What does it take to build a successful career in the public eye while staying true to who you are?

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, award-winning journalist, television personality, and author Myrka Dellanos joins host Judy Pino for a conversation about her remarkable career, Cuban American heritage, faith, resilience, and the lessons she has learned along the way.

For more than three decades, Myrka has been one of the most recognizable faces in Spanish-language television. From her groundbreaking years as co-host of Univision's Primer Impacto to her work as an author and television host, she has built a career connecting with millions of viewers across the United States and Latin America.

But behind the cameras and headlines is a story of perseverance, personal growth, and reinvention.

Judy and Myrka explore the experiences that shaped her journey, the challenges of navigating fame and public scrutiny, and the role faith and family have played in her life.

They also discuss her Cuban roots, how socialism changed the course of her family’s life, and what the American Dream means to someone who has spent much of her career sharing the stories of others.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Myrka reflects on finding purpose, overcoming adversity, and using her voice and platform to make a difference.

Myrka is also the author of the upcoming book, ¿Dónde Estás, Dios, Cuando la Vida No Tiene Sentido?, available this November on Amazon and at MyrkaDellanos.com. In her book, she explores faith, hope, and finding meaning during life’s most difficult moments.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of culture and tradition.

RESOURCE LINKS

📺 Myrka Dellanos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myrkadellanos/

🌐 Myrka Dellanos website:https://myrkadellanos.com/

#SaborAFreedom #MyrkaDellanos #PrimerImpacto #LatinaJournalist #CubanAmerican #Faith #Resilience #AmericanDream

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ABOUT SABOR A FREEDOM

Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, athletes, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

What inspires a young person to stop watching politics from the sidelines and decide to get involved?

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Rey Anthony joins Judy Pino for a conversation about civic engagement, public service, and why the next generation has an important role to play in shaping America’s future.

Rey began getting involved in politics while attending Florida International University (FIU) and has since built a career in government, communications, and public affairs. Today, he serves as Chief of Staff to Congressman Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28).

Rey shares what first motivated him to participate, the experiences that shaped his path from college activism to Capitol Hill, and what he has learned about leadership and public service along the way.

Judy and Rey also explore a bigger question: How do we motivate more young Americans to participate in the political process? They discuss the growing influence of younger voters, the role of social media in shaping political conversations, and why meaningful engagement requires more than simply posting or reacting online.

The conversation also looks at the importance of understanding how government works, getting involved in your community, listening to different perspectives, and recognizing that you don’t have to wait until later in life to make a difference.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of culture. Rey shares one of his Miami favorites: Cuban cafecito from Versailles Restaurant. Strong, sweet, and meant to be shared, Cuban coffee is more than a drink—it’s a tradition built around conversation, connection, and community.

🏛️ Congressman Carlos A. Giménez Learn more about Congressman Giménez and his work in Florida’s 28th Congressional District. https://gimenez.house.gov/

💼 Rey Anthony LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rey-anthony-fl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reyanthonyfl/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reyanthonyfl

☕ Taste of Traditions: Cuban Cafecito Discover the tradition behind one of Miami’s most iconic Cuban favorites.

#SaborAFreedom #ReyAnthony #CivicEngagement #PublicService #YoungLeaders #Miami #CubanAmerican #Cafecito #AmericanDream

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🌐 Website: The LIBRE Initiative 📸 Instagram: @wearelibre 📘 Facebook: The LIBRE Initiative 𝕏 X: @WeAreLIBRE

Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, athletes, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Every American Dream Has a Story.

----more----For 15 years, The LIBRE Initiative has worked alongside Hispanic communities across America, advancing the principles of freedom and opportunity and helping people pursue their American Dream.

In this special edition of Sabor a Freedom, Judy Pino takes you inside LIBRE’s 15th Anniversary “Quince” Gala for conversations with some of the people who have helped shape the organization’s story.

The episode features Daniel Garza, Sandra Benitez, Jenny Korn, Andeliz Castillo, Jorge Martinez, and Rachel Campos-Duffy, who emceed the anniversary celebration. Together, they reflect on LIBRE’s beginnings, the people and communities behind its growth, and the experiences that helped transform an idea into a nationwide grassroots organization.

The conversations also look beyond organizational milestones to the personal stories behind the work—the relationships built over the years, lessons learned along the way, and the belief that opportunity can change the trajectory of individuals, families, and communities.

From those who helped build LIBRE in its earliest days to the leaders carrying its work forward today, this special captures different perspectives on where LIBRE has been, what has changed over 15 years, and what comes next.

FEATURED GUESTS

🎙️ Daniel Garza — Founder and President, The LIBRE Initiative

🎙️ Sandra Benitez — Executive Director, The LIBRE Initiative

🎙️ Andeliz Castillo — CEO and Executive Director (2012-2017), The LIBRE Initiative

🎙️ Jenny Korn — Former Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director, White House Office of Public Liaison

🎙️ Jorge Martinez — Strategic Director for Texas, The LIBRE Initiative

🎙️ Rachel Campos-Duffy — Co-Host, FOX & Friends Weekend nd LIBRE 15th Anniversary Gala Emcee

#SaborAFreedom #LIBRE15 #TheLIBREInitiative #AmericanDream #Freedom #Opportunity #Latinos If you enjoyed this special edition, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

🌐 Sabor a Freedom: saborafreedom.com

CONNECT WITH THE LIBRE INITIATIVE

🌐 Website: The LIBRE Initiative

📸 Instagram: @wearelibre

📘 Facebook: The LIBRE Initiative

𝕏 X: @WeAreLIBRE A

BOUT SABOR A FREEDOM

Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, athletes, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Every American Dream Has a Story.

This is ours.

Visit the LIBRE Initiative's Action Center take action on issues like this one: https://thelibreinitiative.actcentr.com/ **********************************

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/theLIBREinitiative https://twitter.com/LIBREinitiative https://www.instagram.com/wearelibre/ ********************************** Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com/

For Stephanie Santiago-Rolón, breaking into the music industry meant learning how to navigate a competitive business, build relationships, take risks, and create opportunities in spaces where success is never guaranteed.

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Stephanie joins Judy Pino for a conversation about her journey in the Latino music industry, the experiences that shaped her career, and what it takes to build a name in an industry driven by talent, relationships, culture, and constant change. Stephanie shares lessons from working behind the scenes of the music business, including the importance of persistence, confidence, adaptability, relationship-building, and knowing your value.

She also talks about what it means to be a woman in the industry, the barriers she has had to navigate, and how those experiences helped shape the leader she is today.

The conversation explores the growing influence of Latino music and culture in the United States, how the industry has evolved, and why creating opportunities for new voices and talent matters. Judy and Stephanie also discuss entrepreneurship, career pivots, taking chances, and the freedom that comes with creating your own path rather than waiting for someone else to open the door.

For anyone trying to break into a competitive industry, Stephanie offers practical perspective on building relationships, showing up prepared, learning from setbacks, and staying focused on the opportunities ahead.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Stephanie shares one of her favorite Puerto Rican meals: pechuga empanada with arroz blanco, habichuelas rojas, and tostones—a comforting combination of familiar flavors that brings family, culture, and tradition together around the table.

RESOURCE LINKS

🎵 Learn more about Stephanie Santiago-Rolón https://www.instagram.com/elevatedmusicindustries/?hl=en 🥘 Stephanie’s favorite dish — Pechuga Empanada with Arroz Blanco, Habichuelas Rojas & Tostones A Puerto Rican favorite featuring breaded chicken breast, white rice, red beans, and crispy fried plantains (tostones). https://www.lemon8-app.com/@nayeliemateo/7377931849957982725?region=us

🎙️ Sabor a Freedom Every American Dream Has a Story. If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

🎙️ Subscribe: @theLIBREinitiative

🌐 Sabor a Freedom: saborafreedom.com

CONNECT WITH THE LIBRE INITIATIVE 🌐 Website: The LIBRE Initiative

📸 Instagram: @wearelibre

📘 Facebook: The LIBRE Initiative

𝕏 X: @WeAreLIBRE

ABOUT SABOR A FREEDOM Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Every American Dream Has a Story.

At 16 years old, Mirta Ojito left Cuba with her family during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, joining more than 100,000 Cubans who made the journey to the United States in search of a new beginning. That experience would shape not only her life in America, but also an extraordinary career devoted to telling the stories of others.

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Mirta joins Judy Pino for a deeply personal conversation about growing up in communist Cuba, leaving the island during Mariel, arriving in the United States as a teenager, and building a new life in a country that offered possibilities she had never known.

Mirta went on to become an award-winning journalist, working for the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, and The New York Times. She shared a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for The New York Times series “How Race Is Lived in America” and received an Emmy for the documentary Harvest of Misery. She has also taught journalism at New York University, Columbia University, and the University of Miami and currently serves as a senior director for News Standards at NBCUniversal.

Judy and Mirta reflect on what it means to leave your homeland behind, start over in America, and carry the memories of Cuba with you. They also discuss Mirta’s decision to revisit the Mariel boatlift in her memoir, Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus, and how journalism and writing have allowed her to explore questions of immigration, identity, belonging, family, and freedom.

The conversation also turns to Mirta’s newest book and first novel, the national bestseller Deeper than the Ocean, a multigenerational story connecting the Canary Islands, Cuba, Key West, and the United States through family secrets, migration, love, and resilience.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Mirta shares one of the Cuban dishes that brings her back to her roots: Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera, a Cuban classic with tender chicken, rice, sweet peppers, and peas.

🌐 Mirta Ojito: mirtaojitoauthor.com

📘 Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus Mirta’s memoir about her family, Cuba, and her journey to the United States during the Mariel boatlift. Finding Mañana — Penguin Random House

📕 Hunting Season: Immigration and Murder in an All-American Town A true story examining immigration and the murder of an immigrant on Long Island. Hunting Season — Penguin Random House

📙 Deeper than the Ocean Mirta’s first novel and a national bestseller—a multigenerational historical story spanning the Canary Islands, Cuba, Key West, and beyond. Deeper than the Ocean — Hachette Book Group

🥘 Mirta’s favorite recipe — Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera: https://fatgirlhedonist.com/arroz-con-pollo-a-la-chorrera-recipe/

If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

🎙️ Subscribe: @theLIBREinitiative 🌐 Sabor a Freedom: saborafreedom.com

🌐 Website: The LIBRE Initiative 📸 Instagram: @wearelibre 📘 Facebook: The LIBRE Initiative 𝕏 X: @WeAreLIBRE

Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Every American Dream Has a Story.

#SaborAFreedom #MirtaOjito #MarielBoatlift #Cuba #CubanAmerican #AmericanDream #Immigration #PulitzerPrize #FindingMañana #DeeperThanTheOcean #Latinos #Freedom #LIBREInitiative

Born in Cuba, arriving in Miami as a young child, and spending more than three decades in Puerto Rico, Vicente Pimienta’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and an embrace of change.

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Vicente joins Judy Pino to share the experiences that shaped his journey—from starting his first internet company in 1996 to helping thousands of entrepreneurs navigate the digital revolution and now preparing professionals and businesses for the age of artificial intelligence.

They go beyond the chat to explore what AI can actually mean for our everyday lives and work. How do we use it effectively? What skills will matter in an AI-powered economy? And rather than fearing the technology, how can entrepreneurs and professionals learn to make it work for them?

Vicente also shares his approach to human-AI collaboration and the RUTA™ Method, built around a simple idea: getting better results from AI begins with learning to think and communicate more clearly.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico, Vicente has a heart for both islands and their food. He shares two dishes that represent those roots: Ajiaco Cubano, a hearty Cuban stew, and Serenata Puertorriqueña, a traditional Puerto Rican bacalao salad.

RESOURCE LINKS

🌐 Vicente Pimienta: https://vicentepimienta.com/

💼 Vicente on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicentepimienta

🤖 Learn about the RUTA™ Method and AI training: https://rutamethod.com/

📘 Free Book — Cómo Hablar con la Inteligencia Artificial:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vicente-Pimienta/author/B0GHSVMJS4?language=es&ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

🥘 Vicente’s favorite recipes — Ajiaco Cubano & Serenata Puertorriqueña: https://saborafreedom.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

🎙️ Subscribe: @theLIBREinitiative 🌐 Sabor a Freedom: https://saborafreedom.com

CONNECT WITH THE LIBRE INITIATIVE

🌐 Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibre 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiative 𝕏 X: https://x.com/WeAreLIBRE

ABOUT SABOR A FREEDOM

Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Every American Dream Has a Story.

#SaborAFreedom #VicentePimienta #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AmericanDream #Cuba #PuertoRico #CubanAmerican #Latinos #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #FutureOfWork #RUTAMethod #LIBREInitiative

From selling fruit in a small community in El Salvador to building a life as an entrepreneur, real estate investor, author, and actress in the United States, Verónica Villatoro’s story is one of perseverance, dignity, and opportunity.

In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Verónica joins Judy Pino to share her journey from humble beginnings in El Salvador to pursuing the American Dream. They talk about the sacrifices behind success, entrepreneurship, family, the lessons she learned from her mother, and the experiences that inspired her book, Mujer Sin Límite.

Verónica also reflects on what dignity and freedom mean to her, the importance of remembering where you come from, and how her Salvadoran roots continue to shape the woman she is today.

And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Verónica shares the traditions and flavors that bring her back to El Salvador.

Resource links: Purchase Mujer Sim Limites on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mujer-sin-l%C3%ADmite-resiliencia-superaci%C3%B3n/dp/B0GJKWY8Z2/

If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

🎙️ Subscribe: @LIBREInitiative 🌐 Learn more: https://saborafreedom.com

Connect with The LIBRE Initiative Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibre Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiative X: https://x.com/WeAreLIBRE

About Sabor a Freedom Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative hosted by LIBRE’s national spokesperson and marketing brand strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.