Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica: 2019 Robert Hall Merlot, Paso Robles
Erika: Apothec (red)
May has felt like the longest month of the year, and your two favorite chismosas needed a release. This month's chisme episode is a full-on bitch session, no prepared topics, no political rabbit holes, just two real friends talking how they actually talk. Jessica is recording from her parents' place in Orange County, Erika can't wait to sip on her glass, and the conversation goes everywhere, mi gente.
From curly hair frustrations to house hunting reality checks, wedding planning advice for people who don't want to go broke, the Gen Z vs. Millennials debate on writing papers without AI, and the wildest movie theater experience you'll ever hear described, this one is all vibes and zero filter. Plus: Jessica shares a major podcast milestone announcement and a heartfelt ask from the comunidad.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Welcome and setting the scene (Jessica recording from her parents' house)
[00:04] Wines we're drinking: Robert Hall Merlot and Apothec
[00:05] Curly hair struggles, DIY trims, and the art of finding a stylist who actually gets curly hair
[00:10] Bored woman energy: cleaning, decluttering, and the urge to redecorate everything
[00:19] House hunting update: Jessica and Antonio's open house adventures and planning timeline
[00:24] Why paying off the car first is the move, and the true cost of moving into a new home
[00:27] Handymen are attractive. Period. Girl math, marriage savings, and real talk
[00:28] Movie review: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (worth seeing or not?) and the plan to watch Michael next
[00:34] The wildest movie theater moment featuring a very loud old man and an almost-altercation
[00:36] CVS pharmacy chaos, a racist man in a wheelchair, and just a whole day being odd
[00:38] A one-woman show by Biz Bruja and a surprise visit to see Jessica's son at work
[00:40] What they've been watching: Schitt's Creek, The Boys, and why it's okay to rewatch comfort shows
[00:43] On collective exhaustion: why this episode has no political chisme and zero guilt about that
[00:44] Finding joy wherever you can grab it
[00:45] Wedding planning advice from someone who did it beautifully for $13,000-$15,000 all-in
[00:54] Jessica's mom and the Pop Warner bake sale that sold out in two hours: Marketing 101 from a legend
[00:56] Gen Z vs. Millennials: Did we write 10-page papers without AI? (We did. At the library. In the encyclopedia era.)
[00:58] Real talk on AI as a tool vs. AI replacing human creativity, and how Jessica uses it for the podcast
[01:03] AI customer service rants, the joy of pressing zero, and why real humans will always win
[01:05] MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: A top podcast hosting company reached out to Wine & Chisme
[01:08] Newsletter guilt, world-weariness, and why joy is the resistance
[01:10] Exploring voiceover work and the reality of doing what you gotta do in these times
[01:12] A soft launch: Wine & Chisme now accepting listener donations through Square (only if you're in a position to give, mija)
[01:15] Shoutout to Christina Cervantes and all the listeners who keep showing up
[01:16] Call, text, or DM: Jessica and Erika want to hear YOUR stories for the run to Episode 300
[01:17] How to reach the show: (858) 304-0266 or hola@thewineandchismepodcast.com
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
TikTok: @wineandchisme
Threads: @wineandchisme
LinkedIn: Wine & Chisme Podcast
YouTube: Wine & Chisme
Email: hola@thewineandchismepodcast.com
Phone/Text: (858) 304-0266
Latiné podcast. Chicana stories. Wine & Chisme has been building since 2019 and we're on our way to 300 episodes. Thank you for being part of this comunidad.

Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica: Concho Orange Wine (Georgian wine, made in clay pots buried underground) semi-dry, light on the nose with citrus notes
Miriam: Roscaro Moscato, sipped in a "pretty fly for a cacti" wine glass
This week, Jessica sits down with Miriam Simon, executive coach, author, and host of the Latina Mic Drop podcast, for a conversation that is equal parts chisme, healing, and straight-up inspiration. Miriam grew up in Passaic, New Jersey as one of the only Mexican kids in the neighborhood, raised in survival mode, navigating a mother's Jehovah's Witness faith, and finding her footing on a volleyball court. She had three kids by 21, listened to the tia who told her to go back to work, and quietly climbed to an executive role in the transportation industry while hiding parts of herself the whole way up. Until she didn't anymore.
