When You're Invisible
iHeart Podcast Network
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.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Storytelling Podcasts
Networks:
iHeart Podcast Network
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
Happy May Day!
5/1/2024
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:01:00
Claudia and Francisco: My Parents’ Immigrant Story
1/16/2023
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.
Duration:01:04:26
Jen: Bridging the Divide
1/9/2023
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.
Duration:00:50:36
Lani: Authenticity as an In-Betweener
1/2/2023
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.
Duration:00:46:37
Kate: Owning Our Imperfections
12/26/2022
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.
Duration:00:34:22
Franklin, Lucely, Gilberto, & Ines: Unsung American Heroes
12/19/2022
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.
Duration:00:38:53
Anicia: A Seat at the Table
12/12/2022
Anicia is an entrepreneur and works as a personal chef and nanny for the ultra-wealthy in New York City. Having met on a photoshoot, Anicia and I bonded over our shared experiences walking into these homes as educated women of color. She’s a first generation Nigerian American and discusses the complexities of power and personhood and some shocking stories from behind the scenes of this industry. In our conversation, the problems surrounding America’s fascination with celebrity and wealth collide with the desire for mobility and representation.
“You go into survival mode and you’re like: ‘Okay, how do I just get through the next hour?’ You start to think about: 'Am I gonna need this money for the next four to six weeks?’ I think the world needs to know that it is far from privilege to be able to work with the privileged.” –Anicia
Check out resources like the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, NYC’s Statement of Employee Rights for Household Employees, and these support groups for restaurant workers who have experienced abuse.
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.
Duration:00:40:26
Louie: Two Sides of an Institution
12/5/2022
Louie worked alongside Ralph at the Columbia University package center, which was an oasis for me in a high stress environment. Being two Latin kids around the same age, Louie and I experienced two sides of this elite institution – me as a student, and Louie as an employee. Louie, ever positive, manages to distill life lessons from encounters with students and colleagues. He also shares his experience of being the oldest of three growing up ‘free range’ in the Dominican Republic and the clash between that and his working class life in the States.
“They would never respect us as they should have. One day, I just thought, they're gonna go on and live their life like nothing ever happened…and I'm stuck in the mailroom, still thinking about what just happened…so I would just brush it off. Who is it hurting, that person or is it hurting you?” –Louie
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.
Duration:00:33:50
Ralph: Tales from an Ivy League Mailroom
11/28/2022
Ralph – a Marine vet, first generation Dominican American – was the manager of the package center at Columbia University, which is where I went to school for undergrad as a scholarship kid. An unexpected bonding over Spanish led to conversations with him that helped me when I wanted to drop out. He describes his upbringing in Washington Heights as a game of ‘Cops and Robbers’ and then we rehash our early encounters, unpacking the assumptions we made about each other.
“I think the world would be a better place if we treated each other the way we wanna be treated. If you're going through a hard time, you would want somebody to be empathetic and we should do that back, especially at that place, right? I got that.” –Ralph
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.
Duration:00:46:50
Introducing: When You're Invisible
11/21/2022
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Duration:00:02:17