Wines We're Drinking:
Apothic Red Dlend (Erika)
2018 Kavrelli, a dry red from the country of Georgia (Jessica)
Jessica and Erika Sanchez are back after a summer hiatus for the monthly Chisme roundup. They catch up on Erika's trip to Ireland and Jessica's slow, HVAC-schedule-dictated summer, then get into Jessica's AI short-drama addiction, including the comparison she ran through Claude between telenovela-style plot mechanics and MAGA rhetoric. They talk BTS fandom, how they each actually use AI as solopreneurs, why September 30th is a loaded date (Hispanic Heritage Month, International Podcast Day, and the Wine Brand Directory's 5-year anniversary), sponsorship real talk, the VMAs, and Macklemore walking away from Ed Sheeran's tour over his Free Palestine comments.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:08] Kicking off the monthly Chisme with Erika after a summer hiatus, plus Wines We're Drinking
[05:20] Catching up on their summers: Erika's trip to Ireland and Jessica's slow, HVAC-schedule-dictated season in San Diego
[11:47] Falling down the AI short-drama rabbit hole, and the MAGA storytelling comparison Jessica ran through Claude
[26:20] Erika's family goes full BTS fan mode at MetLife, plus how they each actually use AI as solopreneurs
[38:52] Why September 30th matters: Hispanic Heritage Month, International Podcast Day, and the Wine Brand Directory's 5-year anniversary, and being "over" heritage months
[50:52] Shouting out Erika's two years on Chisme, and real talk on sponsorships (Ulta, Coca-Cola, and turning down MoneyGram)
[59:17] VMAs recap: Madonna, the George Michael tribute, and Adam Lambert stealing the show
[1:15:07] Macklemore walks away from Ed Sheeran's tour over Free Palestine comments
[1:27:00] What's next (rereading The Hunger Games, revisiting The Devil Wears Prada 2) and wrapping up
Connect with Erika Sanchez:Instagram: @erikasanchezNYC (unconfirmed, verify before publishing) and Braid CommunicationsHandles pending confirmation
Connect with Wine & ChismeWebsite: www.thewineandchismepodcast.comInstagram: @thewineandchismeTikTok: @thewineandchismeCall us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266
Sin prisa. Sin vergüenza. Con vino.

Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica is drinking a 2021 Petite Syrah from Suspiro WInes
In this episode of Wine and Chisme, host Jessica Yáñez chats with Luzy King about money trauma, generational wealth, and practical steps Latinas can take to reclaim financial freedom. They mix wine talk with insights from Lucy’s book Cash Libre, covering mindset shifts, the FEEL framework, investment basics, family money systems, and ways to support community-owned businesses.
Listeners get actionable tips; start small with investments, prioritize financial and emotional health, plan with partners, and consider estate and investment strategies.

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica: 2023 Vino Blanco from Para Wines, a Latino owned winery in Oregon
Damian: Be Free non-alcoholic rosé (Bevmo, under $10 a bottle)
Jessica sits down with Damian Pelliccione, Hollywood's only openly non-binary CEO and co-founder of Revery, the first queer, certified minority owned and operated streaming media company. Damian breaks down what a drag king actually is, gives the inside scoop on King of Drag Season 2 premiering September 20th, and gets honest about building a media company from nothing with three co-founders from wildly different backgrounds. The conversation moves through coming out to an immigrant Italian family, the $1.7 trillion in LGBTQ+ spending power, the Target boycott, and watching ICE activity in his own East LA neighborhood. Pour a glass, this one covers a lot of ground.
Content note: this episode includes discussion of immigration enforcement (ICE) and its impact on immigrant communities, plus anti-trans legislation and political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
In This Episode We Cover
[00:00] Intro, name pronunciation banter, and meet Damian Pelliccione
[01:19] Wines We're Drinking: Be Free non-alcoholic rosé and the alcohol-free mixology boom
[12:03] Pronouns, allyship, and holding space with intention
[20:07] Chisme break: phone addiction, digital distraction, and choosing to unplug
[28:26] What is a drag king? Breaking down the art form and the King of Drag origin story
[42:16] Coming out to an immigrant family and building Revery from a hotel room idea
[53:31] The hardest part of building a queer and POC owned company, and why diversity accelerates innovation
[1:04:26] LGBTQ+ buying power, the Target boycott, and Latina Power chisme
[1:11:08] Trans safety, the King of Drag national tour, and real allyship
[1:17:17] ICE in his East LA neighborhood, fashion as protest, and where to watch King of Drag
About Damian: Named one of Business Insider's top power player execs in video streaming, co-founder of Revry, GLAAD Media Award winner for Drag Latina, and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs Black and Latinx 2020 Accelerator Program.
Connect with Damian Pelliccione
Reverie: www.reverie.com
King of Drag Season 2: premieres Sunday, September 20th on Reverie
King of Drag National Tour: www.kingofdragtour.com
Mic Drop podcast: streaming on Reverie
Instagram: @damianmedia
@kingofdragtv
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266
Sin prisa. Sin vergüenza. Con vino.
#WineAndChisme #LatinaPodcast #NonBinaryCEO #KingOfDrag #Reverie #QueerOwnedBusiness #DragKing #LGBTQPodcast #LatineWine #AllyshipMatters

