We had the good fortune of connecting with Sandy Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sandy, what makes you happy? Why?
Even small things make me happy. I try to approach every single pleasant experience, such as a nice meal at a restaurant or a quick text from people I love, almost with reverence, as if encountering it for the last time. Life as we know it can be upended at any time, so it’s important to fully savor the good things when we can, and while we can.

This is something I discuss in greater detail in Choose to Prevail, a book I am releasing later this year, which I believe will help readers navigate challenges they might be facing in their lives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a bilingual communications expert. In addition to preparing for my book launch, which I’m tremendously excited about, I currently edit magazines for different publishers. I also write on topics ranging from finance to music for different media outlets in both the U.S. and Mexico.

I host video segments and interviews as well. Currently, I do so for multimedia company Heart of Hollywood (heartofhollywoodmedia.com), and for En Cinco (en5.mx), a Mexican website where I discuss movies with my friend Gilda Baum-Lappe, one of the industry heavyweights who determines who receives a Golden Globe.

I am a former editor for Mexican newspaper Reforma, one of the most influential publications in Latin America, and have translated tens of books from English to Spanish for major publishing houses. These include medical, self-help, and business books (one with a foreword by Bill Clinton), novels, and books focused on spirituality or personal growth by popular authors such as Louise Hay, Nick Vujicic, and Neale Donald Walsch.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would like to show visitors a little bit of everything. If they were in Downtown LA, I would take them to the Los Angeles Public Library, because the architecture is interesting. They might also enjoy riding the see-through SkySlide at the very top of the US Bank Building—and I’d seize the opportunity to brag about once taking the stairs to the top as part of a challenge benefiting the YMCA. In the Arts District, we would go to the fascinating Lost Spirits Distillery. I loved it when I visited in the past, but understand it’s different now since it was rebuilt following a fire. We would definitely stop by The Row. In this one-of-a-kind shopping area, I’d like us to make our own ceramic bowls at Still Life Ceramics and admire wonderful clothing and housewares made by independent designers.

Another day, we would go hiking at Will Rogers Park, and then relax at the chic and beautiful Palisades Village, which is close by.

As to food, I’d take my friends to my longtime favorite places, such as Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey, where I would suggest ordering the crab mac and cheese or the catch of the day. In Santa Monica, we could visit Blue Plate Oysterette or BP Taco—the lobster tacos are excellent. In Malibu, the Paradise Cove Beach Café, where your feet are always on sand, would be a memorable choice. Culina at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and Hugo’s in Studio City might not seem to have much in common, but they’re both non-intimidating, great for having a conversation, and offer the occasional celebrity sighting. I adore Hugo’s for its healthy, delicious options.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The publication I used to work for constantly won international design awards, so I got to meet many extraordinary graphic artists. Regina Landa was definitely one of the very best. She is known for her impeccable taste and recently created the cover for my book, Choose to Prevail. I would love to give her a shoutout and a big thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandyrs1/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyrs1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandyrs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.rodriguez.samaniego/

Image Credits
Ernie Tyler and Miguel Acevedo