Chateau Bow Wow
Château Bow Wow is a bold, culture-driven podcast celebrating Latino excellence across entertainment and beyond. Hosted by acclaimed writer, director, actor, and creator of the internationally successful sci-fi feature FLUX, Geraldo J Uscategui brings listeners powerful conversations with Latino artists, performers, singers, filmmakers, writers, and industry leaders who are shaping film, music, television, and creative media worldwide.
Each episode delivers raw interviews, authentic storytelling, behind the scenes insight, and captivating live performances that spotlight Hispanic heritage, independent film, creative entrepreneurship, and multicultural impact. From groundbreaking Latino filmmakers and recording artists to innovators making waves in business and the arts, Château Bow Wow dives into the mindset, resilience, and vision behind real success stories.
If you are passionate about representation in media, Latino culture, impactful storytelling, and unfiltered conversations with creators who are changing the game, this podcast was built for you. Château Bow Wow is more than a show. It is a platform amplifying powerful voices and celebrating the influence of Latino talent across the global entertainment industry.
Chateau Bow Wow
Building Power With Purpose - Featuring Creative Marketing Director Melissa Marin
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In this dynamic episode of Château Bow Wow, host Geraldo sits down with creative producer Melissa Marin for a powerful conversation on growth, identity, and building a brand with intention.
From her early days in casting and music video production to working with major artists and launching her own platform, Melissa shares how she carved out a space in the industry rooted in authenticity and purpose. What began as a creative career has evolved into something deeper—creating opportunities, uplifting women, and building a brand that reflects her values.
The conversation dives into motherhood, personal evolution, and the shift that happens when success is no longer just about the grind—but about alignment, fulfillment, and legacy. Melissa also opens up about her platform DIOSA, her passion for empowering women, and how life experiences shaped her mission to create safe, inspiring spaces in entertainment.
This episode is a real look at what it means to grow, pivot, and step fully into your purpose while staying true to who you are.
Key Takeaways:
• Why alignment and values are non-negotiable in building your brand
• How motherhood can redefine purpose and career direction
• The importance of creating safe, empowering spaces in creative industries
To learn more about Melissa please visit: Melissa Marin
Hola mi gente, how goes it? My name is Heraldo Joseos Categui, and this is Chateau Bowau. We are here today with a very special guest, the amazing Melissa Marin, a creative producer and a good friend of mine who uh took the time out of a vacation to come visit us today. Uh Melissa, say hello.
SPEAKER_01Hello, thank you for having me. Far too kind.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely, absolutely. Um you guys came down here from uh Aventura, is that correct?
SPEAKER_01Aventura, Miami.
SPEAKER_04Now, have you been there your entire life?
SPEAKER_01Uh born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. I am a Florida girl.
SPEAKER_04Nice, very, very nice, very nice. Melissa, tell the world. I mean, a lot of people know you. A lot of people uh say they've seen your work and you work on videos and productions and stuff, and it's really impressive. Tell the world about what your main uh, you know, what you want to do with the future of uh your role.
SPEAKER_01I think that's changed since everything started for me. Um I started about 10 years ago, probably more now, maybe like 11 years ago. Um I started as a casting uh director for a small boutique record label, and that led into me producing music videos, producing visuals for artists. Um and I've gotten to work with uh amazing people over the years, um, amazing talent, mostly women, which is my pride and joy. I feel like I was placed in the industry to um be a safe space for women um where they can create freely without uh feeling any way and with being able to be their truest selves as a woman. Um, but now that I'm a mother, um my baby is two now, things have kind of changed for me, and I'm now more focused on my brand um and elevating who I am, elevating my voice. Um, I still do take some projects, but I'm very particular about what projects I take on, uh who I work with, um, because I'm very sensitive now. If I'm gonna leave my baby at home, uh it has to make sense, it has to make me happy completely and um has to pay right. But yeah, I'm a creative producer. Um again, visuals, videos, photo shoots, um creative direction for artwork. Um I've also uh AR'd uh uh a project for Young Jeezy. Well, I was AR coordinator, so there was an A like his lead lead AR, but I was there in the studio with him as he created the entire album, and I brought on um three songwriters and two producers. So I've done a little of everything and I feel like it falls under a creative production umbrella. But basic basically, if you need anything executed, call on me.
SPEAKER_04Wow, that that was informative. That's very quick. That's a great answer. Um I've known you for some time, you know, we we become friends over the years. Um, and things change, right? And you have kids, right? Because I remember I used to follow you on Instagram and you know, before we actually met, and you know, you and Losa popping bottles and everything, hand out the club and traveling. I'm like, I wish I had their life, right? I'm sitting there, right? And then all of a sudden I see the video and he proposed to you. Yes. Right? Was that an event, like a club or something, right?
SPEAKER_01It was an event I produced, um, and he thought it would be perfect because I'm very nosy, and I was so like, I was so caught up with the event. Um, the girly who was producing it with me, something ended up happening happening at her job where it like took everything, all the time she was able to put into the event we were putting together. I had to basically take everything on, and so he was like, This is perfect. So he already had the ring. Um, and he proposed to me at my event called Leo Bash. And I had four performances at the event. Um, it was a full production, it was beautiful, it was an amazing venue, and he did a good job.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, surprised me. Like I watched, I'm not an emotional person, you know, but like I saw it, I was like, I go on you on this, you know, that was nice. I was touched.
SPEAKER_01Funny story, I was pregnant and had no idea.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. So did you get like were you hostile crying afterwards or no? Or you were like in shock.
SPEAKER_01I felt so weird that entire day. Um, and I thought it was just the nerves of the production and so many things going on. And again, I was leading the entire thing myself that I thought it was, I I thought it was that. And then the next morning I saw my mother and she saw me and she was like, Sestambaraza. And I'm like, No, I'm not girl. I was drinking all night.
SPEAKER_03It's like, yeah, it's like Moana. They know, right? The elders know. Crazy.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, but yeah, it was it was very emotional for me. Um, I wish more of my like family was there, like they'll, you know, my aunts and stuff, but it's okay. They'll be at the wedding.
SPEAKER_04There you go. With that, you gotta have a date yet or no?
SPEAKER_01Not yet. Um, again, I found out I was pregnant literally a week after he proposed to me, and that made me kind of cry as well because I was like, people are gonna think you just proposed to me because I was pregnant. And he's like, No. Um, he's like, who cares what people think? Um, so life took over. You know, I got pregnant, um, and now the baby's too. So I would say like 2028 to be safe. That's that's that's a safe day.
SPEAKER_04I um I am also uh, well, and I would say also I am kind of bashful when it comes to heading to the uh to the altar again. So I get in a lot of trouble. You better move it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've been engaged for like 18 years. Oh my god, no, no, bro. No, I'm joking, I'm joking. I'm I'm joking. You know, um first I want to know if she wants to get serious first, you know. So come on. No, but but she's she's cool about it too. She doesn't really, you know, rush it and everything, but like she threw little digs at me. Like um, like my friend got married, uh, friends of ours, they got married and they were together like nine years, you know. Again, kind of going on where we are, and she's you know, we're having dinner, she's like, Well I will have to wait nine years, you know. Like but I'm like, I heard you take it easy. That's what she does. She mutters things under the back, you know. I love her. So that that's how she delivers her shots.
SPEAKER_02I love that.
SPEAKER_04Um, but we're probably getting married at the end of this year.
SPEAKER_02Oh no, oh, okay.
SPEAKER_04I think so. I think so.
SPEAKER_02Okay. I know, I know.
SPEAKER_04Send the same to date, bro, because I want to be there. I know. Um, but um, yeah, so that's I this this movie that we did, it just took everything out of my life. Because we were supposed to get married last year, and if you remember, I sent the blast with thinking about doing destination wedding in Bermuda and yada yada yada. No, a rubber, excuse me. And um, yeah, it just never happened because this movie ruined my life.
SPEAKER_01No, amazing job, by the way. Congratulations on Amazon. Wow, I can't wait to watch it on TV.
SPEAKER_04Thank you, thank you. Um, we'll talk about that later. That's uh that's a whole other thing. Amazing. Um tell me about Diosa Worldwide, because I know it's something that you've been doing for quite some time.
