Latest / Books4Guys / Raised in Silence: Lessons on Belonging, Empathy, and Inclusion | Maria Gallucci

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Raised in Silence: Lessons on Belonging, Empathy, and Inclusion | Maria Gallucci · Books4Guys

• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: Lewis some background.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't realize just how how successful you've been in the real estate world.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's incredible.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we just got number four yesterday.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Insane.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: That is awesome.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_02: My sales manager texted me.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_02: Like, congratulations.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's amazing.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: Well, before I get like too deep into your story, what what got you interested in real estate?
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_02: I was helping my parents when they were when I was 12 and they were buying their first home.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_02: And when we went there, there was no interpreter there because both my my parents are deaf.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: And so I could tell that they were completely confused while they were doing it.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_02: So even though I didn't know any of the paperwork or anything, I just started interpreting for them.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_02: And so I think then is when I realized, oh, I kind of like this.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_02: And then I always thought to myself, I'm never gonna let somebody feel like they did during that moment.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: And so I just always got into it.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: I was wondering if that was like really the main reason because I saw where you'd help your parents purchase their first home as a 12-year-old.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: And then I know you know a lot of your mission is helping those who are or you help those feel more included, no matter what their background is, no matter, you know, I know the real estate world can be kind of brutal in some regards if you're not just a normal, you know, person.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_02: That's for sure.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's really cool.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: And uh and again, I'm I'm proud to spotlight you because I truly believe in that as well.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: And in people doing good things in the world, there's more of that needed.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: And so Yeah, exactly.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_02: And buying a house and set-selling one is like a really big decision in the first place.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_02: So to feel like you don't like belong or don't understand the paperwork, that's really tough for everybody, I think.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was about to say, like, I'm pretty normal and I still feel like I don't belong or know what to do.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_02: I'm in it, and I don't even understand it.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: But 35 years.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: It's hard enough for for us that are, you know, kind of a normal person.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: But no, Maria, super excited to have you on.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: And I see your book.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: I was gonna say you got it posted right there behind you, raised in silence.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: And your your story's very it's different than anyone else that I've had on this podcast, as you were raised in a family where your both your parents were deaf, like you said.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I think I saw so there was six of you total, right?
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: You have five siblings.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, there's four girls and two boys.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_02: And we were all hearing.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: So just I just want you to tell the story then, because I the first thing I saw, like I did a little research on your book, and I was actually thinking about the movie Coda that I watched on Apple a few years ago.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: As I have never, I've never been really around anyone who's been deaf.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: I've never I remember in elementary school we kind of learned psi language, but it was more of just like a fun thing to learn.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: There really wasn't a purpose behind it.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: But you literally were born into a family where you had to learn, and and you have some really cool stories about helping your parents out with big decisions like purchasing a home and also having to share some unfortunate news with your mother, I saw.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: And so just just kind of start at the beginning as a kid and kind of walk me through where, you know, all the steps into where you're at today.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_02: So I think so I'm a Colorado Realtor and I've been for 35 years, and I'm also the author of Raised and Silence and sorry joking.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_02: That uh and so ASL was my first l language, or all of ours, all the kids.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_02: So my mom always said that we learned how to read through the TV and through like counseling and stuff.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_02: So I've stuttered my entire life, and so I was already in speech therapy for that.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_02: And then so my mom said that we always learned to to talk through the TV and just hearing the other kids.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that I didn't know that my normal wasn't like our normal orever, because it's always just what we were raised with.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_02: And so ASL was always our first language.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_02: And then I remember being under a tree for uh like a de Denver zoo, and I was with I was in k kindergarten, so I was like five years old, and I saw my mom walking across the parking lot.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_02: So I was signed signing to her like across the par parking lot.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_02: That's the one good thing about ASL, you could talk to people far away.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_02: But and she was like, Oh, your your parents don't don't speak.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_02: And like, well, yeah, that like that that's how it always been.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that's when I realized, oh, you're a little bit different.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: How what as far as like the where you were at within your family, are you like the the oldest child, youngest child?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm third to the oldest, so I'm right in the middle, which I've always thought was strange because I was the one that helped my parents the most out of everything.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_02: And so I don't know how I fell into that role.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_02: I know that my older sister and my my brother, they're both more on the shyer end than I am.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_02: And so maybe maybe that actually did it, but I'm not sure how I fell into that role.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: No, because I was just curious, like what it was like, if you can remember, like who taught you?
