10 episodes
When You're Invisible My Cultura Network
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 129 Ratings
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WHEN YOU’RE INVISIBLE is my love letter to the working class and people who are othered in society. We in western, especially American, capitalist culture often focus on stories of people who have achieved positions of influence, wealth and power; this podcast won’t be doing that. I want to shed light on the experiences of folks who feel invisible in some way in our world; blue collar workers, people who deal with a physical difference, immigrants, and many more. Each voice you hear is another layer of our national or international community. Each conversation offers insight into a perhaps previously unexplored way of living, allowing us to expand our view into what is possible, what is truly valuable to us, and how that can be the opposite of what we thought. As host of this show, I can relate to my guests’ experiences because I come from a bifurcated background; there are times when I’ve felt invisible; there are other times I’ve felt privileged. I’m passionate about exposing and breaking down barriers between people to make the world a better place. Many of my guests are being interviewed for the first time in their lives and it is an honor to host them. At times, listeners will hear unbelievable, yet true stories. What do everyday people have to say about their lives, their country, the world they grew up in, their hopes and dreams? When a person comes from any sort of privilege (and there are many kinds) there are a number of biases and assumptions we hold. On this show, I’ll unpack some of my own. When You’re Invisible hopes to inspire generous and honest conversations with others who are different from us, conversations that might help us see life in an entirely different way.
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Happy May Day!
We’re honoring International Workers’ Day with an exciting announcement - season two of When You’re Invisible is coming this July! We’ll be talking about labor, organizing, and community.
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Claudia and Francisco: My Parents’ Immigrant Story
My parents often had to take risks in pursuit of change, whether emigrating from Mexico or taking a leap of faith on a job that moved our family across the country. They open up about their childhoods in Mexico, and their journey from food stamps to the middle class. Being away from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Mexico, our nuclear family has always been close and we unpack what we’ve learned from each other, be it American expressions or more complex conversations about race, sexuality, and Latinidad. Our season finale breaks down their lived experiences as in-betweeners and the ways in which belonging to more than one country, culture, and socioeconomic background has expanded their worldview.
“I cannot say that I ever had the American dream, to be honest. It's been an accident in my life. Let's put it that way.” –Francisco
“There is a story behind each person, and if we are able to embrace those people and just recognize them as a person, what a difference that will make.” –Claudia
Creator: Maria Fernanda Diez
Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore
Producer: Dylan Heuer
Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena
Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Jen: Bridging the Divide
The white rural working class is so often depicted in the mainstream media as just Trump supporters; but there’s a lot of layers to this community that go unseen. Jen comes from this world and she’s also a new member of my family (my sister-in-law’s sister). We talk about her experience as the first in her family to date a person of color, the isolation caused by grief, and her struggle at times to fit in with her community. You’ll witness the most in depth conversation she and I have ever had, where I discover some of our shared values despite our very different backgrounds.
“To have a good conversation, you have to open yourself up and be prepared to just listen to what somebody else has to say.” –Jen
Check out sites like GriefShare and others resources listed in this Love to Know article to find support.
Creator: Maria Fernanda Diez
Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore
Producer: Dylan Heuer
Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena
Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Lani: Authenticity as an In-Betweener
Today my friend Lani lives very authentically, but she has struggled with perception and invisibility throughout her life. She unpacks the complexities of living a rough childhood that took her around the world and the nuances of her identity as a half-Korean, half-white woman who never looked like the rest of her family. She gets real about the power dynamics of past relationships and talks about how she hopes to maintain a full range of humanity and sexuality as a soon-to-be mom. From a disability that grounded her, to an OnlyFans page that empowers her, you’ll hear about all the things that have made her who she is in her strength, her power, and her joy.
“If I get rejected and I've showed up as my whole self, that's such a blessing. It's not about me not being good enough. It just means that they know something about themselves and see something in me that isn't a good fit. Awesome. Cool. How great.” –Lani
If you need to talk to someone about any instance of abuse there are National Hotlines you can call.
Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez
Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore
Producer: Dylan Heuer
Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena
Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Kate: Owning Our Imperfections
I wanted to interview Kate because I didn’t know much about stuttering before meeting her. One percent of the population stutters and unconscious bias can impact this group’s self esteem, work opportunities, and social life. A white 30 year old woman living in New York, Kate has had a stutter since she was a kid but always believed she would grow out of it. She confronts speech therapy techniques that she’s come to see as destructive to her mental health, shares the pivotal story of how she discovered SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young, and opens up about her journey towards authenticity.
“I had to look into this black hole of truth, that this was my identity. This is how it is gonna be. And for the first time I started to consider, ‘How are you going to look at this with love and with care and with tenderness and acceptance?’” –Kate
Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez
Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore
Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana
Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena
Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Franklin, Lucely, Gilberto, & Ines: Unsung American Heroes
Franklin Lucely, Gilberto, and Ines cleaned up Ground Zero and New York City in the aftermath of 9/11 alongside hundreds of fellow undocumented Latin American workers. These American heroes discuss their experience on the ground during the days and months following 9/11 and the illnesses they developed as a result of their service. While the country has largely forgotten them – offering only token settlements, lack of robust healthcare, and no path to citizenship – they haven’t forgotten each other. They carry each other’s life stories and are open about their lives to those who will listen.
“Yo trabajaba 12 horas diarias los siete días de la semana.” –Franklin
“This group of people who sacrificed so much are so forgotten and they’re remembered on 9/11 for those days and then we go back to our lives.” –Rosa Maria Bramble, LCSW
Read more about the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Bill or https://www.rosabramble.com/ work.
Creator & Host: Maria Fernanda Diez
Executive Producers: Gisselle Bances, Anna Stumpf, Nikki Ettore
Producer: Pablo Cabrera, Arlene Santana, Dylan Heuer
Associate Producer: Claudia Marticorena
Original Theme Music: Tony Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Customer Reviews
Much to be shared
Much to be herd
Sorely needed!
I love this podcast. Please interview some neurodiverse people soon—particularly some neurodiverse women!
When you’re invisible
This made me cry. I too am an immigrant and so I can relate to this on so many levels. The thing that made me cry was when her mother (who was a stay at home mother) said that she also felt invisible to her family.
I too was a stay at home mother and after many years I really did feel like I was “just” the wife, “just” my kids’ mom, meanwhile my husband was out there climbing his career ladder. Yes, I can relate. It brought tears to my eyes.