Latina to Latina

Latina to Latina

In this interview series, host Alicia Menendez talks to remarkable Latinas about making it, faking it, and everything in between. In often-hilarious and always-revealing episodes, Alicia and her guests take on the challenges of existing, and then thriving, as women of color.

Episodes

August 4, 2025 25 mins

The gold medal athlete opens up about how she dealt with emotional and verbal abuse at the hands of coaches, the key role her mother played in advocating for her, and why leaving her beloved sport for a while was exactly what she needed.

"Habla Now," HBO Latino's award-winning "Habla" series, features Laurie Hernandez in its latest installment. It is now available to stream on HBO Max.

Follow Laurie Hernandez on Instagram at @laurieh...

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The award winning singer-songwriter, author, podcast host and entrepreneur shares her journey to forgive and embrace her mother, the legendary singer Jenni Rivera. Chiquis details her decade-long healing journey (come for the talk therapy, stay for the foray into alternative modules); the evolution in her own thinking on motherhood and fertility; and how her mom’s everlasting love became the basis for her beautiful new children’s b...

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After experiencing violence and media censorship in her native Venezuela, Mariana Atencio embarked on her journalist career in the United States. An early opportunity at Univision gave her the chance to hone her skills before making the leap to English-language television. But soon a personal tragedy tested ethics, faith, and her place in the world. She put it all in her new book, Perfectly You.

Follow Mariana on Twitter and IG @mar...

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Growing up, Irma Olguin expected to join the next generation of farmworkers in her family. But the CEO of Bitwise Industries, which has turned California’s Central Valley into a thriving tech hub, says she experienced so much ‘serendipity in her life’ that she realized everything that lifted her out of poverty and struggle was possible for her home community. Someone just had to address the inequalities. The story of how she did it...

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This first-generation Latina shares her journey from entry-level employee at a credit union to co-owner of New American Funding, the largest Latina-owned private mortgage company in the nation. Patty shares how leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur enabled her to build wealth, and the (many) mistakes she has made once, but never again.

Follow Patty on Instagram @pattyarvielo. If you liked this episode, listen to How Ca...

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She launched her first startup at 20, and made lots of mistakes. Today, she runs Brava Investments, which only funds companies that have the potential to put money in the pockets of millions of women. Raised by an immigrant family with deep entrepreneurial roots, where money was always dinner conversation, Nathalie satisfied her “need for freedom” by launching companies that took on the abysmal state of venture capital investments ...

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The comedian, best known for her impersonations of Trump White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, shares how moving from Puerto Rico to Ohio forced her to learn English “guerrilla style;” how her politics shape her comedy; and why she chooses to keep her social media content entirely separate from her stand-up comedy.

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The executive director of pro-choice Frontera Fund discusses the ramifications of the loss of abortion rights in Texas, and the challenges that lay ahead for the state and the the country. Zaena also gives Alicia insight into what it takes to keep abortion care at the forefront of the national healthcare movement.

Follow Zaena and Frontera Fund on instagram @fronterafundrgv. If you loved this episode, listen to For Sociologist Nicol...

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The stars of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, now on Broadway, share their paths to performing, the experience of originating Broadway roles, and what goes through their minds each night when they disrobe on stage in front of a thousand strangers.

 

Go see the show before June 15th for tickets starting at $49, using code RWPRV1. www.curvesbroadway.com

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The formerly undocumented Afro-Dominican poet, spoken word artist and cultural expression activist shares her decision to forgo law school in favor of a different form of advocacy, the importance of uplifting Black immigrant narratives, and the necessity of developing an identity independent of one’s family.

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The co-founder of United We Dream and MacArthur Genius is sharing her coming of age story in her new memoir, Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power and Real Change. In this conversation, Cristina revisits the experience of finding her own voice (and falling in love!) as a student organizer, and the process of shedding deeply ingrained shame in order to step into her power.

 

https://read.macmillan.com/lp/dreaming-of-hom...

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Questions about the identity of her biological father led the author on a deeper quest for answers about who she is and what motivated her mothers’ omissions. Carmen details the journey in her new memoir, Why Didn’t You Tell Me? 

Follow Carmen on Instagram @carmenritawong. If you loved this episode, listen to Why Novelist Xochitl Gonzalez Isn't Done Being Ambitious and How Author Alexis Daria is Complicating Our Notions of Romance. ...

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You know her online as @your.latina.nutritionist, where she dishes out culturally competent advice and fact checks nutrition misinformation. In this conversation, Dalina weighs in on the rise of GLP-1 drugs, the nutrition fads Alicia is being sold online (so much cottage cheese!), what “making America healthy” actually requires, and the pursuit of a “soft girl era.” Check out her new book, The Latina Anti-Diet: A Dietitian's Guide ...

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Her life story is the stuff of movies. She was a goth kid in private school while her dad ran an underground gambling syndicate. A teacher suggested she write about it. And today she's the executive producer of USA's hit drama Queen of the South. The plot points connecting the two eras are filled with derailed projects, hard choices, and moments of euphoric triumph. In this lucid interview, Alicia gets every detail.

Follow Dailyn  o...

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The acclaimed director shares how Viola Davis was critical to her landing Prime Video’s G20, the benefits of working with her cinematographer husband, and why she "has no feelings" about cutting even her most favorite scenes. 

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The Latina Rebels founder and author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color, opens up about imposter syndrome, colorism, and why shaking off traditional roles was key to finding freedom.

Follow Prisca and on instagram @priscadorcas. If you loved this episode, listen to How Nelini Stamp Sets Injustice Aflame and How Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio Maintains Control of Her Narrative. ...

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The co-host of CBS News Mornings Plus shares how competing in the Miss USA pageant system taught her to up her wattage, the growing pains she experienced as an international correspondent, and how her idea of balance is giving 100 percent when she is at work and 100 percent when she is with her family.

 

If you love listening to this episode, you can watch an extended cut on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xtFQUni-_fs

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A personal leadership crisis shaped her understanding of how power is built and distributed. Now the leadership coach, strategist, and racial equity advocate shares how others can navigate the unique demands of leaders of color, and the work necessary to eradicate anti-Blackness in Latino communities.

Follow Karla on Twitter @karlitaliliana. If you liked this episode, listen to How Mildred Otero Learned to Negotiate and Daisy Auger-...

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She launched her first business with $500 and a denim jacket featuring a sequined La Virgen de Guadalupe. Eight years later, Patty is ready to introduce the world to the next iteration of her vision: FATHER, Western inspired leather heirlooms. Patty shares how she harnesses the power of her ADHD, why she has chosen to stay fully self-funded, and reflects on the FirstGen kid’s eternal search for home.

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The serial co-founder (This is About Humanity, Poderistas, I Am a Voter) knows how to harness the power of celebrities for everything from political campaigns to direct service for migrant families, but she still believes that you are the most influential person in your own circle. Elsa shares how this ethos applies to everything from civic engagement to raising multiracial kids.

Follow Elsa on Instagram @elsamariecollins. If you lo...

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