Órale Boyle Heights

My guest this episode is Oscar Rodriguez Zapata. I met up with Oscar to learn about their love for photography and their work documenting Virgen de Guadalupe murals in different communities. We talk about their journey into photography, their experience growing up in South East LA, and how they began documenting murals. Versos pa la Lupita, featuring photographs by Oscar and poetry by Xitlalic Guijosa-Osuna opens on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Espacio 1839. You can follow Oscar on Instagram @rodrioscr and you can see his pictures of Virgen Mary murals at @_lavirgencita. 

My guest this episode is Christopher Cruz. I sat down with Chris to talk about their work in documenting their grandfather's, Manuel Gomez Cruz' contributions to the culture back in the day with their murals and activism. We also talked about Chris' own journey growing up on the Eastside, becoming politicized, and how their passion for photography continues to evolve with various projects. You can follow Chris on Instagram at @EastLosHeart and you can read the essay the wrote about their grandfather here. 

My guest this episode is Jessica Perez. I caught up with Jessica to talk about how they got their start as a journalist, starting the community blog MisNeighbors, mentoring youth as part of their work with the Boyle Heights Beat, to working in the L.A. Times. You can follow Jessica on Twitter at @JessicaPerezLA2. You can check out old neighborhood blog post on www.MisNeighbors.wordpress.com.   

My guest on this episode is Lena Williams. They are the Programs Director at People for Mobility Justice, owner of Lena's Puppy Love, and owner/worker at Ride On! Bike Co-Op. We talked about their love for riding their bike, being profiled by the police while riding in South L.A., the connection/love they have with the animals they look after and their owners, and reminiscing about growing up in Orangeburg South Carolina. You can follow Lena on Instagram at @soulluvher. Picture of Lena for the episode art by @yungpainkiller. 

My guest this episode is Ely of Earthy Corazon. I met up with them at their shop in City Terrace to talk about their journey into becoming a small business owner, the intention that goes into everything they make, and the support she has received from her community to make the shop a reality. You can follow them on Instagram at @earthycorazon. Visit their website at www.earthycorazon.com. The shop is located at 4015 City Terrace Drive. 

My Guest this episode is Fernando Carrillo. I talk to Fernando about their growing up in Koreatown/Historic Filipinotown in the 90s, falling in love with low riders at a young age, and their love BBQ. You can follow Fernando on Instagram at @ragtopfernsbbq.

My guest this episode is artist Teresa Flores. We got to talking about their journey into the art world via Fresno California, some of their recent work, including an essay in Alta Journal, a show at Espacio 1839, and the Experimental Quesadilla Lab. You can follow them on Instagram at @NotTeresa. Their website is www.teresafloresstudio.com. Follow the experimental quesadilla lab on Instagram at @ExperimentalQuesadillaLab. You can read Teresa's Alta essay here. 

My guest this episode is artist and Super Lucha Cats creator, Javier Solórzan. Our conversation touched on how Javier has grown as an artist over the years, growing up in Bell Gardens, their love for comic books, lucha libre, and the creation of their comic book, Super Lucha Cats. You can follow Javier on Instagram and Twitter as @luchacat. Their website is www.etsy.com/shop/luchacat.

My guest this episode is Francisco Escamilla, otherwise known as the Bus Stop Prophet. We talk about their experience growing up in Wyvernwood in the 80s, finding themselves through their poetry, and working with youth through Street Poets Inc. You can follow Bus Stop on Instagram at @BusStopProphet. 

My guest this episode are Alex and Elvia, the Evil Cooks. We talk about their journies into the culinary arts, how they were inspired to start their own pop-up kitchen, the inspiration behind some of their most popular tacos, and starting their own podcast, The Darkside of the Cooks. You can follow them on Instagram at @evil_cooks. You can follow their podcast on Instagram at @darksideofthecooks and listen to their show on Spotify.