Hyphenated with Joanna Hausmann and Jenny Lorenzo

Joanna and Jenny talk about what they did over the holidays, the types of superstitions Latinos observe for New Year Eve, some other New Years rituals from around the world, and why those types of traditions can be so strange but important. (*PLUS Hyphenated will be taking a short break in the new year, with a new episode coming later in January.*)

Hyphenated producer Kevin shares a compilation of the best moments over the last 100 episodes –including the topics of childhood, family and the weird & spooky– which have informed Joanna and Jenny’s experiences with ‘living in the hyphen’ (plus some of the best guests that have been on the show!)

To commemorate the 100th episode of the podcast, Jenny and Joanna look back at how Hyphenated came to be, and then read emails from listeners, including one person that listens to the podcast when they are feeling lonely, another who was inspired to give up being a telemarketing scammer and go back to theater, and few who were encouraged to get diagnosed and go to therapy after listening to the show (PLUS Kevin finally airs his grievances about what is the hardest part of producing the podcast!)

Joanna and Hyphenated producer Kevin share what they believe to be some of the most annoying and pointless platitudes-passing-as-advice out there, including “Follow your dreams”, “There are no dumb questions” and "Don't go to bed angry", they discuss why some of those saying are so pointless or even harmful, and then try to figure out how to update and improve the advice to be more useful. (Plus Joanna twerks!)

Jenny and Joanna welcome their friend Carolina Ravassa, a Colombian-American actor who voices the character Sombra in the video game OVERWATCH, as they discuss the process and experience of being a voice actor, how the interactivity of video games is different than the passive relationship with film and TV, and what it’s like to interact with fans of immensely popular characters you bring to life (PLUS Joanna finally comes out as a video game nerd!).

Joanna and Jenny discuss the recent turmoil at Twitter, share their memories of long past social networks (such as AOL, MySpace, Tumblr and Vine), talk about the ways they utilize and engage with current social media platforms (like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube), and examine how Millennials went from LiveJournal to LinkedIn.

Jenny welcomes back her best friend Karla Guerra, who was born in Honduras to her Honduran mother, but raised by her Colombian step-father’s family in the United States, as they talk about her experience not feeling Colombian, Honduran or American enough, growing up with family members who felt the need to overly-explain why she looked different than them, what it’s like to interact with Hondurans when she wasn’t raised with their customs and food, and how being “extra-hyphenated” might actually be the basis of Latin American culture.

Hyphenated producer Kevin shares a series of deleted conversations and funny moments that were cut out from the (almost) 100 prior episodes, including when Johanna and Jenny talk about why they’re glad they were average looking when they were kids, reveal the times they feel they might've been bullies to others, Joanna schools Kevin on the difference between an elevator and an escalator, and Jenny has to stop recording because she found out her fans think she had a secret baby.

Joanna welcomes back comedian and writer Eitan Levine, to discuss the growing concern of antisemitism in the mainstream sphere, including recent inflammatory statements from Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), share their experiences with the harassment they receive when being openly Jewish on the internet, and dispel myths about Judaism. 

Joanna welcomes Evan and Andrew Gregory, part of THE GREGORY BROTHERS musical group that create the “songify” hits you all know (“Double Rainbow”, “Bed Intruder”, “It’s Corn”), as they discuss being YouTube pioneers, how they ended up becoming the internet’s premier remix masters, and the mystery and math behind going viral online.

Joanna and Jenny talk all things horror movies, as they discuss the ways different cultures tell scary stories, how the horror genre has changed and evolved to reflect the times over the decades, and why comedians, like Jordan Peele, are so good at creating scary experiences.

Jenny and Joanna discuss their experiences with all kinds of haunted houses, then Hyphenated producer Kevin talks with Jon Braver, creator of DELUSION, the first ever interactive horror theater company, about the emerging interactive theater industry and the process of creating immersive experiences. 

Joanna and Jenny try talking about the current trend in the news of celebrities cheating on their spouses, how tying your personal life into your social media and digital content brand can backfire when you have a perceived moral failing, and what exactly is a “Wife Guy” and why it might be a red flag.

Jenny welcomes documentary filmmaker Kareem Tabsch, co-director of the Netflix documentary “Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado” as they discuss how he ended up making a film about the famously flamboyant TV astrologer, plus he shares some behind-the-scenes stories about working with Walter, and gives us a peak at the future Latino-centric docuseries coming from him.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the recent situation where a group of Venezuelan migrants seeking asylum where sent from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard by the governor of Florida, how they feel the whole stunt backfired on the intended purpose, and why it’s disheartening to them when Venezuelan and Cuban immigrants already living in the U.S. look down on current migrants fleeing those same countries.

Jenny welcomes her best friend Karla Guerra, who is a Marketing and Publishing Producer for Hi-Rez Studios, as they talk about her journey working her way up in the video game industry without a college degree, and the undertaking to help create video games that feature diverse and inclusive characters (as well as the origins of the very particular best friends nickname Jenny and Karla have for each other).

Jenny and Joanna share various idioms and expressions from their home countries and try to explain their history and meaning, including “Un arroz con mango” and “Cachicamo diciéndole al morrocoy conchudo”, as well as other strange sayings from around the world. (With a cameo from Jenny’s dog Delilah, who’s antics coin a brand new 'modismo'.) 

Joanna and Hyphenated producer Kevin exchange their favorite fun facts with each other, including who were the ‘Blue People of Kentucky’, the unexpected history of ketchup, how “gabagool” is not a real word, and why a samurai could’ve faxed Abraham Lincoln (and a super cool factoid about the Panama Canal that just did not impress Joanna at all).

Joanna welcomes Ximena Sariñana, who started her career playing the child villain on the telenovela LUZ CLARITA and is now a Grammy Nominated singer-songwriter, as they talk about the constantly changing music industry, what it was like being considered a “Diva” while growing up as a child performer, and finding a balance as an artist and creator.

Joanna and Jenny chat about “Back to School” time, how the thought of it still gives Jenny anxiety today, why it didn’t have the same effect on Joanna when she went to school in Venezuela, and what ways we still look for similar opportunities for reinvention as adults.

Jenny and Joanna discuss the current state of the entertainment industry, how corporate mergers end up cancelling Latino led shows like GORDITA CHRONICLES and movies like BATGIRL, why the age of the streaming services has ultimately closed more doors than it’s opened, and when algorithms control how authentic what you watch can be.

Joanna welcomes CEO and entrepreneur Andrea Petersen, as they discuss the benefits of being financially literate, how  investing your money doesn’t have to be so daunting, and what SCHOOL OF WHALES, the real estate crowdfunding platform Andrea co-founded, is doing to help people achieve financial mindfulness.

Hyphenated producer Kevin interviews Joanna and Jenny (separately) about why both of them were too busy to host the podcast this week. Turns out they each had a very packed and eventful week working at San Diego Comic-Con, Jenny moderating a panel for an upcoming Disney show in front of 4000 people, and Joanna on a panel for another upcoming Disney show that she is the head writer for (and that both she and Jenny voice characters on).

Jenny welcomes back Dr. Stacy De-Lin, board-certified physician and an Associate Medical Director at Planned Parenthood, as they discuss the loss of reproductive rights due to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and the impact restricting abortions in the United States will have on pregnant and non-pregnant people alike. 

Jenny and Joanna share their childhood experiences with SUMMER VACATION, like being sent to an American-style sleep-away camp in the grassland plains of Venezuela, spending the entire vacation in abuela and abuelo's backyard learning about botany and talking to parrots,  getting bullied at science camp, and falling in love during summer school (as well as wondering whatever happened to all those kids that signed their yearbooks).

Joanna welcomes her Dad, noted economist Professor Ricardo Hausmann, as he tries to explain what it takes for some countries to be prosperous, why he followed a career in economics, and how his job as an educator is not so different from Joanna’s job as an entertainer.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the recent passing of Joanna’s aunt, how different cultural rituals can help us process grief, what we can do to remember those we’ve lost, and the role spirituality can play in death.

Jenny welcomes comedy performer Tony Rodríguez, who was recently cast as the new voice of Julio, the gay Latino character on THE SIMPSONS. On this Pride Month episode they discuss why queer representation in media is important, how Tony took a chance and landed the role of a lifetime, and Jenny’s own history making casting on Hanna-Barbera’s JELLYSTONE! 

Joanna and Jenny chat about DADS, what made Father’s Day initially controversial, how imposing gender norms can limit a child, and the way each of their father’s parenting approach made them the women they are today. (And they attempt to get one of their dads on the phone!)

Jenny and Joanna talk about which are the least and most sexually satisfied countries in the world, how religion, population, weather, politics and even cuisine can affect that ranking, and how Latin American country stack up against each other.

Joanna and Jenny talk with Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, who alongside their brother Mario, created the influential series LOVE AND ROCKETS, one of the first comic books in the alternative comics movement of the 1980s, which drew influences from Mexican-American culture, new wave, rock music & the late 1970s  punk rock & hardcore scene in L.A. and featured principally powerful Latinas as characters.

Jenny and Joanna talk about sentimental mementos, like the kind that parents save from their kid’s childhood (such as baby teeth, locks of hair and even umbilical cord), why we attached emotional value to inanimate objects, and when it crosses the line into hoarding.

Joanna and Jenny discuss FEAR, from stage fright to the monster-in-the-closet, how phobias and anxiety are different, why the ability to be afraid is a biological safeguard, ways that fear manifests in modern times, and what happens when some people are unable to sense fear.

Jenny and Joanna record Live and In Person at the 2022 LATINO COMICS EXPO at the Museum of Latin American Art, where they speak to co-founder Ricardo Padilla about the importance of a Latino comics expo existing, co-founder Javier Hernandez about his comic series EL MUERTO: THE AZTEC ZOMBIE and his process to teaching art, and Kayden Phoenix about her creation A LA BRAVA, a Universe of Latina Superheroes.

Joanna and Hyphenated producer Kevin ruminate on their past experiences with terrible roommates, including one that would steal from Joanna and another that might’ve sexually harassed Kevin, and try to decipher why the concept of cohabitation with strangers is so odd yet so common.

Jenny welcomes Ajay Kishore, founder for STAREABLE FEST (the premier annual indie TV and web series festival in the US), as they discuss what it takes to make the leap from digital media to television, the obstacles and stigmas associated with creating for the internet as a career, and how Stareable Fest is building a web-to-TV pipeline for digital creators like Jenny and Joanna.https://www.stareable.com/

Joanna welcomes back writer, comedian, content creator and actress Akilah Hughes, as they talk about her upbringing in the American South, how it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone, and what they do to make a new place feel like home.  

Joanna and Jenny talk about how their parents reacted when they moved away from home, why the expectation to be tethered to your family is different in the United States vs Latin America, how some parents expect their children to be reflections of them while others want their kids to become their own people, and the ways to cope with living so far away from your family.

Jenny and Joanna record in the evening for the first time, and find themselves in a conversation about how they both prefer to work at night, when being a “night owl” was a survival advantage for cavemen, why ADHD may be a contributing factor, and what Latin-American culture might have to do with it.

Joanna welcomes Danna Hernández, the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2017 titleholder and certified life coach, as they discuss what it feels like to win and lose at Miss Universe, why beauty pageants are so important in Latin America, the dark side of the pageant industry, when beauty standards affect your mental health, and how to manage failures and regrets in your life and career.

Joanna and Jenny share stories of when reality didn't match expectations, like Joanna's wild experience at her new Hollywood apartment, why Jenny had to disappoint fans when they thought she'd recently had a baby, and how sometimes our lives and careers don't turn out the way we expected.

Jenny and Hyphenated producer Kevin talk about their shared love for geek culture, how certain stories and characters resonate more strongly with some people, coping with problematic creators, and why diversity and representation gets so much pushback in the geek world.

