Description:
In this heart-opening episode of My Brain Está Spicy, Melisa and Christy are joined by Bianca Alba, the voice and creator of This Latina Travels!, for an honest and empowering conversation about travel anxiety, courage, and what it means to fall in love with the world—even when your brain gets spicy.

Bianca is the voice and creator of “This Latina Travels!” – a podcast about travel through the eyes of a First-Generation Latina traveler and college grad sharing all her travel experiences first-hand. As a little girl living in a single-parent household, trips and vacations were just a dream and felt unreachable. This Latina Travels is more than just Bianca telling you about her experiences—it’s a true reflection that dreams can become reality. To date, Bianca has traveled to six of the seven continents in the world, and her goal is to encourage and support women who look like her to travel the world too.

Together, the trio dives deep into what travel anxiety really feels like—the panic before a flight, the overstimulation in airports, the fear of losing control, and the healing that comes from stepping into the unknown anyway. Melisa shares her body’s reactions to anxiety mid-travel, Christy recalls a life-changing trip that reshaped her sense of safety, and Bianca opens up about getting sick abroad and how that experience transformed her approach to fear and gratitude.

In this episode:

What travel anxiety feels like (in your body and mind)

Getting sick abroad and learning to ask for help

How fear of flying and solo travel shows up for anxious minds

Reclaiming joy and peace through exploration

Why traveling as a Latina is both empowering and revolutionary

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer
01:19 Meet Our Guest: Bianca Alba
05:14 Personal Stories of Travel Anxiety
10:09 Handling Travel Anxiety: Tips and Experiences
38:06 Navigating Anxiety While Flying
39:57 Overcoming the Fear of Solo Travel
49:33 Empowering Latina Women to Travel
54:44 The Joy and Liberation of Travel

Guest — Bianca Alba | This Latina Travels!

Podcast: This Latina Travels!

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/thislatinatravels)

Website: (wwwthislatinatravels.com)

Contact: thislatinatravels@gmail.com

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Also follow us on Instagram : (https://www.instagram.com/mybrainestaspicy)

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

Gin Gin Chews - (https://gingerpeople.com/products/gin-gins-original-ginger-chews/)

Loop Earplugs - (http://rwrd.io/wu8npep?c)

Avulux Migraine Glasses - (https://avulux.com/)

LMNT Electrolytes - (https://drinklmnt.com/)

Buoy - (https://justaddbuoy.com/collections/all?snowball=MELISA34040&utm_source=snowball&utm_medium=default-program&utm_campaign=MELISA34040)

IWC Chiropractic - Orlando Network Spinal Practice - (https://www.integratewellnesscenter.com/)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this intimate “get to know me” episode, Melisa steps into the hot seat — unfiltered, unmasked, and unapologetically herself. Christy leads a reimagined 21 Questions that peels back the layers of identity, ambition, and the strength it takes to live authentically as a disabled Latina woman. From childhood dreams to navigating ableism, resilience, and radical honesty, Melisa shares the stories that shaped her voice — and the fire that keeps her showing up even when the world expects her to shrink.

We explore: authenticity as survival - disability, visibility & belonging - bicultural identity and resilience - humor as healing - showing up in your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable

0:00 Introduction and Disclaimer

01:04 Life Catch Up

05:10 Christy’s Health Journey

15:14 Getting to Know Melisa

38:34 Eggs and Quirky Eating Habits

40:06 Reflecting on Marriage and Relationships

43:11 Navigating Vulnerability and Personal Growth

49:38 Spicy Questions and Heartfelt Memories

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much” — or felt pressure to make yourself smaller — this episode is your permission slip to be loud, tender, and entirely yourself.

YouTube Camping ASMR Channel Links:
RYUCAMP - https://www.youtube.com/@RYUCAMP
KirinCamp - https://www.youtube.com/@KirinCamp
Go4x4 - https://www.youtube.com/@go4x4media
Atik Family - https://www.youtube.com/@AtikAilesi
Yoyo Camp - https://www.youtube.com/@yoyocamp

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Also follow us on Instagram : (https://www.instagram.com/mybrainestaspicy)

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

Gin Gin Chews - (https://gingerpeople.com/products/gin-gins-original-ginger-chews/)

Loop Earplugs - (http://rwrd.io/wu8npep?c)

Avulux Migraine Glasses - (https://avulux.com/)

LMNT Electrolytes - (https://drinklmnt.com/)

Buoy - (https://justaddbuoy.com/collections/all?snowball=MELISA34040&utm_source=snowball&utm_medium=default-program&utm_campaign=MELISA34040)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why is therapy still treated like a dirty little secret in so many Latino households? In this episode, Melisa and Christy sit down with Dr. Lisette Sanchez—a bilingual and bicultural psychologist, writer, international speaker, and founder of Calathea Wellness, a virtual platform for first-gen professionals.

Raised in Southern California by Salvadoran and Mexican immigrant parents, Dr. Lisette brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the convo. Together, we unpack:

• Why therapy is still taboo in our families
• How silence, guilt, and “aguántate” culture impact mental health
• The power of tears as medicine
• Boundaries as survival + liberation

This one is real, raw, and necessary for anyone who’s ever been told therapy “isn’t for us.” Healing is for all of us—and it starts when we stop whispering and start talking.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction + Welcome
01:18 – Catching Up and Life Updates
04:26 – Meet Dr. Lisette Sanchez
07:54 – Therapy Experiences and Cultural Stigmas
39:02 – The Power of Tears
42:37 – Navigating Family Dynamics
47:05 – Boundaries as Love Language
01:06:22 – Spicy Questions + Closing

Links on the Science of Tears:

The Chemistry of Tears by SciPlanet - https://www.bibalex.org/SCIplanet/en/Article/Details?id=19105

All About Emotional Tears by American Academy of Opthamology - https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/all-about-emotional-tears

About Dr. Lisette Sanchez:
Dr. Lisette is a bilingual and bicultural psychologist, international speaker, writer, and founder of Calathea Wellness, where she supports first-gen professionals navigating identity, belonging, and intergenerational healing. Whether through therapy, writing, or public speaking, she helps individuals transform cultural complexity into clarity, pride, and purpose.

