What It’s Like To Be Here

In this episode of What It’s Like to Be Here, I sit down with longtime friend and community leader Heidy Mendez Grimaldo. Heidy shares her incredible journey from arriving in Chicago as a seven-year-old immigrant from Guatemala to becoming a "powerhouse" of community service on the city's Southwest side. The conversation dives deep into the origins of her nonprofit, A Blessing Hand , which sparked...

In this lively and personal episode, I sit down with two of my closest friends, Roho Garcia and Ricardo Gonzalez, to reflect on how our paths first crossed and what sparked the creation of EXPO Collective. We revisit the journey of building a collaborative community of over 30 artists, and talk honestly about the inspiration, challenges, and lessons learned from a project that, while no longer act...

In this episode of What It’s Like To Be Here, I sit down with spoken word artist and poet Luis Tubens—also known as LoganLu—for a conversation rooted in art, identity, and community. We explore his life in Pilsen, how he turned storytelling into a career as a tour guide and owner of Pilsen Public Art Tours , and the places poetry has taken him—both creatively and personally. Luis also shares his v...

In this episode, I sit down with Jose Alfredo Guerrero, a Chicago-based educator, musician, and vocalist whose voice you might recognize from across the Chicagoland area. I first met José about 15 years ago during a karaoke night—honestly, I noticed his voice before I ever saw him. Raised in La Villita and a graduate of DePaul University, José has built a reputation for his powerful performances,...

In this episode of What It’s Like To Be Here, I sit down with my dear friend Silvia Rivera — a leader in public media and a passionate advocate for community storytelling. From our early days working in Chicago media to her impactful work at Vocalo, Silvia has always been dedicated to uplifting voices and creating space for authentic narratives. We talk about her version of Chicago, how radio has...

In this episode, I sit down with Pablo Serrano, Cultural Worker here in the city of Chicago, for a deep conversation about what it's like to be here and how he sees himself and his role within the complex and dynamic society we're living today. Find Pablo on Instagram @PabloSerranoArt as well as @KombiChicago.   Follow us on  Instagram  at  https://www.instagram.com/whatitsliketobeherepod/   And o...

What happens when business becomes a vehicle for community change? In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Íñiguez, founder of Back of the Yards Coffeehouse , to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, and what he learned running for Alderman in Chicago. After ten years of building a successful neighborhood coffeehouse, Jesse reflects on influence, responsibility, and the work of uplifting the com...

Silvana Casas-Perez joins What It’s Like To Be Here for a grounded, thoughtful conversation about finding your professional path and staying intentional along the way. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Chicago Public Schools, Silvana shares how she arrived at social work, what keeps her rooted in the mental health field, and how motherhood has shaped her approach to care, boundaries, and p...

In this episode of What It’s Like to Be Here, I sit down with my longtime friend Lorena Diaz — an actor, Executive Director of Teatro Vista, and a familiar face on Chicago Med for over ten years. We talk about her recent autism diagnosis and how it’s reshaped the way she sees herself and her life. Lorena reflects on what it’s been like to finally have language for parts of her experience that didn...

In this episode of What It’s Like To Be Here, I’m joined by actor, producer, director, creator, mama, wife, and my hermana del alma, Wendy Mateo. What began as a writing assignment turned into a lasting friendship rooted in Latinidad and shared experience. Wendy reflects on what brought her to Chicago, how the city became home, and how her creative eye for storytelling evolved along the way. We al...

In this episode, I sit down with photographer and entrepreneur Abel Arciniega to talk about photography, Chicago, and what it really takes to build a business off your art. Abel shares his journey working city events, collaborating with organizations like the Chicago Fire, and photographing Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias at his record-breaking Dodger Stadium shows. We get into consistency, growth, and...

Find out what the podcast is all about.    Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/whatitsliketobeherepod/   And on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItsLikeToBeHere   Don’t forget to subscribe, comment and like the podcast! Find it wherever you get your podcasts!  APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-its-like-to-be-here/id1848903390   Spotify: https://open.spotify.co...

In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Torres, Associate Director at The Miracle Center on Chicago’s northwest side. We talk about growing up in Chicago, meeting at the University of Illinois, and how community has shaped our paths — especially as we realized corporate America wasn’t built for people like us. We also reflect on turning 40, redefining success, and building spaces rooted in connec...

In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Rosado, a Chicago-raised entrepreneur now based in Puerto Rico. Adrian has built programs and immersive experiences for first-generation college students, from local workshops to international experiences in locations like Puerto Rico, China, and the Philippines. We talk about what it’s been like to grow a mission-driven business, the importance of consisten...

In this episode, I talk with my friend and longtime creative collaborator, Norma Rios-Sierra — an artist, community organizer, and Chicago School Board member. We discuss her journey through Día de los Muertos art, including her altar at The Field Museum, and the impact of collective activism in our communities. It’s a conversation about art, ancestry, and building power together.   Source links:...

In this episode of What It’s Like to Be Here, I sit down with my cousin, Noel Perez-White — a native Chicagoan, writer, poet, and mother whose life is deeply intertwined with the city she calls home. We talk about what Chicago means to her, and how it shaped her. Noel also opens up about her experience as a teacher today — the challenges, the joys, and the complex realities facing educators in thi...

 In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Anita Ramirez, we talk about life on Chicago’s SE Side, raising bilingual kids, and keeping both her Mexican heritage and her husband’s Guatemalan traditions alive. Anita shares how speaking Spanish helps her connect with parents and why she sees her students as a rising wave of justice seekers through engineering. Connect with Clique Communications: 📧 Email...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Anita Ramirez to talk about her path into engineering — from studying mechanical engineering at UIC to becoming a community college professor. We get into how she almost pursued music, how she found her way into STEM, and the “what, where, and why” of her journey. Part 2 drops in two weeks. Connect with Clique Communications: 📧 Email: CliqueCommunications@gmai...

I sit down with my longtime creative partner Roho, an Ultra Creative from Joliet, Illinois. He’s a teacher, DJ, muralist, painter, and filmmaker currently working on his film Dibujo. We talk about our years with EXPO Collective, his passion for reading, creating safe spaces for his students, and how creativity drives his work and life. Follow him on Instagram at @RohoArte . Connect with Clique Com...

I talk with Lau Vee, a Creative from Little Village (La Villita), about the art that defines her neighborhood and how she found her place as a Creative Director. We also dive into her deep roots in the community — as a Scout Leader, volunteer, and resident — and how family and creativity shape her life. It’s a personal and heartfelt conversation with someone I’ve known and admired for years.   Con...

In this first episode, I sit down with my sister Caroline to talk about why I created this podcast — to share our stories as Latinos, as creatives, as community members — and why it matters now more than ever. We talk about storytelling, identity, and what I hope this space becomes: a place for honest, heartfelt conversations that reflect who we are and where we come from.   Connect with Clique Co...