Latina to Latina

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

She pirouetted into our lives on Season Five of So You Think You Can Dance, stole our hearts on Roswell, and is now making us question the line between villain and hero on this season of Prime’s Cross. Jeanine talks with Alicia about the lessons in leadership that come with leading a television series, going through IVF days before filming, learning to inhabit a pedestrian body after years as a dancer, and why on-the-ground activism has become central to her creative endeavors.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 How Girls Night In Founder Alisha Ramos Started a Stay-at-Home Movement. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!

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!

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.

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!

For more than two decades, she has led the largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. In this revealing conversation, Janet shares her stewardship of a massive brand transition, her personal frustration with the elusiveness of immigration reform, and what it requires to go toe-to-toe with the President of the United States. Visit www.unidosus.org to learn more about the organization's work.

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!

She was 17 years-old when she moved from the Pacific Northwest to NYC to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Hannah danced, she performed as an aerialist, and began teaching movement classes. But it was an audition to coach at Peloton that would take her career to the next level: beaming her constant encouragement to “treat your body like it belongs to someone you love” to millions of users across the globe. Now, Hannah’s out with her first book: Did You Stretch Tho. In this conversation with host Alicia Menendez, Hannah shares her insights on flexibility, her multi-year struggle with an undiagnosed autoimmune disease, and what it is like to return to professional performing now that she is older and wiser. Watch the full episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/C56Y3nyHijE

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

She made history as the first Latina to create, produce and star in a network sitcom. But how does Cristela, a border town kid who grew up squatting in a diner, deal with becoming rich and famous? That’s the central question of her Netflix trilogy‘s final installment: Upper Classy. Watch the full episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GYp4l4fap_s

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.

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!

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!

The Pulitzer Prize winning playwright’s first novel, The White Hot, takes readers on an epic journey of self-discovery and begs the question: when is leaving an act of generosity? Quiara shares the exhilaration of creating a Latina anti-hero, the places where fear shows up in her earlier writing and the creative freedom that comes with growing older. Watch the full episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0ilc14tXME

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!

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 .

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!

Her first solo album, Marchita, catapulted the Mexican singer-songwriter into the global spotlight, earning her a Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. But that same year, tragedy struck when Silvana’s close friend and his brother were murdered in their Mexico City home. Three years later, Silvana is releasing her second solo album, Vendrán Suaves Lluvias. She and Alicia talk about creating art in the wake of life changing loss, her parents’ lessons on the power of discipline, and why she refuses to rush the creative process. Watch the full episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/IAPeUCsLfjI

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!

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!

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!

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!

This special episode, hosted by our executive producer Juleyka Lantigua, was recorded live at the 2025 UnidosUS national conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Four powerhouse Latinas took part in the keynote panel during the Latinas Luncheon: Cristina Jimenez, Co-Founder of United We Dream, who has for years fought on behalf of all undocumented people. Daniela Velazquez, an Alderwoman in St. Louis, and the state’s ONLY Puerto Rican elected official. She calls herself a “Missouriquena” Rochelle Garza, the current Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Gaby Pacheco, the President/CEO of The Dream.US; the first DREAMER to ever testify before Congress. Happy listening!

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!

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.

Before she published her debut novel, Neruda on the Park, she spent 20 years in corporate America. She knew she needed to make a change, but it was life-changing grief that finally propelled her forward. Now with her second novel, The Grand Paloma Hotel, Cleyvis is rejecting the notion that compartmentalization is necessary for success. Set in the Dominican Republic, the writer's birthplace, with an anti-hero Latina protagonist who is climbing the corporate ladder, Cleyvis weaves together parts of her life that she once sought to keep separate. The result is a can't-put-it-down page turner that begs the question: what is the true cost of extreme luxury?

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!

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!

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!

The award winning singer-songwriter, author, podcast host and entrepreneur shares her journey to forgive and embrace her mother, the legendary singer Jenni Rivera. Chiquis details her decade-long healing journey (come for the talk therapy, stay for the foray into alternative modules); the evolution in her own thinking on motherhood and fertility; and how her mom’s everlasting love became the basis for her beautiful new children’s book, The Girl Who Sings to Bees. The Girl Who Sings to Bees: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250322999/thegirlwhosingstobees/ https://www.youtube.com/@latinatolatina

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!

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!

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.

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!

The comedian, best known for her impersonations of Trump White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, shares how moving from Puerto Rico to Ohio forced her to learn English “guerrilla style;” how her politics shape her comedy; and why she chooses to keep her social media content entirely separate from her stand-up comedy.

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!

The stars of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, now on Broadway, share their paths to performing, the experience of originating Broadway roles, and what goes through their minds each night when they disrobe on stage in front of a thousand strangers. Go see the show before June 15th for tickets starting at $49, using code RWPRV1. www.curvesbroadway.com

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.

The co-founder of United We Dream and MacArthur Genius is sharing her coming of age story in her new memoir, Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power and Real Change. In this conversation, Cristina revisits the experience of finding her own voice (and falling in love!) as a student organizer, and the process of shedding deeply ingrained shame in order to step into her power. https://read.macmillan.com/lp/dreaming-of-home-9781250275660/

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

You know her online as @your.latina.nutritionist, where she dishes out culturally competent advice and fact checks nutrition misinformation. In this conversation, Dalina weighs in on the rise of GLP-1 drugs, the nutrition fads Alicia is being sold online (so much cottage cheese!), what “making America healthy” actually requires, and the pursuit of a “soft girl era.” Check out her new book, The Latina Anti-Diet: A Dietitian's Guide to Authentic Health that Celebrates Culture and Full-Flavor Living. https://yourlatinanutritionist.com/book

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!

The acclaimed director shares how Viola Davis was critical to her landing Prime Video’s G20, the benefits of working with her cinematographer husband, and why she "has no feelings" about cutting even her most favorite scenes.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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/)

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.