The Pulso Podcast
Project Pulso
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The Pulso Podcast brings you the untold stories & unheard voices that make up our history, our culture, nuestra gente. For Latinos, by Latinos.
Pulso is a non-profit media startup that keeps the pulse on all things Latino. Follow us @ProjectPulso.
Available episodes
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May 23, 2023
Crossing Gang Lines: Origins of the Latino Comedy Special
When Producer Mark Pagán was a teenager, he came across a TV comedy special that would change his life forever, Paul Rodriquez’s Crossing Gang Lines. Years later, he looks back to uncover the story behind it.
This Episode was Produced by Mark Pagán, it was edited, by Charlie Garcia & Jackie Noack. Audio editing and scoring by Mark Pagán & Charlie Garcia. Mixing & Mastering by Charlie Garcia, original music composed by Julian Blackmore, the hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada Smith & Liz Alarcon. Special thanks to Navani Otero, Caitlin Mae Burke, Alana Casanova-Burgess
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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May 9, 2023
Modern Parenting… the Latino way
In this episode, Liz chats with two Latina parents who have done the work to reparent themselves, done the research to raise more emotionally whole children, and pay it forward to help caregivers have a healthier relationship with our kids
This Episode was Produced by Liz Alarcon, it was edited, mixed & scored by Charlie Garcia. Technical Assistance & additional support by Jackie Noack. Additional audio engineering & original music composition by Julian Blackmore. The hosts of The Pulso Podcast are Maribel Quezada Smith & Liz Alarcon
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Apr 25, 2023
Ask A Mexican (Classic)
Gustavo Arellano started a newspaper column called “Ask a Mexican” as a joke... then it became bigger than he ever could have imagined. Why?
This episode was produced by Charlie Garcia and edited by Liz Alarcon. Audio Engineering & Mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore. Additional assistance by Lisann Ramos. Our hosts are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada Smith.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Apr 11, 2023
We are not Latino: Indigenous Stories of Resilience
Today we're talking about something that Latinos sometimes ignore or even forget. Indigenous peoples are often relegated to things of the past, but they are very much still here, and they are facing resistance and opposition from all sides, whether it's political, social, economic, you name it. So let's take some time to consider the struggles, and the resilience of the Indigenous peoples of our region.
This episode was produced by Jackie Noack and edited by Charlie Garcia. Audio Engineering & mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore. Our hosts are Liz Alarcón and Maribel Quezada Smith.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Mar 28, 2023
Between Cultures: One Latina’s journey to finding her Latinidad
What does it mean to “be” something, to have an Identity? And what is it that gets to decide that identity? Is it our parents, our language, our blood, or the world around us? This is the story of one Latina’s journey to understand what it means to be Hispanic, and how to own her own Latinidad no matter what others think.
This episode was written, produced, sound designed & mixed by Charlie Garcia. It was edited by Jackie Noack & Liz Alarcón, Music by Julian Blackmore.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Mar 14, 2023
Latina Beauty Standards Part 2: How far are we willing to go in the name of beauty?
In this episode Maribel sets out to explore the sometimes empowering, often extreme, things we're willing to do to feel beautiful and why.
Special thanks to the following women for sharing their experiences and insight in this episode: Christie Lazo, Katia Reguero Lindor, Valentina Agosti, and Leslie Valdivia and Joanna Rosario of Vive Cosmetics.
This episode was written and produced by Maribel Quezada Smith. Editorial oversight by Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Feb 28, 2023
Latina Beauty Standards Part 1: Where does our definition of beautiful come from?
In this episode, Liz sets out to explore the historical and societal influences that have led to our sometimes empowering, often pressuring, standards of beauty that Latinas are held to.
This episode was produced by Liz Alarcón and Jackie Noack. Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Dec 6, 2022
Keeping the peace during Latino holiday gatherings
Let’s talk about the holidays. Large gatherings with boisterous family members can be memorable for the good and the bad. So what can we do to take care of ourselves during end-of-year festivities, while also spending quality time with family?
This episode was produced by Charlie Garcia and Jackie Noack, Audio engineering and mixing by Charlie Garcia, additional audio engineering and music by Julian Blackmore.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Nov 22, 2022
Latinos vs The State of Texas
Texas 1951, Farmworker Pete Hernandez walks into a bar with a rifle and shoots another man, he is taken to court for murder, but when the state refuses to allow any Latinos on the Jury, a rebellious team of Hispanic lawyers sign up for a wild ride that will take them all the way to the supreme court, and change the definition of what it means to Hispanic in the US
This episode was Produced & Written by Charlie Garcia, it was edited by Liz Alarcon. Original music by Julian Blackmore. Audio Engineering & Mixing by Julian Blackmore and Charlie Garcia. Special thanks to LULAC historian David Contreras
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Nov 8, 2022
The Hidden Latino Punk Bands of NYC
Punk Rock isn’t usually associated with Latino culture, and for Producer Yesica Balderrama, Punk was a lifelong passion that she never quite knew how to integrate with her identity. Then one day she discovered that she was not alone.
