LatinXYZ

Latino entrepreneurs—we need to stop hiding. In this episode, we chat with journalist and PR expert Marta Isabel Ramirez about why getting on camera matters more than ever. Whether it's fear, perfectionism, or not knowing what to say, Marta breaks it all down and shares practical tips—like the now-iconic 45° selfie angle—to help you show up with confidence and authenticity. If you've been putting off video content or public speaking, this is your sign to start today. No fancy gear needed—just your phone, your story, and a little courage.

Running a business is tough—especially in uncertain times. With economic shifts, funding freezes, and rising costs, Latino entrepreneurs need a solid game plan to keep their businesses strong. In this episode we have Manny Cosme, founder of CFO Services Group, about how to plan ahead, manage financial risk, and make smart decisions when the future feels unpredictable. From forecasting strategies to free resources that can help, this episode is packed with practical advice to keep your business moving forward—no matter what comes next.

As the Latino population and economic influence grow, so do efforts to downplay our contributions and culture. In this episode, we talk with Dario Collado from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation about the political and cultural shifts affecting Hispanic heritage, why some want to mitigate our influence, and what we can do to ensure our history and impact aren't ignored. From policy changes to media representation, they explore what's at stake and how unity can help preserve and strengthen Latino identity in the U.S.

In this compelling episode of The Chancleta Generation Podcast, we speak with author Dennis Garcia to uncover the untold stories of Latina immigrants whose strength and sacrifice helped shape America. From enduring harsh conditions in railroad labor camps to paving the way for future generations through education and hard work, their resilience is a testament to the power of community and perseverance. Their struggles and triumphs still resonate today, as many Latino immigrants continue to face similar challenges in pursuit of a better life. It's a conversation about history, identity, and the legacy of those who refused to be forgotten.

Money is on everyone's mind as we head into 2025, and this episode is here to help you get a jump on it. We're talking with Lyanne Alfaro of Moneda Moves about the financial moves Latinos need to watch out for next year. From smart business hacks to cut costs to navigating cash-flow crunches, we're covering it all. Whether you're growing a side hustle or a burgeoning business with big goals, this episode will have you rethinking your strategy.

Elections are over, and the Latino community is feeling all kinds of ways—disappointed, indifferent, or just plain checked out. In this episode, we chat with Rafael “Ray” Collazo from UnidosUS about what's behind the disengagement, the lessons from this election, and how we can reignite hope and action. From overlooked priorities to collective power, this conversation is about charting a new path forward together.

Why does it feel like we're stuck carrying the weight of our ancestors? In this episode, we team up with non-profit and organizational development expert Lydia Sierra, to unpack the generational trauma Latinos face and how it's shaped our lives, from how we live to how we parent. From breaking toxic cycles to finding healing through self-love, it's a journey of growth we're taking together. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode tackles tough topics like abuse and trauma.

Continuing our series on communicating with Latinos and the different lenses we see that topic through, this time we're going to be looking at it from the social aspect, which is also an aspect we work with a lot at Moira Studio. And its not "social justice" or "DEI", that's why with us is Laura Camila Rivera, a Puerto Rican marketer specialized in communicating with marginalized communities. She's now using it to not just advance different missions, but also to advance bottomlines. Find out how she's doing it on this episode.

Latinos love our fútbol (soccer) and baseball - but how about other sports? Well, they've been doing a great job at attracting new hispanic audiences through different marketing strategies and have seen their bottomlines grow exponentially. With us in this episode is Laura Estefeen, an athlete turned sports marketer specialized in communicating with latinos who will give us some insight into how they've been successful at attracting latino audiences and how and why more brands need to start doing the same right away.

A staggering amount of latino students are now in schools and universities, but even if there are more of us in the school system, racial tensions continue to be an issue. In this episode we have an expert in racial education in American public schools, Dr. Laura Chávez-Moreno and we'll take a look into what's happening now, how schools can create a safe and welcoming space for Latino students, and what can we do as a community so our kids make the most out of their education in schools. A must listen for all Latino parents out there.

Running a business is hard! As many of you know. This is why having the right tools at your disposal is essential, including mental health tools. In this episode, Gina Davis-Navarro will share with us the tips and tricks she learned from being a consultant for Big Corp and how she translated those into her own business. Then Clemencia and her will do a deep dive into how each of them started their business, run their business and stay sane while doing it.

Latinos are the demographic that creates the most businesses at this moment, however, we have the least access to resources and funding. Well, we're here to change that! In this episode, Clemencia and fellow entrepreneur and marketer Ana Carolina Salazar from Bold Hispanic Marketing talk about what they wish they had known when they started their businesses, how to stay sane, and how to prepare Latinas for the bumpy road of owning a business. We have some very important nuggets of wisdom both on the operational side as well as the mental health one. If you or someone you know is starting a business this is a must listen!

One of the many evolving aspects of Latino culture is the arts - music, dance, literature, poetry, visual, all of those beautiful things that we have carried from our countries, and now we apply our own flavor in this one. It's in our opinion one of the ways in which we define our identity, therefore we should fight to preserve them and honor them. To do that, more Latino events need to happen and more Latino artists need to be supported. With us today is Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, the CEO of IBA Boston, an organization that has been pushing independent and local Latino artists for the past 50 years. She'll be sharing the challenges, the beauty, and the importance of preserving Latino culture in the US for community building, and for our arts not to disappear into the night.

Soccer is immensely popular in Latin America and really everywhere, it's the most-watched sport in the world. And the US is trying to come to the sport's world stage. But there's a serious lack of representation by Latinos in the national teams. To unpack all this our guest Harold Palacios, a former soccer player who's been part of FIFA and CONCACAF, and also a fellow Colombian. We'll take a deep dive into not just the systemic barriers but also the mental barriers we've been facing that keep our kids from finding success in "El juego bonito". Very excited about this episode!

Unless you live under a rock, you know that we have a presidential election coming up this year, and it's extremely important that Latinos vote, and that they vote for those that will really work for them. So to help us unpack all the ins and outs of the past 4 years and the upcoming 4 is our dear friend and political advisor Kristian Ramos. We'll be giving a not usually seen behind-the-scenes look at Latino sentiment, why we need all of us to come together, our frustrations with the parties, and of course, our strong opinions about everything! For a calzón quitao convo about the presidential election, look no further.

This is a very special and personal episode. Moira Studio, our production agency recently partnered with 10x10 Studios to produce a series of videos about the not-so-talked-about aspects of our shared Latino experience. The result? So many unexpected off-camera conversations, healing, and much more. In this episode Carlos Bido, founder and CEO of 10x10, and Clemencia discuss the journey to creating this series, the mental obstacles of revealing the fear and vulnerability of our true selves to others, having tough conversations, and of course, all the technical and creative aspects of a production of this scale. For anyone interested in hearing what goes behind the scenes when creating an advertising campaign, and for all Latinos/as/es in the production field, we see you, this is for you.

Science, tech, engineering and medicine have been careers that have been notoriously lacking in diversity, especially when it comes to the Latino community. There are cultural, economic and systemic reasons for it, but the important thing is - what's being done to fix it? Joining us in this episode is Dr. Laura Castillo-Page who leads the diversity and inclusion department for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and she shares with us what it takes to level the playing field for our communities to grow in these industries and why diversity in the science fields it's so important. Some of the most difficult and dire issues the world is facing now will require the best minds to come together to solve them, and it will take all of us to get this done.

We hear you parents, raising kids is already challenging enough, and now you have to teach them Spanish? Our guest today, colleague and friend Ramón Nieves is here to give all parents tips and tricks on how to make it easy and fun for you and your kids. We also talk about the underlying mental and emotional blocks and stress parents and kids can experience around the topic of speaking (or not) Spanish and ways to reprogram them. A must-listen for Latino/a/x parents!

