Talking to Grandma

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. I’m Jenn Vargas-Pressman, educator, mother, and advocate for bilingualism in our communities. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, we sit down with Elisabet De Miguel, a bilingual educator with more than 17 years of experience and a mother raising her children in a beautiful multicultural family. Born in Soria, Spain, Elisabet grew up surrounded by books, music, and a deep love for learning—foundations that shaped her passion for teaching and language preservation. Now living in Houston, Texas and serving in Aldine ISD, she has dedicated her career to supporting bilingual students and helping families strengthen their children’s language development. In our conversation, Elisabet reflects on:  ✨ How she balances life as both a teacher and a mom  ✨ Practical strategies she uses at home to foster bilingualism  ✨ The role of community, technology, and parent involvement in raising bilingual kids  ✨ The academic and emotional advantages bilingual children gain  ✨ How language becomes a bridge between cultures, generations, and dreams Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who values language and culture, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and inspiration for supporting bilingualism in your own home or classroom. 🎧 Tune in to hear Elisabet’s heartfelt story and her wisdom from nearly two decades in bilingual education.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode, we explore the powerful ways language connects us to our culture, our families, and our future through the story of Fidel Martínez—an exemplary bilingual educator originally from El Salvador with a long-standing career in bilingual education in the United States. Fidel shares his inspiring journey: from participating in rural community development programs in El Salvador, to immigrating to Houston, Texas, where he discovered his true calling—teaching and supporting the next generation of bilingual learners. His path is one of resilience, service, and deep commitment to multilingual families. In our conversation, we discussed:  ✨ How language preserves culture and strengthens identity  ✨ The essential role families play in bilingual learning  ✨ Why male educators are so important in early childhood education  ✨ How cultural competence transforms teaching and student engagement  ✨ The academic and economic opportunities that open up through bilingualism Whether you’re raising bilingual kids, teaching in a multilingual classroom, or looking for inspiration to support language development at home, this episode offers heartfelt insight, practical wisdom, and a moving look at bilingual education through the lens of a dedicated Salvadoran teacher.

This week on Talking to Grandma, we’re hitting pause on our alumni spotlight series to bring you an eye-opening conversation about what linguistically diverse families actually want when it comes to bilingualism and dual-language education. Despite common assumptions, new research shows that families overwhelmingly support bilingual learning—and today we unpack what the data really says, what families are asking for, and how schools can better honor their voices. Returning guest Dr. Conor P. Williams—Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation and partner at the Children’s Equity Project—joins us to share his latest findings on multilingual education across the U.S. We’re also thrilled to welcome Mayra Valle for her first appearance on the podcast. A first-generation college graduate, Gates Millennium Scholar, and founder of Mayra V Strategy | Powered by Valle Conmigo LLC, Mayra recently led six weeks of workshops for our Houston Bilingual Generation Collectives, helping families advocate for the educational experiences their children deserve. In this episode, we dig into what families actually value, why misconceptions persist, and how schools can design dual-language programs that align with real family priorities. We’ll also explore how issues like accent bias, cultural identity, and family experience all intersect in shaping children’s educational journeys. If you’re a parent, educator, policymaker, or simply invested in multilingual kids thriving, this episode offers clarity, nuance, and hope. 🎧 Continue Listening: Episodes You’ll Love Next 🔹 Advancing Equity in Multilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams 🔹 Representation & Language with Mike Alfaro (Sí Sabo Kids) 🔹 Connecting Generations and Making Language Learning Fun with Carlos Torres (Yo Sabo The Game)

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of language and culture, this podcast is for you. Each week, we explore how to nurture bilingualism in ways that affirm identity, strengthen community, and honor our roots. This week, we’re revisiting one of our most loved episodes: a heartfelt conversation with Dr. Lizette B. Suxo, who shares her inspiring journey of reconnecting with her Indigenous heritage through the Aymara language of the Andean region. We’re bringing this story back because it beautifully reflects the spirit of our new initiative, From Roots to Cuentos — a storytelling program for Indigenous authors and artists of Abya Yala and Latin America who want to create bilingual and trilingual children’s books that celebrate their languages and cultures. ✨ Applications are open now — learn more and apply here. In this episode (originally published June 2023), Dr. Suxo shares how motherhood, cultural identity, and language learning became intertwined in her life. After becoming a parent and receiving a rare disease diagnosis, she felt a renewed urgency to pass her heritage forward by raising her son as a multilingual global citizen.  Through her story, Lizette reminds us that language is more than communication — it’s a worldview. As her yatichiri (teacher) says: “To learn our language is to preserve the way our ancestors saw, felt, and understood the world.”

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids.  In this episode of Talking to Grandma, host Jenn Vargas-Pressman sits down with Dra. Eva Ortiz Benítez, a bilingual educator and instructional coach with K–12 experience in Mexico and Colorado, and a mamá raising a biracial, bilingual child. Eva shares practical, research-informed strategies for bilingual parenting and language development that start with a simple truth: connection comes first. From clarifying your family’s “why” to choosing approaches that fit your reality, she shows how to make bilingualism sustainable and joyful. You’ll hear concrete ideas for older and younger kids alike. Eva also lifts the pressure off parents who are the sole Spanish speakers at home. If you’re looking for real-life tools, culturally sustaining practices, and encouragement to find—or create—community, this conversation is for you.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. How do we raise and teach bilingual kids with both connection and strategy? In this episode of Talking to Grandma, host Jenn Vargas-Pressman sits down with Dr. Andrew Hernández, a Boricua educator, school leader, and proud dad raising a bilingual daughter. From building kid agency without losing family language goals to finding culture wherever you live, Andrew offers practical insights every parent can use. He also breaks down key moments for families in dual-language programs: what the elementary literacy dip really means, how schools can better partner with parents, and how to keep teens engaged by connecting language to their real interests. A must-listen for anyone raising or teaching bilingual kids.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, co-host Jenn Pressman welcomes friend of Bilingual Generation, Dr. Jonnia Torres Carolan, a bilingual mom, linguist, and community advocate from Denver. Jonnia shares her powerful family story of both language loss and preservation. Jonnia offers a heartfelt look at the joys, challenges, and daily decisions that come with bilingual parenting. She also brings insights from her doctoral research and her work with the Hidatsa community on language revitalization, showing how language is more than words to preserve, but relationships to honor and ways of seeing the world we can’t afford to lose. Want to learn more about her work? Send her an email! 

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, producer Rebecca De Leon sits down with Sofía—a bilingual mother of three, entrepreneur, and community educator—whose journey captures the highs and lows of bilingual identity. From raising bilingual kids at home to creating safe spaces for cultural connection, Sofía shares how bilingualism is more than language—it’s about resilience and community. If you’re raising bilingual kids, teaching, or simply passionate about language and culture, this inspiring conversation is for you. You can find Sofia on Instagram.

Guess who’s back? After a short break, Talking to Grandma returns for Season 4...this time with a twist. For the first time ever, alumni from our Bilingual Generations Collectives are taking over the mic, bringing fresh perspectives, authentic stories, and powerful conversations. Joining producer Beck as co-host is the incredible Jenn Pressman, a Latina, mom, educator, and director of Programa familiar de lenguaje in Denver. With her roots in Colombian heritage, over 20 years of experience in education, and her journey raising bilingual kids, Jenn brings wisdom, heart, and lived experience to every conversation. This season, expect inspiring interviews, heartfelt advice, and episodes in both English and Spanish that celebrate bilingual identity, family connection, and cultural pride. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or someone who loves stories about language and identity...this season is for you. Hit subscribe and get ready. You won’t want to miss Season 4 of Talking to Grandma.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Today, you’ll hear from the passionate duo Carolyne Crolotte and Gina Rodriguez as they explore the impact of Proposition 227 on bilingual education in California and their work to shift the narrative through the Two Languages, Twice the Opportunities campaign.  Listen as we dispel common myths and share tools and strategies to communicate the many benefits of bilingual education. Two Languages, Twice The Opportunities Materials English / Spanish Brochure English / Chinese Brochure English Social Media Toolkit Spanish Social Media Toolkit Chinese Social Media Toolkit Learn more:  First5la.org EarlyEdge California CAMPAIGN LAUNCH ENCOURAGES DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNING ACROSS L.A. COUNTY Reading by 9: 3 reasons why language is your child’s secret superpower

