Quest For Fire

Here are a few short remarks & observations from the past couple of weeks regarding Black Lives Matter, youth-led movements, and standing in solidarity with BLM & many other communities that have long suffered due to systemic injustices here in the United States. 

Joining us for Episode 9 is Irasema Aguirre, from https://www.instagram.com/you.dont.look.sick/ .

Irasema unpacks her personal journey in dealing with the autoimmune disease Lupus, how Lupus impacted her relationships with family & friends, her adjustments as a young professional and as a newly-wed, and how a sense of community can be such a helpful source of strength during times of adversity.

She talks about her Instagram page, which she hopes will grow as a resource of positive energy and insight for others who are facing health challenges. She reveals the flurry of emotions that she felt as she was first diagnosed, and how she went about adjusting herself at work and at home. Also, she shares suggestions and insight for those who are either experiencing Lupus, or have a loved one dealing with Lupus.

Join us, for Episode 9, of Quest for Fire!

NOTE: This podcast is a conversation regarding a medical condition. This is NOT to be taken as medical advice, and please consult your doctor for questions regarding Lupus and/or other autoimmune conditions.

#Lupus #Podcast #LatinX #Latino #Latina 

Fatima Flores-Lagunas is an advocate for DACA youth in the Omaha, Nebraska community, and currently serves as Field Director for the Kara Eastman campaign for U.S. House of Representatives (Nebraska-02).  Fatima shares her experiences growing up undocumented, the destiny-altering impact of 9/11, and what it means to engage in tough political conversations with folks who don't share the same world view as her. 

An excellent and powerful communicator, Fatima does a wonderful job unpacking deep concepts like the importance of mental health, especially while growing up as a young, queer, woman of color who also carried the constant fear that one wrong action might lead to deportation proceedings. 

Join us, for Episode 8, of Quest for Fire! 

#DACA #DeferredAction #LatinX #Podcast 

Steven Kirchner, National Field Coordinator for a non-profit named OurClimate, shares his insights regarding the Climate Crisis, and how climate change is a multiplier in terms of affecting other problems in our society. He offers thoughtful perspective on race, culture, and even how younger, fiscally conservative Republicans view the topic of climate change. 

You can learn more about Steven & OurClimate at https://www.ourclimate.us/ .

In our discussion, we reference the Green New Deal, regenerative farming practices, and the KXL Pipeline. 

Join us, for Episode 7, of Quest for Fire! 

#ClimateChange #Youth #Movement 

MMIW refers to Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, and a movement to raise awareness about the alarmingly high number of Native women that go missing or are killed, and for many, the cases go unsolved. 

WARNING: the subject matter can get very heavy, very deep, at times. 

Leading today's discussion are three Native women of different ages and lived experiences : Renee Sans Souci , Colette Yellow Robe, and Nasia Olson-Whitefeather.  They offer historical context, current perspective, and also approaches that can help with healing our collective society going forward. 

We unpack a lot here.  You need to hear this, especially if you are unfamiliar with what has been happening with MMIW. 

Join us, for Episode 6,  of Quest for Fire! 

Phoning in from the Omaha area is Roger Garcia, a man of great perspective and a strong resource for his different communities. Roger details the importance of civic engagement, how to get started, and the importance of community service. In a powerful moment, Roger explains his own growth as a man, breaking the cycles of Machismo/being machista, and what kind of example he wants to set for his own daughters. 

We unpack a lot of different things, we even throw in some late 90s rock/metal references for good measure. 

Join us, for Episode 5, of Quest for Fire! 

Money & power, football & muscle cars, fire up the grill & crack open a beer! (Yes we reference all of this at some point!)

Barbara "Babs" Ramsey, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives NEBRASKA-01, shares her perspective on what it means to run for Congress, the role of money in our political process, and why she views the world as she does, along with the policies she chooses to champion. 

We cover a lot of ground here, but the insight is excellent, it's authentic, and at times very personal & powerful. 

Join us for Episode 4 of QUEST FOR FIRE! 

We have a very special guest today on QUEST FOR FIRE!

Maira Mendez is the proud daughter of Meat Packing Plant Workers, and she shares her experiences in answering the demands of the moment, and  standing up for all the workers as they face the fear of infection amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She does an excellent job clearly communicating the feelings of the workers and their families, and paints a picture as to what is happening in the Crete, Nebraska area, as well as all across the midwest & the agricultural industry.

This is a wealth of perspective. Join us, on this episode, of QUEST FOR FIRE!

There is a lot of emotion in this one! Guillermo Pena is a traveling nurse & an apartment manager in Grand Island, Nebraska. 

He shares the experiences and the feelings of many community members during this tragic time, in particular the workers in the Beef & Pork industries. WARNING: the emotion escalates, as this is a situation that is affecting many lives. 

Due to social distancing, we had to conduct this conversation through technology. Unfortunately, there are moments where the audio isn't stellar, but the middle of the conversation is very raw, very powerful. 

Join us, on this episode, of QUEST FOR FIRE!

There is a treasure trove of perspective and empowerment in this one! 

Brother Salvador is a mental health therapist in the San Jose, CA area. He serves young people & their families as they confront certain adversities, among the backdrop of the Latino community in the bay area. 

Salvador's desire to help young people stems from his own journey, from being a kid from South Omaha, to learning the meaning of "being a Man" at his family's rancho in Guanajuato, Mexico, to his journey from the University of Nebraska to "wearing suits" on capitol hill in  Washington DC, to finding his Fire among the people of San Jose, California. 

We'll talk cultura (culture), we'll talk palabra (your word), we'll talk mental health in the Latino/a/X community, and the messages that society tends to give, about what it is to "be a man". 

Join us, on this episode, of Quest for Fire!