Las Doctoras Podcast

In this new episode with Las Doctoras, we present to you, Dr. Alka Arora. 
This is another exciting episode with a great mentor of Dr. Cristina‘s. Alka Arora was the chair of Cristina‘s dissertation committee. Alka continues to be a great inspiration in Cristina‘s life. In particular, Alka inspires conversations at the intersection of activism and spirituality as well as the crossroads of integral feminist pedagogy and integral thinking with animal ethics.  This discussion includes naming systems of oppression - including patriarchy and colonialism - as we navigate mindfulness. Listen for key themes of blasphemy, integrat...

We first met Sara in person at a week long retreat in Joshua Tree. Her magnetic and inspiring energy made a huge impression on us. We are so excited to introduce her to our comunidad!! 

Sara is a therapist and founder of Prospect Therapy. Prospect Therapy is a queer + trans affirming therapy practice based in Long Beach, CA, with a focus on mental health for first-generation, immigrant, and bicultural communities. Our guiding principles are integrity, generosity and enthusiasm. We support these principles through transparent decision-making, promoting community visibility and access to care, and affirming all ide...

Cristina first met Atava Garcia Swiecicki in a Curanderismo course in Los Angeles in 2014. This pivotal time in Cristina's life, guided her into a dream that would inspire her to name her child "Jaguar," and the time with Atava and other healers continues to encourage Cristina in her own healing practices. Atava's The Curanderx Toolkit is now a key text in Cristina's classes! Truly, inviting Atava to come share with our listeners is such a special honor! Atava is guided by her dreams and her Mexican, Polish, and Hungarian ancestors. She received a BA in feminist studies from Stanford...

Meet Nisha Mody! Nisha (she/her) is a Relational Healing & Life Coach, Speaker, and Writer. She loves to help changemakers who consider themselves helpers to help themselves so they can make an impact by working through burnout, perfectionism, and overgiving. Nisha speaks up and writes about disrupting norms and redefining success from being individualistic and inauthentic to being relational and congruent. This conversation had deep resonance with us. Changemakers, may Nisha bring you peace and joy and healing. Work with her at https://www.nishaland.com/work-with-me Follow her work at: www.nishaland.com @healinghypegirl

Join us as we speak about the CSU strike scheduled the first week of classes at our campuses.  We originally meant to record this live when the strike was in full force.

Then, things shifted. 

Yep, and even though the strike was over, we had things to say about it all.  In this episode, we break down the strike and the "tentative agreement."

This conversation is everything we needed. Come, meet Cinthya Silverstein if you have not already. Cinthya is a Mexican immigrant and visual activist whose work is deeply rooted in photography as a tool for the analysis of visual culture. Her work reflects a lived, intersectional experience that recognizes images as a social instrument that’s been used to reinforce race-making in the United States. In this convo, Cinthya helps us understand racism and the perspective of Jews of Color. Truly, there was a magic that brought together Renee and Cinthya. And, despite the circumstances, we are able to speak to...

In this episode, we bring you the incomparable Pia Schiavo-Campo. Pia is a dear friend of ours. We were with Pia in a cohort of other amazing creatives led by @jumakae in 2022. And, we knew she had some magic to share. In this conversation, she gets real. Gratitude to Pia for helping us all truly articulate our priorities as we advocate to end the violence we are witnessing live on social media right now. We know you'll connect with Pia's energy. Head on over to @asplashofpia to discover more about this incredible guest.

Welcome back brujas, scholars, mujeristas y mas! In this episode, Las Doctoras give a life update and share briefly what they hope to bring to the podcast this season. Season 6!!! We can hardly believe we’ve made it this far and still love having conversations about new and old things.

In this conversation, Cristina and Renee give a quick update on life AND THEN....dive right into the vulnerable and powerful topic of cults and cult culture. Inspired by Renee's new podcast La Feminista Chismosa, which highlights and critiques pop culture, this episode looks at recent documentaries focused on, specifically, Christian cults. Our goal? Freedom from false narratives that offer safety and success. Join us as we come back to our selves (vs come to Jesus).

After I (Renee) was rejected from an academic job for the 5th time, and after over 10 years experience teaching at the college level, I am frustrated not just with the fact that I have not been able to land a permanent job. After going through the hiring process time and time again, I have strong feelings about the process itself and question why it is the way it is. We sat down with two experts, Candice Dicken-Russell and Maria Rivas, who could give us insight into the hiring practices in academia and give some critiques as to why they...

Join us as we bring motherhood and m/othering to the forefront of our discussion. Doctoras, academics, mothers. We are all these things combined ,and THIS IS OUR MAGIC. Sadly, in academia, this magic is often unrecognized. Community support and dialogue (like this conversation) is pivotal for us as we affirm our multidimensional gifts. May you feel, as we feel after this episode, a celebration of your m/othering. May you feel empowered to be more and more present with your children and community. And may we all bring these gifts back to our universities!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ @doctorahood⁠- https://www.instagra...

Join us as we step into an important conversation around trauma- informed responses that honor our experiences. Learn with us how we create safe and empowering spaces for those we care about. Mayana helps us understand that we can truly tend to our reasonable responses. And, in doing so, we can offer our children the validation that we all need. In this episode, we are reminded that we are only benefiting our children by taking care of ourselves. website: https://www.mayanageathers.com/ IG: @mayanageathers

In this vulnerable conversation, Dras Cristina and Renee interview Dra Yvette Martinez-Vu. The topic: disabilities and social justice. This episode is raw and real as we speak to our disabilities. Listen as we are reminded to name our strengths as well as areas of growth. And, hear us share the traumas we've experienced, particularly in academia. We grieve together, and we welcome you to join us in this pivotal conversation. IG: @gradschoolfemtoring https://www.instagram.com/gradschoolfemtoring/ website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/

Wow!!!! In this episode we speak with our new amiga Dra. Hortencia Jimenez. She is a Chingona academic, breaking all the barriers, and dismantling diet culture. She talks with us about her academic journey, and all the struggles she faced to get where she is at today. Then we dive into a deep convo about our own relationship to diet culture, how it's a biproduct of colonization and white supremacy. And we also discuss how we can support our children in their own journeys with health, and body image. Such a healing convo. Please learn more about Dra. Hortencia...

In this conversation we talk with Anjie Cho about how she has helped us to create better energy flow in our homes. She discussed her new book Mindful Homes: Create Healing Living Spaces with Mindfulness and Feng Shui. Learn more about Anjie: @anjiecho- https://www.instagram.com/anjiecho/ https://www.anjiecho.com/ Book- https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Homes-Create-healing-mindfulness/dp/1800652119/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38MIG8ZZX67FI&keywords=Mindful+homes&qid=1679519233&s=books&sprefix=mindful+ho%2Cstripbooks%2C466&sr=1-1

In this episode we talk you along with us as we head to Glen Ivy Spa for our Spring Break. We are talking all things parenting, from both the mundane to the in depth existential questions we constantly grapple with. And somehow we end up talking about Star Wars as a metaphor for life, and how we can use it to unpack toxic masculinity in the lives of our children. Who knew?

In this in-depth conversation, Renee and Cristina interview their friend Meenadchi, author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication (NVC) and faciliator of Family Constellation Therapy. Listen in to hear Las Dras share their own journey into NVC as well as hear Meenadchi's own story medicine. This episode brings up our parents, mother, ancestors, and children as we seek to answer the question "Can I speak in a way that honors my dignity?" This conversation addresses situations when non-violent practices involve walking away. And, together we arrive in self trust knowing that we can focus on our healing and joy and trusting...

Inspired by the quote from Frida, we explore how spiritual bypassing does not serve the healing process. We discuss Cristina's broken leg and how it's created an opportunity to both sit in the emotions of physical disability, while also confronting old narratives about the concept of "everything happens for a reason."

 Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina welcome returning guest Danellia Arechiga to the show! Known as “The Multidimensional Mami”, Danellia is a birth worker, singer, songwriter, musician, speaker, and healer, She uses this medicine to heal her generation as well as past and future generations in her lineage. Through her offerings in birth work, childbirth education, traditional postpartum care, support group facilitation, and public speaking, Danellia helps families and individuals return home to their highest selves through vocal liberation, birth education, and intergenerational healing.

