Libsyn Directory

EP 14 Life as an Entrepreneur & What Is Code Switching?

Release Date: 03/19/2025

EP 26 How to Build a Personal Brand Rooted in Confidence, Clarity & Courage

Espiritu Coffee Chats

From ESL Teacher to Empowered Brand Photographer: Carina Flechner on Confidence, Visibility & Building a Purpose-Driven Business In this inspiring episode, we sit down with San Diego-based personal branding photographer and empowerment coach, Carina Flechner, to explore her powerful journey from a 23-year career in education to capturing the true essence of women through branding photography. Carina shares how live music, a secondhand camera, and a desire for purpose-led work ignited her pivot into personal brand photography, and how she now helps women step into their power, reclaim their...

EP 25 Love & Legacy: Building a Business with Your Partner (Without Breaking Up)

Espiritu Coffee Chats

Love, Money & Legacy: Chris on Balancing Business, Creative Purpose & the Future of Finance In this refreshing episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, we sit down with Chris, co-founder of Surje Coffee and Valerie’s partner, for a soulful and smart conversation on navigating love, business, and the evolving economy. Chris is the first masculine energy to grace the podcast, bringing grounded wisdom, intuitive financial literacy, and a unique blend of creativity and discipline. From how to survive building a business with your fiancé to why everyone needs a "tripod life" (doing what you...

EP 24 From Fear to Financial Flow: : Rethinking Money, Bitcoin & A Real Talk About Money

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, Valerie sits down with her fiancé and business partner, Christopher Yian, to unpack one big question: what does it mean to make money human again? Chris opens up about his 10-year college journey, his learning with Bitcoin and financial freedom, and how he turned a traditional Environmental Health & Safety career into a path of entrepreneurship, curiosity, and purpose. Together, they explore the deeper layers of money, mindset, and meaning—how our relationship with wealth can shift from stress and survival into sovereignty and empowerment....

EP 23 Ayahuasca Round 2- Ancestral Healing Quantum Lessons Radical Acceptance

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this powerful episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, Arlene and Valerie share their most recent ayahuasca experiences—Arlene’s third journey and Valerie’s fourth. Together, they open up about the sacred healing, grief release, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual downloads they received while working with a male shaman for the first time. From navigating ancestral lineage grief, radical acceptance, and Reiki self-healing to visions of Egyptian goddess energy, light codes, and even conversations with beloved pets who’ve passed on—this episode dives deep into the transformational power of...

EP 22 Hispanic Heritage Month: Empowering Latina Voices in Business & Community

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this special Espiritu Coffee Chats episode, hosts Arlene Salcedo and Valerie Urrutia celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the voices of three inspiring Latina entrepreneurs who are transforming business, community, and culture in San Diego and beyond. Meet our powerhouse guests: Jazmine Conejo, founder of Biz Bitches Community, who shares her journey of building authentic communities for women entrepreneurs while creating systems that empower female-led businesses. Connect with Jazmin Instagram @jazminmcornejo @bizzbitchcommunity and on her website Pam...

Ep 21 Closing the Coffee Shop, Opening New Doors: Lessons in Business, Healing & Community

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this candid catch-up, Arlene and Valerie open up about closing Surge Coffee’s brick-and-mortar shop, the lessons learned from running a San Diego coffee business, and how that journey sparked a deeper commitment to community events, wellness practices, and holistic entrepreneurship. They share stories of resilience, including hosting the first drag show in East County San Diego, navigating health challenges, and finding new opportunities through real estate investing and spiritual community building. Tune in for real talk on: What it takes to run (and close) a coffee shop business in...

