As we close out Second Chance Month, The Latino Newsletter podcast presents a powerful collaboration with our friends at CALÓ News.

Guest hosts Brenda Verano and Michelle Zacarias sit down with newly sworn-in attorney Ester Mendez. a first-generation Oaxacan American who transformed a cycle of incarceration into a life of purpose. Ester opens up about navigating mental health challenges, criminal charges, and the long road to becoming a lawyer. Her story is one of accountability, community, and the real meaning of reentry.

This podcast episode is a special collaboration between The Latino Newsletter and the Latino Media Collaborative's flagship news initiative, CALÓ News.

Funding was provided by the Los Angeles County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department (JCOD), established to reimagine and enhance support for justice-impacted individuals and their families across Los Angeles County. To get more information call 833-LAC-JCOD.

Produced by Joaquin Cotler.

Edited by Julio Ricardo Varela and Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters.

Julio Ricardo Varela talks with Melisa López Franzen, a former Minnesota State Senator leader now running in the 2026 Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) primary for the United States Senate.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, López Franzen reflects on building a life in Minnesota, how her roots shaped her politics, and why she believes this moment calls her back to public service.This episode was produced and edited by Julio Ricardo Varela.Music by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe.Support The Latino Newsletter here.

Live from Miami and the Knight Media Forum, Julio Ricardo Varela hosts a discussion with FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez and FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya. They delve into pressing issues surrounding Latino media, the challenges of audience measurement, and the representation of Latinos in music and television.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela. Original audio and photos from the Knight Media Forum.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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The Latino Newsletter podcast is made possible with support from the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latino Community Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you all for a fabulous first season! Host Julio Ricardo Varela shares a 2024 message from all of us here at The Latino Newsletter. Keep us going into 2025 by becoming a foundational supporter.

You can give here.

We wish you a Happy New Year!

For the final episode of our first season, host Julio Ricardo Varela explores the evolving future of Latinidad with Dr. Manuel Pastor, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and director of the Equity Research Institute. Dr. Pastor provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Latino community as 2024 draws to a close.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Latino Newsletter podcast is made possible with support from the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latino Community Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes journalist and cultural producer Alisha Miranda to discuss how her "Latinx Industry Night" series is redefining storytelling and amplifying Latino voices in Philadelphia’s hospitality scene. They talk about how these events challenge stereotypes, spotlight rising stars, and create intentional spaces for representation and community.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Latino Newsletter podcast is made possible with support from the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latino Community Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Puerto Rico's 7th (yes, 7th) non-binding status plebiscite happened on Election Day, with statehood getting 57% of the symbolic vote and independence getting 31%. What does it all mean, or what doesn't it mean?

Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, the George Welwood Murray Professor of Legal History at Columbia Law School, to dissect and discuss.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Latino Newsletter podcast is made possible with support from the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latino Community Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In the third of a series of conversations about the Latino vote and the 2024 election cycle, host⁠ ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela talks with Jesus Lara, President of Local Media at TelevisaUnivision, about what the network did this past election cycle and what it means for the future of the U.S. Latino community.

This episode was produced and edited by Julio Ricardo Varela.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Latino Newsletter podcast is made possible with support from the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Latino Community Foundation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.