Wine & Chisme

The Wine & Chisme is where meaningful conversations flow as freely as the wine. Host Jessica Yañez creates an intimate space for professionals, artists, and changemakers from communities of color to share their unfiltered stories of career, love, and transformation. Each week, guests "spill the wine" through authentic chisme (Spanish for gossip) on their own terms—challenging narratives about whose voices deserve to be heard. More than a podcast, it's a celebration of untold stories that builds bridges and creates lasting change. Grab a glass and join the conversation every Wednesday. #WineAndChismeWednesday

  1. 6d ago

    Puerto Rican Food, MasterChef & Reinvention with Monti Carlo

    Wines We're Drinking: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2018 (Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, about $15-16 at the grocery store) Seis Soles White Blend (Albarino and Grenache Blanc, Lodi, California, about $18) Kicking off Season 7 with a Latina podcast conversation that finally gets into the food side of our culture. Jessica sits down with Monti Carlo, three-time Telly Award winner, cookbook author, and Senior Editor of Food and Dining at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for a wide-ranging talk on being Puerto Rican in a Mexican-majority San Antonio, the divorce and financial free fall that led her to a MasterChef audition with pies packed in a diaper box, and how she built a career spanning Netflix, Food Network, PBS, and the James Beard Foundation from there. They dig into her cookbook Spanglish, a love letter to bicultural Puerto Rican cooking, why Puerto Rican food is fried the way it is, and the Spanglish mashups she's created, from bacalaito onion rings to morcilla sloppy joes. In This Episode We Cover: [00:00] Welcome to Season 7 with Monti Carlo, AJC Senior Editor of Food and Dining [04:12] What's in the glass: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva and Ces Soles white blend [13:49] Being Puerto Rican in a Mexican-majority San Antonio, and the "Latino food aisle" problem [26:35] Rock bottom: divorce, debt, and a diaper box full of apple pies [36:47] MasterChef, imposter syndrome, and what Gordon Ramsay gave her [47:07] Keeping the sazon: Puerto Rican ingredients in every Spanglish recipe [55:38] What people get wrong about Puerto Rican food [1:01:23] Spanglish mashups: bacalaito onion rings, morcilla sloppy joes, coconut arepa BLTs [1:09:08] Rebuilding a 157-year-old newspaper's food section for the digital age [1:14:14] How "MC" became Monti Carlo [1:16:10] Where to find Monti and support Spanglish Connect with Monti Carlo: Instagram: @themonticarlo Book: Spanglish, A Love Letter to Bicultural Puerto Rican Cooking (Simon & Schuster), available everywhere books are sold Website: www.themonticarlo.com Connect with Wine & Chisme: Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266 Sin prisa. Sin vergüenza. Con vino.

    Puerto Rican Food, MasterChef & Reinvention with Monti Carlo
  2. Jul 29

    Celebrating 300 Episode of Wine & Chisme

    Wines We're Drinking Erika Sanchez: a white sparkling wine from RGNY Jessica Yañez: Seis Soles white blend, a Grenache Blanc and Albariño blend (note: this exact blend is discontinued, Seis Soles now makes a straight Albariño) Episode Description It's the big 3-0-0. Jessica sits down with her monthly co-host Erika Sanchez to celebrate six years and 300 episodes of Wine & Chisme, and this one gets real. They trace the podcast's evolution from a solo intro recorded over accidentally NSFW-adjacent stock music to the show it is today, revisit the most memorable guests and moments (including the time a Julissa's hair caught fire on camera), and dig into the tamales-and-wine controversy that once flooded Jessica's inbox with thousands of comments. Jessica also opens up about nearly walking away from the podcast the day before this recording, what pulled her back, and why she's more committed than ever heading into Season 7. Plus: the dream guest list (JLo, Pedro Pascal, and America Ferrera are all on it), and how you can help pick the cities for the 2027 tour. Content note: This episode includes an emotional, personal moment where Jessica discusses feeling burned out and not seen, a discussion of colorism within family and community, and a passing reference to a past guest's family tragedy. Timestamps 0:00 Popping bottles and celebrating the 300th episode 6:10 A trip down memory lane through every version of the Wine & Chisme intro 16:56 Do you ever re-listen to your own episodes 22:49 Why solo episodes are Jessica's kryptonite, and how she books guests 27:23 Chris of Seis Soles, the first vintner who ever reached out to her 28:40 Geena de Latina, San Diego royalty and her 50th guest 36:59 When the "bougie" tamales and wine story broke the internet 39:58 Not a podcast for everybody, and why that is the point 47:04 Reading listener voicemails and DMs live 53:32 Julissa Bermudez's hair catches fire on camera (you have to see it on YouTube) 1:01:38 What being Latine even means, and who gets left out of the definition 1:02:03 The unplanned RGNY episode that became a fan favorite 1:06:38 Cadena Collective and the weight of colorism, even within one family 1:09:00 Jessica gets real about tears, burnout, and almost walking away 1:19:53 The dream guest list: America Ferrera, JLo, Pedro Pascal, and more 1:26:29 Season 7, the 2027 tour, and how to pitch yourself for sponsorship Connect with Wine & Chisme Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266

