This is my love letter to the working class people and immigrants who shaped me. Too often we focus on stories about people who have achieved positions of influence, wealth, and power. On this podcast, we won’t be doing that. Many of our guests have never been interviewed before. I want to shed light on the experiences of folks who feel invisible. What do everyday people have to say about their lives, their country, their hopes and dreams, and what they believe would make the world a better place?
I’m your host, Maria Fernenda Diez and I’m a first gen Mexican-American. Growing up, my family moved to different regions of the US - from the East Coast to the Midwest to the South - and we were on food stamps when I was young before we became middle class. I ended up getting an almost full ride to the Ivy League but never left my roots behind. I call myself an in-betweener because I’m part of many communities, but don’t fully fit into one single community. Although this can be lonely at times, it’s a vulnerability that can help me connect with others, have honest conversations, and build genuine connections.
Rosaena: An Intergenerational Conversation With My Abuela
Rosaena is always dressed to the nines with her hair curled and her signature pink lipstick on. Aging hasn’t changed her desire to look beautiful. I want her to feel her best, but she’s almost 90. Doesn’t she deserve a break from putting on eyeliner to go to the grocery store?! This is one of the questions I decided to finally ask her point blank when she came with me to the recording studio.
My abuela has lived with my family part of the year since she was in her 50s so we’ve always been close. But, this interview was an opportunity to talk about topics we don’t touch on every day - like where her beliefs about womanhood come from or her views on aging and death. We’ll also hear her life story and the many twists of fate it entails. My mom Claudia returns to the show too to help translate and to reflect with me about her mother’s life. You’re in for a silly, heartfelt, sweet, and surprising intergenerational episode!
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30 Dec 2024
Yajaira: Being Underestimated as a Young Latina Mom
Finding out she was pregnant came as an utter shock to a 16 year old who hadn’t yet realized that her actions had consequences. Letting down her immigrant parents was her biggest fear. She learned at a young age to believe in herself, no matter what.
Today as a 26 year old mother to a nine year old daughter, Yajaira is still eager to prove herself. She thrives off the energy of New York City’s hospitality industry, but that doesn’t mean her career always provides the stability she needs, or that her managers recognize her hard work. As a young ambitious Latina people act like she has time to work her way up the professional ladder. They underestimate the responsibilities she has at home and don’t acknowledge the leadership she is capable of. From memories of her own childhood to her reflections on raising her daughter, Yajaira’s story is filled with inspiration, determination, confidence, and positivity.
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23 Dec 2024
Abby: An Indigenous Chicano’s Homecoming
When Abby ended up at Alcatraz Island one cold winter night in his 20s, he had found himself at the epicenter of the Indian Pride Movement. It blew his mind and made him feel that he had come home to a part of himself that had been missing.
Abby is an Indigenous Chicano leader who is part of the Yaqui tribe. It’s been 50 years since that night at Alcatraz, but it stands out as a turning point in his life. Together, we look back at his family history and the history of his people to reflect on Indigenous teachings, his family’s involvement in the monumental Brown v. Board of Education case, and his own participation in historic strikes like the Grape Boycott. Personally, our interview made me investigate my own identity as a Chicana and how I live out my values. But I believe anyone will walk away from this conversation drawing strength from those who came before us.
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16 Dec 2024
Danny, Terry & Charles: Fighting for Unions in Coal Country
Danny, Terry, and Charles, three coal miners and union advocates, share their personal stories and fight for working-class solidarity in the face of marginalization and exploitation.
9 Dec 2024
Daniel: Being a Double Minority in a Red State
Daniel Hernandez shares his unfiltered experiences as a young trans Latino in Arizona, navigating activism, family, and friendships in a challenging red state environment.
2 Dec 2024
Mr. J: Becoming a Black Male Teacher in Baltimore
Black male teacher and Baltimore native Mr. J shares his day-to-day realities of working in a predominantly Black community, where he must balance being a role model with the highs and hardships of his underpaid, overworked profession.
25 Nov 2024
Kiana: Redefining Life with Chronic Illness
Kiana shares her journey of redefining life with chronic illness, revealing how her resilience and artistry have helped her thrive despite the invisible battle of pain and uncertainty.
18 Nov 2024
Francisco: My Brother’s Path to Community Organizing
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 (https://www.populardemocracy.org/) (and their affiliates (https://www.populardemocracy.org/our-affiliates)), the AFL CIO (https://aflcio.org/), Democratic Socialists of America (https://www.dsausa.org/), Make the Road NY (https://maketheroadny.org/know-your-rights/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw99e4BhDiARIsAISE7P9lz8VQuXEIYgPIHS4UbKFD4fkFOQp85uqfRCwTWFQrUJbsnDge0NoaAjzCEALw_wcB), and the Working Families Party (https://workingfamilies.org/).
Note: This interview happened prior to the election.
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11 Nov 2024
Introducing: When You’re Invisible Season 2
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.
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1 May 2024
Happy May Day!
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.
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16 Jan 2023
Claudia and Francisco: My Parents’ Immigrant Story
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 Bruno
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9 Jan 2023
Jen: Bridging the Divide
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 (https://www.griefshare.org/findagroup) and others resources listed in this Love to Know article (https://dying.lovetoknow.com/coping-grief/free-grief-counselling) 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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
2 Jan 2023
Lani: Authenticity as an In-Betweener
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 (https://victimconnect.org/resources/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 (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
26 Dec 2022
Kate: Owning Our Imperfections
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 (https://www.say.org/), 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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
19 Dec 2022
Franklin, Lucely, Gilberto, & Ines: Unsung American Heroes
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 (https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-ocasio-cortez-espaillat-meng-introduce-911-immigrant-worker-freedom-act) or https://www.rosabramble.com/ (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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
12 Dec 2022
Anicia: A Seat at the Table
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 (https://www.domesticworkers.org/programs-and-campaigns/developing-policy-solutions/bill-of-rights/), NYC’s Statement of Employee Rights for Household Employees (https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/businesses/Domestic-Household-Employee-Rights.pdf), and these support groups (https://www.eater.com/23204078/restaurant-industry-mental-health-resources-legal-financial-help) 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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
5 Dec 2022
Louie: Two Sides of an Institution
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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
28 Nov 2022
Ralph: Tales from an Ivy League Mailroom
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 Bruno
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Nov 2022
Introducing: When You're Invisible
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
419,108,275
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
148 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
18 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
92
Contact When You're Invisible
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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