Wines We're Drinking:

This week's episode is one for the cultura and the closet, mija. Jessica sits down with Elvira Zamora, visionary founder of Thrifts.com and Chicano Elegance — two platforms rooted in culture, community, and conscious expression. Elvira grew up in Lima, Peru, where reusing, repurposing, and refusing to waste were just a way of life. When she arrived in the U.S. at 10 years old, the wastefulness she witnessed was a full-on culture shock — and it sparked a lifelong commitment to sustainable fashion that she's turned into a movement.

From the hidden health risks of fast fashion fabrics (yes, you might literally be wearing plastic) to the radical joy of clothing swaps and sewing circles, Elvira breaks it all down in a way that's real, funny, and genuinely eye-opening. She also shares the story behind Chicano Elegance, a glam gala she created after waiting two decades to see Latiné culture celebrated on a fashion runway — so she built the runway herself.

This one will have you rethinking your closet, your consumption habits, and maybe even that wedding dress sitting in a bag in the back of your room. No judgment, just chisme and good wine.

In This Episode We Cover:

[00:00] Intro and welcome — Jessica introduces Elvira Zamora

[43:45] How Thrifts.com and Chicano Elegance came to be

Connect with Elvira Zamora:

Fabric Recycling & Donation Resources:

Search your area for domestic violence shelters, prom dress programs, and women's reentry organizations accepting clothing donations — and ask your community!

Connect with Wine & Chisme:

Amplifying Latiné voices, one glass at a time. Salud, mi gente!

Wines We're Drinking

It's our April chisme session, and mi gente, we had a LOT to unpack this month. From Coachella controversies to Celia Cruz making history, Olympic ticket sticker shock, and some deeply personal highs from Jessica, including two years of marriage and a home loan approval. Pull up a glass and let's get into it.

In This Episode We Cover

[00:00] Welcome & Wine Check-In: Jessica's dealing with spring allergies but still showing up with a glass of Para Wines Vino Blanco 2023. Erika gives us her imaginary Prosecco-Chambord brunch cocktail.

[05:00] Karol G at Coachella: The controversy unpacked. The all-female mariachi group that wasn't actually the first, the Trump-supporting ownership, vetting failures by her team, contract logistics, and why Becky G's cameo felt intentional and powerful.

[17:00] Coachella Then vs. Now: How the festival shifted from music-first to influencer activations and fashion moments. The economics behind it: $29M+ paid to 150+ artists, $25M in production, and why it's only going to keep escalating.

[26:00] LA 2028 Olympics Ticket Sale: Jessica secured swimming event tickets for her nephew's graduation gift. The breakdown: opening ceremony seats at $5K to $10K, the lottery system, and the plan to use only existing venues and public transportation.

[34:00] The White House Correspondents' Dinner Incident: Jessica and Erika break down why they're cynical, the questions about security failures, the Stephen Miller photo moment, and a broader conversation about political theater and manufactured narratives.

[43:00] The Onion Buys InfoWars: What it means that a parody site now owns Alex Jones's platform, the $1.3B judgment, and why Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly distancing themselves from Trump might not be what it looks like.

[54:00] Celia Cruz & Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: She's a 2026 inductee and the first Spanish-language artist ever inducted. Jessica and Erika break down what her induction through the "Early Influence" category really says about how the Hall handles Latin music history.

[59:00] Billboard Mujeres Latinas de la Música: Rosalía named Mujer del Año, Becky G receiving Global Impact honors. Jessica celebrates Becky G's pivot to Spanish-language music as a first-gen Mexican-American artist and what her journey means for the comunidad.

[01:06:00] On a Personal Note: Jessica and Antonio celebrate two years of marriage, just got approved for a home loan, and are starting to look at houses. A beautiful reflection on life not going to plan and why that's okay at 48.

[01:19:00] Wrapping Up + Listener Shoutout: The podcast is ending at Episode 300! Jessica wants to hear from you. Call or text: 858-304-0266. DM on Instagram: @thewineandchisme.

Connect with Wine & Chisme

We're not just talking wine. We're talking cultura, comunidad, y chisme that matters. Salud, mi gente. 🍷

Wines We're Drinking:

What does it actually take to make a bold move? Whether you're thinking about leaving the country, pivoting your career, or just trying to figure out what the heck comes next, Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal is the person you want in your corner. As a Latina podcast, we love telling first-gen professional stories, and Analia's is one for the books. Born in Buenos Aires to a working-class family of Spanish immigrants, Analia grew up with education as her ticket forward — and she ran with it. We're talking a BA in economics, a journalism minor, two master's degrees, a PhD in government and politics from the University of Maryland, certifications in professional coaching, and six languages. Six. And she almost got kicked out of college for failing Calculus 3 three times. That's the kind of real we love here.

Today she's the founder and CEO of AGV Services LLC and the host of the Lucky To Be Here podcast, where she helps people — especially international students, immigrants, and early-to-mid-career professionals — stop tweaking their resumes and start actually understanding their story. In a world where everything we knew is crumbling (her words, and honestly, same), Analia's work is about finding your anchor from the inside out.

This is a Latiné wine, Chicana stories kind of episode that hits different right now. Come for the chisme, stay for the career therapy.

In This Episode We Cover:

[00:00] Intro and welcome to Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal

Connect with Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal:

Connect with Wine & Chisme:

We not only work the land, we own the brands.

WINES WE'RE DRINKING

Aleksandrouli by Koncho & Co

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Karen Zaragoza, a San Diego-born event marketing strategist, community builder, and creative entrepreneur who has built not one, but three interconnected platforms rooted in a single belief: community is the catalyst for everything.

Karen shares the story behind Social Creatives, the community-first foundation that came before anything else, and how it gave birth to two focused branches: The Lead Lab, a growth and strategy resource for small businesses, and Plant Bae's, a plant-based wellness community creating space for conscious connection, love, and personal evolution.

But this conversation goes beyond the business. Karen opens up about one of the most transformative chapters of her life: becoming a mother as a teenager. She reflects on how having a daughter reshaped her sense of purpose, her priorities, and ultimately the woman and leader she became. She also gets vulnerable about the turmoil she navigated growing up in her family, the lessons she carried into adulthood, and how those experiences quietly shaped her philosophy of building spaces where people feel supported, seen, and connected.

From producing community markets and large-scale activations with organizations like the SD Food Bank, Petco Park, and the U.S. Navy, to designing speed dating events and transformational workshops through Plant Bae's, Karen is proof that when your work is rooted in lived experience, it creates real impact.

This one hits close to home, and you're going to love her.

Wines We're Drinking

Jessica: Cramosi Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills, Oregon (Latina-owned)

Perla: Juggernaut Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (New Zealand)

Perla Lozano didn't grow up as a sports kid. She didn't start soccer until high school, she couldn't afford club leagues, and no one in her family was pushing her onto a field. But a coach noticed something in her that she hadn't noticed in herself yet, and that moment changed everything.

Now a marketing executive by day and a volunteer leader for Orange AYSO by night and weekends, Perla is on a mission to get more girls off the sidelines and into the game. She runs one of the few youth soccer leagues in Southern California that guarantees every kid at least 75% play time, and she's seen firsthand how sports rewires girls' confidence, identity, and sense of what's possible.

This episode hits close to home- Jessica played softball and cheered from third grade through college, and the two of them go deep on everything from the pressure of club leagues to the real reason girls quit sports (hint: it's usually not because they stopped loving the game).

In this episode:

[00:03] Introductions and weather chaos in SoCal (RIP the cilantro)

Connect with Perla:

Mentioned in this episode:

Wines We're Drinking

2021 Ortega Family Wines Carneros Pinot Blanc, Napa Valley. 100% Pinot Blanc sourced from the Carneros appellation. Tasting notes: stone fruit, lemongrass, and a bright tart lime finish. A food-friendly white with great acidity that shines on a hot day, especially alongside spicy food or cheese.

Available at OrtegaWines.com. Listener discount available through April 30th. Mention Wine and Chisme when you order.

Episode Description:

Six years in the making, mi gente, and this one was worth every single second of the wait.

Jessica sits down with Jesus Ortega Jr., owner and winemaker of Ortega Family Wines, for a conversation that is equal parts history, heart, and honesty. Born and raised in the vineyards of Yountville, Napa Valley, Jesus is the son of immigrants who came to California through the Bracero program in 1964. His family has worked the land for three generations. Now, Jesus is doing something none of them did before him: he owns the brand.

In this episode, Jessica sips on the 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc while Jesus shares the full journey, from a kid who didn't want to pick up pruned canes in the rain, to a self-taught winemaker who runs his own label out of the very vineyards where he grew up. He talks about the winemaker who took a chance on him, the harvest party that changed everything, surviving COVID as a brand-new label, and why his philosophy is simply: farmer first, winemaker second.

They also get into the current state of wine consumption among younger generations, what makes small producers different from mass producers, the comeback of Merlot (gracias a Dios), California Malbec vs. Argentinian Malbec, and a little wine magic trick involving your dominant nostril that you will absolutely use at your next dinner party.

And yes, there is a discount situation. You have to listen for it.

In This Episode:

0:00 Intro + Opening Toast: 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc

Connect with Ortega Family Wines:

Connect with Wine and Chisme:

What We're Drinking:

Jessica: Rúakh Wines out of Paso Robles, specifically the "Somos Cafe de Olla" red blend (56% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot). Owned by Sam Esquivel, a San Diego native whose interview episode drops the first Wednesday of May.

Jessica Yañez and her partner in crime Erika Sanchez are back with a full glass of wine and a whole month's worth of chisme to spill. From heartbreaking headlines hitting close to home, to Hollywood takeovers, to what happened at the Oscars, to the state of your wallet right now, the March Chisme episode covers the news, the nostalgia, and the nunca-ending commentary that lives rent-free in our heads.

Erika came prepared. Jessica came with feelings. Together, they gave you everything.

This one hit differently. Jessica and Erika unpack the New York Times five-year investigation revealing sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez, including a statement from civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, who says she was assaulted by him and that he fathered two of her children.

The conversation goes deeper into the systemic silence women are expected to maintain "for the greater good," the question of how to separate a man from a movement, and why being down for a cause should never mean putting all your faith in one person.

Jessica and Erika watched it so you'd know what to expect, and they had very strong reactions. This Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix explores online influencers redefining masculinity and their influence on young men. Erika wanted to turn it off. Jessica wanted to send the link to every young man she loves.

Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners and the crowd's reaction said everything. Jessica and Erika talk about what makes him so different from the rest, including the detail work he put into playing three distinct characters, and the fact that after the ceremony he went to In-N-Out. Alone. Without an entourage. Taking pictures with fans.

If you've been confused about who owns what in Hollywood right now, Jessica breaks it all the way down. From Viacom to Paramount to CBS, from Discovery tanking HBO Max to the Ellison family (Oracle money, Trump ties) acquiring Paramount through Skydance, and now going after Warner Brothers and CNN, the consolidation of media power is moving fast. The implications for diverse voices, independent journalism, and your streaming bill are real.

They also talk about the Murdoch family documentary, why Succession was more literal than anyone realized, and how the media we consume is being shaped by a handful of very wealthy, very politically connected people.

Week three of the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked, cargo ships can't move gas, and Jessica paid $65.50 to fill her tank at Costco. Erika called her mom crying.

They talk about how presidents don't typically drive gas prices, but intentionally starting a war and bombing oil fields is a different story. And if you think groceries are expensive now, they say: just wait. Transportation costs go up, everything goes up. The math is not mathing.

A viral video of a voter admitting she's voted for Trump three times and calling herself an idiot sparked a whole conversation about what it means to not care until something affects you personally. Jessica has Trump-supporting cousins she loves, and she is absolutely worried about what happens if they get pulled over by ICE. She is not holding back on this one.

Jessica has been watching it. Erika has not (yet). They talk about the Kennedy mystique, why the Camelot era still holds such power, what it must have felt like for Carolyn Bessette to go from private person to one of the most famous women in the world overnight, and how the 90s paparazzi era made that kind of life nearly impossible.

Also: Ryan Murphy said something messy to Jack Schlossberg (JFK's nephew, now running for a House seat in New York), and the girls are not impressed.

The good news we needed. Gap's recent ad revival started as a quiet response to the Sidney Sweeney moment and has grown into something genuinely culturally relevant. The Young Miko campaign. The 90s nostalgia. The khaki swing ad. The Madonna x Missy Elliott "All About the Jeans" era. Jessica and Erika reminisced, agreed that Gap is doing something right, and acknowledged they are no longer the target demographic, but they felt it anyway.

A month of a lot. Heavy and real and also sometimes really, really funny. That's the March Chisme energy. Thank you for being here for all of it.

What Jessica Is Sipping

Casa Martinez Wines Bonitas 2023 Chenin Blanc. Light, crisp, a little grassy, with apple in the back. Jessica's words: "That's really good." High praise, coming from her. Casa Martinez is out of the Napa area, founded by Daniel Martinez, whose Pinot Noir called Camila donates proceeds to care for his daughter.

Episode Description

Ven siéntate, porque this one is going to stay with you. This week, Jessica sits down with award-winning activist filmmaker, top 100 podcaster, sought-after international speaker, and now author Denise Soler Cox for a conversation that had Jessica reaching for tissues before they even got into the chisme. And honestly? Same.

Denise is the creative force behind the documentary Being Enye and the upcoming book What Will They Say? (Simon & Schuster, August 18th), and she joins Wine & Chisme to talk about the secrets we carry, the taboos baked into our cultura, and why so many Latinas feel both seen and shackled by the very values that raised us.

This is not just an interview. It's a mirror.

In This Episode

Jessica and Denise get into the real stuff, including how a night at a bar in Miami in the 90s planted the seed for a documentary that would go on to reach listeners in 32 countries. Denise shares the three-part storytelling framework from Harvard professor Marshall Ganz, the one that helped her understand why Being Enyé resonated so far beyond what she ever expected, and how it laid the foundation for the book she has been building for years.

They talk about the moment at age 9 that Denise carried silently for decades, the power of finally putting it on the page, and why she believes telling that story was the only way to truly reclaim it. Denise also opens up about losing over $200,000 in speaking revenue when DEI cuts swept through corporate America, and why that painful chapter made the book more honest than she ever thought she could be.

Jessica brings her whole self to this one too. She shares her own experience navigating second-gen identity, the guilt of not carrying the same burdens as her first-gen friends, and the realization, mid-read of Denise's first chapter, that Wine & Chisme itself might be rooted in something far deeper than she had ever let herself acknowledge.

They also dig into why Latinas are leaving corporate America faster than any other group, what the physics concept of thermal equilibrium has to do with the secrets we keep, and how a preemptive offer from Simon & Schuster on Valentine's Day two years ago became the moment Denise finally stopped settling.

About Denise Soler Cox

After going from stay-at-home mom to award-winning activist filmmaker, Denise Soler Cox has spent over a decade on a mission to transform how we think and speak about culture, identity, and belonging. Her documentary Being Enyé has been screened internationally and led her to 400+ stages, including two TEDx talks. She has partnered with brands like Ralph Lauren, Amazon, Progressive, and Microsoft, and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS, Forbes, Telemundo, and more. Her debut book What Will They Say? is published by Simon & Schuster under the Primeros Sueños Press imprint and releases August 18th, just ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Resources + Links

What Jessica's Drinking 🍾

Casa Martinez Wine, Bonitas 2023 Chenin Blanc. A Latiné-owned family brand out of the Napa-Sonoma area, where Daniel Martinez not only runs his own label but stewards vines for other brands. A perfect sip for a conversation this rich.

What happens when the woman who has helped others build empires finally lets her own walls come down?

In this deeply honest episode of Wine & Chisme, Jessica sits down with her amiga and one of her favorite humans on the planet , Vanessa Santos, entrepreneur, board-level strategist, Forbes Most Impactful Woman of Latin America honoree, and the woman behind Letters from the InBetween.

Vanessa grew up as the eldest daughter of immigrants in Washington Heights and the Bronx - navigating survival, community, corporate rooms she wasn't supposed to be in, and a love for storytelling she didn't even realize she had until she got there. She worked her way from retail to the C-suite without an Ivy League degree, scaled ventures to multi-millions in revenue, became a millionaire before 30... and then watched it all come apart.

In this episode, she shares what it really looked like: a divorce, a business exit, losing her home, and sitting with 7-8 months of Airbnbs and friends' couches. And why she's more herself now than she's ever been.

This one is for every woman who has ever performed strength while quietly drowning, and who is ready to hear that the shedding season was always preparing you for what's next.

"Everything is happening for me, not to me. This is just a chapter of my book."

In This Episode, We Talk About:

Guest Resources & Links