Uptown Voices

Led Black and Octavio Blanco ride the high of a historic midterm election, kicking off the show to celebrate the massive "blue tsunami" voter turnout. To make sense of the economic forces underlying the political shifts, they are joined by independent energy trader Christopher Lewis. Chris breaks down the harsh realities of inflation, explaining why sky-high diesel prices are driving up the cost of groceries and everyday goods. He dives into the geopolitical impact of the Middle East, the illusion of free-market capitalism, and why the unpredictable "Trump fear premium" is keeping energy costs high even when global supply continues to flow.

In the second half of the show, the hosts transition from macroeconomics to local comedy with podcast pioneer Rachel La Loca. Celebrating the monumental 500th episode of Latinos Out Loud, Rachel shares her inspiring, unfiltered journey of leaving a lucrative but soul-crushing corporate marketing career at Heineken to pursue sketch comedy and audio storytelling. She discusses how she balances it all: teaching podcast production to CUNY Brooklyn College and NYC high school students, doing voiceover work for animated series, and the importance of trusting your gut—while still having a solid 10-year plan.

Join the Uptown Voices Movement

Stay connected with the culture, politics, and paradigm shifters of Washington Heights, Inwood, and the Bronx. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to get the latest local news, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes content delivered directly to your inbox. You can sign up here: www.uptownvoices.nyc.

Can the Democrats afford to allow Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to step into majority leadership positions after historic midterm results?The stakes are high. Octavio and Led discuss how people on the ground feel about Democratic senior leadership, the importance of the moment, and what leadership today looks like.We're also giving away a pair of free tickets to the Sold-out Marcello Hernández stand-up performance at the People's Theatre in Inwood! Tune in to find out how to win.

Led and Octavio chop it up after a historic election which saw a blue wave wash away a slew of MAGA candidates. Whats' that feeling? Maybe it's a hangover, but it's also hope, my friends.Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.uptownvoices.nycSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uptown-voices/id1816780785Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7g58NvduNp1B51daE1DBFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptownvoicespodcastFollow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uptown.voices.podUptown Voices is a Livin' Americana and Uptown Collective joint production.

Join the Uptown Voices team for our live Election Day evening broadcast! We were live from the official Darializa team watch party at Harlem Tavern to discuss day's events, the way forward and what all this means for Uptown and America at large.Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.uptownvoices.nycSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uptown-voices/id1816780785Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7g58NvduNp1B51daE1DBFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptownvoicespodcastFollow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uptown.voices.podUptown Voices is a Livin' Americana and Uptown Collective joint production.

Join the Uptown Voices team for pt. 2 of our live Election Day noon broadcast! We are on the ground across Upper Manhattan to discuss the policies, candidates, and ballot initiatives that matter most to our community.Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.uptownvoices.nycSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uptown-voices/id1816780785Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7g58NvduNp1B51daE1DBFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptownvoicespodcastFollow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uptown.voices.podUptown Voices is a Livin' Americana and Uptown Collective joint production.

Join the Uptown Voices team for part 1 of our live Election Day noon broadcast! We are on the ground across Upper Manhattan to discuss the policies, candidates, and ballot initiatives that matter most to our community.Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.uptownvoices.nycSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uptown-voices/id1816780785Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7g58NvduNp1B51daE1DBFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptownvoicespodcastFollow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uptown.voices.podUptown Voices is a Livin' Americana and Uptown Collective joint production.

Join the Uptown Voices team for our live Election Day morning broadcast! We are on the ground across Upper Manhattan to discuss the policies, candidates, and ballot initiatives that matter most to our community.Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.uptownvoices.nycSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uptown-voices/id1816780785Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7g58NvduNp1B51daE1DBFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptownvoicespodcastFollow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uptown.voices.podUptown Voices is a Livin' Americana and Uptown Collective joint production.

This Sunday at 10 a.m., Uptown Voices delivers a live, two-part special tackling the political stakes of the 2026 midterms and a boiling cultural controversy in Harlem.Part 1: The Midterms Uptown (10:00 a.m.)Journalists Maria Santana and Alejandro Rincon Agudelo join the stream to break down the upcoming midterm elections. As key members of the Uptown Voices election coverage team, Maria and Alejandro will introduce themselves and explain why this specific election cycle is hitting differently in Upper Manhattan. They will detail the significance of this journalistic partnership, and what issues are driving voters to the polls.Part 2: Tom Sanford & The "Harlem World" Bagel Controversy (10:30 a.m.)Harlem-based artist Tom Sanford steps into the studio to address the viral outrage surrounding his recent commissioned work at Bo's Bagels. Known for his life-size Knicks cutouts recently displayed at City Hall, Sanford’s latest piece—an "everything bagel" rocking oversized black frames, gold fronts, Nike Air Force 1s, and a four-finger ring—has sparked intense debate about cultural appropriation versus appreciation. Sanford, a white artist whose work frequently explores his deep fandom of Black culture and Hip-Hop, views the artwork as an authentic celebration of Harlem. We will unpack the backlash, the line between appreciation and appropriation, and discuss his broader portfolio, including pieces currently on display at the Hispanic Society in Washington Heights.Stay connected with the culture, politics, and paradigm shifters of Washington Heights, Inwood, and the Bronx. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter for the latest local news, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes content delivered directly to your inbox: www.uptownvoices.nyc

Join Led Black and Octavio Blanco for a crucial international edition of Uptown Voices! This week, we are going global to explore the front lines of democracy. Broadcasting live, we are joined directly from Sao Paulo by Brazilian journalist and "explainer" journalism specialist, Diogo Rodriguez, to break down Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's historic and highly contested presidential win.In this deep dive, Diogo unpacks the digital battlefield of modern elections, specifically detailing how Lula utilized software like WhatsApp to pull off an unlikely victory in a highly polarized climate. Octavio and Led explore what the United States can learn from Brazil's electoral process as we face our own domestic tensions. The trio discusses the looming questions of the aftermath: Will the results be peacefully accepted? What legal battles are playing out in the courts? And what do the similarities and differences between the U.S. and Brazilian electoral systems tell us about the global struggle for power between the left and the right?Join the Uptown Voices MovementStay connected with the culture, politics, and paradigm shifters of Washington Heights, Inwood, the Bronx, and beyond. For the latest local news, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes content delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter at www.uptownvoices.nyc. Link in bio!Invest in Independent Media: We are a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your financial contribution is 100% tax-deductible and keeps unfiltered, critical journalism thriving: https://bit.ly/4eddiWTTune In Live: Catch our live streams every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m.Spread love, it’s the Uptown way.

Led Black and Octavio Blanco dive into a packed Sunday edition of Black and Blanco Live, covering everything from the start of NYC early voting to the intricacies of this year's ballot proposals. The hosts provide a step-by-step breakdown of the five NYC ballot measures—covering outdoor dining regulations, street safety projects, and the city's Rainy Day Fund—urging listeners to flip their ballots and make informed decisions at the polls.

The conversation tackles national politics head-on, addressing the rising cost of groceries, the billionaire class's influence on democracy, and the mainstream media's failure to adequately cover the MAGA movement. Led also addresses the recent viral controversy at Bo's Bagels in Harlem, defending local artist Tom Sanford against "blackface" accusations and criticizing social media clout-chasing over genuine community dialogue.

On the cultural front, the duo highlights the vibrant Uptown scene, including Lucha Libre at the People's Theater, Andrea Arroyo's "Dear Earth Love Uptown" exhibit, Figure Skating in Harlem's 30th-anniversary program, and a magical night of music at the Blue Note with Robert Glasper and Questlove. The episode concludes with a heartfelt message of support for Uptown Voices volunteer, Joey.

Join the Uptown Voices Movement

Stay connected with the culture, politics, and paradigm shifters of Washington Heights, Inwood, and the Bronx. For the latest local news, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes content delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter at www.uptownvoices.nyc.