Spanish Sin Pena

Today we’re hearing from Vilmarie Fraguada Narloch. She’s a clinical psychologist based in Chicago, who moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S. with her family as a young girl. When she first arrived, she vividly remembers not being able to speak a lick of English, but slowly she assimilated and lost her native tongue. For the past three years, she’s been an instructor for Spanish Sin Pena where she’s...

Today we’re hearing from Piper de Young, who’s the CEO of her own marketing agency, Style My Biz , which specializes in beauty and lifestyle branding. She was born and raised in Southern California to second generation Mexican and first generation Colombian parents, but didn’t grow up speaking fluent Spanish with her immediate family. Instead, she went to the school of abuela – if you know, you kn...

In this episode, we chat with Carmen Blanco. A Washington D.C. native who now lives in South Carolina, she works for an agency that’s supported by the University of South Carolina whose whole mission is to increase the health incomes of the community. Basically, she trains healthcare workers to help them bridge clients to necessary resources.   Recently, Carmen was able to translate a webinar curr...

In this episode, we chat with Aimee Piña. She's a first generation Latina from Ecuador, who grew up speaking fluent Spanish, but her confidence eventually diminished as she grew up around her American peers. A recent graduate from Gallaudet University’s masters in speech pathology, Aimee wants to use her skills to help bilingual children who experience language learning delays. As a current Sp...

In this episode, we’re going to chat with Gina Marie Rodriguez. She's an actress and filmmaker based in New Jersey. She's Puerto Rican and Italian-American who, like us, didn’t grow up speaking fluent spanish. Gina shares her experience as a multi-cultural Latina who’s felt imposter syndrome when it comes to her Latinidad both onscreen and off. We dive into what it means to write or create...

Welcome to another new season of the Spanish Sin Pena Podcast! This time, we're going to focus on how Español appears in our careers and everyday lives. In this first episode, we'll get to know our new hosts Suzy Exposito and Liz Sanchez. They'll share their personal histories with pena, and their current language goals.  Suzy Exposito is an award-winning journalist and artist based in...

An adoptees journey of connection and letting go. Videographer and video strategist Kel Tracey shares how she’s been learning Spanish, connecting to her Mexican roots, and reimagining her ideas of what it means to be a Latina.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/0y1ArwiD2WZ   Connect with Kel: IG: @therealkeltracey Website: Arbez Films | Social Media Video Production & Strate...

Being between two cultures, feeling othered , and a sense of belonging in alternative music are a few things Emmy-nominated documentary film producer Jamie Rogers Caballero opens up about on today’s episode.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/rYXKG4nNqbm   Connect with Spanish Sin Pena : Website: Spanish Sin Pena IG: @spanishsinpena Tik TOK: @spanishsinpena

Our relationship with the Spanish language is, well, it’s complicated. Today, Ecuadorian-American author Paul Hlava Ceballos shares his relationship with the language, also he talks about his book banana , poetry, and chicha music. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/warEfnk6889   Connect with Paul: Website: Paul Hlava Ceballos IG: @paulhlava X/Twitter: @PaulHlava   Connect with Sp...

Raise your hand if you, like today’s guest, also had/have a grandparent you communicate with only in English and they respond only in Spanish? Today educator Jacquelyn Fabian shares memories of her abuela and how their relationship will always be the connecting thread to the Spanish language and Mexican culture. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/f8pXTk3pN8D   Connect with Spanish...

Poetry, storytelling, Shakira - Oh My! Storyteller Adrian Gaston Garcia aka AGG, shares how the poetry within Shakira’s music, the strong storytelling skills of his family and the intersection of his identities all influence his art.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/GTOpYbNkADE   Connect with AGG: Podcast: Los Bookis IG: @adriangaston.garcia Website: Adrian Gaston Garcia | Ins...

Reggaeton is not for everyone. What do you do when you don’t vibe with what’s popular? Event planner and video game nerd Zach Kuiland shares how he found his way to Spanish rock music and other resources that help him on his journey with the Spanish language.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/ZbEqlj23A7z   Connect with Spanish Sin Pena : Website: Spanish Sin Pena IG: @spanishsi...

