What is Liberation, really? Joél Leon, Naley by Nature and Jasmine Ruiz on Imagining New Systems & Building Something Better

In this episode, Odalys Jasmine sits with 3 Bronx natives — Joél Leon, Naley by Nature, and Jasmine Ruíz — to talk liberation, capitalism, healing, and imagining new systems.

Together, we explore how their personal journeys from navigating diaspora identity and systemic oppression to embracing spirituality and community, have shaped their understanding of freedom.

The conversation asks deeper questions like:

How do we liberate ourselves from the systems we've internalized?
How do we practice mercy in a culture built on punishment?
And what kind of world are we actually trying to build after the systems we're fighting to abolish are gone?

From Puerto Rican identity and post-9/11 experiences to mindfulness, social media, faith, conflict resolution, and the contradictions of this modern life, this episode is an invitation to slow down, get curious, and imagine a better world for the collective. It also challenges us to think beyond systems of oppression and ask: What are we building instead?

Joel Leon is a Bronx-born writer, performer, storyteller, father, and creative facilitator whose work explores healing, identity, vulnerability, and collective liberation. Through poetry, performance, and community engagement, he creates spaces for deeper conversations around emotional well-being, masculinity, and human connection.

Jasmine Ruiz is a Puerto Rican content creator, actress, comedian, and writer from the Bronx. Known for her humorous and insightful commentary on family dynamics, cycle breaking, first-generation experiences, and navigating adulthood, she uses storytelling and comedy to make difficult conversations more accessible.

Naley is the founder of Naley by Nature. She's a storyteller, writer, and geopolitical content creator whose work bridges politics, spirituality, culture, and global liberation movements. Through thoughtful analysis and compassionate storytelling, she helps audiences connect world events to larger questions of humanity, justice, and collective responsibility.

This conversation with Joel, Jasmine, and Naley reminds us that liberation is a constant practice.

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Follow Hella Latin@ for more updates on upcoming episodes and events. Connect on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠, join the conversation on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, and learn more at ⁠odalysjasmine.com⁠.

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