Why She Stayed In Florida Even After A Hurricane Hit With Ivette Rodriguez

We talk with Yvette Rodriguez about leaving Brooklyn for Central Florida, the mindset shift that comes with starting over, and why she stayed even after a brutal hurricane season. She also shares how her journey as a teen mom leads her to build Beyond Pregnancy Care, a support hub for families who feel overwhelmed and alone. 
• moving from Brooklyn to Kissimmee for safety and opportunity 
• surviving the shock of hurricanes soon after arriving in Florida 
• watching Brooklyn change through gentrification and feeling displaced when visiting 
• realizing how mindset limits what we think is possible 
• missing New York community, walking culture, and the food that tastes like home 
• taking kids back to New York to pass down memories and identity 
• founding Beyond Pregnancy Care after an unplanned teen pregnancy and years of pushing past “you can’t” 
• supporting moms, dads, and co-parents through parenting classes and practical resources 
• preventing crisis through education on safety, stress, and infant care 
• how to contact Beyond Pregnancy Care through the website, phone, and social media 
Share this with another New Yorker that lives in Florida 

Visit Beyond Pregnancy Cares Website

https://beyondpregnancycare.com/

Transcript

Welcome And Brooklyn Roots

SPEAKER_00 0:00

My guest today is Yvette Rodriguez. She's originally from Brooklyn. I've known her now for about nine years. And she lives in Kissimmee, right, Mama? Yes, I do. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much for being on my podcast. I know you were excited about it when you first heard about it. Yes. I was like, oh my gosh, I want to be honest. So here you are today.

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Absolutely. I love the concept and I love that we're being represented here.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

Hey. Well, there's a lot of us here, at least in Central Florida, there is. I know all throughout Florida, there's a lot of New Yorkers. So many. I've been having fun with the podcast so far. So tell us about your move. Like, what made you move to Florida? And when did you move here? How long have you been out here?

SPEAKER_01 0:39

So I was originally born in Camden, New Jersey. And I didn't stay there long. As soon as my mom gave birth to me, she took me right to Puerto Rico and then came back to New York. My grandfather owned an apartment, a house complex. Oh wow. And that's where me and my mom moved. And my mom raised me there in Brooklyn.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

When did you move to Florida? What brought you here?

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Well, I came over here to Florida for a better life, just for my children, because I had my children, and I remember living in this like building where there was a lot of drugs going on in the hallways, and that kind of motivated me. It just motivated me like, oh, I really need to like just raise them up in a better environment.

SPEAKER_02 1:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

So then I decided to make the move to Florida. I actually visited a friend of mine who was from Brooklyn, and she was a single mom. And when I came to visit her out here, she lived in this beautiful home. And in my mind, I just never could conceive like being able to own a home like that. At that time, the economy was way different than now. And so when I went to go visit her and she told me how she went about getting her home, I was like, I can do that, especially with you know New York money. So we saved up and then we decided to move to Florida with the kids to just give them a better life.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

What part of Brooklyn?

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Brooklyn, Carroll Street, where Fulton is at, downtown Fulton, that area. So how long have you been in Florida now? How many years? So I moved to Florida in 2004. So when I moved, it was hurricane season, like shortly after I moved, which was insane because I've never been through a hurricane. In New York, we don't have that. Was that the year we had like three in a row? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Charlie, the biggest one. Yeah. And so after hitting after Charlie hit us, which was crazy, it was just like an incrazy experience just to to come from New York and then come to Florida and not even know what a hurricane was like and to experience that and have the house rattling. I immediately wanted to pack up and go back to New York.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

I bet. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

But the other two hurricanes came right in back, so I had to buckle down.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Yeah. They they happened for those who don't know, like three weekends in a row. Yes. It went down. It was crazy.

Why Florida Felt Like A Reset

SPEAKER_01 2:50

It was so intense. And I and of course, in my mind, I'm like, what did I do? What did I do? But I'm really, really happy that I stood because Florida has just really changed my whole life and my children's life. I really don't think my children would have been raised the way that they're raised here. You know, obviously, there's a lot of um great memories from Brooklyn that I cherish. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn where I grew up is not like that anymore. It's changed completely. They did the regenerification. Yeah. And so now Brooklyn is really like Manhattan, like little Manhattan, which is beautiful. And I love the shopping and just the culture, but it's not the same as like when I grew up.

SPEAKER_00 3:30

So if you would have known then that it was gonna change for the better, would you have stayed?

SPEAKER_01 3:35

Financially, yes, of course. My grandfather ended up making the hugest mistake ever of selling the house right when the change was happening. So in my grandfather's mind, he couldn't conceive the possibilities of what it could be in the future, which I wish he would have. But I remember constantly telling my mom and my aunt, like, buy the house, buy the house, buy the house, we can renovate it. And they didn't listen because you know the houses then weren't like in the best shape. But if you invest in it, I mean, it would have really paid itself because now it's in the millions. Wow. So just like a few months, if my grandfather would have waited a few months, he would have been set, he would have taken care of the family. But I mean, I I would never trade like the childhood experience because in Brooklyn, where I grew up, that area was um full of a lot of Hispanics, and then we had African American. We had like basically just like a it definitely was like the melting pot, right? And I think that that was the most amazing experience, just to be raised around different cultures and not see anyone different, right? Everyone was equal, everyone was the same.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Everyone was a New Yorker, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

So I have a funny story, it's a funny, funny story. I tell everyone, but it just goes to show you like you know how limited sometimes we are in our in our mindset. So, like I said, I I was in Brooklyn and I used to have to walk every day to school. And I used to have to pass through Borham Hill, that area where the promenades are at. So I always had to walk through there, and there would be all the cobblestone houses, yeah, which we would call the rich houses, right? And I would walk through, and I remember in Christmas time, I used to look and I used to see the big windows, and they used to have the real Christmas trees. And I used to walk through there and I used to be like, wow, only the rich people have the real Christmas trees. Because we had the plastic ones. We had the, you know, so I didn't know any better. And it wasn't until I moved here to Florida that I went to Home Depot and I see this big orange tent and I walk in and I see all these Christmas trees and I see a sign that says $40. And I'm like, what? And I told the guy, is that for real? And he told me, Yes, it's $40. And I just went and I took the real Christmas tree home and I felt like a million bucks. Yeah. It just goes to show you, like, you know, that our mindset, right? Sometimes, you know, you stay kind of small minded and and you know, the sky's the limit, right? So those are like memories that I have. And also my grandfather, he used to have a piragua cart. Uh-uh. So I used to look forward to after school going to see my grandfather because he used to make money there, hustling, you know, making his piraguas and stuff. He was very like known in the community. So those moments, you know, the Mr. Softy trucks running after it, like, you know, getting your ice cream, the fire hydrants, just having the community, all your friends come out, handball, like all those things that we don't like see our youth doing now and our children. We got to play outside.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

I don't feel like kids here play outside. No, not like how we did. I mean, my husband was raised here and he has some stories. Yeah, he did. He was a boy though, you know. So they I don't know if they toughed it out differently than the girls did, but it's too hot.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Yeah, no, it was it was so much fun like being outside and like being active, you know. I've had only

Hurricanes And The Choice To Stay

SPEAKER_01 6:50

good, good memories. Um, I can't really say that I've ever had bad experiences, but just growing up in an environment where it was different cultures, I think that that just really molds you and shapes you. It helps you to not see, you know, people in other ways. Like you're more accepting of um people. And I I like that variety. I think when I moved to Florida, it was um mainly a lot of white Americans, and I felt out of place too. I felt like, oh my gosh, I felt I used to say, I live in um Leave It to Beaver Land. You know? Because I would walk out and go to the mailbox, good morning, neighbor, and I'm like, what does he want? Yeah, or you know, like who's he talking to? Because we weren't used to that, like that greeting. I you go to the gas station, good morning, you know, like we weren't used to that stuff. I mean, in New York, I remember we had to walk like straightforward, right? Like straightforward, grab your purse, you know. We had to walk with intention, like absolutely. If not, you're getting stomped on. But funny thing is that after being in Florida for so long, when I've gone back, I don't have that New York muscle doesn't mean no, you lost it. You know, like you you go into the elevator and you're like, oh my god, it smells like pink. You start judging everything because you're not used to that. Because over here, you know, things are a little more well kept, you know. So it's it's really different. And especially when you've been in Florida for so, so long. Yeah, when you go back to New York, it's just like a whole new world.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

Yeah, it is definitely shocking to go back because it's like I mean, you remember, but you kind of forget because you gotta re-experience it. But like what you're saying, going in the elevator is like, you know, you don't gotta live this way, you know. But you don't have to live this way. Is anybody gonna clean this up? Like nobody cleans it up ever.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

For sure. I wanna like tell everyone, like in New York, when I'm there, like, you know, you can buy a house, you know, you can live like this, you know, because you know, it's something about sometimes our mindset. We keep so small-minded and we think like that's it.

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Yeah, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:43

And then it's not until you like step out of the boat and you're like, I can live like this, that that's when your life really changes. So I'm really happy that I did that move so that I could set the example for my children. And so now I want them to always want more and better, you know, from that experience. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Did you move here in your 20s?

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Or yes, like around my 20s, yes. And I I moved with my children and I got to raise them here and got to see them go to really good schools, and I I it it seemed like too good to be true, yeah? But I know I made the right move. That's good. I definitely. But now going back to New York, it's now I kind of feel a little bit out of place over there because it's different. Like, you know that that's home and you know that that's where you you you came from, but it's different because everything's different. Yeah, like my whole block. I'm like, where are the bodegas? They're gone. Wow. There's no bodegas, there's one Spanish restaurant that's still there, but that's because a lot of the people in the area like Spanish food. Yeah. Right? But like everything's changed.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

Wow, your neighborhood really gotta reach uh gentrified. Big time. Big time.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

The projects are still there. Yeah, they couldn't get rid of them. Yeah. The Gowanas, Gowanas projects, they're still there.

SPEAKER_00 9:49

So when I go back home, the main thing that's different is that when my people, a lot of my people moved out and out here. So when I go back to my old block, there's only like this one Viejita that's been there forever. Bestitos to Lothi. And then my friend's mother, Carmen, still lives across. Other than that, there's no reason for me to go back to my old block other than just to walk and see it. But yeah, I miss going to the block and being like a little celebrity. Lizette's back, oh my god, and all the love, everybody's out. Like most of my people are out here now. Do you have a lot of people out here that you knew from New York? Yes. That live out here now?

SPEAKER_01 10:20

It's see, it's you know what? You know the funny part? I think they just needed somebody to be brave. Yeah, to make the first move. To make the first move. And then when when you made the first move, everyone's like watching you to see like, are you gonna make it? Are you gonna stay? Are you coming back? Yeah, is it really as good as what what they're saying? And once I made that move,

Gentrification And A Neighborhood Lost

SPEAKER_01 10:40

everyone like started following. My friends, my family, everyone trickled down. So now I have everyone here. Yeah, yeah. And much like you, like my neighborhood, there's no one there that I know. Everyone's gone. A lot of them got paid to move out. Oh, wow. Yeah, they got paid a lot of money, and a lot of them took it because you know, obviously that was enticing, not knowing that if they sold, they could have gotten so much more. But yeah, it's not it's not the same. But I I must say, me and my daughter, last year, we made a trip to New York together. We wanted to do Christmas in New York. I love it. So we got to experience that together, and it's just like totally different. Our goal is to try to go every Christmas just to create that memory. But when we go, we're so excited. We're like the tourists now. Yeah. We're the tourists.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

When I go back, because there's no one really to visit in the in the Bronx. I have my cousins, but sometimes they come out and just hang out with me wherever I want to go be at. Because now, yeah, like a tourist, I want to be in the city. Because you see it on TV and stuff, and you're like, oh, I missed that. You know, I want to hang out in Bryant Park for a little while and people watch while I slip on a coffee, you know? Yeah. I want to just walk around the city and never get tired of walking like we do out here. I love walking in New York. I just, that's my one thing going back. I absolutely feel great. Like I'm just getting away. I wish I could say that.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

I'm kind of Florida spoiled with like the car, the car, the car.

