Rocio and Mercedes Podcast - Afrolatinx Podcast
45 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago -Amplifying the Afro in Afro-Caribbean. We are on a journey of embracing our Blackness as Dominicans - from a place of love and celebration. Please join us on this journey of self-discovery and embracing our blackness. Our podcast will be a platform to explore topics such as hair, history, Immigration, Colorism, Body Image, Caribbean culture in the arts, and more.
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Episodes
How to tap into our Divine Feminine and all things Cuba!
June 28, 2022 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBWe chat with Maya Louisa to chat about the Divine Feminine. How do we tap into it more? How can we connect to ourselves more? Maya has also spent extensive time in Cuba and shares how it has influenced her life. She also chats about the deep meaning of waist beads. Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/maya_louisa/ Become a Patreon Supporter Here! www.patreon.com/rocioandmercedes We'd love to hear from you! email us at [email protected] Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: Rocio a...
Afro Dominican Roots Music with Yasser Tejeda
June 07, 2022 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBWe chat with Yasser Tejeda, an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer. We talk about Dominican roots music and how music can connect us to our Afro Dominican heritage. Yasser Tejeda is an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer. According to Billboard, Yasser is giving traditional folkloric music a new spin with jazz, rock, and Caribbean rhythms in "a frenzied celebration of the ancestral union" while Juan Luis Guerra, the most in...
Afro Dominican Roots Music with Yasser Tejeda
June 07, 2022 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBWe chat with Yasser Tejeda, an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer. We talk about Dominican roots music and how music can connect us to our Afro Dominican heritage. Yasser Tejeda is an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer. According to Billboard, Yasser is giving traditional folkloric music a new spin with jazz, rock, and Caribbean rhythms in "a frenzied celebration of the ancestral union" while Juan Luis Guerra, the most in...
Getting laid off, quitting and how to make a career change
May 18, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBWe sit down with Catalina Pena from Catalyst Creations and discuss career changes, getting let go, and how to pivot during difficult times. Catalina shares how getting fired opened up opportunities. She talks about mentorship, how job descriptions are created, and how to write your own job description. We also talk about her identifying as a Colombian Afro-Latina. We dive deep and chat about how her family embraced her identifying as an Afrolatina GUEST IG: curiouscata Catalyst Creatio...
How to create your own job description, embracing career change and how to pivot
May 18, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBWe sit down with Catalina Pena from Catalyst Creations and discuss career changes, getting let go, and how to pivot during difficult times. Catalina shares how getting fired opened up opportunities. She talks about mentorship, how job descriptions are created, and how to write your own job description. We also talk about her identifying as a Colombian Afro-Latina. We dive deep and chat about how her family embraced her identifying as an Afrolatina GUEST IG: curiouscata Catalyst Creatio...
Career changes, mentorship and how to pivot
May 18, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBWe sit down with Catalina Pena from Catalyst Creations and discuss career changes, getting let go, and how to pivot during difficult times. Catalina shares how getting fired opened up opportunities. She talks about mentorship, how job descriptions are created, and how to write your own job description. We also talk about her identifying as a Colombian Afro-Latina. We dive deep and chat about how her family embraced her identifying as an Afrolatina GUEST IG: curiouscata Catalyst Creatio...
Work trauma, being a "Model Minority" and making career moves
May 18, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBWe sit down with Catalina Pena from Catalyst Creations and discuss career changes, getting let go, and how to pivot during difficult times. Catalina shares how getting fired opened up opportunities. She talks about mentorship, how job descriptions are created, and how to write your own job description. We also talk about her identifying as a Colombian Afro-Latina. We dive deep and chat about how her family embraced her identifying as an Afrolatina GUEST IG: curiouscata Catalyst Creatio...
History of Dominican Republic and Haiti
May 03, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MBIn this episode, we chat with Professor Remysell Salas and discuss Haiti’s influence on Dominican History. He also shares his recent visit to Africa and the similarities between Africa and the Dominican Republic. We talk of ways to bridge the gap and change the narrative. Tune in to a great episode! Guest IG: remysalasbx https://remysell.medium.com/ Dominican Book Club: https://www.dominicanwriters.com/dominican-studies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxv8T-9rcak We'd love to he...
