Some big, bittersweet news, amores - after almost 9 (!!!) years producing a weekly podcast, with over 300 episodes under our belts, we’re bringing Radio Menea to a close. In this final episode, we talk about that decision, what is next for this project, and Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Bad Bunny parting gift to us. Featuring music by Bad Bunny ..read more

Only the crumbling of our nation state could make Vero actually care about Latinx celebrity chisme, pero aqui estamos! We’re finding solace in distraction, gossip and some of our favorite tracks to close out this year. Cuidense amores, and we’ll see you in 2025. Featuring music by Ryan Castro, Maisak, Xavi, Rauw Alejandro, Laura Pausini, Yahritzia y Su Esencia, MJ Nebreda, Prince Royce, Gabito Ballesteros, CERO39, Ruzzi, Leon Leiden, Ximena Sariñana. Show notes: bit.ly/49rmtOH Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin ..read more

The US-Mexico border is many things: a divisive political fact, a total fiction, home to many Latinx people and an arena of major cultural influence. For today’s episode, we take a look at some of the music that has arisen from this part of the country, and the social and political forces that influence life and art in this liminal space. Featuring music by Gaytan y Cantu, Los Tigres del Norte, Freddy Fender, Selena, Chalino Sanchez, Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, Natanael Cano, Bad Bunny, Los Tremendos Gavilanes. Show notes: bit.ly/4e5DSxQ Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.c ..read more

This week, we’re bringing you with us on our trip to Tucson, Arizona, where we gathered with other members of Mijente - a Latinx political home for those who seek racial, economic, gender and climate justice. We can’t remember a time where it didn’t feel appropriate to say it’s a politically rough moment, pero ajá. It’s rough times. And because we believe we need joy to fuel our fight, we asked our compas to tell us - and you! - about the songs that have been fueling them. We hope they fuel you too. Featuring music by Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Bad Bunny, Young Miko, Zeta, Noel Nicola, Alejan ..read more

There have been so many emotions since the reelection of the orange chupacabra—fear, sadness, grief and yes—anger. As everyone gears up for the fight to come, we’re revisiting an 2022 episode from one of the most impactful impacts of his first administration—the Supreme Court’s reversal of 50 years of legal precedent for the right to abortion. Listen in for songs that connect us to our rage, our grief and our joy amidst what feels like constant disaster. Featuring music by La India, Kelis, Sergio George’s Salsa Giants, Mediopicky, Don Omar, La Lupe and Daddy Yankee. Show notes: bit.ly/3OkL6TD ..read more

This week we're re-running an episode exploring the Latin American folk music movement that was La Nueva Canción. Fueled by leftist politics and the integration of indigenous musical elements and instruments, La Nueva Canción produced incredible and inspirational folk music across the region and continues to influence the music we love today. ***Also, we had a math struggle this epi! Violeta Parra was born in 1917, so she was actually in her 50s when she died, not in her 30s! Thank you Christina for pointing it out :) Featuring music by Violeta Parra, Carlos Varela, Atahualpa Yupanqui, Ali Pri ..read more

So...things are feeling more than a little fascist in the USA right now. Todo mal, pero no a falta de resistencia. This week we are re-running an episode from last year in which we talk about the global rise of fascism, historical context around the ebbs and flows of progress and backlash, and of course, the soundtrack of resistance. Whether it’s the musicians who resisted the 1960’s rise of right-wing dictators in Latin America as part of the Nueva Canción movement, artists who are making political resistance music today, or songs that might not be outright political at all, but help us see ..read more

Trico Tri! Today we’re stretching wayyyy back in the archives for our very first jalogüin episode. It’s weird, it’s spooky, there are vampires and brujas and scary things that aren’t our political situation. We know we can all use a little escape right now. Enjoy! Featuring music from Johnny Prez, Total Freedom, Los Rakas, Las Sucias, El Gran Combo, and María y José. Show notes: bit.ly/4huKhVQ Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin ..read more

We’re back with a brand new episode, this time an interview with Shariana Ferrer-Núñez, co-founder of La Colectiva Feminista en Contrucción, a Puerto Rican grassroots group. They were very involved in the 2019 protests that forced the resignation of Governor Ricky Roselló, protests that utilized what came to be known as “perreo combativo.” It’s a really great conversation with Shariana about their broader political work and the role of things like reggaeton and perreo in organizing. The interview is in Spanish. Featuring music by Guaynaa, Kevvo, Farruko and Ankhal. Show notes: bit.ly/48lFKAC F ..read more

This week, we’re re-running a conversation we had with a very special guest: Dominican rapper, producer, and podcast fave Mediopicky. We talked back in 2021 (¡en español!) about his latest releases, collaborations, growing up in a household of four women, and the wide range of music that shaped his sound. He just put out a new album, "el precio de la yuca" earlier this fall — highly recommend — and we thought it was a great time to revisit our chat. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3AeD3nP Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea newsletter: bit.ly/RMjoin ..read more