All About The Joy

Bad Bunny, Pam Bondi and the Fight for the Real America

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t just entertainment; it was a cultural shift. We break down why a Spanish‑language performance with Afro‑Latino dancers and Charm La’Donna’s choreography felt like a love letter to the real America — and why it triggered backlash from people who still treat Spanish as “un‑American.” We talk identity, representation, and what unity actually means when everyone gets to be seen.We also get into Pam Bondi’s behavior at the Epstein hearing and how her treatment of victims exposed a deeper problem with political performance over justice. From the DOJ’s limits to the new transparency law, we look at what accountability really requires.Then we zoom out to the growing network of migrant detention centers and the local fights happening across the country to stop them. Immigration isn’t just a border story; it’s a labor story, a profit story, and a moral story. We break down how communities are pushing back through zoning, contracts, and public pressure — and what it takes to protect human dignity.Through it all, we return to joy as fuel. Representation on the biggest stage isn’t the end of the work; it’s a reminder of why the work matters. If you’re here for honest conversation about culture, power, and the fight for the real America, you’re in the right place.Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481Editing by Team A-JHost, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

When the World Tells You How to Feel — Choose Your Own Story

What if the loudest voices in your feed don’t get to tell you how to feel? Carmen opens up about growing up without a father, losing her mother young, and refusing the tidy TV script that says a missing parent means a missing self. Instead of inheriting anger, she chose curiosity, gratitude, and the quiet strength of mentors who showed up without spectacle. That decision—to trust her inner compass over a media narrative—became the groundwork for her book, Canela, a tender letter to the father she never knew and a celebration of the neighbors and teachers who made sure she didn’t slip through the cracks.From there, we zoom out. Why is outrage so easy and grace so hard? Carmen lays out how social media and click-bait culture reward blame, scapegoat immigrants, and distract from real accountability. She argues for a higher standard—one that expects as much integrity from corporations and power brokers as we demand from each other. Most people want the same basics: food, shelter, love, and a fair shot. We talk about protecting your joy, stepping back from rabbit holes, and practicing a decency that is more than slogans or verses—it’s daily work.We also reclaim an image of the United States as a salad bowl: distinct cultures sharing one table without losing their flavor. That means more curiosity, more listening, and a wider sense of “us,” from Kansas to Puerto Rico. If you’ve ever felt pushed to perform a feeling you don’t own, this conversation offers permission and a path: choose grace, keep your center, and let community make you stronger. If it helps one person turn down the volume on hate, it’s worth it.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us: what feeling are you reclaiming today?Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481Editing by Team A-JHost, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

Bad Bunny, Belonging, and the American Story We Keep Forgetting

A sore back, a sleepless night, and a headline you can’t unsee - sometimes that’s all it takes to reveal what we’re really wrestling with. We open by talking honestly about pain and rest, then follow that thread into how exhaustion shapes our empathy, our media diet, and our politics. From there, we confront the Epstein files with one clear standard: accountability should be public, victims deserve priority, and sunlight is not a partisan stance. No cherry-picked clips, no shadow hearings - just cameras on and the same rules for every powerful name.Then the spotlight swings to the Super Bowl stage and Bad Bunny. We unpack why this halftime matters far beyond pop culture: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and Spanish is an American language. We offer a simple geography guide to place Puerto Rico in the Caribbean—and a more complicated look at how “real Americans” rhetoric becomes a coded way to police identity. Global music doesn’t need translation to move us. It proves, in real time, that belonging can be felt before it’s argued.That spirit carries us into immigration, labor, and the future we’re building. If we truly want a system that works, we expand legal pathways, shorten wait times, and enforce laws against employers who profit from exploiting undocumented workers. People migrate because humans move toward safety and opportunity—always have, always will. We talk civic courage, the threat of voter intimidation, and what preparation looks like when institutions wobble. It’s on all of us—especially those with the most privilege—to speak plainly to our own communities and to show up when it counts.Come for the halftime hot take, stay for the deeper questions about identity, power, and the country we want to be. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us: what does American mean to you today?Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481Editing by Team A-JHost, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

Learning Differently: A Mother’s Journey to Understanding and Real Support

A small on-air shuffle turns into a masterclass in advocacy as we sit down with Nikki, a mom who refused to let stigma define her son’s path. From the first red flags in kindergarten to a game-changing IEP, she lays out the exact steps she took to move from confusion and frustration to clarity and progress. You’ll hear how early signs like trouble with phonics and mounting stress pointed to an auditory processing disorder, and how a supportive teacher, a pediatrician, and thorough evaluations created a clear plan that actually worked.We get specific about what an Individualized Education Program does—and doesn’t—do. Nikki explains how to push back on retention when it doesn’t address root causes, what accommodations helped most (extended time, read-alouds, fidgets, targeted instruction), and why an IEP is a set of rights you can enforce, not a favor you beg for. Carmen adds her own experience with learning differences and college accommodations, from extended test time to note takers, emphasizing that support isn’t a weakness; it’s the bridge to real performance. Together, we tackle the hard parts—bias from adults, labels like “lazy” or “spoiled,” and the myth that special education means less. The result is a practical, compassionate guide for families and educators searching for answers.By the end, you’ll have a checklist of next steps: how to start the conversation with a teacher, what to ask a pediatrician, how to navigate evaluations, and where to find help on campus—even without a formal IEP. Most of all, you’ll hear how strategies learned in school become lifelong tools. Nikki’s son carried those skills into college, construction work, and the army, proving that when we tailor education to how a child learns, we unlock confidence and achievement that lasts.If this conversation helps you see your learner with fresh eyes, share it with someone who needs it. Subscribe for more candid, practical stories, and leave a review to tell us which strategy you’ll try first.Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481Editing by Team A-JHost, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

Sleep, Violence, and the Cost of Staying Awake

Some weeks, the hardest part isn’t the work — it’s trying to rest while the world keeps shaking. We start with a real check‑in on sleep: one of us finally getting a full night, the other staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., and how the news cycle keeps creeping into our bodies no matter what routines we try. From there, we move into the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents. We talk about the footage, the shifting excuses, and the dangerous idea that brutality equals strength. Flawed or not, people are still owed due process. Shooting someone who’s already subdued is a failure of policy and a failure of basic humanity. We also share the concrete actions we’re taking — calling senators, pushing back on Trump supporters excuses, and staying engaged without letting outrage take over our nights. Then we pivot to media literacy. A glossy Melania‑focused film is making the rounds, and we break down how it avoids facts while selling a carefully controlled narrative. We talk about why propaganda thrives when people are exhausted, and why clarity and community matter more than ever. And because we all need a place to breathe, we shout out the documentaries and PBS gems that actually inform instead of inflame.If you’ve been wired, worn down, or trying to balance rest with responsibility, this conversation holds space for both. We’re building boundaries, choosing better stories, and turning that restless energy into steady, meaningful action.Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481Editing by Team A-JHost, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.