Hella Latin@

In this episode, Odalys Jasmine sits with 3 Bronx natives — Joél Leon, Naley by Nature, and Jasmine Ruíz — to talk liberation, capitalism, healing, and imagining new systems. Together, we explore how their personal journeys from navigating diaspora identity and systemic oppression to embracing spirituality and community, have shaped their understanding of freedom. The conversation asks deeper ques...

I sit down with the one and only Aida Rodriguez - comedian, author, storyteller, and cultural commentator - for a deeply personal and expansive conversation on identity, ancestry, spirituality, womanhood, and what it means to reclaim ourselves in a world that constantly asks us to shrink. Together, we unpack pieces of her memoir, Legitimate Kid. From her Afro-Indigenous identity and the ongoing im...

Hella Latin@ brought the LA community back for another live, intimate podcast experience where we explore the stories we carry, the cultures we straddle, and solidarity amongst our communities. This conversation centers on how to create a life rooted in creative expression while operating under capitalism. We know art isn't always profitable, and add coming from Black, Brown, Latino or working cla...

In this episode of Hella Latin@, Odalys Jasmine sits down with B0ryan — a first-gen Salvadoran creative to talk identity, resilience, and what it really means to create not from survival, but from truth. From growing up in a Central American household shaped by immigration and a strong lineage of women, to navigating assimilation, football, creative entrepreneurship, fashion and music — this conve...

In this episode of Hella Latin@, Odalys Jasmine sits down with Daniel Ordóñez — a Haitian-Salvadorean entrepreneur and creative director — for a deeply reflective conversation on legacy, identity, masculinity, and purpose. As a first-generation LA native, Daniel's passion for creativity and making an impact led him to Saints – a unique concept store redefining the barbershop and boutique experienc...

In this powerful episode of Hella Latin@, Odalys Jasmine sits down with Brianna, a first-generation Belizean-American creative from Los Angeles whose work lives at the intersection of art, innovation, culture, and connection. Grounded in her Belizean roots and shaped by her lived experience as the daughter of immigrants, Brianna brings a powerful lens to conversations about identity, belonging, an...

Odalys Jasmine (Host) sits down with Sandy Correa and Ana Gaona, the founders of Two Peacocks Travel, to explore the themes of empowerment, cultural identity, and the transformative power of travel. They share their experiences as first-generation Latinas, the journey that led to founding their travel company, and the importance of building community among women. In this episode, we dive into: How...

In this episode of Hella Latin@, host Odalys Jasmine sits down live in-studio with author and actor Christopher Rivas, lawyer and content creator Farah Fezz, and DJ and dancer Love Baila for a dynamic conversation on identity, solidarity, and liberation. Together, they unpack what it means to live in the in-between — as first-generation individuals and bodies of culture navigating layered identiti...

Odalys Jasmine sits with Julian Maldonado, a Puerto Rican comedian, actor, and writer from Port Orange, Florida. In 2017, he was announced as a series lead in the upcoming episodic series Deathless. Since then, he has acted in several films funded by the College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University. In addition to his acting career, Julian is also a stand-up comedian performing all a...

Eileen Ivette is a cultural storyteller and adventure seeker who once spent her days saving travel posts and dreaming of “someday” adventures while working a 9-5 that felt increasingly disconnected from her purpose. Everything shifted in 2019, when she took her first solo trip to Puerto Rico and discovered not just new destinations but also deeper pieces of her identity through the lens of the Afr...

Award-winning director, actress, comedian, and writer Dani Adaliz is proof that art can be resistance. From SXSW premieres to viral collaborations with Buzzfeed and Broadway Video, Dani uses humor and honesty to explore identity, liberation, and the human condition. Her directorial debut, Chuchi and Adaliz, premiered at SXSW 2023, won Best Web Series at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film...

Jackie Jaquez is back for a part 2! We expand on all things women's bodies, the impact of birth control and menstrual products on our hormones, and a deep dive on each of the phases we cycle through in about 28 days. Jackie is a first-gen Mexicana from LA, a certified menstrual nutritional fitness coach, massage therapist, healthy relationships facilitator at CSU Long Beach, and helps women improv...

Darlene Lopez helps artists sell out without selling out. As a first-generation Peruvian-American, Darlene’s career goal has been to thrive at the intersection of culture and technology. So what does that look like in this digital age? Latin music. With close to 10 years working in entertainment, Darlene has championed the latest wave of Latin music at tech titans Apple and TikTok. She led the Lat...

I don't always sit in the hot seat, I prefer being the one asking questions, but Hady Méndez (host of Latinas: Front & Center) invited me to kick off their Lean in Latinas First Gen Summit. In this interview, I talk about navigating the in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackie Jaquez is a first-gen Mexican Latina from Los Angeles, a certified menstrual nutritional fitness coach, massage therapist, healthy relationships facilitator at CSU Long Beach, and a Reiki master. In this week’s episode, Jackie joins us to share her knowledge on women's health and tell her story in exploring culturally taboo topics. It’s not easy to explore women’s health as a Latina, let al...

Melany del Carpio is a first-generation, first-born Peruvian-American who is deeply committed to empowering women of color to thrive and be unapologetically themselves in the face of societal and capitalist pressures. With eight years of experience in higher education, she made a pivotal career transition into the tech industry in 2022. Throughout her career journey, Melany has faced significant c...

Cynthia Diaz is a Salvadoran-Honduran American artist, beauty visionary, and content creator from Los Angeles. As a proud first-generation Latina, she is on a powerful journey of breaking generational cycles and redefining what the American dream looks like through faith, creativity, and fearless self-expression. Cynthia first found success in the beauty industry, working with top brands and artis...

Jasmine Romero is a first generation Salvadorian 🇸🇻 and a writer, producer, and actor. She is best known for her work on Sesame Street, where she plays Sofia Sanchez and is the face of their social impact work. She was also the lead producer and editor for the award-winning podcast and Alexa skill, Chompers. She created, directed, and co-wrote the award-winning podcast Princess of South Beach (Now...

Tiffany Leonardo 🇩🇴 went from the Bronx to The Bay to LA, from health care to self care, and studio instructor to studio OWNER 🗣️. This mujerón is a testament to following your inner compass, pivoting even when it feels impossible, and doing what you love with passion and intention. In this episode, we talk about how she does it.  In this part 2, Tiffany and I are in person live from her LA-based...

Maisa Morrar is a Palestinian woman and dedicated advocate with over 18 years of active involvement in Palestinian organizing spaces. As the daughter of Palestinian immigrants—her mother hailing from Venezuela and her father from Palestine—Maisa embodies a unique blend of cultural identity. A founding member of both the Healthcare Workers for Palestine Bay Area and the Palestinian Feminist Collect...

Jessica Berrocal (Chau) Ricardo is a proud Latina Muslim, first generation Colombian and Peruvian-Chinese, immigration paralegal, philanthropist and a community advocate making a lasting impact across New Jersey. In this episode, Jessica shares her journey of navigating embracing Islam through a Latino lens. 24 years ago Jessica discovered Islam after listening to the Quran in the wake of 9/11 and...

In this week’s episode,  I'm talking to mi hermana Dominicana, Tiffany Leonardo, a healthcare educator who pivoted from teaching healthcare to teaching self-care. Tiffany tells us all about her career in healthcare, what it was like growing up as a first-gen daughter who was a little different than everyone else, and how she found that her family was living a life of dis-ease after three family me...

 Lariza Quintero is a first gen Colombian queen from Queens, New York. Lariza is an experienced Website and Digital Marketing professional with a strong background in SEO, media, and e-commerce. She is currently the Global B2B Website Lead at TikTok. In addition to her leadership roles in the tech space, Lariza is the founder of FOR WMN, an online brand and social platform dedicated to uplifting a...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Professor Laura Chávez-Moreno to chat about her latest book - How Schools Make Race, Teaching Latinx Racialization in America. Laura’s work covers how race influences institutions, like schools, and pushes white supremacist ideology. As Latinos, we’ve all seen who is accepted into honors classes and who is in remedial classes, or which schools get the best b...

Tania Mercado 🇲🇽 is a Principal Communications Manager and Community Impact Lead at Intuit. Her expertise has made her the go-to source for reporters seeking information on topics related to tax, small business, regulation, litigation, and financial empowerment.    Tania is also the Deputy Lead for the Intuit IDEAS program and is a key member of the Intuit External Multicultural Engagement team, w...