Uptown Voices

Summary

In this episode, Led Black and Octavio Blanco discuss the significance of the New York Latino Film Festival, highlighting its role in showcasing Latino talent and culture. They explore the top films to watch at the festival, the importance of representation in the film industry, and the growth of Latino filmmaking. The conversation also touches on community engagement, personal experiences in filmmaking, and the imp...

Join Led Black and Octavio Blanco as they engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the current state of race relations in America. This episode delves into the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, exploring its implications and the broader context of racism and power dynamics in society.

Key Topics:
The impact of Charlie Kirk's assassination on race relations. Historical context and the role of media in shaping perce...

In this compelling episode of Uptown Voices, we delve into the political challenges and censorship faced by artists, featuring the renowned Felipe Galindo, also known as Feggo. Join hosts Led Black and Octavio Blanco as they explore the impact of political climates on artistic expression, highlighting Galindo's personal experiences with censorship by the Trump Administration and the broader implications for freedom of expr...

In this episode of Uptown Voices, join hosts Led Black and Octavio Blanco as they dive into a vibrant conversation with Marco Shalma, the visionary behind the Uptown Night Market and Bronx Night Market. Discover Marco's journey from an immigrant to a community leader, his passion for supporting local businesses, and the cultural impact of his events. From the challenges of organizing large-scale festivals to the joy of see...

In this episode of Uptown Voices, hosts Led Black and Octavio Blanco discuss the importance of community, culture, and the arts in Uptown. They reflect on their personal experiences, highlight local heroes, and address pressing issues such as the drug epidemic and gentrification. The conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement and solutions to improve the neighborhood, while also sharing insights from their t...

As the New York Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary in September, Calixto Chinchilla, who founded the premiere showcase of Latinx motion pictures in New York while still living with his mother in public housing in 1998, joins Led and Octavio in an inspirational episode of Uptown Voices. 

Chinchilla's grit and perseverance helped him land a key meeting with HBO, establishing NYLFF as a cornerstone of the Latino fil...

Uptown housing attorney Ellery Ireland has represented tenants across the city as they battle landlords. He joins Led and Octavio to discuss what it takes to fight against predatory landlords.

This is not a nuts and bolts conversation about do this and do that to beat your landlord - it's just not that easy - it's a discussion about who has power and what it takes for tenants to recognize theirs and to put it into effect.

El...

CIty Council representative Carmen De La Rosa joins Led and Octavio on the Uptown Voices podcast for a wide ranging conversation. 

In this episode we learn about her origins as a daughter of immigrants who grew up on Post Avenue in Inwood, the northern-most neighborhood of Manhattan Island.  She also discusses the state of the Uptown community (District 10) and what needs to happen as the Executive Branch of the US governme...

@artbydario draws vibrant scenes celebrating life in the beloved Uptown neighborhood where he grew up. His images are vibrant representations of what many of us walk past everyday, sometimes without noticing, or at the very least, taking for granted the characters that exist in the background of our lives.

Ruben Dario, named after a Nicaraguan poet, never takes the small details for granted and brings forward the images...

Johanna Garcia, a member of the Save Fort Washington Collegiate Church, now rebranded as The Fort Washington Community Church, joins Led and Octavio to discuss what the next steps are for her congregation and to raise awareness about what the ongoing loss of our community spaces means for our neighborhood. 

This important episode of Uptown Voices describes latest turn of events in negotiations with the Marble Collegiate Chu...

Join Led and Octavio on Uptown Voices as they sit down with Maria Lizardo, the dynamic executive director of NMIC. Since 1979, NMIC has been a beacon of hope, expanding from Uptown to The Bronx. 

Maria's story is powerful. Hear her describe how her mother's immigrant tenacity, unwavering belief in education, and dedication to community service shaped a lifelong mission to help New Yorkers thrive. From overcoming an abusive ...

In this episode of Uptown Voices, members of the Upper Manhattan Tenants Union join Led and Octavio, on the eve of Zohran Mamdani's historic primary win, to discuss their group's fight against what they see as some of the most infamous landlords in the city and what they say is class warfare against tenants. 

Tenants say that landlords are purposely, and in a coordinated way, withholding  capital needed to provide basic ser...

In this episode of Uptown Voices Led and Octavio are joined by David Hunt, co-owner of Coogan's to remember his friend and business partner, Peter Walsh. To know Peter Walsh was to love Peter Walsh. Since 1985, Coogan’s was a Washington Heights institution that welcomed one and all and Peter was the soul, spirit and beating heart of that place. Peter personified the very essence of Coogan’s. Peter Walsh passed away in Apri...

In this episode Mino Lora, Artistic Director of The People's Theater Immigrant Cultural Center's Executive Artistic Director & Co-Founder, joins Led and Octavio in conversation about the upcoming state of the art performance space on 206th street in Inwood, opening in the Fall of 2026.

Mino is a powerhouse of the Upper Manhattan community. She's been helping build community here, welcome new immigrants and encourage the...