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Latinx Cultural Politics: Graphic Memoir Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey with Edel Rodriguez
We wrap up our season on Latinx Cultural Politics with Cuban-American graphic artist Edel Rodriguez, joined by our colleague Dr. Jennifer Caroccio-Maldonado. This episode features highlights from Rodriguez’s live talk at Baruch College (March 27, 2025), where he discussed his graphic memoir Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey and shared visuals of his work. We also include an interview on his creative process and a selected audience Q&A. We close with reflections on the conversation and its impact. Transcript.
Latinx Cultural Politics: Community Theater, Teatro LATEA with Miguel Trelles
In this episode, we continue exploring Latinx Cultural Politics with artist and teatrero Miguel Trelles of Teatro LATEA. Recorded live on March 7, 2025, at El Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center, the episode features background on LATEA and Miguel, an engaging interview, and audience Q&A. We close with reflections on the conversation and its broader impact. This event was part of Speaking Volumes: A Symposium on Sound & Listening, hosted by Baruch colleagues Victor Sierra Matute and Camila Torres Castro. Transcript coming soon.
Latinx Cultural Politics: Visual Arts Nuyorican and Diasporican Visual Art with Arlene Davila and Yasmin Ramirez
Welcome to season 8 of Latinx Visions, focused on Latinx Cultural Politics! In this episode, we speak with Arlene Dávila and Yasmin Ramirez, editors of Nuyorican and Diasporican Visual Art, about the power of art in shaping identity and resistance. Recorded via Zoom on February 28, 2025, we wrap up with reflections on the conversation and key takeaways. Transcript.
Talk to a Podcast: Analyzing Caribbean Music – (Student episode)
This unique episode brings a Genius-style lyric breakdown to songs by Bad Bunny, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Rafa Pabón, and more, exploring how Caribbean music speaks to colonial legacies, systemic injustice, and diasporic identity. Each presenter connects a song to themes like racism, classism, healthcare inequality, police brutality, and cultural erasure, showing how music remains a powerful tool of resistance and cultural memory in the Caribbean.
Women in the Caribbean – (Student episode)
In this episode, we spotlight the lived experiences and systemic challenges facing women in the Caribbean. We begin by unpacking traditional gender roles and their impact on women’s freedom and societal contributions. From there, we explore socioeconomic inequality, gender-based violence, and how mother-daughter relationships both reflect and reinforce generational expectations. A compelling conversation about resilience, power, and cultural change.
Caribbean Heritage: Parent & Child Relationships – (Student episode)
This episode examines the emotional and cultural dynamics of parent-child relationships in Caribbean literature. We analyze works like Girl by Jamaica Kincaid and Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein to unpack the complexities of mother-daughter and father-son relationships, generational trauma, and identity formation. The episode also includes personal reflections and literary interpretations that connect family bonds to larger cultural narratives.
Baddies Who Read: Afro-Caribbean womanhood – (Student episode)
In this powerful episode, we center Afro-Caribbean womanhood and literature through conversations led by our brilliant students. Featuring reflections on Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat and the poetry of Lorna Goodison, we explore themes of multi-generational trauma, mental health, and cultural identity. The episode also addresses the portrayal of Black women in media and the ongoing impact of colorism. A celebration of strength, storytelling, and survival.
Sanky Panky & Hungry Ghosts – (Student episode)
In this student-led bonus episode, we take a critical look at the Dominican comedy film Sanky Panky and the novel Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein. Through thoughtful discussion, students explore how both works examine toxic masculinity, escapism, and interpersonal relationships under patriarchal and postcolonial conditions in the Caribbean. This episode offers fresh perspectives on how humor, pain, and survival intersect in Caribbean storytelling.
Latinx Speculative Narrative: Film Sleep Dealer with Enrique González Conty
To close out season 7 on speculative narratives, we’re joined by Dr. Enrique González Conty, professor of Spanish and film at Ithaca College. In this Spanish episode, we explore Sleep Dealer (2008), directed by Alex Rivera and starring Luis Fernando Peña, Leonor Varela, and Jacob Vargas. Enrique discusses border militarization and tech surveillance, Rebecca examines virtual migrant labor, and Rojo unpacks the film’s neural network writing. Transcript.
Latinx Speculative Narrative: Graphic Novels
We dive into The Low, Low Woods, a graphic novel by Carmen Maria Machado and artist Dani. After a quick synopsis and intro to the creators, Rojo offers an eco-feminist reading of body horror and the symbolism of sinkholes, while Rebecca explores gaslighting—both self-inflicted and systemic—highlighting how water becomes a powerful metaphor for control and abuse. Transcript.
