Episodes
-
EP181: Defend Your Joy with Leo Martinez (VC Defensa)
In this episode, Eddie Aguirre sits down with Leo Martinez of VC Defensa to talk community defense, what the work really looks like behind the scenes, and why joy might be the most important organizing tool you have. ----- 03:28 Intro and Credits 03:59 Run Ins With ICE 04:46 Building Rapid…
more -
EP180: Case for Culture with Diana Morales (SELA Arts Foundation)
In this episode with Diana Morales, executive director of the SELA Arts Foundation, we get into what it actually takes to build cultural infrastructure in a region that's been overlooked by philanthropy and forced to create with nothing. We talk about South Gate cutting its Cultural Arts…
more -
EP179: Anatomy of Silence with Brenda Gonzalez
In this episode, Brenda Gonzalez of the Tamarindo Podcast joins for a conversation on navigating burnout, learning and unlearning through hundreds of conversations, and what it means to keep showing up during heavy and uncertain times. We get into the impact of recent revelations surrounding…
more -
EP178: Beyond The Divide with Aida Ashouri
In this episode of the Social Primate: Aida Ashouri, attorney and candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney, joins Eddie and special guest JT the LA Storyteller for a raw conversation about what it really takes to create change from the inside. From leading a walkout of 1,500 students at 17, to...
-
EP177: Visible by Defiance with Natalie Garcia
How long have you been sitting on your story? In this episode, Eddie sits down with Natalie Garcia, a Chicana writer, storyteller, actress, and creator from the San Fernando Valley. Natalie stopped waiting for someone to hand her the mic and built her own stage instead. From a shy girl filling...
-
EP176: Spheres of Influence with Paolo The Peruvian Chasqui
In this episode of The Social Primate, Eddie Aguirre speaks with Peruvian activist and journalist Paolo about U.S. imperialism in Latin America, the criminalization of dissent, and the limits of protest as a strategy for real change. Drawing from firsthand experience in Peru, Paolo connects the...
-
EP175: The Shape of Power with Matthew Solomon
In this episode of Social Primate, Eddie Aguirre sits down with documentary filmmaker Matthew Solomon to discuss his upcoming film, Seeds for Liberation, a documentary that centers on the Palestinian liberation movement and its connections to broader struggles against imperialism and state...
-
EP174: Compliance Interrupted with Jorgel Chavez
What does it mean to oppose federal enforcement from inside local government, where silence isn’t neutral but compliance? In this episode, Eddie Aguirre speaks with Bell Gardens City Council member Jorgel Chavez to explain why staying silent is not neutral but a form of compliance, and how local...
-
EP173: Burden of Witness with Izzy Ramirez
In this episode with journalist Izzy Ramirez , we discuss the realities and challenges of tracking ICE operations, the importance of community support, and the emotional toll of dealing with state-sponsored violence. This episode sheds light on the critical work being done to protect vulnerable...
-
EP172: Divided by Design with Michelle Zacarias
What happens when survival turns into obedience? In this episode of The Social Primate, host Eddie Aguirre sits down with award-winning journalist Michelle Zacarías to break down how generations of Latinos were taught to find safety through assimilation and how that belief still shapes our...
-
EP171: Licensed to Harm with Joey Scott
How do you hold power accountable when the rules are built to protect it? In this episode, investigative journalist Joey Scott joins Social Primate to talk about policing, surveillance, and state power in Los Angeles. From stockpiles of “less-lethal” weapons to escalating protest crackdowns, to...
-
EP170: The Cost of Dissent with Jag Arreola
What does it mean to be silenced without ever being convicted? In this episode we hear Jag Arreola’s story of repression after Operation Accountability. Though the felony charges against him collapsed in court, he was still punished: silenced by a gag order, erased from social media, and stripped...
-
EP169: Truth for Sale with Amanda Del Cid Lugo
What happens when journalism sells our stories instead of serving them? In this episode, journalist Amanda Del Cid Lugo from LA Public Press talks about how parachute reporting twists the truth and reduces real lives to quick headlines. We get into the cost of stories written to sell instead of...
-
EP168: Poisoned by Policy with Laura Cortez (East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice)
What do you do when corporations and politicians treat your neighborhood as expendable? In this episode, Laura Cortez, organizer and co-director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ), discusses growing up in Southeast LA, where pollution was treated as “normal,” and realizing...
-
EP167: Targeted by the State with Alejandro Orellana
What happens when helping your community puts you in the crosshairs of the federal government? In this episode, Marine veteran and organizer Alejandro Orellana shares how a morning at home turned into a federal raid — and what the fight that followed reveals about solidarity, risk, and why…
more -
EP166: Roots and Rights with Lupe Carrasco Cardona
What does “back to school” look like when your community is bracing for ICE raids? In this episode, educator and organizer Lupe Carrasco Cardona joins us to talk about protecting students through Know Your Rights workshops, walking school buses, and community safety plans. We also explore her…
more -
EP165: Eyes on ICE with Sandra De Anda (OCRRN)
What do you do when ICE shows up? In this episode, Eddie Aguirre sits down with Sandra De Anda, a writer, organizer, and Director of Policy and Legal Strategy at the OC Rapid Response Network to talk real-time resistance in Orange County. From court patrols to community alerts, Sandra breaks down...
-
EP164: Organize or Disappear with Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
What role should local leaders play when federal agents target your community? In this urgent conversation, Eddie and Santa Ana Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez speak from the frontlines of back-to-back ICE raids in Southern California. Together, they unpack how local governments can either...
-
EP163: Decolonize the Youth with Leslie Priscilla & Fernando Deveras (Latinx Parenting)
What if parenting wasn’t about control—but liberation? Educators and organizers Fernando Deveras and Leslie Priscilla join Eddie to break down what it means to raise conscious kids in a system built on control. From intergenerational trauma to decolonized parenting, this episode explores how...
-
EP162: The Language of Control with Albert Corado (People's City Council LA)
Masked agents. Unmarked vans. Tear gas on neighborhood streets. In this episode of The Social Primate, Eddie is joined by Albert Corado—organizer, activist, and co-founder of People’s City Council—to unpack the current wave of ICE raids, escalating police presence, and what it means for…
more -
EP161: Homegrown Memories with Alejandra Martinez
In this powerful episode of The Social Primate, host Eddie Aguirre is joined by Alejandra Martinez to explore what it means to reclaim the story of Southeast LA—on our own terms. As ICE raids tear through our neighborhoods and outside narratives try to define who we are, this episode pushes back....
-
EP160: All Eyes on Flat Top with Fernanda Sanchez
What happens when the last open green space in your neighborhood is on the verge of being taken away? In this episode, Fernanda Sanchez returns to discuss the fight to preserve Flat Top Hill in Los Angeles. We dive into its cultural and historical significance, the community’s resistance to...
-
EP159: Wheels of Change with Christian Vazquez
In this episode of the podcast I am joined by Christian Vazquez, founder of SELA Bicycle Center, joins us to unpack how generations of neglect in the Gateway Cities have shaped the way Southeast LA moves—or doesn’t. We talk about building bike culture where infrastructure rarely reaches, and why...
-
EP158 : Airwaves of Intention with Locatora Radio (Mala & Diosa)
In this episode of Social Primate, I sit down with the dynamic duo behind Locatora Radio, Mala Muñoz & Diosa Femme , to discuss their decade-long podcasting journey. They delve into the origins of their show, the impact of the political climate on their content, and the evolution from indie...
-
EP157: Frequencies for the People with Valley Views SFV
Community radio isn’t just soundwaves—it’s power, storytelling, and reclaiming narratives. I sit down with Valley Views founder Hector Roman-Perez and youth interns to explore how local media uplifts overlooked communities. We dive into the show's roots, its mission to highlight real stories, and...
-
EP156: Shaped by Struggle with Angela Gonzales -Torres
What happens when the fight for justice turns into a fight against each other? On this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Angela Gonzales Torres, a Chicana anthropologist, who shares how personal experiences with family separation, gentrification, and displacement have shaped her fight for...
-
EP155: Verses of the People with Xitlalic Guijosa-Osuna
How does storytelling become resistance? On this episode of The Social Primate, Eddie Aguirre sits down with Xitlalic Guijosa-Osuna to talk art, poetry, and the power of storytelling. From capturing everyday dichos through Tarjetitas con Amor to amplifying Southeast LA’s voice through poetry, she...
-
EP154: Cavalry of Change with Samuel Brown-Vazquez
When external forces aim to erase your community’s identity, how do you fight back and preserve the legacy that defines your home? In this episode, Eddie Aguirre sits down with Samuel Brown Vasquez of the Avocado Heights Vaquer@s to explore the intersection of cultural preservation, community...
-
EP153: Breaking the Persona with Richie Velazquez
How do you stay true to yourself in a world that constantly tells you who to be? On this episode, Richie Velazquez, an artist best known for his Grime Art, gets real about self-acceptance, mental health, and the struggle to stay grounded despite outside pressures. It’s a deep dive into growth,...
-
EP152: Healing The Collective with Luis Cornejo
What if healing isn’t meant to be done alone? In this episode of The Social Primate Podcast, Luis Cornejo, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist, explores how our survival instincts are rooted in our connections with others. Luis highlights the discomfort around...
-
EP151: The Weight of Redemption with Eddie Herrera Jr.
What does it take to rebuild a life after 18 years of incarceration? In this episode of The Social Primate, Eddie Herrera Jr. shares his powerful journey from incarcerated firefighter to professional firefighter for the state of California. He opens up about battling wildfires behind prison…
more -
EP150: Stories Wanted with J.T. The L.A Storyteller
A special episode just for YOU! Celebrate the 150th episode of The Social Primate with a special segment featuring JT the LA Storyteller! Together, we dive into the untold stories of Los Angeles, including captivating listener-submitted pieces that bring the city, its people and our shared human...
-
EP148: Defiance in Action with Elizabeth Alcantar
In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Alcantar, the Mayor of Cudahy, to discuss her journey from growing up in this small Southeast LA city to leading it. Elizabeth shares the challenges she faced—like environmental injustices and political resistance—and how they inspired her to take…
more -
EP147: Recipe for Resistance with Carlos Montes
Activism, community, and legacy: This week, we sit down with Carlos Montes, co-founder of the Brown Berets and a pioneer in the Chicano Movement. From organizing the historic Chicano Moratorium to confronting modern challenges like gentrification and polarization, Carlos shares the lessons and...
-
EP146: The Bonds We Build with Mariah Castañeda
In this episode Mariah Castañeda, co-founder and Audience Director at L.A Public Press, joins me to explore how independent media can reshape the narrative for underrepresented communities. Through her work, Mariah champions equitable access to food, shelter, and meaningful community connections,...
-
EP145: Truth in Adversity with Azomali
In this episode, I sat down with Azomali, a Colombian-American hip-hop artist on a mission to connect with his roots and identity through his music. Azomali opens up about the deep silences around identity in his family and the risks he’s taken to reconnect—like trekking through Colombia’s...
-
EP144: Layers of Legacy with Citlalli Anahuac
In this episode, we’re joined by Citlalli Anahuac, a historian, professor, and cultural activist with over two decades in the field, to dig into what it really means to reclaim and decolonize identity. Citlalli shares her journey of reconnecting with her heritage and how she challenges…
more -
EP143: Narrative Control with Abraham Marquez, Rob Camacho and Ben Camacho
In this episode, Rob Camacho, Ben Camacho, and Abraham Marquez discuss media bias and contradictions that permeate mainstream reporting, hindering authentic truth-telling in journalism. As independent journalists of color, they highlight the manipulation of language and systemic suppression that...
-
EP142: Lead and Elevate with Fernanda Sanchez
In this episode, I sit down with Fernanda Sanchez, president of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council, to talk about the real challenges facing communities of color and how powerful it can be when neighbors come together. At the heart of our conversation is a simple, powerful truth: change...
-
EP141: Dare to Demand with Viva Padilla
In this episode, we’re joined by Viva Padilla, who shares her story of standing up against gentrification and protecting the community’s rich history. As someone currently facing eviction, Viva gets real about the challenges of displacement and the ongoing fight for fair housing and local...
-
EP140: Rooted in Unity with Kiki & Brenda (El Sereno Community Land Trust)
In this episode, I’m joined by Kiki and Brenda from El Sereno Community Land Trust, an initiative reclaiming land for the community to combat gentrification and the housing crisis. We discuss their work in creating affordable housing through co-ops and educating residents on their rights to shape...
-
EP139: Tones of Creation with Rey Sepulveda
I sat down with Rey Sepulveda of Cultivarte to dive deep into the power of learning skills outside the hood and bringing them back to create change. We discussed how we can learn from places with deep activist roots like East LA and apply those lessons to SELA. With spaces like the SELA Cultural...
-
EP138: Roots and Resonance with Ernesto Vazquez
In this episode, I chat with Ernesto Vazquez about the journey of mastering a craft. Ernesto opens up about his creative process, sharing how different influences shape his work and the deeper meaning behind his art. We dig into the importance of reconnecting with your cultural self-identity and...
-
EP137: The Price of Truth with Ben Camacho
Join us for an episode with investigative journalist Ben Camacho, as we discuss his journey into journalism and the events that led to his lawsuit with the City of Los Angeles. Sparking a critical conversation about the balance between transparency and legal pressure. We explore the broader...
-
EP136: Acts of Purpose with Abraham Marquez
In this episode, I chat with Abraham Márquez, an independent journalist, about the vital role of local organizing, educating, and mobilizing efforts in driving grassroots activism. We dive into how media bias often overlooks powerful entities, and why independent journalism is crucial for...
-
EP135: Disrupt and Report with Stephanie Mendez
In this episode, Stephanie Mendez, an award-winning journalist known for her work with local and major media outlets sits down with me as we explore how the rebellious ethos of punk culture has influenced her journalistic approach, emphasizing independence, authenticity, and challenging…
more -
EP134: Cultural Renaissance with Johnny Murillo (Chicano Hollywood)
In this episode Johnny Murillo, founder of Chicano Hollywood delves into the platforms mission to uplift and celebrate our culture in the entertainment industry ⎯ a time for Latinos of all backgrounds to reclaim our narratives, and create our own opportunities. We'll explore the importance of...
-
EP133: Tools for Triumph with Alexandro Tizoc Zamora
In a conversation with Alex Zamora, a photographer and cofounder of Fotolandia, SELA's Photography Festival, we discussed the impact of bringing and making resources directly available to underrepresented communities — a necessary part to self-realization. ----- Music brought to you by: No Kids...
-
EP132: Frame of Mindset with Las Chicas Peligrosas
In this episode, we chat with the creative force of Las Chicas Peligrosas about their journey as a multi-disciplinary artist and printmaker based in Los Angeles. We explore the themes that drive her art and discuss the process of breaking out of the scarcity mindset and learning to embrace a life...
-
EP131: Trajectory of Growth with Yesenia Salgado
In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed poet Yesika Salgado, author of "Corazón," "Tesoro," and "Hermosa." Yesika openly shares her deeply personal journey of self-love and acceptance, emphasizing the transformative power of self-reflective work. She discusses how this process has helped her...