Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariela De Santiago.
Hi Mariela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I became a mom in March of 2022. I had always been a podcast listener. It was at this time that I began to search for podcasts that would provide me with information on the various topics I was spending my time researching during my son’s naps. Most of what I found was more personalized stories in 45-minute episodes or longer. I needed something shorter and informative. I was hitting at dead end.
It was at this time that I decided to create my own podcast. I realized that if I was on the hunt for short podcast episodes (20 minutes or less) with experts answering the questions on a specific topic, I could not be the only new or expecting parent wanting something like this. Thus, after spending a couple of months learning how to create a podcast, I dove straight in and began to host the Mama Wears Athleisure podcast. I have had a great response from parents.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a one-person team and managing/running a home, it has not been the easiest. I have to be super organized and manage my time wisely. I’ve had to come out of my comfort zone by walking up to new and expecting parents to share my card with them in hopes that they will listen. It has been a slow but learning process. The biggest struggle has been managing the social media aspect. I feel that social media can be very time-consuming and the analytics are always changing, so that is a learning process. I try to attend mom groups to share what I am doing as well and birth worker networking events when possible.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the host and creator of the Mama Wears Athleisure podcast. I am a one-woman team, meaning I schedule, plan, record, edit, produce and post all podcast episodes and social media for the podcast. My podcast is designed to be a resource for the various questions new and expecting parents researching by bringing on experts on a topic to answer those questions in 20 minutes or less.
The goal and idea is to give parents a place to come to and get that info in an audio version rather than using their little one’s nap time to sit in front of a computer screen. The biggest factor is to have parents walk away with some info that is evidence-based, given by a professional so that they don’t have to sift through all their searches and try to determine if it is a credible source. This is what sets me apart from other parenting podcasts.
I am most proud of having taught myself how to get from an idea to being a resourceful podcast for parents. I love the response I get from parents and the emails with episode suggestions.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I feel that I have always enjoyed doing social activities, but it has always been a bit harder to get comfortable in social settings. It has always taken me a little time to warm up. As a teen, I partook in various activities, including student council, various clubs and dance. I loved meeting new people and getting to know them. I have always enjoyed nature, with the beach being my favorite place… I was spontaneous and loved to try new activities. Most of all, I was always drawn to travel and was able to explore many incredible countries prior to the pandemic.
Media was always something I enjoyed and I earned my BA in Technical Journalism, followed by earning my Masters in Special Education. It’s amazing to see that I am now going back to that space I intended to be in after earning my BA.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mamawearsathleisure.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamawearsathleisure/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQZH_AmrVDn7cdGHROIQH6Q
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mama-wears-athleisure/id1652142330
Image Credits
Z Logue Photography & Dominique Labrecque Photography