Latinx Speculative Narrative: Podcasts with Alana Casanova-Burgess
We sit down with Alana Casanova-Burgess, co-creator and host of La Brega: Stories from the Puerto Rican Experience, for a live conversation recorded at Baruch College on May 2, 2024. We discuss her acclaimed podcast and dive into the speculative sci-fi episode “The Moon’s Distance/La Distancia de la Luna,” co-written with Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón. This episode features guest co-host Dr. Harold Ramdass, Lecturer in English at Baruch and co-instructor of Performing the Caribbean. Transcript.
Latinx Speculative Narrative: Short stories,
We kick off season 7 with a focus on speculative narratives. In this episode, we define speculative fiction, introduce the authors and story collections we’re analyzing, and dive into our main topics: Rojo explores how Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño critiques fascism in the Americas through speculative fiction, while Rebecca examines how monster stories are reimagined for women’s empowerment. We wrap up by connecting the themes across both works. Transcript.
Bonus: New York Comic Con – 2023
This episode features highlights from the panel “Comics in College, Pop-Culture Pedagogy, and Fandom Final Projects,” held on October 12, 2023. The conversation included professors Asif Saddiqi, Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado, Michelle Crowley, and Latinx Visions co-host Rebecca Salois, exploring how comics and fandom shape classroom learning and creative student work. Panel Slides.
Gender, Folklore & U.S.–Cuba Relations – (Student episode)
This episode features student work from LTS 1003 and 3012. Jasmin Reyes examines gender-based violence in Haiti, including intimate partner violence and post-earthquake trauma. Ashanti Charon explores sexism in Hispanic folklore, focusing on the portrayal of women as monsters in Latinx stories. Finally, Jose Perez analyzes the impact of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, especially during the Special Period following the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Latinx Climate Activism, Public Land, and Water Equity w/GreenLatinos
We talk with Olivia Juarez and Val Z. Schull from GreenLatinos, a national nonprofit uniting Latine leaders to tackle environmental and conservation issues impacting Latine communities across the U.S. Recorded via Zoom on April 5, 2024, this episode includes an intro to GreenLatinos’ mission and our guests’ bios, followed by the interview and our post-conversation reflections. Transcript.
Latinx Climate Activism, Farm Workers, and COVID-19 w/Dr. Jennifer Martinez-Medina
We speak with scholar and activist Dr. Jennifer Martinez-Medina, Assistant Professor at Willamette University, about her research on the climate crisis and its impact on farm workers in Oregon. Recorded via Zoom on March 22, 2024, the episode opens with background on her work and closes with our reflections and key takeaways. Transcript.
Latinx Climate Activism and Poetry with Xavier Valcarcel
In this Spanish episode, we continue our climate activism theme with writer Xavier Valcárcel. We begin with a brief intro to his work, followed by an interview recorded via Zoom on February 9, 2024, exploring climate-focused literature and poetics. We wrap up with reflections on the conversation. Transcript.
Latinx Climate Activism and Comics with Anthony Otero
We kick off season 6 with a focus on Latinx climate activism, exploring the links between culture, community, and the climate crisis. In this episode, we sit down with Afro-Latino writer and podcaster Anthony Otero, recorded in person at Baruch on February 2, 2024, to discuss his short-form comics and their connection to climate activism. Transcript.
Latinx Identity Labels & Education in Mexico – (Student episode)
In this episode, we feature student work from LTS 1003. Samantha Lopez explores the evolving labels used by people of Latin American descent in the U.S., discussing generational preferences, community awareness, and the complexities of terms like “Latinx.” Then, Zittlali Tepezila Bonilla and Fareha Othiye compare the Mexican and U.S. education systems, focusing on resource disparities and accessibility for students across socioeconomic backgrounds.
Amplifying Latinx Voices: Cultural Activism with Dr. Lizbeth De la Cruz Santana
We sit down with scholar and cultural activist Dr. Lizbeth De la Cruz Santana, our newest colleague in Baruch’s Black and Latino Studies Department. Recorded in person on October 28, 2023, this episode explores her research, activism, and creative projects. We open with a brief intro to her work, followed by an in-depth interview and our closing reflections. Transcript.
Amplifying Latinx Voices: Poetry chat with Roberto Carlos Garcia
We’re excited to share this conversation with poet and essayist Roberto Carlos Garcia, recorded on October 7, 2023. This episode revisits themes from our season 2 discussion of his collection, Black/Maybe: An Afro Lyric. We start with a brief intro to Garcia’s background and work, then dive into the interview. We close with reflections and poem recs from his anthology, What Can I Tell You? Transcript.
Amplifying Latinx Voices: Audiovisual Art and Performance con Natalia Lassalle-Morillo
In this Spanish episode, we speak with artist Natalia Lassalle-Morillo about her creative methods and artistic interests. We begin with a brief introduction to her work, followed by our full interview recorded via Zoom on September 25, 2023. We wrap up with reflections on the conversation. Transcript.
Amplifying Latinx Voices: Literature with Dr. Amina Gautier
We sit down with author and scholar Dr. Amina Gautier as part of our Afro-Latinidades series at Baruch College. This student-led conversation dives into themes of Black identity, diaspora, and resistance, with questions developed by students from our Afro-Latinidades course. We feature a reading of Gautier’s story “Feliz Navidad” and wrap with story recs from her collection Now We Will Be Happy, reflecting on how her work connects to our broader themes. Transcript.
Bonus: New York Comic Con – 2022
In this bonus episode, we share audio from the 2022 New York Comic Con panel “Pop-Culture, Fandom, and Comics in the College Classroom,” featuring Heidi Bollinger, Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado, Tanya Cook, Rebecca L. Salois, and Asif Siddiqi. The panelists discuss how they incorporate pop culture—from Taylor Swift to Game of Thrones, Marvel, DC, and more—into their courses, highlighting its value in higher education for both professors and students.
Latinx Representation, Identity & Entrepreneurship – (Student episode)
This episode features student projects from LTS 1003, 3100, and 3012. Leah Garcia and Kevin Lopez examine harmful Latino stereotypes in TV and film and how misrepresentation fuels discrimination. Nelson Tavares interviews his wife, Sabrina, about her experiences with cultural assimilation as a Dominican American, drawing connections to Abuela’s Greatest Gift and Harvest of Empire. We close with Tatiana Perez’s exploration of Latina-owned small businesses and how they contribute to community empowerment and intergenerational wealth.
Latinx NYC: In the Community, The Archives with Joseph Caceres
In our season 4 finale, we talk with writer, researcher, and PhD candidate Joseph Cáceres about his work with archives, especially the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Founders Archive Project. We discuss what archives are, why they matter, and how they preserve and challenge Latinx histories. We wrap up with personal reflections and archive recommendations for anyone interested in digging deeper. Transcript.
Latinx NYC: Entrevista con Helen Ceballos
This special Spanish-language episode features Dominican artist Helen Ceballos, known for her multidisciplinary work exploring Caribbean identity, diaspora, migration, and the body. We discuss her artistic process, key projects, and deep ties to Puerto Rico, New York, and beyond. This episode is part of our Afro-Latinidades series with Baruch College’s Black and Latino Studies Department. Note: This episode is fully in Spanish as part of our commitment to honoring Spanish-speaking listeners. Transcript.
Latinx NYC: Theater by Dolores Prida
This episode spotlights Cuban-born, New York-based playwright Dolores Prida, best known for her sharp, humorous takes on Latinx identity, feminism, and immigrant life. We discuss two key plays from her collection Beautiful Señoritas and Other Plays: Coser y Cantar and Botánica, exploring themes of bilingualism, family, cultural identity, and social justice. We also reflect on Prida’s lasting impact on Latinx theater and her powerful legacy as a voice for Latinx women. Transcript.
Latinx NYC: Literature, Bodega Dreams
We dive into Ernesto Quiñonez’s Bodega Dreams, exploring themes of Nuyorican empowerment, personal determination, and political engagement. Rojo offers three ways to approach the novel, while Rebecca unpacks how neoliberalism shapes Willie Bodega and El Barrio. We close with recs for more NYC-set Latinx novels. Transcript.
Latinx NYC: Television and Film, Ugly Betty and Raising Victor Vargas
Rebecca revisits Ugly Betty, the hit ABC series based on Yo soy Betty, la fea, exploring its role in Latinx representation, telenovela adaptations, and themes of cultural ambiguity, assimilation, and the American Dream. Rojo analyzes Raising Victor Vargas, a beloved indie film set in NYC’s Loisaida, focusing on masculinity, gender norms, and coming-of-age within Dominican culture. Together, we unpack how both stories reflect and challenge Latinx identity on screen. Transcript.
