El Podcast de El Profe Palacios

Agustin Palacios

Hola, bienvenidos to El Podcast del Profe Palacios, a podcast about Ethnic Studies, education, and issues affecting our Latino/e students and communities. I am your host Dr. Agustín Palacios, professor of Chicano/Latino Studies for more than 15 years at the community college. In this podcast we will talk about how Ethnic Studies is more than an academic subject; it is a practice grounded in community love and social justice. The analysis and conversations I will provide will be informed by many years of research, and also by my experiences growing up in the US-Mexico border and in the Salinas Valley. I will bring different guests to share their stories and academic journey. We will hear from professors, students, and community organizers. And sometimes, I will provide the occasional political piece, pues porque I get angry and I need say something. Asi que ponganse las pilas, y siganme los buenos! Music Jazzaddict's Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/hY4yspCQRaM agustinpalacios.substack.com

  1. Episode 24: The Work is Personal–Panel Discussion

    Jun 2

    Episode 24: The Work is Personal–Panel Discussion

    In this episode of El Podcast de El Profe Palacios, community organizers from Safe Return Project, United Latino Voices and the Concord Immigrant Protections Network, and Reimagine Richmond discuss their pathways into activism and organizing. The panel explores immigrant rights, educational equity, youth mentorship, trauma healing, police accountability, and community empowerment. Through personal stories and reflections, the speakers highlight the importance of collective action, community leadership, and imagining new possibilities for social change. This panel discussion took place on April 8, 2026. Marvin Galdamez and Dro with the Safe Return Project; Raul, Community Engagement Coordinator with United Latino Voices of Contra Costa; and Natalia, a member organizer with Reimagine Richmond. Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-foggCreative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-introMusic promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    1h 13m
  2. Episode 23: Staying Rooted Across Transnational Lives–Plática with Dr. Lilia Soto

    Apr 13

    Episode 23: Staying Rooted Across Transnational Lives–Plática with Dr. Lilia Soto

    How do our earliest memories and family roots shape our academic and professional lives? In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Profesora Lilia Soto for a thoughtful conversation on migration, identity, memory, and the complexities of navigating academia. Lilia reflects on her early childhood growing up between Napa and Zinapécuaro, Michoacán, and how those experiences have shaped her intellectual journey. We also discuss her time in graduate school and the personal and academic challenges she faced along the way. Finally, we explore the recent revelations surrounding Cesar Chavez’s sexual misconduct and how these discussions have influenced her work and the field of Chicana/o Studies. Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    54 min

  3. Mar 27

    Episode 22: Cruzar, Luchar, Lograr–Plática with Cinthya

    In this episode I sit down with a former student of mine, Cinthya, who has an amazing story, we talked about her journey across the US-Mexico border, about going to school as an undocumented student. She recently receiving her Masters in Spanish from San Francisco State University. I think her story has a lot to teach us about perseverance and resilience, and I encourage you to share it specially with our undocumented students. I’m sure it will inspire them. It inspires me. Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    56 min

  4. Mar 1

    Episode 21: Healing with Cultura–Plática with Dr. David Martinez

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Martinez — licensed psychologist, associate professor at the University of San Francisco, and Director of Mental Health at ALAS (Ayudando Latinos a Soñar). David shares his journey from growing up in East Salinas to earning a PhD in clinical psychology. We talk about growing up in Salinas and Michoacán, about losing his father at a young age and being raised by a single mother, being the first in his family to go to college, but then being placed on academic probation. We talk about coming out as a gay Latino, and ultimately finding his path in mental health and culturally-responsive care. This is a conversation about resilience, the importance of mental health, and building healing spaces for our communities. Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    49 min
  5. Episode 20: Running Towards Success–Plática with Rodolfo "Rudy" Tovar

    Feb 6

    Episode 20: Running Towards Success–Plática with Rodolfo "Rudy" Tovar

    In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Rudy Tovar, someone I’ve known since our middle school days in Salinas. We talk about growing up in a working-class immigrant family and eventually becoming a business owner. We also talk about his passion for running and his role as a youth coach. We talked about fatherhood and what it means to raise boys with compassion. Finally, Rudy reflects on how his definition of success has evolved through the years. Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    40 min
  6. Episode 19: Plática with Mayra Padilla

    Jan 20

    Episode 19: Plática with Mayra Padilla

    Today I have the privilege of sharing with you an interview I did recently with Dr. Mayra Padilla—Mayra has an amazing story and I am very honored that she accepted to be a guest in the podcast. In this plática we talked about her family’s migration from Jalisco, about growing up in Richmond, in a low-income barrio and having to deal with some of the gang violence and drugs in the neighborhood but also finding community. She shared that although no one in her high school expected her to go to college, she developed a strong love for math that kept her engaged, and even after getting pregnant in the 11th grade, getting married young, dropping out of community college the first time she tried, she never gave up, every time she felled she got up again, she continued her education, and eventually earned her PhD in Neuroscience from UC Berkeley. After a career in science doing research, she decided to come back to Contra Costa College where she has served in various positions. Key Points * Roots in Richmond: Childhood, Migration, and Survival * Education, Pregnancy, and Finding Her Way Back to School * Science, Neuroscience, and Understanding Trauma * Coming Home: Community, Mentorship, and Social Justice Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    51 min
  7. Episode 18: Plática With Rafael Solórzano

    12/21/2025

    Episode 18: Plática With Rafael Solórzano

    In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Rafael “Rafa” Solórzano—social movements scholar and organizer. We talk about his childhood, activism, and how the places he has lived and made community have shaped his work. Rafa takes us from growing up Chicano in Santa Ana, Orange County during the era of Proposition 187, 209, and 227, to organizing with MEChA, and multiracial youth coalitions in the Bay Area, and defending Ethnic Studies through the 1999 TWLF hunger strike at UC Berkeley. We also talk about why he chose to build and study migrant movements in the U.S. South, how he sustains himself through community, and his current projects—Migrant Refusal about migrant youth activism. Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    53 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    Episode 17: This Thanksgiving, Thank Heh-SOOS

    In this “Thanks-taking” special, I talk about being thankful despite all the MAGA pendejadas. I talk about labor shortages, growers voting against their interests, and ICE’s ongoing cruelty toward immigrant communities. And I share what I’m personally grateful for this year—from my family to my students to the immigrant workers who keep this country running. Music Jazzaddict’s Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit agustinpalacios.substack.com

    15 min
See All (25)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Hola, bienvenidos to El Podcast del Profe Palacios, a podcast about Ethnic Studies, education, and issues affecting our Latino/e students and communities. I am your host Dr. Agustín Palacios, professor of Chicano/Latino Studies for more than 15 years at the community college. In this podcast we will talk about how Ethnic Studies is more than an academic subject; it is a practice grounded in community love and social justice. The analysis and conversations I will provide will be informed by many years of research, and also by my experiences growing up in the US-Mexico border and in the Salinas Valley. I will bring different guests to share their stories and academic journey. We will hear from professors, students, and community organizers. And sometimes, I will provide the occasional political piece, pues porque I get angry and I need say something. Asi que ponganse las pilas, y siganme los buenos! Music Jazzaddict's Intro by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/jazzaddicts-intro Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/hY4yspCQRaM agustinpalacios.substack.com

Information