SPEAKER_00 11:59

Oh, I definitely love my car time in New York. Yes. Because now you're getting a uh like a front row seat and view of all of New York as you're in the car, but it goes fast. I find everything close. Yeah. Like here, I could go to Kissimmee, it takes almost an hour. It takes an hour with traffic from Orlando. And yeah, when I go to New York, everything seems close. Manhattan said the bronze. 15 minutes, that's it. Like, you know what I mean? It's real close.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

Yeah, my daughter actually, she when she goes, she's so in love with New York. The thing that we love the most is the fashion, right? All the best thrift shops, all the best boutiques. I mean, the shopping is amazing, but also the food. Oh my god. So as soon as our feet land from taking a flight, we're getting that pizza, you know, we're getting our icy's, we're getting, you know, we're trying all the good Chinese food because it's all in the water.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

And I gotta tell you that the other day in St. Cloud, I went to this bagel shop and I had this, you know, bacon, egg, and cheese, because that was a thing in New York. That's what we used to have every morning. And I took a bite out of this bagel and it just threw me back. It gave me this like whole flashback. And I was like, Oh my god, this is one of the best bagels. Like, this tastes like New York. But I didn't dare like ask. Yeah. So then finally, someone came out and I said, Wow, your bagels are so amazing. And she told me, Oh, yeah, we get them shipped from New York. And I was like, I knew it. I knew it. I was like, I knew it. Like, you could just so identify that, you know?

SPEAKER_00 13:22

What shop was that? What bagel shop?

SPEAKER_01 13:24

That was Sip and Dip in in St. Cloud. Okay. I'm gonna have to check them out. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

The only other place I've gotten bagels fresh from New York, you know, at least shipped in with it the night before, is in uh Tampa. There's a place called Brunchies, and they ship bagels from the Bronx, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

Oh, wow. I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Well, that's my Tampa spot, so I might have to hit them up over there.

SPEAKER_01 13:42

Yeah, yeah. It's definitely in the water for sure.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

Which is funny because uh my last guest was from Dough Boys Pizza, and they have a whole slogan saying it's not the water. Really? Yeah. And they've become famous in Orlando for their the New York pizza. Yeah, you gotta check out the episode. But he made a good, he made a good point, though. He made one good point saying that, you know, New York has bad pizza too, right? And it's like, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

I haven't tried that yet, but okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

Like, you know, he says, you know, not every spot in New York has good pizza. And he's like, if you agree with that, basically, then it's not the water. Because there's a lot of bad pizzeria here in Florida, but there's bad pizza in New York too. Yeah. So he's saying it's not the water. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

But I mean, for years I was convinced it was the water, so I don't know. Cause, you know, it's true.

Mindset Shifts From New York To Florida

SPEAKER_00 14:30

There's places here. There's um Brooklyn Water bagel, I think, in Lake Mary. And they have like, I don't, I don't know if I think they just have like a whole filtration system that matches something about New York. Okay. And they have good bagels.

SPEAKER_01 14:43

Yeah, I'm forever looking for like places to eat that says, like, you know New York water. Yeah. Yeah, like from New York. And I'm like, let's see, you know.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

It's celebration. I forgot the name of the Italian restaurant, but my friend's family owns, actually, it's my friends who have a friend who their family owns it. And they apparently the restaurant's delicious with Italian food, and they have a filtration system or something that makes it like New York water. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Oh, that's so awesome.

SPEAKER_00 15:07

Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. Cause uh food over there is different, it's good. Yeah. We got good food here though.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

We do, we do. There's a lot of good spots. Yeah, for sure. I know that when I when I first came here, I almost felt like if I was an alien, because people could always identify you by your accent. Yes. And then I'm like, I will argue with them. I don't have one, but they're like, oh no, you have one, you know? And so whenever I would have to go and share about the business, I would have to go up in the front and speak, and I could see people's reactions. Like they're like talking with because it was so heavy. Yeah. So every time I went to speak, I always had to give a disclaimer. Okay, just let's get this out of the way. I'm from Brooklyn. I say sugar, and I say give me coffee. Yeah. Okay, we got that out of the way. You know, now you know where I'm from. If you hear me speaking, gonna hear an accent, you know, like basically like please stay focused on my message and not my accent. But to them, it was like, oh my gosh. But now I think because so many people have moved here, it's like a normal.

SPEAKER_00 16:11

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When I first moved here, I I believed them when they were like, you got an accent. I'm like, I believe you, because so do you. Like a country one, you know what I mean? So I knew it was true what they were saying. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:23

Well, in Brooklyn, where I lived at, there was a lot of Italians. So I I think it kind of like meshed a lot. Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

So the Italianos, they are different than some here, you know, because you got the New York Italians. Yes, that are the stereotypical, like what you see on the sopranos.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

Yeah, you know. And that was just a norm because you know, that's where we grew up. But you know, not for nothing. It's always nice to go visit New York. And then I always, always, always make a pit stop on where I grew up, always, like the block. Just have to. Always. And I just stand there and I look at it and I reminisce and I'm like, I remember the good times, you know?

