Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidy De La Cruz.
Hi, Heidy; thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2019, God put it in my heart to start a podcast. It would be two friends chatting about the good things God was doing in their lives because I feel like people don’t celebrate their accomplishments enough. However, I couldn’t launch my podcast until 2022, when I was on maternity leave. Once I started researching how to launch a podcast, I came across an article written by an immigrant. She shared how each time she experienced a culture shock in the US, it diminished her self-confidence. That article hit home because, as a child of immigrants, I saw firsthand my parents trying to navigate a country that wasn’t their own. After reading the article, I asked my husband about his experience coming to the US when he was nine years old, and as I was listening to him describe so many details that he still remembered, I got the idea for The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants! The mission of the show is to change the narrative of immigration to a more compassionate and empathetic approach and to provide a safe space for migrants to share their stories.
As I got more into the podcasting world with Facebook groups, I noticed many people struggled with launching their podcasts, needing to figure out where to start. So, I got the idea to begin coaching them through the process, and I created a six-week coaching program for launching a podcast! As I was helping clients, I took notice of their pain points and developed digital products that will help new podcasters organize their systems as they build their shows. This is important because consistency is the key to success in podcasting, and to achieve consistency, one must be organized. I also love to write and share personal development content in my Substack newsletter, “Into My Thoughts.” This is a weekly newsletter, and subscribers receive honest opinion pieces, complex topics, book reviews, and poetry.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been a challenging road to get here. While launching the podcast, I also had other ideas before I got to podcast coaching, and trying to juggle so many projects at once led me to burn out. I had never experienced being burnt out before, and I thought I was going through another depressive episode. Because of this, I had to make the tough choice of discontinuing those projects and reevaluating my schedule. Also, entrepreneurs have internal struggles. For example, there are some days when I ask myself if I want to continue to do this or if I should be doing something else. And then there are those days where you feel like you are killing it at life. I also had those rollercoaster days, but in the end, I remembered my why, which helped me keep going.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a writer, podcaster, and podcast coach. I host The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast, where I share immigrant stories. With my six-week podcast course, I help those who wish to launch a podcast, and I write a weekly personal development newsletter on Substack. I specialize in making launching a podcast as simple as possible so it’s manageable for my clients. Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on being a great podcast host, which has been incredible. What sets me apart from the others is that I am honest about the work it takes to produce a podcast so people don’t feel like they don’t know what they are getting into. I am most proud of sharing these immigrant stories and creating my podcast course from scratch!
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
For those who want to start a podcast, my most extensive advice is to speak with someone with a podcast. Ask questions and get tips. It’s always wise to talk to someone who is where you want to be. Also, be a guest on podcasts first before launching. And remember that podcasting is a long-term game; it’s not a success overnight. And when challenges come up, remember your why.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidy-de-la-cruz-mha-cpc-cpb-1598b2196/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAmericanDreamInTheEyes
