Locatora Radio [A Radiophonic Novela]

Diosa and Mala worked the red carpet for the 40th Annual Imagen Awards! In this star-studded minisode, you'll hear from Latino actors about the role of the artists during times of political crisis and what they imagine the next 40 years could look like for Latinos in Hollywood. Tune in to hear from: Mayan Lopez,Fabrizio Guido, Manuel Uriza, Jalen Barron, Edward James Olmos, Danny Trejo, Marta Mendez Cross, Rose Portillo, and Helen Fernandez. Special thanks to Arlene Santana and Jackie Valdivia for their assistance in producing this episode. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the season finale, Diosa and Mala do a special IG live episode where they hear directly from their Locamores. This year has been about finding balance, speaking out and showing up authentically while navigating the pressure to blend in. Amidst the realities of the new administration, they unpack how to raise your voice and stay safe in a world where visibility can come with risks. Also, some exciting news! Locatora Radio and Señora Sex Ed are Signal Award finalists AND are up for the Listeners’ Choice Awards! Support us by: vote.signalaward.com Voting closes October 9th, 2025. Lastly, we are wrapping up the season and planning what’s next for Locatora Radio and we’d love your feedback! Take our two-minute anonymous survey and tell us what you enjoyed, what could improve, and what you’d like to hear more of next season. Your answers are completely anonymous, so share your thoughts openly. When you finish, you’ll have the chance to enter our Listener Giveaway for Locatora merch or a $25 gift card. The giveaway form is separate from the survey, so your responses will stay private and anonymous. Take the survey here : https://tally.so/r/3j108J Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From our Indie days at Espacio 1839 to Signal Award Finalists, you've rocked with us the entire time! This nomination isn't just ours, it's our communities too. And we need your help. vote.signalaward.com Voting closes October 9th, 2025. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala reflect on what it means to be critiqued in real time. They've been sitting with a recent critique in a new publication, Radiophonic Feminisms: Latina Voices in the Digital Age of Broadcasting by Ester Díaz Martín. Díaz Martin began her research in 2018, when they were still independent podcasters. Years later, her book was published, and it credits las Locatoras as the creators of “radiophonic." There's a clear shift from an affirmative analysis of the early podcast days to a more complicated critique of growth inside a corporate structure. She points out how their femme sound, feminist ideas, and dynamic shaped early episodes, and how later production process “complicates the feminist praxis.” In this episode, they hold space for expansiveness and evolution to art. How do all of us navigate growth without losing our core values? And how do we balance the nuance of creating within capitalism? Also, some exciting news! Locatora Radio and Señora Sex Ed are Signal Award finalists AND are up for the Listeners’ Choice Awards! Support us by: vote.signalaward.com Voting closes October 9th, 2025. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala unpack the intersections of AI, the creative industry, and the environment. They explore how a startup is creating AI-hosted podcasts, AI tools users can’t opt out of, and why we should all be reading Fahrenheit 451. Diosa and Mala spotlight self-surveillance and the hidden costs of data centers draining water, often in rural, low-income areas which adds layers to environmental racism and community harm. Also, exciting news! Locatora Radio and Señora Sex Ed are Signal Award finalists AND are up for the Listeners’ Choice Awards! Support us by: vote.signalaward.com Voting closes October 9th, 2025. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala reflect on their personal connections to libraries as third spaces, how they used library resources as children (even now as podcasters), and how these experiences tie into larger conversations around achievement gaps. They also discuss the importance of libraries as community spaces and why we need libraries now more than ever! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala speak with LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez about the ICE raids in Los Angeles and the direct attack on immigrant communities. Together, they discuss how to protect our communities, the power and limits cities hold, and why predominately Black and Brown communities are targeted. Councilmember Hernandez plans to run for re-election and shares what it means to be a voice for her district during a tense summer in Los Angeles. NOTE: This interview was recorded before the Supreme Court Ruling on September 8th, 2025. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Diosa and Mala discuss a viral series on TikTok: a woman who falls in love with her psychiatrist and how an AI tool affirms her beliefs. Together, they unpack how ChatGPT, the most popular AI chatbot, and how it's being used as a search engine AND therapy substitute. New research shows continuous and uninterrupted use of AI chatbots can lead to a mental health crisis or AI psychosis. Related Episode: Crash Our Or Crisis? Sources: Woman Who Fell in Love with Her Psychiatrist Speaks Out Chatbots Can Trigger a Mental Health Crisis. What to Know About ‘AI Psychosis’ Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens. The Emerging Problem of "AI Psychosis" Illinois Bans AI Therapy Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala sit down with Jessica Ruvalcaba, the powerhouse Producer at Sazon Studios, a podcast network, behind some of the internet's favorite Latino podcasts. Through her work producing La Plática, Cruda Corner, and Suelta La Lengua, she shares insights into her journey as a producer and what it takes to bring these shows to life. From creative development to pitching we discuss what it's like to be working with media influencers and the evolving landscape of Latino podcasting. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Locatora Radio, Diosa and Mala discuss how the wellness industrial complex, self-help genres, and capitalism package and sell us a "better" version of ourselves. Women face the pressure to always be optimizing: time, money, and even hobbies! In this episode, Diosa and Mala discuss how easy it is to slip into over consuming as a means to find community, identity and belonging. The duo also review their personal reinventions and how they try to keep it sustainable! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, Diosa and Mala speak with Representative Linda Garcia (D-107) about how she and her Texas Democratic colleagues broke quorum to defend democracy. Since fleeing the state, Representative Garcia and her colleagues have faced threats of arrest and physical harm. In this candid interview, Representative Garcia breaks down how she and her colleagues are protecting the constitution, the challenges of being a public servant, and what’s at stake if Trump and Governor Abbot redistrict and gerrymander the state of Texas. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala review plastic surgery trends, Instagram face, and even Mar-A-Lago face. From A-list celebs to influencers, elective cosmetic surgery is more available than ever before. Together, Diosa and Mala discuss beauty standards, surgeries gone wrong, and the pressure to age "gracefully." Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala compare the awkward stages of their creative journeys to their ten-year-old selves. They share memories from their childhood in regards to what they were into, and fast forward to creating their Locatora Radio in 2016. They explore the awkward phases of being 10 seasons in, discovering ways to refresh the show, changing the format, and maintaining the heart of the show. Is Growing up Ever Not Awkward? Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa covers the defunding of public media and broadcasting at the federal level, Time Magazine's, The 100 Best Podcasts of All Time, and listener questions from our infamous Oye Locas segment. The second half of the episode features an interview with award-winning journalist and staff reporter for CALÓ News, Michelle Zacharias. We discuss Michelle’s coverage of immigration raids, the importance of community journalism, how communities are responding to ongoing ICE raids, and the practice of self-care as an on-the-ground reporter and organizer. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode begins with a sensitive subject: Mala shares a startling and xenophobic experience she had while walking her dog in Downtown Los Angeles. This incident leads into today's episode, where Diosa and Mala dive into the women of MAGA, modern-day eugenics, and why having kids feels impossible right now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Diosa and Mala explore the dynamics of romantic and platonic love, and what it looks like to treat our friends with the same care we give to lovers. They dive into the importance of decentering men, prioritizing female friendships, the difference between repairing a friendship versus a romantic relationship, making friends as adults, and the value of spending intentional, quality time together. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Diosa and Mala unpack “Eldest Daughter Syndrome,” recently explored by FIERCE by mitú, diving into the pressure to always be responsible, the emotional toll of raising siblings, and the unspoken role of being the bonus parent. They explore how these early expectations create anxiety, lead to rebellion, and force many eldest daughters to set boundaries later in life. From parentification to possible links with autoimmune illness, they ask: Is the weight of being the eldest daughter making us sick? Articles cited in this episode: FIERCE by mitú: "Is Being the Eldest Daughter Making Us Sick?"FIERCE by mitú: "Social Media Users Are Describing the Eldest Daughter Syndrome and We Feel Painfully Seen"Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Note: This interview was recorded in March 2025 and the interview reflects that period. In this episode, Diosa & Mala chat with Lala Romero to discuss the nostalgia of the 2000s. Before TikTok algorithms, we had MTV3, VH1, and MySpace. These spaces shaped our style, our sound, and our sense of self. From low rise jeans to Amanda Perez, Lala unpacks these iconic moments and how they are still relevant today. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Locatora Radio, Harvey Guillén joins us to talk about queerness, joy, and taking up space in Hollywood. From finding creative ways to pay for acting classes as a kid, to becoming a fan favorite as Guillermo on What We Do in the Shadows, Harvey shares how he’s navigated fatphobia, queer-coded villains, and the power of showing up as his full self. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Diosa and Mala discuss constitutional rights: freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and what happens when protestors and journalists are targeted by law enforcement. From the streets of LA to national headlines, today’s attacks on the media is related to a long history of censorship and resistance. Resources: LA Taco, LA Public Press, NDLON, CHIRLA, & CARECEN . Sources cited in this episode: Why the death of reporter Ruben Salazar 55 years ago resonates with journalists covering LA protests today National Archives: Bill of Rights Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/locatora_productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.