Paseo Podcast: Sharing Puerto Rican Stories

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Gwen Aviles ★ https://gwendolynaviles.com

How Hurricane Maria pushed young Puerto Ricans towards supporting independence ★ https://www.insider.com/puerto-ricos-hurricane-maria-pushes-gen-z-millennials-to-independence-2021-10

Francisco Proskauer Valerio ★ https://twitter.com/fprosk

Boricuas4Democracy ★ https://democracyforpuertorico.com/boricuas

★ In the News ★

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Dec 02, 2021

Episode 73: The West Side Story Remake: Why Now?

Thursday Dec 02, 2021

Considering all of the stories coming out of Puerto Rico & by Puerto Ricans, why a remake of West Side Story now? In this episode, we sit down with 3 Latina academics to reflect on & analyze the impact of the production over the past 60+ years.

Guests:

Dr. Grisel Y. Acosta, Professor of English, Bronx Community College

Dr. Frances Negrón-Muntaner, Filmmaker, Writer, Scholar & Professor, Columbia University

Blanca Vázquez, CENTRO Journal Founding Editor, Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Host:

Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

★ Follow & Support the Show ★

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Dr. Frances Negrón-Muntaner ★ http://www.francesnegronmuntaner.com

Essay West Side Story 60 Years Later — The Time for Us is Now ★ https://womensmediacenter.com/idare/west-side-story-60-years-later

Dr. Grisel Acosta ★ http://grito.org

Essay: Filmmakers Ask Latinxs to Play Dress Up…Again ★ https://womensmediacenter.com/idare/filmmakers-ask-latinxs-to-play-dress-up-again

Blanca Vázquez ★ https://womensmediacenter.com/profile/blanca-vazquez

Essay: Puerto Ricans — Through the White of Their Eyes ★ https://womensmediacenter.com/idare/puerto-ricans-through-the-white-of-their-eyes

★ In the News ★

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Nov 18, 2021

Episode 72: What Does Elevating Puerto Rican Cuisine Look Like in Practice? - with Executive Chef Yari Vargas

Thursday Nov 18, 2021

We’re going to talk about Puerto Rican food in this episode. The underlying theme in our conversation surrounds the question - Is Puerto Rican food healthy? And by that we mean...how do we think about our food? Do we only look at it as fast food? Why do we eat the food we eat today? Are we ignoring other parts of our ancestral history in trying to maintain what we feel is the “right way” to make Puerto Rican food today? And - are we challenging ourselves enough to think of different ways that elevate the way Puerto Rican cuisine is presented without losing that same great flavor?

Today we welcome Yari Vargas - executive chef and owner of Casa Yari in Chicago - to discuss these questions and more. We’re also going to hear about her journey to becoming a small business owner, what being Puerto Rican and Honduran means to her, and her Puerto Rican food recommendations for people who want to be a bit more health conscious ahead of the holiday dinner season.

Stay tuned until the end for some of the Puerto Rico news stories on our mind that we think you should be aware of.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

★ Follow the Show ★

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

★ In the News ★

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Casa Yari ★ https://casayari.com

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Nov 04, 2021

Episode 71: The Honeycomb Network Creates a BIPOC Collective Care Sanctuary + PC1003 Becomes Law - What That Means For Puerto Rico’s Pensions, Education & Public Services

Thursday Nov 04, 2021

It's a packed episode today! First, we welcome Denise Ruiz and Cristina Gutierrez to the show. They are the founders of The Honeycomb Network - a holistic co-working and co-creating collective care sanctuary centered and focused on the BIPOC community. We recorded this back in September and it was a lot of fun because it was only our second in-person interview since quarantine here on Paseo Boricua in Chicago. We invited them on to learn more about their organization, and we cover a lot of ground on things like knowing your worth, opening their space during the pandemic, creating spaces for people to address their generational trauma and personal healing. They also share a story of dealing with people in the neighborhood, who don’t take too kindly to what they do and their mission, which has led to the repeated vandalization of their space.

Then we welcome returning guest, freelance journalist from Puerto Rico, Carlos Berrios Polanco, to discuss the controversial bill known as PC1003 that recently became law in Puerto Rico. It’s basically a law that takes care of La Junta and vulture capitalists and takes away from pensions, education, and public services that working people benefit from so deeply. So we invited him on the show yesterday to bring us up to speed.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

The Honeycomb Network ★ https://www.thehoneycombnetwork.com

'This is a safety issue': Women, minority-owned business targeted by vandal in Humboldt Park ★ https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-humboldt-park-honeycomb-network-vandalism/11191594

Carlos Berríos Polanco ★ https://twitter.com/Vaquero2XL

More on PC1003's Passage ★ https://www.latinorebels.com/2021/10/27/pc1003debtbill

Sign the Petition & Tell Judge Swain to Reject More Suffering in Puerto Rico ★ https://secure.everyaction.com/5HNFGS5zB0-ezryQGNzB9A2

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Oct 21, 2021

Episode 70: An Offshore Dilemma: Puerto Rico & The Pandora Papers

Thursday Oct 21, 2021

In a historic leak, the Pandora Papers revealed that wealthy people have billions of dollars hidden beyond reach in tax havens around the world - AND Puerto Rico banks, celebrities & more are involved. Journalist Luis Valentín has been doing some great reporting on this story for Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, so we invited him on the show to help us make sense of it all.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Luis Valentín on Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/luisjovalentin?lang=en

Centro de Periodismo Investigativo's Pandora Papers Archive ★ https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/series/pandora-papers

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Oct 07, 2021

Episode 69: LUMA Energy & Blackouts in Puerto Rico

Thursday Oct 07, 2021

Puerto Rico residents are PISSED over consistent power outages happening in Puerto Rico since LUMA Energy - a private Canadian-American company - took over la Isla's electricity on June 1, 2021. We welcome Nicole Acevedo, NBC News and NBC Latino reporter, and Carlos Berríos Polanco, a freelance independent journalist focused on covering extremism, political corruption and civil unrest in Puerto Rico, to the show to discuss what the heck is going on.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Nicole Acevedo ★ https://twitter.com/Nicolemarie_A

Carlos Berríos Polanco ★ https://twitter.com/Vaquero2XL

Puerto Rico is on the brink of a power supply crisis. Protesters demand answers. ★
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-brink-power-supply-crisis-protesters-demand-answers-rcna2508

Protests Against LUMA Energy and Power Outages Continue in Puerto Rico ★ https://www.latinorebels.com/2021/10/02/lumaenergyprotests

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Sep 23, 2021

Episode 68: Chicago‘s Puerto Rican Fest & Creating Community Events for Us, By Us

Thursday Sep 23, 2021

The Puerto Rican Festival begins today through September 26! It’s been going strong for 39 years, but was once at risk of not happening in 2019 due to the unethical stewardship of the committee in charge at the time that ended in the organization filing bankruptcy. The group of community leaders we have on today’s show actually stepped up during that time to organize the fest successfully within less than 2 months.

They had to be scrappy then and they needed to be scrappy this year, not just because of the pandemic, but because they are starting from square one. They're showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, so we're happy to welcome them to the show to talk about how they are elevating the experience for festival gowers compared to previous years, what you should keep in mind if you want to start a community event of your own for your neighborhood, and their thoughts on what it means to be Puerto Rican.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

Chicago Public Library Pane: Who Tells Your Story? Celebrating Chicago Community Media ★ https://youtu.be/Jtpf9YQgFqA

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

PR Fest Website ★ https://www.prfestchicago.com

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Production Assistant Richie Requena ★ https://twitter.com/RichieRequena

Thursday Sep 09, 2021

Episode 67: Puerto Rican Desserts, the Baking Industry & Starting a Small Business with the Owner of Borinken Cakes

Thursday Sep 09, 2021

Being a small business owner can be tough, and the pandemic has only made things harder, especially for BIPOC owners. On today's episode, we welcome Boricua small business owner, Rachel Diaz, to the show. She is the owner of a Puerto Rican Bakeshop called Borinken Cakes. She’s a working mother of two, who - before getting into the baking business - had a career in product design with products appearing on the shelves of retailers like Target, Michael's, and Joann Fabrics. When she entered the baking industry, she went from baking at home, to operating out of a mall kiosk to now owning two storefronts. We’re going to talk with Rachel about what it took for her to start her own business, the challenges she faced as a small business owner, and of course, the wonderful world of Puerto Rican desserts!

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Borinken Cakes ★ https://www.borinkencakes.com/our-story

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Production Assistant Richie Requena ★ https://twitter.com/RichieRequena

Publicist Ambar Colon ★ https://twitter.com/MeDicenAmbi

Video Editor Josue Ortiz ★ https://twitter.com/TheJosueAngel

Thursday Aug 26, 2021

Episode 66: What Did We Miss??? Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, The Pauls & Act 60, Climate Change x Puerto Rico, Lin-Manuel Miranda & More!

Thursday Aug 26, 2021

What’s up everyone! It’s good to be back in action. In today’s episode we get the Paseo Podcast team together to talk about a ton of Puerto Rico news that we either missed or wanted to talk about while we were on break. We’re going to talk about Puerto Rican athletes, Jessica Camacho-Quinn and Amanda Serrano, Puerto Rico as a tax haven through the lens of Jake and Logan Paul, climate change and Puerto Rico, and Lin-Manuel Miranda and our responsibility as BIPOC folks to tell our stories.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Ambar Colón's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeDicenAmbi

Josue Ortiz's Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJosueAngel

Richie Requena's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichieRequena

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Jun 24, 2021

Episode 65: Predatory Gentrification in Puerto Rico

Thursday Jun 24, 2021

On today’s show we welcome Nicole Alvarez. She's the Co-Founder & Coordinator of Actívate PR, which is a collective dedicated to bringing awareness to the importance of Puerto Rican independence from a present day lens. We’re going to discuss predatory gentrification in Puerto Rico today. There’s been a number of news stories over the years bringing attention to the policies contributing to the pushing out of Boricuas on the island in favor of affluent individuals, mostly white, to move to Puerto Rico. Some examples include the Jones Act, la Junta, privatization, tax laws like Act 60 and others. So, we’re going to talk to Nicole about some of these policies and how they are impacting the island as well as what the Puerto Rican government is doing to combat gentrification...HINT - NOT MUCH!

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Actívate PR Instagram ★ https://www.instagram.com/activate.pr

Actívate PR Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/activate_pr

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

GoFundMe for Gyovanny Arzuaga and Yasmin Perez ★ https://www.gofundme.com/f/2f3dfk8xco?fbclid=IwAR0LgLlgtjvNYqNzcIBoM9kxFDm9COVyFxIThXdOhu1pEYQyP6ChjyDqiJc

Thursday Jun 17, 2021

Episode 64: Puerto Rican & Palestinian Solidarity w/ Dr. Sara Awartani

Thursday Jun 17, 2021

On today’s show we welcome Dr. Sara Awartani. We're going to talk about settler colonialism and armed struggle within the context of Puerto Rico and Palestine, examples of Puerto Rican and Palestinian solidarity, and hear some of her literary suggestions on where people can begin to educate themselves on Puerto Rico and Palestine independence. She is a Global American Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University’s Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. An interdisciplinary U.S. social movement historian, her research, publications, and teaching interrogate twentieth century Latinx and Arab American radicalism, interracial solidarities, policing, and American global power.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Dr. Sara Awartani ★ https://saraawartani.com

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Jun 10, 2021

Episode 63: Multi-Medium Artist, Ali Six

Thursday Jun 10, 2021

On today’s show, we welcome Ali Six. He is a multi-medium artist from Chicago. Among other things, in today’s episode we’re going to discuss the role Aladdin & Michael Jordan played in his name, his 3 key takeaways for aspiring artists he’s learned in his career, what getting arrested meant for his trajectory in the Chicago art scene and where in the diaspora the Jibarito was first created.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Ali Six's Instagram ★ https://www.instagram.com/ali_six_/?hl=en

Ali Six's Website ★ https://ali6chicago.bigcartel.com

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Jun 03, 2021

Episode 62: 8 Actions the Executive Branch Should Take to Aid Puerto Rico

Thursday Jun 03, 2021

On today’s show we welcome returning guest, Federico A. de Jesús. He is an advisor for the Center for American Progress. You may remember him from the last time we had him on the show to discuss the PR Self-Determination Act and his work with Power 4 Puerto Rico. We also welcome Laura Rodriguez, she’s the Vice President for Government Affairs at the Center for American Progress. She’s worked for members of congress in the past, one being U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, who she advised on Latino policy, outreach, and media.

We’re going to discuss their recent essay for the Center for American Progress, titled An Urgent Rescue Plan for Puerto Rico. In the piece, one section was dedicated to the 8 actions the executive branch should take to aid Puerto Rico. We’re focusing on that part of the article in this episode. Make sure you stay tuned till the end when we discuss obsessions and favorite PR food spots. We don’t know how we managed to do it, but we got a Bennifer mention in there.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

An Urgent Rescue Plan for Puerto Rico (Center for American Progress) ★ https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2021/04/28/498841/urgent-rescue-plan-puerto-rico

Federico's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/fdejesusfebles

Laura's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/ThisIsLRod

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday May 27, 2021

Episode 61: 50 years of Promoting Afro-Latin Arts & Culture in Chicago

Thursday May 27, 2021

On today’s show we welcome the Executive Director of the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Omar Torres Kortright. The cultural center is the longest serving Latinx cultural center in Chicago and this year they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary, so we invited Omar on the show to talk about the center’s namesake, what initiated its founding in the 1970s - hint the Young Lords played a role - and how they plan to celebrate and serve Chicago for another 50 years.

We also welcome author and poet, Luis Tubens, as well as dancer and choreographer, María Luisa-Torres. Maria and Luis are the creators of a production called Raíces to Roots, which will have a number of showings in the coming weeks at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. We’re going to talk about their production, what they want people to take away after experiencing it and what partnering with the cultural center today means for them.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

SRBCC Website ★ http://segundoruizbelvis.org/?fbclid=IwAR0kgqwCJhucNR_X915c-fErdbccVQ_8s7hf6Yr9mpZSYIISIwXzBnYezgk

Raíces to Roots Facebook Page ★ https://www.facebook.com/Raicestoroots

Raíces to Roots Upcoming Events ★ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raices-to-roots-tickets-153393336599

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Production Assistant, Richie Requena Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/RichieRequena

Thursday May 20, 2021

Episode 60: Why Go Mainstream When You Can Breakthrough?

Thursday May 20, 2021

We welcome Monica Cruz. She's a labor reporter with BreakThrough News and host of the weekly podcast, On the Picket Line. She's a 3rd generation Afro-Boricua raised in New Jersey and an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. We discuss the PRO Act, a major labor legislation that could transform the lives of working class people and labor organizing, and what that means for Puerto Ricans, the wider BIPOC community and the working class as a whole.

We also talk about why it’s so hard to make a good Mofongo, where mainstream media is lacking in their reporting on labor and her labor reporting for BreakThrough news, especially what she experienced during the Amazon Warehouse unionization efforts in Alabama.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

BreakThrough News Website ★ https://www.breakthroughnews.org

Monica Cruz's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/palantemami

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Production Assistant, Richie Requena Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/RichieRequena

Thursday May 13, 2021

Episode 59: I'm A F***ing Intellectual: Being Puerto Rican in Higher Ed

Thursday May 13, 2021

We welcome Dr. Lisa Calvente to the show. She is a Communications and Black studies scholar. We’re going to discuss her connection to the Notorious B.I.G., her work and research, her connection to Puerto Rican culture after her father’s passing, a lawsuit she’s filled against DePaul University stemming from her tenure process and a whole lot more.

