Making It Here

Epicenter NYC
  • 4.2 (13)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we’ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices—those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit––who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at https://epicenter-nyc.com/. Production: https://www.pirateaudio.co/ 

  1. 11/12/2025

    Kasumi Quinlan of Lemontree on Building a Better System for Food Access

    When Kasumi Quinlan joined Lemontree, she wasn’t starting something new, she was stepping into a vision first created by Alex Godin, who set out to make finding free food as simple and human as possible. Kasumi found a model grounded in empathy and human connection, and the opportunity to grow it into something larger. Under her leadership, Lemontree has become a nationwide service helping people navigate food insecurity with dignity. Through simple text and chat, trained advocates connect neighbors to nearby pantries and meal programs in minutes. No judgment, no hoops to jump through. Today, I sit down with Kasumi to talk about her path into this work, what she’s learned from listening to thousands of neighbors, and how thoughtful design can turn a moment of need into one of care. https://www.foodhelpline.org/donate  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  2. 11/05/2025

    Glenelys Jimenez is rewriting the rules of learning with Levanto Collective

    When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she’d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she’d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages… not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too. When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together. That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members “unlearn what doesn’t serve them and learn what will.” Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she’s evolved her original idea… from an app into a community built to help others rise. https://vialevanto.com/  https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  3. 10/29/2025

    How The Friends Behind City Señoras Are Redefining Self-Care

    City Señoras started as two friends looking for connection… a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles. Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging. In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they’ve learned from balancing growth with intention. https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us  https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/   https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    How Karen Vidangos is building access for the underrepresented in the art world

    The art world can feel intimidating, even elitist. But for Karen Vidangos, it’s also been a space to challenge those barriers and open doors for others. She built the Latinx Art Collective, a free, searchable database that helps curators, collectors, and fans discover artists across the U.S. She also created Latina in Museums, an online platform that documents her candid journey navigating a field where Latinx voices are often underrepresented. Today, Karen shares how financial setbacks nearly took her off the path entirely, why community support is essential for anyone building a platform, and how she’s learned to give imposter syndrome just five minutes before moving forward. https://www.instagram.com/latinxartcollective/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/latinainmuseums/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  5. 10/15/2025

    Epicenter Helps Bring the Sari to Center Stage and Launches an AI Cohort

    Today, we’re turning the mic inward, and sharing a couple of highlights from a recent conversation I had with Epicenter Co-founder and publisher Mitra Kalita on Los Herederos Radio. First, we discuss a sari exhibit that Epicenter has helped bring to life… reframing the sari as a cultural and artistic object, one that carries stories of migration, memory, identity, and resistance. We also cover the launch of Epicenter Foundation’s latest AI cohort. The program brings together small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and other community voices to learn how artificial intelligence can be used in practical, accessible ways. It’s part of Epicenter’s ongoing effort to ensure that the communities we serve aren’t left behind as new technologies develop. And before we wrap up, we’ll share a quick preview of what else is coming later this October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min

  6. 10/08/2025

    Lucy Yu of Yu & Me Books on entrepreneurship, burnout, and the power of community

    Lucy opened Yu & Me Books in December of 2021, bringing to life an idea she’d carried since childhood. After leaving a career in chemical engineering, she finally built the kind of space she’d always imagined: a community hub grounded in three pillars: championing writers of color, uplifting debut authors, and offering a welcoming third place.  The store quickly found its audience, drawing both national attention and strong local support. Then came the July 4th, 2023 fire that devastated the store and forced Lucy to start over. Eight months later, Yu & Me reopened, but the recovery took a personal toll. Today, Lucy speaks with Epicenter-NYC reporter Ambar Castillo openly about burnout, a mental health crisis, and what it means to rebuild both a business and a sense of self… reflecting on how she’s learning to balance entrepreneurship and self-care. She also shares how her background in chemical engineering helped her turn a lifelong dream into a reality. Editor’s note: This conversation includes discussion of mental health and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min

  7. 10/01/2025

    Lessons from Cindy Castro on Starting a Sustainable Fashion Brand

    Cindy Castro New York is a sustainable luxury brand, producing locally in the city with responsible fabrics and a commitment to garment workers’ rights. The company was founded by Cindy Castro, who grew up in Ecuador and came to the U.S. as an au pair before putting herself through design school. She went on to break into New York’s fashion world, taking risks and building a label that reflects both her values and her vision. Today, she’s running her own brand, navigating the realities of entrepreneurship, and celebrating recognition as one of Vogue Business’s “100 Innovators.” In this episode, we sit down with Cindy to learn more about the risks she took to invest in herself, how she centers sustainability, and the importance of kindness in an industry that often thrives on competition. If you’d like to learn more about Cindy’s work, follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/cindycastro_nyc/ or visit cindycastro.com/. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min

  8. 09/24/2025

    Van Sharma on growing Rupee Beer into a global brand

    Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma launched Rupee Beer about six years ago. The idea grew out of their family’s long history in the Indian restaurant business, their parents opened the first Indian restaurants in Maine after immigrating from the UK, and Van saw early on the challenges of finding a consistent supply of Indian beer in the U.S. Rupee Beer set out to fill that gap with recipes designed to pair with Indian food, using ingredients like basmati rice. The company started by contract brewing in Boston and has since expanded, now distributing in 20 states and selling through major retailers like Costco. Its lineup now includes a rice lager, an India pale ale, a mango wheat ale, and an upcoming non-alcoholic beer. In this episode Epicenter-NYC Co-Founder and Publisher, S. Mitra Kalita, sits down with Van to learn more about the story behind Rupee, navigating the alcohol distribution system, expanding into new markets, and building a business rooted in community. https://rupeebeer.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
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4.2
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we’ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices—those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit––who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at https://epicenter-nyc.com/. Production: https://www.pirateaudio.co/ 

Information

  • Creator
    Epicenter NYC
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2026 Epicenter © 2020. All rights reserved. A Kalita Mukul Creative Inc. Company
  • Show Website
    Making It Here