Xicana Tiahui Podcast

[SWAPA Interlude] Circle #1

In this special episode, the podcasters from the Sandovalian Semillero Collective share their SWAPA responses based on "Chapter 1: Fredric Jameson" of Methodology of the Oppressed by Chela Sandoval. The SWAPA circle expresses what Sandoval calls the "naguala-witness-naguala ceremony." SWAPA is an acronym for Storytelling/Witnessing Wor(l)d-Art & Performance as Activism. It is a spiritual activist or nepantlera method in the spirit of differential social movement and consciousness from Methodology of the Oppressed. These special episodes are responses to the book and offer a practice of creative close reading and what it means to bridge worlds with others.

For scholarly references on SWAPA, here are some suggested essays:

• Alvarez Jr, Eddy Francisco. "Jotería pedagogy, SWAPA, and Sandovalian approaches to liberation." Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies 39, no. 1 (2014): 215-227.
• Vasquez, Kristian E. "The Decoloniality of Feeling: On Sandovalian Praxis, Ceremony, and Emancipatory Politics in the Classroom and Beyond." Regeneración: A Xicanacimiento Studies Journal 1, no. 1 (2024): 5.

Intro & Outro song: "La calandria” by Raíces Oaxaca.

[EP1] Post-Modernism and Pastiche Aesthetics

In this episode, hosted on the Xicana Tiahui podcast platform, the Sandovalian Semillero Collective delves into Chapter 1 of Methodology of the Oppressed, ‘where they critically examine Frederic Jameson’s perspective on postmodernism as a neo-colonizing force. Sandoval argues that Jameson's pessimism stems from his inability to recognize the subjectivity of colonized and oppressed groups. She proposes a "differential cognitive mapping" that allows for a mobile, flexible oppositional consciousness. The collective also discusses the relevance of postmodernism today and the role of social media in reflecting and perpetuating these conditions.

Zapatista Encuentro Report Back

In this episode, we report back on our experiences from the 2024/2025 Zapatista encuentro internacionales de “resistencias y rebeldías.” We provide a brief accounting of the current struggles in Zapatista communities and engage with their notions of la pirámide invertida, lo común, migration, autonomía, and the storm. This episode is in Spanish and English. 

[SWAPA Interlude] Circle #0

In this special episode, the podcasters from the Sandovalian Semillero Collective share their SWAPA responses based on the "Introduction" of Methodology of the Oppressed by Chela Sandoval. The SWAPA circle expresses what Sandoval calls the "naguala-witness-naguala ceremony." SWAPA is an acronym for Storytelling/Witnessing Wor(l)d-Art & Performance as Activism. It is a spiritual activist or nepantlera method in the spirit of differential social movement and consciousness from Methodology of the Oppressed. These special episodes are responses to the book and offer a practice of creative close reading and what it means to bridge worlds with others.

For scholarly references on SWAPA, here are some suggested essays:

• Alvarez Jr, Eddy Francisco. "Jotería pedagogy, SWAPA, and Sandovalian approaches to liberation." Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies 39, no. 1 (2014): 215-227.
• Vasquez, Kristian E. "The Decoloniality of Feeling: On Sandovalian Praxis, Ceremony, and Emancipatory Politics in the Classroom and Beyond." Regeneración: A Xicanacimiento Studies Journal 1, no. 1 (2024): 5.

Intro & Outro song: "La calandria” by Raíces Oaxaca.

[EP0] An Introduction to the Liberation Philosophy of Chela Sandoval: MOTOdology

In this new series hosted by Xicana Tiahui, the Sandovalian Semillero Collective introduces the labor, analysis, and background of the U.S. decolonial feminist philosopher Chela Sandoval. This episode introduces the year-long study of Sandoval's debut theoretical and praxis book, Methodology of the Oppressed, published in 2000. The collective discusses how the series will unfold and why the book, Methodology of the Oppressed, or MoTO, is an important intervention in the U.S.-based conversation of politics, philosophy, and practice. MoTO is a manifesto or manual for social emancipation, equipping the reader with a toolkit for analyzing the social world, constructing new ideologies, and building a practice toward "egalitarian" social relations. The collective will embark on close reading and providing an analysis of the book in subsequent episodes, guiding the listener to each chapter's arguments, provocations, and significance.

 

Link to purchase the book | Link to the PDF

[Wellness Segment] Dismantling the Neoliberal Academy with Dr. Vicente Carrillo

Tune in to learn about Dr. Carrillo's experience in academia and what it means to be an educator. 

[Wellness Segment] Radical Grace with Michael Anderson

Tune into this episode where XT co-host kim and Black education historian, Michael @findyourrhythmm discuss wellness and practicing solidarity through radical grace 

[Wellness Segment] Spellworking through Sound & Visuals: Plática with Aire

To learn more about Aire and inquire about collaboration, follow them at: @aire.eternal or email them at: airemusic.eternal@gmail.com 

[Wellness Segment] Mysticism & Creating with Purpose

Tune in to learn about how mysticism, art, and intergenerational wisdom inspires Brujita artist, Ren Conde!

 

 

[Wellness Segment] Writing our Wellness with Dr. Ceci Caballero

In this episode, Dr. Ceci Caballero shares her writing practice and the importance of spirituality for intuitive growth. Tune in to learn about Ceci’s writing workshops for BIPOC spaces.

Follow Ceci's work on Instagram: @writingourwellness