SPEAKER_01Yes, so um, it's my second brand. Uh my first one I started like right around the same time that I started doing uh becoming a casting director for that label. And um I was inspired by a group of women. I always tell this story because I think it's pretty funny, and now they're actually trending again and becoming viral because people are starting to pick up on the story from from back then. Um, but it was a group of women who had a lot of following but weren't sending out a message that I me personally didn't think I would want like my little sister to find, you know. And so I started a brand called Live Vivacious, um, and it was basically a brand to highlight women, which is I'm doing the same thing with Diossa, but in a different way. So women who were nurses and women who, you know, went to school, and women who portrayed themselves a little different, but still would go out, still beautiful, were still hanging out with the people who were in and cool and trending and in fashion and stuff. And that actually led me to production because I was producing my own uh my own uh visuals for the products we were selling and kind of led me to managing as well. So Diosa started um during COVID as I was leaving a project that I was on, and I was on the project for three years and I signed a contract, so I couldn't get out of it. Um but towards the end, I wasn't really happy. And Los was actually like, Mel, you can make up anything in a second. Like you're so creative. You need something that's yours and that you have creative freedom. You know, you can pop in and out of. It's not like something that's a pressure for you, and it's something that you know you can put your focus and attention on and take away from where you're not, where you're feeling voids, basically. And so I started the OSA um during COVID, and I've been slowly growing it. Um, we sell products, we highlight women through interviews. Um, and recently I started uh performance productions. So um artists are coming on and they're performing um like the drop my performances. I don't know if you've seen them. So yeah, it's uh year two, and last year, postpartum, it really helped me kind of get through um not being outside. Right. That was a hard hit for me as well because uh my entire life I've been, you know, at events, productions, meeting people, networking, traveling. And then when I became a mommy, I had to sit my ass down for a year. And I was like, I'm like, my identity. I don't who am I? Like, I'm a mother, that's all I am, like what? And so luckily I had Diosa um to fall back on, and I was able to call on my friends and people that I've um been blessed to work with and meet um throughout all the work that I've done throughout the years. Um and I started interviewing them. So that was a really amazing outlet for me, and it really got me through.
SPEAKER_04That's awesome. That's awesome. I want to throw a little bit of a curveball, so you're not gonna have a prepared answer for this, but probably you do. What are your like your top three branding non-negotiables? Like when you said you said because you're a parent now, right? You're a wife. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, you're your fiance. There's things that obviously the image you want to portray. So what are your top three non-negotiables?
SPEAKER_01For for the OSA or just me and branding in general. Branding in general. Um has to align. Um, our voices or anything that I touch has to align with you know what I like, um, values. Um, a woman who came from a mother who instilled morals, values, um non-negotiables, has to it has to look good, has to, you know, has to look good, feel good, taste good, um I think that's it. Yeah, that was a curveball.
SPEAKER_04It was a little curveball, yeah. Yeah, because you know, again, it's just something you can prepare like to answer, right? But it's when you think about like even myself, right? There's people that that ask to work with us.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_04And you know, before I say yes, like, oh, because everybody, you know, always wants to, oh, I want to do this, I want to do that. You have to look what they're about. You have to see what they're about, you know. So I might look at this social media and I'm gonna look like, I don't know about that. You know what I mean? Yeah. I stay away from politics because everybody has their own opinion about everything, you know. Yeah. But um, but I just I want to make sure that we're we're we're equally yoked in what we want to do.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. That's as a creative, it's really important to have that because the moment that I feel like someone doesn't like me or I'm not valued in the space, I can't be my my best self. Like I'm not gonna come up with the ideas that I would come up, you know, per se, around someone like you who values me, who honors what you do yourself, you know. Um, so I definitely alignment is huge for me and um how you make me feel because I I always make sure I make you feel safe, honored, valued. And so I want that same reflection. Great answer. Thank you.
SPEAKER_04I always want to move forward, you know. I hate, but I guess the thing that bothers me most is somebody wastes my time.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04Don't waste my time. I've wasted money, I've wasted other things. I don't care about that. I mean, I you know, you know, sustain that's supposed to waste food. But we do waste so many things, right? You know what I mean? Especially, you know, we got we get together and everything. But when somebody wastes my time, to me, that's some shit I'm not getting back. No matter what you do, you're not paying me back. Yeah, and I I don't get salty, like you know, but I'm like right again to myself, you know what I mean? Because I just don't like wasting my time. No, I feel I mean, it's obviously I'm you know I'm older than you, but it's an old adage, you know. I you know, I have more time you know behind me than in front of me. So time to me is is precious. You know, it it's it's something that I'm never gonna get back, and it's something that you're never able to be to pay me back that time. Absolutely. I don't worry about anything else. Um listen, I wish that I, you know, was able to take care of myself, but listen, I could lose some weight, I'm not