Wines We're Drinking:
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2018 (Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, about $15-16 at the grocery store)
Seis Soles White Blend (Albarino and Grenache Blanc, Lodi, California, about $18)
Kicking off Season 7 with a Latina podcast conversation that finally gets into the food side of our culture. Jessica sits down with Monti Carlo, three-time Telly Award winner, cookbook author, and Senior Editor of Food and Dining at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for a wide-ranging talk on being Puerto Rican in a Mexican-majority San Antonio, the divorce and financial free fall that led her to a MasterChef audition with pies packed in a diaper box, and how she built a career spanning Netflix, Food Network, PBS, and the James Beard Foundation from there. They dig into her cookbook Spanglish, a love letter to bicultural Puerto Rican cooking, why Puerto Rican food is fried the way it is, and the Spanglish mashups she's created, from bacalaito onion rings to morcilla sloppy joes.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Welcome to Season 7 with Monti Carlo, AJC Senior Editor of Food and Dining
[04:12] What's in the glass: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva and Ces Soles white blend
[13:49] Being Puerto Rican in a Mexican-majority San Antonio, and the "Latino food aisle" problem
[26:35] Rock bottom: divorce, debt, and a diaper box full of apple pies
[36:47] MasterChef, imposter syndrome, and what Gordon Ramsay gave her
[47:07] Keeping the sazon: Puerto Rican ingredients in every Spanglish recipe
[55:38] What people get wrong about Puerto Rican food
[1:01:23] Spanglish mashups: bacalaito onion rings, morcilla sloppy joes, coconut arepa BLTs
[1:09:08] Rebuilding a 157-year-old newspaper's food section for the digital age
[1:14:14] How "MC" became Monti Carlo
[1:16:10] Where to find Monti and support Spanglish
Connect with Monti Carlo:
Instagram: @themonticarlo
Book: Spanglish, A Love Letter to Bicultural Puerto Rican Cooking (Simon & Schuster), available everywhere books are sold
Website: www.themonticarlo.com
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266
Sin prisa. Sin vergüenza. Con vino.

Wine I'm Enjoying: Seis Soles Rosé
As season 7 open, Jessica shares the the journey that brought her this far, what keeps her focused and how celebrates 5 years of the Latiné Wine Brand directory.
Follow us on
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
YouTube:
Find Latiné Owned Wine Brands HERE

Wines We're Drinking
Erika Sanchez: a white sparkling wine from RGNY
Jessica Yañez: Seis Soles white blend, a Grenache Blanc and Albariño blend (note: this exact blend is discontinued, Seis Soles now makes a straight Albariño)
Episode Description
It's the big 3-0-0. Jessica sits down with her monthly co-host Erika Sanchez to celebrate six years and 300 episodes of Wine & Chisme, and this one gets real. They trace the podcast's evolution from a solo intro recorded over accidentally NSFW-adjacent stock music to the show it is today, revisit the most memorable guests and moments (including the time a Julissa's hair caught fire on camera), and dig into the tamales-and-wine controversy that once flooded Jessica's inbox with thousands of comments. Jessica also opens up about nearly walking away from the podcast the day before this recording, what pulled her back, and why she's more committed than ever heading into Season 7. Plus: the dream guest list (JLo, Pedro Pascal, and America Ferrera are all on it), and how you can help pick the cities for the 2027 tour.
Content note: This episode includes an emotional, personal moment where Jessica discusses feeling burned out and not seen, a discussion of colorism within family and community, and a passing reference to a past guest's family tragedy.
Timestamps
0:00 Popping bottles and celebrating the 300th episode
6:10 A trip down memory lane through every version of the Wine & Chisme intro
16:56 Do you ever re-listen to your own episodes
22:49 Why solo episodes are Jessica's kryptonite, and how she books guests
27:23 Chris of Seis Soles, the first vintner who ever reached out to her
28:40 Geena de Latina, San Diego royalty and her 50th guest
36:59 When the "bougie" tamales and wine story broke the internet
39:58 Not a podcast for everybody, and why that is the point
47:04 Reading listener voicemails and DMs live
53:32 Julissa Bermudez's hair catches fire on camera (you have to see it on YouTube)
1:01:38 What being Latine even means, and who gets left out of the definition
1:02:03 The unplanned RGNY episode that became a fan favorite
1:06:38 Cadena Collective and the weight of colorism, even within one family
1:09:00 Jessica gets real about tears, burnout, and almost walking away
1:19:53 The dream guest list: America Ferrera, JLo, Pedro Pascal, and more
1:26:29 Season 7, the 2027 tour, and how to pitch yourself for sponsorship
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica Yañez: Seis Solis White Blend, a Grenache Blanc and Albariño blend. Her go to hot weather pour, especially during San Diego's current heat wave and humidity.
Rosalie Ennes: Agua. She's on a cleanse after what she calls a "World Cup bender". She'll toast in spirit only this episode.
Episode Description
Jessica sits down with Rosalie Ennes, business and risk advisor, two time award winning author, and founder of Portecua Consulting, for episode 299, one before Wine & Chisme's 300th. They dig into how growing up with two very different money philosophies (her dad's "save and be smart," her mom's "spend on experiences") shaped Rosalie's relationship with money, how a sudden layoff while she was on vacation in Ecuador with her mom sent her into a quiet, private grieving process, and how that grief eventually turned into the confidence to start her own business. Rosalie opens up about the eldest daughter instinct to protect her family from her own shock rather than lean on them, the 15 month process of writing her award winning book, Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza, and why she built it specifically so Latina and Black entrepreneurs could see themselves in a business book for once. She also shares what's next: an audiobook, bringing the book into university classrooms, and her free risk taker archetype quiz.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold open, catching up, and pouring tonight's wine
10:22 Growing up bicultural: two money philosophies from mom and dad
22:10 Numbers, CPAs, and climbing the corporate ladder
34:35 The layoff: shock, grief, and quietly regrouping in Ecuador and Puerto Rico
45:52 Betting on herself: building the business and writing the book
56:30 Awards, the risk taker quiz, and what's next
Connect Rosalie:
Website: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa
Book, Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa/author
Risk Taker Quiz: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa/quiz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portecuaconsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portecua/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@portecuaconsulting
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica: Saperavi Qvevri from Konco & Co and distributed by Qveveri Wine Georgia (a dry red made from Saperavi, one of the oldest grapes in the world, fermented in buried clay pots)
Adriana: Ceja Wines, a Mexican American owned red
Episode Description
Jessica sits down with Adriana Martinez, LCSW, a licensed Latina therapist, university professor, and founder of Tonali Therapy and Consulting in the Bay Area. Adriana opens up about surviving breast cancer, repeated pregnancy loss, and being a young single mom in grad school, and how those experiences shaped her work with Latinas navigating perfectionism, shame, and family pressure. The conversation moves through the story of her parents' journey from Michoacan to Oakland on an overstayed visa, what it meant to grow up as the middle child and only daughter between two brothers, and the moment she learned her father is not her biological father. Adriana breaks down what inner child work and EMDR actually look like in practice, and the two swap stories on love languages, marrying into families that "warn" your partner what they're getting into, and the question that changed how Adriana sees her own healing: how did you know you were loved?
Content note: this episode includes candid discussion of cancer diagnosis, pregnancy loss, immigration status, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro; Jessica welcomes Adriana Martinez and talks mental health in Latino and Black families as the podcast nears 300 episodes
0:15 Wine pours: Ceja and the Georgian Saperavi Qvevri; Adriana's bio, her breast cancer survivorship, and comparing notes with Jessica's mom's own cancer story
0:30 Adriana's parents' journey from Michoacan to Mexico City to the Bay Area on an overstayed visa; her dad's story of choosing between the bus and eating; the reveal that Jessica's dad is not her biological father
0:45 Intergenerational trauma named directly; what inner child work actually is; birth order, being the only daughter between two brothers, and getting assigned family roles
1:00 Love languages across generations; independence versus wanting to be taken care of; dads warning new partners "you know what you're getting into"
1:15 EMDR therapy explained; how therapists carry client stories and use their own therapy; closing reflection on the question "how did you know you were loved?" and living life on your own terms
Connect with Adriana Martinez
Website: tonalitherapy.com
Instagram: @tonalitherapy
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing: (858) 304-0266

