Ep 100: Cuídate - Celebrating a Century of Stories
Join us in celebrating a monumental moment - the 100th episode of the Paseo Podcast! Over the past four years, we've embarked on an incredible journey, dedicated to spotlighting stories by, from and about the Puerto Rican community. Since the beginning of our podcast project, it’s been a true honor to be part of our community's narrative.
This episode marks not just a milestone, but a tribute to the resilience, vibrancy, and diversity that define our community. Thank you for being part of our story!
Ep 99: The Young Lords w/ Cha Cha Jiménez & Jacqueline Lazú, PhD
Political activist, José Cha Cha Jiménez, who also held the positions of President & Chairman of the Young Lords, joins us for this episode along with Young Lords Scholar, Jacqueline Lazú, PhD. In this episode, we sit down for a rare, uninterrupted long-form interview about the The Young Lords, also known as the Young Lords Organization.
Ep 98: Do Puerto Ricans Play Hockey??? With Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association, Scott Vargas
Jessie Fuentes returns to the show to discuss the impact of Hurricane Fiona on Puerto Rico, the storm exposing a decades-deep issue, and how you can support disaster relief efforts.
Ep 97: Hurricane Fiona Exposes a Larger Issue in Puerto Rico
Jessie Fuentes returns to the show to discuss the impact of Hurricane Fiona on Puerto Rico, the storm exposing a decades-deep issue, and how you can support disaster relief efforts.
Ep 84: Chicago Boricua History: The 1966 Division Street Riots + Princess Nokia Drops PR Music Video, Puerto Rico’s Power Grid, San Juan PRIDE, Puerto Rico Status Act & More!
It's time for some Puerto Rican history! Long time listeners know these are some of our favorite episodes to do because they give us a chance to learn alongside you. This time, we’re focusing on the 1966 Division Street Riots in Chicago - the first riot in the United States attributed to Puerto Ricans.
BONUS: U.S. House Members Hold Press Conference on the Puerto Rico Status Act
In this bonus episode, we’re sharing a press conference from the House Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees insular affairs for the United States, including the affairs of Puerto Rico. What you'll hear in this press conference is a historic announcement from congressional members, who have supported two opposing bills that address Puerto Rico’s status.
The press conference will tell you more, but to give you a high level view, US House lawmakers announced today that they have come to a compromise and are working on legislation that, if passed, would trigger a binding referendum on Puerto Rico’s political status. The proposal would require Puerto Ricans to choose from three options: independence, statehood, or sovereignty in free association with the US. What makes this different from past referendums is that it would be binding - meaning that it would require Congress to act on the referendum regardless of the outcome.
Ep 83: Connecting Science with Community in Puerto Rico & Experiencing Microaggressions with Dr. Mónica Feliú Mójer from Award-Winning Aquí Nos Cuidamos
Mónica Feliú Mójer, Ph.D. joins the show today. She is a scientist, science communicator & project lead for the Aquí Nos Cuidamos, which is an award-winning community engagement project that promotes COVID-19 prevention and the well-being of vulnerable and marginalized communities in Puerto Rico through culturally relevant multimedia education, community engagement, science and solidarity.
We discuss her work on the Aquí Nos Cuidamos project, the realities communities in Puerto Rico face when trying to gain access to life saving information from the science community, and how she has navigated microaggressions as a Boricua in the science field.
Ep 82: Puerto Rico’s Ecological Wonders (Earth Day Episode)
Happy Earth Day! In this episode, we show love to Puerto Rico’s ecology with a ton of fun facts that show just how naturally amazing la Isla is. Press play to learn about PR’s national flower, how wet El Yunque can get, the way Taíno’s used Ceiba Trees, native and not-so-native animals, and a whole bunch more.
Ep 81: Who Wins & Loses in Puerto Rico’s New Debt Restructuring Plan? + Puerto Rico Blackout, Senate Abortion Bill, & JLo’s Engagement
Puerto Rico's newest debt restructuring plan has been met with harsh criticism, but you would never know it reading most of the mainstream media coverage of its approval. Marisol LeBrón and Sarah Molinari published an opinion piece in Truthout challenging the mainland press narrative that the plan is one of the best things to ever happen to Puerto Rico. In this episode, we take a deep dive into their article to look at who wins and who loses in this new debt plan. We also discuss their work with the Puerto Rican organizations, PR Syllabus and the Puerto Rican Studies Association.
Episode 80: Can Puerto Rico's Economy Survive Independence?
If Puerto Rico became independent, what would happen to its economy? Some fear Puerto Rico would self-destruct, but author Javier A. Hernández has a different take. In this episode, we sit down with Javier to discuss how a sovereign Puerto Rico could potentially be economically sustainable.
Ep 79: Shark Talk with Marine Biologist Melissa Cristina Márquez + Residente vs J Balvin, B.C. Fugitive Caught in Puerto Rico, PR Status News & More!
Puerto Rican marine biologist Melissa Cristina Márquez has appeared in places like Forbes, Good Morning America & National Geographic. Her next stop? Our podcast! Listen to this episode to learn more about Melissa's work, shark myths, the reasons shark research is lacking in Puerto Rico, obstacles preventing more Latinas from entering the STEM field & more!
BONUS: The State of the U.S. Colonies
For this bonus episode, we’re sharing a Facebook Live panel discussion from Power 4 Puerto Rico. The topic of discussion is on the State of the U.S. Colonies. Listen in to hear from leaders, scholars, and activists from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands on the major challenges these colonies face and how to be an ally in struggles for land rights, food sovereignty and more.
Ep 78: Migrations, Writing About The Puerto Rican Diaspora, Sofia Jirau, Service Worker Protests Continue
Author J.L. Torres discusses his latest book Migrations, Roberto Clemente being confronted with racism & writing about the Puerto Rican diaspora. Migrations is a collection of stories focused on selected moments in Puerto Rican history & their impact on everyday people. In the second half of the show, we break down the latest Puerto Rican News, including Sofia Jirau becoming the first Victoria's Secret model with Down Syndrome and the continuation of the worker protests on la Isla.
Ep 77: Puerto Rico’s Black Code Policy, Workers Protest in San Juan, Wepapalooza & More!
Have you ever heard of the Black Code policy that passed in the 19th century in Puerto Rico? Educator Nina Vázquez has studied this topic extensively & stops by the show to give us a little history lesson on this awful racist law. You won't want to miss out on the deep dive into a moment of Puerto Rico's history. Stay tuned for the end of the show when Joshua & Kim break down the latest Puerto Rico news, including the massive worker strikes happening on la Isla right now, the anti- privatization protest in Ocean Park known to many as Wepapalooza, and JLo's and Bad Bunny's recent magazine photoshoots.
BONUS: A Crushing Blow to Puerto Rico: A New Debt Restructuring Plan
For this bonus episode, we’re sharing a Facebook Live panel discussion from our friends at Power 4 Puerto Rico. The topic of discussion is Puerto Rico’s recently approved debt restructuring plan that the US colonial board - La Junta - imposed on Puerto Rico. We talked about the new debt restructuring plan and its faults in our last episode and took a deeper dive on our Instagram page - @paseopodcast - as to why this new plan could lead to devastating effects down the road for la Isla. But what we’re sharing today will provide a more in-depth unpacking of the details of the plan.
Ep 76: Olga Dies Dreaming - Exploring Puerto Rico’s Status Issues, Gentrification & Class Dynamics with Author Xochitl Gonzalez
Author Xochitl Gonzalez stops by the show! She has worn many hats - entrepreneur, wedding planner, tarot card reader. Now, people are loving her work as an author with her debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming. We cover a lot of ground in this interview, including the ways her novel explores Puerto Rico's status issues, class dynamics, gentrification, and the questioning of the American Dream. We also discuss the cast, which includes actors Aubrey Plaza and Jesse Williams, and a deleted scene from her upcoming HULU pilot based on Olga Dies Dreaming.
Episode 75: Sonia Manzano - Sesame Street, Alma’s Way, & Bringing Puerto Rican Culture to Children’s Television
Sonia Manzano has gone from teaching us our ABCs & 123s on Sesame Street to highlighting #PuertoRican culture in her new children's show, Alma's Way, on PBS. We sit down with the 15x Emmy winner and accomplished author to discuss Alma's Way, her early experiences as one of the first Latinas on TV, Willie Colón visiting her home as a kid, and what being Puerto Rican means to her.
Episode 74: Are More Young Puerto Ricans Favoring Puerto Rico Independence?
How are young Puerto Ricans changing in their views on Puerto Rico's status? Are they leaning toward independence, statehood or keeping the current common wealth status? And - across age groups - where do the demographics fall or rise in support for PR's political parties? Insider Senior Reporter Gwen Aviles joins the show to discuss her recent reporting on this topic and researcher/MIT Undergrad Francisco Proskauer Valerio breaks down the available data to give us insight into the ideologic shifts occurring on La Isla.
Episode 73: The West Side Story Remake: Why Now?
Considering all of the stories coming out of Puerto Rico & by Puerto Ricans, why a remake of West Side Story now? In this episode, we sit down with 3 Latina academics to reflect on & analyze the impact of the production over the past 60+ years.
Episode 72: What Does Elevating Puerto Rican Cuisine Look Like in Practice? - with Executive Chef Yari Vargas
We’re going to talk about Puerto Rican food in this episode. The underlying theme in our conversation surrounds the question - Is Puerto Rican food healthy? And by that we mean...how do we think about our food? Do we only look at it as fast food? Why do we eat the food we eat today? Are we ignoring other parts of our ancestral history in trying to maintain what we feel is the “right way” to make Puerto Rican food today? And - are we challenging ourselves enough to think of different ways that elevate the way Puerto Rican cuisine is presented without losing that same great flavor?
Today we welcome Yari Vargas - executive chef and owner of Casa Yari in Chicago - to discuss these questions and more. We’re also going to hear about her journey to becoming a small business owner, what being Puerto Rican and Honduran means to her, and her Puerto Rican food recommendations for people who want to be a bit more health conscious ahead of the holiday dinner season.