Join your host, Ruben Mendive, as he compiles a list of writers Hollywood needs to know about. Each episode features an in depth interview with a writer on where they've been and where they're headed. Follow us @lalistapodcast on Instagram and Twitter!
The LA LISTA: A Latinx Writers Podcast is a captivating and enlightening podcast that offers a platform for Latine/x writers to share their stories, experiences, and insights. Hosted by Ruben, this podcast has gained recognition for its ability to extract the essence of each guest in a short amount of time. The dedication and skill exhibited in interviewing over 100 Latinx writers is truly admirable.
One of the best aspects of The LA LISTA is its ability to educate and inspire listeners. Each episode provides valuable insights into the writing process, as well as shedding light on different perspectives and experiences within the Latinx community. The guests are diverse in terms of their backgrounds, stages in their writing careers, and genres they specialize in. This variety allows listeners to learn from a range of perspectives and find inspiration in the stories shared.
Furthermore, Ruben's thoughtful approach creates an inclusive platform that serves not only amateur and professional writers but also non-writers who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Latinx experience. The podcast fosters a sense of community by showcasing the work of these talented writers and reminding Latinx individuals that they are part of a larger creative community.
While it is difficult to find any major faults with The LA LISTA, some listeners may find that certain episodes resonate more with them than others. Given the diverse range of guests and topics covered, it is inevitable that some episodes may not align as closely with individual preferences or interests. However, this can also be seen as an advantage since it exposes listeners to different voices within the Latinx community.
In conclusion, The LA LISTA: A Latinx Writers Podcast is an exceptional addition to the realm of podcasts. It not only celebrates the creative and cultural narrative journey of Latinx writers but also provides valuable insights into the writing process for aspiring writers or those interested in learning more about Latinx experiences. Ruben's dedication to featuring a diverse set of guests and his ability to create a captivating listening experience make this podcast a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration, education, and appreciation for Latinx storytelling.
A PROUD QUEER, AFRO-NUYORICAN WRITER, ACTOR, & PRODUCER Ronald Hinton shares growing up with his grandmother in NYC's Upper West Side, reclaiming pride in his roots through writing, launching his Queerty-nominated web series Natives to spotlight queer life in public housing, and building community through the Queer Voices: NYC Film Festival. Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A TEXAN PERUVIAN LATINA WRITER OBSESSED WITH FANTASTICALLY FLAWED WOMEN Alessandra Jara Del Castillo shares growing up between Peru and Texas, discovering screenwriting at UT Austin after starting in journalism, breaking into writers' rooms through Twitter and mentorship, channeling her love of messy family dynamics into her scripts, and gaining rare production access as an assistant thanks to generous showrunners. Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A MIXED-RACE WANNABE RAPPER DIY LATINO FILMMAKER Kahlil Maskati shares growing up half Puerto Rican and half Indian in New Jersey, finding his creative voice through rapping and filmmaking, getting staffed on So Help Me Todd after the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program, and how making his indie feature Do I Shock You Like Lightning? led him to direct a new Chicano detective short set in Bakersfield. Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A BOUNDLESS & LIMITLESS LATINX WRITER Yohanna Baez shares growing up Dominican in L.A., how a short doc on climate justice in her native DR sparked her storytelling path, her move to NYC to pursue the indie route, and turning All Night Deli—a genre-blending audio series about bodegas, designer drugs, and interdimensional portals—into a podcast, video game, and manga. Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A QUEER ECUADORIAN WRITER FROM QUEENS Sebastián Rea shares his journey from Ecuador to Queens, his hustle as a teen party promoter, working with Tribeca and Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions, and how the NBC TV Writers Program led him to his first staff job on Peacock's upcoming limited series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A BOSS BABE LATINX WRITER WHO BUILT HER OWN LADDER & HELPS OTHERS CLIMB UP IT Tawnya Benavides Bhattacharya shares what it was like growing up in a tiny farming town in Eastern Washington, how uncovering family secrets led her to embrace her Mexican roots later in life, why she founded the screenwriting school Script Anatomy, and how a relentless work ethic helped her staff on shows like Bel-Air, A Million Little Things, Ginny & Georgia, and My Life with the Walter Boys! Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A QUIETLY CHAOTIC GENRE-BENDING INDIGENOUS/CHICANO WRITER Elijah Sariñana shares his upbringing in California's Central Valley, his journey from progressive rocker to writing horror and sci-fi rooted in Mexican mythology, his reconnection with his Nahua heritage, and how a La Lista mixer landed him a gig on Nocturno: Tales From the Shadows, Sonoro's Danny Trejo–narrated horror podcast! Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A BIRACIAL BISEXUAL BIPOLAR LATINA WRITER Chynna Ladage shares her upbringing in Burbank with her Mexican and Indonesian family, her experience traveling the country while working on Catfish: The TV Show (MTV), her journey overcoming imposter syndrome to finally call herself a writer, and how she worked her way up from office PA to story editor on All American (CW)! Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A PROUD CHUNTI WRITER STRIVING FOR MEXCELLENCE In our Season 6 premiere, Omar Ponce shares his upbringing in L.A. and Hermosillo, Mexico, his journey from advertising to TV writing, the art of talking sh*t about loved ones at the ofrenda, and the significance of bringing "Mexcellence" into the mainstream on Lopez vs. Lopez! Instagram - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A DECOLONIALISH LATINX WRITER For our Season 5 finale, Kevin Madrigal Galindo shares his journey from his childhood in South San Francisco to Stanford University bioengineering student, food justice advocate, and chef, detailing how transformative experiences in nonprofit work inspired him to write poetry and publish his first chapbook, Hell/a Mexican! Season 6 of the pod starts back up March 2025! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A PROUD TEJANA HORROR-OBSESSED LATINA WRITER & DIRECTOR Marcella Ochoa shares her childhood in San Antonio, starting her career on the PR side of the industry, drawing writing inspiration from real life horror stories, and co-writing the social justice horror film, Madres, as part of Amazon's ‘Welcome to the Blumhouse' series! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A SPIRITUAL CHICANO HORROR SURREALIST LATINO WRITER Jose Vicente Chavez shares his super Catholic upbringing in Santa Fe, building a community of horror writers with The Latinxorcists, diving into the fears of TV/film creatives on his podcast ‘Shared Nightmares' and we preview our upcoming spooky writers mixer in DTLA! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A QUEER, MIXED, UNAPOLOGETIC, LIBRA WITH ONLY CHILD SYNDROME LATINX WRITER Kay Broch shares her rebellious childhood in West Michigan, her early start as a marketing maven, writing about the drag queens who raised her, and ‘She Said… Let's!' her podcast about shining a light on the women who've empowered us! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A SILLY LATINX WRITER Oscar Lemus shares his upbringing in South Florida, finding his love for sketch comedy at Florida State University, working his way up from TV support staff on multiple shows to staffing on the new season of 'Phineas and Ferb', and standing with the Animation Guild during their upcoming contract negotiations! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN EVER EVOLVING MIDWEST BORICUA WRITER Edith Rodriguez (ep. 38) returns to share her experience relocating from Dallas to LA with her family, taking a year off from her career to pursue screenwriting, how she staffed on the upcoming 'Dexter' series, and why it's important to question your nos! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast
A REBELLIOUS LATINX FILIPINX WRITER ON WHEELS Hernán Barangan shares his childhood in the Bay Area, dealing with cancer as a teen, how unprocessed trauma led to his feature documentary 'CANCER REBELLION' about teens diagnosed with cancer across all 50 states, and writing health narratives that ring true on Apple TV+'s LIFE BY ELLA! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A HELLA BLACK MEXICAN WRITER Ehcrama Marche shares her childhood in Montebello, CA, becoming a self-taught animator during the pandemic, how identity struggles inspired her hit animated web series 'Hella Black Mexican', and why vulnerability produces great art! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A MIXED MEDIA GENRE-BENDING LATINX WRITER Kristian Mercado Figueroa shares his childhood in Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rico, the inspiration behind his hit cyberpunk short film 'NUEVO RICO', the power imbalance between Puerto Rico and the USA, and his first feature film ‘IF YOU WERE THE LAST' streaming now on Peacock! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A LATINA MIAMI WRITER WITH A BITE Aitch Alberto shares her childhood in Miami while living on the run with her family, releasing her film ‘Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe', navigating an ever-changing TV/film industry, and how your ‘ugly' is your superpower! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A NUANCED MULTIDIMENSIONAL HILARIOUS F****T LATINX WRITER Thulio DaSilva shares his childhood as a Brazilian immigrant in Connecticut, experiencing the impact of gun violence following the Sandy Hook Massacre, our time together in The Disruptors TV Fellowship, and writing about queer & undocumented shame. Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A SOCIAL CLASS & SCI-FI OBSESSED LATINX WRITER Angela Treviño shares her childhood experiences as an immigrant from a Mexican border town, switching careers to become a TV writer, how she staffed on 'Kung Fu' on the CW, and divorcing your writing from the outcome! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A REMARKABLE BLACK BORICUA SCREENWRITER & ACTOR Abi Rich chats about her upbringing in Boston, how 'Twenties' on BET inspired her to pursue a career in TV, writing scripts about characters chasing wealth, and our adventures together during Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
THE MOST UNHINGED GAY LATINX WRITER Moises Mendez II chats about his childhood in the suburbs just north of NYC, his path to becoming a culture reporter for TIME Magazine, the current state of journalism on Twitter/X & beyond, and why it's important to hold Influencers accountable! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks How Grindr fuels crystal meth use YouTuber Alyx Weiss Went Dark for Months. Now She'd Like to Address Her Fans Why Are Social Media Companies Taking Ad Money From a Right-Wing Transphobic Doc? Men Think About the Roman Empire All the Time. Here's What Women Say They Think About Online Users Were Doxxed by Nicki Minaj Fans. Some Say They Won't Stop Speaking Out
AN IMMIGRANT LATINO WRITER WHO DOESN'T LIKE LABELS Eduardo Cisneros chats about his childhood in Monterrey, his writing career with Eugenio Derbez, the transition from working in Mexican TV to Hollywood, and embracing bilingual audiences when co-creating ‘Acapulco' on AppleTV+! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A LATINA WRITER WITH A DARK SENSE OF HUMOR BUT A BRIGHT FUTURE Victoria de la Concha chats about growing up on Long Island, how catholic school trauma has influenced her screenwriting, being fresh to LA & grad school during the pandemic, and our time together in the 2023 NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A NEUROTIC LATINX WRITER Mike Diaz talks about his childhood in central Florida, his transition from working in unscripted to scripted TV, writing for procedurals like Magnum P.I. & NCIS: Hawai'i, and the current Hollywood contraction in this post-Peak TV era! @mikediazfilm Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A DOPE ASS AFRO-LATINA WRITER Ranada Shepard talks about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, being born to a Cuban family & adopted by a Black family, going from nursing student to TV showrunner, and crafting the upcoming Netflix ‘Good Times' animated reboot! Instagram & Twitter/X - @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN ILLITERATE LATINX WRITER We chat about growing up in South Gate, CA, her unconventional college path to filmmaking, her thesis film 'The Letter' starring Xochitl Gomez, and her experience making 'Kid Ugly' for McDonalds's #SpotlightDorado contest! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A GLASS HALF-FULL OPTIMIST LATINX WRITER We chat about his childhood in Miami & Honduras, struggling creatively as an LA actor before turning to screenwriting, living a happier existence in Austin, TX, and writing ‘At Midnight' on Paramount+! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A PLEBE GOING TO THE EAST COAST LATINX WRITER We chat about his childhood in LA's South Bay, going from business degree to studying journalism at USC, what inspired his LA Times article about a queer vaquero bar, and leaving LA behind for the East Coast! https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2022-10-27/club-tempo-in-los-angeles-celebrates-queer-vaqueros Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN AFRO-LATINA MULTI-PASSIONATE MULTI-HYPHENATE WRITER We chat about her childhood in NYC, how she built up the confidence to pursue writing/acting full-time, breaking in as a staff writer on an NBC comedy, and lessons learned from starring in Grand Crew on NBC! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN EMPATHETIC BLACK DOMINICAN WRITER-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER Who Uses TV & Film to Explore the Psyche Behind What It Means to be Human Amazing chat about growing up in the South Bronx, his unconventional film education, coming up through the advertising world, and his experience directing commercials & live performances! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A GUATEMALAN AMERICAN COMEDY-OBSESSED WRITER We chat about growing up in the San Fernando Valley, the inspiration behind her comedy short MÁS LATINA, embarking on her first film festival run during the pandemic, and building a stand-up comedy scene in Lake Arrowhead, CA! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A SÚPER INTENSO EXPLORER LATINX WRITER With Questions We chat about his nomadic childhood, his experience working as the Writer's Assistant on HBO's Euphoria, we mourn the loss of 'The Gordita Chronicles' and breakdown the TV support staff hustle! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A WILDLY CHAOTIC CHICANA WRITER We chat about calling Texas home, how finding early success on social media led her to the LA comedy scene, writing on TV shows with TBD release dates, and challenging the current state of Latinx representation in media! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A MEXICAN ENOUGH FUNNY ENOUGH COMEDY WRITER We talk about splitting his childhood between LA & his family's Latino nightclub in Fresno, how he got his start working on Disney Channel sitcoms, and writing for ACAPULCO on AppleTV! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN EMPATHETIC SWEET BUT FEISTY MEXICAN AMERICAN STORYTELLER WHO BELIEVES IN MAGIC We chat about growing up on the Tijuana-San Diego border, how brain surgery at 18 pushed her into the arts, getting her start working in reality TV, and the journey to writing on 'Home Economics' on ABC! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A RADICAL BROWN F****T FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO Latinx Writer We had a fun chat about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, the ‘war of art' in our consumer culture, their hit web series ‘Brujos,' and the journey to writing on THE CHI on Showtime! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN AFRO-BORICUA WRITER-DIRECTOR WITH A SPIRITUAL BEND We chat about growing up in NYC & Miami, getting her start as a TV director's assistant, lessons learned while creating digital content for Buzzfeed's Pero Like, and her latest short film from the LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship with Netflix! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A QUEER HORROR-OBSESSED DRAG-LOVING BROOKLYN-BORN PUERTO RICAN Writer A fun chat about growing up in Brooklyn, the NYC playwright hustle, juggling multiple timelines on Freeform's Cruel Summer, and going from staff writer to signing an overall deal with Amazon Studios! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A DAUGHTER OF THE BRONX RELENTLESS AF Latinx Writer We talk about her childhood in the Bronx & Dominican Republic, how leaving LA led to her first staff writer job, our shared love for Judy Reyes, and working on the new scripted podcast, Sisters of the Underground! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A FUNNY IMMIGRANT Latinx Writer We talked about his upbringing in Colombia, moving to NYC to pursue a career in comedy, finding humor in immigration struggles, and writing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A "MORE THAN JUST LATINX" Latinx Writer We talked about growing up in South Florida, how she rose up the ranks on 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend', going from staff writer to show creator with 'Diary Of A Future President', and the importance of representing girlhood on TV! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A QUEER MEXICAN WRITER WHO LIKES TO BIDI BIDI BOM BOM AND WEAR GLITTER We chat about growing up in Mexico & Central CA, getting his start writing for ‘American Crime' on ABC, lessons learned from the release of ‘Selena' on Netflix, and Astrolucha, his new NFT venture designed to fund indie creators! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A BAY AREA BORN & RAISED CHINGONA Latinx Writer Mom We had a fun chat about growing up in the Bay Area, getting her start writing on Sons of Anarchy, finding a home in Hollywood with VIDA, and her latest work on Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A FIRST GEN ARGENTINE-AMERICAN MAMACITA Latinx Writer We had a fun chat about growing up in the Bay Area with activist parents, being a working mom in Hollywood, her experience writing for Close Enough on HBOMax, and her new short film, MAMA RETREAT! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A DISRUPTIVE RULE-BREAKING MEXICAN AMERICAN Latinx Writer We talked about growing up in an Arizona border town, his new comedy short about a cis man experiencing an unwanted pregnancy, screening a film about reproductive rights at this time, and activism in filmmaking. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks Note: We're two cis men talking about abortion so I'm sure everything we said wasn't perfect. We tried our best to unpack the misogyny and patriarchy behind these bans but the layers go deep. Our point remains that abortion should be legal and freely available to everyone who needs or wants one.
A CUBAN AMERICAN LATINO WRITER Who Escaped Being a Lawyer We talked growing up in Tampa, going from DreamWorks lawyer to Disney screenwriter, lessons learned from the cancellation of Promised Land on ABC, and the writing inspiration behind ‘Father of the Bride' on HBO Max! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
A CRAZY AMORCITA CHICANA LATINX WRITER A fun chat about growing up in San Diego, going from CBS Page to television writer, using joy & humor to send a message on ‘Saved by the Bell' and her new adventure in South Africa! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
AN UNDOCUMENTED Latino Writer FROM SOUTH JERSEY Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lalistapodcast Music: Arriba Mami - Jingle Punks
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