La Revista Mujer

Selina Ringel is a Mexican- American filmmaker and author of the best selling book Be The Train. Selina Ringel is also an award-winning Mexican-American filmmaker who has carved out a niche in the independent film world with her compelling narratives and bold creative voice.

As a writer, producer, and actress, Selina Ringel’s recent feature You, Me & Her has won 15 awards and was released in 250 theaters nationwide on Valentine’s Day as the alpha test for Fithian Group’s innovative platform, Attend, which is revolutionizing theatrical distribution.

THE INTERVIEW

I had the distintic pleasure of meeting and interviewing Selina Ringel about her life and her book at SXSW 2026 during her event Fashion Meets Intention at the Alice and Olivia boutique in Austin.

Selina RIngel interview with La Revista Mujer of Austin, Texas.

Selina’s voice stands apart in a room. It‘s the sound of strong and driven woman whose laugh is humble and generous at the same time. Her energy is contagious and her presence inspires happiness and fun by sharing her presence. It’s clear she is driving her own train.

I immediately felt at ease with Selina Ringel and we started a conversation, which I am delighted to share with you below.

Fashion Meets Intention

How did the collaboration with Alice + Olivia and Be The Train come together for this activation at SXSW?

So everything started when I created these manifestation patches to put on this cardigan that I was going to wear while I was doing all this press for this movie that I wrote and produced.

And I was wearing this cardigan, to kind of feel a certain way and manifest how I wanted to feel in the world. Then people kept on asking me like, how do I get this cardigan? Where can I buy it?

I told them I made it myself. So I started creating it for people to buy. Then I thought the best version of this would be a collaboration with a bigger brand.

After doing some research I ended up reaching out to Alice and Olivia and a cold email. (I actually have a whole chapter in my book about cold emails because I am a strong believer in cold emails)

And they thought it would actually be really fun to do an event together with my patches and with the brand and so I ended up doing an event in LA, now here in Austin and we are doing one in Miami.

How can clothing become part of someone’s mindset or intention- setting?

I am a very big believer in vision boarding and affirmations. I think sometimes the way I see this, -it’s almost like a wearable vision board that you’re wearing your intentions, and by wearing them you’re constantly reminding yourself of the things that you want to embody in your life. And you look at it -in the mirror and you are like, «Oh no permission needed!».- Authenticity. Love . Abundance. Yes.

Why is SXSW an important platform for conversations like this?”

First of all, I am a filmmaker and film is where my heart is. My husband and I have made movies together, so we love the festivals. This is my first time at SXSW. I am really excited because SXSW is one of the most amazing festivals there is.

That is not just for film, it’s music, technology, combined with so many things. So it’s a great place for fashion meets- intention, meets- filmmaking, meets … many things.

Representation & Perspective

As a Mexican-American filmmaker, how has your cultural background influenced the stories you choose to tell?

All the stories I tell are about a Mexican-American, because that’s the culture that I live in. I obviously am very light skinned and I’m still Mexican-American. Sometimes people are shocked when I say that my dad is from México City and that I grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico.

But I think that to me, it’s important that we see that we’re now at an age where there’s so many variations of what it looks like, what it sounds like, what the culture is and we kind of have to embrace all of those different parts.

So for every film that I made, I incorporate my personal experience into the film that we’re showcasing so people can relate to that experience as well.

BE THE TRAIN by SELINA RINGEL

Your book BE The Train has been a bestseller and is still growing with your podcast Be the Train. And your book is also available in Spanish TU ERES EL TREN. It uses the metaphor of a train journey—What inspired that concept for personal transformation?

To me, the metaphor behind Be The Train it, is that the train is the opportunity you have been waiting for.

I think a lot of times in our life we think we just have to wait for the right train, wait for the right opportunity. And what I have noticed in my life, in the mindset shift that I have had to make, which I am now trying to help other people make, is that actually, the opportunity is not coming for you.

“You are the opportunity, you need to be the train, you cannot wait for the train anymore”

You need to “Be The Train”. You can’t wait for the train anymore. And so once you are The Train and you create the opportunities, then other people will jump onto what you’re doing and that, all of a sudden, becomes the real life-changing way.

What was the hardest lesson you had to learn before writing BE THE TRAIN?

I think the hardest lesson I had to learn is that no one is coming (laughing). No one is coming to save me, and telling you “hey, I’ve been noticing everything you’re doing and I’m going to now give you the opportunity of a lifetime”.

It’s more like you have to keep showing up and opportunities will present themselves, but so much is in your hands. And I think that’s scary but also really empowering because there is so much that is in your hands

Being so dedicated to your career, how do you balance childrend and work?

First of all, I want my kids to see me pursuing my dreams, because I want them to pursue theirs. And at the same time, I want to be there for all their things.

And I think that the hardest part is actually the guilt you feel in both, when you are working but you are not with them, and when you are with them, and you are not working.

So what I am trying to do is to find this kind of guilt free system where, here is where I am, and this is what I am doing. If I am doing the work, I am in the work, enjoy the work. When I’m with my kids, be with my kids, don’t worry about work. Enjoy the beauty of that moment.

FUTURE COLLABORATIONS

If Selina Ringel could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would that be?

There’s so many people that I admire. I love Leslie Mann’s work. I love Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba. Mel Robbins – (who actually wrote the quote for the front of my book!) Issa Rae, Tina Fey. However, I’m a very, very big advocate right now of women who are expanding themselves into multiple places. I feel like they can take up space in multiple places.

When I started my career ten years ago, people would say to me, choose one thing, you can do only one thing, otherwise people would get confused. And I don’t believe that’s true. I can do several different things. I contain multitudes! (laughter)

Fun Closing Question for Selina

Being away from Mexico I know you must miss the great Mexican food you grw up with. What is your favorite Antojito Mexicano?

Chilaquiles de chipotle con frijolitos. They are so good and I can’t find good ones in LA. I have tried to make them myself – “¡pero no me salen igual!” (laughter)

And with that laughter and energy we closed the inspiring conversation with this woman full of energy, full of plans for the future, and definitely drivingher own train.