Monday Mar 16, 2026

Ep. 12: Growing into your calling | Lorena Diaz

In this episode of What It’s Like to Be Here, I sit down with my longtime friend Lorena Diaz — an actor, Executive Director of Teatro Vista, and a familiar face on Chicago Med for over ten years.

We talk about her recent autism diagnosis and how it’s reshaped the way she sees herself and her life. Lorena reflects on what it’s been like to finally have language for parts of her experience that didn’t quite fit before, and how that clarity has helped her grow in both her personal and professional worlds.

We also take a walk down memory lane to when we first met at a pub on Halsted Street — back when I interviewed her for a story during my journalism days. From those early improv days to her approach to leadership and collaboration at Teatro Vista, Lorena opens up with honesty and insight about what it means to understand yourself more deeply and show up authentically in your work.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation about friendship, identity, creativity, and how our stories continue to unfold in unexpected ways.

Follow Lorena and Teatro Vista for more.

And on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItsLikeToBeHere

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