This podcast retells the story of Elias Contreras, a Zapatista indigenous investigator, who was assigned to make a social x ray of Mexico and attempts on the way to cross the US/Mexico border. We discuss the story and its significance today.

Breaking Borders within our own Communities: Discussion Elias Contreras at the Border

In today’s episode, will be speaking with Justin, AKA Blaze, an East Bay born and raised. He is one of many artists that contributed to the multiple murals that took over downtown Oakland after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. He will be sharing his journey as an artist and his thought on what it means to be in solidarity with a movement.

Plywood Stories: Season 1 Episode 1

On this episode of Plywood Stories, we are talking with artist Lauren Daniels, a.k.a. Peezy, or @piecesbypeezy on instagram. She painted a mural in Oakland last summer amid the Black Lives Matter protests and the murder of George Floyd, which grabbed attention through its bold colors and a bold quote from Malcom X, putting the young artist on a path full of potential.

Plywood Stories Season 1 Episode 3

In this fifth episode of the Plywood Stories project we interview two artists: Keena and El Maldito. They talk about the intersections between art, spirituality, activism. You can find them on Instagram @lamakina510 and @elmalditoarte.

Plywood Stories Season 1 Episode 4

Co-hosts Elisa, Clare, and Prairie interview muralist KeeneVisions on his journey on becoming an artist from Seattle to creating portrait-like murals in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. We discuss how he chooses which public figures to be the central point of his murals and his process on organizing with the local communities where his murals will be displayed.

Plywood Stories: Season 1 Episode 2

Welcome to the first episode of the Ethnic Studies Changemaker Project "Scaffolding Stories/Building Communities". Today we will talk to our director Dr. Pablo Gonzalez on the events in Wisconsin. You can reach us at ssbc.berkeley.edu

Ethnic studies Changemaker Podcast: Our Word is our Weapon Ep. 1

This podcast discusses solitary confinement and the impact on people.

Solitary Confinement Podcast

This podcast episode series is titled, “Revolución de las Palabras: Durito's Stories of Hope and Resistance” On the first part we introduce Durito, a beetle character imagined by SubComandante Marcos of the EZLN. Durito serves as a learning tool to tell the story of Zapatismo and the challenges of the worlds they face. In this podcast, our team provides a reading of the stories of Durito with comical dialogue to entice a broader aged audience. We include a reading of the story in English and in Spanish. This first episode focuses on the first story where SubComandante Marcos has the first interaction with Durito.

Revolucion De Las Palabras Podcast

The San Joneras Podcast is a space to empower, show resistance, and create change. This podcast grew out of the interest, struggle, and passion three San Jose residents, Nathalia, Sarah, and Ciara had in regards to the gentrification of the city and communities and the closure of the Pulga that follows. We wanted to express the realities and downsides of the growth of Silicon Valley, such as the Bart, the new developments, and businesses, and its effects on the sacred common spaces de nuestra comunidad, San Jose. This podcast expands on our Social X-rays, analyzing the ways the communities and vendors have resisted, the struggles, our own experiences with the Pulga, and the evident parallels with the Zapatistas.

Las San Joneras: El Otro San José

"Living Latino: A Varied Experience" examines diverse Latinx narratives in the U.S., exploring immigration, gender, LGBTQIA+ identities, and activism. Through personal stories and historical analysis, it highlights resilience, challenges stereotypes, critiques systemic inequities, and celebrates Latinx resistance, urging solidarity and embracing the multifaceted  realities of living Latinx.


Living Latino: A Varied Experience Podcast

This podcast episode explores the challenges faced by Latina immigrants in the workforce focusing on the struggles of union work, language barriers, workplace insecurity, and
cultural and gender norms. We will speak about the many Latina immigrant workers who work
in various jobs such as housecleaning and agriculture work that have a limited amount of English knowledge who also face the lack of job security as immigrants are restricted from employment benefits, healthcare, and upward mobility in the workplace. Additionally, we will also talk about the societal expectations and machismo that has bound Latina immigrants to stay at home and become homemakers without any opportunity to work outside the household and gain financial independence. Lastly, to address feminist movements we will discuss key female figures specifically in union work that helped start the process of unionizing that have given many Latinas the opportunity to voice their struggles in the workplace

Las Chismosas Podcast: Latina Migrant Labor

Recent political developments have highlighted the way in which the political landscape, cultural associations, and economic incentives have largely shifted to the right, reinforcing anti-immigration rhetoric. Whether the framing of immigration has been positive or negative, it has been shaped by factors of legality and contribution (whether monetary or physical) across the political spectrum. In this podcast, we investigate how contemporary developments and rhetoric has influenced modern immigration policies and construction of American identity. Ranging from the use of language framing immigration to the expectations of immigrants, the criteria' set in the U.S. requires immigrants to demonstrate their worthiness to a country that has historically targeted and scapegoated waves of immigrants. 



How Capitalism has Influenced Political Policies and Culture on Immigration

In this episode, we dive into the critical issues surrounding farmworkers in the United States. We explore the overall treatment of these essential workers, examining their physical and mental health challenges, the rights they are afforded–or denied–and the political implications of their status today. Despite their vital role in the agricultural sector, farm workers often face dangerous working conditions, lack access to healthcare, and struggle with the fear of deportation. We discuss the systemic barriers that impede their rights and well-being but also highlight the inspiring efforts of advocacy groups pushing for meaningful reforms. Listeners will gain insights into how they can contribute to the movement for farmworker rights, including ways to raise awareness, support relevant legislation, and engage in community organizing. Join us as we seek to amplify the voices of those who cultivate our food and explore actionable steps toward justice and equity for farmworkers in Amerikkka.



Health, Rights, and Advocacy Podcast: The Plight of Farmworkers

The Latine diaspora of the United States is a product of the imperial meddling of American capitalism. Millions of people over the past century fled their homelands, left underdeveloped by the ires of imperialism, north, to the very nation that perpetuated their poverty, in hopes of finding a means to provide for their families through their labor. They sought the fabled American Dream. As time marched on, the descendants of these immigrants are still in search of this dream, with the path leading them to college: the long touted golden ticket to upward social mobility. This podcast examines the story of first generation Latino college students in the context of the educational attainment of their parents. We sought to gain insight into how our college careers and perceptions of schooling were influenced by the material realities of our parents, and how such conditions spurred multi-generational challenges in this multi-generational search for the American Dream. 


Generational Borders Podcast

A large portion of Latino immigrants within the US face many barriers when it comes to accessing quality healthcare services. Factors such as lack of health insurance; language barriers; financial barriers; and distrust in medical record keeping systems, limit Latino immigrant access to quality healthcare. By exploring topics related to Latino immigrant health care such as: access to community clinics; access to mental health services; linguistic barriers; the role of cultural competence in access to health care; and distrust in medical record keeping systems, we aim to better understand the complex, intersectional relationship between Latino immigrants and access to healthcare. Specifically, we will be looking at questions such as: (a) Why are members of the Latino immigrant community afraid to access health care services?, (b) What factors create gaps in access to quality physical and mental health care in the community?, (c) How does cultural and linguistic incompetence by mental health professionals impact access to mental health care?, and (d) How is our community limited and discouraged from utilizing quality health care services?


Sana Sana Con Oski Podcast

In our podcast, “Contaminated Files”, we discuss the disproportionate environmental issues faced by Hispanic communities in Riverside, Santa Maria, and Imperial Beach. We highlight the health effects of industrial pollution in Riverside, the harmful health effects of agricultural pesticides on farmworkers in Santa Maria, and the neglected sewage problem in Imperial Beach. All of which are predominantly hispanic cities. We also discuss topics like the H-2A visas, which acts as a revamping of the Bracero program and has strong historical and contemporary implications on border policy. Through these discussions, the podcast focuses on the overlap between environmental justice and labor rights within the Hispanic community.


Contaminated Files: Dissecting the Intersections of Environmental Justice, Immigration, and BIPOC Communities

Stripped: Stories of the Zoot Suit Riots

The Bracero Program was a labor agreement between Mexico and the United States that brought millions of Mexican agricultural workers north to the US between 1942 and 1964. The Bracero Program ended sixty years ago but its echoes are still heard today. This podcast explores the lesser known history of queer braceros and indigenous laborers, whose experiences challenge the traditional narratives of masculinity, identity, and belonging as well as how the program shaped the American labor force, Mexican family structures, and Chicano identity. While men left to work across the border, women often stayed behind, providing reproductive labor by tending to the home and children. This separation of families created new gender dynamics which influenced the ideas of masculinity, femininity, and responsibility. These patterns echo through generations of Mexican and Mexican American families. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SYjZYCrI9gaOqwVPlEOW5cLVAgMd9QxUQJb4T868J24/edit?usp=sharing

