Latina to Latina
In this interview series, host Alicia Menendez talks to remarkable Latinas about making it, faking it, and everything in between. In often-hilarious and always-revealing episodes, Alicia and her guests take on the challenges of existing, and then thriving, as women of color.
Mon, April 14, 2025
How CBS Mornings Plus Co-Host Adriana Diaz Learned to Go For It
The co-host of CBS News Mornings Plus shares how competing in the Miss USA pageant system taught her to up her wattage, the growing pains she experienced as an international correspondent, and how her idea of balance is giving 100 percent when she is at work and 100 percent when she is with her family. If you love listening to this episode, you can watch an extended cut on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xtFQUni-_fs
Mon, April 07, 2025
Remix: Karla Monterroso is Interrogating the Language of Power
A personal leadership crisis shaped her understanding of how power is built and distributed. Now the leadership coach, strategist, and racial equity advocate shares how others can navigate the unique demands of leaders of color, and the work necessary to eradicate anti-Blackness in Latino communities. Follow Karla on Twitter @karlitaliliana . If you liked this episode, listen to How Mildred Otero Learned to Negotiate and Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 31, 2025
How Hija De Tu Madre Founder Patty Delgado Knew She Was Ready to Expand Her Creative Vision
She launched her first business with $500 and a denim jacket featuring a sequined La Virgen de Guadalupe. Eight years later, Patty is ready to introduce the world to the next iteration of her vision: FATHER, Western inspired leather heirlooms. Patty shares how she harnesses the power of her ADHD, why she has chosen to stay fully self-funded, and reflects on the FirstGen kid’s eternal search for home.
Mon, March 24, 2025
Remix: Social Impact Strategist Elsa Collins Wants You to Understand the Power of Your Influence
The serial co-founder (This is About Humanity, Poderistas, I Am a Voter) knows how to harness the power of celebrities for everything from political campaigns to direct service for migrant families, but she still believes that you are the most influential person in your own circle. Elsa shares how this ethos applies to everything from civic engagement to raising multiracial kids. Follow Elsa on Instagram @elsamariecollins . If you loved this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace and Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, March 17, 2025
How Joy Huerta Learned to Embrace Life's Curves
The Grammy-award winning artist, half of the Mexican sibling pop duo Jesse & Joy, is taking on a new role: as co-composer and lyricist for the Broadway musical Real Women Have Curves. Joy shares how music “literally saved her life,” the complexity of being raised by a machismo father who wanted her to be independent, and reflects on the curves life has thrown her way (early professional success, a wife, two babies, and now, a chance to be the first Mexican composer of a Broadway show in over 40 years!). To watch a special extended version of this interview, visit us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@latinatolatina During preview performances (April 1 - April 26) use our special discount code (LTLPODCAST) at the box office or online at Telecharge: https://www.telecharge.com/Real-Women-Have-Curves-tickets?AID=BWY001451633&MC=LTLPODCAST&utm_source=discount&utm_campaign=RealWomenHaveCurvesSS&utm_medium=other&utm_id=BWY001451633
Mon, March 10, 2025
Remix: How Philanthropic CEO Carmen Rojas Learned to Lead as Her Full Self
Today we bring you another one of our favorite conversations since the start of our show. Raised by Nicaraguan and Venezuelan parents who immigrated to the U.S. in the middle of the Civil Rights and labor movements, she grew up determined to uphold the ideals of justice and equality. After being the first in her family to go to college, she set to work improving the lives of working people. In this expansive and intimate conversation with Alicia, Carmen, now the CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, opens up about her modest upbringing, how to strengthen philanthropy, and why she does not hide any part of herself in her new role. Follow Carmen @crojasphd on X.
Mon, March 03, 2025
How Alejandra Hernandez Styled SZA for the Super Bowl Halftime Show
The fashion stylist and designer shares how she develops her clients’ style profiles, and details the choices that went into creating SZA’s iconic Super Bowl halftime look.
Mon, February 24, 2025
Top 18: Why Living Icon Isabel Allende Has Never Kept Secrets
We continue with our Top 25 Countdown! She believes the secrets you keep make you vulnerable. And she is sharing plenty of them in her new book, The Soul of a Woman. Isabel joins Alicia from her cozy writing room in her attic for an intimate chat that touches on infidelity, maternal grief, and the process of becoming "a woman on her own terms." Follow Isabel Allende on Instagram @allendeisabel .
Mon, February 17, 2025
Why Debby Wolfe Believes That Real Life is Funnier Than Fiction
The Executive Producer and Showrunner of NBC’s hit sitcom Lopez vs. Lopez knew she had something special when she watched Mayan Lopez call out her famous father, George Lopez, on TikTok. That inspiration, combined with Debby’s decade working in television (credits: ABC’s “The Conners,” Freevee’s “Primo,” Hulu’s “Love, Victor,” Netflix’s “One Day at a Time”) has made Lopez vs. Lopez a multi-season success. Debby describes her practices for creating psychological safety in a creative environment, the quality all of her most successful peers share, and the real life struggles that fuel her sitcom’s plotlines.
Mon, February 10, 2025
Remix: Paola Mendoza Teaches Us That Joy Is an Act of Resistance
This week, we bring you another one of our most beloved conversations since the start of our show. Film director and activist Paola Mendoza embodies today's political resistance. As Creative Director of the Women's March, her visionary work helped galvanize millions around the world, and continues with the "I Am a Child" campaign and efforts to stop the latest Supreme Court nominee. Paola was raised by a single mother, and, as a rebellious teen, found salvation in the arts. She talks with Alicia about gaining strength from her mother's difficult choices and why for her joy is an act of resistance. Follow Paola @paolamendoza on Instagram.
Mon, February 03, 2025
How Brown Badass Bonita Founder Kim Guerra Learned to Practice Radical Self-Love
How Brown Badass Bonita Founder Kim Guerra Learned to Practice Radical Self-Love Like so many Latinas, she grew up being told, "calladita te ves más bonita.” But once Kim decided she didn't want to be quiet, she decided to help other Latinas find their voice too. Now, she is sharing her personal experience of healing her inner niña and her practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist in her new book, Badass Bonita: Break the Silence, Become a Revolution, Unearth Your Inner Guerrera. Come for Kim's retelling of the time her grandmother called her a "hoe," stay for the revolutionary self-love that allowed her to advocate for herself and begin to heal intergenerational wounds. ---------------------------------------- For notes: Check out Kim's new book, Badass Bonita: Break the Silence, Become a Revolution, Unearth Your Inner Guerrera ( https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kim-guerra/badass-bonita/9781538742433/ )
Mon, January 27, 2025
Remix: Why Diana Flores Believes Flag Football Deserves a Professional League
We bring you one of our favorite conversations with inspiring Latinas from the world of sports and fitness. The captain and quarterback of Mexico's National Flag Football Team shares her journey to winning gold at the 2022 World Games, how being a competitive athlete has shaped her relationship to her body (and to dating!), and how a professional league would change the sport she loves. Follow Diana on Instagram @ dianaflres33 .
Mon, January 20, 2025
Why Jannese Torres Wants You to Become Financially Powerful
The host of the acclaimed Yo Quiero Dinero podcast and author of Financially Lit: The Modern Latina’s Guide to Level Up Your Dinero & Become Financially Poderosa shares her own journey to financial freedom, the realities of leveling-up a side-hustle, and her best advice for other Latinas who are just beginning their financial education. You can find The Yo Quiero Dinero® podcast here and her book, "Financially Lit!" here.
Mon, January 13, 2025
Remix: Mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Knows the Highest Mountain is the One Within
We continue with our specially-curated playlist with our favorite interviews with Latinas in sports and fitness. The adventurer, activist, and first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits shares the childhood trauma and self-destructive behavior that brought her to the world’s highest mountain. Follow Silvia on Instagram @silviavasla . You can order her book via the websites listed here .
Bonus · Fri, January 10, 2025
We're back!
Starting this week, we'll be sharing brand new episodes every other week! Thank you for giving us space to work on other LTL projects (more on that soon). We're excited to bring fresh conversations to your listening rotation.
Mon, January 06, 2025
How Law & Order: SVU’s Juliana Aidén Martinez Learned To Accept the Up and Down Nature of a Creative Life
The Miami-born, Yale-trained Colombian-American actress shares the bumpy road between her breakout role in Netflix’s Griselda and her newest role as Detective Kate Silva on Law & Order: SVU; what she has learned working with stars Sofia Vergara and Mariska Hargitay; and the value of being just a little bit delusional.
Mon, December 30, 2024
Remix: How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength
This week, we share another one of our favorite interviews with Latinas in the world of sports and fitness. A decade ago, she began sharing her fitness trials and triumphs online after experiencing the dark side of the industry. Since then, she has motivated millions to find their motivation, strengthening techniques, and focus—and built a wellness empire that includes an app and the TRU Supplements line. In this episode, Massy gets candid about her recent divorce, and all the things we don’t see on Instagram. Follow Massy on Instagram @massy.arias .
Mon, December 23, 2024
Top 19: How Peloton's Robin Arzón Found Her True Power
Our Top 25 Countdowb continues! The litigator turned ultra-marathoner and fitness instructor shares the personal trauma that helped redirect her from law into fitness, her commitment to showing up fully present and fully committed, and why her new children's book, Strong Mama, is a call to reimagine self-care. Follow Robin @robinnyc on Instagram.
Mon, December 16, 2024
Remix: Julissa Natzely Arce Raya Wants You to Reclaim Your Identity
This week, we bring you one of our favorite conversations featuring some of the most inspiring Latinas we've had on the show. As a kid growing up in Texas, she thought that fitting in would keep her safe. Then, as she rose through the Wall Street ranks while harboring a big secret, a life-changing loss made her question everything. In her new book, You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation, Julissa shares her personal journey, explores the veiled history of U.S. Latinos, and makes a powerful case for reimagining what it means to belong. Follow Julissa on Instagram @julissaarce .
Mon, December 09, 2024
Top 20: Why Novelist Xochitl Gonzalez Isn't Done Being Ambitious
We continue with our Top 25 Countdown! "Could you just be done being ambitious?" That was the question the Brooklyn native asked herself before she "blew up" her comfortable New York life to move to Iowa, pursue her MFA, and complete her first novel, which would become a New York Times Best-Seller, Olga Dies Dreaming. Follow Xochitl on Instagram @xochitlheg .
Mon, December 02, 2024
Remix: How Mysticism Fuels Natalia Lafourcade's Musical Process
Today we bring you another one of our most well-loved conversations with Latina artists. The iconic Mexican folk singer didn’t know if she would keep working in music, so she lost herself in Canada and started paying attention to signs from the universe. In this episode, she shares how she found her way back home and the rituals she relies on to bring new projects to life. Follow Natalia Lafourcade on Instagram @natalialafourcade . If you loved this episode, listen to What Medium Tatianna Morales Sees in Her Own Future and What Singer Aymée Nuviola Left Behind for Her Art .
Mon, November 25, 2024
Remix: How Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez is Complicating the Immigrant Narrative
We bring you one of our favorite conversations featuring some of the most inspiring Latina writers we've had on the show. When her parents’ tourists visas expired, and they were no longer allowed entry into the United States, Elizabeth, an American citizen, persuaded her parents to allow her to stay in Arizona solo. She was only 15 years-old. Even as she contended with housing and food insecurity, Elizabeth managed to graduate valedictorian of her high school class, before going on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, we talk about the values tension in wanting to change the world and needing to pay rent, why the responsibilities she carried never allowed her to “let loose” like her peers, and her decision to share her story in her new memoir, “My Side of the River.” Follow Elizabeth on instagram @ lizzycancu and find her book My Side of the River here .
Bonus · Wed, November 20, 2024
Bonus Episode: How Journalist Naibe Reynoso Became the Creative Force Behind Con Todo Press
Caress has provided more than 2.5 million dollars to support and elevate founders in our communities. One of the alums of the Caress Dream Fund, Naibe Reynoso, is an Emmy award-winning journalist and founder of Con Todo Press, a bilingual children's book publishing company. Naibe shares how she applied her journalism skills to entrepreneurship, the realities of publishing, and how to find big money for your big idea. (Sponsored) To learn more go to caress.com and contodopress.com
Mon, November 18, 2024
How Adriana Paz Learned that “Living” is Critical for Success
The prolific actress and star of Netflix’s musical crime comedy drama, Emilia Perez, shares her fears about being “too famous,” the risk/reward analysis of taking on a wildly ambitious project, and what she learned from sharing space (and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award!) with Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascón and Selena Gomez.
Mon, November 11, 2024
Remix: How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative
This week, we continue with one of our most beloved conversations with members of the new literary canon. As if setting out to write a book about the undocumented immigrant experience across the country wasn’t hard enough, Karla Cornejo Villavivencio set a much higher bar for The Undocumented Americans. “I promised everyone in the book, all of my subjects, that I would get Americans to care. And that's a promise that I couldn't guarantee that I could keep,” she tells Alicia in this searing conversation about not wanting to be a political tool, being among the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard University, and not thinking too much about herself to avoid “going into dark places.” Follow Karla on instagram @karlarrriott.
Mon, November 04, 2024
Why Olivia Troye, a Former Trump Administration Official, Is Voting for Kamala Harris
Raised in El Paso by a Mexican immigrant mother and a father who worked as a truck driver, this first gen college student started her career at the Republican National Committee. Then dual tragedies, the September 11, 2001 attacks and the sudden death of her father, changed everything. Olivia describes her career pivot to national security; her choice to work for Vice President Pence, her decision to leave and the fall out; and why she, a lifelong Republican, is now openly campaigning for Kamala Harris.
Mon, October 28, 2024
New Episode: Why Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman is Obsessed with Delivering the American Dream of Business Ownership
Administrator Guzman, the fifth Latina to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, shares how she learned to be “as entrepreneurial as the small businesses” she serves, the growing pains of pivoting from behind-the-scenes player to principal, and her best advice for other Latinas who want to do the same.
Mon, October 21, 2024
New Episode: Nopalera's Sandra Velasquez on Why We Should Support Latina Risk Takers
At UnidosUS's annual conference in Las Vegas this year, LTL's Juleyka Lantigua moderated a keynote conversation with the founder of the award-winning beauty brand during the event's Latinas Luncheon. Sandra opened up about the creative transition from rock musician to lifestyle entrepreneur, the business acumen and personal evolution required to grow Nopalera, and the powerful ways our choices as Latina consumers can generate community wealth.
Mon, October 14, 2024
Remix: How Writer Leslé Honoré Knows Poetry Changes Lives
This week, we share another one of our favorite interviews from Latinas in the art world. Her poems have gone viral and reached millions. Now the writer behind "Brown Girl, Brown Girl" opens up about finding her way out of an abusive marriage, the decade where her kids became her poems, and the power of putting what you want into words. Find Leslé's latest book here and follow the author on IG @leslehonore. If you loved this episode, listen to How Coco Illustrator Ana Ramírez González Extends Herself with Her Art and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative .
Mon, October 07, 2024
New Episode: How Paola Mendoza’s Art is Lighting a Path Forward
For her newest YA book, Solis, Paola teamed up with co-author Abby Sher to tell the story of a near-future America where undocumented people are forced into labor camps in service of an autocratic regime, and the four courageous rebels who decide to start a revolution. Paola shares the process of co-creating, what she had to say "no" to in order to say "yes" to YA fiction, and reflections on her own quest for freedom. Follow Paola on Instagram @paolamendoza . Find her new book Solis , here and her book tour dates here . If you enjoyed this episode, listen to her first episode on Latina to Latina, Paola Mendoza Teaches Us That Joy Is an Act of Resistance .
Mon, September 30, 2024
New Episode: How Paola Ramos Became Insatiably Curious
The award-winning journalist delves into the reporting behind her new book, Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America; reflects on how being a Latina lesbian informs her storytelling; and shares what her grandfather’s life and death have taught her about the pursuit of individual freedom. Follow Paola @paoramos on Instagram and find her new book here .
Mon, September 23, 2024
Remix: Why iLe’s New Album, Almadura, Is Both Departure and Evolution from Calle 13
This week, we bring you one of our favorite conversations with Latina artists. iLe’s natural and inherited musical talents were nurtured between classic piano training and the hyper-political songs of Calle 13, Puerto Rico’s most influential group in the last few decades. Now the singer/songwriter takes center stage with her haunting and flaring album Almadura. She and Alicia revisit moments of inspiration and desperation—especially for her beloved PR’s political limbo—and pull threads from the vivid stories and powerful messages that elevate her music to anthem status. Follow iLe on IG @cabralu . If you loved this episode, listen to Dessa for more on music.
Mon, September 16, 2024
New Episode: Why Jessica Hoppe Believes We Need More Stories of Addiction Recovery
She was in her early 30s when a stranger's intervention forced Jessica to confront her addiction. Recovery required Jessica to revisit early traumas, and contend with deeply ingrained ideas about achievement and self-worth. Now, the founder of @NuevaYorka is sharing her story in her highly anticipated memoir First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream. Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicahoppeauthor and @NuevaYorka . Find her new book here .
Mon, September 09, 2024
New Episode: Why Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez Chose to Celebrate Our Tías and Primas
In her new book, Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us, Prisca helps us understand the women in our lives: la loca, tu tía escándalosa, la prima perfecta and so many more. Prisca shares her own path from la prima perfecta to la loca, and her best advice for truly getting to know the women we love. Follow Prisca on instagram @priscadorcas . Find her latest book here .
Mon, September 02, 2024
Top 21: Why Dr. Mariel Buqué Believes Healing Leads to Liberation
Our Top 25 Countdown Continues! The Ivy League educated holistic psychologist is revolutionizing her field with Indigenous healing, curanderos, sound baths, and Reiki therapy. In this conversation we had well before the release of her book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma, Dr. Buqué breaks down her work in mental wellness, and how we can use “micro moments” to connect with ourselves. Find Dr. Buqué's book here . Follow her on Instagram @dr.marielbuque .
Mon, August 26, 2024
Remix: Univision’s Ilia Calderón is Grounded by the People She Covers
We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in journalism. She came to Miami on vacation from her television job in Colombia and, while visiting Telemundo with a friend, walked herself into an opportunity of a lifetime. Then Ilia Calderon really went to work, leading the country’s premier Spanish-language news program on Univision and making headlines for her intrepid reporting and intelligent disaster coverage. She talks with Alicia about confronting a KKK leader, reporting on the family separation crisis as a mother, and navigating life as a hyphenated Latina. Follow Ilia on Instagram @IliaCalderón . If you loved this episode, listen to María Elena Salinas and Mariana Atencio for more on journalism.
Mon, August 19, 2024
Remix: How Lori Montenegro is Holding the Powerful Accountable
This week, we share another one of our favorite interviews from Latinas in the world of journalism. Noticias Telemundo’s Washington D.C. bureau chief shares her unlikely path from correspondent to newsroom leader, and one of the most influential journalists in Spanish-language television. Follow Lori on Instagram lorimontenegro_ .If you loved this episode, listen to Why Investigative Journalist Jean Guerrero is Leaning into the Power of Her Personal Experience.
Mon, August 12, 2024
Remix: This is Why María Elena Salinas is a Legend
This week we bring you one of our most beloved interviews with inspiring Latinas in journalism. After decades of beaming into our homes from her perch on the Univision anchor desk, María Elena Salinas is enjoying finally speaking for herself and pursuing her own ideas and work. She jokes that she didn’t want her legacy to be that “I worked at Univision and then I died,” but Alicia also gets her to open up about that lingering doubt we all feel, the hard choices of being a working mom, and the freedom that comes with stepping boldly into your destiny. Follow Maria @MariaESalinas on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Mariana Atencio and Cristina Costantini on their paths into journalism.
Mon, August 05, 2024
Remix: How Lauren Jauregui Learned to Listen to Her Own Voice
We continue counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. It took her years to get back to herself, but now the singer-songwriter who exploded onto the world stage as part of Fifth Harmony has her first solo EP, Prelude . And she's also on a mission to help others heal. Follow Lauren @laurenjauregui on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why iLe’s New Album, Almadura, Is Both Departure and Evolution from Calle 13 and Why DaniLeigh is Destined to Be a Music Mogul .
Mon, July 29, 2024
Remix: How Netflix’s Carolina Garcia Picks Binge-Worthy Hits
This week, we bring you another one of our favorite interviews since the start of our show. She learned on the job as an assistant to one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and spent nine years at Twentieth Century Fox before making the leap to Netflix. Now its director of original programing, she lets us in on what it takes to sell a big idea. Follow Carolina on Instagram @thedancingdiary . If you loved this episode, listen to How Showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez Stays in High Demand and LEVEL UP: This Life Coach Says Now's the Time to Level Up .
Mon, July 22, 2024
Remix: When Gentefied Co-Creator Linda Yvette Chávez Realized She Couldn’t Quit
Today, we bring you another one of our most beloved interviews with Latinas in entertainment. "If you find yourself in an industry doing all the jobs around the job you really want to do, check in on that," Linda tells Alicia. "There's some sort of fear around you not doing the thing you really want to do." She would know. After years of working in film and digital creative, Linda decided to follow her true passion: writing. Within two years of making that commitment, she was pitching and selling a television series. And there's so much more to Linda's story--breaking with tradition, sacrificing something of great value, and working harder than she thought she could. Follow Linda @lindayvettechavez on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Ilana Peña , and Gloria Calderón Kellett for more on creating Latina narratives in Hollywood.
Mon, July 15, 2024
Remix: Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters
We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in the entertainment industry. Growing up, television writer Ilana Peña was a student of books, where, she says, "girls could be complicated." Now, as creator of Diary of a Future President on Disney+, Ilana brings that vision of girlhood to life. She tells Alicia about rising from assistant to writer’s assistant to writer to creator, how the early loss of her father taught her to use “grief as an engine,” and why being in charge forced her to stop saying “maybe.” Follow Ilana @lanstagram on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Yvette Chavez and Cristela Alonzo for more on creating Latina shows in Hollywood.
Mon, July 08, 2024
Remix: ODAAT’s Gloria Calderón Kellett Is a Boss in Any Room
This week, we bring you one of our best-loved episodes about Latinas in the entertainment industry. Calderón Kellett runs the show. Literally. She’s the co-showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s One Day at a Time, and with each season, she’d adding more credits to that list: writer, director and actor. She talks with Alicia about her rise through Hollywood’s writers’ rooms (How I Met Your Mother, Devious Maids, and Drunk History), and argues for letting good things be good. And reveals her plans to take her storytelling to the next level. Follow Gloria on instagram @gloriakellett . If you loved this episode, listen to Cristela Alonzo and Linda Yvette Chavez on what takes to write and run a television show.
Mon, July 01, 2024
Top 25 Countdown: #23 America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like
We continue with our Top 25 Countdown! The Hollywood A-lister reveals how she advocates for herself, maneuvers through complex power dynamics, and deflects the “Brown Discount.” She also shares about the work that went into Season 2 of the smash hit, Gentefied, streaming on Netflix now! Follow America @americaferrera on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance .
Mon, June 24, 2024
Remix: Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace
Today, we bring you another one of our favorite interviews with Latinas in the corporate world. The Chief People Officer for VICE Media has spent her career building better workplaces. She’s perfected a model: reflect, visualize, act, and persist. Now she's put everything she's learned into her new book, Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace. Follow Daisy on on Instagram @daisyaugerdominguez w and on X (formerly Twitter) @DaisyAD . If you loved this episode, listen to Powerhouse Marketer Ana Valdéz on Using Media to Create Change and Investor Nathalie Molina Niño Boldly Speaks Truth to Powerful Men .
Mon, June 17, 2024
Remix: Why Corporate America Couldn’t Change Carla Vernón at Her Core
This week, we bring you another one of our favorite conversations with Latinas in the corporate world. Carla Vernón describes herself as “a very malleable piece of clay” with a sense of pride and self-awareness. She has used that singular strength to rise from associate to executive at General Mills. She reflects on her long tenure there, being among the first in her Afro-Panamanian family to venture into the business world, and setting and keeping her own standards as she gained success and status. Follow Carla @CarlaInspired on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Elisa Villanueva Beard's Aha Moment As Teach For America's CEO, and Remix: How Ad Exec Nancy Reyes Became Undeniable .
Mon, June 10, 2024
Remix: How Ad Exec Nancy Reyes Became Undeniable
We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in the corporate world. After Alicia’s conversation with advertising superstar Nancy Reyes, she wanted to make t-shirts that read, "I am undeniable." That’s how inspiring this trailblazer’s story is. From learning that “everything feels better when you earn it” to “dealing with a massive career failure” and making the decision to go from “good to great,” Nancy’s success is a testament to what happens when grit and tenacity meet opportunity. Follow Nancy on X (formerly Twitter) @reyesjimbo . If you loved this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez on Making It in Corporate America and Top 25 Countdown: #24 How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write.
Mon, June 03, 2024
Top 25 Countdown: #24 How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write
Our Top 25 Countdown Continues! "Who is she? What does she want? Why can't she have it?" Those are the questions the Newbery Medal-winning children's author asks about each of her young Latina protagonists. What Meg Medina wanted was to write professionally, but first, she had to get brave. Follow Meg on Instagram @megmedinabooks . and find all her books here. If you loved this episode, listen to What Sonia Manzano Knows Kids Need and How Canticos Creator Susie Jaramillo Built an Inclusive Kids' Brand .
Mon, May 27, 2024
Remix: Why Bricia Lopez Wants You to Embrace the Art of Asada
This week, we bring you another one of our favorite conversations around food. As she was researching her new cookbook, Asada: The Art of Mexican Style Grilling, the LA restaurateur began to realize how men dominate the grill scene. Now, she’s trying to change that by giving others the tools and inspiration to master asada. Bricia explains the financial margins necessary to sustain a successful restaurant, and the pride and responsibility of being Oaxacan. Follow Bricia on Instagram @ bricialopez and discover the secret to incredible asada here . If you liked this episode, listen to and How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen and Remix: Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine.
