Podcast Summary: Noche de Pendejadas with Alannized & Sarah La Morena

Episode: Sarah La Morena Talks All: Adoption, Being Mexican, Miscarriages, Baby Daddy Drama, Chisme & MORE!!
Date: September 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This heartfelt and candid episode features Sarah La Morena, regional Mexican music artist and social media personality. Host Alannized invites Sarah to open up about her complex upbringing as a Black adoptee in a Mexican family, navigating identity, racism, and belonging in both the Black and Mexican communities. The discussion goes deep into her struggles with adoption, miscarriages, mental health, motherhood, music industry experiences, and the importance of authenticity. Sprinkled with chisme, laughter, and real talk, this episode resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider or fought for self-acceptance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sarah's Upbringing and Adoption

Timestamps: 06:07–16:49

• Adoption Story: Born in Lynwood, CA, to a mother struggling with drug addiction, Sarah was placed into the foster system at birth due to drug exposure ([06:23]).
• Adoptive Family: First foster family returned her because of health issues; current family, of Zacatecas and Jalisco heritage, raised her fully immersed in Mexican culture.
  • “Gracias a Dios because I don’t know where I would have been without them.” ([06:37])
• Identity in Mexico vs. US: Felt no difference within her family or in Mexico, but realized she looked “different” (Black, with curly hair) when comparing herself to others, especially at school in the U.S. ([08:39–10:28])
• Knowledge of Adoption: Parents were open—“It was something very repetitive that they would say, you know, don’t hate your birth mom, she just was not in the place…” ([11:41])
• Siblings: Biological siblings were also in foster care, but she never felt the need to search for her birth family until recently ([12:30–13:19]).

2. Navigating Racism, Colorism, and Belonging

Timestamps: 16:49–33:58

• Struggling With Identity: The turning point was wearing a “Rebelde” outfit to school and being told, “You’re not Mexican.” Never wore it again ([19:00]).
• Bullying: Faced racism, both from Black and Mexican peers.
  • “I had a group the morenos, and they were like, why you speaking Spanish for? Like, you don’t want to be Black? All year marin pujaba…” ([21:59–23:28])
• Teacher’s Prejudice: Experienced racism and unfairness from a Black teacher, not just students ([27:52–29:22]).
• Acceptance and Self-Discovery: Acceptance came in high school through sports, clubs, and finding safe, supportive adults.
  • “You don’t know your own strength until you go through it for reals.” ([65:24])

3. Racism on Social Media & Coping with Hate

Timestamps: 30:05–39:43

• Online Racism: Continues to face racist comments, sometimes extremely offensive.
  • “There are some out of pocket things where they’re calling me like the n-word with a hard R… culture vulture…” ([30:30])
• Bridging Cultures: Wants to use her music to unite Black and Mexican communities.
  • “That’s why I do what I do too—like holo regional, uniendo las culturas…” ([32:49])
• Advice to Parents & Adoptees: Emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural traditions for adopted children of different backgrounds ([39:43]).

4. Motherhood: Miscarriages, Health Struggles & Single Parenting

Timestamps: 46:46–73:38

• Desire to Be a Mother: Admits a childhood longing for strong parent-child bonds, partially rooted in her own adoption trauma. Experienced several miscarriages before carrying a pregnancy to term ([48:26]).
• Challenge with Partner: Baby’s father initially wanted out after finding out she was pregnant, but Sarah persevered ([50:38–51:17]).
• Complications: Suffered seizures, likely caused by birth mother’s drug use, leading to a high-risk pregnancy and an emergency C-section ([51:47–55:03]).
• Postpartum Depression: Intense, isolating experience, recognized that mental health struggles after childbirth are real and should be validated ([56:03–56:50]).
• Single Motherhood: Handled the breakup, becoming a single mother to two children while facing severe stress, rapid weight loss, and eventually, a diagnosis of thyroid cancer ([64:48–68:18]).
• Resilience and Community:
  • “You don’t realize your own strength until you actually go through it.” ([72:10])
  • Credits her parents and friends for their unwavering support.

5. Health Crisis: Thyroid Cancer

Timestamps: 68:22–73:38

• Cancer Diagnosis: Assumed stress was causing hair loss and weight loss, but was diagnosed with (highly treatable) thyroid cancer ([68:22–70:02]).
• Recovery: Faced radiation and chemo, worried about her voice due to the importance of singing ([70:23]).
• Message for Others:
  • “Pray… God really listens to us… keep faith, be hopeful, and surround yourself with people that love you.” ([73:38])

6. Rebuilding, New Love & Miraculous Third Child

Timestamps: 74:14–81:16

• Finding Love Again: Met her now-partner on Instagram; was cautious about introducing him to her children ([74:30]).
• Unexpected Pregnancy: Despite having her tubes tied, she got pregnant twice—first ending in miscarriage, second resulting in her daughter ([76:49–78:32]).
• Blissful Family: Describes unique joy of having a daughter after boys, and the warmth of blended, supportive families ([80:32–81:16]).

7. Music Career: Chingona in Regional Mexicano

Timestamps: 81:16–94:09

• Meaning of "Chingona":
  • “To me chingona is brillando sin apagar a nadie… you can't be a mean girl and be a chingona, too.” ([81:48])
• Starting as an Artist: Began singing at family events, joined a local group at 17 ([82:56]).
• Viral Success: Built a social presence blending music and comedy on relatable Mexican experiences ([84:50]).
• Industry Sexism: Details struggles as a Black woman in a male-dominated regional music industry, including not being allowed to perform and inappropriate behavior from male industry figures ([90:39]).
• Advice to Artists:
  • “Honestly, stay independent if you can. Go to writing camps… network, and make your money directly.” ([93:06–94:04])

8. Looking Forward: Life Goals

Timestamps: 94:55–95:36

• Aspirations:
  • “Trying to win a Grammy. But that is a huge goal of mine… family is the most important thing, that’s what’s got me through everything.” ([95:08])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On belonging:
  “My parents did such a good job of just treating everybody the same that I didn’t feel that difference until the outside world… hit me with it.” ([19:47])
• On social hate:
  “When they make the mistake of commenting from their personal pages… these are some out of pocket things…” ([30:30])
• On single motherhood:
  “You don’t know your own strength until you go through it for reals.” ([65:24])
• On surviving cancer:
  “Pray. God really listens to us… Just keep faith, be hopeful, and surround yourself with people that love you.” ([73:38])
• On being a ‘Chingona’:
  “To me chingona is brillando sin apagar a nadie...” ([81:48])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sarah’s Adoption Story: 06:07–13:19
• Identity Struggles/Bullying: 16:49–29:22
• Online Racism & Coping: 30:05–33:58
• Advice for Adoptees and Parents: 39:43
• Motherhood & Postpartum: 46:46–56:50
• Cancer Journey & Recovery: 68:22–73:38
• New Love and Third Child: 74:14–81:16
• Music Industry Real Talk: 82:56–94:09
• Future Goals: 94:55–95:36

Tone & Final Impressions

The conversation is raw, humorous, and Spanglish-rich, balancing chisme with activism and empowerment. Sarah’s story blends resilience, humor, and a profound sense of cultural pride, while never shying away from discussing difficult realities such as racism, trauma, and rebuilding after loss.
Her advice—rooted in lived experience—offers encouragement for anyone adopting, breaking barriers in entertainment, processing trauma, or simply striving to live as their most authentic self.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in stories of identity, motherhood, cultural pride, and thriving against all odds.