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Yeah, I got to take my daughter for the first time. A few years ago, I think it was in 2023, and she was turning 16 at that time. It was the first time because of my twins. Okay. Um, being born prematurely and having medical needs that I never got to take Melinda to New York. By the time she was like, when she was two, we started making plans. And then I got pregnant when she was three with the twins, and then it just never happened because of the medical needs. And that was around the time when, you know, when she was around two, that I'm like, oh my gosh, I gotta take her to New York. I want to take her to the park and push you in the same scenes. Oh, yeah. You know, do those cute little things. I never got to take her to she was 16. Wow. But when I did, we got to visit my friend's mother who's still on the block, Carmen. And we we spent some time with her, and I told Melinda stories while we were on the block. And then I was like, Carmen, before I leave, you mind if I stay on your porch for like 15 minutes? Because we had a townhouse with a porch. I was like, you mind if I just, I mean, you know, bye, but can I hang out on your porch for like 10-15 minutes and just tell my daughter some stuff? She's like, Mama, yeah, just hang out there as long as you want. I love that. So we sat there and I was like, Melinda, you see how quiet the like the block I grew up on was really quiet. And outside the block, you know, it may have gotten a little chaotic, but my block was real chill and peaceful, and it was still the same. It was like that's just a blessed little block. I love it. I love Wheeler Avenue between Brockner and Watson was where I grew up before moving here. And yeah, so I got to share that with her, and it was so special. Yes. I I just wish I can um I want to hang out on my old porch with her. She lived across the street, but yeah. Did you get to do it with your other two girls? We did get to take them two summers ago. We drove up to New York, but our plans kind of got messed up because the car broke down. Oh no. So we ended up wasting three days of our trip getting the car fixed in Virginia. We did rent a car and still drove up there. And I did get to, while we still had the truck, we got to take Maya into the city, into the Bronx. We took her to the Bronx. Melinda's the back with Mia. Mia wasn't feeling too good. And um, I got to take her to Yankees Pizza where I had pizza. Mr. Softy was down the street. We grabbed Mr. Softy. We had a Piragua and we had an icy all at once. Wow. Yeah, just so she could taste it. You know. I love it. And that was our little time in the Bronx. Well, her the rest of the time we did city stuff with the kids and it was fun. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 19:07

Yeah. We usually go to where I was um raised, and then I take them to where I raise the kids and sunset park. Okay. In that area. Yeah. And the kids get their flashbacks and they remember. Oh, that's enjoy going back to visit and stuff, you know.

SPEAKER_00 19:24

Oh, I can't wait to go back with the girls. I gotta make a plan. I was hoping this summer, but with less flights in the air. Yes. The gas prices. I'm like expensive. Oh, I don't know when. But hopefully soon, because I'm due for a trip. Even if it's just me, I need to go back.

SPEAKER_01 19:38

Yes, absolutely. I don't know if like other people are just as excited as we are. But there's something about when you come from New York, it's like such a pride, such a like a joy and a happiness. And when you bump into somebody in Florida, you know, the first question you ask is like, what part? What part? You know? And you just start, you automatically start reminiscing. You do. You know, and it's just, it's just nice. It's almost kind of like the us Puerto Ricans, right? Like, as soon as you see someone, que parte, que parte, what part of you from the island, right? Yeah. And then if you just happen to be in the same island, what part of the family? Because then they think you're related. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

Especially with Rodriguez. Yeah, that last name. Yeah. But you're not wrong. That's why I started this podcast. It was like, you know what? I was thinking about it one day, and it came to me, and I'm like, wow, you know how many stories we could tell on a podcast like this? Totally. Yeah, it was it was a lot of fun coming up with the concept and actually experiencing. You're my 13th or 14th guest now. Oh, so thank you. Yeah, I'm so glad you're here. Thank you. Because, you know, I love you and I love everything you're doing here in Orlando. I mean, you want to share some of that and some of your story because you are also the founder of Beyond Pregnancy Care.

SPEAKER_01 20:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 20:53

So tell us about what made you get started and what you do.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Yeah, so you know, I was raised in Brooklyn and then I ended up at one point becoming a teen mom. I was taken advantage of by an older gentleman and ended up finding myself pregnant. It was an unplanned pregnancy, it was scary, terrifying. Didn't know what to do, didn't know what kind of support system I was gonna have. And something about being pregnant just like, I don't know, within me was like, wow, you're gonna be a mom. And I just felt like really protective of this pregnancy. And so I ended up having my son and became this teenage mom. And during that time, I remember one thing that my mom did was she pushed me, like, you're you gotta finish high school. So from Brooklyn, every day I went all the way to Manhattan with my son. Every single day. Wow. And I graduated in 11th grade instead of 12th because I advanced in all my classes. I was determined to show everyone that even though I was pregnant, that I could still make it and I could still get my diploma. And so wondering how could my story ever become anything good in the future. Obviously, when you become a mom as such a Young age, you think, like, wow, what what does life look like for me?

SPEAKER_00 22:03

Yeah, because a lot of people will say you're gonna mess up your life if you get pregnant. And you know, with you, it wasn't a choice or an accident. So yeah, I can imagine what that must have been like for you.

SPEAKER_01 22:13

That's all I heard. I heard all negativity. No one was positive, no one was encouraging, no one was telling me, like, it's okay, like you you can still make it, you know. That's why that quote, she believed she could, so she did. That one is like ingrained in me because I had to keep telling myself that so that I can push

Bagels Pizza And The Taste Of Home

SPEAKER_01 22:30

myself to like say, I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna be okay. And so I ended up having my son and finishing school, and he was definitely the driving factor of me wanting to like just, you know, fight for our future. Fast forward, I I again I didn't know how that situation was ever gonna be used for any any type of good. And then God opened the doors for me to be able to take that whole story and open up a pregnancy center that helps like teen moms that were in my situation. But even more than that, like He gave me the opportunity to be able to help crisis families in the community. And so our community has so many families that are struggling, right? Struggling to be able to buy basic needs like diapers, wipes, formula, clothing for their children. A lot of um families also don't have the education of like what it is to be a good parent. And I know when I was young, I had no clue. You know, all I knew was cabbage patches and Barbie dolls. And now I'm having a whole human. The whole human was gonna be in my in my hands. And so I needed parenting and guidance. I needed a mentor, I needed someone to encourage me and sit down with me, give me guidance and community resources and just help me through the journey. And so beyond pregnancy care is literally that. It's everything that I didn't have, plus more. And so we have been established for nine years in Kissimmee. And then God opened the door again for us in St. Cloud last year, and now we're in St. Cloud for a year already. And we have helped so many families just go from, you know, the crisis to now that they're doing well. A lot of them have, you know, become nurses, gone back to school, you know, gotten careers, dads have gotten jobs. We opened up the program to dads so that the dads could really be seen. Oh wow, I didn't. And when you did that? We oh, we've always from the very beginning. A funny thing is that when we opened up the center when we were doing the ribbon cutting, my son was there. His name is Andrew. And the first thing he said before he cut the ribbon, he says, Before I cut this ribbon, mom. And he looked at me eye to eye and he said, Don't forget the dads. Everybody forgets the dads. It's always about the women, but the dads need help. And when he told me that, that like just left such an impact in my life. I shook my head and I said, Yes. And ever since then, we incorporate the dads. So the dads come in with the moms and they take parenting classes. So if mom comes, she gets to shop in our baby boutique for free. But if she brings dad, then he gets to shop too. So it's double blessing for them. And they come out with more. So we just want to focus on the whole family unit, and we cannot leave the men out. The men want help. And there's so many men that never had a dad in their life, and so they don't know how to be dads, right? So incorporating them and getting them educated and answering their questions and letting them know that that there's a safe place for them has really just changed like the whole dynamics of you know our community and and we see the results. A lot of dads are stepping up to the plate, even if they're not together. They're like, no, I want to still be a dad. So we have co-parenting classes to help them to be able to. That's really important. Absolutely. That happens so there's so many relationships that are co-parenting, right? That they may not work out, but for the baby's sake, right? Let's make it work. Let's let's figure out how to communicate, how to treat each other. So we actually have classes on all that. Yeah. So we've just been seeing such a change, and I love what I do. And I never knew that what's what started as something ugly and could have been like not with a good result ended up being something so beautiful. And like every morning I wake up with purpose and I'm like, I live this and I can give back like the wisdom and the stuff that I've learned to others and help them.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

God bless you, because that's such a beautiful story, a beautiful testimony. Thank you. And you know, I've I I've known you for years already. I've always loved what you do. And there has been a couple of times I come across a mom. I'm like, um, look into beyond pregnancy care.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Yes, thank you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

So, yeah, they've um I I know one of them contacted you. It was years ago. It was soon after we first met when I had you on my community show when I was on the radio back then in Orlando. Yeah, on the other station. And you've been one of the people that I talked to, that I have interviewed that has stuck out. I think you've been like one of my favorite probably my number one favorite. Because what you do has stuck with me over the years. I remember going, wow, she's doing something so important. And I I love that you have grown. Now you're in St. Cloud too, which is another community here in Central Florida. If you are listening from somewhere else. But tell them how they could contact you.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

So the best way is always our website. Our website has all the information about Beyond, and it's www.beondpregnancycare.com. They can also call us at the center if they want a tour or they want to come learn more about it, or or ask me questions, and that's 407-750-8189. And we are really big on social media. Like we have a crazy following, which is so amazing because the majority of our clients come from social media in TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. So beyond pregnancy care is, you know, our handles. But we absolutely love what we do and we've just seen such a change. There's so many families that are going through hard times. We've been able to prevent a lot of things. We do free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and we've been able to help people come out of human trafficking that have been able to come to our office and have been in that situation, domestic abuse. And we've been able to help a lot of families come out of that as well. And then just a lot of moms, because I know like you have your daughters that are special needs. Like these moms need support. They need a place where they can cry and talk. Autism is like so high now, and that's a common factor that we have at the center. A lot of moms come in exhausted, you know, not feeling seen, you know, just frustrated of all the services that they can't get for their child. And they just need a safe place to talk and to have someone like walk with them through it. Like, let's figure out the resources, let's see what we can do. So we are that place, and I love that because parenting shouldn't be done alone. We don't have all the answers. So, but together we can figure it out. And so that's basically, you know, what we we offer the community. And, you know, I'm just so proud, you know, that we get to make a difference every day.

SPEAKER_00 28:36

And you are, you definitely are. Thank you. If you're listening and you

Taking The Kids Back To New York

SPEAKER_00 28:40

need help, please reach out to Evet. Getting help sometimes, people have pride sometimes. They're like, no, or you know, they're just kind of stuck in what they're going through that they almost can't make that move. Right. And it just takes a brave moment to actually reach out to get the help. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 28:55

Yeah, we've had some moms that were raising their children by themselves and babies colic, baby's crying, and mom doesn't know what to do. And this one mom came in and she kind of gave us the hand movements. I was doing like this to the baby, which was shaking, shaking the baby, like to try to soothe him, but she was shaking him too much. So we were so happy that she walked in through our doors because she never heard about shaking baby syndrome. So we were able to sit down with her and have her watch the video, and we talked with her about it, and she cried again, obviously. Because she's like, Oh my god, I gotta kill my child. I said, No, you did the right thing. You came in to get help. You know, she was just overwhelmed, and we were able to give her something as simple as like a baby carrier that you just press the button and it vibrates for the you know, for the baby and it soothes the baby to sleep. And it was just something as simple as that that she didn't know like that that exists and that could have helped her. So it's so much prevention. Like we do, we have CPR classes, so moms can know, like, you know, how to perform CPR, um, a lot of safety courses. We give car seats, but we require for them to take car safety classes. We want to really educate them so that they could really come out empowered and really feel like I can do this, you know? So we love our program.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

And I hope they reach out to you if they need help. Be brave, reach out to you bet. She's a sweetheart. Oh my gosh. Thanks for sharing that because I know you got a powerful story. And I know sometimes, I mean, I know by now you're a pro in telling it, but I know sometimes, you know, you gotta think back on some things and it could get a little stressful, but that's not you. You're a pro at it now.

SPEAKER_01 30:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

I mean, do you ever feel like sometimes you get back into like a PTSD moment? I don't know, like always. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:27

I think we always, whenever you've been through trauma, that's gonna like always kind of be with you. I think we can heal from it. It's absolutely necessary to heal from it, and then the reaction is different than if you haven't healed from it or taking the time to really like work through it. It's a different type of healing. Yeah, you know, but then you know when you're healed or you're healing when you can bounce back from it. So like my mind may go there, and then I'm like, wait a minute, look at my life now, look what I'm doing now, and then it I I am able to refocus myself. So, you know, our past, our hurts, our mistakes, they're all learning lessons and they're all for growth. So if you see it with that perspective, that's what I tell my girls. Like, we're growing, we're growing. And as long as you're going in the path of growing, then you're on a good path. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

So you got three kids. I have three. Three. You got your oldest son, my two daughters.

