DIFERENTE

Thankful? For What? How to feel gratitude in 2020

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays without our extended families this 2020 I have been thinking a lot about my first Thanksgiving in the United States, a lonely and weird time, not too different from this year. The good news is that we made it through back then, just like we'll come out of this year as well, by learning how to feel gratitude in the midst of so much pain.

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: @Maribel_QS

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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Are You My Culture? Belonging As An Eñye. With Denise Soler Cox

My guest Denise Soler Cox, filmmaker, top 100 podcaster, two-time TEDX speaker and coach, who produced a short film called "Being Eñye", the stories about American-born Latinos who don't feel Latino enough or American enough. Sound familiar? I thought so!

 

We chatted about finding our way around the world when you're someone who lives within two cultures, feeling like you have to justify who you are, and what it means to belong in this ever-evolving global culture.  

 

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: @Maribel_QS

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Death Is Just A Passage, But Elections Are Forever.

What do Día De Muertos and the United States Presidential election have in common? NADA. But this week, they land within 24 hours from each other, and they are both equally important in our bicultural lives!

That's why I put this episode together with three things you should know about El Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), and FIVE things you can do to keep yourself calm during this election week. 

 

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: @Maribel_QS

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Spanish Episode. Cuando Conocí El Racismo

Because Diferente is a bilingual podcast, this episode is in Español. 

This is a narration of my experience during one of my first (early) encounters with racism in the United States. Tied together with verifiable facts on the topic, and information about anti-racism practices by three experts, in order of appearance:

 

Roger Senserrich, Editor y Activista 

Maricela Becerra, PH.D., Professor at UCLA

Lizz Florival, Afrolatinax, Author, Poet, Podcaster

 

En nuestra comunidad Hispana, continua siendo común el racismo. Es por eso que decidí crear este episodio, para que lo podamos compartir con nuestros seres queridos. Así ya no pueden haber mas excusas para decir que no entendemos lo que es el racismo actual. En esta narración, desde mi experiencia personal, explico como me di cuenta que el racismo nos afecta a todos.

 

Por favor ayúdame a compartir este episodio con toda la gente que puedas. Solo de esta manera vamos a lograr cambios reales en nuestro camino hacia un mundo donde el racismo sea solo un recuerdo.

#BlackLivesMatter 

 

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The personal side of the pandemic and its effect on the Hispanic community.

The past few months have felt like we are living inside of a SciFi movie, often trying to figure out what's real and what's make believe. That's why in this episode I wanted to take some time to reflect about how this Pandemic has affected us on a personal level. Because sometimes we have to be reminded that there are real people behind these COVID-19 numbers, with real life and death consequences.

 

In the first part of this episode I had a conversation with Activist,  Kristin Urquiza who lost her father to COVID-19, about the effect of the virus on the Hispanic community, and how she's turning her grief into action to help other victims of this pandemic.

 

Also, in the second part of the episode you'll hear some of the people in my life share what they've learned since the pandemic started and how they're coping with this "new normal".

 

Special thanks to all those who took the time to personally contribute to this episode! 

 

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SEASON TWO PREMIERE - Frida Kahlo Meets Carrie Bradshaw

Welcome back! Bienvenidos de regreso a DIFERENTE! The bilingual podcast that celebrates and explores the complexities of living life between two (or more) cultures.

I'm your host, Maribel Quezada Smith, a producer, and creative consultant, from Mexico City, living in the U.S., who loves Hip Hop and Cumbia.

I created Diferente to learn, laugh, and grow, alongside you. With stories and interviews about cultural identity, questioning the norm, and becoming empowered, among other topics that relate to the bicultural experience.

I'm back for season two with a whole new outlook and a new direction for DIFERENTE. In this episode I tell you where I've been, what I've been up to, and what I've learned since launching the podcast in 2018. 

JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: @Maribel_QS

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer/Host - Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor - Julian Rodriguez

Diferente theme Music by Andres Sierra

 

Living the Diferente Life. BONUS EPISODE

Living the Diferente Life! * BONUS EPISODE * This episode is from a podcast that I was a guest on called Cafe con Pam, hosted by my friend and fellow podcaster, Pam Covarrubias. I wanted to share it with you because it fits perfectly with the spirit of getting out of my comfort zone, which I have been all about this summer. Pam and I talked about my childhood in Mexico, my journey as an immigrant in the United States, the meaning of love, and other things that I haven't shared before. 

Stay tuned for season dos of DIFERENTE!

That's right, I'm on break. We all need time to reflect and refresh! If you miss me too much, come hang with me on Instagram or Twitter @Maribel_QS. ¡Hasta pronto! :-)

We all need therapy! Throwback episode.

SPECIAL THROWBACK EPISODE. As promised, here's one of my favorite episodes from season one with Licensed Clinical Therapist, Adriana Alejandre. We talked about how fear and not dealing with our baggage can really hold us back. Stay tuned for season dos of DIFERENTE!

 

Here's the full episode description: 

Feeling Stuck. How to not let fear hold you back.

In this episode of Diferente podcast, I wanted to explore the topic of fear and how it affects our confidence. And I invited Adriana Alejandre, a Licensed Clinical Therapist in California, to join us for the ride!

Adriana specializes in helping people get through trauma, grief, and loss. Most recently, she has become a disaster mental health worker to assist in national disaster relief efforts, including helping survivors of Hurricane Harvey and the Las Vegas massacre.

If you’ve ever experienced self-doubt, which most humans do, or if you’re wanting to make a change in your life and fear is stopping you, then this episode is for you!

 

Come chat about all things Diferente with me on Instagram  and Facebook

 

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer/Host - Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor - Mauricio Mozo

Diferente theme Music by Keagan Stromberg

 

When comfort & stability hold you back. Season one finale.

#143 - This is the final episode of season one of Diferente and the most open and honest moment I've had on the podcast so far. I've asked you repeatedly this year to question the norm and dare to step outside of your comfort zone, and it's only fair I do it too.

 

Because it has come to my attention that some people might be getting the impression that I have my life in perfect order, well I don't! Though I can't pretend I haven't tried to. :-) (Control issues, remember?)

 

So in this season finale, I get into why it's important to be honest about the kind of life you want to live, versus the kind of life other people might want you to live, and how stability doesn't always equal happiness.

 

Come chat about all things Diferente with me on Instagram  and Facebook

 

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer/Host - Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor - Mauricio Mozo

Diferente theme Music by Keagan Stromberg

 

NO ONE LOVES YOU. Comedy, culture, and stereotypes with Roy Wood Jr.

#142 - My guest this episode is comedian, actor and Daily Show Correspondent, Roy Wood Jr.

His latest hilarious and thought-provoking comedy special is called “No One Loves You”, where he explores some of today's most complicated issues, from the plight of the black superhero to protests during the national anthem.

Roy Wood Jr’s comedy has entertained millions across stage, television, and radio. In 2017, he was named the new host of Comedy Central’s storytelling series, “This is Not Happening,” which will launch the fifth season next year.

We talked about his life while growing up in the south, that thing that almost ruined his career before it started, and cultural stereotypes just to name a few.

 

If you haven't seen Roy's Comedy Central Special you can find it here: No One Loves You.  

COMEDY CENTRAL CLIP "Snitch Cop": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJpVLlnWeJg

Make sure you check out Roy's Comedy Tour schedule: https://www.roywoodjr.com/

 

Come chat about all things Diferente with me on Instagram  and Facebook

 

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer/Host - Maribel Quezada Smith

Editor - Mauricio Mozo

Diferente theme Music by Keagan Stromberg

Special clip by Roy Wood Jr. and Comedy Central.