Oh my goodness, welcome to the last episode of season 1! I’m muy agradecida a todos who have listened to the first season of Elevating la Cultura.

En serio, you have no idea how much it means to me. To every one I interviewed, to everyone who listened, to everyone who commented. It means so much.

I'm sharing the ONE thing, that tipping point that caused me to pivot my business from wedding photography, to selling fine art photography featuring photos and stories from Mexican cities.

Enjoy my live solo cast as we end Season 1

Also a GIVEAWAY to celebrate the end of Season 1! I’m going to be giving away two little jarrito mugs, a sticker pack, and a $25 gift card. WOO.

I am so excited that I was able to get these next guests into this first season of the podcast!

Mestiza Shop is a staple shop in Pilsen. I feel like if you’re a Latinx creative you know about Mestiza with Lorena and Sugeiri. In the shop you’ll find a unique collection of jewelry, clothing, things for your home, stationery, and other artisan goods. And the amazing thing is that these traditional and modern pieces celebrate Latinx creators and our traditions and culture.

I’m so thankful to have connected with them and have my prints and stickers in their shop. Lorena and Sugeiri have such compassionate hearts, and truly love their community and offer so much encouragement in their interview.

Please enjoy my chat with the owners of Mestiza shop.

Hello! My friend Vanessa is sharing all kinds of inspiration in this episode. I love that the women that I’ve interviewed this season are real with their business journey.

She started her events business VV Social Events in 2014, and leveraged her experience to launch something that really sparked that light in her, with Hush Chicago, a full-service event production and marketing agency tailored to the cannabis community.

I love how Vanessa is showing that when you find that thing that you know is “the thing” to pursue. You can find a way to make it happen. Running a business and enjoying life should go hand in hand. It’s not one or the other. Please enjoy my chat with Vanessa.

Hola! And welcome to a new month! We’re making our way cautiously through 2021. Verdad? Bueno… I’m so excited for this episode today.

We’ve all heard, “beauty is pain” and many other cliche phrases that have us diminish our own beauty. We have had to navigate from a young age such a narrow view of what beauty is.

In this episode I chat with Veronica, a boudoir photographer. Not only is she a talented photographer, but she has cultivated an empowering community that goes beyond her business Golden Mean Boudoir.

Hola, welcome back! My guest today is Zenia from Flor del Monte, she’s an amazing florist in Chicago. We also met via instagram and connected because of the wedding industry. I’m so amazed at how social media can really bring people together.

And if there was ever a time where I wish we had scratch and sniff capabilities it’s now. because as a florist you know her studio is always smelling so fresh and beautiful.

In this episode, She shares how she has transitioned and built a thriving business with her mom, and how her family is THE core of everything she does. Please enjoy my conversation with Zenia from Flor del Monte.

We are halfway through season 1, and I’m so agradecida and thankful to these amazing Latinas who have allowed me to share their stories.

My next guest, is Gabriela from Pun Dulce Studio. She is an amazing calligraphy and stationary artist, here in the Chicago area. We met on instagram, and then I reached out to actually meet in person (pre-pandemic of course). We shared our stories over coffee at one of my favorite cafes in Chicago, Brew Brew, and from there my admiration for her grew.

In this episode Gabriela shares her transition from a corporate job to follow her heart and passion for uniting people through through stationery.

Hello! hola! Welcome back to another story highlighting a Latina working hard to build something amazing. Today’s guest is my friend Mariana. I met her through the wedding industry, and immediately loved her drive and ambition.

She has two businesses, Equisitely Strikeing is a production company based in Chicago, and Elope Up, which specializes in intimate ceremonies with all inclusive packages.

She takes us through - breaking through norms to build businesses that support her team, as well as her community, all with the drive, passion, and dedication her parents instilled in her. I hope you enjoy my chat with Mariana.

Hola! I’m so thankful to those who have listened to the first 4 episodes of Elevating La Cultura. As I had to rethink how I was going to record the rest of the season, because Covid obviously wasn’t going away, I shifted to recording our video interviews online. And my first online interview was with Luisa, founder of lifestyle brand, Mexico in My Pocket.

I had been following Luisa on Instgram for years, so I was so excited when she reached out to me! From that first zoom call, we connected instantly. Our stories are so similar, our passion for sharing Mexico’s beauty is on the same level.

Luisa shares about her background in journalism, and her journey building a community that celebrates Mexican culture.

Hey hey! Welcome back! Today’s episode is FIRE. We filmed this in the summer of 2020 and I wanted to make the most of our time, so we had a more in-depth conversation and really dove deep into our stories and our work, specifically how we both shifted our perspectives on our worth as Latinas.

Jasmine is an amazing orator and she shares SO much wisdom every time I hang out with her. She’s a photographer, founder of a non-profit, and a huge advocate for mental health.

I’m excited share the first interview that we did which was recorded 10 months ago in March of 2020. We have had to pivot a little since then. If you watch the video interview you’ll see how my hair is a different color and my makeup is on 100. Shout out to Melissa from 312glam here in Chicago who beat my face and got me ready como una artista, and I walked in the house pretending I was one. Haha! Until the camera started rolling that is. I don’t know if you’ll be able to see how nervous I was, but I’m so glad me first interviewee was my friend Isa.

She’s a doula at La Luna Doula, founder of a non-profit called Chicago Latina Moms, and an all-around amazing human. Enjoy my very first interview recorded almost a year ago back in 2020.

Before we get into this first season, I wanted to share with you the inspiration behind me launching this podcast. As the podcasts develop, I’ll keep sharing more of my story along with other amazing women, but first I wanted to start off with my vision.

Hi! I’m Karina, and this is Elevating la Cultura podcast. I created this space as a way to have conversations with other Latinas so we can share our personal experiences.