Actor, writer, and podcaster Christopher Rivas shares part of his journey towards conscious, honest expansion in his work and life.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/NWNxQj4Nqjp   Connect with Christopher: Website: Christopher Rivas - Author, Storyteller, Actor IG: Christopher Rivas (@christopher__rivas) • Instagram photos and videos Podcast: Brown Enough (chtbl.com) Book: Brow...

Family racism, inequity within the Catholic Church, and elitism in the arts. Opera singer Marcelle McGuirk shares her experience finding peace and power navigating the parts of her life she loves most: family, faith, and the arts.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/QzebGIN7E32   Connect with Marcelle: Professional Vocal Artist -  www.marcellemcguirk.com Instagram: @soaringsopran...

Spiritual health is an integral part of our well-being. Folklorist Selina Morales shares how growing up in a tight-knit Puerto Rican family and working in their botanica has helped shape the work in art, activism, and advocacy she does today.  ***the translation of espiritismo is spiritism not spiritualism which I referred to it as in the episode, that was my mistake and I wanted to make sure that...

Nature is a powerful healer. Today we’ll hear from mycologist Laurena Re and her growth towards self-realization and how the study of nature not only helps soothe her soul but inspires her to educate the world about the gift of Mother Nature.   Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/wLIPfkmr6wd   Connect with Laurena: IG: @discomycete   Connect with Spanish Sin Pena: Website: Spanish...

Cycles continue until we are brave enough to break them. Today’s guest, Monica Casillas, shares how sometimes our children experiencing the same shame we’ve felt is that extra motivation we need to continue our journey of rediscovering ourselves. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/dNvl3Kao4Cw Connect with Spanish Sin Pena : Website: Spanish Sin Pena IG: @spanishsinpena

Believing you belong in the Latinx community and your life experience is just as valid as anyone else’s is the first step in both changing and creating narratives about the community. For Panamanian-American actor/playwright Gabby Wolfe being reminded she belongs in the room where things happen has fueled her to create, adapt, and reimagine the stories of the Latinx community through her work all...

Finding blessings in trauma, shifting the film industry forward, and remembering we will die are all on the table for today’s chat with LA-based Cuban-American producer Gabriela Gonzalez. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/nzDvTBddXp5 Connect with Gabriela: @Forwardmotionentertainment @onlyvans_llc Hey there! 🚐 | ONLYVANS (onlyvansrentals.com) Connect with Spanish Sin Pena : Webs...

Sometimes you grow up surrounded by the culture of your family's Latino heritage and other times you don’t know you’re part of the pack until you do a DNA test. That’s the truth for today’s guest, film student Michelle Carter. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/BV6cn0JSBox Connect with Spanish Sin Pena : Website: Spanish Sin Pena IG: @spanishsinpena

Today we get to share in gratitude, love, and laughs with las jefas de Spanish Sin Pena, Wendy Ramirez y Jackie Rodriguez. Holiday cheer, intentions for 2023, wacky secrets, and behind-the-scenes shenanigans are all in store for this bonus end-of-year treat. Grab a glass of coquito and celebrate the end of 2022 with Wendy and Jackie. Episode transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/JwDpKjqgkil...

Growing older for many people also means becoming more inquisitive and living bolder. Perhaps it means finally learning a skill or doing something you’ve always dreamed of doing – like learning Spanish. My guest today, podcaster and film student Sarah Cosper, shares that with me. We’ll hear how turning 40 is the beginning of new adventures and passions that lead to a further connection to her Mexi...

Fear can keep us safe AND keep us locked in our mental cages unable to do the things we long to. Today we’ll hear from Miguel Diaz-Lopez, a Nuyorican Ph. D. student in mechanical engineering, as he shares his journey of releasing the shame and fear around speaking his first language. Letting go of fear is his first step in communicating with his Puerto Rican relatives and inspiring those on the is...

When you sit at the intersection of two identities being able to hold both your reality and see the changes that need to be made are essential. Today we’ll hear how Violeta Donowa, a second-generation Panamanian and African American social worker in Detroit, navigates blackness in latinidad and discusses why she feels therapy is a tool none of us should leave unexplored. Episode transcript: https:...

Sometimes you can grow up with Spanish all around and still not “magically” know it. And when that happens it can really affect your confidence around the language. That’s what my guest today, copy editor Tess Espinoza, shares with me. We’ll hear how she finds connection with her Colombian heritage and how becoming a peer facilitator for Spanish Sin Pena has helped strengthen her confidence in spe...