Wine & Chisme

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

🍷 Wine of the Episode

2022 Parra Wines Chardonnay

About This Episode

In this powerful conversation, Jessica sits down with Alondra Alvarado, President & CEO of the San Diego Hunger Coalition, to explore the deeply personal and systemic realities of food insecurity—both locally and across the nation.

Together, Jessica and Alondra discuss the current state of hunger in San Diego and nationwide, the dignity-centered approach needed in food assistance programs, and how community advocacy can create lasting systems change. It's a conversation about resilience, legacy, and the power of honoring every family's right to nourishment.

Connect with Alondra

Instagram

LinkedIn

San Diego Hunger Coalition

About Wine & Chisme

Hosted by Jessica Yañez, Wine & Chisme is where diverse voices share unfiltered stories of career, love, and transformation—one glass of wine and heartfelt conversation at a time.

Wine of the Episode: 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon by Delgadillo Cellars

Join Jessica Yañez and Erika Sanchez for a late November/early December Chisme session where they dive deep into cultural conversations, community boundaries, and current events over wine. From Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance to debates about representation and AI technology, this episode covers the complex gray areas we navigate in modern life.

[00:00 - 07:00] Welcome Back & Thanksgiving Catch-Up

[07:00 - 10:00] Wine Time

[10:00 - 24:00] Bad Bunny, Rosalía & Cultural Pride

[24:00 - 37:00] Community Conversations & Boundaries

[32:00 - 35:00] Coleman Domingo & Representation

[35:00 - 42:00] Unity vs. Division

[42:00 - 50:00] AI Resurrection App

[50:00 - 58:00] CBS Paramount Layoffs & DEI Dismantling

[58:00 - 1:07:00] Mariah Carey's Sephora Ad

[1:07:00 - 1:16:00] Money, Greed & Billionaires

[1:16:00 - 1:21:00] Is Vogue Still Relevant?

[1:21:00 - 1:27:00] AI Everywhere

[1:27:00 - 1:34:00] Golden Girls Are Forever

[1:34:00 - End] Final Thoughts

The Wine & Chisme Podcast celebrates Latine voices, culture, and community—one glass of wine and honest conversation at a time.

What We Are Sipping On:

2022 Chardonnay, Parra Wine Co.

Episode Description

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Wine & Chisme Podcast, Jessica sits down with Vanessa Vigil, Chief Marketing Officer at nglMitú, a leading digital media brand dedicated to elevating Latiné voices and culture.

Vanessa shares her personal journey into media, the evolution of nglMitú, and the responsibility and joy that come with telling authentic stories from across the Latiné diaspora. From combating stereotypes to celebrating our community’s joy, creativity, and complexity, Vanessa breaks down how nglMitú uses storytelling to shift narratives in mainstream media — and why representation behind the scenes matters just as much as what appears on screen.

Grab your glass and settle in — this conversation is honest, empowering, and full of the cariño and cultura you expect from Wine & Chisme.

Key Takeaways

Authentic storytelling is a responsibility, not a trend. Vanessa shares why nglMitú centers lived experience, community insight, and nuance in every project.

Diversity within the Latiné community must be acknowledged and celebrated. One narrative can’t represent an entire diaspora — and nglMitú reflects that through multiple creators and voices.

Representation behind the scenes matters. Hiring Latiné creatives, writers, and decision-makers directly impacts the stories that reach the public.

Community is a superpower in media. nglMitú’s success stems from building trust and creating content that resonates across generations.

Brands and partners play a role. Vanessa explains how collaborative opportunities can elevate Latiné creators instead of stereotyping them.

Latiné joy is revolutionary. Telling stories that highlight our humor, brilliance, resilience, and love shifts culture more than people realize.

🍇 Wines Featured

Jessica: 2001 Día de los Muertos Cabernet Sauvignon by Honrama Cellars

Lupe: Loves chilled Pinot Noir and Cunois but was traveling during this recording

Episode Summary

In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, Jessica sits down with Lupe Rodríguez, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. Together, they unpack what reproductive justice truly means for the Latiné community — from access and education to bodily autonomy and policy representation.

Lupe shares her journey from science and advocacy to leading one of the nation’s most impactful organizations fighting for reproductive freedom. This conversation dives into the intersections of health care, immigration, and social justice — and why it’s critical for Latiné voices to be centered in these conversations.

Connect with Lupe Rodríguez

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice