What is the role of Brownness in a Black/white world? That's the question Dominican-Colombian-American actor, author and storyteller Christopher Rivas has been navigating his whole life. Listen as Chris discusses identity, careers, and taking up space with other Brown activists, creators and change-makers. Brown Enough is the stories between Black and white.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the feed to find Rubirosa, a ten-part documentary series about Porfirio Rubirosa, the Dominican diplomat, playboy, and international polo champion who was the inspiration for James Bond. The show tells the true story of Rubi’s incredible and complicated life and Chris learns what it can teach him about love, success, family, Hollywood, code-switching, white-washing, and the roller coaster of finding himself in a world not made for Brown folks like him.
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What is the role of Brownness in a Black/white world? That's the question Dominican-Colombian-American actor, author and storyteller Christopher Rivas has been navigating his whole life. Listen as Chris discusses identity, careers, and taking up space with other Brown activists, creators and change-makers. Brown Enough is the stories between Black and white.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the feed to find Rubirosa, a ten-part documentary series about Porfirio Rubirosa, the Dominican diplomat, playboy, and international polo champion who was the inspiration for James Bond. The show tells the true story of Rubi’s incredible and complicated life and Chris learns what it can teach him about love, success, family, Hollywood, code-switching, white-washing, and the roller coaster of finding himself in a world not made for Brown folks like him.
For all my mental health advocates, therapists and those bing therapized! This is a bonus episode from a podcast called, Books That Shape Us: Stories, Science, & Healing - I had the pleasure of chatting with the host about Brown Enough as a theraputic model.
Today we're joined by the incomparable Gina Torres - an icon of stage and screen whose presence has shaped entire worlds. From Firefly to Suits, to 9-1-1, Gina has made a career of playing roles with strength, grace, and depth, roles she often had to fight for long before the industry knew what to do with a woman like her.
We talk about craft, confidence, longevity, and the audacity it takes to build a career on your own terms. We get into representation, resilience, joy, and what it means to hold your power in a business that rarely gives it freely.
This is a conversation about talent, yes - but also about legacy, courage, and the brilliance of a woman who has spent decades expanding what’s possible for the rest of us.
Today on Brown Enough, we’re at Lopez Urban Farms with Bianca Ustrell-Friend - better known as Farmer Bianca, and community organizer Nathaly Moreno. Together, and with many others, they are building a refuge. A place where mutual aid isn’t theory - it’s tomatoes, shade, compost, care, and a free-giving economy rooted in love. Go check them out https://www.lopezurbanfarm.com/
We talk about what it means to feed a community without gatekeeping, how urban gardening becomes a form of resistance, and why creating refuge for one another is some of the most radical work we can do.
This episode is a journey through soil, spirit, and solidarity — and a reminder that the world we want is already being grown by people like Bianca and Nathaly.
Today on Brown Enough, we’re doing something special — a roundtable with three powerhouse women whose minds and hearts shape culture in ways you can feel. I’m joined by Maytha Alhassen, Nina Hosseinzadeh, and Farah Fezz for a conversation about story, identity, community, and the work of imagining freer futures.
We get into lineage, belonging, the politics of representation, and what it looks like to build spaces where all of us can be whole. It’s sharp, generous, and full of that kind of truth you can only get when brilliant people sit together and really talk. Let’s get into it.
Today on Brown Enough, I’m joined by Reza Farazmand, the creator of Poorly Drawn Lines, a comic that’s equal parts funny, tender, and existential. Reza has been making art online for over a decade, turning simple sketches into an entire universe of talking animals, awkward humans, and cosmic jokes about being alive. We talk about what it means to be an audacious artist - discipline, delusion, and the quiet magic of making… and making… and making again.
Moon Chola is an astrologer, tarot reader, and cosmic guide. Their work lives at the intersection of intuition and ancestry, blending ancient wisdom with the realities of modern life. We talk about the wounded healer, the stars, self-trust, and how reading the sky can help us better understand what’s happening inside and all around.
This conversation is about remembering — that our stories are written not in fate, but in choice, and that the universe has always been speaking to us… if we just learn to listen.
Today we sit down with Terry Hu - actor, artist, chess player! We talk about self-worth, identity, the theater, and what it means to build a life outside of performance. It’s a conversation about presence, purpose, and the beauty of just being.
This week, a bonus episode featuring me as the guest. I recently sat down with Zen Commuter to talk about meditation, presence, and what it means to live a mindful life in the middle of chaos. As an avid meditator and Dharma practitioner, I wanted to share this conversation with our Brown Enough community. We get into sitting with discomfort, turning awareness into action, and remembering that peace isn’t a destination, it’s a daily practice. If you’ve ever wondered how meditation shows up in my creative life, or how I balance the noise of the world with the stillness of the cushion — this one’s for you.
