Emilio J. Vargas: Bridging Hearts Through Story

Emilio J. Vargas: Bridging Hearts Through Story

What does it truly mean to belong? In this heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán welcomes Puerto Rican author, broadcaster, and foster care advocate Emilio J. Vargas. As the first Latino male author featured on Write, Reflect, Reimagine®, Emilio reflects on the experiences that shaped his life and writing. He shares how a childhood fascination with radio eventually led him to become a foster and adoptive father, revealing that some of life's most meaningful stories are born when we embrace love, family, and purpose in unexpected ways. Together, Vilma and Emilio explore: • The unexpected path from broadcasting to becoming an author.  • How foster care and adoption transformed his understanding of family.  • Why vulnerability is one of the greatest strengths a storyteller can possess.  • The importance of Latino men sharing stories of caregiving, compassion, and emotional honesty.  • How belonging shapes both children and adults throughout their lives.  • Why every person's story deserves to be written, published, and preserved. The conversation also introduces Emilio's memoir, Growing Up Together: The Chronicles of an Unexpected Family, and his children's book, I Belong. This Is Me., a celebration of self-worth, kindness, confidence, and belonging for young readers.  More than an interview about writing, this episode is a reminder that every story has the power to build bridges, strengthen communities, and help someone else feel seen. Whether you are a writer, educator, parent, advocate, or simply someone searching for hope, this conversation offers a meaningful reflection on family, identity, and the courage to embrace life's unexpected journey. About Emilio J. Vargas: Emilio J. Vargas is a Puerto Rican author, radio host, voiceover artist, and advocate for foster care and adoption in Connecticut. His work is rooted in compassion, humor, hope, and the belief that every child deserves to know they belong. Author Website: https://emiliovargasauthor.com/ Author Email: emiliojvargasauthor@gmail.com Facebook:  [https://www.facebook.com/EmilioJVargasauthor/] Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/emiliojvargasauthor/] Television Interview [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVwAMEZkYcD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570998/support] https://www.casademariapublisher.com/ [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/]

From Abuelita's Kitchen to Happy Belly: When Food, Culture, and Legacy Become a Book

Some of our most treasured family stories are never written down. They live in recipes passed from one generation to the next, in the aroma of a favorite meal, and in the loving hands that prepared it. In this heartfelt episode of Write... Reflect... Reimagine®, Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán welcomes Kristina Cruz Diaz, affectionately known as "Chef Red," [https://www.youtube.com/@Redkruz] the founder of HappyBelly, LLC, a Puerto Rican cultural cook, food consultant, caterer, entrepreneur, and community educator. Together they explore how kitchens become classrooms, how recipes preserve memory, and why a cookbook can become one of the most meaningful forms of storytelling. Kristina shares: *  Growing up in her abuelitas' kitchens and the life lessons they taught beyond cooking.  *  How resilience, love, and Puerto Rican traditions shaped her journey.  *  Why family recipes are living archives of culture and identity.  *  Her remarkable health journey and how it inspired the creation of HappyBelly.  *  Why she believes we don't have to choose between cultural foods and healthy living.  *  The philosophy behind "Don't Worry... Eat Happy." *  How entrepreneurship, healing, and storytelling are leading her toward writing her first cookbook.  Food has the remarkable ability to preserve what time might otherwise erase. It carries family stories, cultural traditions, and expressions of love from one generation to the next, reminding us that every shared meal has the power to become part of our legacy. It is love expressed through action. It is one of the most enduring ways families preserve their stories across generations. Whether you're a writer, entrepreneur, home cook, or someone who cherishes family traditions, you'll discover how our lived experiences often become the books we're meant to write. Guest: Kristina Cruz Diaz ("Chef Red") Founder, HappyBelly, LLC Support Kristina! At the time of this recording, Kristina was competing in the Favorite Chef Competition, where finalists have the opportunity to appear in Taste of Home Magazine, cook alongside Carla Hall, and compete for a $25,000 grand prize. Cast your vote here: (VOTING LINK) [https://favchef.com/2026/kristina-c-diaz?fbclid=IwdGRleAStK3NwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJd8plLLtcLGnwukxVbb_qJehkwgnGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5zhm5swHUiI0ycX23SdUdtc9qHXTZlaOci6-DemnkYehXdXAQLoAJ0LrlRjA_aem_ClNNKprYPDMriGT1vACqQw] Better Connecticut Home Chef Segment [https://youtu.be/7KVo-cOKWyA?is=Y6wwM2BTaAyUuP_k]  INSTAGRAM:  [https://www.instagram.com/redkruz] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570998/support] https://www.casademariapublisher.com/ [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/]