Miriam opens up about coming out publicly after 20 years with her partner, the identity framework she built from her own wounds, and why she created the Sin Miedo Authority Score assessment to help Latinas stop editing themselves in the workplace. She also shares the launch of MEC House, her new press company dedicated to amplifying and publishing women's stories.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Welcome and West Coast vs. East Coast weather chisme
[01:31] How Jessica and Miriam connected through Latinas in Podcasting
[02:18] Frustration with the lack of Latiné podcast representation in mainstream feeds
[04:51] Miriam's bio: executive coach, author, Forbes Coaches Council member, Latina Mic Drop host
[06:42] The origin story of Tattoos and Pearls
[07:32] Wines we're drinking: Roscaro Moscato and Georgian orange wine
[11:23] Growing up Mexican in Passaic, New Jersey
[16:34] Where Miriam landed in the school pecking order (hint: the smart kids, but still the only Mexican girl)
[18:36] Finding community, friendship, and volleyball at the local park
[21:05] Her mother's Jehovah's Witness faith and what it cost Miriam
[22:49] Losing access to her grandparents and how religion divided her family
[25:14] Three kids by 21, a relationship that fell apart, and the aunt who changed everything
[31:20] On the red pill manosphere and why women's financial independence matters
[33:35] Meeting her partner of 20 years and coming out for the first time on this podcast
[37:55] Why it took until after the pandemic to speak openly about her identity
[40:24] The family dynamic of "everybody knew, but nobody talked about it"
[45:20] The progression from airport job to 9 promotions to executive leadership
[49:18] The mentor who said "just be you" and how that changed everything
[53:25] Learning that only 3.3% of Latinas are in managerial roles and why she stays at her 9-to-5
[54:46] What the "costume" of assimilation costs us in the workplace
[57:11] Being called cheap labor, hiding her identity as a mom, and losing wages because of it
[01:00:28] What chingona energy actually looks like in a boardroom
[01:01:25] Breaking down the Sin Miedo Authority Score assessment
[01:05:29] Asking for forgiveness vs. asking for permission, and what it really means for Latinas
[01:10:58] Why staying in a 9-to-5 can be an act of community service, not a compromise
[01:14:44] MEC House: Miriam's new press company to amplify and publish women's stories
[01:17:19] Closing wisdom: the answer is always no if you don't ask the question
Connect with Miriam Simon:
Website: miriamsimonline.com
Instagram: @IamMiriamSimon
LinkedIn: Miriam Simon
YouTube: IamMiriamSimon
Podcast: Latina Mic Drop
Take the Sin Miedo Authority Assessment
Book: Tattoos and Pearls
Press Company: MEC House
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
TikTok: @wineandchisme
YouTube: Wine & Chisme
Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com/wine-brand-directory
Your story deserves to be heard, your voice deserves to be in the room, and your glass deserves something worth sipping. Salud, mi gente!

Wines We're Drinking:
Cremosi Vineyards Pinot Noir — Latina-owned winery based in Oregon
This week's episode is one for the cultura and the closet, mija. Jessica sits down with Elvira Zamora, visionary founder of Thrifts.com and Chicano Elegance — two platforms rooted in culture, community, and conscious expression. Elvira grew up in Lima, Peru, where reusing, repurposing, and refusing to waste were just a way of life. When she arrived in the U.S. at 10 years old, the wastefulness she witnessed was a full-on culture shock — and it sparked a lifelong commitment to sustainable fashion that she's turned into a movement.
From the hidden health risks of fast fashion fabrics (yes, you might literally be wearing plastic) to the radical joy of clothing swaps and sewing circles, Elvira breaks it all down in a way that's real, funny, and genuinely eye-opening. She also shares the story behind Chicano Elegance, a glam gala she created after waiting two decades to see Latiné culture celebrated on a fashion runway — so she built the runway herself.
This one will have you rethinking your closet, your consumption habits, and maybe even that wedding dress sitting in a bag in the back of your room. No judgment, just chisme and good wine.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Intro and welcome — Jessica introduces Elvira Zamora
[01:18] Elvira's bio: Thrifts.com and Chicano Elegance
[03:32] Drinks check — Elvira's Arnold Palmer and Jessica's Cremosi Vineyards Pinot Noir
[06:36] Why wine doesn't have to be snobby, and Latiné-owned wine brands
[07:51] How sustainable living started for Elvira — growing up in Lima, Peru
[10:11] Moving to the U.S. at 10 and the culture shock of American wastefulness
[11:44] Back-to-school scams and the truth about consumption culture
[14:03] Growing up wanting to fit in vs. what her parents taught her
[16:00] "The drug is our consumption" — and what that means for the planet
[18:17] How much we're really spending (the Walmart, Amazon, and Temu receipts don't lie)
[19:24] Why Goodwill and Salvation Army are not the move — and what to do instead
[20:26] Sway LA and fabric recycling centers — giving clothes a real second life
[23:29] How Jessica shops: thrift finds, body changes, and the one-in-one-out rule
[26:16] The health risks of cheap fast fashion — carcinogens, plastic fabrics, and your skin
[28:37] Fashion as food: Taco Bell vs. abuela's handmade tortillas
[30:05] How Elvira's journey into upcycling started — and her dad the tailor
[32:03] Repurposing curtains into skirts and the art of slow fashion
[36:08] Cadena Collective, Cindy Castro, and supporting artisans paid fair wages
[40:26] How purchasing power is the only language corporations speak
[42:48] Radical sewing clubs, clothing swaps, and fighting back with fun
[43:45] How Thrifts.com and Chicano Elegance came to be
[44:43] Creating Chicano Elegance: a Met Gala by us, for us, starring us
[49:10] The wedding dress conversation — how to repurpose meaningful pieces
[54:13] ThredUp, fabric donation centers, and better ways to give clothes away
[56:25] Prom dresses, domestic violence shelters, and giving directly to community
[60:49] What's next — Thrifts.com relaunch (August/September) and the Chicano Elegance Gala in San Bernardino (September)
[61:41] The challenges of building while working a 9-to-5 and caregiving for parents
[64:29] What keeps Elvira going — and why passion has to be the reason
[68:20] Chicano Elegance Foundation is now a 501(c)(3) — and the coffee table book
[70:53] Closing thoughts: do it for yourself, do it for the next generation
Connect with Elvira Zamora:
Instagram: @thrifs_
Website: ChicanoElegance.com
Website: Thrifts.com
Fabric Recycling & Donation Resources:
ThredUp: ThredUp.com
Sway Fabric Recycling (Los Angeles): suay.com
Search your area for domestic violence shelters, prom dress programs, and women's reentry organizations accepting clothing donations — and ask your community!
