LatinXperts

In this episode of the LatinXperts Podcast, Alfonso Ayala III, a doctoral student at UT’s Mexican American and Latina/Latino Studies department, engages in a conversation with Julio Salgado, a queer undocumented artist based in Los Angeles, California. Julio, who rose to fame for his 2012 “I am Undocuqueer!” artwork shares his journey as a queer, […]

Michael Hames-Garcia speaks with Stephen ‘Humble’ Mangual, a former prisoner who has become a national civil rights leader. Stephen shares his harrowing experiences in solitary confinement, the trauma of his early life, and his path to transformation through education, self-reflection, and community. Now a Justice Advocate Coordinator for Latino Justice–PRLDEF, Stephen discusses his work in […]

A conversation with self-taught photographer Fabián Guerrero: a queer, first-generation Mexican American born in Dallas, TX.  Fabián's work both reflects and is inspired by his upbringing as a first-generation immigrant and a queer brown individual; taking from fashion, film, poems, and music, the lifestyle and everyday survival, to shed light on his family's history and […]

“Writing Truth in Times of Fear” spotlights the MAL's first inaugural Writer-in-Residence mónica teresa ortiz. Ortíz talks with Karma Chavez, Chair of the Department of Mexican American Latina/o Studies, about the importance of land, Texas, as well as ethnic, racial, and queer identity to their creative practice. They also offer important insights for students wanting to pursue their […]

A conversation between Dr. Angela X. Ocampo and Dr. Angie Gutierrez about Proyecto Latino. Drs. Ocampo and Gutierrez discuss their research collaborative, its mission and bold ideas. They also discuss results from their survey of Latina/o/x Texans after the 2022 Midterm Election, and their ongoing efforts to better understand the political priorities, opinions and behaviors of Latinas/os/xs in the state of Texas and beyond. Dr. Angela X. Ocampo is an Assistant Professor in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Twitter: @angelaxocampo Dr. Angie Gutierrez is an incoming Assistant Professor in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Twitter: @ae_gutierrez_

In this episode, Dr. Daisy Morales-Campos talks with Dr. Bernadine Waller about how her participation in the Intersectional Qualitative Research Methods Institute for Advanced Doctoral Students (the Institute) has impacted her research and career trajectory. Intersectional Qualitative Research Methods Institute for Advanced Doctoral Students (IQRMI-ADS) website Dr. Bernadine Waller LinkedIn TEDx Talks: Hindered Help: African American Partner Violence Victims with Bernadine Waller

Being a Latino father is almost as hard as being a Latina daughter. Dr. Domino Perez discusses how her youth watching films with her father inspired her to write a book about the complex construction of Latino fatherhood in the cultural and geographic borderlands. Dr. Perez illustrates that sometimes slow methods of research are the most efficient uses of our time, our stories, and our lives.

In this episode, Karma talks with Drs. Julie Minich and Alison Kafer about their new Mellon-funded project, The Crip Narratives Collective. Drs. Kafer and Minich discuss The Crip Narratives Collective, a regular convening of students with disabilities, postgraduate fellows, faculty members and artists over a three-year period at UT Austin. The collective will build a network of academic mentorship for people with disabilities at UT Austin and beyond. Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer Radical Health by Julie A. Minich Crip Genealogies edited by Alison Kafer and Julie A. Minich

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with UT Professors Adela Pineda-Franco and Sarah Brayne about their new Mellon-funded project, Pido la Palabra: A Texas Prison Literature Project for Social Justice and the Literary Imagination. Professors Pineda-Franco and Brayne discuss the importance of prison education, and the value of creating Spanish and bilingual courses for incarcerated people. Resources / Related Links: Texas Prison Education Initiative: https://sites.utexas.edu/texasprisoneducation/

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with writer, Yasmín Ramírez about her new memoir, ¡Ándale, Prieta! A Love Letter to My Family, published by Lee and Low Books. Writer Yasmín Ramírez discusses why she published her memoir, the importance of the women in her life and telling their stories, and she offers advice for those who are thinking about writing their stories. Resources / Related Links: @YasminRamWrites www.yasminramirez.com www.leeandlow.com/books/andale-prieta

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with photographer Roj Rodriguez about his new book of photography, Mi Sangre, which will be out later this year from Hatje Cantz.  Photographer Roj Rodriguez talks about how we came to do the type of work he does, the meaning of his work, and the importance of media representation for Latinx/a/o people. Rodriguez's website: https://www.rojrodriguez.com Mi Sangre's website: https://www.hatjecantz.de/roj-rodriguez-8183-1.html

