Caress has provided more than 2.5 million dollars to support and elevate founders in our communities. One of the alums of the Caress Dream Fund, Naibe Reynoso, is an Emmy award-winning journalist and founder of Con Todo Press, a bilingual children's book publishing company. Naibe shares how she applied her journalism skills to entrepreneurship, the realities of publishing, and how to find big money for your big idea. (Sponsored)To learn more go to caress.com and contodopress.com 

The prolific actress and star of Netflix’s musical crime comedy drama, Emilia Perez, shares her fears about being “too famous,” the risk/reward analysis of taking on a wildly ambitious project, and what she learned from sharing space (and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award!) with Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascón and Selena Gomez. 

This week, we continue with one of our most beloved conversations with members of the new literary canon. As if setting out to write a book about the undocumented immigrant experience across the country wasn’t hard enough, Karla Cornejo Villavivencio set a much higher bar for The Undocumented Americans. “I promised everyone in the book, all of my subjects, that I would get Americans to care. And that's a promise that I couldn't guarantee that I could keep,” she tells Alicia in this searing conversation about not wanting to be a political tool, being among the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard University, and not thinking too much about herself to avoid “going into dark places.”Follow Karla  on instagram @karlarrriott.

Raised in El Paso by a Mexican immigrant mother and a father who worked as a truck driver, this first gen college student started her career at the Republican National Committee. Then dual tragedies, the September 11, 2001 attacks and the sudden death of her father, changed everything. Olivia describes her career pivot to national security; her choice to work for Vice President Pence, her decision to leave and the fall out; and why she, a lifelong Republican, is now openly campaigning for Kamala Harris.   

Administrator Guzman, the fifth Latina to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, shares how she learned to be “as entrepreneurial as the small businesses” she serves, the growing pains of pivoting from behind-the-scenes player to principal, and her best advice for other Latinas who want to do the same. 

At UnidosUS's annual conference in Las Vegas this year, LTL's Juleyka Lantigua moderated a keynote conversation with the founder of the award-winning beauty brand during the event's Latinas Luncheon. Sandra opened up about the creative transition from rock musician to lifestyle entrepreneur, the business acumen and personal evolution required to grow Nopalera, and the powerful ways our choices as Latina consumers can generate community wealth. 

This week, we share another one of our favorite interviews from Latinas in the art world. Her poems have gone viral and reached millions. Now the writer behind "Brown Girl, Brown Girl" opens up about finding her way out of an abusive marriage, the decade where her kids became her poems, and the power of putting what you want into words.Find Leslé's latest book here and follow the author on IG @leslehonore. If you loved this episode, listen to How Coco Illustrator Ana Ramírez González Extends Herself with Her Art and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative. 

For her newest YA book, Solis, Paola teamed up with co-author Abby Sher to tell the story of a near-future  America where undocumented people are forced into labor camps in service of an autocratic regime, and the four courageous rebels who decide to start a revolution. Paola shares the process of co-creating, what she had to say "no" to in order to say "yes" to YA fiction, and reflections on her own quest for freedom.Follow Paola on Instagram @paolamendoza .  Find her new book Solis, here and her book tour dates here. If you enjoyed this episode, listen to her first episode on Latina to Latina, Paola Mendoza Teaches Us That Joy Is an Act of Resistance. 

The award-winning journalist delves into the reporting behind her new book, Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America; reflects on how being a Latina lesbian informs her storytelling; and shares what her grandfather’s life and death have taught her about the pursuit of individual freedom.Follow Paola @paoramos on Instagram and find her new book here. 

This week, we bring you one of our favorite conversations with Latina artists. iLe’s natural and inherited musical talents were nurtured between classic piano training and the hyper-political songs of Calle 13, Puerto Rico’s most influential group in the last few decades. Now the singer/songwriter takes center stage with her haunting and flaring album Almadura. She and Alicia revisit moments of inspiration and desperation—especially for her beloved PR’s political limbo—and pull threads from the vivid stories and powerful messages that elevate her music to anthem status.Follow iLe on IG @cabralu. If you loved this episode, listen to Dessa for more on music. 

She was in her early 30s when a stranger's intervention forced Jessica to confront her addiction. Recovery required Jessica to revisit early traumas, and contend with deeply ingrained ideas about achievement and self-worth. Now, the founder of @NuevaYorka is sharing her story in her highly anticipated memoir First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream.Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicahoppeauthor and @NuevaYorka.  Find her new book here.

In her new book, Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us, Prisca helps us understand the women in our lives: la loca, tu tía escándalosa, la prima perfecta and so many more. Prisca shares her own path from la prima perfecta to la loca, and her best advice for truly getting to know the women we love.Follow Prisca on instagram @priscadorcas. Find her latest book here. 

Our Top 25 Countdown Continues! The Ivy League educated holistic psychologist is revolutionizing her field with Indigenous healing, curanderos, sound baths, and Reiki therapy. In this conversation we had well before the release of her book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma, Dr. Buqué breaks down her work in mental wellness, and how we can use “micro moments” to connect with ourselves.  Find Dr. Buqué's book here. Follow her on Instagram @dr.marielbuque. 

We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in journalism. She came to Miami on vacation from her television job in Colombia and, while visiting Telemundo with a friend, walked herself into an opportunity of a lifetime. Then Ilia Calderon really went to work, leading the country’s premier Spanish-language news program on Univision and making headlines for her intrepid reporting and intelligent disaster coverage. She talks with Alicia about confronting a KKK leader, reporting on the family separation crisis as a mother, and navigating life as a hyphenated Latina.Follow Ilia on Instagram @IliaCalderón. If you loved this episode, listen to María Elena Salinas and Mariana Atencio for more on journalism.

This week, we share another one of our favorite interviews from Latinas in the world of journalism. Noticias Telemundo’s Washington D.C. bureau chief shares her unlikely path from correspondent to newsroom leader, and one of the most influential journalists in Spanish-language television.Follow Lori on Instagram lorimontenegro_ .If you loved this episode, listen to Why Investigative Journalist Jean Guerrero is Leaning into the Power of Her Personal Experience.

This week we bring you one of our most beloved interviews with inspiring Latinas in journalism. After decades of beaming into our homes from her perch on the Univision anchor desk, María Elena Salinas is enjoying finally speaking for herself and pursuing her own ideas and work. She jokes that she didn’t want her legacy to be that “I worked at Univision and then I died,” but Alicia also gets her to open up about that lingering doubt we all feel, the hard choices of being a working mom, and the freedom that comes with stepping boldly into your destiny.Follow Maria @MariaESalinas on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Mariana Atencio and Cristina Costantini on their paths into journalism. 

We continue counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. It took her years to get back to herself, but now the singer-songwriter who exploded onto the world stage as part of Fifth Harmony has her first solo EP, Prelude. And she's also on a mission to help others heal.Follow Lauren @laurenjauregui on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why iLe’s New Album, Almadura, Is Both Departure and Evolution from Calle 13 and Why DaniLeigh is Destined to Be a Music Mogul.  

This week, we bring you another one of our favorite interviews since the start of our show. She learned on the job as an assistant to one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and spent nine years at Twentieth Century Fox before making the leap to Netflix. Now its director of original programing, she lets us in on what it takes to sell a big idea.    Follow Carolina on Instagram @thedancingdiary. If you loved this episode, listen to How Showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez Stays in High Demand and LEVEL UP: This Life Coach Says Now's the Time to Level Up. 

Today, we bring you another one of our most beloved interviews with Latinas in entertainment. "If you find yourself in an industry doing all the jobs around the job you really want to do, check in on that," Linda tells Alicia. "There's some sort of fear around you not doing the thing you really want to do." She would know. After years of working in film and digital creative, Linda decided to follow her true passion: writing. Within two years of making that commitment, she was pitching and selling a television series. And there's so much more to Linda's story--breaking with tradition, sacrificing something of great value, and working harder than she thought she could.Follow Linda @lindayvettechavez on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Ilana Peña, and Gloria Calderón Kellett for more on creating Latina narratives in Hollywood.

We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in the entertainment industry. Growing up, television writer Ilana Peña was a student of books, where, she says, "girls could be complicated." Now, as creator of Diary of a Future President on Disney+, Ilana brings that vision of girlhood to life. She tells Alicia about rising from assistant to writer’s assistant to writer to creator, how the early loss of her father taught her to use “grief as an engine,” and why being in charge forced her to stop saying “maybe.”Follow Ilana @lanstagram on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Linda Yvette Chavez and Cristela Alonzo for more on creating Latina shows in Hollywood.

This week, we bring you one of our best-loved episodes about Latinas in the entertainment industry. Calderón Kellett runs the show. Literally. She’s the co-showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s One Day at a Time, and with each season, she’d adding more credits to that list: writer, director and actor. She talks with Alicia about her rise through Hollywood’s writers’ rooms (How I Met Your Mother, Devious Maids, and Drunk History), and argues for letting good things be good. And reveals her plans to take her storytelling to the next level.  Follow Gloria on instagram @gloriakellett. If you loved this episode, listen to Cristela Alonzo and Linda Yvette Chavez on what takes to write and run a television show. 

We continue with our Top 25 Countdown! The Hollywood A-lister reveals how she advocates for herself, maneuvers through complex power dynamics, and deflects the “Brown Discount.” She also shares about the work that went into Season 2 of the smash hit, Gentefied, streaming on Netflix now!   Follow America @americaferrera on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Why TV Showrunner Ilana Peña Craves Complicated Girl Characters and How Queens' Star Nadine Velazquez is Making the Most of a Second Chance.  

Today, we bring you another one of our favorite interviews with Latinas in the corporate world. The Chief People Officer for VICE Media has spent her career building better workplaces. She’s perfected a model: reflect, visualize, act, and persist. Now she's put everything she's learned into her new book, Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace.Follow Daisy on on Instagram @daisyaugerdominguezw and on X (formerly Twitter) @DaisyAD. If you loved this episode, listen to Powerhouse Marketer Ana Valdéz on Using Media to Create Change and Investor Nathalie Molina Niño Boldly Speaks Truth to Powerful Men. 

This week, we bring you another one of our favorite conversations with Latinas in the corporate world. Carla Vernón describes herself as “a very malleable piece of clay” with a sense of pride and self-awareness. She has used that singular strength to rise from associate to executive at General Mills. She reflects on her long tenure there, being among the first in her Afro-Panamanian family to venture into the business world, and setting and keeping her own standards as she gained success and status.Follow Carla @CarlaInspired on Instagram. If you loved this episode, listen to Elisa Villanueva Beard's Aha Moment As Teach For America's CEO,  and Remix: How Ad Exec Nancy Reyes Became Undeniable.

We continue with our favorite conversations with Latinas in the corporate world.  After Alicia’s conversation with advertising superstar Nancy Reyes, she wanted to make t-shirts that read, "I am undeniable." That’s how inspiring this trailblazer’s story is. From learning that “everything feels better when you earn it” to “dealing with a massive career failure” and making the decision to go from “good to great,” Nancy’s success is a testament to what happens when grit and tenacity meet opportunity.Follow Nancy on X (formerly Twitter) @reyesjimbo. If you loved this episode, listen to Daisy Auger-Dominguez on Making It in Corporate America and Top 25 Countdown: #24 How Meg Medina Summoned the Courage to Write.

Our Top 25 Countdown Continues! "Who is she? What does she want? Why can't she have it?" Those are the questions the Newbery Medal-winning children's author asks about each of her young Latina protagonists. What Meg Medina wanted was to write professionally, but first, she had to get brave.Follow Meg on Instagram @megmedinabooks. and find all her books here. If you loved this episode, listen to What Sonia Manzano Knows Kids Need and  How Canticos Creator Susie Jaramillo Built an Inclusive Kids' Brand.

This week, we bring you another one of our favorite conversations around food. As she was researching her new cookbook, Asada: The Art of Mexican Style Grilling, the LA restaurateur began to realize how men dominate the grill scene. Now, she’s trying to change that by giving others the tools and inspiration to master asada. Bricia explains the financial margins necessary to sustain a successful restaurant, and the pride and responsibility of being Oaxacan.Follow Bricia on Instagram @bricialopez and discover the secret to incredible asada here. If you liked this episode, listen to and How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen and Remix: Chef Ariel Fox is Expanding Our Understanding of 'Authentic' Cuisine.

We continue with our favorite conversations around food. The VP for Dos Caminos and Del Friscos pulls back the curtain on what it takes to launch a restaurant, talks about the difference between competing on Hell's Kitchen as a newbie versus an established chef, and shares the personal change that inspired her new cookbook: Spice Kitchen: Healthy Latin and Caribbean Cuisine.Follow Ariel on Instagram @chefarielfox. If you liked this episode, listen to Why Rum Master Distiller Sylvia Santiago Will Never Quit and Master Chef Lorena Garcia Says It Takes More Than Sharp Knives.

We are celebrating almost 300 episodes of Latina to Latina! For the first Monday of every month, we are counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. In between, we'll curate special playlists of some of our favorite episodes. For the next three weeks, we bring you some of our favorite conversations about food. When Karla Vasquez learned that there were virtually no Salvadoran cookbooks in print in the United States, this food writer and cooking instructor made it her mission to capture the food and the spirits of the women of El Salvador.Follow Karla on Instagram @karla_tv and find her book here. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Pioneering Journalist Maria Hinojosa Put Herself in the Story and How Documentarian Cristina Costantini Fed Her Soul While Making Mucho Mucho Amor. 

To celebrate almost 300 episodes of Latina to Latina, for the first Monday of every month, we are counting down our top 25 episodes of all time. In between, we'll curate special playlists of some of our favorite episodes. Coming in at #25: This television executive turned entrepreneur took a major detour—mid career—to go back to school. Nely shares how that decision changed her life, as well as her insights on how to find your true purpose.Follow Nely on instagram @nelygalan. If you loved this episode, listen to Fashion Entrepreneur Lilliana Vazquez: “Build Something for Yourself” and How Carolyn Rodz Is Connecting Entrepreneurs with Opportunities. 

When her parents’ tourists visas expired, and they were no longer allowed entry into the United States, Elizabeth, an American citizen, persuaded her parents to allow her to stay in Arizona solo.  She was only 15 years-old. Even as she contended with housing and food insecurity, Elizabeth managed to graduate valedictorian of her high school class, before going on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, we talk about the values tension in wanting to change the world and needing to pay rent, why the responsibilities she carried never allowed her to “let loose” like her peers, and her decision to share her story in her new memoir, “My Side of the River.”Follow Elizabeth on instagram @lizzycancu and find her book My Side of the River here.  If you liked this episode, listen to How Travel Empowered Nikki Vargas to Bring Her Life Into Alignment and What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family.

In her new book, Making the Latino South, the Hunt Family Assistant Professor in History at Duke University chronicles the dramatic racial evolution of non-Black Latinos living in the American South from the 1940s to the early 2000s.Follow Cecilia on X (formerly Twitter) @ProfCeciliaM , and learn more about her research here, and find her book here.If you liked this episode, listen to How Natasha Alford’s Lived Experience Informs Her Political Analysis and Storytelling and For Sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve Getting Latinos to Care about Justice Reform Is Personal.

She wrote her book, Self-Care for Latinas: 100+ Ways to Prioritize & Rejuvenate Your Mind, Body, & Spirit, deep in her own grief, a year after suddenly losing her best friend. Raquel shares what that experience taught her about self-care and community care, living with life-changing loss, and how she is building a career in media from her beloved Orlando, Florida.Follow Raquel Reichard on Instagram @raquelreichard. Find her new book here. If you liked this episode, listen to How Robyn Moreno Gets Rooted and How Chef Grace Ramirez Found Her Place Outside of the Kitchen .

