1 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to more Anita, a deep dive into the Latin 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: X experience. With more Anita, we want to create a 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: community and a shared space with you while sharing knowledge 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: and inspiration. This show is about celebrating our culture with 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: guests who exemplify the best of us. I'm Darrylene Gastillo, 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: Ethane Vito me Hind. Today we have an episode, but 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: I think many of you will be able to relate 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: to our love and hate for social media. I'm talking Twitter, 9 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: the Ticket Talk, Instagram, Facebook. Social media is the true 10 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: double edged sword, especially for those that use it for 11 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: fun and work. It can be fun, time consuming, toxic, 12 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: draining and invigorating all at once. You scroll and scroll 13 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: and scroll, and then all of a sudden, three hours 14 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: of your precious lives have passed. Social media is a 15 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 1: vital part of our world today, especially for those who 16 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: work in the entertainment industry. And yet there are a 17 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: lot of great things about it, like connecting with people 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: and discovering friendships. It can also be a bit of 19 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: a scary place. It has the power to affect your 20 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: life in positive and negative ways. Claudia Mendoza, the CEO 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: of a prominent Instagram page, called Mammy. Chula Social Club 22 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,199 Speaker 1: comes to Monita to discuss why she decided to take 23 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: time off social media and how that time ended up 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: being two years. That's right. When Claudia made this decision, 25 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: I was shook, as I think many of her followers were, 26 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: because her platform was growing so much. I had been 27 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: following her page for a couple of years and was 28 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: inspired by the moves she was making the power of 29 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: bringing these incredible communities of dope Latina women. Not only that, 30 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: but she was being recognized by huge platforms like New 31 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: York Times, Oprah's magazine, and began a partnership with Dove products. 32 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: But she decided to create a post informing her followers 33 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: and friends that she would be taking a break. However, 34 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: I don't think anyone imagined it would have been two years. 35 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: The best decision. She calls it, as you'll hear later. 36 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: I think the last time I attempted to social media cleanse, 37 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: I did a month, and that included a lot of cheating, 38 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: like a lot of cheating, and even those who might 39 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: know who have tried to take social media breaks have 40 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: definitely not done it for two years. Gladia shares with 41 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: us the clarity and peace that she gained, but also 42 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: the challenges that she had to overcome through those two years. 43 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: She shares the triggers that social media presented to her 44 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: that made her recognize a decision that needed to be 45 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: made for herself and herself only for her mental health 46 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: and her body health and her personal life. Those things 47 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: became the priority. I want to warn you that we 48 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: do discuss some triggering topics such as sexual abuse. I 49 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: also want to thank Lavia for her bravery and sharing 50 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: parts of her story with us. She truly is a 51 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: beautiful soul. I can't wait for you guys to hear 52 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: this one set. Claudia, she's in the room. She's here 53 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: for de Fine, we finally did it. I'm so happy 54 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: to have you here on mon Anita. It's been a 55 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: long time coming, truly, I'm so excited to be talking 56 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: with you. You are incredible darling, and I'm happy that 57 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: we're finally making this happen. I know it's been well. 58 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: First of all, thank you so much. I'm like, I know. 59 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: First off, I just want to say that, like how 60 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: you and I met, Like I mean, we've had an 61 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: online friendship for such a long time. Now it seems um, 62 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: and I found you through Mammy Chula, which is the 63 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: I guess yeah, actually like the Mommychola Social Club. So like, 64 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: how did that begin for you? How did you like 65 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: embark that journey. I mean, you've been featured in New 66 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: York Times and Oprah magazine, You've been a partner with Dove, 67 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: Like what was the beginning of Mammy cho La Social Club? 68 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: What was the reasoning for that? Yeah, So it's it's 69 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: really interesting, and I think that it all started because 70 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: I've always had a real passion and love for women 71 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: and a real passion and love for community. Um. And 72 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: so I used to host these kickball games and I 73 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: because I was really great at kickball and it was 74 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: the only sport that like I remember, okay, kickball champion, Yes, 75 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: like I am like anybody. It was like I think 76 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: it was one of my happiest memories honestly, like going 77 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: a gym and was kickball day. I was just like, 78 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: oh am, I hit that ball so hard and I 79 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: know that, like I can run and it's easy, Like 80 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 1: it's not like it doesn't require I don't know, it 81 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: was it was the right amount of competition, but it 82 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: was also like it didn't require the coordination of like 83 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: baseball or like, I don't know, like a dance class, 84 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: Like I didn't have to learn choreography or whatever. And 85 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: I was just really great at it and I loved it. 86 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: And I was just like everyone is good at kickball, 87 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: like everyone loves like anybody couldn't kick a ball and 88 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: you could run to the next base, and like I 89 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: just it was just such a good memory for me. 90 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: So I loved kickball. And at one point, I think 91 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: the first one, the first moment tool a kickball game 92 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: was in twenty fifteen. I just had a whole bunch 93 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: of friends from different from all different parts of my life. 94 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: So I had friends who were like my closest friends. 