Adult Nonfiction Episodes

A missing history finally told. Author Rick Najera joins us to discuss his ambitious new project, The Latino Family Chronicles, starting with the gold-standard saga of the d'Escoto family in Love, Truth, and Loyalty. Listen to the true story of how one powerful Nicaraguan family risked everything: political power, fortune, and safety to protect their lineage and forge a new life. Najera explains the urgency behind documenting these stories and why the d'Escoto story sets the standard for the ent...

In this empowering episode, we sit down with Hady Mendez, author of Calladita No More: My Latina Journey and the Lessons that Shaped Me. Hady shares her pivotal transition from feeling pressured to be the "little quiet one" to becoming a powerful, outspoken leader. She dives into the cultural sayings (refranes) that shaped her life, and offers practical strategies for self-advocacy and succeeding as an underestimated professional in the corporate world. Prepare to be inspired to find your voice and own your narrative. Listen now at LatinoBookChat.com

Join us as we dive into Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson, a powerful and poignant memoir by Julio Lucero. Julio Lucero's book is a collection of autobiographical stories about his experiences working in his family's Mexican restaurant, Julio's Cafe, in Hyde Park, Texas. The book is not a single narrative but a series of "snapshots" that cover themes like Mexican gastronomy, business, and lessons in language and culture. It offers a humorous and heartfelt look at the reality of running a family-owned restaurant, exploring the relationships, challenges, and traditions that come with it. It’s described as a love letter to family, food, and the chaos of the restaurant business.

In today's episode we’re going to discuss a memoir that has touched my heart and made me think about the complexities of family, memory, and art. The book is called One Last Song for My Father: A Son’s Memoir by Edwin Fontánez. One Last Song for My Father is a tribute to the author’s father, a tinsmith and musician who suffered from dementia for the last sixteen years of his life. The book is a blend of personal narrative, poetry, photographs, and artwork that explores the author’s relationship with his father. This is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the people in your life who have shaped you in ways you may not realize. It is a book that celebrates the power of art to heal, connect, and transcend.

Hola Ranger: My Journey Through the National Parks by David Vela is a memoir of his life story, from growing up in the farmlands of Southeast Texas, to visiting his first national park, to working in various parks across the country, to becoming the first Latino acting director for the National Park Service. David Vela share a lot of personal stories and insights into what it takes to protect and preserve our nation’s most special places.

Maritere Bellas' award winning book Arroz con Pollo y Apple Pie: Raising Bicultural Children chats about her journey as a bilingual and bicultural advocate. Her love for the Spanish language and her native Puerto Rican culture led her to publish her first bilingual picture book Luisito's Island, and now is followed by I have a Secret part of the Yunito book series. Listen to this interesting chat.

Dr. Silvia Casabianca has researched for decades the role of love and empathy in the preservation of the human specie. Her new book Heartminded emphasizes that humans are born with a capacity to have empathic feelings which are needed to save us from our own destruction. You can purchase a copy of Dr. Casabianca's book at NicaGal.com http://nicagal.com/NicaGal_nuestra_tienda.html