SPEAKER_01 31:17

Yeah, I have two boys, two girls. Yes. And my three are on their own. And right now, my 19-year-old son lives with me in my home right now. Yes, and they're my blessings. They're they're such good, good kids. And I raised them really, really well. And you know, there's this stereotype that when you have your children young, that you might not like really invest the most, or you know, no, I I I I have to disagree with that. Like, I really, really like poured everything I could to my to my children. I always wanted them to have better, you know. I hustled, hustled, hustled, did everything I had to do to get to where I'm at just because of all the negativity that was told to me. You can't, you can't, you can't, you can't. Everything was you can't, you can't go to college because you got pregnant. Well, I went to college, I did my four-year degree, you know, and I didn't tell people. I stood quiet until I got my degree, and I'm like, oh, by the way, I graduated. Yeah, you know, you can't get a house, you know. You messed up your life, so that's impossible. Well, I've had I think four houses already. Yeah. Like, you know, every time it was like you can't, it was like, oh yeah, watch me. Watch. Right? You can't get a new car. Oh, really? Watch me, you know, like all these things, like these, like you can't. They're such lies. That's why I love to pour into like the young people, like especially teenage moms, and be like, no, like, don't let anyone ever tell you you can't. If you're determined and you you want to push through, you can do it.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

How much of that you feel may have come from that New York hustle? Oh, that would be a good one.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

Absolutely, absolutely. I got I gotta give my props to that a hundred percent. Because in New York, you are taught to be a fighter, like a fighter. Like, you have to fight for things. And I gotta also say, being raised with a single mom. My mom, she moved from Puerto Rico. My mom and dad's relationship didn't work out. He at that time he was an alcoholic, he was just not good for me to be raised around. So my mom left to New York and it was just me and her. And I remember seeing my mom like hustle and hustle and hustle. And then being in New York, it changed her whole mindset. And she like learned it. So my mom still has a very heavy New York accent, tremendous, tremendous heavy accent. She thinks she doesn't, but she does. And also, when we go like to the stores, her attitude comes out, and I'm like, mom, we're not from New York, we're in Florida. Be nice, you know. She doesn't like hear her tone, yeah. Because it's just ingrained in her. Like, because in New York, you have to fight. You can't be there and you can't be weak. But that has helped to make me a fighter for stuff and like be like, no, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. So absolutely, definitely being raised in New York, that definitely gives you like that fighting, like, you know, attitude in a positive way. Yeah. You know, like in a positive way.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

Growing up, did you ever get into a fight, like an actual fist fight with anyone?

SPEAKER_01 33:53

I got jumped one time. Oh, I got jumped, but I got her back good. Okay, well, well, I I remember being in high school, you know, and I'm not promoting fighting. Please don't think I'm promoting it. But hey, you know, I think everyone's probably gotten into some type of fight or something. And I didn't look for it. Um, I was in school and she was picking at me, picking at me for such a long time. And I was like trying to mind my business, didn't, you know, I was never confrontational, just to myself. She was picking at me, picking at me. And then she wanted to like um be a show off in front of her friends. So she got up and she was huge. She was so tall. And here's little me.

SPEAKER_00 34:30

Oh, she's bullying you.

SPEAKER_01 34:31

Yeah, and she was totally bullying me and like came up to my face, and I was like, oh my god, it's either me or her right now, right? That's the mentality. You have to defend yourself. And I'm like, oh my gosh. And she she went to put lay hands on me, and all I remember was my my big brother. He used to play wrestling with me, you know, at the house. Always wrestling, right? You have to move. So I remember he used to always do this, like, he used to take his foot and like wrap it around my leg and then bring me down like a body slam, right? And so, right there at that moment, that's all that came to my head was like body slam. Because she was so big, and I'm like, oh my gosh. So I took my foot, I wrapped it around and body slammed her down. Oh my god. And I remember my science teacher, he turned so red, he was like, Stop the fight.

From Teen Mom To Community Founder

SPEAKER_01 35:20

And I was just like, it's either me or her at this point, right? And then everyone's cheering on, you know how it is in school. Yeah. And then that day after school, I'm going home, and I I always am with my friends. And out of all days, I wasn't with my friends, and she came out with her friends and they jumped me. They jumped me, and it was cold and it was snowy and there was ice on the floor. And all I remember, thank you, God, for protecting me. Her taking my head and banging it against the ice. Oh wow. Wow. Banging it against the ice. And and yeah, and I remember just laying on the floor there. I lived not too fl far from my high school, making it home. And when my brother saw me, oh my god. All I know was that he went, he got his people, and I don't know what happened after that. But it was that, you know, type of environment. You really had to protect yourself. I'm pretty sure now it's probably a more safe because of the whole area there. But before, you know, we had gangs. Like gangs were normal for us. Like that was like nothing, right? We had gangs, we the bullies were common. Being jumped was common, you know. We always had to make sure we had the Vaseline, make sure we took off the hoops because if not, your earlobe was gonna be ripped. You can always identify someone who was in a real big fight because they had their earlobes split. Like, but yeah, unfortunately. So let's transition to a happy memory. Being with my grandma. My grandma, my grandma did not budge from New York. Absolutely not. How many times? I mean, my grandmother lost her memory. My grandmother couldn't take care of herself. She would not leave her apartment. Her apartment was rent controlled. So she barely paid anything. Yeah. So when they started doing the regenification, they were trying to kick her out, right? Because they could make thousands of dollars for her apartment. My grandmother was like, no one's taking me out of here. She's like, I'm gonna die here. She literally did. Wow. She no one could take her out. I mean, they tried to bribe my mom, my aunt, my mother to give her money to get her. Nope. She was like, no one's taking me out of here. And so my memories, um, my best memories was with my grandma. My grandma, she used to walk really fast, you know, like that New York walk. Like crazy, like, you know, you're huffing and puffing and you can't even keep up. That was my grandma. But and and in New York we were much thinner, too. Not like here.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

I got chunky here.