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica: Seis Soles Albariño, by Chris Rivera (friend of the pod), out of Lodi with a tasting room in downtown Orange, CA (Wine & Wax)
Heidi: Water (she'd just wrapped recording her own podcast beforehand)
Episode Description
This week, Jessica sits down with Heidi De La Cruz, host of the two time award winning podcast "American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants," podcasting coach, and creator of the V.O.I.C.E. Method, a 6 week framework helping Latina women and busy moms launch their own shows. Heidi and Jessica trade real talk on what it actually takes to start and sustain a podcast: knowing your why, building systems that don't burn you out, showing up as your authentic self (no dress code required), and redefining what success looks like when you're a one woman operation. Heidi also opens up about managing her PTSD around her recording schedule and how mental health shaped the structure of her business.
Note for listeners: this episode touches on immigration and includes a candid conversation about how Jessica curates guests for the show's mission of amplifying communities of color specifically.
Timestamps
00:00 - Cheers and catching up
09:56 - Heidi's path into podcasting, from curious kid to interviewing her husband about his immigration story
19:47 - Showing up as yourself: ditching the dress code and talking openly about PTSD and mental health
28:17 - Kicking hesitation to the curb: the launch party deadline that got the show live
34:11 - Turning her own trial and error into coaching other podcasters
39:38 - Know your why: the one question to answer before you hit record
46:54 - Weekly, biweekly, whatever works: redefining what podcast success actually looks like
49:21 - Drop times, edit hours, and the surprising places listeners are tuning in from
59:05 - The systems (Calendly, Notion, Google Sheets templates) keeping two indie podcasters sane
1:04 - Editing tools, coworking spaces, and finding time to actually finish an episode
1:07 - Solo episodes vs. interviews: the one that's actually harder
1:11:32 - Setting boundaries with guests around sensitive stories
1:13:44 - Curating community with intention (touches on race and immigration)
1:17:56 - Gratitude, parting wisdom, and where to find Heidi
Guest Social Handles
Instagram: @heidi.delacruz
Website: HeidiDelacruz.com
Podcasts: "American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants" and "Podcasting for Latina CEOs"
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Call us and tell us how we're doing: (858) 304-0266

This week, Jessica sits down with Cynthia Rodriguez, a San Diego-based educator with over 20 years in the classroom, proud Cindy from the South Side of San Antonio, and now a thriving empty nester whose kids are taking Manhattan by storm. They pour a glass, skip the agenda entirely, and just talk.
What We're Drinking:

Cynthia: Cabernet Franc from Familia Leone Aragoni, Valle de Uco Mendoza, Argentina (a limited-edition pull from the wine fridge)

Jessica: Seis Soles Albariño from Lodi, CA, courtesy of her good friend Chris at Wine and Wax in downtown Orange, CA
Timestamps:
0:00 — Welcome, Cynthia's bio, and what's in the glass tonight
10:00 — From San Antonio to San Diego: comparing cities, surviving Texas heat, and why California weather is not a small thing when you've lived through South Texas summers
20:00 — Raised to be independent: what it looks like when your dad raises three daughters like three men, and the complicated gift of not needing anyone once you're finally in a relationship
30:00 — Tejana identity, Texas politics, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and why if you're pissed off about what's happening, you already know what to do
40:00 — Aunt Carmen, a Tinder match, a forgotten wallet, and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2015 that changed the whole plan
50:00 — A text in the middle of the West Texas desert, two weeks to pack up a life, and two kids who had to trust their mom knew what she was doing
1:00:00 — Empty nesting as a reframe: who was Cynthia before she was a mother, a teacher, a wife? And how do you find her again?
1:10:00 — Salsa and bachata at the Rosin Box in Liberty Station, passion projects, and what it means to finally be present for the people who've been waiting
Connect with Cynthia:
TikTok: @DiaryOfAnEmptyNester
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
Latiné Wine Brand Directory: https://www.thewineandchismepodcast.com/latine-owned-wine-brands

Wine I'm Drinking: 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Casa Martinez Wines
This week, Jessica reflects on her struggles to record solo episodes, and the topics discussed through season 6 and how that has affected her.
She also discusses the upcoming 300th episode and wants to hear from you regarding your thoughts over the last six years.

Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica: Ortega Family Wines Pinot Blanc, Carneros Valley, Napa
Susie: Edgar Torres Wines Mourvèdre-Cab Blend, Paso Robles
She's a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience, a certified wellness menopause coach, and the kind of guest every woman in her 30s, 40s, and beyond needs in her corner. Susie Cortez, LCSW joins Jessica for a candid, unfiltered conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and everything our mothers never told us about our bodies, because nobody ever told them either.
From panic attacks at a football game to building a coaching practice that fills the gap doctors leave behind, Susie shares her own journey into the menopause movement and why education, community, and speaking up are the most powerful tools women have right now. Jessica opens up about her own experience after her 2024 hysterectomy, including the HRT patch shortage, the ear itching nobody warned her about, and why she finally told her mom, "I'm so sorry."
This is the conversation the women in your family needed to be having for decades. It starts right here.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Welcome & intro, Susie shares Edgar Torres Wines from Paso Robles, Jessica pours the last glass of Ortega Family Wines Pinot Blanc
[10:00] Susie's origin story, 20 years as a therapist, working with teenage girls, and recognizing the hormone-mood connection she didn't have language for yet
[15:00] What is perimenopause vs. menopause? Breaking down the timeline, what "the chaos" of hormone decline actually looks like, and why symptoms can start as early as 35
[25:00] The history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the 2002 study that scared women off it, why that research has been largely debunked, and what the menopause movement is changing
[35:00] Lifestyle shifts that actually help: movement, protein, fiber, sleep hygiene, and why walking to a podcast counts as self-care
[45:00] The sleep struggle is real: waking at 2 and 4 AM, the brain fog that follows, the Oura Ring, naps, and the challenge of fighting your body when you have a dog in the bed
[55:00] How menopause strains relationships and what partners can actually do: initiation, communication, the libido conversation nobody wants to have, and why rage during perimenopause is more common than anyone admits
[1:05:00] Finding your voice at 50, letting go of people-pleasing, reevaluating friendships and values, and what it means to protect your peace in midlife
[1:12:00] Common misconceptions about menopause, the emotional symptoms doctors dismiss, why "I just don't feel like myself" is a complete sentence, and the importance of community over suffering in silence
[1:20:00] Halle Berry's Respin platform, supplements, hair loss, collagen, and the bad actors trying to profit off the menopause movement
[1:30:00] Documenting your symptoms before your doctor's appointment, magnesium glycinate for sleep, progesterone as a sleep aid, mocktails, Agua Bonitas, and Susie's Menopause Mingles
[1:40:00] Closing thoughts: you are not alone, reach out, and why talking about it is the most important first step
Connect with Susie Cortez:
Instagram: @WellnessCoachSusie
Website: WellnessWithSusie.com
Services: Individual coaching, group coaching, digital courses, Menopause Mingles (in-home workshops), therapist CEU training
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com/directory
Sin prisa. Sin vergüenza. Con vino.

