Voices del Valle

KPBS Public Media
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Weekly

Voices del Valle is a youth-led podcast spotlighting powerful coming-of-age stories from California’s Imperial Valley. Told through the eyes of local teens, each episode dives into real experiences of growing up in a rural, tight-knit, and culturally rich border community. From navigating mental health and multigenerational households to chasing dreams in sports, music, and media, these stories reveal the resilience, creativity, and identity of young people forging their own paths. Whether facing homelessness or finding purpose through podcasting, Voices del Valle captures what it truly means to come of age in el Valle — with honesty, heart, and hometown pride.

  1. 4d ago

    Teens of Slab City

    Slab City has long been portrayed as a symbol of freedom, chaos, or escape—but rarely do we hear from the young people who call it home. In this episode of Voices del Valle, our students travel into the desert to sit down with teens and young adults raised in Slab City, uncovering what daily life really looks like beyond the headlines and viral videos. From navigating stereotypes and isolation to finding community, identity, and purpose, their stories challenge the one-dimensional narratives often seen online. Through candid conversations, this episode explores what it means to grow up in a place that the outside world struggles to understand. It highlights the realities of youth in Slab City—the freedom, the hardships, and the responsibility of shaping your own path. More than anything, this episode centers voices that are too often left out, offering a perspective that is honest, human, and long overdue. ____________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS Episode 201: Teens of Slab City Hosted by: Mitzel Martinez and Santiago Valdez  Supporting Students: Sophia Ayala, Margarita Guillen, Benny Lopez, and Kenyon Thomas Slab City Teens: Kasey Pearson, Timothy Pearson, and Alizee Edited and produced by: Isaac Garcia and Dr. Thomas Tacke Episode Music by: SpartanSound Productions and Richard Vega Credits Music by: Emmanuel Twilley Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, KPBS Audio Operations Assistant Rebecca Chacon, and KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations Lisa Jane Morrisette. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

  2. Aug 31

    Voices del Valle Season 2 Trailer

    Voices del Valle is a student-produced podcast created by students at Central Union High School in El Centro, California. Now in its second season, the podcast gives Imperial Valley teens a platform to share their stories, perspectives, and goals. Season 2 features all-new episodes, each created and produced by student teams in the SpartanSound Productions program.

  3. May 26 ·  Bonus

    BONUS - Follow Your Dreams: The Story of Lupe Rodriguez

    In recognition of National Nurses Month, this special episode of Voices del Valle highlights the life and legacy of Lupe Rodriguez, a pioneering Hispanic nurse whose story reflects both the history of healthcare and the strength of the Imperial Valley community. Hosted by students Keira and Delarine, the episode explores Lupe’s childhood growing up in Brawley during segregation, where Hispanic neighborhoods lacked resources and opportunities for young women were often limited. Lupe shares how strict family expectations nearly prevented her from attending college, and how Mercy College in San Diego—a Catholic residential nursing school—became the opportunity that changed her life. Throughout the episode, Lupe reflects on her decades-long nursing career, including caring for patients during the polio era, working in psychiatric hospitals, and becoming a respected leader at Pioneer Memorial Hospital. She also discusses the discrimination she faced, the determination that pushed her to succeed, and the importance of education for future generations. More than a story about nursing, this episode is a tribute to perseverance, compassion, and the trailblazing women who opened doors for others to follow. ____________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS BONUS - Follow Your Dreams: The Story of Lupe Rodriguez Hosted by: Keira Adame and Delarine Lopez Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke Episode Music by: SpartanSound Productions Credits Music by: Emmanuel Twilley Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, KPBS Audio Operations Assistant Rebecca Chacon, and KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations Lisa Jane Morrisette. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

  4. May 6

    The Military: What’s Your Why?

    What drives someone to enlist in the military? In this intense episode of Voices del Valle, five voices from the Imperial Valley open up about the real reasons behind their decisions—stories shaped by poverty, family responsibility, personal struggle, faith, and the desire for something more. From overcoming addiction and homelessness to finding structure, purpose, and identity, each story reveals that enlisting isn’t just about service—it’s about transformation. Centered on one question—why—this episode explores the deeper motivations that push young people to leave home, challenge themselves, and build a future beyond what they’ve known. The Military: What’s Your Why?  Hosted by: Grace Navarro Edited and produced by: Grace Navarro, Juan Carreon Limon, and Dr.Thomas Tacke Episode Music by: SpartanSound Productions Credits Music by: Emmanuel Twilley Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos,  KPBS Audio Operations Assistant Rebecca Chacon, and KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations Lisa Jane Morrisette. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

  5. Mar 9 ·  Bonus

    BONUS - The Shuffle: Jimmie Cannon’s Living Legacy - A Black History Special

    The Great Spartan Band at Central Union High School has a long history of excellence and award winning performances. Two of their traditions include The Shuffle and “I’m So Glad,” both from the band traditions of HBCU’s and other bands of the South.This episode explores what these mean to the band members of today and of the past.

  6. 10/27/2025

    Generations Under One Roof

    The family dynamic in the Imperial Valley is often one where grandparents have a heightened role in raising their grandchildren. The reasons this happens are many but in this episode of Voices del Valle, you will hear from three youth whose grandparents took on the roles of primary caregivers and how that seems to differ from being raised by a parent. ____________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS Episode 111: Generations Under One Roof You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.  Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon Music by: SpartanSound Productions Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

  7. 10/20/2025

    Growing Up & Raising Up

    Growing Up & Raising Up is the story of a teenager who became a mother during her freshman year in high school and how she managed to learn to be a mom and a successful high school student. Teen pregnancies and motherhood are things that are part of almost all schools and communities. In this episode of Voices del Valle, one teen mother will share her unfiltered discussion of becoming a mother at the age of 15. She will also share how she graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and continued her success into adulthood. ____________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS Episode 110: Growing Up & Raising Up Growing Up & Raising Up was written and hosted by: Grace Navarro and Casey Davilos Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke Theme by: Grace Navarro and Casey Davilos Music by: SpartanSound Productions Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

  8. 10/13/2025

    You’re From Where? Featuring Marco Peralta

    Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?” For this episode of “You’re From Where?”, we visited with the California Angels Spanish Language play-by-play announcer Marco Peralta about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley. ____________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS Episode 109: You’re From Where - Marco Peralta You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.  Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon Music by: SpartanSound Productions Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations. This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Voices del Valle is a youth-led podcast spotlighting powerful coming-of-age stories from California’s Imperial Valley. Told through the eyes of local teens, each episode dives into real experiences of growing up in a rural, tight-knit, and culturally rich border community. From navigating mental health and multigenerational households to chasing dreams in sports, music, and media, these stories reveal the resilience, creativity, and identity of young people forging their own paths. Whether facing homelessness or finding purpose through podcasting, Voices del Valle captures what it truly means to come of age in el Valle — with honesty, heart, and hometown pride.

Information

  • Creator
    KPBS Public Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Voices del Valle