Decolonize Everything

Rebecca J. Mendoza

A podcast to start conversations about decolonization on a variety of topics with a variety of voices. Disrupting the status quo by supporting a new consciousness & liberation in all areas of life through practical tips + radical Ideas. Chicana (Mexican-American) hosted featuring community leaders, social workers, activists, friends, artists, healers, and YOU! Thanks for tuning in on this journey of learning and standing in solidarity! read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture
PhilosophyPhilosophy

Episodes

Relating with Dangerous & Dying Animals: Bonus Episode
Nov 12 2023
Relating with Dangerous & Dying Animals: Bonus Episode
This episode attempts to weaves together personal encounters and academic, historical accounts of human and animal relationships. I reflect on my own encounters with so-called "dangerous and dying" animals--Miko, a reactive dog we adopted; and Francie--a hedgehog dying from cancer. I turn to wisdom from Amazon, Singapore, and ocean mammals. This was produced as a project for a course called Animals and The Unseen taught by Teren Sevea This episode is dedicated to Michael Nunziato and Miko. Michael, you've been so dedicated to Miko's wellbeing. Miko, you're such a beautiful being, thank you for letting me love you. You two have taught me so much. Content warning: the storytelling, particularly in the beginning of the episode, includes stories of animals who can be considered dangerous as well as experiences of animal deaths. Here are some links from sources mentioned in the episode: Dog & deer from @thedodoAlexis Pauline Gumbs, UndrownedProfessor Sevea's work on the miracle workers in SingaporeEduardo Viveiros de Castro, Cannibal MetaphysicsThe Case of the Animals versus Man before the King of the Jinn by Ikwan al-Safa'On tigers see: Dato' Paroï by Zainal Abidin bin AhmadOne example about the state of the Amazon I also want to acknowledge Professor Teren Sevea for this opportunity to produce this episode as a class project. Additionally, an earlier draft of this story was inspired by courses and conversations with Professors Michael Puett and Janet Gyatso. Thank you to my community: Amy and Henry, Nat and Liri & Lala, Quinn, Rebeccah, Claudia, Jessy and Scout for walking through this experience with me, and to Michael, Miko, Francie, Rūmī for all your patience and love. *** To learn more about Palestine from Native American, decolonial perspectives I recommend ⁠The Red Nation ⁠on Youtube or podcast apps. I have also signed on to ⁠this statement ⁠as a Ford Fellow, you can find further resources there. PS: enjoy Rūmī's meowing (and the heater) in the background.
Rooted Relationships with Johanna Guevara of Dropping Seeds
Aug 24 2022
Rooted Relationships with Johanna Guevara of Dropping Seeds
On this episode Johanna Guevara of Dropping Seeds joins Rebecca to discuss the ways that we can relate to plants and remember ancestral survival skills and healing practices. Johanna shares her personal journey of Indigenizing her family structure, homeschooling her children, and cultivating herbal medicine. Johanna inspires us to be held by nature and in rooted relationships even in fast-paced urban settings like Brooklyn or Boston. Please consider purchasing amazing herbal blends for tea, smoking, and more from dropping-seeds.com! Resources & Recs from Johanna:Kim Tallbear on All My Relations PodcastGod is Red by Vine DeloriaMil Mundos BooksFollow Dropping Seeds on IG & FBThis podcast was produced on Pawtucket and Massachussett land. Learn about the Indigenous lands you occupy here: https://native-land.ca/To support the show and/or Rebecca's PhD applications venmo @Rebecca-NunziatoAbout Johanna:Johanna migrated to America with her family in the 80’s. As a last generation Colombian, her upbringing under the 7 Train in Queens, NYC, was mostly in Spanish. As with many Central, South American and Caribbean countries, both of her Grandmothers were influential and always had a plant for every ailment. From very young, Johanna’s passion was creating. Her drive and determination lead her to graduate with a BFA from Parsons School of Design, only a couple months before Sept. 11. This global event would not only change the course of history but also propel her freelance design career into a full service branding studio with clients like Time Inc., CUNY, Afropunk, Department of Education, HighTimes and Sony Japan. In 2008, during the collapse of the housing bubble which led to the Great Recession, she closed up her design studio and decided to travel the world with her then partner SirRoan. These travels very synchronistically turned into studies of sacred plant medicine, Ayurveda & Curanderismo with different masters from Brazil to New Mexico to heal personal emotional traumas. Johanna has also received certification in Reiki Level 2, Integrated Energy Technique Advanced , a Wasteskun Meztli Canada Moon Dancer and a Vision Quester in Atlantida, Colombia.
Deconstructing DEI with Jenny Medrano
May 29 2021
Deconstructing DEI with Jenny Medrano
