Brand the Interpreter
Brand the Interpreter
Mireya Perez
Burnout To Purpose with Heidi Leal
1 hour 12 minutes Posted Jan 2, 2026 at 8:00 am.
Gratitude And Season Closing
The Question Of Burnout And Purpose
Introducing Heidi Leal’s Journey
Childhood, Immigration, And Belonging
College Detours And Imposter Syndrome
Finding Fulfillment In Schools
Interpreting At IEPs And Role Clarity
Burnout And A Hard Pivot
Guatemala Volunteering Sparks A Calling
Training, CHI, And First Agency Work
Remote Work Limits And Rate Disparities
Leaving LSP Dependence For Direct Clients
Niching Into Mental Health Interpreting
Marketing Yourself And Building Autonomy
Three Practical Career Shift Tips
Community, Mentorship, And Next Year’s Vision
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Show notes
What do you do when the work that once felt like a calling starts to drain you dry? I sit down with Heidi Leal to follow a courageous pivot from school counseling into professional interpreting, a shift sparked by a year of volunteering in Guatemala that reignited her sense of service and clarified a new path forward. From triage rooms and field clinics to certification exams and first contracts, this story blends heart and hard-won tactics you can use if you’re craving more autonomy in your ...