Whew, Chile. Y'all have to forgive my delay in getting this episode up. May is such a busy month in my household because of birthdays and other milestone events—I see you on Mother's Day!

But without further ado, here is my conversation with my friend, Jasminne Mendez, as we discuss the challenges of balancing success as a mother and a career woman. Together, we share our experiences as mamas and authors, navigating the demands of motherhood while pursuing our creative passions. We discuss the trade-offs and sacrifices that come with success and the need to make choices that align with our competing priorities.

Jasminne Mendez is a best-selling Dominican-American poet, translator, playwright, audiobook narrator, and award-winning author of several books for children and adults. Including the middle-grade novel in verse, Aniana del Mar Jumps In (Dial), which received the 2024 Pura Belpre Honor Award. Her other books have received prizes from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Writer’s League of Texas, and the International Latino Book Awards. She is an MFA graduate of the creative writing program at the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University and a University of Houston alumni. She is the Program Director for the literary arts non-profit Tintero Projects and she lives and works in Houston, TX.

Follow Jasmine on IG here. You can also learn more about her and her work through her website.

Happy listening, Friend!