Building a career is already hard as it is, and according to statistics, it's even harder for Latinas. One of the first steps to climbing corporate a ladder, growing a business, or landing a dream job is to build a great network around us. But how do we do that when we're 1st generation immigrants, have kids or have an accent? Joining us is Migdalia Figueroa, President & General Manager of Telemundo in Orlando. Tampa and Fort Myers, who will share with us her inspirational stories of how she went from not speaking English, to rising up to be an award-winning executive through building a great professional network around her. Some great nuggets in here!

Menopause. Yes, something half of the world's population will go through, has been the subject of myths, misconceptions, misinformation, jokes, and many not-so-good things. In this and the previous episode, we have Dr. Paty Bautista joining us, who will give us the actual lowdown on what this stage means for women. We're also joined by Karina Barilla from La Casita, who has worked with countless Latinas to help them navigate the mental and emotional impact of what our culture and society have done around this topic. Then, we'll talk about how to challenge these views, how to heal, and how to create a world where this is no longer a source of taboo or shame.

Menopause. Yes, something half of the world's population will go through, has been the subject of myths, misconceptions, misinformation, jokes, and many not-so-good things. In the next 2 episodes, we have Dr. Paty Bautista joining us, who will give us the actual lowdown on what this stage means for women. We're also joined by Karina Barilla from La Casita, who has worked with countless Latinas to help them navigate the mental and emotional impact of what our culture and society have done around this topic. Then, we'll talk about how to challenge these views, how to heal, and how to create a world where this is no longer a source of taboo or shame.

Changes can be scary, and many of us may not even know where to start. Between compounded challenges, cultural mental obstacles and a lack of support, many Latinos and Latinas may not be taking the first step that may be taking them to new heights. Our guest Glenda Lee has worked with hundreds of Latinos that are ready to make a shift in their lives and she shares her knowledge with us. Let's make it happen people!

Affirmative action is gone, and with it has come fear as many of our youth, Latinos of all ancestries will be affected. Our guest, Dr. Aisha Cort, assistant professor at Bucknell University joins us on this episode to share the experiences her students and families are going through. Together we discuss how out of fear we can also create action, and the steps we can take to help the youth of our communities have the opportunities and experiences they deserve.

Latinas feel the pressures of society about getting older just like any other woman, but there are some cultural aspects of our community that make us react in different ways. In this episode Clemencia and Ceci reflect on their own experience of growing "young", have some thoughts about going under the knife, and discuss how as women we can learn to look at that person in the mirror that keeps on changing with the years.

Mental health is a big topic of discussion when it comes to Latino youth, from cultural misconceptions to a lack of professional resources, the past few years have seen our kids in a deep crisis. But there are other solutions out there that can help, and they involve someone like you - our listeners. In this episode, we're joined by 2 members of Big Brothers Big Sisters to talk about how they work daily to get Latino/a/es kids on a path to being ok.

When we think about what makes us Latinos, our common language comes to mind. But what if we don't speak Spanish? In this episode, we discuss what language does in terms of our identity with our guest Dr. Aisha Cort, who has been studying the intricacies of language and how we communicate.  From shame around accents, or not understanding family members, to using language as a weapon or as an icon of pride, we talk about it all.

Between colorism and society's labels, multiracial Latinos/as/es have struggled to try to fit in. Claudia Thompson, a DEI specialist and multicultural Latina shares her story of trying to fit in while growing up, as well as how to look towards a future in which Latinos become more and more diverse.

As more Latinos start businesses and come into positions of power, they're beginning to experience a new and unique set of challenges that may be hard to navigate. To help us unpack this, Jordi Mullor, a seasoned entrepreneur joins us as we not only identify the hurdles we face, but also the steps we can take to help us succeed in our leadership journeys.