The one and only Aida Rodríguez, comedian, writer, and truth-teller. Aida’s comedy is fearless and full of heart, weaving stories of family, culture, and survival into punchlines that cut deep. We talk about where humor meets healing, and what it means to speak truth in a world that would rather you stay quiet.
Today on Brown Enough, I’m joined by actress Stephanie Arcila, a storyteller who’s mastered the art of betting on herself. From telenovelas to Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, to Fire Country, Stephanie brings heart, humor, and courage to everything she does. We talk self-care, language, love, community, having great people, and what it really takes to take a risk on your dreams.
Today we sit down with a friend, mentor, best selling author, the person I call when I need a ritual or limpia, and brilliant spark of life, Juliet Diaz, the author of The Altar Within, and other amazing reads. We chat communal liberation, solitude, how words are spells in your mouth, how our stories are our ancestors stories, reciprocity, freedom, radical activism, and that we all have the power to love everybody - no exceptions. It’s a great one! A powerful one! A medicinal one! Enjoy xo
Welcome back for season 3!! Today we are chatting with the incomparable Vico Ortiz — actor, activist, drag king, and joyful disruptor. From swashbuckling on screen to breaking binaries in life, Vico is redefining what it means to take up space with authenticity, be radically honest, have, courage, and play. Enjoy!
This week, the one and only Jessica Marie Garcia, known for her role as Jasmine in Netflix's "On My Block," plus many more - shares her journey, awakenings, big questions, and mission. We chat the wisdom of motherhood, parenting, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and her experiences balancing personal identity with professional roles. Jessica Marie Garcia is a force and I can't wait for y'all to dive in.
Curly Velasquez is that rare kind of soul who reminds us that showing up as your full self — curls, corazón, cultura and all — is not just powerful, it's necessary. He’s joy wrapped in vulnerability, tradition blended with transformation, and he's been helping so many of us see ourselves with a little more love. Whether he’s sharing stories about growing up, queerness, spirituality, or just everyday life with his signature humor and depth, Curly holds space for truth and I'm grateful to be in conversation with him!
Ariel Vera is a Peabody Winner and digital creator with a unique vision and style. Using his channel URBANIST he uncovers the secrets of our cities. He has 1.6M total followers interested in his uncoverings! In this episode we chat history and urbanism, and how their secrets, stories, and magnificent wonders all around us!
Necar Zadegan is a force of love and joy. A polyglot, an artist, and an overall joy to be around. In this episode we chat being artist, how we got here, treating every moment like it's our last, and mainly we just laugh. Enjoy xo
Pamela Zapata is the founder and CEO of Society 18. She is a talent manager disrupting industries, and helping her clients achieve generational wealth. She is a consultant and Forbes Next 1000 Honoree. And every time we link up we get into the real real! This is a beautiful conversation but living life now, not later.
Melissa Lozada-Oliva is a Guatelombian (Guatemalan-Colombian) American writer. Her book Candelaria was named one of the best books of 2023 by VOGUE and USA Today. Her work explores the intersections of Latina identity, feminism, hair removal & what it means to belong. In this incredible convo we chat turning off our phones, bringing back Selena through seance, and paving our own way.
This week we are connecting with the one and only Anirudh Pisharody, an Indian American actor from Fox's 911 and Never Have I Ever. We chat all about craft, acting, being role models, taking risks, and being our biggest obstacles! It's a beautiful episode. Enjoy!
Mariah Caudillo is the brilliant sex educator behind SexEdFiles, whose motto is simple but revolutionary: “Shame-free, inclusive, and quality sex ed—let’s learn together.” From unlearning the myths we grew up with to understanding why real sex education is about so much more than just sex, Mariah breaks down the barriers that keep us from having open, honest, and necessary conversations. No shame, no awkwardness—just real talk about bodies, pleasure, and everything in between. Tune in, take notes, and let’s learn together!
What is the role of Brownness in a Black/white world? That's the question Dominican-Colombian-American actor, author and storyteller Christopher Rivas has been navigating his whole life. Listen as Chris discusses identity, careers, and taking up space with other Brown activists, creators and change-makers. Brown Enough is the stories between Black and white.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the feed to find Rubirosa, a ten-part documentary series about Porfirio Rubirosa, the Dominican diplomat, playboy, and international polo champion who was the inspiration for James Bond. The show tells the true story of Rubi’s incredible and complicated life and Chris learns what it can teach him about love, success, family, Hollywood, code-switching, white-washing, and the roller coaster of finding himself in a world not made for Brown folks like him.
