From the sala, the heart of her home and culture, Kathleen (Kat) DeLuna, the artist behind one of our favorite bangers growing up, “Whine Up,” reflects on the memories, music, and Dominican roots that shaped her. In our latest episode, the singer-songwriter opens up about the duality of Kat versus Kathleen and how embracing her full self—including her faith, her pain, and her purpose—was the key to unlocking her artistry.

We talk familial relationships, divorce, and the power of forgiveness, especially in her evolving relationship with her father. Kat shares how she got closest to God not during the highs but on the way down, and how those moments of surrender helped her become the woman she was always meant to be.

From childhood talent shows to becoming the first Dominican female pop artist to break industry barriers, Kat reveals what it means to stop running from your calling and step fully into who you were born to be. This episode is a celebration of music, faith, healing, and the lives we change simply by being ourselves.

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What happens when your relationship becomes the record? Raquel Berrios of Buscabulla joins us to talk about her latest album, Se Amaba Así—a deeply romantic project exploring the psychological dynamics of her relationship with partner and bandmate Luis in a way that feels more grown and vulnerable.

Raquel also opens up about motherhood, the spiritual practices that keep her grounded, and reclaiming the bold emotional intensity of Latina icons like La Lupe, La India, and Ednita Nazario, women who weren’t afraid to feel out loud.

This episode is a deep, honest look at love, art, the emotional work behind both, and what happens when you turn your real life into art. Se Amaba Así is a mirror, a reflection, una invitación to love louder, go deeper, and maybe cry while you dance. Because when you’re willing to tell the truth, you don’t just create something beautiful, you become someone braver.

After experiencing the kind of back-to-back heartbreak that could break anyone, Nitty Scott said ya basta. She was forced to pause everything, including the rollout of her project Jiggy Mami. In this conversation, she shares how trying to push through the pain only masked it, and why choosing rest, therapy, and truth over performance became her only option.

We dive into what it really takes to manage yourself as a mujer in music, from booking gigs and budgeting to building a team, and why “f**k you money” isn’t just about success. For Nitty, financial freedom means safety, especially for women trying to escape toxic situations. She shares that during her time managing herself, she made more money and gained more opportunities than ever before—proof that going independent doesn’t mean losing power, it means taking it back.

She also opens up about being told to downplay her Puerto Rican roots and hide her relationships, even being discouraged from dating Kendrick Lamar, all in the name of being “marketable.”

Now she’s reclaiming every part of who she is: queer, Black, Boricua—sin miedo. When asked what message she’d leave for the next generation of Latinas and creatives who feel unseen, Nitty said:

“To live out loud because your existence in itself is important in a system that doesn’t want you.”

From writing poetry in her childhood bedroom to surviving abuse and chasing her dream in NYC at 16, Nitty’s story is a blueprint for healing, evolving, and never letting the world erase you.

DJ Jadaboo went from spinning in her bedroom to DJing Paris Hilton’s Coachella party—and that’s just the beginning.

In this week’s episode, she chats with us about growing up Black and Mexican in a small California town, navigating mental health, and how music became her safe space and her calling.

What you’ll hear:

The story behind her viral rise during the pandemic

“Girl, I posted myself online, it went viral... and it kind of spiraled upward into being a full-time career... but I've been doing it for almost 10 years now.”

DJing for Kendrick Lamar, Kehlani, and Latinx House at Sundance

What it’s like feeling caught between cultures—and owning both

“I’m proud to be both a Mexican American and a Black woman. I know who I am.”

What she’s calling in for 2025 (and why it’s deeper than just gigs)

If you’ve ever felt like you had to prove where you’re from or who you are, this episode is your reminder: your raíces and your rhythm are your power. You don’t need to shrink to fit the room. You already belong in it.

Ever tried to create something beautiful while everything around you felt like it was falling apart? That’s exactly what Immasoul did with her debut album Pistola. In this episode, she opens up about losing both of her parents during the writing process, growing into her sound, and trusting herself every step of the way. She talks about blending Afrobeats, regional Mexicano, and trap—her way, no formulas. From tequila-fueled studio nights with PJ Sin Suela to writing for Godfather of Harlem and landing in Rolling Stone, Immasoul lets us in on what it really took to make this album. If you’ve ever made something out of pain, or felt yourself changing while chasing a dream, this one’s for you.

You ever feel like everyone's ahead of you, and you're just trying to figure it out? This episode's for you.

In this week's episode, we're sitting down with one of our favorite content creators, Christine Cruz. This Brooklyn-born Dominicana, went from shy girl in East New York to working with top beauty brands and building an IG community of over 100K.

From working graveyard shifts at JFK to becoming a full-time content creator, Christine took a leap of faith. With a little push from her cousin Monica Style Muse, she moved to LA with no camera, no real plan, and nothing but the belief that she was meant for more and that God's timing is always better than our own.

In this honest and inspiring convo, you'll also hear:

• What it really took to grow her platform from scratch
• How her first brand deal with Bomba Curls became a full-circle moment
• Dealing with imposter syndrome
• The ups and downs of content creation when you're self-taught and self-funded
• Building confidence
• And how growing up around powerhouse mujeres shaped her hustle

If you've ever second-guessed yourself, this episode will remind you to bet on yourself even when the path isn't clear. You're already that girl — you just need to see it for yourself.

Familia, get ready for this one! On this episode of Growing Up Latina, We’re sitting down with Christina Vidal, the iconic trailblazer who made history 20 years ago as Nickelodeon’s FIRST Latina lead, paving the way for some of our other favs like Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez.

Christina shares the highs and lows of being a Latina in Hollywood, from childhood stardom to navigating the industry's challenges. She talks about how faith, resilience, and finding inner peace have kept her grounded through it all. If you’ve ever faced doubt or felt like giving up, this episode will remind you that your strength is unstoppable. Trust me, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Welcome back to the sala, mi gente!

In this week’s emotional episode, we’re joined by Dominican-Mexican indie-pop artist Ambar Lucid, the voice behind Garden of Lucid and her upcoming EP El Jardín de Lágrimas, dropping May 9. She opens up with us about growing up between New Jersey and the Dominican Republic, her father’s deportation, and how music became her way to heal.

“Music is how I survive — it’s how I process the things that were too heavy to speak out loud.”

In this heartfelt and powerful conversación, you’ll hear:

• How her father’s deportation impacted her identity and shaped her music career
• Her journey with mental health, therapy, and healing generational trauma
• How she built a loyal fanbase by sharing her story through bilingual indie-pop
• The lessons she’s learned navigating the music industry while staying grounded in her truth

Pull up a seat, press play, y suelta lo que ya no te sirve.