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Platica Y Poetics Ep.9 w/ Mauro De La Tierra

In Episode 9 calle punk arte met cosmic resistance in my interview with Mauro de la Tierra. We explored the intricate layers how graffiti became the form of expression against the backdrop of systemic inequality telling the stories of migrants capturing pain and resilience. Showcasing at times with satire he brings to the forefront the struggle in a world rife with anti-immigration sentiments. His provocative artistic style is a bold statement on the brutality and dehumanization embedded within systems of control. Mauro’s arte rich in indigenous symbolism, connect his art to the long history of resistance among indigenous people, emphasizing cultural memory and empowerment for the Latine community. As we discussed his creative process, it became clear that Mauro’s art is for all gente—transcending binaries and embracing the full spectrum of raza, gender, and identity. His legacy deeply rooted in the desire for justice, not just for migrants and indigenous people, but for all marginalized communities. To conclude our platica “Unknown Virgen ICE’ was written as an ekphrastic poem in honor of his arte and our hermanos crossing fronteras.

The Resilience Within Ep. 9 w/ Antonia Murguia - Life After Loss

Content Advisory: This episode touches on the subject of suicide.
In this episode we hear from Antonia Murguia, a poet, playwright, and public speaker who has been on a journey of grief and healing after losing her son to suicide over 13 years ago. She shares some of the ways she’s processed the grief, including sharing on public platforms in order to help bring comfort to others going through loss through suicide. Antonia also shares some of her current struggles around finding a balance between helping others and focusing on her own needs, and some of the ways that fill her cup, help her feel loved, and keep her connected.
 

The Resilience Within Ep. 8 w/ Rohn Bayes - Observe the Natural World

In this episode we hear from Rohn Bayes is the author of The Ancient Book of Magic Secrets, creator of the weekly substack “The Rohn Report” and is the caretaker and curator of an urban nature preserve he cultivated in his backyard. Rohn has carved his own way through life by staying connected to the natural world, hs body, and the creative forces within. Rohn shares his philosophy about being a natural, organic being living in a natural & unnatural world. He shares how slowing down and observing (meditation) is a deep medicine for us all. 
 
 

Platica Y Poetics EP. 8 w/ Violeta Garza

In Episode 8 echemos el chal with Violeta Garza, delving deep into the complexities of identity, exploring how dual creative process as a poet and weaver mirrors the interweaving of cultural and personal histories. Our conversation emphasized the significance of ancestral lineage, especially matrilineal lines, in shaping familial and cultural identity. She shared how her weaving practice serves as a powerful metaphor for the poetic and literal intertwining of past and present selves, reflecting how identity is in constant motion, a work in progress. Our charla gifted permission to oneself to explore different versions of identity, and how poetry and art serve as vehicles for expressing these shifts for both. Through translanguaging, where multiple languages coexist, she activates various facets of the self. Like any good platica with a comadre, we shared intimate space in another's metaphorical landscape ending the episode with a bilingual poetic collaboration, honoring las mujeres mechas on their collective journey.

Platica Y Poetics Ep.7 w/ Jen Yáñez-Alaniz

A sensory delight and candid platica, Episode 7 with poetic comadre Jen Yáñez-Alaniz was a sweet dive into the sensuous universe she conjures in her debut poetry chapbook, Surrogate Eater. Our tableside exchange swirled around the intersections of pleasure, activism, and scholarship, with Jen guiding us through her approach to pleasure activism — reclaiming joy, desire, and pleasure as forms of resistance and empowerment. We grazed on topics such as how her poetry challenges societal norms, particularly concerning the body, sexuality, and identity within cultural contexts that often attach shame to female and queer bodies. Through this dialogue, we reclaimed the sacred through the body, turning poetry into a life-affirming, liberating force. Jen’s words resonated with the power of pleasure as a radical act, not just for the self, but for collective healing — especially within divine and marginalized communities.

Ben Akande COVID Interview

The Resilience Within Ep.6 w/Lotus Rios - Art & Grieving

In this episode we hear from Lotus Rios, an artist, poet, and co-founder of the Harlandale Sunshine Pantry, a mutual aid pantry for those in need in her community. Lotus shared some of her story around releasing long-held grief through the cathartic process of making and releasing artwork that she’s been holding for years. She used her story to illustrate how important it can be to “stretch into the pain” versus avoiding it.