In this solita, solita episode, Rosanna Alvarez reflects on the struggles that come with the business of busy-ness. She gets real about the sometimes necessary contradictions in our quest for balance, while calling out the unrealistic expectations we set when we take a one-phrase-fits-all approach. She reminds us to reflect and recalibrate as a regular practice in our lives, meeting ourselves with compassion and grace on this journey. We might even feel like being relentlessly busy isn’t always a choice, and still, we can always choose to extend ourselves grace and compassion over guilt or shame.
S03.E03 Palabras in Preservation
Have you ever felt welcomed and out of place at the same time? In this week’s solita, solita episode, Rosanna Alvarez reflects on that very dynamic as she unpacks her recent experience in being recognized as an awardee for her work in historical preservation as carried out in her writing, publishing, teaching, and performing. Beyond anxiety, imposter syndrome, and opportunity, she tackles the historical trauma of our misaligned interactions with each other in spaces of cultural difference while challenging mainstream ideas on purpose with purpose. She also talks about the conscientious choices we make in how we show up and the variety of ways that we choose to activate along the lines of making a statement in our words, actions, and even in our attire. Lastly, she reflects on those “happy little accidents” that turn out to be grounding affirmations toward reminding us who we are.
Also, lesson learned! Never record a podcast segment after a full day of grading and a hefty workout!
Per usual, “strong” language is used throughout.
S03.E02 Uncompromising Recalibrations
In this solita, solita episode, Rosanna Alvarez reflects on the dysfunctional expectation of compromise. She explores the collective salve of enabling our abundant creativity and comments on the power of this beautiful messy journey beyond narratives of aspiration and becoming. Lets reclaim our lives y’all, and lets ground it in the power of our creative flow!
S03.E01 From Hella Chingona to Hella Chingada . . . and Back!
In this episode, we get reacquainted with each other, affirm the simplicity of our stories, and remind ourselves of the power of challenging the mainstream gaze. From Hella Chingona to Hella Chingada and back, we reclaim ourselves and our stories as valid, valuable, heart-centered, community-driven fuerza.
S02.E04 The Unwelcomeness of Opportunistically Welcoming Spaces
In this episode Rosanna Alvarez reflects on the dynamics of unwelcomeness of opportunistically welcoming spaces. She offers some affirmations and reminds us of the importance of community, accountability, and survival. Her reflections on the anonymous adage of “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” also offer some raw and necessary points of reflection on the tensions involved in navigating voice, power, and presence within the context of silencing, tone-policing, and respectability politics.
Excuse the sinus-impacted timbre of the voice on this one. The things had to be said!
For those additional affirmations toward taking credit for your work, mira: Dolores Huerta is done being edited out of her own history. Feel free to read it and take a cue from Dolores Huerta’s insights. The future of young women looking back depends on those stories being accessible to help us remember.
S02.E03 Media for Social Shame?
In this solita solita episode, Rosanna Alvarez reflects on recent conversations surrounding the function of media and ponders the habitual reflex of “shoulds” that often feel like imposition rooted in dysfunctional good intentions. The episode ends on an invitation to contribute to the conversation toward how we can do better as we show up authentically embracing our imperfections while we imagine what could be as a space of possibility grounded in collective action and reciprocity.
S02.E02 A Legacy of Blissful Full-Bodied Authenticity with Claudia Fabian
In this Flashback Friday episode, we tap into the unreleased archive where we are joined by Claudia Fabian who shares so many gems about her journey toward embracing all of the bits that have shaped her fully –blissfully, authentically, unapologetically, fabulously.
Claudia Fabian is a first generation scholar who works in the Mental Health field as an Outreach Specialist. On her leisure time she loves to spend time with her family, el novio, and her friends. She lives by Gloria Anzaldua’s wisdom: “Do work that matters, vale la pena.”
S02.E01 Resurgimiento
In this episode, the podcast re-emerges with the first episode of season 2(-ish!). Following a necessary recalibration, Rosanna Alvarez offers some reflections on purpose, intent, and community, while addressing inadvertent censorship with the flipside of reclamation and affirmation. This journey is a dance –sometimes circular but always in Chingona flow.
CreaTV Presents: Women in Media Creating Social Change
In celebration of Women’s History Month, CreaTV Presents has invited local media superstars Liz Gonzalez of Silicon Valley Debug, Rosanna Alvarez of the Hella Chingona podcast, and Ellina Yin of the Only in San Jose podcast to discuss what it means to create media for social change as well as the present and future landscapes of media in San Jose and beyond. Listen and join in on the conversation virtually, Saturday March 26th at 12 pm. You don’t want to miss it!
Please register here https://tinyurl.com/3nv2te98
CreaTV Presents is sponsored by the Office of Cultural Affairs.
Chingonas Who Publish: Writer’s Workshop Series –with Brenda Vaca
An online workshop for poets & writers at every stage of their journey who are looking to feed their need to write and publish.
About this event
Are you ready to take the plunge into publishing? Ready to tie up imposter syndrome and cast it into the ocean deep? Harness the power of your vulnerability in this 90 minute virtual workshop that will prepare you to take the next step to publicly share your writing. This online workshop is for writers at every stage of their journey.
Friday, March 18, 2022 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm | REGISTRATION REQUIRED via Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chingonas-who-publish-writers-workshop-series-with-brenda-vaca-tickets-277758090927
About the Presenter
Chicana experiences take center stage in this intimate workshop with Brenda Vaca who is a Xicana poet from South Whittier, CA – Tongva Territory. Poetry and writing have been lifelong passions. Riot of Roses is her debut collection of poetry. She is also the founder of Riot of Roses Publishing House LLC established in 2021. You can order her book wherever books are sold or directly at: https://linktr.ee/brendavaca and connect via social media @iambrendavaca.
Registration is capped at 25 to keep the workshop intimate enough for connection and questions.