Check out our live recording of Latina to Latina x Poderistas in conversation with Xochitl Gonzalez, author of the new novel, Anita de Monte Laughs Last - taped before a live audience at The William Vale on March 27th, 2024!Follow Xochitl on instagram @xochitltheg and find her book, Anita de Monte Laughs Last, here. Learn more about Poderistas and their work and follow them on Instagram @poderistas. Thank you to our lead sponsors, Fund for the City of New York and Telemundo's Mujeres Imparables, whose generous funding allowed us to bring you this recording of the event, and to the Latina-owned brands who showed up and showed out for our gift bag: Agua BonitaBloomiBonita FierceBrazi BitesCindy Castro New YorkLoisaNopaleraOcoaOesteReina RebeldeRizos curlsSiete Foods 

She started her career as a political organizer, launching Mass VOTE, a state-wide voter engagement campaign, then parlayed those skills into economic development. As the EVP and Regional President at Berkshire Bank, Malia evolved the bank’s strategic focus to prioritize community impact. Malia shares how her theory of change evolved, how she identifies gaps between organizations’ intentions and their impact, and the very personal question she is constantly circling back to in therapy.Follow Malia and her work on Instagram @theurbanlabz, and find her book From Intention to Impact here. If you loved this episode listen to Why Cristina Tzintún Ramirez Wants Latinas to Be Less Humble and More Demanding and  Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War.

It's Wednesday, March 27th! Alicia and Juleyka cannot wait to see you at The William Vale for our live recording with Xochitl Gonzalez. Tonight's event is a great way to support a Latina-owned business and a Latina-run organization. There are still tickets and swag bags available, so get yours while they last. Bring a friend! Tickets available for purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27th , is our first Latina to Latina x Poderistas live event! If you haven't purchased your tickets, there is still time. If you can't be there in person, but want to support us, join other listeners who have purchased tickets to give away to others. If you're interested in participating, just drop us a line on Instagram: @latinatolatina. Tickets available for purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator

The entrepreneur, TikTok star and author of the personal finance book “Cultura and Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations” shares her tips for setting money boundaries with those you love most, and the importance of defining the driving values and “why” of your money plan.Follow Giovanna on instagram @gigthegirstgenmentor and find her book, Cultura and Cash here. If you liked this episode listen to How Alejandra Campoverdi Traced Her Family’s Invisible Inheritances and LEVEL UP: How to Secure Your Financial Future Starting Today.

Just a few days left to purchase tickets for our Latina to Latina + Poderistas Live event with NYT Best selling author Xochitl Gonzalez!The first 150 tickets sold come with a bag from Hija de tu Madre, stuffed with goodies from Latine brands including: Agua Bonita, Bloomi, Loisa, Nopalera, Ocoa, Oeste, Reina Rebelde, Rizos curls, Siete Foods, plus a reusable beverage bottle from the City Fund of New York - one of the event’s lead sponsors. We also have some special discount codes from Brazi snacks, Cindy Castro New York and Bonita Fierce candles!There are only a few dozen of these tickets left, so grab yours today:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latina-to-latina-x-poderistas-live-tickets-795621153287?aff=oddtdtcreator

The prolific author and poet started her career as a community reporter, then pivoted to creative writing. Now, the award-winning author of the new book, Forgotten Sisters, blends fairytale, horror, suspense and more to capture the grit and mysticism of moving between worlds. Cynthia shares how her success has forced her to rethink her boundaries, and how being the mother to two children with autism informs her writing.Follow Cynthia on instagram @cynthiapelayoauthor. Order her book, Forgotten Sisters, here.If you liked this episode, listen to How Johanna Rojas Vann Wove the Truth Into Fiction and What Jennifer De Leon Had to Confront to Become the First Writer In Her Family

When the pandemic hit, she lost her news job and doubled down on creating her own content. Now, as a creator and influencer with hundreds of thousands of social media followers, Vanessa explains how her early foray into YouTube (doing song covers in her high school bedroom!) prepared her for the “TikTok Boom of 2020,” a subsequent job offer from BuzzFeed, and what to do when the algorithm steals the joy of performing and creating.Connect with Vanessa on instagram @vanessacsirias and TikTok at @vanessacsirias. If you liked this episode listen to Why Kat Stickler Doesn’t Have Vulnerability Hangovers and Mayan Lopez Knows That Art Imitates Life.