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Was it your older siblings that kind of like helped you understand that your parents couldn't hear you?
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: Or was was it just kind of you said it was kind of natural?
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like, because I'm thinking kids pick up on things a lot easier than adults and learn things quicker.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: So for you, like, was it truly just normal?
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, what was that like?
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: Who taught you and how when did you realize that your parents couldn't hear you?
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_02: I think for us it was always R normal one.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_02: I was the one who always helped my older siblings, which was odd.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_02: And we're only a year and a half apart.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_02: So the three of us, the older one, are all within three years, and so we were all small.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_02: But I remember my my sister wouldn't talk at all.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_02: She would whi whisper to me, and I would I would have to interpret and talk to the teachers for her.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_02: And so I think for for some of them, they don't take like the the English language right away because signing was our only thing that we had.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: That is just so unique.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I'm trying to like experience and kind of immerse myself into this because yeah, I'm just thinking like I just I don't know what that'd be like as a kid, you know.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Like on my side, they they yell parents when you're in trouble, you know, and like you just it's all verbal.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe there's some uh hand signs when they're angry or something, but I'm just trying to think of like as a kid.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: But it is cool.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Like, did you and your siblings did you all talk?
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: Did you all talk or did you all use sig language primarily amongst yourselves?
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_02: I would say actually, and even like now if we want to talk across like the restaurant or whatever, we use sign sign language or for or doing anything like that.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_02: And then I think that we were we're all very close, and I think a lot of codas can say say this as well, because all you do is have each other, and so a lot of the the codas are very clo close, and we're we're all still close to to say.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: For those that probably don't understand, what what are some of the the struggles your parents had just being able to operate in a normal world?
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm thinking of like driving, going to the store, doing all normal routine things.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: What were some of the challenges that they've had to face their entire life that a lot of us don't think about?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: I think um feeling like uh an outsider, like feeling like they're not included and being isolated, because a lot of people think that they're they need to be fixed and they don't like they they just need they're they're j just like like us, they they just can't hear.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that a lot of people like are afraid of the own unknown, so they won't approach them if they're look struggling looking for help.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that's one of the the main things that people they they they just make make it feel isolated, I feel like.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: And talk a little bit about your mission now, because it sounds like you really caught on to that early of like maybe you didn't like the way they were treated, or you didn't like the way outsiders in general, whether that be someone from a different country speaks a different language, someone that has a little different view, like you are very inclusive and and and really promotion, promoting of like love and help each other, and like let we're all in this together, you know, so let's let's figure this out.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: When did you kind of, I don't know, get that passion to be that person of light and and and wanting to help as many people as you can, you know, specifically in in purchasing homes?
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think that it happened when I was little because we were even m made fun of as the kids of deaf parents.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_02: So we even felt like that.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_02: And so for me, inclusion and treating other people was like the same, was always so important to me as a child.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_02: And I have such like a big heart and such empathy for that.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, I think it's about re recognizing that people have di different needs and making sure that everybody has an opportunity to part participate in things.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_02: And then for me, and that that's what we all want at the end of the day, is just to feel seen, understood, and heard.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, I agree.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Do all of your siblings, did everybody remain close as you got older?
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: Did anybody move away or did everybody stay kind of together?
