VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS Podcast Episode 4: “Breaking Cycles: Understanding the Impact of Emotionally Immature Parents on Adult Development w/ Ajay Ravi Kamal”

In Episode #4 of the VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS Podcast, host LA REINA TAÍNA sits down with Ajay Ravi Kamal, an ENBY/TransMasculine mental health advocate, to dive into the concept of "Emotionally Immature Parents" (EIP). Based on the work of Kai Tai Kevin Qiu in his book Emotionally Immature Parents: A Recovery Workbook for Adult Children, Ajay unpacks how emotional neglect, role reversal, and a lack of empathy in childhood can deeply shape adult emotional development.

Throughout this episode, Ajay explores how these early dynamics can create cycles of emotional harm that persist into adulthood. By drawing from frameworks like Critical Race Theory, Biopolitics, and Post-Structuralism, Ajay and LA REINA TAÍNA critically analyze how these emotional patterns intersect with larger societal systems, particularly for Queer and Trans Afro-Latinx and Afro-Caribbean communities. Together, they offer practical insights into the path of healing, self-awareness, and boundary-setting needed to reclaim emotional well-being.

This episode is essential for those interested in understanding the psychological, emotional, and societal effects of emotionally immature parenting, while also providing tools for personal empowerment and growth.

Trigger Warning: Topics such as suicide, violence, and systemic oppression are discussed. For support, please visit www.lareinataina.com/sos.

VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS Podcast Episode 3: "Navigating the Margins: Agatha Brooks' Journey as a Black Trans Woman in the Caribbean"

In this compelling third episode of VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS, host LA REINA TAÍNA sits down with Agatha Jamine Brooks, a Black Trans woman, poet, and activist, for an intimate discussion on the intersectional challenges she faces in her daily life. As an undocumented immigrant in the Dominican Republic, Agatha's experiences illuminate the complexities of race, gender, and survival within the harsh socio-political landscapes of the Caribbean. This episode dives deep into her narrative, focusing on her time as a former sex worker and the layered dynamics of navigating societal rejection and marginalization while affirming her identity as a Black Trans woman.

The conversation also touches on themes central to Afro-Jotería Studies, a field founded by LA REINA TAÍNA to center the lived experiences of Queer and Trans Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Indigenous people. Through the lens of Afro-Jotería (an academic study combining Afro-Indigenous and decolonial frameworks), we explore how colonial history, the globalizing forces of blanqueamiento (whitening), and anti-Blackness continue to shape gendered and racial identities in the Caribbean.

Afro-Jotería Studies critiques the Western binary systems that fail to account for the complexities of gender and race in the Caribbean, challenging traditional norms of beauty, identity, and power. Agatha’s narrative adds depth to these discussions by offering insights into how blanqueamiento—the whitening processes promoted in the Dominican Republic—affects Black Trans women’s livelihoods, from being commodified in the sex industry to being disrespected and fetishized within both mainstream and underground spaces. These intersecting oppressions are compounded by Agatha's unique experiences with non-monogamy, survival, and personal liberation, where her artistic voice emerges as a form of resistance against the strict, often violent, expectations imposed on marginalized bodies.

This episode also reinforces the call for decolonial thought and action through the practices of Afro-Jotería, advocating for reclaiming narratives and resisting colonial binaries that reduce identity to something monolithic. Agatha’s words empower listeners to question the limits of gender norms and social expectations, urging us to redefine beauty, existence, and resistance through an Afro-Jotería framework.

✨ Agatha’s motto: "Live and let live. Use your past as fuel to propel forward."

VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS Podcast Episode 2: "La Modernidad de Latinoamerica: Los Tres Blanquis"

In this episode, join LA REINA TAÍNA as she explores the concepts of blanquitud, blanquedad, and blanqueamiento, collectively referred to as "Los Tres Blanquis," a term she coined to describe how white supremacy influences the history and present of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The discussion begins by connecting these terms to modern Latin American identity, focusing on how blanquitud shapes beauty standards and media representation. At the same time, blanquedad normalizes whiteness as a societal norm, marginalizing Afro-descendant voices. The episode highlights contemporary examples of blanqueamiento, illustrating the socio-political dynamics that reinforce systemic inequalities.

LA REINA TAÍNA also delves into biopolitics, examining how governance intersects with racial identity and discusses the historical origins of the Latinx identity via the Latin Baroque Period as researched by Bolívar Echeverría. The Négritude Movement is explored as a pivotal force in fostering Black consciousness and solidarity.

Concluding with key insights and recommended resources, this episode advocates for reclaiming narratives and engaging in storytelling as essential tools for cultural empowerment.

VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS Podcast Episode 1: "An Introduction to Afro-Jotería Studies"

Join LA REINA TAÍNA as they dive deep into the origins of Afro-Jotería Studies, an academic field celebrating the lived experiences of Queer and Trans Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Indigenous people. This episode explores their personal journey, the impact of colonialism and racial policies like "blanqueamiento," and the importance of decolonial thought through the lenses of Pan-Africanism, Indigenous spirituality, and rhythmic resistance. Tune in for a dynamic mix of history, personal storytelling, and cultural critique, all grounded in the revolutionary spirit of Afro-Jotx consciousness.