Growing Up Latina

What does "Growing up Latina" look like when you're Afro-Colombian, first-gen, and now starring on Broadway ? Actress Jackie León sits with me to talk la sala memories, tough love, Spanish stigma, anti-Blackness in our communities, coming out, and building a career that demands everything. From Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen to writing her own plays, Jackie is proof that grit + heart change the room....

Familiaaa, for the first time in GUL history we're bringing you a 2-part episode!   We welcome back the inspiring and multi-talented media journalist Kim Osorio. In this conversation, Kim opens up about stepping into leadership roles at a young age, the honor of being Puerto Rican representation for her students, and how the media industry has evolved over the years. Most know her as the first fem...

Familia Latinaaaa! 🎙️ This week we sit down with the legendary Kim Osorio — journalist, media executive, and the first female Editor-in-Chief of The Source . Kim opens up about growing up mixed (Black, Chinese, Puerto Rican), moving out at 17, and going from camp counselor to club nights that landed her dream role at The Source . She even clears up the wild rumor about JLo's mom being her gym teac...

What's up GUL fam! 🌎 Straight from Mexico City's alt-R&B scene, we have the amazing Girl Ultra . From boleros and classical music to blasting My Chemical Romance in her lively chilango sala, music has always been a core part of Mariana's world. She created Girl Ultra as a canvas to push boundaries and fill the gap in Mexico's alternative scene. We get into her latest single Tomás , the way artist...

Mi gente Latinaaa, two-time Latin Grammy nominee and Dominican rap phenom  J Noa is here! She opens up about everything—from her viral Tiny Desk performance to the deep roots of her confidence and creativity. Raised in a home full of laughter and El Chavo del Ocho vibes, J Noa credits her unapologetic drive to the strong women who raised her. She shares how legends like Snoop Dogg and Cardi B shap...

Happy National Latina Day!    Amigas, we have the wonderful creator and host of Hella Latin@ podcast, Odalys Jasmine! Join our raw, reflective, and nuanced conversation where Odalys Jasmine gets real about her deeply personal journey as a Latina from Southeast San Diego, California. She talks about growing up with community abundance, experiencing homelessness during the 2008 financial crisis, and...

Amigas, today we're joined by Latin Grammy nominated Artist Daniela Spalla ! With her new joint album Amorío with Esteman, set to be released August 28th, Daniela talks all about her journey and passion for music. From dealing with the nerves and thrill of performing in the same size venues as her childhood idols, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, to facing social pressures of women aging in the music...

Familiaaa! It's a new week with a new episode, and this week we're chatting it up with the one and only Maria Isabel singer, songwriter, and certified baddie in her bag. From a sweet childhood story about wishing for a little brother (spoiler: she got a "partner in crime") to the vulnerable truth of growing up with anxiety and having a passion for music, Maria opens up about it all. She gets real...

Have you ever manifested something down to the details? Honey Bxby went from crashing on her mama's futon in Asbury Park to living the exact life she once mapped out in her journals. The Puerto Rican, Black, and Italian artist sits with us to talk about finding her voice back in high school, getting discovered off an unreleased song, and the moments that shaped her latest project  Raw Honey . We a...

From the sala, the heart of her home and culture, Kathleen (Kat) DeLuna, the artist behind one of our favorite bangers growing up,  "Whine Up," reflects on the memories, music, and Dominican roots that shaped her. In our latest episode, the singer-songwriter opens up about the duality of Kat versus Kathleen and how embracing her full self—including her faith, her pain, and her purpose—was the key...

What happens when your relationship becomes the record?  Raquel Berrios  of Buscabulla joins us to talk about her latest album,  Se Amaba Así —a deeply romantic project exploring the psychological dynamics of her relationship with partner and bandmate Luis in a way that feels more grown and vulnerable.   Raquel also opens up about motherhood, the spiritual practices that keep her grounded, and rec...

After experiencing the kind of back-to-back heartbreak that could break anyone, Nitty Scott said  ya basta . She was forced to pause everything, including the rollout of her project  Jiggy Mami . In this conversation, she shares how trying to push through the pain only masked it, and why choosing rest, therapy, and truth over performance became her only option. We dive into what it really takes to...

DJ Jadaboo went from spinning in her bedroom to DJing Paris Hilton's Coachella party—and that's just the beginning. In this week's episode, she chats with us about growing up Black and Mexican in a small California town, navigating mental health, and how music became her safe space and her calling.   What you'll hear:  The story behind her viral rise during the pandemic "Girl, I posted myself onli...

Ever tried to create something beautiful while everything around you felt like it was falling apart? That's exactly what Immasoul did with her debut album  Pistola . In this episode, she opens up about losing both of her parents during the writing process, growing into her sound, and trusting herself every step of the way. She talks about blending Afrobeats, regional Mexicano, and trap—her way, no...

You ever feel like everyone's ahead of you, and you're just trying to figure it out? This episode's for you.   In this week's episode, we're sitting down with one of our favorite content creators,  Christine   Cruz . This Brooklyn-born Dominicana, went from shy girl in East New York to working with top beauty brands and building an IG community of over 100K. From working graveyard shifts at JFK to...

Familia, get ready for this one! On this episode of  Growing Up Latina , We're sitting down with Christina Vidal, the iconic trailblazer who made history 20 years ago as Nickelodeon's FIRST Latina lead, paving the way for some of our other favs like Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez.   Christina shares the highs and lows of being a Latina in Hollywood, from childhood stardom to navigating the industr...

Welcome back to the sala, mi gente! In this week's emotional episode, we're joined by Dominican-Mexican indie-pop artist Ambar Lucid, the voice behind Garden of Lucid and her upcoming EP El Jardín de Lágrimas, dropping May 9. She opens up with us about growing up between New Jersey and the Dominican Republic, her father's deportation, and how music became her way to heal. "Music is how I survive —...

If you've ever been told to tone it down, hide your accent, or play small to get ahead — this one's for you. On this episode of  Growing Up Latina , Alyi V sits down with career strategist Susana Alba to talk about breaking the mold and showing up as your full, unapologetic self at work and in life. Susana shares how a near-death car accident and unexpected layoff became the push she needed to fin...

This week, Alyi V sits down with the hilarious and unapologetic Danielle Perez — a Dominican comedian from Los Angeles who's making her mark in comedy and beyond. Danielle gets real about growing up Dominican in LA with kale dinners, novelas, and big dreams. She shares the story of losing her legs at 20 and finding her voice through stand-up comedy, eventually breaking into the industry and starri...

Season 3 - Welcome Bacckkkkkk!!! In this powerful episode, we sit down with Hot 97's Laura Stylez to talk about her inspiring rise in the radio industry—from couch surfing in the Bronx with nothing but a dream, to becoming one of the most recognizable voices on-air. Laura opens up about growing up between cultures, navigating motherhood, and the mental health challenges she faced along the way.  ...

One this week's episode, step into the world of Maiya the Don, the fearless Afro-Latina voice making waves in hip-hop. In this powerful episode, Maiya shares how she turned her love for music into the viral hit  Telfy , proving that being yourself is the ultimate flex. From her Brooklyn upbringing to navigating the complexities of Afro-Latina identity, Maiya redefines what it means to take up spac...

This week on  Growing Up Latina , meet the multi-hyphenate creative strategist and content creator Kaitlyn Miranda. In this episode, we discuss how CultureCon changed her life, taking her from attendee to Creative Production Manager at CultureCon & The Creative Collective. Kaitlyn discusses the role vulnerability plays in her work, opening up about embracing her Afro-Latina identity, building comm...

From mastering communication to letting go of what no longer serves you, join executive coach and business consultant Jessica Rivera and our host Alyi V on this episode of Growing Up Latina as they share the tools you need to build confidence, foster connection, and step into your power to create a life you love. Don't miss out on this week's episode filled with practical advice, empowering storie...

In this week's episode, we sit down with six-time Latin Grammy-nominated musician Elsa y Elmar, and she shares with us the inspiration behind her songwriting process, creating songs from real-life moments and personal stories —a unique style that has earned her six Latin Grammy nods. And the struggles of balancing her art with the business side of music. Now, as she gears up for her U.S. PALACIO t...

Join us on Growing Up Latina as we get into a powerful and raw conversation about beauty, identity, and breaking stereotypes. Our guest opens up about her journey of embracing her natural self, the assumptions society imposes, and redefining beauty on her own terms. From her bold decision to shave her head, to finding empowerment through vulnerability, this interview is a must-watch for anyone see...