Hey, mis Cafecitos! I cannot believe that we're already reaching the end of the year, and with it, the end of our first season! And what a season it's been. Starting this podcast has been one of the most fun experiences I've had in a long time. It really helped pull me out of a pretty deep depression (thanks, 2020!) and has taught me so much about my culture and myself. There are a couple more episodes queued up through the end of the year (November 19, December 3, 17, and 31) . In January 2022, I'll be taking a one-month break to brainstorm and start writing episodes for season 2, tentatively scheduled to begin on February 4.
For our next season, I'd like to focus more on a single phenomenon for the season then use each episode to cover that phenomenon in a specific country or region. So! If YOU have ever.... had a unexplainable occurrence, ghostly encounter, potential UFO sighting, interaction with shapeshifters, shamanic journey, or any other experience you'd like to share, please send it in! I'm always looking for stories from Latino/a/x folks and who better to share than you? In other news, I've been sitting on a secret for a few weeks now. And since I can't hold it in any longer, it's time to share! A few years ago, Spotify started a program called SoundUp. Its goal, from their website, is to "Raise Up The Next Generation Of Podcasters Through Education, Workshops And Support." Last month, I was selected to be one of the ten candidates accepted into the SoundUp US Latinx cohort! Starting this week, I'll be participating in two two-hour long classes each week for a month to better learn the ins and outs of podcasting, which will translate into better content and experiences for you! After that, there will be an opportunity to pitch a trailer and proposal with the chance to be selected for further in-person training in 2022. Words cannot adequately describe how shocked, and excited, and slightly terrified, I am to have been chosen. When I applied, it was a "Eh, let's see what happens, probably nothing." And when I was selected for an interview, again, I thought, "Oh my gods, I can't believe it. But it's probably going to amount to nothing. We'll see." And then, I got the email saying I had been selected for the program. I literally shrieked. Pretty sure it shaved a year off my husband's life! Everyone I've interacted with from the program has been super kind and warm. I'm beyond thrilled to start this week. Alright. I think that's all the news for now. I hope you're all looking forward to the rest of the year as much as I am. This time of the year, when darkness settles in and there's pressure around family and holidays, can be trying for many of us. Remember to take it slow and be kind to yourself. Have a lovely November!
0 Comments
Hi! It's been a while since I've posted over here. Things have been busy behind the scenes and I've been working really hard to write, record, and edit all our episodes through the end of the year. Initially I planned on a monthly release, but I've switched to every-other-week so the content stays fresh in your mind, since we'll be referring back to concepts discussed in previous episodes with some frequency. I have some really fun, sad, and truly fascinating content coming your way that's all queued up and ready to post all the way through October. I'm hoping to be done with November and December (the end of season 1) by the end of September.
Make sure you're subscribed on whatever podcast app you use so you don't miss anything! If you're able, please leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. I know it takes time to do, and I appreciate every single review we get. Podcasts that get 5 star ratings, and written reviews, are much more likely to be suggested to new listeners. Leaving a rating and review is the single best, completely free, way you can help me grow this podcast and keep it going. We're a one-woman-show. I research, write, record, edit, and manage all our social accounts and website by myself, on top of parenting two young kids and working full time, so any help you can give to get the word out is greatly appreciated. If you have any feedback or corrections, please email them to [email protected]. I'd love your input, suggestions for future episodes, or your TRUE encounters with the supernatural or paranormal you'd like shared in future episodes! Thanks for everything. I'm so happy to be on this journey into Latin American history and lore with you.
I woke up this morning to the amazing Jenny Lorenzo, of Abuela Youtube fame, (@jennizzle) sharing a post on Instagram about mass protests taking place in Cuba.
I'll admit, I do not follow Cuban news closely. I was born here and have no direct, personal ties to my relatives there. The subject of Cuba, and its government, is a painful one for my grandparents. They'll talk about it, but you can see how strongly their feelings impact them when they do. And being a leftist/progressive American-of-Cuban-Descent can be... challenging to say the least. Many Cuban refugees carry a lot of trauma and that can manifest in many ways. Some people turn to extreme conservatism for fear of losing everything they've worked for. Some turn to religious fanaticism, desperately seeking the salvation they desire for their people. Others try their best to move on and forget, which is, of course, impossible. My family, for the most part, walked the line between moving on and maintaining a small guarded hope that one day, maybe one day in their lifetime, communism in Cuba would fall. Unfortunately for my maternal grandparents, and all my great-grandparents, that never happened. They died never having set foot back in their home country. Never having hugged the relatives and friends they had to leave behind. They taught us the dangers of strong-men and to be grateful for the country that took them in and gave them the opportunity to succeed. And they did succeed in many ways. My grandparents have/had all been able to work, buy homes, take vacations with their children, and see their grandchildren. Some of them got to see their great-grandchildren. Many Cubans were blessed to be able to create little enclaves around the country. The whole of South Florida, Tampa FL, New York, New Jersey, and Houston, TX all have Cuban communities. In many of these communities, Cuban refugees were able to reunite with friends and family, and began to rebuild their lives. So many had to leave everything when they fled. They left not only their material possessions and family mementos, but businesses, friends, and families. Families were separated, sometimes for decades, sometimes forever. Those who arrived as children went to public school and had to learn a whole new language and culture, and often acted as translators for their parents, accompanying them to medical appointments and more from young ages. Many faced discrimination and continue to. How often have I heard "Speak English! You're in America!" Life did get better eventually. Many families were able to rebuild, learn new trades, and leave legacies for their children's children. But there is always a sense on incompleteness. This longing is hard to explain and goes beyond my grandparents and parents to me. There's this deep desire to know where I am from. to see where my Dad was born, to see where my Mom lived. To see the place that made my Abuelos who they were/are. The places where they went to nightclubs in Havana, the places where they started their auto shop and accounting firm, the places that put dance and music and love in their hearts. I want to know Cuba so badly, and I can't. Visiting Cuba has been banned by my family through tacit agreement. To see their grandchildren support the government they fled with US dollars is too painful for them. I asked my grandmother about two years ago how she would feel if I went to Cuba and she said that as much as she would love for me to go and see her pais, it would hurt her as long as communism was in place. So I can't go. I can't ignore the sacrifices she and all my other family made to give me the freedoms and comforts I enjoy today. Waking up to Jenny's post this morning woke something in me. I support the will of the people and always have. If communism was what the people wanted, so be it. But if the people want a revolution, SO BE IT! I am hoping and hopeful that these protests will lead to some real, beneficial changes in Cuba. I hope that Cubans are able to create a government that supports them, and I hope that the USA does its duty to assist the Cuban people and undo the years of pain the US embargo has caused. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that said "No one is free until we are all free," and I believe that applies to Cuba as well. As long as pain and oppression exist in the world, the fight is not over. Viva Cuba Libre <3 When I was a teenager, I remember telling my Dad there was one area of my abuelos' house that always made me feel super uncomfortable, almost scared.
For context, my grandparents have lived in the same home in Miami, FL since the 1970s. In my eyes, their home has always been a haven and safe place; a place I am completely cared for. So to have any negative feelings at all was unusual. My dad hesitated a moment, then told me a story that piqued my interest. That story came up again, unprompted, this past May while I was visiting my abuelos' home for the first time since 2019. That night, as I chewed on my Abuelo's words, another thought kept coming to me. "Mel. You should make a podcast. You have to make a podcast. You've been pulled towards relearning your culture and embracing your ancestors. You have to do this." I couldn't sleep. My mind would not stop telling me that I had to do this. The very thought that I could make a podcast is absurd. I am not tech savvy, I work full-time, and am a parent to two young kids. I don't have the time. I don't have the background. I don't have the connections. And yet... After hours of insomnia and an internal monologue that wouldn't quiet down, I rolled over and grabbed my phone. I opened the Notes app and wrote down the first thing that came to mind. "¡Ay Ghost Mio! A spooky Spanglish podcast." Well, ponte el cinturon because here we go! |