"Use your voice."

In part one of this two-part conversation, we meet Yeira, a 39-year-old Guatemalan-American therapist who grew up navigating the sharp contrasts of 1990s Los Angeles. Her story begins as a carefree kid hanging out on the sands of Redondo Beach, a neighborhood in South Bay Los Angeles, before moving to the tight-knit, resilient streets of Inglewood.

Yeira reflects on a childhood where her outspokenness, like telling a teacher to be quiet in the third grade, was met with creative discipline from parents who balanced firm boundaries with a respect for her spirit. We explore the vivid details of a first-generation home where street hockey lived alongside traditional practices like keeping live chickens.

As the 1990s saw the South Bay transform and communities in Inglewood face the dual pressures of disinvestment and rising costs, Yeira’s family stood at a crossroads. This episode is a look at the power of place, the strength of a neighborhood block when it becomes a community, and the pivotal choices that set the stage for a massive plot twist in her life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Navigating the "aerospace capital" of Redondo Beach and the displacement of working families.
• The reality of the 90s gang era and the sanctuary built by Black and Latino families in Inglewood.
• Creative discipline: How journaling became a tool for teaching a willful child.
• The "parallel play" of Southern California suburbs and the importance of cultural anchors.

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Support the Show

This show exists to explore and reflect on underrepresented perspectives and the messy, beautiful ways they interact with our cultures. Join our community of supporters today. Support the Show: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube

See the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/QPMb_VDKaIQ

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Connect with Yeira

You can connect with Yeira through her organization: https://www.canopyandlightcounseling.org/

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Episode Credits

• Founding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to Teresa Santiago and Chanthy.
• Host, Producer, & Sound Design: Jess Lin
• Advising & Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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How do you bring your whole self to a family function? In the second half of our conversation, Michelle reveals the radical honesty required to integrate her polyamorous and queer reality with her Colombian family roots. From navigating family gatherings with two partners to a tough conversation with her aunt, Michelle shares the pillars of integrity and respect that guide her life.

While many choose the path of least resistance, Michelle’s story is a masterclass in bridging cultural and generational gaps without shying away from her true self.

In this episode, we explore:

• Radical Honesty: The courage to be seen by family members who may not fully understand your romantic life.
• The "Tia" Lesson: How Michelle navigated a family gathering with two partners and maintained deep family bonds.
• Pillars of Integrity: Why respect for oneself and one's partners is the foundation of healthy polyamory.

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Support Our Season 3 Fundraiser

We are building a platform for cross-cultural storytelling that fosters empathy across generations and cultures. If you believe in a global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider contributing today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube

See the video version of this episode (Live at 9pm EST on 4/28/26):

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Connect with Michelle

Follow her journey on Instagram: @pebblespins

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Episode Credits

• Founding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to Groverel and Amy
• Host, Producer, & Sound Design: Jess Lin
• Advising & Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

Cultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.

Thanks for being here!

“I do it for myself. Because I want to feel confident for me. I could care less about the male gaze. That’s a part of Latino culture that I have flipped.”

Michelle identifies as Latina first. She is a 32-year-old creative, and in this first half of our conversation, we trace the roots of her identity from the mountains of Pereira, Colombia to her life today in Atlanta.

From the "telenovela" of her first love and the end of a marriage to the intimate beauty rituals she shared with her mother, Michelle explores the complex "give and take" of inheriting a culture. We discuss how to honor your family's traditions while "flipping the script" to make room for your own modern, intersectional values.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Identity Order: Why Michelle leads with being Latina, and how that anchors her journey as a queer and polyamorous woman.
• The Ritual of Makeup: Transforming a tradition rooted in the male gaze into a tool for community care and trans-femme empowerment.
• Subversive Tradition: The intentional process of deciding what to keep, what to leave, and what to evolve within the Colombian diaspora.

Whether she's teaching her community how to find their confidence or reflecting on the chapters of her love life, Michelle offers a masterclass in living authentically.

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Support Our Season 3 Fundraiser

We are building a platform for cross-cultural storytelling that fosters empathy across generations and cultures. If you believe in a global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider contributing today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

--------------------

Watch on YouTube

See the video version of this episode (Live at 11am EST on 4/14/26): https://youtu.be/-21BVGbeGEg

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Connect with Michelle

Follow her journey on Instagram: @pebblespins

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Episode Credits

• Founding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to Jackson Evans and Judy Thornhill.
• Community Connection: Special thanks to Quinn O’Briant for connecting us with Michelle.
• Host, Producer, & Sound Design: Jess Lin
• Advising & Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

Cultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.

Thanks for being here!