Mon, May 20, 2024
Remix: Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine
We continue with our favorite conversations around food. The VP for Dos Caminos and Del Friscos pulls back the curtain on what it takes to launch a restaurant, talks about the difference between competing on Hell's Kitchen as a newbie versus an established chef, and shares the personal change that inspired her new cookbook: Spice Kitchen: Healthy Latin and Caribbean Cuisine . Follow Ariel on Instagram @chefarielfox . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Rum Master Distiller Sylvia Santiago Will Never Quit and Master Chef Lorena Garcia Says It Takes More Than Sharp Knives .
Mon, May 13, 2024
Remix: How Karla Vasquez Reclaimed Salvadoran Food
We are celebrating almost 300 episodes of Latina to Latina! For the first Monday of every month, we are counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. In between, we'll curate special playlists of some of our favorite episodes. For the next three weeks, we bring you some of our favorite conversations about food. When Karla Vasquez learned that there were virtually no Salvadoran cookbooks in print in the United States, this food writer and cooking instructor made it her mission to capture the food and the spirits of the women of El Salvador. Follow Karla on Instagram @karla_tv and find her book here . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor .
Mon, May 06, 2024
Top 25 Countdown: #25 What Media Mogul Nely Galán Can Teach Us About the Art of Reinvention
To celebrate almost 300 episodes of Latina to Latina, for the first Monday of every month, we are counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. In between, we'll curate special playlists of some of our favorite episodes. Coming in at #25: This television executive turned entrepreneur took a major detour—mid career—to go back to school. Nely shares how that decision changed her life, as well as her insights on how to find your true purpose. Follow Nely on instagram @nelygalan . If you loved this episode, listen to Fashion Entrepreneur Lilliana Vazquez: “Build Something for Yourself” and How Carolyn Rodz Is Connecting Entrepreneurs with Opportunities .
Mon, April 29, 2024
How Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez is Complicating the Immigrant Narrative
When her parents’ tourists visas expired, and they were no longer allowed entry into the United States, Elizabeth, an American citizen, persuaded her parents to allow her to stay in Arizona solo. She was only 15 years-old. Even as she contended with housing and food insecurity, Elizabeth managed to graduate valedictorian of her high school class, before going on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, we talk about the values tension in wanting to change the world and needing to pay rent, why the responsibilities she carried never allowed her to “let loose” like her peers, and her decision to share her story in her new memoir, “My Side of the River.” Follow Elizabeth on instagram @ lizzycancu and find her book My Side of the River here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Travel Empowered Nikki Vargas to Bring Her Life Into Alignment and What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family.
Mon, April 22, 2024
How Cecilia Marquez is Retelling the History of the American South
In her new book, Making the Latino South , the Hunt Family Assistant Professor in History at Duke University chronicles the dramatic racial evolution of non-Black Latinos living in the American South from the 1940s to the early 2000s. Follow Cecilia on X (formerly Twitter) @ProfCeciliaM , and learn more about her research here , and find her book here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Natasha Alford’s Lived Experience Informs Her Political Analysis and Storytelling and For Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve Getting Latinos to Care about Justice Reform Is Personal .
Mon, April 15, 2024
Raquel Reichard Wants You to Know that Self-Care Isn’t One Size Fits All
She wrote her book, Self-Care for Latinas: 100+ Ways to Prioritize & Rejuvenate Your Mind, Body, & Spirit , deep in her own grief, a year after suddenly losing her best friend. Raquel shares what that experience taught her about self-care and community care, living with life-changing loss, and how she is building a career in media from her beloved Orlando, Florida. Follow Raquel Reichard on Instagram @raquelreichard . Find her new book here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Robyn Moreno Gets Rooted and How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen .
Mon, April 08, 2024
LTL x Poderistas Live at The William Vale: Featuring Xochitl Gonzalez!
Check out our live recording of Latina to Latina x Poderistas in conversation with Xochitl Gonzalez, author of the new novel, Anita de Monte Laughs Last - taped before a live audience at The William Vale on March 27th, 2024! Follow Xochitl on instagram @xochitltheg and find her book, Anita de Monte Laughs Last, here . Learn more about Poderistas and their work and follow them on Instagram @poderistas . Thank you to our lead sponsors, Fund for the City of New York and Telemundo's Mujeres Imparables , whose generous funding allowed us to bring you this recording of the event, and to the Latina-owned brands who showed up and showed out for our gift bag: Agua Bonita Bloomi Bonita Fierce Brazi Bites Cindy Castro New York Loisa Nopalera Ocoa Oeste Reina Rebelde Rizos curls Siete Foods
Mon, April 01, 2024
How Malia Lazu Moved from Intention to Impact
She started her career as a political organizer, launching Mass VOTE, a state-wide voter engagement campaign, then parlayed those skills into economic development. As the EVP and Regional President at Berkshire Bank, Malia evolved the bank’s strategic focus to prioritize community impact. Malia shares how her theory of change evolved, how she identifies gaps between organizations’ intentions and their impact, and the very personal question she is constantly circling back to in therapy. Follow Malia and her work on Instagram @theurbanlabz , and find her book From Intention to Impact here . If you loved this episode listen to Why Cristina Tzintún Ramirez Wants Latinas to Be Less Humble and More Demanding and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War .
Bonus · Wed, March 27, 2024
See You Tonight!
It's Wednesday, March 27th! Alicia and Juleyka cannot wait to see you at The William Vale for our live recording with Xochitl Gonzalez. Tonight's event is a great way to support a Latina-owned business and a Latina-run organization. There are still tickets and swag bags available, so get yours while they last. Bring a friend! Tickets available for purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator
Bonus · Tue, March 26, 2024
Counting Down to Our Live Recording with Xochtil Gonzalez!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27th , is our first Latina to Latina x Poderistas live event! If you haven't purchased your tickets, there is still time. If you can't be there in person, but want to support us, join other listeners who have purchased tickets to give away to others. If you're interested in participating, just drop us a line on Instagram: @latinatolatina. Tickets available for purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator
Bonus · Tue, March 26, 2024
Counting Down to Our Live Recording with Xochtil Gonzalez!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27th , is our first Latina to Latina x Poderistas live event! If you haven't purchased your tickets, there is still time. If you can't be there in person, but want to support us, join other listeners who have purchased tickets to give away to others. If you're interested in participating, just drop us a line on Instagram: @latinatolatina. Tickets available for purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mon, March 25, 2024
Why Giovanna “Gigi” Gonzalez Wants You to Have a Wealth “Why”
The entrepreneur, TikTok star and author of the personal finance book “Cultura and Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations” shares her tips for setting money boundaries with those you love most, and the importance of defining the driving values and “why” of your money plan. Follow Giovanna on instagram @gigthegirstgenmentor and find her book, Cultura and Cash here . If you liked this episode listen to How Alejandra Campoverdi Traced Her Family’s Invisible Inheritances and LEVEL UP: How to Secure Your Financial Future Starting Today.
Bonus · Fri, March 22, 2024
Special Announcement: Latina to Latina x Poderistas Swag Bags!
Just a few days left to purchase tickets for our Latina to Latina + Poderistas Live event with NYT Best selling author Xochitl Gonzalez! The first 150 tickets sold come with a bag from Hija de tu Madre, stuffed with goodies from Latine brands including: Agua Bonita, Bloomi, Loisa, Nopalera, Ocoa, Oeste, Reina Rebelde, Rizos curls, Siete Foods, plus a reusable beverage bottle from the City Fund of New York - one of the event’s lead sponsors. We also have some special discount codes from Brazi snacks, Cindy Castro New York and Bonita Fierce candles! There are only a few dozen of these tickets left, so grab yours today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mon, March 18, 2024
Why Cynthia Pelayo Refuses to Commit to One Genre
The prolific author and poet started her career as a community reporter, then pivoted to creative writing. Now, the award-winning author of the new book, Forgotten Sisters, blends fairytale, horror, suspense and more to capture the grit and mysticism of moving between worlds. Cynthia shares how her success has forced her to rethink her boundaries, and how being the mother to two children with autism informs her writing. Follow Cynthia on instagram @cynthiapelayoauthor . Order her book, Forgotten Sisters , here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Johanna Rojas Vann Wove the Truth Into Fiction and What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family
Mon, March 11, 2024
Why Social Media Star Vanessa Sirias Takes Social Media Breaks
When the pandemic hit, she lost her news job and doubled down on creating her own content. Now, as a creator and influencer with hundreds of thousands of social media followers, Vanessa explains how her early foray into YouTube (doing song covers in her high school bedroom!) prepared her for the “TikTok Boom of 2020,” a subsequent job offer from BuzzFeed, and what to do when the algorithm steals the joy of performing and creating. Connect with Vanessa on instagram @vanessacsirias and TikTok at @vanessacsirias . If you liked this episode listen to Why Kat Stickler Doesn’t Have Vulnerability Hangovers and Mayan Lopez Knows That Art Imitates Life .
Mon, March 04, 2024
What Paula Ávila-Guillén Believes Reproductive Rights Advocates in the U.S. Can Learn from Movements to Expand Rights in Latin America
The Executive Director of The Women's Equality Center shares her insights on the efforts to end El Salvador’s total abortion ban, and Honduras’ total emergency contraception, as well as the movement to expand women’s rights in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Paula shares how she came to see reproductive rights as central to civil rights, and how her own fertility journey shaped her advocacy. Connect with Paula on Instagram @pauavilg . If you liked this episode listen to Why Zaena Zamora is Fighting for Our Reproductive Freedom and Why Jessica González-Rojas Champions Reproductive Justice .
Mon, February 26, 2024
How Raquel Dominguez Develops Big Ideas Around Big Talent
She went from assistant to creative executive in just a few years, and now at OBB Media, she oversees content and strategy for Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Demi Lovato, and Kevin Hart. We talk about getting your foot in the door when you have no connections, learning by osmosis, and how to play it cool when you work with some of the biggest stars of your generation. Follow Raquel on Instagram @raquellllly . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Marjorie Garcia Advocates for Recording Artists and How TikTok Star Tefi Pessoa Gets Paid to Be Herself .
Mon, February 19, 2024
How Natasha Alford’s Lived Experience Informs Her Political Analysis and Storytelling
The Grio’s VP of Digital Content and Senior Correspondent, and CNN political analyst joins Alicia to talk about blending memoir and cultural analysis in her new book, American Negra. Follow Natasha on Instagram @natashasalford and learn more about her book American Negra here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Claudia Forestieri Made the Pivot from Journalism to Scripted Television and How O Magazine’s Arianna Davis Made It, on Her Own Terms.
Bonus · Thu, February 15, 2024
Latina to Latina x Poderistas LIVE EVENT in Brooklyn
Have you ever wanted to support Latina to Latina, but weren’t sure how? On March 27th, we are teaming up with our friends at Poderistas to host our first major Latina to Latina live recording at The William Valle Brooklyn and we want you to be in the audience! Host Alicia Menendez will be talking to New York Times best-selling author, Xochitl Gonzalez about her brand novel, Anita de Monte Laughs Last. As a ticket holder, you’re contributing to the production of the show—we will be using our portion of the ticket sales to produce this podcast week in and week out. For more details and to buy tickets, head over to LatinatoLatina.com. We can’t wait to see you!
Mon, February 12, 2024
How Ona Diaz-Santin Became the Hair Saint
The celebrity hair stylist, curl expert and owner of 5 Salon Spa shares how a fortuitous offer forced her to early up her ten year plan, the ways the pandemic tested her business and her faith, and the importance of never being “too good” to be of service. Follow Ona on Instagram @_thehairsaint_ . If you liked this episode, listen to Julissa Prado, the Million-Dollar Curl Whisperer and Why Beauty Entrepreneur Aisha Ceballos-Crump Stepped Out on Faith .
Mon, February 05, 2024
Why Marjorie Garcia Advocates for Recording Artists
The entertainment attorney behind J. Balvin, Juanes, Los Tigres del Norte, Carla Morrison and Snow the Product shares how she forewent a performing career of her own to advocate for others, what she’s learned about protecting artists’ rights, and the necessity of studying and understanding the entire entertainment industry. Follow Marjorie on Instagram @pajareezy. If you liked this episode, listen to Why Doris Anahí Brings a 'Heart of Service' to Her Art and How Melania Luisa Marte Became a Word Weaver.
Mon, January 29, 2024
Why Cristina Tzintún Ramirez Wants Latinas to Be Less Humble and More Demanding
The civil rights leader behind Texas’ Workers Defense Project and Jolt, and now NextGen America, shares her insights on organizing and mobilizing young and Latino voters, the biggest mistake she made while running for the US Senate, and why she grew up believing that people were jealous of her Mexican identity. Follow Cristina on Instagram @cristinanextgen . If you liked this episode, listen to How Monica Ramirez Embraced Solidarity to Build a Movement and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War .
Mon, January 22, 2024
Why Myriam Gurba Doesn’t Believe That Confessional Art-Making is Inherently Cathartic
The author of Creep: Accusations and Confessions shares the familial roots of her irreverence, the surprising response to her viral critique of the book, American Dirt, and the work she did in the aftermath of an abusive relationship to make herself whole. Find the book here . Follow Myriam on Instagram @alt_myriam_gurba666 . If you liked this episode, listen to How Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fought to Tell Her Ancestors’ Stories or How History Inspires Cristina Garcia to Fill in the Gaps .
Mon, January 15, 2024
How Dalina Soto Became an Anti-Diet Dietician
She always thought she’d be a doctor, then a college class refocused her on the power of preventative health care. Now, as a registered and licensed dietician with more than 100K social media followers, Dalina is encouraging us to eat without guilt, embrace our culture, and question dietary absolutism. In this episode, Dalina walks us through the CHULA method, her trademarked approach to freeing ourselves from diet culture. Find Dalina on Instagram @your.latina.nutritionist . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Radical Health CEO Ivelyse Andino Wants to Reimagine Health Care or How Karla Vasquez Reclaimed Salvadoran Food .
Mon, January 08, 2024
How Dr. Mariel Buqué Believes You Transform Intergenerational Pain Into Intergenerational Abundance
The Columbia University-trained, trauma informed psychologist and practitioner of holistic healing weaves together scientific research, best practices, and personal experience to help us unpack intergenerational trauma in the service of building a legacy of abundance. It’s all part of her new book, Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Find Dr Buqué's book here . Follow her on Instagram @dr.marielbuque . If you liked this episode, listen to our previous conversation with Dr. Buqué .
Mon, January 01, 2024
How Cindy Castro Is Setting the Standard for Responsible Fashion
The fashion designer behind Cindy Castro New York shares how her childhood in Ecuador, and the waste and labor practices she witnessed in her early years in the fashion industry shaped her commitment to building a responsible luxury women's ready to wear brand. Follow Cindy on Instagram @cindycastro_nyc . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Cuyana’s Karla Gallardo Believes in Fewer, Better Things and Why Nicole Chavez Wants to Help You Cultivate Style Confidence .
Mon, December 25, 2023
Why Diana Flores Believes Flag Football Deserves a Professional League
The captain and quarterback of Mexico's National Flag Football Team shares her journey to winning gold at the 2022 World Games, how being a competitive athlete has shaped her relationship to her body (and to dating!), and how a professional league would change the sport she loves. Follow Diana on Instagram @ dianaflres33 . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Alicia Bassuk Believes Leading Others Begins with Knowing and Leading Yourself and How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength .
Mon, December 18, 2023
How Allison Strong Built A Room of Her Own
The actress and singer-songwriter (and Alicia’s one-time babysitting charge!) shares the magic of growing up in a matriarchal home, the early negative feedback that nearly destroyed her spirit (and the advice that empowered her to keep going), and the action she took early in the pandemic that allowed her to survive and thrive as an artist. Check out Allison’s album Brontë here . Follow Allison on Instagram @allisontstrong . If you liked this episode, listen to Encanto's Adassa is Guided By Her Why and Ana Villafañe is Still a Supernova .
Mon, December 11, 2023
Why Babba Rivera Wants to be in Charge of the Concept and the Execution
She helped launch Uber in her native Sweden, then served as Away’s Director of Brand Marketing before opening her own marketing agency. There, she learned the limits of being a consultant (good ideas without good execution are meaningless), and decided to focus her efforts on something she could lead from beginning to end. Babba shares how her journey led her to found Ceremonia, a clean hair care line rooted in Latinx heritage, and the pitch that earned her a $10 million Series A. LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, December 04, 2023
How Marcela Guerrero is Shaping the History and Genealogy of the Whitney
The DeMartini Family Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art shares how her career veered away from academia and into curation, the impact of exhibition choices on a museum’s collection, and the lessons she’s learned from Black curators who’ve come before her. LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, November 27, 2023
Why Yvonne Castañeda Wants Latinas to Receive Culturally Competent Mental Health Care
How much of our relationship to food begins with our parents’ relationships to food? And how much of that is informed by their experiences of uncertainty and scarcity? Yvonne, a mental health clinician, explores the roots of our relationship to food, the connections between mental health and eating disorders, and offers a framework for talking about food, eating and well-being. Check out Yvonne's latest book Pork Belly Tacos with a Side of Anxiety here ! LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, November 20, 2023
How Alejandra Campoverdi Traced Her Family’s Invisible Inheritances
She navigated her way from “wannabe chola” to first-gen college student to White House aide to President Obama. But those bullet-points fail to capture the messiness and pain that exist in making the leap from one to the other. In her new memoir, First Gen, Alejandra is naming everything from the “Invisible Inheritances” we each contend with, to the “Trailblazer Toll” we pay for breaking those cycles and becoming the first. Find First Gen here . Follow Alejandra on Instagram @acampoverdi . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Aida Rodriguez Believes in Giving Grace and Julissa Natzely Arce Raya Wants You to Reclaim Your Identity . LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, November 13, 2023
What Motivates Linda García to Build Wealth
The beloved financial educator explores the importance of identifying money wounds, challenges us to rethink "emergency" funds as a form of opportunity (you can hear our host hyperventilate!) and teaches us how to set a money intention. If you love the conversation, check out Linda's new book, " Wealth Warrior: 8 Steps for Communities of Color to Conquer the Stock Market ." LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Sun, November 05, 2023
How Travel Empowered Nikki Vargas to Bring Her Life Into Alignment
A senior editor for Fodor's Travel and the author of the travel memoir, Call You When I Land, shares how globe-trotting saved her from committing to a life she knew was not for her, along with her hard-earned insights on learning from failure, and planning trips that foster introspection and growth. LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, October 30, 2023
How Carmen Perez Became a Forward-Thinker
The President and CEO of The Gathering for Justice and Co-Chair of the Women’s March shares an alternate vision of a carceral society, describes the occasional “messiness” of organizing, and reflects on the life-changing loss that shapes her pursuit of justice and of joy. LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, October 23, 2023
How Danyeli Rodriguez Del Orbe Learned She Was Not Meant to be a Martyr
The formerly undocumented Afro-Dominican poet, spoken word artist and cultural expression activist shares her decision to forgo law school in favor of a different form of advocacy, the importance of uplifting Black immigrant narratives, and the necessity of developing an identity independent of one’s family. LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, October 16, 2023
What Drives Marta Tellado to Advocate for a Fair and Just Marketplace
The President and CEO of Consumer Reports, and author of Buyer Aware: Harnessing Our Consumer Power for a Safe, Fair, and Transparent Marketplace, explains why digital rights is the next frontier of consumer protections, and shares her best advice for flexing your consumer power. Follow Marta @MLTellado . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Valarie De La Garza Calls Her Own Shots and Why Susan Gonzales Wants You to Understand Artificial Intelligence . LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, October 09, 2023
Why Aida Rodriguez Believes in Giving Grace
The beloved comedian shares the pain of growing up without her father, the decision to reunite with him decades later, and the healing power of giving grace. It’s all part of her new memoir, Legitimate Kid. Find Legitimate Kid here , and follow Aida on Instagram @funnyaida . If you liked this episode, listen to Mayan Lopez Knows That Art Imitates Life and Why Kat Stickler Doesn’t Have Vulnerability Hangovers .
Bonus · Fri, October 06, 2023
Introducing: 100 Latina Birthdays
The health and wellness of Latinas is crucial to the health and wellbeing of the U.S. economy. In 100 Latina Birthdays, an original documentary series from Peabody-nominated LWC Studios, reporters in Chicago investigate the health and lifetime outcomes of Latinas in the United States from birth to age 100. In season 1, the stories that unfold center Latinas during their perinatal journeys, childhood, adolescence, and up until age 20. In episode 1, new parents Wendy Miralda and José Paz are navigating the first year of their daughter Jelyani’s life, in Spanish. Language is key to their connection as a family and as Hondurans living in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Waukegan, Illinois. The Paz family never questioned teaching their baby Spanish. But many Latinos in the U.S. grapple with the misconception that doing so could delay their child learning English, or affect their development. There’s also the stigma Latinos face when they don’t teach their children Spanish. Reporter Andrea Flores dives into the research on infant brain development that supports bilingualism, and tackles the harmful misconceptions that divide U.S. Latinos along language lines. For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit us at 100latinabirthdays.com. Follow us on social media @100latinabirthdays.
Mon, October 02, 2023
How Rebecca Alvarez Story Built a Sexual Wellness Brand
The Founder and CEO of Bloomi, a wellness brand focused on clean intimate care essentials, shares how her experience as a single mom inspired her entrepreneurship, the creative approaches she utilized to close a one million dollar funding gap, and the crossroads she finds herself at today. Follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebeccaalvarezstory . If you liked this episode, listen to How Cece Meadows Built a Cosmetics Line as an Homage to Indigenous Beauty and How Nopalera CEO and Founder Sandra Velasquez's Luxury Bath and Body Care Line is Disrupting Eurocentric Standards .
Mon, September 25, 2023
How Reyna Noriega’s Year of Responsibility Ushered In a Year of Rebirth
The Miami-born and based Cuban-Bahamian artist, designer and author shares her insights on the intricacies of brand partnerships, the power of introspection, and how she learned to manage the business of design without sacrificing her love of the craft. Follow Reyna on Instagram @ reynanoriega_ . If you liked this episode, listen to How Illustrator Andrea Campos Is Using Art to Spread Positivity and Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political .
Mon, September 18, 2023
Why Vanessa Marín Believes Communication is the Key to Great Sex
The sex therapist and co-author of the New York Times Best-Seller Sex Talks: The 5 Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life shares her best advice for talking about desire and pleasure, and fostering intimacy. Follow Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaandxander . If you liked this episode, listen to How Maude CEO Éva Goicochea Plans to Revolutionize Sexual Wellness and LEVEL UP: Your Relationships Could Use a Refresh . Find Sex Talks here !
Mon, September 11, 2023
How Lisa Guerrero Learned to Be Brave
The Inside Edition correspondent shares her path from cheerleader to actress and sportscaster, the “dream job” as a Monday Night Football sideline reporter that quickly turned to a “nightmare,” and how the surprising choice to appear on the cover of Playboy allowed her to reclaim her narrative and rebuild her career. It’s all part of her riveting memoir, Warrior: My Path to Being Brave . Follow Lisa on Instagram @4lisaguerrero . If you liked this episode, listen to How Lori Montenegro is Holding the Powerful Accountable and Alicia Tells Us about Her Book, The Likeability Trap .
Mon, September 04, 2023
Why Valarie De La Garza Calls Her Own Shots
The CEO of Fenton Communications, the largest public interest communications firm in the country, shares the key to successful social impact campaigns, the lessons that nonprofits can learn from consumer brands, and the questions she asks to decide if big opportunities are the right opportunities. Follow Fenton on Instagram @fentonprogress . If you liked this episode, listen to How Patty Arvielo Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Mortgage Empire and How Candice Smith is Helping Other Founders Tell their Stories .
Mon, August 28, 2023
How Cece Meadows Built a Cosmetics Line as an Homage to Indigenous Beauty
The CEO and founder of Prados Beauty leveraged her skills as a make-up artist and her experience as a cancer survivor to launch a beauty brand out of her daughter’s nursery. Cece shares how her company’s strategic partnership with Thirteen Lune and JCPenny brought Prados Beauty to profitability, and how her experiences of domestic abuse and homelessness have shaped her commitment to giving back. If you liked this episode, listen to How Nopalera CEO and Founder Sandra Velasquez's Luxury Bath and Body Care Line is Disrupting Eurocentric Standards and How Flores Is Reclaiming the Borderlands Narrative . LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, August 21, 2023
How Melania Luisa Marte Became a Word Weaver
The writer, musician and poet shares how her parents’ migration from the Dominican Republic to New York City, and her reverse migration from the United States to the DR informs her exploration of colorism, colonialism, and love. She has poured it all into her new collection of poems, Plantains and Our Becoming. Find Melania on Instagram @melatocatierra and order her book here . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Ada Limón Refuses to Perform Identity and How Writer Leslé Honoré Knows Poetry Changes Lives .
Mon, August 14, 2023
How Johanna Rojas Vann Wove the Truth Into Fiction
She grew up listening to her mother’s stories of immigrating from Colombia to the United States, then decided to honor her mom by making those experiences central to her debut novel, An American Immigrant. Johanna shares the inner workings of her writing group, the importance of accountability partners, and the role faith plays in her creative process. Follow Johanna on Instagram @johannarvann and find ways to order her book here . If you liked this episode, listen to What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family and How Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fought to Tell Her Ancestors’ Stories .
Mon, August 07, 2023
How Candice Smith is Helping Other Founders Tell their Stories
This serial entrepreneur built her firm, French Press Public Relations, after launching two start ups of her own. Candice shares her insights on how building a service-oriented ethos can take some of the ‘ick’ out of personal branding, the value of choosing which social media platforms to invest in, and the editing required to tell your brand’s story. Follow Candice on IG @frenchpress.pr . If you liked this episode, listen to UNSTUCK: How PR Pro Lissette M. Rios Connects the Dots and How Ana Flores Is Helping Latinas Grow .
