<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0">
  <channel>
    <atom:link href="https://feeds.simplecast.com/WHHWa_WH" rel="self" title="MP3 Audio" type="application/atom+xml"/>
    <atom:link href="https://simplecast.superfeedr.com" rel="hub" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"/>
    <generator>https://simplecast.com</generator>
    <title>Spirit and Liberation</title>
    <description>Welcome to Spirit &amp; Liberation, the podcast where we bridge the sacred and the political, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement.</description>
    <copyright>Spirit &amp; Liberation 2025</copyright>
    <language>en</language>
    <pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:13 +0000</lastBuildDate>
    <image>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com</link>
      <title>Spirit and Liberation</title>
      <url>https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/574353c2-4020-4457-a760-31c2a4bb3b2e/3000x3000/gen-071125-sl-franandjc-1.jpg?aid=rss_feed</url>
    </image>
    <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com</link>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:summary>Welcome to Spirit &amp; Liberation, the podcast where we bridge the sacred and the political, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement.</itunes:summary>
    <itunes:author>Francisca Porchas-Coronado, Jeanette Charles-Marquez</itunes:author>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/574353c2-4020-4457-a760-31c2a4bb3b2e/3000x3000/gen-071125-sl-franandjc-1.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
    <itunes:new-feed-url>https://feeds.simplecast.com/WHHWa_WH</itunes:new-feed-url>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>The Latinx Therapists Action Network</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>brenda@ltan.org</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
    <itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
      <itunes:category text="Spirituality"/>
    </itunes:category>
    <itunes:category text="Education">
      <itunes:category text="Self-Improvement"/>
    </itunes:category>
    <itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture">
      <itunes:category text="Philosophy"/>
    </itunes:category>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">53aada3a-a7ec-4683-a8a9-84c1de2661d3</guid>
      <title>Where Spirit and Liberation Live: Beneath the Ground, Within the Body</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>With over two decades of experience in youth development, Belia’s journey has included work with incarcerated youth, survivors of abuse, and communities organizing for justice. She has trained in the lineage of Oakland’s generative somatics since 2014 and in Transformational Coaching methodology in 2016–2017. Her coaching and somatic practice extends across California, supporting Indigenous land and water protectors, youth electoral organizers, warehouse workers unions, immigrant rights defenders, restorative justice advocates, and housing justice movements.</p><p>Belia also serves her Lukumí community as a beadworker and priest of Oshun Ibu Anya, having been initiated by Igbin L’ete and Odu Fora in 2008. Across her work, she brings a deep commitment to weaving somatics, spirituality, and movement building.</p><p>In this closing conversation, Jeanette and Belia speak about:</p><p><br />🌍 How truth is held in the ground and the body,</p><p><br />🌱 Building collective power by listening to the wisdom of our traditions, </p><p>💛 Spirit and Liberation as a practice for what comes next. </p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle. </p><p>Over the course of the series, we’ve been invited into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This final episode brings the series to a close, offering grounding in somatics, truth, and spirit as we continue onward together.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/where-spirit-and-liberation-live-beneath-the-ground-within-the-body-WSKbXPXp</link>
      <media:thumbnail height="720" url="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/5db289f4-c2e3-49c1-921f-8dd2b8b9fdc0/episode-2012.jpg" width="1280"/>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With over two decades of experience in youth development, Belia’s journey has included work with incarcerated youth, survivors of abuse, and communities organizing for justice. She has trained in the lineage of Oakland’s generative somatics since 2014 and in Transformational Coaching methodology in 2016–2017. Her coaching and somatic practice extends across California, supporting Indigenous land and water protectors, youth electoral organizers, warehouse workers unions, immigrant rights defenders, restorative justice advocates, and housing justice movements.</p><p>Belia also serves her Lukumí community as a beadworker and priest of Oshun Ibu Anya, having been initiated by Igbin L’ete and Odu Fora in 2008. Across her work, she brings a deep commitment to weaving somatics, spirituality, and movement building.</p><p>In this closing conversation, Jeanette and Belia speak about:</p><p><br />🌍 How truth is held in the ground and the body,</p><p><br />🌱 Building collective power by listening to the wisdom of our traditions, </p><p>💛 Spirit and Liberation as a practice for what comes next. </p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle. </p><p>Over the course of the series, we’ve been invited into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This final episode brings the series to a close, offering grounding in somatics, truth, and spirit as we continue onward together.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="37758087" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/e34f3301-44ef-4f93-82b6-5439cdfba347/audio/ee1b8cd6-6977-47b8-b1d8-9fb4d25113c7/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Where Spirit and Liberation Live: Beneath the Ground, Within the Body</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/bbd60ef6-8396-4f14-94e4-22206dcf8ce7/3000x3000/updated-20simplecast-20thumbnails.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:39:19</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>On this final episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Belia Mayeno Saavedra (she/her)—a Xicana, Japanese, and Ashkenazi Transformative Coach and Somatic Practitioner based in Lisjan Ohlone lands. Belia works with BIPOC organizers and movement leaders to grow their sense of choice and power in body and spirit, grounding her practice in the truth that lies beneath the surface, in both earth and body.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>On this final episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Belia Mayeno Saavedra (she/her)—a Xicana, Japanese, and Ashkenazi Transformative Coach and Somatic Practitioner based in Lisjan Ohlone lands. Belia works with BIPOC organizers and movement leaders to grow their sense of choice and power in body and spirit, grounding her practice in the truth that lies beneath the surface, in both earth and body.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>13</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">9047a4ba-da7b-4692-bb2f-f738b4736083</guid>
      <title>In Fellowship: Listening to Nature in Challenging Times</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Zulayka is the Founder and Creative Director of Libélula Consulting, where she provides inspiration, instigation, and support for projects focused on equity, social justice, and authentic community engagement. A Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, she also serves on the Governance Team for Change Elemental, the Board of Directors for the NC Environmental Justice Network, and is a founding member of Earthseed Land Collective in Durham, NC. Across all of her work, Zulayka embodies awe, wonder, and deep connection with the natural world.</p><p>In this episode, Jeanette and Zulayka speak about:</p><p><br />🌳 The practice of being in fellowship with trees and how nature offers grounding,</p><p><br />🌱 What it means to turn toward Earth as a teacher in moments of crisis,</p><p>🌀 The balance between grief and joy in these times of transformation,</p><p>🌞 How reconnecting to natural rhythms helps us sustain our movements and ourselves.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.</p><p>Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/in-fellowship-listening-to-nature-in-challenging-times-eklLItDc</link>
