Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Covarrubias.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Pam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My love for photography began when I was 17 and I was able to purchase my own camera, though I’d always use my mom’s and try to take photos of everything around me. Then, after my parents’ divorce, my mom forgot about making memories of us.
In college, I graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design with a photo emphasis. Capturing moments and creating stories through images continued to ignite my soul. However, being an immigrant (I was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico City until high school so I consider myself a transplant) I felt the need to follow the job security mentality. I went into the corporate world and climbed up the ladder, finding myself lost, overwhelmed, burned out and yearning for the weekend every day.
Spread Ideas, Move People culminated on a beautiful day as I divulged about self-discovery. I felt recharged from a much-needed vacation and needed the separation from the day-to-day to imagine a project that would enable me to share my passions and equip people to be the driver of their own lives.
I began photographing families on the side and taking on branding projects while juggling my corporate job. During this time, I found myself traveling for work a lot and listening to podcasts all the time. I knew one thing was missing: the stories of the people that grew up like me and sounded like me were not being shared. The most recognized podcasts were hosted by white males. Representation matters and if nobody was creating content that resonated with me and shared the stories of my people, then that meant that I had to do it. So, Cafe con Pam Podcast was born.
I interview Latinas, Latinos, Latinx, and People of Color that break barriers, change lives and make this world a better place. We do it over coffee, like a casual conversation you have with friends. Then, a few months later, I suddenly quit my job. With no plan, with no exit strategy and only enough savings to get me through a few months. This was a time to reinvent myself and truly begin writing the song that makes my heart sing.
Now, I’m a Documentary Body-Positive Photographer, Conscious Brand Strategist, Podcast Host, Recovering Procrastinator, and creator of Snoozet. My mission is to Spread Ideas, Move People and through every piece of my work I want to encourage people to write their own story, despite their circumstances, their upbringings, and their limiting beliefs because feeling your heart sing is one of the most magical things a human can experience.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all.
Ah, so many stories, from going to college in the Midwest and encountering ignorance about diversity to sitting in meetings full of CEOs and getting asked for coffee.
The struggles will always be there.
After my dad left, people started talking bad about him and my mom would always tell us “you have a choice, you will always have a choice in how you react to their comments. We can’t control what people will say or do, but you can always choose how you react.” This has stayed with me throughout my life and I always remember to choose the best path for me, despite the struggle and the bumpy road ahead. I believe important lessons are learned with the bumps on the road. We always have a choice on learning or resenting.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Spread Ideas, Move People – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My four businesses fall under Spread Ideas, Move People. Everything I do is based on storytelling.
Documentary Body-Positive Photographer. I make photos of humans as they are. I capture their story, not posed, not dressed up, and not necessarily pretty. I like the messy houses, the tantrums and the real stories about families. Not having many photos of my siblings and single mom inspires me to make these memories for other families. The body-positive is my act of resistance. I believe human bodies are beautiful in every shape, size, and color. When I work with brands I specifically request non-traditional bodies because of representation matters.
Concious Brand Strategist. Having created almost 100 brand identities, I realized developing a logo wasn’t what made my heart sing. I loved developing the story of the company with my clients. Now, I offer a brand strategy for companies where we explore their true purpose and we create all their messaging about their core values and beliefs. The conscious part comes when I allow these business owners to dig deeper and allow their senses to help them create their brand from within.
Cafe con Pam Podcast. I interview Latinas, Latinos, Latinx, and People of Color that break barriers, change lives and make this world a better place. Through the podcast, I also share my personal journey and encourage people to own their own story.
Snoozet. As a recovering procrastinator, I have been working a lot on being present and practicing mindfulness, I realized that quieting the mind helped me with concentration, and focus. Snoozet is a handmade fabric pocket for your mobile device that lets you live on your phone. Every month for 6 months a new model is released and each model supports a different charity. Snoozet is currently sold online on my Etsy store and soon it will be carried in select boutiques.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I actually bounce between Phoenix and San Diego. I love being able to come to the heat, enjoy the desert land and see the difference in people between my two cities. David and I love hiking and exploring nature and Phoenix has plenty of breathtaking places to explore and of course, photograph.
Pricing:
- Snoozet $22
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spreadideasmovepeople.com/
- Email: pam@spreadideasmovepeople.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobiux/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafeconpampodcast/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cobiux
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpreadIdeas?ref=search_shop_redirect
Image Credit:
Pam Covarrubias
Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