The Executive Director of The Women's Equality Center shares her insights on the efforts to end El Salvador’s total abortion ban, and Honduras’ total emergency contraception, as well as the movement to expand women’s rights in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Paula shares how she came to see reproductive rights as central to civil rights, and how her own fertility journey shaped her advocacy.Connect with Paula on Instagram @pauavilg. If you liked this episode listen to Why Zaena Zamora is Fighting for Our Reproductive Freedom and Why Jessica González-Rojas Champions Reproductive Justice.

She went from assistant to creative executive in just a few years, and now at OBB Media, she oversees content and strategy for Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Demi Lovato, and Kevin Hart. We talk about getting your foot in the door when you have no connections, learning by osmosis, and how to play it cool when you work with some of the biggest stars of your generation.Follow Raquel on Instagram @raquellllly. If you liked this episode, listen to Why Marjorie Garcia Advocates for Recording Artists and How TikTok Star Tefi Pessoa Gets Paid to Be Herself.

The Grio’s VP of Digital Content and Senior Correspondent, and CNN political analyst joins Alicia to talk about blending memoir and cultural analysis in her new book, American Negra.Follow Natasha on Instagram @natashasalford and learn more about her book American Negra here. If you liked this episode, listen to How Claudia Forestieri Made the Pivot from Journalism to Scripted Television and How O Magazine’s Arianna Davis Made It, on Her Own Terms.

Have you ever wanted to support Latina to Latina, but weren’t sure how? On March 27th, we are teaming up with our friends at Poderistas to host our first major Latina to Latina live recording  at The William Valle Brooklyn and we want you to be in the audience! Host Alicia Menendez will be talking to New York Times best-selling author, Xochitl Gonzalez about her brand novel, Anita de Monte Laughs Last.  As a ticket holder, you’re contributing to the production of the show—we will be using our portion of the ticket sales to produce this podcast week in and week out.  For more details and to buy tickets, head over to LatinatoLatina.com.  We can’t wait to see you! 

The celebrity hair stylist, curl expert and owner of 5 Salon Spa shares how a fortuitous offer forced her to early up her ten year plan, the ways the pandemic tested her business and her faith, and the importance of never being “too good” to be of service.Follow Ona on Instagram @_thehairsaint_. If you liked this episode, listen to Julissa Prado, the Million-Dollar Curl Whisperer and Why Beauty Entrepreneur Aisha Ceballos-Crump Stepped Out on Faith.

The entertainment attorney behind J. Balvin, Juanes, Los Tigres del Norte, Carla Morrison and Snow the Product shares how she forewent a performing career of her own to advocate for others, what she’s learned about protecting artists’ rights, and the necessity of studying and understanding the entire entertainment industry.Follow Marjorie on Instagram @pajareezy. If you liked this episode, listen to Why Doris Anahí Brings a 'Heart of Service' to Her Art and How Melania Luisa Marte Became a Word Weaver.

The civil rights leader behind Texas’ Workers Defense Project and Jolt, and now NextGen America, shares her insights on organizing and mobilizing young and Latino voters, the biggest mistake she made while running for the US Senate, and why she grew up believing that people were jealous of her Mexican identity.Follow Cristina on Instagram @cristinanextgen. If you liked this episode, listen to How Monica Ramirez Embraced Solidarity to Build a Movement and Code for America’s Amanda Renteria Lost Some Battles, but Is Winning the Political War.