      <media:thumbnail height="720" url="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/fbc6e856-7b67-4ed3-9a4a-5d901db4fa5e/episode-2012.jpg" width="1280"/>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Zulayka is the Founder and Creative Director of Libélula Consulting, where she provides inspiration, instigation, and support for projects focused on equity, social justice, and authentic community engagement. A Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, she also serves on the Governance Team for Change Elemental, the Board of Directors for the NC Environmental Justice Network, and is a founding member of Earthseed Land Collective in Durham, NC. Across all of her work, Zulayka embodies awe, wonder, and deep connection with the natural world.</p><p>In this episode, Jeanette and Zulayka speak about:</p><p><br />🌳 The practice of being in fellowship with trees and how nature offers grounding,</p><p><br />🌱 What it means to turn toward Earth as a teacher in moments of crisis,</p><p>🌀 The balance between grief and joy in these times of transformation,</p><p>🌞 How reconnecting to natural rhythms helps us sustain our movements and ourselves.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.</p><p>Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="24859473" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/0eefa624-19a6-4434-9a5e-fcdcf129dc15/audio/24379b2d-1493-40f4-846a-bd4936ffe18e/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>In Fellowship: Listening to Nature in Challenging Times</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/f38bb81b-0531-4fc8-b7b4-f369cfc1937d/3000x3000/updated-20simplecast-20thumbnails.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:25:53</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Zulayka Santiago, MPA—a daughter of the ocean, quenepa trees, island breezes, and wild spaces. She describes herself as a straddler of worlds and a bridge between cultures, generations, and species.
</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Zulayka Santiago, MPA—a daughter of the ocean, quenepa trees, island breezes, and wild spaces. She describes herself as a straddler of worlds and a bridge between cultures, generations, and species.
</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">be28c220-e3fb-4ef8-bc37-6833147458d8</guid>
      <title>Bomba, Spiritism, and the Drums of Black Puerto Rican Resistance</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>*English Below* </p><p>En este episodio, José comparte:</p><ul><li>El papel de la música y el baile de Bomba como formas de rebelión, resistencia y liberación de las comunidades negras en Puerto Rico,</li><li>Cómo el espiritismo moldeó la vida y las luchas del pueblo afropuertorriqueño,</li><li>Y la importancia histórica y personal de San Mateo de Cangrejos y el trabajo comunitario de la Sociedad Histórica de Villa Palmeras.</li></ul><p>Esta conversación es una ofrenda para todos quienes se comprometen a recordar, celebrar y sostener las tradiciones africanas que laten en el corazón de la cultura y la liberación puertorriqueña. Escúchalo ahora en todas las plataformas digitales.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> es una serie limitada de pódcast, presentada por la Latinx Therapists Action Network, que explora la intersección entre la lucha política y las tradiciones sagradas. </p><p>Cada episodio te conecta con organizadores, practicantes espirituales y sanadores comprometidos en tejer la sabiduría ancestral dentro de la lucha por nuestra liberación colectiva. Esta serie explora cómo el espíritu se mueve en nuestros movimientos—ofreciendo herramientas, historias y verdades para estos tiempos.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>José’s life work honors this inheritance. From teaching Bomba workshops for Puerto Rican and Dominican children in St. Thomas, to participating in cultural exchanges like the <i>Dos Alas</i> tour alongside AfroCuba de Matanzas, to his role as historian and researcher with the Villa Palmeras Historical Society, José continues to uplift the history of San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) and its enduring significance for Black Puerto Rican identity.</p><p>In this episode, José shares:</p><ul><li>The role of Bomba music and dance as a form of rebellion, resistance, and liberation for Black communities in Puerto Rico,</li><li>How Spiritism shaped the lives and struggles of Afro–Puerto Rican people,</li><li>And, the historical and personal importance of San Mateo de Cangrejos and the community organizing work of the Villa Palmeras Historical Society,</li></ul><p>This conversation is an offering for everyone committed to remembering, celebrating, and sustaining the African traditions at the heart of Puerto Rican culture and liberation. Listen now on all streaming platforms.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 7 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/bomba-spiritism-and-the-drums-of-black-puerto-rican-resistance-u8Hb7PRP</link>
      <media:thumbnail height="720" url="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/80c5283b-e5aa-4fae-8344-2ef78173b36d/episode-2011.jpg" width="1280"/>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>*English Below* </p><p>En este episodio, José comparte:</p><ul><li>El papel de la música y el baile de Bomba como formas de rebelión, resistencia y liberación de las comunidades negras en Puerto Rico,</li><li>Cómo el espiritismo moldeó la vida y las luchas del pueblo afropuertorriqueño,</li><li>Y la importancia histórica y personal de San Mateo de Cangrejos y el trabajo comunitario de la Sociedad Histórica de Villa Palmeras.</li></ul><p>Esta conversación es una ofrenda para todos quienes se comprometen a recordar, celebrar y sostener las tradiciones africanas que laten en el corazón de la cultura y la liberación puertorriqueña. Escúchalo ahora en todas las plataformas digitales.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation</i> es una serie limitada de pódcast, presentada por la Latinx Therapists Action Network, que explora la intersección entre la lucha política y las tradiciones sagradas. </p><p>Cada episodio te conecta con organizadores, practicantes espirituales y sanadores comprometidos en tejer la sabiduría ancestral dentro de la lucha por nuestra liberación colectiva. Esta serie explora cómo el espíritu se mueve en nuestros movimientos—ofreciendo herramientas, historias y verdades para estos tiempos.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>José’s life work honors this inheritance. From teaching Bomba workshops for Puerto Rican and Dominican children in St. Thomas, to participating in cultural exchanges like the <i>Dos Alas</i> tour alongside AfroCuba de Matanzas, to his role as historian and researcher with the Villa Palmeras Historical Society, José continues to uplift the history of San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) and its enduring significance for Black Puerto Rican identity.</p><p>In this episode, José shares:</p><ul><li>The role of Bomba music and dance as a form of rebellion, resistance, and liberation for Black communities in Puerto Rico,</li><li>How Spiritism shaped the lives and struggles of Afro–Puerto Rican people,</li><li>And, the historical and personal importance of San Mateo de Cangrejos and the community organizing work of the Villa Palmeras Historical Society,</li></ul><p>This conversation is an offering for everyone committed to remembering, celebrating, and sustaining the African traditions at the heart of Puerto Rican culture and liberation. Listen now on all streaming platforms.</p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="40461144" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/fcf65923-8a3a-4819-94e6-a099adb5b87a/audio/be287d87-0d51-43cc-82d6-4add22fd8b17/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Bomba, Spiritism, and the Drums of Black Puerto Rican Resistance</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/ec150b8a-613f-4b0f-b8f1-6d2a7e61aa81/3000x3000/updated-20simplecast-20thumbnails.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:42:08</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>*English Below* 

En el episodio de esta semana de Spirit &amp; Liberation, la conductora Francisca Porchas-Coronado conversa con José Manuel Cepeda Martínez, historiador cultural, bailarín, músico y portador del legado de la Bomba puertorriqueña. Nacido en una familia afropuertorriqueña de artesanos, compositores, cantantes y bailarines, José es hijo de “El Tambor Mayor” Jesús Cepeda Brenes y Sonia Martínez, y nieto de “El Roble Mayor” Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles y Doña Caridad Brenes de Cepeda. Su linaje encarna más de un siglo de tradición ininterrumpida, manteniendo vivos los ritmos, historias y la memoria ancestral de la Bomba en Puerto Rico y su diáspora.

🪘La vida y el trabajo de José honran esta herencia. Desde impartir talleres de Bomba para niños puertorriqueños y dominicanos en St. Thomas, hasta participar en intercambios culturales como la gira Dos Alas junto a AfroCuba de Matanzas, y actualmente en su papel como historiador e investigador con la Sociedad Histórica de Villa Palmeras, José sigue elevando la historia de San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) y su importancia para la identidad negra puertorriqueña.
_______________________________________________

In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas-Coronado is joined by José Manuel Cepeda Martínez, a cultural historian, dancer, musician, and bearer of Puerto Rico’s Bomba legacy. Born into an Afro–Puerto Rican family of artisans, composers, singers, and dancers, José is the son of “El Tambor Mayor” Jesús Cepeda Brenes and Sonia Martínez, and the grandson of “El Roble Mayor” Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles and Doña Caridad Brenes de Cepeda. His lineage embodies more than a century of uninterrupted tradition, keeping alive the rhythms, stories, and ancestral memory of Bomba across Puerto Rico and the diaspora.

🪘José’s life work honors this inheritance. From teaching Bomba workshops for Puerto Rican and Dominican children in St. Thomas, to participating in cultural exchanges like the Dos Alas tour alongside AfroCuba de Matanzas, to his role as historian and researcher with the Villa Palmeras Historical Society, José continues to uplift the history of San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) and its enduring significance for Black Puerto Rican identity.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>*English Below* 

En el episodio de esta semana de Spirit &amp; Liberation, la conductora Francisca Porchas-Coronado conversa con José Manuel Cepeda Martínez, historiador cultural, bailarín, músico y portador del legado de la Bomba puertorriqueña. Nacido en una familia afropuertorriqueña de artesanos, compositores, cantantes y bailarines, José es hijo de “El Tambor Mayor” Jesús Cepeda Brenes y Sonia Martínez, y nieto de “El Roble Mayor” Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles y Doña Caridad Brenes de Cepeda. Su linaje encarna más de un siglo de tradición ininterrumpida, manteniendo vivos los ritmos, historias y la memoria ancestral de la Bomba en Puerto Rico y su diáspora.

🪘La vida y el trabajo de José honran esta herencia. Desde impartir talleres de Bomba para niños puertorriqueños y dominicanos en St. Thomas, hasta participar en intercambios culturales como la gira Dos Alas junto a AfroCuba de Matanzas, y actualmente en su papel como historiador e investigador con la Sociedad Histórica de Villa Palmeras, José sigue elevando la historia de San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) y su importancia para la identidad negra puertorriqueña.
_______________________________________________

In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas-Coronado is joined by José Manuel Cepeda Martínez, a cultural historian, dancer, musician, and bearer of Puerto Rico’s Bomba legacy. Born into an Afro–Puerto Rican family of artisans, composers, singers, and dancers, José is the son of “El Tambor Mayor” Jesús Cepeda Brenes and Sonia Martínez, and the grandson of “El Roble Mayor” Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles and Doña Caridad Brenes de Cepeda. His lineage embodies more than a century of uninterrupted tradition, keeping alive the rhythms, stories, and ancestral memory of Bomba across Puerto Rico and the diaspora.

🪘José’s life work honors this inheritance. From teaching Bomba workshops for Puerto Rican and Dominican children in St. Thomas, to participating in cultural exchanges like the Dos Alas tour alongside AfroCuba de Matanzas, to his role as historian and researcher with the Villa Palmeras Historical Society, José continues to uplift the history of San Mateo de Cangrejos (Santurce) and its enduring significance for Black Puerto Rican identity.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>11</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">cf3aa13c-9369-4ba0-9607-bbf80a5bfe19</guid>
      <title>Spirit, Soil, and Revolution</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Soul Fire Farm - <a href="http://www.soulfirefarm.com/">http://www.soulfirefarm.com/</a></p><p>Farming While Black - <a href="https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/farming-while-black/">https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/farming-while-black/</a></p><p>Black Earth Wisdom - </p><p><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-earth-wisdom-leah-penniman?variant=40616469757986">https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-earth-wisdom-leah-penniman?variant=40616469757986</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/spirit-soil-and-revolution-HjnsY1gq</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Soul Fire Farm - <a href="http://www.soulfirefarm.com/">http://www.soulfirefarm.com/</a></p><p>Farming While Black - <a href="https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/farming-while-black/">https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/farming-while-black/</a></p><p>Black Earth Wisdom - </p><p><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-earth-wisdom-leah-penniman?variant=40616469757986">https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-earth-wisdom-leah-penniman?variant=40616469757986</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="41377204" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/92cf7d17-9439-4cea-851d-9459820d9753/audio/549971e0-6172-45cd-88e2-9b6b42a6fb00/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Spirit, Soil, and Revolution</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/6b205e39-dfd0-4bb2-a526-50a0a30c91a6/3000x3000/ep-10-leahpenniman.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:43:06</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>This week on Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm to discuss African spirituality and Black land stewardship. 

Leah’s work in farming is sacred and ceremonial. It’s rooted in ancestral practice. A devoted student of Ifa and Vodun, Leah shares how tending the land is a spiritual responsibility—and a revolutionary act.

Leah is the co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, a working farm and activist-training center in Grafton, NY, committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. As Co-ED and Farm Director, Leah is part of a team that facilitates powerful food sovereignty programs - including farmer training for Black &amp; Brown people, a subsidized farm food distribution program for communities surviving food apartheid, and domestic and international organizing toward equity in the food system. Leah has been farming since 1996, holds an MA in Science Education and a BA in Environmental Science and International Development from Clark University, and is a member of clergy in West African Indigenous Orisa tradition. Leah trained at Many Hands Organic Farm, Farm School MA, and internationally with farmers in Ghana, Haiti, and Mexico. The work of Leah and Soul Fire Farm has been recognized by the Heinz Award, Soros Racial Justice Fellowship, Fulbright Program, Pritzker Environmental Genius Award, Grist 50, and James Beard Leadership Award, among others. Leah is also the author of two books, Farming While Black and Black Earth Wisdom. 

In this episode:

We talk about the intersection of land, liberation, and ceremony. 
We revisit the Haitian Revolution as a blueprint for spiritual struggle and collective liberation,
And, we reflect on what it means to activate ancestral technologies alongside our strategic assessments of material conditions. 

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>This week on Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm to discuss African spirituality and Black land stewardship. 

Leah’s work in farming is sacred and ceremonial. It’s rooted in ancestral practice. A devoted student of Ifa and Vodun, Leah shares how tending the land is a spiritual responsibility—and a revolutionary act.

Leah is the co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, a working farm and activist-training center in Grafton, NY, committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. As Co-ED and Farm Director, Leah is part of a team that facilitates powerful food sovereignty programs - including farmer training for Black &amp; Brown people, a subsidized farm food distribution program for communities surviving food apartheid, and domestic and international organizing toward equity in the food system. Leah has been farming since 1996, holds an MA in Science Education and a BA in Environmental Science and International Development from Clark University, and is a member of clergy in West African Indigenous Orisa tradition. Leah trained at Many Hands Organic Farm, Farm School MA, and internationally with farmers in Ghana, Haiti, and Mexico. The work of Leah and Soul Fire Farm has been recognized by the Heinz Award, Soros Racial Justice Fellowship, Fulbright Program, Pritzker Environmental Genius Award, Grist 50, and James Beard Leadership Award, among others. Leah is also the author of two books, Farming While Black and Black Earth Wisdom. 

In this episode:

We talk about the intersection of land, liberation, and ceremony. 
We revisit the Haitian Revolution as a blueprint for spiritual struggle and collective liberation,
And, we reflect on what it means to activate ancestral technologies alongside our strategic assessments of material conditions. 

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">e5c32082-97f6-46f0-849a-88af0c3bcf8a</guid>
      <title>From Courtroom to Ceremony: Law, Spirit, and Resistance in the Caribbean</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Institute for Small Islands - <a href="https://www.instituteforsmallislands.org/">https://www.instituteforsmallislands.org/</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/from-courtroom-to-ceremony-law-spirit-and-resistance-in-the-caribbean-o8r_WZ_n</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Institute for Small Islands - <a href="https://www.instituteforsmallislands.org/">https://www.instituteforsmallislands.org/</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="35907227" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/0433ed79-4030-4de8-9655-0b298361947a/audio/ed1495b3-2aef-4b1e-9752-0debc65c5a4e/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>From Courtroom to Ceremony: Law, Spirit, and Resistance in the Caribbean</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/76ba2012-aadb-4a55-8d89-95f5b17dfedc/3000x3000/ep-9-sl-carolinemairtoby.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:37:24</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Caroline Mair-Toby—lawyer and founding director of the Institute for Small Islands. With more than a decade of experience in public international environmental law, Caroline has advised small island states and developing nations in UN climate negotiations, served as a legal consultant to governments and international organizations, and published widely on the environment, human rights, and conservation.

In addition to her legal work, Caroline walks with deep spiritual clarity, drawing strength from her African, Asian, and Indigenous lineages. She bridges law and ancestral practice, exploring how each of these traditions offers insight into resistance and healing. For Caroline, the fight for justice is not only political or legal; it is profoundly spiritual.

In this episode, Caroline reflects on: 

How small island states and Indigenous communities are shaping global climate justice, 
The role of spirituality and ancestral wisdom in legal and political struggles,
And, how her own lineage guides her work at the intersection of law, sovereignty, and liberation.

This conversation is an offering for those committed to reimagining justice in ways that honor both our ancestors and our collective future. Listen now on all streaming platforms.

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.

This episode was recorded in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in Songhai Studio operated and owned by songwriter/producer Konata Alleyne.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Caroline Mair-Toby—lawyer and founding director of the Institute for Small Islands. With more than a decade of experience in public international environmental law, Caroline has advised small island states and developing nations in UN climate negotiations, served as a legal consultant to governments and international organizations, and published widely on the environment, human rights, and conservation.

In addition to her legal work, Caroline walks with deep spiritual clarity, drawing strength from her African, Asian, and Indigenous lineages. She bridges law and ancestral practice, exploring how each of these traditions offers insight into resistance and healing. For Caroline, the fight for justice is not only political or legal; it is profoundly spiritual.

In this episode, Caroline reflects on: 

How small island states and Indigenous communities are shaping global climate justice, 
The role of spirituality and ancestral wisdom in legal and political struggles,
And, how her own lineage guides her work at the intersection of law, sovereignty, and liberation.

This conversation is an offering for those committed to reimagining justice in ways that honor both our ancestors and our collective future. Listen now on all streaming platforms.

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.

This episode was recorded in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in Songhai Studio operated and owned by songwriter/producer Konata Alleyne.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">d02e3f22-0259-4088-940c-3a6b1c6a3113</guid>
      <title>Regla de Ocha, Poetry &amp; Political Consciousness</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> </p><p>Links:</p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - http://ltan.org</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 9 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/regla-de-ocha-poetry-political-consciousness-yp19ycJv</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> </p><p>Links:</p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - http://ltan.org</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="33502467" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/becb5c85-da2b-4f41-97ee-2f8c54930325/audio/2ce96a1b-ae74-470b-8c7d-e2646225be6d/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Regla de Ocha, Poetry &amp; Political Consciousness</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/f2cebae7-b843-43ac-9181-6def2520a87f/3000x3000/ep8-sl-janetquezada.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:34:53</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas Coronado welcomes Janet Arelis Quezada, a queer, Black daughter of Dominican migrants, spiritual elder, poet, and cultural worker whose life bridges movement spaces, sacred practice, and creative expression.
Crowned to Oyá in 2004 in the Cuban-style Lukumí tradition, Janet brings decades of spiritual practice and political organizing to this conversation. She’s worked in communities across the U.S. from the Bronx to the Bay, from L.A. to Miami building collective strategies to end sexual violence, support LGBTQ visibility, and cultivate healing spaces rooted in justice.
In this episode, Francisca and Janet explore:
🌀 The meaning and legacy of Regla de Ocha, and how it relates to and differs from other Afro-diasporic spiritual traditions like Ifá,
📣 What it means to be politically conscious in spiritual communities and what happens when that awareness is missing,
📝 How poetry and writing become tools of remembrance, connection, and processing for Black queer spiritual practitioners,
Janet closes the episode with a heartfelt offering from her own poetry collection for listeners to hold close in the days ahead.
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.
Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas Coronado welcomes Janet Arelis Quezada, a queer, Black daughter of Dominican migrants, spiritual elder, poet, and cultural worker whose life bridges movement spaces, sacred practice, and creative expression.
Crowned to Oyá in 2004 in the Cuban-style Lukumí tradition, Janet brings decades of spiritual practice and political organizing to this conversation. She’s worked in communities across the U.S. from the Bronx to the Bay, from L.A. to Miami building collective strategies to end sexual violence, support LGBTQ visibility, and cultivate healing spaces rooted in justice.
In this episode, Francisca and Janet explore:
🌀 The meaning and legacy of Regla de Ocha, and how it relates to and differs from other Afro-diasporic spiritual traditions like Ifá,
📣 What it means to be politically conscious in spiritual communities and what happens when that awareness is missing,
📝 How poetry and writing become tools of remembrance, connection, and processing for Black queer spiritual practitioners,
Janet closes the episode with a heartfelt offering from her own poetry collection for listeners to hold close in the days ahead.
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.
Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">43acd212-3d97-4314-995f-b72eb7e8b585</guid>
      <title>We Don’t Organize Alone: Afro-Diasporic Traditions in Movement Work</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p> </p><p>Links:</p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - http://ltan.org</p><p> </p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 2 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/we-dont-organize-alone-afro-diasporic-traditions-in-movement-work-ZfKScb4n</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> </p><p>Links:</p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - http://ltan.org</p><p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="34859990" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/093153bb-7a6e-4515-aa4f-a5b9e3e98fdc/audio/91fd563b-318f-4e56-9293-822c1f8cca5e/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>We Don’t Organize Alone: Afro-Diasporic Traditions in Movement Work</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/0f83ccca-3568-49a5-b6ae-b0747f799240/3000x3000/ep-7-sl-manuelaarciniegas.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:36:18</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Manuela Arciniegas, a mother, drummer, healer, and spiritual leader across multiple Afro-Diasporic traditions.
Manuela is a priestess of Shango in the Lukumi tradition, a Ntika Yaya in Palo Mayombe, and an omo awo of Ifa. A cultural organizer and somatic healing coach, she supports women of color in the social justice movement while also working at the intersection of philanthropy, education justice, and ancestral reclamation.
In this episode, Jeanette and Manuela speak about:
🌪️ How traditions like Ifa, Lukumi, and Palo Mayombe offer essential wisdom in the face of racial capitalism and spiritual crisis,
🕯️ The weight of living in these times and how spirit offers a map for survival,
🥁 The role of ritual, drumming, and ancestral lineage in building liberatory movements,
💫 And why, as Manuela reminds us, “we don’t organize alone.”
Before the conversation begins, the episode includes a brief orientation to three Afro-Diasporic traditions referenced throughout:
Lukumi – rooted in Yoruba spiritual systems and shaped in Cuba, centered around honoring the Orisha (spiritual forces of nature),
Palo Mayombe – a Congo-rooted spiritual tradition of working with ancestral and elemental forces through sacred ngangas,
Ifa – the Yoruba system of divination, ethics, and cosmological teachings, passed down through sacred verses known as Odu.
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.
Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Manuela Arciniegas, a mother, drummer, healer, and spiritual leader across multiple Afro-Diasporic traditions.
Manuela is a priestess of Shango in the Lukumi tradition, a Ntika Yaya in Palo Mayombe, and an omo awo of Ifa. A cultural organizer and somatic healing coach, she supports women of color in the social justice movement while also working at the intersection of philanthropy, education justice, and ancestral reclamation.
In this episode, Jeanette and Manuela speak about:
🌪️ How traditions like Ifa, Lukumi, and Palo Mayombe offer essential wisdom in the face of racial capitalism and spiritual crisis,
🕯️ The weight of living in these times and how spirit offers a map for survival,
🥁 The role of ritual, drumming, and ancestral lineage in building liberatory movements,
💫 And why, as Manuela reminds us, “we don’t organize alone.”
Before the conversation begins, the episode includes a brief orientation to three Afro-Diasporic traditions referenced throughout:
Lukumi – rooted in Yoruba spiritual systems and shaped in Cuba, centered around honoring the Orisha (spiritual forces of nature),
Palo Mayombe – a Congo-rooted spiritual tradition of working with ancestral and elemental forces through sacred ngangas,
Ifa – the Yoruba system of divination, ethics, and cosmological teachings, passed down through sacred verses known as Odu.
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of sacred traditions and political struggle.
Each episode invites you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">27fe6045-872c-4126-aa91-a2e71994f658</guid>
      <title>Merikin Maroons, Ifá, and Land Sovereignty in Trinidad</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Fondes Amandes Reforestation Project - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/facrp/">https://www.facebook.com/facrp/</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fondesamandes_facrp/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/fondesamandes_facrp/?hl=en</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/merikin-maroons-ifa-and-land-sovereignty-in-trinidad-_ad_YQaG</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>Fondes Amandes Reforestation Project - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/facrp/">https://www.facebook.com/facrp/</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fondesamandes_facrp/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/fondesamandes_facrp/?hl=en</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="40190200" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/990a0f0d-66b6-4df9-a204-47e22229ab96/audio/ef40ad05-f231-4a38-86c5-b1c8730ef6da/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Merikin Maroons, Ifá, and Land Sovereignty in Trinidad</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/296e4b3a-5ac7-4741-9b49-5839f7ffe262/3000x3000/sl-simplecast-ep-6-aj.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:41:51</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Iya Akilah Jaramogi—Paramount Chief of the Merikin Maroons of Trinidad &amp; Tobago, cultural activist, reforestation pioneer, fire-fighter, and longtime Ifá practitioner.

The Merikin Maroons are descendants of formerly enslaved Africans who gained freedom by serving alongside the British during the War of 1812 against the United States in the South. After their service, the Merikin Maroons were resettled in southern Trinidad between 1815 and 1816, where they established self-governing communities known as the “Company Villages.” Ever since, their maroon villages have become centers of over two centuries’ long spiritual practice and land stewardship.

Building upon her ancestors’ journey, for over four decades, Iya Akilah has led visionary work at the intersection of environmental justice, ancestral memory, and spiritual practice. As founder and CEO of the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project, she has cultivated a globally recognized model of community forestry grounded in balance, reciprocity, and the intersection of ancestral veneration and land sovereignty. 

This episode Iya Akilah elaborates on:
 Reforestation as a spiritual and ancestral practice, 
The legacy of Merikin Maroon resistance in Trinidad, 
And, how community-based land forestry challenges climate change, colonialism, and capitalism.  

This episode is an offering for everyone working to restore what colonization tried to erase—land and legacy. </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>In this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Iya Akilah Jaramogi—Paramount Chief of the Merikin Maroons of Trinidad &amp; Tobago, cultural activist, reforestation pioneer, fire-fighter, and longtime Ifá practitioner.

The Merikin Maroons are descendants of formerly enslaved Africans who gained freedom by serving alongside the British during the War of 1812 against the United States in the South. After their service, the Merikin Maroons were resettled in southern Trinidad between 1815 and 1816, where they established self-governing communities known as the “Company Villages.” Ever since, their maroon villages have become centers of over two centuries’ long spiritual practice and land stewardship.

Building upon her ancestors’ journey, for over four decades, Iya Akilah has led visionary work at the intersection of environmental justice, ancestral memory, and spiritual practice. As founder and CEO of the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project, she has cultivated a globally recognized model of community forestry grounded in balance, reciprocity, and the intersection of ancestral veneration and land sovereignty. 

This episode Iya Akilah elaborates on:
 Reforestation as a spiritual and ancestral practice, 
The legacy of Merikin Maroon resistance in Trinidad, 
And, how community-based land forestry challenges climate change, colonialism, and capitalism.  

This episode is an offering for everyone working to restore what colonization tried to erase—land and legacy. </itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">a98ca286-b78c-4758-89db-c1c7a0742901</guid>
      <title>Oshun, Street Vendors &amp; Spirit-Led Organizing</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Engish Below*</p><p>En el episodio de esta semana de <i>Espíritu y Liberación</i>, nuestra host Jeanette Charles-Márquez conversa con Rosa Miranda—trabajadora cultural, poderosa organizadora comunitaria y devota de la Orisha Osun.</p><p>Originaria de Hidalgo, México, Rosa comenzó a organizar desde su adolescencia. Desde que emigró a Estados Unidos en 1999, se ha convertido en un pilar de los movimientos de base en Los Ángeles, luchando por la despenalización de la venta ambulante y promoviendo alternativas de seguridad pública y control comunitario.</p><p>Miembra fundadora del Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), el trabajo organizativo de Rosa está profundamente guiado por su camino espiritual dentro de la tradición Orisha. En este episodio, comparte:</p><p>🌼 Su recorrido como hija de Osun y cómo llegó a la tradición Orisha,<br />🌻 Su lucha constante por proteger los alimentos tradicionales, organizar junto a vendedores ambulantes y defender la dignidad de la clase trabajadora,<br />💛 Y el poder sanador de las enseñanzas espirituales en momentos de desafíos políticos.</p><p><i>Espíritu y Liberación</i> es una serie limitada de pódcast, presentada por la Latinx Therapists Action Network, que explora la intersección entre la lucha política y las tradiciones sagradas.</p><p>Cada episodio te invita a una conversación con organizadores, practicantes espirituales y sanadores comprometides con entretejer la sabiduría ancestral en la lucha por nuestra liberación colectiva. Esta serie explora cómo el espíritu atraviesa nuestros movimientos—ofreciendo herramientas, historias y verdades para estos tiempos.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>On this week’s episode of <i>Spirit and Liberation</i>, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Rosa Miranda—cultural worker, fierce community organizer, and devotee of the Orisha Osun. This is our first episode in Spanish for this series! </p><p>Originally from Hidalgo, México, Rosa began organizing as a teen. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, she has become a pillar in Los Angeles’ grassroots movements, from fighting for the decriminalization of street vending to uplifting community control and public safety alternatives.</p><p>A founding member of Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), Rosa’s organizing is deeply guided by her spiritual path in the Orisha tradition. In this episode, she shares:</p><p>🌼 Her journey as daughter of Osun and how she came into the Orisha tradition,<br />🌻 Her long-standing struggle to protect traditional foods, to organize alongside street vendors, and fight for working-class dignity,<br />💛 And the healing power of spiritual teachings in moments of political challenges. </p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p> </p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/oshun-street-vendors-spirit-led-organizing-ToAZbYFi</link>
      <media:thumbnail height="720" url="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/ddd27cda-03f1-442f-ab6a-cda69420357f/announcement-20-20-2.jpg" width="1280"/>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Engish Below*</p><p>En el episodio de esta semana de <i>Espíritu y Liberación</i>, nuestra host Jeanette Charles-Márquez conversa con Rosa Miranda—trabajadora cultural, poderosa organizadora comunitaria y devota de la Orisha Osun.</p><p>Originaria de Hidalgo, México, Rosa comenzó a organizar desde su adolescencia. Desde que emigró a Estados Unidos en 1999, se ha convertido en un pilar de los movimientos de base en Los Ángeles, luchando por la despenalización de la venta ambulante y promoviendo alternativas de seguridad pública y control comunitario.</p><p>Miembra fundadora del Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), el trabajo organizativo de Rosa está profundamente guiado por su camino espiritual dentro de la tradición Orisha. En este episodio, comparte:</p><p>🌼 Su recorrido como hija de Osun y cómo llegó a la tradición Orisha,<br />🌻 Su lucha constante por proteger los alimentos tradicionales, organizar junto a vendedores ambulantes y defender la dignidad de la clase trabajadora,<br />💛 Y el poder sanador de las enseñanzas espirituales en momentos de desafíos políticos.</p><p><i>Espíritu y Liberación</i> es una serie limitada de pódcast, presentada por la Latinx Therapists Action Network, que explora la intersección entre la lucha política y las tradiciones sagradas.</p><p>Cada episodio te invita a una conversación con organizadores, practicantes espirituales y sanadores comprometides con entretejer la sabiduría ancestral en la lucha por nuestra liberación colectiva. Esta serie explora cómo el espíritu atraviesa nuestros movimientos—ofreciendo herramientas, historias y verdades para estos tiempos.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>On this week’s episode of <i>Spirit and Liberation</i>, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Rosa Miranda—cultural worker, fierce community organizer, and devotee of the Orisha Osun. This is our first episode in Spanish for this series! </p><p>Originally from Hidalgo, México, Rosa began organizing as a teen. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, she has become a pillar in Los Angeles’ grassroots movements, from fighting for the decriminalization of street vending to uplifting community control and public safety alternatives.</p><p>A founding member of Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), Rosa’s organizing is deeply guided by her spiritual path in the Orisha tradition. In this episode, she shares:</p><p>🌼 Her journey as daughter of Osun and how she came into the Orisha tradition,<br />🌻 Her long-standing struggle to protect traditional foods, to organize alongside street vendors, and fight for working-class dignity,<br />💛 And the healing power of spiritual teachings in moments of political challenges. </p><p><i>Spirit & Liberation </i>is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.</p><p>Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</p><p>Links: </p><p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="28949538" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/b8b809ac-fe6f-4e83-97d8-3a7a1318d2b3/audio/c9490538-03ce-4d4b-b18d-7a28bc6f42de/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Oshun, Street Vendors &amp; Spirit-Led Organizing</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/01554f56-de1d-48dd-b387-b4fb3f96e20e/3000x3000/announcement-20-20-1.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:30:09</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>*Engish Below*


En el episodio de esta semana de Espíritu y Liberación, nuestra host Jeanette Charles-Márquez conversa con Rosa Miranda—trabajadora cultural, poderosa organizadora comunitaria y devota de la Orisha Osun.

Originaria de Hidalgo, México, Rosa comenzó a organizar desde su adolescencia. Desde que emigró a Estados Unidos en 1999, se ha convertido en un pilar de los movimientos de base en Los Ángeles, luchando por la despenalización de la venta ambulante y promoviendo alternativas de seguridad pública y control comunitario.

Miembra fundadora del Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), el trabajo organizativo de Rosa está profundamente guiado por su camino espiritual dentro de la tradición Orisha. En este episodio, comparte:

🌼 Su recorrido como hija de Osun y cómo llegó a la tradición Orisha,🌻 Su lucha constante por proteger los alimentos tradicionales, organizar junto a vendedores ambulantes y defender la dignidad de la clase trabajadora,💛 Y el poder sanador de las enseñanzas espirituales en momentos de desafíos políticos.
_______________________________________________

On this week’s episode of Spirit and Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Rosa Miranda—cultural worker, fierce community organizer, and devotee of the Orisha Osun. This is our first episode in Spanish for this series! 

Originally from Hidalgo, México, Rosa began organizing as a teen. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, she has become a pillar in Los Angeles’ grassroots movements, from fighting for the decriminalization of street vending to uplifting community control and public safety alternatives.

A founding member of Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), Rosa’s organizing is deeply guided by her spiritual path in the Orisha tradition. In this episode, she shares:

🌼 Her journey as daughter of Osun and how she came into the Orisha tradition,🌻 Her long-standing struggle to protect traditional foods, to organize alongside street vendors, and fight for working-class dignity,💛 And the healing power of spiritual teachings in moments of political challenges. </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>*Engish Below*


En el episodio de esta semana de Espíritu y Liberación, nuestra host Jeanette Charles-Márquez conversa con Rosa Miranda—trabajadora cultural, poderosa organizadora comunitaria y devota de la Orisha Osun.

Originaria de Hidalgo, México, Rosa comenzó a organizar desde su adolescencia. Desde que emigró a Estados Unidos en 1999, se ha convertido en un pilar de los movimientos de base en Los Ángeles, luchando por la despenalización de la venta ambulante y promoviendo alternativas de seguridad pública y control comunitario.

Miembra fundadora del Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), el trabajo organizativo de Rosa está profundamente guiado por su camino espiritual dentro de la tradición Orisha. En este episodio, comparte:

🌼 Su recorrido como hija de Osun y cómo llegó a la tradición Orisha,🌻 Su lucha constante por proteger los alimentos tradicionales, organizar junto a vendedores ambulantes y defender la dignidad de la clase trabajadora,💛 Y el poder sanador de las enseñanzas espirituales en momentos de desafíos políticos.
_______________________________________________

On this week’s episode of Spirit and Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez welcomes Rosa Miranda—cultural worker, fierce community organizer, and devotee of the Orisha Osun. This is our first episode in Spanish for this series! 

Originally from Hidalgo, México, Rosa began organizing as a teen. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, she has become a pillar in Los Angeles’ grassroots movements, from fighting for the decriminalization of street vending to uplifting community control and public safety alternatives.

A founding member of Colectivo de Poder Comunitario (CPC), Rosa’s organizing is deeply guided by her spiritual path in the Orisha tradition. In this episode, she shares:

🌼 Her journey as daughter of Osun and how she came into the Orisha tradition,🌻 Her long-standing struggle to protect traditional foods, to organize alongside street vendors, and fight for working-class dignity,💛 And the healing power of spiritual teachings in moments of political challenges. </itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">ef02f91d-349e-4f2f-a74e-f851f868b213</guid>
      <title>“Esu Is Not Satan” &amp; The Power of Ifá</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>The World of Ifa - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theworldofifa/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/theworldofifa/?hl=en</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/esu-is-not-satan-the-power-of-ifa-9Seef6_B</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>The World of Ifa - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theworldofifa/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/theworldofifa/?hl=en</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="43365227" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/c8136240-de1e-4ec2-8b9c-eecb7a9323c7/audio/cd659e7c-7401-44e6-9dff-eeb08532e695/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>“Esu Is Not Satan” &amp; The Power of Ifá</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/058069ce-a585-4514-a447-f902ebce8965/3000x3000/announcement-20-20-8.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:45:10</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>In this episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Ifagbenusola Owomide Popoola—a Nigerian-born traditional singer, filmmaker, author, and founder of World of Ifá. Through storytelling, scholarship, and artistic expression, Ifagbenusola bridges Yoruba history, culture, and ancestral wisdom to illuminate the power of African spirituality in our times.

He is one of the lead voices behind the global #EsuIsNotSatan campaign, a bold movement challenging colonial and religious distortions of Esu—a revered Orisha in the Yoruba tradition known as the divine messenger, guardian of the crossroads, and embodiment of choice, transformation, and communication between the human and spiritual realms.

Together, this conversation also explores the core teachings of the Ifá spiritual system, its relevance to our current global moment, and how this ancient tradition offers tools for grounding, healing, and liberation.

In this episode, Ifagbenusola shares:

🔥 How storytelling, music, and film shape spiritual consciousness
🌍 Pathways for reconnecting with Ifá across the Diaspora
🗣️ A closing Ifá prayer and blessing to carry with you

This conversation is an offering for anyone seeking to live more spiritually rooted, intentionally aligned, and ancestrally connected.

Spirit &amp; Liberation, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, is a limited series podcast exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions. Each episode features movement leaders, spiritual practitioners, and healers who are weaving ancestral wisdom into today’s collective liberation work.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>In this episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Jeanette Charles-Márquez is joined by Ifagbenusola Owomide Popoola—a Nigerian-born traditional singer, filmmaker, author, and founder of World of Ifá. Through storytelling, scholarship, and artistic expression, Ifagbenusola bridges Yoruba history, culture, and ancestral wisdom to illuminate the power of African spirituality in our times.

He is one of the lead voices behind the global #EsuIsNotSatan campaign, a bold movement challenging colonial and religious distortions of Esu—a revered Orisha in the Yoruba tradition known as the divine messenger, guardian of the crossroads, and embodiment of choice, transformation, and communication between the human and spiritual realms.

Together, this conversation also explores the core teachings of the Ifá spiritual system, its relevance to our current global moment, and how this ancient tradition offers tools for grounding, healing, and liberation.

In this episode, Ifagbenusola shares:

🔥 How storytelling, music, and film shape spiritual consciousness
🌍 Pathways for reconnecting with Ifá across the Diaspora
🗣️ A closing Ifá prayer and blessing to carry with you

This conversation is an offering for anyone seeking to live more spiritually rooted, intentionally aligned, and ancestrally connected.

Spirit &amp; Liberation, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, is a limited series podcast exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions. Each episode features movement leaders, spiritual practitioners, and healers who are weaving ancestral wisdom into today’s collective liberation work.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">39c26873-fbb3-4190-b98c-1d6f47240a84</guid>
      <title>Afro-Boricua Ancestral Memory with Melanie Maldonado</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>PROPA - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diasporican.propa/">https://www.instagram.com/diasporican.propa/</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 5 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/afro-borica-ancestral-memory-with-melanie-maldonad-ZuvJnjef</link>
      <media:thumbnail height="720" url="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/9c17c43a-67c8-49d6-90a6-d37e1f604ad1/announcement-20-20-1.jpg" width="1280"/>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network - <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>PROPA - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diasporican.propa/">https://www.instagram.com/diasporican.propa/</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="36861118" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/82c3cca7-0f51-4a30-897b-5b1f3e605eb2/audio/a506e63e-6416-435f-8819-10306850340f/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Afro-Boricua Ancestral Memory with Melanie Maldonado</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/466bf0a7-60d2-4f8c-8f5d-f5db305ab26b/3000x3000/announcement-20.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:38:23</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>In this episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas-Coronado speaks with Melanie Maldonado—a Boricua bombera, artivist, independent scholar, and cultural preservationist whose work spans performance, history, and genealogy.

Melanie is the founder of the Puerto Rican Organization for the Performing Arts (PROPA) in Chicago and the longtime organizer of the Bomba Research Conference. She has contributed to the Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies Program, conducted research for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and published extensively on Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance.

Since 2011, Melanie has led the Lugares Históricos project, highlighting Black historical sites in Puerto Rico—including those tied to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Her work includes community tours, historical marker placements, and ongoing efforts to preserve sacred ancestral spaces.

She is also a genealogist and member of the United Confederation of Taíno People, working to help Afrodescendant families reconnect with their roots through projects like Mis Ancestres en la Bomba, África Habla en Mí, and Mapping Africa in Puerto Rico.

 In this episode, we explore:

Her journey as a bombera and cultural worker,
The importance of Black historical sites in Puerto Rico,
 Her genealogical work connecting Afrodescendants to ancestral memory,
The mapping of African legacy across Borikén and why reclaiming physical spaces matters for spiritual and political liberation.

This conversation is an offering for all those committed to remembering, honoring, and preserving our roots.

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.
</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>In this episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas-Coronado speaks with Melanie Maldonado—a Boricua bombera, artivist, independent scholar, and cultural preservationist whose work spans performance, history, and genealogy.

Melanie is the founder of the Puerto Rican Organization for the Performing Arts (PROPA) in Chicago and the longtime organizer of the Bomba Research Conference. She has contributed to the Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies Program, conducted research for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and published extensively on Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance.

Since 2011, Melanie has led the Lugares Históricos project, highlighting Black historical sites in Puerto Rico—including those tied to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Her work includes community tours, historical marker placements, and ongoing efforts to preserve sacred ancestral spaces.

She is also a genealogist and member of the United Confederation of Taíno People, working to help Afrodescendant families reconnect with their roots through projects like Mis Ancestres en la Bomba, África Habla en Mí, and Mapping Africa in Puerto Rico.

 In this episode, we explore:

Her journey as a bombera and cultural worker,
The importance of Black historical sites in Puerto Rico,
 Her genealogical work connecting Afrodescendants to ancestral memory,
The mapping of African legacy across Borikén and why reclaiming physical spaces matters for spiritual and political liberation.