Mon, July 31, 2023
Living Icon Esmeralda Santiago Asks Who We Are Without Our Memory
The acclaimed author joins Alicia to talk about her newest novel, Las Madres, how a stroke changed her writing and her life, and the cruelest feedback she has ever received. Find ways to order Las Madres here . If you liked this episode, listen to How Living Icon Sandra Cisneros Became a Woman Without Shame and Isabel Allende x Alicia Menendez LIVE at the 92Y .
Bonus · Wed, July 26, 2023
Introducing Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms
The newest narrative podcast from LWC Studios is out now! “Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms” is a 14-part series exploring how reparations should be paid and to whom. This podcast is meant to be enjoyed in an order that makes the most sense for our listeners. You can begin by listening to this episode or wherever you find your podcasts–-and start your own reparations exploration. For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit StillPayingThePricePod.com . Original score by Kojin Tashiro. Cover art: "Gemini" by Fitgi Saint-Louis. This series was funded by a grant from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Mon, July 24, 2023
Why Kat Stickler Doesn’t Have Vulnerability Hangovers
The TikTok star’s funny impressions of her Venezuelan mom and her candid insights into motherhood and divorce have earned her more than nine million followers and counting. In this episode, Kat shares what happens behind the iPhone lens: how she learned to monetize her content, develop boundaries around followers’ feedback, and embrace the power of making others feel less alone. Follow Kat on Instagram @ katstickler . If you liked this episode, listen to How TikTok Star Tefi Pessoa Gets Paid to Be Herself and How Serena Kerrigan Became the Self-Professed Queen of Confidence .
Mon, July 17, 2023
How History Inspires Cristina Garcia to Fill in the Gaps
The acclaimed novelist began her career in journalism before her first novel, Dreaming in Cuban, cemented her place in the American literary canon. Now, as Cristina prepares to release her eighth novel, Vanishing Maps, she shares her process for world-building, and her affirmation for anyone who believes they too have a story to tell. Order Cristina's new book Vanishing Maps here . Follow her on Instagram @ cristina_garcia_novelist . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Angie Cruz Believes That Now is Always a Good Time to Start and How Living Icon Sandra Cisneros Became a Woman Without Shame .
Mon, July 10, 2023
How Justina Machado Became Undeniable
The star of The Horror of Dolores Roach shares the ways her childhood in Chicago prepared her for the ups and downs of Hollywood, how the decision to focus on what was within her control reshaped her career, and why she encourages everyone to go to therapy. If you liked this episode, listen to ODAAT’s Gloria Calderón Kellett Is a Boss in Any Room and Why Olga Merediz Is Ready to Let It All Hang Out .
Mon, July 03, 2023
Why Susan Gonzales Wants You to Understand Artificial Intelligence
This thought leader spent more than 20 years in tech and community engagement before founding AI & You , a non-profit committed to educating marginalized communities about AI and emerging technologies. Susan shares everything from her personal digital best practices to the breast cancer diagnosis that forced her to grapple with her own arrogance, and the freedom she has found in choosing to be child-free. Follow Susan on Twiter @ isusangonzales . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Tech Visionary Irma Olguin Jr. Went Back to Her Farming Roots and How Patty Arvielo Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Mortgage Empire .
Mon, June 26, 2023
How Serena Kerrigan Became the Self-Professed Queen of Confidence
The internet personality turned confidence coach and entrepreneur shares how she parlayed a brand into a business, and gets vulnerable about the limits of social media stardom and what happens when the real person and the online brand are no longer fully aligned. Follow Serena on Instagram @serenakerrigan . If you liked this episode, listen to How Alisha Fernandez Miranda Became a 40 Year-Old Intern and What Medium Tatianna Morales Sees in Her Own Future .
Mon, June 19, 2023
Isabel Allende x Alicia Menendez LIVE at the 92Y
On June 6, 2023, the iconic author and advocate joined our host on stage before a live audience at NYC's 92Y. Their conversation touched on everything from her new novel, The Wind Knows My Name, to her experiences of love and loss, and her reflections on love and sex in her eighties. Find The Wind Knows My Name here . Follow Isabel on Instagram @allendeisabel . If you liked this episode, listen to How Living Icon Sandra Cisneros Became a Woman Without Shame and Why Olga Merediz Is Ready to Let It All Hang Out . LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, June 12, 2023
Why Alicia Bassuk Believes Leading Others Begins with Knowing and Leading Yourself
This NBA and WNBA championship ring-holding leadership advisor shares the morning writing ritual that changed her life, an approach to interviewing potential job candidates that gets beyond canned responses, and her belief that information gathering is critical to effective management. Find Alicia’s book here . And follow Alicia on Twitter @ aliciabassuk . If you liked this episode, listen to Karla Monterroso is Interrogating the Language of Power and Daniela Pierre-Bravo Wants to Help You Navigate Being 'the Other' at Work . LTL is coming to a city near you! Subscribe to our email list and let us know where we should record next.
Mon, June 05, 2023
How Robyn Moreno Gets Rooted
This media-maven turned curandera shares her experience of self-transformation, the loss that defined her early life, and practices you can use to find yourself. It’s all part of her new book: Get Rooted: Reclaim Your Soul, Serenity, and Sisterhood Through the Healing Medicine of the Grandmothers. Find ways to order Get Rooted here . Robyn Moreno is on Instagram @robynnmoreno . If you liked this episode, listen to Mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Knows the Highest Mountain is the One Within and Why Kat Armas Believes Your Abuela Has the Answers .
Mon, May 29, 2023
Why Bricia Lopez Wants You to Embrace the Art of Asada
As she was researching her new cookbook, Asada: The Art of Mexican Style Grilling, the LA restaurateur began to realize how men dominate the grill scene. Now, she’s trying to change that by giving others the tools and inspiration to master asada. Bricia explains the financial margins necessary to sustain a successful restaurant, and the pride and responsibility of being Oaxacan. Discover the secret to incredible asada here . Follow Bricia on Instagram @ bricialopez . If you liked this episode, listen to Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisin e and How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen.
Mon, May 22, 2023
How Nopalera CEO and Founder Sandra Velasquez's Luxury Bath and Body Care Line is Disrupting Eurocentric Standards
The former Pistolera bandleader launched her business, Nopalera, with a bold mission: celebrate and elevate Latino culture...and disrupt an entire industry in the process. Sandra shares the two year journey from making products by hand in her Brooklyn home to closing out a $2.7 million oversubscribed seed funding round. Come for the insights on product development and distribution, stay for the real talk on leveling up. Follow Sandra on Instagram @officialslv . If you liked this episode, listen to Chef Claudia Sandoval Wants You to Ask "Why Not Me?" and How Lory Martinez Rooted Her Business in Multicultural, Multilingual Audio Storytelling .
Mon, May 15, 2023
How Marta Segura Became LA's First Chief Heat Officer & Climate Emergency Mobilization Director
As a child growing up in San Jose, California, she wondered why her neighborhood was being sprayed with pesticides. The more questions she asked, the more she found herself drawn to environmental justice and community advocacy. Now, she is working to make sure that one of the biggest cities in the US is centering the most impacted communities in its climate change response. Follow Marta on Twitter @ Segura4Change . If you liked this episode, listen to How Estefanía Rebellón's Own Experience Seeking Asylum Informed Her Mission to Help Migrant Children and How Amanda Fernandez's Own Educational Challenges Inspired Latinos for Education .
Mon, May 08, 2023
How Carolina Saavedra Finds the Heart of the Story
The Showrunner for the new MSNBC/Peacock docuseries, Leguizamo Does America, pulls back the curtain on how a project goes from a four page pitch deck to a six episode television show, and shares how her family’s forced migration from Chile shapes her understanding of what it means to be American. In this vibrant, music- and food-filled show, John Leguizamo travels across the U.S. to celebrate and explore the cultural contributions of Latinos. Leguizamo Does America airs through May 21st, Sundays at 10pm ET on MSNBC , and can be found streaming on Peacock . If you liked this episode, listen to How Kate del Castillo Built (and Rebuilt) Her Life and ODAAT’s Gloria Calderón Kellett Is a Boss in Any Room .
Bonus · Wed, May 03, 2023
How Julissa Prado's Dreams Grew with Her Success
This special episode of Latina to Latina is brought to you by Always. The CEO and founder of Rizos Curls returns to Latina to Latina! In this engaging and emotional episode, Julissa shares how she broke her big dream (owning a business!) down into smaller, attainable goals; reflects on the unique pressure she navigates as a daughter of immigrants; and highlights the importance of “fun” in her continued success. Rizos Curls is a clean, cruelty-free hair care brand designed specifically for creating defined, frizz-free curls. Julissa shares how she founded it in 2017 to create products that embrace and celebrate the beauty of curly hair, and how the brand has since ignited a movement across social media for curly haired individuals to embrace their natural hair. Growing up, Julissa struggled to find products that worked for her hair, so at 15, she had her first dream to start the hair care brand she wished she had. She attended UCLA for undergraduate and holds an MBA from Wake Forest University. This May, Always is launching the Always Soñando National Scholarship to provide financial assistance and mentorship to 50 emerging Latina college students. Apply now at https://www.always.com/en-us/sonandoscholarship. Always believes that nothing should stop you from achieving your dreams – especially your period. That’s why Always Ultra Thin Day and Night pads provide up to 100% leak free protection, so you can focus on what really matters – going after your dreams.
Mon, May 01, 2023
What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family
The educator and author of the new YA novel, “Borderless,” shares the personal conversation that allowed her to break through as a writer, the unique considerations of writing about an immigrant experience that is not your own, and the dangers book bans pose to young readers. Find ways to get "Borderless" here . And Jennifer De Leon is on Instagram @jdeleonwriter . If you liked this episode, listen to Erika Sánchez is Finding Meaning in the Hurt and Why Angie Cruz Believes That Now is Always a Good Time to Start .
Mon, April 24, 2023
How Beatriz Acevedo is Changing the Face of Financial Technology
This serial entrepreneur reflects on the lessons she learned as the co-founder and president of mitú, and how she’s applying those lessons to her new role as the CEO and co-founder of the fintech company, SUMA Wealth. Beatriz pulls back the curtain on raising capital, learning how to execute her first acquisition, and her (refreshing!) ambivalence about the sacrifice required to build a business while raising twins. Follow Beatriz on Instagram @ beatrizacevedogreiff . If you liked this episode, listen to How Patty Arvielo Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Mortgage Empire and Chef Claudia Sandoval Wants You to Ask "Why Not Me?".
Mon, April 17, 2023
Why Gladis Molina Alt Wants Our Immigration System to Redefine What is in the Best Interest of Children
The new Executive Director of The Young Center reflects on her own childhood experience of fleeing El Salvador during its civil war, the unique challenges children face in deportation proceedings, and why she believes big policy change must be coupled with direct service. Follow Gladis on Twitter @GladisMolinaAlt . If you liked this episode, listen to How Monica Ramirez Embraced Solidarity to Build a Movement and Monica Muñoz Martinez is Confronting Our Past to Change the Future .
Mon, April 10, 2023
How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen
Culinary school helped hone her skills, but she still needed to figure out who she was as a chef. That journey led her to hunting, diving deep into the world of sustainability, and supporting communities in the aftermath of natural disasters. Grace opens up about the grief she experienced in the wake of divorce, and the life changing joy of nourishing others. Follow Grace on Instagram @chefgraceramirez . If you liked this episode, listen to more of our interviews with chefs! Like: Chef Claudia Sandoval Wants You to Ask "Why Not Me?" and Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine .
Mon, April 03, 2023
Stephanie Ramos Has Big “Go For It” Energy
She grew her career as a journalist while serving in the US Army. Now the ABC News Network Correspondent reflects on how 9/11 inspired her call to service, the ways her perspective as a veteran informs her story telling, and how she “goes for it” even in the face of fear. Follow Stephanie on Instagram @thestephanieramos . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Lilia Luciano Prepares for Confidence, Not Perfection and Why Investigative Journalist Jean Guerrero is Leaning into the Power of Her Personal Experience .
Mon, March 27, 2023
How Lory Martinez Rooted Her Business in Multicultural, Multilingual Audio Storytelling
The CEO and founder of Ochenta Studios, a Paris-based podcast company, shares the skills that have allowed her to differentiate her business and her audio offerings, the trick to scripting hilarious audio comedy, and how the childhood experience of communicating with her abuela shaped her new Spotify fiction podcast, La Cabina Telefónica. Listen here and on Spotify ! Follow Lory on Instagram @ _lorymartinez_ . If you liked this episode, listen to How Grace Bastidas Built a Media Brand for Modern Families and Why Beauty Entrepreneur Aisha Ceballos-Crump Stepped Out on Faith .
Mon, March 20, 2023
What Grasie Mercedes Needed to Give Up to Level Up
The star of NBC’s Grand Crew built multiple careers as a style blogger, filmmaker and actor in tandem, but as she approached her 40th birthday, she knew it was time to make some hard choices. Grasie shares the mental shifts that set her up for professional success and what she, a serial monogamist, learned by being alone. Follow Grasie on Instagram @grasiemercedes . If you liked this episode, listen to Mayan Lopez Knows That Art Imitates Life and How Melissa Fumero Learned That She Was Funny .
Mon, March 13, 2023
Why Nicole Chavez Wants to Help You Cultivate Style Confidence
She built an impressive career in television costuming before a friendship with a budding actress led her to celebrity styling. She had no idea what she was doing, but she figured it out. Nicole shares the vision and planning that goes into those red carpet looks, and how we can each simplify our style while still having fun! Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicolechavezstyle . If you liked this episode listen to Cassandra Sethi Wants to Take Your Wardrobe to the Next Level and How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand .
Mon, March 06, 2023
How Patty Arvielo Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Mortgage Empire
This first-generation Latina shares her journey from entry-level employee at a credit union to co-owner of New American Funding, the largest Latina-owned private mortgage company in the nation. Patty shares how leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur enabled her to build wealth, and the (many) mistakes she has made once, but never again. Follow Patty on Instagram @pattyarvielo . If you liked this episode, listen to How Carolyn Rodz Is Connecting Entrepreneurs with Opportunities and Why Rum Master Distiller Sylvia Santiago Will Never Quit .
Mon, February 27, 2023
How Going to Space Changed Katya Echazarreta
The electrical engineer and civilian astronaut shares her journey from community college, to NASA intern, to first Mexican-born woman in space. Watch ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA in theaters. If you liked this episode, listen to How NASA Engineer Diana Trujillo's Pursuit of a New Life Led Her to Space and How Amanda Fernandez's Own Educational Challenges Inspired Latinos for Education .
Mon, February 20, 2023
Why Zoila Darton Believes Community Is the Foundation of a Great Brand
This Panamanian-Jamaican-Jewish New Yorker spent the early part of her career in Latin music, before launching her own creative agency. Zoila reflects on how she secured her first clients, the three years she spent building Word Agency before she started making money, and the secrets to great brand campaigns. Follow Zoila on Instagram @zoiladarton . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Doris Anahí Brings a 'Heart of Service' to Her Art and UNSTUCK: How PR Pro Lissette M. Rios Connects the Dots .
Mon, February 13, 2023
Cassandra Sethi Wants to Take Your Wardrobe to the Next Level
Her early success creating SoulCycle and Equinox’s retail businesses proved that she understood what consumers wanted. So when she decided to pivot to personal styling, she quickly identified what clients needed: a service that would help successful professionals cultivate a sense of style that aligned with their values and systematized their wardrobes. Now the CEO of that business, Next Level Wardrobe, Cassandra shares the observations that allowed her to re-imagine both brands' retail offerings, what it took to grow her client base, and her tips for building a closet that reflects who you are now. Follow Cassandra on Instagram @ nextlevelwardobe . If you liked this episode, listen to How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand and Why Cuyana’s Karla Gallardo Believes in Fewer, Better Things .
Mon, February 06, 2023
How Alisha Fernandez Miranda Became a 40 Year-Old Intern
She had a life that was “objectively great” (big career, happy marriage, twins!) but still, she felt like she was “drowning.” So, Alisha devoted a year to chasing down the answer to her most burning question: What might have happened if her life had taken a different path? That year is now the subject of her new memoir, My What If Year, the story of the four internships (and the many misadventures) that got Alisha unstuck. Follow Alisha on Instagram @alishfmiranda . If you liked this episode, listen to How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write and UNSTUCK: Why Irene Quevedo Wants You to Take a Chance on Yourself .
Mon, January 30, 2023
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton Wouldn’t Change the Journey
Faith, family and hard work powered this megastar from her church choir to pop stardom to the set of The Real. But along that way, her faith was tested. Adrienne opens up about the growing pains of fame, the fertility journey that brought her to surrogacy, and her commitment to showing up authentically so that others can do the same. Find Love For The Ages on Peacock TV . Follow Adrienne on Instagram @adriennebailon . If you loved this episode, listen to E va Longoria Always Knew She'd Succeed and Encanto's Adassa is Guided By Her Why .
Bonus · Fri, January 27, 2023
You did it! We reached 2 million downloads!!
Creator and host Alicia Menendez and Executive Producer Juleyka Lantigua discuss what it has meant to reach this major milestone and remind our beloved listeners "We make this show for you" as they joyfully thank them for making this possible. Connect with us on Instagram at @latinatolatina , and subscribe or follow us wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode.
Mon, January 23, 2023
How Nina Terrero Groth Applies her Storytelling Skills to Reimagining the Future of Retail
This talented storyteller began her career in digital news at ABC, NBC and Entertainment Weekly, where her encyclopedic knowledge of entertainment and megawatt charm opened the door to on-air opportunities on platforms like The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show and People NOW. Then, Nina made a big career jump into corporate communications at Target, where she then pivoted once again, taking on a role as Lead Pipeline Manager for Target Accelerators. Nina shares her best advice for aligning your values and your skills, and the work she’s doing to reimagine the future of retail. Follow Nina on Instagram @nina_terrero . If you liked this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace and How Peloton's Robin Arzón Found Her True Power .
Mon, January 16, 2023
Why Lilia Luciano Prepares for Confidence, Not Perfection
The journalist and podcast host reflects on her journey from Spanish-language television to the Today Show, to the local news job she almost turned down that would ultimately put her on the path to joining CBS News as a national correspondent and anchor. Lilia shares her approach to combating imposter syndrome, her relationship to preparation, and the value of learning every aspect of the craft. Be sure to check Lilia out on CBS News and El Flow podcast. Follow Lilia on Instagram @lilialuciano , and if you liked this episode listen to How Lori Montenegro is Holding the Powerful Accountable and This Is Why María Elena Salinas Is a Legend .
Mon, January 09, 2023
How Melissa Fumero Learned That She Was Funny
The star of Netflix’s Blockbuster and Brooklyn-99 once doubted that she was built for comedy. Melissa shares how she grew her confidence, the experience that taught her that ease can lead to success, and the tradeoffs required to have a big career and a happy family. Follow Melissa on Instagram @melissafumero . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Olga Merediz Is Ready to Let It All Hang Out and Why Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz Bends the Rules .
Mon, January 02, 2023
How Ambassador Julissa Reynoso Learned to Talk Less and Listen More
She has a resume like none other: law firm partner, White House Chief of Staff to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, US Ambassador (twice!). Ambassador Reynoso joins the podcast from her current post in Spain and shares how she’s navigated a unique career between the public and private sectors, and the life-changing lesson she learned by watching Dr. Biden. If you liked this episode, listen to Political Power Player Cecilia Muñoz Reminds Us That We Are ‘More Than Ready’ and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War .
Mon, December 26, 2022
How Gabriela Garcia Took an Ax to Archetype
The breakout author shares how growing up the daughter of a Cuban mother and Mexican father, in a matriarchal family, informed her understanding of the US immigration system, and shaped the characters in her New York Times best-selling debut novel of “Of Women and Salt.” Find the book here . And follow Gabriela on Instagram @ gabimgarcia . If you liked this episode, listen to How Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fought to Tell Her Ancestors’ Stories and Why Angie Cruz Believes That Now is Always a Good Time to Start .
Mon, December 19, 2022
How Mayra Guillen Learned to Be an Advocate
The disappearance and murder of Vanessa Guillen sparked a movement, one that was fueled by her family's unrelenting demands for answers and accountability. At the core of that family is Mayra Guillen, Vanessa's older sister. Mayra shares what her family's tragedy and call to advocacy has taught her about how power operates. You can watch I Am Vanessa Guillen on Netflix.
Mon, December 12, 2022
Chef Claudia Sandoval Wants You to Ask "Why Not Me?"
This solo mom won the sixth season of MasterChef and parlayed that success into a catering business, a culinary consultancy, and multiple TV gigs, including her new Discovery+ show, Taste of the Border. Then, when the pandemic sidelined her plans for a brick and mortar, Chef Claudia found a way to rebuild. Now she wants her success to inspire others to ask, "Why not me?" Follow Claudia on Instagram @chefclaudiasandoval . If you liked this episode, listen to Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine and How Karla Vasquez Reclaimed Salvadoran Food .
Mon, December 05, 2022
Why Olga Merediz Is Ready to Let It All Hang Out
She was a working actress for more than 20 years before her portrayal of Abuela Claudia in In the Heights on Broadway catapulted her to new levels of success. Now, with the In the Heights' film adaptation under her belt, and a role on the new Netflix sitcom Blockbuster, Olga has more opportunities than she ever dreamed of.... at exactly the moment when she is considering doing less. Olga opens up about her complicated relationship with her own mother, the power of aging, and the necessity of telling her own stories. Follow Olga on Instagram @ officialolgamerediz . If you liked this episode, listen to Ana Villafañe is Still a Supernova and How Living Icon Sandra Cisneros Became a Woman Without Shame .
Mon, November 28, 2022
How Illustrator Andrea Campos Is Using Art to Spread Positivity
After a decade in corporate, she made the leap from marketing to freelance artistry. Then, the pandemic hit. With little work available, Andrea poured herself into her craft and built an Instagram following among those hungry for a dose of positivity. Two years later, she is the illustrator on Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon's children's book, "Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure." Andrea shares her insights on how children's books go from concept to publication, and what it requires to be a one person start-up working alongside mega-celebrities. Follow Andrea @dreasdoodles . If you liked this episode, listen to Illustrator Michelle Rial Wants You to Feel Better and How Lisette Scott Launched Her Jewelry Business Inspired by her Family's Caribbean Roots .
Mon, November 21, 2022
How Kate del Castillo Built (and Rebuilt) Her Life
The actress, producer and Reina del Sur star opens up about early fame, proving herself (again) in Hollywood, leaving an abusive marriage, and the lessons she learned from her infamous meeting with El Chapo. Follow Kate on Instagram @katedelcastillo . If you loved this episode, listen to Eva Longoria Always Knew She'd Succeed and America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like .
Mon, November 14, 2022
Why Ada Limón Refuses to Perform Identity
The 24th U.S. Poet Laureate shares her journey from theater to marketing to poetry, the loss that inspired her to reimagine her life, and her refusal to allow others’ expectations to shape how she shows up in the world. Follow Ada on Instagram @adalimonwriter . If you loved this episode, listen to How Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fought to Tell Her Ancestors’ Stories and Why Angie Cruz Believes That Now is Always a Good Time to Start .
Mon, November 07, 2022
Mayan Lopez Knows That Art Imitates Life
Comedy and entertainment is the family business (her dad is comedian George Lopez), but it was a TikTok video that caught the eye of a Hollywood writer and inspired Mayan’s new NBC sitcom: Lopez vs. Lopez. Mayan gets candid about her complicated relationship with her father, and the combination of craft-honing and deep therapy that has prepared her for this moment. Follow Mayan on Instagram @mayanlopez . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is Questioning (Almost) Everything and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance .
Mon, October 31, 2022
Why Siete Food's Veronica Garza Doesn't Think Your Big Idea Always Needs a Business Plan
The Founder and Chief Innovation Officer for Siete Foods went from making almond flour tortillas in her kitchen to helping lead the fastest growing Latin-focused brand in food and beverage at scale. Veronica shares her initial inspiration (spoiler alert: it didn't start with a business plan!), the exercise that reshaped their brand, and the company's recent decision to take a $90 million investment. Come for the exercise that helped Vero and her family reimagine the brand. Find The Siete Table cookbook here and follow Veronica on Instagram @sietefoods . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Beauty Entrepreneur Aisha Ceballos-Crump Stepped Out on Faith and Why Designer Jen Zeano Is Building a Queer Lifestyle Brand in South Texas .
Mon, October 24, 2022
How Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fought to Tell Her Ancestors’ Stories
The best-selling author of “Woman of Light” and “Sabrina & Corina: Stories” shares how she subverts expectations (in real life and on the page!), the necessity of complicating racial hierarchy, and her commitment to writing Latinas back into the stories of the American West. Follow Kali on Instagram @kalimaja . If you loved this episode, listen to How Claudia Forestieri Made the Pivot from Journalism to Scripted Television and Erika Sánchez is Finding Meaning in the Hurt .
Mon, October 17, 2022
Why Doris Anahí Brings a 'Heart of Service' to Her Art
She began her music career as a talent manager, before making the big pivot to working as an artist herself. Now her journey through the industry as a first generation daughter of immigrants from a mixed-status family is the focus of a Disney+ documentary, Mija. Doris shares the deep emotional process of following her calling, and how she chose to say no to security in order to bet big on herself. Follow Doris on Instagram @mijadoris . If you loved this episode, listen to How Flores Is Reclaiming the Borderlands Narrative and Encanto's Adassa is Guided By Her Why . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 10, 2022
How Estefanía Rebellón's Own Experience Seeking Asylum Informed Her Mission to Help Migrant Children
Forced to flee her native Colombia as a child, Estefanía Rebellón knows the pain of being displaced. Now, she's helping migrant children at the US-Mexico border by providing a mobile school program that offers full-time bilingual education. Estefanía dives into the complexity of her personal experience and how the challenges of building a non-profit shaped her "Yes We Can" ethos. Follow Estefanía on Instagram @estefaniarebellon . If you loved this episode, listen to Social Impact Strategist Elsa Collins Wants You to Understand the Power of Your Influence and Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Tue, October 04, 2022
ROUNDABOUT PRESENTS: Seventeen Going on Eighteen with Ashley Frangie and Lety Sahagún
In 2007, Ashley and Lety flew from Mexico to Boston to embark on a trip that would define their relationship…in more ways than one. Join the hosts of Se Regalan Dudas as they share their coming of age story: a (sometimes speedy) journey across the East Coast and their first of many road trips together.
