The Global Latin Factor Podcast
The Global Latin Factor Podcast celebrates Latino culture, identity, and the global impact of our community.Through conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, leaders, and changemakers, we share real stories about heritage, immigrant journeys, business, community, and the experiences shaping Latino life today. Each episode highlights the voices, values, and contributions that continue to move our culture forward.Our mission is to honor our roots, amplify Latino voices, and create a space where stories from our community are heard, respected, and celebrated.Follow and join us for conversations that inspire pride, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the power of the Latino...
Ciudadana del mundo: 35 años fuera y un retiro en Guatapé, Colombia
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Creció en un pueblo del occidente antioqueño, entre minas de oro, café y caña para panela. Su mamá fue su primera maestra. Estudió bibliotecología en la Universidad de Antioquia, trabajó con el gobierno colombiano, vivió tres años en Honduras y llegó a Chicago, la ciudad que hoy llama su segundo hogar. Después de 35 años fuera del país, pasó siete años buscando dónde retirarse y escogió la vida en el campo en Guatapé.
Escucharás:
Qué significa para ella ser latina e iberoamericana
Có...
Qué hacer en Guatapé, Colombia, además de la Piedra del Peñol | Santiago Díaz Urrea
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Santiago Díaz Urrea creció en Guatapé pensando que era un pueblo aburrido. Hoy trabaja en la Subsecretaría de Cultura para que el mundo lo conozca más allá de la Piedra del Peñol. Grabado en Guatapé, Colombia. Episode in Spanish.
Grabado en Guatapé, Antioquia, Colombia, este episodio de nuestra serie internacional nos presenta a Santiago Díaz Urrea, asistente administrativo en la Subsecretaría de Cultura de Guatapé y estudiante de administración turística y hotelera.
Santiago llegó a Guatapé a los 6 años. De niño soñaba con se...
From Refugee to Doctor to Plant Medicine: Karolina’s Story | Exchanging Cultures
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Karolina’s family left communist Poland when she was three. They lived as political refugees in a camp near Naples, then settled in a small village in the Italian Alps as the only immigrant family in town. Just as she finally felt Italian, her parents told her they were moving to Chicago. At 12, she packed her whole life into two suitcases.
In this Exchanging Cultures episode, recorded in Colombia, Crispin Valentin talks with Karolina, an internal medicine physician and founder of PlantMed Health. They start with Preguntas al Chile, pierogi versus ta...
De la Dislexia al Doctorado: Dra. Angelina Ix-Ik' Londoño en Guatapé, Colombia
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De niña, Angelina no podía leer como los demás y nadie sabía por qué. Hoy es doctora en ciencias, coach de salud y bienestar certificada y fundadora de Ix-Ik Health & Wellness LLC.
Grabamos este capítulo internacional en la finca de su familia en Guatapé, Colombia. Escucha los pájaros, el agua y la calma del lugar mientras Angelina cuenta su historia: nacida en Honduras, de padres colombianos, criada en Chicago, con un año en Medellín que le devolvió su español.
Hablamos del cómic de...
Single Mom, Walmart Clippers, Now She Owns a Barber Studio | FadesxDre Part 2
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Part 2 of our conversation with Dre, known as FadesxDre, barber and owner of Ritual Barber Studio in Grapevine, Texas.
We pick up with Dre's time working for the state. She opens up about CPS cases, the pressure on caseworkers to close cases by the numbers, and why she eventually walked away. Then it shifts. In 2020, working from home, she cut her son's hair with a clipper kit from Walmart. It didn't look bad. That week she went to the nearest barber school and enrolled on the spot.
What followed...
From Undocumented Immigrant to Iraq Veteran: Why Latino Stories Matter
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He was a kid in Mexico wearing huaraches. He couldn't see what was coming: crossing into the U.S. undocumented at 11, serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army, fighting PTSD, and one day sitting behind a microphone telling Latino stories.
In this solo episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, host Crispin Valentin tells his own immigrant story for the first time on the show. He goes from undocumented kid to U.S. citizen, from Iraq veteran to rebuilding his life, from a career in banking and mortgage to community...
FadesxDre Part 1: From Max Security Prison to the Barber Chair
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Before she ever picked up the clippers, Andrea, known as FadesxDre, worked inside a male maximum security prison in Texas.
In Part 1, Crispin sits down with Andrea for her second time on the show. She was one of the very first guests ever, but technical difficulties meant a redo. She grew up between Del Rio, Beeville, and New Mexico, raised mostly by her grandma after her parents separated. Her grandma's faith and her handmade Sonora tortillas were home. By Andrea's own words, there was no direction back then, just survival.