Today we take a journey through the hidden subculture of Latino Punk rock in NYC.
This episode was produced & written by Yesica Balderrama. Editorial oversight, guidance & additional writing by Charlie Garcia, Audio Engineering & Mixing by Julian Blackmore & Charlie Garcia Music clips from Quelebras, Kartel, Askeados, & La Milagrosa. additional music composed by Julian Blackmore. Translation voice-over by Jackie Noack & Charlie Garcia
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Oct 25, 2022
The Latino Expectation of Fertility: A story of pregnancy loss.
In 2019, Pulso Podcast cohost Maribel Quezada Smith had a miscarriage, but it's the tragedy that happened 10 months later that rocked her entire existence. In this docu-style episode, Maribel shares her story.
This Episode was produced by Maribel Quezada Smith, with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Music and audio engineering by Julian Blackmore, Mixing by Charlie Garcia
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Oct 11, 2022
The Border Is Alive!
The Rio Grande river was meant to mark a boundary between Mexico & The US, but one day in 1864 it moved, taking the border along with it and creating a century-long feud that brought both countries to the edge.
This Episode was produced by Charlie Garcia with Editorial support by Liz Alarcon. Music and audio engineering by Julian Blackmore
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Sep 27, 2022
The hidden history, what we love (and makes us cringe!) about Hispanic / Latino Heritage Month
This Hispanic / Latino Heritage Month we’re asking ourselves some big questions.
What does it mean for Nuestra Gente? How did this month even start? And, is it helping our cause, or holding us back?
This Episode was produced by Liz Alarcon with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Music by Julian Blackmore, audio engineering & mixing by Charlie Garcia
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
The Pulso Podcast is a part of Project Pulso. We bring you untold stories & unheard voices…the Latino voices you aren’t hearing in the news and the stories you didn’t learn in history class.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Sep 13, 2022
Is work-life balance a privilege for Latinos?
Latinos work hard. But is our "work hard" attitude too closely connected to our sense of self-worth?
This Episode was produced by Maribel Quezada Smith with Editorial oversight by Charlie Garcia. Audio engineering & music by Julian Blackmore
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 30, 2022
Latino, Latina, Latine
How can we make Spanish more inclusive? Today we're talking about the evolution of our language, and the pushback against it.
This episode was produced by Jackie Noack, it was edited by Charlie Garcia. Mixing & Mastering by Charlie Garcia. Music Composed by Julian Blackmore. Our hosts are Liz Alarcon & Maribel Quezada Smith.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 16, 2022
The Sea Next Door
The Salton Sea, California's biggest lake...is disappearing. Leaving the largely Hispanic populations around it at risk of environmental catastrophe. But what's being done about this? does anyone care?
This episode originally aired on Living Downstream: The Environmental Justice Podcast.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 2, 2022
Are we still Latino if we don't speak spanish?
Can we still call ourselves Latinos if we don't speak Spanish? Liz & Maribel unpack this question, along with help from the Pulso team and Representative Joaquin Castro.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Jul 19, 2022
Following The Nectar Corridor
Think Mezcal is just Smokey Tequila??? Well, think again!
Today we dive into the history & culture that came together to create this one-of-a-kind delicacy
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
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Jul 5, 2022
Mom to Mom
How do we pass on culture and heritage to our children? and are there parts of Latino culture that we DON'T want to pass on??? Liz and Maribel chime in about being moms.
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Jun 21, 2022
Retablos
As Latinos, many of us have experiences and thoughts about the line that separates the US from it's southern neighbors, but few know what living along the border is really like. For this Mexican American writer, his life and his art have been shaped by the experience of growing up along that line.
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Jun 7, 2022
Let’s Try Something Diferente
For our 3rd season of The Pulso Podcast, we've decided to try something a little Diferente. Today we are welcoming our new Co-Host, Maribel Quezada Smith.
We'll hear a few clips from Maribel's podcast Diferente, and talk about her experience with immigration, identity, appropriation, and why it's so important to pronounce our names correctly.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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May 31, 2022
Pulso Season 3 Trailer
Pulso Season 3 drops Tuesday, June 7th
New episodes every 2 weeks
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Nov 10, 2021
Why is Mental Health so Hard to Talk About for Latinos?
What's the status of Latino's mental health. What can help us get our minds right? What can hurt our progress? and why is it still so hard to talk about?
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Oct 27, 2021
Wanna Hear a Scary Story?
Press play (if you dare!) for some haunting tales of Latino folklore.
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Oct 12, 2021
Ask A Mexican
Gustavo Arellano started his newspaper column “Ask a Mexican” as a joke... then it became bigger than he ever could have imagined
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Sep 28, 2021
Where Are All the Latinos in Movies & TV?
Latinos make up a huge chunk of TV and movie audiences, yet we're still struggling for accurate representation on screen, Why?
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Sep 14, 2021
Exploring Latino Identity
Liz chats with three of the Pulso Podcast producers about growing up in different parts of the country and as different generations of immigrants, and how it's affected their relationship with our culture.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 31, 2021
Can We Decolonize Our Food?
What does it mean to decolonize our diet? We talk to two chefs whose journeys with food have led them to reevaluate what it means to eat “authentically”.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 16, 2021
Response From the Church
Why are so many Latinos leaving organized religion? In this episode we talk to Rev. Matthew Carnes, S.J., Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, about what he thinks the church should do to rectify its colonial past.
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Aug 3, 2021
How These Latinas are Redefining Religion and Spirituality
So much of Latino culture stems from religious and spiritual practices. In this episode we talk to three Latina authors, artists and academics about the role of religion and spirituality in their life.
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
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Jul 20, 2021
The First Latinos
The very first Latinos didn't cross any borders, the U.S. crossed them. In this episode, we unpack how a land treaty shaped the lives of the first Latinos and created an identity struggle.
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You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
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Jul 6, 2021
Vanessa Guillén, Roy Benavidez and Our Complicated Relationship with the Military
They’re considered American heroes, yet that distinction comes at a price. In this episode we grapple with the hurt and pride many Latinos feel towards our armed forces.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
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Oct 16, 2020
Music is How We Cope
When words alone fail to capture the depth of a moment in time, there’s always music. In this episode of the Pulso Pod, we’re taking you on a journey through hardship, protest, and resilience, and the Latin music that carries us through.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
Guests
Nuria Net, Co-founder, La Coctelera Music
Plena Combativa
Credits
Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia
Research: Lisann Ramos
Original Music: Julian Blackmore
Host: Liz Alarcón
You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.
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Sep 29, 2020
Latinos on the Front Lines of COVID-19
It’s been six months of living through a pandemic. And nuestra gente has been disproportionately impacted by the economic and health challenges of COVID-19. In this episode, you’ll hear the stories of every day Latinos who the government has left behind, and the organizations that are stepping in to help.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
Guests
Sergio Gonzalez, Deputy Director, The Immigration Hub
Credits
Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia
Research and Voice Over: Lisann Ramos
Original Music: Julian Blackmore
Host: Liz Alarcón
You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.
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Sep 22, 2020
The Forgotten Anthem
A global crisis formed a new bond between the United States and Latin America. How a presidential decree, a Peruvian immigrant, and a campaign to showcase Hispanic Stars uncovered El Pendón Estrellado, an almost forgotten piece of American history.
Follow & continue the conversation with us on social media; @ProjectPulso.
You can find the transcripts to this and other episodes on our website.
Click here to join our Telegram channel
Guests
Dr. Frank Mora, professor at Florida International University
Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder, We Are All Human Foundation
Jeidimar Rijos, winner of Telemundo’s La Voz and singer, El Pendón Estrellado
Credits
Production & Editing: Charlie Garcia
Research: Lisann Ramos
Original Music: Julian Blackmore
Host: Liz Alarcón
You can follow Pulso on your Facebook Messenger App, Instagram and Twitter @ProjectPulso.
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Sep 4, 2020
Welcome to The Pulso Podcast
Welcome to The Pulso Podcast. We bring you untold stories & unheard voices...The Latino voices you aren’t hearing in the news and the stories you didn’t learn in history class.
Pulso is a non-profit media startup that reaches more than a million Latinos across the country with our news, history and culture stories that keep the pulse on nuestra gente.
Who’s nuestra gente? You are, Latinos in the US who want to learn more about our community and play a part in shaping it for the better. We’ve been a part of this great American experiment since it’s very beginning. From the halls of congress to the stages of broadway, even the food we consider to be American. We helped build this country and we’re not going anywhere.
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