The Chisme Corner with Vee Rivera

Episode: The Cost of Community

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Vee Rivera
Podcast by: Sonoro

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt solo episode, Vee Rivera gets real about the true meaning—and personal cost—of community, especially as a mom and Latina navigating today's disconnected world. She recounts recent family stories, an emotional cheerleading drama with her daughter, and reflects on how “wanting a village” for support isn’t the same as “being a villager.” With her signature unfiltered humor and warmth, Vee explores how to build community intentionally, the exhaustion of being everyone's support, and offers tangible advice for maintaining healthy boundaries. Throughout, she celebrates the culture of togetherness she was raised with, while honestly grieving the loss of that communal ease in adult life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Post-Thanksgiving Reflections (01:39 – 04:30)

• Vee shares a quick Thanksgiving recap:
  She visited her mom’s, enjoyed a relaxed day, and noted how different holidays are now compared to her big family gatherings as a child.

• Parenting gripes:
  Vee vents about the extended school breaks:

  "These kids get the whole week off. Like out here, they in Delaware. Like, they just be throwing days off to the parents out of nowhere." (03:25)

• Mother-daughter tasks and missed plans:
  She planned to declutter her daughter's "hoarder" toy closet, but between chill time and feeling seasonal depression, the plan was postponed.

2. The Cheerleading Gym Shutdown Saga (08:37 – 18:00)

• Shocking, abrupt email from gym owner:
  Vee relates the story of receiving a late-night email that her daughter Vivi’s cheer gym was closing "effective immediately" due to financial strain, even after tuition hikes. She finds the communication and handling of the closure deeply unprofessional and cold.

  "Tell me why that email should not have been sent out at 9 o’clock at night on a random Thursday." (09:13)

• Lack of transparency and missing funds:
  None of the cheer coaches were aware prior. Parents realized that only partial payments had been made on uniforms and gear, despite full parent payment.

  "What the hell happened to all our money...? That's what we're paying for." (10:47)

• Vee's response as a parent:
  Her first move was to problem-solve for her devastated daughter, rapidly searching for new cheer gyms to soften the blow when delivering the bad news.

  "If I'm going to give her the bad news, I want to at least follow up with some good news." (12:24)

• Finding a new gym:
  She locates a promising nearby gym with respected coaches and speedy response, working to transfer the team and maintain some sense of continuity for the girls.

  "Thank God for these people... everyone is just trying their best to make sure that the girls can finish in a way that they're not just completely destroyed." (15:45)

  • Vee shares how much cheer means for her daughter, who had already sacrificed other activities for it.
  • She makes sure to note the importance of the work and dedication put in by kids in these activities.

• Emotional aftermath:
  Vivi, of course, is heartbroken, and Vee speaks candidly about comforting her and the reality that “people are shitty, they do shitty things, and that was a very shitty way to end something.”

  "I wish it was handled a different way. I really do." (18:12)

3. Merch Updates for the Community (18:25 – 19:35)

• Tease of upcoming Chisme Corner merch:
  Designs are in the works, with Vee asking for listener feedback and participation.
  • A call out for a graphic designer for future merch drops.

  "It’s for you guys. So I want to make sure you guys like it." (18:50)

4. The Heart of the Episode: “The Cost of Community” (19:35 – 35:30)

The “Village” Paradox

• Opening thought:

  “Everybody wants a village, but nobody wants to be a villager.” (01:39, 19:35)

The Beauty and Burnout of Being a “Villager” (22:05 – 25:00)

• Vee identifies as a natural “villager”:

  • She feels fulfillment in showing up for her community, being reliable, and fostering connections, though it can be exhausting.

  “I feel like that is my purpose in life... But I get tired. Like, you get burnt out.” (22:22)

  • The joy of holidays and parenting is amplified by true community, yet lately, the burden of being the main organizer, planner, and emotional support can leave her isolated.

The Cost: “The cost of community is inconvenience.” (25:10)

• Quote that hit her:

  “I saw this quote the other day and it really stuck with me. It said, ‘The cost of community is inconvenience. The cost of community is inconvenience.’ And a lot of the times that’s true. Because let’s be for real: real community… it costs you." (25:19)

  • Shows up as time, energy, emotional labor, and finances.
  • Calls out the modern tendency to wish for support without reciprocating.

Cultural Roots & Changing Times (26:05 – 28:40)

• Vee’s lived experience:

  • Growing up Latina meant having “a whole community of people” within blocks—uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents always available.
  • Community was survival, not an aesthetic choice.

  “A village for us is not just a cute idea… It’s how so many of us grew up. I was never alone.” (26:55)

  • In adulthood, disconnected from that built-in support, she mourns the loss and reflects on the difficulty (and emotional “loss”) of raising her child without that structure.

  “The absence of that and not having that, it feels like a loss... I wish, you know, these kids were able to grow up the way I grew up with all these people around them.” (28:18)

Tangible Tips for Healthy Community Building (29:00 – 33:40)

Vee lays out practical advice:

• Set and honor realistic boundaries:
  "You can’t be a villager 24/7… if your cup is not full, you can’t pour."
• Match energy:
  “If someone’s giving you 20, don’t give—stop giving 100. Meet them where they’re at.”
• Stop expecting you out of people:
  “People are not going to care the same way you do.”
• Create micro-villages:
  Small, intentional, reciprocal support circles can be more powerful than chaotic large ones.
• Allow yourself to receive:
  "Women struggle with this the most… but real community also lies in letting people show up for you."
• Give without expectation, but be wise:
  “Do it because you want to. Don’t always expect something from people just because you did XYZ.”

Vee’s Affirmation & Encouragement for “Villagers”

• Acknowledging the emotional toll:

  "When you’re someone who is just naturally like that… you’re gonna be the villager and you’re gonna be the one that people depend on... So you have to learn how to take care of yourself… and not overextend.” (34:36)

• Recognize and appreciate your “villagers” this holiday:

  "Let them know and tell them that you appreciate them. People don’t got it in them these days. Like, people are tired, people are exhausted. People are going through so much shit—financially, emotionally, mentally... So it's so important that we show our appreciation to these people. It'll... really change their whole day." (35:05)

• She closes with love and gratitude:
  Reminds listeners to care for themselves and their community, and that there’s always room for more chisme.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On abrupt gym closure and modern issues:

  “I don’t ever wish bad on anybody… the universe always comes back and gives people exactly what they deserve when they deserve it.” (18:18)

• Summing up the “village” paradox:

  “Everybody says that they want a village, but nobody wants to be a villager.” (19:36)

• On cultural differences in community:

  “Community wasn’t really an option for us. It was survival. Like, it’s literally our culture and it’s, it’s how we show love.” (27:48)

• On the pain of being the only villager:

  “Sometimes I would literally be like, damn, if it wasn’t for me, none of these people would have holidays. None of these people would have birthdays.” (24:00)

• A quote that becomes the episode’s thesis:

  “The cost of community is inconvenience.” (25:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thanksgiving & Family Updates: 01:39 – 04:30
• Cheer Gym Closure Story: 08:37 – 18:00
• Merch Updates: 18:25 – 19:35
• Community & “Village” Reflection: 19:35 – 35:30
• Practical Tips for Healthy Community: 29:00 – 33:40
• Final Affirmation & Listener Thanks: 34:36 – 35:30

Takeaway

“The Cost of Community” is a vulnerable, funny, and deeply relatable episode—especially for those feeling “villager burnout” or longing for a more supportive community. Vee reminds us that village-building is hard work and often inconvenient—but it’s also essential for well-being. She urges us to appreciate those who show up, set healthy boundaries, and keep loving even when it’s hard, because authentic community is a gift we give ourselves and each other.

Follow Vee and The Chisme Corner on Instagram for episode updates and merch announcements.
“Remember, there’s always room for more chisme here at The Chisme Corner!”