Performance Parakone

Hurrdat ONE
Hurrdat ONE
  • 5.0 (2)
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The Performance Parakone, derived from the definition of Paragon: “A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.” Presented by the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation, our podcast’s mission is to inform young adults, especially those from marginalized communities, of stories and methods that will improve their professional development, bridging the gap between academic achievement and real-world success through access to information from community leaders.

  1. 5d ago

    Do You Actually Have To Grow?: Rethinking Small Business & Success With Christian Espinosa | Performance Parakone Podcast

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone podcast, host Vinicius "Vini" Pie sits down with Christian Espinosa, Assistant Director of the Human Rights and Relations Department for the City of Omaha, community leader, and economic development advocate. Chris doesn't define himself by the title. He starts where he grew up: downtown Mexico City, a city of 22 million, raised by a single mother who had him as a teenager. He talks about not knowing what he wanted at 17, chasing an engineering degree because that was the path people respected, and lasting one semester before switching to economics. Three months in Windsor, Canada at 19 showed him there was a wider world, and at 23 he landed in Iowa City with enough English to ask where the bathroom was. What follows is the part most people skip in their own telling. Failing the TOEFL badly enough to go ask the Korean students at the next table if he could join their flashcard group. Working the hospital kitchen to cover tuition, capped at 20 hours a week like every other international student. Cold-emailing a professor at Northern Iowa who happened to need someone to interview immigrant workers in meatpacking plants. Finishing a master's in sociology and graduating straight into the 2008 recession. Then he turns it into a framework. Why economics is really the study of behavior, not numbers. Why social media turned comparison into a debt problem. Why the advice small business owners need usually isn't business advice at all, it's cultural. Why "you have to grow" is a question, not a given. Why nobody is self-made, and what that should change about how you plan. Chris and Vini close on planning: setting checkpoints at 30, 40 and 50 and working backwards from them, and what to do when you have no idea what you want. Chris's answer is to start from what you don't want. His own version was simple enough to steer a whole career by. He didn't want to be old and poor. Thank you to Chris for joining us. Nobody gets there alone! :) Connect with Christian Espinosa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-espinosa-torres-77bb117/ Resources Barrientos Scholarship Foundation: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/ Upcoming events: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/events Scholarship recipients: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/recipients Apply: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/apply-now Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome back 00:49 - Chris's title, and who he is behind it 01:25 - Growing up in Mexico City 02:12 - Wanting to be an engineer 02:48 - One semester in, and switching to economics 04:24 - Economics is really about behavior 05:28 - Social media as a comparison machine 07:23 - Why segregation hinders economic mobility 09:51 - Where small businesses get stuck on AI 11:04 - The landlord trap 12:06 - That's not business, that's culture 13:03 - Do you actually have to grow? 13:57 - The self-made millionaire myth 14:43 - Vini on leaving engineering school 15:58 - Three months in Windsor, Canada 19:04 - Arriving in Iowa City at 23 19:46 - Working the hospital kitchen to pay for school 21:10 - Failing the TOEFL, and the Korean flashcard table 25:53 - Cold-emailing a professor, and the meatpacking research 28:19 - Graduating into the 2008 recession 31:13 - Have a plan, and set your checkpoints 31:55 - "I don't want to be old and poor" 35:44 - The bridge at Memorial Park 36:33 - Takeaways This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠!

  2. Oct 14

    The Corn Belt: Decentralized Media & Why Nebraska Is The Place To Build With JT Martin | Performance Parakone Podcast

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone podcast, host Marcos Becerra sits down with JT Martin, the winner of the 2023 NE Visionary Award and creator behind The Corn Belt, a social-focused media publication that has spent the last four years showing the magic of Nebraska, to Nebraska and everyone else. JT started The Corn Belt in 2022 after a run making football content that built what he calls more of a “crowd” than an audience. He went looking for something he was actually passionate about, landing on the idea that Nebraska has nowhere near the media representation it deserves, and set out to experience the state through the lens of his phone camera. Four years later The Corn Belt has reached 200 million people and built an audience of roughly a quarter million across platforms, covering everything from tanking (watch the episode to find out what this is lol) in western Nebraska to Cinco de Mayo Fest in Omaha, which is where he and Marcos first met. We get into what it actually takes to build something in Nebraska instead of leaving to build it somewhere else. Why Nebraska's best export isn't corn, it's well-rounded people. Why decentralized media is the future, and why a state like this is positioned to win in it. Why polished content often works against you, and what audiences want instead. Why a smaller city means a bigger return on getting involved. JT closes with an open invitation: He hosts weekly calls with local creators, and he'd rather answer a DM from a student who doesn't know where to start than have them not start at all. He also makes the case for rural Nebraska, which he thinks is doing some of the most interesting work in the state and getting the fewest resources for it. Thank you to JT for coming on. Go support local! :) Follow The Corn Belt: @thecornbelt on Instagram and Facebook  Connect with JT Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtmartin1/ Resources Barrientos Scholarship Foundation: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/ Upcoming events: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/events Scholarship recipients: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/recipients Apply: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/apply-now 00:00 - Welcome back 00:33 - What is The Corn Belt? 01:13 - Meeting at Cinco de Mayo Omaha 01:35 - Ritmo, Omaha's first Latino music festival 03:08 - Four years in, and how JT started The Corn Belt 03:25 - A crowd versus an audience 03:38 - Nebraska needs more media representation 04:53 - Scholarships and storytelling as parallel work 06:00 - Nebraska's best export? 07:09 - The new library grand opening 07:55 - A name in the memorial, Lucy Mora 08:44 - 200+ million people reached through The Corn Belt 09:51 - The entrepreneurial kids coming up 10:26 - Nebraska-raised versus coastal 11:36 - Omaha's culture and how it can help you grow 13:01 - Organic social is underinvested here 14:33 - Where to put more gas in the tank 15:38 - Why the small creators can win now 16:10 - What attention equity does for a local business 17:03 - Why polish isn't the point 18:04 - Nebraska as the BEST place in the world to build 19:39 - Events worth checking out in Nebraska, and Omaha 21:53 - Corn Jam, a Corn Belt event 22:27 - Advice for students who want to start creating 23:53 - Takeaways This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠!

  3. Sep 30

    We Don't Know What We Don't Know: Careers Beyond The Degree & A Life In Healthcare | Performance Parakone Podcast

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone podcast, host Vinicius "Vini" Pie sits down with Katie Kodad, Program Manager of Culture & Inclusion at Children's Nebraska and a new member of the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation board. Katie traces her path from Schuyler, Nebraska, a majority Latino community she still calls home, through the multicultural center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she spent so much time as a student that returning as a professional felt like coming home. She talks about struggling to find mentorship as a first-generation college student, recruiting out of Omaha Public Schools, running a scholarship program that supported DACA and undocumented students, and eventually landing in a non-traditional HR role at a pediatric hospital as one half of what she calls a mighty team of two. The conversation gets into the parts of this work that don't fit on a job description. ● Why "put yourself in their shoes" is advice Katie pushes back on, since their shoes are never going to fit. Why she asks why before she asks how high. What she tells students who assume healthcare means becoming a doctor or a nurse. What she'd tell young women carrying imposter syndrome that doesn't seem to go away with experience. She and Vini also dig into the pull between family expectations and personal ambition that so many first-generation professionals navigate, and why the people who make it and then pull the ladder up behind them have always baffled her. Katie closes with her vision for BSF and the Student Success program: that a scholarship alone answers the money question but leaves the "then what" unanswered, and that the real work is retention, community, and bringing students into the room while the thing is still being built. Thank you to Katie for joining us. Come find us at an event and say hi! :) Connect with Katie Kodad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kodad-1a184a102/ Resources Barrientos Scholarship Foundation: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/ Upcoming events: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/events Scholarship recipients: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/recipients Apply: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/apply-nowChapters 00:00 - Welcome back 00:32 - How Katie defines herself beyond her title 01:47 - Joining the BSF board 02:19 - Growing up in Schuyler, Nebraska 04:16 - Why inclusion work takes passion and thick skin 05:32 - Teaching, recruiting, and scholarship programs 06:29 - The multicultural center as a second home 07:43 - Struggling as a first-generation student 10:25 - "Their shoes are never going to fit" 12:43 - Family expectations and your own path 14:33 - You don't have to be a doctor to work in healthcare 17:13 - Asking why instead of how high 22:03 - Imposter syndrome, and a generation of limited options 25:04 - Advice to young women coming up 28:02 - Give your seat away and build a new table 29:31 - Katie's vision for BSF and the Student Success Program 34:02 - Takeaways from Vini and Katie This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠!

  4. Sep 16

    A New Era Begins: The New Student Host Model & The Infinite Story

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone podcast, host Marcos Becerra returns from hiatus and introduces the newest voice of the show: Vinicius "Vini" Pie. Vinnie shares his path from Brazil to York, Nebraska as an international student and soccer player, to Omaha, where a volunteer shift setting up tables at the VivaBusiness Luncheon turned into a front-row seat to the Barrientos ScholarshipFoundation. Marcos reflects on a year in New York spent rethinking what the podcast is actually for, and why the speaking and interviewing skills it built for him and past co-hosts were too valuable to keep to themselves. Together they lay out what's changing. Seasons will tighter, with episodes trimmed to around 30 minutes. A new student host, developed throughBSF's Student Success program, will take the mic each semester, learning to be a mentee and a mentor in the same seat. And underpinning all of it is theConstitution, a framework we proposed to give future hosts creative freedom inside a clear set of guidelines, so the show stands for the same things no matter who's behind the mic. The episode closes with "The Infinite Story," a letter Marcos wrote to every host who comes after him, tracing the 105-year Barrientos family journey in Omaha and the $500 his father used to start the foundation more than twenty years ago. We’re excited to share this season with you, and see how the podcast grows from here! :) Resources Barrientos Scholarship Foundation:  https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/ Upcoming events:  https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/events Scholarship recipients:  https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/recipients Apply: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/apply-now This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠ or visit ⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠! Chapters 00:00 – Back from hiatus 00:40 – Meet Vinicius "Vinnie" Pie 01:54 – From Brazil to York to Omaha 02:33 – Meeting Marcos at the Viva Business Luncheon 05:33 – Why Marcos wanted more than a guest 06:35 – A year in New York, rethinking the show 07:43 – Omaha's first Latino music festival 09:27 – Viva Business Luncheon 2026 12:45 – What's changing this season 14:17 – Rotating student hosts 17:49 – The Constitution 22:02 – What's coming up 22:44 – Building something bigger than one person 25:06 – 105 years of the Barrientos family 26:21 – "The Infinite Story" 28:15 – Thank you's

  5. 08/20/2025

    Empowering Latinas in the Corporate World

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone Podcast, hosts Marcos and Suleyma welcome Katherine Garcia to discuss her journey from El Salvador to becoming a successful interior designer in Omaha. They explore her educational path, the challenges of being a first-generation Latina in the corporate world, and the importance of community and mentorship. Katherine shares her aspirations for the future and offers valuable advice for young professionals looking to break into their desired fields. The episode also highlights the dynamic relationship between the two sisters, showcasing their support for each other as they navigate their careers.   This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel!

    Empowering Latinas in the Corporate World

  6. 08/13/2025

    Rita Rodriguez of Monarkia Institute

    In episode 13 of the Performance Parakone podcast, hosts Marcos Becerra and Suleyma Garcia welcome the inspiring Rita Rodriguez, a bilingual media specialist at Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) and the founder of Monarkia Institute. Rita shares her incredible journey from her childhood in Mexico to becoming a leader in the Latino community in Omaha.   Connect with Rita on Linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-rodr%C3%ADguez-9660632b This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel!

    Rita Rodriguez of Monarkia Institute

  7. 07/16/2025

    Celebrating the Achievements of the BSF Scholarship

    In the season 1 finale of the Performance Parakone podcast, hosts Marcos Becerra and Suleyma Garcia recap the achievements of the Barriento Scholarship Foundation over the past year, including fundraising milestones, the growth of the Student Success Program, and the announcement of scholarship recipients. They discuss upcoming events, community engagement initiatives, and personal stories that highlight their connection to the community. The episode emphasizes the importance of support and solidarity within the community, especially during challenging times.   Interested in the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation? Learn more here:  https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/ Local: GoFundMe for Impacted Families: https://linktr.ee/privaterelay01   CIRA hotline for impacted families to get pro bono legal representation: 402-884-0876   Attorneys looking to provide pro bono support can join the CIRA network: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspxid=bYdLbkfZPUOYDCNz1yij-bOdbYbI7rZ CnpGdxDdhbgZUM1NBWExaRjVKTUoxSUlJNDBKRzc4QVRXVS4u   Help locate somebody whose been detained: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search   Families afectadas que necesitan una ayudar además de representacion legal pueden llenar esta forma: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKuTpLNEXYs4ppf8kmGCWF3xhSECtDaFsqh4jT85FNt3bICA/viewform   Donate to the bond fund for detained individuals: https://www.prairielandsfreedomfund.org/donate   National: Become an interpreter at NIJC: immigrantjustice.org   Print and carry a Red Card: Download it from https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas - it lists your rights during encounters with ICE   Connect with an immigration lawyer. Find legal help through immdef.org/resources and ailalawyer.com   Know Your Rights: ACLU offers toolkits for immigrants at aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights   BSF 2025 recipients: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/recipients   Upcoming events: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/events This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit HurrdatONE YouTube Channel!

    Celebrating the Achievements of the BSF Scholarship

  8. 03/05/2025

    More Than Just a Dream, BSF Then and Now with Tony Aguilera

    In this episode of the Performance Parakone podcast, hosts Marcos Becerra and Suleyma Garcia sit down with Tony Aguilera, the president of the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation (BSF) board. As they dive into the importance of community support and educational opportunities for Latino students in Nebraska, Tony shares his inspiring journey and the pivotal role BSF plays in empowering first-generation college students.   Tony discusses his experiences in mentoring youth and building career pathways, emphasizing the significance of internships and mentorships in navigating the workforce. He reflects on the challenges he faced while pursuing higher education and how those experiences shape his vision for the future of BSF. Marcos and Suleyma explore the foundation's growth, including its expansion into trades and the introduction of the Student Success Skills Program, designed to equip students with essential life skills and career readiness.   Listeners will gain valuable insights into the scholarship application process, which opens on March 1st and closes on March 31st, as well as the importance of community partnerships in creating opportunities for students. Join us as we celebrate the power of perseverance, mentorship, and the transformative impact of education. You can go to the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation website to apply: https://www.barrientosscholarship.org/apply-now List of scholarships:  BSF, In Honor of Ella and Vidal Barrientos, Arts/Education - $6,000 CHI Health, Healthcare - $1,000 Cinco de Mayo Omaha, Communications, Journalism, Marketing - $4,000 Clarkson College, Healthcare - $2,500 Geena Gomez, Masters in Education/Special Education - $5,000 JE Dunn, Construction Mgt. at UNK, UNL, or UNO - $5,000 Lozafina, General - $1,000 MagicTouch/Eddie Sandoval, Nursing - $2,500 MagicTouch, Business - $2,500 Methodist College, Healthcare - $2,500 Nebraska Furniture Mart, Business/Communications - $3,000 Metro Community College Only BSF/MCC, Any - $5,000 CHI Health/MCC, Healthcare - $5,000 JE Dunn/MCC, Trades - $5,000 MagicTouch/MCC, Trades - $5,000 Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)/MCC, Trades - $5,000 This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel!

    More Than Just a Dream, BSF Then and Now with Tony Aguilera
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About

The Performance Parakone, derived from the definition of Paragon: “A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.” Presented by the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation, our podcast’s mission is to inform young adults, especially those from marginalized communities, of stories and methods that will improve their professional development, bridging the gap between academic achievement and real-world success through access to information from community leaders.

Information

  • Channel
    Hurrdat ONE
  • Creator
    Hurrdat Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18

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