Highlighting stories by, from, and about the Puerto Rican community.
Episodes
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Edoardo Ortiz, a graduate student at the University of Chicago School of Public Policy joins the show to share his experience at the Iowa Caucus. He went to Iowa for the caucuses as part of a Puerto Rican delegation from Chicago. If you haven’t heard already, things did not go quite as planned at the Iowa Caucus, so we took the deep dive with Edoardo on what his experience was like before, during, and after the Caucus chaos. We also welcome back to the show, Oscar López Rivera, former political prisoner and Puerto Rican activist, who is going on a North-West tour of the U.S. He and one of his tour coordinators, Margarita Gallagher Huertas, discuss what you can expect from the tour and share some perspectives on the current state of Puerto Rico.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe + Sabado Gigante
Edoardo's Twitter + Blog + His Blog's Twitter
Edoardo's Univision Article: Why the delay over Puerto Rican self-determination?
Presidential Candidates' Puerto Rico Policy
Latino Rebels Article Edoardo mentioned: The Power of Puerto Ricans Showing Up at the Iowa Caucuses
Oscar Lopez's Twitter + Facebook + Instagram + Tour Website
Previous Paseo Podcast Episodes with Oscar López Rivera: Episode 2 & Episode 3
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Did you hear? JLo and Shakira performed at the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show. We invited 2 special guests to share their reactions and address some of the online debates that occurred after it. Let us know your opinions on our social media channels and let us know if we missed anything. Respectful debate is always welcome.
P.S. Sorry about the audio! We had to use a backup because our raw audio file was damaged. Sad, we know, but the good news is that you're about to listen to a quality conversation.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe + Sabado Gigante + Jennifer Lopez - Get Right (Instrumental), Let's Get Loud (Instrumental) + Jenny from the Block (Instrumental) + If You Had My Love (Instrumental) + Shakira's She Wolf (Instrumental), Hips Don't Lie (Instrumental), Empire (Instrumental)
Jennifer Lopez & Shakira's Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
Jason's Instagram
The Puerto Rican Agenda Chicago 3Rs Campaign for Earthquake Relief + Facebook + Twitter
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
On this week’s episode of the Paseo Podcast, I am joined by Sabrina Alicea. She is the creator of Shop La Maestra, is a 7th grade Chicago Public School Teacher, Member of the Chicago Teachers Unions, CTU Local 1, and a Chicago Boricua with a master's degree from the Ivy League.
We are going to talk about Sabrina’s Shop La Maestra brand, life as a POC at Harvard University, the realities of being a Chicago Public School Teacher, the recent CTU strike and a whole lot more.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe + Sabado Gigante
Sabrina's Twitter + Instagram + Blog
Shop La Maestra Website + Facebook + Instagram
The Puerto Rican Agenda Chicago 3Rs Campaign for Earthquake Relief + Facebook + Twitter
Friday Jan 24, 2020
Friday Jan 24, 2020
On this week’s episode, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Associate Vice President of Policy at the Erikson Institute and Co-chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda here in Chicago joins the show. We’re going to talk about her work in early childhood development and with the PR Agenda as well as community organizing and the Presidential Candidates' Puerto Rico policy.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe + Sabado Gigante
Cristina's Twitter + PBS Firsthand Talk
Erikson Institute Website + Facebook + Twitter + YouTube + Mobile App
The Puerto Rican Agenda Chicago 3Rs Campaign for Earthquake Relief + Facebook + Twitter
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
In honor of Weed being legal now in Illinois, Michelle Vazquez from Che.dibles joins the Paseo Podcast to discuss her cannabis-infused treats. Che.dibles is Puerto Rican owned, latina owned, a small business, and Chicago made.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe + Sabado Gigante
Che.dibles Instagram + Facebook
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
This bonus episode is a recording of a Puerto Rican Agenda press conference Friday, January 10, in Chicago. We also have a video of the press conference on our Facebook page, if you would like to see that version instead.
The press conference was to announce the relaunch of the successful 3Rs Campaign the PR Agenda used to raise money and send supplies to the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. In fact, this campaign made Chicago the first in the U.S. to send a cargo plane with supplies to la isla after Maria. Now the PR Agenda is working again to help people in Puerto Rico after a series of earthquakes have hit the island, including 5.8 and 6.4 magnitude quakes.
To donate to the 3Rs Campaign, visit puertoricanchicago.org.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: MEINL Percussion
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Friday Jan 10, 2020
The Puerto Rican Flags here in Chicago turn 25! Located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, they act as gateways to Puerto Rican culture on Paseo Boricua. They're huge too! These two 59-foot banderas have won countless architectural awards and are the world's largest monument to a flag. Our guest on today's episode, CEO of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture and former Alderman at the time, Billy Ocasio, played a key role in getting the flags built along with former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez and former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Billy takes us back in time to January 6, 1995 to understand how these flags came to be and shares what he thinks they represent for the future.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Adobe
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture Twitter, Facebook, Website
Wednesday Jan 08, 2020
Wednesday Jan 08, 2020
It's a special bonus episode of the Paseo Podcast! Joshua attended an event at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture on October 24, 2019 to listen in on a conversation between Dr. Yarimar Bonilla & Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez (33rd Ward, Chicago).
