In this episode of The Brown Book Club Podcast, we sit down with acclaimed author Ana Castillo to discuss her groundbreaking novel So Far From God. Together, we explore the novel’s unforgettable characters, its blend of magical realism and Chicana feminism, and the ways Castillo uses humor, spirituality, and community to examine identity, resilience, and the realities of life in the Southwest. Whether you’re reading the book for the first time or returning to a modern classic, this conversation offers fresh insights into one of the most influential works in Chicano literature.

Some conversations stay with you long after they end, and this is one of them.

In this episode, we’re honored to sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Kelly Lytle Hernández to discuss her groundbreaking book, Bad Mexicans. Together, we explore the incredible true story of the Mexican Revolution, the Magón family, and the movement that challenged dictatorship on both sides of the border. Kelly brings history to life in a way that is both deeply researched and incredibly accessible, revealing stories that too often go untold.

This was one of those conversations where we found ourselves learning at every turn. Kelly poured so much into us, sharing her knowledge with generosity, clarity, and passion. Her perspective is a breath of fresh air, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from someone so committed to uncovering the histories that have shaped our communities.

Whether you’ve already read Bad Mexicans or you’re looking for your next great read, we hope this conversation inspires you to dig deeper into our shared history. We know it left a lasting impact on us, and we think it will on you too.

Join us for a lively conversation with Margarita Longoria and poet Daniel García Ordaz as we discuss Living Beyond Borders, a powerful anthology highlighting Brown voices and experiences. We talk storytelling, identity, community, and the importance of amplifying diverse perspectives, all while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.

In this episode of The Brown Book Club Podcast, we sit down with Marcela Fuentes for a lively and thoughtful conversation about her work. We dive into her book, unpacking the depth of her characters, especially the strength and complexity of the women she writes. We talk about embracing imperfect characters and what they reveal about real life. And in true Brown Book Club fashion, we even branch out into culture, including a fun conversation about the Bad Bunny halftime show.

We sat down with Charley Trujillo and Richard Garcia for a powerful conversation on the Chicano experience during the Vietnam War. Drawing from their books and lived experiences, they reflect on identity, service, trauma, and the often-overlooked stories of Mexican American soldiers. This episode honors resilience, brotherhood, and the lasting impact of war on both the battlefield and back home.

On this episode of The Brown Book Club Podcast, we had the honor of speaking with acclaimed author Reyna Grande about her powerful historical novel A Ballad of Love and Glory. The novel takes readers into the turbulent years of the Mexican–American War and tells the story of love, loyalty, and resistance during one of the most defining conflicts in North American history.

At the center of the novel is the story of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion, also known as the San Patricios, Irish immigrants who defected from the U.S. Army and chose to fight alongside Mexico. Reyna shared the history behind these soldiers, the moral and political struggles they faced, and how their story inspired the novel’s unforgettable characters.

Our conversation explored the overlooked histories of the borderlands, the complexity of identity and allegiance, and how storytelling can bring forgotten chapters of history back into the light. It was a thoughtful and powerful discussion about war, love, and the people whose stories continue to shape our understanding of the past.

We had the absolute honor of sitting down with Erika L. Sánchez, award-winning author, poet, and cultural force.

Best known for her groundbreaking novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Sánchez has become one of the most important contemporary voices writing about identity, grief, mental health, family pressure, and what it means to grow up caught between cultures. Her work refuses stereotypes and speaks directly to the complexity of being Mexican American in the United States.

During our conversation on The Brown Book Club Podcast, Erika was honest, funny, thoughtful, and incredibly down to earth. We talked about writing through pain, navigating expectations, representation in literature, and the power of telling our own stories. She reminded us that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage on the page.

We had the absolute honor of welcoming Luis Alberto Urrea to The Brown Book Club Podcast and let me tell you, he is exactly who you hope he’ll be.

Urrea is the Pulitzer Prize finalist behind unforgettable books like The Devil’s Highway, a haunting account of migration and survival in the Arizona desert, and The House of Broken Angels, a tender, hilarious, and deeply human story about family, borders, and belonging. He’s also the author of Into the Beautiful North, a sharp and heartfelt novel about friendship, migration, and courage.

But what stood out most wasn’t just the awards or the résumé.

It was how grounded he was.

He showed up with humility. With humor. With that tío energy that makes you feel like you’ve known him your whole life. He spoke about grief, migration, storytelling, and love without ego — just truth. You could feel how deeply he cares about the people he writes about and the communities he comes from.

Luis Alberto Urrea didn’t just come on the podcast as an acclaimed author.

He came as a storyteller of the people.

And he reminded us why stories matter.

We had a powerful conversation with Leopoldo Gout, filmmaker, artist, and author of the haunting novel Piñata. Blending horror, history, and Mexican folklore, Piñata explores generational trauma, identity, and the spiritual echoes that follow us across borders and time. In this episode, we dive into Gout’s creative journey, the deeper cultural layers behind the story, and how horror can become a space for memory, resistance, and healing. If you’re into stories that challenge, unsettle, and honor our roots all at once, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Jesús Treviño is a Latino filmmaker, writer, and educator whose work centers Chicano and Mexican American history, culture, and political struggle. He is best known for his documentary storytelling, using film as a tool to challenge erasure, reclaim community narratives, and examine power, identity, and resistance.

Through both his films and his writing, Treviño has played an important role in preserving and amplifying Latino voices—particularly those rooted in the Chicano Movement and broader struggles for social justice—making his work essential viewing and reading for anyone interested in Latino history and representation.