History of Dominican Republic and Haiti
May 03, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MBIn this episode, we chat with Professor Remysell Salas and discuss Haiti’s influence on Dominican History. He also shares his recent visit to Africa and the similarities between Africa and the Dominican Republic. We talk of ways to bridge the gap and change the narrative. Tune in to a great episode! Guest IG: remysalasbx https://remysell.medium.com/ Dominican Book Club: https://www.dominicanwriters.com/dominican-studies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxv8T-9rcak We'd love to he...
90 Day Fiance with Anny Francisco!
April 19, 2022 06:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBWe sit down with reality TV star Anny Francisco from 90 Day Fiance. She shares how life has changed for her since being on the show, what she misses most about the Dominican Republic as well as her journey to being an entrepreneur. Guest IG: anny_dr02 We'd love to hear from you! Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: Rocio and Mercedes email us at [email protected] Please rate, subscribe, and review the show! It really makes a difference! This episode was produced by: Quinton Cam...
Negra Aqui, Negra Alla -Embracing being Afrolatina
April 05, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBWe have a very candid and honest chat with Rosalyn Damiana Lake Montero, an educator in the DC area who was raised to celebrate her Blackness and love the skin she's in. She talks about the differences between being raised in the Dominican Republic and the states. She shares her struggles within her own community with how she identifies. She talks about her work with the youth and her passion for being an educator. She shares her long battle with Covid as a Black woman and how vulnerable ...
Dominican History with Anthropologist Dr. Ryan Mann-Hamilton
March 22, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBIn this episode, we speak with Anthropologist and assistant professor Dr. Ryan Mann- Hamilton and discuss the complex history of the Dominican Republic. He discusses his research in Samana and our close connection to African American history. He also shares some tools we can use to research our own family history and the dangers of just using a DNA test. Guest Info: IG: @antilleanroutes Dr. Mann Hamilton's website: https://www.echoprojectlg.org/ https://isercaribe.org/ We'd love to he...
Season 2 Trailer
December 31, 2021 19:00 - 1 minute - 1.03 MBSeason 2 Trailer! This Season we explore Blackness in other Latinx countries celebrating the Afro in Afrocarribean! Join us! Enjoy! follow us! IG@rocioandmercedes Twitter: randmpodcast www.rocioandmercedes.com Become a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/RocioandMercedes Support the Show.
Being 1st Generation
April 06, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBWe chat with actor, writer Nabil Vinas about being 1st generation. He talks about his upbringing, connecting to his roots and the language, and how to make a mean mangu! Please rate, subscribe, and review the show. It really makes a difference! About Nabil Nabil Viñas (AEA) is an actor, screenwriter, and producer born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City to parents from Moca in the Dominican Republic. He was the co-lead in “Program” which premiered at the 55th New York Film Fes...
Acting is Activism
March 17, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 34.4 MBFranceli Chapman-Varela is an Afro-Latina(Dominican) actor, host, writer, and producer. She is a member of 3 guilds; Writers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA and Actor's Equity. We talk about her journey and how Art is a form of Artivism. Please rate, subscribe, and review the show. It really makes a difference! We love to hear from you! email us at [email protected] BE A PATREON SUPPORTER www.patreon.com/rocioandmercedes GUEST INFO: Instagram: @celihangout WEBSITE: http://www.yout...
Dominicans do love Haitians
March 03, 2021 14:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBClarivel Ruiz is the founder of Dominicans love Haitians. We talk about how the organization started, why it's so important, and the Black Doll Movement. GUEST INFO: Instagram: dominicanslovehaitians website: https://www.dominicanslovehaitians.com/ BE A PATREON SUPPORTER www.patreon.com/rocioandmercedes Please rate, subscribe, and review the show! Spread the love! Dominican Studies book club: https://www.dominicanwriters.com/dominican-studies We love to hear from you! email us at roci...
Representation Matters
February 16, 2021 18:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBWe chat with Kelvin Grullon, a Dominican American actor from Washington Heights, New York City. We chat about the importance of seeing ourselves on screen. Kelvin shares how it felt to play Dominican characters. GUEST INFO: Instagram: kelvingrullon website: https://www.kelvingrullon.com/ check out his DJ skills here: https://soundcloud.com/wildchico1 Kelvin on Univision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6bBUd2KMvs BE A PATREON SUPPORTER www.patreon.com/rocioandmercedes Please rate, sub...
