This Is EZ With Friends

If I had a quarter for every time Trish and I got drunk and sang karaoke together, I'd have about five dollars. We are living proof that you can bridge the gap between boomers and millennials. Ralph used to house sit for Trish long before I came along, since she was busy traveling the globe during the summer months. Her black lab Marlon (RIP), was the goddog at our wedding. Patricia "Trish" Soto is an artist, retired teacher, singer, future belly dancer, lover of culture & travel, and a true citizen of the globe. She has been to 58 countries and shows no signs of slowing down. This episode will make you want to book that flight to that place you've been wanting to visit forever. Press play and then follow Trish on Instagram at @travelontrish, to witness some of her global adventures. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Has life ever brought you to a crossroads? A place in your timeline where you’ve had to decide whether to stay in the same old relationship, job, apartment, or friendship - or take a leap of faith and try something totally different and outside of your comfort zone? Nereida Gutierrez wears many hats but identifies as an artist, creative, and community organizer. She is a beacon of light and a force to be reckoned with. Relationship struggles and a strong desire to be there for her son drove her to move to LA and become her own boss. Now she answers only to herself, and it’s really awesome to hear about. We talk about quitting jobs, quitting relationships, saying yes to ourselves, and trying to move away from the societal pressures that tell us we have to work and live by a certain set of rules. It’s an amazing conversation, and I’m so excited to share it with all of you. Press play, honey!  You can follow Nereida at @nerdayduh, which will link you to her artist account @nereidaarts. Her art can be found at @artspacehp. Go check it out! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Work has been insane, I did my first-ever comedy open-mic a few weeks ago, and the truth is that I didn’t have an episode lined up for you. On yesterday’s mental health walk, I decided to record my first-ever solo episode. Topics include but are not limited to inner child work, the stand-up experience, a dance while walking group that I’d like to start, social media, a documentary about Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, and Taylor Swift. It’s random. It’s uncensored. It’s untamed. It’s me. And I hope you like it. Press play! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Rosario Calatayud-Serna is a founder, administrator, non-profit professional, and a creative. She’s also one of the coolest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Rosario joined the podcast to talk about her beginnings in the nonprofit world, and opening a business in Huntington Park at the height of the pandemic. When I asked Rosario how she continued to pursue one goal after another without fear, she assured me that fear was present the entire time, but she did all of it anyway. We talk about building the muscle in our minds that allows us to say “not today, fear” over and over again. This podcast inspired the hell out of me, and I hope it does the same for you. Press play!  Find Rosario on instagram @rorocs @artspacehp @thepophop @latienditaccg. What isn’t she involved in? Am I right? This episode was edited by the very talented Alexandro Zamora: @zamoravisuals.  Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Nicole Presley is a Latina culinary rockstar with an inspiring story. She left her career in marketing behind to pursue her dream of creating her own culinary brand. She started vlogging in 2011, and eventually, her brand took off. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because you may have seen Presley’s Pantry on the shelves at Target or Walmart. Perhaps you’ve seen her book “Viva Desserts” on the shelves at Vroman’s. She is an incredibly talented woman with a story that will make you want to get out there and pursue your own dreams. We chatted about food, matchmaking, marriage, and food again - because why not? This episode will leave you feeling hungry, in every way possible. Press play, foodies! https://presleyspantry.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Rachel Yoffe (pronounced like coffee), and I work in production finance together at a studio that can’t be named because we signed non-disclosure agreements. Let’s just say we’re guardians of the finance galaxy, wink wink. Rachel’s not just an assistant accountant. She’s also heavily involved in musical theater and was recently cast as the lead role in an original zombie musical titled Losing Your Humanity. She joined the podcast to talk about being a highly sensitive person in an environment that didn’t always treat her with kindness and respect. Despite having a great home life, Rachel dealt with depression and loneliness while in the public school system. She was different from the other kids - often feeling misunderstood and unseen. Rachel is fully comfortable being vulnerable but has found that wearing her heart on her sleeve has made her more susceptible to getting hurt. She shared with me the ways in which she has built up her confidence, learned to identify great friends, and poured her pain into her art. What are you waiting for? Press play! Tickets to Losing Your Humanity can be found here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/6630?tab=tickets. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Nicole Lopez is a proud born and raised SELA activist, community organizer, and congressional candidate. When she's not talking about politics (or pop culture) she loves talking about the importance of prioritizing one's mental health and chasing dreams. Oh, and she loves talking about her dogs! Overall, Nicole loves connecting with other women of color as they work to uplift each other and break generational curses. She graced the podcast with stories about growing up in a traditional Mexican household and learning to become her biggest advocate after dealing with traumatic events in childhood and being hospitalized in 2020. Her insight will make you reflect on whether or not you're showing up for yourself in your own life. If you've ever battled your parents' voices inside your head, this one is for you. Press play! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Danellia Arechiga aka Dane Real is the multidimensional mami. She’s a birth worker, a mother, a teacher, a healer, a musician, a writer, and one of the most free and confident women I’ve ever met.  We met back in the early 2000s and lost touch for many years until we reconnected on social media. Her Instagram captions were like warm hugs for my soul. I told her while we were recording, that I wasn’t stalking her, but I kinda was. She was and still is, so authentic. Her energy is absolutely electric. She creates healing and nurturing spaces for women, and last year I had the privilege of having her guide me through a vaginal steaming. I’m so grateful that she agreed to join the podcast to talk about sexual wellness, solo dance parties, saying yes to creativity, and learning to love the skin you’re in. Women like Danellia are a gift, and I’m so glad I get to share her with all of you. What are you waiting for? Press play! How you can connect with Dane: Instagram @themultidimensionalmami : https://www.instagram.com/themultidimensionalmami/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themultidimensionalmami Twitter: @_DaneReal: https://twitter.com/_DaneReal Personal website: https://www.danelliaarechiga.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

The podcast is back, and so is Mark, for this introductory episode about slowing down in the new year. I know that it’s March, but it’s never too late or too early to start implementing healthier habits and behaviors. I talk about shoveling food into my mouth at an alarming rate, having road rage, and the benefits of my break from social media at the end of last year. If you’re feeling burnt out and tired of living life in the fast lane - take a load off, boo. Stop what you’re doing and go have a listen. So great to be back! Happy March, everyone! Host: Erika Zapata Guest: Mark Morales Editing: Thomas Zipperer --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

The season finale of This is EZ with Friends has arrived and I am honored to share it with all of you. Aileen Paola Villarreal Castillo and I have been friends since 1994. We shared a love of Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harry Potter, The Backstreet Boys, and Back To The Future. Our braces and hairy legs set us apart from the rest and we owned our awkward pre-teen phase like a couple of divorcees who didn’t need to take shit from anyone. Aileen got in trouble in the fourth grade for writing “Aileen DiCaprio” on all of her assignments. That’s the least of her accomplishments. Homecoming queen. University of Notre Dame graduate. Senior Personnel Manager for the Notre Dame Football team. Director of Media Relations for the Detroit Tigers. PR & Client Services Director at Independent Sports & Entertainment. Ex-girlfriend of Kevin Richardson (she dumped him). We killed two bottles of champagne and talked about being kids together, coping with imposter syndrome, and learning to appreciate the gifts we bring to the world. It’s a beautiful episode. It’s a beautiful friendship. Thank you to my very sweet and wonderful community of supporters. It has truly been a pleasure churning out these episodes. Nothing gives me more joy than sitting down with the people I love and getting deep with it. If you’ve read this far, I’ll let you in on a little secret. At the end of this episode (you have to push through the jingle at the end), there are SIX WHOLE MINUTES of bonus content. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. Podcast out! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Jessica Estrada always knew that she wanted to be a mom. At age 40, she made peace with her single life and even contemplated having a baby on her own. Shortly thereafter, she met the love of her life. They got pregnant within their first six months of dating and, sadly, Jess miscarried. She took the experience in stride and hoped that she would get another shot at motherhood. At 43, Jess is engaged and just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Lucas. She joins the podcast to talk about the raw truths of pregnancy and motherhood. Topics include an at-home birth plan, a complicated labor, breastfeeding, mom guilt, sleep deprivation, and all the joys that motherhood has to offer. Press play for some refreshing honesty. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Marissa Leal is an artist, a dental hygienist, and one of my favorite people in the world. She volunteered her time and her story to the podcast, and to say that I am grateful would be understating it. Marriage struggles, health struggles, and a fear of vulnerability made for a difficult year for Marissa. But don’t worry, it was a healing podcast for both of us. Life isn’t always easy, but it’s EZier with friends. Press play, listeners. Check out Marissa’s Instagram: @night.mare_creates  Or her Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/nightmarecreatesshop/?etsrc=sdt --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Jake Rothfeld grew up in a New Jersey town where an opioid epidemic created a rise in suicide cases. It was commonplace for Jake to find out that someone he grew up with had succumbed to dark thoughts. Despite having great parents and an excellent support system, he battled his own