Using Your Strengths to Build a Strong Community with Heidy De La Cruz
Heidy De La Cruz is a content creator, podcast coach, entrepreneur, podcast host, working mom, and a storyteller on a mission to humanize immigration. She's doing all of this while working a 9-to-5, raising two kids, and somehow making it all look manageable.
Her podcast, American Dream Through the Eyes of Immigrants, strips away the politics and policy debates to reveal something much more powerful: the actual human stories behind immigration. Stories of hope, struggle, cultural shock, and triumph. Stories that remind us we're far more alike than we are different.
And if that wasn't enough, Heidy also coaches aspiring podcasters, helping them navigate the overwhelming process of launching their own shows. Because she knows firsthand how intimidating it can be, and she's determined to be the guide she wished she'd had.
This is the story of how one woman is using her voice to amplify others, all while navigating the beautiful chaos of modern working motherhood.
The Birth of "American Dream Through the Eyes of Immigrants"
Heidy grew up as the daughter of immigrants, surrounded by other immigrant families. Their stories were woven into the fabric of her everyday life – stories of sacrifice, resilience, adaptation, and hope. But when she heard about immigration outside of her community, the narrative was completely different.
"When I would hear about immigration outside of that community, it was always in a negative light or it was about politics or policies," Heidy explains. "I don't ever hear the stories. Where are the stories of immigrants?"
For years, she felt called to start a podcast. The idea first came to her in 2019, but she wasn't sure what stories she wanted to tell. She knew she loved hearing people's experiences, learning from them, and connecting with them, but the specific focus eluded her.
Then, in 2022, while on maternity leave with her second child, everything clicked.
"I was towards the end of my maternity leave and I was like, you know, I have extra time now. Let me start this podcast," she says. She started researching how to launch a show, but still wasn't clear on her angle.
Then she came across an article on Medium written by an immigrant from Kenya, sharing the cultural shocks she experienced after moving to the United States. That article changed everything.
"I was like, see, when I hear about immigration outside of the immigration community, it's always negative, politics, and stuff like that. I don't ever hear the stories. Where are the stories of immigrants?"
She turned to her husband, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was nine years old, and asked him to tell her his story. As he shared vivid details of his journey – the fear, the excitement, the adjustment – Heidy had her answer.
"I was like, okay, I finally figured out the stories that I want to share. I want to share immigrant stories. I don't want to talk about politics. I just want to talk to immigrants about their journey coming to the U.S. How was that process? Did you experience any cultural shocks? Who helped you?"
And the final question she asks every guest: What does the American dream mean to them?
Because, as Heidy points out, "This country has been marketed as the land of opportunities and the land of the American dream." But what does that actually mean to the people who risked everything to get here?
We Are More Alike Than We Are Different
One of the most profound lessons Heidy has learned through hosting her podcast is how universal the immigrant experience truly is – regardless of where someone comes from.
"The immigrant experience is the same regardless of where they come from," she says. "They have that initial excitement. 'I'm going to a new country, I have goals for school, for work, whatever.' But then a few months or even a few years in, they get that homesickness, those cultural shocks."
It doesn't matter if someone immigrated from Mexico, Kenya, the Philippines, or Poland. The emotional journey – the hope, the fear, the disorientation, the homesickness – is remarkably similar.
And it's not just first-generation immigrants who share common ground. Second-generation Americans, like Heidy herself, have their own shared experience.
"We are all translating for our parents no matter what language. We are involved in adult decisions and adult conversations because we are helping our parents navigate this system with them," she explains. "That experience is the same as well, no matter what country."
By taking politics out of the conversation and focusing solely on human stories, Heidy's podcast does something radical: it reminds us that we're more alike than we are different.
Listeners – whether they're immigrants themselves, children of immigrants, or people with no personal immigration experience – come away with deeper understanding and empathy. They hear stories of resilience and sacrifice. They learn about cultural traditions, family dynamics, and the very real challenges of building a life in a new country.
And perhaps most importantly, they see immigrants not as abstract political talking points, but as whole, complex, beautiful human beings.
"We are more alike than what we are different is what I've learned so much from this podcast," Heidy says. And her listeners are learning it too.
From Listener to Coach: Helping Others Find Their Voice
Heidy didn't just stop at hosting her own podcast. Once she dove into the podcasting world, she started noticing a pattern in Facebook groups and online communities: people desperately wanted to start podcasts, but they were overwhelmed and didn't know where to begin.
"I would see it a lot over and over again: 'I want to start a podcast and I don't know where to start.' Or they're in the first process of putting their podcast together and they're like, 'I'm overwhelmed. I need help,'" Heidy recalls.
She got it. She'd been there herself. But she also recognized that not everyone operates the way she does.
"I am the type of person that I can figure things out on my own. But not everybody's like that. Some people need the accountability or someone to walk through them step by step."
So she decided to become that person—the guide she wished she'd had when she was starting out.
Heidy launched her podcast coaching business to help aspiring podcasters navigate the technical and creative challenges of launching a show. She created The Voice Method, a step-by-step framework that breaks down the overwhelming process into manageable, actionable steps.