The conversation was centered around the recent release of the book, Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm, which Yarimar co-edited. Jose Lopez, Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago introduces both speakers at the start of the recording. There were some technical difficulties with the museum sound system, so this audio will sound different than what you're used to.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: MEINL Percussion
Rosanna's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, & Website
Rosanna's 33rd Ward Twitter, Facebook, & Website
Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
Yale students, Adriana Colón Adorno & Gabriela Morales Nieves, from the Yale Endowment Justice Coalition join the show to talk about Puerto Rico’s debt, divestment, what the day of the Harvard/Yale game protest was like, & how they were able to mobilize & organize so many different people to protest in solidarity for the same cause. Their student organization along with many others were responsible for organizing a protest during the historic rivalry football game between Harvard & Yale in order to bring attention to & demand the cancelling of Harvard's & Yale’s holdings in Puerto Rico’s debt & divestment from fossil fuels. The audio is a bit different than you may be used to since we spoke to Adriana & Gabriela via Zoom video conferencing.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Photos: Hartford Courant, NBC Connecticut, Grist
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Urban Pilón founder, Chef Roberto Pérez, joins the podcast just in time for the holidays. We talk cooking dos & don'ts, recipe suggestions for beginners & pros, & creating a Puerto Rican Thanksgiving...we don't always have to have a Turkey - baked pasteles anyone?
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Thursday Nov 21, 2019
Thursday Nov 21, 2019
Actors Viviana Torres, Nore Feliciano & Efraín Rosa visit the show. They are part of the play, Un monólogo sobre la vida de Lolita Lebrón. ICYMI, last week we shared a clip of our interview with them, but now you get to hear the full thing!
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Nore's Website, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram
Viviana's Website, Facebook, & Instagram
Efraín's Facebook
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Lolita Lebrón's name elicits strong responses from many within & outside of the Puerto Rican community. Let's find out why.
Guests on today's show include the Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center here in Chicago, Jose Lopez, activist and artist Michael Reyes, whose song Lolita You May Cry Now you will hear later in the episode, Former political prisoner, Oscar Lopez, Co-Jefas of Lolita Productions, Brianna Ramirez-Smith and Marisa Diaz-Arce, and a part of my interview that will drop next week with actors Viviana Torres, Nore Feliciano, Efraine Rosa from the play, Un monólogo sobre la vida de Lolita Lebrón. But first, we’re going to take a trip back in time and get some context from Jose Lopez.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + YouTube videos "Lolita lebron attacks the 1954 Congress", "Lolita Lebron - Santa Lolita! - Proyecto Young 1997", "Lolita Lebron - Santa Lolita! - Proyecto Young 1997"
Reyes Website + Lolita You May Cry Now
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Puerto Rican film maker, author, & activist, Carlos Jiménez Flores, joins the podcast. We talk Latino Hollywood, POC representation in film & The 3rd Annual Boricua Film Festival.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Carlos' IMBD, Facebook & Instagram
USC Annenberg Study - Latinos in Film: Erasure On Screen & Behind the Camera Across 1,200 Popular Movies
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Puerto Rican culture & investigative journalist, Isabel Dieppa, joins the podcast. We talk POC representation in media & our Top 10...soft of...list of Puerto Rican comic book characters.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Site: paseomedia.org
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Sounds: Notification Sounds, Flor Meléndez Ramos, baniger3711 on YouTube, X-Men 90s Cartoon Theme Song, Sunflower Instrumental
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Puerto Rican Journalist, Manny Ramos, from the Chicago Sun-Times joins the podcast. We talk journalism, a little baseball, and what too much Adobo looks like in a story.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Site: paseomedia.org
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Thursday Oct 17, 2019
Thursday Oct 17, 2019
Puerto Rican author, Abdin Noboa Rios, joins the podcast to talk about his new book, The Story of Latinos and Education in American History.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Site: paseomedia.org
Sounds & Photo: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + Ankur Singh
Wednesday Oct 09, 2019
Wednesday Oct 09, 2019
Puerto Rican actor, producer, & co-founder of the Urban Theater Company, Ivan Vega, joins the show! We talk UTC & the Chicago theater scene.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Site: paseomedia.org
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos
Thursday Oct 03, 2019
Thursday Oct 03, 2019
Puerto Rican Muralist, Cristian Roldan, joins the show to talk about his art, his start as a muralist, & the importance of using public art to share our stories.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Site: paseomedia.org
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + ABC News
Friday Sep 27, 2019
Friday Sep 27, 2019
It's been 2 years since Hurricane Maria. PR Agenda Co-Chair, Jessie Fuentes, explains how the PR Agenda took action to aid Puerto Rico after the 2017 tragedy. Local photographer, Lauren Herrmann, shares how she's lending a hand to help PR.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, Twitter @jsdeleon
Facebook & Twitter: @paseopodcast
Site: paseomedia.org
Sounds: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos + ABC News
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Tuesday Sep 17, 2019
Co-Chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda, Jessie Fuentes, discusses the PROMESA Act & National Day of Action in Washington D.C. to advocate for a resolution of Puerto Rico's debt.
Host: Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, @jsdeleon on Twitter.
Facebook+Twitter: @paseopodcast
Website: paseomedia.org
Music: Notification Sounds + Flor Meléndez Ramos