Tamarindo Podcast

On this Bonus episode after the Historic US Midterms, we share how we’re feeling and what inspired us. Our community showed up and demonstrated that we will hold people accountable through our voice and vote. We invited Lorella Praeli,  a prominent voice for democracy, immigration, and racial justice, to discuss the Latine impact on the US Midterms.

Lorella is the Co-President of Community Change Action, a national organization that builds the power of low-income people, especially people of color, to create a multiracial democracy and a fair economy where everyone can thrive.

Born in Per...

On this bonus episode of Tamarindo, we feature Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center and we discuss the history of Title IX of the Civil Right Act, how this administration has stripped it and other civil rights protections, and why it matters. 

The Cornell sexual assault case has renewed our focus on how Universities can do better to protect students who experience assault, and to hold those responsible accountable. Many of us observed as women bravely shared their stories with the hashtag #IamJaneDoe and how they faced backlash and additional tra...

Meet Adria Márquez Trejo, the President and CEO of the American Mexican Leadership Council (AMLC), an organization dedicated to elevating Mexican-American leadership and strengthening U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations. We’ll explore the deeply intertwined economic and cultural ties between the U.S. and Mexico, the power of cross-sector leadership convenings, and why rewriting the narrative of the Mexican-American diaspora is a vital form of empowerment.

Born in El Paso and raised between Juárez and Texas, Adria’s bicultural upbringing along the border deeply informs her cross-sector advocacy across public policy, business, and community engagement. Over h...

This bonus episode of Tamarindo is from our time guest-hosting for Risk, a storytelling podcast about stories people never dared to share. 

Javier Morillo spent his twenties shutting down white men who reduced him to a fantasy. Then country music got its hooks in him, and a conference in Austin put a real cowboy in front of him.

Ximena Ospina is seven when her family leaves Colombia within a month. She starts first grade in Marina, California, able to count to ten and ask for orange juice, and little else. Then story time runs long a...

On this episode of Tamarindo, leaders Dr. Regina Davis Moss (In Our Own Voice), Christina Baal-Owens (NAPAWF), and Lupe Rodriguez (Latina Institute) join us to explore the critical intersection of reproductive justice, immigrant rights, and multi-racial coalition building. Learn how anti-immigrant policies and systemic healthcare barriers impact Black, Latina, and AAPI communities and why solidarity is our strongest path forward.

Featured Guests

Today on Tamarindo, we’re joined by Alexis Becerra, a Latina leadership coach, trauma-trained expert, and licensed marriage and family therapist with more than a decade of experience, for a conversation about what happens when work starts changing you. We talk about how to recognize when a workplace has crossed from stressful into toxic, why it can be so difficult to trust your own instincts while you’re in it, and how unhealthy work environments can affect your confidence, identity, and sense of self.

Drawing from both her clinical background and her work coaching Latina professionals, Alexis shar...

In this episode of Tamarindo, we talk to immigration policy expert, former Biden administration staffer, and former Senate Chief Counsel Andrea Flores to break down why current political framing around immigration is failing and what a bold, human-centered alternative looks like.

From the economic realities of housing affordability and dairy/grocery prices to the urgent need for comprehensive legalization over punitive enforcement, Andrea reveals how immigration reform is directly tied to the everyday lives of all Americans. She shares insights from her Substack Securing America's Promise, discusses bright spots in policy like Representative Gabe Vasquez’s C...

This week, Delsy speaks  with Latina entrepreneur Nicole Moreno-Deinzer, who decided to spend 365 days traveling the world, largely on her own. Nicole takes us inside the decision to make a year of travel happen while running her own business and navigating a life that doesn’t necessarily follow the traditional script.

Nicole shares how she turned the idea into reality, what she’s learned about herself along the way, and what it means to build a life on your own terms. Plus, Brenda and Delsy talk about the social and cultural “rules” of adulthood, the expectations we carry wit...

Today on Tamarindo, we’re joined by Leslie Priscilla, founder of Latinx Parenting and author of CHANCLA: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture, for a conversation about what it really means to raise children through a nonviolent, culturally grounded lens. We talk about where authoritarian parenting practices come from, the difference between respect and obedience, what changes when we see children as full human beings, how behavior can be a form of communication, and how parents can set boundaries without fear or shame. We also get into reparenting, multigenerational family dynamics, questioning authority, and how we can break ha...

Today on Tamarindo, we discuss our defense against despair, the places that take on new meaning for us, and the power of chosen family.  We speak to the co-producers of  Los Únicos, a new queer Latine play premiering at the Frida Kahlo Theater on October 10. The play uses humor and chisme to explore chosen family, immigration, HIV stigma, substance use, mental health, grief, and the difficult conversations we sometimes avoid within our own communities. We speak to Alejandro Valtierra, a writer, actor, producer, costume/set designer, and publisher and to Daniel Luna, an award-winning storyteller, actor and founder of Lun...

