Welcome to El Barrio
“Welcome to El Barrio” is a vibrant new podcast about Puerto Rican identity — our stories, finally told by us. Hosted by award-winning producer Becca Ramos, this series blends laugh-out-loud interviews with artists, scholars, creators, tastemakers, and everyday Boricuas to illuminate the stories the textbooks left out. Each week, Becca dives into the history, culture, politics, spirituality, and pop-culture moments that shape what it means to be Puerto Rican today — from the roots of brujería and ancestral healing, to the global impact of Bad Bunny, to the hidden history behind Operation Bootstrap, Hurricane Maria’s aftermath, and the evolution of the diaspora. This show is unapologetically for us. For the kids who grew up “ni de aquí, ni de allá.” For everyone who felt their culture reduced to stereotypes, mispronounced in classrooms, or left out of the narrative entirely. Through humor, heart, research, and community storytelling, Becca invites listeners on a journey of self-discovery — and a celebration of La Isla del Encanto in all its complexity. Featuring a lineup of powerful Boricua voices across film, music, academia, design, and activism, Welcome to El Barrio is a love letter, an archive, and an invitation. Come learn, laugh, heal, and say it with us. WEPA!
Episodes
Holi listeners! This is part two of the activist episode -- focusing on real-time movements happening on the island. In this episode, Becca speaks with writer, educator, and activist Beatriz Llenín Figueroa of the Defiende Cabo Rojo coalition and Hugo Delgado, a physics teacher, newspaper editor, and member of the Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores. Figueroa connects environmental justice with feminist, queer, anti-colonial, and...
Holi listeners! This week, we are doing part one of two episodes -- focusing on real-time movements happening on the island. In this episode, Becca speaks with Mikey Cordero, creator of Diasporico and La Sala Libre, a space launched during the Bad Bunny concert influx to offer a non-extractive way to engage with local and diasporic nuance; his project documents “ethical return” conversations and links gentrification to ...
This week, Becca chats with Kenya Rivera! An LA-based Puerto Rican content creator, filmmaker, musician, and pop-culture enthusiast.The two chat Kennya's journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, moving to LA with an internship and a dream, Afro-Latina identity in LA, racism and hair/voice policing, colonial realities of Puerto Rico, and the importance of Puerto Rican community, food, care, and more.
This week is a very special episode -- as it's the LIVE episode with COVL from the Welcome to El Barrio LA x Hi Neighbor event! Becca interviews COVL where they chat about her career, her aritsry and how it has evolved, both of their family relationships to their careers, their own relationships to cannabis, answer audience questions, and more.
Special thank you to Hi Neighbor and all the Angelinos who came out to support the...
This week Becca chats with Mayagüez-born host, comedian, and content creator known for BuzzFeed Pero Like and -- Iván Emilio! The two chat connecting in Portland, OR almost a decade ago, Iván's time at BuzzFeed paving the way for Puerto Rican media representation, Cafe Cofresi, and more.
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
HOUSEKEEPING:
Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi Neighbor. RSVP here: https://posh.vip/e/welcome-to-el-barrio-x-hi-neighbor-live-event
First 100 RSVPs get free goodie bags!
DESCRIPTION:
This week we are dropping Becca's MESS episode in the feed!
This week Sydnee and Marie are joined by their very own producer -- BECCA RAMOS! The three chat h...
HOUSEKEEPING:
Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!
DESCRIPTION:
This week Becca chats with Philadelphia-based artist, ceramicist, social activist, poet, and educator -- Roberto Lugo! The two chat about using pottery and art at large to address poverty, inequality, and racial injustice, as well as refle...
HOUSEKEEPING:
Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!
DESCRIPTION:
This week Becca chats with the band CHUWI! They all chat about their rise to stardom, touring with Bad Bunny, their musical influences and political reflections in their songs, what's inspiring them lately, and more.
HOUSEKEEPING:
Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event on May 31 in Los Angeles in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!
DESCRIPTION:
This week Becca chats with star of stage and screen -- Didi Romero! The two chat performing arts in Puerto Rico, working with Disney, dreams of living between Puerto Rico and New York, and more.
HOUSEKEEPING:
Welcome to El Barrio will be hosting another live event! This time in Los Angeles, in partnership with Hi, Neighbor. Follow us to stay up to date on next steps!
DESCRIPTION:
This week Becca is solo on the podcast, giving you all a more vulnerable side. She takes us through a deeply personal interview with her father, where they talk about his upbringing, relationship with his culture and how that impacted his pa...
This week we are dropping Becca's Las Culturistas episode in the feed!
The three get into all things Texas, Beyonce, The Rodeo, southern football culture, and the highs and lows of Baylor University Greek Life, but most importantly Puerto Rico! Becca has a new show on iHeart’s myCultura network called Welcome to El Barrio out 2/3. Matt & Bo get an exclusive sneak peak into the world of the show, chat Bad Bunny&rsquo...
This week, Becca chats Rachel Nieves of Buddies Coffee! The two chat the weight of going viral, starting a business from the ground up, how to give back to your roots and community authentically, Buddies future expansion, and more.
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!
This week, Becca chats Libre Sankara -- an afro-boricua poet, cultural worker and doula who has been in Gaza for the past two years helping the fight for liberation of Palestine. The two chat life in Gaza, the similarities and history that connects Puerto Rico and Palestine, and more.
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
This week, Becca chats with THE Djali Brown-Cepeda -- founder of Nuevayorkinos. The two chat El Barrio, the complexity of mixed identities, beautiful lessons in motherhood, race vs ethnicity, vs identity, how Blackness and Puerto Ricanness are intrinsically intertwined, and more.
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
And subscribe to the sho...
Holi Listeners!
This week, we are releasing the audio from Welcome to El Barrio's OnAir Fest panel last month.
Using Welcome to El Barrio as a jumping-off point, Becca gathered some of the best of the best industry professionals who specialize in Latinx storytelling and media to discuss what we can learn from Bad Bunny’s meteoric rise and cultural impact regarding authentic representation.
This week, Becca chats with fashion and lifestyle influencer Miranda Sanchez! The two chat representation in the influencing world, growing up in Upstate New York, the struggles of learning Spanish in adulthood, and more.
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!
See omnystudi...
This week Becca chats with writer, producer, film critic, and published poet -- Josie Melendez! The two chat representation in film/books/etc., the 2026 oscar race, Josie's Film Poser's podcast, and more!
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!
ALSO -- WTEB's editor @markpa...
"Happy Pride month from Welcome to El Barrio! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.”
This week is a very special episode -- as it's the LIVE episode with Ana Macho from the Welcome to El Barrio launch party! Becca interviews Ana Macho where they chat moving to NYC, going from drag to full-blown reggaeton / pop star, the realities of living in PR, and mor...
This week Becca chats with community builder and culture writer -- Ale-Marie Figueroa! The two chats being perceived in the diaspora, boozy book club, politics and higher education, and more!
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show page @welcometoelbarrio for submissions!
And subscribe to the show’s substack for FREE for bonus content!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...
This week Becca chats with actor, activist, drag king extraordinaire -- Vico Ortiz! The two chat, representation in hollywood, drag, fluidity of language, and more!
Those in the NYC area, join us for our launch party Feb 21st in partnership with Lighthouse Campus! RSVP for your spot below:
https://posh.vip/e/welcome-to-el-barrio-launch-party
Also don’t forget to email us at welcometoelbarrio@gmail.com, or DM the show...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.