# Julio Ricardo Varela

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The Troubles on the Pitch of Northern Ireland

The religious and political tensions that defined life in Ireland in the latter 20th century came to a head not only on the nation's soccer fields but in their stadiums, and altered the careers of some of Ireland's most prominent players. Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and …

Episode 1: We Are a Colony

It’s the Fourth of July, and the United States is 250 years old. It is also a day Americans celebrate freedom from colonialism. But what about Puerto Rico? In the prologue episode of American Colony, hosts Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net ask: What does it mean that Puerto Rico is still a colony?…

Episode 4: La Chacón

For decades, Iris Chacón dazzled Puerto Ricans with her hit TV show, becoming one of the most recognizable Latinas in entertainment. Celebrated for her body and her wit, “La Vedette de América” challenged the beauty standards and expectations imposed on Puerto Rican women at home and abroad. Raquel…

Episode 5: Coffee Hopes

Ábner Roldán and Karla Ly Quiñones have spent nearly a decade serving coffee in Santurce, Puerto Rico, living under the Jones Act and the federal rules that decide what their business can buy, sell, and import. An unexpected connection with Bad Bunny gave them something they rarely feel at home: th…

Episode 6: A Migrant Nation

At 18 years old, Camille Padilla Dalmau moved to the United States for university, encountering a profound cultural shift that forced her to dismantle years of assimilated ideas. In this episode, she traces her personal journey from Philadelphia, New York City, and back to Puerto Rico, asking what …

Episode 7: A New Deal

At the Museum of the Old Colony, acclaimed artist Pablo Delano examines the paradoxes of colonial identity. His own parents, Jack and Irene Delano, were part of DIVEDCO, a New Deal-inspired government agency that used film, illustrated books, and silkscreen by Puerto Rico’s most renowned nationalis…

Episode 8: What Are You Gonna Do About It?

Episode 7 of American Colony closed with a question from artist Pablo Delano about Puerto Rico’s colonial situation: What are you gonna do about it? For the final episode of our first season, hosts Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net ask that question to five Puerto Ricans — a social media strat…

S2 Ep 20: El Tiny Talk

We recorded this episode of The Latino Newsletter Podcast before American Colony took over our feed. We held onto it, and Latin Music Month turned out to be the perfect time to finally drop it, right before the American Colony video interviews start rolling out on September 23rd. Host Michelle …

Aliana M. Bigio: A Right to Stay

In Episode 8 of American Colony, we promised you the full conversations with our five guests. First up is Aliana M. Bigio. Nuria Net talks with Aliana about growing up in a PNP family in Caguas, how she came to support independence, and why she believes what’s at stake for Puerto Rico right now…

George Laws García: Common Ground

Our American Colony conversations continue with pro-statehood advocate George Laws García, who joined us in Episode 8. Julio Ricardo Varela talks with George about growing up on the island, the childhood trip that showed him Puerto Rico was a colony, and why he believes ending colonialism matte…