00:05
What's up guys? Welcome to Link in Bio.
00:09
I'm Daniela and I am Anna and we have an awesome episode
00:13
ready for you today.
00:17
Nica Marcos Santeria sacrifices.
00:21
Vasco is crashing college Decision Day and Nicolas Stal gives us all
00:26
hope. Yes, baby beauty traditions.
00:30
And Texas Governor Greg Abbott is wasting billions.
00:36
Let's do it. Vogues Met Galas next week and there's lots
00:43
of Latino representation this year,
00:45
Jennifer Lopez and Bat Bunny are cohos and La La Anthony is
00:49
hosting the carpet. Oh,
00:51
so the invites have actually been released and it looks like my
00:55
girl KG is attending.
00:58
It's the first time she's invited.
01:01
I cannot wait to see her on that carpet but did no
01:05
she actually probably had to drop 50 K to get into
01:09
those doors. What reports say that guests have to pay to
01:14
attend the Met Gala?
01:16
But the money does go to the Mets Costume Institute.
01:21
it's kind of a charity event.
01:22
Gentle tax write off that it is unclear whether everyone has to
01:27
pay or if you can go for free.
01:29
If a designer as her guest and that brings up a good
01:32
point. Will she go with a designer or will she go
01:35
with a date? You know,
01:36
she's dating Fade and fo he's on tour.
01:39
But who knows he could show up and they could do a
01:42
little hard launch for the world.
01:44
You think so? But it's a very important day in her
01:47
career. I think this is her moment.
01:49
This is she needs to shine on her own.
01:53
What do you think she's going to wear?
01:55
I think the hair is the look.
01:57
I think the hair has been this moment,
02:01
this woman of the year and I think it's going to be
02:04
around that. What do you think?
02:06
I'm really hoping that she try something different.
02:10
I would like to see her branch out.
02:12
I would like to see a little,
02:15
a little spicy moment.
02:17
You know what I mean?
02:18
Going back to her mommy days.
02:20
Exactly. Well, I don't know.
02:22
I mean, the theme this year is sleeping beauties and the
02:24
dress code is the Garden of Time.
02:27
Drawing inspiration from nature.
02:29
I can't wait to see what Karol G wears and what designer
02:33
dresses her. I have my superstitions but we shall see next
02:37
Monday. She's going to look like a VTA representing all of
02:42
us. Bias on that carpet.
02:44
I'm excited. Daniela.
02:49
Have you heard of or remember Nura Marcos?
02:54
Nothing. You know the video where she's at the airport.
02:57
She's like Ben, Ben.
03:05
just me. Educate me please on a tree.
03:08
Ok. Wells is an actress.
03:11
She is a burlesque dancer.
03:14
She's an icon. She's a queen,
03:15
she's a diva and now she's been accused of sacrificing dogs to
03:22
practice her religion. Santeria,
03:24
they posted photos on social media of Nura in a dog shelter
03:27
in Mexico and said that she was looking for dogs to sacrifice
03:31
That's, that's an intense accusation.
03:35
But Nura did deny the claim saying that she's a dog lover
03:39
and she was just visiting the shelf to help.
03:41
She said I can't force people who don't know about my religion
03:44
to study. It seems like people just don't know enough about
03:48
Santeria and they just want to talk shit.
03:50
So Enrica is Cuban and has talked about practicing Santeria for years
03:55
calling herself a Sana De Corazon and those people are just being
04:00
prejudiced against her at the end of the day.
04:04
I agree. That's right.
04:09
Today is college decision day.
04:11
It's the deadline that high school seniors must decide what college they're
04:16
attending. But this year it might take a little bit longer
04:20
to decide college decisions are getting delayed because the Department of Education
04:25
released a new version of the FASFA.
04:27
There's been technical difficulties and glitches because of this.
04:31
A lot of students actually don't know how much money and a
04:34
they'd be receiving to help pay for the college education.
04:38
That's right. And a lot of them have that.
04:41
Some schools have pushed the deadline until June 1st,
04:44
but a lot of schools are making them decide today May 1st
04:48
And that leaves people feeling really uncertain because they don't know
04:53
how much money they're going to get.
04:55
So, what did you do?
