Growing Up Latina

Growing Up Latina

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Growing Up Latina episodes

  • When Love Becomes the Record: Inside Raquel Berrios' Most Vulnerable Album Yet

    What happens when your relationship becomes the record? Raquel Berrios of Buscabulla joins us to talk about her latest album, Se Amaba Así—a deeply romantic project exploring the psychological dynamics of her relationship with partner and bandmate Luis in a way that feels more grown and vulnerable.

    Raquel also opens up about motherhood, the spiritual practices that keep her grounded, and reclaiming the bold emotional intensity of Latina icons like La Lupe, La India, and Ednita Nazario, women who weren't afraid to feel out loud.

    This episode is a deep, honest look at love, art, the emotional work behind both, and what happens when you turn your real life into art. Se Amaba Así is a mirror, a reflection, una invitación to love louder, go deeper, and maybe cry while you dance. Because when you're willing to tell the truth, you don't just create something beautiful, you become someone braver.

    37 min
  • From Heartbreak to Power Moves: How Nitty Scott Went Independent and Made More Money Than Ever

    After experiencing the kind of back-to-back heartbreak that could break anyone, Nitty Scott said ya basta. She was forced to pause everything, including the rollout of her project Jiggy Mami. In this conversation, she shares how trying to push through the pain only masked it, and why choosing rest, therapy, and truth over performance became her only option.

    We dive into what it really takes to manage yourself as a mujer in music, from booking gigs and budgeting to building a team, and why "f**k you money" isn't just about success. For Nitty, financial freedom means safety, especially for women trying to escape toxic situations. She shares that during her time managing herself, she made more money and gained more opportunities than ever before—proof that going independent doesn't mean losing power, it means taking it back.

    She also opens up about being told to downplay her Puerto Rican roots and hide her relationships, even being discouraged from dating Kendrick Lamar, all in the name of being "marketable."

    Now she's reclaiming every part of who she is: queer, Black, Boricua—sin miedo. When asked what message she'd leave for the next generation of Latinas and creatives who feel unseen, Nitty said:

    "To live out loud because your existence in itself is important in a system that doesn't want you."

    From writing poetry in her childhood bedroom to surviving abuse and chasing her dream in NYC at 16, Nitty's story is a blueprint for healing, evolving, and never letting the world erase you.

    1 hr 20 min
  • From Backyard Parties to DJing for Kendrick Lamar & Paris Hilton: How DJ Jadaboo Found Her Flow

    DJ Jadaboo went from spinning in her bedroom to DJing Paris Hilton's Coachella party—and that's just the beginning.

    In this week's episode, she chats with us about growing up Black and Mexican in a small California town, navigating mental health, and how music became her safe space and her calling.

    What you'll hear:

    The story behind her viral rise during the pandemic

    "Girl, I posted myself online, it went viral... and it kind of spiraled upward into being a full-time career... but I've been doing it for almost 10 years now."

    DJing for Kendrick Lamar, Kehlani, and Latinx House at Sundance

    What it's like feeling caught between cultures—and owning both

    "I'm proud to be both a Mexican American and a Black woman. I know who I am."

    What she's calling in for 2025 (and why it's deeper than just gigs)

    If you've ever felt like you had to prove where you're from or who you are, this episode is your reminder: your raíces and your rhythm are your power. You don't need to shrink to fit the room. You already belong in it.

    45 min
  • The Making of Pistola, Composing for Godfather of Harlem, & Healing Through Music | Immasoul

    Ever tried to create something beautiful while everything around you felt like it was falling apart? That's exactly what Immasoul did with her debut album Pistola. In this episode, she opens up about losing both of her parents during the writing process, growing into her sound, and trusting herself every step of the way. She talks about blending Afrobeats, regional Mexicano, and trap—her way, no formulas. From tequila-fueled studio nights with PJ Sin Suela to writing for Godfather of Harlem and landing in Rolling Stone, Immasoul lets us in on what it really took to make this album. If you've ever made something out of pain, or felt yourself changing while chasing a dream, this one's for you.

    50 min
  • From Graveyard Shifts at JFK to Brand Deals: How I Made Social Media My Full-Time Career | Christine Cruz

    You ever feel like everyone's ahead of you, and you're just trying to figure it out? This episode's for you.

    In this week's episode, we're sitting down with one of our favorite content creators, Christine Cruz. This Brooklyn-born Dominicana, went from shy girl in East New York to working with top beauty brands and building an IG community of over 100K.

    From working graveyard shifts at JFK to becoming a full-time content creator, Christine took a leap of faith. With a little push from her cousin Monica Style Muse, she moved to LA with no camera, no real plan, and nothing but the belief that she was meant for more and that God's timing is always better than our own.

