Skakel McCooey

On Sept. 30. La Casa Cultural hosted a keynote with award-winning journalist Alana Casanova-Burgess at Luce Hall. 

Casanova–Burgess is the host of the bilingual podcast “La Brega”, which explores Puerto Rican culture, history and current issues. The podcast has received praise from the New Yorker, The New York Times and the Atlantic. The keynote was jointly organized by La Casa Cultural and Despierta Boricua, Yale’s Puerto Rican Student Association. The event was also sponsored by the Poynter Fellowship. 

“The gathering was less a keynote address and more of a community gathering,” Carmen Lopez Villamil ’25, a panelist for the keynote, wrote the News. “As people filled the hall, we dragged around couches, sat on tables, and unstacked classroom chairs to expand the intimate circle into a fluid band. Within an hour, the room was full of students and Puerto Ricans of all ages from all over.” 

Casanova–Burgess talked about her experiences in journalism, the role of the Puerto Rican community in the podcast’s creation and her own personal journey. During the event, Casanova–Burgess often redirected audience questions back to the audience, which shifted the talk from a “lecture–esque event” to an “expansive and flexible community,” per Villamil. 

When asked what comes next for her after “La Brega” and plans for the following season, Casanova–Burgess told the audience that the team is currently experimenting with a lot of different ideas, from music to sports, but she also directed the question to the audience, interested in what they “wanted to hear, what is at the top of [their] minds, and what feels urgent.”

Audience members talked about subjects they would be interested in seeing, such as the history of student activism on campuses, citizenship experiences of Puerto Ricans in the United States and conversations about indigenous peoples.

“Sounds like we got a season” Casanova–Burgess laughed. 

Casanova–Burgess talked to the audience about her past coming from public and live radio and how that shaped the way she approaches the production process of “La Brega.”

Compared to written publications, live shows are about building relationships and community. 

“‘La Brega’ is journalism, but we’re always thinking deeply about what one is going to perceive, how they are going to share and listen to it with someone else,” Casanova–Burgess said.

The conservation also touched on subjects of inspiring hope in listeners and how journalism can foster cross cultural understanding and solidarity. 

Casanova Burgess told the audience about the unexpected global reach of “La Brega.” She said the podcast received calls from listeners in India, Kenya, Nigeria and Israel. 

“I think it shows how pivotal the diaspora is when talking about what is happening around the world.” Casanova–Burgess said. “I think ‘La Brega’ is an exercise in solidarity. We’re experimenting with having a conversation between our independent, mutual understandings.”

Jaden Gonzalez ’25, one of the co-chairs of Despierta Boricua, told the News that it was great to share community with Puerto Rican students, faculty and New Haven residents. He noted that the energy in the room was “empowering, enthusiastic and passionate” and encouraged all Latine, Caribbean and especially Puerto Rican communities on campus and in New Haven to seek out Despierta Boricua, the Puerto Rican student organization at Yale. 

Amanda Rivera GRD ’26 researches Puerto Rican educational activism at Yale and in New Haven from the 1960s to present. She told the News that her favorite aspect of Casanova–Burgess’ work is her complete storytelling. 

“She highlights our agency, and dares to tell our stories in all their nuances – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and in doing so, creates worlds in which we might dare to exist and dream of and enact new possibilities,” Rivera said.

“La Brega” can be listened to on WYNC, NPR and Apple Podcasts.