95 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: And then I had friends who I had met through 96 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: like political organizing and like my you know, like my 97 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: community organizing work. And then I had friends who I 98 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: knew from school and we're part of like more of 99 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: like that intellectual circle and all that stuff. And then 100 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: I had I just had a whole bunch of different 101 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: friends who were incredible and who I just wanted to 102 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: get together. And I was just like, you guys need 103 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: to meet and we all need to have fun, and 104 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: we all need to like get out here, and we 105 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: all need to like just be active and just get 106 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: to know each other. So I holded that first kickball 107 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: game and it was a freaking blast. And from there, 108 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: so many women met each other. And I think it 109 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: started off, honestly with like a group of twenty something women. Um, yeah, 110 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: and it really started. Like the premise of it was 111 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: joy and it was to get women of color together 112 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: and to get women of color out and active. Right. 113 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: So fast forward a few years later, Um, my best 114 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: friends and I, all of our moms are single moms. 115 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: So it's mine, Oh the girl. All of our moms 116 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: are single moms, and I think they were coming to 117 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: like the realization. We were coming to the realization that 118 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: a lot of them were about to become empty masters 119 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: because like a lot of us had graduated from college 120 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: and like we were moving on even if we were 121 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: living at home, our social lives or like our social 122 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: lives didn't really involve our moms much, but like our 123 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: moms were such a big part of who we were, 124 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: Like as Dominican women, our moms are, our sisters, are 125 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: best friends, are freaking biggest critics. But there's such a 126 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: big part, like our relationships with our moms are such 127 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: a big part of who we are, and like, like 128 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: we I at least as much as I want to 129 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: separate my relationship with my mom from my life, like 130 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: I can't, like my mom is is my is my 131 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: new clius um. And I realized that a lot of them, 132 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: like we realized that a lot of them like didn't 133 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: have friends because they grew up thinking, um, that they 134 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: couldn't trust other women, Like I don't know about you, darling, 135 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: but my mom grew up raised me saying I know, 136 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: or be careful around these women because either they'll take 137 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: your men, or they'll voating chad about you, or they'll 138 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of our moms have trauma with 139 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: other women. So it's either that they don't have relationships 140 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: with other women because of that or because they were 141 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: working all of the time and didn't have the time 142 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: to socialize, you know and like build friendships in the 143 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: way that we understand friendships. Um. So a lot of 144 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: their friends were there bes seeing us or their sisters 145 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: or whatever like familia yeah, familia. So um, we had 146 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: the bright idea of like pasting of bringing all of 147 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: our moms together and like making all of our single 148 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: moms and to friends because like they were all fly 149 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: and like in there, you know, late forties, and you know, 150 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: if we were out like being fly and being our 151 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: fly little selves, like our moms leader to be out 152 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: here socializing too. So we wanted to get them together 153 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: and we started, um, like organizing little dinners and like 154 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: like happy hour. Now I'm going to interact because these 155 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: were not let me tell you guys, these were not 156 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: little dinners. They were like that and it was like 157 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: you would see it on social later later, Yeah, that 158 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: was later. So this is like before even officially bringing 159 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: it out of like my official friend group. Like this 160 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: was just like my friends, right, So this is like 161 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: the first like the o G level. This is like 162 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: the old G level of mommy to La social club. Right. 163 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: So then, um, we we did all these dinners and 164 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: then we're like I'm like holy shit, like there's something 165 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: here and like I have a real passion for it, 166 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: and I'm working at that point, I was working, um 167 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: in government, I was working at in the state. But 168 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: I knew that I wanted to quit my job and 169 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: I wanted to do something that I was really passionate about. 