Ep 125: Empowerment and Personal Growth: A Deep Dive with Andrea Navedo
Host: Cindy Hovington
GUEST: Andrea Navedo
Andrea Navedo is a Bronx-born-and-raised Puerto Rican American actress best known for her role as Xiomara, a complex and genuine Latina on The CW’s series Jane the Virgin, for which she received critical acclaim. She is dedicated to various charities, including A Place Called Home in South Central Los Angeles and the Fresh Air Fund in New York City. Navedo has a passion for self-improvement, growth, and healing and, through her experiences, seeks to help those who see themselves on the outside looking in. She and her family divide their time between Toronto and Connecticut.
Now, she shares bits of her story of growing up in “da South Bronx–boogie down, burning”–to inspire young people who grew up like she did and who, after being counted out, still strive to succeed.
Expanding on her beloved commencement address to DeWitt Clinton High School and other speeches, Navedo offers the pithy, ghetto-honest, and at times laugh-out-loud funny lessons she learned from surviving abusive relationships, dealing with repeated rejection, and eventually triumphing in the entertainment industry. From how to listen compassionately to your own internal dialogue, to why fame and validation may not make you feel better about yourself, to how to never play the victim, she provides notes from life’s trenches, the trenches of the South Bronx. She shows how the outer and inner challenges of what popular culture deems the horrors of places like the Bronx can instead be the very factors that bring out our superpowers.
For all who wish to take the reins on their own lives, especially in the face of hardship, trauma, discrimination, and inner doubts, Navedo’s reflections, confessions, memories, and, most of all, hard-earned lessons help us realize our “ghetto” is the breeding ground for our self-actualization–our otherness is our strength.
Summary
Ready to embark on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery? Brace yourselves for a deep and insightful conversation with the esteemed Andrea Navedo, famed for her role as Jane's mother in the hit show Jane the Virgin and author of The Otherness Is Our Strength. Andrea and I delve into her values of connection and growth, and discuss how these principles have shaped her personal journey and acting career.
Have you ever wondered about the struggles single moms face and how they cope with it? Hear, as Andrea candidly shares her experiences of becoming a single mother, redefining her parenting style, and using her personal growth to guide her children. Our discussion also touches upon the significance of setting boundaries and self-care, lessons she learnt from her own experiences with bullying and an abusive relationship.
Andrea shares how Steven Pressfield's book, The War of Art, has been instrumental in her life, aiding her to conquer creative blocks and strive for excellence in all life facets. We also delve into the power of self-discipline, caring for oneself, and creativity in nurturing connection and growth. Through all these insights, Andrea Navedo's journey and experiences are sure to leave you feeling empowered and inspired. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation!
Resources:
You can purchase her book The Otherness is our Strength:
Visit her website: https://andreanavedo.com/
Follow her on Instagram: @andreanavedo
Time Stamps:
In today’s episode we are joined by Jane the Virgin, Andrea Navedo, author of Our Otherness is Our Strength
6:20 - How was playing the role of Xiomara on Jane the Virgin, did it relate to Andrea’s life at all?
8:08 - Where can a mom begin if she wants to start working on herself?
13:54 - Why are moms so hard on themselves?
15:31 - What do we take into our parenting from our childhood and how can we change the things we don’t like?
22:22 - How can we set boundaries as an adult if we weren’t allowed to have boundaries as a child?
26:55 - How can moms feel secure in taking a leap of faith when it comes to a career step?
34:20 - Some tips for parents from Andrea about how to start the self work journey