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To learn more about Jos or Mel, visit the links below:
Basic & Boujie – The Youtube Channel
Melanie Zorrilla[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”7%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” class=”custom-p” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left-right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Default” title=”Episode Transcription”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]INTRO 0:06
Welcome to hidden human, the podcast where we explore the stories behind the business leader. Get ready to hear insights from business leaders, speaking candidly about how they became who they are today, and the lessons they learned along the way. And now, here’s your host, leadership coach and speaker, Kelly maibach.
Kelly Meerbott 0:31
Welcome to the space where we reveal our personal humanity to reconnect with our shared humanity. This podcast episode has been months in the making, I mean, just Yes. And Melzer Ella are to actually Joss and I have known each other since 2014. And as an aside to the audience, she just corrected me on how to name because I’ve been calling her the wrong name the whole time. So I will toss it over to them. But they are the fabulous, incredible hosts of the new podcast basic and Buchi, which I have spent the last few days with it. And it’s hilarious if you don’t subscribe you better. But I’m going to turn it over to them and have them introduce themselves and tell us a little bit about First of all, where did the name come from? You want to go just Yeah,
Yasseline Diaz 1:24
sure. So my name is Josue. Yes, I am. The name really came from kind of our personalities, right. My sister had been calling me like jokingly basic for years. So it kind of just stuck like anything she would see basic. She would just be like, that’s, that’s you your basic. And then Melanie, her Twitter handle is boozy. Like it’s, it’s our Twitter handle has boozy in the name. And then one day, we just got to talking after an Instagram post. And we’re like, why not? start a podcast and call it basic and boozy. And like, it just flew from there. It’s been so easy, so much fun. So yeah, that’s where that’s where it came from. And Melanie, you can add anything I might have missed in that explanation.
Melanie Zorrilla 2:14
I mean, I felt like our the name matches our personality. Like how many times people come here we have people that come you’re like, Okay, I see why you’re boozy. I’m just really extra for no reason at all. That’s where the boogeyman
Kelly Meerbott 2:27
Oh, yeah, we’re gonna get into that. Trust me that when I heard the name of your podcast, I was like, Oh my God, that’s me. That I hate pumpkin spice lattes. Like, I just don’t Hindu pumpkin stuff. I love pumpkin spice. Love, love. Love you. Yeah. So okay, besides pumpkin spice lattes, what makes you basic, like, let’s define it for people who may not know that term. Like I always like to have make sure everybody’s kind of included and understands the context. So basic, just define it for me.
Yasseline Diaz 3:01
I feel like it’s just, it’s, um, super easy going. And I just like your average stuff like pumpkin spice lattes, that’s my that’s my booziest feature for Starbucks. I love raid done and I’m not ashamed to admit my like super silly collection of things that say words on them. And it’s just a raid done piece. Like leggings and a bond and a scarf in the winter time. And it’s just like, if you look up like anatomy of a basic girl, you could just transpose her face and put mine on it. And it’s just if you know me, you know that I’m just so basic, but I’m easy going and I think that’s like my best feature. Yeah.
Kelly Meerbott 3:49
Correct me on her name pronunciation for
me. Can’t get over that. Okay. All right. No, no. Yes. Well, I met you tell me why you’re wushi and then I’ll tell you why. I’m pushy. Okay, so everyone around
Melanie Zorrilla 4:08
me called me boogy I didn’t realise I was boozy until other people were like, like, why do you have to be so extra? borrow? Why can’t we go to this hotel? Or what? Why do we have to go to this? Why do I have to be in the penthouse? Why can I just have standards without just having high standards? Like it? No, it turns into a boozy thing which I’m 100% okay with now I embrace it. You know, if you if I at this point, I know my friends know me well enough. I’m bougie don’t invite me to no BS. I want to go to an event. Not just like a regular regular something over there. Like, I like all of the extremists. But I also have, you know, the splash of basic in my life. Yeah, choose when to be boozy and when to be basic because Boucher can be expensive.
Kelly Meerbott 4:58
Yeah, whose you can be expensive. And you can toggle back. You know, the the thought that I’m having as I’m listening to both of you is why do we have to be one or the other? Yeah, like you can still be boozy and wear leggings and a button like I do that all the time because I’m, I’m a filthy human and I don’t wash my hair all the time. You know what I mean? So,
it is what it is, but it will say that, like, I’m boozy with a splash of basic and she’s basic with the splash of Buju.
Yeah, absolutely. And I’m the same way. Like, if you’re making me come out of the house, especially in the pandemic, like it better be a memorable moment like a there better read something memorable about it. But yeah, my best friends call me boozy all the time. Like there was we were staying down at Rehoboth Beach last summer, last September. Sorry, pandemic brain because you’d like to wipe out that last. Yeah. So one of them like made this. I forget. Oh, what was Oh, it was jalapeno poppers. And I was like, Oh, are you making a dipping sauce with it? And she goes, No, you boozy, boozy pitch. Right? Like, this is not enough is not enough. that amazing? Yeah, you needed to think sauce. Right? Of course. You need a dipping sauce. Oh, don’t you like I? I would think so. So okay. appropriate question. Yeah, exactly. So the podcast is a couple of months old. Right? I can’t even saying that. Yeah, it’s incredible. It’s really incredible. And like, I remember when Josh came to me, she was like, I’m thinking about doing podcasts. I was like, you have to be on mine. Like, let’s go. So I was really excited when when you started it. But how did y’all I know you brainstormed a bunch of topics. And like, one of my favourite things that Mel said was, I’m a professional half faster, which is why she’s, she’s and and now I can be that way too. Which is why I have a lot of people in my life who are like, I call them my rumble strips. They’re gonna give you back in their lane. Get back in your lane. So you guys all both of you came up with a wide range of topics, all of which I was like, pretending like you could hear me I was like, Yes, yes. And that too. So let’s talk Horrible Bosses. apps? Yes, yes. So okay, how, alright, all of us have worked in corporate, we’re not going to kind of name where we worked. Because, you know, we could people can figure that out. I’m doing a little Google search. But what I was thinking was, well, you both were telling these stories. And by the way, I’ve had bosses who have talked to me like their children, too. And I do agree with you. I think that you know, if somebody is not wearing the quote unquote, pants in their relationship at home, they’re projecting that at work like it’s just that’s typically what happens. But why do you think these Horrible Bosses like slip through the cracks? What do you think it is?
Melanie Zorrilla 8:00
I think they know what the bones are buried. What would like? What What else do you need them for? If it’s like, if now is it like, if you’re a horrible Boss, boss, because your attitude is bad with your employees, or your horrible boss, because your attitude is bad, and you’re lazy and you’re just completely useless to the company. At that point, I just felt like our you must know somebody, or know something that you know, something that has kept you safe at this job, because I can’t see any other reason why you would be here. So for this long,
Yasseline Diaz 8:32
yeah. Yeah, I agree. Because I think it’s, it’s, they have the connections and those connections are keeping them there. So somehow the company feels like they’re an asset, because of what they know, or who they know, not necessarily the role and what they’re doing for the actual responsibilities and duties of their title. It’s, it’s just what, who they know.
Kelly Meerbott 8:55
So I encourage everybody to go and listen to their episode on Horrible Bosses. But just for our purposes, give me an hour. I’ll share one two. In fact, I’ll start because I always like to like model when I’m when I’m looking for but I had this one Boston radio. And this is so embarrassing, but we have to take a client out. And he was the head of like a big car dealer, right? And we’re at the sports bar. And I’m talking to this guy, right? I’m talking to the head of the dealership and my boss who’s the head of sales is over at the bar, and I’m not really watching him. I’m engaged in this conversation. And then all of a sudden, I see the head of the car dealers eyes dart to the bar and stay there. And I’m like, what’s happening over there and I don’t want to look but I’m gonna look. And when I did, I was like, Damn, that’s something I can’t unsee he was literally sitting on a barstool with his legs apart, while a 20 year old waitress was doing a blowjob shot off of his lap. And I looked at Client I go, Well, we do like to mix business and pleasure. I mean, like, What do you say? Like, I want to be somebody who threw him under the bus. But I was still I was like raging underneath because this was a big deal. Big commission for me and anybody who knows, working in corporate commission is a big deal. You know what I mean? And I thought to myself, like, how could you have somebody who’s supposed to be a leader behaving like that. And literally, I was able to save it. Because I had a great relationship with this guy, I was able to kind of play it off, but I was just like,
what is happening? Right? Why does he still work here? Yeah, I’m sure that’s not the first time that’s happened. Oh,
oh, because how you do anything is how you do everything. So you we who knows what he was doing behind closed doors, but anyway, okay, so for you to give me a concrete example of a horrible bossing encounter? And how did you how’d you recover from it? I have to think so well, my mouth thinking.
Yasseline Diaz 11:05
I. So one of my, I think, right at the top of my head example, is something that my boss at the time, didn’t do, and got called out for it. Right didn’t follow up with someone who was, you know, had a connection to someone else, and didn’t follow up, like, didn’t do their due diligence on that. And one of the like, higher up. administrative assistants had reached out and said, What’s going on? Why hasn’t this been done, and called me and the colleague into the office and blamed us for the thing not getting done. While had us on speakerphone with the administrative assistant and weird both. And like, I think we were just frozen. Like, this isn’t like this has to be a simulation of what’s happening in our real life right now. Because this, this can’t be real. Yeah. So I mean, shortly after that, I started looking for something else. Because if you can throw me under the bus in front of me for something that I had, I didn’t even know this thing existed. What are you saying? When something really goes down? behind my back? You know, so surely after that, how I fix that was I just started looking for something else? Because I knew that that wasn’t going to be a long term situation for me.
Kelly Meerbott 12:25
No, because, yeah, you trust between you and your supervisors. And that obliterates trust like that, right? Your point, like, again, how you do anything is how you do everything. So like, you know, if you can’t trust them on this small thing, like, what are they doing? Again, behind closed doors, right? You’re up? Would you dig? What happened? What do you do? Dig a Memory Box. So
Melanie Zorrilla 12:49
I had a supervisor, who, on a personal level, we had a pretty good rapport, talked about outside stuff talked about work. And then the person the manager of the department, was somebody who was like, just he used to hop in and hop out, he was never really there, he would just say, like, okay, these are the things I need to be done, get them done fine. Not a problem didn’t micromanage. But this, he did micromanage a supervisor, but not everybody else. But the supervisor was afraid of the manager. So there was an instance where there was something that happened within the department, I reported it directly to the supervisor, the supervisor knew that the manager would be angry about it. So she didn’t tell him. And then fast forward a couple weeks, that story came out. And the manager looked directly at the supervisor and was like, why is this the first time I’m hearing of this? Why don’t you tell me? And he was like, She’s like, Oh, I didn’t know. And I’m like, I told you because I was trying to avoid this. But she just played it like, No, I just and that was like her go to and I kept seeing that replay over and over again, like, Okay, I get it. So you’re like the shining star when you do everything correctly. But as soon as it was like, like, she was about to get in trouble by her dad’s like, Oh, God, I gotta tell him this. And I okay. So either you are not mature enough to be in a position of leadership, because you can’t have you know, that conversation with the manager because you’re afraid of them. It’s not going to work. And now your employees don’t want to come to you. Because if it’s going to be a story that you’re afraid of telling, it’s not going to go anywhere.
Kelly Meerbott 14:30
Exactly. So okay, so I keep thinking about the young kids that are and we’re gonna call them kids because I’m 45 and I can’t wait to welcome you into your 40s there might they have been my favourite decade thus far, but we’ve got a group of college students that are going to be graduating soon right and are looking for a job in say corporate America, right. Do you think that there’s anything within the interview process? That you can do as a job seeker that can kind of filter out these bad bosses and these toxic kind of environments.
Melanie Zorrilla 15:10
I think having a more casual interview style, and making people feel comfortable, you’re going to start to see some of those true colours come out. Because of course on your interview, you’re on your best behaviour. You’re sitting up, you have you you’ve practised those questions, those answers, you’ve googled, what are the top five questions, they ask you an interview, you’re perfect. Make that person feel comfortable, have a little chitchat with them, their real personality is gonna shine through.
Kelly Meerbott 15:35
Right? Right. Yeah, you have any questions that you would ask them, though? Um, at the end,
Melanie Zorrilla 15:41
I would always ask them, What is your expectation of me? What can I do to grow? You know, at what point can I you know, if I do get this job? At what point? Can I talk to you about picking up other projects, if I’m ready, and I have time, so I did even from before even getting the job. I showed interest in growth and letting them know like, Hey, I’m gonna be here for the long haul, even if I wasn’t, but that’s the impression that I left. Yeah,
Kelly Meerbott 16:09
yeah. What about you, Josh?
Yasseline Diaz 16:12
I think I agree with Mel, I think you need to be easy with them, right? You have to like make them feel comfortable. And I think the the this next generation that’s coming into work, they’re already realising that you don’t have to have this nine to five sitting, you know, you know, going to work, sitting at a desk, and then coming home, you can do almost anything virtually. So I think the managers and the supervisors, and they need to be more mindful and understanding that there is some space to have this like openness and not like you need to be here, you need to clock in, you need to, you know, get your 15 minutes for a break a half hour lunch, and then you’re gone. They need to be more flexible. And I think that conversation needs to happen a lot more often than I think what I started asking was about professional development. Because if your boss doesn’t want to see you develop professionally, that’s not the right boss for you, they should be working themselves out of a job by giving you their responsibilities, and then making their job bigger, right higher level, and then you get some of that other those other tests so that you can develop your skills, and they should have those like quarterly, you know, bi weekly meetings, whatever to check in with you to see not just how you’re doing professionally, but mentally, right. We’re all experiencing something that we’ve never experienced before. So I think it’s time to stop, stop thinking so corporately and start talking to the individual.
Kelly Meerbott 17:47
I agree. And and you know, Mel, you have a healthcare background, right, you nursing. So this is something that I’m really interested since we’re may is Mental Health Month. And this is very appropriate that we’re talking about this. And Josue and I have had many conversations about caring for our mental health, how it’s part of our self care practice. And what I keep seeing is the numbers especially from the National Mental Health Institute of depression and anxiety, just keep going up and up and up and up. And my concern as an executive coach to corporate to the United States military is that we’re going to have a second wave of pandemic and it’s going to be mental health and break. Okay, so now I’m going to throw this to you first because of your healthcare background. And even though she’s got an amazing mobile notary needs it and yes, you need a notary we just refinance, right? I known Mel did it, I would have called her but we got this other guy. notaries are really important call her okay. But from your perspective, from a healthcare perspective, and like, let’s take the healthcare community into consideration because they’ve been hit the hardest, right? What are you seeing? What are you to seeing in your your work landscape that is kind of indicating that people are a little bit? I mean, for me, I’m seeing fatigue, I’m seeing depression, I’m seeing anxiety. But are you seeing anything else manifest in the workplace?
Melanie Zorrilla 19:19
That people’s tempers are definitely like, what didn’t bother you two years ago, it will send you over the edge now. You know, and as an emergency room nurse, there’s always chaos. And we’re used to that, but after 2020, and everything that everybody saw, and it’s like, what you see on the news is like 2% of what people were what nurses were really living. And I think a lot of the frustration comes from people like nobody’s talking about it. They’re like there’s almost like a hush order on nurses and doctors to talk about what’s really going on in the hospitals. They don’t want to they people don’t want to talk about because they don’t wanna lose their job. They’re afraid to lose their job. You get threatened with losing your job. Like, if Fox 29 is outside, you can’t talk to them, you have to go pay to your car. Right? Right. So on top of the, you know, the audit the depression, the pandemic, the anxiety. Now you’re telling us, we can’t talk about it? each other? Yeah. I can’t help you, because you’re just distressed. And we’re both are both our stress levels, and our anxiety levels are the same. So it’s just like, how can we help each other? Yeah.
Kelly Meerbott 20:28
Well, and, Josh, I’ll toss it to you after this statement. But I’m, I’m friendly with with Stephen Glasgow, who I think you buy both of you know, and I said to him, you know, at the beginning of the pandemic, last year, I emailed them, and I was like, how you doing? This is not a pitch, I’m just checking in on you. And his response was, I’m not going to need you now. He said, but I’m going to need you after for the PTSD that my people are experiencing on the front lines. And he said, People like you are more important now more than ever. So I went out and got a trauma informed certificate to make sure that I was prepared because I’ve had PTSD myself. But, you know, I didn’t have a framework in the vocabulary to walk people through it. But I was like, Okay, if he’s seeing it on that level, like, obviously, like you said, No, like, we’re not seeing this stuff. I mean, then working with the military, so I work with, with them on emotional intelligence and emotional well being. And it’s the same thing. It’s like, you know, rub some dirt on a kid, I don’t care if you’re hurt, which is what our mothers used to say that you’re hurt, my grandmother would go, it’s growing pains. You’re fine. Go. But but from your perspective, Josh, from the the corporate perspective, like besides short tempered ness, and irritability and all of that, what do you what are you seeing?
Yasseline Diaz 21:53
I’m seeing co workers that have children particularly struggle, because is their daycare open? Do they feel safe enough to send their kid to daycare, when they’re home, depending on the age of the child, they have to work and take care of that child, so they don’t get a break. So when someone’s placing a meeting on your calendar, and then sees an opening and pleases another meeting, and then another one that starts to like build up, because you want to give your all to your job. But if you’re taking care of a toddler, you can’t do that, right? You have to people have to be like I said earlier, you have to be more flexible, because the parents, I think mostly are struggling if they’re if their children are young, and aren’t in daycare, or whatever their situation is with, you know, additional caretakers, they’re struggling to be able to give their all to a job, while they’re also giving their all to their family. At the same time. It’s no longer this dropping off picking up and in the meantime, I’m doing my job. You’re doing all of this simultaneously. And it’s it’s a it’s a struggle, because I think a lot of them, are you experiencing a different version of like a groundhog day? Yeah. So that’s a perfect way of putting it. Yeah,
Kelly Meerbott 23:08
absolutely. Well, and so that I’m going to jump into coach mode here, ladies, so forgive me. But there’s two things that I try to tell people and I think of my friend, Abby, who’s an executive for a I think it’s sh s, I’m not really sure I can’t remember. But she was telling me like how she’s an extrovert. And she’s burnt out because she’s feeding our her daughter’s on our dining room table working from her dining room table, you know, and it’s, and I said, Okay, well, why don’t you create a commute, where like, maybe you know, at the end of the day, you box everything up, and you and the girls like make this kind of ceremony of closing the box. And like that’s the end of it. The other thing that I keep trying to reiterate, which is this is easier said than done. Everything I teach my clients is very simple. But when you put it into practice, it’s like much more difficult. But I think in our society, the misnomer is that or the MIS identification is that we need to refill our cup because it’s empty. Well, my philosophy is we should never get empty. Yet like if Mel and I energetically bump into each other, she gets my overspill so that I’m still full, and I can keep going. And it’s counterintuitive to think like you taking time for yourself is actually going to give you more time and you’re going to be able to go longer. So if there are even ways when working parents and I know this is again, easier said than done, and this is not about shame, or anything like that. But if you can grab even five minutes for yourself here and there. It’ll make it all builds up cuminum cumulate, cumulatively over time sorry, tripping over my tongue, obviously. But since we’re talking about parents, we and it’s Mother’s Day weekend, we might as well talk about our mothers so yeah. I just want to start I know about justice mom and Mark Anthony and like, I remember pictures, I end the video, I saw the concert and I was like, I grew up in South Florida. So like this, that community, your whole community. I’m like, I love you. I know how to make flatnose. I know. staple in my diet, like I am just a huge fan of the Puerto Rican culture and the Latinx culture period. I just think it’s, it’s probably because Italian culture is kind of adjacent to all add Florida and so they’re like, go ahead, girl. You Hispanic. Yeah. Well, we’re loud eaters that are in everybody’s business, too. So tell, just tell me about your mom. Like, what was it? Like? What is she like? What do you what do you get from her that you leverage in either the way you show up? Like, what’s your relationship? Tell me about her. Oh, she’s
Yasseline Diaz 25:56
known as the serious one. Like, she’s the like, if it needs to get done, Maria is getting it done. And I get that from her. Like, if something needs to get done. I’m getting it done organisation skills like obsessive compulsive in a way like if I see something and I need to have it, because it’s going to add to my life. I get it from her. I see her doing you know, she’s my radon Hunter. Partner every weekend. So I get that from her. But on the flip side, as I growing up, I didn’t see the fun side of her like, my dad was the fun one. Everyone knew him or knows him as the fun one. And now growing up and having that friendship with her. I can see where she’s funny. She’s, she’s just a fun person that like who you are not the same person that I knew growing up, like I was afraid of you and I’m kind of still afraid of you now. But she’s so much fun. And I just love talking to her. She’s like another best friend that like I did. I didn’t know she this version of her existed because she was like, you know, she was in charge. My whole life our whole lives.
Kelly Meerbott 27:05
Yeah, it’s it’s kind of funny that you said that you’re afraid of Maria, because I’m afraid of it. Well, yeah. No, I’m free to Hilde. Oh, yeah. And I thought about hurricane Hilda just will sit there and raise her eyebrow like and I get that too. Like because I do. It’s my clients and I’ll be like, Okay, I gotta go the ladies room because you’re making me nervous. I’m about to wet my pants. Like, she’s Five, four. You know what I mean? I’m like, can look can level you with one look like, you know, I’m a 45 year old woman. Like, I shouldn’t be afraid of my mother. But I am. Like a 12 year old girl. Yep. Carrie. Okay, so tell me about the hurricane that is your mother. Oh, good.