demons during his seventh grade year. Jake brings so much insight to the podcast, which allowed me to talk about my own battle with depression. Have you ever felt inadequate? Maybe you’ve been called “too sensitive.” In any case, this one’s for you. Resources for suicide prevention can be found below: https://www.sprc.org/ https://didihirsch.org/services/suicide-prevention/ https://neveralone.love/about/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Mark Morales is a Texas native, an ex-musician, and definitely not my old boss. He and I caught up after COVID times and busy lives. Mark talks about losing his mom during the pandemic and coming to terms with his mortality after her death hit his family pretty hard. It’s not a sad podcast at all, because Mark is a glass-half-full kinda guy. He’s funny, he’s smart, and he’s one of the coolest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. If you don’t catch yourself giggling through this episode, you can have your money back. Topics include: hair loss, getting older, selling breast milk, and reincarnation. Need I say more? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Christina Arzate spent a few years getting to know herself before setting up her Hinge profile, joining a sexual empowerment group, and dying her hair purple and pink. Christina wears wrestling t-shirts to dates and she DGAF.  Her optimism about dating in these dark times is a breath of fresh air. She shares funny dating stories and real issues that plague a dating culture that values casual relationships over long-term connections. Spoiler alert: everyone is lying about this. In this episode, we coin the term “raw dogging people with your emotions.” It’s funny, it’s provocative, and it’s just plain old truth. Do yourself a favor and press play. You can find Christina Arzate's sexual development coach at @iamjocelynsilva on Instagram.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Monica Villaruel is an LA Native, a public research scientist, and a bonafide badass. She works for the California Department of Public Health - focusing on the areas of maternal, child, and adolescent health. She joins the podcast to talk about self-development, therapy, and emotional hard-ons (tune in to find out what these are). We coined the term emotional hard-on, so you won’t find this kind of sexy talk anywhere else. Exclusively on This is EZ with Monica. Thank you for continuing to support the podcast. Just one note because I couldn’t remember the name of the website during the podcast, so I’m sharing . Mark Manson’s website is called Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck. You can check it out by visiting https://markmanson.net/. His material is excellent. You won’t regret it. I just finished taking his “Improving My Life” course. So good. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Erik is an aquarius. He’s left handed and color blind. He joins the podcast to tell his beautiful coming out story - a process that he refers to as finally “just being.” Erik’s Catholic upbringing in a Mexican household created a tumultuous journey to self discovery. He was prepared to hide his truth in order to avoid telling his parents, but life had other plans. Erik fell in love in his early thirties and could no longer hide his true self. Four powerful letters. An angry song. A man unchained and no longer willing to dilute himself for the comfort of others. Have a listen! If you or your family are experiencing difficulties during your coming out journey, here are some resources: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm Love and light. Thank you so much for listening. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Erika and Kim talk about their long, toxic relationships in their early twenties. Being young and in love isn’t easy, especially if you’re with the wrong person. Listen to what they did, how they learned, and what they know now. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Hello and welcome to the trailer episode for This is EZ With Friends. My name is Erika Zapata and I am your host. I’m just a woman who decided to start a podcast after a long battle with paralyzing fear of the unknown. I haven’t found a niche yet, but so far I’ve had the great privilege of discussing toxic relationships, spirituality, and coming out as queer with some wonderful guests. Thank you for listening and I hope you’ll stick around for the long haul. Special thanks to: Mark Morales: Original Music Alex Zamora (@zamoravisuals): Podcast Photography Ralph Moreno: Podcast Equipment Jessica Estrada: Telling me to just publish this already and stop waiting for it to be perfect. For more content - please visit www.thewhothewhat.com Or find me on Instagram @ez_thewhothewhat If all else fails, you can email me at thewhowhatblog@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support

Luis Humberto Chaidez is a first generation latino, historian, and educator. On trend with the latest episode, Luis and I met through Aileen. I look forward to seeing him at social gatherings because I almost always learn something new about world history. He joined the podcast to talk about the patriarchy, and the ways in which he shows up as a man for his students, and in his personal relationships. We talked about the times in our past when we felt shame about our latino roots, the impact that religion had on our early adulthood, our complex relationships with our parents, and the work that we do in our own lives to chip away at the patriarchal bullshit that inevitably shows up from time to time. It's an excellent conversation. We both admitted to having cry playlists, and we even tell the story of Luis being a hero during one of our most recent hangouts. Quit scrolling and press play! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisisez/support