"If you really, really want to start this podcast, let me help you. I will be there for you every step of the way to get started."
Why? Because podcasting, despite its challenges, is an incredibly powerful medium.
"This medium that we have right now is amazing. It's a global stage and you are in full control," Heidy says. "It's one of the few things – a website and a podcast – that you have full control over online."
In a digital landscape dominated by ever-changing algorithms and platform policies you didn't agree to, owning your podcast feed is a form of creative freedom. And Heidy wants more people, especially women, to claim that freedom.
Her coaching isn't just about the technical how-to. It's about empowerment. It's about believing that your voice matters and your story deserves to be heard.
The Truth About Balancing a 9-to-5 and Entrepreneurship
Here's where Heidy's story gets really interesting: she does all of this – hosts a podcast, coaches other podcasters, creates content, speaks at events – while still working a full-time 9-to-5 job.
And before the internet's anti-9-to-5 crowd gets too loud, let's be clear: her situation works for her. And that's exactly the point.
"I do like to clarify to people that my 9-to-5 is not a typical 9-to-5," Heidy explains. "The schedule is very flexible. If I need time off or if I need to take a day off or cut a day short and make up the hours another day, they're super flexible with that."
She's salaried, works from home, and, this is key, her leadership knows about and supports her outside ventures.
"My leadership knows what I do outside of work and they're always asking me, 'How's your podcast going?' If I have to take time off for a speaking engagement, I'll tell them, 'Hey, I got hired to speak, I need to go,' and they're cheering me on."
But there's another reason Heidy hasn't left her 9-to-5: she's an Enneagram 6, and she needs a safety net.
"We need safety nets. That's probably why one of the main reasons I haven't jumped into entrepreneurship 100% is because I still need my constant paycheck every two weeks."
She's also candid about the practical realities. Both she and her husband have 9-to-5 jobs, which means they both have health insurance—a necessity that's prohibitively expensive for many entrepreneurs.
"We've calculated: can we put the whole family under one health insurance? We cannot because it's so expensive."
And then there's the faith component. "I do a lot of things with my faith, and I haven't felt that God has called me to entrepreneurship 100%."
Heidy's message is clear: do what works for you, in the season you're in.
"Stop listening to the internet streets. They're all lying to you anyways. They're not making all the money that they say they're making."
The narrative that entrepreneurship is always better than a 9-to-5, or that you should "retire your husband," or that real success means quitting your job? It's all nonsense. The real success is designing a life that works for your actual circumstances, values, and goals.
"You really just got to know what works best for you. Maybe you did do entrepreneurship and then you do need to go back for a little bit for a 9-to-5. That's perfectly fine because that's just for a season."
The Partner Behind the Success
Behind every successful woman is… well, in Heidy's case, it's a supportive husband who isn't intimidated by her success and is secure enough in himself to be her biggest cheerleader.
"The way that I am able to do it all is God provides me the strength, but then also my husband is really, really supportive," Heidy says. "When I have to travel for speaking engagements or travel for the podcast to do in-person interviews, he helps with the kids. The kids stay with him."
It helps that he's a homebody. "He doesn't like to leave the house. So he's like, 'You go do your thing. I'll be home. It's all good.'"
But their partnership goes deeper than just dividing childcare duties. They've created a system that works for both of them, based on their actual preferences.
"Our agreement is I always do the laundry, he always does the bathrooms because he hates doing laundry, I hate doing the bathroom. Okay, that works for us."
They hire out help for cleaning when needed. They communicate about schedules and who's picking up the kids. They block off family weekends. They function as a team.
"I honestly would not be able to do all of this without my husband," Heidy says. "When I get awards or recognitions, I always tell my husband, 'This is us,' because I don't do this by myself. I'm the face of it, but he's behind the scenes holding it down and helping me."
Her husband prefers to stay out of the spotlight – he's aiming for "Dolly Parton's husband" status, where everyone knows you're married but no one really knows who he is. (Heidy's been trying to convince him to start a podcast together for years. Still working on it.)
But his behind-the-scenes support is everything. And Heidy makes sure people know it.
Breaking the Mold: Masculinity That Supports Women
There's something else worth highlighting about Heidy's marriage: her husband isn't threatened by her success. At all.
A friend once told Heidy, "I'm glad that you have a partner who is not intimidated by your success."
"Oh my gosh, that is so true, especially for a man," Heidy responded. "But it's also because he's very sure of himself. He knows that me being successful doesn't diminish him at all."
This is huge. In a culture where toxic masculinity tells men that their worth is tied to being the primary earner or the "head of household" in some domineering way, Heidy's husband models something different.
"Men need to know that they can support their women and it doesn't make them any less manly."
Heidy believes other men need to hear her husband's perspective. "Some men are getting really, really bad messaging on how to be a husband or how to lead the family. And it's not leading by stomping me down."
Real leadership, real partnership, looks like mutual support. It looks like valuing each other's voices and opinions. It looks like celebrating each other's wins instead of competing.
"He values my voice. He values my opinion and he'll ask me, 'What do you think?' And some men are getting really, really bad messaging on how to be a husband. Men need to hear this."
Partnership isn't about one person diminishing themselves so the other can shine. It's about both people shining together, supporting each other, and building something beautiful as a team.
The 9-to-5 Debate: Stop the Blanket Statements
The entrepreneurship world loves to trash 9-to-5 jobs. Quit your job. Build your empire. Retire your husband. Be your own boss. Live free.
And look, for some people, that's the right path. But for many others—like Heidy—it's not. At least not right now. And that's perfectly okay.
"A 9-to-5 is stable income," Heidy points out. But then she catches herself. "Hold on, let me back up because even entrepreneurship, it just all depends, right?"
She tells the story of her husband's workplace a few years ago, where they laid off 2,000 people with virtually no notice.
"Yes, people can say that a 9-to-5 is stable, but literally anything can happen at any time. But the same thing with entrepreneurship."
Nothing is guaranteed. Not the paycheck from your employer. Not the income from your business. Life is unpredictable, and the "safety" we cling to is often an illusion.
So the question isn't "Which is more stable?" The question is "What works best for me and my family right now?"
Heidy's tired of the blanket statements and the judgment. The "retire your husband" trend? Great if it works for you. But her husband would be bored out of his mind.
"I honestly did have that conversation with my husband. I was like, 'Can I retire you?' And he's like, 'I can't. I need to work. I will be bored.'"
She even offered to make him her assistant. His response? "No, I don't want you as a boss."
Fair enough.
The point is, everyone's situation is different. What works for one family won't work for another. What works in one season might not work in the next.
"You just really have to do what works best for you in the season that you're in. Maybe you did do entrepreneurship and then you do need to go back for a little bit for a 9-to-5. That's perfectly fine because that's just for a season. And then you can just jump back in."
The internet will always have opinions. Influencers will always claim their way is the only way. But Heidy's advice is simple and refreshing:
"Stop listening to the internet streets. Do what works best for you."
Answering the Chaotic Questions
Heidy's journey from the daughter of immigrants to podcast host to entrepreneur to working mom has given her perspective worth sharing. So what advice does she have?
If you could go back to 2005 and talk to your 12-year-old self in middle school, what would you say?
I will tell her that you'll get through this. I know it feels like it's the end of the world right now, but these people won't matter 20 years from now. These people will not matter. Twenty years from now, you will literally be talking to one person still. Everybody else can kick rocks.
Also, you are beautiful. You are stronger than you think. And your curly hair is beautiful.
If a new mom comes to you for advice, what's the first thing you tell her?
You're doing great. And how can I help you? Let me do your laundry. Let me do your dishes. Go take a nap. I'll take that baby. That's the support new moms actually need. Not more advice. Not more pressure. Just someone to say, "You're doing great, and I've got you."What do you hope your kids remember about this time in their lives?
I hope that they remember that I made time for them. That I was intentional with my schedule to make sure that they had time, that I made time for what they like. My daughter is a Swiftie. I am not. But we watched the documentary, watched the concert film, and I would have taken her to the actual concert if I could have gotten tickets. It’s not something that I enjoy, but she does, so it’s important to me to make time for that. I hope that they remember that I made time for what they like and to spend time with them. Because at the end of the day, that's what matters. Not the accolades or the awards or the podcast downloads. It's the intentional time. The showing up. The being present for what matters to them.
Here's What Actually Matters
Heidy De La Cruz is proof that you don't have to choose. You don't have to be just a mom or just an entrepreneur or just a 9-to-5 employee. You can be all of it – messy, chaotic, beautiful, and whole.
You can host a podcast that humanizes immigration and changes hearts. You can coach other aspiring podcasters and help them find their voice. You can work a flexible 9-to-5 that provides stability and health insurance. You can raise kids and be intentional about showing up for what they love. You can have a supportive partner who celebrates your success instead of being threatened by it.
You can do it all, not by being superhuman, but by being strategic. By getting support where you need it. By doing what works for your family, your season, your values. By ignoring the internet's blanket statements about what success "should" look like.
Heidy's story isn't about perfection. It's about priorities. It's about using your voice to amplify others. It's about designing a life that works for you, not for the algorithm or the influencers or the people who think they know better.
And it's about remembering that behind every political debate, every policy argument, every abstract talking point, there are real people with real stories. Stories of hope and struggle and sacrifice and triumph.
Stories that remind us we're far more alike than we are different.
Want to connect with Heidy?
Ready to Hear More Stories Like This?
If Heidy's mission resonates with you, you need to listen to American Dream Through the Eyes of Immigrants. Every episode is a reminder of our shared humanity and the power of storytelling.
And if this conversation inspired you, you're going to love The Chaotic Middle podcast, where we feature real stories from real people navigating the beautiful mess of work, life, motherhood, and everything in between.
Subscribe now on:
Because the world needs more voices. More stories. More humanity. And maybe yours is next.
