350: Full-Time World Travel as a Deafblind Latina and Smashing Disability Stigma Through Storytelling, Advocacy and Education with Catarina Rivera

Episode Summary

Learn about traveling the world as a deafblind Latina—salsa dancing, sumo-wrestling and becoming a disability advocate. Catarina joins Matt and talks about growing up in the U.S. in an immigrant home with Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage. She reflects on what those identities mean to her as well as her deafblind disability journey with Usher syndrome.  Catarina debunks common misconceptions people have about deafblind people and offers tips on non-disabled people can be better allies to disabled travelers.  She then reflects on how her interest in world travel developed and tells stories from a family trip to Spain in high school and more immersive trips to rural Kentucky, Argentina and Korea in college.  Next, Catarina talks about her first solo-trip with the white cane to Montreal, her love for Salsa dancing around the world, and her recent trip to Japan where she had epic tea experiences and got to try sumo-wrestling.  She then talks about the trip she led to Portugal for disable travelers and reflects and the power and impact of that experience.  Catarina next takes us on her journey of becoming an intersectional activist and building a fully remote company to smash disability stigmas. She explains how she designs her travel lifestyle and offers trips for disabled travelers as well as those traveling with a relationship partner.  And finally Catarina reflects on how traveling to nearly 40 countries has impacted her as a person.

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Catarina Rivera

Catarina Rivera is a deafblind world traveler, location-independent entrepreneur, international keynote speaker, award-winning content creator, and the founder of Blindish Latina, a platform smashing disability stigmas through storytelling, advocacy and education. She has worn hearing aids from a young age and was diagnosed with a progressive vision disability at 17 years old. She is a TEDx speaker, social justice advocate, and a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility consultant who holds 2 Master’s degrees in Education and Public Health, and has 14 years experience in the non-profit and education sector. Today she owns a fully remote business, travels the world full time, and has been to nearly 40 countries. She was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Disability Advocacy, she won the Trailblazer Award at the Bessie Awards, and was named one of the 17 Most Inspiring Women to Follow on LinkedIn in 2025.

What You'll Learn
  • Travel stories from salsa dancing to sumo-wrestling as a deafblind Latina
  • Advice on travel and global lifestyle design for disabled travelers
  • How non-disabled people can be better allies to disabled travelers
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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[1:21] Introducing Catarina Rivera

[3:08] The Wanderful Community and the WITS Summit

[6:36] Growing up in the U.S. with Puerto Rican and Cuban Heritage

[9:57] Catarina’s Deafblind Disability Journey with Usher Syndrome

[16:01] Debunking Misconceptions about Deafblind People

[18:15] How Non-Disabled People can be Better Allies to Disabled People

[19:12] Traveling to Spain in High School

[22:10] Immersive Travel to Rural Kentucky, Argentina and Korea During College

[26:23] Deciding to use a White Cane

[31:04] First Solo Trip to Montreal with a White Cane

[34:23] Salsa Dancing Around the World

[41:54] Tea Experiences in Japan

[49:17] Reflections on Accessibility in Japan

[50:58] Sumo Wrestling in Japan

[54:20] Leading a Trip to Portugal for Disabled Travelers

[1:00:22] Becoming an Intersectional Activist

[1:02:49] Education, Nonprofit Advocacy and Organization Building

[1:07:08] Building a Fully Remote Company to Smash Disability Stigmas

[1:09:42] Travel Lifestyle Design as a Disabled Person

[1:13:42] Tips on Traveling with a Relationship Partner

[1:16:48] How Travel Has Impacted Catarina

[1:20:31] The Lightning Round

[1:23:10] Find, Follow and Connect with Catarina