170 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: So I saved up a bunch of money, and I 171 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: was just like, yo, I am just I have this 172 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: bright idea. I want to host a garden party for 173 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: moms and daughters, and I want to like, I want 174 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: to expand this. So at the time, I had met 175 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: someone and she completely she attended a kickball game. UM. 176 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: I had met her in person through a kickball game, 177 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: and she was just like, this is amazing. You totally 178 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 1: have something here, Like yes, go with it, Like let's 179 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 1: do it. So UM, from there, I had the first 180 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: Mommy Toula garden party, which was incredible. I got a 181 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: hard our player. It was hosted at like UM at 182 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: the oldest mansion in New York City actually where UM 183 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: Alexander Hamilton's stayed there at this mansion Drylyn. I know, 184 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: I know exactly what you're talking about, mostral mansion. UM. 185 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: I had a celebrity chef. UM. I reached out to 186 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: every single connection that I had to make this the 187 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: most memorable and beautiful celebration ever for our moms because 188 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: I was just like, this is what we deserve, and 189 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: this is the caliber of experiences that our moms deserve 190 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: and that we deserve, and like we need to be 191 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: building community in this way, and like women need to 192 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: get together and we need to have these spaces, and 193 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: like there's so many women who are doing incredible things 194 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: who connect online but don't really have the opportunity to 195 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: ever connect in person. So that was the beginning of 196 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: it and a lot of the inspiration. And then I 197 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: mean Mammy Social Club. So I was out of town 198 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the times, traveling and working, and I 199 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: used to watch the Instagram from Afar and just be 200 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: I would send you messages and be like, oh my god, 201 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: I wish I was there. I can't wait to get 202 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,359 Speaker 1: back to New York to meet you and see you. Um. 203 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: And then I mean, yeah, so we're going to take 204 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: a little bit of like a complete turn here. But 205 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: I mean your social media platform was, you know, and 206 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: is incredibly successful, and like people in our community like 207 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 1: look out to that, and women always are on there 208 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: and watching it, and like I'm one of the people 209 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: that always kept tabs on you and was like where's 210 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: my girl at what's happening, what's happening next month? Um? 211 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: And then I think we saw something that was really 212 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: interesting and I'll say shocking because it was kind of 213 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,479 Speaker 1: a shock for me, But I remember opening up Instagram 214 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: and going to visit your page. However, it seemed that 215 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: you decided to take a step back off social media, 216 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: and I remember there wasn't really a presence of Mammy 217 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: Chula um nor on your personal account, and in my mind, 218 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, where's my girl? And I know that 219 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: you had mentioned you're taking a social media hiatus. You 220 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: didn't put a time frame or anything, but it actually 221 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: turned out to be about two years. What was the 222 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: reason for the social media disconnect, especially something that like 223 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: that was propelling your incredible idea. Yes, I mean, Mammy Chula, 224 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: like even if it was a private page because we 225 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: only accepted women or like you know, you have to 226 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: be kind of referred to the page and you have 227 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: to be accepted, um Mommy Toola completely like grew like 228 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: our community lived online and I'm so grateful to Instagram 229 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: because like that's how I was able to meet you, 230 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: and that's how our community like really blossomed. But so 231 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: I mean, and that was in retrospect, I feel like 232 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: taking that hiatus, Okay, So to me, Instagram has always 233 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: been and social media has always been critical and so 234 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: important because I understand that it's a tool, right, Like, 235 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: holy shit, You're able to grow a community from fifty 236 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: women to like now like three thousand women or something 237 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: just because of social media and Instagram. But I also understand, 238 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: and I have always understood, that the real purpose and 239 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: the real magic lies in real life and in us 240 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: building and connecting in person. And that's why I put 241 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: so much emphasis and like mommy to all events, Like yeah, 242 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: they they're like really beautiful and like you know, like 243 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: I put I put a lot of thought and care, 244 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: but like into like how they look esthetically and would 245 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: present online like you know, you're gonna have a little 246 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: selfie moment or like you're gonna have an Instagram moment. 