E7: Duendes

Have you ever been to a place, maybe a forest or secluded beach, and been overwhelmed by a feeling of otherworldliness? Like the space around you was both of and separate from our world? I have, and it’s a feeling I try to hold on to when it happens. But, what if during these moments […]

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E6: Sirenas

Thanks to Disney, most people imagine mermaids as beautiful humanoids, with human upper bodies and beautiful fish tails, who rescue humans and sing with all their sea-dwelling friends. But mermaids, called sirenas in Spanish, have historically been much darker. In this episode, we cover several mermaid legends from Latin America: Iara, ipupiara, El Hombre Caiman, […]

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E5: La Gritona

​Content warning: this episode includes violence, torture, sexual assault, suicide, ableist language, and child murder.  ​Imagine walking home after Mass on Good Friday in the lovely town of Seborucal, near Remedios, Cuba. You and your family are chatting, perhaps planning your Easter dinner. Suddenly, a loud scream cuts through the night. The sound sends adrenaline […]

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E2: Santeria, Part Two

Hello, cafecitos! Santeria Part 2 aired Friday, September 17. We discussed some more specific aspects of Lucumi practice, including initiation, rituals, and sacrifices. We also discussed the padrino-godchild relationship, which is the central relationship within the practice. Researching this episode was so much fun. I learned so much and actually got to interview a very […]

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E1: Santeria, Part One

Santeria, or Lucumi, as discussed in this episode is really what inspired me to do this podcast. You can read more about that over on the blog. Lucumi is a decentralized Afro-Cuban religion, born of a mixture of traditional Yoruba practices and Catholicism. It has a few central tenants: worship of the orishas, reverence of ancestors, and […]

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