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @wineandchisme
TikTok: @wineandchisme
YouTube: Wine & Chisme Podcast
Threads: @wineandchisme
LinkedIn: Wine & Chisme Podcast
Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com/directory
Amplifying Latiné voices, one glass at a time. Salud, mi gente!

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica: Para Wines, Vino Blanco 2023 - lemongrass, apple, citrus finish. Fresh, light, and bright. Perfect for a warm day.
Erika: Sitting this one out (allergies have her hostage), but had her heart set on a Prosecco with Chambord brunch cocktail. Noted for next time.
It's our April chisme session, and mi gente, we had a LOT to unpack this month. From Coachella controversies to Celia Cruz making history, Olympic ticket sticker shock, and some deeply personal highs from Jessica, including two years of marriage and a home loan approval. Pull up a glass and let's get into it.
In This Episode We Cover
[00:00] Welcome & Wine Check-In: Jessica's dealing with spring allergies but still showing up with a glass of Para Wines Vino Blanco 2023. Erika gives us her imaginary Prosecco-Chambord brunch cocktail.
[05:00] Karol G at Coachella: The controversy unpacked. The all-female mariachi group that wasn't actually the first, the Trump-supporting ownership, vetting failures by her team, contract logistics, and why Becky G's cameo felt intentional and powerful.
[17:00] Coachella Then vs. Now: How the festival shifted from music-first to influencer activations and fashion moments. The economics behind it: $29M+ paid to 150+ artists, $25M in production, and why it's only going to keep escalating.
[26:00] LA 2028 Olympics Ticket Sale: Jessica secured swimming event tickets for her nephew's graduation gift. The breakdown: opening ceremony seats at $5K to $10K, the lottery system, and the plan to use only existing venues and public transportation.
[34:00] The White House Correspondents' Dinner Incident: Jessica and Erika break down why they're cynical, the questions about security failures, the Stephen Miller photo moment, and a broader conversation about political theater and manufactured narratives.
[43:00] The Onion Buys InfoWars: What it means that a parody site now owns Alex Jones's platform, the $1.3B judgment, and why Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly distancing themselves from Trump might not be what it looks like.
[54:00] Celia Cruz & Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: She's a 2026 inductee and the first Spanish-language artist ever inducted. Jessica and Erika break down what her induction through the "Early Influence" category really says about how the Hall handles Latin music history.
[59:00] Billboard Mujeres Latinas de la Música: Rosalía named Mujer del Año, Becky G receiving Global Impact honors. Jessica celebrates Becky G's pivot to Spanish-language music as a first-gen Mexican-American artist and what her journey means for the comunidad.
[01:06:00] On a Personal Note: Jessica and Antonio celebrate two years of marriage, just got approved for a home loan, and are starting to look at houses. A beautiful reflection on life not going to plan and why that's okay at 48.
[01:19:00] Wrapping Up + Listener Shoutout: The podcast is ending at Episode 300! Jessica wants to hear from you. Call or text: 858-304-0266. DM on Instagram: @thewineandchisme.
Connect with Wine & Chisme
📱 Instagram: @thewineandchisme
📞 Listener Line: 858-304-0266
🎙️ Episode available on all podcast platforms and YouTube
🔗 Link in bio
We're not just talking wine. We're talking cultura, comunidad, y chisme that matters. Salud, mi gente. 🍷

Wines We're Drinking:
Jessica: Concho Orange Wine (Georgia the country) — light, stone fruit, hints of tart apricot
Analia: Argentine mate — a traditional herbal tea drunk throughout the day in Argentina
What does it actually take to make a bold move? Whether you're thinking about leaving the country, pivoting your career, or just trying to figure out what the heck comes next, Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal is the person you want in your corner. As a Latina podcast, we love telling first-gen professional stories, and Analia's is one for the books. Born in Buenos Aires to a working-class family of Spanish immigrants, Analia grew up with education as her ticket forward — and she ran with it. We're talking a BA in economics, a journalism minor, two master's degrees, a PhD in government and politics from the University of Maryland, certifications in professional coaching, and six languages. Six. And she almost got kicked out of college for failing Calculus 3 three times. That's the kind of real we love here.
Today she's the founder and CEO of AGV Services LLC and the host of the Lucky To Be Here podcast, where she helps people — especially international students, immigrants, and early-to-mid-career professionals — stop tweaking their resumes and start actually understanding their story. In a world where everything we knew is crumbling (her words, and honestly, same), Analia's work is about finding your anchor from the inside out.