247 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: But the real magic in it is in how you're 248 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: going to actually present in like how what you're gonna 249 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: actually get out of the experience through being in it 250 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: in person, and how you're going to connect with the 251 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: other woman or the other tula in real life, and 252 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: how your exchange is going to be, and how this 253 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: event is going to like be the channel for it. Um. 254 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: But to me, like Instagram could go down at any moment, right, 255 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: but I still want the magic and the power of 256 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: Mommy dula to live beyond it and the power of 257 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: our community to live beyond digital and online. So while 258 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: I understand the important ends of Instagram, and I've always 259 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: understood it like my real like I don't care to 260 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: go viral, I don't care about like those things like 261 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: to me, the real impact was always very much more important. 262 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, it was a really hard decision to get offline. 263 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: But I always put myself and like, you know, like 264 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: real life first. So was it a mental health based 265 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: decision that you decided to step away from? It was 266 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: like so started. It was incredible for Mommy Too La 267 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: because we opened up in February, the end of February 268 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: early March with the Vagina Monologues. There was so much 269 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: happening online for Mommy to La. We had just raised 270 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 1: twenty thous dollars to be donated to an organization Latin Nazili. 271 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: It is like so much was picking up. There was 272 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: so much momentum, there was so much going on. I 273 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: had just gotten a delve partnership through like my work 274 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 1: with Mommy to La um, so much was picking up. 275 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: And then a few days after the Vagina Monologues closes, 276 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 1: everything gets shut down and We're like in the We're like, oh, 277 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: like blacked out and are like, what the hell is 278 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: going on? What is COVID? What is about to happen? 279 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: Nobody's going to work. So it was like it was 280 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 1: really funny because it was like all of this happened 281 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: and there was so much energy and then it's like 282 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: everything just goes black. And it was great because I 283 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: was able to take some pause and rest after producing 284 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: like this massive show or whatever that To me, it 285 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: was massive. I had never produced anything like a show 286 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,360 Speaker 1: with my life UM and much less raised that much 287 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: that much money. But it was a time of rest 288 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: where I didn't really have to post and engage because 289 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,959 Speaker 1: at COVID was the main thing that everyone was concerned about. 290 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: UM And at that same time, around that same time, 291 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 1: I was also going through a really rough time with 292 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: my mom. It was I was I had to leave 293 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: my mom's house and there was like a lot going 294 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: on in my personal life, and I just took that 295 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 1: time to kind of take like a few days off 296 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: of Instagram and off of engaging with everyone. And I 297 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,120 Speaker 1: think we were all confused about the direction that we 298 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: were all gonna take now that COVID was like full throttle. 299 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: So I slowly started doing like programming around like um 300 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: mental health and how to support us during our community 301 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: during quarantine, like you know, how to bring joy and 302 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: their mommy to lie energy into all of our homes 303 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: even when we were like when we couldn't go outside. Um. 304 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: So that was fun and all. But then I am 305 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: such an overachiever daryln that like I wanted to have 306 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: something planned for every single day. I had like a 307 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: partnership with a different tula for like weeks on end, 308 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: and I remember schedules. Yeah, the schedules were freaking wild. 309 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: I had like Aria from Flower both Dega teaching us 310 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: how to do like flower baths, and like I had 311 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 1: a friend of mine, Stephanie, teaching a salta class. I 312 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: think it was every Tuesday or Wednesday. Um. Like we 313 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: had a jam pack schedule every every single every single 314 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: day um for for a few weeks. And then something 315 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: really interesting happened. The summer is rolling around and a 316 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: friend of mine comes out with um, you know, with 317 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: her story, sharing her story about sexual assault, and you know, 318 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: like that it was it turned Washington Heights and our 319 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: community like it like it turned us around because it 320 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: was like these two major people who are like big 321 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: parts of our community were now at the forefront of 322 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: this major like you know, scandal and thing. And I 323 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: came out very much defending my friend and you know, 324 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: sharing my story with sexual violence and um, I'm sorry, um, 325 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: and out of nowhere, I became like this. I remember 326 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: a picture of I shared this picture of myself, um 327 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: with red like a red thing over my eyes that 328 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: said survivor. And it was a picture of myself when 329 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: I was five years old and when I had like 330 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: experienced like sexual assault, and I shared my story and 331 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: I connected it and I and I this has always 332 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: been something that I've been like extremely passionate about and 333 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: that like I always knew I wanted to talk about. 