Empower House Radio KXEP-LP

Happy Hour w/ Elda and Venus, Guest: Greg Londo

A Restorative Justice week Special!

The Resilience Within S2E8 Priceless w/ Amalia Ortiz

Amalia Ortiz, award-winning author, poet, teatrista, educator, and creator of @the_cancion_cannibal_cabaret and @las_hijas_de_la_madre shared a glimpse of her love and heartbreak for her best friend Maria Ibarra. Maria was a Chingona powerhouse teatrista, artist, poet, mother and educator who impacted our community in infinite ways. Amalia’s medicine includes writing, where she says she writes about the issues she feels she has little control over. Witnessing Maria’s experience with the healthcare system while needing treatment for cancer led Amalia to compose the song “Value of a Human Being (Song for Maria)”

Platica Y Poetics S2E7 w/ Marc Anthony Leal

In my platica with Marc Anthony Leal his poetry offered a rich tapestry of imagery, emotion, and cultural reflection, seamlessly weaving themes of nature, spirituality, memory, and community. His works, such as “A Moment in Flight,” “As Do,” “If Heaven is a Real Place,” “Woodlawn Sunsets,” and “Take Pause My Love,” serve as vivid explorations of life’s complexities, celebrating both its beauty and imperfection. The profound connections he forgesbetween personal experiences and universal truths is a craft deeply rooted in sensory experiences and visual storytelling. Sharing how inspiration often comes from the natural world and the vibrant community around him, noting that San Antonio, with its historic beauty and landmarks,fuel his imagination. In discussing “A Moment in Flight” and “As Do,” he revealed his method of balancing abstract ideas with tangible imagery, using sensory detail to ground his themes while inviting readers to interpret the layers within. Marc delves into vulnerability and emotionalhealing through physical imagery explaining that writing about intimacy often involves translating emotional states into physical sensations, creating a bridge between the body and soul. The influence of family, warmth of San Antonio, along with its rich culture and landscapes, plays a significant role in shaping his poetry. We spoke about how poetry becomes a space for navigating imperfection, allowing us to find meaning and beauty even in life’s struggles. His work reminds of the beauty in both fleeting moments and enduring connections, amark on the landscape of contemporary poetry.

Platica Y Poetics S2E6 w/ Melissa “Mo” Guerra

Melissa “Mo” Guerra a poetic hermana took us on an intimate journey through her poetry, weaving together themes of cultural identity, grief, resilience, and spiritual transcendence. Her work invited readers to walk in an exploration of raw emotions and shared humanity. Our platica delved into a deeper understanding of her creative process and the stories that have shaped her confessional voice. Speaking on her experiences of cultural assimilation, generational trauma, and the tension of navigating identity as a Latina she spoke candidly about how the sacrifices of her grandmother and mother were acts of survival, yet they left a trace for her to follow and connect to her Chicana roots through linguistic and cultural reclamation. This shift has been transformative, helping her bridge the gap between who she is and where she comes from. Mo shared how poetry became a refuge and a means of healing, allowing to process grief while create transforming sorrow into connection. Mo eloquently described how love weaves bonds that transcend time and space and her writing reminds us that what endures is a connection ofshared joy and sorrow—what survives of us is love. Her poetry, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the universal need to seek, share, and sustain the bonds that thread and bind us together across time and experience.

The Resilience Within S2E7 w John Lambert - Settling In to Love

John Lambert  -   Settling In to Love
In this episode John Lambert, widowed father of two, shared the story of Ivania, his beloved wife, who passed away from cancer. They were married when he was very young, and her loving existence shaped how he shows up in the world today.  
John is a writer, actor, and curator of San Antonio’s Sacred Underground Film Festival (fourth installment takes place November 2025).

The Resilience Within S2E6 w/ Carmen Calatayud - Grief Work, The Journey

Carmen Calatayud - Grief Work, The Journey
In this episode Carmen Calatayud, poet and author of In the Company of Spirits and This Tangled Body shared about her grief work as a mental health counselor who specializes in trauma and grief. She shared parts of her journey that led her to grief work and where her current questions lie.  

The Resilience Within S2E5 w/ Joaquin Muerte - Xicanx Masculinity and Grief

Joaquin Muerte -   Xicanx Masculinity and Grief
In this episode Joaquin Muerte shared about his Xicanx vs Aliens podcast, which was created to normalize conversations around the supernatural and destigmatize these experiences. He shares some of his activist upbringing, and his own journey of healing through food with his dad. He finishes with how healing for the Xicanx masculine can start with the nervous system- Xicano Soul being an avenue to help a vato relax into vulnerability. He also spoke about a project around grief that he’d love to start through his music. 
Joaquin is the band leader for Joaquin & The Glowliners, drummer for Combo Cósmico, member of Los Nahuatlatos and the creator of the Xicanx versus aliens podcast.
His other titles are Social Justice activist, Danzante Conchero tradicional with Grupo Xinachtli and Community Builder with Methodist Healthcare Ministries on San Antonio's East side.

The Resilience Within S2E4 w/ Valerie McKenzie & Terry Calderon - Alchemizing Trauma & Grief

Valerie McKenzie & Terry Calderon -  Alchemizing Trauma & Grief 
Content warning: loss through suicide. In this episode Ancient Roots Alchemy co-founders Valerie McKenzie & Terry Cameron share the story of the loss of their son Gavin by suicide.
They speak about the medicine, the rituals, and the community that helped them stay connected with their son and immediately begin the healing process from the trauma of this event.
(If you’re struggling, help is available. Please call the Suicide Hotline: 988)

The Resilience Within S2E3 w/ Mandy Lynn- Disenfranchised Grief

Mandy Lynn- Disenfranchised Grief 
In this episode poet, singer, actor, and community advocate Mandy Lynn shared her experience of loss and “disenfranchised grief.” She spoke about two loved ones who passed recently - her brother Adam and her friend Carlos - and what it feels like to carry grief that others don’t know about. Her biggest encouragement for others is to slow down and sit in the feelings/pain.  

Platica Y Poetics S2E5 w/ Gume Laurel III

In my candid and heartfelt platica with Gume Laurel III, we delved into his literary artistry and personal journey as a queer, millennial, BIPOC author whose works explore identity, love, and cultural dualities. Gume opened the conversation by sharing an autobiographical poem that reflects his borderland, queer Chicanx creative voice. His poetry collections capture the cyclical nature of queer romantic relationships, blending raw honesty with sensitivity to inspire dialogue and reflection. In Assimilated Natives, Gume examines the tension between preserving cultural heritage and adapting to Americanization, drawing from his experiences growing up in the borderlands. This liminal space deeply informs his portrayal of fluidity, intersectionality, and identity exploration. As a queer Chicanx millennial author, Gume views his work as a platform to amplify underrepresented voices, embodying a commitment to inclusivity and visibility. He shared how vulnerability and cultural opposition shape his narratives and how the borderlands as a setting mirror the complexities of identity and belonging