The Chisme Corner with Vee Rivera
Episode: The Mini Chismosa
Date: October 15, 2025
Host: Vee Rivera
Guest: Vivi (Vee’s daughter, age 10)
Podcast Description: A vibrant, real talk space blending culture, motherhood, identity, pop culture, and unfiltered chisme.
Overview
This episode dives into a heartfelt, playful, and candid conversation between Vee Rivera and her daughter Vivi. Titled "The Mini Chismosa," the episode gives listeners an intimate peek into their mother-daughter dynamic, discussing everything from growing up, spooky movies, Latina identity, cultural traditions, and the journey of learning Spanish. Expect laughter, a few teary-eyed moments, and relatable tidbits about parenting and childhood in a multicultural home.
Main Topics & Key Discussion Points
1. Mother-Daughter Bonding & Growing Up
- Vee welcomes Vivi back to the podcast after several years, celebrating her 10th birthday and reflecting on how she's grown.
- Vivi describes feeling “stuck at five,” and Vee reassures her that staying young at heart is good (02:33).
- Emotional reflections from Vee about Vivi reaching double digits and feelings of loss and pride.
- Quote: “I felt like I was grieving you as a baby because now I’m seeing you grow up. But I also love that I get to see who I helped shape as a little person.” – Vee (31:50)
- Vivi opens up about noticing her mom’s emotions on her birthday and shares her own thoughts on growing up (31:02).
2. Birthday & Emo-Phase Celebration
- Vivi had an “emo” themed birthday party, featuring a custom stage and poster made by Vee.
- Discussion on how their shared love for Paramore and influence from cousin Ally shaped Vivi’s music tastes and style (04:00).
- Proudly unique: “No one else is gonna have an emo birthday party except for me. And if anybody else has one, then they bit the idea from me.” – Vivi (03:42)
3. Parent-Child Hobbies: Coloring & Late-Night TV
- Vee and Vivi bond over coloring for hours, using gel pens and horror-themed coloring books (05:01–06:10).
- Detail about watching cake competition TV shows (“Killer Cakes,” “Is it Cake?”) and the fun of guessing which object is actually cake (06:34).
- Attempting “scary” movie nights and sharing responses to famous horror scenes, including moments when Vivi was scared (07:43).
4. Love for the Horror Genre
- A central, lighthearted thread: Vivi’s “horror girly” side and how it has evolved under Vee’s supervision.
- Describes the first horror movies (Scream, Halloween) and watching habits; Vee shares boundaries about not allowing true crime (13:04–15:45).
- Vivi’s dream: Becoming a horror movie actress in the future, supported by encouragement from Vee.
- Quote: “If I was in, like, the best horror movie ever... would you watch it?” – Vivi (19:09)
- Vee: “Yeah, of course I’d be on set with you, girl!” (19:11)
5. Making Scary Things Funny
- Vivi explains how she copes with scary movies and haunted houses by making jokes to lighten the mood.
- “I like to make it funny... just to get it out of your head. Because I feel like... get it out of your head, you know?” – Vivi (23:32)
- Advice to other kids: “They’re probably not gonna be as funny as me.” – Vivi (25:46)
6. Friendships, Kindness & School Experiences
- Vivi details sticking up for friends, being a peacemaker, and “being kind in a mean girl world” as her self-defined style of confidence (33:08–34:13).
- Discussion about avoiding meanness, self-control over words, and the way humor helps her connect with friends and teachers (36:08).
7. Gentle Parenting & Generational Change
- Vee and Vivi discuss “gentle parenting,” contrasting it with the stricter style Vee experienced growing up.
- Vee: “I don’t hit you, I don’t yell at you, I try to never lose my crap on you.” (42:01)
- Vivi dubs Vee “a chill pill” type of mom.
- Quote: “You are a chill pill.” – Vivi (45:28)
- Honest talk about parental mistakes, apologies, and learning together (43:36–44:33).