Melanie Zorrilla 27:49
Oh, Hurricane Hilda, who I absolutely adore. Growing up, like, almost a military style, like very militant. And I talked about that on our podcast. And we were one of those households where you walked in, and there was toys. And like you knew that there were children in the house by the photos on the wall because everything else was immaculate. So this day. is right. Like all that playpen in the middle of the living room? Absolutely not. Not at this house. Um, I don’t even know where that name came from. But there have been situations where she’s like spiralling and ready to curse everybody out. And I’ll have to warn somebody like all right, held us on that like category five right now. Maybe you should deliver that news next week when she calls
Unknown Speaker 28:42
me because my
Kelly Meerbott 28:43
cousin’s used to call Irene the warden. Because it was like, like, she’ll tell she’ll brag to people. She’s like, yeah, I taught Kelly how to make her bed at four and a half once. I was like, Yeah, because I was scared shitless of you and Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I did it and I’ll do it again. So besides getting caught by the truant officer, school, like, give me a time like I can tell you I’ll tell you story about her Irene like, we Okay, here comes the buoy ready. So in a gated community in Florida, which is a shock because there are no gated communities in Florida and of course, I’m being sarcastic. But there was like this stand of Florida pines rate and on the bait like they’re probably group about like 20 trees, right. And, and there were pine needles, and I thought, I’m 10 I was like, Okay, let’s make a campfire. With the neighbourhood kids, oh, I had a lighter somehow I don’t know how to set the needles on fire and they started kind of going out of control. So I stamped it out with my foot and Remember to stop, drop and roll because you know, that’s on the TV. And I was like, hey, this isn’t a good idea. All right, let me get back to the house. I go walking back to the house and there’s my mom in the street. And I see her go. And oh my gosh, she can smell me. I go walking in and like, Where’s the fire? I go, What are you talking about? I’m shakin about Kelly. I can smell you. You smell like a campfire? Where you burn? I was like, No, mom. She goes, remember, lying is gonna get your worst punishment. I was like, okay, like, Oh my god, you could have burned down all those houses. And imagine if those children and like, on and on and on, I was grounded for a month, it was everything you didn’t think about because you think about it, and I was playing campfire. So that was one of the worst things. There’s other things that I did in my life that I will share with you off air, but not now. That were not not my favourite moments in my life. But Irene was very, let’s say both eyebrows were up and I was in big trouble. So, okay. Just you have to tell your leg organised and OCD. And you’re one of those amazing people that I know that probably didn’t do anything bad in her life, right?
Yasseline Diaz 31:23
I don’t. I don’t think I did. I’m sure I am sure I have I I do remember Maria. Making me quit cheerleading because I had a boyfriend. Like, I don’t know how one was related to the other. I guess that was just my punishment like infrared because
Unknown Speaker 31:42
cheerleading. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 31:45
So I joined cheerleading, she found out I had a boyfriend and a month later, I was no longer cheerleader. So I think I like cheered at two games. Maybe? That was it. That that was it. Is your only story I could think of
Kelly Meerbott 31:59
Did you ever talk back to her argue or no? Never. Never. Wow. Yeah, I was here. But I used to like to push those buttons. No. burden? Yeah. So
Yasseline Diaz 32:12
I’m the first daughter. My sister is a second child. She’ll talk back. She talks back now. And I and I sit there and I’m like, oh, why are you doing that? And I’m older than like, I can talk back. I have opinions. I can say stuff. Right? But I won’t. I won’t. But Ashley will actually definitely will.
Kelly Meerbott 32:33
And what about email? What? What have you done that’s that has set hurrican held to a five.
Melanie Zorrilla 32:41
I think I kept her at a five during my adolescence. I’m pretty sure I kept. I think my very first memory of getting in trouble. I might have been about six or seven. And I decided I wanted to like drive the house away. So what do I need, I need keys and I need an outlet. So I stuck the key in that outlet. And once the sparks flew, and the blackness against the wall, I decided that wasn’t a good idea to put the keys back. And I went back to my room. And she’s like, what? Like, of course I’m like, my whole my favourite thing was I don’t I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t
Kelly Meerbott 33:26
deny, deny,
Melanie Zorrilla 33:28
deny, deny. That might have been there. I think that was like my first memory of getting in trouble. But I was always in trouble. And I think that I’m pretty sure I did it on purpose because I got compared to my sister and how perfect she was and how she never got in trouble. So I was like, Alright, so I’m going to be the exact opposite. Every art when it comes down to like school and how we how we like just said how we speak to our mother or the relationship with our mother is just as different because we’re so different.
Kelly Meerbott 34:00
Now is this Jamie is yes. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So it’s interesting because in school, my I have one younger sisters four and a half years younger. I was like, golden child, and then now I’m just complete opposite. I’m like, Okay, I’m just gonna do what I want to do. And that’s it and like, Oh, wow. So he is now so she’s like, Oh, fuck it. Yeah. Yeah, she’s just kind of flipped my sister’s flip to that, like, kind of perfectionist sort of. I love my sister. But you know, that perfect case is just a little bit meeting. Um, but talk to me about what Maria and Hilda taught you about being women, like and women in business like what, what what lessons did you learn from them over the years? I think so just
Melanie Zorrilla 34:55
like being a woman more so for me from my mom. And from my grandmother was always like, you know, when you leave the house, your representation of your household, don’t go outside and have pyjama pants and flip flops in the middle of the day like put Get yourself together like, I guess we live in North Philly, but we don’t have to look like we live in North Philly, and probably the reason why I’m boozy.
Kelly Meerbott 35:22
It’s all clicking.
Melanie Zorrilla 35:25
But she definitely instilled that and my sister and I until this day, we’re both we’re both the same. And I definitely will judge people when I see them in the middle of the day, and their pyjama pants like, Huh, that’s because she wasn’t raised by women in business. I don’t recall any conversations. And I think it was just like my mom is she’s not the entrepreneur. She is the traditional nine to five so far from her more so I got like, work ethic. And you know, just to do the work, be a hard worker and your work ethic and my dad, it was more. My dad is more the free spirit, the entrepreneur and he has a bar over here to pick you open the store over there. He’s all over the place. So I think that is like, Yes, I want I have my mom’s work ethic. I like I’m a workhorse. But at the same time, I have the free spirit of my dad where I’m like, I want to do everything. And I want to be the boss of my own life.
Kelly Meerbott 36:21
Yeah. Yeah. I love that. How about you just,
Unknown Speaker 36:24
I think I got my work ethic from both parents. There were they always showed me what hard work look like. And we never, we never struggled at least, I never felt like we struggled. They were factory workers their entire lives. And they both just retired. And they they wouldn’t miss a day of work because they felt like it right like now we could take a mental health day and that there’s nothing wrong with that. They wouldn’t they they were hard workers through and through. They never missed a day unless they were like, almost on their deathbed sick with the flu or something like that. And always prided themselves and taking care of us making sure that we were good to Melanie’s point. We were always like dressed to the nines, whenever there was a family event or we were going somewhere. They took us on vacations. Like they taught us what hard work look like. And I definitely got my work ethic from both of them. And, and my passion for like, making sure that we’re all okay, they always made sure that we were okay. So that’s what I do now. Like, I just make sure we’re all okay.
