Matriarch in the Making

Teresa Ruiz Decker

Welcome to Matriarch in the Making, a podcast series of inspiring conversations with incredible everyday women, experts, and activists that will help you build a beautiful life for yourself and generations to come. At Matriarch, we’ll dive into stories about culture, family, identity, feminism, wealth, and generational healing, so we can learn to lead from the inside out.

Episodes

  1. Episode 6: Creating Opportunities for Yourself and Your Community with Anna Marie Cruz

    02/02/2023

    Episode 6: Creating Opportunities for Yourself and Your Community with Anna Marie Cruz

    In this inspiring episode, I chat with Anna Marie Cruz the founder of Entrepinayship  — a community that empowers Filipina, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), and immigrant women to pursue entrepreneurship as a vehicle for self-determination and economic independence. We also discuss the importance of women in entrepreneurship, the unique challenges women of color face and what it means to create meaningful opportunities for yourself and others. We also talk about: How Anna Marie’s microenterprise consulting project in Vietnam paved the way for her to support female entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship as a form of income and a vehicle to create a better future while shaping your destiny How she is uniquely supporting Filipina and AAPI entrepreneurs like herself with a cohort model and funding opportunities The importance of trusting yourself and working through challenges as a business owner Why women are uniquely position to make an impact on the world through entrepreneurship I hope you will hold this conversation in your heart as you move through your week. About Anna Marie Cruz, Founder of Entrepinayship Anna Marie Cruz is an experienced economic development leader, business consultant, and wellness coach. Driven by her passion to use business for social impact, Anna Marie founded Entrepinayship, a platform whose vision is for every Filipina to realize her full potential through entrepreneurship. Anna Marie has always seen entrepreneurship as a way to own your destiny, but it was a microenterprise consulting project in Vietnam that revealed how entrepreneurship empowers women, especially in vulnerable communities. During this project, her team supported the creation of a sustainable business for women weavers of an indigenous tribe with no prior entrepreneurship experience. Anna Marie saw firsthand the impact women can have within the family and community-at-large when they control the purse and are empowered economically. When she returned to Los Angeles, she continued to find new ways of making a positive impact through entrepreneurship, specifically in the Filipino community. She became a Business Counselor at a Women’s Business Center housed at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), which is where the idea for Entrepinayship was born. Episode Resources Entrepinayship Website @Entrepinayship on Instagram FoundHer Podcast by Entrepinayship Entrepinayship on LinkedIn More resources Teresa on Instagram

    36 min
  2. Episode 5: Paving the Way for the Next Generation through Radical Love

    01/26/2023

    Episode 5: Paving the Way for the Next Generation through Radical Love

    On episode five of Matriarch in the making I chat with Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest, of the Radical Monarchs- an Oakland based group that empowers young girls of color to step into their collective power, brilliance and leadership to make the world a more radical place. During our conversation we discussed the power of creating spaces for our young people to thrive, the meaning of radical community, radical bodies, radical healing, radical pride and more. Anayvette and Marilyn also discuss how their organization is expanding nationwide and how they hope this legacy of radical love will live on well after their time. We also talk about: How Anayvete’s daughter sparked the movement of Radical Monarchs The founder’s story and how one kind act (sharing a grad school personal statement) laid the groundwork for a phenomenal friendship How troop members earn badges and what they learn along the way about themselves and the world around them An alumni story about a Radical Monarch’s member The work ahead for those of us who want to build a legacy of loving leadership, healing for our communities and self-care I hope you will hold this conversation in your heart as you move through your week. About The Radical Monarchs Anayvette Martinez, Radical Monarchs Co-Founder & CEO of Programs/Communications Anayvette Martinez, co-founder and CEO of Programs & Communications of the Radical Monarchs, is a San Francisco native and child of Central American immigrants. Anayvette's varied interests in advocacy, community organizing and empowerment led her to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of California Los Angeles and later, her Master's degree at San Francisco State University in Ethnic Studies. Over the past 15 years, she has developed and managed education, social justice, and gendered support programs focused on empowerment and safety for youth, families and their adult allies. She currently lives & loves in Northern California. Marilyn Hollinquest, Radical Monarchs Co-Founder & CEO of Finance/Operations Marilyn is a social justice advocate who specializes in young people of color empowerment. She has 15 plus years of experience as a teacher, community advocate and scholar. Marilyn received her M.A in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University, and B.A in Community Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. Marilyn is passionate about the marriage of theory and practice (praxis) which is at the core of her commitment to the authentic inclusion of disenfranchised peoples. She currently builds radical community in her chosen home of Oakland, CA and is a proud Tulare California native. Episode Resources Radical Monarchs Website @Radical Monarchs on Instagram @Radical Monarchs on YouTube @Radical Monarchs on Facebook More resources Teresa on Instagram

    47 min
  3. Episode 4: Being True to Yourself in Work and Life with Angel Mason Broadus

    01/19/2023

    Episode 4: Being True to Yourself in Work and Life with Angel Mason Broadus

    On episode four of Matriarch in the making I chat with Angel Mason Broadus, the President & Founder of the colorful, do-good, creative marketing and PR agency, Puzzle Pieces Marketing. During our conversation we discuss the importance of being true to yourself in work and life. Angel takes the concept of living authentically to new levels by sharing what it means to believe in yourself, push through the fear of the unknown, and stop worrying about how others perceive us. We also talk about: How Angel shows up 100% herself in life and how that guides her decisions and how she moves through the world How having a tough mom taught her how to stand in her truth early in life The power of giving back to the world and how you can learn to give back too Using your voice and living your values The importance and beauty of creating a living legacy I hope you will hold this conversation in your heart as you move through your week. About Angel Angel Mason Broadus, is the President & Founder of the colorful, do-good, creative marketing and PR agency, Puzzle Pieces Marketing, which Angel founded in 2009 and co-owns and operates with her wife Kristine. Focusing on social good and providing services that benefit their community, the marketing agency works with nonprofits and mission-driven businesses to develop strategies that inspire action. In the spirit of giving back, Angel serves as a member of the Board of Directors for North County Philanthropy Council, Moonlight Cultural Foundation, and Point Loma Nazarene Marketing Advisory Board; and is also a member of United Way of San Diego’s Women United Steering Committee and Marketing Committee, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego Marketing Committee Chair. Episode Resources Puzzle Pieces Website @Puzzle Piece on Instagram @Puzzle Pieces on TikTok @Puzzle Pieces on Facebook @Puzzle Pieces on LinkedIn More resources Teresa on Instagram

    52 min
  4. 01/12/2023

    Episode 3: Building a Legacy for Yourself, Your Family, and Community with Ella Livingston

    What does building a family legacy look like for women today? Ella Livingston of Cocoa Asante shows us how to bring every ounce of who you are into the world to create something uniquely yours while trailblazing for the ones you love. Ella is a Ghanaian-American who made it her mission to share her homeland’s amazing chocolate with the world. In 2018, she founded Cocoa Asante, a premium chocolate company in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handcrafts unique bonbons and chocolate bars. In this episode, you'll hear Ella's journey of building personal and family legacy through her small business, Cocoa Asante. In this episode, you'll also hear: Ella’s beautiful Ghanian culture, her family story of immigration and her experience growing up as a first-generation American The signs she recognized and followed that led to launching Cocoa Asante The sometimes messy and fantastic process of creating a company from scratch Her mother’s influence and inspiration to retain her culture and create a company that was uniquely hers Why and how she is using the bean to bar model to fight traditional systems that undervalue farmers to create a more equitable business The tools she uses for self-care, including therapy, to sustain her energy during the busiest of times teaching part-time, raising a family, and running a business Legacies she plans to keep, create, or leave behind as part of this journey The legacy of living a life fills your heart and own instead of what the world tells you to do Ps I hope you like this week's quote too! About Ella Livingston Ella Livingston was born in Ghana, West Africa into a family of educators, health practitioners, engineers, and cocoa farmers. She immigrated to the United States when she was about three years old with her family. After graduating high school, Ella went on to obtain a bachelor of science in Mathematics and a minor in Japan Studies from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Spelman, she spent her junior year studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan. It was there that she realized the reputation Ghana had as a country that grew some of the best cocoa beans. It was also there that she got the opportunity to try a special type of chocolate called Nama chocolate, which uses fresh cream to create a decadent treat. Her experience in Japan inspired her to want to start her own chocolate company. She began Cocoa Asante in 2018 and in January of 2021 her business partner, Natasha Guerrero, joined the company as co-owner and head chocolatier. Their goal is to have an upscale bean to bar shop that sources cacao beans directly from Ella’s family’s farm. The shop will allow customers to tour the facility so they can see how chocolate is made and learn more about the inequities that exist in the industry and what Cocoa Asante is doing to make a difference. Episode Resources Ella’s TEDx Talk: Building Legacy @Cocoaasante on Instagram Cocoa Asante Website Cocoa Asante on Facebook More resources Teresa on Instagram

    59 min
  5. Episode 2: Chasing Down Your Dreams with Brandee Steger

    09/13/2022

    Episode 2: Chasing Down Your Dreams with Brandee Steger

    We all have dreams, but sometimes we're unsure how to make our dreams a reality. Brandee Steger has spent a lifetime dreaming big and figuring out how to make those dreams come true no matter the obstacle. In this episode, you'll hear about B's experience as a Black actress in Hollywood, how she has found ways to create opportunities for herself, listening to our intuition, and the beautiful surprises that emerge in life when letting go. In this episode, you'll also hear: Brandee's biggest fears and how she uses that fear to fuel her life Showing up on social media as a racial justice advocate Staying grounded while following your dreams What to do when no one else believes in your dreams Letting your intuition take you to unexpected places Leaving a legacy of light in the world About Brandee Steger Brandee is an actress, journalist, producer, and screenwriter from Upland, California. She is the owner of Harlem Ragshop 1934 vintage clothing, a figure skater, mother of two, and wife to fellow actor Michael Steger. In Brandee's TV and film work, she can be seen on American Crime Story: Impeachment opposite Sarah Paulson, Season Two of the Netflix hit series The Babysitters Club, Season Two of Dollface on Hulu, and on the NBC comedy American Auto opposite Ana Gasteyer. Brandee has also starred in the indie film Misfits and made guest appearances on shows like Superstore, The Goldbergs, This is Us, and I'm Dying Up Here. Brandee has trained with Warner Loughlin and Martin Landau and is a Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio. Episode Resources @BrandeeSteger on Instagram Harlem Ragshop 1934 Brandee's IMDB Filmography The War of Art More resources Newsletter Sign-up About Matriarch in the Making Teresa on Instagram Matriarch on Instagram

    59 min

About

Welcome to Matriarch in the Making, a podcast series of inspiring conversations with incredible everyday women, experts, and activists that will help you build a beautiful life for yourself and generations to come. At Matriarch, we’ll dive into stories about culture, family, identity, feminism, wealth, and generational healing, so we can learn to lead from the inside out.