Ilé to Ilé

Hey Russo Productions
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Religion & Spirituality

Carlos has been an olorisha for 21 years. Cecilio for 36. Together they’ve seen this religion at its most profound — and at its most complicated. Ilé to Ilé isn’t a class on Santeria. It’s two men with nearly six decades of lived experience in the Lucumí tradition sitting down and being honest — about what they’ve witnessed, what they’ve had to unlearn, where they agree, and where they genuinely don’t. Opinions formed by experience. Conversations that used to happen after ceremonies, in someone’s kitchen, between people who trusted each other enough to tell the truth. Caribbean roots. Diaspora reality. No filter.

Episodes

  1. Sep 25

    From Resistance to Responsibility: Yaremy Colone on a Life in Ocha

    Yaremy Colone was crowned at twelve years old. At the time, she wanted nothing to do with it. She questioned the rules, resisted the responsibilities, and for years essentially told her mother: you did this to me, so you deal with it. More than four decades later, her perspective couldn't be more different. In this episode of Ilé to Ilé, Carlos sits down with Yaremy to talk about growing up inside Ocha, finding her own connection to the religion as an adult, and eventually becoming the mother, grandmother, madrina, Espiritista, and house leader responsible for guiding others. She reflects on the decision her mother made when Yaremy was twelve and why, looking back today, she can say simply: “She saved me.” The conversation also gets into what makes an ilé truly feel like family, the difference between guiding and pushing, learning when to let godchildren experience their own lessons, and why Yaremy believes not everyone needs to be crowned or enter every room. Carlos and Yaremy also explore Espiritismo and spiritual development, the importance of elders and discernment, the growing publicness of practices that were once kept private, humility, tradition, social media, and what Yaremy believes is worth protecting as another generation comes up behind her. A conversation about resistance, responsibility, family, faith, and learning to understand what was handed to you before it becomes your turn to carry it forward.

    From Resistance to Responsibility: Yaremy Colone on a Life in Ocha

  2. Sep 18

    Respect, Patience, and the Work: A Conversation with Alfredo Vela

    Alfredo Vela has been crowned Obatalá since 1988, but his relationship with Lucumí began long before his own initiation. After coming to New York from Ecuador as a child, Alfredo grew up in a predominantly Cuban community in Manhattan, surrounded by spiritual masses, drummings, ceremonies, and elders who would eventually shape his life in Ocha. In this conversation, Alfredo talks about learning the religion by being present and doing the work: from working the room to learning the kitchen, preparing acheses, and eventually teaching others what had been passed down to him. We also talk about the elders who shaped him, working alongside generations of Oriaté in New York, the importance of patience and respect, what has changed over nearly four decades, and what he believes younger olorisha need to carry forward. And after crowning more than 40 godchildren himself, Alfredo reflects on what it means to preserve a lineage while still allowing each new generation to grow. This is a conversation about learning slowly, showing up, respecting your elders, and understanding that Ocha is a lifelong process.

    Respect, Patience, and the Work: A Conversation with Alfredo Vela

  3. Aug 9

    Godparents, Derechos & Trust: Answering Your Lucumí Questions

    We’re back — and we’re taking the conversation on the road. In this episode of Ilé to Ilé, Carlos and Cecilio sit down with questions that have been coming directly from the community. Can your godparent live hundreds of miles away? How much does distance really matter? What should you understand when someone gives you a derecho for a ceremony? How do you know whether you can trust the person guiding you? Who chooses your Yubona? Is your godparent and Yubona always a “package deal”? And maybe most importantly: why are people in such a rush? This conversation goes beyond ceremony and gets into the relationships that make these traditions work. Godparents, godchildren, Yubonas, elders, god-siblings and the larger Ocha community all require trust, communication, accountability and time. We also get into something that can easily be lost as communities grow: preparation. Knowing what needs to happen before a ceremony. Knowing what you should have on hand. Knowing how to observe, help, ask questions and learn. Knowing when to say, “I’ve never done this before.” Because knowledge isn’t only what happens at the center of the room. Sometimes it’s washing dishes, preparing buckets, sharpening knives, helping somebody eat, watching how an elder moves, or simply being present enough to learn. And yes — we talk about derechos. The cost of ceremony is one of the most common and sensitive questions we receive. There isn’t one universal number, but there should be trust, communication and an understanding that ceremonies involve far more than the days most people see from the outside. This is also our first look at the mobile setup. We’ve said from the beginning that if we’re going to talk about the community, we need to actually be in the community. So Ilé to Ilé is getting ready to hit the road. If there’s someone we should sit down with — an Olorisha, Obba, Babalawo, Akpón, Omo Añá, cook, seamstress, elder, community member or somebody with a story and perspective worth preserving — let us know. And keep the questions coming. Drop yours in the comments or send us a message. Some of the best conversations we’re having right now are coming directly from you. Subscribe and follow Ilé to Ilé for more conversations about Lucumí, Ocha, community, culture, history and lived experience.

    Godparents, Derechos & Trust: Answering Your Lucumí Questions

  4. Jul 4

    Giving Light to Eggun: Ancestors, Spirit, and Starting Simple

    In this episode of Ilé to Ilé, Carlos and Cecilio sit down for an earlier conversation on Eggun, ancestors, spirit veneration, and what it means to honor the people and energies that came before us. We talk about the difference between ghosts and Eggun, how ancestor veneration shows up across traditions, why a glass of water and a candle can be a simple place to start, and why spiritual development requires patience, humility, and discipline. This is not a lecture or a tutorial. It is a conversation rooted in lived experience, reflection, humor, and respect for the tradition. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who is learning, reconnecting, or trying to better understand where they come from. Subscribe for more conversations on Lucumí, Orisha, Eggun, community, and spiritual responsibility.