gonna lie. Good friend, you look good. Thank you. Listen, I dropped some LBs, you know what I mean? Um uh, but you know, again, you know, like I'm on medications and stuff, so you know that story. But um, you guys are on a serious health and wellness. I see your videos every day. I see Los running all the world, and I'm like, it must be nice. But you guys, you you're killing it every morning. Yeah. And I'm watching. And tell me about that, man, because you guys are killing it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, Los, it's crazy because I mean, we've always been fairly healthy. I've been an athlete all my life. I played soccer um growing up um semi-professionally. Um, I got a full ride. Yes, full ride to play soccer in college. Um, and so I've always been fairly healthy. Um, but it wasn't until Los uh Los transitioned into health and wellness um from entertainment to health and wellness, which you're sitting down with him next. So I won't get too much into that. But um he's working for a uh a med spa and he's been going to all these health and wellness um what are they called? Like the conventions. And he's been bringing home a lot of you know biohacking uh information. We have a hyperbaric chamber in our house right now, which is awesome. And so ever since he transitioned, it kind of like you know, anything we do, we we share. And I've now like my algorithms are girls who are in health and wellness, and I really want to be that person for my community. Um, and what I've been trying to do is to do it gracefully and make sure I'm attaching myself to brands that I'm aligned with again and that, you know, make sense that are scientifically backed. Um, I'm 40, I turned 41 this year. Um, and so I wish I would have learned about this way sooner, but it's still early enough for me to be able to age gracefully and you know, live a healthy life as I get older, and especially women after having babies and we have hormones, pre-menopause, um, perimenopause, menopause. I want to I want to try to do the things that my mother didn't have at reach. Um, and so I can pass that on to other women who are, you know, following me or um, you know, want to get the information from somebody who they trust. And so I've been I've been really taking a deep dive on that. Um, currently taking uh liposomal glutathione, NAD plus. Um, when I had the baby, it was really hard for me to lose the weight, um, which I didn't think would be me, but I had an emergency C-section. Yeah. And so that it was really hard for me. Um, and so I I actually took terzepitide, which is a GLP one. Um, and I've I'm the type of person that never even takes Tylenol. Um, and so when I took that, I did my research and I made sure I was getting it from a nurse, a doctor, um, and it really helped me turn my life around. And then I found Pilates, hot Pilates, and I I just love it. I feel great. I feel better than I did when I was 20. Um, I feel like people are looking at me now and they're like, I, you know, I don't really go out anymore. But I went out last weekend with my friends and a girl saw me and she like, she did a double take. She's like, Oh my God, she's like, Mel, you're glowing, you look so good. And I'm like, Thank you. Like, I'm like, it's really working. I'm I'm taking so many things. I'm taking supplements which I've never taken before. Um and you know, Chachi came over this weekend and she's like, give me all the goods. And so every day I was making her the wellness stacks, and she's like, I love you, sis. Thank you, thank you for putting me on. So that's that that makes me really happy that I can share that with people.
SPEAKER_04It's cool because like I said, you guys have like a nice cohesive team. Yeah, you know, and it's it's nice to have that, you know. And I myself have a team, like I said, we have uh, you know, this we fight inaugural time, this is what we do. Yeah, exactly. But how do you think, like, if you you could go at it alone, right? But you know, when you have a team, it's just so so different, right? Like it's so you do this, I do this. So, how do you think uh, you know, having that team has helped you in your career pursuits, having that backup?
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, it's been amazing. Literally, I I feel like Los and I, since the moment we met, we knew we were meant to be. We were getting so many signs. And literally, his first, so he, you know, he had a show called No Sleeping in the Trophy Room that was picked up by Revolt, and you'll talk about him, about that with him. But literally, we're sharing resources. Till this day, we share resources. So, you know, it was really cool that I was able to put in work for so many years before I even met him and him as well. And then we come together, and now we're like flourishing because of the work that we put in individually, and now we're like, oh, okay, here's here's and there's so many times where I've been like we put each other in group chats with people that, you know, again, we've built relationships aside outside from me from one another, and now we're like family with people, and now we're producing things together, and it is uh it's awesome. My my best friend Monica, who knows me very well, she's like, You literally met your Dumedia Naranja, like Los is literally your twin in the male form, obviously. But it's it's great. I don't I don't know, I can't imagine myself with somebody that's not like him. And in the beginning, people were like, Are you sure you guys want to date each other? You're in the same industry, you guys are at the same places, and we're like, actually, yeah, this is pretty cool, you know. And people, people to this day are like, you guys are fucking dope. Like, it's so cool because especially in the entertainment industry where relationships aren't really, you know, they're kind of frowned upon, and you know, men are players and women are whatever. But you know, I think I think it's dope, and I, you know, I I really love that we stand on that as a unit and that he represents me and I represent him. So it's awesome. Super dope.
SPEAKER_04That's super dope. I, on the other hand, do not want to date anyone who likes me. I consider myself easy, right? I'm not. I'm just I'm very listening I'm an old dog, right?
SPEAKER_01So you can learn new tri new tricks. Come on. I try, come on, I try, I really try.
SPEAKER_04The only thing that Karina's been able to do for me is got me off sugar. Because be before uh I met her, I was doing about six coffees a day, and probably two sugars in every coffee, which makes about 12 spoons of sugar a day. So I was wired. So she got me off the sugar completely. But I I just dating somebody like me must be a nightmare. It must be, you know. So I'm just like, you know, because I'm so self-sufficient. I'm so self, and actually I had I had a uh Judy on on yesterday, and um, we're talking about that, you know, and I'm just so kind of I wouldn't say regimented, but I'm just used to what I do, you know. So having someone like me who just I just I'm going A to B.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_04You coming with me or you're not, you're right, you know. I just I'm terrible.
SPEAKER_01Kareem, she she she calms you.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, yeah. She she really does, you know, because somebody like me, I it would be it would be uh, you know, just a terrible thing. We we we just clash too much because I'm so strong in my yeah, but at the same time, like nah I'm a piece of cake, I'm easy. Because I don't like it.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna have a conversation with her later.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, no, but she's cool, man. She really like, you know, she's you know, she's just like whatever I want to do, you know, like this and that. And she may not be happy about some of the shit. Like I travel a lot, obviously.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_04And I'll be like, yeah, I have to go to LA, I have to go to this, I have to go to New York, I have to this. And she's like, all right, how long are you gonna be a waste of time? And I'm like, all right, six days. She's like, all right. And then we FaceTime every day, you know. You know, Chloe make sure Chloe, you know, it's my my daughter. She's amazing. She's amazing. And she's she's she's more aggressive than a mother. She's like, Yeah, what's up? You didn't FaceTime me. What's going on over there? I'm like, take it easy, Jesus.
SPEAKER_01But um But that's important to have a partner that understands what you do. Um, and I I believe Los and I are very much like that. Um, there's been times we we we play hot potato with soul, which is great, you know, but we we do we do have a lot of family time together um and we make sure of that. But there's a lot of times where he's traveling, I'm traveling, and I understand that because, you know, I I do that as well. So having the balance is key, and having somebody that understands what you do is also very important.
SPEAKER_00Welcome to Chateau Babao. This is where culture speaks loud, where Latino excellence takes center stage, where stories are raw, unfiltered, and undeniable. Hosted by acclaimed writer, director, and creator of the international sci-fi hit Flux, Heraldo Je Uskategi brings you powerful conversations with the artists, filmmakers, performers, and visionaries redefining entertainment worldwide. This is heritage, this is hustle, this is impact. Chateau Bow Wow, where powerful voices shape the future.
SPEAKER_04Your artists, they seem to vary, right? You have different artists from different kinds of streams of music, right? Um tell me something about that.
SPEAKER_01Well, I currently am not managing anybody. My contracts are all done. Okay. Um, but I have, you know, the two artists that I managed for five years was Chachi, Grisel Del Valle, and Lil Soso. So Grisel Del Valle, she's a Latin artist. Um she creates tropical music, ballads, um, and Lil Soso was a rapper, is a rapper. And so being able to be a part of both words, both worlds, both Anglo and Latin worlds, was who I am. You know, I grew up with hip hop, I grew up with Latin music, I grew up listening to ballads with my mother, and so um I would say I'm I'm I'm well versed when it comes to cultures, and so being able to work with with both and all around and many different artists, you know, not only man at a management level, but people artists have hired me to just come on board for an artwork or a single or a music video. So um I've been blessed to be able to work with RB artists, rappers, Latin artists, um indie artists, um, big artists. So it's been awesome. And I will say that each experience has taught me or has taken me to each next level. And so I love that I've been able to tap into different industries. Or different cultures and still been able to be me and been able to flow.
SPEAKER_04That's awesome. Yeah. That's awesome. Now, um, I actually met you through Chachi. Yes. So Chachi is a is a fantastic, fantastic just a vocalist. She's unbelievable, so powerful on the mic and just the performances are so nice. Um, I was kind of uh honored. Remember, uh, when you when I wrote that piece. Oh, yes. Was that for the Ulsa?
SPEAKER_01Which one? Oh, oh yeah, yeah, yes. It was for the Usa. It was for the Usa.
SPEAKER_04How was that? That was because I had never written for like a magazine.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04And so when you tapped me for that, I was like, oh shit, that's kind of nice, you know. Because it in and again, I I, you know, it must have been like, okay, this guy is obviously into her music. You know what I mean? Because I was just like, you know, she's the best thing in the world. It was awesome.
SPEAKER_01That's how you were able to tap in so well. That's how you were able to write it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, because she's so talented, like I said, in electric, her live performance is like this, just they're unbelievable.
SPEAKER_01She she's uh underrated for how talented she is. No, but I noticed that that happens so much, you know, with stuff.