04:58
Well, I dropped out of UC Berkeley to go to community
05:02
college. And my reasoning was I was too depressed to be
05:08
like I just wasn't thriving and I decided I want to pursue
05:13
an education, but I'm going to do it a little bit
05:15
differently in a way that better serves me and my individual path
05:20
because I'm still figuring it out.
05:25
what I wanted at 1718 is not what I want.
05:29
Now at three, you know,
05:32
like you could change your mind and I did,
05:34
I didn't apply to any college because I was undocumented at the
05:37
time and DACA didn't exist.
05:40
And so I didn't know how I was going to pay for
05:43
school and that's a real situation for a lot of students.
05:48
And if you're one of those students that don't know what you
05:51
wanna do, that's ok.
05:53
You're gonna change your mind a lot of times and don't feel
05:57
pressured by your teachers,
05:58
your counselors, your parents life can take you many different directions
06:03
you know, the decisions that you're making feels aligned with you
06:06
and that's ok. I really appreciate you saying that because as
06:09
a first generation student.
06:11
I feel like there's a pressure to make my parents,
06:13
make my family, make everyone proud and get that degree.
06:18
I feel like I'm successful as a person and intelligent with or
06:23
without one at this moment,
06:24
it's just kind of like a gold star and a sticker.
06:27
So I really appreciate your advice and I'll keep it in mind
06:31
as I go on with this process and journey that is going
06:34
to change and go in different directions.
06:36
Thank you, of course.
06:38
And I think we're doing pretty well.
06:40
I think we're doing just ok,
06:45
there are a lot of things that influencers can influence,
06:48
but this next guest is influencing in a way that I can
06:51
really support. Meet Nicolas DiRado,
06:54
the viral sensation, spreading a positive message and despite facing tough
06:59
times, he's making a difference in advocating for change.
07:04
Hi, welcome, welcome.
07:06
Thank you. Thank you guys for having me.
07:09
So I know your story is a little complicated and you were
07:12
wrongfully accused. Can you tell us about that?
07:15
So I'm, I was born in New York City.
07:18
My mom actually came to California first to find a better
07:22
life. Search for something new with my little brother.
07:25
And I was kind of just like debating whether to go or
07:28
not. And finally I went and when I went to California
07:31
it was rough for us at first,
07:33
it was really, really rough for us.
07:34
We were really poor.
07:37
like, basically getting racially profiled when I was a little kid
07:40
like around 14. And,
07:43
because of the group I was hanging out with,
07:45
they kinda like, just thought I was a bad kid and
07:48
just determined I was a bad kid.
07:51
they were trying to say that I was breaking into cars in
07:55
my apartment complex and I'm just like,
07:57
I live of the California Fresno.
08:00
It was in the Fresno area once I got into juvenile hall
08:04
it was kind of like just a snowball effect and it
08:06
was kinda like just I had to protect myself,
08:08
you know, and then you see,
08:09
you see all the things in the movies and you're like,
08:12
that's not gonna be me,
08:13
you know, like I'm not gonna get,
08:14
you know, punked or whatever.
08:15
So I kinda had to put this mask on,
08:19
and this shield to protect myself and I had that
08:22
mask on and shield for probably like 15 years and like,
08:27
it's for your own safety.
08:28
But at the end of the day,
08:29
like, it's just what,
08:32
it's either that flight or Fight syndrome and I'm just like,
08:35
really like honing in on the Fight syndrome.
08:41
that, that was like,
08:42
that was my first introduction to the system to my former
08:47
gang., I met him in that,
08:49
that stint in juvenile hall.
08:51
Oh, so you were in juvenile hall for how I was
08:54
in juvenile hall for probably like 50 days.
08:57
And then from there I met my gang.
09:01
one of my homies lived like,
09:03
literally across the street from me.
09:04
It was like an everyday thing chilling with him,
09:08
trouble with him and if I could do nothing and get in
09:12
trouble, I might as well do something,
09:15
you know. So that was my,
09:17
that was like my stupidity and what I would think and
09:20
my mom couldn't come get me at the time.
09:22
We're dealing with the some drug issues and addiction
09:26
issues and that's kinda how I just like say,
09:29
you know what, like I had to take over the,
09:31
the household, you know,
09:32
cause I didn't have a dad,
09:33
we didn't have a dad at the time.
