In this episode of Hella Latin@, host Odalys Jasmine sits down live in-studio with author and actor Christopher Rivas, lawyer and content creator Farah Fezz, and DJ and dancer Love Baila for a dynamic conversation on identity, solidarity, and liberation. Together, they unpack what it means to live in the in-between — as first-generation individuals and bodies of culture navigating layered identities and cultural narratives within a western system. How do we reclaim stories through art and community, and build bridges toward collective freedom? We dive into it all.

Episode Highlights

This dialogue is a reminder that liberation is not a solo journey but a collective one. It’s about building bridges across cultures, honoring our legacies, and staying present in the moments that define us.

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Odalys Jasmine sits with Julian Maldonado, a Puerto Rican comedian, actor, and writer from Port Orange, Florida. In 2017, he was announced as a series lead in the upcoming episodic series Deathless. Since then, he has acted in several films funded by the College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University. In addition to his acting career, Julian is also a stand-up comedian performing all around the state of Florida and in New York City since 2017.

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Eileen Ivette is a cultural storyteller and adventure seeker who once spent her days saving travel posts and dreaming of “someday” adventures while working a 9-5 that felt increasingly disconnected from her purpose. Everything shifted in 2019, when she took her first solo trip to Puerto Rico and discovered not just new destinations but also deeper pieces of her identity through the lens of the African diaspora.

As the Founder of Black Latin History and an Afro-Latina traveler, Eileen combines her passion for history, culture, and travel to create resources that highlight Black history, events, and businesses across Latin America and the Caribbean—building a community of more than 90,000 travelers and history enthusiasts worldwide.

In this week’s episode, Eileen and I talk about her experience as a first-gen, Afro-Colombian living in the US., and we discuss the catalyst behind creating Black Latin History.

Keep up with Eileen on her Instagram @eileen_ivette and her website www.eileenivette.com. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Award-winning director, actress, comedian, and writer Dani Adaliz is proof that art can be resistance. From SXSW premieres to viral collaborations with Buzzfeed and Broadway Video, Dani uses humor and honesty to explore identity, liberation, and the human condition.

Her directorial debut, Chuchi and Adaliz, premiered at SXSW 2023, won Best Web Series at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival, and screened at both LALIFF and Stareable Fest NY. As a NALIP Incubator alum, a member of The Alliance of Women Directors, and Film Fatales, Dani continues to push boundaries—now gearing up for her next project, Grocery Grab, set to film in fall 2025.

In this episode, Dani and I get real about staying creative in chaotic times, why Palestinian liberation is tied to all of ours, and how art can be both resistance and healing. We talk about making the world better—one story, one laugh, one act of courage at a time. The world may be on fire, but Dani shows us how to keep creating, keep connecting, and keep telling the truth.

Keep up with Dani on her website and Instagram @danicoqui. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

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Jackie Jaquez is back for a part 2! We expand on all things women's bodies, the impact of birth control and menstrual products on our hormones, and a deep dive on each of the phases we cycle through in about 28 days.

Jackie is a first-gen Mexicana from LA, a certified menstrual nutritional fitness coach, massage therapist, healthy relationships facilitator at CSU Long Beach, and helps women improve their overall health. 

Tiffany Leonardo’s 14 years of extensive time in the operating room has fueled her passion for teaching and deepened her understanding of stress and its detrimental impact on the body.

In this week’s episode, Tiffany, Jackie and myself have an in-depth conversation on health, wellness, spirituality and more. Listen to this episode for an incredible conversation and take notes because you’re gonna need them! 

Keep up with Jackie on her TikTok @thewh0remonalclub and Instagram @jackieejaquez. 

Keep up with Tiffany on her website and Instagram. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio. 

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

Darlene Lopez helps artists sell out without selling out. As a first-generation Peruvian-American, Darlene’s career goal has been to thrive at the intersection of culture and technology. So what does that look like in this digital age? Latin music.

With close to 10 years working in entertainment, Darlene has championed the latest wave of Latin music at tech titans Apple and TikTok. She led the Latin music business for TikTok, successfully advocating for the globalization of Mexican Music with artists like Fuerza Regida, Eslabon Armado, and Peso Pluma.

