The Pulso Podcast

The Pulso Podcast is back and we've made some changes — including our name. Welcome to IN Confianza (with Pulso)! Being Latino in the U.S. is complicated. We all know this, but there's often so much that we don't talk about. What if WE could be that space for those complex, sometimes private, conversations?Join us as we explore the ways Latinos live out our heritage. That messiness of being de aqui y de alla that only we understand.We're excited to be back and THRILLED to share more with you…In Confianza.

Hey Pulso fam, we've been sharing The Pulso Podcast as a free resource for 4 years now, and we want to keep it free and accessible. But we have people to pay and resources to source! If just 10% of our regular listeners started a $5 monthly donation this Giving Tuesday, that would be a BIG help in powering our work to bring YOU the Latino stories you're not hearing anywhere else. Can we count on you? Go to https://bit.ly/podcastmember to donate. Thanks for having our back, Pulso Fam. And happy holidays!

Hosts Patty Rodriguez and Erick Galindo return for an all-new season of the iHeart podcast, Out of the Shadows, this time to tell the story of the Dreamer Movement and the origins of DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. On the first episode of the season, they explore the many influences that led to former President Barack Obama's executive order. One theory dates back to the 70s and a guy named John Lennon. Welcome to Out of the Shadows: Dreamers as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network. Click here to listen to more episodes.

In 2010, Arizona republicans passed a law to ban a wildly successful Mexican American Studies program at Tucson High School. Administrators came into schools and pulled beloved books written by Latino authors off of the classroom shelves, but what they didn't expect is just how far the Latino community would go to defend the right to learn about their history. This Episode was produced & written by Charlie Garcia. It was edited by Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia & Julian Blackmore. The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada-Smith and Liz Alarcón. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Is it possible that many of us are stuck with the erroneous idea that poetry is boring or hard to understand? As we learn in this episode, poetry doesn't have to be dull or confusing. It can be funny and it can transcend stereotypes. Join me as we enjoy a poetry 101 refresher and an enlightening reading from Gabriel Dozal, a Latino poet you definitely didn't learn about in history class. This episode was produced and written by Maribel Quezada-Smith. Editing by Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and scoring by Julian Blackmore. The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada-Smith. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Since the last presidential election, there's been countless commentary about what's going on with some of our beloved Latino men and their swing to the right. In light of the Republican candidates filling the airwaves after the first debate, we invited two Latinos to the podcast for their take on why this trend is happening and what we can do to counter it. This episode was produced by Liz Alarcón. Editing by Jackie Noack and Charlie Garcia. Audio engineering, scoring, and mixing by Charlie Garcia and Julian Blackmore. The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada-Smith. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Today's episode is from our friends at Immigrantly. Pulso host Liz Alarcón guests on this episode to discuss the nuances of “Missing White Girl Syndrome”, and why white women are overrepresented in missing person cases, when the majority of missing people are people of color.You can find this episode on The Immigrantly Podcast "Ep-235 Missing Kids and The Media: Breaking the Biases"

When Colombian-American producer Charlie Garcia moved to France, he faced a big challenge... his favorite food, The Taco, was nowhere to be found. But while accidentally stumbling on a small shop called O'Tacos, he discovered that the French had put their own radical twist on his beloved Taco. And what followed would forever change his view on the meaning of Authenticity, Cultural Appropriation, and whether there can be such a thing as an "Authentic French Taco"This Episode was produced & written by Charlie Garcia, it was edited by Rough Cut Collective, with additional editing from Maribel Quezada Smith & Liz Alarcon. Audio engineering, scoring & mixing by Charlie Garcia with additional support from Julian Blackmore. The hosts of the Pulso Podcast are Liz Alarcon, and me Maribel Quezada SmithSpecial thanks to Manon Lelièvre, Alyosha Leveski, & Tsveta IvanovaFollow & continue the conversation with us on social media: @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

A growing number of Latino expats are seeking to rediscover their roots and forge new lives in Latin American and Caribbean countries. In this episode, we talk to three people about their life-changing decision to move away and leave the American dream behind.This episode was Produced by Maribel Quezada Smith, it was edited by Charlie Garcia & Liz Alarcon. Audio engineering, scoring & mixing, by Charlie Garcia. Original Music composed by Julian Blackmore. The Hosts of the Pulso Podcast are Liz Alarcón & Maribel Quezada Smith.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media: @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

In this episode, we're in reflection mode. Maribel flips the mic on Liz to dig into the untold story about how Pulso was founded, the mission of the content, and the bigger vision for Pulso's impact in the Latino community.This Episode was produced by Liz Alarcon, audio engineering & scoring by Charlie Garcia & Julian Blackmore, original music by Julian Blackmore. Our hosts are Liz Alarcon & Me, Maribel Quezada SmithFollow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

A global crisis formed a new bond between the United States and Latin America. How a presidential decree, a Peruvian immigrant, and a campaign to showcase Hispanic Stars uncovered El Pendón Estrellado, an almost forgotten piece of American history. This episode was produced by Charlie Garcia & Liz Alarcon, Audio Engineering by Charlie Garcia. Original music by Julian Blackmore, and additional support from Lisanne Ramos.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.Click here to join our Telegram channel

Thania Beltancourt Alcazar, a member of the art group “The Phoenix Fridas” discovered a lifeline in the art of Frida Kahlo. By embracing Frida's spirit of resilience Thania found the inner strength to confront her own tragedies and transform her pain into a cathartic artistic journey.This episode was produced by Anthony Wallace with editorial support and guidance from Charlie Garcia. Audio Engineering and scoring by Anthony Wallace & Charlie Garcia. Mixing by Charlie Garcia, original music composed by Julian Blackmore & Anthony Wallace. Additional support from Jackie Noack The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada Smith & me, Liz Alarcon.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.Click here to join our Telegram channel

Monica Puig, a Latina professional tennis player made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Adored as a National Treasure in Puerto Rico, this Latina trailblazer remains a mysterious figure in the United States, until now.This episode was written and Produced by Maribel Quezada Smith, with editorial guidance and oversight from Charlie Garcia. Audio engineering, scoring & mixing by Charlie Garcia. Additional Audio Engineering & music composition by Julian Blackmore. The Hosts of The Pulso Podcast Maribel Quezada Smith and Liz Alarcon. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.Click here to join our Telegram channel

When Producer Mark Pagán was a teenager, he came across a TV comedy special that would change his life forever, Paul Rodriquez's Crossing Gang Lines. Years later, he looks back to uncover the story behind it.This Episode was Produced by Mark Pagán, it was edited, by Charlie Garcia & Jackie Noack. Audio editing and scoring by Mark Pagán & Charlie Garcia. Mixing & Mastering by Charlie Garcia, original music composed by Julian Blackmore, the hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada Smith & Liz Alarcon. Special thanks to Navani Otero, Caitlin Mae Burke, Alana Casanova-BurgessFollow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.Click here to join our Telegram channel

In this episode, Liz chats with two Latina parents who have done the work to reparent themselves, done the research to raise more emotionally whole children, and pay it forward to help caregivers have a healthier relationship with our kidsThis Episode was Produced by Liz Alarcon, it was edited, mixed & scored by Charlie Garcia. Technical Assistance & additional support by Jackie Noack. Additional audio engineering & original music composition by Julian Blackmore. The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada Smith & Liz Alarcon Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Gustavo Arellano started a newspaper column called “Ask a Mexican” as a joke... then it became bigger than he ever could have imagined. Why?This episode was produced by Charlie Garcia and edited by Liz Alarcon. Audio Engineering & Mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore. Additional assistance by Lisann Ramos. Our hosts are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada Smith. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Today we're talking about something that Latinos sometimes ignore or even forget. Indigenous peoples are often relegated to things of the past, but they are very much still here, and they are facing resistance and opposition from all sides, whether it's political, social, economic, you name it. So let's take some time to consider the struggles, and the resilience of the Indigenous peoples of our region. This episode was produced by Jackie Noack and edited by Charlie Garcia. Audio Engineering & mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore. Our hosts are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada Smith. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

What does it mean to “be” something, to have an Identity? And what is it that gets to decide that identity? Is it our parents, our language, our blood, or the world around us? This is the story of one Latina's journey to understand what it means to be Hispanic, and how to own her own Latinidad no matter what others think. This episode was written, produced, sound designed & mixed by Charlie Garcia. It was edited by Jackie Noack & Liz Alarcón, Music by Julian Blackmore. Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso. You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

In this episode Maribel sets out to explore the sometimes empowering, often extreme, things we're willing to do to feel beautiful and why.Special thanks to the following women for sharing their experiences and insight in this episode: Christie Lazo, Katia Reguero Lindor, Valentina Agosti, and Leslie Valdivia and Joanna Rosario of Vive Cosmetics.This episode was written and produced by Maribel Quezada Smith. Editorial oversight by Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

