el CafeciTO

Episode 03 is part of our special segment: Reporting from LASA2024, el CafeciTO's collaboration with graduate student Johann Kirchenbauer. In this episode, Johann speaks to professor Ryan Long from the University of Maryland. We learn from professor Long's diverse research approaches and interests, and we will get a sneak peek in the ways the University of Maryland interacts with their Latin Ameri...

In this episode, Sarah talks to Johann Kirchenbauer, a Venezuelan PhD student from the Spanish and Portuguese Department. Johann tells us about his research interests in modern and contemporary Hispanic literatures and cultures with a focus on the Venezuelan diaspora. We also get to learn about his experience in the Latin American Studies Association (LASA)’s 2024 conference in Bogotá Colombia. Fi...

For season 9's premiere, Sarah interviews renowned Argentine journalist and novelist Mariana Enriquez. Author of multiple bestselling novels like Los Peligros de Fumar en la Cama (2009), Las Cosas que perdimos en el Fuego (2016) and Nuestra Parte de la Noche (2019). In this episode, the Argentinian author discusses the affective impact of her horror stories, the important role that women play in h...

S08E11: The Finale Welcome to El CafeciTO’s season 8 Finale! In this episode Luis & Sarah give some updates as to what they have been up to recently. They also reminisce over this year's podcasting highlights, lessons learned and goals for the future. Additionally, tune in for some exciting updates about El CafeciTO in the summer! We hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode we commemorate 8 de Marzo, also known as International Women's Day. Sarah talks to Adriana Pérez-Rodríguez, a Colombian second-year PhD student at the Institute of Women and Gender Studies and feminist researcher. Adriana talks about her PhD research in Cucutá Colombia and her previous work as one of the directors of the Observatorio de Asuntos de Género de Norte de Santander, a so...

In this episode, Luis talks to Arturo Alexander Gomez, an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying criminology and neuroscience. Alex has a candid talk about his journey from Mexico to Calgary to Toronto, thoughts on the campus acting and theater scene, and an analysis on what we do to connect to our roots when we are abroad. We hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Sarah talks to Andrés Lalama Vargas, a PhD Candidate of the History Department. Andrés talks about his experience as a history student and his research on symbolic spaces located at the margins of the city of Quito, Ecuador. Andrés also tells us about the different surprises that come up when doing archival research and his role as the co-editor of Past Tense Graduate Review of Hi...

In this episode, Luis sits down with Isidora Cortés-Monroy, a PhD student in Hispanic Literature at the Spanish and Portuguese Department. Isidora talks about how her love of fiction not only motivated her academic studies but also reconnected with her Latin American culture. She also elaborates on her research on mining literature in Chile and Bolivia, sharing its contributions to literary method...

In this episode, Luis chats with Fatima Sanchez, a Toronto based actress, singer, and dancer. Together, they discuss their shared Mexican heritage, their shared last name, and their passion for the performing arts. Fatima also shares her experiences training at the Randolph College of the Performing Arts, her time spent in Mexico, and her inspiration and drive for performing. We hope you enjoy the...

In this episode, Sarah catches up with Cassandra Yanez-Leyton, a LAS alumna who is now working as an associate producer and web writer for CBC Montreal. Cass was the founder and first host of our beloved podcast. Today, she reminisces about her time as an undergraduate student and the beginnings of el CafeciTO. Cass will also tell us about her graduate education and share about the creative proces...

In this episode, Sarah talks to Alejandra Molina Vélez, a Puerto Rican undergraduate student who is majoring in Psychology and Latin American Studies. Ale is a loyal listener of the podcast. Today, she tells us about her extracurriculars, including her role as the Latin American Mentor Navigator at UofT Access and Inclusion Program. Ale will also reflect on her experience of growing up Puerto Rica...

In Episode 4, Luis sits down with Mariana, a fourth-year undergraduate student and make-up artist, to discuss conceptions around language, the self-perception of being an immigrant and Tim Hortons secret menu items! We hope you enjoy this episode!

In this episode Luis sits down with Anna Sofia Alemany, a third-year undergraduate student in UofT studying Political Science and Peace, Conflict, and Justice. Anna and Luis chat about their latino heritage and the changes in identity students face when they are home and studying abroad. We hope you enjoy the episode! ☕️💛

In episode 2, Sarah sits down with renowned Colombian author Héctor Abad Faciolince, who is considered one of the most talented and influential post-Latin American Boom writers. Author of 15 books, including bestselling novels like La Oculta (2014), and most recently Salvo mi corazón, todo está bien (2022). In this episode, the Colombian author discussed his literary purpose, the role of land and...

In this episode Sarah introduces our newest host: Luis Sanchez Blanco. Luis is a third year undergraduate student in International Relation, Polisci, and History. In this episode, he will tell us a bit about himself, his exciting extracurriculars, and his previous experience with podcasting. We are so excited for this upcoming season! We hope you enjoy the episode

This is the Season 7 finale. Sarah and Sebas reminisce about this last season and share their summer adventures. As a future graduate, Sebas will also share some tips about the LAS program and its opportunities for incoming and current students. Lastly, the hosts share their plans for the fall semester. El CafeciTO is grateful for all of this season’s interviewees, saddened to say goodbye to our b...

S07E10- In this final interview of Season 7, Sebas sits down with Mexican-Canadian celebrity, makeup artist, and Toronto coffee shop owner Luisa Duran. Luisa shares her journey of becoming a prominent Canadian makeup artist based in Los Angeles. She tells the story of how she got into the coffee business, becoming the owner of one of Toronto’s oldest and most beloved espresso bars: Mercury Espress...

In this episode, Sarah interviews Marianne Lahaie Luna, a Canadian Venezuelan Ph. D. student at UofT’s Geography and Planning Department. Marianne talks about what drove her to pursue a Masters in Environmental Public health. She also shares the important work she does with her NGO, Lahaie Luna Lezama, an association of Menstrual and Reproductive Rights, helping Venezuelan menstruators change thei...

In Episode 08, Sebas and Sarah travel to the West Coast to chat with two of seven founding members of CALTAC, Alexandra Lainfiesta and Pedro Chamale. The two Latinx westcoaters talk about the creation of the Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition (CALTAC), highlighting the important work they do with advocating for Latinx artists. The two Guatemalan artists talk about the coalition's programming...

For episode 7, Sarah catches up with LAS alumna, Emily Encalada, who is currently doing her masters in Sociology of Law at the University of the Basque Country. Emily reminisces about her time as a LAS undergraduate student and her involvement in OLAS and the SSO. She also talks about her research on memory spaces in Chile, highlighting both their historical importance as we approach the 50th anni...

In this episode, Sarah talks to Andrea Román Alfaro, a Peruvian Ph. D. candidate at UofT’s Sociology Department. Andrea tells us about her experience as a doctoral candidate, her collaborative research with la Casa Comunitaria Juvenil de Puerto Nuevo, and her involvement in the executive board of CUPE’s local 3902 unit. We hope you enjoy this episode! 🌊☕️

Episode 5 is the second part of Lina de Guevars’s inspiring life and theatrical career. The renowned theater director tells el CafeciTO about the beginning of her company, Puente Theater. For this project, she decides to foreground the talents of refugee and migrant non-actors, coming from Latin America. Lina reflects on how important this project was for women to tell their own life stories and o...

In this episode Sebas chats with Chilean actress and theater director Lina de Guevara. Lina reminisces about her childhood in Santiago, and her theatrical training in the University of Chile. The renowned theater director tells El CafeciTO about how her educational career as a theater teacher in Valdivia got abruptly interrupted by the Chilean coup. After fleeing Chile, Lina came to Victoria to be...

In this episode Sebas chats with visual artist and painter Jesus Mora. Jesus talks about his impressive work, the Codices Michoacán, a document that illustrates the rich and complex history of his father’s birthplace. The artist also discusses how this work came to be and offers us a different way to think about the processes of field work, research and historical documentation. El CafeciTO highly...

For episode 2, Sebas catches up with Marisol Diaz, a student from the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program. Marisol tells us about her experience as a student here at UofT. We also get to learn about her work as an Outreach Coordinator at the Caribbean Studies program. Marisol will be graduating from the university soon, and we, as el Cafecito, would like to congratulate her on this big ac...