Marcel Ledoux joins Roxy and Kovi to talk about growing up Peruvian-American, feeling disconnected from his culture, and the identity crisis that shaped his life. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we explore what it means to feel like an outsider in your own culture, how therapy sparked a healing journey, and why reclaiming identity isn’t always simple.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Word of the Day: “Pertenencia”

01:50 – Can you be Hispanic and not feel like it?

03:10 – Marcel’s disconnect from his culture

05:20 – Cultural guilt and white-passing privilege

09:00 – Connecting to Peruvian roots through food

10:30 – Visiting Peru… someday

13:00 – Living in the past, present, or future?

17:30 – Regret, therapy, and father wounds

22:00 – Talking through trauma with family

24:30 – Releasing expectations of parents

28:50 – Seeing your parents as people

34:45 – Gender roles and emotional vulnerability in men

41:00 – Liking your partner vs. just loving them

45:00 – Loneliness, community, and the fear of being forgotten

48:00 – Divide within the Hispanic community

49:30 – Black and Hispanic solidarity: the tension and the truth

54:00 – If it can happen to them, it can happen to you

57:00 – Why community matters more than ever

🎙️ Part 2 drops next week — subscribe so you don’t miss it!

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In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Miami artist @Coinslot, we dive deeper into the role of art in activism, why separating the artist from the art is so complex, and how today’s culture is shaped by social media, stan behavior, and censorship.

We also explore the making of his evolving universe of original characters, and the future of art in the age of AI and digital pressure.

This episode is about growth, nuance, and creating anyway — even when the world tries to cancel you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Picking up where we left off

01:00 – Lex the Copycat: The origin story

03:30 – Growing up as “the kid who drew”

05:00 – No participation trophies, only first place

06:00 – “I’m the next Walt Disney”

08:00 – Can you separate the art from the artist?

11:30 – R. Kelly, Kanye, Disney & cancel culture

15:00 – Stan culture and obsession online

20:00 – Social media, rage bait & fake outrage

24:30 – The loneliness behind keyboard warriors

25:00 – What makes art great in its time

27:00 – Artists being silenced by fear and platforms

29:00 – Blue chip art vs. social media influence

31:00 – NFTs, toxic communities & creative burnout

33:00 – Using AI as a tool, not a threat

34:00 – Building a comic book universe

36:00 – Why Miami needs a creative renaissance

38:00 – A gift that brings Coinslot to tears

39:00 – What this podcast is really about

🎙️ Hosted by @ohroxc & @kovi___j

🎥 Recorded at @co.labstudiosmiami

🧩 Guest: @coinslot

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In this powerful two-part episode, Roxy and KJ sit down with Cuban-Honduran artist Coinslot, whose bold art and bolder opinions have sparked conversation across Miami and online. From growing up in the 305 to navigating the politics of identity, immigration, and social media, this episode dives deep into the personal stories and cultural tensions that shape our communities.

Whether you agree or not, this episode is an open dialogue about why people believe what they believe — and why understanding that matters more than ever.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Word of the Day: “Chevere”

03:00 – Meet Coinslot: Art, culture, and growing up in Miami

06:00 – Family, immigration stories, and the artist hustle

08:30 – Social media: A necessary evil or toxic trap?

11:00 – AI, creativity, and losing jobs to the algorithm

14:00 – Are we living in a simulation?

16:00 – Media manipulation, riots, and algorithmic control

18:00 – Why did some immigrants vote for Trump?

21:00 – Colorism in Hispanic communities and political choices

23:00 – Controversy, criticism, and why Coinslot wore the red hat

26:00 – A personal story: Coinslot’s mom and the broken immigration system

29:00 – Cuba, the Bay of Pigs, and mistrust in U.S. policy

33:00 – KJ on history, economy, and pandemic-era fallout

36:00 – Proximity to whiteness and assimilation politics

39:00 – Where are the leaders? What we’ve lost since Malcolm X

41:00 – Final thoughts before the break: Hope, accountability, and change

This is just Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week where we explore Coinslot’s art, creative process, and more of the story behind the murals you know.

Recorded at CoLab Studios in the heart of Miami.

Follow us:

IG: @grwinupspanglish | @ohroxc | @kovi_j

Guest: @Coinslot

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What does it mean to create legacy when the system tells you you don’t belong?

In this powerful episode, Roxy and KJ sit down with Venezuelan-born creative and DACA recipient Dani Cardenas, founder of Tiny Stage Entertainment. Dani shares her family’s harrowing escape from political persecution in Venezuela, growing up undocumented in New York, and how she turned fear into fuel by building one of Miami’s most impactful creative platforms.

From immigration, identity, and internet culture to purpose, privilege, and community — this is one of our most vulnerable and eye-opening conversations to date.

🎧 Tap in to learn how purpose, community, and compassion can change everything.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro + Word of the Day: “Alcancé”

04:30 – Meet Dani Cardenas: Venezuelan roots & family history

07:20 – Fleeing Venezuela: Political persecution & survival

10:50 – Starting over in New York & moving to Miami

16:30 – Venezuela vs. U.S.: Propaganda, power & perspective

20:30 – The dangers of distraction & social media culture

26:45 – What is DACA? Dani’s story as a Dreamer

36:00 – Lobbying as an 8th grader + learning English in a year

40:00 – Being in legal limbo + what DACA really means

48:00 – Building Tiny Stage: From passion to community platform

54:00 – Miami’s creative scene then vs. now

1:00:00 – The loneliness epidemic & why real community matters

1:06:00 – What legacy looks like for Dreamers

1:10:00 – Purpose over popularity

1:13:00 – Final reflections + why compassion is key

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In this episode of Growing Up Spanglish, artist and curator Lauryn Lawrence joins Roxy and Kovi to talk about growing up Afro-Caribbean in South Florida, preserving culture through food, and choosing tenderness over transaction in art and identity. From stew peas and short hair to photography and feminism, Lauryn keeps it real, raw, and rooted.

Timestamp Guide:

[00:00:00] Intro + Spanish Word of the Day: Colegio

[00:02:50] Meet Lauryn Lawrence: Artist, curator, Afro-Latina storyteller

[00:04:10] Growing up in Miramar + favorite Caribbean dishes

[00:07:30] Food as cultural memory: stew peas, sancocho, family recipes

[00:10:00] The power of family archives and handwritten photo notes

[00:11:30] Photography as personal storytelling vs. freelance work

[00:14:45] Shifting from transactional to tender creative practice

[00:18:30] On being raised by storytellers + choosing an art path

[00:21:00] Switching majors, moving to London, and betting on purpose

[00:24:00] What curators actually do + intersectional feminist lens

[00:27:00] Feminism, womanhood, and personal definitions of freedom

[00:29:00] Hair politics, identity, and Lauryn’s big chop journey

[00:36:30] Roxy’s short hair rebellion + the “pixie intimidation” theory

[00:41:00] Body image, family affirmations, and internalized voices

[00:47:30] Curating the algorithm: digital self-defense tools

[00:51:30] Combating insecurity with presence, hobbies, and community

[00:55:00] Lauryn’s dream curations + championing visibility in art

[01:00:00] The power of showing up, softness, and shared storytelling

[01:03:30] Outro + Roselyn’s final thoughts

🎙 Hosted by: @ohroxc (Roxy) & Kovi

🎨 Guest: @laurynn_l , laurynlawrence.com

📍 Recorded at CoLab Studios, Miami www.letscolab.us

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After being sentenced to federal prison, Amanda and Legend wrote over 300 letters to each other — letters that would eventually become the foundation of their nonprofit, 300 Letters. In this powerful episode, they join Roselyn to share their journey from incarceration to inspiration.

We talk about:

Growing up in survival mode

What it really means to be labeled a “felon”

How incarceration impacts entire families — not just individuals

Rebuilding after prison, raising emotionally-aware sons, and founding a nonprofit that’s rewriting the system

This episode is raw, honest, and full of the kind of healing our community needs to hear.

🎧 Listen now and support Amanda and Legend’s work at 300letters.org.

