Episode 5: Amplifying Your Voice and Identity
In this episode, Rhonda interviews Janel Martinez. Janel Martinez is a multimedia journalist and the founder of the award-winning blog, Ain't I Latina?, an online destination celebrating Afro-Latinx womanhood.
The Bronx, NY native is a frequent public speaker discussing media, culture and identity, as well as diversity at conferences and events for Bloomberg, NBCU, SXSW, Harvard University and more. She’s appeared as a featured guest on national shows and outlets, such as BuzzFeed, ESSENCE, NPR and Sirius XM, and her work has appeared in Adweek, Univision Communications, Oprah Magazine, Remezcla and The New York Times. Janel was included in the Red Bull-produced short doc, Hasta Abajo: Feminism, Sexuality and Reggaeton, and host of original Ain't I Latina? and Blossom series, ¡Representa!
The Honduran-American has been nominated for the 20th Annual Rosoff Award in the 20-Something Category and won the Afro-Latino Festival of New York's Digital Empowerment Award and, in 2018, was recognized at City Hall by the New York City Council, the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and the Bronx Delegation to the NYC Council for her contributions as a woman of Garifuna descent. Her work will also be included in the forthcoming book, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed.
Who do we define ourselves as in this world? What is our culture? Janel asked herself these same questions as she left for college, dove deep into her identity, and expressed who she is to the world. As a Black woman of Latin American descent, Janel shares her journey to amplifying her voice and identity as well as others. Janel says “we must center ourselves in the narrative if no one else will.”
Here’s a closer look at what we discussed:
How Janel started her journey into journalism
Exploration of our identity and how others identify us
What is means to be Afro-Latina and how Janel amplifies her culture
Why we need to be an ally for others in our community
This episode is so rich with quotes and affirmations, and tons of fun. Hit that play button and join the conversation.
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Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Janel on her website.
Follow Janel on Instagram and Twitter.
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More about Oversharing with Rhonda:
Oversharing with Rhonda is a podcast that amplifies the voices of trailblazing women, hosted by Rhonda Khan. As a public speaking coach, speech therapist, performer, mom, and chronic oversharer, Rhonda believes the most powerful change happens when we share our journeys while being unapologetically ourselves.
Tune in for candid conversations with inspiring women that will transform the way you engage with the world.