Podcasts: Vaya Con Muñoz
Vaya Con Muñoz
Vaya con Muñoz is hosted by Natalia Muñoz, a multimedia journalist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Interviews and rants and raves on politics, culture and media, in English and en español. Airs Saturdays 10-11am and Sunday nights at 7pm.
Vaya Con Muñoz 4.15.17
IN ENGLISH: Gricel Martínez Ocasio and Nicole Lashomb are the publisher and editor in chief, respectively, of The Rainbow Times, the largest LGBTQ newspaper in New England, now in its 10th year. Here is the link: http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/
Filmmaker Larry Hott says that “The Imposter” is one of the best documentaries he has seen, so that means it is one of the best. Link to trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDjpnpzw4GY
EN ESPAÑOL: Ariadna Goenaga reseña “Stranger Things,” la serie de ciencia ficción presentada por Netflix. Viene la segunda temporada este año, y con razón, dice ella.
Puerto Rican troubadour Roy Brown signs us out with “Boricua en la luna.”
Vaya Con Muñoz 4.8.17
Always worth being reminded that the arts enrich our lives and filmmaker Larry Hott eloquently makes the case for films, be they worthy of popcorn or too good for popcorn.
Larry “Poncho” Brown is a multimedia artist whose exhibit, “Stronger Than Pride” recently closed at Art for The Soul Gallery in Springfield, talks about the plethora of opportunities that artists have to showcase their work in their own stream, never mind the mainstream, thanks to technology. See Poncho’s work here www.TheArtofPonhco.com
We are sung out by Rosario, from Spain, with “Estoy Aquí.” That’s right, we are here.
Image of painting by Larry “Poncho” Brown: “Every Round Goes Higher.”
Vaya Con Muñoz 3.25.17
The rant and the rave: national for profit media to do their jobs without playing the ratings game, which usually ends badly for journalism.
The 12th Annual Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival continues through April 4; lots to see on screens in Hampden, Hampshire and Berkshire counties cities and towns, and lots of opportunities to participate in discussions.More info here: www.pvjff.org.
Diana Mara Henry was the official photographer for the 1977 Women’s Forum in Houston. She attended the Women’s Forum held at Bay Path University in March and talks about inroads gained so far. Denise Jordan, chief of staff for Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, also spoke at the conference.
Michaelann Bewsee, executive director of Arise for Social Justice reassures us that all is not lost. In fact, there is a lot of work to do.
We are sung out by El Topo, a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, with “Solina, Solina.”
Image by permission: “Joe’s Violin” film
Vaya Con Muñoz 3.18.17
Larry Hott and the organizers on the 12th Annual Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival, presented by the Springfield Jewish Community Center, runs March 18 through April 4, 2017, screening 22 films in 9 cities and towns across Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. More info here: http://pvjff.org
Also, Estela López, an educator living in Hartford, originally from Cuba and Puerto Rico, on mixed identities and desires.
The soul queen of Cuba, la Lupe, sings us out with “Lamento Boricano,” a national anthem of sorts for Puerto Rico. As Cuban journalist, poet and rabblerouser José Martí said, Puerto Rico and Cuba are two wings of the same bird.
Vaya Con Muñoz 3.11.17
We interviewed Charles Blatcher lll, chairman of the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations, about the very limited display of black veterans and their contributions to the country in times of war and peace and the Civil Rights Movement at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
We also speak with Shereen Marisol Meraji, one of the hosts of among the best podcasts in any category, called “Switch Code” and presented by NPR.Shereen recently did a story on the 100th anniversay of the Jones Act, which gave Puerto Ricans American citizenship. What that means, what that feels like, what the Diaspora is about, was the focus of her program. On Vaya, we ask her about her Puerto Rican identity and how the work of putting together her program felt to her.
Then we speak en español, con Ariadna Goenaga, crítica de cine por exelencia, sobre el valor del cine en esta época dominada por Donald Trump.
Finalizamos con Juan Luis Guerra y 440, cantando “Visa para un sueño”.
Vaya Con Muñoz 3.4.17
Janine Fondon is an Assistant Professor and Chair of Communications at Bay Path University, and one of the conveners of the March 8 “On the Move Forum” that honors our collective intention to advance women — from Seneca Falls to Houston for the 1977 Women’s Conference and now Longmeadow, MA. The 1977 Conference official photographer Diana Mara Henry will also be at the forum, to be held at Blake Commons at Bay Path. The purpose is to dialogue, inspire action, and educate the next generation– all to salute those legacy leaders who pledged to advance women some 40 years ago and recognize those who continue the work today. Sign up here: www.onthemoveforum.com.
La historiadora y coordinadora de Arecibo es Color, el proyecto cultural de Arecibo, Cynthia Velázquez, comparte su perspectiva de cómo la crisis de Puerto Rico se va desarrollando.