In this episode, Liz sets out to explore the historical and societal influences that have led to our sometimes empowering, often pressuring, standards of beauty that Latinas are held to.This episode was produced by Liz Alarcón and Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Let's talk about the holidays. Large gatherings with boisterous family members can be memorable for the good and the bad. So what can we do to take care of ourselves during end-of-year festivities, while also spending quality time with family?This episode was produced by Charlie Garcia and Jackie Noack, Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia, additional audio engineering and music by Julian Blackmore.Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Texas 1951, Farmworker Pete Hernandez walks into a bar with a rifle and shoots another man, he is taken to court for murder, but when the state refuses to allow any Latinos on the Jury, a rebellious team of Hispanic lawyers sign up for a wild ride that will take them all the way to the supreme court, and change the definition of what it means to Hispanic in the USThis episode was Produced & Written by Charlie Garcia, it was edited by Liz Alarcon. Original music by Julian Blackmore. Audio Engineering & Mixing by Julian Blackmore and Charlie Garcia. Special thanks to LULAC historian David ContrerasFollow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

Punk Rock isn't usually associated with Latino culture, and for Producer Yesica Balderrama, Punk was a lifelong passion that she never quite knew how to integrate with her identity. Then one day she discovered that she was not alone. Today we take a journey through the hidden subculture of Latino Punk rock in NYC.This episode was produced & written by Yesica Balderrama. Editorial oversight, guidance & additional writing by Charlie Garcia, Audio Engineering & Mixing by Julian Blackmore & Charlie Garcia Music clips from Quelebras, Kartel, Askeados, & La Milagrosa. additional music composed by Julian Blackmore. Translation voice-over by Jackie Noack & Charlie GarciaFollow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.

In 2019, Pulso Podcast cohost Maribel Quezada Smith had a miscarriage, but it's the tragedy that happened 10 months later that rocked her entire existence. In this docu-style episode, Maribel shares her story. This Episode was produced by Maribel Quezada Smith, with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Music and audio engineering by Julian Blackmore, Mixing by Charlie Garcia Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso  You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes https://projectpulso.org/tag/podcast/ (on our website). 

The Rio Grande river was meant to mark a boundary between Mexico & The US, but one day in 1848 it moved, taking the border along with it and creating a century-long feud that brought both countries to the edge. This Episode was produced by Charlie Garcia with Editorial support by Liz Alarcon. Music and audio engineering by Julian Blackmore Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso  You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes https://projectpulso.org/tag/podcast/ (on our website). 

This Hispanic / Latino Heritage Month we're asking ourselves some big questions. What does it mean for Nuestra Gente? How did this month even start? And, is it helping our cause, or holding us back? This Episode was produced by Liz Alarcon with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore, audio engineering & mixing by Charlie Garcia Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso  You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes https://projectpulso.org/tag/podcast/ (on our website).  The Pulso Podcast is a part of Project Pulso. We bring you untold stories & unheard voices…the Latino voices you aren't hearing in the news and the stories you didn't learn in history class.

Latinos work hard. But is our "work hard" attitude too closely connected to our sense of self-worth? In the United States, Latinos are associated with all kinds of stereotypes. We like big parties, are great dancers and have a drawer dedicated to all the ketchup packets we've accumulated over the years. Some of these are harmless, but there's this one stereotype worth questioning: "Latinos work hard." Where does this stereotype come from and is it actually causing more harm than good in our communities? Is our "work hard" attitude too closely connected to our sense of self-worth? And how do we get better at balancing our hard work with living. We're dedicating this episode to exploring these questions. And for that you will hear from a few different voices of different generations, and with different experiences of Latino work culture.  This Episode was produced by Maribel Quezada Smith with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Audio engineering & music by Julian Blackmore Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso  You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes https://projectpulso.org/tag/podcast/ (on our website).  The Pulso Podcast is a part of Project Pulso. We bring you untold stories & unheard voices…the Latino voices you aren't hearing in the news and the stories you didn't learn in history class.

How can we make Spanish more inclusive? Today we're talking about the evolution of our language, and the pushback against it.

The Salton Sea, California's biggest lake...is disappearing. Leaving the largely Hispanic populations around it at risk of environmental catastrophe. But what's being done about this? does anyone care? This episode originally aired on Living Downstream: The Environmental Justice Podcast.

