Episode 1: We Are a Colony

Episodio 1: Somos colonia

Es el 4 de julio y Estados Unidos cumple 250 años. También es el día en que celebra su libertad del colonialismo. ¿Y Puerto Rico? En el episodio prólogo de American Colony, los presentadores Julio Ricardo Varela y Nuria Net se preguntan: ¿qué significa que Puerto Rico siga siendo una colonia? Empiezan con esa canción viral que no puedes dejar de cantar, comparten sus historias personales y explican qué vas a escuchar en el resto de la serie. Joaquín Cotler, Nuria Net y Julio Ricardo Varela produjeron este episodio de American Colony. Nuria Net y Julio Ricardo Varela lo editaron. Créditos American Colony es una producción de The Latino Newsletter [https://thelatinonewsletter.org/] y Shake It Easy Media [https://www.shakeiteasymedia.com/] Concepto original de Julio Ricardo Varela Editora principal: Nuria Net Productor principal: Joaquín Cotler Presentadores: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net Productor: Carlos Berríos Polanco Consultora: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano Editora gerente: Christina Hernández Productora de video: Amalia Núñez-Pires Videos para redes sociales: Anthony Modesto Milián y Aliana M. Bigio Ilustrador: Ricky Rodriguez Compositor: Alain Emile Música adicional cortesía de Soundstripe Productores ejecutivos: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net y Joaquín Cotler Este programa cuenta con el apoyo de la Mellon Foundation, la mayor patrocinadora de las artes y las humanidades en los Estados Unidos. Más en Mellon.org [http://mellon.org]. American Colony también es posible gracias a donaciones individuales. Para apoyar el periodismo de The Latino Newsletter, visita The Latino Newsletter [https://thelatinonewsletter.org/] y haz clic en Donate.

Episode 1: We Are a Colony

It’s the Fourth of July, and the United States is 250 years old. It is also a day Americans celebrate freedom from colonialism. But what about Puerto Rico? In the prologue episode of American Colony, hosts Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net ask: What does it mean that Puerto Rico is still a colony? They start with that viral song you can't stop singing, share their personal stories, and set the foundation for the rest of the series. This episode of American Colony was produced by Joaquín Cotler, Nuria Net, and Julio Ricardo Varela. It was edited by Nuria Net and Julio Ricardo Varela. Credits American Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter [https://thelatinonewsletter.org/] and Shake It Easy Media [https://www.shakeiteasymedia.com/] Original Concept by Julio Ricardo Varela Senior Editor: Nuria Net Senior Producer: Joaquín Cotler Hosts: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net Producer: Carlos Berríos Polanco Consulting Producer: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano Managing Editor: Christina Hernández Video Producer: Amalia Nuñez-Pires Social Media Videos: Anthony Modesto Milián and Aliana M. Bigio Illustrator: Ricky Rodriguez Composer: Alain Emile Additional music courtesy of Soundstripe Executive Producers: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net, and Joaquín Cotler Support for this program comes from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. More at Mellon.org [http://mellon.org].  American Colony was also made possible by individual donations. To support the nonprofit work of The Latino Newsletter, click on the Donate tab at The Latino Newsletter [https://thelatinonewsletter.org/].

We Are Preciosa With Jay Trevino

Host Michelle Zacarias sits down with queer social media influencer Jay Trevino [https://www.instagram.com/edenxjay/], the co-creator of the grassroots queer Latin movement Preciosa, which she built alongside her wife, Eden. Jay opens up about their four-year IVF journey to welcome their son, including a last-minute emergency C-section in Mexico after U.S. doctors refused to listen to her concerns. She reflects on navigating postpartum depression, going no-contact with her mother, and how DJing became her lifeline. 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/]⁠⁠⁠.

Introducing American Colony

American Colony premieres July 4, 2026, and will be available on The Latino Newsletter podcast feed, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

Frontline Organizing With Leo Martinez

From hyper-local neighborhood alert systems to confronting ICE on the streets, Leo Martinez (@tacodpollo [https://www.instagram.com/tacodpollo/]) shares how VC Defensa [https://www.instagram.com/vcdefensa] is building community power from the ground up.  Leo spoke with The Latino Newsletter podcast on the importance of providing people with the tools to mobilize in their own communities, and about being rammed by federal vehicles in October of 2025. After this interview was recorded, Leo and VC Defensa were targeted [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-18/federal-agents-raid-homes-of-ventura-county-immigration-activists] by Homeland Security Investigations during a pre-dawn raid on May 13, 2026. This has not deterred the volunteer-led advocacy group from organizing neighborhood ICE-watch patrols across Ventura County, CA. 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://]⁠⁠⁠.