Joanna and Jenny talk about Joanna’s big move to Los Angeles, which kinds of neighborhoods are their favorites to live in and why, and how Joanna prefers a glass box with no personality as a home while Jenny is happy in a cozy haunted condo.

Jenny and Joanna welcome Grammy winning multi-hyphenated musician Cheche Alara, as they discuss what it takes to create music, why emotion is missing in the music business, and how music in movies and TV is its own character.

Joanna welcomes X Mayo (from THE DAILY SHOW and currently on the the new NBC sitcom AMERICAN AUTO) as they discuss navigating the New York City comedy scene as a Afro-Mexicana, how the TSA taught her to defuse a bomb in someone's pants, and finding the comedy in the trauma of your father not being there.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the concept of narcissism, what Narcissistic Personality Disorder means, the times when they’ve each had to deal with a narcissist, and the best way to protect yourself from one.

Jenny welcomes Grasie Mercedes (series-regular on the new NBC sitcom GRAND CREW) to talk about growing up in Brooklyn with a 30-something Dominican Abuela, the realities of an Afro-Latina not being able to audition for Latina roles, and what live-action film and TV can learn about representation from a cartoon. 

Joanna and Jenny discuss their childhood experiences being bullied, how the common denominator of bullying goes beyond just jealousy and stems from feeling threatened, what happens when your old bully reaches out to you, and why some adults never outgrow being bullies. 

Jenny and Joanna chat about the uncertainty of acting as a profession, then Joanna welcomes Justina Machado (QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, ONE DAY AT A TIME and the new ICE AGE ADVENTURES OF BUCK WILD) who shares how Hollywood has changed for Latina actors over the years.

Joanna and Jenny relive their cringiest dating stories, from the high schooler who was too much of a geek even for Jenny, to the time Joanna was accused of drugging her date by his mom.

Jenny and Joanna chat about why society seems to deem femininity as a weakness, when gender norms enforce power dynamics, and how the supposedly “stronger” male gender seems so fragile.

Joanna welcomes Dan Povenmire, creator of the wildly popular animated series ‘Phineas and Ferb’, as they talk about his career in animation (including ‘Hey Arnold’, ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Family Guy’), the  forensics that goes into creating cartoon comedy, and their upcoming show ‘Hamster & Gretel’.

Just in time for the 50th episode, Joanna tested positive for Covid-19 so she and Jenny discuss her first-hand experience with the virus, the current state of the pandemic, what it's like to lose your sense of taste, and the hypocrisy of those who try to moralize getting infected.

Joanna and Jenny chat about the differences between Christmas in Latin America compared to the U.S., including how religious the season is, who supposedly brings the presents (Santa or El Niño Jesus?), and if the celebration is on the Eve or the Day.

Jenny welcomes Kevin Bosch, her producing-partner on her comedy web-series ABUELA’S FAMILY, as they discuss the origins of many of her popular characters, and how they utilize digital media to better help represent Latin culture.https://www.youtube.com/JennyLorenzo

Joanna and Jenny chat with actors Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez, stars of the new Steven Spielberg remake of the musical WEST SIDE STORY, about how living in the hyphen helped inform their performances and how identity has shaped their careers.

Jenny and Joanna share their experiences traveling to Latin America, when Jenny walked around Bogota dressed as Abuela, the time Joanna couldn’t prove she wasn’t a gringa in Guatemala, and the immigrant’s perpetual need to search for “home”.

Joanna and Jenny discuss how some Americans were against Thanksgiving from the start, the lesser known pagan roots of the celebration and why some immigrants easily gravitate towards the national holiday. (*A previous version was published missing some of the audio. This new version corrects that. If you still hear the old version, remove/delete the download from your app, and re-download.*)

Jenny and Joanna discuss their earliest jobs, including working at Toys R Us on Black Friday, handling clean-up duty on a cooking show, having arugula thrown at you, and being Kevin Feige’s worst PA.

Joanna welcomes Jasmine Romero, her co-writer on the audio-drama podcast PRINCESS OF SOUTH BEACH, as they discuss Latinos in the podcasting space, as well as what it takes to create a modern telenovela podcast.

Jenny and Joanna discuss the history of Halloween, trends in costumes, how immigrant parents react to spooky American traditions, and why Latinos have a complicated relationship with death and the macabre.

Joanna and Jenny wrap up their creepy storytelling session by discussing the Latin American boogeyman, debunking Puerto Rico's famous cryptozoology creature, and doing a historical dive into the meaning behind Mexico's legendary infanticidal crying lady.

Joanna and Jenny tell each other scary stories from across Latin America, including El Silbón, El Sombrerón, La Sayona, La Planchada, and try to figure out what they say about our culture.

Jenny and Joanna try to answer a listener’s question about how to make new friends, discuss the differences between childhood and adult friendships, as well as how to avoid, and let go of, toxic people in your life.       

Joanna welcomes Afro-Latino writer/actor Johnathan Fernandez (Fox's LETHAL WEAPON; HBO Max's GOSSIP GIRL) as they discuss acting, auditions, not being considered for Latinx roles, and why colonialism and colorism in Latin America has made representation in mainstream media so difficult. 

Jenny welcomes disability activist Annie Segarra as they discuss the added challenges of having ambulatory and invisible disabilities, and what it's like when people on the street, your family and even doctors don't believe you're disabled.   

Joanna and Jenny compare notes on their ADHD diagnoses, the differences between being diagnosed as a child versus as an adult, how it specifically affects women, and whether it can be a superpower.

Jenny and Joanna discuss what it takes to make a living being a creator on the internet while dealing with unreasonable followers and the demand of the digital platforms.

Joanna and Jenny chat about the superstitious rituals from Latin American and the U.S. that they grew up with, as well as some others from around the world, and why superstition is prevalent in all cultures.

Jenny and Joanna share their experiences growing up with their brothers and sisters, the important significance of cousins to Latinos, and the problematic sibling hierarchy in Latin culture.

Joanna and Jenny chat about Jenny's hometown of Miami, FL, the weird history that shaped its culture, how it's still trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up, and why it's the quintessential 'hyphenated' American city.

Joanna and Jenny are joined by board-certified physician Dr. Stacy De-Lin to talk about the current state of the pandemic, what people should know about the vaccine, and how to deal with anti-science sentiments. Dr. Stacy De-Lin, MD is a board-certified physician whose specialty and area of practice is gynecology and family planning. She worked through the height of the COVID pandemic in the spring of 2020 in New York City, and one of her roles as Associate Medical Director at her clinic during that time was to follow all of the emerging evidence on COVID-19 in order to keep staff and patients safe. Since then, she has continued to stay up-to-date on the evidence and works to combat online misinformation on both COVID and the vaccine through her Instagram account, @stacydelin_md

Joanna and Jenny discuss marriage and parenthood through the lens of feminism, and how women can be revered or dismissed in Latin culture.

Joanna and Jenny chat with comedian and writer Eitan Levine, whose comedy grew out of his Jewish Orthodox upbringing and led him to the most bizarre jobs, from Kardashian conspiracy theorist to award-winning pornography writer.

Jenny and Joanna are joined by comedian Jose Sarduy to discuss his fascinating journey from son of a Cuban political prisoner to Air Force pilot to stand up comedian.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the situation in Cuba and the difficulties of living in the hyphen when your homeland is in turmoil.

Joanna and Jenny talk about Spanish-language television, the shows they grew up watching, which ones inspired their comedy, the differences between programs produced in Latin America versus the United States, and the current trend they see in English-language TV that is purportedly made for Latinos.

Writer, comedian, and YouTuber Akilah Hughes joins Joanna as a special guest co-host. Joanna and Akilah discuss the serious illnesses they've both faced, how being sick impacted their sense of identity, and the ways in which comedy has helped them cope during difficult times.

Joanna and Jenny discuss food, their different approaches to diet, and how culture and identity are shaped by cuisine.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the origins of the term "Latinx," why it's so polarizing in the Latino community, and how they feel about the word and the controversy that surrounds it.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the phenomenon of English-to-Spanish words, their history, and what their prevalence says about Latino culture.

Joanna and Jenny are joined by singer/songwriter LP for a wide-ranging discussion about her life and career, her unexpected success outside of the United States, and the power of being true to yourself.

Joanna and Jenny take you on a whirlwind tour of the United States, from a family zoo in South Carolina to Dollywood.

Joanna and Jenny compare their experiences in middle school and high school. Joanna discusses the differences between going to school in Venezuela versus the U.S. and Jenny talks about the peculiarities of the Christian schools she attended in Miami.

Joanna and Jenny discuss the differences between the way dogs are treated in the U.S. versus Latin America.

Joanna and Jenny are joined by Mexican Institute of Sound founder Camilo Lara. They discuss his latest album, Distrito Federal (D.F.), Camilo's take on why Latin music has become so popular in recent years, and the connection between music, culture, and identity.

Joanna and Jenny talk about their weddings and how they reflected who they are. They also discuss the differences between American and Latin weddings.

Joanna and Jenny talk about the misconception that Latinos vote as a monolith and how the diversity within the Latino community makes it so hard to campaign for the Latino vote.

Joanna and Jenny discuss curse words, their origins, the differences and similarities they have across languages, and what they reflect about different cultures.

Joanna and Jenny are joined by Korean-Peruvian artist and educator Ren Fernández-Kim. They discuss the history of Asian Latinos, how Asian and Latino culture have influenced one another, and the evolution of Kim's hyphenated sense of identity.

Joanna and Jenny talk about their love-hate relationship with social media. On the one hand, social media has given them a platform to share their content and reach millions of people who can relate to their unique perspectives. On the other, it has made them vulnerable to criticism and personal attacks, often from members of the Latino community who do not see themselves reflected in their content and who question their identity as Latinas...

Jenny is joined by special guest co-host Curly Velasquez. They discuss why Latinos tend to be very competitive, the influence of Spanish-language TV on the Latino community's penchant for drama, and the unexpected reaction Curly got hot from his family when he came out to them.

In this episode Jenny and Joanna talk about their grandparents, what they've learned from them, and how they've influenced their comedy, including Jenny's famous abuela character.

In this episode Jenny and Joanna speak with comedian, best-selling author, and viral Trump lip-syncing sensation Sarah Cooper.

In this episode Joanna updates us about her health and her road to recovery after what started as a routine removal of a spot on her face last week became something much more complicated and scary. Joanna and Jenny discuss how health impacts identity and the importance of advocating for yourself with your doctors.

In this episode Jenny and Joanna talk about their mental health, how attitudes towards mental health have evolved over time, and the stigma around discussing mental health in the Latino community.

In this episode Joanna and Jenny discuss how they've been affected by the beauty standards of their cultures, the sexist and racist aspects of Latino beauty standards, and why beauty standards are socially constructed bull****.

Joanna and Jenny reminisce about the telenovelas of their childhood, they discuss why they think telenovelas are popular around the world, and they point out the problematic ways in which telenovelas have typically portrayed race, class, and women.

In this episode Jenny and Joanna talk about dating, sex, double standards, and the things their grandmothers told them not to do if they wanted to get married.

Joanna and Jenny discuss children's birthday parties, extravagant quinceañera traditions, and different ways of saying hangover in Spanish.

Welcome to Hyphenated! In this first episode, Joanna and Jenny discuss the connection between language and identity, the variety of accents and regionalisms that exist in Spanish, and their thoughts on Spanglish.

In this episode Joanna and Jenny discuss the link between religion and identity, the influence of religion on Latino culture, Joanna’s experience growing up Jewish in Venezuela, Jenny’s Catholic upbringing in Miami, and brujería.

Comedy stars Joanna Hausmann and Jenny Lorenzo host an English-language podcast about living in the hyphen that connects American and Latin culture. As American Latinas, they have crafted their comedy around what it means to be bicultural. Every week, Joanna and Jenny have hilarious and thought-provoking conversations about the particularities of being hyphenated.