SPEAKER_04No, unless you have something or you're huge backing, a huge backing, or you're willing to do something that, you know, that's not, you know, in your best interest. It seems like so many artists that, because I've known a lot of musicians throughout my days, and you know, I'm just lucky to be able to have this, you know, I guess, platform now, right? But there were so many different people that I met that just unbelievably talented, just just just like you know, you know what I mean? It just and this never never really got there. Now, Chachi's done some great things. Oh yeah. Yeah, she's done some great things, so I wouldn't put her in that category, but um, but you know, it it it's just there's so many, so many great artists that that are, you know, again, and then you see somebody who, you know, on TV and on music videos that aren't really that great. You know, you're like, oh, how did they get there? You know what I mean? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And but what I loved about Chachi's project is we were working with like the bare minimum, and you helped us with a lot, thank you. Um forever indebted to you. So we were able to uh, you know, accomplish big things with very minimal and because she's so talented. Um, but what I tell Chachi all the time is you gotta keep going because you're like a you're like a Celia Cruz, you're a longevity artist because you're really truly like talented, like in with no ear mics and like no nothing. She could literally blow, you know? Yeah, and she's such a human, an amazing human that I'm like, you gotta keep going. You can't stop and worry about what you don't have and what you I'm like Chacha, you need to get online every day and go live, you know. Like I push her a lot. Um, but like like you said, we've been able to accomplish a lot of things, or she's been able to accomplish a lot of things. Her album went number one on iTunes without no marketing, no dollars. What?
SPEAKER_04I was so happy to see that. I was so happy to see that. I was like, that's yeah, fantastic.
SPEAKER_01We were so happy.
SPEAKER_04She deserves it, you know, because she's worked so hard, you know.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04And that's that's how that's why I met you. I went to because I met Chachi online, really. I think she was touring with I Like It Like That. Oh.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04And then I went to see one of her live shows. And um, I went actually, actually, I was supposed to go with a girl I was seeing, and then we broke up, so I ended up going with a friend of mine. And um I'd throw that in there. Yeah. Well, that's how we, you know, it was like a like almost like a Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Because it was one of her Valentine's shows.
SPEAKER_02Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_04So I was going with a girl I was dating, and then I ended up with friend JD. Um I was like, hey, happy Valentine's Day, bro. You know? Um, and she took the stage with my first time seeing her live.
SPEAKER_02Wow.
SPEAKER_04And she she was unbelievable. I want to say it was Dwayne Park in the city, whatever it was.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_04It was like fucking bananas, like nothing I'd never seen. And I seen live.
SPEAKER_02Was that her?
SPEAKER_01Uh it was her cabaret. Yes.
SPEAKER_04And I was watching, and my friend did he go, he goes, Who is this woman? I said, I met her online, man.
SPEAKER_01She's I met her online as well.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I said, I met her online. I thought I don't know who she is. So at the at the end of the night, and again, we weren't as as as close, you know, as friends as like you know we are now, but um, but when at the end of the night went to see her, I was like, Hey, it's nice to meet you. I took a little picture, and she was like, you know, like give me this cycle, right? But she was so cool, and then we became friends, and then I got you know, we got involved with the music and everything. And again, she's so talented. And I gotta have her on here at some point, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I was telling her, she's she's uh like I told her, I told you that she's coming in May. So she I was like, it's an hour away. You might as well, yeah, might as well try.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. I have them come down, you know. If they want to stay again, you know, we have the guest room and everything. But uh and and Calvin's another powerhouse, honestly. I mean, he's another deep.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04There's you know, and then and I I love that because that's also another team, right?