What is Self-care?
February 04, 2021 15:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBWe talk with Eileen Z. Fuentes about all things Self-Care. She gives us 5 practical tips, shares the importance of rest, and shares her own journey of Self-care. Eileen is a Health educator, community health activist and full-time Clinical Coordinator for breast and gynecologic oncology. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and since then has become a fierce advocate for all patients with a focus on the most vulnerable. Please rate, subscribe, and review the show. It really makes ...
What is Self-care?
February 04, 2021 15:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBWe talk with Eileen Z. Fuentes about all things Self-Care. She gives us 5 practical tips, shares the importance of rest, and shares her own journey of Self-care. Eileen is a Health educator, community health activist and full-time Clinical Coordinator for breast and gynecologic oncology. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and since then has become a fierce advocate for all patients with a focus on the most vulnerable. Please rate, subscribe, and review the show. It really makes ...
Sugar, Colonics and Community
January 19, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBViolet Santana and Indhira Santana, two sisters who opened up My Wellness Solutions, a holistic health center in NYC. They chat about sugar addictions, colonics, weight loss, IIN, PCOS, and having a healthy menstrual flow. They share how they got started and their work in the community. GUEST INFO IG: MWSHEALTH WEBSITE: www.mywellnesssoutions.com To learn more about Integrative Nutrition or IIN: https://www.integrativenutrition.com/ Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercede...
Making better health choices
January 19, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBViolet Santana and Indhira Santana, two sisters who opened up My Wellness Solutions, a holistic health center in NYC. They chat about sugar addictions, colonics, weight loss, IIN, PCOS, and having a healthy menstrual flow. They share how they got started and their work in the community. GUEST INFO IG: MWSHEALTH WEBSITE: www.mywellnesssoutions.com Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercedes website: www.rocioandmercedes.com Become a Patreon supporter www.patreon.com/rocioandm...
Health and Wellness
January 19, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBViolet Santana and Indhira Santana, two sisters who opened up My Wellness Solutions, a holistic health center in NYC. They chat about sugar addictions, colonics, weight loss, IIN, PCOS, and having a healthy menstrual flow. They share how they got started and their work in the community. GUEST INFO IG: MWSHEALTH WEBSITE: www.mywellnesssoutions.com Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercedes website: www.rocioandmercedes.com Please rate, subscribe, and review the show. It real...
Practical tips for saving money, and building wealth
January 05, 2021 15:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBRamona Cedeno chats with us about financial freedom. We discuss financial planning, steps we can take In our 20s, 30s, 40s, and how to start from this moment forward. Ramona talks about her own journey to financial freedom and owning her own business. Ramona Cedeno is a CPA and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with over 20 years of experience as an accounting and finance professional. She has a track record of successfully devising and deploying innovative strategies that enhance oper...
Money - getting our finances right
January 05, 2021 15:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBRamona Cedeno chats with us about financial freedom. We discuss financial planning, steps we can take In our 20s, 30s, 40s, and how to start from this moment forward. Ramona talks about her own journey to financial freedom and owning her own business. Ramona Cedeno is a CPA and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with over 20 years of experience as an accounting and finance professional. She has a track record of successfully devising and deploying innovative strategies that enhance oper...
Human Connection and Art
December 21, 2020 06:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThis week Rocio and Mercedes speak with Sherazade Garcia, a Dominican Visual Artist about her family history, influences on her artwork, and how we are all connected as human beings. Scherezade Garcia is an interdisciplinary visual artist born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and based in New York. In her work, she addresses contemporary allegories of history and processes of colonization and politics, which frequently evoke memories of faraway home and the hopes and dreams that accomp...
Food, Death and Mental Health
December 03, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBDiana López has over 18 years of experience working in the field of social services providing support to adults, children, and their families wearing many hats. Diana has experience in Trauma-informed practice. She has experience providing group therapy and individual counseling. She has served as an advocate and resource for homeless youth and families involved with NYC foster care system. Her most recent work was with children and families as an NYC DOE Bilingual School Social Worker as a ...
