Futuro Media

11/20/2021

In January, "Anything For Selena" premiered!

In "Anything For Selena," Maria Elena Garcia goes on an intimate, revelatory quest to understand how Selena has become a potent symbol for tensions around race, class and body politics in the United States. The series weaves Maria’s personal story as a q***r, first-generation Mexican immigrant with cultural analysis, history and politics to explore how, 25 years after her death, Selena remains an unparalleled vessel for understanding Latino identity and American belonging.

El Futuro is now. Give to Futuro Media to support new projects!

11/20/2021

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittreality

Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela react to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and talk about how white supremacy played out in his trial, the trial against Ahmaud Arbery’s killers, and the case against the organizers of the “Unite the Right'' rally. They also give an update on the Build Back Better bill and Maria’s latest reporting in Latin America. And, they talk about the House vote to censure Rep. Paul Gosar for his violent social media post attacking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittreality

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittreality

Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela react to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and talk about how white supremacy played out in his trial, the trial against Ahmaud Arbery’s killers, and the case against the organizers of the “Unite the Right'' rally. They also give an update on the Build Back Better bill and Maria’s latest reporting in Latin America. And, they talk about the House vote to censure Rep. Paul Gosar for his violent social media post attacking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittreality

11/19/2021

Juan Diego Ramirez began listening to Latino USA on a Casio radio alarm his dad brought back to their studio apartment back in 2005. When he got his first car, he would listen to public radio while he drove. At his first internship, it struck him that he was one of the few POC in the newsroom.

"The staff had little diversity. But, listening to Latino USA encouraged me to keep on doing what I love—radio journalism," he said.

Juan Diego met Maria Hinojosa while she was on tour. During that meeting, he explained he was "an early-career journalist who had learned so much from her work."

"She looked me dead in the eyes and told me, 'You should come and work for me someday,'" he said.

Her words struck a chord with him. Just a few years after that meeting, Juan Diego moved from his hometown of Los Angeles to New York to complete his last few years of college. In 2019, he landed his dream internship, at, where else, Latino USA!

"I couldn’t believe I was among the people I once listened to for acceptance as an intern at OPB back in 2014," he said. "It was surreal."

And, Juan Diego has been at Futuro Media ever since! He's been promoted from an intern to a Producer at Futuro Studios. Now, he's the one who gets to work with up-and-coming journalists.

"I hope to inspire the same feeling I had when I first stepped into Futuro Media’s office a few years back," he said. "Futuro has left a positive mark in my life and career and it is an honor to be able to share that with the world through my work."

El Futuro is now! Give to Futuro Media today to support the next generation of journalists!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/19/2021

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusagigworkers

How does technology affect labor? How are tech corporations like Uber and Lyft redefining what it means to be a worker in the United States?

California has been ground zero for cementing the “gig work” business model of these companies into law. A year ago this month, the state passed Proposition 22 to allow app-based firms like Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as contractors instead of employees.

In this episode of Latino USA, we follow a group of drivers who are mobilizing across California—and using their own technology to take on Big Tech. Their fight is not only about their own labor protections as drivers, but a battle to prevent this labor model from spreading to other sectors of the U.S. economy.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusagigworkers

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusagigworkers

How does technology affect labor? How are tech corporations like Uber and Lyft redefining what it means to be a worker in the United States?

California has been ground zero for cementing the “gig work” business model of these companies into law. A year ago this month, the state passed Proposition 22 to allow app-based firms like Uber and Lyft to classify their drivers as contractors instead of employees.

In this episode of Latino USA, we follow a group of drivers who are mobilizing across California—and using their own technology to take on Big Tech. Their fight is not only about their own labor protections as drivers, but a battle to prevent this labor model from spreading to other sectors of the U.S. economy.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusagigworkers

11/19/2021

Just a few weeks ago, Futuro Media and PRX released We Imagine Us! "We Imagine...US" is a groundbreaking podcast and multimedia project to inspire people and communities to envision how they can work together to create a world that is truly equitable for all.

The project consists of two podcasts. The first, "The Long Way Around," is a fiction series tells the story of one family’s journey to build a new life for themselves amid shattering injustices. The second “Re-Imagination Nation with Maria Hinojosa," delves more deeply into the issues raised in the fiction series. It features interviews with thought leaders, artists, and activists from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation ’s Solidarity Council on Racial Equity (SCoRE), including musician John Legend, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, author Heather McGhee , civil rights advocate and author Michelle Alexander, and more.

El Futuro is now. Support new projects, and give to @futuromedia today!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/18/2021

WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios released "La Brega" in February. The show is a seven-part podcast series that uses narrative storytelling and investigative journalism to reflect and reveal how la brega has defined so many aspects of life in Puerto Rico. It was also one of Futuro Media's first English and Spanish podcast!

El Futuro is now. Give to Futuro Media, and we will put your name on our special honor roll!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/18/2021

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusamanzano

Before winning not one or two, but fifteen Emmys for television writing, and before she became one of the first Latinas on television when she took on the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street in 1971, Sonia Manzano was a curious and imaginative little girl growing up in the South Bronx, a working class neighborhood in New York City. In this “How I Made It” segment, Sonia talks about discovering her love for television writing, and her new animated show, Alma's Way.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusamanzano

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusamanzano

Before winning not one or two, but fifteen Emmys for television writing, and before she became one of the first Latinas on television when she took on the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street in 1971, Sonia Manzano was a curious and imaginative little girl growing up in the South Bronx, a working class neighborhood in New York City. In this “How I Made It” segment, Sonia talks about discovering her love for television writing, and her new animated show, Alma's Way.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusamanzano

11/17/2021

2021 was the year for new projects! Futuro Media’s newest hit, LOUD: The History of Reggaeton, was made in partnership with Spotify. It also earned rave reviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bello Collective and The Los Angeles Times.

El Futuro is now. Support new projects, and give to Futuro Media today!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/17/2021

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittsteroids

Julio is joined by Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation Magazine, and Michael Harriot, senior writer at The Root, to talk about white supremacy and anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system. They get into the murder trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and the killers of Ahmaud Arbery. They also discuss the latest with the January 6th investigation, and the ramifications of rising inflation for communities of color.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittsteroids

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittsteroids

Julio is joined by Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation Magazine, and Michael Harriot, senior writer at The Root, to talk about white supremacy and anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system. They get into the murder trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and the killers of Ahmaud Arbery. They also discuss the latest with the January 6th investigation, and the ramifications of rising inflation for communities of color.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittsteroids

11/16/2021

A 2021 hit show for Futuro Media was "Suave." "Suave" is the story of a man who has been serving a life sentence in Pennsylvania since he was just a teenager. Suave had a rough start—as a teenager walking into a maximum-security prison he says he was a target, and much like in the neighborhood where he grew up, Suave decided he had to be tougher than everyone else.And that’s the life he’s leading, in and out of solitary confinement, when he meets Maria Hinojosa in 1993.

"Suave" has earned over 530,000 downloads and maintains a 4.9 star average of rave reviews on iTunes with over 1.1K reviews. And, it has also been nominated for the International Documentary Association awards for Best Multi-Part Audio Documentary or Series.

El Futuro is now. Give to Futuro Media, and your gift will be doubled!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/12/2021

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusanuyorican

In the 1960s and 70s, a community of Latinx poets in New York City created a movement. They called themselves the Nuyorican poets. Together, they broke barriers and built a cultural institution: the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe began as an informal literary salon in Miguel Algarín’s apartment living room, one of the movement’s founding poets. But soon after, Miguel and his fellow writers realized that they needed to expand to accommodate the growing roster of artists who frequented the space. They moved into a new venue nearby, and by 1981 they relocated again to the Nuyorican’s current location in New York City’s Alphabet City.
Today, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a haven for Black and Latinx writers and performers. In this episode of Latino USA, we stage a spoken history of the cafe featuring several artists from its storied past. We hear from poets Poet Jesús “Papoleto” Meléndez and Caridad de la Luz, known as “La Bruja,” playwright Ishmael Reed, and artist and archivist Lois Elaine Griffith.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusanuyorican

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusanuyorican

In the 1960s and 70s, a community of Latinx poets in New York City created a movement. They called themselves the Nuyorican poets. Together, they broke barriers and built a cultural institution: the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe began as an informal literary salon in Miguel Algarín’s apartment living room, one of the movement’s founding poets. But soon after, Miguel and his fellow writers realized that they needed to expand to accommodate the growing roster of artists who frequented the space. They moved into a new venue nearby, and by 1981 they relocated again to the Nuyorican’s current location in New York City’s Alphabet City.
Today, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a haven for Black and Latinx writers and performers. In this episode of Latino USA, we stage a spoken history of the cafe featuring several artists from its storied past. We hear from poets Poet Jesús “Papoleto” Meléndez and Caridad de la Luz, known as “La Bruja,” playwright Ishmael Reed, and artist and archivist Lois Elaine Griffith.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusanuyorican

11/12/2021

Futuro Media, we have learned first-hand the power of longer, in-depth fellowships. Because of this, we are now working to fund more fellows. Monica Morales-Garcia is currently one of our fellows, and she says that she feels like it's "a meant-to-be moment.”

