Radio Menea

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn't agree that 2016 has been a shit year. Tragedy after tragedy, deaths of many famous people we love (JuanGa!), and now we're facing a scary political future under the Orange Chupacabra. But one thing that 2016 didn't disappoint on was really great music. So we're closing out the year by bringing you some of our favorites from 2016. Let's find solace...

Protest has always been a necessary tool for changing our worlds into something better - Orange Chupacabra or no - and it's best when music goes along for the ride. Today we tackle protest and music. Songs that tell stories of the ways injustice plays out in our communities, songs about fighting back, and some more...unexpected selections, showing us that small acts of resistance are everywhere. F...

Real talk: We had this episode planned way before the orange chupacabra surprised everyone, including himself, and somehow won the U.S. Presidency. But the subject felt all too real for us this week as we reflected on the state of affairs, particularly for our queer POC familia. In this week's episode, we talk about all our political feels, and then get into the music that brings us back to those...

Today we have a first for you: a full episode dedicated to musicians from one country. Esta vez: Venezuela! Though by no means a survey of the vast musical output and traditions of Vero's magical homeland, we bring you some of our faves, old standbys, and hints about movidas and heavyweights in the country and across the diaspora. Está cheverísimo, so no te lo pierdas! Featuring music by Algodón E...

Ok, confesamos: this might be the weirdest song collection you've ever gotten from us. But strange is the order of the day, porque this week's episode brings you songs inspired by Halloween, that curious U.S. holiday of pumpkins and (hopefully non-racist, non-sexist) costumes. So grab your masks, put on your best vampiresa makeup, or drip some fake blood on your face and get spooky with us! Show n...

Are you ready to PARI??? Today's episode is all about the jamz that make us want to turn up on the dance floor. Fair warning: you might find yourself doing a lil meneaito...or tirándolo pa trá (TRA TRA TRA). La rumba está buena - don't miss it! Featuring music by Big Pun, Angel y Khriz, Fuego, Victor Manuelle, J Balvin, and Ñejo y Dalmata. Show notes: https://www.radiomenea.com/blog/2016/10/07/epi...

This week we’re bringing you an extra special treat: our first ever Radio Menea guest! Maria Elena Pérez joins us to talk about songs we love that deal with class-related themes. Songs about money struggles, about why materialism is overrated, songs about love across class divides, and more. But we’re also bringing this theme because we want to talk about the activist movement that brought us toge...

When we heard the news, we were speechless. Juan Gabriel was not just a singer and a songwriter - he was legendary. Over the years his songs brought us joy, his fabulous outfits gave us life, and his flamboyant performances served as the launchpad for countless family conversations about sexuality and gendered performance. For queer Latinxs, he was one of our icons. This is a Radio Menea first: we...

Sometimes you need to reach back to the music of your childhood. The songs you grew up with, the songs you made up dances to with your primos and performed in front of the familia. The classics that remind you of your first love, or learning salsa with your papi and tios. Featuring music by Proyecto Uno, Juan Luis Guerra, Flans, Jerry Rivera, Caramelos de Cianuro, and Jon Secada. Show notes: https...

Sometimes even classics need a re-do. This week, we look at covers - from Latino music classics to translated versions of English-language hits. Featuring music by Karen Rodriguez, Jarina De Marco, Leslie Grace, Bunny Michael, Tony Succar, Tito Nieves and La Lupe. Show notes: https://www.radiomenea.com/blog/2016/08/12/episode-10-covers

Throwing shade. At lovers who have scorned you, lovers who have left you, lovers who have cheated. Throwing shade at former friends, competitors, others in the business. Songs with artful lyrics that master the art of the diss with amazing metaphors, puns and burns. This week's episode is all about shade, and the songs that do it oh-so-well. Featuring music by Mariah Carey, Eddie Santiago, Karlos...

Have you ever missed your tierra something fierce? Maybe you left when you were young. Maybe you’re the child of immigrants or political exiles, and you’ve never even been there. Maybe you’re undocumented and can’t go back. Pero you know you know that yearning: home. Today’s episode is about nostalgia. Homesickness. Diaspora feels! Featuring songs that remind us of home: of the struggle, the hard...

This is the episode that we had planned to release the week that the Orlando massacre happened. We hope you've been taking time to grieve and heal and be with your people in the time since. Now we're bringing it back to our regularly scheduled programming with a lighter topic: deseo. Desire is a huge theme in music, and especially Latinx music, and we get into all the things this topic brings up....

This week we're bringing you an unplanned episode in recognition of the massacre in Orlando. We are devastated, and we hope that our discussion of what happened, its impact on us, and some of our mourning and healing process in these days since the attack might help you all with your healing as well. Featuring music by Hurray For The Riff Raff, Selena, La Santa Cecilia, Monchy y Alexandra, Julieta...

Happy Pride queridxs! For the first episode of June, we are so excited to bring you an episode of Radio Menea featuring queer artists. Listen in to hear about queer Latinx musicians who've been doing it since forever, and some of the new generation of out and proud folks who are walking in their footsteps. We also talk about the origins of Pride and its inextricable connection to Latinx resistance...

We're not going to lie. We have a serious soft spot for the few but amazing women who are rocking the reggaeton genre, so this week we have an episode all about these mujeres. A dembow beat and a female artist? ¿Que más se le puede pedir a la vida? Featuring music by Ivy Queen, Milka La Mas Dura, Tomasa Del Real, Glory, MC Peligro, Ms Nina Los Santos & La Favi. Show notes: https://www.radiomenea.c...

It's here! Everyone's favorite season. Sundress and shorts weather. Chancla weather. Beach weather! In honor of being so close to summer, this week's episode is all about verano, and the music that makes us think of the season. We discuss our favorite things about summer, Vero's favorite NYC playa, and why summer makes us think about home. Featuring music by Bill Yonson, Oscar D'Leon, MULA, Tito E...

Afro-Latinx communities have been central to the development of Latinx music – though folks don’t always get their due credit. We didn’t want to get too many episodes in without acknowledging this, so in today’s episode we spotlight some amazing Afro-Latinx artists. Featuring music from Nitty Scott MC, El General, Ibeyi, Yunel Cruz, Xenia Rubinos, Celia Cruz and Xiomara Fortuna. Show notes: https:...

Spring is in the air queridxs - lez talk about AMOR! Vero & Pérez discuss their allegiances (or lack thereof) to Team Feelings and songs about love of all kinds. Featuring the musical stylings of J Balvin, Toby Love, Lido Pimienta, Los Rakas, and Empress Of. Show notes: https://www.radiomenea.com/blog/2016/04/08/episode-1-amor

Introducing a new podcast from Verónica Bayetti Flores and Miriam Zoila Pérez. They bring you their favorite mainstream and alternative Latino jams. Featuring music from P3culiar, Son by Four, Don Omar, Prince Royce, Shakira, Calle 13 and Maluca. Show notes: https://www.radiomenea.com/blog/2016/03/25/pilot-episode