Can we still call ourselves Latinos if we don't speak Spanish? Liz & Maribel unpack this question, along with help from the Pulso team and Representative Joaquin Castro.

Think Mezcal is just Smokey Tequila??? Well, think again! Today we dive into the history & culture that came together to create this one-of-a-kind delicacy

How do we pass on culture and heritage to our children? and are there parts of Latino culture that we DON'T want to pass on??? Liz and Maribel chime in about being moms.

As Latinos, many of us have experiences and thoughts about the line that separates the US from it's southern neighbors, but few know what living along the border is really like. For this Mexican American writer, his life and his art have been shaped by the experience of growing up along that line.

For our 3rd season of The Pulso Podcast, we've decided to try something a little Diferente. Today we are welcoming our new Co-Host, Maribel Quezada Smith. We'll hear a few clips from Maribel's podcast Diferente, and talk about her experience with immigration, identity, appropriation, and why it's so important to pronounce our names correctly.

Pulso Season 3 drops Tuesday, June 7th New episodes every 2 weeks

What's the status of Latino's mental health. What can help us get our minds right? What can hurt our progress? and why is it still so hard to talk about?

Press play (if you dare!) for some haunting tales of Latino folklore.

Gustavo Arellano started his newspaper column “Ask a Mexican” as a joke... then it became bigger than he ever could have imagined

Latinos make up a huge chunk of TV and movie audiences, yet we're still struggling for accurate representation on screen, Why?

Liz chats with three of the Pulso Podcast producers about growing up in different parts of the country and as different generations of immigrants, and how it's affected their relationship with our culture. 

What does it mean to decolonize our diet? We talk to two chefs whose journeys with food have led them to reevaluate what it means to eat “authentically”.

Why are so many Latinos leaving organized religion? In this episode we talk to Rev. Matthew Carnes, S.J., Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, about what he thinks the church should do to rectify its colonial past.

So much of Latino culture stems from religious and spiritual practices. In this episode we talk to three Latina authors, artists and academics about the role of religion and spirituality in their life.

The very first Latinos didn't cross any borders, the U.S. crossed them. In this episode, we unpack how a land treaty shaped the lives of the first Latinos and created an identity struggle. 

They're considered American heroes, yet that distinction comes at a price. In this episode we grapple with the hurt and pride many Latinos feel towards our armed forces.

When words alone fail to capture the depth of a moment in time, there's always music. In this episode of the Pulso Pod, we're taking you on a journey through hardship, protest, and resilience, and the Latin music that carries us through.  Guests Nuria Net, Co-founder, https://www.lacocteleramusic.com/en/about-en (La Coctelera Music) https://www.plenacombativa.com/ (Plena Combativa) Credits Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia Research: Lisann Ramos Original Music: Julian Blackmore Host: Liz Alarcón You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.

It's been six months of living through a pandemic. And nuestra gente has been disproportionately impacted by the economic and health challenges of COVID-19. In this episode, you'll hear the stories of every day Latinos who the government has left behind, and the organizations that are stepping in to help. Guests Sergio Gonzalez, Deputy Director, https://theimmigrationhub.org/ (The Immigration Hub) Credits Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia Research and Voice Over: Lisann Ramos Original Music: Julian Blackmore Host: Liz Alarcón You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.

A global crisis formed a new bond between the United States and Latin America. How a presidential decree, a Peruvian immigrant, and a campaign to showcase Hispanic Stars uncovered El Pendón Estrellado, an almost forgotten piece of American history.   Guests https://pir.fiu.edu/people/faculty-1/faculty/frank-mora/ (Dr. Frank Mora), professor at Florida International University Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder, https://www.weareallhuman.org/promise/ (We Are All Human Foundation ) Jeidimar Rijos, winner of Telemundo's La Voz and singer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ1LB1XQ-Us&t=7s (El Pendón Estrellado) Credits Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia Research: Lisann Ramos Original Music: Julian Blackmore Host: Liz Alarcón You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.

Welcome to The Pulso Podcast. We bring you untold stories & unheard voices...The Latino voices you aren't hearing in the news and the stories you didn't learn in history class.  Pulso is a non-profit media startup that reaches more than a million Latinos across the country with our news, history and culture stories that keep the pulse on nuestra gente.  Who's nuestra gente? You are, Latinos in the US who want to learn more about our community and play a part in shaping it for the better. We've been a part of this great American experiment since it's very beginning. From the halls of congress to the stages of broadway, even the food we consider to be American. We helped build this country and we're not going anywhere.