09:36
So I took over the household and I just kinda like
09:38
ran with it and did what I could but it was
09:41
all like in the negative aspects of my life and it just
09:45
got more negative and negative.
09:47
And and your older brother and younger,
09:50
did they say anything or like were they involved?
09:53
Oh, my younger siblings were too young.
09:55
I had my baby brother and my little brother.
09:56
They were, they were just too young and then my older
09:58
brother, he kinda like he's kinda like he,
10:02
he's like super smart,
10:05
super smart and love him to death but he's just not
10:09
that like parental, you know,
10:12
figure that I was to my little brother.
10:14
Yeah, like, and he didn't know how to be so
10:17
we don't know how to be men,
10:18
you know yet and we don't have nobody to follow us.
10:22
I just followed my older homies and that was kinda like how
10:25
I got led down that path and then you ended up in
10:28
prison after, once you turn 18.
10:32
running the streets. I got in and out of juvenile hall
10:37
I, like, went on the run,
10:39
about a year, year and then,
10:42
my little brothers, we were all homeless and my mom was
10:46
like, I can't take you to court,
10:47
you know, we're gonna be moving from city to city and
10:50
I was like, in like,
10:51
four different high schools when I was like,
10:53
16, we're just bouncing from city to city because we were
10:57
in homeless shelters. Yeah.
10:58
After that, when I was,
10:59
we, we went back to Fresno and,
11:02
when I turned 18 I ended up catching my case
11:07
I caught a couple of cases inside too.
11:09
And how was that experience?
11:11
are you involved in some programs in prison?
11:13
Yeah. Yeah, I was definitely involved.
11:15
I was involved with the anti recidivism Coalition.
11:19
the way I got involved with the anti recidivism Coalition is because
11:23
I don't know if you ever heard of Pelican Bay?
11:25
So Pelican Bay is literally like the last stop you're gonna get
11:29
in the prison system.
11:30
So you could go all the way up north,
11:33
like by like Sacramento and San Francisco and drive a couple more
11:37
hours. It's literally by Oregon.
11:39
So it's like the worst of the worst prisons,
11:42
whatever. So I was in Pelican Bay.
11:46
I don't know if you know what the shoe is Segre segregated
11:48
housing unit. So basically,
11:50
it's the, it's the prison within the prison.
11:52
So I was in the prison within the prison for a couple
11:55
of years and I actually met the founder of anti recidivism Coalition
12:00
His name is Scott Budnick.
12:02
So I found Scott Budnick.
12:03
Well, Scott Bick found me and he was just like real
12:07
really instrumental in my positive change when I was in
12:10
prison. And I got my high school diploma in prison.
12:14
Appreciate that. I got my high school diploma.
12:17
I did some creative writing classes.
12:20
Yeah, I love poetry.
12:21
I love anything creative.
12:23
Yeah, I'm a really really solid poet.
12:27
That's awesome because talking about being creative,
12:29
you have a video that went viral right on Instagram.
12:33
And did you post it on tiktok as well.
12:35
Yeah, we posted it on tiktok.
12:36
It didn't go as viral but it,
12:38
but it definitely did numbers on Instagram.
12:41
I'm your formerly incarcerated coworker.
12:43
Of course, I don't like loud noises.
12:49
I'm a former incarcerated coworker.
12:50
Of course, I got a thing about keys.
12:53
Hey, I gotta get something from the storage locker.
13:00
Wait, what was I getting again?
13:02
I'm your formerly incarcerated coworker.
13:04
Of course, I'm distracted by any window.
13:06
Nicholas. Did you hear what I just said hello?
13:11
It's just so beautiful.
13:16
So how's it been since you released that video?
13:19
Tell us people, I mean,
13:21
I'm handsome, I'm not,
13:22
I'm not like, you know,
13:23
I'm not dumb. I know I look good.
13:26
So it's like I'm like,
13:28
yo, but like people actually like love seeing me but like
13:34
they love, I don't think it's just me but it's like
13:37
I know it's not just me but it's like the actions
13:40
behind it. You know what people really,
13:43
I think gravitated towards the video is that is,
13:47
is they're seeing someone formally incarcerated,
13:49
they're seeing someone that's,
13:51
you know, tattered up,
13:52
they're seeing someone that's like,
13:54
you know, just got out but they're seeing this person in
13:57
a different light. They're seeing him like making fun of his
13:59
stigmas, laughing at himself and his day to day job and
14:03
yeah, a at actual office,
14:05
you know, people get that,
14:07
that feeling of like well,
14:10
You know, they just love to see like the success and
14:13
the redemption stories. And I think I gave that to him
14:17
So tell us how can people work with the anti recidivism
14:20
Coalition? And where can we follow you?
