The Brown Book Club Podcast

Margarita Longoria and Daniel Garcia Ordaz Talking “Living Beyond Borders”

Join us for a lively conversation with Margarita Longoria and poet Daniel García Ordaz as we discuss Living Beyond Borders, a powerful anthology highlighting Brown voices and experiences. We talk storytelling, identity, community, and the importance of amplifying diverse perspectives, all while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.

Marcela Fuentes Author of Malas

In this episode of The Brown Book Club Podcast, we sit down with Marcela Fuentes for a lively and thoughtful conversation about her work. We dive into her book, unpacking the depth of her characters, especially the strength and complexity of the women she writes. We talk about embracing imperfect characters and what they reveal about real life. And in true Brown Book Club fashion, we even branch out into culture, including a fun conversation about the Bad Bunny halftime show.

Charley Trujillo and Richard Garcia-Chicanos In Viet Nam

We sat down with Charley Trujillo and Richard Garcia for a powerful conversation on the Chicano experience during the Vietnam War. Drawing from their books and lived experiences, they reflect on identity, service, trauma, and the often-overlooked stories of Mexican American soldiers. This episode honors resilience, brotherhood, and the lasting impact of war on both the battlefield and back home.

Reyna Grande Author of A Ballad of Love and Glory

On this episode of The Brown Book Club Podcast, we had the honor of speaking with acclaimed author Reyna Grande about her powerful historical novel A Ballad of Love and Glory. The novel takes readers into the turbulent years of the Mexican–American War and tells the story of love, loyalty, and resistance during one of the most defining conflicts in North American history. At the center of the novel is the story of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion, also known as the San Patricios, Irish immigrants who defected from the U.S. Army and chose to fight alongside Mexico. Reyna shared the history behind these soldiers, the moral and political struggles they faced, and how their story inspired the novel’s unforgettable characters. Our conversation explored the overlooked histories of the borderlands, the complexity of identity and allegiance, and how storytelling can bring forgotten chapters of history back into the light. It was a thoughtful and powerful discussion about war, love, and the people whose stories continue to shape our understanding of the past.

Erika L. Sanchez Author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

We had the absolute honor of sitting down with Erika L. Sánchez, award-winning author, poet, and cultural force. Best known for her groundbreaking novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Sánchez has become one of the most important contemporary voices writing about identity, grief, mental health, family pressure, and what it means to grow up caught between cultures. Her work refuses stereotypes and speaks directly to the complexity of being Mexican American in the United States. During our conversation on The Brown Book Club Podcast, Erika was honest, funny, thoughtful, and incredibly down to earth. We talked about writing through pain, navigating expectations, representation in literature, and the power of telling our own stories. She reminded us that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage on the page.