Wines We're Drinking
Sandra: Bosquette Cabernet Sauvignon
Jessica: Ruch Wines Grenache 2023 — Latina-owned, San Diego winemaker, grapes from Paso Robles
Latina podcast. Latiné voices. First-gen stories. This week, Jessica sits down with Sandra Guzman — author, mortgage loan officer, and mom of three boys — for one of those conversations that feels less like an interview and more like girl talk you didn't know you needed.
Sandra grew up in Altadena as the only daughter of strict Catholic Mexican parents, the kid who loved to read and wasn't allowed to go anywhere. She entered the mortgage industry at 19 as a summer job and never left. She became a wife, a mom, a caregiver at 18 when her mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and a woman who spent decades making herself small to keep everyone else comfortable. Until she turned 40 and decided she was done.
She also survived the Eaton Fire, watching her community of three generations burn while her adult sons stayed behind to fight for their home, and now sees every day what recovery looks like for the families left behind.
This one goes there: the "mas bonita" message, what it does to a woman's voice, learning to model self-worth for your sons, navigating sexism in finance, and writing a book she was afraid to let anyone read.
In This Episode We Cover
[0:00] Intro and wines we're drinking
[5:00] Surviving the Altadena fires and how Sandra's sons saved the house, smoke damage, lead contamination, and what rebuilding really looks like from the inside
[17:30] Growing up in Altadena — redlining, a tight-knit community, gentrification, and how the neighborhood changed across three generations
[23:30] The only daughter of strict Catholic Mexican parents, the bubble she was raised in and who she became anyway
[28:00] Callajera stories- sneaking out, concerts, curfews, and growing up without cell phones or trackers to get caught
[36:00] Breaking generational patterns and the "mas bonita" message- what we were taught about silence, beauty, and our own voice
[40:00] Tying your value to your partner and what that belief costs you and what it quietly teaches your kids
[45:00] When Sandra was 18 and her mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor — holding the household together before she was ready
[51:00] Redefining roles in relationships — what a healthy partnership actually looks like and the suegra chisme that says it all
[57:00] 25 years in the mortgage industry — navigating sexism, advocating for Latinas, and empowering women to buy homes on their own
[1:04:00] LA housing market reality check — what the fires did to communities still rebuilding, why it's a buyer's market, and the 2% interest rate trap
[1:09:00] The One Who Stayed — writing the book in secret, almost talking herself out of publishing it, and what readers keep telling her
[1:14:00] Turning 40, doing the real therapy work, and building a life she actually chose
[1:21:00] Where to find Sandra's book and mortgage resources, and closing chisme
Connect with Sandra Guzman
Website: www.loanPartner.us
Instagram: @TheLoanPartner
TikTok: @TheLoanPartner
Book: The One Who Stayed — available in English and Spanish on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, and the Octavia Butler Bookstore
Connect with Wine & Chisme
Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
Latiné Wine Brand Directory:

Wines We're Drinking:
Erin: Tomaté Frío by Para Wines, a hibiscus and cinnamon-based tempranillo
Jessica: 2023 Para Wines Envino Blanco
What happens when a BIPOC wine writer, AI strategist, and astrology enthusiast decides to build the bridge between all three? You get Erin Ortiz, and this is one of those conversations you're going to want to come back to.
Erin has been in the wine industry for nearly a decade, writing about BIPOC issues in wine and building a career in account development before founding Brand Arcadia in 2024 to help boutique winemakers and BIPOC brands leverage AI in their digital marketing strategies. She's currently collaborating with Parra Wines on AI video content and building Celestial Somm, an app that pairs wines with astrology transits to make wine more accessible and culturally relevant, prioritizing Latiné-owned and independent brands.
This conversation goes deep: we talk about what it really means to use AI as a tool without losing your voice, why the wine industry is falling behind with younger drinkers, how AI is reshaping search and why now is actually the golden moment for niche brands, and the very real racial bias Erin encountered when she first started using AI-generated images. Oh, and we may have had a little debate about AI video, porque I'm not gonna lie, I had some feelings.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:04] Wines We're Drinking: Para Wines Tomaté Frío and Envino Blanco
[07:00] New Jersey wine shipping laws and how they're hurting independent wineries and BIPOC brands
[11:00] Erin's origin story: growing up in Manhattan, the projects, and an unexpected path into wine
[18:00] How Erin started writing about BIPOC wine issues and what took her from bartending to brand strategy
[24:00] Why AI is a powerful tool for storytellers, and how she used it to build the Para Wines AI video content
[27:00] Jessica's honest take on AI photo and video, and why transparency about what is and isn't AI matters
[32:00] How AI-generated content around the Iran conflict changed skeptics' minds about visual storytelling
[33:00] Why being "weird" and specific is now a competitive advantage in AI-powered search (AEO vs. SEO)
[35:00] Gen Z and wine: are they actually not drinking, or are they just not drinking your product?
[40:00] The biggest challenge in AI-driven brand strategy: the rules change overnight
[41:00] Introducing Celestial Psalm: the app that pairs BIPOC wines with astrology transits
[43:00] What a "transit" is, explained through wine terroir and a metaphor about umbrellas
[47:00] How the app assigns zodiac personalities to wines instead of winemakers, and why that matters for discovery
[50:00] Erin's ethical line: AI amplifies your story, it does not replace it
[51:00] AI's racial bias problem in image generation, and how it's (slowly) getting better
[53:00] Erin's favorite AI tools, why she left ChatGPT, and a little love for Claude
[56:00] What Erin has learned about authentic storytelling from years of wine writing, including the article about ICE raids in Napa Valley she was nervous to publish
[59:00] Brand Arcadia's mission: drawing out unique stories, getting BIPOC brands visible in search, and a free audit offer for the first three listeners
Connect with Erin Ortiz:
Instagram: @BrandArcadia
Website: BrandArcadia.com
LinkedIn: Erin J. Ortiz
Celestial Psalm app: coming soon
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: wineandchisme.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
YouTube: Wine & Chisme Podcast
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We're here turning every conversation into a celebration, one glass at a time. Salud!

Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica: 2019 Robert Hall Merlot, Paso Robles
Erika: Apothec (red)
May has felt like the longest month of the year, and your two favorite chismosas needed a release. This month's chisme episode is a full-on bitch session, no prepared topics, no political rabbit holes, just two real friends talking how they actually talk. Jessica is recording from her parents' place in Orange County, Erika can't wait to sip on her glass, and the conversation goes everywhere, mi gente.
From curly hair frustrations to house hunting reality checks, wedding planning advice for people who don't want to go broke, the Gen Z vs. Millennials debate on writing papers without AI, and the wildest movie theater experience you'll ever hear described, this one is all vibes and zero filter. Plus: Jessica shares a major podcast milestone announcement and a heartfelt ask from the comunidad.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Welcome and setting the scene (Jessica recording from her parents' house)
[00:04] Wines we're drinking: Robert Hall Merlot and Apothec
[00:05] Curly hair struggles, DIY trims, and the art of finding a stylist who actually gets curly hair
[00:10] Bored woman energy: cleaning, decluttering, and the urge to redecorate everything
[00:19] House hunting update: Jessica and Antonio's open house adventures and planning timeline
[00:24] Why paying off the car first is the move, and the true cost of moving into a new home
[00:27] Handymen are attractive. Period. Girl math, marriage savings, and real talk
[00:28] Movie review: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (worth seeing or not?) and the plan to watch Michael next
[00:34] The wildest movie theater moment featuring a very loud old man and an almost-altercation
[00:36] CVS pharmacy chaos, a racist man in a wheelchair, and just a whole day being odd
[00:38] A one-woman show by Biz Bruja and a surprise visit to see Jessica's son at work
[00:40] What they've been watching: Schitt's Creek, The Boys, and why it's okay to rewatch comfort shows
[00:43] On collective exhaustion: why this episode has no political chisme and zero guilt about that
[00:44] Finding joy wherever you can grab it
[00:45] Wedding planning advice from someone who did it beautifully for $13,000-$15,000 all-in
[00:54] Jessica's mom and the Pop Warner bake sale that sold out in two hours: Marketing 101 from a legend
[00:56] Gen Z vs. Millennials: Did we write 10-page papers without AI? (We did. At the library. In the encyclopedia era.)
[00:58] Real talk on AI as a tool vs. AI replacing human creativity, and how Jessica uses it for the podcast
[01:03] AI customer service rants, the joy of pressing zero, and why real humans will always win
[01:05] MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: A top podcast hosting company reached out to Wine & Chisme
[01:08] Newsletter guilt, world-weariness, and why joy is the resistance
[01:10] Exploring voiceover work and the reality of doing what you gotta do in these times
[01:12] A soft launch: Wine & Chisme now accepting listener donations through Square (only if you're in a position to give, mija)
[01:15] Shoutout to Christina Cervantes and all the listeners who keep showing up
[01:16] Call, text, or DM: Jessica and Erika want to hear YOUR stories for the run to Episode 300
[01:17] How to reach the show: (858) 304-0266 or hola@thewineandchismepodcast.com
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
TikTok: @wineandchisme
Threads: @wineandchisme
LinkedIn: Wine & Chisme Podcast
YouTube: Wine & Chisme
Email: hola@thewineandchismepodcast.com
Phone/Text: (858) 304-0266
Latiné podcast. Chicana stories. Wine & Chisme has been building since 2019 and we're on our way to 300 episodes. Thank you for being part of this comunidad.