Angelina's Blog

 During Latinx|e Heritage Month, I decided to celebrate by listening to the official Spotify playlist. What I expected to be background music quickly became something much more meaningful. The playlist was full of rhythm, energy, and emotion; each song felt like it was telling its own story. Even without attending the closing celebration, I still felt connected to the spirit of the month through the music itself. The playlist became my way of participating, of learning, and of appreciating culture through sound. One thing that stood out to me was how deeply I connected to the songs even though I don’t fully speak or understand Spanish. I caught certain phrases and emotions, but most of the time it was the tone of the voice, the beat of the drums, or the melody that communicated meaning. It reminded me that music is a universal language. I didn’t need to translate every lyric to feel what the artist was expressing: Joy, heartbreak, pride, or strength. That realization made listenin...

  Reflection on “Cherishing Each Other: A Conversation with Tara Brach and Father Gregory Boyle” In “Cherishing Each Other,” Tara Brach and Father Gregory Boyle engage in a profoundly moving discussion about compassion, belonging, and the shared dignity of all people. What struck me most was how naturally they blended spiritual reflection with lived experience. Brach’s mindfulness perspective and Boyle’s real-world stories from Homeboy Industries created a dialogue that felt both grounding and transformative. Their words encouraged me to look beyond surface differences and think about what it truly means to “cherish” others in everyday life. One of the most meaningful takeaways for me was the reminder that compassion is not dependent on familiarity; it’s something we can offer to anyone. Both speakers emphasize that recognizing someone’s humanity is the first step to genuine connection. Father Boyle’s examples of working with individuals who have faced significant hardship showe...

  Anima Mundi Development Partners TO: Clark Hansen, CEO, AMDP FROM: Angelina Tuggle, R&D Analyst DATE: October 15, 2025 SUBJECT: Investment Recommendation — Captura As part of AMDP’s commitment to identifying enterprises that balance profitability with environmental and social responsibility, I propose that we consider investing in Captura. Captura is a California-based climate-technology company developing ocean-based carbon-removal systems. I find that Captura’s mission of “restoring ocean health and helping the planet reach net zero” truly embodies the triple bottom line by promoting innovation that benefits people, the planet, and long-term economic growth. In this memo, I will define AMDP’s four guiding concepts —Triple Bottom Line, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprise, and Carbon Footprint —and then evaluate Captura’s operations, business performance, and sustainability claims. I will then present critical assessments from two respected industry sour...

  I chose American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera because I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore cultural identity and belonging. I was interested in how people from different backgrounds navigate life in between cultures and what that experience teaches them about themselves. The book stood out to me because it brings together a diverse mix of voices, each offering a unique perspective on what it means to grow up American while holding onto your family’s cultural roots. So far, the first few chapters have been really engaging. America Ferrera’s introduction sets the tone by explaining why she wanted to gather these essays and how growing up between cultures shaped her. The first essays are heartfelt and honest, showing the challenges and pride that come with navigating two worlds at once. I like that each writer has a unique voice, so you get many different angles on what it means to be “American.” It’s already making me think about how i...

  Behind the Drama: The Hidden Business of Reality TV How Reality TV Turns Drama Into a Multi-Billion-Dollar Business Strategy  Whether you’re watching Love Island on Peacock, keeping up with The Bachelor on Monday nights, or scrolling TikTok edits of The Real Housewives’ latest fight, reality TV is everywhere. It’s become more than a guilty pleasure, it’s a cultural engine that creates influencers, fuels streaming wars, and shapes what we talk about online. The chaos on screen may feel spontaneous, but there’s someone behind the scenes creating a business model driving every argument, product placement, and dramatic twist. As someone who grew up watching reality tv in all different forms I have been exposed to the different ins and outs of reality tv, looking at the behind the scenes drama and twitter fight. Being a business student interested in marketing strategy and pop culture, I’ve realized that reality TV has actually been creating the groundwork for powerful brands. In...

I chose American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures because I was drawn to the idea of exploring diverse perspectives on identity and belonging. I am passionate about cultures and how understanding someone's culture can lead to a better understanding of that person as a whole. The concept of hearing from many voices about what it means to grow up in between cultures feels very relevant to me, especially as someone who is interested in understanding cultural exchange and identity. I was drawn to this book because I believe it will show me new ways to think about my own background and also allow me to appreciate the complexity of other people’s stories further. As I have begun reading the book, it has been very engaging. I found America Ferrera’s introduction important and impactful, as it sets the tone by explaining why she wanted to gather these essays and how growing up between cultures shaped her. While reading the first few essays, I could truly feel how heartfelt and...

Inside DIRECTV: My Experience as a Marketing Intern This summer, I worked as a Marketing intern at DIRECTV. In this role, I worked directly with the product management team. My primary role was to assist the team with market research, analyzing trends, and identifying content that captures viewers’ attention and draws them to DIRECTV. Most people don’t think about this part of television because they only see the shows or the sports on screen. Behind the scenes, though, there’s a whole team working to figure out what keeps you interested. And don’t confuse us with the people making the ads you see on YouTube. My main job wasn’t creating commercials. It was more focused on learning how data and strategy come together to make content stand out. In this memo, I’ll explain what the job was like, the projects I worked on, and what I learned from the experience. Exploring What Viewers Want A large part of my job was exploring. I spent time researching what viewers watch and how they react to...