    Celebrating 300 Episode of Wine & Chisme
  3. Jul 22

    Less Fear, More Excitement: Con Confianza

    Wines We're Drinking Jessica Yañez: Seis Solis White Blend, a Grenache Blanc and Albariño blend. Her go to hot weather pour, especially during San Diego's current heat wave and humidity. Rosalie Ennes: Agua. She's on a cleanse after what she calls a "World Cup bender". She'll toast in spirit only this episode. Episode Description Jessica sits down with Rosalie Ennes, business and risk advisor, two time award winning author, and founder of Portecua Consulting, for episode 299, one before Wine & Chisme's 300th. They dig into how growing up with two very different money philosophies (her dad's "save and be smart," her mom's "spend on experiences") shaped Rosalie's relationship with money, how a sudden layoff while she was on vacation in Ecuador with her mom sent her into a quiet, private grieving process, and how that grief eventually turned into the confidence to start her own business. Rosalie opens up about the eldest daughter instinct to protect her family from her own shock rather than lean on them, the 15 month process of writing her award winning book, Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza, and why she built it specifically so Latina and Black entrepreneurs could see themselves in a business book for once. She also shares what's next: an audiobook, bringing the book into university classrooms, and her free risk taker archetype quiz. Timestamps 00:00 Cold open, catching up, and pouring tonight's wine 10:22 Growing up bicultural: two money philosophies from mom and dad 22:10 Numbers, CPAs, and climbing the corporate ladder 34:35 The layoff: shock, grief, and quietly regrouping in Ecuador and Puerto Rico 45:52 Betting on herself: building the business and writing the book 56:30 Awards, the risk taker quiz, and what's next Connect Rosalie: Website: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa Book, Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa/author Risk Taker Quiz: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa/quiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portecuaconsulting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portecua/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@portecuaconsulting Connect with Wine & Chisme Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Call us and tell us how we're doing (858) 304-0266

    Less Fear, More Excitement: Con Confianza
  4. Jul 15

    Intergenerational Trauma & Inner Child Work with Adriana Martinez

    Wines We're Drinking Jessica: Saperavi Qvevri from Konco & Co and distributed by Qveveri Wine Georgia (a dry red made from Saperavi, one of the oldest grapes in the world, fermented in buried clay pots) Adriana: Ceja Wines, a Mexican American owned red Episode Description Jessica sits down with Adriana Martinez, LCSW, a licensed Latina therapist, university professor, and founder of Tonali Therapy and Consulting in the Bay Area. Adriana opens up about surviving breast cancer, repeated pregnancy loss, and being a young single mom in grad school, and how those experiences shaped her work with Latinas navigating perfectionism, shame, and family pressure. The conversation moves through the story of her parents' journey from Michoacan to Oakland on an overstayed visa, what it meant to grow up as the middle child and only daughter between two brothers, and the moment she learned her father is not her biological father. Adriana breaks down what inner child work and EMDR actually look like in practice, and the two swap stories on love languages, marrying into families that "warn" your partner what they're getting into, and the question that changed how Adriana sees her own healing: how did you know you were loved? Content note: this episode includes candid discussion of cancer diagnosis, pregnancy loss, immigration status, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised. Timestamps 0:00 Intro; Jessica welcomes Adriana Martinez and talks mental health in Latino and Black families as the podcast nears 300 episodes 0:15 Wine pours: Ceja and the Georgian Saperavi Qvevri; Adriana's bio, her breast cancer survivorship, and comparing notes with Jessica's mom's own cancer story 0:30 Adriana's parents' journey from Michoacan to Mexico City to the Bay Area on an overstayed visa; her dad's story of choosing between the bus and eating; the reveal that Jessica's dad is not her biological father 0:45 Intergenerational trauma named directly; what inner child work actually is; birth order, being the only daughter between two brothers, and getting assigned family roles 1:00 Love languages across generations; independence versus wanting to be taken care of; dads warning new partners "you know what you're getting into" 1:15 EMDR therapy explained; how therapists carry client stories and use their own therapy; closing reflection on the question "how did you know you were loved?" and living life on your own terms Connect with Adriana Martinez Website: tonalitherapy.com Instagram: @tonalitherapy Connect with Wine & Chisme Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Call us and tell us how we're doing: (858) 304-0266