Mon, October 03, 2022
Why Angie Cruz Believes That Now is Always a Good Time to Start
The acclaimed author of "Dominicana" is back with a new novel, "How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water," and reveals how she almost quit writing before either book was published. In this engaging conversation, Angie reflects on the importance of writers confronting their own bias, the necessity of complex and complete characters of color, and how to ward against the "disease of presumed incompetence." Follow Angie on Instagram @writercruz . If you loved this episode, listen to How Author Alexis Daria is Complicating Our Notions of Romance and How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Wed, September 28, 2022
Introducing: It Was Said Season 2
It Was Said, the 2021 Webby Award winner for Best Podcast Series, returns with a new season to look back on some of the most powerful, impactful, and timeless speeches in history. Written and narrated by Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author-historian Jon Meacham, this documentary podcast series takes you through another season of ten generation-defining speeches. Meacham, along with top historians, authors and journalists, offers expert insight and analysis into the origins, the orator, and the context of the times each speech was given, and they reflect on why it’s important to never forget them. It Was Said is a creation and production of Peabody-nominated C13Originals, in association with The HISTORY® Channel.
Mon, September 26, 2022
Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine
The VP for Dos Caminos and Del Friscos pulls back the curtain on what it takes to launch a restaurant, talks about the difference between competing on Hell's Kitchen as a newbie versus an established chef, and shares the personal change that inspired her new cookbook: Spice Kitchen: Healthy Latin and Caribbean Cuisine . Follow Ariel on Instagram @chefarielfox . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Rum Master Distiller Sylvia Santiago Will Never Quit and Master Chef Lorena Garcia Says It Takes More Than Sharp Knives .
Bonus · Tue, September 20, 2022
Introducing ¿Quién Are We?: The Filmmaker
Welcome to ¿Quién Are We?, a show about Latino identity and the beautiful things that make us who we are. If you like what you hear, check out more episodes at quienarewe.org. Denise Soler Cox was lonely growing up outside New York City. Her parents were Puerto Rican, and the dominant culture in her town was white. It wasn't until she grew up and moved away that she realized there was a whole community of people who feel just like her. She knew she had to share this community with others, and so the idea for a film was born. The only thing she needed to figure out was how to make a film. Learn more about Denise Soler Cox and her film, “Being Eñye,” at projectenye.com. Host and producer: May Ortega Lead producer and mixing: Luis Antonio Perez Editors: Andrew Villegas, Ana Campbell, Erin Jones Additional producers: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson Theme music by Pedro Lumbrano; additional music courtesy Universal Production Music Cover art: Mia Rincón Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Matt Herz, Kim Nguyen, Brittany Werges and CPR's Latino Audience Working Group. QuienAreWe.org Follow May on Twitter: @MayVOrtega
Mon, September 19, 2022
How Living Icon Sandra Cisneros Became a Woman Without Shame
In this intimate conversation, the iconic writer shares how she chose to treat her art as her life partner, the "wobbling and wavering" around her decision to not have children, and how she limits distractions in the service of deep work. Find Woman Without Shame here. Follow Sandra on Instagram @officialsandracisneros . If you liked this episode, listen to How Mysticism Fuels Natalia Lafourcade's Musical Process and Who Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez Is Writing For . And check out the interviews Alicia references with Isabel Allende and Maria Hinojosa !
Mon, September 12, 2022
How Monica Ramirez Embraced Solidarity to Build a Movement
She spent her early career advocating on behalf of farmworker women. Then in 2017, as Hollywood reeled from revelations of sexual abuse and harassment, she wrote a statement of support that reshaped the #MeToo movement, and set the groundwork for the Times Up Initiative. Monica talks us through that choice, how she persevered through intense resistance, and gets candid about the personal cost of being a public face of a social movement. Follow Monica on Instagram @activistmonicaramirez and The Latinx House @thelatinxhouse . If you loved this episode, listen to Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political and Why Tech Visionary Irma Olguin Jr. Went Back to Her Farming Roots . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 05, 2022
How Lisette Scott Launched Her Jewelry Business Inspired by her Family's Caribbean Roots
She studied fashion and worked for big clothing brands like Vince Camuto and DKNY, but when it was time to step out on her own, she went back to her passion from childhood -- jewelry. Now, the founder of Jam + Rico reveals how to start even when you don’t think you’re ready, and how to turn a loss of job security into an opportunity. Follow Lisette on Instagram @iamlisettescott . If you loved this episode, listen Why Designer Jen Zeano Is Building a Queer Lifestyle Brand in South Texas and How Bomba Curls' Lulu Cordero Unfurled Her Natural Hair and Ambition . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey . Your feedback helps understand what you love about Latina to Latina and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, we’ll send you a free sticker and you’ll enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time.
Mon, August 29, 2022
Why Jessica Castro Knows That Late is Better Than Never
She was 18 years-old when she began dancing, but her talent and commitment was so undeniable that she quickly made her way from the Alvin Ailey Dance Program to the Knicks City Dancers to sharing the stage with Beyonce, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. Now the professional dancer and choreographer shares how to turbo-charge your start when others tell you you’re late to the game. Follow Jessica on Instagram @iliajessicacastro . If you liked this episode, listen to Why Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is Questioning (Almost) Everything and Vanessa Birnbaum Rosler’s Yoga Philosophy Ignited a Booming Business . We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey . Your feedback helps understand what you love about Latina to Latina and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, we’ll send you a free sticker and you’ll enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time.
Mon, August 22, 2022
Daniela Pierre-Bravo Wants to Help You Navigate Being 'the Other' at Work
It’s an experience many of us share: working in industries and spaces where we are the first or the only. How do you harness the strength and power of your difference in the face of pressure to conform? That question is the focus of Daniela’s new book, The Other: How to Own Your Power at Work as a Woman of Color. Follow Daniela Pierre-Bravo on Instagram @dpierrebravo . If you loved this episode, listen to Karla Monterroso is Interrogating the Language of Power and Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey . Your feedback helps understand what you love about Latina to Latina and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, we’ll send you a free sticker and you’ll enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time.
Mon, August 15, 2022
How Claudia Forestieri Made the Pivot from Journalism to Scripted Television
The creator and executive producer of Gordita Chronicles started her career as a producer and on-air reporter at Telemundo before making a big pivot into scripted television. In this conversation, she details the steps that move required, and the power of celebrating each small win. Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiforest . If you loved this episode, listen to Julissa Calderon Is Helping Hollywood to Reimagine Latina Characters and ODAAT’s Gloria Calderón Kellett Is a Boss in Any Room . We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey . Your feedback helps understand what you love about Latina to Latina and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, we’ll send you a free sticker and you’ll enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time.
Mon, August 08, 2022
How Lori Montenegro is Holding the Powerful Accountable
Noticias Telemundo’s Washington D.C. bureau chief shares her unlikely path from correspondent to newsroom leader, and one of the most influential journalists in Spanish-language television. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Investigative Journalist Jean Guerrero is Leaning into the Power of Her Personal Experience and Univision’s Ilia Calderón Is Grounded by the People She Covers . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey . Your feedback helps understand what you love about Latina to Latina and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, we’ll send you a free sticker and you’ll enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time.
Mon, August 01, 2022
How Amanda Fernandez's Own Educational Challenges Inspired Latinos for Education
The non-profit leader shares how her corporate experience prepared her to found and run her own organization, her insights on the occasional necessity of mission creep, and how advocating for her own son reshaped her understanding of what the future of education will require. Follow Amanda on Twitter @AmanFernan24 . If you loved this episode, listen to Elisa Villanueva Beard’s Aha Moment as Teach for America's CEO and How NewSchools’ Frances Messano Became a Provider of Dream Capital . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 25, 2022
How Flores Is Reclaiming the Borderlands Narrative
The R&B singer’s new EP, The Lives They Left , is an homage to her indigenous roots, her childhood on the U.S.-Mexico border and the strength of women. Flores talks about the message behind the music, the importance of people with these lived experiences telling these stories, and the relationship of indigeneity to Latinidad. Follow Flores on Instagram @floresitadeluna . If you loved this episode, listen to Encanto's Adassa is Guided By Her Why and Monica Muñoz Martinez is Confronting Our Past to Change the Future . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! This episode is sponsored by MAUI MOISTURE®. All of MAUI MOISTURE® vegan haircare products are made with 100% Aloe Vera as the first ingredient to hydrate hair across the curl spectrum. They have everything you need for wash day and general upkeep; Shampoos and Conditioners, Treatments, Oils, and Stylers that leave hair flake-free with no residue! For a limited time, Latina to Latina listeners get 15% off select MAUI MOISTURE® products on Amazon. Buy your new favorite hair products and take advantage of the special offer only open to our listeners. Just visit the link created for our show: tiny.cc/mauimoisture
Mon, July 18, 2022
Why Carmen Rita Wong Isn’t Afraid to Tell All
Questions about the identity of her biological father led the author on a deeper quest for answers about who she is and what motivated her mothers’ omissions. Carmen details the journey in her new memoir, Why Didn’t You Tell Me? Follow Carmen on Instagram @carmenritawong . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Novelist Xochitl Gonzalez Isn't Done Being Ambitious and How Author Alexis Daria is Complicating Our Notions of Romance . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com . This episode is sponsored by MAUI MOISTURE®. All of MAUI MOISTURE® vegan haircare products are made with 100% Aloe Vera as the first ingredient to hydrate hair across the curl spectrum. They have everything you need for wash day and general upkeep; Shampoos and Conditioners, Treatments, Oils, and Stylers that leave hair flake-free with no residue! For a limited time, Latina to Latina listeners get 15% off select MAUI MOISTURE® products on Amazon. Buy your new favorite hair products and take advantage of the special offer only open to our listeners. Just visit the link created for our show: tiny.cc/mauimoisture
Mon, July 11, 2022
Erika Sánchez is Finding Meaning in the Hurt
The New York Times best-selling author’s new memoir, Crying in the Bathroom, dives deep into mental illness, desire, “life and death” decisions and the power of creating the life you are worthy of. Follow Erika on Instagram @erikalsanchez . If you loved this episode, listen to Julissa Natzely Arce Raya Wants You to Reclaim Your Identity and Why Novelist Xochitl Gonzalez Isn't Done Being Ambitious . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! This episode is sponsored by MAUI MOISTURE®. All of MAUI MOISTURE® vegan haircare products are made with 100% Aloe Vera as the first ingredient to hydrate hair across the curl spectrum. They have everything you need for wash day and general upkeep; Shampoos and Conditioners, Treatments, Oils, and Stylers that leave hair flake-free with no residue! For a limited time, Latina to Latina listeners get 15% off select MAUI MOISTURE® products on Amazon. Buy your new favorite hair products and take advantage of the special offer only open to our listeners. Just visit the link created for our show: tiny.cc/mauimoisture
Mon, July 04, 2022
How Attorney Melissa Gomez Nelson Stayed the Course
Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, the daughter of migrant farmworkers, she knew she wanted to acquire skills to protect her family. That motivated her to fast track her way through college and law school, make partner at a big law firm, and now handle complex litigation as the Associate General Counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton. Follow Melissa on Instagram @melissagomeznelson. If you loved this episode, listen to How Mildred Otero Learned to Negotiate and How Neurosurgeon Dr. Analiz Rodriguez Made Her Own Way . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com . This episode is sponsored by MAUI MOISTURE®. All of MAUI MOISTURE® vegan haircare products are made with 100% Aloe Vera as the first ingredient to hydrate hair across the curl spectrum. They have everything you need for wash day and general upkeep; Shampoos and Conditioners, Treatments, Oils, and Stylers that leave hair flake-free with no residue! For a limited time, Latina to Latina listeners get 15% off select MAUI MOISTURE® products on Amazon. Buy your new favorite hair products and take advantage of the special offer only open to our listeners. Just visit the link created for our show: tiny.cc/mauimoisture
Mon, June 27, 2022
Why Healthy Hood Chicago's Tanya Lozano Believes Wellness Requires Community
She grew up in a family of activists and led her first walk out as a high school student. Then she worked in city government and saw up close the need for community-based solutions. Now, motivated by Chicago's 20 year life expectancy gap, the non-profit founder and CEO is working to ensure that her community has what it needs to thrive. Follow Tanya on Instagram @_tanyalozano . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Radical Health CEO Ivelyse Andino Wants to Reimagine Health Care and LEVEL UP: How to Approach Your Health Holistically . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! This episode is sponsored by MAUI MOISTURE®. All of MAUI MOISTURE® vegan haircare products are made with 100% Aloe Vera as the first ingredient to hydrate hair across the curl spectrum. They have everything you need for wash day and general upkeep; Shampoos and Conditioners, Treatments, Oils, and Stylers that leave hair flake-free with no residue! For a limited time, Latina to Latina listeners get 15% off select MAUI MOISTURE® products on Amazon. Buy your new favorite hair products and take advantage of the special offer only open to our listeners. Just visit the link created for our show: tiny.cc/mauimoisture
Mon, June 20, 2022
How NewSchools’ Frances Messano Became a Provider of Dream Capital
As a kid growing up in Coney Island, luck played a big role in setting her life path. Now, as the president and incoming CEO of a nonprofit venture philanthropy fund, Frances is working to make sure that educational opportunity comes down to more than just luck. Follow Frances on Twitter @FrancesMessano . If you loved this episode, listen to Social Impact Strategist Elsa Collins Wants You to Understand the Power of Your Influence and Elisa Villanueva Beard’s Aha Moment as Teach for America's CEO . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, June 13, 2022
How Photojournalist Sarahbeth Maney Captured History
She made one of the most iconic photographs of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation hearings. But it almost didn't happen. Sarahbeth shares how she jockeyed to get into the room, the payoff on her patience, and the way she gives agency to her subjects. Follow on Instagram @sbmaneyphoto . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Loira Limbal Spotlights Invisible People in Her New Film and What Photographer Ramona Rosales Really Sees from Behind the Lens . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 06, 2022
Why Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is Questioning (Almost) Everything
What is it like to have incredible success at something other than your big dream? What happens when you stop trying to prove yourself to others? Or when you begin to interrogate the things you once took as absolutes? Those are just some of the big questions comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes tackles in her new book, Who Do I Think I Am? Chola Wishes and Caviar Dreams . Follow Anjelah on Instagram @anjelahjohnson . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Kat Armas Believes Your Abuela Has the Answers and How Jenny Lorenzo Became the Internet’s Favorite Cuban Abuela . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 30, 2022
Why Investigative Journalist Jean Guerrero is Leaning into the Power of Her Personal Experience
The two time author has investigated everything from her father’s mental health to white nationalists in the White House. Now in her new role as an LA Times Opinion columnist, Jean’s examining both her own experiences and the limits of objectivity. Follow Jean on Instagram @jeanguerre . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and Storyteller Extraordinaire Martina Castro Has Her Own Exceptional Story . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 23, 2022
200th Episode! Eva Longoria Always Knew She'd Succeed
The multi-hyphenate power house opens up about motherhood, divorce and finding her purpose. Follow Eva on Instagram @evalongoria . And listen to her podcast Connections with Eva Longoria . If you loved this episode, listen to America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like and Why Living Icon Isabel Allende Has Never Kept Secrets . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, May 16, 2022
Encanto's Adassa is Guided By Her Why
The reggaeton star reached new levels of global fame playing Dolores Madrigal in Encanto. Adassa shares the health ordeal that threatened her life and career, and the force that drives every decision she makes. Follow Adassa on Instagram @adassaofficial . If you loved this episode, listen to Ana Villafañe is Still a Supernova and How Artist Latashá Is Mindshifting Music . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 09, 2022
Social Impact Strategist Elsa Collins Wants You to Understand the Power of Your Influence
The serial co-founder (This is About Humanity, Poderistas, I Am a Voter) knows how to harness the power of celebrities for everything from political campaigns to direct service for migrant families, but she still believes that you are the most influential person in your own circle. Elsa shares how this ethos applies to everything from civic engagement to raising multiracial kids. Follow Elsa on Instagram @elsamariecollins . If you loved this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace and Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, May 02, 2022
Karla Monterroso is Interrogating the Language of Power
A personal leadership crisis shaped her understanding of how power is built and distributed. Now the leadership coach, strategist, and racial equity advocate shares how others can navigate the unique demands of leaders of color, and the work necessary to eradicate anti-Blackness in Latino communities. Follow Karla on Twitter @karlitaliliana . If you liked this episode, listen to How Mildred Otero Learned to Negotiate and Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 25, 2022
Mountaineer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Knows the Highest Mountain is the One Within
The adventurer, activist, and first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits shares the childhood trauma and self-destructive behavior that brought her to the world’s highest mountain. Follow Silvia on Instagram @silviavasla . You can order her book via the websites listed here . If you loved this episode, listen to How Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez Regained Her Strength After Emotional Abuse and How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, April 18, 2022
Why Cuyana’s Karla Gallardo Believes in Fewer, Better Things
The CEO and co-founder of the global e-commerce company shares how her upbringing in Ecuador shaped her approach to consumption, the skills she cultivated before diving into entrepreneurship, and how you set boundaries when you’re both a hustler and your own boss. Follow Karla on Instagram @kggallardo . If you loved this episode, listen to Vanessa Birnbaum Rosler’s Yoga Philosophy Ignited a Booming Business and How Bomba Curls' Lulu Cordero Unfurled Her Natural Hair and Ambition . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 11, 2022
Why Kat Armas Believes Your Abuela Has the Answers
As a seminary student, she began to question why she hadn’t been trained to recognize the importance of women in the Bible. Now her book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, examines how our lives would be different if religion centered the stories of women’s sacred practice of survival. Follow Kat on Instagram @kat_armas . If you loved this episode, listen to How Therapist and Healer Christine Gutierrez Came Back Home to Herself, and Wrote I Am Diosa and our Mother's Day tribute full of stories about motherhood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, April 04, 2022
What Bianca Kea Learned by Listening to Her Yo Soy Afro Latina Community
Growing up in Detroit, she wondered why her peers recognized her as Black, but not Mexican. Now, the Yo Soy Afro Latina founder is building the community she always yearned for. Follow Bianca on Instagram @biancakathryn_ . If you loved this episode, listen to other Latinas building community: Why Nathalie Huerta Founded the First Queer Gym in the Country and H ow Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 28, 2022
Daisy Auger-Dominguez Knows What it Takes to Build an Inclusive Workplace
The Chief People Officer for VICE Media has spent her career building better workplaces. She’s perfected a model: reflect, visualize, act, and persist. Now she's put everything she's learned into her new book, Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace. Follow Daisy on Twitter @DaisyAD . If you loved this episode, listen to Powerhouse Marketer Ana Valdéz on Using Media to Create Change and Investor Nathalie Molina Niño Boldly Speaks Truth to Powerful Men . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 21, 2022
Julissa Natzely Arce Raya Wants You to Reclaim Your Identity
As a kid growing up in Texas, she thought that fitting in would keep her safe. Then, as she rose through the Wall Street ranks while harboring a big secret, a life-changing loss made her question everything. In her new book, You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation, Julissa shares her personal journey, explores the veiled history of U.S. Latinos, and makes a powerful case for reimagining what it means to belong. Follow Julissa on Instagram @julissaarce . If you loved this episode, listen to Who Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez Is Writing For and Monica Muñoz Martinez is Confronting Our Past to Change the Future . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 14, 2022
Art Advisor Maria Brito Wants to Help You Harness Your Creativity
She's helped celebrities curate their personal art collections, and worked to make art more accessible to all. Now, the author of How Creativity Rules the World: The Art and Business of Turning Your Ideas into Gold shares her journey from burned out lawyer to art world disruptor, along with the actions and attitudes necessary to take your ideas to the next level. Follow Maria on Instagram @mariabrito_ny . If you loved this episode, listen to How Curator E. Carmen Ramos is Representing Us in the Art World and UNSTUCK: Why Irene Quevedo Wants You to Take a Chance on Yourself . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 07, 2022
Why Novelist Xochitl Gonzalez Isn't Done Being Ambitious
"Could you just be done being ambitious?" That was the question the Brooklyn native asked herself before she "blew up" her comfortable New York life to move to Iowa, pursue her MFA, and complete what would become her New York Times Best-Selling novel, Olga Dies Dreaming. Follow Xochitl on Instagram @xochitlheg . If you loved this episode, listen to How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 28, 2022
Artist and Organizer Favianna Rodriguez Knows that Pleasure is Political
She started organizing at 15, dropped out of college to become an entrepreneur, and has been blazing her own path ever since. Favianna shares how she got clear about the things she was fighting for, and how she built a life that allows her to embrace pleasure and joy. Follow Favianna Rodriguez on Instagram @favianna1 . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Tech Visionary Irma Olguin Jr. Went Back to Her Farming Roots and How Artist Scherezade Garcia Came to Work and Exist on Her Own Terms . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter! Sponsor: Founded by Dr. Howard Murad, M.D., Murad Skincare is a line of clinically proven, cruelty-free products that meet the meticulous standard for safety, efficacy and care you'd expect from a doctor. Use promo code LATINATOLATINA for 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $60 at Murad.com .
Mon, February 21, 2022
How Judge Esther Salas is Honoring Her Son’s Legacy
She made history as the first Latina to serve as a U.S. Magistrate Judge and a Federal District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Then, in 2020, a self-avowed anti-feminist violently targeted her family, injuring her husband and killing her son, Daniel. In this powerful episode, Judge Salas reflects on love, faith, grief, and her commitment to keeping her son's joyful memory alive. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Leads from the Heart and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 14, 2022
How Author Alexis Daria is Complicating Our Notions of Romance
The Bronx-native was juggling multiple jobs when she decided, at 30, that it was time to stop playing small. It paid off: her first romance novel was recognized with a prestigious RITA Award, and her newest solo project, A Lot Like Adios, is continuing to ask powerful questions about who gets to fall in love and what love really looks like. Follow Alexis on Instagram @alexisdaria . If you loved this episode, listen to Book Editor Michelle Herrera on Finding Your Voice By Not Fitting In and Author Carmen Maria Machado on the Myth of a Queer Love Utopia . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 07, 2022
How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write
"Who is she? What does she want? Why can't she have it?" Those are the questions the Newbery Medal-winning children's author asks about each of her young Latina protagonists. What Meg Medina wanted was to write professionally, but first, she had to get brave. Find her newest book Merci Suárez Can't Dance here . And follow Meg on Instagram @megmedinabooks . If you loved this episode, listen to What Sonia Manzano Knows Kids Need and How Canticos Creator Susie Jaramillo Built an Inclusive Kids' Brand . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 31, 2022
Illustrator Michelle Rial Wants You to Feel Better
The acclaimed designer took her experiences with chronic pain, an auto-immune disease, and the loss of her father, and poured them into her new hilarious and moving book, Maybe This Will Help: How to Feel Better When Things Stay the Same. Follow Michelle on Instagram @michellerial . If you loved this episode, listen to How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth and Why Author Valeria Luiselli’s Art Reflects Real Life . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 24, 2022
Ana Villafañe is Still a Supernova
She got her big break playing Gloria Estefan in the musical hit On Your Feet. She cherished the role, but it also forced her to “erase Ana to sustain Gloria.” Now, with Chicago, her second Broadway show under her belt, and big projects on the horizon—like Apple TV+'s Bad Monkey —Ana’s learning how to allow her art and her life to live side-by-side. Follow Ana on Instagram @anavillafaneofficial . If you loved this episode, listen to America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 17, 2022
Monica Muñoz Martinez is Confronting Our Past to Change the Future
The MacArthur "Genius" Grant winner is a public historian who interrogates some of the darkest parts of American history, and argues that grappling with our past is vital to developing solutions that address racial injustice. Follow Monica @MonicaMnzMtz on Twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to For Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve Getting Latinos to Care about Justice Reform Is Personal and What Activist Tania Rosario Méndez is Doing to Combat Femicide in Puerto Rico . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 10, 2022
How Peloton's Robin Arzón Found Her True Power
The litigator turned ultra-marathoner and fitness instructor shares the personal trauma that helped redirect her from law into fitness, her commitment to showing up fully present and fully committed, and why her new children's book, Strong Mama , is a call to reimagine self-care. Follow Robin @robinnyc on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Vanessa Birnbaum Rosler’s Yoga Philosophy Ignited a Booming Business and Why Nathalie Huerta Founded the First Queer Gym in the Country . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 03, 2022
Julissa Calderon Is Helping Hollywood to Reimagine Latina Characters
Her hilarious BuzzFeed portrayals of Latina moms hooked us, and now, her magnetic energy keeps us glued to Netflix's Gentefied . Julissa reveals what she willingly risked to earn roles that welcome her fullest self. Follow Julissa @lajulissa on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like and When Gentefied Co-Creator Linda Yvette Chávez Realized She Couldn’t Quit . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 27, 2021
How Lauren Jauregui Learned to Listen to Her Own Voice
It took her years to get back to herself, but now the singer-songwriter who exploded onto the world stage as part of Fifth Harmony has her first solo EP, Prelude . And she's also on a mission to help others heal. Follow Lauren @laurenjauregui on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why iLe’s New Album, Almadura, Is Both Departure and Evolution from Calle 13 and Why DaniLeigh is Destined to Be a Music Mogul . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 20, 2021
How Emeraude Toubia Uses Love as a Life Force
The star of Amazon's With Love, and Lifetime's Holiday in Santa Fe , opens up about how she sets a supportive tone on set, the experience of building her career alongside her equally talented husband (Prince Royce!) and what a loss taught her about the importance of cherishing life's smallest moments. Follow Emeraude @emeraude on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Tue, December 14, 2021
En La Sala Con Evaluna Montaner
En este episodio, Evaluna invita a su querido esposo Camilo a su sala para conversar del amor, cómo piensan crear a “baby Indigo,” comparten anécdotas curiosas, se conocen un poco más, y hasta ofrecen sus 5 tips para una relación sana wondery.fm/ELS_Latina_To_Latina
Mon, December 13, 2021
How Filmmaker Cristina Ibarra Cultivated a Junk Aesthetic
Growing up near the U.S.-Mexico border, she became obsessed with questions of belonging. Now, the newly-minted MacArthur Genius is using film to explore those same themes and shine light on stories that too often go untold. Find Cristina on Instagram @unasmovidas . If you liked this episode, check out Why Loira Limbal Spotlights Invisible People in Her New Film and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Thu, December 09, 2021
Bonus Episode: An Inside Look at a New Report on Latinos from Nielsen
Stacie de Armas, Nielsen's Senior VP of Diverse Intelligence and Initiatives shares fascinating insights from Nielsen's new report, "Inclusion, Information and Intersection: The Truth about Connecting with U.S. Latinos." Plus, her thoughts on how Latinas can use the data to help others understand the power of our communities. (Sponsored)
Mon, December 06, 2021
America Ferrera Knows What Real Power Looks Like
The Hollywood A-lister reveals how she advocates for herself, maneuvers through complex power dynamics, and deflects the “Brown Discount.” She also shares all of the work that went into Season 2 of the smash hit, Gentefied, streaming on Netflix now! Follow America @americaferrera on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 29, 2021
How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance
By 30, the actress had reached most of her goals but still felt like she was living a life someone else had chosen for her. Nadine reveals what it was like to hit rock bottom, and the conversation with a Hollywood A-Lister that changed everything. Follow Nadine @nadinevelazquez on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Actress Lisa Vidal Believes "I'm here because this was supposed to happen" and Actress Aimee Carrero Embraces Her Weird, and We Love Her for It . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 22, 2021
Why Beauty Entrepreneur Aisha Ceballos-Crump Stepped Out on Faith
The Founder and CEO of Honey Baby Naturals and Botanika Beauty paired engineering and marketing to pave her own path into beauty. Aisha gets candid about the reality TV experience that clarified her vision, and the financial risks she took to realize her dreams. Follow Aisha on Instagram @aisharc . If you loved this episode, listen to How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand and How Joanna Vargas Built a Beauty Empire with Her Hands . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 15, 2021
Vanessa Birnbaum Rosler’s Yoga Philosophy Ignited a Booming Business
The founder of All You Can Yoga reveals how she harnessed her love of the practice, marketing, and entrepreneurship to simplify the business of yoga, and bring it within everyone's reach. Follow Vanessa on Instagram @allyoucanyoga . If you loved this episode, listen to Fitness Entrepreneur Melissa Alcantara is Always in Beast Mode and How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 08, 2021
How Aida Rodriguez Wove Heartbreak Into Comedy Gold
The comedian had her breakout moment on "Last Comic Standing,” and since, has used comedy to explore everything from politics to familial trauma. It’s all part of her new HBO Max special, Fighting Words. Follow Aida on Instagram @funnyaida . If you loved this episode, listen to How Gina Brillón Became a Comedy Junkie , and Trust Us, Cristela Alonzo Gets the Last Laugh . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 01, 2021
What Sonia Manzano Knows Kids Need
As Sesame Street's iconic "Maria," the actress and Emmy-award winning writer harnessed the power of make-believe and imagination to connect with children. Sonia shares how creativity provided respite from her tumultuous childhood, and how problem-solving inspired her new PBS children's animated series, Alma's Way. Follow Sonia on Twitter @soniammanzano . If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters and This Is Why María Elena Salinas Is a Legend . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Tue, October 26, 2021
Introducing: Smoke Screen: The Sellout
From Neon Hum Media and LA Taco, this is Smoke Screen: The Sellout, a podcast about a politician dogged by allegations of corruption, harassment and pathological pettiness. It’s about the residents who fought gentrification even as their neighborhoods were auctioned off to the highest bidder. And it’s about a community that feels the pain of betrayal – from one of their own.
