Peruvians of USA

131 (Spanglish) Peruvian Trumpet Player Showcases Chicago Beauty

In this episode of Peruvians of USA, we sit down with Daniel Flores—also known as Trumpet Papi—a Peruvian trumpet player based in Chicago who has been capturing the city’s beauty through music on TikTok.Daniel shares his journey of immigrating from Peru to the U.S. at a young age, growing up in San Antonio, and eventually finding his home in Chicago. We talk about how music became a lifeline for identity and belonging, the lack of representation in music education, and how playing the trumpet taught him discipline, confidence, and self-advocacy.He also opens up about navigating family expectations, imposter syndrome, and the unexpected impact of sharing his music on social media. From playing for La Blanquirroja to building community through sound, Daniel reflects on why representation matters—and why sharing your gift can open doors you never imagined.This conversation is about migration, culture, creativity, and finding belonging—one note at a time.Support Peruvians of USA:Patreon: Become a member and get early access to episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and help us sustain the podcast. Join here: patreon.com/PeruviansofUSA Subscribe: Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.Episode Notes: Visit our website for detailed show notes.Review: Love our content? Leave a review on  Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Shop: Check out our Online Store and proudly wear our merch!Follow Us: Join the community on Instagram @peruviansofusa  and like us on Facebook!

130 (español) Por Qué el Quechua Importa Hoy: Una Charla con Américo Mendoza-Mori

En este episodio de Peruvians of USA, Nathalie entrevista a Américo Mendoza-Mori, docente e investigador peruano. Américo comparte la importancia del idioma quechua y cómo conectar con nuestras raíces ancestrales puede ayudar a sanar heridas colectivas. Además, relata su experiencia como peruano inmigrante, la importancia de la educación pública y las oportunidades de estudios en el extranjero. También discuten la relevancia de la cultura andina en la vida cotidiana y cómo podemos integrar nuestras tradiciones en la diáspora. Acompáñanos en una conversación inspiradora sobre identidad, cultura y comunidad.Support Peruvians of USA:Patreon: Become a member and get early access to episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and help us sustain the podcast. Join here: patreon.com/PeruviansofUSA Subscribe: Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.Episode Notes: Visit our website for detailed show notes.Review: Love our content? Leave a review on  Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Shop: Check out our Online Store and proudly wear our merch!Follow Us: Join the community on Instagram @peruviansofusa  and like us on Facebook!

129 (Spanglish) A Journalist’s Journey to Help Women of Color Reconnect with Themselves Through Nature

In this episode of Peruvians of USA, host Nathalie welcomes Cindy Rodriguez, a seasoned journalist and content creator, to discuss the complexities and richness of the Peruvian immigrant experience. Cindy shares her journey of balancing life between the US and Peru, growing up with mixed cultural influences, and how this shaped her identity. The conversation also dives into Cindy's 10+ years of experience in journalism, the importance of digital media for the Latino community, and her latest projects, including 'Reclama,' a nature-centered retreat program aimed at reconnecting women with themselves and their heritage. Cindy also talks about participating in 'Dance Your Ancestors' in Peru, an experience that allowed her to deeply connect with her roots. It's an insightful discussion packed with valuable perspectives on identity, culture, and the power of community.Ways to support the podcast:Give us a review on Apple PodcastSupport Us on Patreon, link Visit our Online Store Follow Peruvians of USA Podcast on IG: @peruviansofusaLike our page on Facebook!

128 (English) 5 Years of Building Community in the Peruvian Diaspora: Special Guests Peruvian Sisters and Sissy from We Are Kuska

Peruvians of USA turns 5! In this special anniversary episode, host Nathalie is joined by fellow Peruvian-American creators — Whitney and Sam from Peruvian Sisters and guest host Sissy Paulino from We Are Kuska — to reflect on what it’s taken to build platforms for the Peruvian diaspora.Together, they discuss how their projects started, how they’ve evolved, and how what began as online storytelling led to real-life friendships and community. They also open up about cultural pride, burnout, representation, and what it means to feel “Peruvian enough” — especially when navigating two cultures.🎧 Whether you’ve been following since the early days or just discovered our platforms, this episode is our gift to you. Thank you for being part of this community.💬 Featuring: Peruvians of USA, Peruvian Sisters, We Are Kuska💡 Topics: Identity, community, content creation, culture, diaspora connectionSupport Peruvians of USA:1. Patreon: Become a member and get early access to episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and help us sustain the podcast. Join here: patreon.com/PeruviansofUSA 2. Subscribe: Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.3. Review: Love our content? Leave a review on  Apple Podcasts or Spotify.4. Shop: Check out our Online Store and proudly wear our merch!5. Follow Us: Join the community on Instagram @peruviansofusa  and like us on Facebook!

127 (English) Breaking Barriers: From Adversity to CEO with Juan Rodas

In this powerful episode, Juan Rodas—CEO and co-founder of News Story Lending—shares his extraordinary journey from growing up with a physical difference and facing personal and financial adversity, to building a successful career in the mortgage industry.Juan opens up about his childhood, brushes with the law, becoming a father at a young age, and how second chances and hard work led him to co-found a national lending company focused on making homeownership more accessible—especially for underserved communities.This is a story of resilience, redemption, and what it means to turn street smarts into business savvy.🔔 Note: This episode contains a brief mention of suicide as part of a personal story. Please listen with care.Follow and share if this story resonates. Support Peruvians of USA:Patreon: Become a member and get early access to episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and help us sustain the podcast. Join here: patreon.com/PeruviansofUSA Subscribe: Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.Review: Love our content? Leave a review on  Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Shop: Check out our Online Store and proudly wear our merch!Follow Us: Join the community on Instagram @peruviansofusa  and like us on Facebook!