14:24
OK. On on Instagram.
14:26
I am a kid with the camera underscore free.
14:31
The reason why the reason why I like that name is
14:34
because every time I get a camera in my hand at any
14:36
time, like I'm doing anything creative,
14:37
I feel like a kid again.
14:39
You know, you get that like kid feeling that kid love
14:41
and with the anti recidivism coalition,
14:44
you guys could just,
14:45
you know, either DM me or you guys can go to
14:48
their Instagram, DM them.
14:49
But at the end of the day,
14:50
like if you guys actually wanna like work with us just,
14:55
do whatever you can for the population that's coming home,
14:59
like we're coming home and we're,
15:02
we're like right now in this like era,
15:04
we're coming home and we're really trying to make a change.
15:07
So if you could just make it as easy as possible,
15:10
you know, don't judge,
15:13
actually like, give people a chance to,
15:15
you know, talk to you and like,
15:18
actually hear people's stories because it's beautiful redemption stories and not,
15:22
not everybody coming home is trying to recidivous story that was amazing
15:35
Texas has spent billions on operation loans to stop illegal immigration
15:39
But there's little evidence that's actually affected the immigration cause at
15:42
all, the federal government made a deal with Mexico to stop
15:44
mines before they reach the border.
15:48
Texas is still spending billions on,
15:51
of state dollars on immigration.
15:53
And all we see is soldiers when they could be you
15:55
know, spending this on the electrical grid,
15:57
the power when everything froze over.
15:59
Remember that? And everyone was busting out their cobija San Marcos
16:02
and all that, the struggle was real.
16:03
Even the toilets were frozen.
16:05
They couldn't even go,
16:06
they couldn't even take a shit.
16:07
Exactly. So that is still not fixed.
16:12
public school need funding.
16:17
So essentially the US government and Texas are spending money on immigration
16:22
but Texas doesn't really have anything to show for it here
16:25
to talk about what Texas should have spent the money on is
16:28
Fatal. Algeri from Texas Immigrant Center.
16:34
Thank you so much for having me today.
16:35
Thank you for coming on.
16:37
So, can you explain Texas's operation Lone Star and how
16:41
much was actually spent on it?
16:44
Yeah. So what we're looking at is a multibillion dollar effort
16:50
coord between state government agencies.
16:53
I think the latest tally is about $11 billion is,
16:57
is what we're seeing,
16:59
really meant for immigration enforcement as well as border
17:03
militarization. But what that really means at the end of the
17:07
day is how are we going to continue to criminalize our immigrant
17:11
population? And how is the state going to sort of supersede
17:16
federal authority? So that's what Operation Lone Star is and
17:21
that's what sort of policies that have been out there in the
17:23
headlines as of late around like SP four,
17:26
for instance, that all falls under operation Lone Star.
17:31
And would you say like operation Lone Star has worked the way
17:35
Governor Abbott intended or how has it affected migrants?
17:40
So it's a really great question because you know,
17:44
you can never really speak about intentions,
17:46
right? Of the why behind what some elected officials
17:50
choose to do. But at the end of the day,
17:52
what you're looking at right now is that Governor Abbott has been
17:55
quite successful, really from a narrative standpoint,
17:59
right? Because what you're looking at also is like migrant bussing
18:03
that exists under operation Lone Star.
18:06
And it's sort of would say more liberal jurisdictions
18:12
where individuals, families,
18:15
Children have been bused,
18:19
started to sort of play into the hands and that,
18:23
that seems I can't speak for Governor Abbott,
18:26
but that seems to have been the intent,
18:28
right? But really at the end of the day,
18:29
it's a deterrent practice.
18:31
Like that's what you're looking at these,
18:32
these deterrent practices and whether they're happening by the federal government,
18:36
state government. Have you deterrent practices do not work period.
18:41
Like if the objective is to stem migration,
18:45
we have seen now for three decades,
18:49
the harsher you become from a policy standpoint,
18:54
only equates to putting individuals and families at risk.
19:01
You're putting them in greater harm's way,
19:04
you're putting them in sort of the path of cruelty.
19:08
But these are individuals who have made the choice to migrate because
19:16
there is no other choice,
19:18
right? Like that's where you're at at the end of the
19:21
day. And so it's not gonna deter you these policies.
19:25
This grandstanding is not gonna serve as a deterrence,
19:29
but you're gonna end up being put in a scenario that is
19:33
literally life threatening. as if the migration journey already isn't
19:39
you know, life threatening enough.
19:43
like you're saying, there's so many,
19:45
so much funding, so much money has gone to all these
19:46
policies and the bussing all these,
19:49
you know, operations,
19:51
how can we make sure that the money the government is spending
19:52
is being put in the right place.
19:54
It's a great question and I think it's one that doesn't even
19:56
just apply to Texas.
19:57
You know, you have some pieces of legislation that are being
20:00
pushed through right now that are specifically sort of allowing for
20:06
not just the arrest of any individual who may look like an
20:10
immigrant and what is looking like an immigrant.
20:12
Like what does that mean?
20:14
And so what it means is you're really talking about black and
20:17
brown people. This is state sanctioned racism but literal.
20:25
Again, lives are on the line.
20:27
So when we're talking about where can resources be spent at the
20:32
you know, I come from a school of thought that our
20:35
elected officials should be working to advance the needs and interests of
20:40
their constituencies. And in this case,
20:43
I'd much rather see tax dollars go and,
20:47
and get spent specifically on universal representation.
20:52
So that anyone who is going through the immigration court system
20:55
has legal representation because right now while you have the right to
21:00
access it, you don't actually you're not afforded a legal representative
21:04
But if you're an individual anywhere from 2 to 5 times
21:07
more likely to find some type of relief in the immigration system
21:12
if you have legal representation and if you're a family,
21:15
that rate goes up to about 10,
21:16
10.5 times more likely,
21:18
so we could be putting it there.
21:21
But instead, we've decided to fund this sort of the prison
21:25
industrial complex. And again,
21:28
literally, because most immigration and customs enforcement detention centers are,
21:33
are actually prisons because about 90% of them are,
21:36
are, are run by prison contractors by the GEO groups and
21:40
the core civics of the world.
21:41
So many of these policies are really just lining the pockets of
21:46
private prison contractors. Definitely.
21:49
And well, thank you so much fil for coming on and
21:52
breaking this down for us.
21:54
And we want to ask you where can people find you really
21:57
appreciate the opportunity to come and speak with you,
22:00
Raices texas.org. It's ra I ce S Texas fully spelled out.org
22:06
You can also find us with that same,
22:08
handle on, on Instagram as well.
22:11
And what we try to do there is also break down sort
22:14
of the news in the day and sort of digestible pieces.
22:17
So, we would love for people to check us out
22:19
there. And and again,
22:20
thank you for making a space for these conversations.
22:31
OK, Daniela, did you get your head shaved as a
22:35
you did not. What about your ears pierced?
22:39
I did, I was three months old in Colombia when I
22:41
got my ears pierced.
22:43
That is usually what happens if you're Latino or,
22:47
you know, it's part of the tradition getting your baby's ears
22:50
pierced and shaving your head as a baby.
22:54
And I have my best friend who just became a new mom
22:57
and she's no stranger to people's unsolicited advice about what she should
23:02
be doing when she should be doing them.
23:04
And the traditions that we have.
23:07
so we are going to introduce her Charlotte Gonzalez and that's
23:14
baby. A Laura right there.
23:16
Hi, Aa. She's a little busy.
23:21
tell us when it came to getting your baby's ears pierced.
23:26
What was the story behind it?
23:28
I personally didn't really mind not piercing her ears because to me
23:32
it wasn't really important.
23:34
I was just mainly more focused on the fact of being a
23:38
trying to keep her alive.
23:44
outsiders and I guess it's a cultural thing.
23:49
a cultural person, you know.
23:52
my mom was the one who pushed me to pierce
23:55
her ears. My husband is Mexican.
23:57
So a lot of his side of the family would always ask
24:00
me, when are you gonna pierce your ears?