334 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: And it just felt like the right moment to talk 335 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: about misogyny and you know, like violence against women, Like 336 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: we had just put on the Vagina Monologues to talk 337 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: about violence against women, and then here it is happening 338 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: in our community, and like it happening to a friend 339 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: that I love so much, and she she's being brave 340 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: and sharing her story. So I wanted to support her. 341 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 1: And that post went viral when I put the the 342 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: picture of myself when I was five, and a whole 343 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: bunch of women came out and shared their stories as well, 344 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: and in a matter of days, like I kind of 345 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: I was kind of at the center of this conversation 346 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 1: and men were coming at me asking me to like 347 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: organized things for like conversations and different talks and all 348 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: of these things. But what I hadn't I don't think 349 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: that I had taken into account was like how triggering 350 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: this moment was for me, Like at the end of 351 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: the day, like this story was something that I had 352 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: held with me for like over twenty years, you know, 353 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: like it was like one of the most formative traumas 354 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: of my life, and I here, I am now putting 355 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: it on social media and it becoming like sensationalized and 356 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 1: it becoming like it's important, right because we need to 357 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: have this conversation. But I think that what happened was 358 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 1: that it was a trigger, a major trigger for me, 359 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: and it was something that wasn't that wasn't meant to 360 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: become like like the point of me putting it out 361 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: there was not for it to become viral, for me 362 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: to become like it was just like, yeah, I'm fed 363 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: up with this. You know on behalf of what you 364 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: went through and and you were fed up with it. 365 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: And that's the fire that it feels like it had 366 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:16,360 Speaker 1: behind it, absolutely absolutely and not like yeah. And then 367 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: right after that they're like that was happening. And then 368 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: simultaneously we had all that the Black Lives Matter uprising 369 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: is happening again. And to me, like when I was 370 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: in college, I was a big organizer for the Black 371 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: Lives Matter, like boom in our community and all these things, 372 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: and and like I I spoke out a lot about 373 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: these issues, and like um My, for example, my thesis 374 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: and and undergrad was actually on like Paitian and Dominican relations, 375 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: and like, so racism has always been like a real, 376 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: like a huge passion of mine, and like I've always 377 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: been like very outspoken about it. So here I am 378 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: two huge issues that I'm super triggered by and like 379 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: I feel super passionate about. And we're also in the 380 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: middle of a pandemic and all of this is happening 381 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: online and I feel so much, um I feel so 382 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 1: much responsibility to take action. But then at the same time, 383 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: like I feel like I wasn't. There was something growing 384 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: inside of me that just felt very unsettled and felt 385 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: like I didn't want to take action, and I was tired, 386 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: and I was tired of being a voice, and I 387 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: was tired of fighting for others, and I felt like 388 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: I was just I was sad and I was scared 389 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: and I and I realized then that I was going 390 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: into a real deep like I was in the middle 391 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: of a very deep depression. And it's a real sadness 392 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: that I think that a lot of us were feeling 393 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: because our lives were changing, had changed so quickly. But 394 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: to me having the very real trick years of um, 395 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: you know, putting my sexual you know, assault story out 396 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: there and having that and then having the Black Lives 397 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: Matter movement putting more pressure on that, and then feeling 398 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 1: like I had to be the leader of a women's 399 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: organization and like, you know, part of this pressure. Pressure. 400 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: It was just a lot of pressure. And what I 401 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 1: wanted was quiet, and what I needed was to take 402 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: care of myself because my personal life while all of 403 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: this was happening, my personal life was also very much 404 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: falling apart and wasn't shambles because one of my biggest 405 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: relationships my mom, like I said earlier, like my relationship 406 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: with my mom had hit the absolute all time and 407 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: I wasn't even living at home at this point. But 408 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: I believe that the move that you made for yourself 409 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: was so important for mental health. But not only for that, 410 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: but like just so you can like process and speak 411 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: clearly about your experience, because I think that that's something 412 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: that social media can that that's where it can get toxic. Right, 413 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: the constant like something quickly like it's like you don't 414 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,360 Speaker 1: even have the time to sit with what is going on. 415 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: It's like if you don't say something, that's it to 416 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: the pus one momentum and then that's it where it's like, 417 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: these are real big things that we're dealing with, and 418 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: it shouldn't just be