Brown Enough

Today on Brown Enough, we’re doing something special — a roundtable with three powerhouse women whose minds and hearts shape culture in ways you can feel. I’m joined by Maytha Alhassen, Nina Hosseinzadeh, and Farah Fezz for a conversation about story, identity, community, and the work of imagining freer futures. We get into lineage, belonging, the politics of representation, and what it looks like...

Today on Brown Enough, I’m joined by Reza Farazmand, the creator of Poorly Drawn Lines, a comic that’s equal parts funny, tender, and existential. Reza has been making art online for over a decade, turning simple sketches into an entire universe of talking animals, awkward humans, and cosmic jokes about being alive. We talk about what it means to be an audacious artist - discipline, delusion, and...

Moon Chola is an astrologer, tarot reader, and cosmic guide. Their work lives at the intersection of intuition and ancestry, blending ancient wisdom with the realities of modern life. We talk about the wounded healer, the stars, self-trust, and how reading the sky can help us better understand what’s happening inside and all around. 

Today we sit down with Terry Hu - actor, artist, chess player! We talk about self-worth, identity, the theater, and what it means to build a life outside of performance. It’s a conversation about presence, purpose, and the beauty of just being.

This week, a bonus episode featuring me as the guest. I recently sat down with Zen Commuter to talk about meditation, presence, and what it means to live a mindful life in the middle of chaos. As an avid meditator and Dharma practitioner, I wanted to share this conversation with our Brown Enough community. We get into sitting with discomfort, turning awareness into action, and remembering that pea...

The one and only Aida Rodríguez, comedian, writer, and truth-teller. Aida’s comedy is fearless and full of heart, weaving stories of family, culture, and survival into punchlines that cut deep. We talk about where humor meets healing, and what it means to speak truth in a world that would rather you stay quiet.

Today on Brown Enough, I’m joined by actress Stephanie Arcila, a storyteller who’s mastered the art of betting on herself. From telenovelas to Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, to Fire Country, Stephanie brings heart, humor, and courage to everything she does. We talk self-care, language, love, community, having great people, and what it really takes to take a risk on your dreams.

Today we sit down with a friend, mentor, best selling author, the person I call when I need a ritual or limpia, and brilliant spark of life, Juliet Diaz, the author of The Altar Within, and other amazing reads. We chat communal liberation, solitude, how words are spells in your mouth, how our stories are our ancestors stories, reciprocity, freedom, radical activism, and that we all have the power...

Welcome back for season 3!! Today we are chatting with the incomparable Vico Ortiz — actor, activist, drag king, and joyful disruptor. From swashbuckling on screen to breaking binaries in life, Vico is redefining what it means to take up space with authenticity, be radically honest, have, courage, and play. Enjoy!

This week, the one and only Jessica Marie Garcia, known for her role as Jasmine in Netflix's "On My Block," plus many more - shares her journey, awakenings, big questions, and mission. We chat the wisdom of motherhood, parenting, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and her experiences balancing personal identity with professional roles. Jessica Marie Garcia is a force and I can't wait...

Curly Velasquez is that rare kind of soul who reminds us that showing up as your full self — curls, corazón, cultura and all — is not just powerful, it's necessary. He’s joy wrapped in vulnerability, tradition blended with transformation, and he's been helping so many of us see ourselves with a little more love. Whether he’s sharing stories about growing up, queerness, spirituality, or just everyd...

Ariel Vera is a Peabody Winner and digital creator with a unique vision and style. Using his channel URBANIST he uncovers the secrets of our cities. He has 1.6M total followers interested in his uncoverings! In this episode we chat history and urbanism, and how their secrets, stories, and magnificent wonders all around us! 

Necar Zadegan is a force of love and joy. A polyglot, an artist, and an overall joy to be around. In this episode we chat being artist, how we got here, treating every moment like it's our last, and mainly we just laugh. Enjoy xo

Pamela Zapata is the founder and CEO of Society 18. She is a talent manager disrupting industries, and helping her clients achieve generational wealth. She is a consultant and Forbes Next 1000 Honoree. And every time we link up we get into the real real! This is a beautiful conversation but living life now, not later. 

Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a Guatelombian (Guatemalan-Colombian) American writer. Her book Candelaria was named one of the best books of 2023 by VOGUE and USA Today. Her work explores the intersections of Latina identity, feminism, hair removal & what it means to belong. In this incredible convo we chat turning off our phones, bringing back Selena through seance, and paving our own way.   

This week we are connecting with the one and only Anirudh Pisharody, an Indian American actor from Fox's 911 and Never Have I Ever. We chat all about craft, acting, being role models, taking risks, and being our biggest obstacles! It's a beautiful episode. Enjoy!

Mariah Caudillo is the brilliant sex educator behind SexEdFiles, whose motto is simple but revolutionary: “Shame-free, inclusive, and quality sex ed—let’s learn together.” From unlearning the myths we grew up with to understanding why real sex education is about so much more than just sex, Mariah breaks down the barriers that keep us from having open, honest, and necessary conversations. No shame,...

In this episode of Brown Enough, comedian Pooja Tripathi joins usfor a deep (and hilarious) dive into creativity, art, humor, coffee culture, and all things New York. Her BK Coffee Shop videos have racked up millions of views and a feature in The New York Times. Pooja has mastered the fine line between satire and reality—especially with her viral collaborations that “don’t exist but sort of do.” W...

Are we shaped more by nature or nurture? It’s a question science has wrestled with for years. In todays bonus episode, yours truly, Christopher Rivas is on the The Story Collider Podcast, he is diving into family histories to uncover how the past continues to shape the present. Don’t miss this powerful exploration of identity, legacy, and self-discovery. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

In this electrifying conversation, Dellara breaks down how technology is a tool for liberation, the power of abundance over scarcity, and why confidence is the foundation for creating a better world. She dives into her book The Dreamer’s Playbook, discussing strategies for hacking the education system, cultivating confidence, and using technology to amplify marginalized voices. Together, Dellara a...

This is a bonus episode from our friends over at Las Paleteras. Las Paleteras is a fun, energetic, and mindful podcast hosted by Cesar Camacho, Ana Sheila, and Jose Richard Aviles (Nalgona), all three queer Latinx artists. Las Paleteras Podcast centers the lived experience while also engaging with supportive, guiding, and authentic conversations. This podcast celebrates the good, the bad, and the...

What does it take to create meaningful change in an industry that still resists it? How do we reclaim our narratives? In this episode of Brown Enough, we dive in with Alexis Garcia and Mariana Da Silva, two visionary storytellers reshaping Hollywood from the ground up. Alexis and Mariana are committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, creating films and plays that challenge stereotypes, and o...

What does it mean to live in harmony with nature? In this episode of Brown Enough , we head to the snow-covered trails of Utah to go dog sledding with Dana and Fernando, the founders of Rancho Luna Lobos. More than just a sled dog sanctuary, Rancho Luna Lobos is a way of life—rooted in respect, balance, and deep connection to the land and the animals that call it home. We talk about their journey,...

Jeanell English is the co-founder of Elizabeth and Minnie, a new publishing company that is lifting voices and lifting stories. A community first independent publisher giving power and IP  to underrepresented communities and creators. In this episode we chat books, art, risk taking and how book clubs are a great place to find someone if you are single. Enjoy!

Today we speak with two artists from City of Asylum - the world's largest sanctuary for artists in exile, facing political persecution. Exiled artists receive financial and medical support for their families and free housing. A safe space to keep being artists. Founded in 2004 by Henry Reese and Diane Samuels, it is The U.S. headquarters for the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), whic...