Food, Death and Mental Health
December 03, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBDiana López has over 18 years of experience working in the field of social services providing support to adults, children, and their families wearing many hats. Diana has experience in Trauma-informed practice. She has experience providing group therapy and individual counseling. She has served as an advocate and resource for homeless youth and families involved with NYC foster care system. Her most recent work was with children and families as an NYC DOE Bilingual School Social Worker as a ...
Hair Pelo Pajon
November 25, 2020 13:00 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBYessenia has approached 11 out of her 20 years in the hair industry, as a way to help women discover, and maintain their naturally curly, coily, and kinky hair. By providing a safe space, listening to each client’s story, sharing hair education, hair service offerings, and helping them dismantle false beliefs, she is able to create an experience for clients that leaves them feeling empowered, beautiful, confident and most importantly with the tools to continue their natural healthy hair jou...
Embracing our curls, embracing ourselves
November 25, 2020 13:00 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBWe sit down with the textureologist Yessenia Reyes. We discuss The Crown Act, her hair journey, advice to those new to the natural hair journey. She provides a safe space, listening to each client’s story, sharing hair education, hair service offerings, and helping them dismantle false beliefs, she is able to create an experience for clients that leaves them feeling empowered, beautiful, confident, and most importantly with the tools to continue their natural healthy hair journey! OUR G...
Embracing our curls
November 25, 2020 13:00 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBYessenia has approached 11 out of her 20 years in the hair industry, as a way to help women discover, and maintain their naturally curly, coily, and kinky hair. By providing a safe space, listening to each client’s story, sharing hair education, hair service offerings, and helping them dismantle false beliefs, she is able to create an experience for clients that leaves them feeling empowered, beautiful, confident and most importantly with the tools to continue their natural healthy hair jou...
Spirituality
November 12, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBWe chat all things Spirituality with Sili Recio. She shares her journey of becoming a Priestess. She answers questions on connecting to our loved ones that have passed, setting up an altar, and the beauty of death. We talk about her amazing children's book: "If Dominican were a Color" and her journey to writing It. Sili has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a b...
Why is spirituality so important?
November 12, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBWe chat all things Spirituality with Sili Recio. She shares her journey of becoming a Priestess. She answers questions on connecting to our loved ones that have passed, setting up an altar, and the beauty of death. We talk about her amazing children's book: "If Dominican were a Color" and her journey to writing It. Sili has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a b...
Military life
November 12, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBKarlos De La Cruz was raised in the Highbridge community of the Bronx, New York, Karlos De La Cruz is a first-generation Dominican American. Born in 1983, Karlos is technically an early millennial who bridged the gap between the days of pagers, payphones, and dial-up internet to the early adaptations the first iphone, Bluetooth, and communication networks that shaped the digital age as we know it today. As an active hispanic youth in the Bronx, Karlos had an early appreciation for the arts ...
How is military life for a Latino?
November 12, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBKarlos De La Cruz was raised in the Highbridge community of the Bronx, New York, Karlos De La Cruz is a first-generation Dominican American. Born in 1983, Karlos is technically an early millennial who bridged the gap between the days of pagers, payphones, and dial-up internet to the early adaptations the first iphone, Bluetooth, and communication networks that shaped the digital age as we know it today. As an active hispanic youth in the Bronx, Karlos had an early appreciation for the arts ...
How is military life for a Latino?
November 12, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBKarlos De La Cruz was raised in the Highbridge community of the Bronx, New York, Karlos De La Cruz is a first-generation Dominican American. Born in 1983, Karlos is technically an early millennial who bridged the gap between the days of pagers, payphones, and dial-up internet to the early adaptations the first iphone, Bluetooth, and communication networks that shaped the digital age as we know it today. As an active hispanic youth in the Bronx, Karlos had an early appreciation for the arts ...
Immigration
November 11, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBActress, writer, and director Laura Gómez, started her journey in her native country, Dominican Republic and has been making a name for herself in the entertainment industry over the past decade in New York City. She is best known for transforming herself into “Blanca Flores,” on the award-winning NETFLIX hit series Orange is the New Black. Other credits include the film Exposed, Law & Order SVU, the HBO Mini-Series Show Me A Herocreated by David Simon and the Dominican film Sambá, which pre...
Laura Gomez from Orange is the Black talks immigration on and off the show
November 11, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBActress, writer, and director Laura Gómez, started her journey in her native country, Dominican Republic and has been making a name for herself in the entertainment industry over the past decade in New York City. She is best known for transforming herself into “Blanca Flores,” on the award-winning NETFLIX hit series Orange is the New Black. Other credits include the film Exposed, Law & Order SVU, the HBO Mini-Series Show Me A Herocreated by David Simon and the Dominican film Sambá, which pre...
Why voting matters
October 28, 2020 07:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBWe talk with Genesis Aquino. We discuss the importance of voting, local elections, housing issues, the struggles of running a campaign. Genesis Aquino is an activist committed to gender, economic, and social equality. Genesis Aquino migrated from the Dominican Republic at age 11, and her work in NYC has been focused on healing from and addressing the systems of oppression that impact all her intersections as a Black Latina migrant woman. Genesis believes in the importance of power-building ...
VOTE!
October 28, 2020 07:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBWe talk with Genesis Aquino. We discuss the importance of voting, local elections, housing issues, the struggles of running a campaign. Genesis Aquino is an activist committed to gender, economic, and social equality. Genesis Aquino migrated from the Dominican Republic at age 11, and her work in NYC has been focused on healing from and addressing the systems of oppression that impact all her intersections as a Black Latina migrant woman. Genesis believes in the importance of power-building ...
History of Dominican Republic
October 21, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBRocio and Mercedes deep dive into Dominican History with Dr. Anthony Stevens-Acevedo. In this episode, talk about the original native people to Hispaniola to today, colonization, Dominican Republic/Haiti's tense relationship, the great migration to the US, and Juan Rodriguez. This episode was produced by: Quinton Cameron, Mercedes Ilarraza, and Rocio Mendez Edited by: Quinton Cameron Logo by: Dylan Rogers Support the Show.
Colorism
October 14, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBTitle: Colorism Summary: Rocio and Mercedes talk with writer Claudio Cabrera. In this episode, we talk about Claudio’s writing journey, the effects of Colorism, the importance of self-love, and therapy. Guest info IG: @claudio.e.cabrera Twitter: @CECabrera_ Follow Rocio and Mercedes on Instagram @rocioandmercedes Please rate and review the show! It really makes a difference! Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercedes email us at [email protected] This episode was...
Colorism, NY Times and Therapy with Claudio Cabrera
October 14, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBTitle: Colorism Summary: Rocio and Mercedes talk with writer Claudio Cabrera. In this episode, we talk about Claudio’s writing journey, the effects of Colorism, the importance of self-love, and therapy. Guest info IG: @claudio.e.cabrera Twitter: @CECabrera_ Follow Rocio and Mercedes on Instagram @rocioandmercedes Please rate and review the show! It really makes a difference! Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercedes email us at [email protected] This episode was...
Community
October 07, 2020 04:00 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MBRocio and Mercedes talk to Zenaida Mendez, Director of MNN El Barrio Firehouse Community Center. In this episode we talk about Zenaida's early career as a community activist, what we as a community can do now to stay informed and active, and the upcoming presidential and NYC mayoral election. Guest info: IG: zenalaunica4 Twitter: @LaUnicaZeMendez Website: www.mnn.org Please rate and review the show! It really makes a difference! Follow Rocio and Mercedes on IG: @rocioandmercedes em...
Dominican Writers
September 29, 2020 16:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBRocio and Mercedes chat with Angela Abreu, the founder, and Executive Director for Dominican Writers. This is an organization solely dedicated to highlighting content that not only promotes the works of Dominican Writers but also provides them with the tools and resources necessary for their development. In this episode, we discuss Angela’s journey toward creating the platform, touch on the importance of telling our stories, and her journey identifying as an Afro-Dominican. Guest Info: I...
Rocio and Mercedes Trailer
September 23, 2020 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.57 MBRocio and Mercedes: Amplifying the AFRO in Afro - Dominican! Here is our trailer for our first season! Support the Show.