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. In today’s episode, we speak with the insightful, witty, and humble Conor P. Williams. In our conversation, he shares his research on expanding equitable and multilingual learning opportunities for young, linguistically diverse children in the United States.  Listen to hear us discuss the colonization of dual language programs and the importance of equity and access in these spaces.  Check out these articles: The Intrusion of White Families Into Bilingual Schools Ensuring Equitable Access to Dual-Language Immersion Programs: Supporting English Learners’ Emerging Bilingualism

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Today, we speak with the brilliant and funny Mike Alfaro about the impact of assimilation on identity and explore his inspiration for the creation of Millennial Loteria and Sí Sabo Kids.  Mike Alfaro is a Creative Director, Content Creator, and Children’s Book Writer with over 370k followers on social media (@millennialloteria). Recognized as one of TikTok's 2023 Latinx Visionary Voices, he also earned a spot in the inaugural class of the LA Time’s 2022 Vanguardia List—celebrating Latino innovators, instigators, and power players breaking through barriers. His influence extends beyond social media, having been profiled by The New York Times, the Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Time Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Telemundo, and many more outlets. Originally from Guatemala, he now resides in Los Angeles with his wife Amy, baby Mya, and dog Bugsy. Tune in to hear Mike emphasize the importance of breaking stereotypes and showcasing the diversity and modernity of the Latine community. Learn more about Si Sabo Kids on instagram @sisabokids Learn more about Millennial Loteria on instagram @millennialloteria

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Over the past couple of years, we have been talking with families and educators of kids with bilingualism in their bones through this podcast and our work with Bilingual Generation on our mission to create resources for educators and families that help kids maintain a connection to their heritage languages and cultures. One of our latest resources that has been brewing is The Bili app, a visionary app crafted by our team at Bilingual Generation. We are back with another episode with the Bili team, who helped bring the visionary app to life. If you missed last week’s episode, make sure you check it out after this! Today, you will hear from Project director Maried Rivera Nieves, Intern developers Aleksandra Makhrova and Fernando Perez Gutierrez, and Artist Graciella Delgado.   Learn more about Bili and join the waitlist to download later this year: www.thebiliapp.com Follow Bili on Instagram: @thebiliapp

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Over the past couple of years, we have been talking with families and educators of kids with bilingualism in their bones through this podcast and our work with Bilingual Generation on our mission to create resources for educators and families that help kids maintain a connection to their heritage languages and cultures. One of our latest resources that has been brewing is The Bili app, a visionary app crafted by our team at Bilingual Generation. Born from collaborations with bilingual educators and families, Bili is a response to the challenges communities face in finding dynamic, culturally responsive tools to support language learning at home and at school.  Over the next two episodes, I will be bringing you a collection of interviews with the people putting together the Bili App.  Today, you will hear from non other than the very Host of Talking to Grandma, Dr. Veronica Benavides as well as chief technology officer, Johnathan Chin and UX designer, Sarah Lynch. Follow Bili on Instagram: @thebiliapp

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Talking to Grandma host, Dr. Veronica Benavides is returning to SXSW Edu next week to lead a panel alongside Dr. Vanessa Santiago Schwarz called Sí Sabo: Children with Bilingualism in Their Bones Speak. Last summer Armando Orduña and his daughter Giuliana shared their vulnerable conversation about language, identity, and growing up bilingual in America. This conversation and other talks with kids with bilingualism in their bones sparked the inspiration for this panel discussion.  This week, we bring you these inspiring conversations from the archives of Talking to Grandma as we revisit this episode we published last summer. If you’re heading to SXSW EDU this year, be sure to stop by the panel on Tuesday, March 5th, at 11:30 AM! We hope to see you in Austin! 