SPEAKER_01 37:44

I know, because we don't have we can just get our car. We don't have to walk around as much. And my grandma just she would take me to the park all the time, you know, and in the park, you would look forward to like the sprinklers, and then you always had the hot dog, you know, stand, and it was like the best hot dogs, you know. And just being with my grandma. My grandma was like just super inspirational. She worked in a factory and she she was just humble. Like she didn't need flashy stuff, though she dressed very flat, flashy, you know. She's always like her her suit had to match her shoes and her purse, you know. She always had to look beautiful for church.

SPEAKER_00 38:19

Well, I was fly.

SPEAKER_01 38:20

Always, always, always. But definitely those are the moments. And then my grandma was a blessing to me. She got to help me raise my kids. So while I was in school, while I was working, she took care of my kids. So my kids got to enjoy the same thing.

SPEAKER_02 38:34

That's cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:35

So in her house, she would take a blanket and like put it on the floor, make it like a picnic, you know, with them. Yeah. You know, and she was the grandma that had like a million pictures on the wall of the whole family. The photo album was on the wall.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:47

Yeah. Missed her.

SPEAKER_00 38:48

That's nice. So when you came to Florida, what was the first thing you missed about New York? Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 38:53

I guess a sense of community, because like, you know, like like you, like everyone knows you, right? So, like, you know, you felt so comfortable, right? And coming out here, like I didn't know anyone. So I was the first one from my family to come out here to make the daring trip of leaving New York to come to Florida. So everyone thought I was crazy. Like, what are you doing? No, just stay here. But I had saved up money after seeing my friend, you know, the single mom that had this beautiful house. I saved up all this money, and I did try to look around in New York just because it was comfortable and it was the norm. Yeah. I tried to look for a house out there, but it was all in bad neighborhoods. And I was like, okay, I might have the house, but to live in a bad neighborhood, then that defeats the purpose because how are my kids gonna be raised? So I made the I did the venture and I was like, I'm gonna do this. And it was like a whole new world. Yeah. And I felt like, you know, like that fish out of water, just like, you know. And of course, you have the fear, did I make the right decision? You know, like, you know, I had to like really detox my New York attitude, but that took a long time. Yeah. I like took a long, long time. And now I'm more calm and collective, you know, because you live in Florida and it's more calm. But now the New Yorkers are coming here.

SPEAKER_00 40:05

They are coming here. So it's like we had to get soft, now we gotta get hard again.

SPEAKER_01 40:09

Yeah, because they be driving crazy. You always know a New Yorker driver.

SPEAKER_00 40:13

Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

And um because they honk, right? Right when the light turns green. Super impatient, right? Oh, that's a New Yorker. Oh, obviously, yes, absolutely. And for most of my time here in Florida, I lived in Kissimmee. And so Kissimmee became little Puerto Rico. Yeah. Especially after the hurricane in Puerto Rico, all the Puerto Ricans were moving out here and they moved there.

SPEAKER_00 40:36

Well, they joke that Kissimmee's the capital of Puerto Rico. Yeah, it is. Absolutely, it is. Just like I now say that Orlando is the sixth borough of New York.

SPEAKER_01 40:46

It's true. It's so, so, so true. So now I moved. I moved to Harmony, which is more calm, quiet living. Never heard of Harmony. Harmony, it's so St. Cloud and after St. Cloud starts Harmony. Really? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 41:00

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 41:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:01

I thought after St. Cloud was Point Siena. Is it? Or is it like to the left, to the right?

SPEAKER_01 41:06

No, so St. Cloud, this way is Kassimi

Beyond Pregnancy Care Services That Prevent Crisis

SPEAKER_01 41:10

and then Pontiana. The opposite way is St. Cloud and then starts Harmony. And Harmony is near Lake Nona. And I'm only 30 minutes away from the beach in Melbourne.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

So I'm near Lake Nona, Orlando, and then the opposite way Kassimi, Pontiana. I mean, it's just the festival. And you know, it's so funny because I moved there because I wanted the peace and quiet. The peace and quiet that I I experienced when I moved from New York to Florida originally. You get that? Absolutely.

unknown 41:41

Nice.

SPEAKER_01 41:42

And I don't want to trade it. Yeah. So once I moved to Kissimmee from New York, it was the peace and quiet. That changed. That changed quickly. Like it changed. So you found it again in Harmony. That's nice. Yes. Wow. I gotta move to Harmony. I gotta check it out. So you gotta come and visit me.

SPEAKER_00 41:57

Is it really secluded right now? Like, is there anything to do out there yet or is it gonna grow?

SPEAKER_01 42:02

Yeah, so it's in the process of growing, so they're constantly like opening up new stores and stuff. So that's the exciting part. Yeah. Because it's like a new store opens up, everyone's like, oh we needed that. Yes, yes. But it's not too far from Lake Nona. Okay. Lake Nona's like everything. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. So um it's definitely not like boring. Like, you know, I I like the developmental stage. It's just I just wanted the peace and quiet. I I got used to that when I first came, and I need some of that in my life.

SPEAKER_00 42:31

Yeah. Lake Nona's um developing a big thing, I don't know if it's an entertainment thing or just another big shop. Let me see. I don't know. I think it's a big shopping center. I didn't get the name. I'm looking at it now. There's a big shopping center, and I see some stores. Yeah. I don't know if there's anything else.

SPEAKER_01 42:46

A lot of stores. Yeah, big target. Everyone's happy. Yes, I see the thing. Yeah, that's the fun part about being in a new development because then when something comes, you're like, ah it's all new and fancy and clean and sparky. Yes, yes, yes. But I'm proud of like how I was raised, where I came from. So many great lessons to learn from being raised in New York. And it's beautiful. And it's hard to describe it to people who haven't experienced it. Experienced it, you know, but that fighter mode stays in you. And that's how you I I know that that's how I've gotten to where I'm at. You know, like I've really progressed in my life. And I feel like if you don't make the moves, you stay kind of stuck.

