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

What does a chancla have to do with wine? Everything, it turns out.

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Raquel Gomez, co-owner of La Chancla Wines - a Latina-founded, Texas-based wine brand rooted in culture, community, and a whole lot of corazón. Just three years ago, Raquel had never tasted straight wine. Today, she's got bottles in AT&T Stadium suites, a partnership with Ready Vineyards, and a growing line of blends designed specifically for palates shaped by tamales, pozole, and abuela's guisos.

Raquel's story is one of trust, hustle, and saying yes when opportunity knocks...even when you don't feel ready. From helping manage a household to leading the sales team that landed a spot at Central Market's 30th anniversary dinner, her journey is proof that you don't need to be a sommelier to change the wine industry. You just need to believe in the product, show up for your community, and know that the name La Chancla will stop people in their tracks.

In This Episode We Cover:

Guest Info:

Wines we're sipping on:

Jessica is sipping on a Cramoisi Vineyards Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon), and Erika's is sipping on Butter- a buttery Chardonnay to survive the East Coast snowstorm.

We're back with our February Chisme episode- and we had a LOT to unpack! This month, Jessica is joined by her ride-or-die Erika Sánchez of Brave Communications for an unfiltered conversation covering everything from ICE raids and political resistance to the BAFTAs racial slur incident, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show, the America's Next Top Model Netflix documentary, celebrity tributes, and everything in between. Oh, did I mention we're celebrating SIX YEARS of Wine & Chisme! 🥂

Topics Covered

 Community Call-In Line

Want to share your chisme, suggest a guest, or leave a comment? Call us!

📞 858-304-0266

Leave us a voicemail — your story might be featured on the show!

What we're Sipping

Jessica ia aipping a 2022 Parra Wine Co. Chardonnay from Zenith Vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley, while Marisa sips nettle tea with electrolyte salt.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Wine & Chisme, Jessica sits down with Marisa Gonzales, a proud Mexican-American graphic designer, brand strategist, and the founder of Marisa Gonzalez Studios, for a deeply personal and empowering conversation. Based in Kansas City, Kansas, Marisa shares what it was like growing up as one of the only Latinas in a predominantly white suburb of Missouri, how chronic migraines and a serious car accident reshaped her path, and how she overcame medication dependency to reclaim her health and creativity. She also opens up about walking away from a toxic corporate job as a new mom, and how all of these experiences led her to build an intentional, client-centered design business that centers the voices of women, minorities, and nonprofits.

What We Cover in This Episode

About Marisa Gonzales

Marisa Gonzales is the CEO, Principal Strategist, and Designer of Marisa Gonzalez Studios, a boutique brand and web design agency based in Kansas City, Kansas. She helps women-owned businesses, minority entrepreneurs, and nonprofits build standout brands and websites that don't just look beautiful — they work.

A proud Mexican-American woman, Marisa grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, navigating life as one of the few Latinas in a predominantly white community. That experience — of being unseen, mislabeled, and underestimated — shapes everything about how she shows up for her clients today. She is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) and as a Minority Women's Business Enterprise (MWBE) through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Marisa also lives with chronic migraines and late-diagnosed ADHD, and has built her business around flexibility, intentionality, and listening to her body — modeling for her clients that sustainable success is possible.

Connect with Marisa

Marisa's Website: MarisaGstudios.com

→ MarisaGstudios.com

Instagram: @MarisaGStudios

Facebook: Marisa G. Studios

LinkedIn: Marisa Gonzalez

Wine Selection

French Vinchot (mulled wine) - the last of a homemade batch from the holidays

Episode Description

Political scientist and paralegal Desiree Collado joins Jessica Yanez for an urgent conversation about Latino identity, political power, and community protection. With over 30 years of experience and work with the United Nations, Desiree breaks down the current political landscape and provides practical guidance for navigating uncertain times.

Desiree Collado is a Dominican-American political scientist and paralegal with 30+ years of experience. She has worked with UN ambassadors on international resolutions and is dedicated to preserving Latino narratives and advancing understanding of the Latine experience.

Guest Bio

Desiree Collado is a Dominican-American political scientist and paralegal with 30+ years of experience. She has worked with UN ambassadors on international resolutions and is dedicated to preserving Latino narratives and advancing understanding of the Latine experience.

Timestamps & Topics

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:04:00] Growing Up Between Two Worlds

[00:12:00] Assimilation vs. Identity

[00:16:00] Living on the Hyphen

[00:23:00] Military Service & Exploitation

[00:26:00] Anger as a Love Language

[00:28:00] The GOP Strategy: Repetition

[00:29:00] Plan, Don't Panic

[00:37:00] Credentials & Qualifications

[00:42:00] Latino Political Power

[00:45:00] They Colonized the Rich

[00:48:00] Venezuela Discussion

[00:57:00] The Identity Crisis Continues

[01:03:00] Optimism for the Next Generation

[01:06:00] This Cannot Last Long

[01:09:00] Practical Safety Tips

[01:13:00] Minnesota Police Officers Stopped by ICE

[01:16:00] Final Call to Action

Connect with Desiree

Instagram: @MadiDez (follow stories for sourced political analysis)

Welcome back to the second half of Season 6 of Wine & Chisme. Before diving into this special festival episode, host Jessica Yañez addresses the current state of our nation and the importance of community solidarity during these challenging times.

In this episode, Jessica takes you to the O'wineside Baja Wine Festival, the second annual celebration of Mexican wine and Baja California's culinary spirit held in Oceanside, California. Join her as she connects with vintners from Valle de Guadalupe and shares their incredible stories and wines with you.

Episode Highlights:

Wineries Featured (in order of appearance):

Event Details:

Valle de Guadalupe is Mexico's premier wine-producing region, often called "the Tuscany of Mexico" or compared to Napa Valley from decades past.

Key Facts:

Learn More About Valle de Guadalupe:

US Customs Information for Wine:

This episode begins with a powerful message about recent events affecting our community. Jessica honors the names of those we've lost:

The Wine & Chisme Podcast creates an intimate space where professionals, artists, and changemakers across communities of color share their unfiltered stories of career, love, and personal transformation—all over a glass of wine and genuine conversation.

Connect with Wine & Chisme:

Host & Creator: Jessica Yañez

Hola mi gente! Welcome to our year-end chisme episode where Jessica and Erica break down EVERYTHING that happened in 2025—the good, the messy, and the absolutely wild.

IN THIS EPISODE:

PLUS: Wine & Chisme podcast stats—770% audience growth! 🎉

What We're Drinking:

2026 Plans: Taking January off, returning in February with fresh interviews and wine stories. Ready to let go of fear and step into our power!

Join Jessica Yañez for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation with Raven Rodriguez, the viral TikTok creator behind the beloved music reaction videos with her Gen Z and millennial daughters. With over 280,000 followers, Raven has built a community by showing her daughters '70s and '80s music videos—and their reactions are pure comedy gold.

In this episode, Raven shares the origin story of how blocking her daughter on TikTok led to internet fame, why she shows Maya "traumatic" videos (Chris Hansen has entered the chat!), and how she's intentionally breaking toxic generational patterns in Latino households. From sneaking out as a teen to creating safe spaces for her daughters, Raven opens up about motherhood, mistakes, and building trust through adaptability.

You'll laugh, you'll cringe at the problematic lyrics we all sang without thinking, and you'll leave inspired by the beautiful relationship Raven has cultivated with her daughters—one video at a time.

Topics discussed:

Follow Raven Rodriguez:

What Cynthia's Drinking: Freixenet Zero Brut (non-alcoholic sparkling wine)

What Jessica's Drinking: 2023 Chenin Blanc from Encanto Vineyards (Lake County)

This week on Wine & Chisme, we sit down with Cynthia Prato- Army veteran, author, and certified life coach, for one of our most powerful conversations yet.

Cynthia opens up about enlisting in the National Guard on a dare, becoming a military interrogator, and being one of the only women in her unit. She shares her experiences with military sexual trauma (MST), the PTSD she carried silently for years, and the moment she realized her unhealed trauma was affecting her son.

From growing up as a Mexi-Nica in Miami to serving in Hungary during post-9/11 tensions, Cynthia's journey is raw, real, and ultimately redemptive. We talk about:

✨ Being the first Latina woman in her family to serve

This conversation gets deep, but it's also filled with hope, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. Cynthia reminds us that healing isn't linear, it's never too late to choose yourself, and whatever you're not changing, you're choosing.

Guest: Cynthia Prato
Website: BeyondTheHorizonllc.com
Instagram: @beyondthehorizonconsulting
Book: Get It Together Without Losing Your Mind (Available on Amazon)