Mon, October 25, 2021
How Mildred Otero Learned to Negotiate
From Capitol Hill to the State Department to Leadership for Educational Equity, this education policy advocate offers wisdom on the art of compromise and the necessity of standing your ground. Follow Mildred on Twitter @millyoo3 . If you loved this episode, listen to How Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto Made Room for Herself in Politics and How Alexandra Rojas Wants to Rewrite Politics . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon Supporter !
Mon, October 18, 2021
How Grace Bastidas Built a Media Brand for Modern Families
The founding editor-in-chief of Parents Latina and Ser Padres shares how she launched and built a media brand that infuses multicultural roots and inclusive parenting. Follow Grace on instagram @brooklynwriter . If you loved this episode, listen to How O Magazine’s Arianna Davis Made It, on Her Own Terms and How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 11, 2021
Why Dr. Mariel Buqué Believes Healing Leads to Liberation
The Ivy League educated holistic psychologist is revolutionizing her field with Indigenous healing, curanderos, sound baths, and Reiki therapy. Dr. Buqué breaks down her work in mental wellness, and how we can use “micro moments” to connect with ourselves. Follow Dr. Buqué on instagram @dr.marielbuque and on twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to LEVEL UP: How to Approach Your Health Holistically and Nicole Mejia Wants You to Love Yourself—All of You . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 04, 2021
Why Kayla Rodriguez Graff is Bringing Honey to Wound Care
As co-founder and CEO of SweetBio, she’s harnessing the power of Manuka honey to heal advanced wounds and reimagine health outcomes. But early on, the biotech company nearly crumbled. Kayla describes the pivot that put them back on track, and the unique challenges of bringing health care products directly to consumers. Follow Kayla @kaykayroro on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to How O Magazine’s Arianna Davis Made It, on Her Own Terms and Gia Morón Wants More of Us in the Weed Business . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 27, 2021
Who Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez Is Writing For
The Latina Rebels founder and author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color, opens up about imposter syndrome, colorism, and why shaking off traditional roles was key to finding freedom. Follow Prisca and on instagram @ priscadorcas . If you loved this episode, listen to How Nelini Stamp Sets Injustice Aflame and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 20, 2021
Why Zaena Zamora is Fighting for Our Reproductive Freedom
The executive director of pro-choice Frontera Fund discusses the ramifications of the loss of abortion rights in Texas, and the challenges that lay ahead for the state and the the country. Zaena also gives Alicia insight into what it takes to keep abortion care at the forefront of the national healthcare movement. Follow Zaena and Frontera Fund on instagram @ fronterafundrgv . If you loved this episode, listen to For Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve Getting Latinos to Care about Justice Reform Is Personal and Why Actress Selenis Leyva and Her Sister, Trans Activist Marizol Leyva, Are Closer Than Ever . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 13, 2021
How Curator E. Carmen Ramos is Representing Us in the Art World
As a teenager, she spent weekends in New York City museums. Today she’s big-time in her field. E. Carmen Ramos talks candidly about feeling unwelcome in her first museum job to challenging the art establishment to include more Latino artists in the country’s biggest art institutions. Follow E. Carmen on instagram @wheightsgirl . If you loved this episode, listen to How Artist Scherezade Garcia Came to Work and Exist on Her Own Terms and Why Author Valeria Luiselli’s Art Reflects Real Life . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 06, 2021
Why Designer Jen Zeano Is Building a Queer Lifestyle Brand in South Texas
Jen , who is behind empowering T-shirt collections like the pink and red “Latina Power” line, started out hand-drawing on coffee mugs while working at a Best Buy. She speaks with Alicia about what it was like launching a design company from her living room, and how being in the Rio Grande Valley fuels her sense of community and inspires JZD’s colorful, mantra-infused tees. Follow Jen on instagram @jenzeano . If you loved this episode, listen to How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand and Author Carmen Maria Machado on the Myth of a Queer Love Utopia . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 30, 2021
UNSTUCK: Breathwork Coach Ana Lilia Teaches Us How to Center Ourselves
Ana Lilia fell in love with breathing practices and affirmations as part of her own healing journey. Then she shared those gifts with others. Now she shares how to clear your mind, control your anxiety and rewrite your story—one breath at a time. Follow Ana on instagram @_ana_lilia . If you loved this episode, listen to LEVEL UP: How to Approach Your Health Holistically and How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 23, 2021
UNSTUCK: What Media Mogul Nely Galán Can Teach Us About the Art of Reinvention
The television executive turned entrepreneur took a major detour—mid career—to go back to school. She shares how that decision changed her life, as well as her insights on how to find your true purpose. Follow Nely on instagram @nelygalan . If you loved this episode, listen to Fashion Entrepreneur Lilliana Vazquez: “Build Something for Yourself” and How Carolyn Rodz Is Connecting Entrepreneurs with Opportunities . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 16, 2021
UNSTUCK: How PR Pro Lissette M. Rios Connects the Dots
The founder of Chic Influence , a public relations firm, shares her tips for telling an individual or brand’s story so that others want to listen. Plus, the powerful exercise she relies on to gain clarity and make big moves. Follow Lissette on instagram @lissymarie . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Reina Rebelde's Founder, Regina Merson, Chose Herself Over Everything Else and LEVEL UP: How to Approach Your Health Holistically . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 09, 2021
UNSTUCK: Why Irene Quevedo Wants You to Take a Chance on Yourself
To kick off this four part series, this non-profit CEO and professional coach shares the biggest obstacle her clients face when it comes to asserting what they really want, as well as the radical decision that transformed her life. Follow Irene on Instagram @iquevedo . If you loved this episode, listen to LEVEL UP: Your Relationships Could Use a Refresh and LEVEL UP: How to Secure Your Financial Future Starting Today . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 02, 2021
Why Radical Health CEO Ivelyse Andino Wants to Reimagine Health Care
Ivelyse's personal experience of navigating the health care system inspired her to build a business that harnesses technology and intimate conversations to give individuals more control over their health. In this episode, she shares the power of taking up space and giving yourself permission to figure things out as you go. Follow Ivelyse on Instagram @ivelyse . If you loved this episode, listen to this interview with Fitness coach Yami Mufdi on How to Approach Your Health Holistically and How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 26, 2021
What Activist Tania Rosario Méndez is Doing to Combat Femicide in Puerto Rico
The Executive Director of Taller Salud, a feminist organization in Puerto Rico, breaks down how the island's struggling economy and social systems fail survivors, what needs to change, and what we can each do to combat gender-based violence. Follow Tania on Instagram @taniarosariomendez . If you loved this episode, listen to this interview with Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve about Justice Reform and How San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Is Not Done Fighting . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 19, 2021
How Carolyn Rodz Is Connecting Entrepreneurs with Opportunities
Her own leap from investment banking to entrepreneurship inspired Hello Alice, a free platform that helps businesses learn and grow. Carolyn shares her roadmaps for entrepreneurs, and the source of her own eternal optimism. Follow Carolyn on Instagram @carolynrodz . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Corporate America Couldn’t Change Carla Vernón at Her Core and How Bomba Curls' Lulu Cordero Unfurled Her Natural Hair and Ambition . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 12, 2021
How TikTok Star Tefi Pessoa Gets Paid to Be Herself
She was a quirky kid who was obsessed with pop culture and learned the art of chisme from her abuela. It all prepared her to take our social media feeds by storm. Tefi shares her path from behind the scenes to the star of the show and the tricks she uses to make every performance “just a conversation.” Follow Tefi Pessoa on Instagram @hellotefi . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Our Friend Dessa Likes Picking Brains Apart and How Jenny Lorenzo Became the Internet’s Favorite Cuban Abuela . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon Supporter !
Mon, July 05, 2021
How Maude CEO Éva Goicochea Plans to Revolutionize Sexual Wellness
Growing up in New Mexico, she read books like Our Bodies, Ourselves , and understood the importance of destigmatizing sexuality. Now the entrepreneur shares how her modern sexual wellness company is reimagining an outdated industry. Follow Éva Goicochea on Instagram @evagoicochea . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Tech Visionary Irma Olguin Jr. Went Back to Her Farming Roots and How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon Supporter !
Mon, June 28, 2021
How Mysticism Fuels Natalia Lafourcade's Musical Process
The iconic Mexican folk singer didn’t know if she would keep working in music, so she lost herself in Canada and started paying attention to signs from the universe. In this episode, she shares how she found her way back home and the rituals she relies on to bring new projects to life. Follow Natalia Lafourcade on Instagram @natalialafourcade and listen to her album Canto Por México Vol. II . If you loved this episode, listen to What Medium Tatianna Morales Sees in Her Own Future and What Singer Aymée Nuviola Left Behind for Her Art . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Tue, June 22, 2021
THANK YOU for One Million Downloads!
We did it: we surpassed one million downloads. Thank you for supporting this Latina-owned podcast. To celebrate you, we’re hosting 12 days of giveaways from some of our favorite Latina-owned brands and Latina authors. Listen in or head over to our Instagram @latinatolatina to learn more!
Bonus · Tue, June 22, 2021
Introducing Yeah No, I’m Not OK with Diane Guerrero
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio shot to fame when she wrote an essay about being an undocumented student at Harvard. But instead of book deals, she looked for more meaning in writing and exploring her identity. Along the way, she learned more about herself and tells Diane how the correct diagnoses, therapy, strict personal boundaries, and self-acceptance have all changed her life for the better. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources . More information on borderline personality disorder here: https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org/consumer-recovery-resources/ Learn about DBT therapy here: https://www.onlinedbtcourses.com/ This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Mon, June 21, 2021
How Netflix’s Carolina Garcia Picks Binge-Worthy Hits
She learned on the job as an assistant to one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and spent nine years at Twentieth Century Fox before making the leap to Netflix. Now its director of original programing, she lets us in on what it takes to sell a big idea. Follow Carolina on Instagram @thedancingdiary . If you loved this episode, listen to How Showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez Stays in High Demand and LEVEL UP: This Life Coach Says Now's the Time to Level Up . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 14, 2021
How NASA Engineer Diana Trujillo's Pursuit of a New Life Led Her to Space
She grew tired of seeing the women in her family sacrifice their ambition for their men, so she vowed to build a life that wouldn't force her to choose. At 17, she immigrated to the US, learned English, and decided to study aerospace engineering. Now at NASA, Diana is at the forefront of missions that could tell us if there is life beyond our planet. Follow Diana on Twitter @FromCaliToMars . If you loved this episode, listen to How Neurosurgeon Dr. Analiz Rodriguez Made Her Own Way and Why Our Friend Dessa Likes Picking Brains Apart . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 07, 2021
What In the Heights’ Melissa Barrera Learned by Playing an Iconic Character
Roller coaster auditions left no room for self-doubt, and filming was magical. But the release was pushed back a year amid the pandemic. The whole process taught Melissa to cultivate patience, underscored the need to constantly reintroduce yourself, and confirmed why diving deep into her own heartbreak was the only way to play Vanessa on her own terms. Follow Melissa on Instagram @melissabarreram . If you loved this episode, listen to Alicia's previous chat with Melissa here , or this episode about How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 31, 2021
Why Nathalie Huerta Founded the First Queer Gym in the Country
An athlete who loves the gym, she began presenting as more masculine and locker-room interactions became so stressful she stopped going. Then she took a $50 Target gift card and founded what would become The Queer Gym, the first LGBTQ gym in the nation. Follow Nathalie on Instagram @homie-preneur . If you loved this episode, listen to How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength and How Bomba Curls' Lulu Cordero Unfurled Her Natural Hair and Ambition . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 24, 2021
For Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve Getting Latinos to Care about Justice Reform Is Personal
Her cousin's incarceration punctuated the ten years she spent studying the largest criminal court in the country. So she decided it was time to act, not just observe. Now a Brown University professor, Nicole still grapples with how to make people care about police killings, generalized corruption in the system, and the biases within Latino communities that detract from real progress. Follow Nicole on Twitter @nvancleve . If you loved this episode, listen to Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War and Why Gianna Nino-Tapias Embodies Labor Rights, and Why Her Tweet from a Blueberry Field Hit a Nerve. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 17, 2021
How Showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez Stays in High Demand
Her life story is the stuff of movies. She was a goth kid in private school while her dad ran an underground gambling syndicate. A teacher suggested she write about it. And today she's the executive producer of USA's hit drama Queen of the South. The plot points connecting the two eras are filled with derailed projects, hard choices, and moments of euphoric triumph. In this lucid interview, Alicia gets every detail. Follow Dailyn on Twitter @dailynrod . If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters and How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 10, 2021
Why Loira Limbal Spotlights Invisible People in Her New Film
When she read about a 24-hour daycare center, the producer and director knew it would become the heart of her next verité film. Filmed over two years, “Through the Night” offers an emotionally searing portrait of the unpaid, often invisible work of motherhood and caregiving, and a masterclass on intimate storytelling. Find Loira Limbal on Twitter @DJLaylo . If you liked this episode, listen to the interview with Cristina Costantini. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 03, 2021
Why Lilliana Vazquez Is on a Mission to End the Stigma of Infertility
The E! Host and style expert struggled with infertility for six years before becoming pregnant. Now, she's sharing her journey in the hopes of helping others feel less alone. Here, she reflects on the unique challenges Latinas run up against on their Advanced Reproductive Technology journeys, the loneliness of keeping her heartbreak a secret, and the life-changing power of surrender. Follow Lilliana @lillianavazquez . If you loved this episode, listen to How Doula Adriana Lozada Guides Parents to Their Own Ideal Birth and last year's Mother's Day Tribute to You, Your Mom, and All the Mamís . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 26, 2021
What Medium Tatianna Morales Sees in Her Own Future
Intuition is one thing. The ability to connect with the spirit world to help others is entirely another. And for Tatianna Morales a lifelong pursuit in understanding and channeling the wisdom in the occult has resulted in legions of fans, helped her find her purpose, and launched a lucrative business. Follow Tatianna @tatiannatarot . If you loved this episode, listen to What Happened After Zulema Arroyo Farley Stopped Denying Her Own Truth and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 19, 2021
Why Tech Visionary Irma Olguin Jr. Went Back to Her Farming Roots
Growing up, Irma Olguin expected to join the next generation of farmworkers in her family. But the CEO of Bitwise Industries, which has turned California’s Central Valley into a thriving tech hub, says she experienced so much ‘serendipity in her life’ that she realized everything that lifted her out of poverty and struggle was possible for her home community. Someone just had to address the inequalities. The story of how she did it gave us goosebumps. If you liked this episode, listen to How Neurosurgeon Dr. Analiz Rodriguez Made Her Own Way and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 12, 2021
How Health Coach Massy Arias Found Her Real Strength
A decade ago, she began sharing her fitness trials and triumphs online after experiencing the dark side of the industry. Since then, she has motivated millions to find their motivation, strengthening techniques, and focus—and built a wellness empire that includes an app and the TRU Supplements line. In this episode, Massy gets candid about her recent divorce, and all the things we don’t see on Instagram. If you liked this episode, listen to Mend's Founder, Elle Huerta, Wants to Help You Beat Burnout and How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 05, 2021
Book Editor Michelle Herrera on Finding Your Voice By Not Fitting In
Growing up, she was so close to her family, it was unimaginable she’d ever even go away for college. But a curious mind and an adventurous heart freed her to “dream wild” and create her own “fantasy version of my life.” If you liked this episode, listen to How Writer Leslé Honoré Knows Poetry Changes Lives and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 29, 2021
How Neurosurgeon Dr. Analiz Rodriguez Made Her Own Way
Set on being a brain surgeon since childhood, and armed with “unwavering self-confidence” instilled in her by her mother, Analiz powered through college, medical school and a PhD program. Facing steep climbs and faith-testing challenges along the way. Now, the accomplished neurosurgeon and research scientist opens up about leading in the operating room, navigating bias as an Afro-Latina doctor, and relying on her faith to keep her steady. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Dr. Julie Ramos Insists You Take Care of Your Heart and How One Day at a Time's Isabella Gomez Found Her Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 22, 2021
How Karla Vasquez Reclaimed Salvadoran Food
When she learned that there were virtually no Salvadoran cookbooks in print in the United States, this food writer and cooking instructor made it her mission to capture the food and the spirits of the women of El Salvador. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 15, 2021
Why Our Friend Dessa Likes Picking Brains Apart
She's a rapper, a performer, a complete science geek, and now a podcast creator and host. And Deeply Human , her new show from the BBC, doesn't stray far from her ambitious curiosity and insatiable creative appetite. In short, it's all the things we've come to love about Dessa. If you loved this episode, listen to Dessa's first interview with Alicia , and then How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 08, 2021
How Virgie Tovar Is Leading a Fat Revolution
She was researching fatness and wound up “onboarded” into fat activism. That set Virgie on her professional path, and radically changed the trajectory of her personal life. She breaks down the difference between “fat liberation” and “body positivity,” explores the parallels between her Mexican grandparents’ pursuit of the American Dream and her pursuit of thinness, and encourages us to imagine a world without diet culture. If you loved this episode, listen to How One Day at a Time's Isabella Gomez Found Her Strength and How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 01, 2021
Why Living Icon Isabel Allende Has Never Kept Secrets
She believes the secrets you keep make you vulnerable. And she is sharing plenty of them in her new book, The Soul of a Woman. Isabel joins Alicia from her cozy writing room in her attic for an intimate chat that touches on infidelity, maternal grief, and the process of becoming "a woman on her own terms." If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and Why Author Valeria Luiselli’s Art Reflects Real Life . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 22, 2021
How Writer Leslé Honoré Knows Poetry Changes Lives
Her poems have gone viral and reached millions. Now the writer behind "Brown Girl, Brown Girl" opens up about finding her way out of an abusive marriage, the decade where her kids became her poems, and the power of putting what you want into words. Find Leslé's latest book here . If you loved this episode, listen to How Coco Illustrator Ana Ramírez González Extends Herself with Her Art and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 15, 2021
How Jenny Lorenzo Became the Internet’s Favorite Cuban Abuela
A co-founder of BuzzFeed’s Pero Like, and an alum of MiTu, Jenny spent the early part of her career creating viral sketch videos for big media companies. Frustrated, she decided to break out on her own. In this hilarious conversation, she reveals what goes into creating her videos (she has a second bedroom dedicated to wigs and props!), gets real about the nitty-gritty of monetization, and dreams of producing a more nuanced portrayal of her hometown. If you loved this episode, listen to How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 08, 2021
Mend's Founder, Elle Huerta, Wants to Help You Beat Burnout
When the digital entrepreneur launched the self-care app, Mend, she was focused on helping users recover from the fallout of romantic breakups. Now she and her team are taking on a new challenge: professional burnout. Elle talks Alicia through the warning signs, the science of recovery, and the steps necessary to tackle what the World Health Organization calls an "occupational phenomenon." If you loved this episode, listen to How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement and Why Reina Rebelde's Founder, Regina Merson, Chose Herself Over Everything Else . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Tue, February 02, 2021
AD: CHICANO SQUAD TRAILER
Chicano Squad is a new show hosted by Cristela Alonzo, who you've heard on past episodes of Latina to Latina. The show tells the story of Houston's first-ever all-Latino police team, their divided loyalties, and a city on the brink. Formed in the 1970s to face a growing number of unsolved homicides in their own community, a squad of five young officers with little training and few resources was assigned to solve the city's most vicious crimes. Subscribe to Chicano Squad today to catch up on the season before the next episode drops.