Prior to TikTok, Darlene spent five years at Apple Music overseeing Latin music business partnerships and building out the global strategy for the genre. There, she helped launch Apple’s first artist-led playlist, ¡Dale Play! with Bad Bunny and Drake, as well as project managing Bad Bunny’s Artist of the Year campaign in 2022, among other global campaigns with artists like KAROL G and Rauw Alejandro.

Now, Darlene has followed in her parents’ footsteps and started her own small business: a digital marketing agency named Evoke Creative. Here’s where the work really begins: how do we harness the power of live stream shopping for Latin artists to promote their music and sell out their catalog?

In this week’s episode, Darlene shares her experience working in the industry and how she eventually was inspired to start her own company. Darlene was sometimes one of the only Latinas in the room advocating for Latin music, but that didn’t stop her from making sure that black and brown artists were represented fairly and accurately. Tune in to hear why representation is so important to her, her family’s immigration story, and why she decided to leave the corporate world to start her own company. 

Keep up with Darlene on her Instagram @instadar  and her website www.evokeculture.com. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

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I don't always sit in the hot seat, I prefer being the one asking questions, but Hady Méndez (host of Latinas: Front & Center) invited me to kick off their Lean in Latinas First Gen Summit.

In this interview, I talk about navigating the in between.

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Jackie Jaquez is a first-gen Mexican Latina from Los Angeles, a certified menstrual nutritional fitness coach, massage therapist, healthy relationships facilitator at CSU Long Beach, and a Reiki master.

In this week’s episode, Jackie joins us to share her knowledge on women's health and tell her story in exploring culturally taboo topics. It’s not easy to explore women’s health as a Latina, let alone make it your entire career. Tune into this week’s episode to hear how we can embrace body literacy and take control of our health with Jackie Jaquez. 

Connect with Jackie on her TikTok @thewh0remonalclub and Instagram @jackieejaquez. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

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Melany del Carpio is a first-generation, first-born Peruvian-American who is deeply committed to empowering women of color to thrive and be unapologetically themselves in the face of societal and capitalist pressures.

With eight years of experience in higher education, she made a pivotal career transition into the tech industry in 2022. Throughout her career journey, Melany has faced significant challenges, including reaching a breaking point that required her to take medical leave and reclaim her power from a toxic work environment. This transformative experience has become the foundation of her passion: supporting others in achieving success while maintaining their well-being, free from the weight of overwork and unrealistic expectations.

Melany is dedicated to helping others set boundaries, reclaim their rest, and define success on their own terms, empowering them to become who they are meant to be without compromise.

In this week’s episode, Melany shares exactly why rest is resistance. We all have these overwhelming expectations put on us, and it feels like the end of the world if we don’t meet them. Our families immigrated here for a better life, and we don’t want to even think of the possibility of letting them down. But Melany’s story reminds us that while their journey was a brave one, it is brave for us to live our own lives on our own terms, too. And if that means letting go of their dreams for us and getting the rest our body needs, so be it. 

Keep up with Melany on her website and LinkedIn @melanydelcarpio 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

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

Cynthia Diaz is a Salvadoran-Honduran American artist, beauty visionary, and content creator from Los Angeles. As a proud first-generation Latina, she is on a powerful journey of breaking generational cycles and redefining what the American dream looks like through faith, creativity, and fearless self-expression.

Cynthia first found success in the beauty industry, working with top brands and artists, using glam as her way to tell stories and uplift her community. Now, she’s introduced music into her world amplifying her voice through Latin pop and reggaetón while continuing to lead with purpose and pride in her roots.

Every project she touches whether it’s a makeup look, a video, or a song—delivers a message. For Cynthia, art is not just a form of expression, but a calling. Through her work, she reminds other Latinas that they are worthy, powerful, and never too late to build the life they dream of.

In this week’s episode, Cynthia shares her mother's incredible story of crossing the border and how that resilience was passed down to her - eventually being the strength she needed to take the ultimate leap of faith and choose a creative career path. Nothing in her life has been easy, but she’s been taking on every challenge with a smile on her face.

Keep up with Cynthia on their LinkTree and Instagram @thecynthiadiaz. 

For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

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Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

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