This is a Latiné wine, Chicana stories kind of episode that hits different right now. Come for the chisme, stay for the career therapy.
In This Episode We Cover:
[00:00] Intro and welcome to Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal
[00:35] What AGV Services is all about — bold moves built from within
[03:04] What's in our glasses: Concho Orange Wine from Georgia (the country!) and Argentine mate
[09:34] Growing up in Buenos Aires — a working-class immigrant community from Galicia, Spain
[12:00] The eldest daughter experience: conformity, rebellion, and finding pockets of freedom
[13:00] Writing, poetry, and using education as a path to freedom
[18:36] The famous "bye mom, pick me up later" story from age 3 (and its airport reprise)
[23:18] Learning six languages starting at age 12 — Spanish, English, German, French, Portuguese, and Mandarin
[27:04] The bilingual experience in the U.S. and the harm in "othering" people for their accents
[30:05] From economics degree to journalism minor — the chip on her shoulder about math
[33:15] Participating in Accounting Olympics and Economics Olympics (yes, really)
[36:00] Nearly getting kicked out of college — passing Calculus 3 on the third try with everything on the line
[39:54] Getting approached to write as a freelance journalist for a Buenos Aires newspaper before graduation
[42:00] The multi-year process of applying to PhD programs in the U.S. as an international student
[49:00] That first night in College Park — sitting in her apartment and crying, wondering if she made the right move
[53:00] What brought her to create AGV Services LLC and the Lucky To Be Here podcast
[56:40] Why the resume is becoming a safety blanket — and what to focus on instead in the AI era
[01:00:15] What AGV Lab is: a membership community for career clarity ($99/quarter)
[01:04:00] How the current political, economic, and AI climate is showing up in her clients' lives
[01:10:30] Who she works with: mostly millennials, ages 22-40, at pivotal career crossroads
[01:12:30] Why your job can't fulfill everything — and how to build a full life beyond your title
[01:19:13] Analia's closing message: a permission slip to wonder what else is possible
Connect with Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal:
Website: agvservicesllc.com
Instagram & Threads: @AGVServicesLLC
Podcast: Lucky To Be Here
Patreon: patreon.com/luckytobhere
Connect with Wine & Chisme:
Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram: @thewineandchisme
TikTok: @thewineandchisme
YouTube: Wine & Chisme Podcast
Newsletter: Spill the Chisme via Flodesk
We not only work the land, we own the brands.

WINES WE'RE DRINKING
Aleksandrouli by Koncho & Co
Red Dry Wine | 85% Aleksandrouli, 15% Mudjuretuli
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Karen Zaragoza, a San Diego-born event marketing strategist, community builder, and creative entrepreneur who has built not one, but three interconnected platforms rooted in a single belief: community is the catalyst for everything.
Karen shares the story behind Social Creatives, the community-first foundation that came before anything else, and how it gave birth to two focused branches: The Lead Lab, a growth and strategy resource for small businesses, and Plant Bae's, a plant-based wellness community creating space for conscious connection, love, and personal evolution.
But this conversation goes beyond the business. Karen opens up about one of the most transformative chapters of her life: becoming a mother as a teenager. She reflects on how having a daughter reshaped her sense of purpose, her priorities, and ultimately the woman and leader she became. She also gets vulnerable about the turmoil she navigated growing up in her family, the lessons she carried into adulthood, and how those experiences quietly shaped her philosophy of building spaces where people feel supported, seen, and connected.
From producing community markets and large-scale activations with organizations like the SD Food Bank, Petco Park, and the U.S. Navy, to designing speed dating events and transformational workshops through Plant Bae's, Karen is proof that when your work is rooted in lived experience, it creates real impact.
This one hits close to home, and you're going to love her.

Wines We're Drinking
Jessica: Cramosi Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills, Oregon (Latina-owned)
Perla: Juggernaut Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (New Zealand)
Perla Lozano didn't grow up as a sports kid. She didn't start soccer until high school, she couldn't afford club leagues, and no one in her family was pushing her onto a field. But a coach noticed something in her that she hadn't noticed in herself yet, and that moment changed everything.
Now a marketing executive by day and a volunteer leader for Orange AYSO by night and weekends, Perla is on a mission to get more girls off the sidelines and into the game. She runs one of the few youth soccer leagues in Southern California that guarantees every kid at least 75% play time, and she's seen firsthand how sports rewires girls' confidence, identity, and sense of what's possible.
This episode hits close to home- Jessica played softball and cheered from third grade through college, and the two of them go deep on everything from the pressure of club leagues to the real reason girls quit sports (hint: it's usually not because they stopped loving the game).