SPEAKER_00 43:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

You know?

SPEAKER_00 43:23

So, what would you say to someone who's considered moving to Florida, that's in New York, and they're putting it off, putting it off? Do you have any advice for them? Or something you can warn them about with Florida too at the same time. Cause you know, they're gonna be prepared about Florida too.

SPEAKER_01 43:36

I think they have they have to be ready for like they have to like ask themselves do they wanna like a quiet, more calmer life? Because New York is very active. Very, very always, right? It's like 24 7, it's always on. But if you're looking for that, like I think I need just a little bit more of a slower pace, just I don't know. I feel like here in in Florida, I'm I'm more in the moment. You get me? Like I'm more in the moment. Like I'm taking it in. There's no rush. I don't feel the rush. I mean, maybe I feel the rush when when you're working because of the computers and all these new technologies. So it makes you feel like gotta work, gotta work, gotta do this, gotta do that. But when you have like you time, I'm I'm calm, you know? I'm relaxed, I'm chill. Even driving, even though we have the New Yorkers that are out there, please drive nice. Yeah, the tourist. And the tour, oh my gosh, if they're from somewhere else, whoo, they make their own rules. But they're, you know, like I'm very relaxed driving. I enjoy my ride, you know. I I make sure that I try to go to the beach and just sit and be present. I try to read more. I try not to be so chaotic, you know. So, like if you're in New York and you're ready for that change, you have to be ready. Because if not, you come over here and you're expecting it to be like on, on, on, you're gonna, you're not gonna be happy.

SPEAKER_00 44:52

Yeah, you're gonna be yelling at people get out of my way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:55

But the great part is you come to Florida, you live like the Florida living, which is so amazing. The weather is always awesome here, and then you just get to go visit New York, you know?

SPEAKER_00 45:04

Do you ever miss the winter or are you over the winter?

SPEAKER_01 45:06

Okay, so I can go do the winter for a day or two and be like, snow, you know, because it's pretty. And and of course, you want to take the pictures in the snow because it's like fun and and it gives you flashbacks of you as a child, right? Like playing with the snow, but then I'm done.

SPEAKER_02 45:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:21

So they told me that when you move to Florida, you're they said that your body temperature changes because of the sun. Because we're so used to the heat of the sun. So when you go back to New York, like it could be like slightly cold for them and it's not a big deal, but for us, it's like we're freezing.

SPEAKER_00 45:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:39

Because our skin is not used to like that cold.

SPEAKER_00 45:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:43

So yeah, my my skin is not New York weather.

SPEAKER_00 45:46

I went back when I went back with Melinda when she was 16. That was the first real winter that I experienced in years. Really? And we came, we came ready with all the layers. But I don't know, maybe it was because my hormones when I was hot.

Slower Florida Living And Final Takeaways

SPEAKER_00 46:00

I went outside and it was supposed to be 32 degrees, and I told Melinda, listen, you're gonna be alright. If you get too cold, we'll walk in the store for a little while. Yeah. Because I didn't want her complaining. I didn't know how she was gonna be. Yeah. And I was just like, I'm gonna put on these layers, we could take them off if we need to. As soon as we got outside, we had to take off a couple layers. Really? And I was like, why does it feel colder? And I felt like it got colder out here. And I think it was the humidity and the moisture in the air. Yeah. I don't know. For me, I feel reverse. I feel opposite. I feel like it's colder here when it's the same temperature.

SPEAKER_01 46:30

But it's so funny because over here, when it gets a little cold, we're like, Yeah, oh, it's so cool. And it's like, and the New Yorkers are like, Are you serious? Like, what are you talking about? But man, us Floridians, we love, love, love. When that breeze comes in, oh, let me take out my boots. Yes. Like, let me take out my scarf, my hat.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

I mean, we we're all dressing in the cute layers.

SPEAKER_01 46:48

Yeah, we overdo it here. I be cracking up because then the sun comes out and you're like, what these two o'clock. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:56

But we're still trying to look cute, you know? Oh my god, Eva. Oh my god, thank you so much for coming on today. Oh, it was so nice giving your story and sharing your story. Yeah, if you want to reach out to Eva, give him your handles once again.

SPEAKER_01 47:09

So, Beyond Pregnancy Care is our social media, and then our website is beyond pregnancycare as well. Um dot com. And then we are available in Kasimi and St. Cloud to just serve the community and the families. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:23

So, one last thought about Florida. What's your favorite thing to do out here? The beaches are just the beaches, yeah. Beaches are amazing.

SPEAKER_01 47:30

Your favorite beach is over there in Melbourne, or no, not really, but you know, it's close by, it's 30 minutes. I mean, so it's you know, hey, I'll take any type of beach that's near me. Can you drive on that one? You can, and it's a straight road, and it's so it is my favorite road to drive. It's so peaceful. It's like, oh, I love it. I'm in heaven. So Melbourne, you know, it's close by and and I love it. But as far as like, I like the other side where Anna Maria's at, you know, the blue, the western, you know, Sarasota, those, oh, those are amazing.

SPEAKER_00 48:04

Beaches at the Gulf is beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 48:06

Absolutely. Like, that's like wow, it reminds me of Puerto Rico. Yeah. But I will take a Melbourne beach anytime. There's really great restaurants out there that are on the beach, you know. And just sitting there, hearing the ocean and just like relaxing and being present is like everything.

SPEAKER_00 48:24

It's worth it. It's worth the sand all over you. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 48:28

Absolutely. I I don't miss Coney Island. You know, that's day and night, you know.

SPEAKER_00 48:33

I grew up in Orchard Beach. I never got to go to Coney Island. No, got to do Orchard Beach.

SPEAKER_01 48:38

I used to laugh because we used to go to Coney Island, but then I think Brighton Beach was like not so far. And it's like Brighton Beach is the better beach, but really, it's like all connected. The same, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:50

Oh my god. Thank you, Mama, once again for joining the podcast. Thank you. Share this with another New Yorker that lives in Florida. And uh, maybe I'll have you on the show again one day. We love that. All right, Mama. Besito, thank you for being here.