Follow Dr. Lisette:
🌐 Website: calatheawellness.com
📲 Instagram: @thefirstgenpsychologist
💼 LinkedIn: thefirstgenpsychologist
📺 YouTube: @thefirstgenpsychologist

Connect with Us:
📱 IG + YouTube: @mybrainestaspicy
💌 thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

• Gin Gin Chews
• Loop Earplugs
• Avulux Migraine Glasses
• LMNT Electrolytes
• Buoy

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do parasailing, cassette tapes, and Anne Hathaway have in common? Christy’s mental health journey. In this spicy origin story episode, Melisa interviews Christy with questions about childhood, coping, and coming home to herself — Scorpio-style. We uncover childhood memories, early signs of anxiety, coping mechanisms (including a VERY creative one), and the moment she realized, "Oh, this is deeper than just stress."

Whether you're navigating your own mental health journey or just need some safe, soulful girl talk — this episode is full of honesty, humor, healing, and hella spicy brain vibes. Expect laughter, tenderness, and zero small talk.

A must-listen if you’re healing from anxiety, curious about therapy, or just want a mental health podcast that feels like a deep convo with your smartest, funniest friend.

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimers

01:04 Origin Episode: Christy's Story Begins

03:41 Deep Dive: Childhood Memories and Coping Mechanisms

33:48 Societal Programming and Personal Struggles

34:55 Journey into Mental Health Awareness

48:13 Embracing Vulnerability and Evolution

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Also follow us on Instagram : (https://www.instagram.com/mybrainestaspicy)

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

• Gin Gin Chews
• Loop Earplugs
• Avulux Migraine Glasses
• LMNT Electrolytes
• Buoy

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’re back — and we’re not easing in.

In the Season 2 premiere of My Brain Está Spicy, Melisa and Christy speak openly, urgently, and unfiltered about the state of things: the unraveling of democracy, the rage of watching history repeat itself, and the heartbreak of silence from those who should know better.

This episode is about immigration, fascism, human decency, and how we find our voices again when everything feels unsafe. It’s not cute. It’s not polished. It’s exactly what needed to be said.

If you’ve felt grief, rage, fear, or that pit in your stomach watching the news — this one’s for you.

“Silence and complacency does not disqualify you from feeding into the system. Because your silence is exactly what they want.” — Melisa

Information links for this episode:

- Trevor Noah: What Now Podcast

- Stacey Abram on 10 Steps to Autocracy MSNBC

- Mehdi 'I don't debate fascists' - Jubiliee Excerpt

- First They Came – by Pastor Martin Niemöller

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Also follow us on Instagram : (https://www.instagram.com/mybrainestaspicy)

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Flowers for Pedro Pascal: Our Anti-Machismo Icon

🌶️ Episode Summary:
This week, we're trading in rage (mostly) for reverence—and handing out metaphorical flowers to our Lord and Savior Pedro Pascal.

From his tender masculinity to his vocal allyship, Pedro represents something we don't see enough of: a man who is deeply safe to be around. In this episode, we explore why so many women—and plenty of men—feel seen, affirmed, and emotionally unlocked by his presence.

We dig into the cultural weight of machismo, what soft masculinity can actually look like, and why representation like this hits so damn deep. Also: thirsting with respect, Pedro’s sisterly support, and how emotional intelligence can (and should) be sexy.

💐 Whether you’re here to celebrate softness, rage at toxic masculinity, or just crush a little, this one’s for you.

🎙️ Listener Love Notes:
Tag us while you listen (@mybrainestaspicy on Instagram)! Share your Pedro hot takes, your softness wins, or the things you’re unlearning in your relationships. We’re here for the nuance and the fanfare.

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to have a “support village”? In this episode, Melisa and Christy crack open the messy, magical, and sometimes painful truth about building (and losing) your people.

From childhood church groups to friendship breakups over politics and personal growth, they reflect on:

Why friendship doesn’t need to check every box

The myth of the “one perfect best friend”

How cultural identity and religion shape our ideas of support

When support turns into silence—and how to grieve that

The surprise people who show up when you least expect it

Whether your village is one person or a whole squad, this episode will remind you: support doesn't have to be big to be powerful. And yes, your version of community is valid—even if it doesn’t look like a group chat that’s texting 24/7.

Information Links for Today's Show:

• Mel Robbins Instagram post
• TheSkimm Instagram post highlighting excerpt from Amy Poehler's - Good Hang podcast episode with Katharyn Hahn
• Netflix's - Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

Have a hack you want to share, want to send us some love or have an idea for an episode? Email us at thespicybrainpod@gmail.com

Also follow us on Instagram

Product & Service Links: Some of the links we share may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely love and believe could be helpful. Your support helps keep My Brain Está Spicy running, and we appreciate you!

• • Traditional Medicinal Tea - Throat Coat
  • Gin Gin Chews
  • Loop Earplugs
  • Avulux Migraine Glasses
  • LMNT Electrolytes
  • Buoy

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational & entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, or other qualified licensed professionals. For questions about your health, legal, or financial situations, please consult the proper professionals. Listeners should not disregard symptoms or delay in obtaining medical assistance from qualified medical professionals for any conditions they may have.

Distributed by Genuina Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.