    Intergenerational Trauma & Inner Child Work with Adriana Martinez
  5. Jul 8

    Know Your Why: Heidi De La Cruz on Building a Podcast That Actually Lasts

    Wines We're Drinking Jessica: Seis Soles Albariño, by Chris Rivera (friend of the pod), out of Lodi with a tasting room in downtown Orange, CA (Wine & Wax) Heidi: Water (she'd just wrapped recording her own podcast beforehand) Episode Description This week, Jessica sits down with Heidi De La Cruz, host of the two time award winning podcast "American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants," podcasting coach, and creator of the V.O.I.C.E. Method, a 6 week framework helping Latina women and busy moms launch their own shows. Heidi and Jessica trade real talk on what it actually takes to start and sustain a podcast: knowing your why, building systems that don't burn you out, showing up as your authentic self (no dress code required), and redefining what success looks like when you're a one woman operation. Heidi also opens up about managing her PTSD around her recording schedule and how mental health shaped the structure of her business. Note for listeners: this episode touches on immigration and includes a candid conversation about how Jessica curates guests for the show's mission of amplifying communities of color specifically. Timestamps 00:00 - Cheers and catching up 09:56 - Heidi's path into podcasting, from curious kid to interviewing her husband about his immigration story 19:47 - Showing up as yourself: ditching the dress code and talking openly about PTSD and mental health 28:17 - Kicking hesitation to the curb: the launch party deadline that got the show live 34:11 - Turning her own trial and error into coaching other podcasters 39:38 - Know your why: the one question to answer before you hit record 46:54 - Weekly, biweekly, whatever works: redefining what podcast success actually looks like 49:21 - Drop times, edit hours, and the surprising places listeners are tuning in from 59:05 - The systems (Calendly, Notion, Google Sheets templates) keeping two indie podcasters sane 1:04 - Editing tools, coworking spaces, and finding time to actually finish an episode 1:07 - Solo episodes vs. interviews: the one that's actually harder 1:11:32 - Setting boundaries with guests around sensitive stories 1:13:44 - Curating community with intention (touches on race and immigration) 1:17:56 - Gratitude, parting wisdom, and where to find Heidi Guest Social Handles Instagram: @heidi.delacruz Website: HeidiDelacruz.com Podcasts: "American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants" and "Podcasting for Latina CEOs" Connect with Wine & Chisme Website: www.thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Call us and tell us how we're doing: (858) 304-0266

    Know Your Why: Heidi De La Cruz on Building a Podcast That Actually Lasts
  6. Jul 1

    Cindy from the Southside On Empty Nests, Second Acts & Coming Home to Yourself

    This week, Jessica sits down with Cynthia Rodriguez, a San Diego-based educator with over 20 years in the classroom, proud Cindy from the South Side of San Antonio, and now a thriving empty nester whose kids are taking Manhattan by storm. They pour a glass, skip the agenda entirely, and just talk. What We're Drinking: Cynthia: Cabernet Franc from Familia Leone Aragoni, Valle de Uco Mendoza, Argentina (a limited-edition pull from the wine fridge) Jessica: Seis Soles Albariño from Lodi, CA, courtesy of her good friend Chris at Wine and Wax in downtown Orange, CA Timestamps: 0:00 — Welcome, Cynthia's bio, and what's in the glass tonight 10:00 — From San Antonio to San Diego: comparing cities, surviving Texas heat, and why California weather is not a small thing when you've lived through South Texas summers 20:00 — Raised to be independent: what it looks like when your dad raises three daughters like three men, and the complicated gift of not needing anyone once you're finally in a relationship 30:00 — Tejana identity, Texas politics, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and why if you're pissed off about what's happening, you already know what to do 40:00 — Aunt Carmen, a Tinder match, a forgotten wallet, and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2015 that changed the whole plan 50:00 — A text in the middle of the West Texas desert, two weeks to pack up a life, and two kids who had to trust their mom knew what she was doing 1:00:00 — Empty nesting as a reframe: who was Cynthia before she was a mother, a teacher, a wife? And how do you find her again? 1:10:00 — Salsa and bachata at the Rosin Box in Liberty Station, passion projects, and what it means to finally be present for the people who've been waiting Connect with Cynthia: TikTok: @DiaryOfAnEmptyNester Connect with Wine & Chisme: Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme Latiné Wine Brand Directory: https://www.thewineandchismepodcast.com/latine-owned-wine-brands

    Cindy from the Southside On Empty Nests, Second Acts & Coming Home to Yourself
5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

The Wine & Chisme is where meaningful conversations flow as freely as the wine. Host Jessica Yañez creates an intimate space for professionals, artists, and changemakers from communities of color to share their unfiltered stories of career, love, and transformation. Each week, guests "spill the wine" through authentic chisme (Spanish for gossip) on their own terms—challenging narratives about whose voices deserve to be heard. More than a podcast, it's a celebration of untold stories that builds bridges and creates lasting change. Grab a glass and join the conversation every Wednesday. #WineAndChismeWednesday

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