América Castillo es “La Chismosa Del Valle”, a first-gen valley girl chismeando her way through tech, culture, mental health, entertainment, immigration, and politics, with just enough journalism training to sound legit. Her storytelling is rooted in lived experience and made for anyone who wants to learn more about the culture. Whether you grew up in it or you're just curious and open. You never know, we might relate more than we think. It’s where critical thinking meets the “dumb valley girl” stereotype and proves there’s a lot more going on than you expect.
Finding Home: Real Estate, Identity, and Small-Town Roots with Casa Casttaneda
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to La Chismosa del Valle! Host America Castillo kicks off a brand-new second season with a deeply personal catch-up before diving into an insightful interview with real estate duo and brothers, Alex and Humberto Castaneda. From navigating career shifts and mental health struggles to moving past the "fame game" of activism, America sets the stage for a conversation about what it truly means to search for "home." Then, she sits down with the brothers behind the Cas...
25 Apr 2026
Faith, Fine Art, and the Founder Journey
Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re exploring what happens when personal reflection meets professional ambition. I share a candid look at my experience with Lent discussing the specific habits I stepped away from and the surprising lessons that surfaced when I cleared the air. That mental clarity couldn't have come at a better time, as I’m officially pulling back the curtain on two major milestones: the launch of my dedicated art account and the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. From the...
21 Nov 2025
Uncle Sam’s Reality TV Game Show: Starring Erika Perez Pt. 2
Send us Fan Mail America dives into the world of surveillance, showing how constant monitoring shapes fear, behavior, and memory. From Erika Perez’s mother, who had to check in regularly with immigration, to America herself, triggered by everyday sounds like a doorbell, this episode exposes how tech, government systems, and societal pressure turn lives into a high-stakes game. A look at privacy, trauma, and what it really means to live under watch. Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicema...
21 Nov 2025
Uncle Sam’s Reality TV Game Show: Starring Erika Perez Pt. 1
Send us Fan Mail When personal data becomes public drama, where do you draw the line between community and control? America unpacks a digital unraveling from online stalking to realizing her digital paranoia was the truth then turns to Erika Perez’s story to reveal how surveillance and systemic power shape real lives. The players are everywhere, the rules are unclear and the algorithm is watching you. Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear fro...
2 Jul 2025
Vanesa Carrillo: From the Border to Tech and the Start of Latinas & Lattes
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In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Carrillo, a first-generation Latina, product marketing manager at Microsoft, and founder of Latinas and Lattes, before she gets too big. We talk about navigating college, showing up in professional spaces, and finding our way through career and identity shifts.
Our conversation made me reflect on my own early 20s—especially now as I turn 30. We talk about growing up bilingual, being ESL kids, dealing with imp...
20 Jun 2025
Undocumented Creatives: We Build the Brand but It Wasn’t Built For Us.
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Undocumented creatives have helped shape the American brand but we’re only good for the brand until we speak up. Rarely are we trusted to shape our own narratives.
In this episode, America Castillo sits down with Miriam Frutos, an influencer marketer, to talk about what it means to be a DACA recipient working in media and marketing and navigating an American workforce that often benefits from our creativity while quietly pushing us out.
In the firs...
23 May 2025
América, Where The Hell Have You Been Loca?
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América has been on a long hiatus. It’s a long story, but she won’t trauma dump or bore you with it today. She’s here to give a quick update and let her friends know what she’s been up to. Even though she’s still had a few “mental health breakdowns” along the way, her head is still in the game and more focused than ever.
Fair warning: the audio levels in this episode are a little all over the place. She tried to fix it, but it’s a bit chaotic, kind ...
17 May 2023
“You sound like a valley girl”
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Stephanie is back and listens to America discuss the Writer’s Guild of America strike. Then they, like, talk about what being a valley girl is and the misrepresentation in the media.
Help shape future episodes!
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.
Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ameriquita, @lachismosadelvalle
Help shape future episodes! Leave a voic...
9 May 2023
Stepping Out of the Shadows
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In this episode, America discusses the health care expansion to include DACA recipients and Florida’s new anti-immigration bill. Then, she proceeds to dive into the topic of DACA by sharing her personal stories of growing up as an undocumented student.
Help shape future episodes!
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.
Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ame...
5 Apr 2023
Puro Lousy Chisme
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What is Chisme? In this first episode America and Stephanie discuss what it means to be a chismosa and whether gossiping is good or bad.
Help shape future episodes!
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.
Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ameriquita, @lachismosadelvalle
Help shape future episodes! Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from y...
22 Feb 2023
El Trailer
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Every other week, America Castillo tries to convince her sister Stephanie Zuniga into having a conversation about things going on in the world. Whether it’s about pop culture or politics, I can guarantee at least one episode on serial killers.
Help shape future episodes!
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text. I actually wanna hear from you! I like constructive criticism.
Follow along on TikTok and Instagram: @la_ameriquita, @lachismos...
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