Growing Up Spanglish

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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Meet Tony M. Centeno, also known as Tony MC, a Cuban and Puerto Rican music journalist. He opens up about deciding between speaking English or Spanish in elementary school and how it affected him. The conversation dives into the influence of Latin music, discovering reggaeton in his teen years and his experiences interviewing high-profile Latin artists like Ozuna and Anuel. We also get to hear about the importance of brotherhood & mentorship through his fraternity, Lambda Theta Phi. And of course, we couldn’t let Tony pass by and not discuss Kendrick vs Drake and the state of hip hop.

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In this episode, Roxy and KJ talk with Mario De Los Santos, aka Telescope Thieves, about his Dominican heritage, growing up in the Hialeah park system, and his diverse musical journey from rap group to dance-rock band member. The conversation also delves into Mario’s transition from music to software development, spurred by the pandemic as well as the decision to step back from his DJ career to finding happiness and balance.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices