Convos With Sazón

 For Gabriela Maria Aguilar, MAKEUP BY MARIO’s Social Video Art Director, content is more than just content, it’s culture. She reflects on how her background informs her work and how she approaches storytelling with intention, authenticity, and purpose.

Dance educator, choreographer and Alvin Ailey’s first NY Style Mambo instructor,  Katherine Jimenez joins Convos With Sazón to talk about representation being more than just a buzzword, and rather a responsibility she carries in every room she enters. She shares her perspective on visibility, culture, why showing up authentically matters now more than ever, and the importance of making dance accessible to all.

Nicol Varona Cancelmo, co-founder of OCOA Beauty, shares the deeply personal journey behind unlearning beauty standards that didn't reflect her truth and reclaiming her natural curls, which inspired the creation of her clean, high-end curl care line. Nicol talks about how her Dominican roots shaped the brand and how culture lives at the center of everything she creates alongside her sister. This episode dives into identity, culture, and the courage it takes to redefine what beauty means on your own terms.

From the vibrant streets of San Juan to the world’s biggest stages, artist, dancer, teacher and choreographer Carlos Falú has built a career rooted in both tradition and transformation. His journey is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets relentless pursuit. From local beginnings to performing on global stages including Broadway, Coachella and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl, he also reflects on the sacrifices, risks, and defining moments that shaped his path. In this episode, he shares the intentionality behind blending cultures & styles and how it’s become the driving force behind his artistry.

In an industry rooted in European traditions, Melissa Gallardo is carving out space for Latin heritage through candlemaking. She breaks down how her brand, Valorosa, is redefining what luxury and fragrance can look and smell like.

Filmmaker Joel Alfonso Vargas and actress Destiny Checo unpack their upcoming film "Mad Bills to Pay," rooted in real stories, real people, and real New York. Set during a sweltering NYC summer, the film follows Rico, a young Dominican man navigating responsibility, identity, and survival as he comes of age in the Bronx. Told through a raw, unfiltered lens, it captures the rhythm, pressure, and everyday choices that shape life for many young Latinos growing up uptown today. From afternoons at Orchard Beach to scenes shaped by neighborhood staples like nutcrackers, this film reflects the culture, resilience, and energy of a new generation of Dominican New Yorkers grounded in family, hustle, and community.This episode dives into authenticity, identity, and storytelling that refuses to be polished.

Dominican children’s book author, Luz Maria Mack, shares how she moved past seeking publisher approval to center her community, creating stories rooted in culture, truth, and lived experience. Along the way, she also opens up about the realities of self-funding her work and navigating rejection, while thoughtfully exploring how to translate complex themes like identity, struggle, and belonging into stories that feel gentle, affirming, and accessible for children. Through animations, games, and classroom visits, Luz is redefining what storytelling can look like, and ensuring it remains accessible to all. At the heart of it all is motherhood, the force that not only inspires her work, but makes it deeply personal and necessary.

Most people see the shelves, but not the work behind them. The New York Public Library’s (NYPL) curator for Latin American, Iberian and Latine Research Collections, Paloma Celis Carbajal, pulls back the curtain on what librarians actually do, from building research collections to maintaining cultural memory. She also reflects on how those ideas guide her work preserving the stories, literature, and cultural knowledge of Latin America and Latino communities.

For architect-turned-mixologist Ximena Hoyos aka the Gin & Tonic Queen, hospitality has always been at the center of everything she does. From childhood memories of her parents entertaining guests to designing hospitality spaces and then hosting curated cocktail experiences across New York City, she shares why connection is the true ingredient behind every great gathering. She also talks about how the pandemic became the unexpected catalyst for reinventing her career. What began as curiosity about gin evolved into a mission to create unforgettable hospitality experiences rooted in design, storytelling, and connection.

Growing up in a family of garment workers, Jenniffer Quezada’s parents experienced the harsh realities of the fashion industry firsthand. Today, they’re rewriting that story together by building a company that uplifts designers, immigrant workers, and small businesses alike. She joins me alongside her father, Pedro Quezada, to talk about Digital Moda’s inception, which is truly a family story decades in the making about resilience and believing in your own path.

Photographer and director, Rey Fernandez, shares how a decade in corporate America left him successful, but spiritually depleted. In this episode, he opens up about choosing uncertainty over comfort and how picking up a camera at 27 changed the trajectory of his life. Rey’s story is ultimately about courage: the kind required to believe in yourself before the world does.

Named among The Maldon® Salt’s 50 in 2025 as a globally renowned chef whose skill, talent and creativity is making waves and headlines at home and abroad, Colombian chef and entrepreneur Stephanie Bonnin left behind the “stable” path to follow a calling rooted in memory, migration, and intuition. In this episode, she shares how nostalgia, courage, and Caribbean flavors shaped a culinary project that refuses borders and redefines what success looks like. This conversation also explores identity, biodiversity, and why some flavors are meant to be felt, not explained.

Leandra Caprini-Rosica redefines wedding photography as emotional storytelling and legacy-building. In this episode, she shares how empathy, intuition, and presence shape her signature blend of editorial direction and cinematic documentary style images that outlive the day itself. She also announces her digital artist residency and her British Vogue feature on out on stands this week.

Professional ballerina, author, choreographer and activist, Ingrid Silva opens up about navigating race, class, and access in an elite art form not designed with her in mind. Through resilience and radical self-belief, she carved space not just for herself, but also for those coming after her. From the global performance stages to the United Nations, she unpacks how movement can also be a tool for advocacy, education, and systemic change. She also exclusively announces a few upcoming projects to look forward to.

Comedian, impressionist, media host and content creator, Andrea Lopez wears a lot of hats and has many voices. From Jennifer Coolidge to Kourtney Kardashian, Andrea explains how she builds impressions that feel sharp, specific, and human. This episode dives into craft, observation, and why her approach to comedy is more than just doing a voice. She breaks down how persistence, observation and embracing her weirdness helped her build a career in entertainment on her own terms.

Before fashion, Kevin Leonel dreamed of playing Major League Baseball and that competitive, disciplined mindset still defines his work today. In this episode, Kevin traces how sports shaped his identity, creativity, and resilience, ultimately leading him to fuse athletic culture with high-concept fashion in unexpected ways.Episode 38 is now live and available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and everywhere else you get your podcasts!🎙️🎧✨

From Chile to New York City singer, songwriter, producer, and label founder, TONI, opens up about building an artistic identity across cultures, languages, and genres. In this episode, she shares how emotional honesty, creative risk, and independence shaped her path. She also announces the release of her first ever album: Gei-SHA, set for February 27th.

Dietitian and author, Dalina Soto, encourages listeners to enjoy food without shame by offering a blueprint for stepping out of restrictive diet culture and into empowered, culturally aligned nourishment. This episode is a reminder that reclaiming our relationship with food can reconnect us to identity, joy, and family.

Sisters, Camila and Catalina Pinzón, share how their bond and cultural roots shaped the creation of their clean make-up brand, Cidra. This episode dives into ritual, entrepreneurship, and the beauty of building something meaningful with family. We explore beauty as storytelling and wellness as lineage.

Gabriela Peralta, the Social Media Manager for The Guggenheim Museum, breaks down how she brings one of the world’s most iconic museums to life on social media. We explore creativity, identity, and the art of making art feel accessible to everyone.

Singer-songwriter, La Cassandra, opens up about the dualities that shape her — joy and sorrow, strength and softness, Dominican and American. In this intimate conversation, she shares how her music weaves identity, life stories, rhythm, culture, and soul together.

Anthony Alvarez, the founder and CEO of Project Feel, a Latinx-owned multimedia company born out of passion, purpose, and a need for representation, joins Convos With Sazón this week to talk about what it means to build community around love, vulnerability, and the radical belief in shared humanity through film.