    In this honest and inspiring convo, you'll also hear:

    • What it really took to grow her platform from scratch
    • How her first brand deal with Bomba Curls became a full-circle moment
    • Dealing with imposter syndrome
    • The ups and downs of content creation when you're self-taught and self-funded
    • Building confidence
    • And how growing up around powerhouse mujeres shaped her hustle

    If you've ever second-guessed yourself, this episode will remind you to bet on yourself even when the path isn't clear. You're already that girl — you just need to see it for yourself.

    1 hr 33 min
  • Nickelodeon's First Latina Lead Christina Vidal on Making it in Hollywood and Finding Her Faith

    Familia, get ready for this one! On this episode of Growing Up Latina, We're sitting down with Christina Vidal, the iconic trailblazer who made history 20 years ago as Nickelodeon's FIRST Latina lead, paving the way for some of our other favs like Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez.

    Christina shares the highs and lows of being a Latina in Hollywood, from childhood stardom to navigating the industry's challenges. She talks about how faith, resilience, and finding inner peace have kept her grounded through it all. If you've ever faced doubt or felt like giving up, this episode will remind you that your strength is unstoppable. Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss.

    1 hr 10 min
  • Ambar Lucid on How Deportation Split Her Family Apart and How She Found Her Voice Through Music

    Welcome back to the sala, mi gente!

    In this week's emotional episode, we're joined by Dominican-Mexican indie-pop artist Ambar Lucid, the voice behind Garden of Lucid and her upcoming EP El Jardín de Lágrimas, dropping May 9. She opens up with us about growing up between New Jersey and the Dominican Republic, her father's deportation, and how music became her way to heal.

    "Music is how I survive — it's how I process the things that were too heavy to speak out loud."

    In this heartfelt and powerful conversación, you'll hear:

    • How her father's deportation impacted her identity and shaped her music career
    • Her journey with mental health, therapy, and healing generational trauma
    • How she built a loyal fanbase by sharing her story through bilingual indie-pop
    • The lessons she's learned navigating the music industry while staying grounded in her truth

    Pull up a seat, press play, y suelta lo que ya no te sirve.

    58 min
  • Susana Briscoe Alba: Building a Career When No One Hands You a Blueprint

    If you've ever been told to tone it down, hide your accent, or play small to get ahead — this one's for you. On this episode of Growing Up Latina, Alyi V sits down with career strategist Susana Alba to talk about breaking the mold and showing up as your full, unapologetic self at work and in life. Susana shares how a near-death car accident and unexpected layoff became the push she needed to finally bet on herself. From being called "Shaniqua" during a job interview to being told she was "too Black to be Latina" and "too Latina to be Black," Susana opens up about what it really means to take up space as a proud Dominicana from the Bronx. We get into: • How she rebuilt her career with faith and fire • Why she stopped hiding her natural hair, Bronx accent, and roots • The moment she let God lead — and everything changed • Her exact tips on negotiating, self-worth, and taking your power back

    1 hr 39 min
  • Danielle Perez: From Open Mic Nights to Netflix's #1 Show

    This week, Alyi V sits down with the hilarious and unapologetic Danielle Perez — a Dominican comedian from Los Angeles who's making her mark in comedy and beyond. Danielle gets real about growing up Dominican in LA with kale dinners, novelas, and big dreams. She shares the story of losing her legs at 20 and finding her voice through stand-up comedy, eventually breaking into the industry and starring in Netflix's number one show *The Night Agent*.

    She opens up about coming out as queer during a Comedy Central taping — with her parents in the audience — and reflects on mental health, healing, and what taking Lexapro taught her about easing the weight of it all. Danielle also talks about being raised by strong women, why her abuela remains her biggest inspiration, and how she's navigating success while staying grounded in who she is. Her story also brings an important lens to disability and accessibility in entertainment — reminding us that visibility, representation, and equity matter on and off the stage benefits everyone.

    This episode is bold, hilarious, and honest — a deep dive into identity, resilience, and the power of showing up exactly as you are. Watch, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this story.

    54 min
  • Hot 97's Laura Stylez on Motherhood, Fearlessness, and Building Dreams at ENVSN Fest

    Season 3 - Welcome Bacckkkkkk!!!

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with Hot 97's Laura Stylez to talk about her inspiring rise in the radio industry—from couch surfing in the Bronx with nothing but a dream, to becoming one of the most recognizable voices on-air. Laura opens up about growing up between cultures, navigating motherhood, and the mental health challenges she faced along the way.

    She shares the real behind-the-scenes hustle of building a media career, what it means to live fearlessly, and why platforms like the ENVSN Festival matter for the next generation.

    Tap in for real talk, raw truths, and the blueprint on making it without losing yourself.

    1 hr 27 min

About Growing Up Latina

From the publisher's feed

Growing Up Latina (GUL) podcast hosted by Alyi V and features candid discussions with an assortment of special guests, including Latina viral influencers, artists and other industry figures. These amazing Latina women will share their experiences on what it's like growing up Latina in America and how they have made a name for themselves in their industry.