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we're all still together.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_02: So we they live in up north, and three of the si the siblings live just within like a mile of each other.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: So I I live like the most south.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_02: That's only like it's only like fift fift fifteen minutes, but it's still like far away.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_02: But no, we were we all remained close our entire lives and still and I find that a lot of at other codes because I have a really good friend who is uh who's deaf and she and all of hers, her kids, all of them are all extremely close as well.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: That's incredible.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_02: We only have each other, I feel like, and then we all grew grew up in the same thing, so we always wanted to like protect each other.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, I can see that.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: And and if and if there's some good out of this, like that it created a stronger bond, it sounds like with you and your family.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: There's so many people that I think we just take things for granted when things are just so easy and like I can hear you, I can see you, but like we don't even there's a guy that goes to our gym we just met, actually, and he's blind.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: And my wife and I, we started talking to him, like, hey man, what's up?
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: And he was like, dude, I've been going here for a year and no one ever talks to me.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: He was like, Thank you guys so much.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you make this this you make this one of my favorite parts of the day now.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: And we were like, like, what?
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: No one has ever said hey to this guy, like he's in here.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_02: Can you hear the background?
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: My puppy just turned on the TV.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, is it okay?
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I can't.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_02: My puppy has been a mess this morning.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_02: He's a little pug.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_02: He literally just turned on the TV's mouth.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think there's something going on with dogs today because we have a pit bull mix and we took him for a walk today, and for some reason, he just decided he was gonna be anything but good and got off the leash, ran around, and just just yeah, that's how Ray's been all morning.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like, he's been a little menace.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_02: I have no idea what he's doing.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: Same.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: We noticed it with other dogs too.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, maybe there's something going on in the world.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe it's a full moon or something.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's something going on.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: But no, that's really cool that your family has all stayed close and and tight knit.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: I was gonna ask you, like, as far as the book goes now, because I want I want to focus a little bit on that.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: What I guess when did you decide, hey, I have a unique story.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: I I think what I can write can help other people.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: And and I think that's the coolest thing about writing a book is you can talk one-on-one so many times, but there's only so many people you can reach.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: But when you put a book out there, maybe there's someone in another country or across or across, you know, you're in Colorado, someone in Florida picks it up and reads it.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's a coda, or someone who doesn't understand, but there's something else they can relate to.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: I know there's some different areas you think uh that you've mentioned readers could be that would benefit from reading your book.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: But when did you decide, hey, I'm gonna write a book, I'm gonna put my story out there because I think it can be impactful.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_02: So it was like 15 years in the making.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_02: I used to just write notes and everything, and then I found like I update my phone and I found all my notes.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_02: And every year it was on my New Year's resolution, and I just wanted to get the story out there and it, but I never did it.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_02: And then finally I'm like, okay, I'm sick of putting this on my New Year's resolution every year, so I'm just gonna do it.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that people see a title raised in in silence and they assume it's only about being like with with deaf deaf parents or being a coda, which is a child of deaf adults.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_02: And it starts there, but it's actually about belonging and it's about what happens when people feel like seen and maybe somebody who feels misunderstood, included.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_02: So it's it's important for because all of us have experiences of that, no matter what it is.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_02: And then so it's for a bit business owners who want to learn how to have their people be more inclusive, LGBTQ plus.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_02: Like it's for all of them who want to just make pay people feel like they belong somewhere.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: I love that you have taken this example, an extreme example, but you've been able to see how many different areas that you can share this story and have an impact.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: And ask all the one, you know, I'm in kind of more of the business space of talking about how leaders can be better about being more inclusive with their teams and hiring within their organization.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: Like there's so many ways that your story can translate into personal lives or professional lives.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I just think you have this unique approach.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: There's all these normal business books out there, but to have have it from someone who's come and been raised in in a way that a lot of us haven't is just such a unique perspective that I think people can grasp onto and maybe take something away that's a little bit different than what we would normally take away in in a a similar book, if if that makes any sense at all.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because I feel like we're all in our own world, and so we don't really like realize how many people are actually being left out or how how many people are are like being not not included, and we we could be bet better at that because it starts it starts with us.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that inclusion, like it's it's about treating everyone as equals, and I feel like we don't do do that enough because we judge, and a lot a lot of us assume or or we judge, and I feel like we we could be better in work workspaces and everywhere that we go, restaurants and cultures, everything.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: Do you find yourself, you know, now that you you you have this book and you've kind of gained this reputation of of being the in lack of a better term, the inclusive realtor, you know, making people feel comfortable.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: Do you have a lot of people reach out specifically saying, like, hey, we only want to work with you because of your stance on things or what you believe in or how you make people feel?
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: Have you found yourself having a certain kind of following of people who only want to work with you?
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I do.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_02: And I have a lot a lot of people who say that they were thankful that they met met me because they they didn't feel like the first the first transaction went went that way because it's all it's all about making because it's all about m making peop people fit like they belong somewhere, especially when you're you're buying something, because if you're not enjoying because I have like an I have a huge empathy for everybody.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, I can read peep people's emotions, I can read their their feelings, so I know like when we're walking into a house, whether they're they're not gonna like it or not.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_02: And so for me to make people have a safe space, especially in a business tran transaction, I think it's huge for people.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, for sure.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: More of a personal question for you, because I think when you're working with so many people, and then you're working, you know, you're you're focused on family as well.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, you can just drain yourself giving yourself to so many others.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: How do you balance it all?
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: You know, again, being a successful real friends who are in real estate, I mean, they are the hardest working people I know.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: They are always showing, they're stationing, they're all over the place.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm just like, how do you keep up with all of this?
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: And then obviously, you having a unique situation, all your family around you too, I'm sure there's always something going on.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: How do you take care and focus on yourself to kind of make sure that you can be your best for all these other people as well?
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_02: I could be way better at that.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_02: So I I say that I work 24-7 and and I I do because I always think that if someone's trying to get a hold of you at midnight, there's something on their mind.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_02: So I try to like answer all of the calls because I don't want anybody to be stressed out or anything for that.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, I just try and it makes me feel good to help people and to meet people and try to try to get all that.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that that's where it comes from for me, just as as long as I'm h helping somebody, then it's worth it for me.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: So it almost gives you a little energy knowing you're doing the right thing.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: My wife and I are the same.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, but sometimes we just so tired.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I cannot answer another text message from my mom.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_00: And but I think I'm bad at that too.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, but I need to talk to my mom, you know, like she she needs something.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: I need to text her back.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_02: But so I still have to get back to my sisters.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_02: I still haven't gotten back to them quite frequently.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_02: They're like, it's been a it's been a day, I haven't talked to her.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you just feel somewhat overwhelmed, but also good at the same time.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's better to be that way than not be that way.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm just always curious, you know, we we you can't be your best for others unless you're your best for yourself, too.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: But sometimes finding that balance, I think, is hard, especially when you have phones and everything that's so connected right next to you all the time.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I think everyone struggles with that, even just in normal stuff.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: But Maria, as people read your book, if they if they only take one thing away from it, what do you hope the message is that they take from it?
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_02: I hope that people finish the book and and with a little more empathy in their heart.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_02: And if someone w walks away just and it starts look looking at the world through someone else's eyes and putting their stuff in their perspective, even if it's just for five five minutes, then I think I've accomplished what what I wanted.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I I'm I have no doubt it will be very impactful for everyone who reads it and shares it with others.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_00: Have you ever done any like research, like scientific research into like just the odds of of your parents being deaf and then the all children not be?
