A Shot Of Truth

Gardenia slid into my DM’s one day, and now we’re super close friends. She supported our last cohort with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship, where our friendship really took off. Gardenia is intentional, kind, generous, and leads everything she does with love. This episode is a dive into who she is as a friend, community member, and mental health advocate. It’s the first episode I've recorded in person since before COVID, and you can definitely hear the excitement–prepare for lots of laughter. Enjoy!

This piece is made up of memories where my anxiety manifested into a persona. I refer to my anxiety as she/her, throughout. This written piece will be featured in Minneapolis at an undocumented art exhibit.

Carlie is deeply driven by a desire to help others, whether she’s volunteering with the Florida Student Power, tutoring students, or creating content for first-generation students on her platform Dreamersuccess_! She is always looking for ways to build resources and apply herself for opportunities across the nation. She migrated to the US from Haiti with her mom in 2018 and has been faced with many difficulties in her life, yet she always attempts to grow and look forward. Prepare to be deeply inspired by Carlie on our new episode.

Let’s go back in time—seven months ago—to my last adventure abroad with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship. In all honesty, recording this was hard. I wrote most of it just days after returning to the U.S., then let it sit in an open tab for months. This journey was filled with laughter, spiritual moments, and heartbreak. Join me as I revisit the moments in Peru and Mexico that moved me.

The LEO podcast and Shot of Truth Podcast presents Undocumented and Unafraid: Protests, Power, and Surveillance an episode unpacking what we are experiencing as immigrant folks in this country. We discuss the real-life impacts of these ongoing immigration policies rooted in dehumanization and exploitation.

People are coming together—learning, organizing, having difficult conversations, and speaking out against daily injustices. As immigrants, we know that staying informed, having resources, and leaning on our community is how we keep moving forward! Tune in to Shot of Truth for a roundtable discussion, co-hosted by Yuriana Garcia, with Alma C., Ronnie J., Jose C., and Priscilla A. We’ll talk about organizing, how we’re taking action to protect our communities, and how we’re navigating these challenges ourselves. Listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify and at shotoftruthpodcast.com.

Carolina joins us with an open heart to discuss healing, embodiment, and creating intentional spaces while honoring self. She talks about her role being a mental health therapist and balancing that with her identity and other aspects of her life. We talk about the harm of isolating yourself and how important it is to be with community right now. Carolina is the Founder of Healing Vibraz, which promotes healing and mental wellness through a social justice and liberation-based perspective that aims to bring a space for individual and collective community healing. Check out this episode on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website.

In this episode, I sit down with Cheska Mae Perez to talk about balancing our wants, family needs, responsibilities, and optimism in tough times. We discuss so many things including growing up in poverty and breaking generational cycles, redefining community in 12+ cities, healing, and finding liberation. Cheska’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and hope. You won’t want to miss her powerful message to start the year with purpose and connection. Thank you Cheska for your vulnerability and all the things that drive you to be the beautiful person you are.

We love our undocu soccer babes—it's true! In this episode, we highlight Mario, who poured his heart into connecting with others and sharing his journey of turning dreams into reality. Mario reflects on the role soccer and family have played in shaping who he is today, and how his curiosity, desire to learn, and connections with others have expanded his view of the world. A huge shoutout to everyone who made this series possible and to those who joined us on this unforgettable Cultural Leadership Fellowship Summer 2024 journey in Portugal. It's been an honor to witness your stories and growth.

Ronnie James calling in from New York! Ronnie joined the Cultural Leadership Fellowship envisioning how he could create opportunities like this for Undocumented Black folks. Believe it or not, we recorded days before he took off to Trinidad to lead his cohort with UndocuBlack Network! We shared many laughs and moments we enjoyed together and in community. He also shares about reconnecting with his sister in London, traveling abroad with his partner, and returning home to Saint Lucia for the first time with his mom! Tune in to this special episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Shot of Truth Podcast website!

Up next in our series is Karen from Portland, OR, who shares her incredible solo journey across Europe. Along the way, she formed meaningful connections with so many kind people and reflects on the impact of her experience. From traveling with the CLF cohort to venturing out on her own, Karen takes us through some truly memorable moments. Known for her thoughtful words and genuine spirit, Karen had everyone dancing wherever she went. Tune in to this special episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Shot of Truth Podcast website!

Miss International!! Rita came through with so much realness. She talked about how she faced two of her biggest fears—losing her grandmother and father before seeing them again and traveling to Mexico without the anxiety of what might happen if she went back. She also broke down what’s next for DACA and challenged us to step out of our comfort zones. The way I witnessed this person evolve from this experience is beautiful. Thank you for holding us accountable Rita!

Rogelio joins us to share the importance of utilizing advanced parole to reconnect with family and see the world! The stories he shares are deeply rooted in community care and love and thats felt across my time with him and in this episode. From sharing moments of joy to moments of growth with people he met along the way. Confessionals included!

A series requested by you all! As I’ve had the immense privilege of traveling on AP as a DACA recipient, I’ve also had the privilege of helping others do the same through the Cultural Leadership Fellowship. Through my travels, I have met the most amazing people, pushed myself deeply out of my comfort zone and learned a thing or two along the way. This episode is an intro to a series highlighting 5 individuals who will be sharing how their perspective on the world changed once they had the opportunity to travel outside of the US. But first, let me tell you a little bit about my experience in Portugal, Berlin, and Amsterdam. From drug taxis to smoking lounges, it was lit. Enjoy!

This episode is about my return to Mexico on advanced parole after 27 years. Before returning I traveled to Portugal and France with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship! I share fun moments we shared as a cohort and give shout-outs to the undocu baddies who joined us on this journey. While returning to Mexico was the biggest blessing it also came with unraveling and holding so much grief. The grief of losing my father and reuniting with his family was difficult but necessary. I got to return home with the emotional support of many people and I am grateful for this experience. I also talk about the romanticization of traveling on advanced parole and the emotions that come after. Enjoy!

This episode is for undocumented folks, highlighting our joint struggle to Palestinians. Our struggles are connected through the resilience of our people and our fight against Border imperialism.

Tania Dominguez-Rangel is a DACA recipient I met on my travels abroad in Europe. We were both traveling on advanced parole with the Cultural Leadership Fellowship! We would find speakeasies and talk about life, love, and processing our experience. I would come to learn this girl is full-on doing the most–from her podcast, The Most Interesting People on My Timeline to her work with the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective. This girl was meant to be a star, I mean come on, look at her! In this episode, we talk about her experience in education, her love for Tumblr, singing, and YouTube creation, and about some of the cool people she met along the way. Special shout-outs to Maggie Loredo, Karla, and Nicole Solis-Sison! Enjoy!

Maggie co-hosts Pochas So What–a podcast created by pochas for their deported, returned and undocumented community. We get to hear all the details behind the show and learn about the impact of this work! We also get deep into talking about grief, alcoholism, and her fifteen-year anniversary since she made the decision to return to Mexico. Maggie has so much grace and wisdom to share, Enjoy! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, our website, and more.

So we traveled across borders (some fellows) to Guatemala and (others to) Mexico all to find what we had most in common was that we just wanted to feel connected and free. This episode highlights 3 fellows that returned home for the first time. You even get to hear an exclusive interview that we recorded in Guatemala and her reflection listening back to it. Tune in to hear Selena, Alex, and Ingrid share the most impactful moments on this journey home. Enjoy!

We are joined by the co-founder of Otros Dreams en Acción Maggie Loredo. She is an activist, pocha, and returnee. She invites us all to listen to narratives across borders from people who have returned or been deported. Her organizing work in Mexico is one of supporting and advocating for returnees and deportees to have a dignified return. She shares the work they do at Otros Dreams en Accion (ODA) from advocacy, education, and healing through art and stories. This episode is an invitation of love to share stories across borders until they [borders] no longer exist.