La Brega

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La Brega: Stories of the Puerto Rican Experience is a seven part bilingual podcast produced in collaboration by WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios and hosted by Alana Casanova-Burgess. The show explores Puerto Rican culture and history and is created and produced by Puerto Ricans including the music and illustrations.

Contents

Background

The podcast is hosted by Alana Casanova-Burgess and produced in collaboration by WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios. [1] The show debuted on February 24, 2021. [2] The show is a seven part series produced in both English and Spanish that explores Puerto Rican culture and history. [3] There are some notable differences between the English episodes and Spanish episodes such as cultural and historical references that are only made in the Spanish episodes. [4]

The phrase "la brega" means "the struggle", which is a common expression in Puerto Rico and describes the Puerto Rican mindset to struggle against adversity and injustice. [5] The first episode includes interviews with Puerto Ricans who explain what the phrase means to them. [6] The show discusses how potholes are a serious problem in Puerto Rico and how communities have addressed the problem. [7]

The show was renewed for a second season. [8] The second series debuted on January 26, 2023. [9]

The show's soundtrack includes songs by well known Puerto Rican musical artists such as Xenia Rubinos. [10] [11] The soundtrack was released as an EP on April 11, 2023. [12] The podcast's illustrations were also done by Puerto Rican artists. [13]

On October 5, 2023, WNYC canceled the podcast in the midst of a broader cost-cutting effort. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ Ugwu, Reggie (December 1, 2021). "The 10 Best Podcasts of 2021". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "La Brega, el podcast que presenta una antología de la resiliencia puertorriqueña y la identidad cultural". Orlando Sentinel. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Acevedo, Nicole (February 18, 2021). "Puerto Ricans' unique history, shared struggles get a voice in 'La Brega' podcast series". www.nbcnews.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Embracing the Vaivén in Puerto Rican Reporting". NACLA. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ "La Brega, Puerto Rico's past and present as you've never heard it before". Al Día News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Featured Podcast: "La Brega" Dissects the Colonial Diaspora". Bitch Media. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ Larson, Sarah (December 13, 2021). "The Best Podcasts of 2021". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Braiker, Brian (February 20, 2023). "Alana Casanova-Burgess is bringing joy to 'la brega'". Brooklyn Magazine. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ "'La Brega,' the bilingual podcast of the Puerto Rican soul". Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ "'La Brega' Podcast Deepens Its Stories of Puerto Rico With a Star-Studded Soundtrack". Rolling Stone. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Xenia Rubinos Covers "Preciosa"". Pitchfork. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  12. ↑ Villa, Lucas (March 28, 2023). "LISTEN: Ana Macho Covers Willie Colón's Classic "El Gran Varón"". Remezcla. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Fully bilingual, no voiceovers: How one podcast centers the Puerto Rican experience". Nieman Lab. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ Irwin, Veronica (October 5, 2023). "New York Public Radio reduces staff, cuts shows". Gothamist. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
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