SPEAKER_01Women pick your man wisely, it makes all the difference in the world. But you know, side uh curveball here. I'm gonna throw myself a curveball or you a curveball. Okay. Um, but I do feel like my calling in life or my purpose purpose in life is to mentor women, and I don't know when that's gonna come, life coaching or whatever that career is for me, um, or that change or that pivot for me. Um I find myself speaking to a lot of women, people that just call me and trust me. Um, and I love that people can call on me and I and I spend hours on the phone with people, sometimes for weeks, helping them get through a breakup or helping them get through something that they're going through, or you know, if they're feeling less than in a relationship. Um, and so it's very important for that conversation to take a big heat in what I do. And that's why this year I've been focusing on my own brand. And eventually I want to start putting out clips on that and speaking to women live, or I don't know what it is. I don't know whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing, but I feel it in my gut. I feel like it's my calling to spread that at a bigger level versus just conversations that I'm having with people that trust me. Um, because it's so important. It's so important to um, you know, make motherfuckers respect you. Um, you know, and a lot of time we, you know, we as women, we fall in love and we forget about that. And because we want, we yearn for love so much, you know. I I would I had I grew up without a father with just my mother who gave me everything I never felt a void until I was 27, 28, and when I was actually maturing and realizing, oh shit, I have abandonment issues. I searched for love in men and so many different men and dated so many guys looking for it. And really, I needed to peel the layers back. I was single for four years before I met Los and I was like, I need to be single. I need to understand why I feel this void. I need to understand who I am, what type of man I want to be with, you know. And Los and I are going on eight years now. We pride ourselves on that. We pride ourselves on being a representation of what love is supposed to be like. It's not perfect, but it's progressive. Um, he honors me, he loves me out loud. I do the same for him. Um and so I love that I can be a reminder of that for women, um, subconsciously and consciously. Um, like I said, a lot of women, friends of mine, some that I've not really close to that just feel comfortable in calling me. And I'm like, first of all, I say thank you for trusting me when they do call me and I'm there for them. No matter what I'm doing, I pick up the phone and I feel like again, that's been my purpose my entire life. Um and I remind them, I say, we birth these. We birthed them. Don't ever let them disrespect you. Don't ever forget who you are. Stand on that. And when you ask a man what you want and what you what you desire, obviously not purses and money and that too, you know, you can ask that too. But but, you know, the things that really are important and crucial to your growth as a woman, as a woman in a relationship, um, you know, as a woman that's gonna become a mother, start a family, you need a man that supports you, that loves you, that listens to you, that learns with you and grows with you because you're gonna give that right back to him. You know, and a lot of the time, in a lot of these conversations, I'm finding that we as women poor, poor, poor, poor, poor. And the men might not be doing the same, not because they don't want to, but because they don't understand that. Men from a young age are taught, don't cry, don't show emotion, get up, right? You scrape yourself, get up, no crying. You're a man, you know. They're not taught to be emotional, to how how to communicate, you know. It was pulling, it was like pulling teeth for me and Los to have our first conversation. And now sometimes I'm the one that he's like, come on, Mel, you know, let's let's actually sit down and talk. And so I do feel like that's an important conversation that needs to be had more often. And, you know, I do, I have found a few people that are doing it, and but I do, I do feel like I'm going to eventually get to that topic. And and I've been doing it subconsciously, you know, you know, just by showing our lifestyle, you know, and our stories and stuff, and people seeing that we've been together for eight years and it's been healthy. And it's, you know, I always tell those, don't take my crown off my head, whatever you do. You know, if you have needs as a man, let's talk about it, you know. But out in people, a lot of people know me, a lot of people know you. If I go into a room, I'm always going to represent you. I'm obviously gonna think about who I am first, but you are my partner, and I always ask him for that, especially now that we have a baby. So, yeah.
SPEAKER_04I think I need your help evolution. I think I think I need to take take your course.
SPEAKER_01Call me.
SPEAKER_04Um, which which is really cool. Like you said, you know, what we do is um we uh over here at Room Dog Productions, we have a little uh scholarship stuff. So when you get started on your on your uh you know, on your on your what you want to do when you have it formulated in your Ada Rock, like you said, like it'll be like a self-help or uh, you know, um I'll sponsor a few people for you, all right, is what I'll do. Okay, so what we'll do is um dog? Yo, you're welcome. Room dog productions is in all, you know. Listen, you know what it is? We're not taught, I think, younger, we're not taught financial responsibility, we're not taught emotional health. You know, there's so many things that, you know, again, like you said, oh, we gotta be tough. You know, you know, stop crying, you know. And sometimes you gotta fucking cry. Sometimes you gotta, you know, and that's okay, you know, and emotional health and and and financial literacy, all these things that we just didn't grow up with, you know, because it's just everything's so old school that they're like, ah, yeah. Um you're gonna like with real estate. We were taught, you know, I don't buy that. Yeah, you know, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01It's like you I you know, meanwhile, the richest people in the world for real estate.
SPEAKER_04But um, but yeah, when you when you get started, let me know. I'll I'll I'll sponsor it. I I think that you're gonna lean towards uh towards females, right? Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01So, you know, and I think it's it's conversations with women, but also, you know, conversations just me and like reminding women the things that I have, the things that I say over the phone when I'm actually speaking to somebody and being comfortable just saying it to, you know, there's a there's a actually a studio now in Miami, it's really cool. It's called The Move, and it you literally everything's set up like this, and you rent out the space and you and you know, somebody's there, presses play for you. You have an hour. So I want to get to there. Um, but I think I need, you know, I need to practice that at home first and get comfortable with just speaking to myself because that that has been a little bit of a challenge. I cannot lie. Talking to you, easy. But like sitting in front of camera and being like, like when I do the post for the products that I've been getting booked for and all of that, it takes me like literally two hours to like say the things correctly. And but yeah, it's tough.
SPEAKER_04You know, listen, I had I have my my producer, uh my producer is Manny Cabo, who's he was on The Voice. And um, you know, again, he's he's a Hi Manny. Hi Manny, how you doing? He's a great talent, but what he is really is supportive and not only tech but also in speech and looking at the camera, looking at the person you're delivering. And I wasn't always good at uh public speaking. And I say that to everybody, I talk a lot of shit, but you put the mic camera at me, I'm like, oh shit. You know what I mean? So you know what I mean. If I had an emoji, be like, like, you know, that'd be my emoji. Because I just never liked it. So I took a couple of uh seminars, uh, a couple of workshops and stuff on public speaking, and um what I discovered, yeah, and what I discovered is I prefer to be behind the camera. That's right. That's what I discovered. But um, but you know, but no, you guys are really great on camera. Um, and and to get where you are now, right? To say put it all to wrap it up together. Like, what's your inspiration, you think, for you to say, I want to shine, I want to do this, and I want to pave the way. Um Did I ask that right? I think Yeah, you did.
SPEAKER_01Um I again, I want to be a voice for women. That that's my calling. And anybody who is a part of my community, and you know, I have girls again, girls that reach out to me that are like, can we start like a weekly session where we talk? And you know, I would love to I would love to do that, but I would have to find a way to transition there. And you know, it takes my time, so obviously it can become a career. Um, and everything's not about money, but I gotta pay the bills too. Yeah, good. Um but I do I do love like you know, this just in this past year when I decided not to, last year was when my contract ended with uh management. I decided to kind of just focus on me and focus on my brand. And just in this past year, I've closed 10 paid partnerships with brands that I love. Um, brands that align with health and um wellness and just overall, you know, um well-being. Um I I'm I'm so happy. Like we're here right now because we're going to a hotel as a couple. They're paying us to stay there. Um, they're giving us uh like an allowance to spend at the hotel. And it's like, why can't we not be doing this? You know, and and eventually money making itself um is the goal for me. Um, you know, whether that's an Amazon store, uh real estate, a TikTok shop, which I'm actually uh I have a website for the USA Worldwide, but we just got picked up by an agency that is helping us um set up shop on TikTok. So that's the goal. The goal is doing things that really light me up and that I'm passionate about, and also making money in my sleep so that I can pass that on to our son. We can pass that on to our son. Because we're we've always, I'm sorry, we've Los and I are we met hustling, working, late nights in the studio, grinding. I mean, he was with he was with somebody for 15 years in the entertainment. Um, you'll you'll speak to him, but he's so used to that work mode that you know, even when we're on vacation, I'm like, I have to remind him, like, babe, put the phone down. It's okay to not be working, it's okay to not be taking calls. And eventually, like, we're getting older. We need to transition into that. And obviously, there is room for like certain things to take your time and for you to get excited about, but take the time to balance and to make money smarter. And that's that is my ultimate inspiration so that I can pass down to more than one generation and leave our son with with that, with that teaching and that.
SPEAKER_04I I don't think we're gonna get a gonna get a better answer than that. That was that was amazing. That was amazing. Um, as always, I give everybody their final words, their parting shot. Anything you want to plug, any projects in particular that you want to say, yo, give us a shout, give us a follow.
SPEAKER_01Um, follow the OSA worldwide, follow no sleeping coffee, um, follow anything that we are posting because we do our research. Um, we believe in longevity, in we align ourselves with brands that care about their customers, the people we love, anybody that we come in contact with, shine bright, find solutions to everything, don't stress about the past and always take steps forward.
SPEAKER_04That's awesome. This was a lovely time. I appreciate you guys taking so many vacations. I know it's your private time to go away and unplug and everything, but you guys stopped here, and I really, really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for having us. Of course, what a pleasure. Yeah, anything for you.
SPEAKER_04Thank you. You guys are dope. Um, we are Chateau Bow. This was this was a great conversation because, again, not only is she uh a powerhouse and a hustler, but she's also a personal friend, and I really appreciate you and what you guys are doing.
SPEAKER_02Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_04Melissa Maring, um, there she is. Please. Thanks guys for coming out. Again, we are Chateau Bow Wow. My name is Heraldo Scouteggi, and you know, Latinos. We're doing it.
SPEAKER_01Latinos.
SPEAKER_04We're doing it. Thanks for tuning in. Stay blessed.
SPEAKER_01That was awesome.