Kelly Meerbott 37:29
Yeah, I love that. I love that. It’s just so interesting how your parents can imprint on you and you know, even model some certain behaviours that you don’t expect, like, you know, I never planned on being an entrepreneur ever. Like this was not the plan. This was not the plan. But um, you know, looking back my dad, so he was a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, which, that seems like it’s really glamorous, but it’s really you’re really a 1099 unit long. What’s really what fascinated me about your podcast was when you were talking about the nine to five job versus entrepreneurship. And as I was listening, I was like, Oh, God, I could never go back to nine to five. I just couldn’t, I couldn’t and I work more now as a business owner, which I’m fine with. I’m really fine with and I I actually prefer, you know, right. Yeah. And, and I can as I was listening to you talk about the Mental Health Day I heard so my grandmother, my mom’s mom, her name was Mary or Maria. And, like, I she was the one who’d be like, Oh, yeah, I Billy Graham, I can’t go to school. Oh, really? It’s growing pains. You’re fine. Go. You know, I can hear myself trying to explain them. I’ll say to her, she’s like, No, you know, she’s my generation rate graduated high school, she and my great grandmother were peace workers in, in factories in Brooklyn. And I think, and I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on this, because I think we’re the same mine. But I am never gonna assume that is is that there’s something about the struggle, like do I like it? No, but I think there is a valuable learning in struggling and working hard and earning something rather than having it handed to you. Like, nobody put anything into this business but me like there’s no family money, like this was built from nothing. I had $75 in my bank account, when I started and 31 to my business licence. So you know, I mean, it was Yeah, it’s absolutely and 12 years later, here we are. I had no I liked it. Again, this was not the plan. So I’m just wondering like, especially with you with your new business and, and yeah, jobs with Beachbody and like the podcast and we want to get them to $57,000 a month in revenue by the way, so whoever wants to donate to them to donate But what what do you what do you see in terms of the value of the struggle and what needs what needs to go into creating all of this? Because I think there’s people are like, Oh, it’s easy. It’s not. No, it’s not. It’s not. Yeah. But it’s worth it. Absolutely. Yes. Yeah.
Melanie Zorrilla 40:21
If you backing off of what you said, it is rewarding when you do something for yourself. So when I went to take my notary exam, and I passed on the first time, I’m gonna toot my own horn. But when I was when I would take my notary exam, and I passed, I was like, I felt even better about that than I did when I pass my state exam for nursing. Because for nursing, I knew like, Okay, I have to do this, I’m gonna work at x, you know, this hospital and blah, blah, blah. But the notary felt better because nobody I didn’t, nobody told me to do that. I did that for myself, I had to go out there and find the research, I had to go out there and get the books, take the time to study, schedule the test, do all that, like you don’t realise how much you rely on your employer to give you a deadline or a timeline. And you’re always working on all these timelines, you have all these dates. But when you work for yourself, you don’t have a timeline. So if you don’t start getting your stuff together, it could be a month later, you still have to open that book. Yep. Like something I got from like, I’m developing characteristics from Jost. Like, she’s the master of planning. And she has this beautiful content calendar, and I’m like, next month cuz you start way early. So I’m gonna start planning for June now so that I can have everything all laid out. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it’s, it’s more rewarding when you do it for yourself. And these, for me, it is.
Kelly Meerbott 41:56
You know, and it’s, I agree with you, 100%. I just think that there is this. And I, this is not a judgement, it’s just an observation. But there is this belief that self employment or is just like, like I said, it’s easy. It’s handed to you, whatever. And I’m like, thinking, well, tomorrow, I’m gonna be working on my script for my master class that I’m doing for my alma mater on Monday like, they’re working. Yeah, we don’t stop working. So, Josh, and then when you’re talking about the content calendar, I was like, thank God, I have Bri Bri as my social media manager. And she’s like, this month we’re doing this and I’m like, that’s what I need. Because I don’t think that way. I’m like, Oh, it’s May the fourth. Okay, let’s
Melanie Zorrilla 42:41
get right. That sounds like you send me your calendar so that I know what I have to do.
Unknown Speaker 42:48
Okay, is it what’s going home?
Kelly Meerbott 42:52
For you, Josh? What? Let’s talk about the struggle and like what it takes to do a podcast and do Beachbody like I mean, I remember when I was in prepaid legal, all the training and the work and everything that went into it.
Yasseline Diaz 43:09
Yeah, I think, to both of your points, people have this misconception that like, I’m going to work for myself, and I’m going to be a girl boss, and I’m going to like, have a flexible schedule, and I’m gonna have this financial freedom, it doesn’t happen that way. Right? Like we’re still working towards hopefully, that’s the goal. And if you go into it for that financial like bottom line, you’re coming into it for the wrong reason, first of all, and second of all, working for yourself is so much harder than working for a boss. It’s going to work because you really believe in what you’re doing. So the podcast like it is, every time we are every time Mel edits an episode, and she sends it to me, and we’re hearing it like for the first time. I’m like, we’re so funny. I love us. This is great. This is gonna be a great episode. And it’s like hearing it all over again. So we get that excitement, that joy, that passion that we have for it. It happens all over again every single week. So I I don’t want to speak for Mel, but I know that I’m doing it for the right reasons. Like this is what I want to do. Yeah, is this feel good moment every single week. And then with the Beachbody that just happened after you know, being in the middle of the pandemic like everyone else, and trying to figure out like I stumbled across it. I was trying to figure out what my my morning routine was going to be because I heard like every successful person has a morning routine. So I was trying to figure out what that was going to be and I was on YouTube and found you know, who ended up being my coach. Her morning routine, and her workout was done early in the morning and her workout clothes had avocados on them and I’m like, this is me on YouTube. Like that’s me. So it just happened out of this like want to like, be better, do better. get healthier, and it finally stuck. Right after years of like, going to the gym and being on diets and doing, you know, everything else that everyone does, I found something that works for me. And it wasn’t this thing that I came into because I wanted to make money off of other girls and be a girl boss. Like I wanted to share what I was doing and what worked for me. And I know that like my, my customers, or my my team are people who look and think and act like me, because they’ve struggled for so long. And now this can work for them too. Right? I always say like, I’m not a unicorn, I’m your average. I’m basic. I this worked for me, I think it could work for you. And that’s why I enjoy sharing Beachbody so much and wanting to be this coach, this fitness mentor for other people, because it works for me. And just like with the podcast, like the stories that we share, we hear from people all the time, like I went through the same thing, or that happened to me or it’s just we’re relating to people with our passion and our joy. So that that makes it all worth it. So if I have to create a content calendar to make sure like we’re on top of stuff, like it’s meant for me to do, we
Kelly Meerbott 46:14
well, so Okay, so what is your morning routine, and I’ll share my I’ll share mine, because, you know, I’m the same way like that’s why I became a coach was because in corporate and 11 years in corporate, I have one good boss one out of 11 years. And literally, I believe bosses can show you one of two things, who to be and who not to be. So that’s literally besides the certifications and always being in class and stuff like that I I just looked at what they did effectively and told people to do the opposite. And that’s literally what it was. But so for my morning routine, it’s I’m usually up at five, and then I I do this thing called RPM, which is rise P and then meditate. So I just drop right into meditation. And it works for me because I’m not awake. And I don’t have to fight all this like voices in my head. And yes, there are voices in my head. And then it’s usually a workout and shower and eat and then right into coaching sessions. So for you, I see you working out all the time, which I’m always cheering you on. Because you know, we’ve kind of been on parallel fitness journeys. So talk to me about your morning routine. And then Mel, I want to hear about yours. Okay.
Yasseline Diaz 47:28
So I get up somewhere between 430 and five, depending on like my sleep schedule. And then I get into meditation, I get into one or two workouts, depending on like the intensity level of it. And then I get into like a daily goal of journaling. So I have this like 31 day thing that I follow. And then when it’s over, I go right back into it. And I set my goals for the day, I highlight like my top three goals for that day. And then I get into you know, my shower, make breakfast and then get into the nine to five jobs so that, you know when that’s over, then I get right back into whether it’s the podcast or the coaching. But I make sure to like make time for all of that. So I literally like map out like 430 I’m doing this five o’clock, I’m doing that 545 I’m doing this, and I try to keep on schedule with that. And I make that plan the night before. So like it’s just right there. I wake up and I go right back into it.
Kelly Meerbott 48:29
Wow, she really is organised like, like go to the bathroom drop into meditation. Good. I really got shit together here. Yeah.
Melanie Zorrilla 48:43
What is your morning, my current morning routine is watching just exercise while I make coffee. And she’s telling myself that I’m going to do the same thing. But I do not have a morning routine and I am actively working on creating one because I do I see the value in that I know how important it is. I naturally wake up at the crack of dawn because I used to have to be at the hospital at 645 in the morning. So I’m just like by 530 I don’t need an alarm. I’m already waking up. So my excuse for not getting out of bed is just I don’t feel like it but that can’t be the excuse anymore, because I’m going to hold myself accountable when I have my content calendar in June.
Kelly Meerbott 49:26
There you go. Listen, it took me forever to get a morning routine and it’s it’s a trial and error saying you know, I don’t think these things are binary or one way or another it’s just it’s try what works for you and then you know, if it doesn’t work try something else. So yeah. Okay, go What’s the vision like for the podcast? What are you hoping for? What are you hoping that this turns into? Do you want to go
Yasseline Diaz 50:00
But I can say, I think what I hope it turns into, it’s like you’re just talking to your best friends. And you’re, you know, it’s like you’re dropping in on a conversation that you’ve probably had already, or that you can relate to, you know, every once in a while, a special guest or you know, even between us, we have some information to share for like your education. So it’s a little education, but mostly entertainment and something that you can listen to in the background, or you can like actively engage. So that’s kind of how, how I see it and how I see it going.
Kelly Meerbott 50:36
Got it. Okay, now, what do you see?
Melanie Zorrilla 50:39
I see I see it similarly, I felt like we tried to choose tried to pick topics that are relatable, that are relatable to us that we think are going to be relatable to other people, like john said, like, I, I want to run into my dream would it be to like run into a stranger? And then they’ll be like, oh, oh, I feel like I know you. I want you to feel like you know, because we are being are 100% authentic sounds that you’re asking my question about my question about my morning routine. I don’t have when I watched Josue hers. But I was like, we are just as authentic as we want to be on the show like so I was saying, when you come you can curse. We drank. We have fun. We talked about silly things. We talked about serious things. But I wanted to be relatable. I wanted to feel homey.
Kelly Meerbott 51:27
Yeah. And I know that when I turned 45 years ago, can’t believe it. I’m saying that. But, um, I just made a conscious decision that anything that I consume, I want it to make me feel something like whether it’s music, or a movie, or even a workout, I want to get lost and feel something and when I was listening to you, too, I was like, I well, and because I know just like, I could feel you like I feel you. And I feel your energy. And it’s so wonderful and so playful. And like, it just I don’t know, it feels like stepping into a warm bath that’s like, Oh, come on that. And there is something I do want to talk to you too about that’s a little bit difficult, and I’m probably going to tiptoe into it. Maybe not, um, listen, diversity, equity inclusion, okay. That’s like a big topic, right? And, um, you know, as, as a white woman, like, I sit there and I, I just look at some of this stuff and shake my head. And I know none of it is new for for any member of the marginalised community, but the thing that really sets me off are the things like after the Derrick joven trial, you see all of these corporations coming in, we stand with George Floyd and his family. And then Meanwhile, behind the scenes, all of us know that they’re treating their marginalised members of marginalised community like shit. So what would you say to somebody who is a member of the Latin x community, black community, women, whatever incorperate that are experiencing this kind of, let’s call it oppression. Okay. How do you combat that? And how do you know? How do you combat it? And how do you know when to tap out and give up?
Melanie Zorrilla 53:14
I think for our for my, like, personal experiences, and I’ll go back to nursing school, they were probably had maybe 80 students in the class, and I was one of five students of colour. And in addition to that, they were all from like, a pretty well off neighbourhood. I was not I made sure I commuted I got up there, you know, I made sure that I created that opportunity for myself. And they were just, I remember feeling like we were had classroom discussions. And I remember feeling like these people don’t know what I’m talking about, because they’re not even from the same neighbourhood like we’re not even speaking, we’re speaking English. But we’re not even speaking the same language. Because you live in this like bubble of your community and I live in the real world. Yeah, time I was working in the hospital and in the emergency room, and just even conversations with students were there. They really think like, it’s like the movies. And I was like, No, I’m gonna burst your bubble. This is what it really is. Yeah, this this is what the real world is. And I got with school, I found my group of people where we felt we kind of just like gravitated towards each other and we helped each other out. And they actually were very good about having teachers of colour to like mentor us and talk to us and make us feel like you know, you’re not a number here. Your family like everybody else, and they truly truly made us feel that way. Yeah. I’ve had situations of course at work where I’m like, Oh, I want to stay something but I want to keep my job. So I combat that with mostly with like talking to talking to my sister. I call her normally or call my mom right away with something like that happens. I’m like this happened to me off whatever. But I go to my some of my support people like my village, my mom, my sister, those are my first two people that are contact when I’m feeling uncomfortable or what I felt like something is being done unfair. But eventually you have to know when to tap out, because that will weigh on you.
Kelly Meerbott 55:15
Yeah, yeah. And like, you know, there have been times when I’ve been I mean, I joke and this is not a funny joke. But every job I’ve ever worked in, I’ve been sexually harassed, you know, including the one I’m holding now, right? So, and there are times when I’m like, I want to reach across the table and Trump punch you right now. But I also know that Philly is a small town, and I want to continue working and living here in peace. So I’m just gonna let you go with your ignorant self and like, be done with it. But Josh, what about you?
Yasseline Diaz 55:49
What do I so when I used to work for the Boy Scouts, I definitely felt that, you know, the boy scouts have a reputation of being like an old boys network. And 30, early 30s Latina coming in, was like, it felt odd, right, I could feel that it was not amongst the staff, but amongst volunteers, right. And it wasn’t until, like, I saw the disconnect when so I was in charge of the inner city community, or the the programmes that were going on mostly in the inner city as after school programmes to offer scouting to youth that for other reasons, wouldn’t be able to participate, whether it’s financially or you know, a single parent household or just didn’t have the resources, whatever those resources were. We tried to offer that to them. And it wasn’t until I had a meeting in a volunteers house with my boss at the time, who I love still loved to this day. If we ever have an episode about like, amazing bosses like that is like my number one. Yeah, that’s a short one. So going with my boss at the time to this volunteers house, and she lives on the main line, had an amazing troop. And like all the all the stuff you see in like the movies about what Boy Scouts are like that was their, their troop. And we were telling her about what we needed and how we wanted like those troops to help our troops so that they can have that same experience of scouting, right? And she, she just didn’t get it. Right. And it was just she hadn’t been exposed to that kind of experience. And she just didn’t get it. And she thought that she needed the help. Like, why can’t I get more volunteers and I get more of like, what you’re offering these kids at as like a stipend or something, you know, at a lower cost for lack of a better term. And it wasn’t until then that I realised like, there are really some people who just don’t understand the struggles of right, they just don’t get it. Luckily, where I’ve worked now, there are the UN AI groups. And there are, there’s leadership in place that helps those groups, network and professional development and think outside of their you know, cubicle. So that’s been really good to see that being the thing that people are focusing on now kind of come to fruition in the role that I that I am now where you know, just a handful years ago that wasn’t happening.