<...She Grew Up Surrounded by the Streets… Then Founded Sabor Puro Part 2
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Before she was Sabor Puro, she was a girl in Webb Chapel, Dallas, walking past a trap house on her way to the bus stop, and dancing to Selena in her living room like nobody was watching.
In this episode, Sylvia Paola of Sabor Puro sits down with The Global Latin Factor Podcast to talk about growing up Mexican-American in North Dallas, how a middle school Selena tribute became a turning point for her identity, and her journey through Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, learning...
Kava Bartender and Sold-Out Artist: JD's Human Story
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JD sat alone in an empty room for the first hour of his debut art show. Then the room filled up — and his pieces started selling.
In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, host Crispín Valentín talks with JD, a self-taught Salvadoran American artist and Kava bartender from Irving, Texas. JD shares how he found music before painting, how he turned his parents' garage into a home studio, and what pushed him to finally host his first art show, "My Inner Child In Me," in Deep Ellum.
Sylvia (Sabor Puro) on Growing Up Mexican-American in Dallas
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There was a trap house across the street and prostitutes on the corner two blocks from her school bus stop — and Sylvia says she never felt scared, because that neighborhood also taught her who she is.
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, singer Sylvia of the band Sabor Puro opens up about growing up Mexican-American in Dallas's Webb Chapel neighborhood, the shame she once felt speaking Spanish in front of her white friends, and the seventh-grade talent show where dancing to Selena changed how she saw her own culture.
Sh...
Mexico's 36 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — More Than Any Country in the Americas
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Mexico has 36 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — more than any other country in the Americas. In this solo episode of The Global Latino Factor Podcast, host Crispin Valentin explains what UNESCO World Heritage status actually means, why one Mexican site is currently on the endangered list, and Mexico's path from joining the World Heritage Convention in 1984 to its newest addition in 2025.
Then the episode goes deep on five specific sites: Chichén Itzá, a Maya pyramid engineered so a serpent-shaped shadow appears to descend its staircase twice a year during the equinox; the...
De Vender Gelatinas en la Calle a Recorrer EE.UU. en RV: La Historia de Julio The Foodio
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A los 11 años, Julio cruzó la frontera sin papeles con su familia. Hoy es el creador detrás de Julio de Foodio, recorre Estados Unidos en su RV y ayudó a intentar salvar el restaurante de su mamá cuando las ventas cayeron de $85,000 a $18,000 al mes.
¿Alguna vez has tenido que ayudar a salvar el negocio de tu familia? Cuéntanos tu historia en los comentarios.
Julio de Foodio Redes Sociales:
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From an $80 Brand Deal to Coca-Cola and the World Cup
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Before Coca-Cola and the FIFA World Cup, Paloma Díaz Rivas was crying through her first call center shift. In this episode, the Mexican content creator shares how an $80 first brand deal, a viral Shein haul video, and business books her dad paid her to read as a kid built a content career entirely in Spanish.
She also opens up about her mom crossing the border at 8, getting hacked mid-vacation, and presenting the World Cup coin toss with her father by her side.
Website https://thegloballatinfactor.com/
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The First World Cup Champion Spoke Spanish | The Latino History of Fútbol
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The first World Cup champion in history spoke Spanish — Uruguay, 1930. The Latino history of fútbol, from Aztec stone courts to the Estadio Azteca.
Ask most people who won the very first World Cup and they'll say Brazil, Italy, or England. They're wrong. And the real answer says everything about us.
This is a solo episode on the history of fútbol, the origins of the World Cup, and how deep Latino roots run in the biggest tournament on Earth.
THE BALLGAME BEFORE THE BALLGAME
Three thous...
La Catrina Mexican Shop Owner on Immigration and Business
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What does it take to turn a candy stand in a nearly empty mall into a full Mexican gift shop with a loyal following? Giovana, owner of La Catrina Mexican Shop, walks through exactly how she did it — and the identity questions she had to work through along the way.
Giovana was born in Tuxpan, Zacatecas, and crossed into the U.S. with her family as a toddler. She grew up in Haltom City, Texas, spent five years working in human resources at Canales Furniture, and never planned on entrepreneurship — until her...
De limpiar casas y vender salsas a construir alianzas entre México y EE. UU. La historia de resiliencia y reinvención de Mayela García, de Chihuahua a Fort Worth
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De limpiar casas y vender salsas y tortas… a construir alianzas de negocio y abrir puertas para los nuestros. Esta es la historia de Mayela García. 🇲🇽💧
De Chihuahua a Fort Worth, Mayela nos abre su vida sin filtros: su niñez, el banco donde vivió un asalto, la maquila, el salto a Estados Unidos, criar a sus tres hijas, empezar de cero limpiando casas, el divorcio, y cómo la fe y el trabajo la llevaron a representar una marca mexicana de agua que hoy conquista este lado de la frontera. Una p...
Carnaval de Barranquilla in Dallas: Inside the World's #2 Carnival
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The Carnaval de Barranquilla is the second-largest carnival on the planet, and it's alive and dancing in Dallas, Texas. In this special on-location episode, host Crispin Valentine takes you inside Carnaval de Barranquilla Dallas to experience the color, the cumbia, the champeta, the food, and the warmth of the Colombian community in North Texas.
Crispin breaks down why this carnival matters — its African, Indigenous, and European roots, and its UNESCO recognition as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity — then hits the ground to talk with the people keep...
From Dishwasher to Award-Winning Tacos: The Los Guapos Story with Angel
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Angel didn't grow up dreaming about a restaurant. He studied programming and computers back home in Monterrey, Mexico — but the kitchen had been calling his whole life without him noticing. On this episode of The Global Latin Factor, we sit down on location at Los Guapos off 7th Street in Fort Worth to trace the whole journey: dishwasher to line cook, the Cuban bar chef's table at Embargo, the vegan pioneer days of Mariachi's Diner inside a gas station, the bicycle taco deliveries to Martin House Brewery, and finally Los Guapos — now stacking up r...
The Untold History of Rice & Beans: Indigenous Roots, African Knowledge & Latino Identity
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Rice and beans isn't just a side dish — it's one of the most powerful cultural staples in Latino and Caribbean life. In this solo episode, Christine traces the real history behind the plate: how indigenous communities cultivated beans in the Americas centuries before colonization, how African knowledge and labor shaped rice cultivation across the Atlantic world, and how the two came together to become a daily staple from Puerto Rico to Brazil to Central America.
We break down the regional versions Latinos defend with their lives — moros y cristianos, gallo pinto, casa...
De Bogotá a Dallas: Laura Mejía Construye TO.GATHER, una Empresa de Experiencias Artísticas para Familias Latinas | The Global Latin Factor
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¿Qué pasa cuando llegas a un país sin papeles, sin familia cerca, con un hijo pequeño y un sueño que no puedes explicar con palabras? Laura Mejía lo vivió — y lo convirtió en To.Gather.
En este episodio de The Global Lighting Factor en Español, Laura comparte su camino desde los barrios populares del sur de Bogotá hasta los escenarios culturales de Dallas, Texas. Actriz formada en el Teatro Nacional de Colombia, emprendedora por instinto y mamá de Martín — Laura construyó una empresa desde cero, desde una mesa fa...
The Global Latin Factor Podcast | Carnaval de Barranquilla en Dallas, Texas 🎉🇨🇴
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What happens when the #2 biggest carnival in the world lands in North Texas? We went live from the Carnaval de Barranquilla in Dallas to find out.
In this bilingual (English/Spanish) episode, we hit the floor talking to vendors, performers, and community members who are keeping Colombian culture alive right here in DFW.
🍽️ Meet the vendors:
Manarel Salsón Colombiano (Fort Worth) — 15 years serving lechona, chicharrón, empanadas, and ahorrajados at this event. A family business built with love.Cauca's Fritanga — 3 years bringing pa...Ep.255 | She Knew at 13 & Built It Anyway | Jenny of Pasteles Y Más
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Jenny is the founder of Pasteles Y Más, makes custom cakes in DFW specializing in elevated Mexican-American-inspired desserts. Host Crispin Valentin sits down with Jenny to unpack her full journey — from Mexico City to Los Angeles, culture shock in Rowlett, Texas, at 17, dropping out of nursing school, working her way up through high-end Dallas restaurants, and launching her own business during the pandemic with a newborn at home.
Her cakes are edible memories. Bubu Lubu, Lemon Drop, Mixed Berry, and handcrafted mini conchas are all rooted in the flavors of a M...
Ep. 254 | De Michoacán a empresaria en EE.UU.: LLC, impuestos, salsa macha y resiliencia — Noemí Moreno
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Noemí Moreno llegó a Estados Unidos desde Morelia, Michoacán, con un inglés oxidado, una hija con necesidades especiales y la determinación de comenzar de cero. Hoy es fundadora de la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Lewisville y creadora de Brava Foods, una salsa macha gourmet artesanal con aceite de aguacate que ya llega a Nueva York.
En esta conversación con Crispín de The Global Land Factor en Español, Noemí comparte sin filtros su historia: la muerte de su padre a los 7 años, diez años de esp...
Ep. 253 | Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Explained for Latino Entrepreneurs
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Hispanic chambers of commerce can be valuable resources for Latino entrepreneurs, small business owners, and minority-owned businesses in the United States.
In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, we explain how chambers of commerce work, what Hispanic chambers do, and how business owners can use them for networking, mentorship, business certifications, government contracts, advocacy, referrals, and long-term business growth.
This episode is for Latino business owners who want to understand how to connect with local chambers, build stronger business relationships, find support, and access opportunities...
Ep. 252 | Latinos Help Built Hip Hop: The Untold History of the 4 Elements of Hip Hop
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In this special episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, host Crispin Valentin sits down with Claudia Tiffany Rodriguez, also known as Tiffany Folklore, for a powerful conversation on the Latino roots of hip-hop.
Together, they explore the 4 elements of hip-hop—DJing, MCing, graffiti, and breaking—and highlight how Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and Latino pioneers helped shape the culture from the very beginning. From the Bronx origins of hip-hop to Texas rap, Chicano identity, border stor...
Ep. 251 | Gabriela Deantoni on Building Gdeantoni Social Co & DFW Event Experiences
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Gabriela Deantoni joins The Global Latin Factor Podcast to share how she built Gdeantoni Social Co, a DFW event experience business known for interactive social bars, catering carts, workshops, and creative event experiences.
In this episode, Gabriela talks about starting with cheesecakes from home, growing through referrals, creating unique food experiences, and building a brand around presentation, details, and community. She also shares the story behind her networking event, “No Somos Competencia, Somos Variedad,” created to bring DFW entrepreneurs, vendors, and small business owners together.
List...
Ep. 250 | The Sweet Potato Mystery: How It Reached Polynesia Before Europe
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Sweet Potato History: How It Reached Polynesia Before Europe
The Hidden History of the Sweet Potato
How the Sweet Potato Traveled From the Americas to Polynesia
The Sweet Potato: Indigenous Roots, Global Journey, and the Polynesian Mystery
Sweet Potato History, Indigenous Origins, and the Polynesian Mystery
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Ep. 249 | Dolores Huerta: The Real Story Behind Sí Se Puede and the United Farm Workers
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In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, we break down the real story of Dolores Huerta — the labor leader, civil rights icon, and co-founder of the farmworker movement that became the United Farm Workers. Most people know the phrase “Sí se puede,” but far fewer know the woman behind it, the organizing behind it, and the lasting impact Dolores Huerta had on labor rights, Latino history, women’s leadership, and social justice.
We cover Dolores Huerta’s early life, why she left teachin...
Christian Rocha: de la lucha al emprendimiento latino | resiliencia, negocios y propósito
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En este episodio de Global Latin Factor Podcast en Español, conversamos con Christian Rocha, estratega de marketing, emprendedor y líder comunitario en Dallas–Fort Worth, sobre su historia de vida, su crianza en Pleasant Grove, Dallas, el sacrificio de su familia y los retos personales que marcaron su camino.
Christian comparte cómo sus raíces, la influencia de sus padres, su identidad mexicana, las etapas difíciles que vivió y las lecciones que aprendió con el tiempo lo llevaron a desarrollar una mentalidad...
History of Tamales: Ancient Origins, Indigenous Roots & Global Reach
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Tamales are more than food — they are one of the deepest living cultural traditions in the Americas.
In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, Crispin Valentin traces the history of tamales from ancient Mesoamerica to Mexico, Central America, the United States, the Mississippi Delta, and the Philippines. Explore the Indigenous roots of tamales, their place in Maya and Nahua traditions, their evolution across regions, and why they remain a powerful symbol of family, migration, ritual, and identity.
If you’ve ever wondered where tamales come from...
Latina Entrepreneurship, Artisan Jewelry & Healing | My Silver Linings Boutique
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In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, we speak with the founder of My Silver Linings Boutique, a women-owned artisan jewelry brand rooted in culture, resilience, and purpose. She shares her journey from growing up Mexican-American in Dallas and Garland to becoming a bilingual educator and professor and eventually launching a self-funded boutique during one of the hardest seasons of her life.
We discuss bilingual identity, entrepreneurship, divorce in the Latino community, supporting Latin American artisans, and building a business that gives back. This conversation...
Hilda La Tamalera: From Spiritual Healing to Tamales and Latina Tradition
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In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, Chris sits down with Hilda “La Tamalera” for a powerful conversation about identity, healing, tradition, and purpose.
Hilda shares her journey growing up as a proud Mexican-American, the challenges she faced as a young mother, and how personal healing transformed the way she sees herself, her relationships, and her calling. She opens up about self-love, accountability, spirituality, forgiveness, and the practices that helped her reconnect with her inner strength.
The conversation also dives into the story behind...
From Guatemala to U.S. Success | Immigrant Story, Latino Leadership & Entrepreneurship
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Isabel Cable: From Guatemala City to Fort Worth | Immigrant Story, Latino Leadership & Entrepreneurship
Isabel Cable—Vice President of Member Services & Strategic Growth at the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC)—joins The Global Latin Factor to share an honest, powerful journey from Guatemala City to Texas. In this episode, Isabel opens up about what it really takes to start over as an immigrant: learning English under pressure, navigating rejection, rebuilding confidence, and growing into leadership rooted in service and community.
De vender paletas a guiar a más de 150 food trucks | David Cázares
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En este episodio de The Global Latin Factor Podcast en Español, converso con David Cázares, asesor de food trucks, autor y mentor de negocios que ha ayudado a más de 150 emprendedores a lanzar sus food trucks en Estados Unidos.
David comparte su historia desde Oaxaca, donde creció dentro de un mercado familiar, hasta su llegada a Estados Unidos vendiendo paletas en la calle. Con el tiempo trabajó en restaurantes, aprendió cada nivel de la industria gastronómica y hoy utiliza esa experiencia para gu...
Dr. Angelina Ix-Ik’ Londoño: From Cancer Research to COMMUNITY Wellness ( BURNOUT Recovery, Health Equity)
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Welcome back to The Global Latin Factor Podcast—where we talk Latino everything.
Today’s guest is Dr. Angelina Ix-Ik’ Londoño (PhD, NBC-HWC), founder of Ix-Ik Health & Wellness. Her story is the definition of resilience: she grew up between cultures (“Made in Peru,” born in Honduras, raised in Chicago with Colombian parents), navigated dyslexia, earned her PhD, worked in cancer research, and later made a bold pivot into community wellness—especially for Spanish-speaking communities<...
The $4.1T Latino Economy: What the Numbers Actually Say
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Latinos are one of the biggest growth engines in the U.S. economy—and the numbers prove it. In this episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, host Crispin Valentin breaks down publicly available data that shows the scale of Latino economic impact, including:
U.S. Latino GDP: $4.1T (2023)Latino consumption: $2.7T (2023)Workforce impact: 19% of the U.S. civilian labor force / 31.8M (2023)Latino purchasing power: $4.1TWe also connect the dots on...
A Feliz Navidad Premiere Night: Pablo De León (Fort Worth Community Special)
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Hello, my people—welcome back to The Global Latin Factor .
This is a special on-the-streets episode from Fort Worth's Historic Northside at Artes de la Rosa, covering the premiere of A Feliz Navidad: A Family's Journey to Reconnection by Lúcido Films.
You'll hear real conversations with:
Pablo De León on grief, forgiveness, and turning a personal story into filmJulio César Cedillo on humanity over labels, cultural accuracy, and why our stories are unive...De Cero a Mentor: Misael Díaz y la Fórmula para Romper Ciclos (Resiliencia + Liderazgo)
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Misael comparte su historia desde La Romana y Santo Domingo (República Dominicana): crecer entre hambre, escasez y presión familiar, y cómo esas experiencias moldearon su mentalidad. Hablamos de romper ciclos, reprogramación mental, sanar heridas del pasado y construir una nueva historia sin quedarse atrapado en lo que ya fue.
También exploramos su camino profesional: aprender inglés desde cero, graduarse en Estados Unidos, decirle NO al dinero fácil por principios, y s...
Why Real Tortillas Taste Different: Nixtamalization (Ancient Indigenous Food Technology)
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ortillas aren’t just food — they’re Indigenous technology. 🌽🔥
In this 13-minute episode of The Global Latin Factor Podcast, Crispin Valentin explains nixtamalization (how corn becomes masa) and why it changed tortillas, tamales, and nutrition across Mexico and Central America.
Comment: Did you know “nixtamalization” before this? What’s your favorite masa-based food?
#Nixtamalization #Tortillas #Masa #LatinoCulture #foodscience
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State of the Podcast 2025: Small Team, Big Growth | Identity, Healing & Giving Back
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State of the Podcast 2025—recorded on location at The Kava Bar Oakcliff (Dallas). In this short behind-the-scenes update, host Crispin Valentin shares how The Global Latin Factor Podcast has grown this year, what we’ve learned from highlighting Latino stories, and where we’re headed next.
📈 Year highlights: 90K+ YouTube views • 8.6K downloads • 600K impressions • +300 subscribers • TikTok: 5K followers / 70K likes.
More than numbers, this episode breaks down the biggest themes we keep hearing from our guests: resilience, faith & family, r...
