Amiga Mía Talk Show

In this episode of The Amiga Mía Talk Show, Michelle sits down with unapologetically fierce Colombian-Australian entrepreneur and DJ, Lina Zabaleta, better known as DJ Zalina.

From Bogotá to Melbourne, Lina shares her journey of navigating Australia’s music industry, touring with international artists, and building Chuleo, a Latinx music movement, community, and brand that redefines the scene.Lina opens up about her challenges, wins, and the mindset that drives her, highlighting the power of representation and community in the music industry.

Born in Naarm (Melbourne), Chuleo is a female-led collective that began as an underground Latinx nightclub — a safe, inclusive space for the community to shake ass, feel sexy, and celebrate culture.Today, Chuleo is expanding nationwide: touring international Latin artists, co-presenting the Cadena Latinx Art Festival with No-Reply Collective, and dropping its first line of Chuleo merch.

And this? This is just the beginning. 🔥

Follow Lina's journey here:

• Chuleo Club Instagram
• Lina Zabaleta Instagram
• Sky Lab Radio Show - Chuleo FM

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Amiga Mía® is the first Hispanic & Latin media outlet to authentically celebrate cultura in Australia & across APAC.

Proudly female-founded in 2017.

🔗 More stories and articles: www.amigamia.com.au

🧡 Follow us on Instagram: @soy_amigamia

🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aES3cq...

📩 Join the comunidad: www.amigamia.com.au/newsletter

#chuleo #naarm #latinx #latinosenmelbourne #latinosenaustralia #chuleoclub

In this ep of the Amiga Mía Talk Show, Michelle interviews unapoloticalcly fierce entrepreneur Colombian Australian Lina Zabaleta, a founder and DJ also known as DJ Zalina, about her journey from Bogota to Melbourne, her experiences in the music industry incl touring INTL artists in Australia, and the creation of Chuleo, a Latinx music movement, community and brand.

Lina shares her challenges, mindset and wins, emphasising the importance of representation and community in the music scene.

Follow Lina's journey here:

• ⁠Chuleo Club Instagram⁠
• ⁠Lina Zabaleta Instagram⁠
• ⁠Sky Lab Sound Cloud

In this ep of the Amiga Mía Talk Show, Michelle interviews unapoloticalcly fierce entrepreneur Colombian Australian Lina Zabaleta, a founder and DJ also known as DJ Zalina, about her journey from Bogota to Melbourne, her experiences in the music industry incl touring INTL artists in Australia, and the creation of Chuleo, a Latinx music movement, community and brand.

Lina shares her challenges, mindset and wins, emphasising the importance of representation and community in the music scene.

Follow Lina's journey here:

• Chuleo Club Instagram
• Lina Zabaleta Instagram
• Sky Lab Sound Cloud

In this episode of The Amiga Mía Talk Show, host Michelle sits down with Uruguayan-Australian author Natalia Figueroa to talk all things identity, language and storytelling 💬📚

Her debut novel Hailstones Fell Without Rain is more than just fiction it’s a reflection of migration, memory, and what it means to grow up between cultures. 🇺🇾🇦🇺

They chat about:

• Navigating cultural identity as a bicultural woman
• The power of writing in two languages
• Why Latin representation in Australian media matters
• How family history shapes personal voice
• And why storytelling is a radical, healing act

This is an honest, warm and deeply inspiring convo for writers, creatives, and anyone who’s ever felt “in-between.”

👇🏽 Hit play, leave us a comment and don’t forget to subscribe to support Latin stories in Australia.

• Full blog and transcript: www.amigamia.com.au
• Follow us on Instagram: @soy_amigamia
• Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LoVdFE7e3m0
• Join the comunidad: www.amigamia.com.au⁠/newsletter

🎙️ Amiga Mía Talk Show – Ep #5: Who is ALELD?
In this episode, your host Michelle from Amiga Mía sits down with Sam Bissett, CEO of ALELD (Australia Latin America Emerging Leaders Dialogue), to explore how this powerful initiative is building bridges between two regions.

We chat all things ALELD’s mission since its 2018 launch, its evolution, and how it's shaping the next wave of changemakers across Australia and Latin America. Sam opens up about his own leadership journey, the cultural lessons he’s embraced from Latin America, and why community engagement is at the heart of diplomacy.

✨ From legacy-building to behind-the-scenes insights into ALELD events and alumni impact, this convo is a beautiful reminder that leadership, like cultura, is best when shared.

¡Dale play! Y let's celebrate the future of Latin-Australian connections. 🌏

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ALELD and Its Mission

03:24 The Evolution of ALELD

08:09 The Role of ALELD in the Community

10:21 Sam Bissett's Journey to Leadership

14:34 Cultural Insights from Latin America

19:26 The Legacy of ALELD

22:33 ALELD Events and Community Engagement

24:36 Current Initiatives and Future Plans

26:41 How to Get Involved with ALELD

ALELD Website: www.australialatam.com

Instagram: @australialatam

Amiga Mía® is the first Hispanic & Latin media outlet to authentically celebrate cultura in Australia & across APAC. Proudly female-founded in 2017.

For more Latin Australian Community updates head to the Amiga Mía website www.amigamia.com.au.

In this ep, I chat with Bianca, a multi-talented actress, writer, and director (a queen!), who shares about her journey in the creative industry, her cultural heritage, and the inspiration behind her production company and the series 'Miss Vanguard.' She discusses the importance of representation, empowerment, and the challenges faced in the creative field, while encouraging authenticity and self-expression among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection

02:58 Bianca's Background and Creative Journey

05:50 Cultural Heritage and Identity

08:52 Launching a Production Company

12:00 The Birth of Miss Vanguard

14:55 Character Development and Storytelling

17:55 Themes of Empowerment and Voice

20:56 Future Aspirations for Miss Vanguard

24:09 Challenges in the Creative Industry

26:54 Encouraging Authenticity and Self-Expression

29:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Watch the new series of MS Vanguard here:

Amiga Mía® is the first Hispanic & Latin media outlet to authentically celebrate cultura in Australia & across APAC. Proudly female-founded in 2017. www.amigamia.com.au

What happens when a Colombian-Australian journalist sees injustice in the global coffee trade?

She builds a movement — from her kitchen bench.In this inspiring interview, Jacqueline Arias, the founder of República Coffee, shares how her Colombian roots, Sydney upbringing, and journalistic grit led her to create Australia’s first organic, Fair trade certified coffee brand.

✨ From identity to entrepreneurship, from ABC newsrooms to supermarket shelves — this is a story brewed with picardía, passion, and purpose.Don’t forget to subscribe for more powerful Latin-Australian stories that deserve the spotlight.

Watch the video episode here.

For more Latin Australian Community updates head to the Amiga Mía website www.amigamia.com.au.

Amiga Mía® is the first Hispanic & Latin media outlet to authentically celebrate cultura in Australia & across APAC. Proudly female-founded in 2017.

In this episode of the Amiga Mia Talk Show, host Amiga Mia speaks with Alejandra Angeles (Ale), co-founder of Gals en Australia, a community dedicated to supporting Latin women in their professional and personal journeys.

They discuss the challenges faced by Latina professionals in Australia, the importance of community, language, and the initiatives Gals en Australia has implemented to empower women, including the Gals Tribe mentoring program.

Plus the significance of the upcoming She Rises event, and the broader impact of their work on future generations.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Gals in Australia

02:47 The Birth of Gals: A Community for Latinas

11:34 The Evolution of Gals: From Spanish to Trilingual

15:53 Challenges Faced by Latin Professionals in Australia

25:09. Empowering Women: The Gals Tribe Mentoring Program

28:58 Navigating Retirement and Superannuation for Migrants

31:10 Empowering Women Through Resume Building

32:14 Creating a Safe Community for Women

35:41 The Purpose Behind Gals in Australia

38:42 Introducing She Rises: A Celebration of Latina Leadership

51:57 Reflections on Being Latina in Australia

She Rises | Australia’s First Summit Celebrating Latina & Hispanic Leaders

Summit dedicated to celebrating Latina and Hispanic women, bringing together leaders, advocates, and allies to create a more inclusive future.

Through talks, panels, and networking, we aim to empower migrant women, share experiences, and strengthen the Latina community in Australia.

Uniting Migrant Women, Advocates & Allies for a More Inclusive Future

📅 Date: Thursday 1 May 2025

📍 Venue: The Capitol Theatre, 113 Swanston Street, Melbourne

⏰ Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM

She Rises: Inaugural Summit Honouring Latina & Hispanic Leaders

Tickets https://www.galsenaustralia.com/she-rises

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Lucerito León, artist, salsera, and community leader to talk about música, identidad, and what it means to chase dreams in Australia. ✨

We get into:

• The fusion of salsa & reggaetón (and how Bad Bunny’s new album hits different for immigrants)
• The rise of mujeres in salsa and why representation matters
• How music connects us across cultures & continents
• The power of comunidad in uplifting each other Lucerito shares her personal journey, the challenges of adapting to a new culture, and her dreams of paving the way for future generations in the music industry.

Chapters:

• 00:00 The Fusion of Music Genres
• 04:51 Journey into Music: From Peru to Australia
• 07:42 Cultural Identity & the Immigrant Experience
• 10:57 Women in Salsa & Reggaetón
• 13:41 Navigating the Music Industry as Immigrants
• 16:33 Personal Growth & Relationships in Music
• 19:59 The Impact of Music on Cultural Identity
• 22:48 Future Aspirations & New Projects
• 25:36 Empowerment & Community Support
• 28:45 Reflections on Family & Heritage
• 31:57 The Importance of Representation in Music

#LuceritoLeón #LatinMusic #Salsa #Reggaeton #Community #BadBunny #AustraliaLatina #peruvian #peruvianaustralian

In this final EP, I change the format and invite 3 Latinas from Australia to a studio in Sydney to chat all-things Latin Christmas with me. From traditional food, to typical latin Christmas music, to what we wear and everything in-between.

Hear from Ariane, Brazilian Australian, Actor, Juiliana, Australian Colombian, Latin Advocate, Garcia, Peruvian Australian, Latin Music Consultant and Michelle (and host) Australian Chilean, Latin Community Builder.

Special Shoutout!

I want to give a special shoutout to our sponsor, Hija Design, and share an exciting opportunity for Latin entrepreneurs and small business owners. Together with Amiga Mia, we’re offering a free brand identity package to one deserving business from our community.

This isn’t just about a logo—it’s a complete package: a stunning logo, business cards, social media templates, brand guidelines, and more. The goal is to empower Latinx entrepreneurs by giving them the professional edge they need to grow and succeed.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, this initiative is about creating visibility, confidence, and community pride. We’ll also involve the community in voting for the winner, so it’s a collective celebration of entrepreneurship and creativity.

Want to enter or nominate a business? Keep an eye out our Instagram (@hijadesign.co and @soy_amigamia) and website for details.. Big thanks to Hija Design for making this possible!