The Voice of Puerto Rican Lucecita Benítez sings us out with “Canto a Borinquen,” a love song to Borinquen, the Taíno name that means home of the brave, and that we call Puerto Rico.
Photo courtesy of Bay Path University
Vaya Con Muñoz 2.25.17
Patricia Sandoval, professor of communications at Holyoke Community College, produced and directed the heart-filling and bursting multimedia event “Latinas con Pluma,” a Spanish-English bilingual performance of poems, plays and essays by famed and distinguished writers from Springfield-based Magdalena Gómez to Chicago-based Sandra Cisneros and beloved friend, the late playwirght Dolores Prida; and music by congueras por excelencia Julissa Rodríguez and Iréne Shaikly, plus a photo exhibit curated by Waleska Santiago of some of the city’s grandmothers with text about their influence in their lives provided by their adult grandchildren, plus fabulous food from Mexico to Puerto Rico. Julissa Colón, Ticina Cotto, Jocelyn López, Caila Lourdes Ver, Alora Machuca, Priscilla Page, Jovan Roman and Nathalie Vicencio declaimed as if they were the authors of every word. A magical night at the Leslie Phillips Theater at HCC.
Then filmmaker Lary Hott sounds the warning about what federal cuts in the arts could mean; essentially,, silencing the diversity of arts and voices that contribute to the cultural enrichment of the United States, such as “Latinas con Pluma” and extraordinary documentaries.
We are sung out with “Usted,” a cross-generation ballad interpreted by Mexican singer Luis Miguel.
In the photo, members of “Latins con Pluma” ensemble.
Vaya Con Muñoz 2.18.17
The rave is about “Undesign The Redline,” an interactive exhibit and series on the history of structural inequality in the US. Specifically, the exhibit spotlights how the government created institutional racism in neighborhoods.
More on the exhibit here: www.smith.edu/libraries/info/news/undesign-redline
Also, Northampton resident Michael Dipascuale tells us his reaction to the emotionally-charged exhibit.
Maritime lawyer Harry Ezratty is teaching a course on “Who Was Christopher Columbus” — was he Italian? Spanish? Catalan? Was he also Jewish?
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews the short-form documentaries up for an Oscar on Feb. 26, plus talks about one that did not make the list, “Frame 394,” in which a surprise revelation about the murder of a black man by a police officer in Northa Carolina adds nuance to the incident. Watch the trailer here: www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/14/frame-394/
We are sung out by Eros Ramazotti from Italy, singing in Spanish, “Cosas de la vida.” Rock on.
Photo of exhibit courtesy of Designing The WE, a design studio based in New York City.
Vaya Con Muñoz 2.11.17
Quick tips on how to ID fake news!
This week, Jeannette Rodríguez, founder of La Esperanza, a support group in Spanish for Latinas with cancer. Zulma, one of the members, shares in Spanish what it meant to her to be part of the group while she was in recovery. The support group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 5 to 8:30 pm at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, 3350 Main St., Springfield. More info: (413) 794-2727
Also, Larry Hott goes over some of the best documentaries that vied for Oscar nominations. Just because they are not in the final five doesn’t mean they are not extraordinary. Among Larry’s RECOMMENDATIONS: “Miss Sharon Jones!” “Tower,” “Fire at Sea,” “Zero Days” and “Weiner.”
We are sung out by El Topo singing, “Qué bonita luna.”
Members of La Esperanza support group for Latinas with cancer in front of panels they painted under direction of painter Rosa Ibarra, far right. Founder Jeannette Rodríguez in ceter, dressed in black. Photo by Natalia Muñoz.
Vaya Con Muñoz 2.4.17
The rant: Hey, national media, put things in context. Now that you are brave enough to call a lie a lie, put context to the outrageous allegations made by Trump et al.
Also this week, we talk with Dr. Christina Royal, the new president of Holyoke Community College. After 70 years of white men as presidents of the college, Dr. Royal brings a powerful set of skill sets, experiences and capabilities to the office, including that she is a woman who is bi-racial, the first in her family to go to college, and a lesbian. A new era has finally begun.
Liz Román of El Pueblo Latino and Masslive.com tells us about a new effort in the Springfield public schools to connect more deeply with families in the system with 27,000 students. She also speaks about the incomprehensible tragic deaths of four people, including three Springfield high school students.
Filmmaker Larry Hott summarizes the final five documentaries up for Best Documentary at the Feb. 26 Oscars: “I am Not Your Negro,” “Life, Animated,” “Fire at Sea,” “OJ: Made in America,” and “13th” and how they reflect big issues of all times.
In honor of the students, who should have grown old and cranky and wiser, we are sung out by Milton Nascimiento and Mercedes Sosa singing, “Corazón de Estudiante.”
Picture of Dr. Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College, courtesy of HCC.