Plus, we share details on the Paseo Podcast and 42 other independent media outlets coming together to save Chicago media.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

DePaul professor claims broken rules, discrimination led to denial of tenure ★ https://depauliaonline.com/49030/news/depaul-professor-claims-broken-rules-discrimination-led-to-denial-of-tenure

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Production Assistant, Brita Hunegs' Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/britahunegs

Thursday May 06, 2021

Episode 58: The Murder of Keishla Rodríguez & The University of PR's Budget Cuts

Thursday May 06, 2021

We welcome Victoria Leandra to the show. She's the Editorial Director for The Americano and Floricua, a news outlet for and by Latinas in the US. Prior to becoming the Editorial Director for The Americano/Floricuas, Victoria worked for VICE News and Bloomberg and you might have seen her bylines in outlets like Refinery29, Oprah Magazine, Bustle, and Remezcla.

We’re going to talk about her work at Floricua, the fiscal oversight board's proposed cuts to the University of Puerto Rico’s budget and how that is affecting the student population, and the murder of Keishla Rodríguez and her unborn child at the hands of Puerto Rican Boxer, Félix Verdejo, who was recently charged with her murder by a federal grand jury.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Victoria's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/leandrareports?lang=en

Victoria's Instagram ★ https://www.instagram.com/victorialeandra/?hl=en

Floricua's Facebook ★ https://www.facebook.com/floricuas

Floricua's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/floricuas

Floricua's Instagram ★ https://www.instagram.com/floricuas

Floricua's Website ★ https://theamericanonews.com/floricua

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Cronología: los eventos que marcaron el caso de Keishla Rodríguez ★ https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/seguridad/notas/cronologia-los-eventos-que-marcaron-el-caso-de-keishla-rodriguez/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1620049003

Chicago Public Library Paseo Podcast Discussion Group ★ https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/search/q=paseo%20podcast

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Apr 29, 2021

Episode 57: From Humboldt Park to Grey's Anatomy

Thursday Apr 29, 2021

Melissa DuPrey joins the show this week. She’s a Black Puerto Rican performer, storyteller, & comic. She’s been on shows, such as Empire and Chicago PD, and in films, like Cherry on Apple TV. She’s also had success on stage with shows like SUSHI-frito and currently has a recurring row on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Sara Ortiz. We’re going to talk about her experience on Grey’s Anatomy, projects she’s worked on and what she has in store for the future, how her life as a live performer was impacted by the pandemic and more.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA

CIMA ★ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/independent-media-alliance-about-cima/Content?oid=82156315

Direct Download ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/episodes

Apple Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/9Agz50COMEF

Google Podcasts ★ http://ow.ly/u80T50COMF1

Spotify ★ http://ow.ly/2g8h50COMFo

Pitch A Story ★ https://www.paseomedia.org/contact

Block Club Chicago Feature on the Podcast ★ http://ow.ly/MWu550COMH

★ About Our Guest(s) ★

Melissa's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/boomboomduprey

Melissa's Facebook ★ https://www.facebook.com/boomboomduprey

Melissa's Instagram ★ https://www.instagram.com/boomboomduprey/?hl=en

Melissa's Website ★ https://www.melissaduprey.com

★ Partners + Additional Credits ★

Puerto Rican Cultural Center Website ★ https://prcc-chgo.org

Sounds ★ MEINL Percussion

Thursday Apr 22, 2021

Episode 56: Adam Toledo & The Investments We Have Yet To Make

Thursday Apr 22, 2021

Jessie Fuentes returns to the show! She’s an activist, the Co-Chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda Chicago Chapter and the new Director of Policy and Youth Advocacy for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago. If you want to learn more about Jessie and her work, give episode 4 of the podcast a listen. Today we’re going to discuss the systemic issues facing youth in the Puerto Rican & wider BIPOC community, how these issues relate to the Adam Toledo killing, and what investments need to be made in order to prevent what happened to Adam from happening to others & more.

Host, Joshua Smyser-DeLeon's Twitter ★ https://twitter.com/jsdeleon

Podcast Website ★ https://www.paseomedia.org

YouTube Channel ★ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiErkggr7eqspgCfR9jUOZA