Los Bookis Podcast

About Los Bookis Podcast

Los Bookis is a podcast connecting queer Latine bookworms with queer Latine stories written by authors who look and sound like us. Join your lively hosts: Adrian Gaston Garcia and Sergio Lopez for monthly interviews with some of the baddest queer Latine storytellers in the game as they dig deep into their literary works and get all the chisme you’ve been dying to know.

Publisher

Adrian Gaston Garcia and Sergio Lopez

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Oct 2023

Latest episode

10 Sept 2025

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Sept 2025

   Alligators, Mermen, and Latine Queer Bookworms, Oh My!

   Get ready for a special treat! In this bonus WorldPride 2025 episode, AGG and Sergio go live from DC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library with the support of the DC Public Library, Loyalty Bookstore, Capital Pride Alliance, and DC Latinx Pride. Recorded in front of a live audience, this episode features a roundtable discussion with Venessa Vida Kelley, author of When the Tides Held the Moon, and Edgar Gomez, author of Alligator Tears: A Memoir in Essays.

2. 

   21 Apr 2025

   Inside the Latinx Storyteller Conference: Alexandra Villasante, Michael Solis & Aida Salazar

   ¡Hola, Bookworms! Last fall, AGG and Sergio hit the Big Apple for the first-ever Latinx Storyteller Conference, hosted by the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival (LKBF). This unforgettable gathering brought together Latinx authors, artists, educators, and publishing professionals in celebration of our stories and our comunidad. In this special bonus episode, we’re sharing on-the-ground interviews with three incredible voices in the literary world: Alexandra Villasante (co-founder of the conference), YA author Michael Solis, and poet-novelist Aida Salazar.

3. 

   9 Jan 2025

   Maricas

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio sit down with Santiago Jose Sanchez to discuss their debut novel, exploring themes of immigrant families drifting apart, the struggle of feeling like someone else, and the journey to find belonging. They also delve into why they chose not to include a coming-out narrative in their book, the personal significance of Hombrecito, navigating pain and loss, and their experiences growing up in both Miami and Colombia.

4. 

   16 Dec 2024

   Little Monsters, Presente!

   Get ready for a special treat! In this episode, AGG and Sergio team up with the Mt. Pleasant Library Friends for their first-ever live recording in front of an audience! They’re joined by the incredible Gerardo Sámano Córdova to dive into his jaw-dropping debut novel, “Monstrilio.” Expect an unforgettable chat about his creative process, navigating grief, family bonds, and why believing in unbelievable matters. Don't miss this literary adventure!

5. 

   25 Oct 2024

   I Can’t Even Help You Because the Problem Is You

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio chat with the fabulous Melissa Mogollon about everything from our collective love for Latina women to her badass grandma’s antics. We dive into how growing up in Florida shaped her, discovering her queerness in DC, stumbling across hilarious websites for men dating Colombian women, and the excitement of her upcoming wedding.

6. 

   30 Sept 2024

   Friends Por Vida

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio talk with Joe Jiménez to discuss the complexities of friendship, his upbringing in small-town Texas, and his experience teaching high school in inner-city San Antonio. We delve into how he brings authentic experiences into his writing, the invaluable advice he received from Sandra Cisneros, and his journey toward personal growth.

7. 

   27 Aug 2024

   Being the Queer Ancestors of the Future

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio have a lively discussion with Caro De Robertis about their obsession with Greek mythology, how writers begin as passionate readers, and the ups and downs of the human experience. Caro spills the tea about their journey of being exiled by family, dealing with homophobic relatives, and the joy of working with a queer Latina editor. They also delve into the power of honoring the erotic in literature, the adventures of queer parenting, and share the captivating story of how they discovered their queerness.

8. 

   25 Jul 2024

   He Tried His Best

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio are live in the studio with the talented Aaron H. Aceves! We dive into his love for voice notes, how his book is a grower, and the sheer joy he feels hearing from fellow queer Latines, Palestinians and teenagers. We also chat about feeling isolated as a child, growing up in the vibrant East L.A., his taste in guys, and he drops a whopper of a hot take that you won’t want to miss! About the Author: @aaronaceves (https://www.instagram.com/aaronaceves/?hl=en) Aaron H. Aceves is a bisexual, Mexican-American writer born and raised in East L.A. He graduated from Harvard College and received his MFA from Columbia University. His fiction has appeared in Epiphany, The Florida Review, and Passages North, among other places. He currently lives in Texas, where he serves as an Early Career Provost Fellow at UT Austin, and his debut novel, This Is Why They Hate Us, was released by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. It received multiple starred reviews and was named a Best Young Adult Book of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews. About the Book: This is Why They Hate Us (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Is-Why-They-Hate-Us/Aaron-H-Aceves/9781534485662) Enrique “Quique” Luna has one goal this summer—get over his crush on Saleem Kanazi by pursuing his other romantic prospects. Never mind that he’s only out to his best friend, Fabiola. Never mind that he has absolutely zero game. And definitely forget the fact that good and kind and, not to mention, beautiful Saleem is leaving L.A. for the summer to meet a girl his family is trying to set him up with. Luckily, Quique’s prospects are each intriguing in their own ways. There’s stoner-jock Tyler Montana, who might be just as interested in Fabiola as he is in Quique; straight-laced senior class president, Ziggy Jackson; and Manny Zuniga, who keeps looking at Quique like he’s carne asada fresh off the grill. With all these choices, Quique is sure to forget about Saleem in no time. But as the summer heats up and his deep-seated fears and anxieties boil over, Quique soon realizes that getting over one guy by getting under a bunch of others may not have been the best-laid plan, and living his truth can come at a high cost. Author Recommended Playlist: Brockhampton - Swim Frank Ocean - Self Control Mashrou’ Leila - Ashabi Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by Antonio Caro @agcaromaya (https://www.instagram.com/agcaromaya/)

9. 

   11 Jun 2024

   Poet of the People

   In this episode, AGG and Sergio sit down with Richard Blanco to discuss a range of topics including his decision to finally dedicate a book to his husband, his identity as a sensory poet, and his ongoing quest to find home. They also delve into his complex relationship with his abuela, including her attempts to bribe him into marrying a woman, and the intricate family dynamics with gender and gender roles. Richard shares his journey of being open and vulnerable, letting go of past burdens, his linguistic power over his parents, having the best queer experience as a youth in Miami, his visits to Cuba, and his strong dislike of toes. About the Author: @poetrichardblanco (https://www.instagram.com/poetrichardblanco/) Richard Blanco’s work has been praised by Ada Limón, Patricia Smith, Eileen Myles, and Elizabeth Alexander, among many others; his poems have appeared in the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Poetry, and dozens of other publications. He is the recent recipient of the National Humanities Medal and was selected by Barack Obama as the fifth presidential inaugural poet in US history. About the Book: Homeland of My Body (https://richard-blanco.com/books/homeland-of-my-body/) In this collection of over one hundred poems, Richard Blanco has carefully culled work from his previous book to represent the evolution of a writer grappling with his identity, working to find and define “home,” and bookended them with new poems that address those issues from a fresh, more mature perspective, allowing him to approach surrendering the pain and urgency of his past explorations. Pausing at this pivotal moment in mid-career, Blanco reexamines his lifelong quest to find his proverbial home and all that it encompasses: love, family, identity, and, ultimately, art itself. In the closing section of the volume, he has come to understand and internalize the idea that “home” is not one place, not one thing, and lives both inside him and inside his art. Author Recommended Playlist: James Taylor - Carolina In My Mind Jackson Brown - The Pretender Dua Lipa - Cold Heart Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by @CaandorLabs (https://www.caandorlabs.com/)

10. 

    29 May 2024

    The Force is Strong with Jessica Parra

    In this episode, AGG and Sergio gab with the fabulous Jessica Parra about our shared love for JLo, dropping a sizzling hot take (Wedding Planner v. Selena), navigating life as a Disney adult, unraveling the secrets of Tarot cards, and the delightful usage of nicknames. We dive into how she deals with grief, her choice to embrace the term “Latine,” in her writing, her creative spin on quinceañeras. Plus, we gush over her love for the TV show “Vida,” and her deep-seated passion for all things Star Wars. About the Author: @JessicaTParra (https://www.instagram.com/jessicatparra/) As a lawyer and daughter of Guatemalan and Cuban bakers, Jessica Parra never objects to an extra slice of cake. She’s a Los Angeles native who loves to write about Latinas with big hair (and even bigger dreams), complicated families, and the healing magic of acceptance. She’s the author of Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success, the forthcoming The Quince Project (both published with Wednesday Books), as well as many unfinished first drafts about cats living their best lives—all nine of them. When she isn’t drafting books you can find her sipping kombucha, cuddling with her kitties, or co-piloting the Millennium Falcon at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge. About the Book: The Quince Project (https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-quince-project/) The Wedding Planner gets a YA makeover in this delightful and heartfelt novel from the author of Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success. Castillo Torres, Student Body Association event chair and serial planner, could use a fairy godmother. After a disastrous mishap at her sister's quinceañera and her mother's unexpected passing, all of Cas's plans are crumbling. So when a local lifestyle-guru-slash-party-planner opens up applications for the internship of her dreams, Cas sees it as the perfect opportunity to learn every trick in the book so that things never go wrong again. The only catch is that she needs more party planning experience before she can apply. When she books a quinceañera for a teen Disneyland vlogger, Cas thinks her plan is taking off...until she discovers that the party is just a publicity stunt and she catches feelings for the chambelán. It's clear that her agenda is about to go way off-script, and that real life is a bit more complicated than a fairy tale. But maybe Happily Ever Afters aren't just for the movies and a little spontaneity is just what she needs. Can Cas go from planner to participant in her own life? Or will this would-be princess turn into a pumpkin at the end of the ball? Author Recommended Playlist: Waiting for Tonight - Jennifer Lopez The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme) - John Williams Tiempo de Vals - Chayanne Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by @CaandorLabs (https://www.caandorlabs.com/)

11. 

