What stories have been passed down to you—and which ones were never told?

In this episode of The Road Leads Back to Me, licensed therapist and trauma specialist Coral Seco sits down with writer, filmmaker, and Abre Camino Collective co-founder Vanessa Garcia for a powerful conversation about identity, heritage, storytelling, and why understanding where we come from can change how we move forward.

From preserving Cuban history through groundbreaking projects to bringing Waiting for Snow in Havana—based on Carlos Eire's National Book Award-winning memoir—to the big screen, Vanessa shares how storytelling has become her life's work and why these stories matter now more than ever.

Together, Coral and Vanessa explore:

• Why understanding our family's history helps us better understand ourselves
• The importance of preserving the Cuban story for future generations
• How storytelling creates empathy, connection, and healing
• The mission behind Abre Camino Collective
• The journey of adapting Waiting for Snow in Havana into a feature film
• What hope, resilience, and identity look like across generations
• Why every family's story deserves to be remembered

Whether you're Cuban, the child of immigrants, or simply someone curious about the stories that shaped your family, this conversation is a reminder that our history isn't something we leave behind—it's something we carry with us.

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What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted... and still aren't happy?

This week on The Road Leads Back to Me, Coral sits down with board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Avabello Aesthetics, Dr. Ben Eskenazi, for an honest conversation about success, identity, purpose, and the courage it takes to start over.

From becoming the first doctor in his family to walking away from a successful surgical partnership, an engagement, and the life he spent years building, Dr. Eskenazi shares the pivotal moments that forced him to reevaluate what success truly means.

Together, Coral and Dr. Eskenazi explore:

• The psychology of chasing achievement
• Why reaching your goals doesn't always bring fulfillment
• Learning to trust your instincts
• Reinventing yourself after major life changes
• The pressure of tying your identity to your career
• Plastic surgery, confidence, aging, and self-image
• The difference between external success and internal peace

This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the road doesn't lead where we expected—and that the bravest thing we can do is honor what we discover along the way.

🎙️ The Road Leads Back to Me is hosted by Coral Seco, licensed therapist, trauma specialist, and founder of Eccentric Therapy.

New episodes premiere every Wednesday!

Follow Coral:

@CoralExplainsItAll & @TheRoadLeadsBacktoMe

Actor and producer Christian Ochoa Lavernia joins me for one of my most personal conversations yet.

We've known each other since high school, but this episode goes far beyond nostalgia. Christian opens up about growing up in Miami, being raised by a single mother, navigating anxiety, feeling the pressure of expectations, and ultimately finding the courage to pursue the life he truly wanted.

We talk about manifestation, intuition, resilience, and what happened when he spent six months auditioning for The Lord of the Rings—including being flown to New Zealand for the final round, only to face one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

Along the way, we explore the lessons he's learned from rejection, the wisdom of stoicism, the power of trusting your path, and why sometimes the greatest opportunities come when we stop trying to control every outcome.

This is a conversation about purpose, identity, Cuban roots, fear, faith, and becoming the person you're meant to be.

I'm Coral Seco, and this is The Road Leads Back to Me!

New episodes every Wednesday!