The Latino Newsletter

Learn Your History With Anthony Milian

Host Michelle Zacarias sits down with Afro-Latino public historian, social media content creator, and fine art photojournalist Anthony Milian [https://www.instagram.com/deffnotant/] to explore the power of storytelling as resistance. Anthony shares how the pandemic sparked his pivot from photography to history-focused content, reaching hundreds of thousands with stories that mainstream media has long overlooked. From the complexities of Afro-Latinidad and colorism within the Latino diaspora, to the untold legacies of figures like Rafael Cordero and José Celso Barbosa, Anthony makes the case for why preserving our histories has never been more urgent. This episode of The Latino Newsletter podcast was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Juan Diego Ramírez, and Michelle Zacarias, with editorial support from Edward Wilkey. Julio Ricardo Varela edited the conversation. The music is by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe. Season 2 of The Latino Newsletter podcast was made possible through individual gifts ⁠and ⁠⁠⁠The Latino Media Consortium [http://]⁠⁠⁠.

Ramsey Robinson and Freezing the Rent

Michelle Zacarias sits down with mental health professional, social worker, and community organizer Ramsey Robinson [https://www.instagram.com/ramsey4gov/], who is running for Governor of California on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. They talk about why he believes both Democrats and Republicans have failed working Californians, and what a socialist platform could actually look like in practice. From taxing billionaires to fund universal healthcare, freezing rents, and banning corporate lobbying, Robinson makes the case that real change won't come from inside the two-party system. Instead, it will come from listening to the people in the streets. Here at The Latino Newsletter, interviewing a candidate does not mean we are endorsing that candidate. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, we are offering this conversation strictly for civic information purposes. Our team has reached out and will continue to contact other candidates in the California governor’s race. We are on the media lists for several of these campaigns, and if any candidate wants to speak with us, they can reach us at editor@thelatinonewsletter.org [editor@thelatinonewsletter.org]. We take elections seriously, and our community deserves to hear directly from the people asking for their votes. This episode of The Latino Newsletter podcast was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Juan Diego Ramírez, and Michelle Zacarias, with editorial support from Edward Wilkey. Julio Ricardo Varela edited the conversation. The music is by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe. Season 2 of The Latino Newsletter podcast was made possible through individual gifts ⁠and ⁠⁠⁠The Latino Media Consortium⁠⁠⁠ [https://wearelatinomedia.org/].

Brenda Gonzalez Builds Her Own Table

What does it mean to build your own table — and then invite your community to sit at it? In this episode of the Latino Newsletter Podcast, host Michelle Zacarias sits down with Brenda Gonzalez, founder and co-host of  [https://www.tamarindopodcast.com/]the Tamarindo podcast [https://www.tamarindopodcast.com/]. Brenda shares how a love of casual, girlfriend chisme-style conversation inspired her to launch one of L.A.’s most beloved Latina podcasts — and how the pandemic pushed her to reinvent herself in her 40s. They dive deep into the tension between wellness culture and systemic inequity, the importance of culturally relevant spaces, and why self-care and political engagement aren’t mutually exclusive. This episode of The Latino Newsletter podcast was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Juan Diego Ramírez, and Michelle Zacarias, with editorial support from Edward Wilkey. Julio Ricardo Varela edited the conversation. The music is by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe. Season 2 of The Latino Newsletter podcast was made possible through individual gifts ⁠and ⁠⁠⁠The Latino Media Consortium [https://wearelatinomedia.org/]⁠⁠⁠.

Butch Ware: The Green Candidate

A UC Santa Barbara professor and 2024 Green Party Vice Presidential candidate, Butch Ware [https://www.instagram.com/butchware/] is now running for Governor of California and challenging the two-party system head-on, despite ongoing legal battles to keep him on the June primary ballot. In this conversation with host Michelle Zacarias, Ware speaks candidly about California’s housing and homelessness crisis, immigration enforcement, universal healthcare, and what he sees as both parties’ failures to serve working-class Californians. He makes the case that a third-party candidate isn’t just viable but necessary. Here at The Latino Newsletter, interviewing a candidate does not mean we are endorsing that candidate. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, we are offering this conversation strictly for civic information purposes. Our team has reached out and will continue to contact other candidates in the California governor’s race. We are on the media lists for several of these campaigns, and if any candidate wants to speak with us, they can reach us at editor@thelatinonewsletter.org. We take elections seriously, and our community deserves to hear directly from the people asking for their votes. This episode of The Latino Newsletter podcast was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Juan Diego Ramírez, and Michelle Zacarias, with editorial support from Edward Wilkey. Julio Ricardo Varela edited the conversation. The music is by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe. Season 2 of The Latino Newsletter podcast was made possible through individual gifts ⁠and ⁠⁠⁠The Latino Media Consortium⁠⁠⁠ [https://wearelatinomedia.org/].

No More Pedestals

In this special episode of the Latino Newsletter podcast, host Michelle Zacarias is joined by founder Julio Ricardo Varela to discuss the New York Times report [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-ufw.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UFA.aGdV.mLYqIWa3XSIF&smid=tw-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawQnnUhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePXk_ER8cgtLP9wV_ec_Yg1C0lkGeucy_Dimvx7QagVEGykyzDvoFEYSsh70_aem_mgbU1-82I8y0k3iOP3Swkw] on the sexual abuse allegations against César Chávez. Michelle and Julio process the public response, reflect on the complexity of holding a movement's legacy alongside its darkest truths, and examine how activist communities can better protect women and children. The conversation is raw, honest, and deeply felt — a necessary reckoning for the Latino community and beyond. Warning: Part of this episode includes a discussion of sexual violence. Image: César Chávez in 1972 (Public Domain) This episode of The Latino Newsletter podcast was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Juan Diego Ramírez, and Michelle Zacarias. Julio Ricardo Varela edited the conversation. The music is by Cast of Characters via Soundstripe. Season 2 of The Latino Newsletter podcast was made possible through individual gifts ⁠ and ⁠The Latino Media Consortium⁠ [https://wearelatinomedia.org/].