Ladies listen up! Salary or rates negotiation can be scary, and for women, many factors make it more so. In this episode, we speak with the amazing Ashley Paré, a negotiation and leadership coach, about why it's historically so difficult for women and Latinas to earn what we're worth. From our relationship with money to cultural and family dynamics to things engrained in our collective consciousness, we share our personal experiences to shed some light, so we can start creating change. 

We've been talking about many generational and cultural challenges us Latinos face here in the US, and this is a very important one. Because having a healthier relationship with our adopted country starts with having healthy relationships with each other and ourselves. Our guest today has been working for over a decade with the immigrant community, rooted in her own survivor experience. We'll be looking at this topic from a lens of growth and healing, you'll walk away with tips and things you can do every day to have healthier relationships.

We've been talking about many generational and cultural challenges us Latinos face here in the US, and this is a very important one. Because having a healthier relationship with our adopted country starts with having healthy relationships with each other and ourselves. Our guest today has been working for over a decade with the immigrant community, rooted in her own survivor experience. We'll be looking at this topic from a lens of growth and healing, you'll walk away with tips and things you can do every day to have healthier relationships.

Many Latinos in the US are feeling the effects of climate change more than other ethnic groups, and it shows - Latinos have been showing more interest in climate policy, green companies, and renewable energy. However, there's more work to do. In this episode, our dear Ceci, who's got an impressive list of academic degrees in environmental justice, will talk about why we should care about this topic, what to do as individuals, and how to move forward as a community to protect our planet - because there's no planet B.

Identity has become a buzzword in the digital advertising world as algorithms try to understand people better to tailor communications. But how does that translate to us Latinos? and how do we as consumers feel about how we're being advertised to? Ceci definitely has strong opinions about this! From chicken to fashion to clothes, we lay it all down.

Latinos are starting businesses at a record rate, especially Latinas. However, from funding to mental blocks, we're finding lots of challenges along the way. Clemencia and Ceci have their own entrepreneur adventures to tell, and tell them they will! This is a must for anyone thinking of starting a business or currently owning a business.

Latinos are starting businesses at a record rate, especially Latinas. However, from funding to mental blocks, we're finding lots of challenges along the way. Clemencia and Ceci have their own entrepreneur adventures to tell, and tell them they will! This is a must for anyone thinking of starting a business or currently owning a business.

Sometimes us Latinos feel like we're swimming against the current, no matter how hard we try, things just feel exhausting and impossible. This is a very personal episode for both of us, in which we take some internal deep dives into times when we felt things were really hard, where the feelings are coming from, how to heal as individuals and a community, and how we've come through the other side. 

Sometimes we Latinos feel like we're swimming against the current, no matter how hard we try, things just feel exhausting and impossible. This is a very personal episode for both of us, in which we take some internal deep dives into times when we felt things were really hard, where the feelings are coming from, how to heal as individuals and a community, and how we've come through the other side. 

Opinions… like belly buttons, we all got one right? They are the root of many discussions at the dinner table, work, and social media. When it comes to Latinos, where misinformation channels are running amok, it's becoming a source of division and indifference. Join us as we discuss what to do when someone's got a stinky one, because it won't be the first or last time it happens.

Homeownership is such a huge step for many people, and it's something that many women, especially Latinas have many challenges with. We have cultural, emotional, and financial things to deal with when it comes to buying property, but we believe in you, you can do it - even if you're undocumented! To discuss how to break down these barriers we have a very special guest - Gloria Escobar, who works with the Latino/x community to help them achieve their dreams through financial planning and loans designed just for them.

Generational wealth has been a buzzword for some time, but what is it really? and can Latinos/as/x/es build it? Our special guest, Lucia Caldera is back with us to dispel any myths about putting our family's money to work and our mental and cultural obstacles around money. Because our communities have worked hard enough already, it's time to see better results, build something we're proud of, and move forward.