In this episode:
[00:03] Introductions and weather chaos in SoCal (RIP the cilantro)
[05:45] Wine chat: Juggernaut Sauv Blanc vs. Cremosi Vineyards Pinot Noir
[09:45] Shoutout: Sei Solis Wine & Wax tasting room in downtown Orange — Chris Rivera, the OG Latino wine brand on the podcast
[11:43] Perla's origin story: born and raised in "Little Latin America" in downtown Santa Ana
[14:30] What happened when she left her community bubble and went to college... in Anchorage, Alaska
[20:56] Her high and low from that year — and what embracing her Latinidad looked like from 3,000 miles away
[25:06] Her introduction to soccer: why she started late, what it cost, and who first saw her potential
[30:40] What soccer gave her OFF the field — confidence, editor-in-chief energy, and walking taller
[37:30] The Dove Super Bowl ad, Sephora tweens, and why girls are quitting sports at alarming rates
[43:45] The stats that stopped Perla in her tracks: 94% of women in executive leadership played sports
[49:40] How she's running Orange AYSO — and why there are so many more boys than girls in her league
[56:15] The rise of women's pro soccer and Angel City FC's impact on girls signing up (they're up 25%)
[01:00:00] The sideline problem: how Perla handles wild sports parents and why volunteers deserve your respect
[01:09:40] Participation trophies, rec leagues vs. club leagues, and the real cost breakdown families don't see coming
[01:31:50] Perla's final message to parents: just let them play
Connect with Perla:
Instagram: @b.serve.grow
Orange AYSO: AYSO1335.org
Instagram: @orange.ayso
Mentioned in this episode:
Sei Solis Wines — Wine & Wax tasting room, downtown Orange | Owner: Chris Rivera
Cremosi Vineyards — Latina-owned winery, Willamette Valley, Oregon | Owner: Sophia

Wines We're Drinking
2021 Ortega Family Wines Carneros Pinot Blanc, Napa Valley. 100% Pinot Blanc sourced from the Carneros appellation. Tasting notes: stone fruit, lemongrass, and a bright tart lime finish. A food-friendly white with great acidity that shines on a hot day, especially alongside spicy food or cheese.
Available at OrtegaWines.com. Listener discount available through April 30th. Mention Wine and Chisme when you order.
Episode Description:
Six years in the making, mi gente, and this one was worth every single second of the wait.
Jessica sits down with Jesus Ortega Jr., owner and winemaker of Ortega Family Wines, for a conversation that is equal parts history, heart, and honesty. Born and raised in the vineyards of Yountville, Napa Valley, Jesus is the son of immigrants who came to California through the Bracero program in 1964. His family has worked the land for three generations. Now, Jesus is doing something none of them did before him: he owns the brand.
In this episode, Jessica sips on the 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc while Jesus shares the full journey, from a kid who didn't want to pick up pruned canes in the rain, to a self-taught winemaker who runs his own label out of the very vineyards where he grew up. He talks about the winemaker who took a chance on him, the harvest party that changed everything, surviving COVID as a brand-new label, and why his philosophy is simply: farmer first, winemaker second.
They also get into the current state of wine consumption among younger generations, what makes small producers different from mass producers, the comeback of Merlot (gracias a Dios), California Malbec vs. Argentinian Malbec, and a little wine magic trick involving your dominant nostril that you will absolutely use at your next dinner party.
And yes, there is a discount situation. You have to listen for it.
In This Episode:
0:00 Intro + Opening Toast: 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc
3:30 Reading Jesus's Bio + The Bracero Program
6:00 Growing Up in the Vineyards of Yountville
9:30 The Barbecue That Started It All (and the oaky Sauvignon Blanc)
12:00 Getting Sent Home for Chewing Gum
14:30 From Tasting Room to Vineyard Manager
17:00 Jessica's Origin Story: Strawberry Hill at a Quinceanera
20:00 "We Not Only Work the Land, We Own the Brand"
22:00 Wine as a Story in a Bottle
25:00 Launching the Latiné Wine Brand Directory
30:00 Deciding to Start Ortega Family Wines in 2020
33:00 Getting COVID as a Brand-New Winemaker
38:00 How His Sense of Smell Came Back Stronger
41:00 Farmer First, Winemaker Second
44:00 The Accidental Syrah-Malbec Blend
46:00 From Harvest to Bottle: The Winemaking Process Explained
50:00 Current Lineup: Pinot Blanc, Cabs, Malbec, and More
53:00 Starting Wine: Pinot Noir and Why Merlot Is Making a Comeback
58:00 The Sideways Effect on Merlot
1:00:00 The Younger Generation and Wine Consumption
1:03:00 Why Small Producers Are Different
1:06:00 The Dominant Nostril Wine Trick
1:10:00 What's Coming Next from Ortega Family Wines (a 2022 Malbec!)
1:14:00 Listener Discount + How to Order
Connect with Ortega Family Wines:
Website: OrtegaWines.com
Instagram: @ortega_family_wines
Wine Club, Private Tastings, and Winemaker Dinners available via the website
Connect with Wine and Chisme:
Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com
Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube: @wineandchisme

What We're Drinking:
Jessica: Rúakh Wines out of Paso Robles, specifically the "Somos Cafe de Olla" red blend (56% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot). Owned by Sam Esquivel, a San Diego native whose interview episode drops the first Wednesday of May.
Jessica Yañez and her partner in crime Erika Sanchez are back with a full glass of wine and a whole month's worth of chisme to spill. From heartbreaking headlines hitting close to home, to Hollywood takeovers, to what happened at the Oscars, to the state of your wallet right now, the March Chisme episode covers the news, the nostalgia, and the nunca-ending commentary that lives rent-free in our heads.
Erika came prepared. Jessica came with feelings. Together, they gave you everything.
This one hit differently. Jessica and Erika unpack the New York Times five-year investigation revealing sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez, including a statement from civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, who says she was assaulted by him and that he fathered two of her children.
The conversation goes deeper into the systemic silence women are expected to maintain "for the greater good," the question of how to separate a man from a movement, and why being down for a cause should never mean putting all your faith in one person.
Jessica and Erika watched it so you'd know what to expect, and they had very strong reactions. This Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix explores online influencers redefining masculinity and their influence on young men. Erika wanted to turn it off. Jessica wanted to send the link to every young man she loves.
Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners and the crowd's reaction said everything. Jessica and Erika talk about what makes him so different from the rest, including the detail work he put into playing three distinct characters, and the fact that after the ceremony he went to In-N-Out. Alone. Without an entourage. Taking pictures with fans.
If you've been confused about who owns what in Hollywood right now, Jessica breaks it all the way down. From Viacom to Paramount to CBS, from Discovery tanking HBO Max to the Ellison family (Oracle money, Trump ties) acquiring Paramount through Skydance, and now going after Warner Brothers and CNN, the consolidation of media power is moving fast. The implications for diverse voices, independent journalism, and your streaming bill are real.
They also talk about the Murdoch family documentary, why Succession was more literal than anyone realized, and how the media we consume is being shaped by a handful of very wealthy, very politically connected people.
Week three of the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked, cargo ships can't move gas, and Jessica paid $65.50 to fill her tank at Costco. Erika called her mom crying.
They talk about how presidents don't typically drive gas prices, but intentionally starting a war and bombing oil fields is a different story. And if you think groceries are expensive now, they say: just wait. Transportation costs go up, everything goes up. The math is not mathing.
A viral video of a voter admitting she's voted for Trump three times and calling herself an idiot sparked a whole conversation about what it means to not care until something affects you personally. Jessica has Trump-supporting cousins she loves, and she is absolutely worried about what happens if they get pulled over by ICE. She is not holding back on this one.
Jessica has been watching it. Erika has not (yet). They talk about the Kennedy mystique, why the Camelot era still holds such power, what it must have felt like for Carolyn Bessette to go from private person to one of the most famous women in the world overnight, and how the 90s paparazzi era made that kind of life nearly impossible.
Also: Ryan Murphy said something messy to Jack Schlossberg (JFK's nephew, now running for a House seat in New York), and the girls are not impressed.
The good news we needed. Gap's recent ad revival started as a quiet response to the Sidney Sweeney moment and has grown into something genuinely culturally relevant. The Young Miko campaign. The 90s nostalgia. The khaki swing ad. The Madonna x Missy Elliott "All About the Jeans" era. Jessica and Erika reminisced, agreed that Gap is doing something right, and acknowledged they are no longer the target demographic, but they felt it anyway.
A month of a lot. Heavy and real and also sometimes really, really funny. That's the March Chisme energy. Thank you for being here for all of it.

What Jessica Is Sipping
Casa Martinez Wines Bonitas 2023 Chenin Blanc. Light, crisp, a little grassy, with apple in the back. Jessica's words: "That's really good." High praise, coming from her. Casa Martinez is out of the Napa area, founded by Daniel Martinez, whose Pinot Noir called Camila donates proceeds to care for his daughter.
Episode Description
Ven siéntate, porque this one is going to stay with you. This week, Jessica sits down with award-winning activist filmmaker, top 100 podcaster, sought-after international speaker, and now author Denise Soler Cox for a conversation that had Jessica reaching for tissues before they even got into the chisme. And honestly? Same.
Denise is the creative force behind the documentary Being Enye and the upcoming book What Will They Say? (Simon & Schuster, August 18th), and she joins Wine & Chisme to talk about the secrets we carry, the taboos baked into our cultura, and why so many Latinas feel both seen and shackled by the very values that raised us.
This is not just an interview. It's a mirror.
In This Episode
Jessica and Denise get into the real stuff, including how a night at a bar in Miami in the 90s planted the seed for a documentary that would go on to reach listeners in 32 countries. Denise shares the three-part storytelling framework from Harvard professor Marshall Ganz, the one that helped her understand why Being Enyé resonated so far beyond what she ever expected, and how it laid the foundation for the book she has been building for years.
They talk about the moment at age 9 that Denise carried silently for decades, the power of finally putting it on the page, and why she believes telling that story was the only way to truly reclaim it. Denise also opens up about losing over $200,000 in speaking revenue when DEI cuts swept through corporate America, and why that painful chapter made the book more honest than she ever thought she could be.
Jessica brings her whole self to this one too. She shares her own experience navigating second-gen identity, the guilt of not carrying the same burdens as her first-gen friends, and the realization, mid-read of Denise's first chapter, that Wine & Chisme itself might be rooted in something far deeper than she had ever let herself acknowledge.
They also dig into why Latinas are leaving corporate America faster than any other group, what the physics concept of thermal equilibrium has to do with the secrets we keep, and how a preemptive offer from Simon & Schuster on Valentine's Day two years ago became the moment Denise finally stopped settling.
About Denise Soler Cox
After going from stay-at-home mom to award-winning activist filmmaker, Denise Soler Cox has spent over a decade on a mission to transform how we think and speak about culture, identity, and belonging. Her documentary Being Enyé has been screened internationally and led her to 400+ stages, including two TEDx talks. She has partnered with brands like Ralph Lauren, Amazon, Progressive, and Microsoft, and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS, Forbes, Telemundo, and more. Her debut book What Will They Say? is published by Simon & Schuster under the Primeros Sueños Press imprint and releases August 18th, just ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Resources + Links
Pre-order What Will They Say? wherever books are sold
Add the book on https://www.goodreads.com/https://www.goodreads.com/ and click "Want to Read"
Join Denise's book launch team: email Denise directly to get access to a digital galley ahead of release at Denise@denisesolercox.com
Follow Denise on social media @denisesolercox on all platforms
Connect with Denise about speaking at your ERG, conference, or event

What Jessica's Drinking 🍾
Casa Martinez Wine, Bonitas 2023 Chenin Blanc. A Latiné-owned family brand out of the Napa-Sonoma area, where Daniel Martinez not only runs his own label but stewards vines for other brands. A perfect sip for a conversation this rich.
What happens when the woman who has helped others build empires finally lets her own walls come down?
In this deeply honest episode of Wine & Chisme, Jessica sits down with her amiga and one of her favorite humans on the planet , Vanessa Santos, entrepreneur, board-level strategist, Forbes Most Impactful Woman of Latin America honoree, and the woman behind Letters from the InBetween.
Vanessa grew up as the eldest daughter of immigrants in Washington Heights and the Bronx - navigating survival, community, corporate rooms she wasn't supposed to be in, and a love for storytelling she didn't even realize she had until she got there. She worked her way from retail to the C-suite without an Ivy League degree, scaled ventures to multi-millions in revenue, became a millionaire before 30... and then watched it all come apart.
In this episode, she shares what it really looked like: a divorce, a business exit, losing her home, and sitting with 7-8 months of Airbnbs and friends' couches. And why she's more herself now than she's ever been.
This one is for every woman who has ever performed strength while quietly drowning, and who is ready to hear that the shedding season was always preparing you for what's next.
"Everything is happening for me, not to me. This is just a chapter of my book."
In This Episode, We Talk About:
Growing up first-gen in New York City and what the hood actually teaches you
How Vanessa bluffed and asked her way from retail floors to C-suites
The real cost of performing success — big wedding, reckless spending, and an abandonment wound dressed up as generosity
Going from millionaire to unhoused — and what that stripped away (and revealed)
High-functioning depression, PTSD, and what it means to finally receive help
Colorism in Latinidad and a grandmother's lesson about using privilege as a door you hold open
Why lack of expression equals depression
What self-reclamation actually looks like when you're in the middle of it
Letters from the InBetween, The Table, and Glow Up Hour — what Vanessa is building now
Her message for any woman stuck in the research phase: it's time to push
Guest Resources & Links
Newsletter (Letters from the InBetween): vsantos.co/newsletter
Glow Up Hour (free monthly community)
Instagram: @vanessasantosleon

What does a chancla have to do with wine? Everything, it turns out.
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Raquel Gomez, co-owner of La Chancla Wines - a Latina-founded, Texas-based wine brand rooted in culture, community, and a whole lot of corazón. Just three years ago, Raquel had never tasted straight wine. Today, she's got bottles in AT&T Stadium suites, a partnership with Ready Vineyards, and a growing line of blends designed specifically for palates shaped by tamales, pozole, and abuela's guisos.
Raquel's story is one of trust, hustle, and saying yes when opportunity knocks...even when you don't feel ready. From helping manage a household to leading the sales team that landed a spot at Central Market's 30th anniversary dinner, her journey is proof that you don't need to be a sommelier to change the wine industry. You just need to believe in the product, show up for your community, and know that the name La Chancla will stop people in their tracks.
In This Episode We Cover:
How Raquel went from never drinking wine to co-owning a wine brand in just 3 years
The kitchen-table moment when the name "La Chancla" was born
Why the bottle features a fox holding flowers instead of an actual chancla
Designing a wine for Latiné palates — fruit-forward, semi-sweet, and sangria-adjacent
The food pairings that work: tamales, pozole, guisos, birria tacos & lengua
How La Chancla landed in the suites at AT&T Stadium (Cowboys Stadium)
Being a Latina woman breaking into a male-dominated wine sales world in Texas
Upcoming expansion: a white blend ("Blanco") and new red varietals
Why clean wines mean waking up ready to work the next morning
The power of immigrant work ethic and what it means to build something for your comunidad
Guest Info:
Raquel Gomez — Co-Owner, La Chancla Wines
Based in Dallas, TX | Originally from Monclova, Coahuila, México
Website: lachanclawine.com
Discount Code: chisme1on1 for Wine & Chisme listeners
Ships nationwide across the USA

Wines we're sipping on:
Jessica is sipping on a Cramoisi Vineyards Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon), and Erika's is sipping on Butter- a buttery Chardonnay to survive the East Coast snowstorm.