8. Developing Personal & Cultural Identity
- Style: Vivi credits Vee’s influence but also independence in choosing her fashion ("I don’t wear ruffles anymore!”) (46:00).
- Learning Spanish: The challenges of immersion and different dialects, and how family tries to keep the language alive at home (47:52–48:56).
- Music and song lyrics as tools for language learning (51:41).
9. Latina/Puerto Rican Identity & Family History
- Vivi shares her love for Puerto Rican food and feeling “different” due to cultural background, especially in Delaware (52:40–53:09).
- Extended conversation about Puerto Rican ancestry, colonization, Taino, and African influences, with Vee sharing her DNA results and history (55:17–59:40).
- Discussion on multicultural classrooms and modern teaching about Christopher Columbus (“...he wasn’t the first one to discover America... and he wasn’t the best.” – Vivi, 60:02).
10. Final Reflections and Humor
- Vivi consistently brings humor, ending with food as her final “big” take ("Food." – Vivi, 62:15).
- Playful banter about wishes, Raising Canes, and a preview of next week’s Halloween/serial killer episode with Dad (62:22–63:52).
- Silly threats of “You better not tell nobody, or you’re dead to me!” (63:52)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On making horror funny:
“I like to make it funny. That’s how I get it out of my head.” – Vivi (23:28) - On gentle parenting:
“I feel like I gentle parent but I also have some spice.” – Vee (42:01) - On being a “chill pill” mom:
“I think you are a chill parent... You are a chill pill.” – Vivi (45:15, 45:28) - On Latina pride:
“I love being Latina because we get our Christmas tree up for much longer!” – Vivi (54:04) - On learning Spanish:
“We should set a day… every day, we just talk to each other in Spanish for like 10 minutes. Even just for a little bit.” – Vee (49:52) - On friendship and confidence:
“Nobody bullies me. I can’t really stick up for myself because usually if I see my friend is having a hard time… I would come up and talk to them about it.” – Vivi (33:36) - On being unique:
“No one else is gonna have an emo birthday party except for me. And if anybody else has one, then they bit the idea from me.” – Vivi (03:42) - Sign-off catchphrase:
“There’s always room for more chisme here at the Chisme Corner. Oh, there’s always room for more burps!” – Vee and Vivi (64:35)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:21 – Vivi on how it feels turning 10
- 03:42 – “They bit the idea from me” (emo birthday)
- 05:01 – Late-night coloring & favorite activities
- 06:34 – Watching cake competition shows
- 13:04 – Horror movie origins, boundaries of what’s allowed
- 17:18 – Conversations about friends who like scary movies
- 18:59 – Dream to be a horror actress
- 23:28 – Coping with scary things by making jokes
- 31:50 – Vee reflects on Vivi growing up, emotional moment
- 33:08 – Confidence, sticking up for friends
- 42:00–45:30 – Gentle parenting, “chill pill” label
- 46:00 – Style influences and preferences
- 48:20 – Importance of learning Spanish
- 52:40 – What it means to be Latina/Puerto Rican
- 55:17 – Puerto Rican ancestry and DNA
- 60:02 – Christopher Columbus and real history lessons
- 62:18 – Finale: “Food” as Vivi’s last word
- 63:52 – Sneak peek at next week’s episode
Tone & Style
The episode is lively, comforting, and deeply personal, with Vee’s signature warmth and humor balanced by honest, teachable moments. Vivi’s wit and charm shine, making the conversation accessible for both moms and kids. The blend of pop culture, everyday chisme, and real talk about identity makes the show an inviting space “sin filtros” (no filters) for listeners to laugh, reflect, and feel represented.
For listeners:
Whether you’re a mom, a tía, or the “mini chismosa” in your own family, this episode offers laughs, insight, and inspiration on how culture, humor, and love shape the memories and values we pass on.
There’s always room for más chisme in the Chisme Corner!