The Chisme Corner with Vee Rivera

Episode Title: Different Mountains, Comparison, & The Buttons That Matter
Release Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Vee Rivera
Producer: Sonoro

Episode Overview

In this episode, Vee Rivera dives into the challenges of comparison, how we measure our own journeys versus others, and learning to value the “buttons” (moments) that truly matter in life. She reflects on health anxieties, the pressures of goal-setting in the new year, and the importance of community, self-care, and allowing ourselves grace. The conversation is infused with Vee’s signature humor, honesty, and palpable warmth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Updates and Cheer Mom Life

• Cheer Season: Vee shares excitement as her daughter, Vivi, kicks off a new cheer gym season, complete with new uniforms and equipment.
  • “I’m ready for mom life, and I’m ready for cheer hangovers. Because the cheer hangovers be real.” (03:05)
• Adrenaline of Competitions: Describes the chaos and pride of being a cheer mom, from early mornings to post-event exhaustion.

2. Traditions, Anxiety, and Health

• Egg Cleanse Ritual ("Huevo Limpia"): Vee discusses performing her annual egg cleanse and the anxiety it triggered regarding her health.
  • “I had to do two, but you know what? I’m really glad that I did it...But the one thing that really did scare me was on both of the yolks, I had this red dot.” (05:02)
• Health Anxiety: She candidly reveals putting off doctor’s appointments out of fear, feeling physically anxious about possible bad news.
  • “I have such bad anxiety around it and, like, the what ifs...my mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario.” (06:47)
• Friends as Accountability: Vee highlights the value of friends who hold her accountable for her health and self-care.
  • “Shauna is a real one, I’m telling you. She was like, if you don’t...tell me that you called and made your appointments, I’m going to call your mom.” (07:46)

3. Community Chisme: Listener Goals for 2026

Vee reads and responds to audience-submitted goals for the new year, riffing on each with advice, empathy, and humor.

Notable Listener Goals & Vee’s Reflections

• Small Decluttering Projects:
  • “That is the smartest thing you can do. … Go on Canva and just type in ‘cleaning template’ … it’ll help you organize.”
• Reading and Moving More:
  • “Me and Vivi got roller skates. When I tell you that has been a workout in and of itself—my legs are so sore!” (09:49)
• Prioritizing Self-Care:
  • “We always out here caring for everybody else, putting everybody else’s needs in front of our own—that’s gotta go.” (14:15)
• Making Friends & The Reality of “Good People”:
  • “I don’t think it’s hard finding good people. I think it’s just hard for us to realize that good people can f*** up.” (15:24)
  • “Your friends are humans just like you… Sometimes people suffer in silence and don’t want to be a burden.” (16:14)
• Travel & Facing Fears:
  • “Joe keeps saying he wants to go on a cruise...cruises give me such anxiety after I watched that documentary.” (17:50)
• Practicing Letting Go:
  • “Letting go of things is not as easy as it sounds. Especially when you have anxiety, control issues—it's a very hard pill to swallow.” (19:18)
• Budgeting & Money Anxieties:
  • “When you grow up like that, you’re constantly thinking, like...I was broke once, I can be broke again.” (28:28)
  • “Joe helps me with [investing] because he’s good with all that stuff...He’s the one that taught me everything I know.” (29:03)
• Crafting & Inner Child Joy:
  • “I am the happiest when it’s like a Sunday, we’re chilling here...we’re doing crafts, I’m crocheting, and she’s coloring.” (21:28)
  • “People don’t realize a lot of us are just trying to rewrite our childhood.” (22:41)

4. Comparison & Social Media

• TikTok Reflections:
  • Vee discusses the pressure of seeing others’ big achievements online, from “year in review” cake trends to people climbing Mount Everest and crossing oceans.
  • “I was like, wow, that’s amazing… But I was kind of comparing my journey to a lot of other people’s.” (32:37)
• “Different Mountains” Metaphor:
  • “Everyone has a different mountain. I’m literally just floating on this rock trying to survive motherhood.” (36:14)
  • “Different lives require different mountains...just because you’re not climbing a mountain right now doesn't mean we’re not becoming someone new.” (36:59)
  • “Comparison really is the thief of joy. It’ll have you out here thinking you’re this small, and that’s not the case.” (37:34)

5. The Buttons That Matter

• Viral “365 Buttons” TikTok Concept:
  • Vee shares a viral story about someone planning to get 365 buttons—one for each day of the year—to mark life’s passing moments.
  • “She says, ‘It only has to make sense to me to do it, and I don’t feel like explaining it to anyone else.’ And if that’s not my mantra, I don’t know what is!” (39:01)
  • “You do not need to explain to nobody. If no one gets it, nobody needs to get it. The only person that needs to understand your s*** is you.” (39:30)
• Living Authentically:
  • Encourages listeners to embrace what matters to them, without needing validation from others.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On comparison:

  “Different lives require different mountains… Just because you’re not climbing a mountain right now doesn’t mean we’re not becoming someone new.”
  — Vee Rivera (36:59)

• On self-explanation:

  “It only has to make sense to me to do it, and I don’t feel like explaining it to anyone else.”
  — Vee quoting viral TikToker Tamara (39:01)

• On embracing creativity:

  “We should just do something where we all come together and just do crafts. Like just listen to music and just do crafts. Whether it’s painting, making bracelets, just something so girly and cute. Oh my God, I want to do this.”
  — Vee Rivera (23:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 – Vee’s reflections on the speed of the year and mom updates
• 03:05 – Cheer showcase and “cheer hangovers”
• 05:02 – Huevo limpia (egg cleanse) and health anxieties
• 07:46 – Friendship, accountability, and making doctor appointments
• 09:00 – Audience goals and cleaning tips
• 09:49 – Walking, roller skating, reading for self-care
• 13:55 – Crafting nostalgically and creative mental health resets
• 14:15 – Prioritizing self-care over caretaking for others
• 15:24 – “Good people can f*** up”: friendship, forgiveness, and vulnerability
• 16:14 – Reaching out and the value of human connection
• 17:50 – Cruise vacations and facing travel anxieties
• 19:18 – Letting go, anxiety, and self-control is hard
• 21:28 – Nostalgic creativity, connecting with one’s inner child
• 28:28 – Budgeting, money fears, and learning financial literacy
• 32:37 – Social media, seeing others’ achievements, and comparing journeys
• 36:14 – “Different mountains” and living life at your own pace
• 39:01 – The story of “365 buttons” and living for yourself
• 45:00 – Hints at next week’s topics

Tone & Style

Vee keeps it raw, relatable, and a little spicy—mixing humor and vulnerability throughout. She doesn’t shy away from her own struggles with anxiety, self-doubt, or societal pressures, and always brings it back to encouragement and sisterhood.

Final Thoughts

• Comparing journeys harms our joy—your mountain might be different, but it matters just as much.
• Own your unique rituals and choices, even if they only make sense to you.
• Prioritize your health, self-care, and what brings you happiness, not just achievements.
• Surround yourself with people who hold you accountable and support your growth.

Coming Up Next Episode

Vee teases discussions on the Netflix series “His and Hers,” “Tell Me Lies,” and social media’s impact on real life, particularly through the lens of recent celebrity divorces and family dynamics.

“There’s always room for more chisme here at The Chisme Corner!”