Uptown Voices

Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC

Uptown Voices tells the stories of unsung heroes who are transforming New York City's Uptown neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Inwood to Harlem to the South Bronx. Each episode profiles an individual or organization making a positive difference. These social entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders are navigating critical issues of affordability, public safety, and mental health. Through conversations rooted in journalistic integrity and genuine community ties, this podcast challenges negative narratives and celebrates the true spirit of the vibrant neighborhoods thriving north of Central Park. Each episode features extended interviews in which subjects tell their stories in their own words. The series examines the interconnected challenges facing Uptown communities—gentrification pressures, resource scarcity, systemic inequities—while simultaneously showcasing the creativity and collective power emerging in response. While uplifting the people shaping Uptown’s future, the podcast holds local elected officials accountable for the promises they make. During this pivotal time, Uptown Voices is creating a unique audiovisual archive. Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

  1. 3d ago

    Clocking the Tea: Why Broadway is Missing Out on the Latino Market

    In this inspiring episode of Uptown Voices, Octavio and Led sit down with Luis Mora, the visionary director of the Bilingual Broadway Collective. Luis breaks down how his 501(c)(3) nonprofit is celebrating bilingualism in the performing arts and shares the monumental victory of licensing and translating a bilingual version of The Addams Family musical. He reveals the profound realization that making the Addams family speak Spanish perfectly mirrored the real-life Latino experience of being ostracized for being "weird." Luis opens up about his personal journey migrating from Colombia, turning the childhood trauma of translating adult news for his parents into an empowering "bilingual superpower" for his students. The trio also discusses the financial realities of Broadway ignoring the massive Latino market and Luis drops a major prediction: Washington Heights is destined to become the future hub of New York theater. Plus, get the scoop on Luis's upcoming events, including a Shakira tribute night and a Broadway dance party at the United Palace! Support Hyperlocal Media: Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Support our mission here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

    Clocking the Tea: Why Broadway is Missing Out on the Latino Market

  2. 3d ago

    Calling Out the Trolls: Why Uptown's Leaders Need to Stop Punching Down

    In this episode of Uptown Voices: Black & Blanco Edition, Octavio and Led celebrate Dominican Father’s Day and the legendary Washington Heights park reunions before diving into some heavy-hitting community issues. The conversation kicks off with a candid breakdown of Fernando Mateo’s recent social media trolling, calling out the trend of supposed leaders "punching down" on the community for simply enjoying summer traditions. The hosts then pivot to the very real and urgent crises actively threatening the standard of living uptown. Led breaks down the escalating heroin epidemic and questions the motives behind local safe injection sites, describing them as a potential "Trojan horse" for gentrification. Octavio shares his recent on-the-ground experience door-knocking with the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, urging the community to fight back against warehoused apartments and landlord tactics by forming tenant unions and acting as a unified class. Plus, stick around for local uptown job opportunities and a sneak peek at the brand-new segment: Taco Tuesday Uptown! Support Hyperlocal Media: Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Support our mission here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

    Calling Out the Trolls: Why Uptown's Leaders Need to Stop Punching Down

  3. Jul 21

    Tomo Mori On Building an 18-Foot Fiber Sculpture and Resisting Anti-Asian Hate in Harlem With Joy

    In 2009, Tomo Mori's father died. She was living in a small, expensive rent-stabilized apartment on 14th Street, working in media, watching her dream of becoming an artist recede into the category of things she'd maybe do when she was old — like Grandma Moses. Then she gave herself eighteen months. If nothing happened, she'd go back to graphic design. If something happened, she'd follow it. Something happened. Now, Tomo Mori is a painter and fiber artist based in Harlem whose eighteen-foot-high rope installation is currently on view at Columbia University's Wallach Art Gallery as part of the Children's Art Carnival exhibition — the piece so tall she had anxiety about whether it would even fit. It fit. She's celebrating. Born in Japan, trained in contemporary art before switching to video and multimedia to support her family, Tomo came to New York via CNN's graphics department — where she ran the team and met Octavio Blanco, who was then an editor at CNN Money. In 2010 she moved to Harlem, started making friends in the uptown arts community, showed her work, and never looked back. In this episode of Uptown Voices, Tomo takes Led Black and Octavio Blanco through her full story: the rope work that began the night Trump was elected in 2016 and she felt suddenly, painfully disconnected; the Japanese ritual of Shimenawa that may have planted the seed; the discovery that her grandmother's family had a rope manufacturing business ("Mom thinks I'm haunted by the ghost of grandma's family"); the carpal tunnel she developed from obsessive rope-making while her one-year-old daughter napped; the donated clothes from neighbors, friends, and strangers she weaves into her fiber art — each one remembered, each one carrying an energy. She also speaks with rare candor about the anti-Asian racism she experienced during COVID in her own Harlem neighborhood. Her response to all of it: show up to every space with a big smile, be present, be human, let time do its work. After twelve years, that neighbor finally said hello. The episode also covers the uptown arts ecosystem that welcomed her, the pickup co-op she built with performing artist moms to give herself four extra hours a week to work, the oldest tree in Manhattan in Saint Nicholas Park, and her advice — three words she returns to again and again — to every dormant artist: keep moving your hands. 00:00  Cold Open 01:05  Welcome 02:10  Subscribe, Donate, Tell Your People 02:32  Introducing Tomo Mori 04:17  Tomo's History with Betty Blayton-Taylor 06:24  From Art School to CNN 07:59  Why She Came to Harlem in 2010 11:52  I am a Painter — Even When I'm Making Fiber Art 12:43  One Teacher Shouldn't Rule Your Life 14:29  Fabric Patterns Are Evidence of Joy 15:41  Interconnectivity 16:56  Fiber Art Using Donated Clothes 18:36  Making Rope Obsessively 20:24  Remembering Every Donor While Working 21:05  The Beauty of Jumbled Multiculturalism 26:18  Favorite Park Uptown 27:25  How Harlem Changed Her Life 30:12  The Mixed-Background Mom Friend Group 31:39  The Uptown Arts Ecosystem 32:09  How Collaboration Works in Practice  37:27  Tomo's Advice to Every Dormant Artist  38:38  Anti-Asian Hate in Harlem During COVID  40:50  Her Response: Show Up with a Big Smile  50:02  Where to Find Tomo Mori  51:33  Closing

    Tomo Mori On Building an 18-Foot Fiber Sculpture and Resisting Anti-Asian Hate in Harlem With Joy

  4. Jul 21

    Pix11 Features Uptown Voices, Local Politics, and Cultivating Community

    In this Sunday edition of Black & Blanco LIVE, Octavio and Led catch up on a wild week of events, sports, and culture. Led shares the story behind his unexpected, last-minute trip to Jay-Z's historic, star-studded Yankee Stadium concert, while Octavio recovers from the summer flu. They dive into the World Cup, discussing Spain's run, the controversies surrounding FIFA, and Mayor Mamdani's deeply moving visit to Rikers Island for a watch party and high school graduation. The duo also reflects on their recent media feature with Pix11, the shifting political landscape for Dominican Americans uptown, and their commitment to giving local candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier, Oscar Romero, and Adriano Espaillat a fair platform. Plus, don't miss the rundown of upcoming uptown events, including the Harlem Zine Lab, NoMAA studio discounts, and an incredible Wallach Art Gallery exhibit featuring early works from Jean-Michel Basquiat and Tomo Mori!

    Pix11 Features Uptown Voices, Local Politics, and Cultivating Community

  5. Jul 14

    Souleo and Dionis Ortiz on Harlem's Children's Art Carnival and Jean Michel Basquiat

    Souleo and artist Dionis Ortiz join Led Black and Octavio Blanco to explore Harlem's Children's Art Carnival. They trace its MoMA roots to its 1969 establishment by Betty Blayton-Taylor and reveal Jean-Michel Basquiat's history as an intern, illustrating how working with disabled children shaped his iconic style. Dionis shares his journey from student to steward at 62 Hamilton Terrace as the group discusses community, generational continuity, and local collaboration in the Harlem art scene. ⏱️ TIMECODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Cold Open: Souleo on Basquiat's untold Uptown roots01:09 – Intro: Octavio and Led welcome the audience to Uptown Voices02:54 – Meet Souleo: Over a decade of curating underrepresented Harlem artists04:25 – The Making of Contemporary Artists: Inside the Wallach Art Gallery exhibit07:39 – Souleo's curator origins, art gentrification, and honoring his brother12:33 – Deepening scholarship: Staying out of the "blue-chip" box18:16 – The MoMA origins of the Children's Art Carnival (1942)20:01 – Betty Blayton-Taylor brings the Carnival to Harlem (1969)22:28 – Generational continuity: Dionis Ortiz's full-circle journey26:55 – The Harlem Defender zine and the Harlem Eternal exhibit31:15 – The power of hyperlocal art: Why you don't need to go downtown anymore36:26 – The Basquiat Connection: Interning in Harlem and the origins of the crown40:46 – Dionis on fatherhood, naming his son Lennox, and his unsung creative hero44:48 – Dionis's multimedia process: Cyanotypes, drawing, and found objects46:35 – The future of Uptown art: Grassroots collaboration vs. Corporate interests54:00 – Closing thoughts, URLs, and the beauty of 62 Hamilton Terrace📋 FULL SHOW NOTES About the Guests: Souleo (curator/writer) and Dionis Ortiz (multimedia artist/steward). Exhibitions & Events Mentioned: Children's Art Carnival: The Making of Contemporary Artists (Wallach Gallery, thru Sept 13) and Harlem Eternal (62 Hamilton Terrace, opens July 10). People & Organizations Mentioned: Betty Blayton-Taylor, Victor D'Amico, MoMA, Basquiat, Warhol, Harlem Defender, Studio Museum, Schomburg Center, NOMAA, Sugar Hill Museum, Art In Flux, Michael A. Cummings, Armando O'Lane. Connect with the Guests: Souleo: souleouniverse.com | IG: @souleouniverseDionis Ortiz: dionisortiz.com | IG: @dionis_o_studioChildren's Art Carnival: childrensartcarnival.org

    Souleo and Dionis Ortiz on Harlem's Children's Art Carnival and Jean Michel Basquiat

  6. Jul 13

    (6/21/26) On Election Eve, Black and Blanco tackle the issues & controversy in Congressional Dist 13

    The conversation begins with reflections on Father's Day, highlighting the significance of fatherhood and the impact of father figures. It then transitions into a discussion about family and the role of fathers in shaping individuals. Finally, the conversation delves into the ongoing political campaign and the use of smear tactics to influence public opinion. The conversation delves into the outsized influence of international relations in local elections, particularly in the context of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It also explores the impact of the Knicks parade on the city of New York, highlighting the magic and unity it brought to the community. Takeaways Father's Day reflectionsFamily and fatherhoodPolitical campaign and smear tactics International influence in local electionsImpact of international relations on local politics Chapters 00:00 Father's Day Reflections01:07 Family and Fatherhood08:39 Political Campaign and Smear Tactics32:09 International Influence in Local Elections55:16 The Beauty of New York and the Knicks Parade

    (6/21/26) On Election Eve, Black and Blanco tackle the issues & controversy in Congressional Dist 13

  7. Jul 13

    Dominican-American music industry creators, tune in for this!

    The conversation revolves around the upcoming event 'Conexion Dominicana' and the significance of celebrating Dominican culture and creating access to the music industry. Noel and Zeitlin share their personal journeys and the vision for the event, emphasizing the empowerment of the next generation of music industry professionals. The event details and the inclusive nature of the event are also highlighted, showcasing the impact on the community. "You don't have to be Dominican to attend! The conversation delves into the importance of Dominican culture and community, as well as the representation of Latinos and Dominicans in the industry. It also explores the unification of the Latino diaspora and the significance of preserving cultural roots while embracing diversity. After meeting Setlín and Noel, the episode shifts to other topics, including community events, challenges with public pool management, personal experiences with Highbridge, art exhibits, and the World Cup. The hosts also previewed an upcoming episode and discussed the upcoming birthday of one of the host's wife. Takeaways Celebrating Dominican cultureEmpowering the next generation of music industry professionals Dominican culture and communityRepresentation in the industry Community events and initiativesChallenges with public pool management Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Event Announcement02:59 The Importance of Conexion Dominicana06:02 Noel's Journey and Vision for the Event11:59 Zeitlin's Journey and the Event Details18:47 Inclusivity and Community Impact31:08 Dominican Culture and Representation in the Industry32:27 Unifying the Latino Diaspora01:02:40 San Juan Hill Documentary01:04:01 Harlem Summer Nights01:04:46 Challenges with Public Pool Management01:05:20 Highbridge Pool Experience01:08:36 Discussion on New York City Pools01:11:22 Personal Experiences with Highbridge01:20:16 Art Exhibits and Cultural Events01:26:00 Upcoming Episode Preview01:31:41 World Cup Discussion Support Hyperlocal Media: Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Support our mission here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

    Dominican-American music industry creators, tune in for this!

  8. Jul 8

    Healing Uptown with Yogiando NYC & Fourth of July Real Talk

    What up, everyone! It’s Led Black and Octavio Blanco back for another episode of Uptown Voices. This week, we are shining a massive spotlight on community wellness, sitting down with the incredible Rosana Rodriguez, founder of Yogiando NYC. After struggling with debilitating PTSD, severe physical pain, and a complete loss of hope, Rosana discovered the life-saving power of meditative yoga. But she didn't stop at her own recovery. Realizing that these essential wellness spaces were often out of reach for everyday people, she built the first fully bilingual, accessible yoga practice right here in Washington Heights. Rosana holds nothing back as she shares her powerful journey from feeling like "the living dead" to becoming a beacon of healing for our doñas, our elders, and our neighborhood—plus, she drops some major news about her return to the mat! In the second half of the episode, we pivot to a raw, unfiltered Fourth of July reality check. On the 250th anniversary of the American experiment, we unpack the local "pothole politics" of NYC, the ongoing threats to working-class democracy, and why it's time to clean house in the political establishment. Real people talking real shit. Spread love is the Uptown way! 🕒 Episode Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro, surviving the heatwave, & Fourth of July opening thoughts.02:09 – Welcoming Rosana Rodriguez: What is Yogiando NYC?05:13 – Breaking down cultural stigmas: Bringing yoga into the church.15:53 – "I was the living dead": Rosana opens up about her battle with PTSD and finding her purpose.18:46 – Why you don't need to be "flexible" to heal: The power of Yin and meditative yoga.21:22 – Creating a bilingual wellness space for the community.23:21 – Major Announcements: Catch Rosana at Heights Meditation & Yoga and NOMAA!26:01 – A full-circle moment: Giving back to the Washington Heights streets that raised her.35:40 – Led and Octavio transition into a 250th Anniversary political reality check.44:20 – The "twin genocides" of American history and the threat of authoritarianism.51:30 – Unpacking "individual responsibility" when the working class is being defunded.1:02:53 – Why the political establishment needs a wake-up call & the hope in local progressive wins.1:12:16 – Holding leaders accountable on global conflicts, Gaza, and corporate interests.1:30:24 – Closing thoughts: Highlighting local heroes and supporting the Uptown Voices movement.🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned: Practice with Rosana: Follow her journey and sign up for classes on Instagram at @yogiandonyc.Heights Meditation and Yoga: Catch Rosana’s Sunday classes at 875 W 181st Street.Follow Us: Keep up with the podcast on Instagram at @uptownvoicespodcast and @uptowncollective.Support the Show: Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem. All donations are tax-deductible and help us keep bringing you these crucial, community-driven conversations.Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to show that Uptown love!

    Healing Uptown with Yogiando NYC & Fourth of July Real Talk
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Uptown Voices tells the stories of unsung heroes who are transforming New York City's Uptown neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Inwood to Harlem to the South Bronx. Each episode profiles an individual or organization making a positive difference. These social entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders are navigating critical issues of affordability, public safety, and mental health. Through conversations rooted in journalistic integrity and genuine community ties, this podcast challenges negative narratives and celebrates the true spirit of the vibrant neighborhoods thriving north of Central Park. Each episode features extended interviews in which subjects tell their stories in their own words. The series examines the interconnected challenges facing Uptown communities—gentrification pressures, resource scarcity, systemic inequities—while simultaneously showcasing the creativity and collective power emerging in response. While uplifting the people shaping Uptown’s future, the podcast holds local elected officials accountable for the promises they make. During this pivotal time, Uptown Voices is creating a unique audiovisual archive. Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

Information

  • Creator
    Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC
  • Show Website
    Uptown Voices