Today on Tamarindo, we first talk about what the passing of 80s icons like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry stir up for us as aging millennials. Next, we chat with Sarah Rascon, a native Angeleno from El Sereno who is running for State Senate. Sarah was raised by her immigrant grandmother and is proudly shaped by the public school and social services system. She has an extensive career working on issues like voter registration outreach, environmental justice, and recently she served as Director of County and Regional Affairs for Mayor Karen Bass where she worked on strengthening collaboration between...

We start this episode catching up on the LA mayoral race, housing prices in LA, and why we’re not feeling great about the nature of debates. Next, on this musical episode of Tamarindo, we  talk to Mariposas Galácticas, an eight-piece Philadelphia-based band that brings together cumbia, klezmer, punk, and Indigenous Andean musical traditions. They share how friendship, ancestry, activism, and community shape their genre-defying sound—and how their music creates space for dancing, resistance, and “rebellious joy.”

After that, we  speak to Mexico City–born, Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter Andrea Bejar, to discuss her highly anticipated deb...

We speak with Angela Gonzales-Torres, a community advocate and CA-34 congressional candidate taking on the political establishments. Raised in working-class Los Angeles, Angela shares her story growing up in Section 8 housing, being raised by a single mother after her father's deportation, and why she is running for Congress while refusing all corporate PAC and AIPAC money. Plus, in our ¿Qué Pasa? segment, we discuss federal waste on ICE spending, the rise of AI radio hosts in LA, and AOC's public egg-freezing journey.

STILL TIME TO JOIN MIDDLE RAGED!!

Join Brenda for a 5-Week Workout Series an...

This week on Tamarindo, we're joined by filmmaker, speaker, and author Denise Soler Cox to discuss her new book, What Will They Say?. Together, we unpack the unspoken cultural rules that many of us inherit, explore how fear of "¿Qué van a decir?" can shape our choices, and talk about setting boundaries, healing across generations, and honoring our culture while creating space to grow. It's a thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, and finding the courage to live more authentically.

https://denisesolercox.com/book

Enraged about what’s happening in the world and ne...

Comedian Lore Russi joins Tamarindo to discuss TOMÁS, Lore's comedy show happening August 13 and 14 in Los Angeles. Get tickets: https://bit.ly/4xirQe0

Lore is a comedian, filmmaker and educator. Lore was honored as an IMDB emerging filmmaker of the year, a featured stand up for Comedy Central and "Netflix is a Joke Fest," and a writer/performer for CBS Showcase. Lore's bilingual Dad jokes have also been featured on McDonalds, Spotify, The New York Times, PBS, The Oscars, Vice, and Refinery29.
 

Enraged about what’s happening in the world and need to chan...

On this episode we talk to Alondra Canizal Hsu, a career coach and communications strategist shaped by the legacy of hard work and quiet sacrifice. Alondra supports professionals, especially first-gen and mission-driven leaders, who are ready to build careers that feel aligned, purposeful, and truly their own. Learn more about her services here: https://www.solunacareer.com/

Brenda also announces a 5-week workout series that you can do on zoom! Get the details here:https://www.tamarindopodcast.com/shop/p/middle-raged
 

Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking a...

Today on the pod we have two incredibly accomplished, immigrant Latinas whose work is having a lasting impact on the future of our elections and on welcoming new Americans.

First up, you’ll hear from Marcela Miranda-Caballero, the Executive Director of Cal RCV (California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition), where she leads efforts to bring fairer, more representative elections to California. A Dreamer/DACAmented, first-generation college graduate, and proud daughter of a working-class immigrant mother, she built her career in political strategy and coalition-building before turning her focus to reforming the rules of our elections so that every Ca...

Today on Tamarindo, we're joined by photographer Yulissa Mendoza to explore their journey as a visual storyteller and the inspiration behind their intimate, community-centered work. Yulissa shares how they found their voice behind the camera, what draws them to document everyday moments, and how photography can preserve memory, culture, identity, and belonging.

Through our conversation, we explore the power of representation, the beauty of slowing down to truly see one another, and why the stories found in our families and communities are worth preserving.

Yulissa's Instagram is:

@yu.lis.sa

We start today’s episode reflecting on how we are feeling after the murder of a father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, by ICE.  Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a hard-working family man who wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people, as his son Ronaldo Salgado shared in a heartbreaking video. We reflect on this moment and what it calls us to do.

Next, we welcome Maria Teresa Kumar, President and Co-Founder of Voto Latino, to discuss the critical importance of political engagement within the Latino community. She shares her...

Today on Tamarindo, we talk to professional table tennis player Yasiris Ortiz about her journey as an elite athlete and what it means to compete at the highest levels of the sport as a Latina. With all the recent buzz around Marty Supreme, table tennis is finally getting some well-deserved attention, but Yasiris has been putting in the work and elevating the sport for years. She shares her experiences competing at an elite level, the dedication the sport demands, and the importance of representation in athletics. Before that, we catch up on our spring break adventures and everything we've...

In this episode, LA City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez returns to the show to discuss her re-election campaign for District 1 and her ongoing fight to put people over profits. Eunisses shares the tangible progress she’s made in protecting tenants from displacement and building community defense networks against federal immigration raids. We also dive into the challenges of facing outside special interests and billionaires who want to stall Los Angeles’s progressive momentum. Join us to learn how you can support the movement to keep a "truth-teller" in City Hall.

This episode also mentions this episode of Risk: http...

Journalists and survivors Michelle Zacarias and Alex Zaragoza  tackle cancer, medical bias, and the systemic barriers facing the Latino community. After being diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer (Alex) and Colorectal Cancer (Micelle), these journalists use their platforms to talk about the importance of early screening for younger adults to the life-saving power of self-advocacy. We explore how breaking the silence around our bodies is a radical act of survival. 

Michelle Zacarias is an award-winning journalist and L.A.-based reporter dedicated to highlighting impactful stories and amplifying underrepresented voices. As a two-time cancer survivor, Michelle shares her pe...

We first discuss Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez in light of revelations that he was a sexual predator. We check in on how we’re feeling and acknowledge the bravery of Dolores Huerta and all survivors of sexual assault.

Next, we’re joined by Mirtle Peña-Calderón and Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda, authors of The Book of Awesome Latinas. Together we discuss the inspiration behind their book, the process of researching extraordinary Latina women across history, and the importance of documenting stories that have too often been overlooked.

The conversation explores representation, cultural pride, and th...

This week, we catch up with Elmer Roldan. After surviving a harrowing journey from Guatemala as a child and overcoming the challenges of generational poverty in Los Angeles, Elmer Roldan has dedicated his life to transforming his community. As the Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, he now works to prevent student pushout by connecting high-needs youth with the mentorship and resources they need to thrive. In this episode, Elmer shares how his lived experience fuels his current run for L.A. City Council District 9, where he aims to build a more equitable future for the...

On this episode, we first reflect on what we’re feeling as millennials, how it’s evolved, and what we’re all juggling. After that, we speak with  Zandra Zuno Baermann, a Mexican American communications professional who is passionate about helping women, especially Latinas, harness the power of personal branding to lead intentionally and with purpose.  

Zandra spent nearly 30 years shaping brand stories for top U.S. companies and national nonprofits. Now living in Amsterdam and leading her own consultancy, Zandra tells us all about what life has been like transitioning from her roots in Chicago to finding...

On this special 10th Anniversary edition of Tamarindo, we first reflect on a decade of centering Latine voices, our culture, and our commitment to inclusion.  We look back at what it was like to record the first episode and how Tamarindo has evolved to so much more than a podcast. For this special occasion, Delsy and I recorded in her home and you’ll hear Delsy’s 7-month old baby in the background who didn’t want to miss the action.

After that, we chat with Karen Gonzalez from Karen y los Remedios, a band known for blendin...

Today’s guest models what it means to show yourself love and celebrate your wins. We’re welcoming back to the pod, Charly Stoever (they/he/papi) , a trans latinx money coach, speaker, and host of the Unicorn Millionaire Podcast. They're a formerly undocumented Mexican American and ex-stock broker passionate about helping LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and first-gen folks reach their financial goals.

Beyond that, we wanted to talk to Charly about their experience with family estrangement, something that so many people live through, but we don’t often talk about. We start the episode with a Mindful Moment with D...

In this episode of Tamarindo, we’re joined by Eden and Jay, founders of Preciosa Night — a beloved Los Angeles space rooted in queer and Latine joy, visibility, and intentional community-building. They share how Preciosa Night came to life, what it feels like to walk into that space, and why creating environments where people feel seen and celebrated matters now more than ever. We talk about partnership, parenthood, redefining family, and what it means to build something meaningful together as queer Latine creatives. Before the interview, we reflect on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl cultural moment and share o...

Heated Rivalry, one-sit reads, and other not-so-guilt pleasures to give our mind a break from the Trash admin madness. 

Next, we’re joined by Idalia Valles, a first-generation Chicana multidisciplinary creator and actor with over 20 years of experience, known for her recurring role in Queen of the South and guest appearances on S.W.A.T. and HBO’s For Rosa. Now expanding her impact as a writer and director, she creates work that challenges cultural taboos and celebrates the full spectrum of Latin identity. A dedicated advocate and mentor, Sandra partners with organizations like the Youth Cinem...

Today on Tamarindo, we talk to Becca Ramos— the host of Welcome to El Barrio, a podcast about Puerto Rican History, news, and pop culture—all about the upcoming Bad Bunny Super Bowl show and its cultural impact. Before that, we talk about what we’re loving about our Unbothered Era as millennials approaching midlife. 

Now, if you want to hang with badass mujeres who are unbothered, but also undeterred, you’re invited to Tamarindo’s culture-filled retreat to Mexico. We are exploring the central Mexico cities of Puebla and Chulula, a couple of ours from Mexico City, April...

Today on Tamarindo, we talk to Becca Ramos— the host of Welcome to El Barrio, a podcast about Puerto Rican History, news, and pop culture—all about the upcoming Bad Bunny Superbowl show and its cultural impact. Before that, we talk about what we’re loving about our Unbothered Era as millennials approaching midlife. 

Now, if you want to hang with badass mujeres who are unbothered, but also undeterred, you’re invited to Tamarindo’s culture-filled retreat to Mexico. We are exploring the central Mexico cities of Puebla and Chulula, a couple of ours from Mexico City, April 30...

We start this episode with an acknowledgement of the recent unjust killings by ICE of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Two people standing up for their community and neighbors, like so many of our listeners do every day and who were murdered for doing so. We know that this and the cruelty of ICE’s actions across the country is weighing heavily on all of us. To help us, we’ll start this episode with a new segment: Mindful Moments with Delsy, where she’ll give us some recommendations on how to take care of ourselves during these challenging times...

Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We’re here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com

Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here.

We invited our friend, Juan Escalante to share his thoughts on the situation in Venezuela. Listeners may know Juan as a long-time advocate for immigrants stemming from his own experience as a formerly undocumented young person who fled Venezuela with his family.  He is a nationally recognized digital strategist and a leading voice in immigrant rights. Once a DACA recipient, Juan has since become a U.S. Citizen and remains a fixture at state, local, and national advocacy campaigns.

Juan published an excellent piece on DOUBLE CLICK, his online publication,  immediately after the US’s intervention in his...

On this bonus episode of Tamarindo, you’ll hear journalist Mariano Ávila speak about Retache Media, bilingual stories and resources for returnees from the U.S. to Mexico. Retachados, are people like Mariano who are reestablishing in their home country or Mexico. We learn Mariano’s story and the mission behind Retache which is focused on supporting returnees as they navigate their way through Mexico’s bureaucracy, society, and culture. Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/retachemedia/

Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We’re here to u...

Today’s guest is Fabiola Santiago Hernandez, the founder and director of Mi Oaxaca, an organization committed to ensuring that Oaxaca’s cultural and culinary contributions to Indigenous Lifeways and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are attributed through narrative, educational, and economic programming. Mi Oaxaca shines a light on the systemic barriers that limit indigenous leadership and economic self-determination globally.

We also speak about Fabiola’s viral article published on LA TACO where she breaks down what was wrong about Willy Chavarría’s collaboration with Adidas promoting Guaraches and the trouble with cultural appropriation within Latine communities. 

Befor...

Today on the pod, we’re speaking with Jess Morales Rocketto, Executive Director of Maremoto, which builds a world where Latinos take charge of our lives through unified power in politics, media, and culture. Jess is a powerhouse and co-founder of groups like Poderistas, Supermajority, and Families Belong Together.  She is also the co-owner and founder of Latino Media Network, an audio focused media company for Latinos with one of the largest capital raises for a Latina-owned startup in history.

Before we speak to Jess, Delsy and I talk about how we would each spend a perfect Sun...

On this episode of Tamarindo, we discuss how we’re micro-doseing on joy to get through these challenging times, giving us the energy to stay focused on what matters for us and our community.

Next, you’ll hear a conversation about The Economic Status of Latinas. We speak to Dr. Elsa Macias, the lead researcher on the new report on the economic well being of Latinas, produced by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, HOPE. (HOPE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring political and economic parity for Latinas through leadership, advocacy, and education to benefit all comm...

Today, we’re exploring the science behind why we haven’t been able to think our way out of perfectionist and people pleasing tendencies. To help us with this, our guest is Beatriz (Béa) Victoria Albina,  a UCSF-trained Family Nurse Practitioner, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Master Certified Somatic Life Coach. She is the author of  "End Emotional Outsourcing: a Guide to Overcoming Codependent, Perfectionist and People Pleasing Habits", which you can pick up now: https://beatrizalbina.com/book/

Beatriz is passionate about helping humans socialized as women to reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems and rewire...

Tamarindo friend and Encuentro Partner, Wendy Amara is back to tell us all about her recent viral vulnerable moment. After being asked to leave a family BBQ because of her shirt, Wendy filmed her reaction and the clip went viral. We’ll talk to her about the moment and what it has brought up about how to stay true to your values while also protecting your peace with family members. 

We also talk about Encuentro, a powerful retreat for changemakers co-hosted by Tamarindo and Wendy Amara. Save the date April 30th - May 4th for Encuentro 2026. If you...