The Courage to Begin with Peggy Robles-Alvarado

Writing, Community, and Staying with the Work! Today’s episode invites us into a powerful conversation about writing, community, and what it means to stay with the work. Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán is joined by award-winning poet, performer, educator, and RoblesWrites Productions founder Peggy Robles-Alvarado [https://robleswrites.com/], whose work spans poetry, performance, and community-centered literary practice. At the heart of this conversation is her acclaimed poetry collection, Burn Me Back, [https://fourwaybooks.com/site/burn-me-back/] a work that moves through memory, ancestry, grief, and resilience with striking clarity and force. More than a collection of poems, it constructs an experience shaped by the body, personal history, and the layered realities of identity and belonging. Peggy [https://www.instagram.com/robleswrites?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]reflects on how Burn Me Back  [https://fourwaybooks.com/site/burn-me-back/]emerged through a sustained return to the page, a practice shaped by listening, revision, performance, and community. Over time, this process formed a cohesive manuscript grounded in both personal and collective experience. This episode offers insight for writers at every stage, including: *  how to move from scattered drafts to a cohesive manuscript  *  the role of workshops and literary community  *  how to protect your work and navigate publishing with intention  * news about our upcoming event at Yale University, Dwight Hall (Sept. 19) [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-carry-what-we-claim-latina-writers-on-voice-memory-and-becoming-tickets-1986453897080?aff=oddtdtcreator] Peggy also shares the foundation of her nonprofit, Robleswrites Productions [https://robleswritesproductions.com/], where she creates writing spaces centered on intergenerational storytelling, creativity, and equity. At its core, this conversation reminds us that writing is nurtured in community and sustained through practice. Learn more about our Casa de Maria Publisher's FREE WEBINARS [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/Webinars/] to keep you encouraged and focused! Honorable Mentions: Charlie Vazquez [https://www.instagram.com/charlievazquezteacher?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==], Dr. Rojo Robles [https://www.latinxproject.nyu.edu/intervenxions/peggy-robles-alvarado-burn-me-back] , Ricardo Alberto Maldonado [https://ricardoalbertomaldonado.com/], Bori Books & Cafe [https://www.instagram.com/boribooksandcafe?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==], Urayoán Noel [https://urayoannoel.com/] ,  Author Website: https://robleswrites.com/ RoblesWrites Productions: https://robleswritesproductions.com/ PURCHASE BURN ME BACK: https://fourwaybooks.com/site/burn-me-back/ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC EVENTS: [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/PUBLIC-EVENTS/] What We Carry, What We Claim:  Latina Writers on Voice, Memory, and Becoming [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-carry-what-we-claim-latina-writers-on-voice-memory-and-becoming-tickets-1986453897080?aff=oddtdtcreator] https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-carry-what-we-claim-latina-writers-on-voice-memory-and-becoming-tickets-1986453897080?aff=oddtdtcreator https://www.casademariapublisher.com/PUBLIC-EVENTS/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570998/support] https://www.casademariapublisher.com/ [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/]

From Hands to Page: Art into Writing with Lisa Valle

In this episode of Write… Reflect… Reimagine, I sit down at Casa de María Publisher's headquarters in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, for a deeply personal conversation with Nuyorican artist, artisan, and cultural anthropologist Lisa Valle. Together, we reflect on what it means to create with our hands, to carry memory through art, and to navigate identity across Borikén and the Diaspora. Lisa shares the stories behind her powerful installation work featured in Arte de Tierra y Mar at Boricua College in New York City [https://www.boricuacollege.edu/que-pasa-1/arte-de-terra-y-mar], including pieces like La Planta de Mi Abuela, Childhood’s End, and In My Skin. Through her work, she explores ancestry, healing, body image, and the realities of gender-based violence and erasure. This conversation also marks a new chapter in her journey. As Lisa joins the Casa de María Publisher writing retreat [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/Retreats/], she begins to transition from visual storytelling into written narrative, exploring what it means to trust her voice on the page. Together, we explore:  • What it means to create through the hands as a form of storytelling.  • Art as a space for memory, witnessing, and healing.  • The responsibility of socially conscious art.  • Navigating Borikén identity as a Nuyorican artist.  • The vulnerability of transitioning from artist to writer. Lisa Valle's Instagram: [ https://www.instagram.com/labors_of_love_arts/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570998/support] https://www.casademariapublisher.com/ [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/]

The Power of Story: Our Event at Yale University

In this episode, we return to March 7, 2026. It is a reflection on Grace & Boldness: Latina Voices for Change, the first public event hosted by Casa de María Publisher at Yale University.  We revisit key ideas from the keynote address, beginning with a central truth: storytelling is not separate from social justice. It is often where the work begins. Before policy is debated and community change is ratified, someone tells the story of what is happening. In doing so, this act asserts that their life, and the lives of others, matter. This episode reflects on what it means to hold story as both power and responsibility. We explore the role of literary spaces in safeguarding memory and dignity. We return to the voices of the authors who shared their journeys. Each naming the tension between telling the truth and protecting what must be held with care. Their reflections remind us that writing is not only about expression, but it's about responsibility to self, to family, and to community. This episode also traces the origin of Casa de María Publisher. A commitment to build a literary home for writers.  Learn more about each of our speakers and future events.  Writing Programs: Retreats, Webinars & Podcast [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/Programs-1/] Media Coverage by Zuleyka Torres.  Follow her on Youtube Channel @Inspire Me By Zuly Torres. [https://www.youtube.com/@LulyTorres-1]  Guest Speakers: Chef Red (Kristina Cruz-Diaz). Follow her on Youtube Channel @Red Kruz [https://www.youtube.com/@Redkruz] Jill Interlandi, Owner of DoNo Cafe  [https://www.donocafe.com/] Rachel Torres [https://macmillan.yale.edu/ysti/person/rachel-torres](Moderator of Panel Discussion) AUTHORS: Daisy Plaza, Author of I Did it for Her: From Trauma and Fear to Pure Love and Strength [https://www.amazon.com/Did-Her-Trauma-Fear-Strength/dp/B0D6CFJMV3] Jacquelyn Santiago, Contributing author in the anthologies Becoming Her: A Woman's Path to Purpose, Self Love, and Fulfillment [https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Her-Womans-Purpose-Fulfillment/dp/1737540088/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S6J019CPOOTO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0G7c8FfI4n0hrPo1p8UIwcNAQWPoRkq060VogOSwGr2BI4vYOlW5_SKRyC-0wx1JoZsp9PrfS4uZr65Fu5KMCihfjcWljNRikX5xcyWtcOU8KcX6iNtk2BLI9HqA8IJ8OctzRUYAiaixXJvoIzyCJls5TrzFSpT1VfBZX4X3m_ymJXYvu2AWowfrrVT8rijP6_8d0CaoyPfVf0tbx8DqzOx3X3VCQuNcTa86jEGKmAs.zWDmIE-VzCxlLPAjkism42UDUICZ47D4ck4ZH2pGV_U&dib_tag=se&keywords=Becoming+Her%3A+A+Woman%27s+Path+to+Purpose%2C+Self+Love%2C+and+Fulfillment&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1774190962&s=books&sprefix=becoming+her+a+woman%27s+path+to+purpose%2C+self+love%2C+and+fulfillment+%2Cstripbooks%2C198&sr=1-1] and Live Your Optimal Life: A Transformation Anthology  [https://www.amazon.com/Optimal-Ladies-Power-Transformation-Anthologies/dp/1954493622/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DNGA3RTVH2VI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.a_4Pfa2YBDN6pntULdnmlV31ToHRtnIDMeHRt72nozAefUD8OfOQ_Cx2ymygIreD.DYoJCPlf4nLRsHVi___rlB5BGBZL_rqBr3JcWxPLg98&dib_tag=se&keywords=Live+Your+Optimal+Life%3A+A+Transformation+Anthology&qid=1774190843&s=books&sprefix=live+your+optimal+life+a+transformation+anthology+%2Cstripbooks%2C187&sr=1-1] Dr. Vilma Luz Caban, Author The Heart of an Advocate [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-heart-of-an-advocate-vilma-luz-caban/1146740105] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570998/support] https://www.casademariapublisher.com/ [https://www.casademariapublisher.com/]