    Giving Light to Eggun: Ancestors, Spirit, and Starting Simple

  5. Jun 19

    The Mission Behind the Conversations

    In this bonus episode, Carlos and Cecilio talk through the deeper mission behind the podcast: creating space for honest conversations about faith, community, service, expectations, disappointment, and personal responsibility. What starts as a conversation about “why we’re doing this” opens into a candid reflection on trust, learning through experience, adapting within tradition, and the importance of asking questions before stepping into something life-changing. They also get into the realities of communal responsibility, the lessons learned from doing the work behind the scenes, and the anxiety, preparation, and pressure that can come with dancing a tambor. This episode is not about perfection. It is about dialogue, lived experience, and making room for the conversations that too often happen quietly in corners.

    The Mission Behind the Conversations

  6. Jun 13

    Cultural Preservation, Performance & Responsibility with TaDeo Asojano

    In this episode, Carlos sits down with Afro-Cuban artist, singer, dancer, musician, performer, and Omo Obatalá, TaDeo Asojano, for a conversation on cultural preservation, lineage, and responsibility. TaDeo shares his journey growing up inside Afro-Caribbean traditions, running from them, and eventually realizing that art, religion, and academia were never as separate as they seemed. Together, Carlos and TaDeo explore what it means to represent living traditions with care, how performance differs from spiritual calling, and why curiosity must be met with respect, commitment, and accountability. This conversation is about more than dance, music, or ceremony. It is about honoring the people who came before us, knowing when to sit down, and understanding that preservation requires more than visibility — it requires responsibility.

    Cultural Preservation, Performance & Responsibility with TaDeo Asojano

  7. Jun 6

    Choosing Carefully: The Responsibility of Guidance

    In this episode, Carlos and Cecilio discuss one of the most important relationships in Lucumí/Ocha: the relationship between godparent and godchild. They reflect on their own experiences with godparents, elders, yubonas, and religious community — from nurturing guidance and lifelong mentorship to discipline, accountability, and learning through observation. The conversation explores what a godparent should provide, what a godchild should be looking for, and why this relationship should never be rushed. Together, they unpack how the role of godparents has changed over time, the importance of asking questions, the responsibility of correcting with care, and why spiritual relationships require patience, trust, respect, and good character. This episode is for anyone asking: What should I expect from a godparent? How do I find one? What makes someone qualified to guide others? And how do we preserve accountability in the tradition while continuing to grow? Reflection Question: What do you expect from a godparent — guidance, discipline, availability, teaching, accountability, or all of the above?

    Choosing Carefully: The Responsibility of Guidance

  8. May 30

    Piedra y Caracol: Yomaira on Lucumí, Akpones, and Spiritual Responsibility

    In this second episode, Cecilio sits down with Yomaira Garcia Chiu Ochungere — Akpon, Olorisha, author, educator, and founder of Ipadapo Productions — for a deep conversation on lineage, music, ceremony, and the responsibility of preserving Lucumí tradition. Born into the religion and crowned at two years old, Yomaira shares what it was like growing up surrounded by elders, tambor, misas, and a community where learning came through repetition, discipline, and lived experience. Together, she and Cecilio reflect on the changes they’ve seen over the decades: the role of the Akpon, the meaning behind the songs, the importance of spiritual development, and the difference between preserving tradition and simply performing it. The conversation also explores Yomaira's current work through Ipadapo Productions, where she teaches Yoruba storytelling, song, meaning, folklore, and meditation — bringing the essence of Orisha tradition to communities in Miami, New York, Atlanta, and even Thailand. This episode is a conversation about memory, responsibility, evolution, and what it means to carry tradition with integrity in a time when everything is more visible, more accessible, and often more misunderstood. Guest: Yomaira Garcia Chiu Ochungere Organization: Ipadapo Productions Book: Golden Ripples Topics: Lucumí, Orisha music, Akpones, tambor, lineage, meditation, spiritual development, Yoruba storytelling, preservation of tradition

    Piedra y Caracol: Yomaira on Lucumí, Akpones, and Spiritual Responsibility

  9. May 22

    What We Thought We Knew | Entering Lucumí & Unlearning Everything

    Cecilio and Carlos sit down for the very first episode of Ile to Ile — an honest conversation between two Olorishas from different generations, different experiences, and different houses. This isn’t a class. It isn’t dogma. And it definitely isn’t gatekeeping. In this episode, they discuss: Growing up inside the tradition vs discovering it later in lifeWhat they thought they knew before initiationThe realities of making OchaHow Lucumí traditions have evolved over timeCommunity, discipline, and spiritual responsibilityThe difference between tradition and performanceWhy unlearning can be just as important as learningFrom basement ceremonies in New York to modern-day spiritual culture online, this conversation explores the beauty, contradictions, and humanity within the faith. Whether you’re deeply involved, just beginning your journey, or simply curious — welcome. What did YOU have to unlearn? Let us know in the comments.

    What We Thought We Knew | Entering Lucumí & Unlearning Everything
  • 9 Episodes

About

Carlos has been an olorisha for 21 years. Cecilio for 36. Together they’ve seen this religion at its most profound — and at its most complicated. Ilé to Ilé isn’t a class on Santeria. It’s two men with nearly six decades of lived experience in the Lucumí tradition sitting down and being honest — about what they’ve witnessed, what they’ve had to unlearn, where they agree, and where they genuinely don’t. Opinions formed by experience. Conversations that used to happen after ceremonies, in someone’s kitchen, between people who trusted each other enough to tell the truth. Caribbean roots. Diaspora reality. No filter.

Information

  • Creator
    Hey Russo Productions
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hey Russo Productions 2026
  • Show Website
    Ilé to Ilé

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