Welcome to Season 5 of Las Doctoras! Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina go live as they celebrate four years of the podcast. Their conversation centers around the cycles of life, particularly as menstrual cycles and full moon (ovulation) energy, and how we can’t always be in that energy: We need to go into the depths of winter and be willing to burn—and then rise from the ashes into a new cycle.

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina close Season 4 of Las Doctoras with a conversation with two special guests!

Our first guest is Monica Simpson, queer Black activist, artist, and executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. She takes us through her over 20 years of social justice work with a keen focus on sexual reproductive justice.

Monica starts all of her training sessions at SisterSong with the line: We all have a story to tell. She firmly believes that stories are our fuel. They provide purpose and motivation to all of our work...

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina take the opportunity to analyze their Human Design Charts with life coach Elyse Preston, the founder of Be More Connected. Listen in as our hosts—both Emotional Generators—learn more about themselves and each other through this unique window into the soul!

When you look at a Human Design Chart, you’re essentially looking at a map—a blueprint mapping out the strengths, gifts, and essences that your soul chose to support you in tapping into your highest potential. The areas filled with color are the qualities which are innate to you: the...

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down with friend, political advocate, and fellow teacher Anna Lily. The three share an inspiring message of change and daily action, encouraging us to go beyond visualizing a utopian future and start creating a system of liberation today.

To kick things off, Dr. Renee, Dr. Cristina, and Anna Lily go through a lightning round of fun questions around how they would do things if they were President. The questions include: “Who would you have on to sing the National Anthem?”, “Which book would you swear on at your inauguration?”, “Who would be y...

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down with their good friend and former student Bernice to discuss Mariposa de Barrio, the telenovela based on the life of Jenni Rivera.

One of the most striking parts of Jenni’s story is the fact that she built a career in a man’s industry. She is a true trailblazer who single-handedly made other women who are fans of Banda—a male-dominated music genre—feel validated.

There is a surprising amount of domestic and sexual violence depicted in the telenovela, without trigger warnings nor a narrative that outright...

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down with money coach Nathalia, known to most as @mom_money_boss on Instagram to talk all things money and financial freedom.

From budgetingto generational wealth, Nathalia wants to be a powerful voice in her community, many members of which lack the mentorship and resources to grow their money mindset and leave a legacy to their family. This hits especially close to home for her as she also had only recently been on a journey to pay down her student loan and $18,000 of consumer debt.

“A budget doesn’t me...

Creativity. It’s a huge part of our lives, and one that Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina believe we all need to have more conversations around. Today, the two specifically zoom into priming our entire being to embody creative states. Believing that creativity requires everything in us—body, mind, and soul—in order for us to express it fully, Las Doctoras encourage us to see creativity as a holistic process that is just as powerful as a tool for meditation as it is a tool for productivity.

Most of us think of creativity as a completely heady, utilit...

Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down with CPA Benjamin Perez (@perezadvisor on Instagram) to touch on his evolving views on masculinity, both within himself and among the Latino community as a whole.

Benjamin considers the various aspects of the complex topic that is masculinity from the point of view of his lived experience, particularly as a Latino. He breaks down the old beliefs that he had to overcome such as traditional machismo and gender roles.

Speaking of unlearning, Benjamin talks about toxic masculinity and how he had to deal with it both as a...

Welcome to the 40th episode of Las Doctoras! Today’s topic (and one which Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina will continue to unpack in the next few episodes) is masculinity. Being mothers to young boys, this is an especially personal topic for the two. Listen in as they share how they intend to help their sons navigate a culture where toxic masculinity continues to prevail, as well as how they define the healthy sort of masculinity that they hope their sons can embody growing up.

Our hosts reflect on how their parents and grandparents exhibited toxic ma...

Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina continue their discussion on the state of academia and attempt to pull back the curtain behind its hierarchical structure, based on their personal experiences in this world.

Today’s guest, Dr. Ana Linda Arellano Nez, first met our hosts through their writing course and today works as the copy editor for Saint Lunita magazine alongside being an ethnic studies professor at California State University, Fullerton.

Our hosts and Dr. Ana Linda reflect on their search for home in academia, being the first in their respective families to go through higher ed...

Today, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down with Diane Nevarez, a professor in the Education department at University of California Irvine. They do a deep dive into the current state of academia with a focus on the many challenges that the American university system poses, both in general and specifically around the pandemic.

There is a lot of exploitation that takes place among adjunct professors precisely due to the contractual or part-time nature of the job. The hiring process is toxic and an air of uncertainty permeates the period in between classes. “I love what I do...

As we approach Día de los Muertos, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina revisit the topic of grief and loss by speaking on their personal experiences loosing the people closest to them.

Dr. Renee reflects on her father’s death seven years later. From his final request (“If anything happens, write the book.”), to the chaos of having countless long-lost relatives flying in once it was clear the situation was grim, to the moment Dr. Renee realized that it was time to let him go nine days after being admitted to the hospital.

The time came fo...

Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina welcome Tida Beattie, a 1st generation Thai-American end-of-life doula, community educator, and grief activist; and Soyeon Davis is a 1.5 generation Korean-American end of life doula. Tida and Soyeon are the co-founders of MESO, which provides advocacy, assistance, and support to immigrant families dealing with chronic illness and/or aging.

Much of Tida and Soyeon’s work at Meso is a product of their lived experience. Having lost many family members of their own and discovering the lack of support for underserved and marginalized communities, the two were inspired to fill this sh...

Today, we welcome Chicana novelist, poet, playwright, and independent scholar Ana Castillo who has been at the forefront of publishing works on the socio-political realities of the Chicana experience, including race and gender issues, since the 1970s.

Ana reflects on the timeless impact of her work and recalls with great joy how fans would reignite that fire within her whenever they approach her to share how Massacre of the Dreamers, The Mixquiahuala Letters, and her other works inspired them.

“It’s always a risk,” says Ana, referring to her spontaneous approach to writing her books. She ta...

Season 4 has arrived! Dr. Renne and Dr. Cristina are rested and ready to launch into a new phase of the podcast and, of course, the community.

Having returned from their well-deserved rest in July, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina are raring to get back into action! But not before thanking the community, whether through the podcast, book club, writing course, or magazine. So much opportunity came out of this supportive and encouraging family, and the ladies are forever grateful!

Speaking of the book club, Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina got a shoutout from FIERCE by...

This episode is centered around rest. “Rest” is not usually something you find on someone’s list of things to celebrate, but Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina sit down to discuss exactly why the right amounts of rest, in the truest sense of the word, helps us move forward stronger and wiser with a renewed sense of purpose.

●     Rest is something that helps us recover with more vigor to do the most important things in our lives. Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina note that capitalism always pushes us to rush and “strike while the iron is hot”; but, if we move...

This episode is centered around home. Whether an actual physical home or a community that makes you feel at home Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina touch on how to find your place of belonging, operate from a place of abundance, and do your part to build a world free of injustice by becoming more conscious of how you raise the next generation.

●     Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina kick off this episode by sharing the importance of setting aside time and energy to recharge and refill your creative tank and nurture your spiritual life. They share how they do thi...

This episode is all about celebration! Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina have a lot to celebrate, so join them in shining light on jaw-dropping achievements, exciting news, and new opportunities for growth and connection. 

Dr. Renee and Dr. Cristina kick off this episode by celebrating the sold out Sacred Writing Course and all that it has created for them and their community. In creating the spaces they need for themselves, they’ve held space for so many amazing women to connect to the sacredness of writing, express their creativity, feel empowered, and heal. If you’re interested in en...

We’re celebrating 30 episodes with a special discussion about motherhood in the patriarchy. We’ll examine our own personal experiences with parenting and the emotional labor and expectations handed to women and femmes in a male-dominated society.

1:58 Announcing our latest “Writing to our Ancestors” course with a new series called “Sacred Writing.” Learn more about it here.

4:12 Launching our online magazine! Watch a Chisme Session with editor Selisa here.

7:58 Decolonizing Catholicism.

14:48 The unconscious expectations husbands put on their wives in motherhood.

24:30 The colonized and colonizer relationship. Navigating he patriarchy and dismantl...

In this episode, we discuss our own sexual journeys and the fluidity of sexuality as we age particularly as it relates to our sexual preferences. Join us for a a very raw conversation about sexuality, gender binaries and intimacy.