When You're Invisible

Too often miners are painted almost as caricatures - as conservative, ignorant, poor, depressed, and selfish. The reality is that miners often go unheard. Coming from families of multi-generational coal miners is a core part of who Danny, Terry, and Charles are. But what they’re most proud of is being in a union. From their childhoods spent playing in the Appalachian mountains, to their first day inside the mines, to a career-defining strike, they paint us a picture of their lives over decades. Today, they continue to fight to be seen in their community, and by our nation at large. In our interview, they each get candid about regrets they’ve had, lessons they’ve learned, and hopes they hold onto for the future of West Virginia. I went into this conversation hoping to find working class solidarity, and came away feeling even more empowered than I had imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel says being trans is just a small part of his identity. His obsession with Radiohead is a way bigger part of his life—it’s often in the queue during his drive to and from high school. Most high schoolers are probably fixated on their favorite bands. But most 16 year olds haven’t testified in front of their representatives or organized a protest (and dance party) in front of the Supreme Court.  Daniel invites us into his world as a young trans Latino in Arizona. Growing up near the border he’s surrounded by Mexican culture and immersed in communities of queer folks and artists of color. He paints a different picture than you might imagine for someone living as a double minority in a red state. He explains why it’s not so simple to pack up and move even when facing the threat of harmful legislation. This season I really wanted to hear from a young person about what they wished for the world and I was lucky to meet someone as empathetic and generous as Daniel. He gets real about navigating family ties and friendships as an in-betweener and speaks honestly about how his age affects his activism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students often ask Mr. J why he’s a teacher. They say he just seems too cool. He used to be one of these students - he went to the high school he teaches at today. Back then, being a teacher seemed like the lamest job in the world to him. But now, he’s a testament to the fact that you can indeed be a “cool teacher.”  As Black man in his early thirties, Mr. J knows he’s in a unique position to teach in the predominantly Black community where he was born and raised. Sometimes it’s not just about what’s on the board but the ways that he can be a role model. I wanted to know about the day to day realities of working in a profession known for being underpaid, overworked, and yet, extremely important. He talks about the highs and hardships of his job and he opens up about his own adolescence, sharing his ambitions and the times he’s felt underestimated.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was during her teenage years that Kiana’s life changed dramatically due to pain. She wanted to be an actor and a singer but her condition put that dream on hold. Instead of attending a prestigious performing arts program, she spent her early 20s confined to her bed.  I met Kiana doing theater in high school, but didn’t know everything she was going through. More than a decade after graduating, it was a privilege to reconnect. We talked about her diagnosis and how it’s affected her relationships, responsibilities, and art. Everything in her life is still impacted by an unseen battle, but as she has received better treatment Kiana is grateful to be expanding her horizons and showing up for her Minneapolis community in new ways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In high school, Francisco didn’t fit in with his white, upper middle class, conservative classmates and he didn’t want to. Maybe it was teenage angst, but his identity revolved around being different and rebellious. As he got older, he channeled his punk rock spirit into a fight for social change. Now, he’s a community organizer in Philly dedicated to finding common ground.  My brother Francisco has always been someone I’ve looked up to because he’s never been afraid to stand up for what he believes is right. I loved sitting down to rehash our childhood memories together, but I also learned what motivates him to get up every morning and do the hard work of building a better world. As our country experiences a resurgence of strikes, mutual aid, and activism I thought we could all take something away from Franscisco’s winding path towards organizing.  To learn about the organizations and resources Francisco mentions in the episode, check out the Center for Popular Democracy (and their affiliates), the AFL CIO, Democratic Socialists of America, Make the Road NY, and the Working Families Party.  Note: This interview happened prior to the election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community, resilience, legacy and being underestimated are the themes at the heart of this season. Meet everyday yet extraordinary Americans - from a community organizer in Philly, to a trans teen in Arizona, unionized coal miners in West Virginia, and an artist with chronic illness in Minnesota. These stories will leave you feeling inspired, connected, and seen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 BrunoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UPDATE: We will be back in November!  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.

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