CIVILIANS BREAKING BOUNDARIES - Rompiendo Fronteras

Victoria Mahoney joins Civilians: Breaking Boundaries for a conversation that goes beyond filmmaking into the tension between identity and authority. What does it mean to lead at the highest level while carrying the weight of representation? How do you hold your voice inside systems that weren’t built with you in mind? This episode explores pressure, authorship, and the quiet decisions that shape...

Brenda Equihua shares how observation, culture, and identity shape her approach to design, transforming the familiar into something deeply personal yet widely resonant. From reimagining the iconic San Marcos cobija to exploring what defines something as “classic,” this conversation dives into creativity, trust, and building with intention in a world full of opinions.

Carolina Groppa is an Emmy-nominated producer who rose from an immigrant childhood in São Paulo to producing acclaimed films and documentaries in Hollywood. In this conversation, she reflects on the winding path that shaped her career, being told she was never “Latina enough” for gigs, to carving out space in an industry that didn’t invite her in, and learning that success comes from putting in th...

In this episode, Jairo Alvarado of Redefine Entertainment shares the moment he realized there was a bigger world out there—one that didn’t always reflect who he was. He talks about getting the right guidance, making room for mistakes, and navigating the tension between following your instinct and remembering that it’s still a business. From “horoscope networking” to the commodification of represen...

CIVILIAN #5 Leah Chin-Katz - Leading Kitchens with Intention and Kindness Pastry chef Leah Chin-Katz shares the story of how childhood food memories, early kitchen jobs, and a bold leap into pastry school shaped her path into fine dining. From discovering the world of Michelin kitchens to realizing what she didn’t want out of restaurant culture, Leah reflects on the pivotal moments that clarified...

CIVILIAN #4 Alonso Alvarez A Mexican walks into a bar… a coffee bar. It sounds like the start of a joke, but it isn’t. When Alonso Alvarez Barreda first walked into Civil, we had no idea we were about to meet an incredible human who has been using his talent as a filmmaker to show the world his love for the work. In this episode, we talk to Alonso and his journey from Mexico City to Los Angeles in...

This episode explores coffee through the lens of Leo and Elisa of Picaresca Barra de Café -- life partners and business partners who have built their cafés into deeply rooted community spaces in Los Angeles. Their approach to coffee is shaped not only by personal taste and thoughtful execution, but by an ongoing dialogue with the people they serve. In this conversation, Leo and Elisa open up about...

In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Navarrete to peel back the layers behind one of Los Angeles’ most impactful forces in hospitality. Eddie shares his personal history in the city and how years of navigating its complex bureaucratic landscape gave him a rare, hard-earned understanding of what it truly takes to open restaurants, bars, and creative spaces in Los Angeles. That lived experience u...

Rompiendo Fronteras explores the stories of everyday people breaking boundaries across culture, art, and industry. The podcast is hosted by Alan and Alex Morales of Civil Coffee, featuring James Lontayao, artist and producer. The show is steeped in candid conversations around craft, identity, risk and the road towards meaningful pursuits in the likes of film, design, music and hospitality. Each ep...