24:01
When are you gonna pierce your ears?
24:04
you know, I'm not worried about piercing her ears but did
24:08
it just so that I can get those people to keep them
24:11
out. Ok. So what about other baby traditions that maybe
24:15
people have pressured you to buy into?
24:17
Are there any, how about maybe shaving the baby's hair?
24:22
It's funny. I've only heard that through,
24:25
through me. I am that person.
24:28
Ok. Ok. Let me clear the air.
24:30
She's always like, when you shave your head and I'm like
24:34
Ok. I kinda told her the story about my mom because
24:39
here's the thing my mom believed that once you shave the head
24:42
it grows nice and healthy,
24:44
but I do it and mess around with her Yeah,
24:49
no, her hair will grow out when it's going to grow
24:53
I'm not worried about that.
24:55
Also the whole, like,
24:56
red bracelet. What is,
24:58
what is the red bracelet?
25:00
So, apparently the red bracelet is supposed to,
25:04
they call it the ma ojo,
25:08
like an evil eye type of protector from the,
25:11
ok. I think I'm familiar with this one.
25:14
It's a cultural thing,
25:15
but I didn't grow up with that.
25:18
And that's something I've learned like marrying into a Mexican family.
25:24
Like they're very, you know,
25:26
they believe in a lot of things and I'm just like,
25:29
well, I didn't grow up with that.
25:30
So I don't really feel like my,
25:34
it's, it's just a whole Yeah,
25:37
it's very controversial. Yeah,
25:39
like I said, II I grew a Christian and I'm a
25:41
Christian and I believe that,
25:43
you know, God is protecting her and I don't need a
25:46
bracelet to do that for her to say,
25:49
mind your damn business.
25:51
This is my baby girl and she does.
25:56
Charlotte, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your
26:00
story. I know your hands are full clearly.
26:03
I'll let you go and attend to her.
26:06
She's she's so cute.
26:09
Yes, I'll see you later.
26:11
Say bye to baby A LAA.
26:14
Thanks for having me guys.
26:21
Actually our very own Alejandro got his head shaved as a baby
26:25
Yeah, we actually have a picture.
26:31
Oh, that's a clean cut.
26:33
All that is. That is a shave,
26:35
shave hair, no hair.
26:37
You know, my mom does hair and I don't think it's
26:40
Like, do you use eraser or do you use?
26:43
I feel like I could shave a baby's head and it would
26:45
look perfect. Really?
26:48
Well, let's find out.
26:56
my child and we're gonna,
26:58
we need shaving cream,
27:01
the razor and then to put the leftover stuff,
27:05
you know, since you're,
27:07
I'm no expert but I kind of am.
27:09
So we're just gonna,
27:11
I'll give you a face because this face card is very important
27:16
We're gonna give him a little face.
27:18
You can put shaving cream on a baby's head.
27:21
Yes. What if it has long?
27:24
You think about that?
27:25
What if it has long hair?
27:27
You're right. So we're gonna start,
27:31
we're gonna do like a nice hairline.
27:34
I think you, if the hair goes a certain direction you
27:37
have to go the opposite.
27:38
But I would be so afraid if a baby doing that to
27:42
wait, I like almost shading his eyelashes.
27:45
the little locks he's about to have for him.
27:51
You're right. I can do this.
27:53
Oh my God. There goes the eye.
27:54
Oh, wait, you gotta use the water,
27:56
the water. You're right.
27:58
like, I'm forgetting what's going on.
28:01
So I get laser hair removal.
28:02
Oh, ok. You've upgraded.
28:07
I, I would rather go to a professional.
28:11
but I want my baby to have character.
28:15
So, like I have a struggle early on.
28:17
Well, no, that's a little aggressive for a baby.
28:21
Yeah, this looks like it's,
28:32
it's, is the head getting smaller.
28:35
It's, it's going down,
28:41
the baby is in the hospital.
28:49
Anna, you sacrificed a baby for this.
28:54
But you don't have to feel bad.
28:55
The haters need to come at you because I'm expecting what?
28:59
Yeah. Mom and dad don't know who the father is but
29:02
we'll find out in 18 years.
29:04
Well, guys, this has been Lincoln Bile.
29:07
It's been a great show.
29:08
I'm Daniela and I am Anna.
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