Rachel speaks with author, advocate and social entrepreneur Rudy Ruiz about his most recent neo-western horror novel, The Valley of Shadows (2022). Born in Brownsville and later graduating from Harvard University, Rudy shares how his fronterizo experiences shapes his writing, and the importance of community stories. Rudy Ruiz is an American author, advocate and social entrepreneur. The son and grandson of Mexican immigrants, Rudy Ruiz was born in Brownsville, Texas and raised along the US-Mexico border, living in Matamoros, Mexico for extensive periods of time. He did not speak English until he entered school at the age of five. Once in school, he excelled and dreamt of growing up to be a writer, an entrepreneur, and a contributor to the wellbeing of immigrants and minorities, as well as to positive relations between diverse cultures and nations. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Harvard. Ruiz now resides in San Antonio with his wife, Heather, and their two children, Paloma and Lorenzo. To learn more about Rudy and his other published works see, https://rudyruiz.com/ Dr. González-Martin is a Folklorist and an Associate Professor of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies. She is an active affiliate faculty member of the Center for Mexican American Studies, Women and Gender Studies, and the Latino Media and Arts Program at the University of Texas. She holds a PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University, where she completed her dissertation titled, "Dreaming in Taffeta: Imagining an American Quinceañera" (2014). Her M.A. explores Mexican, Mexican American, and Chicano masculinities and verbal dueling among Mexican descent men through artistic insults known as "albures". She is a Woodrow Wilson Early Career Fellow. She does research across the United States, and Mexico. Resources / Related Links: https://crimereads.com/rudy-ruiz-neo-western-border/ This Episode was Mixed and Mastered by Rayna Sevilla

A conversation with Houston-based artist Angel Lartigue about the use of scientific methods in performance art and about the relationship between the land of South Texas and her own body, as well as other’s.  Angel Lartigue’s art practice thus far has been brief (about five years), but it’s also very rich. We sit down to […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with Dr. Lydia Contreras about being a Latina immigrant in chemical engineering and the importance of working to make campus a more inclusive and equitable place.  Dr. Lydia Contreras, associate professor, holder of the Jim and Barbara Miller Endowed Faculty Fellowship in Chemical Engineering, and Managing Director of Diversity […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with Dr. Lilia Rosas of Casa de Resistencia Books and Gianna LaMorte of UT Press about how supply chain issues are impacting academic book publishing and sales.  Dr. Lilia Rosas, director of Red Salmon Arts, which houses Casa de Resistencia Books, and Gianna LaMorte, Assistant Director of Sales and […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez talks with Dr. Maria Cotera about her Chicana Por Mi Raza Digital collection.  Dr. Maria Cotera, co-founder of the Chicana Por Mi Raza Digital collection discusses why she created it and the kinds of materials it houses. She discusses the importance of recording a history of Chicana feminist praxis and […]

A conversation with Michael Anthony García, a multidisciplinary artist and a key figure in the Austin Latinx art scene, about his curating and art practice. We also discuss the possibilities of art and about world-making through art, both, for the present and future. Michael Anthony García is a multidisciplinary artist and curator based in Austin […]

In honor of Down Syndrome (DS) awareness month, Latinx parents share their experiences to help other new parents or caregivers navigate the journey after their child receives a DS diagnosis. This episode is full of wisdom from parents who have a child with Down Syndrome. These perspectives are a whole lot better and relatable than […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez interviews Dr. Miguel Pinedo about his research into how the deportation of others influences the substance use of US citizen Latinos. Dr. Miguel Pinedo discusses a recent research paper published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, in which Dr. Pinedo investigates how the deportation of others influences the substance […]

As the fall season is upon us, nature is in transition, and so are the worlds of the living and the dead. Dr. Rachel Gonzalez-Martin shares listener stories of the supernatural, and asks: Why are stories of the supernatural so popular in Latinx communities? Resources:Check out some other podcasts that focus on the Latinx and […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez interviews Dr. Carmen R. Valdez about her longitudinal research on mixed-status families. Dr. Carmen R. Valdez discusses an article she published in the journal, Family Process, which looked at how Mexican immigrant adults and their children reacted emotionally to the events leading to the 2016 election. She explains why studying […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez interviews Professor Sandy Magaña about her research related to health disparities, health equity, and Latino children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Professor Magaña shares her research about some of the disparities Latino children and families face vis-a-vis white families both in obtaining a diagnosis and when a […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez interviews Dr. Rubén Parra-Cardona about his recent co-authored study about the importance of faith-based organizations in taking leadership roles in implementing physical and mental health care initiatives. Dr. Parra-Cardona discusses his recent work that advocates for the importance of faith-based organizations in taking leadership roles in implementing physical and mental […]

In this episode, Karma Chávez interviews Professor Nelly Salgado de Snyder about her recent study of stress among healthcare providers. Professor Salgado de Snyder shares her recent research that explores stress, anxiety, depressive symptomatology, and coping behaviors among healthcare workers and providers who serve underprivileged groups such as immigrants, refugees, people living in poverty, homeless, […]

In this episode, Dr. Karma Chávez interviews Professor Rogelio Saenz about his research documenting the impact of COVID-19 on Latinx communities in the US. Dr. Karma Chávez and Professor Rogelio Saenz discuss the reasons why COVID-19 has hit Latinx communities so hard and why that impact has been disproportionate. They also consider what can be […]

In this episode, Drs. Vanessa Errisuriz, Marisol McDaniel, and Alice Villatoro discuss how COVID-19 drastically impacted Texas Latinx college students' educational experiences, including ability and motivation to learn, academic outcomes, and financial stability. Changes in the structure of higher education from in-person learning to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have created additional […]

In this episode, Dr. Rachel González-Martin and Dr. Belem López discuss the intersections of gender, respectability, and mothers in how Latinx communities use words and terms related to madres. Resources / Related Links: Un Desmadre Positivo: How Jenni Rivera Played Music ( D. Vargas in Contemporary Latina/o Media: Production, Circulation, Politics edited by Arlene M. […]

In this episode of LatinXperts, Dr. María Cotera has a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of Latina/o Digital Humanities with Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura and Dr. Carolina A. Villarroel of the University of Houston and Arte Público Press. In this podcast, we discuss the importance of recovering, preserving, and sharing Latina/o cultural heritage through emerging […]

p1nkstar is, without a doubt, Austin’s Queer Pop Princess, and the tiara that she beautifully wears is a symbol of a lineage of diva pop stars that we have been grown up and danced along with. Yet her presence on the club scene is expansive in its ability to not only dismantle the gender binary […]

Not all language is created equal! In this episode, Dr. Rachel González-Martin and Dr. Belem López discuss how Latinx communities use expletives to show love and care to their closest friends.  Additional Resources:  History of Swear Words | Official Trailer | Netflix  9 Insults Only Latinos Use As Compliments  Dr. Rachel González-Martin is a folklorist and Associate Professor in the Department of Mexican […]

In the summer of 2019, Puerto Ricans rebelled and ousted their governor in what became known as the Verano Boricua. Dr. Marisol LeBrón explains the lessons learned. In this episode, Dr. Marisol LeBrón discusses her new book, Against Muerto Rico: Lessons From the Verano Boricua, which will be out in February 2021 from the Puerto […]

Following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, protests swept the U.S. and countries around the world. While people were taking to the streets and social media to say that Black Lives Matter, many reggaeton artists, particularly the genre’s biggest stars, were curiously silent. How do we explain this? Why does […]

Join Danielle Clealand and Victoria DeFrancesco Soto as they discuss how Latinos across the country voted in the 2020 election. They discuss turnout, state differences, political ground games and how a diverse set of voters helped to elect President-elect Biden. Our LatinXperts discuss how Latinos in different states voted this November and why we see […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted daily life for Texas college students, increasing feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression and reducing opportunities to engage in healthy behaviors. College campuses provide students regular access to mental health, food, and recreational services, but the reach of these services is currently limited. Strategic public health plans are necessary […]

In early November of each year, people of Latin American descent create ofrendas for their dearly departed loved ones. Dr. Rachel González-Martin helps us to learn about where this celebration comes from and where it might be headed in the future. In this episode, Dr. Rachel González-Martin discusses the origins of Day of the Dead […]

Over the past several weeks, leftist organizing and academic communities in places like New York, Madison, and Indianapolis have been dealing with the aftermath of revelations that some of the loudest and ‘wokest’ members of their communities, Jessica Krug, CV Vitolo, and Satchuel Cole were actually white people masquerading as black. This type of racial […]

Public opinion polls consistently report data by the categories of white, black, and Latino. This approach erases the experiences of Afro-Latinos, who reportedly make up nearly ¼ of the US Latino population. How do such polls miss the mark on Latino public opinion? What would it look like if Afro-Latinos were centered in Latino politics? […]

Many Latinxs, especially from younger generations, have come out strongly in support of the movement for Black Lives. For many, they’ve approached this activism from a model of Black-Brown solidarity. But where does this model leave Afro-Latinxs? In this episode we interrogate the question: what is wrong with those signs that say Latinxs for Black […]

The history of Latinx people in the United States is one marked by criminalization and police violence, yet efforts to address police brutality and repression are seldom understood as “Latinx issues.” How does anti-black racism and assimilationist tendencies within mainstream Latinx politics and media downplay the problem of police violence? How can a focus on […]

Dr. Belem López and Dr. Rachel González-Martin discuss how racist language can go unnoticed in Latinx families. Drawing on their own lives, they will share experiences of colorism and racist dichos (traditional sayings) from their childhoods spent in Texas and California. Belem LópezDr. López received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Texas A&M University in […]

The mass consumption of particular kinds of Latinx popular culture can play a role in the erasure of blackness and perpetuate a sentiment of anti-blackness in Latinx communities. How can we reverse the top-down movement of culture, which begins with cultural industries and trickles down to the consumers, and instead create cultural flow from below […]