Raices Y Rutas Podcast

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p8dlkgvBXROJrOf5rFTYBrTHuz9XVKB6/edit?usp=sharing&rtpof=true&sd=true

Murals and Migration: The Art of Josué Rojas

This episode threads together how culture, identity, and real-world barriers shape the Latino vote. We first visit how Traditional Machismo and Caballerismo shape Latino politics, serving as a foundation to understanding the intersection of Latino culture and their respective political ideology. Furthermore, we explore the concept of proximity to whiteness and how it manifests within Latinx communities; there is a discussion of how white supremacist ideals influence non-white people to engage in behaviors with groups that bring violence to non-white populations. We point to how whiteness in Latinidad influences both feelings of power and inferiority. A personal story is used to illustrate as an example for the conditional and temporary nature of the “protection” that comes with this proximity to whiteness. We then move into the ways education can affect Latino voting decisions and the rhetoric that is used to persuade Latino voters. Beyond education, we discuss the many barriers to voting, from economic reasons to legal and social ones and thereby the growth of conservatism. Finally, we trace the ripple effects of California’s Proposition 187 and its effects on Latino politics. Tied to Proposition 187, we debunk the persistent myth of undocumented immigrants voting in U.S elections and we discuss the ongoing criminalization of Latino political participation under the guise of “election integrity”. In this episode, we aim to shed light and simultaneously understand MAGA Latinos and the driving forces, from psychologically to culturally behind their vote, including the state’s positionality through politics and policy. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qEJ-CfT4BH6A5VLgTNecj73-GAo1Gd4-viUM288veD8/edit?usp=sharing

Los Chingonxs podcast

Sala de Espera is a student-led podcast exploring the immigrant experience within the American healthcare system. Each episode examines the barriers that immigrants face when accessing care — from language differences and financial struggles to the fear of being questioned about immigration status.
The podcast also sheds light on how these systemic challenges can lead to dehumanization and chronic toxic stress, while uplifting community programs and new policies that seek to expand access and equity.
Sala de Espera serves as both a platform and a safe space — inviting listeners to reflect, learn, and advocate for a healthcare system that welcomes everyone with dignity and compassion.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Um3e7dgGmySZbqF_9NuHY1VyEP8bltJsnikNSPaf9QY/edit?usp=sharing

Sala De Espera podcast

When one speaks of essential workers they often mention law enforcement, firefighters, and doctors. Our group realized that we rarely hear people mention agricultural workers when the topic arises, however without them America would collapse. This led us into a larger conversation on the fact that the importance of labor workers in general often goes unrecognized. Not only does this work go unnoticed, but as a result their struggles do too. We wanted to challenge this common perception and decided to dedicate our podcast to doing so. 
The Essential Hand podcast focuses on labor rights by providing context, updates, and options on how to support different issues. In our first episode we focus on immigrant agricultural worker’s rights and health in the Central Valley. In the episode we will provide context on the issue, explain the main exposures that are a risk to health, and discuss impacts to the right to health care. 
Immigrants are often viewed as disposable, they are only valuable to America when their labor can be exploited. They are treated poorly by countless industries, but especially by the agricultural industry. They work with dangerous machinery and toxins daily which pose detrimental and even life threatening risk. This is often ignored by society who is not conscious enough about what goes into agricultural production. Immigrant laborers lack the resources to combat these issues alone and when they find themselves to be victim to health consequences they lack the resources to receive health care. Through our podcast we hope to inform more people on the topic and move them to action.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1661yVJEmizQWn9-DmiWHIBVbmQTTv1FHzBndyPR47PQ/edit?usp=sharing

The Essential Hand Podcast

This episode details the historical and political policies that form the U.S’s relationship with Central America, providing an overview on the Monroe Doctrine, the coup led to overthrow Jacobo Arbenz and how this (and similar events) further developed the U.S power over the Central Americas therefore destabilizing the communities and economies of these regions. We explore the economic motivations behind the U.S’s insistent power grabs and manipulation of the Panama Canal and how this made it unlivable for many people, naturally leading to increased migration. We dive into what the U.S’s economic-driven decisions actually looked like for the individuals experiencing the other end of the U.S’s gun, how they lived, died, and prevailed. From how the U.S’s newfound control of the Canal created and maintained segregation and racial hierarchy systems for West Indian and Latin American workers to the genocide of Mayan communities in Guatemala. We speak on invisible communities and how the systems the U.S put in place have continued to breed poverty, violence, and instability for those who survive the U.S’s so called "altruism” in their country of origin. The episode also covers the U.S soiled hands in the training of Central American militaries that went out to enact barbarous atrocities in their own lands and the manipulations used to foster these puppets. We conclude by connecting the School of Americas to what the U.S is currently committing in Palestine, how our weapons and military trainings as well as the social manipulation of our own people, is at the scene of yet another genocide. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wqYZfG1S-SbNMVmE1iRyC6Mj4OzUe_3poPR0gLQeJFk/edit?usp=sharing

Radio Simon: Las Casimiran

The American Dream: Misconceptions of the American Dream

Since its inception DACA as a program has been completely misunderstood as a free ticket
to freedom, a get out of jail free card for anyone that asks for it but that couldn’t be farther from
the truth. DACA helped give a life line to thousands of immigrant children who were brought to
this country and give them a second chance at life. Yet this is a double edged sword as its
longevity has never been guaranteed and within this past decade there have already been
multiple attempts to eliminate the program and leave thousands vulnerable. Through various
research and through a first person interview we wish to give a better understanding of DACA’s
timeline, the facts and requirements of the program, as well as what it is like to live with DACA
as its uncertainty remains.

Quemados del sol y de la pluma podcast

For our group podcast we want to talk about border towns (specifically the relationship between San Diego and Tijuana) and the meaning of having the privilege and lack of it, to cross back and forth. We believe that the border holds figurative and literal meaning to those that cross it and especially for those that can't. For some it symbolizes opportunity while for others it's a divide meant to not be crossed. Through our podcast we want to explain the economic difficulties that many border crossers leave Mexico for. As well as how labor in these border towns is especially dependent on the exploitation of the migrant body. Due to the financial toll that crossing the border causes, we wish to investigate the influx of under the table jobs and housing for migrant workers. Through this podcast we hope to communicate that for people who inhabit these border towns a big part of their identity is influenced by both sides of the border. This includes being bicultural and bilingual. Both sides of the border create different experiences that make us think about the systems of labor and power that are interconnected. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vyysy77HkvxDpI6e8Hv6fX8z0z-zkWzXvJ10JljzpjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Lineas Borrosas Podcast: Border Towns

The following student produced podcasts are the final projects of the Chicana/o Studies 159 course, "Mexican and Central American Migration".  Topics vary from radicalization and migration, testimonies of migration, deportations, activism.

Mujeres Movidas Podcast

This Student podcast discusses the impact that Prison location has on the environment.  It is for educational purposes.

Environment State of Mind: Environmental impact on the Carceral System

A podcast that discusses the impact that pollution has on communities.  It discusses the companies that pollute many communities like Richmond, California.  The podcast is part of a class on Latinx and Environmental Justice.  it is for educational purposes.

Profit, Environmental Justice, and California

A podcast on the Hijas de Cuauhtemoc newspaper and the Chicana movement. 

A podcast produced by students in the Chicano Studies 50 course at UC Berkeley

Hijas de Cuauhtemoc: A podcast on the Chicana Movement

A podcast dedicated to the life and impact of Sub-comandanta Ramona of the EZLN. 


The podcast is student created as part of the Chicano Studies 50 course at UC Berkeley

Comandanta Ramona Cultivating Liberation Podcast

This podcast discusses the EZLN (Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional). It discusses the origins and impact the Zapatistas have had in Mexico and across the world.

This podcast was produced by students at the University of California Berkeley.

El EZLN: A podcast on the Zapatistas

This podcast is the first in a series of podcasts on the East Los Angeles Blowouts of 1968. The East LA blowouts were the largest student walk outs during the formative period of the Chicano movement. This first episode talks with walkout leaders on the organizing and events that took place in the spring of 1968. 

This podcast is part of the UC Berkeley Chicano Studies class on Chicano History.

Episode 1 - East L.A. Walkouts Podcast

a podcast from below and to the Left.
Un podcast de abajo y a la izquierda.

Radio Caracol de Berkeley

Pinned to spotlight

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