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know how that works, but like do you have any like scientific data that you've learned along the way on just because I was looking on your LinkedIn and I saw like you're one of the few realtors that help, you know, deaf individuals buy home.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: So it got me thinking, I'm like, what are like the real statistics out there in this space just because I'm I'm not aware of it.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_02: So the deaf and heartheart of hearing community is huge.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_02: And I think a lot of people don't ride that because even just Denver alone has over 300,000, just at Denver.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_02: And so nationwide, it's really, really big.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that people, and that and that that's including the Heart Heart of Hearing as well.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_02: But and I think that a lot, a lot of people don't realize how big the community is.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_02: And so, and for us, we actually have the genetic gene.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_02: My my dad had it to for it's it can be her hereditary, but for some reason we we didn't get it.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_02: Mum was nine months, she she was bored hearing, but she was not nine months when she lost her hearing.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: But my dad was actually born born deaf, and we have no idea why we we didn't get it, because it could even skip generations.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: Interesting.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was just curious, like, does again I don't know how this works, but uh to have all six children not be deaf, I'm assuming is somewhat kind of surprising knowing that both mom and dad are deaf.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: But again, I didn't want to assume because I don't know.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: But to know that there's 300,000 individuals who deal with that in just Denver, that means millions of people across our country are Coda or have deaf and hard of hearing, yeah, exactly.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's a very, very big community.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_02: And that's why I developed ASL Realty, which is actually the the nationwide cut cut company.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_02: So I I own Colorado, but I develop like a referral service where I find I connect like ASL agents with other deaf or hard of hearing individuals around, but there's not that many to come by.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_02: Like I like it's it they it is kind of tough to find.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_02: So if I can't find one in their community, and then I'll just find somebody who I think will be inclusive.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: How many, how many agents do you work with that that are ASL who can do that?
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_02: I would say nationwide, probably 20, which is small because we have a lot of different cities.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: You could use more more than that just in like the greater Denver area, knowing how many people are there.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_00: Like that is so interesting.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_00: I and the more I think about it, you know, and again, like I go to I'll be at concerts and I see there are people doing side language or at church or something.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Now and again, I it doesn't it does I don't think about it because it's again, I'm in my own world.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_00: But I do see it, and and now talking with you, I'm sure I'm gonna be more aware.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I hope that's certainly the case, that I kind of notice that, and if I can ever help in any way, I certainly will.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_00: But it's just it's just such a unique thing.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I and again, these are the great things about these conversations because they're informative.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: I would have never known any of this, or especially known that the Greater Denver area had 300,000 deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: I would have never known that the number was that high, which now it has me thinking, like, what is the number across the country?
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's got the country astronomically more than I could have ever imagined.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_02: And as accessibility is getting more and more now because we used to not have an interpreters at the concerts and now they're having it at the Super Bowl and they're they're being more inclusive in that aspect.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_02: Because I feel like there's a big difference if you're reading, because everyone's would back then would say, well, they they could just read the closed-cut captioning, but that's not the case because if you're reading the the closed-cut captioning, you're not really getting the emotion or the feeling of the music or what they're they're saying.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm glad that that finally is coming around.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: No, and I've never thought about that either.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, if you're focused on just reading the words, how can you un get the feeling of the experience?
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: Has do you think, like with your parents, has cell phones like helped them with communicate?
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what are some things that have improved, especially for them in their situation from when they were growing up, you know, without a lot of technology to today?
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: Is there positives or or are there negatives to it as well?
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_02: I think there's positive because if you are a hearing individual and you see a deaf person either lost or look looking for for something, you you could pull out your phone and like text them, like put a note out so you can turn it.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_02: And then then they they they can read it and feel like you're actually helping them out, which obviously back back then they didn't have that.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_02: And they even have apps now where it'll translate and then you you could just read it back back and forth.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: Interesting.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's amazing.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because I'm I'm I could imagine like twenty, thirty years ago, if you need help, you're basically just having to tap someone on the shoulder and trying to explain, but if you can type Something out.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure that brings the stress level down at least a little bit to where you can say, like, hey, I'm struggling, can you help me?
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: And I could see where that would be just just much easier than than what it used to be.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: So again, I just I just can't imagine like what your parents have experienced and gone through and just the and what you guys as as children have experienced too.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think a lot of it's probably good things though, like to create the way you think and to be more inclusive.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: You know, maybe if you didn't grow up that way, maybe you would have had a different outlook or or you know, maybe not, but it's just your circumstances helped shape who you are today, which is a really good person doing impactful things.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's a real just really cool.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_02: I think it shaped who I am today because I I don't think that I always wonder what that would have been like because obviously I don't know because I'm in it, but I mean I have like a huge heart, and I think that I wouldn't have it if I didn't see us being made fun of seeing other and tried to be a huge advocate for people not to be be mean to to other people, and especially when my son came out, which was so easy because I was already all I'd already all inclusive anyways, but to see people be mean to him too, and it's like let's just like we all it's okay to be different, like it's because we're all to different, and di different just means different.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's right.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's right.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_00: And it seems like unfortunately, that's something we just always have to be constantly reminded of.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's just one I and I don't know why.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: Like I think we all agree, like we all want to be nice, we all want to be inclusive, we all want to do the right thing, but for some reason it just doesn't happen as easily as we all preach it to be, which is just something I I don't know the answer to that or or why that's the case, but uh I think this is a message you can't share enough because it's something that everyone just needs to be reminded of.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: Just be nice, just be nice to people.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_02: And I always told my son, and I always tell any outsiders, don't try to become someone else just to fit in, because I feel like a lot of people do that because they're scared of what's gonna the the repercussions or whatever, because I think that the things that make us different oft often becomes our our suit our superpower and it's our strength.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that you should be that that that's what we're most proud of.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_02: And so for me, I I always tell them that your your story has value, so don't change yourself to please other people.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: Maria, just a couple more questions for you.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: Kind of going back to the book.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: Did you grow up reading a lot?
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_00: Or did I did, yeah.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_02: I loved mysteries.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_02: And so at originally I thought I was gonna write like a I loved R.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_02: Stein.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if anybody remembers that.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_02: Nightmare on Elm Street or Nightmare on Street, Fear Street, I think is what it's called.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_02: But so I always thought that I was gonna be a writer of m mysteries and and that and that stuff, but I ended up writing something different.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's incredible.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: No, well, I and I I asked that question to lead into my last question because I ask everyone who comes on the podcast this one, just from a book standpoint, books for guys related.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_00: I'm always curious to know what is a book or two that has meant a lot to you personally, and what is a book that you love to recommend to other people?
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_02: I love the four agreements because I feel, yeah, that's probably my fate, my favorite book, and I feel like it has a lot of insight and a lot of things that we can use in life.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's a good one.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_00: I've read that two or three times now.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that's a good one to recognize.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's an easy read and it's impactful.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_02: And mine's actually an easy read too.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_02: Mine's only, I think, 170 pages, so it's not that long.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_02: And I've um I've been I've been holding the Amazon's bestseller too.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_02: I was top new new release and Amazon's bestseller.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_02: Dean.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: Hopefully, though, that yeah, hopefully that just continues and hopefully we're doing our part too, to share your story and and to spread the word of your book out there so that more and more people continue to purchase it and take these positive messages away from it.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: And so, Maria, thank you so much for doing this today.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's been it's been so much fun talking with you and and just getting more informed.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I didn't know a lot about this space, and it's probably something I'm gonna continue to research just because now I'm gonna I'm I'm curious about it.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I think again, that's another thing I tell people be curious, learn, you know, features.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, learn, yeah, exactly.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like difference not bad.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_00: Learn learn something about it, and it may change the way you think.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_00: And so, and and just being more informed is always good.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: But no, very proud to spotlight your book on the Books for Guys website.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and we'll make sure in the show notes too to include links.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_00: So if anyone's interested in purchasing it and reading it, we'll certainly have the ability to do so.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_00: But no, congrats on all your success in the real estate world, wishing you even more success and success with your book as well.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_00: So just keep doing the good work.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's it's impactful, it's needed.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_00: And again, proud to spotlight you, Maria.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for having me.