Representation, Labor & Climate Justice – (Student episode)
This episode features student work from LTS 3059, 3012, and 1003. John Avila explores family building and economic stability for Latinx workers, using Chingada by Rigoberto González and poems by migrant farm workers. Daisy Ho examines Chile’s carbon tax and its role in climate policy across Latin America. Jaydin Mohan addresses Latina stereotypes in pop culture and the history of Latinx media representation. Finally, Kevin Calixto highlights the need for greater Afro-Latina visibility in film and the broader importance of inclusive representation.
Latina Identity, Mental Health & Cultural Expectations – (Student episode)
In this episode, we feature student projects from LTS 3012 and LTS 1003. Edith Valerio examines the toll of balancing full-time work and school on students’ well-being. Michelle Kozinets explores how gender-based violence and limited abortion access affect women’s mental health in Latin America. Roxanna Escamilla discusses body image pressures faced by Latinas, shaped by family and media. Finally, Nina Rodas challenges the idea that speaking Spanish defines Latinidad, highlighting other ways of connecting with culture.
Queer Latinidad: Theater, and Community
We chat with New York-based Puerto Rican playwrights Javier Antonio González and Daniela Gonzalez y Perez about their journeys as queer Boricua creators. After the interview, we share a few more queer Latinx plays and playwrights to add to your list. Transcript.
Queer Latinidad and Literature
We sit down with best-selling author Carmen Maria Machado during her visit to Baruch College. This episode features a brief intro to her work, an abridged reading of her story “The Tour,” and an interview where we talk about horror, collaboration, and queerness in her writing. We also include highlights from the audience Q&A and share a few LGBTQIA+ Latinx book recs to wrap things up. Transcript.
Queer Latinidad, Art
We dive into the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the iconic Black Puerto Rican-Haitian artist. With guest Dr. Keisha Allan, we discuss his art, the King Pleasure exhibition, his ties to other artists, and read his work through a queer lens. We close with recs for more LGBTQIA+ Latinx artists to explore. Transcript.
Queer Latinidad, TV, and Film
We explore Latinx LGBTQ+ representation on screen. Rebecca breaks down Love, Victor and its portrayal of a gay Latino teen’s coming-of-age journey, while Rojo examines The Garden Left Behind, the story of Tina, a Mexican trans woman navigating life in NYC with her grandmother. Transcript.
Latinx Identity, Gentrification & Migration – (Student Special)
This episode features student work from LTS 1003, 3100, 3085, and IDC 3001. Roxanna Escamilla explores Latinx identity and cultural in-betweenness through the character of Chris in Gentefied. Diego Gonzalez examines gentrification in NYC neighborhoods like Loisaida and Washington Heights, drawing on works by Marcos Gonzalez and Carina del Valle Skorsky. Matthew Queme and Emma Rose connect healthcare and labor struggles through Clínica de Migrantes and Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s The Undocumented Americans. Finally, Tasia Muskan and Allyson Triana focus on post-9/11 exploitation of undocumented migrants in Cornejo Villavicencio’s work. Together, these projects explore identity, displacement, and resilience.
Afro-Diasporic Thought & Representations of Santería – (Student Special)
This episode features student projects from LTS 3110 and LTS 1003. Jacqueline Ortiz explores Blackness, whiteness, and Afro-diasporic ecologies through Critique of Black Reason by Achille Mbembe and Aracelis Girmay’s essay From Woe to Wonder. Then, Abigail Garcia Vazquez, Arleth Robles, and Nina Rodas examine how the Afro-Caribbean religion La Regla de Ocha (Santería) is portrayed in media, focusing on the song Aguanile and an episode of She’s Gotta Have It.
Afro-Latinidad, Cultures, and Community
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Omaris Zamora, scholar and member of the Black Latinas Know Collective. We discuss her research, experiences within the Collective, and the group’s mission to center Black Latina voices in academia and beyond. We close with a few Afro-Latinx organizations doing powerful work in community activism across the U.S. and the Americas. Transcript.
Afro-Latinidad Art
This episode dives into Afro-Latinx representation in comics, with a spotlight on Miles Morales, Spider-Man. We explore his comic book origins, cultural impact, and how his story evolves across the Spider-Verse film and video game. Plus, we share must-read comics and more Latinx heroes to know. Transcript
Afro-Latinidad Literature
We explore three powerful poetry collections by Miguel Algarín, Roberto Carlos Garcia, and Ariana Brown. From the roots of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe to poetry confronting anti-Blackness and imperialism, this episode highlights how Afro-Latinx poets use their words to resist and reclaim. Plus, we close with more must-read recs by Afro-Latinx writers. Transcript
Afro-Latinidad TV and Film
In the first episode of season two, we discuss both film and television. In particular, we consider Afro-Latinx representation in the 1994 film, I Like It Like That, and the 2018 television series, POSE. Several themes overlap between the two works, but for this episode, we focus on trans lives in Latinx communities, chosen family vs. biological family, queer activism, and the fluidity of Afro-Latinx Culture. Finally, we wrap up with a few additional recommendations for television and film that highlight the Afro-Latinx experience. Transcript
Latina Identity, Stereotypes & Resistance – (Student episode)
This episode features two powerful student projects from LTS 3012 and LTS 1003. Maritza Cintron and Kelly Heeralall examine Latina stereotypes—focusing on hypersexualization, dual identities, and machismo—through the lens of literature by Elizabeth Acevedo, Jennifer De Leon, Jennine Capó Crucet, and Maria Hinojosa. Karla Alberto and Genesis Ramos explore the treatment of women during the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, interrogating gendered violence and historical silence. Both projects challenge how women’s stories are told—and erased.
Student Voices on Latinx Identity, Media & Culture – (Student episode)
In this special episode, we feature projects from students in LTS 3012, 3085, and 1003. Emily Giler explores how Latina characters in entertainment navigate responsibility vs. happiness. Jalen Bailey and Naomi Ortiz analyze Gun Hill Road and the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ youth in Latino communities. Finally, Paulina Asuncion, Alexis Baker, and Katelin Caraballo delve into the legacy of the Nuyorican Movement and its cultural impact in NYC.
Latinas, Culture, and Community
In this episode, we sit down with Lorena Kourousais, Executive Director of Mixteca, a vital community organization based in Brooklyn, NY that serves immigrant and Latinx communities with culturally sensitive support and resources. Before diving into the interview, we offer a brief background on Mixteca’s mission and the impactful work they do. We wrap up the episode with our reflections and share ways you can get involved and support their ongoing efforts. It’s a conversation about community, care, and collective action. Transcript
Latinas and Art
In this special episode, we do things a little differently—we let the author speak for herself. We sit down with Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, author of The Undocumented Americans, and share our conversation recorded live at her Harman Writer-In-Residence talk at Baruch College on October 21st. Before the interview, we offer a brief bio and include a powerful reading from the introduction of her book. We close the episode with reflections on the event and recommendations for memoirs and creative nonfiction by Latinas that continue this important conversation. It’s honest, moving, and a celebration of powerful storytelling. Transcript
Latina Literature
In this episode, we dive into Elizabeth Acevedo’s powerful novel in verse, Clap When You Land (2020). We begin with a look at Acevedo’s background and the real-life tragedy that inspired the story. We explore the art of storytelling through verse, discuss complex family dynamics—including sibling bonds and parent-child relationships—and unpack the novel’s powerful commentary on neo-colonialism and tourism. To close out the episode, we share some of our favorite Latinx poetry and YA book recommendations you won’t want to miss. A beautiful blend of literature, history, and identity. Transcript
Latinas in Film
In this episode, we will be discussing the 2012 film Mosquita y Mari written and directed by Aurora Guerrero. Apart from unpacking the movie and its themes, we will look at how founding Chicana feminism can offer a frame to critically engage with it. As part of our discussion, we will be taking a look at current Latinx debates that are connected to the show including queer Latinas, LGBTQIA+ Latinas and religion, and machismo. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a few recommendations of other Latinx films that highlight female characters. Transcript
Latinas on TV
In this episode of Latinx Visions, we discuss female representation in One Day at a Time, focusing on Lydia, Penelope, and Elena, and the work of showrunner Gloria Calderón-Kellett. Plus, we share recommendations for other Latinx TV shows with strong female characters. for a few seconds Latinx Visions explores female representation in One Day at a Time, dissecting its three leading women, the impact of showrunner Gloria Calderón-Kellett, and recommending more Latinx TV shows with strong female voices. Transcript
Introduction Episode
Introductory episode of Latinx Visions. This episode will serve as an introduction to who we are and a trailer for the upcoming season. Transcript