In the first full episode for J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast this 2024, which is also doubling as an episode for K-Town Is OK, we sit down with filmmaker and journalist Vladimir Santos—who also forms one half of Ey Foo You a Rocker?—as well as Indigenous Arts and Healing Practitioner, the one and only Monica Garcia.
Plus, the latest from via Making a Neighborhood on LAUSD elections this March. Then, yours truly returns to El Salvador for just the second time in almost six years. More on Los Cuentos en El Salvador soon.
(0:31) Can you hear yourself? I can
(2:53) Meet Vladimir De Jesus Santos, Straight Outta K-Town
(6:35) Meet Monica Garcia, Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Mayan
(11:06) Speaking of culture, did anyone make tamales this holiday season?
(13:42) Making tamales isn’t all that easy, actually
(15:23) Vlad makes our discussion on tamales more controversial
(18:13) Jimmy maintains the peace
(20:03) Get us more food trucks, less gentrification please
(24:10) Give K-Town back to the people, like Maqueos music!
(26:26) Real families have been displaced by gentrification in K-Town, including Vlad
(31:20) How racial violence against communities of color continues being unaccounted for due to gentrification
(35:42) In a world of individuals, what happens to the community?
(39:14) This is America, a place that works extremely well, if you’re rich
(42:23) This dialogue matters too, though
(43:57) Shout out to my noona as well, Helen H. Kim!
(44:40) How to keep up with Vlad and Monica in the days ahead
(45:05) Monica is doing healing practices and workshops
(48:19) Vlad is working on those 🎥🎥🎥, obviously
(50:27) His work is also at the Academy Museum though!
(53:30) Yours truly has a flight to catch soon, to San Salvador!
To make a one-time donation to my fundraiser for Los Cuentos in El Salvador, please do so through my GoFundMe. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, check out my PATREON.
J.T.