that you just have to respond 419 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 1: immediately so that people people feel like you're in the 420 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: conversation and you're important. It's like your thoughts would be 421 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: so much more important and more valuable if you have 422 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: the time to actually think about about this situation and 423 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: analyze and process it and sit with it and what 424 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: part of your body does this sit right? I'm just 425 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 1: thinking about those two years, right, and it didn't start 426 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: off with two years. Is my my goal was to 427 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: get off of Instagram for thirty days. That was my 428 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: goal and what I wanted. I was just like, Okay, 429 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: I need some time for myself. I need to obviously 430 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: sit with all of these things. I need to take 431 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:17,120 Speaker 1: care of myself and I need to I need to assess. 432 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: So I was like, Okay, my goal is to get 433 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 1: off of Instagram for thirty days. So, um, I hadn't 434 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,479 Speaker 1: been off some so I hadn't been on social media 435 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: ever in my life, like I've always been active and 436 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: and like, so I was like, thirty days, let's do this. 437 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 1: It's a challenge, Darlin. When I tell you that those 438 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: that first week, well those first three days were insane, girl. 439 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: I found myself every few minutes reaching for my phone, 440 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: and I would go out for walks, and I started 441 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 1: engaging more with nature, and I was like, okay, this 442 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: is cute. And after a week, honestly, Darling and I 443 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 1: really didn't miss it. I didn't, and I was like, Okay, 444 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 1: I can do this. And then from time to time 445 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: I'd be curious to see goes on there, but so 446 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: much was happening in my life. I finally moved to 447 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 1: my own apartment and I just kind of became obsessed 448 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: with building my own safe haven and like building my 449 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: nest and my retreat and building a refuge for me 450 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: and little Cloudy and building us sanctuary, which is what 451 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: I needed. It's so important, especially during that time. I 452 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: mean absolutely yes, so um during and the thirty days 453 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: passed and I nique Quinta ni quiney. I was not 454 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: turning back. I was just like, this feels so good. 455 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm able to be present. So you decided to come back. 456 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: Now you're jumping back into the world of social media, 457 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: and you're being more present, and you're giving us a 458 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: little more insight on your daily life. How do you 459 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: like deal with social media now? I was really scared 460 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: to come back, which is why it took me so 461 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: long to get back. Then I realized and all that 462 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: that made me realize was that one social media again 463 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,719 Speaker 1: is not real and that my life in real life 464 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 1: is the most important, and that so long as I'm 465 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: taking care of myself, I am honoring myself, and that 466 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: that will make me the strongest leader that I could 467 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: be for other women, right, And like, how could I 468 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: run a women's organization and like not walk the walk? Right? 469 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: Because if any of my friends or any other two 470 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: laws where told me what they were going through and like, 471 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: you know, share that social media was a big trigger 472 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: for them. I'd be like, girl, get a funk off, 473 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: and that's the advice that I would give them. So 474 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: for me to do that and like kind of like 475 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: risk it all, I'm just like, Yeah, you fucking did that, 476 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: and you did exactly what you needed to do. And no, 477 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 1: you did not miss any moment. You did not miss 478 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: any time because is when you're born to do something, 479 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna do it with or without social media. I 480 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: love what you said in the beginning of this interview 481 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: with you real magic in real life. Not only are 482 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,239 Speaker 1: you walking to talk and doing the think Claudia, like, 483 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: I love that you're sharing that magic like with your friends, 484 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: with the community that you've built with people on your platform, 485 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: like and then with that which is crazy that I'm 486 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: going to do this right now after this conversation, but 487 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna ask you if people want to follow you, 488 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: follow your journey because also like if you want to, 489 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: if you want to hear the real real Claudia is 490 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: all has a platform that is incredible. Two platforms. One 491 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: is personal, one is her her business and I think 492 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: that we should all know about it because it's such 493 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: a refreshing pay age. So if you don't mind sharing 494 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: with us, what is your Instagram plugs? Yeah, so my 495 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: Instagram is more head on Mondays. Um, it's and you 496 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: j r O n Mondays And that's where I share 497 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of ship and going back to close 498 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: up with your questions there like um on move head 499 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: on Mondays. I think that I so I'm trying to 500 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: set some rules with myself now that I'm engaging like 501 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: my the way that I'll go about mommy Toula will 502 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: be very different, and the way that I'm going about 503 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: my personal life on Instagram is very different. Obviously setting 504 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: like I came in being like, Okay, you're only gonna 505 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: be on Instagram for an hour every day. That's that's 506 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: been bullshit. But I'm trying to be more conscious about it. 507 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: But I think that what I'm trying to be most 508 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: conscious about now is what I'm putting out there, um, 509 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: and what the purpose of every single thing that I 510 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: put out there is. Yeah, a lot of it is 511 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: my personal life because I I believe in that transparency 512 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: and that realness and being able to connect with people 513 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 1: in real life and being like, yo, this is real life. 514 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: If I want to be on Diackmond smoking hookah, I'm 515 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: gonna be on Diagmond smoking hooka. But you best believe 516 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,479 Speaker 1: that when I am out here doing something else, I'm 517 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna put these exact same passion and energy into whatever 518 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: I'm doing. Um. So I'm being trying to be more 519 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: intentional with Instagram and the content that I put out there, 520 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,480 Speaker 1: and my personal page is Mohad on Mondays and Mommy 521 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: Too La Social Club is at Mommy Too La Social 522 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 1: Club And what I'm preparing for right now is re 523 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: launch of it, and I'm so excited for it, Like 524 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, all right, how are we going to use 525 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: Instagram as a tool? How are we going to get 526 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 1: paid from this? Because enough sharing so much energy on 527 00:32:54,560 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 1: Instagram and not monetizing it. Like yeah, yeah, Claudia, I 528 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: have this moment of the show that is my favorite moment. 529 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: And I'm so excited to ask you some questions. I 530 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: know I've been asking you questions, but these are like 531 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: the real good ones. I'm okay, I'm already hot. Question 532 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: number one, have you read a book recently that you 533 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 1: would like to recommend to our audience. And I chose 534 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:29,120 Speaker 1: this question because you are a book lover. Yes, so, Um, 535 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: I think things that I don't talk about with my mother. Um. 536 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: I started reading. It's like different essays written by different 537 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: women about their relationship and experiences with their mother. I 538 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: think that it's so important for us to read about 539 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 1: it and get into it. Um. It's an easy read 540 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: and it's a good read, and like all the different 541 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: essays are so different and just beautiful, and it's inspired 542 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: me to write something about my mom and my relationship 543 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: with her. Yeah, I love that. Okay. Second question, what's 544 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 1: your favorite place you've ever traveled to? Oh? Crap, um, okay, 545 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 1: So I think that honestly, Um, it's a tie between Italy, 546 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 1: But honestly, the most magical place would be the South 547 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: of France. Oh my god, meet you. Yes, the South 548 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 1: of France. It's just, honestly, the bread, the wine, the water, 549 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 1: the yachts, everything, it's beautiful, beautiful, and the people are 550 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:40,280 Speaker 1: so beautiful, so beautiful, so simple, so beautiful. So it's 551 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 1: so we should all love. It's lit. We're planning a 552 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: trip already, you and I in our minds. I'm going 553 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 1: to Italy this summer. So yes, okay. Our third and 554 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 1: final question, what reminds you of home or makes you 555 00:34:55,520 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 1: feel at home? Mm hm cooking now cooking does um? 556 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 1: What's your favorite cook I make the most of bomb 557 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: like bowls ever, and I just throw in the cheese 558 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: and humless and roasted things. And my best friend, the 559 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 1: niece is um a cook, like she's a baker, and 560 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: she's like such a bomb cook. And she always used 561 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,720 Speaker 1: to cut my ass because I was such a terrible cook. 562 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 1: But now she requests this bowl from me, and she 563 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 1: gets so mad when I make it and don't invite her. 564 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: So everyone loves my bowls. I am I threw It's 565 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 1: like so many different textures and flavors and them. Well, Gladia, 566 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:47,879 Speaker 1: I'm coming over for a bowl. So that's it the list. Yes, come, come, 567 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: come this summer, Gladiah. It's been an absolute pleasure having 568 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: you on here. I cannot wait to have you back 569 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 1: because I feel like there's so much that we can 570 00:35:55,080 --> 00:36:00,200 Speaker 1: dive into and talk about um and about time after 571 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 1: our four year friendship, so that we finally got this down. 572 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: I'm so happy for Instagram. I'm so grateful for Instagram 573 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 1: because that's how we were able to meet. You know what, Instagram, 574 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 1: It's a double sided sword. We love you, we get 575 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:18,800 Speaker 1: Maddie sometimes. But at the end of the day, connection 576 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 1: is connection. But we also know that real life is 577 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 1: real magic. Real magic is real life. So um I 578 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,359 Speaker 1: thank you guys with that. Claudia, thank you so much again. 579 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 1: My love Mona Nita is a production of Sonato and 580 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: partnership with I Heart Radios Michael Luda podcast Network. For 581 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 1: more podcast from I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart 582 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your 583 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:48,880 Speaker 1: favorite shows.