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
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!
&n...
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...
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 more.
If you enjoyed this episode and want more live experiences, comment / like /etc to let us know!
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...
Welcome BACK to another episode of Welcome to El Barrio, where this week Becca Ramos chats with authors, historians, and activists Jorell Melendez-Badillo and Aurora Santiago-Ortiz.
The three chat challenges of living in Puerto Rico, Aurora and Jorell’s barrio stories, Venezuela and its relation to Puerto Rico, their program Puerto Rican Studies Hub, and more!
Follow Aurora and Jorell here:
@sant_aurora_
@jmelendezbadil...
In this inaugural episode of 'Welcome to El Barrio,' host Becca Ramos shares the personal journey that led to the podcast's creation!
Tune in next week for the first chat-show episode with Jorrell Melendez-Badillo and Aurora Santiago-Ortiz.
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!
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