Episodes

La Mera Rocha: Lots of Heart and Real Talk

An Interview with Erika Rocha (00:53:45)

January 15, 2020

We welcome Erika Rocha to the show—prepare to laugh, cry and be inspired by a powerful individual! Erika is currently the Texas State Director for Swing Left working hard to turn the state of Texas blue. She talks about what it was like to learn English when she first arrived. Stories and Dreams about her childhood. Walking the aisle on her wedding day without her father. Translating and helping her mother through cancer treatments. Erika is resilient, intelligent, funny—she invokes a lot of emotion. We are so inspired by her. Enjoy La Mera Rocha.

Knowledge Sharing by Young Professionals

Beyond HB1079 Conference Part 2 (00:32:29)

December 20, 2019

On a way way lighter note--Let’s rewind to the Beyond HB1079 Conference! We’re back to share part two of this series! In this episode, we interview mostly young professionals knowledge sharing about their experience in higher education. Many of them are currently working towards getting their master’s degrees. Many share information about themselves, their motivations, their view of liberation and all. We also got exclusive footage with the two head organizers of the Beyond HB1079 Conference!

Home is Here?

DACA Supreme Court Hearing (00:47:16)

November 28, 2019

Shot of Truth Podcast traveled to Washington DC for the Supreme Court hearing on DACA. We interviewed people from Kansas, San Diego, Laredo, New York, San Francisco and more. Our community is so fucking powerful--it’s wild. Picture this: It was 25 degrees outside, the street in front of the Supreme Court was closed down and of course, there were tons of media. The crowds were flooded with people repping the campaign slogan, “Home is Here.” If you use social media YOU KNOW this campaign slogan. This episode is focused on highlighting the voices that are in the crowd!! The voices that traveled over mountains and rivers to be there for their communities. I also talk shit about, “Home is Here,” while acknowledging the work and thought process that went behind it--we are critical of the things we love most! Always be critical of our movement, of those leading it, of ourselves. We are powerful and this episode celebrates that. We also briefly touch on the report USCIS released, “DACA requestors with an IDENT response.” Funny...how this came out right after the hearing. Enjoy, Home is Here?

Dad Quotes and DACA is Not Enough

Beyond HB1079 Conference (00:36:53)

November 6, 2019

Shot of Truth Podcast hosted an Open Mic at the Beyond HB1079 Conference. This is part one of two in our Open Mic series. This episode highlights undocumented students that do not have DACA and how this has effected their lives as DACA is the topic of conversation in many settings. We also wanted to highlight the beautiful quotes passed along to us by our family members but in particular dad quotes were a recurring theme. The next episode will feature undocumented professionals making moves in their communities throughout the state and country. Enjoy Dad Quotes and DACA is not enough.

De Colombia to the New York Capitol

Interview with Angelica Martinez (00:58:43)

October 11, 2019

From Colombia to the New York Capitol--Angelica Martinez is dedicated to paving the road for other immigrant folks at the local and state level. She dreams of world peace and veganism for everyone! She shares the transition from Colombia to New York City. Her journey towards working in politics and how it has transformed her life. How she navigated undergrad and her masters program without DACA. Her status directly influenced every step she took towards the present. Join us in a talk about destiny, privilege and a journey you won’t forget.

Celebrating our one year: a tribute to Olga Araceli

Bloopers and Highlights (00:16:28)

September 17, 2019

Shot of Truth Podcast has taken you all over the country over the last year! This project has been lead by many people and we are excited to celebrate all the people involved. Our co-host Olga Araceli will no longer be recording with us so this is a funny/short episode with highlights and silly bloopers in honor of Olga. Thank you all for supporting our work! Please celebrate today with us by rating us on Apple Podcast, sharing our platforms or joining our Patreon team. Here’s to another year! https://www.patreon.com/shotoftruthpodcast

La Novela de Dania

Inverview with Dania Jaramillo (01:04:26)

September 5, 2019

Dania Jaramillo is a writer, educator and young mother to her beautiful son, Julian. Dania shares with us her journey between Sinaloa, Mexico and Mount Vernon, Washington. She was a single teen mother on a mission to prove everyone wrong. From family dynamics, navigating higher education and wanting to abolish schools (yes, schools), Dania’s motto is to remain calm, cool and collected. She recently went viral on twitter when she shared a video being verbally assaulted for being an undocumented womxn. She expresses the effects it had on her family and how you mentally cope with the repercussions of going viral. Listen for a firsthand experience on a very powerful chingona. Shot of Truth presents La Novela de Dania.

Average Abe

Inverview with Abraham Diaz Alonso (01:11:37)

August 8, 2019

Far from average–Abraham Diaz Alonso is a community organizer at the Rio Grande Valley. He works for La Union del Pueblo Entero in San Juan, Texas as an education specialist. He takes people from all over the country to the border to educate them on what is happening and how various communities are impacted. He is all over the place doing everything and nothing all at once–from his work at the border, planting peanuts and coaching little league soccer. This episode is emotional, informational, entertaining and super funny–join us in this badass episode: Average Abe. *Please donate to his little league soccer team, Venmo information below!

Stuck in Chicago: Lines of Affirmation

Lines of Affirmation (01:15:17)

July 16, 2019

We were stuck in Chicago. It rained, it hailed, AND we got to record with Yuriana Garcia and Steve Li. We talk about projects they’ve been apart of including the HB1079 Conference and Undocumented and Awkward Series. They shared very personal experiences including coming out as undocumented and seeing family members get detained and deported. It’s a heavy episode but also full of laughter and some serious Cancer feels. Ohhh and we got our palms read and that was an experience for us all. Join us on this exclusive episode Stuck in Chicago: Lines of Affirmation.

Intelligence is NOT measured in English

Undocumented Education (00:55:46)

June 24, 2019

Knock Knock. Who’s There? An episode on higher education, e-verify and immigrants in the workplace. We could do dozens of episodes just on that alone but here’s an intro. We talk about different resources we had navigating higher education in various aspects including emotionally. We talk about our parents and their contribution to this nation. We also celebrate our sisters for graduating! It gets personal--but that’s the point!

Permanently Heartbroken

Interview with Alex (00:49:10)

June 10, 2019

Alex Martinez is a poet, queer queen, Vice President of the Drag Committee and ACLU community organizer. He has joined us to share his poetry and life chisme! This episode is funny, inappropriate AF and not what you would expect! A special Q and A is also featured at the end--enjoy! Avoid listening around children because this is explicit content!

Cool S*** That Lasts

Interview with Alvaro (00:58:18)

May 8, 2019

Alvaro is a Dream Lead Institute Fellow doing amazing s*** all over the world! He is using virtual reality to reconnect families who are separated by border imperialism. He traveled for various weeks along side the asylum seeker caravan and has great stories to share. When asked what the meaning of life is, Alvaro answered, “to make cool s*** that lasts!” Tune in to hear how he is making this his reality. It’s some cool s***!

Political Drama Queen

Northern and Southern Border Cities (00:38:14)

April 21, 2019

A discussion about the northern and southern border. Highlighting a visit to McAllen, Texas a beautiful border city. We discuss nature, education and community. Enjoy!

Political Drama Queen

Interview with Graciela Nuñez (00:54:31)

April 2, 2019

Graciela Nuñez Pargas is such a Political Drama Queen. She has devoted her life to politics since she was 12 years old! Join us in listening to Graciela’s journey as we unpack how immigrant communities are subject to dehumanization and criminalization. OKURRR.

Puro Pinché Party

Stories of Sisterhood, Growth, and Parties (00:44:28)

February 27, 2019

On a lighter note, here is an episode celebrating our growth and sisterhood. From Washington to Florida, Louisiana to Texas join us as we discuss embarrassing stories, heartbreak and life lessons from the road.

Down With Elitism

A Discussion on some of the forms Elitism Can Take (01:00:35)

February 11, 2019

Liberals, Higher Education, Citizenship, Social Media—it’s all susceptible to elitism. Join us in challenging elitism within these structures as we reflect on how we are affected by elitism every day.

Shut Him Down

A Discussion of the Trump's Presidentail Address (01:02:27)

January 16, 2019

A discussion about Trump’s presidential address. Discussing language, emotions, and criminalizing rhetoric. The government shutdown is on him--SHUT HIM DOWN!

Bonus Episode: Spanish only Interview from First Generation

The promised Spanish only interview as a Holiday Bonus (24:29)

December 28, 2018

This is the Spanish only audio from the interview in The Episode First Generation presented to you has a holiday bonus episode. Enoy!

How Personal Is It? A conversation on Identity

What is Identity? What does that mean? (46:41)

December 21, 2018

How do you define being undocumented? Is it living under a social and political condition that shapes your experience in this country? Is it even an identity? Join us in a conversation where we deconstruct the word undocumented.

Asylum Seeker Caravan And Border Imperialism

Tying border imperialism to the caravan (47:03)

December 6, 2018

A brief explanation about Harsha Walia’s book, Undoing Border Imperialism, connected to the Asylum Seeker Caravan traveling thousands of miles in hopes of reaching the United States of America in search for asylum and a sustainable life.

First Generation

An interview with a first generation immigrant (35:15)

November 17, 2018

The immigrant generational gap is real! in this episode, we have a special guest that gives us insight into what it was like for her to move across borders. She shares her experience and sends a message to our listeners. The interview was done in Spanish and we translated it to English.

Beyond Latinx

Expanding the Undocumented Narrative (43:58)

October 17, 2018

Beyond Latinx is focused on learning more about the undocumented Asian experience through the life of one of our colleagues (for safety reasons we will call her E). She shares personal information about her journey to America, her mixed status family and how coming out with her status has empowered her. Join us in breaking the common narratives of WHO is undocumented.

Bellingham’s Subdued Sanctuary

Immigration in the Sanctuary City of Bellingham (43:52)

October 3, 2018

Our podcasters met in Bellingham, Washington in 2016. Immediately after they both started organizing in Bellingham and on their university campus—Western Washington University. This episode covers the immigration history of Bellingham—a border city with Canada. The common narrative is to talk about the US/Mexico border but today we are covering what it’s like to live next to the other national border. Cities throughout the United States have long histories with immigration all varied through specific state and federal laws. Join us in discussing what it’s like to live in Bellingham, Washington, the city of subdued excitement.

DACA Timeline Of Uncertainty

The Hellish Roller Coaster (31:38)

September 26, 2018

Millions of people fought for a Dream Act but what they got was something far from any solution. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals created large opportunities for a small portion of our community. DACA changed our lives and continues to give us opportunities but at the cost of many things we do not talk about. Six years later and DACA continues to be a topic being debated from both sides. As for the future of DACA all we can do is keep fighting and remain hopeful that some day we will have a viable pathway towards citizenship but also our families.

Myth Busting with Ozzy

Dispelling Misconceptions (32:03)

September 19, 2018

On today’s episode, we invited a close friend and fellow peer to help bust some myths associated to the undocumented community. Osvaldo comes to us from Nayarit, Mexico and Wenatchee (Eastern Washington). He is a graphic designer, soccer enthusiast, and one of the OG’s that helped pave the road for undocumented students on Westerns campus. Listen in on today’s episode and learn about our truths.

An Introduction

An introduction to the Shot of Truth Hosts. (24:45)

September 19, 2018

Welcome to a Shot of Truth Podcast! Episode Zero is an introduction to who we are and this new project we have begun. Listen in to learn a little more about our life stories and experiences as undocumented womxn. In addition, our hope is to bring in voices from other undoc-folks and expand on the different identities/intersectionalities within our community. We acknowledge that this is not single issue struggle and would also love for other organizers, activist, and community members to chime in on our conversations. Thank you in advance for listening!