We recently connected with Andrea Briceno and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

The journey of creating my book Dasha: Finding your God-given talent began in 2015 during a trip to my home country, Venezuela. While I was there, I received a coffee mug with a caricature of my family on it. That thoughtful gift sparked an idea: what if I created a story with a character inspired by me? I began exploring possibilities and topics, knowing one thing for certain—I wanted to write a children’s book.

Throughout my life, I had started writing motivational books or personal stories, but I never finished them, paralyzed by impostor syndrome. “I’m not a writer,” I’d tell myself. After all, I only got C’s in literature and grammar in high school. But something inside me kept nudging me to try. So, I started drafting a story about the adventures of Dasha, a girl on a journey to discover her God-given talents. During that trip, I asked the same artist who had created the mug to illustrate a picture of me as a child. That illustration became the foundation for Dasha. The name “Dasha” resonated deeply with me because it means “gift from God.” When I returned to Los Angeles, where I was living at the time, I shared my dream of creating a children’s book with my boyfriend (now husband). Together, we dreamed even bigger, imagining the story as a TV series.

However, reality set in when we looked into the cost of animating the story or creating an interactive book with narration. It was far beyond what we could afford at the time, so we shelved the project temporarily. But one day, while brainstorming, we decided to work with what we had. I was a skilled radio producer with a background in broadcasting, and Reynold, my husband, was a music composer who graduated from Berklee College of Music. Together, we decided to turn Dasha into a storytelling podcast for kids—a format we could produce with our existing talents and resources. I wrote the story in a script format, focusing on dialogue and character development. With excitement, I involved my cousin and her kids as voice actors. They were thrilled to help, even jokingly asking if they’d get paid someday. We also recruited friends to voice additional characters, and after recording five episodes, we launched the first one on March 26, 2019.

The podcast received great feedback from parents and kids, but when the pandemic hit, recording became impossible. The project came to a halt, and we put the dream aside. In the meantime, we moved to Florida to start a family, but we faced unexpected challenges, including difficulties in expanding our family. Amid the grief, I felt a deep longing to revisit Dasha’s story, which had always been about finding purpose and overcoming challenges.

In February 2024, while talking with my best friend at the beach, I shared my dream of turning Dasha into a book. She recommended an editorial in Venezuela called Paquicornio Libros, which guides authors through the publishing process. We had our first meeting with Andrea (my tocaya), who was amazing at breaking down the steps we needed to take. After an unsuccessful IVF cycle in March 2024, I poured my heart into this project, making Dasha my “baby.” Over the next nine months, we worked tirelessly—finding the right illustrator, adapting the audio script into a book, and creating versions in both English and Spanish. Initially, the first printed version didn’t meet our expectations—the size, illustrations, and formatting were all wrong. It felt like another heartbreak, but I chose to surrender and trust the process.

We went back to the drawing board, fixed the issues, and faced multiple rejections from Amazon while trying to finalize the format. Finally, on December 30, 2024, we got the approval, and on December 31, at 3 PM, the finished book arrived in our hands. It was perfect. After nearly 10 months of hard work, our “baby” was born. Holding the book for the first time brought tears of joy and an overwhelming sense of pride. We shared that moment with our family and friends, celebrating the incredible journey it took to bring Dasha to life. Now, as we move into the marketing phase, we’re thrilled by the positive feedback and excited to see where Dasha’s story will go next.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Andrea Briceño—a producer, broadcaster, holistic IIN health coach, published author, and entrepreneur. In 2024, I launched LittleBirds Productions with my husband Reynold Roque, a South Florida-based content creation company, born from our passion for storytelling, impactful media, and helping others achieve their full potential.

As a producer and broadcaster, I specialize in bringing meaningful stories to life, crafting content that inspires and resonates with audiences. My work is deeply rooted in creativity and purpose, ensuring each project leaves a lasting impact.
As a holistic health coach, I guide individuals toward living more balanced, fulfilling lives by addressing the connection between mind, body, and spirit. My degree in spiritual psychology enriches my approach, equipping me with tools to help clients navigate life’s challenges with self-awareness and compassion.

As a published author, I’ve translated my passion for self-discovery and growth into words, sharing insights that inspire others to reflect and transform. What sets me apart is my ability to seamlessly weave creative storytelling with personal empowerment, offering clients and audiences a unique and impactful experience.
I’m most proud of the connections I’ve built and the transformations I’ve witnessed in those I’ve worked with. My goal is to create spaces—whether on screen, in coaching sessions, or through my writing—where people feel seen, heard, and inspired to thrive.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The greatest lesson I had to unlearn was that my value isn’t tied to how much I accomplish or check off a to-do list. Instead, it lies in the impact I create—whether through a meaningful conversation with a friend, a client, or simply by living a life filled with purpose. For so long, I believed my worth was measured by productivity and achievements. Through coaching and therapy, I began to rediscover my God-given talents, much like the story of Dasha. I came to understand that I am the secret ingredient—not the size of the project I’m working on or how much I manage to get done. It’s about showing up with authenticity, embracing my unique gifts, and creating a life that truly matters.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my now business partner—and partner in life—while dancing at a birthday party right in front of the Paramount Studios. We were introduced by mutual friends in 2013 but didn’t truly connect until a year later, when we started hanging out and eventually began dating. In 2019, we combined our talents to bring our storytelling podcast to life, and in 2024, we took it a step further by becoming business partners in a creative media company. Together, we founded Little Birds Productions, a company dedicated to helping small businesses and brands create engaging social media content. We’re a dynamic team, offering a full suite of services, from pre-production, production to post-production editing. Through Little Birds Productions, we also brought Dasha: Finding Your God-Given Talent to life, our heartfelt bilingual children’s book. Our ultimate dream is to transform this story into a children’s TV series—a vision that fuels our creativity and drives us forward every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://littlebirdsproduction.systeme.io/888777?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYKeXAVcfwzgVouQsxDwDuWwXSbSM9QWEZON5kbjSlA9IRvTDjNqyMGWbo_aem_taKzoIK17MzEkaBojfgq0A
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreacbriceno/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/agiftcalleddasha/

  https://www.instagram.com/littlebirdsproductions/

Image Credits

Daniel Rivas & Kei Moreno