Latina to Latina

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 th...

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 th...

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...

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...

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, learnin...

This special episode, hosted by our executive producer Juleyka Lantigua, was recorded live at the 2025 UnidosUS national conference in Kansas City, 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. Loui...

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...

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! S...

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...

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 a...

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 te...

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 Laur...

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...

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. F...

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 inequa...

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...

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 st...

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

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 ep...

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our co...

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://...

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...

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 Lat...

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...