In a world dominated by short-form content and fleeting trends, videographer, producer and social consultant Ace King reflects on how storytelling has evolved — and what it takes to stand out. He dives into the art of creating content that not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

Culture is more than content, it’s an engine for connection and growth. From relaunching mitúStudios in East LA to launching mitúTV and FIERCE by mitú, NGLmitú's Chief Revenue Officer, Joe Bernard has been instrumental in expanding Latino storytelling. He breaks down how NGLmitú balances creativity, community, and commerce to build a powerful platform for U.S. Latinos and brands that want to reach them authentically. He also shares how NGLmitú and Walmart’s mentorship program are providing Latino filmmakers with the tools, resources, and exposure needed to tell stories that move culture forward.

Founder and CEO of the Future Now Media Foundation, Margaret “Peggy” Kim, reflects on her career milestones and the legacy she hopes to leave in the media industry. From her early days in production to leading FUTURE NOW, Peggy shares the moments that define her career and the impact she aims to have on future generations.

Around the world, thousands and thousands of people disappear during armed conflicts. Through forensic anthropology, Fredy Peccerelli and his teams at the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG) and the Friends of FAFG, work with DNA to piece together narratives of loss and resilience, help return remains to families looking for answers, and offer closure at the intersection of science, justice, and healing for survivors and nations.TRIGGER WARNING: Some aspects of this conversation are graphic or sensitive in nature, viewer/listener's discretion is advised.

Comedian, writer and actress Irene Morales opens up about the balancing act of chasing comedy dreams while juggling a day job to pay the bills – a reality many creatives can relate to. She talks about finding humor in life's messy twists and turns, how she keeps comedy passion alive amidst everyday struggles, and shares insights on using frustration and shortcomings as fuel for her sarcastic humor in the process of being persistent within the NYC comedy world.

Juan Felipe talks about his creative process as an actor, writer and model, and how he finds inspiration in his life and the world around him. He discusses the intersection of his passions, the challenges of balancing everything that comes with pursuing multiple creative roles, and how he stays motivated and inspired in his work.

Adriana Carrig, the Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Little Words Project, shares her experiences with bullying and negativity, and how these challenges inspired & shaped her company's mission to spread kindness.

Cindy Castro, a proud Latina fashion designer, joins Convos With Sazón as she shares her inspiring journey from Ecuador to the NYC Garment District, where she's disrupting the industry with sustainable style. With a mission to revolutionize fashion through ecofriendliness and social responsibility, she opens up about her path to leading her own brand, in a way that fashion meets purpose.

Camila Ramón, podcast host, recording artist and Peloton’s first bilingual cycling instructor, opens up about how her Latin heritage fuels her passion for fitness and music while embracing self love through movement, talks about being true to herself on and off the Peloton bike, and discusses the power of authenticity & empowerment when building community and finding personal strength.

Cynthia and Jeanette, the hosts of the Taboo Talks Latina Edition podcast, join me for a special crossover episode where we dive into real talk about important topics that largely go unspoken about within our communities related to cultural expectations, identity, generational silences, sisterhood, and empowering Latina women to be their true selves.

Alana Meraz explores the intersection of sports and identity, sharing her thoughts on representation, inclusion, and empowerment. She also talks about transforming her passion for Latinx representation within the sports industry by creating a community that supports professionals at all career stages. 

Claudia Mendoza talks about the value of genuine connections through the Mami Chula Social Club, which aims to empower Latina women across generations while prioritizing depth over superficial networking events, and how it's become a haven for community and growth.

Ahead of the 25th New York Latino Film Festival, its founder and executive producer, Calixto Chinchilla, shares the origin story of the NYLFF, how it has become a launching pad for Latine creatives, and its impact on showcasing talent like John Leguizamo, Gina Rodriguez, and Michelle Rodriguez. He reflects on the evolution of the festival, shares an exclusive announcement that attendees can look forward to this year, and opens up with never before shared anecdotes about what it’s taken to get this far.

Talia Castro-Pozo joins Convos With Sazón to share her remarkable story of evolution and growth, from being the youngest soloist in Peru's National Ballet to becoming a sought-after artist in New York City. Talia opens up about her early days as a classical ballet dancer, her transition to exploring various dance styles, and her branching out into acting, singing, and choreography. From her experiences working with renowned choreographers to her breakout roles in film and television, Talia reveals the lessons she's learned, the challenges she's faced, and the passions that drive her creative pursuits.

Eileen Ivette discusses her Afro-Latin identity and culture, and how she’s created a purposeful platform to highlight the rich history and experiences of Black communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of representation and authenticity when exploring each culture's depth and richness.

Brandon Espinosa shares the inspiration behind The Salsa Project, from his childhood in New York City to his passion for preserving Salsa music and culture by passing on the traditions and values of its culture, fostering connections, and empowering younger generations.

Djali Brown-Cepeda discusses the importance of preserving cultural identity through storytelling and visual media, and shares her journey as a filmmaker and the founder of NuevaYorkinos, a digital archive & multimedia project documenting Latino and Caribbean New York City.

Naz Karabulut reflects on her experiences as a mother, photographer, and storm chaser, opening up about how these roles have shaped her perspective on life and how she applies those lessons every day. We talk about how she's continued to build a unique career that showcases her adventurous spirit, and shares anecdotes about the challenges and triumphs of pursuing multiple passions.📸⛈️🌪️

This week on Convos With Sazón: chef, cultural ambassador, and entrepreneur Manolo López, the driving force behind Mofon.go, Café Colmado and the newly opened restaurant La Promesa, discusses his approach to community building. Using food as a catalyst for connection and empowerment, López celebrates the richness of his heritage while sharing his journey from Puerto Rico to New York, and how running a popular food stand helped him find his voice and build bridges within his community.

Simon Hyun, the artist and creator behind PigeonBePigeon, shares stories of his early days as a street artist, persevering through setbacks, and how the purpose behind his work has evolved over time, influenced by the New York City and through the lens of pigeon-inspired art.

Model and beauty & fashion influencer, Andrea Ventura, joins Convos With Sazón to share her story of defying industry norms and paving the way for petite models everywhere while being transparent to her audience in the process. From navigating unexpected setbacks to embracing her unique strengths, Andrea opens up about her journey to pursuing her dream and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Danielle Alvarez, CEO and Founder of The Bonita Project, joins Convos With Sazón to share her inspiring journey of leaving Corporate America to build a successful Latine-owned media agency. From navigating the influencer marketing world to creating intentional content that resonates with multicultural audiences, Danielle dishes out valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories that will leave you feeling motivated and informed.

Yai Ariza shares the captivating journey of following his rhythm, from dancing in the streets of Cartagena to performing with global icons like Beyonce and Daddy Yankee, and how he's now using his experience to explore new artistic horizons and push the boundaries of his own creativity.

Solo-preneur Laura Ter Meer Guardia shares the story of how she turned her passion for strength training into a mission to empower women through fitness and community building, which set her on a journey to create Lifting The Mood.

Rehan Staton joins Convos With Sazón this week to share his life story of defying expectations and breaking barriers. From his humble beginnings as a sanitation worker to becoming an attorney and founder of The Reciprocity Effect, Rehan shares his inspiring story of tenacity, devotion, and purpose.

This week on Convos With Sazón, I sat down with Tish Carmona, the inaugural Communications Director for Unrivaled, a revolutionary 3v3 league that's changing the game for women's basketball. She shared her inspiring journey from working in sports with the Washington Commanders, NBA and WNBA to joining forces with some of the biggest stars in women's basketball. Get ready for a candid conversation about what drives her passion for athletics and the importance of paving the way for others.

Indulge in a conversation that's as sweet as Joffre Noguera's pastries! Join me as Joffre, a talented pastry chef and multimedia artist, shares his unfiltered journey to success. From the kitchen to the studio, Joffre opens up about the twists and turns that have shaped his career and personal life. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, creativity, and a side of humor as Joffre whips up a recipe for living life that aims to shift culture.

Film director Juan Carvajal joins me to share the story of his latest documentary, La Salsa Vive, which explores the heart and soul of salsa music. From Cali to NYC, we dive into the film’s journey and the genre’s history & evolution, as well as its enduring impact throughout decades.•El director de cine Juan Carvajal comparte la historia de su último documental, La Salsa Vive, que explora el corazón y el alma de salsa. Desde Cali hasta Nueva York, hablamos sobre el desarrollo de la película, la historia y evolución del género, y también su impacto duradero a lo largo de las décadas.