The Stories No One Wanted to Fund: Daniel Alarcón on Turning Rejection into Millions

Valentina sits down with Daniel Alarcón; co-founder and executive producer of Radio Ambulante, NPR’s first-ever Spanish-language podcast and one of the most influential narrative journalism platforms in the Americas. Daniel is also a MacArthur Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and the acclaimed novelist behind Lost City Radio. Together, they explore the emotional and often complicated journey of growing up between cultures, the impact of the immigrant experience, and how Daniel’s life in both the U.S. and Peru shaped the stories he tells today. Daniel’s story is a reminder of the strength, creativity, and resilience within the Latin American and the immigrant community. From navigating childhood in the U.S. South, to reconnecting with Peru, to building one of the most respected Spanish-language podcasts in the world — Daniel shows what happens when you follow curiosity, embrace your identity, and center the stories others overlook. Topics we cover: Daniel’s identity as an immigrant and what it means “to be American outside the home and Peruvian inside the home”* His return to Peru as a Fulbright Scholar and the search for memory, belonging, and family history. How Lost City Radio came to be, and why Lima changed his approach to writing. The origin story of Radio Ambulante, from a risky idea “that would never work” to NPR’s first Spanish podcast. Why Latin American stories matter, and how the show bridges Latin America with Latino communities in the U.S. Building a storytelling company from scratch, leadership challenges, and navigating generational shifts. The power of language, bilingual identity, and how switching languages can reveal new versions of ourselves. What’s next for Radio Ambulante: live shows, global storytelling, and new creative ambitions. Daniel’s advice for creators, podcasters, and anyone starting something big without all the answers. To learn more about Radio Ambulante visit: https://radioambulante.org Support the podcast: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/doce.podcast/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/docepodcast/?viewAsMember=true Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5V1ISbv9UiFy1cxOnzmY6B?si=7f09a0a250014faa Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@doce.podcast