AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STORYTELLING PODCAST
Motus Monologues Podcast
In the Motus Monologues podcast, Motus’ undocumented and formely incarcerated monologists courageously read aloud their own autobiographical stories to disrupt the dehumanzing policies impacting them, their families and communities.
Each episode features healing music from nationally renowned musicians.
This platform invites listeners who do not personally know someone impacted by dehumanizing immigration or criminal legal system policies to get to know them through powerful stories from their lives. Listeners will be inspired by the resolution of these stories and learn about the threats of the current systems and policies.
Learn more below about Season One: UndocuAmerica and Season Two: JustUs.
Season One: UndocuAmerica Series
When have you been invited to sit on the porch with a person who is undocumented and hear a personal story from their lives?
Listen to UndocuAmerica: Stories from the Frontlines and Front Porches of your Undocumented Neighbors… because an enemy is someone whose story you have not heard.
In season one, undocumented youth read their own autobiographical stories about the threat of deportation, the injustice of being sent into exile from the country in which they were raised, border patrol, the current human and civil rights threats to immigrants, racial profiling, and more.
Episode 6: Listen to Your Heart
Read by Tania Chairez
Musical guest Arturo O'Farrill responds
Tania Chairez is a social entrepreneur and educator who grew up undocumented under the threat of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona. In this episode, Tania shares her struggle to protect good parents, just like her own, from the attacks against the immigrant community.
coming soon - Episode 5: The Most Beautiful Monument
Read by Irving Reza
Musical guest Neil Young responds
In his story, Irving Reza, a DACAmented political science major, uses humor to negotiate the fear he faces each time he passes through an immigration checkpoint and to express his deepening reverence for the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights as a result of these experiences.
Episode 4: DEPORT ME
Read by Alejandro Fuentes-Mena
Musical guest Ozomatli responds
Alejandro Fuentes-Mena tells the story of his hard working parents and shares his journey to becoming one of the first two DACAmented teachers in the country.
Episode 3: I WAS MADE FOR THE LIGHT
Read by Reydesel Salvidrez-Rodríguez
Musical guest Arturo O'Farrill responds
Reydesel, a legally deaf undocumented college graduate, shares how he went from suicidal to successful after the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created that gave temporary legal status to undocumented people.
Episode 2: RETURNING TO MYSELF
Read by Kiara Chavez
Musical guest Jennifer Berezan responds
Kiara tells a tender story of flying home to Mexico for the first time since she was four to see her ailing grandmother. (*She was able to visit as part of the “Advanced Parole” program that once allowed DACA recipients to leave the country for work, education, or humanitarian reasons. Since 2017, these visits are no longer allowed for DACA recipients.)
Episode 1: The Meaning of Courage
Read by Cristian Solano-Córdova
Musical guests Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott respond
Cristian tells his personal story of strategizing to protect his eight-year-old sister, who is an American citizen, in the event his mother gets deported.
This podcast series was made possible with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Season Two: JustUs Series
The JustUs series will premiere in January of 2022 and will feature the powerful and moving stories of people directly impacted by the criminal legal system. The monologists will read aloud their own stories, with musical responses by esteemed national musicians.
Stories will cover themes as diverse as racial profiling, inequity in the bond/bail system, human rights abuses in prison, the criminalization of substance abusers, the systemic racism and poverty that pushes young people into illicit economies, and more.
You can listen to prominent Americans such as Jorge Ramos, Gloria Steinem and others “step into the shoes” of these monologists and read their stories in a companion podcast at Shoeboxstories.org.