Growing Up Spanglish

In this powerful episode of Growing Up Spanglish, we sit down with Panamanian-Haitian creative strategist and wellness founder Cristina “Cris” Jerome (@cristinaashly_) for a conversation that bridges culture, burnout, and the radical act of rest. From her no sabo kid upbringing in Virginia to building community in Miami, launching the beloved RnBae showcase, and now leading the mental health nonprofit Off-Worque, Cristina walks us through what it means to burn out, break down, and still find the strength to heal — for yourself and your family. If you’ve ever felt pressure to hustle harder, prove your worth, or ignore your body’s cries for rest, this one’s for you. *This episode contains a discussion of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles beginning around the 35:00 mark. Please take care of yourself while listening, and skip this section if needed. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available: 988lifeline.org or dial 988 for 24/7 support in the U.S. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + Word of the Day: Entre (Between) 02:00 – Cristina’s background: Panamanian-Haitian & proud no sabo baddie 04:00 – Growing up in Virginia: Little Panama at home, Southern outside 07:00 – Moving to Miami and finally feeling embraced 09:00 – Breaking into Power 96 & the early days of social media 12:00 – From digital marketing to Slip N Slide Records 15:00 – Founding RnBae: a show for R&B artists, not rappers 18:00 – Creating community while building a brand 21:00 – Branding RnBae: flower crowns, drinks, and discipline 23:00 – Artist compensation, ticket links & structure 26:00 – The pandemic hits: Cristina tries to expand to LA 27:00 – Burnout, backlash & pulling the plug on RnBae 30:00 – Jumping industries and chasing everything at full speed 33:00 – “If I kept going like this, I wouldn’t exist.” 35:00 – Early childhood mental health moment (TW: suicidal ideation) 39:00 – Why rest feels wrong in Black & Brown homes 41:00 – Founding Off-Worque: rest as resistance, PTO as a tool 43:00 – Creating the Out of Office Fund 45:00 – Do you really want that goal — or did someone assign it to you? 47:00 – Why she quit marketing — and started healing 49:00 – Helping her parents learn to rest, too 51:00 – Cultural pressure: No kids? Not married? You’re “behind” 53:00 – Her first trip to Panama: connecting a missing puzzle piece 55:00 – Healing through land, ancestry & legacy 57:00 – Cookie tin test: certified Panamanian ✅ 58:30 – Final reflection: take inventory of your goals — and take one off the list 🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple & everywhere you get podcasts 🌐 Learn more or donate to the Out of Office Fund: offworque.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Dominicana, entrepreneur, and mother Ashley Flete — and this time, we’re talking about strength, purpose, and doing it scared. Ashley walks us through her career journey, from working as a news anchor to suing her former employer in a class action lawsuit — and how that moment of risk opened the door for so many others. We also get into spiritual growth, being used as a vessel, her connection to FAMU, and what “redefining strength” really means. This one will leave you empowered, emotional, and feeling like healing really is possible. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple & YouTube. ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps for Part 2 00:00 – Welcome back (Part 2) 01:00 – From anchor desk to lash tech: career pivots and identity 04:00 – Losing the job, filing the lawsuit, finding her voice 07:00 – “God used me as a vessel” — speaking up & getting red-flagged 09:00 – Lessons from the industry: contracts, self-worth, and trusting timing 11:00 – Teaching advocacy through example 12:00 – Redefining strength for the next generation 15:00 – The FAMU effect: choosing an HBCU as a Dominicana 18:00 – Divine timing, Will Packer, and God’s alignment 20:00 – Spiritual awakening through motherhood 23:00 – “Why am I worried when God got me?” 26:00 – Making space for faith to work 29:00 – Stop praying the same prayer if you already gave it to God 30:00 – Religion vs spirituality 31:00 – Cookie break! Selena Gomez’s horchata Oreos 😂 35:00 – Reflections, gratitude, and feeling light after the conversation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Growing Up Spanglish, we’re joined by Dominican-American media host, marketing coordinator, FAMU grad, and proud mama Ashley Flete for the first of a two-part conversation about parenting, boundaries, and healing out loud. Ashley grew up in a traditional Hispanic household — old-school values, tight-knit family, summers in DR. But now as a mother, she’s raising her daughter with more intention, more emotional safety, and a different kind of love. In Part 1, we talk about: Choosing not to rush into marriage for tradition’s sake Reparenting yourself while raising your kid Saying no to old expectations — even from your own family Teaching your child to feel, speak up, and set boundaries And redefining what respect looks like in a modern Latino family Whether you’re a parent, a cycle breaker, or healing your inner child — this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now and come back next week for Part 2. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Word of the Day: Criar (to raise) 02:00 – Meet Ashley: Dominicana, mama, FAMU grad, creative 04:00 – Growing up with both sets of grandparents & big family values 06:00 – What generational commitment looks like through Ashley’s eyes 10:00 – When you realize your parents were hurting too 11:00 – Rejecting the pressure to marry just because you’re pregnant 13:00 – Breaking cycles + earning your parents’ respect as an adult 18:00 – Parenting with intention: how Ashley parents her 6-year-old differently 24:00 – Boundaries, being seen, and asking: “Do you still love me if I stop playing the role?” 27:00 – From people-pleasing to self-rediscovery 30:00 – Teaching her daughter consent, emotional processing, and critical thinking 33:00 – Passing on Dominican culture: food, dance, and summer trips to DR 36:00 – The “grandparent effect” – how they’re softer with grandkids 39:00 – Addressing mental health + the guilt of healing when they didn’t get to 46:00 – “Your ceiling is your kid’s floor”: rethinking generational privilege 50:00 – Do I owe my parents a seat at the table? 53:00 – Learning to say: I love you, and this still hurt me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of our conversation with Peruvian-American singer Marcel Ledoux, we explore music, identity, and the pressure to be culturally “authentic.” Marcel opens up about his artistic evolution, the tension between creativity and belonging, and what it means to reconnect with your heritage — even if you didn’t grow up speaking the language. 🎙️ We talk Drake, Bad Bunny, NSYNC, the power of vulnerability, and Marcel’s upcoming music project — built around identity, healing, and real-life emotions. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Previously on Growing Up Spanglish… 01:00 – Optimism bias & the illusion of safety 02:00 – A Black men’s book club, sparked by his son 03:00 – Why Bad Bunny feels authentic (and Drake doesn’t) 06:30 – What it means to “plant your flag” for your people 08:00 – Genre-hopping vs. cultural ownership 09:00 – Is Drake just playing a role? 10:30 – Take Care, vulnerability, and the “cool guy” shift 13:00 – Genre rules: why hip hop doesn’t get grace 14:00 – Shaboozey, cowboys & country rap 15:00 – When the music doesn’t match the story 16:00 – Can artists still evolve and be real? 17:30 – Artists who changed the game: GOAT talk 20:00 – Why authenticity always wins 21:00 – Marcel’s own musical evolution 24:30 – Happy-sad music & resisting the industry “product” 26:30 – Writing through depression: “Everything’s Fine” 29:00 – Why Marcel struggles with the “product” of being an artist 30:00 – Paying homage vs. crossing a cultural line 31:00 – The moment he was given “permission” to claim his Peruvian identity 34:00 – Roxy’s final words: This is your green light to explore your heritage 🎧 Part 1 is live now — go back and listen if you missed it! 👇 Like, rate & share if this episode spoke to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marcel Ledoux joins Roxy and Kovi to talk about growing up Peruvian-American, feeling disconnected from his culture, and the identity crisis that shaped his life. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we explore what it means to feel like an outsider in your own culture, how therapy sparked a healing journey, and why reclaiming identity isn’t always simple. Timestamps: 00:00 – Word of the Day: “Pertenencia” 01:50 – Can you be Hispanic and not feel like it? 03:10 – Marcel’s disconnect from his culture 05:20 – Cultural guilt and white-passing privilege 09:00 – Connecting to Peruvian roots through food 10:30 – Visiting Peru… someday 13:00 – Living in the past, present, or future? 17:30 – Regret, therapy, and father wounds 22:00 – Talking through trauma with family 24:30 – Releasing expectations of parents 28:50 – Seeing your parents as people 34:45 – Gender roles and emotional vulnerability in men 41:00 – Liking your partner vs. just loving them 45:00 – Loneliness, community, and the fear of being forgotten 48:00 – Divide within the Hispanic community 49:30 – Black and Hispanic solidarity: the tension and the truth 54:00 – If it can happen to them, it can happen to you 57:00 – Why community matters more than ever 🎙️ Part 2 drops next week — subscribe so you don’t miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Miami artist @Coinslot, we dive deeper into the role of art in activism, why separating the artist from the art is so complex, and how today’s culture is shaped by social media, stan behavior, and censorship. We also explore the making of his evolving universe of original characters, and the future of art in the age of AI and digital pressure. This episode is about growth, nuance, and creating anyway — even when the world tries to cancel you. Timestamps 00:00 – Picking up where we left off 01:00 – Lex the Copycat: The origin story 03:30 – Growing up as “the kid who drew” 05:00 – No participation trophies, only first place 06:00 – “I’m the next Walt Disney” 08:00 – Can you separate the art from the artist? 11:30 – R. Kelly, Kanye, Disney & cancel culture 15:00 – Stan culture and obsession online 20:00 – Social media, rage bait & fake outrage 24:30 – The loneliness behind keyboard warriors 25:00 – What makes art great in its time 27:00 – Artists being silenced by fear and platforms 29:00 – Blue chip art vs. social media influence 31:00 – NFTs, toxic communities & creative burnout 33:00 – Using AI as a tool, not a threat 34:00 – Building a comic book universe 36:00 – Why Miami needs a creative renaissance 38:00 – A gift that brings Coinslot to tears 39:00 – What this podcast is really about 🎙️ Hosted by @ohroxc & @kovi___j 🎥 Recorded at @co.labstudiosmiami 🧩 Guest: @coinslot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful two-part episode, Roxy and KJ sit down with Cuban-Honduran artist Coinslot, whose bold art and bolder opinions have sparked conversation across Miami and online. From growing up in the 305 to navigating the politics of identity, immigration, and social media, this episode dives deep into the personal stories and cultural tensions that shape our communities. Whether you agree or not, this episode is an open dialogue about why people believe what they believe — and why understanding that matters more than ever. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Word of the Day: “Chevere” 03:00 – Meet Coinslot: Art, culture, and growing up in Miami 06:00 – Family, immigration stories, and the artist hustle 08:30 – Social media: A necessary evil or toxic trap? 11:00 – AI, creativity, and losing jobs to the algorithm 14:00 – Are we living in a simulation? 16:00 – Media manipulation, riots, and algorithmic control 18:00 – Why did some immigrants vote for Trump? 21:00 – Colorism in Hispanic communities and political choices 23:00 – Controversy, criticism, and why Coinslot wore the red hat 26:00 – A personal story: Coinslot’s mom and the broken immigration system 29:00 – Cuba, the Bay of Pigs, and mistrust in U.S. policy 33:00 – KJ on history, economy, and pandemic-era fallout 36:00 – Proximity to whiteness and assimilation politics 39:00 – Where are the leaders? What we’ve lost since Malcolm X 41:00 – Final thoughts before the break: Hope, accountability, and change This is just Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week where we explore Coinslot’s art, creative process, and more of the story behind the murals you know. Recorded at CoLab Studios in the heart of Miami. Follow us: IG: @grwinupspanglish | @ohroxc | @kovi_j Guest: @Coinslot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to create legacy when the system tells you you don’t belong? In this powerful episode, Roxy and KJ sit down with Venezuelan-born creative and DACA recipient Dani Cardenas, founder of Tiny Stage Entertainment. Dani shares her family’s harrowing escape from political persecution in Venezuela, growing up undocumented in New York, and how she turned fear into fuel by building one of Miami’s most impactful creative platforms. From immigration, identity, and internet culture to purpose, privilege, and community — this is one of our most vulnerable and eye-opening conversations to date. 🎧 Tap in to learn how purpose, community, and compassion can change everything. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro + Word of the Day: “Alcancé” 04:30 – Meet Dani Cardenas: Venezuelan roots & family history 07:20 – Fleeing Venezuela: Political persecution & survival 10:50 – Starting over in New York & moving to Miami 16:30 – Venezuela vs. U.S.: Propaganda, power & perspective 20:30 – The dangers of distraction & social media culture 26:45 – What is DACA? Dani’s story as a Dreamer 36:00 – Lobbying as an 8th grader + learning English in a year 40:00 – Being in legal limbo + what DACA really means 48:00 – Building Tiny Stage: From passion to community platform 54:00 – Miami’s creative scene then vs. now 1:00:00 – The loneliness epidemic & why real community matters 1:06:00 – What legacy looks like for Dreamers 1:10:00 – Purpose over popularity 1:13:00 – Final reflections + why compassion is key Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Growing Up Spanglish, artist and curator Lauryn Lawrence joins Roxy and Kovi to talk about growing up Afro-Caribbean in South Florida, preserving culture through food, and choosing tenderness over transaction in art and identity. From stew peas and short hair to photography and feminism, Lauryn keeps it real, raw, and rooted. Timestamp Guide: [00:00:00] Intro + Spanish Word of the Day: Colegio [00:02:50] Meet Lauryn Lawrence: Artist, curator, Afro-Latina storyteller [00:04:10] Growing up in Miramar + favorite Caribbean dishes [00:07:30] Food as cultural memory: stew peas, sancocho, family recipes [00:10:00] The power of family archives and handwritten photo notes [00:11:30] Photography as personal storytelling vs. freelance work [00:14:45] Shifting from transactional to tender creative practice [00:18:30] On being raised by storytellers + choosing an art path [00:21:00] Switching majors, moving to London, and betting on purpose [00:24:00] What curators actually do + intersectional feminist lens [00:27:00] Feminism, womanhood, and personal definitions of freedom [00:29:00] Hair politics, identity, and Lauryn’s big chop journey [00:36:30] Roxy’s short hair rebellion + the “pixie intimidation” theory [00:41:00] Body image, family affirmations, and internalized voices [00:47:30] Curating the algorithm: digital self-defense tools [00:51:30] Combating insecurity with presence, hobbies, and community [00:55:00] Lauryn’s dream curations + championing visibility in art [01:00:00] The power of showing up, softness, and shared storytelling [01:03:30] Outro + Roselyn’s final thoughts 🎙 Hosted by: @ohroxc (Roxy) & Kovi 🎨 Guest: @laurynn_l , laurynlawrence.com 📍 Recorded at CoLab Studios, Miami www.letscolab.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being sentenced to federal prison, Amanda and Legend wrote over 300 letters to each other — letters that would eventually become the foundation of their nonprofit, 300 Letters. In this powerful episode, they join Roselyn to share their journey from incarceration to inspiration. We talk about: Growing up in survival mode What it really means to be labeled a “felon” How incarceration impacts entire families — not just individuals Rebuilding after prison, raising emotionally-aware sons, and founding a nonprofit that’s rewriting the system This episode is raw, honest, and full of the kind of healing our community needs to hear. 🎧 Listen now and support Amanda and Legend’s work at 300letters.org. 🎭 Attend their Masquerade of Miracles Gala on June 5th in Miami → Get tickets here 📲 Follow them on Instagram: @300letters ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Spanish Word of the Week: Embarazada 04:00 – Meet Amanda & Legend 08:00 – Growing up in survival mode 12:30 – From college student to indictment 17:00 – Why incarceration is a family issue 26:00 – Finding out she was pregnant in prison 31:00 – The truth about medical care while incarcerated 39:00 – The cost of prison on families 45:00 – Reentry and healing through 300 Letters 52:00 – Redefining “felon” and changing the narrative 1:07:00 – Raising emotionally-aware kids 1:13:00 – Starting a nonprofit as returning citizens 1:19:00 – Real success story from a 300 Letters family 1:22:00 – Gala info + final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Season 3 premiere, Roselyn sits down with Puerto Rican multidisciplinary artist ⁠D’ana, aka COVL⁠, to talk about growing up in Miami, navigating the in-between of cultural identity, and creating art that heals. From the word of the day (mudanza) to the challenges of being “Latina enough,” this episode is full of laughter, love, and real talk about the diaspora experience. ⏱️ Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome back! Duolingo owl is dead, and Roselyn is teaching us Spanish now 01:45 – Word of the Day: Mudanza – what does it mean and why it matters 04:00 – Meet D’ana / COVL – Miami-born, Puerto Rican artist redefining creativity 06:00 – The Miami that raised us: salsa, color, chaos, and community 10:00 – Navigating identity as a Boricua not from the island or New York 13:00 – The pain of not being “Puerto Rican enough” — diaspora tensions 16:00 – “No sabo” kids and owning your Spanglish experience 19:00 – Where is the Puerto Rican community in Miami? 22:00 – Orlando, Kissimmee, and the realest Puerto Rican parties in Florida 26:00 – Growing up Latina in a predominantly white Florida town 30:00 – Culture, pride, and plastic couches — childhood stories from PR 36:00 – Creating from inner child healing and the emotional weight of art 41:00 – Breaking free from brand validation and finding creative freedom 48:00 – How D’ana negotiates with brands (and when she walks away) 51:00 – Manifesting a collab with Bad Bunny 👀 53:00 – Building in the metaverse — bringing la isla into digital worlds 56:00 – Chosen family, deep friendships, and safe spaces 1:00:00 – Giving back to our communities and showing up with purpose 1:02:00 – Who gets to decide if you’re Latina enough? (Hint: not them.) 1:06:00 – Final thoughts on unity, heritage, and creating your own story

In the season 2 finale of 'Growing Up Spanglish,' host Roxy visits Cafe Antilles in Little Caribbean, Brooklyn. Joined by cafe owners Drew and Erick, they discuss their connection to Miami, their Caribbean roots, and the unique cultural blend that inspired their menu. The episode delves into their college days as fraternity brothers at Johnson & Wales University, the importance of Dominican and Haitian camaraderie, and the founding of Antilles Cafe. The episode also highlights the importance of business acumen, community, hospitality, and the uplifting role of family traditions. Concluding with future aspirations, Drew and Erick hope to expand the cafe globally, promoting Caribbean and African diaspora unity and excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 'Growing Up Spanglish,' host Roxy sits down with Miami DJ, Kamari Esson, at CoLab Studios. Kamari shares his family's Cuban heritage and their unbelievable migration story. He also discusses how his diverse musical tastes influenced his DJ career and reflects on the post-COVID club scene in Miami, celebrity encounters, and the unspoken rules of DJing. The episode is a heartfelt blend of nostalgia, family traditions, and the unique history of Miami's growth and gentrification, wrapped up with memories of childhood comforts like favorite cookies and vaca frita. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Abe Acay shares his incredible life story. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Abe opens up about his Afro-Cuban heritage and the challenges his family faced, including his father's political imprisonment and their emigration to the USA in 1991. Abe discusses his early passion for performing arts, growing up in culturally rich Hialeah, and the impact of his parents' untimely passing on his life. Abe's journey from Miami's vibrant arts scene to teaching theater resonates deeply as he reflects on identity, cultural heritage, and finding purpose through creativity and mentoring. The episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, community, and the transformative power of the arts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Tony M. Centeno, also known as Tony MC, a Cuban and Puerto Rican music journalist. He opens up about deciding between speaking English or Spanish in elementary school and how it affected him. The conversation dives into the influence of Latin music, discovering reggaeton in his teen years and his experiences interviewing high-profile Latin artists like Ozuna and Anuel. We also get to hear about the importance of brotherhood & mentorship through his fraternity, Lambda Theta Phi. And of course, we couldn’t let Tony pass by and not discuss Kendrick vs Drake and the state of hip hop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Roxy and KJ talk with Mario De Los Santos, aka Telescope Thieves, about his Dominican heritage, growing up in the Hialeah park system, and his diverse musical journey from rap group to dance-rock band member. The conversation also delves into Mario’s transition from music to software development, spurred by the pandemic as well as the decision to step back from his DJ career to finding happiness and balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendy Giovanna shares her life story of moving from Colombia to the U.S. at the age of six, dealing with the challenges of undocumented status, family separation, and growing up mostly alone. Wendy discusses the strain her parents' pursuit of the American dream placed on their marriage, her subsequent spiritual journey and passion for art. We touch on Christina Aguilera and Shakira, contextualizing their artistic journeys within broader discussions about identity and heritage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Marin discusses her Colombian heritage, life in West Palm Beach, and her diverse career from soccer to the music industry to motherhood. We explore the intersection of cultural identity, dating interracially, and the balance between artistic integrity and modern marketing techniques like TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Ricky Perez, a Salvadoran-American from West Palm Beach. Ricky discusses his journey from graphic design to owning Zipitios, a Mesoamerican taqueria. He shares his experiences hosting 'Tacos & Hip Hop' parties and his family's immigration story. Listen as he highlights his culinary inspirations from Mexico and his plans to open a restaurant in a now safer El Salvador. The episode underscores his passion for food, culture, and community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we sit down with Shanice, an Afro-Latina of Costa Rican descent. The discussion delves into personal experiences with colorism and racism, reflecting on family dynamics, societal expectations, ethical travel, and the importance of community. Additionally, it highlights the pivotal role of nurturing young black girls and preserving cultural legacies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices