The Highs & Lows Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Highs and Lows
A podcast for students, by students, about students. Aiming to discuss topics that promote mental health, self care, self love, etc. We are a podcast based in Oxnard, California airing every Monday 10am PST on 99.3FM through the courtesy of Oxnard College's EOPS program & Luminary Sounds. Being the first community college podcast in the state of California, as well as airing through 1 of 3 black-owned public access radio stations, we hope to also promote diversity, unity, and community through our platform.
In our Season 6 Episode 2 episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down with Oxnard College English Professor Dr. Jose Maldonado
Dr. Maldonado speaks with us on the value of college education, & the significance of higher ed for communities that have been underrepresented & silenced. He also speaks on his upbringing & how he's used it to not only shape his life, but the lives of so many others.
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https://www.instagram.com/thehighsandlowspodcast/
Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
Feel free to leave us questions & comments on our Spotify page!
Video version exclusively on Spotify
Season 6! In our newest season of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we interview EOPS Counselors Esmeralda Camarena & Nayeli Madero.
Our Season 6 Crew (Ross Fontes, Liz Rosete, & Rae Vega) gets deep with our guests, discussing what it really means to be 1st generation, & really get into the weight & significance of being a 1st gen college student.
We also get to learn about the paths Esmeralda & Nayeli took & what it took to get here & all that they sacrificed.
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https://www.Instagram.com/thehighsandlowspodcast/
Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
Feel free to leave us questions & comments on our Spotify page!
Video version exclusively on Spotify
In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down & speak with Oxnard College Cultural Anthropology Professor Arian Melidonis! We have a great & introspective discussion about anthropology, cultures around us & far beyond, & the world itself! You don't want to miss this extensive episode!
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we have Nature & forest therapy guide, cultural practitioner & interdisciplinary artist Elena Rios. Elena is a strong nature advocate, as well as an advocate for our indigenous communities. She speaks on the importance of building community through personal connectivity, as well as being kinder to our native plants & resources that are only found here!
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this throwback edition of The Highs & Lows Podcast, Joseph fills in & puts down the camera to join Francisco & Ross to take a love language quiz live on air!
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down & speak with Cal State University Channel Islands Professor & Community Advocacy Coalition Board Member, Dr. Ray Tejada. He speaks extensively with us about his passion for community, his professional journey, as well as advocating for others to become pioneers in their community just as those before us did.
Season 5 Episode 6
3/11/24
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down & speak with Oxnard College Student Services Counselor & Boxing/Black Belt Hall of Famer Graciela Casillas.
She takes us through her journey of balancing boxing, school, self defense classes, etc. She details her copius amounts of lows in becoming a Hall of Famer as well as educator. She also emphasizes self defense referring it to a necessity like learning how to read & write.
Graciela also shared with us her new documentary based on her life & her journey through martial arts titled "The Lioness Within" available on Prime Video
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this Episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we speak with Dr. Kari White, reading & ESL instructor & Department Chair for Languages & Reading department. She speaks with us on her true passion for reading. Explaining to us how overlooked it is, when it's actually the most integral part of learning. She also shares with us her journey through guiding various people of all ages through their English learning pathway.
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down with Cal State University Channel Islands Chicanx Professor, Dr. Jennie Luna.
She sits down & speaks with us about her strong advocacy for change, equality, & dispelling stigmas. Her passion for advancement of not just our immediate/local community, but all communities is unequivocally unmatched in our 3rd episode of Season 5 of The Highs & Lows Podcast.
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Directed by Oxnard College EOPS
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down with Oxnard College's Film Department lead Professor Anitra Lawson as well as Oxnard College's Mens/Womens Assistant Basketball Coach Sampson Brue.
Professor Lawson speaks with us about the many paths & places that led her up to here at Oxnard College as well as the tough decisions she had to make in her life in order to move up her career ladder.
Coach Brue speaks with us on the importance of using coaching as a tool for life lessons, not just basketball ones. He also relays the impact of mentors as well as his parents, as key contributors & motivators in his success today.
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In our latest installment of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we interview Professor Tim Fontenette. We learn about his work ethic and how life's challenges helped fuel him during his journey, his professional roadmap and how despite being winding proved necessary for him to succeed. He also gives us his personal insight on the black experience helping shed important light on it during black history month. Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thehighsandlowspodcast/ Produced by Oxnard College EOPSDirected/Creative Directed by Joseph Garcia--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/highsandlowspodcast/message
In our final episode of Season 4 of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we have Dr. Letty Mojica of Oxnard College's University Transfer Center. She speaks with us about how her first generation experience helped shape the lives of younger generations. She also connects with our co-host Priscilla Smith in the way of both starting out in authoritative occupations that led to becoming leaders not only at Oxnard College but in the community as a whole.
Our season 4 crew wraps up this season reminiscing on our past episodes, as well as sharing their future goals/plans as they continue on through their journey.
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we speak with Dean of Student Services Dr. Eliseo Gonzalez & CalWORKS Counselor/Coordinator Marta Munoz. Dr. Eliseo Gonzalez speaks with us about his various stops along the way that led him here at Oxnard College, & how he adapted to his various environments growing up. As well as fulfilling a promise to his mother.
We also speak with Marta Munoz who speaks to us about the importance of family, and how in building her family, she helped shape her life, as well as the lives of others, into something she could have never imagined.
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, the crew answers listener questions ranging from how to decompress, to how to stay productive. We also interview EOPS/NextUp technician Yesenia Ruvalcaba. She speaks with us about her journey navigating life, discovering her true self, and most importantly living life for herself. She also speaks on coping mechanisms & ways she dealt with her tribulations in life in a positive & healthy manner.
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we have Vice President of Academic Affairs & Student Learning Dr. Luis Gonzalez; as well as EOPS Peer Facilitator Priscilla Smith.
Dr. Luis Gonzalez talks to us about the nuances of navigating his role here at Oxnard College, and how he aims to help provide the best learning experiences here for our students. He also speaks to the importance of family, and how his journey through growing with his family has shaped him.
We also speak with our very own EOPS Peer Facilitator Priscilla Smith. She takes us through how different settings and mindspaces that were not condusive to her, transformed into her progression through her personal life and professional life, Crediting her successes through her journey to her mind, body, and soul.
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast we have Brayan Lopez Santos, Director of Advocacy for OC ASG, & Marisol Gonzalez, our very own OC EOPS Peer Advisor.
Brayan tells us about the importance of staying on the right path, and how being in the right mindset and environment is essential to success; thanking many along the way.
Marisol speaks to us about dealing with her mental health struggles while being a mother/ learning adult. She relays to us her former mental headspace and details to us how surrounding yourself with the right people & putting your mental health first can take you places, and go a long way.
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we have on community & cultural arts leader Javier Gomez who details on how him being mislabeled at a young age, helped become who is today. We also have on Oxnard College Counselor/Professor Jose Vega, who takes us through his journey on getting to where he is today, and how it takes one person believing in you, to inspire change.Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thehighsandlowspodcast/Directed by Joseph Garcia & Robert ChaparroCreative Directed by Joseph Garcia--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/highsandlowspodcast/message
In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, Ms. Dolores Ortiz tells us about college not being an option for her in her life until it was; & We also speak with Ms. Ana Maria Valle Villa whp shares with us how college helped shape her life on & off campus
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Directed by Joseph Garcia & Robert Chaparro
Creative Directed by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we hear from OC EOPS Peer Advisor Cinthia Ramirez who speaks to us about what people & what practices helped her go down the right path in her journey. We also speak with Assistant Superintendent of El Rio School District Señor Hernandez, who offers us so much wisdom with the tools & knowledge at our disposal; as well as tells us about his journey on getting to where he is today.
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Directed by Joseph Garcia & Robert Chaparro
Creative Directed by Joseph Garcia
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In this episode of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we sit down with OC EOPS Peer Facilitator Joanna Fisher, who opens up about her mental, physical, and overall health struggles, as well as gives us insight into her love of cooking. We also sit down with OC math professor Dr. Lilia Ruvalcaba, who gives us insight on how to navigate through our highs & lows, as well as laying out for us the importance of math in our every day lives.
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Directed by Joseph Garcia & Robert Chaparro
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In our 2nd episode of season 4 of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we have EOPS Peer Facilitator Juliette Mendez who talks about how welcome she's felt, and the fun she's had since becoming an EOPS Peer Facilitator. As well as speaking on what she's had to go through to get to where she is today. We also speak with OC ASG Advisor Amparo Medina, who speaks about her lows and how they've helped shaped her into the person she is today. She also speaks on advocating for giving voices to the voiceless, as well as being a positive role model for herself and for those around her.
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Directed by Robert Chaparro & Joseph Garcia
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
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In our newest season of The Highs & Lows Podcast, we introduce our Season 4 crew! Co-hosted by Cristian Ayala, Francisco Pedrosa, Priscilla Smith, & Tusi Toilolo! Listen & learn about what their goals are, what motivates them, and what their
"Why?" is.
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https://www.instagram.com/oceops/
Directed by Robert Chaparro
Creative Directed & Produced by Joseph Garcia
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/highsandlowspodcast/message
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we speak with assistant principal of Channel Islands High School, Vanessa Calderon and E.L.D. students Kevin and Fernanda! They all share their stories of trnasitioning from life in Mexico, to life here in the U.S. They also speak on what they've accomplished, and what their goals are in helping others and helping our community. We also speak with Oxnard College Alumni & U.C.L.A. Financial Aid specialist Jessica Martinez. She speaks with us on how she navigated moving numerous times at an early age, and as well as how her lows helped shape her to the woman she is today and not letting her lows define her.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, O.C. EOPS Counselor Everardo Gutierrez Rivera sits down to talk with us about his humble beginnings, and how he plans to keep making waves throughout our community. We also sit down with O.C. student & EOPS Peer Facilitator Francisco Pedroza! He shares with us the importance of breathing, staying grounded, and shares with us how the challenges he's faced in life has helped him be the trailblazer that he is today.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, O.C. Veteran Center Academic Counselor America Barroso tells us how she helps and guides veterans in their first steps of life after service here at Oxnard College. We also sit down with Dr. Veronica Rizalla where she speaks on her family/upbringing, she also tells us about her amazing goals and aspirations. This episode gives us a great insight towards the journeys of these amazing people, and helps us shed light on how they help in our community, and how we can help in our community.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, the accomplished and renown author Frank Barajas joins us and speaks on the importance of representation of minorities in positions of power. He also speaks on the evolvement of diversity within our local Oxnard community and how we can best use our voices in our community. We are also joined by another greatly accomplished individual in Holly Mulligan. She reminisces with us on the challenges that made her who she is today, as well us sharing with us how she's learned to appreciate the hurdles & hardships that have helped her find her passion in guiding students at CalWORKS.
In this special episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we are joined by Oxnard College President Dr. Oscar Cobian. He sits down with us and tells us what it's like being an acting president of a community college, and his journey through getting here to Oxnard College. We also sit down with ASG leaders Damaris Figueroa & Lux Orozco where they talk about how they help promote diversity throughout Oxnard College, and how they help make important decisions on behalf of the students here at Oxnard College.
In this episode of the Highs and Lows Podcast, homegrown CNA extraordinaire Melanie Gomez gets emotional with us discussing her highs and her lows. We also talk with the adventurous counseling extraordinaire Julius Munyantwali where he talks about his long and winding journey that spans several corners of the world.
In this episode of the Highs and Lows Podcast, we learn how Gabriela learned how to navigate life through challenges that seemed impossible to overcome, as well how she’s helping the current and future generation achieve higher education. We also speak with the heavily involved and the highly accomplished Olivia Martinez Lopez. We learn about her passion of getting involved within the college and community and how we can all get more involved in our communities as well.
In this jam packed episode of the Highs and Lows Podcast, we have Dr Shannon Trefts who goes over at length what it means to go through the highs and lows, and how to pave your own path into achieving your career goals. We also have Gabriela Valdez & Daisy Juan de Dios who talk through their lows as first generation students finding their way, but also in their highs in being able to transfer to universities!
In this episode we speak with the amazing Linda Martinez Truax! She's helped many students and people of all walks of life overcome so many challenges through her wisdom. Her involvement and passion towards helping others is one of many things that has made her who she is today, and who she is still becoming. She drops many nuggets and gems here for our listeners so be sure to catch them!
In our first episode of our 3rd and newest season of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we sit down with EOPS Coordinator Cesar Flores and speak on his upbringing, and the impetus of EOPS itself.
In this jampacked episode of the Highs and Lows Podcast EOPS counselors Ross and Gloria go into great detail on their younger lives' and how the complex trials they overcame when they were younger, shaped who they are, and who they became today.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we talk to two amazing guests, Elissa Carruth & Ray Munoz! Elissa goes over what it took to overcome her disabilities and being a first generation learner, as well as turning her disabilities into super powers! Ray Munoz speaks on his journey to doing what he loves, as well as being an active voice for his peers in advocating for mental health support.
In this episode of the Highs and Lows Podcast, we get to know the wonderful Linda Webb! Linda goes over how she got to where she is today, how she had to pivot to get where she wanted, and how keeping an open mind can help you get to many places.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we interview mental health expert Deanna McFadden! She tells us all about how she overcame her steep obstacles into becoming not only the expert that she is today, but the woman she is today.
Marcos Rodriguez from Oxnard College's Welcome Center joins us on this episode of The Highs and Lows podcast! He tells us all about his story on how he grew up, and how he grew into the position he's in today. He also provides us with many amazing quotes and lots of advice for young people who are growing up and trying to find their way.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we have not one, not two, but three special guests! Leo Orange from Oxnard College's EAC, and LLRC tutors Nathan & Devin! We asked them all about how they got here, where they're going, and what they're doing now!
On this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we talk with Fidelia Flores, someone who wears many hats here at Oxnard College. From assisting at risk youth progressing through college, to helping anyone who comes into her office needing help with college. We also get to know Fidelia on a more personal level as she shares her stories and experiences from her childhood to how she got into her position now.
In this new edition of the Highs and Lows Podcast, we introduce our 2 new additions Jasmin & Manuel to the cast as well as welcoming back Joseph to the podcast! We talk about what's new and upcoming for our shows, and who we are!
Wrapping up not only the semester but our inaugural season, we bring on EOPS Counselor Robert Chaparro. A very special guest that helps whom helps us share our takeaways, our whys, and our personal stories. We want to remind all of The Highs and Lows Podcast was created to enlighten and encourage each and every single person that listens, bringing joy, and sharing laughs along the way. As always, keep sharing love and kindness!! Our world needs it.
On this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we welcome a very special guest who is an Oxnard College and EOPS alumni, Daizy Contreras! We speak with her on her challenging past and her amazing victories. With her encouragement and wisdom, she shares with us the immense opportunities we have in life. SI SE PUEDE!!!
Globally there is a lack of access to resources/ support in the world. A lack of access in education, food, housing, health care etc. We help bring awareness to not only lacks of accesses but also to disparity as a whole.
On this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we discuss the importance of healthy dieting and physical exercise. We bring awareness to show how our small changes can have a positive impact on not just ourselves but to those around us as well. We emphasize the importance of balance in our diets as well as physical activity all to battle the life changing conditions/mental issues that we may encounter.
In this episode we reflect on powerful stories from Oxnard College's WEspeak event that helped remind us the importance of appreciation and gratitude. We also reflected on social media's impact on us internally, and externally. Lastly, we answered the question, "What would your perfect day look like?"
On this episode, we explore the significance and importance of the 5 love languages and how we communicate our love. We share our experiences with them and understanding the way we receive love, and give love, is essential to building a community, building trust, and having peace.
Having something to wake up to every day is extremely important for our well being. Our passions help bring us many moments of happiness throughout our days. Creating a space that helps us connect with ourselves and with others goes a long way.
In this episode of The Highs and Lows Podcast, we discuss the patterns and stigma surrounding mental health. We also focus and discuss going through life as first generation hispanics. We bring light to these topics with the purpose of encouraging to break outdated cultural expectations that have been passed down on us for generations.
In this episode, the crew speaks on taking care of yourself, your mental health, and loving yourself. After all, you can't love someone without loving yourself <3
In our inaugural episode we talk about things ranging from motivation, vulnerability, and intuition. We hope you all enjoy our first episode as we aim to encourage people to love more, listen more, and to open up more. We'd love for you to tune in live on air 99.3FM or through the 99.3FM app. If not, enjoy the podcast afterwards on all podcast platforms :)