We're back with our February Chisme episode- and we had a LOT to unpack! This month, Jessica is joined by her ride-or-die Erika Sánchez of Brave Communications for an unfiltered conversation covering everything from ICE raids and political resistance to the BAFTAs racial slur incident, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show, the America's Next Top Model Netflix documentary, celebrity tributes, and everything in between. Oh, did I mention we're celebrating SIX YEARS of Wine & Chisme! 🥂
Topics Covered
6-Year Anniversary of Wine & Chisme: Episode 277 and nearly 250 guests deep!
ICE raids in Minnesota: deaths, protests, community fear, and the Liam Ramos story
Media crackdowns: Stephen Colbert, CBS layoffs, and the erosion of press freedom
The Grammys: Bad Bunny's historic first Spanish-language Album of the Year win, the In Memoriam segment, and the Addison Rae conversation
Romeo Santos & Prince Royce: their tone-deaf NYT interview on ICE and the fallout
Nicki Minaj's Trump Gold Card moment and the price of political alignment
The Super Bowl 'Benito Bowl' with Ricky Martin, bachata, Lady Gaga's Dominican designer dress, and Bad Bunny's powerful message
Celebrity tributes: Catherine O'Hara, James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Jesse Jackson, and Willie Colón
America's Next Top Model Netflix doc: Tyra's missing apology, the Shandy situation, and industry accountability
The BAFTA racial slur incident: Tourette's, BBC's delayed reaction, and the half-hearted apology
The 2026 Winter Olympics: rooting for athletes vs. rooting for a country
Oscars preview, Timothée Chalamet, and the Kardashian fatigue
Equality vs. equity in U.S. Olympic funding
Upcoming: La Chancla Wines on next week's episode!
 Community Call-In Line
Want to share your chisme, suggest a guest, or leave a comment? Call us!
📞 858-304-0266
Leave us a voicemail — your story might be featured on the show!

What we're Sipping
Jessica ia aipping a 2022 Parra Wine Co. Chardonnay from Zenith Vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley, while Marisa sips nettle tea with electrolyte salt.
Episode Summary
In this episode of Wine & Chisme, Jessica sits down with Marisa Gonzales, a proud Mexican-American graphic designer, brand strategist, and the founder of Marisa Gonzalez Studios, for a deeply personal and empowering conversation. Based in Kansas City, Kansas, Marisa shares what it was like growing up as one of the only Latinas in a predominantly white suburb of Missouri, how chronic migraines and a serious car accident reshaped her path, and how she overcame medication dependency to reclaim her health and creativity. She also opens up about walking away from a toxic corporate job as a new mom, and how all of these experiences led her to build an intentional, client-centered design business that centers the voices of women, minorities, and nonprofits.
What We Cover in This Episode
Growing up Latina in Blue Springs, Missouri, one of the only Mexican-American families in a predominantly white suburb
How Marisa's parents kept her culture alive through weekly family dinners, Mexican music, and tostadas at abuela's house- even without teaching Spanish
The shared Gen X/elder Millennial experience of being raised without Spanish, and the generational trauma behind it
Experiencing racial bias in school. From a teacher who gave her less attention than white students, to friends casually throwing around slurs
The car accident in her 20s that broke her nose, injured her spine (C1/Atlas), and escalated into chronic migraines
Her journey with Fioricet dependency, the first time she has spoken about this publicly, and how her husband Travis helped her taper off gradually
Overcoming rebound migraines caused by the very medication she was using to function at work
The toxic corporate job she left cold- on the day they wrote her up for calling in after her infant son got sick
Using her maternity leave to quietly build her design business on the side before making the leap full-time
Her non-traditional career path: graphic design → production artist → burned out at 2008 recession → physical therapy assistant → office job → full-time entrepreneur
How her dad's encouragement to "follow your heart" changed the direction of her life
What it means to center Latinidad and lived experience in brand strategy
How she vets clients and intentionally limits her workload to protect her health and family
Her certifications: Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) and MWBE through the Kansas Department of Commerce
Practical branding insight: why having a "signature look" is non-negotiable for standing out
About Marisa Gonzales
Marisa Gonzales is the CEO, Principal Strategist, and Designer of Marisa Gonzalez Studios, a boutique brand and web design agency based in Kansas City, Kansas. She helps women-owned businesses, minority entrepreneurs, and nonprofits build standout brands and websites that don't just look beautiful — they work.
A proud Mexican-American woman, Marisa grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, navigating life as one of the few Latinas in a predominantly white community. That experience — of being unseen, mislabeled, and underestimated — shapes everything about how she shows up for her clients today. She is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) and as a Minority Women's Business Enterprise (MWBE) through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Marisa also lives with chronic migraines and late-diagnosed ADHD, and has built her business around flexibility, intentionality, and listening to her body — modeling for her clients that sustainable success is possible.
Connect with Marisa
Marisa's Website: MarisaGstudios.com
→ MarisaGstudios.com
Instagram: @MarisaGStudios
Facebook: Marisa G. Studios
LinkedIn: Marisa Gonzalez