“Before this fellowship I was a teaching assistant and it consisted of grading hundreds of papers every semester, and providing students with feedback. During the group edit I felt like I had been training for that moment my entire graduate career— group edits and grading papers are pretty similar, both are asking—'How can this research be better? What would make it the connections more thoughtful?’ It felt like a meant-to-be moment.”

El Futuro is now! Give to Futuro Media today, and your gift will be doubled! #linkinbio to give!

11/10/2021

At Futuro Media, we have learned first-hand the power of longer, in-depth fellowships. Because of this, we are now working to fund more fellows. Andrew Viñales is currently one of our fellows, and he says that he's already been encouraged to "encouraged to pitch and produce my own stories."

“This fellowship is important to me because in a few short weeks I have already gotten my hands dirty by learning to cut tape, script-writing and participating in editorial meetings. I feel encouraged to pitch and produce my own stories, something that I am not sure I would be able to do without the fellowship! I'm looking forward to learning more, with my goal of telling stories centering Q***r Black Latinx people like myself.”

El Futuro is now! Give to Futuro Media today, and your gift will be doubled!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/10/2021

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittequity

Julio Ricardo Varela and guest co-host Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously, are joined by S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, and Justin Worland, senior correspondent for TIME covering climate change and policy. They reflect on the 2021 election results and unpack the latest with Infrastructure Bill and Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. They also talk about the COP26 climate summit, and the latest on vaccine outreach.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittequity

Now playing a new In The Thick podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/ittequity

Julio Ricardo Varela and guest co-host Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously, are joined by S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, and Justin Worland, senior correspondent for TIME covering climate change and policy. They reflect on the 2021 election results and unpack the latest with Infrastructure Bill and Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. They also talk about the COP26 climate summit, and the latest on vaccine outreach.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/ittequity

11/09/2021

Lisa Salinas is currently a The New York Women's Foundation IGNITE! Fellow. Because the New York Women’s Foundation has underwritten 8-month fellowships at Futuro Media, we learned first-hand the power of longer, in-depth fellowships. We are now working to fund more fellows here at Futuro Media.

“I've learned so much over the past year as the ‘In The Thick’ New York Women's Foundation IGNITE! Fellow. It's a truly supportive team, where we analyze the news from a POC perspective. In this fellowship, I had the opportunity to produce shows that center the voices of women of color, in addition to producing weekly Friday shows, which are a roundup of the week's latest news. From pitching ideas to producing, I found immense support from the team and our hosts.”

El Futuro is now! Give to Futuro Media today, and your gift will be doubled!

Give: https://bit.ly/2F85mrw

11/09/2021

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusaayodele

For Ayodele Casel tap dancing is magic. As a young high school student, she dreamed of one day dancing like Ginger Rogers as she recreated Ginger’s moves in her bedroom But it wasn’t until Ayodele Casel was a sophomore at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts that she took her first tap dancing class. That was her entry point into the art form which would eventually lead to a more than 20-year career as a professional tap dancer. As a Black and Puerto Rican woman, Ayodele Casel didn’t see herself reflected in the mainstream image of tap dancers because the form has been largely whitewashed through systematic racism. For that reason, she works tirelessly to remind her audiences that tap is deeply rooted in Black art and culture.

In this episode of “How I Made It,” Ayodele takes us through her tap journey and reclaims tap dancing as a Black art form.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusaayodele

Now playing a new Latino USA podcast!

LISTEN HERE: https://bit.ly/lusaayodele

For Ayodele Casel tap dancing is magic. As a young high school student, she dreamed of one day dancing like Ginger Rogers as she recreated Ginger’s moves in her bedroom But it wasn’t until Ayodele Casel was a sophomore at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts that she took her first tap dancing class. That was her entry point into the art form which would eventually lead to a more than 20-year career as a professional tap dancer. As a Black and Puerto Rican woman, Ayodele Casel didn’t see herself reflected in the mainstream image of tap dancers because the form has been largely whitewashed through systematic racism. For that reason, she works tirelessly to remind her audiences that tap is deeply rooted in Black art and culture.

In this episode of “How I Made It,” Ayodele takes us through her tap journey and reclaims tap dancing as a Black art form.

LISTEN HERE: bit.ly/lusaayodele