In this episode Jenny Medrano (she/they) joins Rebecca for a conversation about deconstructing DEI (diversity equity & inclusion) and envisioning "holistic liberation." Jenny offers practical tips, potential rituals, and profound insights for our path towards decolonization. Also: Join us in celebrating! Jenny has spent the last four years at Building Bridges and when we recorded this conversation she had yet to announce her transition off of the BB team. In addition to turning 30 in May 2021 she also will be focusing full-time on her own business: Jenny Medrano Coaching! Happy Birthday and congratulations, Jenny!Links from this episode:Building BridgesMaren Miller, Energy HealerGuided Wim Hof Method BreathingI referenced this IGTV when Jenny was talking about her rage after Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright in particular.Jenny mentioned this book, which I *always* recommend: Voices From the AncestorsSubscribe & follow along here:Facebook: @decolonizepodcastInstagram: @decolonizepodcastTwitter: @DecolonizepodTheme music produced by TheRealPakman for Eating BeatzAll other music from Blue Dot SessionsAbout Jenny Medrano:Jenny’s unique experience as a Latina leader in the city of Denver has fueled her passion for holistic liberation. With over a decade of experience in education, youth development and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) training, she has equipped hundreds of youth and adults with the tools to uproot systemic oppression in their personal and professional lives. She is especially passionate about supporting women and femmes of color in deprogramming their limiting beliefs, and toxic lifestyle habits.
Copal & Divinity School - Bonus Episode
May 11 2021
Copal & Divinity School - Bonus Episode
In this bonus episode I offer critiques of colonial systems and academic assumptions about religion and medicine. I share a bit about my research and experience of an unfolding relationship with copal. The decolonial healing path continues to draw me in. I am deeply grateful and increasingly aware of all that I need to un-learn and re-learn. This is a project for a wonderful course I took this spring at Harvard Divinity School called "Religion and Healing: An Anthropological Perspective." I am really grateful for a chance to TALK. IT. OUT. (in the quiet, dark covid-19 cave). Because so much of this year of online school has been in very isolated conditions. So I get a bit nerdy. I'd love to hear what you think! References in this episode:Read Podcasting as Sacred Listening and Collective Liberation here: revista.drclas.harvard.edu/decolonize-everything-podcasting-as-sacred-listening-and-collective-liberation/ Read Sacred Smoke of Copal here:https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/sacred-smoke-of-copal/The Invention of World Religions, Tomoko Masuzawa: press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo3534198.html The History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz Del CastilloThe work of archaeologist Leonardo Lopez Lujan: www.mesoweb.com/about/leonardo.html The brilliant teaching of Dr. Giovanna Parmigiani, lecture notes.hds.harvard.edu/people/giovanna-parmigianiProjectoArtefakto Etsy Shop (and photo): www.etsy.com/shop/ProjectArtefaktoRead more of Rebecca's writing here: www.rebeccamendozanunziato.com/writingWatch The Possibility of Spirits Documentary:https://vimeo.com/235886345 Audio features:Theme music produced by TheRealPakman for Eating BeatzVicks Commercial from Cartoon Network 1994Emerge-C AdGrupo Tlaloc DanzantesAll other music from Blue Dot SessionsSubscribe & follow along here:Facebook: @decolonizepodcastInstagram: @decolonizepodcastTwitter: @DecolonizepodBuy Rebecca coffee/books via Venmo: @Rebecca-Nunziato Thanks for listening to Decolonize Everything!
The Movement: Black Women Take Back The Narrative
Sep 8 2020
The Movement: Black Women Take Back The Narrative
In the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other black lives lost to police and state-sponsored violence, we have seen a social uprising alongside #BlackLivesMatter. This has been and will continue to be a defining moment in our shared memory of the summer of 2020 and COVID-19. But who is telling the stories of this moment? Capturing the wisdom and insights from marginalized communities? Directly impacted communities must be amplified, so this episode was created to honor the black leaders, teachers, organizers, and everyday people who are regularly erased and silenced.Today I call up black women in Denver, friends and new acquaintances, to pass them the mic and create a virtual circle to hold stories of strength and suffering and to behold the wisdom of these diverse speakers.Tune in to listen, learn, laugh, and more. Let's decolonize together. This episode features the following voices in order of appearance:JasmineShant'a Johnson, read more about Oya spiritYvette Plummer Burkhalter, Thrive Center Denver (click here to donate!)LaQueta McCauley, follow on IG & Facebook******Coming soon: extended interview/bonus episode with LaQueta McCauley on disparities in in Denver from the perspective of a single black mom, entrepreneur, and activist in Denver.Subscribe & follow along here:https://www.facebook.com/decolonizepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/decolonizepodcast/https://twitter.com/DecolonizepodVenmo: @Rebecca-Nunziato to support the show!