In this episode of Jotxs y Recuerdos, Carmen Castillo, a queer musician and artist from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, discusses her journey through various musical genres, including punk, hip hop, and ska. She also shares her experiences of coming out, dealing with misogyny, and the importance of community support in the Rio Grande Valley. Carmen emphasizes the role of music in advocating for social causes, such as her corrido for Bekah Hinojosa, a local environmental activist. She speaks the impact of external forces like SpaceX on the community and the need for resilience and resistance in the face of gentrification.

In this episode of Jotxs y Recuerdos, Andrea Casares, a bisexual Indigenous-Chicana with Black ancestry from the Rio Grande Valley and a caretaker of the land, pays tribute to her Tía/Tío Mike (1961-2019), a queer elder whose influence shaped her creativity and her relationship with the tierra. She also reflects on her family's painful history of violence, including the lynching of her ancestors by John Closner, Tom Mayfield, and the Texas Rangers. Andrea shares her efforts to raise awareness about this history, including her role in organizing the upcoming "Save the San Juan Hotel" event on April 12, 2025. This community event will honor local history and provide a space for mourning and healing. The podcast explores the deep connections between queer, Indigenous, and Black histories in the Valley, emphasizing the importance of community healing.

*You can find Andrea on Instagram @casita_casares– stay tuned for her upcoming projects and plantita (plant) updates!

*Follow @save_the_san_juan_hotel

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This episode is dedicated to Miguel (Mike) Watts

Michael Jones is a Black gay artist and poet with a background in philosophy from the northeast but relocated to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in 2006, where he discovered both creative freedom and a sense of belonging. In this episode, he reflects on his childhood, recalling moments like impersonating Diana Ross. He delves into his cruising experience at Archer Park, explores his intersecting identities, addresses the absence of Black queer representation along the border, and discusses his artistic journey, which often examines themes of race, sexuality, social justice, and ontology.

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Recorded 2024, Released 2025