I am honoured to introduce you to Heidy De La Cruz (she/her)—a podcaster, public speaker, and writer—who will share with us today how your knowledge and lived experience can inspire others.

Heidy is the host of the award-winning podcast The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants, where immigrants share their journey of coming to the United States. She also helps women entrepreneurs and busy moms who wish to start their podcasts with her digital products and 6-week course.

As the host of the weekly personal development newsletter—Into My Thoughts, on Substack—she  also shares life experiences through lessons, book reviews, and opinion pieces. 

In her free time, Heidy enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and making memories with her family.

Hola Heidy, I’m really excited that I finally get to interview you on the Speaker Movement blog! Let’s kick things off with this: What inspired you to launch your podcast?

What inspired me to start my podcast was my love for storytelling. I’ve realized that I mostly listen to:

• Podcasts that share people’s stories
• I love documentaries about people’s stories, and
• When I read a book I am usually reading a memoir. 

I’ve also noticed that when people talk about immigration, it’s not usually in a positive light. So, because of my parent’s immigration stories, well—really my whole family and my husband’s immigration story—I decided to start a podcast sharing the immigrants’ journey of coming to the United States. 

I stay away from the politics of it all and focus on sharing the stories themselves. 

Too many times, my guests have told me it’s the first time they are sharing this part of their story because no one asks about it. 

Also, I am an advocate for immigration and I feel that starting this podcast has been one of the best ways to advocate for humane immigration policies. My mission with the podcast is to change the narrative of immigration to a more compassionate and empathetic approach.

Having your guests say that no one asks them those questions is such a high compliment for a Podcast Host! What’s something recent that you’re really proud of?

A recent achievement I am most proud of is winning the Women in Podcasting Awards for the culture and society category. 

I remember posting a Facebook status about a year into my podcasting journey that I couldn’t wait to say that I host an award-winning podcast. My friends were commenting congratulations like I had already won. A few months after that I saw the opportunity to register for the Women in Podcasting Awards with the Women in Podcasting Network and I took the opportunity to register. 

I still cannot believe I won but I am so thankful to everyone who voted and made it possible. It’s so cool to say, “I am an award-winning podcast host”!

Congratulations on the award—that is truly amazing! How would you say your own experiences inform the work you do today?

Being a child of immigrants, I know first hand the first-gen experience because I am still living it. It allows me to relate to all of my first-gen guests. But also, I saw the struggle that it is to adapt to a new country as I watched my parents do so. And because of my background, this mission feels personal to me. 

I am so compassionate with each of my guests, and I am very careful with how I handle each of their stories, which is also why I run my podcast a little differently than others.

That first-hand experience can make such a difference when inviting your guests to open up and be vulnerable on your show. Other than sharing their beautiful stories, what legacy do you hope to leave behind through your work?

I hope to leave behind a legacy that shows Jesus’ love in my work—in how I care for people, advocate for the foreigner, and show compassion to everyone. 

I also hope to inspire and show my daughter that she can do everything she sets her mind to do. That she can be a mom and a career woman—she doesn’t have to pick one.

As a fellow mama, I absolutely love the concept of being a role model for your own children. 

Earlier we talked about your community resonating and feeling seen through your experience and the stories you share. Can you share a personal story of a time when you felt truly seen or validated in your work?

Earlier in 2025, I hosted my first in-person event for my podcast. It was a celebration of the 3rd year, the award it won in 2024, and its ranking of the top 5% globally. I pitched for sponsorship, which is something I’ve never done before, and I was able to get six sponsors! This made me feel validated because the sponsors were investing in the mission and understood what I am doing with the podcast.

That is incredible, Heidy! Is there a book, podcast, or film that has profoundly shaped your perspective?

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz – I live by the agreement, don’t take things personally.

What about your personal values—what guides every decision you make?

Everything I do is truly because of my faith. I pray before making any decisions in my business and podcast. Praying grounds me and I love that my husband reminds me all the time to go and pray when I start to spiral.

Switching gears to your public speaking career, what topics do you love to speak on?

I am most passionate about speaking on immigration because of my family’s background and how personal this topic is to me. I feel that everyone’s story deserves to be told and heard. We can always learn at least one thing from each other. 

Another topic I am passionate about speaking on is launching a podcast. I believe podcasting is one of the best mediums to share your story on. Our voice is the most powerful thing we have and when we use it correctly, it changes things.

How has public speaking helped you grow your business, career, or personal brand?

Public speaking has helped me grow my personal brand because people have gotten to know me and hear my story, but most importantly feel my energy. Energy doesn’t lie and being genuine goes a long way. Public speaking has helped me network with so many incredible people but also build long-term relationships.

Thank you so much for sharing more of your journey and perspectives with us, Heidy. To wrap things up, I’d love to ask you 3 rapid-fire questions.

What does success mean to you on a personal level?

Success on a personal level means living a life I don’t have to escape from, and I am currently doing that.

What’s an exciting project you’re currently working on? 

I am excited to continue to grow my blog about podcasting. I share podcasting tips every Wednesday on my website and I send the links directly to my email list. I’ve been blogging about podcasting for two years now and I love sharing my knowledge and experience with aspiring podcasters. I try to be who I needed when I started this podcasting journey. 

If you could share one message with the world from a stage, what would it be?

GO FOR YOUR DREAM!

Connect With Heidy

Website | Instagram | Podcast

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