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. In this episode, we explore the vital connection between culture, language, and wellness with Jennifer Velasquez.  Jennifer Velasquez is an illustrator and the founder of Almadé,  a wellness company that provides BIPOC women with the tools to heal their inner child and break free from their generational curses. Using her background in adult education and love of neuroscience, Jennifer’s science-based and abuela-approved tools are used by therapists, social workers, and in classrooms across the country.   She creates in the Catskill Mountains of New York with her husband Jake and pup Ruthie.  For more on her work visit, www.almadeshop.com and connect with her on Instagram @almadeshop. Join us as she shares how her health led her to discover a side to her heritage language she had yet to uncover and how she plans to bridge generations through her work. 

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. In this episode, join us as we delve into the enriching conversation with Dorenyse Díaz, exploring the intricate dynamics of language loss and preservation within the context of her Nicaraguan heritage. Díaz sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of maintaining a connection to our cultural and linguistic identities. Dorenyse Díaz self identifies as a Nicaraguan queer fat femme based out of the ancestral lands of the Tongva and Gabrielino peoples (Los Angeles). She’s a former school leader, first in Northeast LA and then in the Macarthur Park/Pico Union area of Los Angeles. She’s worked as a consultant, teacher, and community organizer and her work has focused on supporting educators, leaders, and entrepreneurs in anti-racism and transformative justice, language justice, disability justice, and inclusive practices. Dorenyse is passionate about decolonizing mental health and healing work, spirituality, queerness, radical body love + acceptance, combatting fatphobia, and addressing anti-Blackness in Latine communities. She is the proud dog mama of Pofi (his name means “best friend” in Nicaraguan Spanish), a 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Terrier mix who loves doing zoomies, playing in the sand but never in water, listening to songs from his favorite show Bluey while on long drives, and taking trips to the fascinating drive-thru car wash. Dorenyse is also a loving tía to her wonderful niece and nephews: Eddie (15), Liam (13), Everly (9), and Ian (5). Tune in to explore the intersections of language, identity, and healing as we navigate the journey towards affirming and valuing our language and culture. You can find Dorenyse on Instagram at www.instagram.com/dorenyse You can learn more about her work at NewSchools Venture Fund here. 

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. In this episode, Carmen Kynard discusses her journey of embracing and maintaining Black language throughout her life, despite the challenges she faced in academia. Carmen Kynard is the Lillian Radford Chair in Rhetoric and Composition and Professor of English at Texas Christian University. Her award-wining research, teaching, and scholarship interrogate anti-racism, Black feminist pedagogies, AfroDigital/Black cultures and languages, and the politics of schooling with an emphasis on composition and literacies studies. She traces her research and teaching at her website, “Education, Liberation, and Black Radical Traditions” which has garnered over 2 million hits since its 2012 inception. Listen to hear Carmen's message of resilience, joy, and the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable education system. Here is a link to her current course: http://www.funkdafied.org/ You can also find her on Instagram at: @ckdigidesign

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Today’s episode of Talking to Grandma, we chat with Carlos Torres about Yo Sabo The game and how it has brought together generations and made language learning fun!  Carlos and his partner Jess are the creators of Yo Sabo The Game. They are first generation Mexican - American College graduates from the University of California, Riverside. They both grew up in Latino households but had different experiences growing up. They both continue to want to spread the Spanish Language and to engage those who feel like they need help to learn (or relearn) the language. They both have STEM backgrounds. Listen to hear about Carlos’ journey and how you can make language learning fun in your home, gatherings and classroom! Buy Yo Sabo The Game: www.yosabothegame.com NBC Article: The 'no sabo kids' are pushing back on Spanish-language shaming

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Today we hear from Zara Child, a 17-year-old student and the author of a Singaporean Hokkien language learning book. Although her first language was Mandarin Chinese, and she has formally studied French and English, it is Singaporean Hokkien that has captured her imagination. Through her work, she strives to protect linguistic diversity. Listen to hear Zara’s inspiring story and learn about the book she created, Jiak Ba Beh? A Taste of Singaporean Hokkien: An Introduction to Spoken Singaporean Hokkien. Learn more about Singaporean Hokkien  at Save Sg Hokkien or www.learndialect.sg  You can purchase her book here.