Hanging with the Oregon Homies

In this episode, Oscar and Franki talk about health care, the use of natural remedies in indigenous health care, and we discuss the health care system in Mexico and how it compares to the system in the US.

In this episode, Oscar and Franki discuss a concept put forth by Hector Tobar in his recent book, "Our Migrant Souls" about how whites and Latinx are interconnected, yet, many whites buy into the racism fed to them about mesoamericans at the border.

In this episode, Oscar and Franki talk with a local Dine woman about what it was like to be scooped up at the age of 6 and sent to live in an indian boarding school.

In this episode, Franki and Oscar discuss the housing crisis in the US and in Oregon. Oscar offers a solution for helping first-time homeowners with the downpayment, closing costs and other costs to buying a home.

In this episode, Oscar and Franki discuss the challenges and accomplishments faced by Latino/MesoAmerican military men and women in the past and in the present. They honor and thank all veterans who have proudly served our country.

Franki and Oscar discuss Dia de los Muertos and how they observe it, and whether anyone can celebrate, and how!

In this episode, Franki and Oscar discuss a global problem facing our world today, keeping children safe. Franki outlined children at risk in the US, at the border, in Isreal and Gaza, and at schools. Oscar talks about the times, as a teacher, he had to keep his very young students safe during active shooting episodes.

Oscar and Franki discuss White folks visiting or living in Mexico. They talk about possible harm to the Mexican economy, some Whites who demand everyone speak English, and generally taking advantage of Mexican graciousness. They aren't saying Whites shouldn't visit Mexico, they are asking them to be respectful of the norms and cultural realities of being in a foreign county.

In this episode, Franki and Oscar discuss all the reasons that Latinos/MesoAmericans aren't "in it". Meaning, why is the national narrative always focused on Black/white racism? Where are Latinos/mesoamericans in the national discussion, and why are we left out of the history books?

In this episode Franki interviews Oscar about his teaching position at OCCC and his work as the program coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program. We discuss the program as well as the coordination between the ESL program and this one. Oscar also discusses how he's incorporated STEM into ECE, and the GED classes he teaches in Spanish.

Oscar and Franki discuss discrimination in Oregon, and specifically discrimination in education.

In this second of two parts, Oscar and Franki continue their interview with Jurgis as he describes what happened when the war ended and the Americans come to the German hard labor camp in which he and his family were detained.

In this episode, Oscar and Franki interview Holocast survivor, Jurgis Motiekaitis about his experiences as a young child living in a German hard labor camp. This is a two-part interview, and here is part 1.

In this episode Franki and Oscar provide updates on the recent hearing between DOJ and Abbott re: the removal of the bouys in the Rio Grande, and DeSantis' law against immigrants buying homes/land in Florida.

In this episode, Franki and Oscar discuss a brief history of border walls, and Oscar reflects on life with and without the wall in El Paso.

Oscar is visiting his home town, El Paso, and this recording focuses on his impressions returning home and reflecting on changes to the city, it's proximity to Juarez, the summer heat, housing, and poverty, and what El Paso is doing to address these challenges.

In Episode #26, Franki and Oscar discuss what's happening at the border in Texas with Gov. Abbott's refusal to take down the barrier in the Rio Grande. They also discuss Gov. DeSantis' recent efforts to rewrite the history of enslaved people, and the negative effects on LatinX and MesoAmericans.

In this 24th episode, Franki and Oscar discuss what it means to be Mexican-American in 2023. It seems that when you have brown skin, folks assume you are an immigrant even when you are born in the US legally. And, even when your relatives proudly served in the US military, folks question whether a Mexican-American can ever be patriotic.

In this episode, Franki and Oscar discuss Newport's mayor and the demand that he resign due to his private posting of racist, homo/trans phobic, and misognistic posts. They also discuss the harm that's left behind his posts and what needs to happen next.

In episode #22, Franki and Oscar continue their discussion on the devasting implications of the recent SCOUTUS decision to eliminate race-based Affirmative Action in education.

On Episode #21, Franki and Oscar react to the June 29th Supreme Court ruling that effectively eliminates Affirmative Action in education.

Episode #20! How do you make that? In this 20th episode Oscar, Franki, and Bill Dalbey share how each of them makes basic Mexican food. Oscar describes in detail how to make frijoles (pinto beans) and refritos (refried pintos). He also described how to make his tasty green salsa, and we wrap up the half hour with how Oscar makes Horchata.

Oscar and Franki talk about the nothing burger that happened at the end of Title 42 which was DeSantis' reason for signing discrminationatory and hateful laws designed to keep BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks from going to Florida. However, the plan backfired and now they're lying to LatinX that the new laws "have no teeth" and not to leave! Can't have it both ways folks!

In this 18th episode, Franki and Oscar interview Dr. Alberto Flores about his years growing up in Spain and then adjusting to US culture. We also talked about his career as a professor teaching business classes at Oregon Coast Community College.

Franki and Oscar interview Lincoln Co. Commissioner Kaety Jacobson about her efforts to support and increase various forms of childcare in Lincoln Co.