Tamarindo

In this episode of Tamarindo, we sit down with Luis Cornejo, licensed therapist and host of the Queer Magic Podcast, to explore the power of chosen family in queer and Latine communities. Luis shares their personal journey and the vital role chosen family has played in their life, both personally and professionally. We discuss the emotional and cultural dynamics of navigating family expectations, the psychological impact of unsupported biological ties, and practical tools for building and maintaining supportive networks. Throughout the conversation, Luis offers insights on community care, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering collective healing — leaving listeners with affirmations and guidance for cultivating meaningful connections. We also reference CHIRLA, please join us in donating and standing with CHILRA:https://www.chirla.org/get-involved/donate-support/ 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. SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamarindoPodcast-143

Today's guest is Lucy Flores, a fierce advocate for our community and the co-founder of both Luz Media and the Latino Media Consortium. Lucy’s story is inspiring. She is one of 13 children who was raised primarily by a single parent, her dad, who worked multiple jobs to sustain the family. As a teen, she spent time in juvenile detention, but she overcame these challenges to become one of Nevada’s first-ever Latinas elected to the State assembly. Her commitment to justice was shaped by those early experiences and has never wavered.  It is what continues to guide her work today ensuring that our stories are told, by us and for us. We talk to Lucy about why we need more Latino-led newsrooms, now more than ever, and how her work with the Latino Media Consortium aims to do something about. Resources Mentioned on this pod: * The Latino Media Consortium: https://wearelatinomedia.org/ * Snap Judgment Episode: Jorge, Gina y Dante: https://snapjudgment.org/episode/jorge-gina-y-dante-snap-classic/ * Happiness Lab Episode: How Smart Phones Changed Childhood:https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-smartphones-changed-childhood-and-what-to-do-about-it * Donate to CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/get-involved/donate-support/give-today/ 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.   SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamarindoPodcast-143

On this episode of Tamarindo, we’re joined by the incredible Fabi Reyna of Reyna Tropical for a vibrant and soul-nourishing conversation about joy, healing, and the radical power of music as resistance. Fabi opens up about her creative journey, how she honors her ancestors through sound, and what it means to live and create with deep intention and authenticity. We talk about the importance of queer joy, community care, and making space for pleasure in a world that often tries to silence it. Fabi also shares her thoughts on the creation process, the healing potential of rhythm and movement, and how she stays grounded while staying true to her vision. Links referenced: FCC commissioner sounds alarms about free speech ‘chilling effect’ under Trump: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-05-29/fcc-commissioner-discusses-protecting-free-speech 'My dream is in another country': Woman willingly leaves United States after 20+ years in Fresno :https://abc30.com/post/dream-is-another-country-woman-willingly-leaves-united-states-20-years-fresno/16578639/ 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. SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamarindoPodcast-143

This is a very special episode of Tamarindo featuring the true stories told live during our live storytelling event. The theme for the night was stories about Blossoming and it kicked off our spring break from the pod. Plus, we have a really exciting life update from our very own, Delsy Sandoval. 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. SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamarindoPodcast-143

If you’re listening to this on Wednesday April 23rd, there’s still time for you to join us Tonight for our live storytelling event at 6:30pm in Highland Park, get free tickets at tamarindopodcast.com/live We met with representatives from the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation to talk about their 2025 Raices Report and how it helps advance a community-driven policy agenda for Latinos in Illinois and why it matters beyond that state. Celina Villanueva, a proud Chicago native, serves as the State Senator for Illinois' 12th District and co-chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. At her core, she is a community organizer, always working to amplify the voices of those she represents in Springfield.Passionate about environmental justice and raising awareness for domestic violence, Celina continues to champion these causes. Oswaldo Alvarez is a Chicago native who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF), where he oversees all programs, operations, and organizational development.  Before joining the ILLCF, Alvarez was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker as Illinois’ inaugural Census Director. In this role, he led the state to achieve its highest self-response rate ever, ranking first among states with over nine million residents. Fluent in Spanish, he has dedicated his career to serving and uplifting the Latino community in Illinois. 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 [http://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. [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tamarindo/id1102882792?mt=2] SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1] Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast [https://www.instagram.com/tamarindopodcast/] and on twitter at @tamarindocast  [https://twitter.com/TamarindoCast]