Kelly Meerbott 58:33
Oh yeah. 100% you know, and, and I will tell you, you know, I’ve been one of those people that has centred whiteness, like I’ve been, you know, in that situation myself, not for a very long time where it was like, Well, why can’t you help me and like, usually, like, what do you you know what I mean? Or my parents will tell me stories. I’m like, are you even living in the real world? Because this is like, this is not the fact that this guy cannot take his 200 foot yacht from Florida to Bahamas because he has to quarantine for two weeks. That’s not a real problem. Okay. You know, I found myself in this unique position where I’m constantly talking about this, and I’m talking about it to the military, which is, that’s always interesting. Like, I had this one guy who’s like, I’m not racist. I was like, you’re white in America, you are racist. So my, I was like, and he said, we mean and I go, it’s not a person. It’s not an event. It’s a system of processes and procedures that literally oppress other people. And by the end of the conversation, he looked at me and he was like, you’ve literally changed how I’m gonna leave. And I was like, good, here’s a bunch of books, read them. You know, it’s our job as the white community fix this because we we built it our job. You No, but it’s these are conversations that I will, like, this is now this was now part of the plan. I did not want to be the person to be, but that’s what it is. Voice, I don’t want to be the voice. What I do like is that we are having these conversations, you know whether or not they’re perfect, probably not. And they never will be because it’s we’re dealing with people’s emotions and, and lived experiences. Oh, that’s another funny story I should tell you. So a couple weeks ago, we pitched Facebook because as a response to like everything that’s been going on, I built a diverse coaching cohort where there’s tonnes of diverse coaches from all over the place. Most of them are women, the good majority are women of colour. We’ve got four guys, two of which are black men, which is great ones openly gay. And I mean, I’m just it’s one of the things I’m most proud of. Right. So Facebook gets a hold of us, right? And we’re pitching them and in the middle of it, they go, how do you measure diversity? I was like, Did you look at the catalogue? We look kind of do you see us? And so I couldn’t like because I’m literally there’s like six people from Facebook. And I’m like, okay, Kelly, you could have your wise ass, Alter Ego come in and take over or be professional. So I just be professional. I said, Well, we don’t, we don’t measure diversity. And they were like, What do you mean, and I know they’ve lived this is in their day at DNA at a cellular level. The whole reason I built this was because I wanted to leverage my privilege to open doors that other people won’t have access to. And because they because of all the things we’ve talked about the time, the expense and all of that for all of these certifications that I’ve gotten that Joss has been with me since we’ve talked about that, you know, and so they look to me, and they go Yeah, lived experiences important. And I was like, Yeah. Okay. Part of me wants to be like, Is this thing on? Here, me? And am I crazy to think this is a weird thing, but I was just like, maybe it’s just a Silicon Valley thing. I was like, You clearly didn’t read the stuff that we put like, what are you doing? Right? So that that’s weird to you too abrupt to correct? Yeah. Yeah. All right. So you just you’ve told us about, like, great things that are happening in your organisation? Have you had a moment in time where you just like, we’re like, I’m done. Like, I’m exhausted, this is wearing on me, I noticed that my personality is changing, like, I’m out.
Yasseline Diaz 1:02:54
Well, my previous role, right, I just wasn’t happy. It was just, I was going through the motion. It wasn’t, it wasn’t fulfilling the way that I thought it would be, though, I thought I would be able to add something more to it. And I wasn’t able to. So I was able to recognise that a little, you know, later than I had wanted to. And, and sometimes I’m like, oh, why didn’t the previous person tell me? I don’t think that person should have told me right, I could have had a completely different experience. And I didn’t know what that person’s experience was. So yeah, I just at that point, that’s, that’s really the only time that I was like, I’ve had it, but it didn’t have to do with like, you know, diversity and inclusion and, you know, the quality or anything, it was just poor leadership. Yeah. In that role.
Kelly Meerbott 1:03:46
Yeah, that’s a prevalent problem. A lot of organisations. What about, you know, was there ever a time when you’re just like, I’m done?
Melanie Zorrilla 1:03:55
Well, with my previous employer, um, I, when you just have personality change, I felt that happening. I’m like, Okay. I’ve been in this role for a year now. I’ve been working Monday through Friday, nine to five, we had a discussion that after a certain amount of time, I would have control over my schedule, and things will be a little bit more flexible. Long story short, I bought that up to the owner and she, and she was just not really filling that conversation. Fast forward a week later, she let me go. So Well, you did it for me. You know, that was already I already like, I felt like I manifested that because I was already like, okay, I don’t like again. I’m sorry. I don’t like the way I feel. I feel like I don’t have control over my life. I felt like I’m a slave. So this does. It’s this isn’t working for me. Yeah. Yeah. She did it for me. Yeah.
Kelly Meerbott 1:04:53
Okay, so I’m gonna ask you one last question. We’ll go into the rapid fire but um, what’s one thing that You all would hope to communicate to our audience to drive them over to basic illusion. What’s one thing you can eat?
Melanie Zorrilla 1:05:11
So, get some new friends come over to the basic and Buju page, come meet some new friends when we have guests on. Our first guest was like my sister or friend or we, you can be Beyonce, cardi B or you can be like, you know what, I just started watching your podcast, and I have a topic I want to talk about. Come on, get on the show. Like, we’ve we want you to feel like we are all friends. Cool.
Kelly Meerbott 1:05:39
Um, how about you just anything to add?
Yasseline Diaz 1:05:42
Just to piggyback off of that, I think it’s we all have a voice like I used to think like, nobody wants to listen to me like it’s an uneventful life. Like that’s happened to me. Of course, something’s happened to you. Like, we all have experiences. We all share similarities. We all have differences, like, come on the show and be a voice and listen to us have that voice like to people who you know, your two regular degla girls from Philly. Like, you can have a voice and there’s nothing wrong with that. Well, hopefully
Kelly Meerbott 1:06:12
I’ll get an invitation. But I don’t know if I’m boozy, boozy or basic enough. So you are
Melanie Zorrilla 1:06:18
well, yeah, heard out and we’ll put it on josas calendar. Yeah. We’ll contact your people and then somewhere along the line somebody is going to tell me we have to
Kelly Meerbott 1:06:29
have drinks definitely. Yep. So I’ll start with a new Rapid Fire question. What’s your drink of choice? Like last drink you’re ever gonna have right before you kick it? Oh,
Melanie Zorrilla 1:06:43
um, probably the joint that we had the last time which is that I really liked that. Pineapple. Malibu rum. Nice. Margarita. 100%
Kelly Meerbott 1:06:56
so there is a place here in Ardmore called Ripplewood and they make an avocado Margarita. And it is unknown. Oh my just finding out about frozen so you have to come visit me because?
Yasseline Diaz 1:07:11
Oh, yes. After this. I’m calling you so we can set the date?
Unknown Speaker 1:07:16
Yes.
Kelly Meerbott 1:07:17
Okay. Favourite comfort food. Hmm.
Melanie Zorrilla 1:07:22
If I want to get my hands dirty. I’ll go and get some crab legs steamed and make myself a little butter sauce. I love it. That’s my comfort food that makes me happy that brings me joy. If I don’t want to get my hands dirty I’ll either make something here like a traditional Spanish rice beans meat or are caught held that have held the maker for me.
Kelly Meerbott 1:07:42
Oh, man. I might crash Hill this house Cutler and she loves to feed people. If you like to eat, show love to us. She really does she make plots notice
Melanie Zorrilla 1:07:52
she Yes, she does. And the thorn his mother. All of them. Actually can have a planting tree in the back of her house. 100 parts.
Kelly Meerbott 1:08:05
Oh my god, you’re speaking my language. My husband’s a chef. So like, I’m lovely. Don’t think it’s lovely. Because I very rarely like it’s not like, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
Unknown Speaker 1:08:19
I go Yeah, he goes, What do you want for lunch?
Kelly Meerbott 1:08:21
I said salad. He goes, Okay, I’ll order sweet green. I was like so okay, just favourite comfort food. Besides, we already know on
Yasseline Diaz 1:08:36
both sides that. So if I’m craving something like comfort food, like home comfort food, I would anything that my mom makes that obviously now she has to like eliminate some stuff. Like the way she used to make rice and beans and all that she makes it differently for us. But if I’m treating myself it’s appliable. Like, every single day, I can have one.
Kelly Meerbott 1:08:59
What am I thinking? Of course it’s appliable. Yeah. Hey, it’s awesome. Okay. All right. So what books are on your nightstand? No,
Melanie Zorrilla 1:09:11
I just actually, well, not the physical book, but I just downloaded um, what’s it called atomic. It’s an atomic bomb or atomic hat, atomic habits. Again, trying to create healthy habits and a morning routine. I’m like, Alright, let me sit down and read this. I keep hearing good reviews about it. So that’s what I’m currently reading.
Kelly Meerbott 1:09:30
I’ve heard that’s really good. Okay, jobs.
Yasseline Diaz 1:09:33
I’m trying to finish. Rich Dad Poor Dad. I’ve I’ve heard about it so many times. I’m halfway through I keep you know, since he talks about numbers and numbers have never been my thing and you know, spreadsheets and assets and all that. That’s the part I struggle with. But that’s that’s what I’m currently reading right now.
Kelly Meerbott 1:09:52
That’s a good one. Um, game of money by Tony Robbins is really good too. But it’s you get into a point where they start talking about that and Yeah. The audio book version of this cuz passionately, definitely, um, okay, so what’s on your playlist right now besides cardi B which we are huge for this in this podcast here he had bodak yellow was my theme song for a long time still is. But besides that what’s on your playlist
Yasseline Diaz 1:10:24
Jeff’s bad bunny? Bad bunny. And it’s funny because Kyle mabou he like, tells me about what just came out. So sesh is another like, Latino trap artists. He just came out with another album. So now I’ve been listening to 42 for like, almost non stop every time we’re in the car. So that’s, that’s another one. So those two reggaeton is like super big right now with us.
Kelly Meerbott 1:10:54
Yeah, it’s like that’s South Florida to a tee. And Brian works at a he works at Whole Foods. He does catering for wynwood the location and he always comes home and he’s like, have you heard this song? I’m like, how do you hear this? That you hear this? Cuz he’s in the kitchen and like, all play a tonne of and when he came walking down the stairs singing Taylor Swift I was like, what’s happening? Alright, I’ll let you have that. Mel, what’s on your playlist? Um,
Melanie Zorrilla 1:11:26
I have I’m currently in like a female rap mode, female artists mode. So like I started creating a playlist and I named that boss up. And it’s like, cardi B mag the stallion mulatto, some old Foxy Brown, some old some old Nicki Minaj. Like, just like that gets me going like that. That’s like, you know what? That’s a badass woman. Let me get my shit together. Yeah, yes, yes, yes.
Kelly Meerbott 1:11:56
And I don’t know if you would be willing to share that playlist with me? Absolutely. To have it. So. Okay, final question. What are you most grateful for in this moment right now?
Melanie Zorrilla 1:12:08
life in general, like real simple, because we all we’ve been saying it but 2020 was a struggle. And just when like is that as cliche as it sounds like when you open your eyes and you take that breath, that’s a blessing because everybody didn’t get to do that this morning. So I’m grateful for my health. I’m grateful for my family’s health throughout all of this. Like, I’m super grateful for that.
Kelly Meerbott 1:12:35
Yeah, yeah. How about you, Jeff?
Yasseline Diaz 1:12:37
I have to mimic that life, just like all of us being here, through a time that like no one thought that we never thought in our wildest dream that something like this would happen. And the fact that it did and it opened the doors for so many different things for us this year. I’m just so grateful for life. so grateful.
Kelly Meerbott 1:12:57
I know I call them the gifts of COVID. I really do. Yeah. You know, like having a deeper relationship with my husband and like normalising zoom so I can work with somebody in Turkey and Africa. And like, I mean, like those things are so great, but I can tell you that I’m just grateful to have this interaction with the two of you and Mel, I’m so glad that you’re now in my orbit. Like I know I’m so excited about this. And I’m really excited. I know how to pronounce dresses. Dude, if that ever happens, you better grab me and be like listen, this okay? Okay, if people want to subscribe and possibly contribute to basic and Luigi, how will they do that?
Melanie Zorrilla 1:13:43
So we are on a couple of different platforms. We would love for people to go on YouTube and subscribe to us on YouTube. I think I saw like 55 we got somebody new here. I watched those members. Yes, basic and Buju podcast on YouTube. Apple podcast, Spotify. SoundCloud Patreon.
Kelly Meerbott 1:14:10
Okay.
Yasseline Diaz 1:14:11
Did I miss any just Instagram if you want to see some fun reels Yes. Yeah.
Melanie Zorrilla 1:14:19
m handles Give me those so we can make sure that we get some followers for you to know our podcast page is basic and boujee podcast my personal one is at underscore mela dot nation.
Yasseline Diaz 1:14:36
Okay. And mine is Jocelyn underscore DS for Instagram.
Kelly Meerbott 1:14:41
Okay, so the other one that I have the one that starts with C is that not working anymore?
Yasseline Diaz 1:14:47
That’s so that’s cuz I’m just that was like my first Instagram handle. I I haven’t just because I like the pictures there but once like the pandemic kit I wanted a whole new handle to Like start a whole new vibe because some of the people I was following there, I feel like they’re a little negative or you know, not just not what not where I’m at right now, everybody on the on the next journey, some of them you can’t. You gotta leave some of them behind. Yeah.
Kelly Meerbott 1:15:15
And if anybody’s poking holes on the side of your boat instead of picking up an order by you’re going, I’m done. Yep, yep. Okay, well, thank you bowls for being. Thank you. I just I love you too. I love you to pieces and I’ll do anything I can to help you and Charlie serves on hidden human. It’s our intention than this podcast inspires you to go out and have authentic conversations to deepen the connections in your life. Because really, that’s all life is about right emotional connections and bonds. So let’s deepen those. And thank you so much and make it a great day. Thank you. Thank you.
OUTRO 1:16:07
You’ve been listening to hidden human, the stories behind the business leader. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. To learn more about Kelly and the services she provides, visit you loud and clear.com thanks so much for listening, and we’ll be back soon with a new episode.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/toggle][/toggles][/vc_column][/vc_row]