This conversation is an offering for all those committed to remembering, honoring, and preserving our roots.

Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.
</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">9650907e-21e7-4a3a-a442-b6714cbcbe52</guid>
      <title>The Givers Revival: Ritual, Rest, and Resilience with Wakumi Douglas</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network </p><p> <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>The Giver’s Revival </p><p> <a href="https://www.giversrevival.world/">https://www.giversrevival.world/</a></p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/the-givers-revival-ritual-rest-and-resilience-with-wakumi-douglas-G1KbyV4K</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Latinx Therapists Action Network </p><p> <a href="http://ltan.org">http://ltan.org</a></p><p>The Giver’s Revival </p><p> <a href="https://www.giversrevival.world/">https://www.giversrevival.world/</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="43659323" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/f986e8ad-3394-4b49-a302-0b04dc0d4cf6/audio/d4654622-c113-4ff7-8a4e-29940307f6fa/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>The Givers Revival: Ritual, Rest, and Resilience with Wakumi Douglas</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/f61509ce-a969-4937-8f0f-fbf3aa3256be/3000x3000/announcement-20-20-5.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:45:28</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas Coronado welcomes Wakumi Douglas, creator, mother, and spiritual strategist. Rooted in Jamaican lineage shaped by the Maafa and marronage. Wakumi is the visionary behind The Givers Revival, a centralized, scalable wellness infrastructure designed specifically for those managing high-stakes funding, social movements, and community-based change.
.
In this episode, Wakumi speaks on: 
🌀 Her journey through organizing, healing justice, and sacred practice,
🔥 How The Givers Revival is creating embodied spaces of spiritual and political liberation,
🌻 The role of joy, rest, and ritual in sustaining our movements,
🌍 The transformative power of healing as a strategy for resilience and collective power.
 
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>On this week’s episode of Spirit &amp; Liberation, host Francisca Porchas Coronado welcomes Wakumi Douglas, creator, mother, and spiritual strategist. Rooted in Jamaican lineage shaped by the Maafa and marronage. Wakumi is the visionary behind The Givers Revival, a centralized, scalable wellness infrastructure designed specifically for those managing high-stakes funding, social movements, and community-based change.
.
In this episode, Wakumi speaks on: 
🌀 Her journey through organizing, healing justice, and sacred practice,
🔥 How The Givers Revival is creating embodied spaces of spiritual and political liberation,
🌻 The role of joy, rest, and ritual in sustaining our movements,
🌍 The transformative power of healing as a strategy for resilience and collective power.
 
Spirit &amp; Liberation is a limited series podcast, brought to you by the Latinx Therapists Action Network, exploring the intersection of political struggle and sacred traditions.

Each episode brings you into conversation with organizers, spiritual practitioners, and healers committed to weaving ancestral wisdom into the fight for our collective liberation. This series explores how spirit moves through our movements—offering tools, stories, and truths for these times.</itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">9a4603c7-d231-4451-ba70-b59fbb1fc003</guid>
      <title>Introducing Spirit &amp; Liberation</title>
      <description><![CDATA[<p>🎙️✨ Welcome to Spirit & Liberation, a limited series podcast from the Latinx Therapists Action Network, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement.</p><p>This podcast centers the crossroads of political struggle and sacred traditions. In our very first episode, we share the roots of this offering: why we launched it, who you’ll meet along the way, and how spirit moves through our movements.</p><p>Hosted by Francisca Porchas Coronado and Jeanette Charles-Marquez—LTAN’s Executive Director and Associate Director of Programs—this space is a gathering point for organizers, healers, and spiritual practitioners committed to weaving African and Indigenous cosmologies into the fight for collective liberation.</p><p>🌀 What does it mean to organize from a place of spirit?<br />🌿 How do ancestral practices sustain long-haul movement work?<br />🔥 Why is spiritual grounding essential to our strategies for change?</p><p>Every episode offers tools, stories, and insights for how to navigate these times, reminding us that the most transformative movements are born from deep care, spiritual clarity, and visionary imagination.</p>
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:28:02 +0000</pubDate>
      <author>brenda@ltan.org (The Latinx Therapists Action Network )</author>
      <link>https://spirit-and-liberation.simplecast.com/episodes/introducing-spirit-liberation-_kM9nI0U</link>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>🎙️✨ Welcome to Spirit & Liberation, a limited series podcast from the Latinx Therapists Action Network, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement.</p><p>This podcast centers the crossroads of political struggle and sacred traditions. In our very first episode, we share the roots of this offering: why we launched it, who you’ll meet along the way, and how spirit moves through our movements.</p><p>Hosted by Francisca Porchas Coronado and Jeanette Charles-Marquez—LTAN’s Executive Director and Associate Director of Programs—this space is a gathering point for organizers, healers, and spiritual practitioners committed to weaving African and Indigenous cosmologies into the fight for collective liberation.</p><p>🌀 What does it mean to organize from a place of spirit?<br />🌿 How do ancestral practices sustain long-haul movement work?<br />🔥 Why is spiritual grounding essential to our strategies for change?</p><p>Every episode offers tools, stories, and insights for how to navigate these times, reminding us that the most transformative movements are born from deep care, spiritual clarity, and visionary imagination.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <enclosure length="31561569" type="audio/mpeg" url="https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/e6448ca2-b5c2-4eb0-8b42-bf76d7cfd39e/episodes/d83ec729-d299-49d1-a23e-52a26bb9bfe2/audio/d85d998d-217a-478b-90b3-3e4b1786d22c/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&amp;feed=WHHWa_WH"/>
      <itunes:title>Introducing Spirit &amp; Liberation</itunes:title>
      <itunes:author>The Latinx Therapists Action Network </itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/a2885aec-0e52-4026-8273-eb409d65799a/e329dd42-6529-4609-bead-857669124227/3000x3000/announcement-20.jpg?aid=rss_feed"/>
      <itunes:duration>00:32:52</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>Welcome to Spirit &amp; Liberation, the podcast where we bridge the sacred and the political, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement. 

Our ancestors taught us how to resist and reimagine the world. Today, as the stakes of our collective freedom grow higher, we are called to reawaken and re-embody those lessons. Spirit &amp; Liberation traces those links between ancestral spiritual practice and contemporary liberation movements.  

Join hosts Francisca Porchas Coronado and Jeanette Charles-Marquez, two organizers and IFA practitioners who are deeply committed to liberation. With our special guests, we will discuss ancestral practices, community-based care systems, and the often unseen spiritual frameworks that nurture our movements.  </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:subtitle>Welcome to Spirit &amp; Liberation, the podcast where we bridge the sacred and the political, where ancestral wisdom meets the frontlines of organized movement. 

Our ancestors taught us how to resist and reimagine the world. Today, as the stakes of our collective freedom grow higher, we are called to reawaken and re-embody those lessons. Spirit &amp; Liberation traces those links between ancestral spiritual practice and contemporary liberation movements.  

Join hosts Francisca Porchas Coronado and Jeanette Charles-Marquez, two organizers and IFA practitioners who are deeply committed to liberation. With our special guests, we will discuss ancestral practices, community-based care systems, and the often unseen spiritual frameworks that nurture our movements.  </itunes:subtitle>
      <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>