Many of us are guilty of just putting the money in the bank and letting our partners handle the rest. Well, we're here to get you started on changing that pattern and you take more control of your finances! In our discussion will be our special guest and financial advisor Lucia Caldera, to talk about beating the mental blocks to financial empowerment, where to learn more about investing and other important financial stuff, and also how to feel more comfortable talking about money and putting your money to work for you. 

We're sure you all noticed we recently rebranded the podcast - why? Well, glad you asked! Because in this episode we go over the reasons and the journey of how we are now the Chancleta Generation podcast. Also, we have some exciting developments of where we're taking this podcast - all with your feedback and you in mind! It's so good to be back, in a new format and with fresh topics.

Latinx have historically had the lowest voting turnout - will 2022 change that? I guess we'll have to see on 11/9, but for now, we have Nery Espinosa back with us to discuss some of the reasons why we vote less than other demographics, and why it's so important to do it this year. If you're on the fence about voting, listen to this episode.

As of 2020, approximately 62 million people identifying as Hispanic/Latino live in the U.S. Heading into the midterm elections, some 35 million are eligible to vote. We connected with Catheryn Chacón and Tannya G. Romero, co-founders of the community group Latinas413 - an organization dedicated to igniting the collective power of the Latinx community in Berkshire County, MA - to talk about how members of the community who are not able to vote yet, either because they are not too young or are still on their path to naturalization, are engaging civically and politically. Join us to hear some powerful examples of civic participation! 

Democrats have been drumming up a lot of excitement around passing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In this episode, Nery Espinosa, vice president of NEWCO Strategies and a tireless champion for Latinx, helps us unpack what the bill is, how it's going to benefit our communities, and why we need more legislation like this passed in the near future.

¡EN ESPAÑOL! For my spanish speaking peeps, en honor al mes de la Hispanidad, hemos hecho un episodio en español. La justicia en la comunicación es algo que nos apasiona, así que hablaremos de algunas cosas que no vemos mucho en los medios, porque ya saben - el que no llora...no... Votar es crucial en este año, así que explicaremos por qué es importante que votemos, cómo registrarnos para votar, y los logros en legislación que hemos logrado este año. Si quieres media hora condensada de información útil acerca de las elecciones, aquí la tienes.

What does it mean to "belong" to a place? Is it defined by you? or the people around you? This question has been asked consciously and unconsciously by many Latinx in the US, whether they're immigrants or American-born. We explore the topic of belonging with someone who has looked at it from academic and personal angles - Natalia Molina, award-winner author of the book "A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community". Through her grandmother's and many others' eyes Natalia has studied the path Latinx have taken (and still are on) to belonging as Americans.

When Latinas sit at the table, decisions are made with equity and justice in mind. But don't take our word for it, special guests Helen Torres from HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality and Cynthia Moreno from USC Equity Research Institute just published a report that proves it. So how can we get more of us at those tables? Maybe you'll be surprised, maybe not, but there's one key thing that harnesses Latina power. Find out with us.

Hot summer huh? Well, farmworkers around the US, a grand majority Latinx, are feeling the heat, with fatal results. Many of us tend to brush off the consequences of climate change, but the reality is this is just the beginning, and it's a symptom of many more things to come that will affect all of us. To discuss the consequences and action points of this issue, we have a special guest, Tom Philpott, the food and agriculture correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Perilous Bounty: The Looming Collapse of American Farming and How We Can Prevent It. 

The numbers don't look good right now for Latinx's mental health. The division and hate that we've been experiencing are causing alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and fear for the future. In this episode we shed some light on the issues, talk about possible solutions, and of course - what we can do as a community to heal and move forward.

A very personal and emotional episode for both of us, as we still grieve over the Uvalde, Buffalo, and the countless other mass shootings that have plagued our country. The odds of gun violence are not in our favor as Latinx, and we have much to lose. Here we'll discuss the many aspects of this very divisive subject, and what can we as regular citizens do to protect our communities.