EP 20 Grounding in Fall For Vata Season: Ayurveda Rituals for Balance, Healing & Renewal

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, hosts Arlene Salcedo (founder of Luna Soul Wellness, spiritual mentor, healer, and Ayurvedic practitioner) and Valerie Urrutia (owner of Surge Coffee) dive into the wisdom of Ayurveda to explore Vata season—the transitional time from late summer into fall and winter. Arlene shares how Vata season, governed by air and space, influences our body, mind, and emotions. From allergies and restlessness to scattered thinking and anxious energy, this season can leave us feeling ungrounded. But Ayurveda provides us with timeless tools to restore balance....

EP 19 Why Coaches & Healers Are Turning to Human Design Certification

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, hosts Arlene Salcedo, spiritual mentor, healer, and founder of Luna Soul Wellness, and Valerie Urrutia, owner of Surge Coffee, dive deep into the transformative world of Human Design. Arlene opens up about her journey with Human Design—from discovering her true energy type as a Projector to weaving this system into her spiritual business and family life. She also shares the vision behind her Human Design Certification Program, designed for coaches, healers, therapists, and entrepreneurs who want to embody alignment, expand their spiritual toolbox,...

EP 18 The Joyful No: Why Boundaries Are the Secret to Entrepreneurial Freedom

Espiritu Coffee Chats

🎙️ Espiritu Coffee Chats | Episode 18: Choosing Joy with India Pierrce, Founder of The Joy Collaborative In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats with Arlene Salcedo and Valerie Urrutia, we sit down with our dear friend and biz bestie, India Pierrce—the powerhouse behind The Joy Collaborative. India is a consultant, educator, and self-proclaimed Joy Ambassador who helps individuals, teams, and organizations reimagine their relationship with work, culture, and leadership by centering joy as essential, not optional. India shares her powerful journey from burnout and overwork to building a...

EP 17 Donald Trump’s Astrology & Human Design: Ego, Power, and What’s Ahead

Espiritu Coffee Chats

In this episode, we dive deep into Donald Trump’s Human Design chart and Astrology to uncover the hidden influences shaping his presidency, decisions, and future. From his defined Ego Center and Gate 26 (the Trickster Gate) to his powerful 11th House Sun placement, we explore how his chart reveals both his strengths and shadow tendencies. You’ll hear: Why Trump’s Human Design Gate 26 makes him persuasive, but also manipulative. How his missing Gate 44 affects his ability to think long-term. The impact of his Leo Rising and 11th House Sun on his role in the collective. What...

More Episodes

Ep 10: Life as an Entrepreneur & Code-Switching

🎙️ Episode 10 Highlights:
In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, Valerie, co-founder of Surge Coffee Co., and Arlene, founder of Luna Soul Wellness, dive into the complexities of code-switching as Latina entrepreneurs. They share their personal journeys—from corporate America to business ownership—discussing how society has shaped the need for code-switching among people of color in professional and social settings.

Through candid stories, they unpack the pressures of adapting their language, tone, and cultural expressions to fit into different spaces—whether in networking events, corporate meetings, or even their own businesses. They also reflect on how they unlearned the need to code-switch, reclaiming their authenticity in professional and entrepreneurial settings.

Who Is This Episode For?

✨ Latina and BIPOC entrepreneurs navigating professional spaces
✨ Business owners striving for authenticity in their brand and networking
✨ Anyone who has ever felt the pressure to "adjust" their identity in different settings
✨ Professionals transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship

What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What is code-switching? Why does it happen, and how does it affect career growth?
✔️ How code-switching shows up in corporate jobs, entrepreneurship, and networking
✔️ Recognizing when you are code-switching and how to shift toward authenticity
✔️ The mental and emotional toll of constantly adapting to different environments
✔️ How to create inclusive spaces where others feel seen and heard

Key Questions We Answer:

💡 Have you ever felt the need to adjust your language or behavior to fit in?
💡 Why do so many BIPOC professionals and entrepreneurs feel pressured to code-switch?
💡 Can code-switching impact business growth and personal brand authenticity?
💡 How can we unlearn code-switching and show up fully as ourselves in professional settings?

🔗 Listen Now on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts

📢 Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions