Rephonic
Artwork for Fronteras
San Antonio
Texas
U.s.-Mexico Border
Civil Rights
Trump Administration
Texas Public Radio
Cultural Identity
Immigration
El Paso
Education
Tejano Music
Rasquachismo
Jonathan Joss
Poetry
Chicano Art
DACA
Todos Agua Festival
World War II
Operation Homecoming
Flaco Jiménez

"Fronteras" is a Texas Public Radio program exploring the changing culture and demographics of the American Southwest. From Texas to New Mexico and California, "Fronteras" provides insight into life along the U.S.- Mexico border. Our stories examine unique regional issues affecting lifestyle, politics, economics and the environment.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes70Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNews

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Artwork for Fronteras

Latest Episodes

Valdez, whose work takes on social injustice and underrepresented communities, is one of 20 MacArthur Fellows recognized this year across a variety of fields.

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Taco journalist Mando Rayo explores the stories, history, and culture of Tacos and the people who make them in the Lone Star State.

YouTube

What we know now as the Rio Grande Valley once rose to become the Republic of the Rio Grande. Podcaster Brandon Seale explores the topic in a new documentary.

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The book "Homeboys Forever" by sociologist Avelardo Valdez examines how violence, addiction, and imprisonment affected the lives of young gang members in San Antonio.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mando Rayo
Taco journalist, host and producer of the Tacos of Texas
Identity Productions / Tacos of Texas
Episode: Fronteras: Going beyond the taco — ‘Tacos of Texas’ podcast returns for season seis
Brandon Seale
Podcaster and producer/host of The Republic of the Rio Grande
Brandon Seale Documentary / PBS
Episode: Fronteras: Exploring the little-known history of the Republic of the Rio Grande
Avelardo Valdez
Sociologist and author of Homeboys Forever
University of Southern California (Professor Emeritus)
Episode: Fronteras: Twenty years of consequences — Chronicling the lifelong impact of San Antonio gang life in the ‘90s
Joseph Tovarez
Producer and host of The Return of Fred Carrasco
Independent multimedia producer; The Return of Fred Carrasco
Episode: Fronteras: From the barrio to a prison siege — The life and impact of San Antonio drug lord, Fred Carrasco
Graciela Sánchez
Director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Episode: Fronteras: An endangered Latinx landmark — The fight to preserve San Antonio’s Alazán-Apache Courts
Ceyla Motacasper
Executive Director
Latinos in Heritage Conservation
Episode: Fronteras: An endangered Latinx landmark — The fight to preserve San Antonio’s Alazán-Apache Courts
Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez
Author of Four Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts; author of Tias and Primas on Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raised Us
Author
Episode: Fronteras: From Latinas with tender hearts to tías locas — How storytelling can shatter cultural stereotypes
Gabriel Piña
Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center
Episode: Fronteras: New research examines the role Latino identity plays in individuals across America
Mark Hugo Lopez
Director, Race and Ethnicity Research Program, Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center
Episode: Fronteras: New research examines the role Latino identity plays in individuals across America

Host

Norma Martinez
Host of Fronteras, introducing guests and guiding the conversation

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 31 ratings
  • Latinx - All I need to know

    See above.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Gnm98
    United States2 years ago
  • Love it!

    As a Chicano History teacher in Stockton CA, I love the resources fronteras provides.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Therealmrrojas
    United States3 years ago
  • Thank you!

    These stories bring this non-Texan back to the border where I’ve been blessed to spend time in Brownsville, McAllen and El Paso.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stevie bk ny
    United States5 years ago
  • Powerful

    I’ve been listening to this Podcast for years. Somehow, seemingly mundane subjects are brought to life. A poet gives more insight on religion than any clergy has. A little neighborhood’s complex history is played out over the span of less than an hour. A minor kerfuffle draws out a complex and poignant issue. My heart sings when I hear this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LadyGodiva614
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are well-aligned with culturally rich, research-backed conversations that illuminate lived experiences along the border.
Listeners cite the show as a valuable resource for understanding border communities beyond headlines.
Positive reception of deep, local storytelling that connects personal memories to larger histories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#109
Russia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fronteras: Exploring the little-known history of the Republic of the Rio Grande
Q: Can you explain why the Republic of the Rio Grande may have been independent or may not have been, given the ambiguity in the program you hosted?
The movement reflected a real sense of regional self-determination and a desire to reestablish a federalist order, but its independence was never formally proclaimed in a stable way, and the leadership ultimately faced defeat, leaving its status as contested and ambiguous.
Fronteras: Twenty years of consequences — Chronicling the lifelong impact of San Antonio gang life in the ‘90s
Q: Can you talk a little bit about sort of these the systemic policies that have kept these individuals from really being able to advance?
Valdez explains that it's not just individual choices but a web of institutional failures—education, public services, and especially the criminal justice system—that limited mobility and perpetuated cycles of poverty and crime.
Fronteras: From the barrio to a prison siege — The life and impact of San Antonio drug lord, Fred Carrasco
Q: Can you talk also a little bit about discovering this memoir that Carrasco apparently wrote about his life? I think you say it was something he started in prison, and it actually did go to print, but it doesn't really exist anymore.
The memoir was written by Carrasco on legal pads while in prison; it was translated and published by a Chicano activist, Greg Barrios, but it appears to be self-published and is now hard to find, offering a deeply revealing but imperfect glimpse into his worldview and violence.
Fronteras: New research examines the role Latino identity plays in individuals across America
Q: Gabriel, let's talk a little bit about this survey now. It was taken back in October of last year, and I'm curious as to whether this is one of maybe a series of surveys that the Pew Research Center has done, asking similar questions, and if so, have you seen any sort of significant changes in between those times?
The Pew surveys have been conducted for years with patterns that stay relatively consistent, while adding new questions and innovations, such as combining terms (e.g., Cuban-American, Mexican-American) and exploring how terms affect responses about identity.
Fronteras: The Latino Community Foundation expands support in Texas as immigration enforcement ramps up
Q: What gives you hope that policy reform might move forward in a way that preserves human dignity?
Hope comes from raising public consciousness about the cruelty of current policies, the ongoing human impact on children and families, and the possibility that elections and public opinion can shift toward more humane approaches, even if reform is likely to be incremental.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fronteras

What is Fronteras about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Fronteras provides in-depth, culturally rich conversations at the U.S.–Mexico border, blending history, arts, policy, and community resilience. Episodes frequently center on immigrant and border communities, artifacts of local memory, and the ways culture and policy intersect to shape everyday life. Noteworthy are archival investigations, bi-national storytelling, and collaborations with local nonprofits and cultural institutions that bring underrepresented voices to the fore. The show tends to feature authors, journalists, artists, policymakers, and community organizers, making it a strong fit for listeners who value context-rich storytelling tied to real-world impact along the border. Potential listeners will find thoughtful explorations ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Fronteras?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fronteras:

1. Texas Take
2. Texas Standard
3. Letters from an American
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Fronteras are there?

Fronteras launched 9 years ago and published 70 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fronteras?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fronteras?

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What guests have appeared on Fronteras?

Recent guests on Fronteras include:

1. Mando Rayo
2. Brandon Seale
3. Avelardo Valdez
4. Joseph Tovarez
5. Graciela Sánchez
6. Ceyla Motacasper
7. Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez
8. Gabriel Piña

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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