Transatlantic Conversations: Episode 1

The Transatlantic Conversations podcast discusses personal experiences of chasing dreams in a relationship where one partner cannot work legally. Leia's dream of coming to America was influenced by Hollywood and music but has evolved to appreciate deeper values like democracy and human rights. The podcast aims to address important issues through meaningful discussions and aims to inspire positive change in the world. Leia struggles with not being financially independent but aims to contribute meaningfully through ideas and influence. The podcast emphasizes the importance of speaking out on significant topics and making a difference authentically. Welcome to the first episode of Transatlantic Conversations, where love, culture, and meaning meet. I'm Martin, and this is Leia. Today we're starting with something really personal, raw, and real. It's about what happens when you chase a dream, but one of you isn't allowed to contribute. Not legally, not financially, not fully. We're talking about what it's like when one person in a relationship isn't allowed to work. How that feels, what it teaches you, so let's just dive in. Where to start, Leia, everything we've been through. I guess, when you first came to America, what were you hoping for? I knew it was going to be hard, but when you actually live it, it's harder. I was expecting something a little smoother. I was hopeful, you know, lots of dreams, and I thought things would... Let's just rewind for everybody listening. Let's go back. What made you want to come to America in the first place? Before I ask you what you were hoping for when you came to America, what made you even want to come here? Well, I fell in love with America when I was about 8 years old, and my bigger sister actually forced me to watch High School Musical, which I did not want to, but then, I'm glad she did, because thanks to that, I fell in love with America, and I was like, okay, that's it, that's what I want, this is the life I want, and so I always kind of wanted to live here and stuff, and explore, and visit, and just have my life here, and yep, that's it. That's awesome, that really is. From High School Musical to actual... In the process of becoming an American and living out your dream. I must say, though, the vision of America you had, and the idea that made you want to come to America, this very Hollywood, our music, you know, Taylor Swift is one of your big influences, right? Yep. Music, High School Musical, you said, other things like that, that's really the media side, the Hollywood, the, I don't know, the commercial side of America, but you know, me, obviously, being a philosopher's statement at heart, and trying to follow in the footsteps of the Kennedys, and King, and Grant, and Lincoln, and all that, I love America, too, but for different reasons, for the more values, the freedom, the wars, the democracy, the human rights, do you think those things about America, the reasons that I love it, like the speeches about the Kennedy, the movie Lincoln, the Patriots, do those things really appeal to you, too, or is it just more the commercial side, or do you think those factors also played a role? Absolutely, absolutely. I did not know much about it before you, but since then, you showed me so many things. I've seen so many movies, I've read so many things, that like, now I'm like, yeah, that's for one, way more realistic, and for two, that's more rich in value, and it grounds me more on an emotional level, even deeper, my love for America. Absolutely. So, yeah, definitely plays a role, yeah. Do you see yourself, you know, you can't work right now, it's one of the things we're going to get to later, but now that you know everything, you actually, I mean, you live in L.A., and you live the Midwest life in Michigan, do you think your contribution or your American dream is going to be more what you imagined it to be, more on the like, aesthetic, commercial, media, Hollywood side, or entertainment, or the service, the democracy, the freedom, the human rights, the animal rights, you know, leading towards bettering the world, and really being like a thought leader, sort of influencer, or do you think it's going to be a mixture of both? You know, I think you also should let our listeners know that you started out and still do want to pursue modeling and acting, but I know that's a really loaded question, but do you think, what do you think your contribution, what's your, let's get to the big, juicy questions, what's your thoughts? Do you think you're going to contribute more like you thought in the media, entertainment way, or in the deep thought, movement, activist way? From living in the Midwest for quite a while now, right now I'm more rooted, I'm like, more like, deeper, and I would say... Deeper, more philosophical, or, I guess, meaningful pursuit? Yeah, even though, I mean, I would still, you know, I would still be driven by mine to do all the rest, more Hollywood-y, whatever stuff, but like, I don't know, I feel myself having such a deep love, you know, and understanding for the American culture, especially in the And you have like a heart, like, not picking on anything in modeling or acting, but when they're pursued just for themselves, the aesthetic beauty, like, that doesn't encompass like who you are, who I know you, because you're the person who can't look at a suffering cat or a starving child and feel like, I want to do something about this, like, what can I do to make this better? Like, that's the kind of person you are, you're not just like, oh, hey, look at me, look how I am, you're naturally beautiful, I must say, but there's more to you, and I think you're really starting to explore the deeper side of yourself. Absolutely, absolutely, and then, if I can use my influence whatsoever for the good cause and helping people and having some charities and whatever, like, that would just be a big, big bonus. Right, and the way you can contribute, which isn't financially at all, or like, directly with the business, but is a co-thought creator, coming up with ideas, I mean, things like that, and you're kind of put right into the position to make a difference and do meaning. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about, like, I mean, are you excited? What do you think about Transatlantic Press? Like, explain it in your words. To me, Transatlantic Press is a means to an end for us to be able to reflect the words of our hearts, which is pretty hard when we are in a transatlantic relationship where we do not specifically have the same ideas, the same views, the same values on some stuff, the same ideology, language, for one. So, I think that Transatlantic Press is, yeah, a way of expression to be able to talk about those problems. Absolutely. And the things that matter. Things that matter to you. Yeah. That's what I was getting at. Yeah. The idea that we're in a time where it's never really been easier to speak intelligently and deeply research about things that matter with the, you know, explosion of generative AI and things like that. You know, any ideas or anything can be brainstormed with detailed plots. And us, specifically, have tried publishing public domain content. I always have been, you know, a literary nerd reading over 700 books during an embarrassing depression. But being able in a time where we can use that as a tool to say what matters most, what the world needs most, what young people need, what old people need, what black, white, Republican, Democrat, what everybody, the words everybody needs to hear, to feel, to bring a better future, to take away from the suffering in the world. As Robert Kennedy said, let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago, to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of the world. And that's truly what we're trying to do, to keep authoritative dictators and tyrants from running countries based on personal ambitions, to keep the suffering and cruelty done to animals on a daily and systematic basis in the forefront of our minds and encourage people that things need to be done. We need to act. The way we treat animals is barbaric in so many ways. We'll get into that later, but it's really sad that the topics that people need to hear speak to the heart, whether it's self-help, philosophy, beauty, self-love, spirituality, religion, things people really need to hear, things that heal and improve and better, things that have deep meaning. It's not hot stuff. It's not just mindless entertainment. It causes you to think. It's authentic. Yeah, it's authentic, and it's needed. And I think if you look back at any great period of history, it was those people who stood up and had a voice and said the things that needed to be said. The great writers like Emerson, Camus, Nietzsche, the great statesmen like Robert Kennedy, Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, you look at any of those people, and their words, whether it was their speeches or books or anything, their words illuminated a nation and helped us tame the savageness of man and find our better angels. And at Transit Line Express, we're using AI not as a lazy way to make money, but a way to bring out our greatest ideas and the greatest ideas that have ever been thought to humanity and bring them to everybody's minds and hearts. Like Euripides, the Greek tragedian once said, he wrote so that the blind could see, to take the suffering out of the dark, to bring them into the light. That's the whole way. Not to oppress, to sell people mindless entertainment, but to help, to have meaning, to do better and make a difference in the world. And that's truly possible, and it's just a matter of making our content compelling enough for people to want to hear, in marketing, want to hear basically what needs to be said. And these are all ideas and stuff that are deeply meaningful to us. We're not just looking for the ideas of making those money. Everything has a purpose. And more businesses and startups like this around the world really can lead to that whole idea of the ripple of hope where we're all contributing in our little way, and that is all that can save the world. I'm sorry. I talked too much, Leah. You were silent on some of the questions I had for you. Sorry, I hogged it too much. What's been, like, here's some questions for you. What's been the hardest moment so far, and have you ever felt ashamed or guilty for not being able to help more financially? Thank you. Absolutely. That's still a daily struggle for me, who is a financially independent woman, and I hate having to rely financially on all the people. And, right, it's the paradox. Sorry, in a row. The paradox of the American dream. The American dream is, oh, work hard, make money, build a life. You're living the American dream, but you're saying, hey, you can't work hard. You can't make money. You can't earn an income. It's like, what the fuck do I do? I think you're doing the only thing you can do. You're letting your voice and your meaning, what matters most, be speak. Sorry for speaking for you. That's all right. I get it. But, yeah, so it's really frustrating on a daily basis, for sure. I feel helpless, stuck sometimes, and it breaks my heart that everything has to fall on your shoulders. I understand that. Do you want to ask me any questions? So how does it feel, does it still feel for you, being the only one legally allowed to work? I think if I'm being brutally honest, it's not much of a surprise or shift, because I still, for better or worse, I believe in the future is female, but I still was raised and have this old core belief that the man should be able to provide for his woman. He should be the Spartan, the one who goes out and works, does his thing, and should be able to take care of the family on his own. I've always had that sort of mentality, so I've always felt like it's all on me. It really isn't. I mean, I guess the reality of it, if we could have like double the income and stuff like that, it really would help make me less stressed, but it's not really a shift in how I think or see things. I understand. That's great for me. Any others you want to say? What's something that I have done that made you feel supported, even if it wasn't financial? What you're doing right now. Everything that's transatlantic is correct. First of all, believing in me. Also, being willing to engage in these important, meaningful, hard conversations and explore these ideas and want to contribute, basically. You are the backbone. You're my Jackie Kennedy, or my, I should say, Ethel, because I don't want to cue you like JFK did. Yeah, you better not. As much as I love JFK. You better not. I appreciate everybody listening. We're going to have to wrap this one up, though, but I think in sum, we can say that the American dream isn't just about careers with cash. It's about building something meaningful together, and sometimes the most powerful contributions come in quiet, invisible ways. We're still figuring it out, but this is our journey, and we're honored to share it with you. Thanks for listening to Transatlantic Conversation. If this resonated with you, we'd love to hear your story, too.