🎭 Attend their Masquerade of Miracles Gala on June 5th in Miami → Get tickets here

📲 Follow them on Instagram: @300letters

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Spanish Word of the Week: Embarazada

04:00 – Meet Amanda & Legend

08:00 – Growing up in survival mode

12:30 – From college student to indictment

17:00 – Why incarceration is a family issue

26:00 – Finding out she was pregnant in prison

31:00 – The truth about medical care while incarcerated

39:00 – The cost of prison on families

45:00 – Reentry and healing through 300 Letters

52:00 – Redefining “felon” and changing the narrative

1:07:00 – Raising emotionally-aware kids

1:13:00 – Starting a nonprofit as returning citizens

1:19:00 – Real success story from a 300 Letters family

1:22:00 – Gala info + final thoughts

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In the Season 3 premiere, Roselyn sits down with Puerto Rican multidisciplinary artist ⁠D’ana, aka COVL⁠, to talk about growing up in Miami, navigating the in-between of cultural identity, and creating art that heals. From the word of the day (mudanza) to the challenges of being “Latina enough,” this episode is full of laughter, love, and real talk about the diaspora experience.

⏱️ Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome back! Duolingo owl is dead, and Roselyn is teaching us Spanish now

01:45 – Word of the Day: Mudanza – what does it mean and why it matters

04:00 – Meet D’ana / COVL – Miami-born, Puerto Rican artist redefining creativity

06:00 – The Miami that raised us: salsa, color, chaos, and community

10:00 – Navigating identity as a Boricua not from the island or New York

13:00 – The pain of not being “Puerto Rican enough” — diaspora tensions

16:00 – “No sabo” kids and owning your Spanglish experience

19:00 – Where is the Puerto Rican community in Miami?

22:00 – Orlando, Kissimmee, and the realest Puerto Rican parties in Florida

26:00 – Growing up Latina in a predominantly white Florida town

30:00 – Culture, pride, and plastic couches — childhood stories from PR

36:00 – Creating from inner child healing and the emotional weight of art

41:00 – Breaking free from brand validation and finding creative freedom

48:00 – How D’ana negotiates with brands (and when she walks away)

51:00 – Manifesting a collab with Bad Bunny 👀

53:00 – Building in the metaverse — bringing la isla into digital worlds

56:00 – Chosen family, deep friendships, and safe spaces

1:00:00 – Giving back to our communities and showing up with purpose

1:02:00 – Who gets to decide if you’re Latina enough? (Hint: not them.)

1:06:00 – Final thoughts on unity, heritage, and creating your own story

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In the season 2 finale of 'Growing Up Spanglish,' host Roxy visits Cafe Antilles in Little Caribbean, Brooklyn. Joined by cafe owners Drew and Erick, they discuss their connection to Miami, their Caribbean roots, and the unique cultural blend that inspired their menu. The episode delves into their college days as fraternity brothers at Johnson & Wales University, the importance of Dominican and Haitian camaraderie, and the founding of Antilles Cafe. The episode also highlights the importance of business acumen, community, hospitality, and the uplifting role of family traditions. Concluding with future aspirations, Drew and Erick hope to expand the cafe globally, promoting Caribbean and African diaspora unity and excellence.

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In this episode of 'Growing Up Spanglish,' host Roxy sits down with Miami DJ, Kamari Esson, at CoLab Studios. Kamari shares his family's Cuban heritage and their unbelievable migration story. He also discusses how his diverse musical tastes influenced his DJ career and reflects on the post-COVID club scene in Miami, celebrity encounters, and the unspoken rules of DJing. The episode is a heartfelt blend of nostalgia, family traditions, and the unique history of Miami's growth and gentrification, wrapped up with memories of childhood comforts like favorite cookies and vaca frita.

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In this episode, Abe Acay shares his incredible life story. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Abe opens up about his Afro-Cuban heritage and the challenges his family faced, including his father's political imprisonment and their emigration to the USA in 1991. Abe discusses his early passion for performing arts, growing up in culturally rich Hialeah, and the impact of his parents' untimely passing on his life. Abe's journey from Miami's vibrant arts scene to teaching theater resonates deeply as he reflects on identity, cultural heritage, and finding purpose through creativity and mentoring. The episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, community, and the transformative power of the arts.

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