A Shot Of Truth

This episode is about my return to Mexico on advanced parole after 27 years. Before returning I traveled to Portugal and France with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship! I share fun moments we shared as a cohort and give shout-outs to the undocu baddies who joined us on this journey. While returning to Mexico was the biggest blessing it also came with unraveling and holding so much grief. The grief of losing my father and reuniting with his family was difficult but necessary. I got to return home with the emotional support of many people and I am grateful for this experience. I also talk about the romanticization of traveling on advanced parole and the emotions that come after. Enjoy!

This episode is for undocumented folks, highlighting our joint struggle to Palestinians. Our struggles are connected through the resilience of our people and our fight against Border imperialism.

Tania Dominguez-Rangel is a DACA recipient I met on my travels abroad in Europe. We were both traveling on advanced parole with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship! We would find speakeasies and talk about life, love, and processing our experience. I would come to learn this girl is full-on doing the most–from her podcast, The Most Interesting People on My Timeline to her work with the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective. This girl was meant to be a star, I mean come on, look at her! In this episode, we talk about her experience in education, her love for Tumblr, singing, and YouTube creation, and about some of the cool people she met along the way. Special shout-outs to Maggie Loredo, Karla, and Nicole Solis-Sison! Enjoy!

Maggie co-hosts Pochas So What–a podcast created by pochas for their deported, returned and undocumented community. We get to hear all the details behind the show and learn about the impact of this work! We also get deep into talking about grief, alcoholism, and her fifteen-year anniversary since she made the decision to return to Mexico. Maggie has so much grace and wisdom to share, Enjoy! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, our website, and more.

So we traveled across borders (some fellows) to Guatemala and (others to) Mexico all to find what we had most in common was that we just wanted to feel connected and free. This episode highlights 3 fellows that returned home for the first time. You even get to hear an exclusive interview that we recorded in Guatemala and her reflection listening back to it. Tune in to hear Selena, Alex, and Ingrid share the most impactful moments on this journey home. Enjoy!

We are joined by the co-founder of Otros Dreams en Acción Maggie Loredo. She is an activist, pocha, and returnee. She invites us all to listen to narratives across borders from people who have returned or been deported. Her organizing work in Mexico is one of supporting and advocating for returnees and deportees to have a dignified return. She shares the work they do at Otros Dreams en Accion (ODA) from advocacy, education, and healing through art and stories. This episode is an invitation of love to share stories across borders until they [borders] no longer exist.

Here it is! At last! My Guatemala Solo reflection. I traveled under Advanced Parole with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship out of @Scholarfundwa and let me tell you, it was beautiful. This was the first time I left the US in 27 years. I carried a lot of shame for not returning home instead but I wouldn’t change it for the world. We traveled to Flores Peten, Antigua, Lago Atitlan and Guatemala City. I learned so much about community outside of the US context. It left me longing for home and more eager to exist in kindness. The episode ends with a love letter I wrote to Guatemala. Huge shout out to Alejandra Perez for inviting me to your home and making it happen–my heart is full.

I have felt every emotion under the sun during this interview. Laura Garcia tends to be a private person who puts everyone first but in this episode, she lets you into one of the most vulnerable parts of her. From sharing stories of her family to the joy she has found in her grief. She lost her younger brother to ALS in 2020. She talks about the amount of joy he lived his life with and how she taps into that energy for her own well-being. She speaks about how her family keeps him alive knowing that his presence exists. I smiled a lot listening back to this. Enjoy, cherish, and hold close to this episode.

I know it’s been the new year for like 25 days but it always starts off slow for me. The shift into Aquarius season hits me hard as I dissolve into all my feelings (meh). This episode is a quick update on what to expect with the podcast in 2023 and a recap of the most difficult and best memories of my 20s! It’s my birthday in a matter of days and ya’ll 30 is here and it’s loud. Enjoy this sweet minisode and let’s hear it for 2023! I will be doing a flash birthday giveaway featuring my favorite candy shop and some other goodies.

We are joined by Laura Bohórquez from Inner Work Collective Freedom–she is also a part of the Cultural Leadership Fellowship traveling to Guatemala. Laura has traveled under advance parole multiple times and shares how she's processed some of those experiences. We recorded 48-hours before she left for Mexico City and it was beautiful to hear how this time around it was much different than in the past. She is heading to Guatemala in a couple months and that experience is very different from returning home. Give it up for Laura!