

Erica is catching up with Latinx/e In Social Work Volume 1 authors to find out what has changed since the release of the book, and what they are doing currently. Today we caught up with Paula McMillan-Perez, licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and podcast host about building community with her fellow authors, her new ventures, and more. How life has changed since Latinx/e In Social W...

This is a recording of an amazing conversation with Erica Sandoval, members of the Sandoval Collab ( Tiffany Hervas, LMSW, Jessica Ramirez, LMSW, Monika Estrada Guzman, BSW, LMSW, SIFI) and the Hispanic Federation.  This episode include conversations about suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is dealing with emotional distress or suicidal crisis, help is available. Call or text 98...

Our guest today are  Mariana Lopez Bio: After more than 15 years as a social worker, in December 2022, Mariana Lopez founded Centro Comunitario Hispano, a nonprofit that promotes Latinx families' growth and comprehensive development through education as well as access to mental health and social services. In 2014, Mariana founded Lifeskills Counseling Services, a mental health clinic with sit...

Our guest today is Stephanie Sorady! Stephanie Sorady is a licensed clinical social worker and writer who is passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health topics. She uses her personal and professional experiences to create engaging content about mental health and wellness; with a special emphasis on the Latino/a/x community as she is the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant. She has written a b...

Our guests today are: Meredith Hemphill, LCSW-R, DSW (she/her/hers) works as a Clinical Director and Director of Community Relations at City Center Psychotherapy in New York City. She teaches within the social work programs at New York University and Columbia University, and is a graduate of the Zelda Foster certificate program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care. She received her master’s and doct...

Our guest today is Andrea Lucio! She is a cultural researcher. Her research focuses on communication and language access as cultural categories. In 2017, she started a project called Carishina. Carishina provides cultural education through travel, and exposure through human interaction. Andrea was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She recently obtained a Master of Arts in Latin American &...

Our guest today is Maria Lugo! She is a dedicated advocate for health equity, holds the position of Senior Director for Health Initiatives at Hispanic Federation. With more than 18 years of experience, she has channeled her passion and expertise toward empowering the Hispanic community to overcome health inequalities. Through her tireless efforts, Maria has been instrumental in providing vital hea...

Our guest today is Simone Castillo. With her company Velvet Canary Advisors, she supports clients to find physical, mental, and financial balances while following their dreams. Follow our conversation as we learn what has driven her to support communities since she was a child and how to follow your financial dreams without giving up your mental and physical wellness. Topics we touch on in today’s...

July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month &  Disability Pride Month. We celebrate 2023's theme of  " Culture, Community, and Connection" with our guest kelly George. Kelly George is an advocate for people with neurodiversities. She is the Brooklyn born founder of Real Resilience Coaching & Consulting where she helps organizations and communities create environments that ta...

Vanessa Codorniu, the Biz Bruja, uses her talents to help people break ancestral patterns and reclaim their powerful intuition. Through her work as a psychic medium, astrologer, and mujer medicina, she works to help heal people physically, mentally and spiritually. Topics we touch on in today’s wide-ranging conversation include: How ancestral trauma affects people generationally How art and person...

In this episode of Latinx in Social Work, I connect with two incredible men transforming the face of mental health and corporate culture - Nicholas Martinez and Nick Kampouris. We delve into their inspiring work on fostering deep connections, authentic vulnerability, and emotional intelligence within corporate teams, and their unique approach to men's healing circles. We discuss the significa...

In this episode of Latinx In Social Work, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month with a captivating dialogue with Nata R. Galati. As a Certified Integrative Pelvic Health & Mayan Abdominal and Womb Massager Practitioner, Nata beautifully fuses spirituality with scientific methodology, providing a unique lens into traditional healing practices, and their potential to enhance mental wellness. In...

In this thought-provoking episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with two phenomenal board members of 100 Hispanic Women: Dr. Cindy, founder of Velocity Visions, and Nancy Ruffin, founder of The Nancy Ruffin Success Academy. They brought invaluable insights into the sphere of personal growth, mentoring, and creating impactful change. From their journey, you will learn how to navigate persona...

In this empowering episode, I sit down with the charismatic Pabel Martinez, whose life story paints a vivid portrait of assimilation, authenticity, and bold entrepreneurship. Pabel openly shares his journey, from being a self-confessed 'grandma’s boy' to grappling with a predominantly white work culture at Facebook, and finally to giving himself the permission to be his true authentic se...

Today I host financial experts Maria Herrera Paloma and Blanca Sepulveda, who shed light on the critical aspects of managing personal finance within the Hispanic community. Through our discussions, we uncover the intricacies of financial trauma, explore the evolution of our relationship with money, and navigate the waters of debt management. You'll walk away from this episode with newfound un...

In today's episode, I warmly welcome you to meet Carolina Bolivar for an intimate conversation on self-care, motherhood, and spiritual healing. Carolina reveals her transformative journey, where she had to relearn the art of motherhood and foster a transparent relationship with her children. She delves into her spiritual journey, introducing us to the heart-nourishing benefits of cacao and he...

Join me in this enlightening episode where we delve into the life and career of Aurora Cruz, a devoted social worker with a special focus on children and families. Aurora shares candidly about her journey into social work, fuelled by her innate love for children, and how it has shaped her into a better parent. She opens up about the importance of empathy, patience, and grace in parenting, and how...

In this special episode of Latinx In Social Work, I, Erica Sandoval, celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month by chatting with three incredible board members of the Latino Social Work Coalition: Tania Vargas, LCSW; Monika C. Estrada Guzman, BSW, LMSW, SIFI; and Luisa Lopez, MSW.  Join us as we dive into their inspiring journeys, discuss the unique aspects of the Latino Social Work Coalition, and exp...

In this deeply personal episode, I speak with the inspiring Maria Trusa, who shares her incredible story of resilience and turning pain into a powerful force for change. Maria opens up about her journey, from creating a medical center for immigrants in New York to transforming her relationships with her children by breaking free from her past using the mantra "no more." We discuss her no...