Mon, February 01, 2021
Why Rum Master Distiller Sylvia Santiago Will Never Quit
The chief distiller at Puerto Rico's Destilería Serrallés, maker of Don Q, is as committed to her craft as ever, but honest about the sacrifices she made along the way to mastering this male-dominated art form. If you loved this episode, listen to Powerhouse Marketer Ana Valdéz on Using Media to Create Change and How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 25, 2021
How Bomba Curls' Lulu Cordero Unfurled Her Natural Hair and Ambition
The entrepreneur, whose hair care line has already made it to Nordstrom shelves, traces her enterprising spirit to a childhood backpack candy business. And gets real about the cultural challenges and triumphs of loving your natural hair. Follow Lulu Cordero on Instagram @lulu.ceo.bomba . If you loved this episode, listen to How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand and How Beauty Insider Tina Hedges Created LOLI, an Environmentally Sound Brand . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 18, 2021
LEVEL UP: How to Approach Your Health Holistically
Fitness coach Yami Mufdi wants you to shift your mindset from on how your body looks to how it feels. She breaks down all the components—nutrition, intention, routine—to get to a healthier you. Follow Yami Mufdi on Instagram @yamimufdi . If you loved this episode, listen to Nicole Mejia Wants You to Love Yourself—All of You and Why Dr. Julie Ramos Insists You Take Care of Your Heart. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 11, 2021
LEVEL UP: How to Secure Your Financial Future Starting Today
Personal finance expert Ramona Ortega of My Money, My Future gives us some real talk about how to take control of your finances today so you can own your time, your money, and your life from now on. Plus essential advice for starting a business—and investing in yourself. If you loved this episode, listen to Daniela Pierre Bravo Teaches Us How to 'Earn It' and How Pinnacle Founder & CEO Nina Vaca Became a Corporate Titan . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 04, 2021
LEVEL UP: Your Relationships Could Use a Refresh
Psychotherapist Genesis Games gets real about why it’s important to assess your relationships truthfully, so you can set healthy expectations and comfortable boundaries. Plus, how to navigate different kinds of relationships—with family, friends, and significant others. Follow Genesis Games on Instagram @miamitherapist_ . If you loved this episode, listen to Alicia Tells Us about Her Book, The Likeability Trap and How Therapist and Healer Christine Gutierrez Came Back Home to Herself, and Wrote I Am Diosa . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 28, 2020
LEVEL UP: This Life Coach Says Now's the Time to Level Up
To launch this special series, Alicia talks to experts about how each of us can step into our fullest potential in the new year. Life and business coach Wendy Amara explains how to lay out the action steps that will help you accomplish your goals, and shares personal stories about leveling up when she expanded her business - and when she had twins! Follow Wendy Amara on Instagram @wendyamara . If you loved this episode, listen to How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth and How One Day at a Time's Isabella Gomez Found Her Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 21, 2020
How O Magazine’s Arianna Davis Made It, on Her Own Terms
The digital director of Oprah Magazine talks to Alicia about the maverick moves that landed her jobs in journalism. And she discusses her new book, What Would Frida Do? and what the icon's “Viva la vida” mantra means to her. Follow Arianna Davis on Instagram @ariannagab . If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 14, 2020
How Fashion Entrepreneur Camila Coelho Went from Working Retail to Building a Beauty Brand
The blogger and founder of Elaluz and the Camila Coelho Collection shares how a promise to her mother pushed her to work hard in a very competitive industry. And she gets real about using her massive platform to fight the stigma of people living with epilepsy—like her. Follow Camila Coelho on Instagram @camilacoelho . If you loved this episode, listen to How Joanna Vargas Built a Beauty Empire with Her Hands and Julissa Prado, the Million-Dollar Curl Whisperer . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 07, 2020
Why Reina Rebelde's Founder, Regina Merson, Chose Herself Over Everything Else
The successful owner of makeup brand Reina Rebelde talks about how she chose to leave a high-profile law career to find her way back to herself. And how she convinced her family that starting a business was the right path for her. Follow Regina Merson on Instagram @reginamerson . If you loved this episode, listen to How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement and How Beauty Insider Tina Hedges Created LOLI, an Environmentally Sound Brand. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 30, 2020
Powerhouse Marketer Ana Valdéz on Using Media to Create Change
The marketing and business consultant on realizing and harnessing the power that marketing and media have to influence people’s behavior. And how she drew on those skills to be authentically herself. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Corporate America Couldn’t Change Carla Vernón at Her Core and Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez Are Shaking Up the Cigar Industry . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 23, 2020
What the Election Taught Us About the Latina Vote
Journalists Jennifer Medina and Patricia Mazzei of the New York Times break down how we voted this election, and what the mainstream media so often gets wrong about it. Follow Jennifer Medina and Patricia Mazzei on Twitter @jennymedina and @PatriciaMazzei . If you loved this episode, listen to Let’s Talk Latina Power in This Election and Univision’s Ilia Calderón Is Grounded by the People She Covers . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 16, 2020
How Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez Regained Her Strength After Emotional Abuse
The gold medal athlete opens up about how she dealt with emotional and verbal abuse at the hands of coaches, the key role her mother played in advocating for her, and why leaving her beloved sport for a while was exactly what she needed. "Habla Now," HBO Latino's award-winning "Habla" series, features Laurie Hernandez in its latest installment. It is now available to stream on HBO Max. Follow Laurie Hernandez on Instagram at @lauriehernandez . If you loved this episode, listen to How Jennifer Mercedes Made Herself an MVP in Sports Journalism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 09, 2020
How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement
Her weekly newsletter champions self-care and mental health, while being the heart of a thriving tech company. Alisha talks about how investing $20,000 in herself led to building a massive online community that brings people together in real life. Follow Alisha Ramos on Instagram @alisharamos or @girlsnightinclub . If you loved this episode, listen to How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career and Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 02, 2020
Why Dr. Julie Ramos Insists You Take Care of Your Heart
She tells Alicia her Latina identity plays into every aspect of her medical career, from the big hoop earrings in her professional headshot, to her pragmatic approach to becoming a successful cardiologist. Hard to believe she almost flunked out of med school, and now practices at one of the country's leading hospitals. We stan a legend. If you loved this episode, listen to Dr. Laura Scott Is Building a Self-Care Brand One Post at a Time and Why Jessica González-Rojas Champions Reproductive Justice . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 26, 2020
Let's Talk Latina Power in This Election
She Se Puede founders Jess Morales Rocketto and Stephanie Valencia get real about what’s at stake this election, including Covid recovery, the environment, and immigration policy. Stephanie reminds us there are lives on the line. Jess encourages us to think about how our choices affect others. And Alicia gets emotional about the power of the Latino vote. Follow Jess Morales Rocketto on Instagram @jesslivemo and Stephanie Valencia on Twitter @stephanievalenc . She Se Puede is on Instagram @she_sepuede . If you loved this episode, listen to Political Power Player Cecilia Muñoz Reminds Us That We Are ‘More Than Ready’ and Two Latina Activists on Latinos' Place in Anti-Blackness . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 19, 2020
Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War
The former political aide says growing up in agricultural California deeply shaped her identity, especially as a Latina in powerful roles, including chief of staff in the U.S. Senate. Amanda offers candid moments from running for, and losing public office, twice. And why those experiences crystallized her mission to fight for the rest of us. Follow Amanda Renteria on Twitter @AmandaRenteria . If you loved this episode, listen to San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Is Not Done Fighting and Why Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Leads from the Heart . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 12, 2020
How Aimee Garcia Took Charge of Her Hollywood Career
The actor best known for playing a nerdy Latina on TV is becoming a power player behind the scenes, thanks in large part to starting a production company with her long-time collaborator. Aimee talks to Alicia about the road from being a novice writer to penning a comic series for Netflix, how she feeds her artist soul, and the privilege and responsibility of telling stories. Follow Aimee Garcia on Instagram @aimeegarcia4realz or @scrappyheartproductions . If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters or How One Day at a Time's Isabella Gomez Found Her Strength . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 05, 2020
How Doula Adriana Lozada Guides Parents to Their Own Ideal Birth
After giving birth to her daughter changed her life, she left a thriving media career to support parents on their pre- and postnatal odysseys. Adriana shares practical wisdom and useful advice on Birthful, her popular podcast, where she talks to health experts and welcomes parents to share their personal birth stories. Ultimately, she wants her clients and all parents to trust their intuition and center their needs in the birthing process. Follow Adriana Lozada on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and listen to the latest episodes of the Birthful podcast to keep learning about her work. If you loved this episode, listen to A Mother's Day Tribute to You, Your Mom, and All the Mamís and Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 28, 2020
How Majo Molfino Helps You Break the Good-Girl Myth
The writer and life designer warns about five self-sabotaging tendencies that prevent us from connecting to our purpose and true strength. In this intimate conversation, she holds nothing back as she talks about how being the daughter of immigrants put pressure on her to be “a good girl.” And breaks down the frameworks that keep so many of us trapped in other people's notions of who we should be. Follow Majo Molfino on Instagram @majomolfino and find more of her work on her website . If you loved this episode, listen to Alicia Tells Us about Her Book, The Likeability Trap and Nicole Mejia Wants You to Love Yourself - All of You . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, September 21, 2020
How Beauty Insider Tina Hedges Created LOLI, an Environmentally Sound Brand
A crisis in health and consciousness pushed her to rethink her life choices and her work in the beauty industry. And she has an epiphany that would fulfill her and put the wasteful beauty industry on notice: a zero waste, organic, food-grade beauty company. Tina talks to Alicia about the sacrifices in being self-funded, the work behind pitching and growing LOLI, and navigating the startup world as a woman of color. Follow LOLI Beauty on Instagram @loli.beauty. If you loved this episode, listen to How Birchbox CEO Katia Beauchamp Upended the Beauty Industry for Good and That Time Superstar Beauty Vlogger Iris Beilin Saved Her Own Life. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, September 14, 2020
Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story
She worked for decades to make sure her voice and ideas were valued as much as those of non-Latinos in the newsroom. Then she founded her own media company to make sure. Now she has written a memoir, Once I Was You, about all of it. Maria, a veteran journalist used to asking the tough questions, opens up to Alicia about her groundbreaking career, the strain it put on her marriage and family, and the friends and mentors who carried her through. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_Hinojosa. If you loved this episode, listen to Univision’s Ilia Calderón Is Grounded by the People She Covers and MSNBC’s Mariana Atencio Reveals How to Be ‘Perfectly You.' Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, September 07, 2020
Why Gianna Nino-Tapias Embodies Labor Rights, and Why Her Tweet from a Blueberry Field Hit a Nerve
The Stanford medical student has worked in fields alongside her mother since she was 14. And has become increasingly worried about working conditions for seasonal workers who pick our food, especially after COVID hit. She talks about how being an indigenous, Mixteca fieldworker born in the U.S. illustrates the economic distance between the farm and our dining tables, and why she's so determined to become a doctor to help her people heal. Follow Gianna @giannanino on Twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to Living Icon Dolores Huerta Is Still Fighting the Good Fight and Why Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Leads From the Heart. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Bonus · Thu, September 03, 2020
TRAILER: Driving The Green Book!
We produced something beautiful for Macmillan Podcasts!! Introducing Driving the Green Book, a ten-part documentary series premiering September 15. Follow award-winning BBC broadcaster Alvin Hall as he retraces many of the locations featured in the historic travel guide. From Detroit to New Orleans, Hall takes us on an immersive audio journey, collecting powerful, personal testimony about how Black Americans used the Green Book to travel with dignity during the height of segregation. New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe today! + Subscribe to Driving the Green Book on Apple Podcasts. + Visit the the Driving the Green Book website to explore the Apple maps guides to the show, music playlists, transcripts and more.
Mon, August 31, 2020
How Philanthropic CEO Carmen Rojas Learned to Lead as Her Full Self
Raised by Nicaraguan and Venezuelan parents who immigrated to the U.S. in the middle of the Civil Rights and labor movements, she grew up determined to uphold the ideals of justice and equality. After being the first in her family to go to college, she set to work improving the lives of working people. In this expansive and intimate conversation with Alicia, Carmen, now the CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, opens up about her modest upbringing, how to strengthen philanthropy, and why she does not hide any part of herself in her new role. Follow Carmen @crojasphd on Twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to Pipeline Angels' Natalia Oberti Noguera Wants Investors to Show Us the Money and Investor Nathalie Molina Niño Boldly Speaks Truth to Powerful Men. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, August 24, 2020
How Therapist and Healer Christine Gutierrez Came Back Home to Herself, and Wrote I Am Diosa
After a difficult breakup, Christine sought out deep healing from childhood abuse wounds and toxic people. Then, she became a therapist, trained in spiritual and shamanic practices, and was initiated in the priestess path. In her new book, I Am Diosa, she draws on wisdom from her own experience to help other women heal and tap into their worth. Follow Christine @cosmicchristine on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to How HeyFranHey’s Francheska Medina Healed Herself and How Mend App Founder Elle Huerta Comforts Broken Hearts . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, August 17, 2020
Why The Tax Collector’s Cinthya Carmona Defied Religion to Pursue Acting and Find Herself
Her independent spirit, strong will, and artistic ambition made her a rebel in a deeply religious family. But a supportive madrina found ways for her to hone her craft early on. Big sacrifices would follow, including being kicked out of her home. Cinthya speaks candidly with Alicia about her new film, choosing characters that defy Latino stereotypes, and the need to feel legitimate in your profession. Follow Cinthya @cinthyacarmona on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Actress Lisa Vidal Believes “I’m here because this was supposed to happen” and Vida’s Melissa Barrera Embraces All Her Identities . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter !
Mon, August 10, 2020
Why Corporate America Couldn’t Change Carla Vernón at Her Core
Carla Vernón describes herself as “a very malleable piece of clay” with a sense of pride and self-awareness. She has used that singular strength to rise from associate to executive at General Mills. She reflects on her long tenure there, being among the first in her Afro-Panamanian family to venture into the business world, and setting and keeping her own standards as she gained success and status. Follow Carla @CarlaInspired on Twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to Elisa Villanueva Beard's Aha Moment As Teach For America's CEO, and How Ad Exec Nancy Reyes Became Undeniable . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 03, 2020
How Coco Illustrator Ana Ramírez González Extends Herself with Her Art
It’s hard to believe she didn’t begin drawing until she was 17. You’ve seen her work on Pixar’s Coco, her gorgeous Google Doodles, and her children’s book illustrations, most recently in Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea. Ana Ramírez González talks with Alicia about falling in love with her craft, moving from Mexico to the U.S. for art school, and forging an uncertain career path by following her heart, overcoming rejection, and drawing inspiration from Mexican culture.
Mon, July 27, 2020
How Buscabulla’s Raquel Berrios Wrote Her Way Back Home In Regresa
Raquel Berrios left Puerto Rico for New York City to find herself as an artist. There, she met her musical and life partner Luis Alfredo Del Valle, and they formed their experimental Latin pop duo. As their music careers grew, receiving attention from fans and record labels, they surprised friends and family by moving back to the island—to live and make music on their own terms.
Mon, July 20, 2020
How Sasha Merci and Dee Nasty Found Their Comedic Calling
They're funny and they know it. But they're also observant and really quick witted, which makes their brand of comedy a little bit underhanded and conspiratorial in a really appealing way. After honing their standup chops in live shows, and building faithful social media followings, they've launched a sketch show on Fuse TV, Share, Like, Dímelo—a natural next step in their ascension as Latina queens of comedy. But, as this shared interview reveals, it's not always smiles and laughs; they've seen each other through tragedies, dead-end jobs, and creative slumps. But they just keep laughing. Follow Sasha @sashamerci on Twitter and IG; and follow Dee @deesonasty on Twitter and @dee.nasty on IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Gina Brillón and Cristela Alonzo for more on comedy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 13, 2020
To Honor Vanessa Guillén, These Two Latina Veterans Are Telling Women Not To Enlist
Latina Veterans Lucy del Gaudio and Pam Campos-Palma are spearheading a campaign demanding justice after the disappearance and killing of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén. Their service experience includes misogyny, discrimination and sexual violence that many women, especially women of color, endure while serving. In this powerful conversation, they detail the repeated abuses and military sexual trauma that robbed them of the pride in serving their country, their sense of worth, and military careers they worked so hard to establish (This episode contains graphic language about sexual trauma.) Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 06, 2020
How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor
For years Cristina covered detention centers and drug cartels as an investigative journalist. Without any film school training, she decided to take on visual stories about small worlds that tell us so much about human nature. Her latest, "Mucho Mucho Amor," centers on the private life of renowned astrologer Walter Mercado—her childhood hero and a controversial iconoclast that changed television forever. Follow Cristina @xtinatini on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Suzy Exposito and iLe . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 29, 2020
Why Actress Selenis Leyva and Her Sister, Trans Activist Marizol Leyva, Are Closer Than Ever
Marizol's transition not only tested her determination to live life on her own terms, it also tested her lifelong bond to her sister Selenis. A failing marriage, an acting career on the rocks, and mental health woes did not allow Selenis to be there for her beloved sister as much as she would have liked. In their memoir, "My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both," they recount the difficult decisions they each had to make to be whole and to love each other through unimaginable hurt. Follow Marizol @iam_marizol on Twitter and IG; follow Selenis on Twitter @selenis_leyva and IG @selenisleyvaofficial. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 22, 2020
Happy 100th Episode Beloved Listeners!!
We did it!!!!! Together, dear listeners, you and our team reached 100 episodes today. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and love. Thank you for showing up every week, for sharing the show, and for letting us know how much celebrating inspiring Latinas means to you. In this special episode, Alicia and Juleyka reflect on what it's meant to them to make the show, their favorite interviews, and the new goal they've set: reaching 1 million listens by January 1, 2021!! We also hear from some of you, the best part of it all. Follow @latinatolatina on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to our Mother's Day episode and Juleyka Lantigua-Williams . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 15, 2020
Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters
Growing up, television writer Ilana Peña was a student of books, where, she says, "girls could be complicated." Now, as creator of Diary of a Future President on Disney+, Ilana brings that vision of girlhood to life. She tells Alicia about rising from assistant to writer’s assistant to writer to creator, how the early loss of her father taught her to use “grief as an engine,” and why being in charge forced her to stop saying “maybe.” Follow Ilana @lanstagram on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Yvette Chavez , Gloria Calderón Kellett and Cristela Alonzo for more on creating Latina shows in Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 08, 2020
Two Latina Activists on Latinos' Place in Anti-Blackness
This week we pause to reckon with the national call for justice that followed the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and countless Black Americans in what's become an epidemic of sanctioned violence. Alicia talks to veteran community organizer Rosa Clemente and Marisa Franco, co-founder of Mijente, an action hub for social justice, about anti-blackness in Latino cultures, the colonization of identity, and what we must each do right now to make lasting change possible. Follow Rosa @blackpuertoricanphd on Instagram and @rosaclemente on Twitter; and follow Marisa @marisa_franco on Twitter and @marisafranco on IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Karla Cornejo Villavicencio . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 01, 2020
Why Actress Lisa Vidal Believes "I'm here because this was supposed to happen."
We've all been there. "Oh my God, can I do this?" And in those moments of intense doubt and fear, Lisa Vidal, the star of ABC's The Baker and the Beauty, says "That's when you have to really embrace your talent, and recognize who you are and say, 'Yes, I can do this. Yes, this belongs to me.'" We believe her. She has a four-decade Hollywood career, survived breast cancer, supported her son through addiction and recovery, and came through it all with the grace to "live one day at a time in gratitude." Get ready to be inspired. Follow Lisa @thelisavidal on Twitter and @thereallisavidal on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Gina Torres and Aimee Carrero for more on acting. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 25, 2020
How Rolling Stone’s Suzy Exposito Made History with Her Bad Bunny Cover Story
First, she planted the seed of the idea in his publicist’s mind. Then she began a relentless insider campaign to convince magazine editors that the megastar was cover worthy. Then she and the art director recruited the singer’s talented artist girlfriend to shoot it in their pandemic hideaway. The details of it all had Alicia on the edge of her seat. Follow Suzy @hexpositive on Twitter and @brujacore on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristina Constantini and iLe . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 18, 2020
How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative
As if setting out to write a book about the undocumented immigrant experience across the country wasn’t hard enough, Karla Cornejo Villavivencio set a much higher bar for The Undocumented Americans. “I promised everyone in the book, all of my subjects, that I would get Americans to care. And that's a promise that I couldn't guarantee that I could keep,” she tells Alicia in this searing conversation about not wanting to be a political tool, being among the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard University, and not thinking too much about herself to avoid “going into dark places.” Follow Karla @kcornejov on Twitter and @kcornv on IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Carmen Maria Machado and Quiara Alegría Hudes . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, May 10, 2020
A Mother's Day Tribute to You, Your Mom, and All the Mamís
Alicia selects some of the beautiful moments when our brilliant guests recall a special moment with their moms, open up about the struggle to become a mother, and distill the wisdom and strength they learned from their mamás. Follow @latinatolatina on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to our Anniversary Special . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Thu, May 07, 2020
PROMO: Meet the Mask Makers
Why are so many people trying their hands at sewing homemade masks? Making a mask not only helps the wearers feel safe, it helps the maker feel useful and part of a movement. We speak with members of an Atlanta-based volunteer group that’s been able to deliver more than 13,000 masks to their local hospital system, hear why a long-time sewist only started making masks in the past week, and even make a couple masks ourselves. Visit vpm.org/helpers for more information. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.
Mon, May 04, 2020
How Joanna Vargas Built a Beauty Empire with Her Hands
Echoing a sentiment shared by many successful children of immigrants, Joanna Vargas tells Alicia, “My parents did not send me to school so that I would work with my hands.” That understanding kept her from telling them about becoming an aesthetician. The irony of it all is that working with her hands to help celebrities like Rachel Weizs, Mindy Kaling, and Tatum O'Neal look and feel beautiful is precisely how she made a name for herself in the beauty business. Joanna talks about it all in this episode and her new book, Glow From Within. Follow Joanna @JVSkinCare on Twitter and @joannavargasnyc on IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton and Katia Beauchamp for more on the business of beauty. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Wed, April 29, 2020
TRAILER: How to Talk to Mamí & Papí About Anything
From the executive producer of Latina to Latina, welcome to How to Talk to Mamí and Papí About Anything! Juleyka Lantigua-Williams made the show because she and many of her friends who were born or raised in the US could use some help in communicating with their immigrant parents. "We’re sometimes torn between the way we choose to live our Americanized lives and the loyalty we feel to our parents’ ways," she says. Every week, she'll talk to adult children of immigrant parents facing a heavy situation from which the rest of us might learn something. She'll also talk to an expert with relevant experience, who can help us understand and move through the situation.
Mon, April 27, 2020
Elisa Villanueva Beard’s Aha Moment as Teach for America's CEO
She started in a Teach for America classroom and today leads the organization as it sends a small army of new teachers into schools that need them most. Elisa opens up about her path to TFA: realizing how unprepared she was for college (but excelling anyway), recognizing the strength of her experiences as she tackled educational inequity, and stepping into the role of CEO. Follow Elisa @villanuevabeard on IG and Twitter. If you loved this episode, listen to Nina Vaca and Nancy Reyes for more on the power of education. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 20, 2020
How One Day at a Time's Isabella Gomez Found Her Strength
"And if I'm going to play a Latinx woman, she better be strong as hell," Isabella tells Alicia in this powerful conversation about being fully present and finding your power. "And she better have something to say. And she better be smart. And she better have all of these things that I know Latinx women to be." But even working on such a popular show is no guarantee. "I was no longer an actor, I was a Latinx actor," Isabella tells Alicia. "Because I got my part of my privilege taken away, I can see that shift clear as day." The conversation goes there and many other intimate places as she recounts her life from Colombia to Orlando to Los Angeles. Follow Isabella @Isabella_Gomez on Twitter and @isabella.gomez on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Aimee Carrero and Jackie Cruz for more on acting. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 13, 2020
When Gentefied Co-Creator Linda Yvette Chávez Realized She Couldn’t Quit
"If you find yourself in an industry doing all the jobs around the job you really want to do, check in on that," Linda tells Alicia. "There's some sort of fear around you not doing the thing you really want to do." She would know. After years of working in film and digital creative, Linda decided to follow her true passion: writing. Within two years of making that commitment, she was pitching and selling a television series. And there's so much more to Linda's story--breaking with tradition, sacrificing something of great value, and working harder than she thought she could. Follow Linda @lindayvette on Twitter and @lindayvettechavez on IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristela Alonzo , Ilana Peña , and Gloria Calderón Kellett for more on creating Latina narratives in Hollywood. Love the show? Show your love and become a Latina to Latina insider here !
Mon, April 06, 2020
Political Power Player Cecilia Muñoz Reminds Us That We Are ‘More Than Ready’
She jokingly calls herself “a professional Latina,” but the reality is that Cecilia Muñoz has spent decades advocating on our behalf—from providing immigration services in Chicago to leading the National Council of La Raza to advising President Obama at the White House. Along the way, she learned some hard lessons and gave herself permission to take risks, elbow her way in, and harness her own power. In her new memoir, More Than Ready, she shares the wisdom she has collected and encourages us to step up in big ways. Follow Cecilia on Twitter @cecemunoz @WeAreUnidosUS and @NewAmerica. If you loved this episode, listen to host Alicia Menendez and Daniela Pierre Bravo for more on workplace advice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 30, 2020
Why Author Valeria Luiselli’s Art Reflects Real Life
“I think it's really important to be transparent about the place from which you write and the way that place determines your relationship to that which you write about,” award-winning author of Lost Children Archive Valeria Luiselli tells Alicia in this provocative conversation about the meaning and limits of identity. Luiselli, a green card holder, fully recognizes she is “someone who has enormous privilege and therefore also enormous responsibility toward my community.” That sense of duty compelled her to volunteer as a court translator for Central American children who were being processed as asylum seekers during the Obama administration. And it continues to help her interrogate her place in the world as an artist. Follow Valeria on Twitter @ValeriaLuiselli and IG @valeria.luiselli. If you loved this episode, listen to Frances de Pontes Peebles and Carmen Maria Machado for more on summoning the muse. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 23, 2020
How Ad Exec Nancy Reyes Became Undeniable
After Alicia’s conversation with advertising superstar Nancy Reyes, she wanted to make t-shirts that read, "I am undeniable." That’s how inspiring this trailblazer’s story is. From learning that “everything feels better when you earn it” to “dealing with a massive career failure” and making the decision to go from “good to great,” Nancy’s success is a testament to what happens when grit and tenacity meet opportunity. Follow Nancy on Twitter @reyesjimbo. If you loved this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez and Carla Vernon for more on navigating corporate culture. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 16, 2020
REPLAY: Univision’s Ilia Calderón is Grounded by the People She Covers
Last night, the final two viable Democratic presidential hopefuls faced off in the eleventh primary debate, and faced questions from one of America's pre-eminent Latina journalists: Univision's Ilia Calderón. Alicia spoke with Ilia about the leap of faith she took to begin her career in the states, what she left behind, and what it means to make history. Follow Ilia @iliaCalderón on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to María Elena Salinas and Mariana Atencio for more on journalism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 09, 2020
How Artist Scherezade Garcia Came to Work and Exist on Her Own Terms
Listening to Scherezade Garcia talk about her art and her creative process is watching someone relive the many ways she has made herself free— from other’s scrutiny, from expectations, from the need to justify her very existence. Alicia visited Scherezade’s studio and spoke with her about the notion of selling the Caribbean as “paradise”, the business of being a working artist, and what it means to be home. Follow Scherezade on Twitter @scherezade_art and IG @scherezadegarcia. If you loved this episode, listen to Ramona Rosales and Susie Jaramillo for more on visual mediums. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 02, 2020
Why iLe’s New Album, Almadura, Is Both Departure and Evolution from Calle 13
iLe’s natural and inherited musical talents were nurtured between classic piano training and the hyper-political songs of Calle 13, Puerto Rico’s most influential group in the last few decades. Now the singer/songwriter takes center stage with her haunting and flaring album Almadura. She and Alicia revisit moments of inspiration and desperation—especially for her beloved PR’s political limbo—and pull threads from the vivid stories and powerful messages that elevate her music to anthem status. Follow iLe on Twitter @ilevitable and IG @cabralu. If you loved this episode, listen to Dessa for more on music. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 24, 2020
Why DACA Trailblazer Cristina Jiménez Is Stepping Away
Cristina Jiménez knows how to agitate for change. The co-founder and Executive Director of United We Dream convinced President Obama to act on DACA. Now, as she prepares to step away from an organization she helped build, Cristina’s sharing what she’s learned: everything from her work on "decolonizing my understanding of myself" to warning against the perils of putting your ego ahead of the cause. She tells Alicia about her private conversations with the president and about the criticism she and her fellow organizers faced as they rallied millions to their cause by “defying all conventional wisdom.” Follow Cristina on Twitter @CrisAlexJimenez and IG @crisalx. If you loved this episode, listen to Jess Morales-Rocketto and Paola Mendoza for more on advocacy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 17, 2020
Storyteller Extraordinaire Martina Castro Has Her Own Exceptional Story
Her professional journey would make an awesome movie. From humble beginnings as an NPR intern to co-founding and producing Radio Ambulante—a powerhouse narrative journalism podcast in Spanish—to launching an international production company, Adonde Media, Martina has never stopped innovating. Today she is at the forefront of digital audio and in demand. But along the way she’s faced some real doubts, like bilingual imposter syndrome and the nagging fears that come from being a CEO. Follow Martina on Twitter @martinacastro and IG @entredosmares. If you loved the episode, listen to Juleyka Lantigua-Williams and Susie Jaramillo for more on building a community and a media empire. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 10, 2020
How Canticos Creator Susie Jaramillo Built an Inclusive Kids' Brand
Susie Jaramillo created several lines of award-winning children’s books, animated series, and merchandise. And she made the first board book prototype by hand while easing her child into daycare. It’s no wonder when Alicia spoke to her, Susie was celebrating a $2-million seed round for her Encantos Media. She tells us what it takes to thrive as a creative in the corporate world, and build the confidence to grow from what you know. Follow Susie on @sujaramillo @canticosworld on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Martina Castro and Juleyka Lantigua-Williams . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 03, 2020
Julissa Prado, the Million-Dollar Curl Whisperer
She had us at hello. Then we got to know her and walked away inspired. Founder Julissa Prado mixed her grandma’s herbal medicine legacy, a lot of sweat from relatives, $50K in life savings, and her uncompromising drive to grow Rizos Curls, a hair care line that reached $1 million in sales before it debuted at Target. But wait for it: before all that she earned an MBA, managed major brands for Nestlé, and became a licensed commercial truck driver. Follow Julissa on Twitter @julissa__prado and IG @julissa_prado; and follow Rizos Curls on IG @RizosCurls. If you loved this episode, listen to Nina Vaca and Nathalie Molina-Niño for more on entrepreneurship. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 27, 2020
How Nelini Stamp Sets Injustice Aflame
She calls herself a “fire-starter,” and has a long list of rabble-rousing moments to prove it. Before turning 18, she registered people to vote by pleading “Please register and vote for me! I can’t vote.” Later, she marched in an anti stop-and-frisk protest to the home of NYC’s mayor. But walking into the Working Families Party to volunteer for Obama changed the course of her life. That path led to joining Occupy Wall Street and spending three weeks camped out in the streets. Along the way, she co-founded Dream Defenders. Honestly, Nelini embodies the phrase “Power to the people.” Follow Nelini on Twitter @NelStamp and IG @NelStamp @resistancerevivalchorus. If you loved this episode, listen to Alexandra Rojas and Jessica González-Rojas for more on progressive politics. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 20, 2020
How Ana Flores Is Helping Latinas Grow
One of the original innovators in the personal blogging space, Ana Flores is not only an early adaptor but also a born innovator. She saw an opportunity in connecting brands to popular online personalities—today’s influencers—and ran with it. Her company brought in millions one year and filed for bankruptcy the next. Like a phoenix, Ana rose from the ashes to build the super successful We All Grow Latina. Follow Ana @laflowers on Twitter and IG; and follow We All Grow Latina @weallgrowlatina on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Martina Castro and Juleyka Lantigua-Williams for more on building community and a media empire. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 13, 2020
Why Dessa Is So Much More Than an Indie Rapper
She says her music is driven by “connection, communion and lost.” But listening, really listening, to one of Dessa’s albums and then drilling down to a single song, leads you through a tunnel of convulsing rage, unanswered love, and philosophical rifts on your place in the world. She brings that intense presence of heart and mind to this revealing conversation. Follow Dessa on Twitter @dessadarling and IG @dessa. If you loved this episode, listen to Latashá and iLe for more on music. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 06, 2020
Our EP, Juleyka, Demystifies How to Start a Podcast
Listeners often ask us about starting a podcast. In this episode, executive producer Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, gives a masterclass in the art and science of podcasting. From refining a concept, identifying your target audience, and understanding the mechanics of producing an episode, Juleyka offers useful insights about entering and standing out in the industry. Follow Juleyka @JuleykaLantigua on Twitter and IG; and follow Latina to Latina @latinatolatina on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Martina Castro and Susie Jaramillo for more on building community and a media empire. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 30, 2019
REPLAY: Michelle Poler Inspires Fearlessly
We're replaying this one to help you rev up for the new year!! Michelle Poler says being raised in Venezuela during turbulent times made her afraid of everything. While in grad school in the US, she set out to conquer 100 fears and live a life free from worry. In the process, she has inspired scores of people around the world to face up to their greatest challenges. Follow Michelle @michellepoler and Hello Fears @hellofears on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Mariana Atencio and Nicole Mejia for more on taking big risks. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 23, 2019
REPLAY: Gina Torres Brings All Her Fierceness to Pearson, and We Are Here for It
Gina Torres is everything we’ve ever wanted to be: brilliant, strong, stylish, and funny. In this episode, she opens up about the real and very personal reason she left Suits, how she spearheaded the creation of Pearson, and why life at fifty is simply fabulous. Follow Gina on Twitter @ginatorres and IG @iamginatorres; and Pearson on Twitter @PearsonUSA. If you loved this episode, listen to María Elena Salinas and Linda Briceño for more on owning your worth and knowing when it is time to step away. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, December 15, 2019
What Singer Aymée Nuviola Left Behind for Her Art
She's a recording artist. She played Celia Cruz on television. She toured around the world. She has had a career many can only dream of. But Aymée also sacrificed so much along the way. She left behind her home and family in Cuba. Crossed into the U.S. as an asylum seeker. And endured years of uncertainly as she pursued her calling to sing. Her voice still breaks as she recounts her trials and triumphs to Alicia in this episode—our first bilingual one. Follow Aymée @aymeenuviolaofficial on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez from Tres Lindas Cubanas for more on Afro-Cuban culture. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 09, 2019
Author Carmen Maria Machado on the Myth of a Queer Love Utopia
Her genre-bending new memoir, "In the Dream House," recounts an abusive lesbian relationship and implodes safe notions of intimacy. Carmen talks with Alicia about revisiting trauma, mourning for her former self, and the risks of complicating queer narratives. Follow Carmen @carmenmachado on Twitter and IG. And buy her book, In the Dream House . If you loved this episode, listen to Valeria Luiselli and Quiara Alegría Hudes for more on summoning the muse. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 02, 2019
How Annie Elainey Is Making the Future Accessible
This popular YouTuber is a bit of a provocateur. “How To Spot a Fake Disability” is among her most viewed and most subversive videos. Annie Elainey, the queer, disabled, intersectional advocate who created #TheFutureIsAccessible, is constantly challenging assumptions about disability and chronic illness. Follow Annie @annieelainey on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her YouTube channel ! If you loved this episode, listen to Jillian Mercado and Natalia Oberti Noguera for more on the power of inclusivity and disruption. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 25, 2019
Living Icon Dolores Huerta Is Still Fighting the Good Fight
The founding mother of the farmers' rights movement, Dolores Huerta is still traversing the country protesting, marching, and sometimes getting arrested. And she loves every minute of it. In this live episode, she recounts funny and alarming stories from her decades of fighting for the rights of workers, from the farm to the ballot box. Follow Dolores @DoloresHuerta and @DoloresHuertaFD on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Lucy Del Gaudio and Pam Campos-Palma , Jess Morales-Rocketto and Cristina Jiménez for more on advocating for what you hold dear. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 18, 2019
REPLAY: Birchbox Co-Founder and CEO Katia Beauchamp
Knowing that “beauty is hard to sell on the internet,” this subscription box CEO still pursued a breakthrough company model that would eventually redefine beauty buying habits. But it was not a straight line from a business-school idea to a multi-million dollar annual revenue. Potential investors didn’t get it. Makeup purveyors didn’t see the vision. And customers had to be found. Katia tells Alicia the full riveting story. Follow Katia on Twitter @katiawwb and IG @katiawb; and Birchbox @birchbox. If you loved this episode, listen to Elle Huerta and Nathalie Molina-Niño for more on founding and funding a business. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 11, 2019
Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez Are Shaking Up the Cigar Industry
When a santera declared that it was time for Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez to work together, the twin sisters didn’t flinch. Today, they’re shaking up the cigar industry with their Miami-based brand, Tres Lindas Cubanas. With charisma and humor, the sisters tell Alicia about launching their business with only $500, harnessing the power of their Afro-Cuban roots in the cigar market, and why they're doing it all to honor their ancestors. Follow Yvonne and Yvette on Twitter @TresLindasCigar and IG @treslindascubanascigars, and check out Tres Lindas Cubanas ! If you loved this episode, listen to Aymée Nuviola for more on Afro-Cuban culture. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 04, 2019
Alicia Tells Us about Her Book, The Likeability Trap
At work, strong women are thought of as unlikeable. Warm women are rarely seen as leaders. Alicia takes a deep dive into these frustrating realities in her new book, “The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed As You Are.” Our executive producer, Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, joins her to look at the effects of internalizing these demands, the cultural challenges Latinas navigate, and how, together, we can battle these outdated expectations. Follow Alicia on Twitter @aliciamenendez and IG @aliciamenendezxo. And buy her book, T he Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed As You Are . If you loved this episode, listen to Cecilia Muñoz and Daniela Pierre-Bravo for more on workplace advice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 28, 2019
What Happened After Zulema Arroyo Farley Stopped Denying Her Own Truth
After decades of keeping her psychic abilities hidden from her family and friends, Zulema Arroyo Farley found herself unable to deny that she could communicate with the spirit world. The decision to be public about it came with much criticism and pushback, but she knew to be her complete self she needed to not just accept this part of her, but share it with others. In this fascinating episode, she also tells Alicia about the rare cancer diagnosis that changed her life, her chance encounter with Adele, and her fight against sarcoma. She writes about it all in her new memoir, So Much More: A Poignant Memoir about Finding Love, Fighting Adversity, and Defining Life on My Own Terms. Follow Zulema on Twitter @TheLatinaMedium and IG @zulemaarroyofarley. If you loved this episode, listen to Nicole Mejia and Angelique Cabral for more on trusting your intuition. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 21, 2019
How Jennifer Mercedes Made Herself an MVP in Sports Journalism
Fresh out of college, Jennifer Mercedes was offered the opportunity to produce and host her own baseball video series. She snatched it, and La Chica Deportes was born. Nine years in, she’s done it all: secured sponsorships, interviewed baseball greats, and brought fans closer to the athletes they love on and off the field. Here, she talks about what it’s like to be “the only woman on the field or the only girl in a clubhouse,” how she snags exclusive sideline interviews, and what her move to La Vida Baseball means for the type of sports stories she wants to tell. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @chica_deportes and IG @lachicadeportes. If you loved this episode, listen to Martina Castro and Suzy Exposito for more on journalism and storytelling. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Fri, October 18, 2019
Feeling My Flo Podcast S2 Trailer
On October 24, Feeling My Flo — the reported podcast where menstruation is an event that happens to all types of bodies — is back with a brand new season all about periods and the people who experience them.
Mon, October 14, 2019
Why Cristela Alonzo's Drive to Make It Is Deeply Personal, Part 2
Cristela Alonzo knows about starting at square one — and then doing it again and again. In the second part of our interview, she talks to Alicia about facing her make-or-break moment, how she “had to go live a life to have things to talk about,” and why she’s back with her new tour, "My Affordable Care Act.” She writes about it all in her new memoir, Music to My Years. Follow Cristela on Twitter and IG @Cristela9. And buy her book, Music to My Years: A Mixtape Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up. If you loved this episode, listen to Gina Brillón , and Sasha Merci and Dee Nasty for more on comedy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 07, 2019
Why Cristela Alonzo's Drive to Make It Is Deeply Personal, Part 1
As a latchkey kid growing up in San Juan, Texas, comedian Cristela Alonzo dreamed of leaving her border town and seeing the world. In this emotional two-part episode, she tells Alicia how her childhood aspirations made her the black sheep of her family, and how she needed to put those dreams on hold, first to care for her sister’s children, and then, her ailing mother. Through it all, music and television – from the Backstreet Boys to the Golden Girls – was her "connection to the outside world." She writes about it all in her funny and moving new book, Music to My Years: A Mixtape Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up. Follow Cristela on Twitter and IG @Cristela9. And buy her book, Music to My Years: A Mixtape Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up . If you loved this episode, listen to Gina Brillón , and Sasha Merci and Dee Nasty for more on comedy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, September 29, 2019
Why Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Leads from the Heart
Fresh off a major legislative win with the passing of California’s AB-5, forcing gig-economy giants like Uber and Lyft to classify drivers as employees, Gonzalez tells Alicia, “I was so blessed by not knowing my own limitations.” The product of humble beginnings, she credits her hardworking mother and local Latina leaders--”daughters of farmworkers”-- for teaching her that leadership means “providing the path by which other people can lead.” She says for all of her accomplishments, it’s the things that aren’t on her resume — an unplanned pregnancy, her experience as a single mom, and struggles to achieve perfection —- that shaped her most. Follow Lorena on Twitter @LorenaAD80 and IG @LorenaSGonzalez. If you loved this episode, listen to Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and Alexandra Rojas for more on progressive politics. Follow Lorena on Twitter @LorenaAD80 and IG @LorenaSGonzalez. If you loved this episode, listen to Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and Alexandra Rojas for more on progressive politics.
Mon, September 23, 2019
Nicole Mejia Wants You to Love Yourself—All of You
She launched herself as an Instagram model. And then Nicole Mejia built an entire fitness brand, Fit and Thick, to empower women to embrace their natural shape and work to enhance it. Now, the fitness entrepreneur is rebranding her empire as LULY, and encouraging a different type of well-being: one that begins on the inside. Alicia gets her to go deep on acceptance as the starting point of transformation, resisting the urge to constantly change and evolve, and why self-love often means “making difficult decisions to honor your needs.” Follow Nicole @nicole_mejia on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Fran Medina and Melissa Alcantara for more wellness and influencing. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 16, 2019
What Photographer Ramona Rosales Really Sees from Behind the Lens
She’s a go-to celebrity photographer, known for her innovative use of color and light. From Janelle Monáe to Cardi B, America Ferrera to Bad Bunny, Ramona Rosales has captured your faves in ways that even surprised them. In this episode, she shares her tips for putting a subject at ease, managing big egos, and the delicate art of self-promotion. Follow Ramona @ramonarosales on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristina Constantini , Susie Jaramillo , and Scherezade Garcia for more on the business of visual mediums. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 09, 2019
Why DaniLeigh is Destined to Be a Music Mogul
People may call her “the next Rihanna,” but she’s only interested in being the first DaniLeigh. After starting out as background dancer for the likes of Pitbull, directing a music video for Prince, finding viral fame with Drake’s “In My Feelings” challenge, and writing music for J. Lo and Cardi B, she’s established herself as a serial hit-maker. Here, DaniLeigh opens up about overcoming insecurity to find her sound, surrounding herself with fellow hustlers, and why she’s laser focused on securing the bag. Follow DaniLeigh on Twitter @DaniLeigh and IG @iamdanileigh. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Briceño , iLe and Dessa . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 02, 2019
REPLAY: Diane Guerrero on the Power of Owning Your Story
A rising star in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black as Maritza Ramos, Lina in Jane the Virgin, and Sofia in Superior Donuts, Diane Guerrero embodies quintessential Latina powers. She's grounded in her strong family roots but still shaped by the trauma that separated them apart when she was a teenager. She tells Alicia how she harnessed the loss and pain into unmatched self-determination and drive. Follow Diane on Twitter @dianeguerrero and IG @dianexguerrero. If you loved this episode, listen to Daniela Pierre-Bravo , Karla Cornejo Villavicencio and Cristina Jiménez on owning your own narrative. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 26, 2019
How Linda Briceño Won Her Artistic Freedom
Linda Briceño’s career as a trumpeter, vocalist, and producer has allowed her to rub shoulders with the likes of Wynton Marsalis and Arturo Sandoval. It also earned her a Latin Grammy. But all of that success took more practice and hard work; it demanded Linda break with people who’d been instrumental in her professional growth, and to stand firm in her vision for herself as an artist. Follow Linda on Twitter @ellabric and IG @ellabricmusc. If you loved this episode, listen to iLe , DaniLeigh and Dessa for more on making music. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 19, 2019
REPLAY: How Jess Morales Rocketto Became a Political Ninja
"What I'm trying to do is motivate people into their purpose." Easy, right? It is if you're Jess Morales Rocketto, a digital political organizer ninja who helped orchestrate historic runs by Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams. Now she's mobilizing millions in the fight against family separation and the movement to bring the masses to the ballot as the Chair of We Belong Together, National Domestic Workers Alliance's feminist campaign for immigration reform. Follow Jess on Twitter and IG @jesslivmo. If you loved this episode, listen to Paola Mendoza and Nelini Stamp for more on politics and activism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 12, 2019
How Gina Brillón Became a Comedy Junkie
“I was a comedy junkie at 14,” she admits. And now Gina Brillón is a rising comedy star, headlining tours with the likes of Gabriel Iglesias, premiering an HBO Latino special, “Easily Offended,” and hosting a comedy showcase. Gina tells us how comedy helped her process a toxic relationship, and how her #MeToo moments forced her to choose between her career and her dignity. Follow Gina on Twitter @ginaBrillón and IG @gBrillón. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristela Alonzo , and Sasha Merci and Dee Nasty for more on comedy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, August 05, 2019
San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Is Not Done Fighting
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz emerged as one of the most recognizable critics of the Trump administration’s response to the island’s recovery. She tells Alicia how the grit she demonstrated in those moments was a lifetime in the making, what it will take to fully rebuild the island, and why she is throwing her political weight behind Bernie Sanders’ presidential bid. Follow Carmen on Twitter and IG @carmenyulincruz. If you loved this episode, listen to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez for more on politics and leadership; and iLe for more on Puerto Rican topics. Follow Carmen on Twitter and IG @carmenyulincruz. If you loved this episode, listen to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez for more on politics and leadership; and iLe for more on Puerto Rican topics.
Mon, July 29, 2019
REPLAY: How Orange Is The New Black’s Jackie Cruz Gets it Done
Jackie Cruz, a star on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, is so much more than people sometimes expect. “Instead of me just being in a box, like ‘Oh. She’s Latina. That’s all she is.’ No, no, no.” For seven seasons, she’s brought Flaca Gonzales to life, but she’s also been fighting for causes like DACA and recording her first album. Follow Jackie on Twitter @MsJackieCruz and IG @JackieCruz. If you loved this episode, listen to iLe , Scherezade Garcia , and Latashá for more on finding your creative voice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 22, 2019
Why Jessica González-Rojas Champions Reproductive Justice
The executive director of the Latina Institute for Reproductive Health talks about how legislative restrictions on abortion impact our health and our communities. Jessica recalls how a trip to a clinic to get birth control became her first act of political activism, what it means to reframe the abortion debate as a matter of reproductive justice, and how Latinas, often perceived as either “virginal” or “hyper-sexualized,” actually view sexual health. Follow Jessica on Twitter @jgonzalez_rojas and IG @pararican and @votejgr. If you loved this episode, listen to Alexandra Rojas and Nelini Stamp . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Bonus · Thu, July 18, 2019
BONUS TRACK: New Show from LTL'S EP! "Feeling My Flo"
The executive producer of Latina to Latina just launched Feeling My Flo, a reported podcast where menstruation is an event that happens to all types of bodies across the gender spectrum. Aimed at the 12-16 years in your life, Feeling My Flo wants to be a tool to help important conversations get started among loved ones. Take a listen then subscribe wherever you listen to Latina to Latina.
Mon, July 15, 2019
REPLAY: Trust Us, Cristela Alonzo Gets the Last Laugh
Cristela was one of the very first guests on the show. And still one of our faves. With a new book, Music to My Years, due in October and already out for pre-order, we wanted you to hear about her rise to comedic stardom, including her trailblazing sitcom and a starring role in Disney’s Cars 2. Follow Cristela on Twitter and IG @Cristela9. If you loved this episode, listen to Elle Huerta and Fran Medina for more on processing grief. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 08, 2019
Gina Torres Brings All Her Fierceness to Pearson, and We Are Here for It
Gina Torres is everything we’ve ever wanted to be: brilliant, strong, stylish, and funny. And now, with Pearson, we get to watch her stride into her greatness. In this episode, she opens up about the real and very personal reason she left Suits, how she spearheaded the creation of Pearson, and why life at fifty is simply fabulous. (This is also our 50th episode!! See what we did there?) Follow Gina on Twitter @ginatorres and IG @iamginatorres; and Pearson on Twitter @PearsonUSA. If you loved this episode, listen to Gloria Calderón Kellett and Christy Haubegger for more on creating space for Latinas in Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, July 01, 2019
REPLAY: Why ODAAT's Gloria Calderón Kellett Deserves the Spotlight
After weeks in television limbo, One Day at a Time has been picked up by Pop, a CBS-owned cable network. And millions of us breathed a little easier. Gloria Calderón Kellett, the co-showrunner and executive producer, very publicly declared the vital role ODAAT plays in today’s television landscape. She talks with Alicia about her rise through Hollywood’s writers’ rooms, and reveals her plans to take her storytelling to the next level. Follow Gloria on Twitter @everythingloria and IG @gloriakellett. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Yvette Chavez and Ilana Peña for more on creating Latina shows in Hollywood. Follow Gloria on Twitter @everythingloria and IG @gloriakellett. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Yvette Chavez and Ilana Peña for more on creating Latina shows in Hollywood.
Mon, June 24, 2019
Daniela Pierre Bravo Teaches Us How to 'Earn It'
Daniela Pierre Bravo has never met an obstacle more formidable than her will. Disqualified from college scholarships due to her legal status, she built a thriving local Mary Kay business to pay for it. Invited to an interview for an unpaid internship in NYC, she took an 18-hour overnight bus from Ohio and showed up the next morning. And nailed it. Now And now she's the coauthor of the new book, Earn It: A Career Guide for Women in Their Twenties and Beyond with MSNBC Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski. Follow Daniela on Twitter and IG @dpierrebravo. And buy her book, Earn It: A Career Guide for Women in Their Twenties and Beyond . If you loved this episode, listen to host Alicia's episode on her book The Likeability Trap and Cecilia Muñoz for more on workplace advice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 17, 2019
REPLAY: Gina Rodriguez Is Making Boss Moves
Gina Rodriguez will always be associated with her star-making and award-winning portrayal of the titular character on Jane the Virgin. And she's so grateful. But she's also ready to move from in front of the camera to behind it as a producer and director of shows and films that reflect the many ways of being Latina today. On this episode, she talks about the setbacks, the family support, and the toll of being an outspoken public figure. Follow Gina on Twitter and IG @HereisGina. If you loved this episode, listen to Christy Haubegger and Gina Torres for more on finding your place in Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 10, 2019
MSNBC’s Mariana Atencio Reveals How to Be ‘Perfectly You’
After experiencing violence and media censorship in her native Venezuela, Mariana Atencio embarked on her journalist career in the United States. An early opportunity at Univision gave her the chance to hone her skills before making the leap to English-language television. But soon a personal tragedy tested ethics, faith, and her place in the world. She put it all in her new book, Perfectly You. Follow Mariana on Twitter and IG @marianaatencio. And buy her book, Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real . If you loved this epsiode, listen to Ilia Calderón and María Elena Salinas for more on journalism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, June 03, 2019
What Vida’s Mishel Prada Has Learned about Identity
On Starz’s megahit Vida she plays a determined, smart and sensual woman. And Mishel Prada readily admits her character reflects part of who she is. She talks to Alicia about making it in showbiz as a Latina, growing up in a religious home, and refusing labels that limit with whom she can fall in love. Follow Mishel on Twitter and Instagram @MishelPrada; and follow Starz on Twitter and IG @VIDA_STARZ @Starz. If you loved this episode, listen to Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Barrera for more on acting. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 27, 2019
UN General Assembly President María Espinosa Garcés Is Making Room for Women
Fun fact: This was the first time we had to check protocol before interviewing someone. And Alicia had to call the current head of the United Nations’ General Assembly Madame President. It was amazing! And María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés deserves that accolade and so much more for her decades-long career in international affairs and diplomacy. Only the fourth woman to preside over the assembly, she is steadfast in her belief that women should lead at every level--and she’s working from within to make it so at the UN. Follow María on Twitter @mfespinosaEC; and follow the UN on IG @UN and @UNWomen. If you loved this episode, listen to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz for more on politics and leadership. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 20, 2019
How Pinnacle Founder & CEO Nina Vaca Became a Corporate Titan
This captain of industry comes from a family of self-starters that has always banded together--from her father’s travel agency to her billion-dollar company. Did we mention she owns 100% of it? But her story is also one of unthinkable tragedy and immeasurable sacrifice—from her and her family. Today, Nina is among the most respected CEOs in the country, an advisor to presidents, and a tireless champion of Latinos and immigrants everywhere. Follow Nina @ninavaca on Twitter and IG; and follow Pinnacle on Twitter @pinnaclehq and IG @ninavaca. If you loved this episode, listen to Katia Beauchamp and Nathalie Molina Niño . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 13, 2019
Gia Morón Wants More of Us in the Weed Business
Legal weed is among the fastest growing industries right now. And thanks to women like Gia Morón, from Women Grow, more people will have a chance to enter the business. For her, opening doors to legal weed is about inclusion and the potential for some redemption in an industry whose legal ramifications have long maligned black and brown people in the country. Follow Gia @gia_vm on Twitter and IG; and Women Grow @womengrow on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Julissa Prado and Nathalie Molina-Niño for more on entrepreneurship and disrupting industries. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, May 06, 2019
For Chillhouse’s Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton Putting Yourself First Is Essential
By the time she was 26, Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton had worked her way from cocktail waitress to being a partner in a bar. She’s now applying her experience in hospitality and natural flare for branding and marketing to grow her new venture, Chillhouse, a day spa that serves signature cocktails and fashionable coffee in spaces designed to help us slow down and relax. And Cyndi has an even bigger ambition: to turn Chillhouse into a global brand for modern self-care. Follow Cyndi and Chillhouse on Twitter @cyndiramirez @chillhousenyc and Instagram @cyndiramirez @chillhouse. If you loved this episode, listen to Nicole Mejia and Joanna Vargas for more on the business of wellness. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 29, 2019
How Alexandra Rojas Wants to Rewrite Politics
There’s no denying Latinas are making serious moves across the political map. But the real power players are not always in the spotlight. Alexandra Rojas is one Latina working to change the face of politics thanks to her role as executive director of Justice Democrats, which helped elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other history-making women to Congress. Rojas talks about her political awakening, how she stays centered amid the chaos, and why she believes the future of the country depends on electing a new wave of leaders. Follow Alex on Twitter @alexandrasiera and IG @rojasalexandra. If you loved this episode, listen to Jess Morales Rocketto and Nelini Stamp for more on politics and advocacy. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 22, 2019
Univision’s Ilia Calderón Is Grounded by the People She Covers
She came to Miami on vacation from her television job in Colombia and, while visiting Telemundo with a friend, walked herself into an opportunity of a lifetime. Then Ilia Calderon really went to work, leading the country’s premier Spanish-language news program on Univision and making headlines for her intrepid reporting and intelligent disaster coverage. She talks with Alicia about confronting a KKK leader, reporting on the family separation crisis as a mother, and navigating life as a hyphenated Latina. Follow Ilia on Twitter and IG @IliaCalderón. If you loved this episode, listen to María Elena Salinas and Mariana Atencio for more on journalism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 15, 2019
Life in Pieces’ Angelique Cabral First Sees It, Then Goes After It
Some of us daydream about what we want in our lives. Some of us pray about it. Actress Angelique Cabral writes it down as literally as she can and puts it where she can see it every day. Then she goes to work making it happen. Her beautiful home, her artistic development, and her hit CBS show all resulted from laser-focused manifestations. She breaks down how this practice has made her life fuller and her work more rewarding. Follow Angelique on Twitter and IG @angeliquecabral. If you loved this episode, listen to Melissa Barrera and Aimee Carrero for more on acting. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 08, 2019
Dr. Laura Scott Is Building a Self-Care Brand One Post at a Time
Becoming a doctor is a huge accomplishment unto itself, requiring years of study, sacrifice and discipline. But if you’re a smart, driven, black Latina it can often feel like a Herculean feat. Dermatologist Dr. Laura Scott and her close cohort of friends created a bond that strengthened and protected them as they navigated and excelled at Harvard University and beyond. Today, under her Instagram handle LauraLacquer, she has a large and growing audience that look to her for inspiration and a little bit of lacquer. Follow Laura on Twitter and IG @laurascottandco. If you loved this episode, listen to Fran Medina and Melissa Alcantara for more on health and influencing. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, April 01, 2019
How Birchbox CEO Katia Beauchamp Upended the Beauty Industry for Good
Knowing that “beauty is hard to sell on the internet,” this subscription box CEO still pursued a breakthrough company model that would eventually redefine beauty buying habits. But it was not a straight line from a business-school idea to a multi-million dollar annual revenue. Potential investors didn’t get it. Makeup purveyors didn’t see the vision. And customers had to be found. Katia tells Alicia the full riveting story. Follow Katia on Twitter @katiawwb and IG @katiawb; and Birchbox @birchbox. If you loved this episode, listen to Elle Huerta and Nina Vaca for more on entrepreneurship and tech. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 25, 2019
Fitness Entrepreneur Melissa Alcantara is Always in Beast Mode
Before you follow her on social media or try out her tailored fitness routine, there’s one thing you need to know about fitness coach and entrepreneur Melissa Alcantara: “I approach everything in beast mode.” And why shouldn’t she? She went from being in the worst shape of her life and feeling hopeless after years of yo-yo dieting to training her body and mind to achieve olympian fitness levels. And did we mention Kim Kardashian asked her to be her personal trainer. Melissa tells Alicia how she made it all happen by sheer will and determination. Follow Melissa on Twitter and IG @fitgurlmel. If you loved this episode, listen to Fran Medina and Laura Scott for more on health and influencing. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 18, 2019
Novelist Lilliam Rivera Builds Worlds for All of Us
As a young reader, she didn’t realize people who looked and lived like her were missing from some of her favorite books. “It felt to me like I was reading science fiction in a lot of ways because it was so outside of my own childhood….And I was accepting of it like, okay, cool this is a different life,” award winning young adult author Lilliam Rivera tells Alicia in this emotive episode. But her perspective quickly changed after reading award-winning Latino writers in college. She soon became so empowered she came to see herself as an author of books for young adult readers. She is the author of the newly released book, Dealing with Dreams. Follow Lilliam on Twitter and IG @lilliamr. And buy her book, Dealing in Dreams . If you loved this episode, listen to Frances de Pontes Peebles , Quiara Alegría Hude s and Carmen Maria Machado for more on writing and summoning the muse. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 11, 2019
How HeyFranHey’s Francheska Medina Healed Herself
Her body was really sick and giving up on her--fast. Indifferent doctors recommended unthinkable treatments. But her natural instincts were pushing her in a different direction. In a way, by taking charge of her health, lifestyle guru Fran Medina took her life into her own hands. She studied, she learned, she listened to people who knew more, and to her own body. Some years later, she’s crafted a lifestyle model that emphasizes physical, mental, and spiritual health. Follow Fran on Twitter and IG @heyfranhey. If you loved this episode, listen to Melissa Alcantara and Nicole Mejia for more on wellness. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, March 04, 2019
How Jess Morales Rocketto Became a Political Ninja
"What I'm trying to do is motivate people into their purpose." Easy, right? It is if you're Jess Morales Rocketto, a digital political organizer ninja who helped orchestrate historic runs by Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams. Now she's mobilizing millions in the fight against family separation and the movement to bring the masses to the ballot as the Chair of We Belong Together, National Domestic Workers Alliance's feminist campaign for immigration reform. Follow Jess on Twitter and IG @jesslivmo. If you loved this episode, listen to Nelini Stamp and Paola Mendoza . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 25, 2019
Why Climate Scientist Nicole Hernández Hammer Takes the Fight to the Streets
There's a direct connection between climate scientist Nicole Hernandez Hammer's childhood in rural Guatemala and her tireless work to teach the rest of us how to adjust our lives so we can preserve our planet for the grandchildren. And the life that unfolded between those two points is remarkable, including that time she stepped on Michelle Obama's foot. Follow Nicole on Twitter @NHH_Climate and IG @NicoleHernandezHammer. If you loved this episode, listen to Cecilia Muñoz and María Cristina González . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 18, 2019
Master Chef Lorena Garcia Says It Takes More Than Sharp Knives
She handed her law degree to her mother to thank her, and quit an elite Miami law firm on her first day. Then she headed to culinary school—in France. Might be easy to say the rest is history, but that’s not the case with this Venezuelan powerhouse and former Top Chef Masters star. From being told her accent would hold her back, to being discouraged from having her own television show, Lorena has never allowed other people’s limitations to hold her back. Now, as the head of a growing culinary empire, she looks back at the unconventional way she made it to the top. Follow Lorena on Twitter @lorenagarcia and on Instagram @cheflorena, @lorenagarciaculinaryloft and @chicarestaurants. If you loved this episode, listen to Fran Medina and Nicole Mejia . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 11, 2019
How Mend App Founder Elle Huerta Comforts Broken Hearts
After getting her heart broken, and finding zero advice that was actually useful, Elle Huerta decided to build her own “personal trainer for heartbreak.” Her self care app, Mend, guides users on how to handle and move on from a breakup, a divorce, the loss of a loved one, even being fired. She’s grown the company from a website she built after teaching herself to code to a category-defying digital platform on the leading edge of hand-held emotional assistance. Follow Elle @ellehuerta and Mend @letsmend on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Nathalie Molina-Niño and Nicole Mejia . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, February 04, 2019
"In the Heights" Playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes Writes So People Remember Us
She has written about Latinos in Washington Heights, about her close cousins and extended family, about what it means to be Latina. And now she’s writing about herself in her first memoir. Quiara is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Water by the Spoonful, the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, she's also mastered the art of reflection. She talks about the intersections in her life that led her down this path: her santera mother, Jewish paternal family, love of music, and a deep love of writing. Follow Quiara on Twitter @quiarahudes and IG @quiaraalegria. If you loved this episode, listen to Frances de Pontes Peebles , Lilliam Rivera , and Valeria Luiselli . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 28, 2019
Gina Rodriguez Is Making Boss Moves
Gina Rodriguez will always be associated with her star-making and award-winning portrayal of the titular character on The CW’s Jane the Virgin. And she's so grateful. But she's also ready to move from in front of the camera to behind it as a producer and director of shows and films that reflect the many ways of being Latina today. On this episode, she talks about the setbacks, the family support, and the toll of being an outspoken public figure. Follow Gina on Twitter and IG @HereIsGina. If you loved this episode, listen to Ilia Calderón and Christy Haubegger . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 21, 2019
Michelle Poler Inspires Fearlessly
Growing up the descendant of Holocaust survivors, keynote speaker and influencer Michelle Poler says fear is practically in her DNA. And that being raised in Venezuela during turbulent times only made things worse. While in grad school in the US, she set out to conquer 100 fears and live a life free from worry. In the process, she has inspired thousands to face up to their greatest challenges. Follow Michelle @michellepoler and Hello Fears @hellofears on Twitter and Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Jillian Mercado and Mariana Atencio . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, January 13, 2019
Cover Girl and Disability Activist Jillian Mercado Takes on Her Dreams
As a teen, Jillian Mercado hoarded fashion magazines. She idolized designers and always looked stylish at school. Never did she imagine she’d one day grace magazine covers, tower over New York fashion central as a billboard in Times Square, or sit among VIPs at Fashion Week. Now she’s a barrier-breaking model for IMG and disability activist, showing the rest of us just what is possible when you stay true to your calling, no matter what others think or say. Follow Jillian on IG @jillianmercado. If you loved this episode, listen to Michelle Poler , Annie Elainey and Lilliana Vazquez. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, January 07, 2019
Why Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz Bends the Rules
Here’s the thing about Stephanie Beatriz: she doesn’t fall for traditional messages. Growing up in Texas, blond contest queens reigned, but she understood there was more to beauty. Catholic church told her being bisexual was a sin, but she knew there was nothing wrong with her. Hollywood tried to convince her there’s only ever room for one Latina, but she flatly ignored them. And now she’s living her dreams as a television star, newlywed, and outspoken LGBTQ advocate. Follow Stephanie on Twitter @iamstephbeatz and IG @stephaniebeatriz. If you loved this episode, listen to Mishel Prada , Gina Torres and Aimee Carrero . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 31, 2018
That Time Superstar Beauty Vlogger Iris Beilin Saved Her Own Life
With faith and hard work, Iris Beilin has gone from the MAC counter at the mall to makeup maven with a million YouTube subscribers. But her life hasn’t always been glamorous. Iris opens up about immigrating from Panama to the US, an eating disorder and addiction to diet pills that almost killed her, and what social media stardom really means when you “come from the struggle.” Follow Iris on IG @irisbeilin. If you loved this episode, listen to Melissa Alcantara and Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 24, 2018
How Artist Latashá Is Mindshifting Music
Latasha tells Alicia, “I’m in the most found place I’ve ever been.” And her sense of self, her deep connection to her work, and her artistic genius seem to radiate in waves around her. “I’m practical magic,” she says at one point. And it’s easy to believe it. But the lyricist, singer and self-described “energy worker” also knows the music game so she calls it like she sees it: she’s clear that Cardi B’s realness beat out Nicki Minaj’s invented self, that women rappers are still held back by the industry, and that she won’t change who she is to be famous. Follow Latashá on Twitter and IG at @callmeLatashá. If you loved this episode, listen to Amara La Negra , iLe , and DaniLeigh for more on finding your creative voice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 17, 2018
Actress Aimee Carrero Embraces Her Weird, and We Love Her for It
She says growing up Latina in Miami gave her the cojones to face life in Hollywood. Her career so far, including roles in Disney Channel’s Elena of Avalor, FX’s The Americans and Freeform’s Young & Hungry is ample proof of that. Aimee tells Alicia that being Latina also gave her the confidence to know that she deserves to be in the room. She opens up about wrestling with imposter syndrome, learning to say no, and the “big trap” of feeling like you’ve made it. Follow Aimee on Twitter and IG @aimeecarrero. If you loved this episode, listen to Angelique Cabral , Mishel Prada and Gina Torres for more on the art of acting and navigating Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 10, 2018
Vida’s Melissa Barrera Embraces All Her Identities
The Mexican actress’ crossover has been years in the making. Raised in Monterrey, Melissa attended NYU, then found fame back home as a telenovela star. But even as she built a career in Mexico, Melissa knew that her future was in the States. She reveals why she almost passed on auditioning for the Starz show Vida, shares how her immigration status nearly cost her the role, and explores the tension between being a “good Mexican” and the demands of playing a self-assured, sexually-liberated Latina. Follow Melissa on Twitter and IG: @MelissaBarreraM, @Vida_Starz and @Starz. If you loved this episode, listen to Aimee Carrero , Gina Torres and Mishel Prada for more on the art of acting and navigating Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, December 03, 2018
Investor Nathalie Molina Niño Boldly Speaks Truth to Powerful Men
She launched her first startup at 20, and made lots of mistakes. Today, she runs Brava Investments, which only funds companies that have the potential to put money in the pockets of millions of women. Raised by an immigrant family with deep entrepreneurial roots, where money was always dinner conversation, Nathalie satisfied her “need for freedom” by launching companies that took on the abysmal state of venture capital investments in women of color, whom she calls “the single most entrepreneurial community in this country.” Oh, and she wrote a book about all of it: Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs. Her motto: “We cannot wait for people to give us what we’re entitled to. We have to build it ourselves.” Follow Nathalia on Twitter @NathalieMolina and IG @nathaliemolinanino. And buy her book, Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Entrepreneurs . If you loved this episode, listen to Nina Vaca , Elle Huerta , and Katia Beauchamp for more on entrepreneurship and funding your business. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 26, 2018
Fashion Entrepreneur Lilliana Vazquez: “Build Something for Yourself”
On The Today Show and while covering red carpet fashion for Access Hollywood, Lilliana Vazquez has become one of the most sought-after style experts. As a first-generation Latina growing up in Texas, she assumed she’d become “an accountant, a lawyer or a doctor.” Instead, with her blog, The Cheap Chica’s Guide to Style, as a foundation, she built a fashion brand at “the intersection of aspiration and accessibility.” With the recent launch of her online boutique, Tesoro Collective, Lilliana is parlaying her love of fashion, her knowledge of e-commerce and her media training into much more: a sense of security and independence she’s never had before. Tips for editing your closet and secrets to the perfect influencer photo paved the way for her blueprint to “build something that belongs to you.” Follow Liliana on IG @lilianavazquez and on Twitter @LillianaVazquez and @theLVguide. If you loved this episode, listen to Jillian Mercado and Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton for more on the world of style and fashion. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 19, 2018
Ain’t I Latina Founder Janel Martinez on Creating Space as a Black Latinx
This episode gets real quickly. Alicia talks to journalist Janel Martinez, founder of Ain’t I Latina, about how forming her Afro-Latinx identity was an intentional act—often in defiance of the “resistance to black identity within the landscape of Latinidad.” From how blackness is erased from the foundations of our cultures, to “diaspora wars” that include “fighting over the colonizer’s language,” Janel does not hold back in her dismantling of myths and falsehoods Latinos tell ourselves about who we are. And she’s quick to tell white Latinos to check their privilege while being the top consumers of black Latinx culture. Follow Janel on Twitter @janelmwrites and IG @janelm; and follow Ain't I Latina @aintilatina on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Amara La Negra , Sunny Hostin and Iris Beilin for more on representation and inclusion within Latino communities. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 12, 2018
How Author Frances de Pontes Peebles Finds Power in Writing
The Brazilian-American novelist says she never had to claim her Latina identity because “it embraced me” as she grew up bilingual, bicultural, and multinational. On tour for her latest novel, The Air You Breathe, de Pontes Peebles tells Alicia about wrestling with the tension between needing time and space to create while meeting the demands of being a dedicated mother. She also recounts difficult scenes from her postpartum depression and how the act of telling someone saved her. Writing continues to save her, and she guards her gift ritualistically, including her tradition to “let the wall be empty for a while.” Follow Frances on Twitter @chiquinhapeebles. And buy her book, The Air You Breathe . If you loved this episode, listen to Lilliam Rivera , Carmen Maria Machado , Valeria Luiselli and Quiara Alegría Hudes for more on summoning the writing muse. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, November 05, 2018
Why Estée Lauder’s María Cristina González Noguera Isn’t Afraid to Leap
Maria Cristina Gonzalez Noguera was an executive at Estée Lauder when she became First Lady Michelle Obama’s communications director. The devoted mother of a one-year-old, her mother, and her husband, headed to DC where Maria Cristina committed herself to a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” She talks with Alicia about the people who inspire her, turning down a future in finance, and juggling life in the East Wing during one of the most popular presidencies in recent history. If you loved this episode, listen to Christy Haubegger and Lorena Garcia for more on changing career paths. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 29, 2018
Financial Expert Carmen Rita Wong: “Be Preoccupied about Our Money”
Let’s talk about money. The average Latina earns 54 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. To earn what he earned one year, we have to work an extra 10 months into the next year—until November 1st. That’s recognized nationally as Latina Equal Pay Day. To mark this important date, Alicia wanted to have a bigger conversation with personal finance expert, author and podcast host Carmen Rita Wong about what drives the wage gap, the attitudes about money and self-worth that hold Latinas back, and what it takes to make real money moves. We’re proud to bring you this episode as a special collaboration with our friends at Phenomenal Woman. Follow Carmen on Twitter @CarmenSense and IG @its_the_caren_show. If you loved this episode, listen to Gia Morón , Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton and Julissa Prado on the power of money and the politics of consumption. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 22, 2018
ODAAT’s Gloria Calderón Kellett Is a Boss in Any Room
Gloria Calderón Kellett runs the show. Literally. She’s the co-showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s One Day at a Time, and with each season, she’s adding more credits to that list: writer, director and actor. She talks with Alicia about her rise through Hollywood’s writers’ rooms (How I Met Your Mother, Devious Maids, and Drunk History), and argues for letting good things be good. And reveals her plans to take her storytelling to the next level. Follow Gloria on Twitter @everythingloria and IG @gloriakellett. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristela Alonzo , Linda Yvette Chavez , and Ilana Peña on what takes to write and run a television show. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, October 14, 2018
Amara La Negra Outshines Any Spotlight
Amara La Negra knew she was destined to be a star at five years old. And she started putting in the work then. From her first big break on Univision’s Sabado Gigante, to her scene-stealing role on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Miami, Amara’s larger-than-life personality catapulted her into the spotlight. She tells Alicia about how racism and colorism sometimes limit her career, why she can’t shake her “poor girl mentality” and reveals the real price of pursuing her dreams. Follow Amara @AmaraLaNegraALN on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Latashá , DaniLeigh , and Dessa on finding your voice through music. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, October 08, 2018
This Is Why María Elena Salinas Is a Legend
After decades of beaming into our homes from her perch on the Univision anchor desk, Maria Elena Salinas is enjoying finally speaking for herself and pursuing her own ideas and work. She jokes that she didn’t want her legacy to be that “I worked at Univision and then I died,” but Alicia also gets her to open up about that lingering doubt we all feel, the hard choices of being a working mom, and the freedom that comes with stepping boldly into your destiny. Follow Maria @MariaESalinas on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Ilia Calderón , Mariana Atencio and Cristina Costantini on paths into journalism. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Sun, September 30, 2018
How Christy Haubegger Became a Media Mastermind
As a child, Christy Haubegger knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: a boss. As the founder of the iconic Latina magazine, a film producer, and now an agent at one of the most powerful talent agencies in Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, Christy is more than a boss; she's a force to be reckoned with. Born to a Mexican-American mother, and then adopted and raised by non-Latino parents, Christy talks about her unique take on the shared struggle of existing between cultures, the merits of a white sense of entitlement, and why impact is more important than money or titles. Follow Christy @_christyhaubegger on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Gloria Calderón-Kellett , Linda Yvette Chavez and Gina Torres on the power and importance of inclusion in Hollywood. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 24, 2018
Paola Mendoza Teaches Us That Joy Is an Act of Resistance
Film director and activist Paola Mendoza embodies today's political resistance. As Creative Director of the Women's March, her visionary work helped galvanize millions around the world, and continues with the "I Am a Child" campaign and efforts to stop the latest Supreme Court nominee. Paola was raised by a single mother, and, as a rebellious teen, found salvation in the arts. She talks with Alicia about gaining strength from her mother's difficult choices and why for her joy is an act of resistance. Follow Paola @paolamendoza on Twitter and IG. If you loved this episode, listen to Nelini Stamp , Jess Morales Rocketto and Cristina Jiménez on advocacy and organizing. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Mon, September 17, 2018
Orange is the New Black's Diane Guerrero Is Fearless and She Knows It
A rising star in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black as Maritza Ramos, Lina in Jane the Virgin, and Sofia in Superior Donuts, Diane Guerrero embodies quintessential Latina powers. She's grounded in her strong family roots but still shaped by the trauma that separated them apart when she was a teenager. Somehow she harnessed the loss and pain into unmatched self-determination and drive. She opens up in this intimate convo with Alicia. Follow Diane on Twitter @dianguerrero__ and IG @dianexguerrero. And buy her book, In the Country We Love . If you loved this episode, listen to Daniela Pierre-Bravo , Karla Cornejo Villavicencio and Cristina Jiménez on owning your own narrative. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Trailer · Thu, September 13, 2018
Latina to Latina Season 2 Trailer
We're baaaack!!! And we're now a Latina-owned podcast. For months, we've been talking to incredible women who inspire us, and have been itching to get these fresh episodes to you. So, settle in for your weekly dose of Latina realness.
Tue, May 22, 2018
How Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto Made Room for Herself in Politics
US Senator. Mentor. Deal-maker. How Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto drives Washington D.C. into the next era of politics. Follow Catherine on Twitter @CatherineForNV and Instagram @catherinecortezmastoforny. If you loved this episode, listen to UN President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés , Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez for more on paths into service. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, May 15, 2018
Daisy Auger-Dominguez on Making It in Corporate America
Strategist. Connector. Talent magnet. How Daisy Auger-Dominguez creates a space in corporate America for the rest of us. Follow Daisy on Twitter @DaisyAD and Instagram @daisyaugerdominguez. If you loved this episode, listen to Christy Haubbeger . Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, May 08, 2018
Hamilton’s Mandy Gonzalez Is Intentional about Personal Growth
Singer. Broadway star. Revolutionary. How Mandy Gonzalez commands — and captivates — on stage and in person. Follow Mandy on Twitter @_mandygonzalez and Instagram @mandy.gonzalez. If you loved this episode, listen to Quiara Hudes , Dessa and Stephanie Beatriz for more on finding a place for yourself in the performing arts. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, May 01, 2018
Pipeline Angels’ Natalia Oberti Noguera Wants Investors to Show Us the Money
CEO. Coach. Boundary breaker. How Natalia Oberti Noguera disrupts the world of angel investing. Follow Natalia on Twitter @nakisnakis and Instagram @nataliaobertinoguera. If you loved this episode, listen to Gia Morón , Annie Elainey , Nathalie Molina-Niño for more on disrupting industries. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, April 24, 2018
Why Comedian Cristela Alonzo Sometimes Laughs at Herself
Writer. Actor. Trailblazer. How Cristela Alonzo makes room for stories like hers in every medium. Follow Cristela on Twitter @cristela9 and Instagram @cristela9. If you loved this episode, listen to Gina Brillón , Ilana Peña and Linda Yvette Chavez for more on comedy and story telling for television. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, April 17, 2018
The View’s Sunny Hostin Likes Taking a Stand
The View host. Former federal prosecutor. Future politician. How Sunny Hostin takes on today’s most controversial topics — on live TV. Follow Sunny on Twitter @Sunny and IG @Sunny. If you loved this episode, listen to Ilia Calderón , María Elena Salinas , and Gina Torres for more on stepping into your moment. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Tue, April 10, 2018
How Orange is the New Black’s Jackie Cruz Gets It Done
Actor. Musician. Activist. How Jackie Cruz creates her own path (in and out of the spotlight). Follow Jackie on Twitter @MsJackieCruz and IG @JackieCruz. If you loved this episode, listen to iLe , Scherezade Garcia , and Latashá for more on finding your creative voice. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
Trailer · Tue, April 03, 2018
Welcome to Latina to Latina!
In this new interview series, host Alicia Menendez talks to remarkable Latinas about making it, faking it, and everything in between. In often-hilarious and always-revealing episodes, Alicia and her guests take on the challenges of existing, and then thriving, as women of color.
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