Welcome to El Barrio

Holi listeners! This is part two of the activist episode -- focusing on real-time movements happening on the island. In this episode, Becca speaks with writer, educator, and activist Beatriz Llenín Figueroa of the Defiende Cabo Rojo coalition and Hugo Delgado, a physics teacher, newspaper editor, and member of the Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores. Figueroa connects environmental justice with feminist, queer, anti-colonial, and anti-racist struggles and details opposition to Esencia, an ultra-luxury “private city” proposed for about 2,000 acres in Cabo Rojo, including protected lands, endangered species habitat, and over 100 archaeological sites. Delgado discusses intensified colonial control under the fiscal control board, defunding and political intervention at the University of Puerto Rico, privatization and charter schools, rising tuition, weakened campus organizing spaces, student hunger, and calls for organizing and diaspora solidarity. Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content! SHOW NOTES: @defendpr @mikey.cordero @con.sentimientospr @alianamarga Unmasking PROMESA: The unelected board perpetuating colonialism in Puerto Rico (The Real News Network) What is Esencia and what will happen to Puerto Rico if this is constructed? (MR Online) @diaspo.rico About Law 82 Defiende Cabo Rojo Sierra Club de Puerto Rico See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holi listeners! This week, we are doing part one of two episodes -- focusing on real-time movements happening on the island. In this episode, Becca speaks with Mikey Cordero, creator of Diasporico and La Sala Libre, a space launched during the Bad Bunny concert influx to offer a non-extractive way to engage with local and diasporic nuance; his project documents “ethical return” conversations and links gentrification to colonialism. The two also chat about DefendPR, a collective producing immersive, short-form storytelling from grassroots movements, beginning with protests in Peñuelas. Becca also chats with Aliana Margarita of Consentimiento PR, who translates policy and activism education; she explains Law 82 (PC-310), which requires plaintiffs to pay 10% of a project’s cost to sue, and connects it to Proyecto Esencia, PROMESA’s fiscal control board, UPR budget cuts, and ongoing colonial governance. Be sure to tune in next week for the other activists and movements we'll be highlighting.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!   SHOW NOTES: @defendpr @mikey.cordero @con.sentimientospr @alianamarga Unmasking PROMESA: The unelected board perpetuating colonialism in Puerto Rico (The Real News Network) What is Esencia and what will happen to Puerto Rico if this is constructed? (MR Online) @diaspo.rico About Law 82 Defiende Cabo Rojo Sierra Club de Puerto Rico See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Becca chats with Kenya Rivera! An LA-based Puerto Rican content creator, filmmaker, musician, and pop-culture enthusiast.The two chat Kennya's journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, moving to LA with an internship and a dream, Afro-Latina identity in LA, racism and hair/voice policing, colonial realities of Puerto Rico, and the importance of Puerto Rican community, food, care, and more. Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is a very special episode -- as it's the LIVE episode with COVL from the Welcome to El Barrio LA x Hi Neighbor event! Becca interviews COVL where they chat about her career, her aritsry and how it has evolved, both of their family relationships to their careers, their own relationships to cannabis, answer audience questions, and more.  Special thank you to Hi Neighbor and all the Angelinos who came out to support the event -- it was such an experience to remember.  If you enjoyed this episode and want more live experiences, comment / like /etc to let us know!  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Becca chats with Mayagüez-born host, comedian, and content creator known for BuzzFeed Pero Like and -- Iván Emilio! The two chat connecting in Portland, OR almost a decade ago, Iván's time at BuzzFeed paving the way for Puerto Rican media representation, Cafe Cofresi, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUSEKEEPING: Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi Neighbor. RSVP here: https://posh.vip/e/welcome-to-el-barrio-x-hi-neighbor-live-event First 100 RSVPs get free goodie bags!   DESCRIPTION: This week we are dropping Becca's MESS episode in the feed!  This week Sydnee and Marie are joined by their very own producer -- BECCA RAMOS! The three chat how Becca ISN'T white...MESS. Housing mess, travel mess, birthday mess, and MESS's mess!  Next week we'll be back with another episode of Welcome to El Barrio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUSEKEEPING: Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!  DESCRIPTION: This week Becca chats with Philadelphia-based artist, ceramicist, social activist, poet, and educator -- Roberto Lugo! The two chat about using pottery and art at large to address poverty, inequality, and racial injustice, as well as reflecting on his Puerto Rican uprbringing, his new piece at Madison Square Park, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUSEKEEPING: Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!  DESCRIPTION: This week Becca chats with the band CHUWI! They all chat about their rise to stardom, touring with Bad Bunny, their musical influences and political reflections in their songs, what's inspiring them lately, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUSEKEEPING: Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!  DESCRIPTION: This week Becca chats with star of stage and screen -- Didi Romero! The two chat performing arts in Puerto Rico, working with Disney, dreams of living between Puerto Rico and New York, and more. Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUSEKEEPING: Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event! This time in Los Angeles, in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!  DESCRIPTION: This week Becca is solo on the podcast, giving you all a more vulnerable side. She takes us through a deeply personal interview with her father, where they talk about his upbringing, relationship with his culture and how that impacted his parenting, and more.  Since this is a new episode format -- we'd really love your feedback! If you want more episodes like this, please let us know at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are dropping Becca's Las Culturistas episode in the feed!  The three get into all things Texas, Beyonce, The Rodeo, southern football culture, and the highs and lows of Baylor University Greek Life, but most importantly Puerto Rico! Becca has a new show on iHeart’s myCultura network called Welcome to El Barrio out 2/3. Matt & Bo get an exclusive sneak peak into the world of the show, chat Bad Bunny’s cultural impact, Becca’s journey as their producer, and more. Plus IDTSH’s circling insane rollercoasters, loud dachshunds (sorry chicha!) and NYC apartment hunting. Get into it! Next week we'll be back with another episode of Welcome to El Barrio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Becca chats Rachel Nieves of Buddies Coffee! The two chat the weight of going viral, starting a business from the ground up, how to give back to your roots and community authentically, Buddies future expansion, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Becca chats Libre Sankara -- an afro-boricua poet, cultural worker and doula who has been in Gaza for the past two years helping the fight for liberation of Palestine. The two chat life in Gaza, the similarities and history that connects Puerto Rico and Palestine, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content! SHOW NOTES: https://linktr.ee/abasimperialism https://www.instagram.com/afroaboriginal47/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Becca chats with THE Djali Brown-Cepeda -- founder of Nuevayorkinos. The two chat El Barrio, the complexity of mixed identities, beautiful lessons in motherhood, race vs ethnicity, vs identity, how Blackness and Puerto Ricanness are intrinsically intertwined, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holi Listeners!  This week, we are releasing the audio from Welcome to El Barrio's OnAir Fest panel last month. Using Welcome to El Barrio as a jumping-off point, Becca gathered some of the best of the best industry professionals who specialize in Latinx storytelling and media to discuss what we can learn from Bad Bunny’s meteoric rise and cultural impact regarding authentic representation. Becca moderated the panel with three incredible guests: Briana Mendez, Mark Pagán, and Tess Garcia.  Substack subscribers got this last month, with additional bonus content! So if you want more of this, be sure to subscribe to the show’s substack.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Becca chats with fashion and lifestyle influencer Miranda Sanchez! The two chat representation in the influencing world, growing up in Upstate New York, the struggles of learning Spanish in adulthood, and more.  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Becca chats with writer, producer, film critic, and published poet -- Josie Melendez! The two chat representation in film/books/etc., the 2026 oscar race, Josie's Film Poser's podcast, and more!  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content! ALSO -- WTEB's editor @markpagan wrote a piece about the trailblazing career of Beni and his impact on changing Latino roles. Perfectly paired with our latest Oscar themed episode! https://thelatinonewsletter.org/p/benicio-del-toro-quietly-disrupted-latin-lover-trope  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Happy Pride month from Welcome to El Barrio!  For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.” This week is a very special episode -- as it's the LIVE episode with Ana Macho from the Welcome to El Barrio launch party! Becca interviews Ana Macho where they chat moving to NYC, going from drag to full-blown reggaeton / pop star, the realities of living in PR, and more.  If you enjoyed this episode and want more live experiences, comment / like /etc to let us know!  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Becca chats with community builder and culture writer -- Ale-Marie Figueroa! The two chats being perceived in the diaspora, boozy book club, politics and higher education, and more!  Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Becca chats with actor, activist, drag king extraordinaire -- Vico Ortiz! The two chat, representation in hollywood, drag, fluidity of language, and more!  Those in the NYC area, join us for our launch party Feb 21st in partnership with Lighthouse Campus! RSVP for your spot below:https://posh.vip/e/welcome-to-el-barrio-launch-party Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome BACK to another episode of Welcome to El Barrio, where this week Becca Ramos chats with authors, historians, and activists Jorell Melendez-Badillo and Aurora Santiago-Ortiz. The three chat challenges of living in Puerto Rico, Aurora and Jorell’s barrio stories, Venezuela and its relation to Puerto Rico, their program Puerto Rican Studies Hub, and more! Follow Aurora and Jorell here:@sant_aurora_@jmelendezbadillo And follow the Puerto Rican Studies Hub here:@prstudieshub Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this inaugural episode of 'Welcome to El Barrio,' host Becca Ramos shares the personal journey that led to the podcast's creation! Tune in next week for the first chat-show episode with Jorrell Melendez-Badillo and Aurora Santiago-Ortiz. Also don’t forget to email us at [email protected], or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions! And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.