    30 Apr 2024

    From Military Brat to Edinburgh | Andrés N. Ordorica, How We Named the Stars

    In this episode, Sergio and AGG meet with Andrés to discuss how nature plays a central theme in his book, our mutual frustration with the protagonist, reflect on the special bond he shared with his abuelo, the challenges of being queer, the need to leave one’s hometown, shares a valuable college tip and divulges his greatest fear on what he thinks may get him “canceled.” About the Author: @andres_ordorica (https://www.instagram.com/andres_ordorica/) Andrés N. Ordorica (He/him) is a queer Latinx writer based in Edinburgh. Drawing on his family’s immigrant history and third culture upbringing, his writing maps the journey of diaspora and unpacks what it means to be from ni de aquí, ni de allá (neither here, nor there). He is the author of the poetry collection At Least This I Know and novel How We Named the Stars. He has been shortlisted for the Morley Lit Prize, the Mo Siewcharran Prize and the Saltire Society’s Poetry Book of The Year. In 2024, he was selected as one of The Observer’s 10 Best Debut Novelists in the UK. About the Book:  How We Named the Stars (https://tinhouse.com/book/how-we-named-the-stars/) Set between the United States and México, Andrés N. Ordorica’s debut novel is a tender and lyrical exploration of belonging, grief, and first love―a love story for those so often written off the page. When Daniel de La Luna arrives as a scholarship student at an elite East Coast university, he bears the weight of his family’s hopes and dreams, and the burden of sharing his late uncle’s name. Daniel flounders at first―but then Sam, his roommate, changes everything. As their relationship evolves from brotherly banter to something more intimate, Daniel soon finds himself in love with a man who helps him see himself in a new light. But just as their relationship takes flight, Daniel is pulled away, first by Sam’s hesitation and then by a brutal turn of events that changes Daniel’s life forever. As he grapples with profound loss, Daniel finds himself in his family’s ancestral homeland in México for the summer, finding joy in this setting even as he struggles to come to terms with what’s happened and faces a host of new questions: How does the person he is connect with this place his family comes from? How is his own story connected to his late uncle’s? And how might he reconcile the many parts of himself as he learns to move forward? Equal parts tender and triumphant, Andrés N. Ordorica’s How We Named the Stars is a debut novel of love, heartache, redemption, and learning to honor the dead; a story of finding the strength to figure out who you are—and who you could be—if only the world would let you. Author Recommended Playlist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Hysteric Omar Apollo - En El Olvido Vicente Fernandez - Volver, Volver Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by @CaandorLabs (https://www.caandorlabs.com/)

12. 

    12 Mar 2024

    An Extraordinary Life | Jaquira Díaz, Ordinary Girls

    In this episode, AGG and Sergio engage in a conversation with Jaquira Díaz delving into topics such as monsters, how the world sees women’s bodies, how your friends become your family, rebelling against authority, reconciling with family, being sluts for books and how to live now. About the Author: @jaquiradiaz (https://www.instagram.com/jaquiradiaz/) Jaquira Díaz was born in Puerto Rico. Her work has been published in the New York Times Style Magazine, the Guardian, Longreads, Conde Nast Traveler, and included in The Best American Essay of 2016. She is the recipient of a Whiting Award, two Pushcart Prizes,  an Elizabeth George Foundation grant, and fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the Kenyon Review, and the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing. She splits her time between Montreal and Miami Beach with her partner, the writer Lars Horn. About the Book: While growing up in housing projects in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach, Jaquira Díaz found herself caught between extremes. As her family split apart and her mother battled schizophrenia, she was supported by the love of her friends. As she longed for a family and home, her life was upended by violence. As she celebrated her Puerto Rican culture, she couldn’t find support for her developing sexual identity. Díaz writes with raw and refreshing honesty, triumphantly mapping a way out of despair toward love and hope to become her version of the girl she always wanted to be. Author Recommended Playlist: Missy Elliot - Work It La Lupe - La Tirana Hector Lavoe - Un Amor de la Calle Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by @CaandorLabs (https://www.caandorlabs.com/)

13. 

    13 Feb 2024

    Gay Ass Families

    In this episode, AGG and Sergio discuss Sonora’s love for Ballet Folklórico, fan fiction, their mixed feelings with Catholicism, the fear of being a queer youth and experiencing homelessness, the possibility of a follow-up book, struggling in school, and the need for community. About the Author: @sonora.reyes  (https://www.instagram.com/sonora.reyes/?hl=en) Sonora Reyes is a queer second-generation Mexican American who attended a Catholic high school. They write fiction full of queer and Latinx characters in a variety of genres. Sonora is also the creator and host of #QPOCChat, a monthly community-building Twitter chat for queer writers of color. They currently live in Arizona, in a multi-generational family home with a small pack of dogs who run the place. About the Book: The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School (https://www.sonorareyes.com/lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school) Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers to be known for her killer eyeliner, not for being one of the only Mexican kids at her new, mostly white, very rich Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she's gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way. After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend before transferring to Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: keep her brother out of trouble, make her mom proud, and, most importantly, don't fall in love. Granted, she's never been great at any of those things, but that's a problem for Future Yami. The thing is, it's hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And smart. And talented. And cute. So cute. Either way, Yami isn't going to make the same mistake again. If word got back to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection. So she'll have to start asking, WWSGD: What would a straight girl do? Author Recommended Playlist: Hozier - Take Me To Church Hayley Kiyoko - Sleepover Lauren Aquilina - Sinners Connect with Los Bookis! @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/?hl=en) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/?hl=en) Produced by @CaandorLabs (https://www.caandorlabs.com/)

14. 

    12 Dec 2023

    Gay Ass Voices

    Fresh off winning the National Book Award for Fiction, AGG and Sergio engage in an insightful conversation with Justin Torres. Together they explore the boldness of Jan Gay, the absurdity of the Puerto Rican Syndrome, the march towards death, their gay ass voices, the magic of Disco, and their mutual love for Justin’s debut masterpiece - “We The Animals.” About the author: Justin Torres is the author of We the Animals, which won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and was translated into fifteen languages, and was adapted into a feature film. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, Granta, Tin House, and The Washington Post. He lives in Los Angeles and is an associate professor of English at UCLA. In November 2023, Justin Torres won the National Book Award for Fiction for his novel, “Blackouts.” Connect with Justin at https://justin-torres.com/ (https://justin-torres.com/) or follow him on Instagram at @justin_torres_books.  (https://www.instagram.com/justin_torres_books/) Author Recommended Playlist: The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black La Lupe Connect with us at @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast/) @adriangaston.garcia @que_viva_sergio_lopez Produced by Caandor Labs  (www.caandorlabs.com)

15. 

    16 Nov 2023

    POCAS PERO LOCAS

    In this episode, AGG and Sergio become honorary members of Myriam’s gang: P.P.L. Myriam discusses the history of Creep, her incredible memory, embracing slut terminology, who she wants to surround herself with, recognizing the beauty and pain that her grandfather caused, the urban legend of Pedro Paramo, and her ability to speak up for others. *Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. About the author: Myriam Gurba is a writer and artist. She is the author of the true-crime memoir Mean, a New York Times Editors’ Choice. O, The Oprah Magazine, ranked Mean as one of the best LGBTQ books of all time. Publishers Weekly describes Gurba as having a voice like no other. Her essays and criticism have appeared in The Paris Review, Time, and 4Columns. She has shown art in galleries, museums, and community centers. She lives in Pasadena, California. About The Book: Creep is Myriam's second book and is a blistering and deceptively playful genealogy of creeps: the individuals who deceive, exploit, and oppress. In eleven bold and electrifying pieces, Gurba mines her own life and the lives of others - some  famous, some infamous, some you’ve never heard of but will likely never forget - to unearth the toxic traditions that have long plagued our culture and enabled the abusers who haunt our books, learning institutions, and homes. Connect with Myriam at https://www.myriamgurba.com/  (https://www.myriamgurba.com/) or follow her on Instagram at @alt_myriam_gurba666 (https://www.instagram.com/alt_myriam_gurba666/?hl=en) @Los.Bookis.Podcast @adriangaston.garcia @que_viva_sergio_lopez Author recommended playlist: Chavela Vargas - Paloma Negra Zapp & Roger - More Bounce to the Ounce Rosie & The Originals - Angel Baby Produced by Caandor Labs  (www.caandorlabs.com)

16. 

    12 Oct 2023

    How Alejandro Wants to be Remembered

    In the first ever episode of “Los Bookis,” AGG and Sergio Lopez sit down with Alejandro Varela, to discuss his latest book, “The People Who Report More Stress.” They dig deep into his work, his job at the US Open, outings to gay bars as a young man, capitalism v. working class issues, what Alejandro would be like if he was on the apps, what we should be advocating for at all times, who he wants to play Eduardo and Gus if there was a movie adaptation, and how he wants to be remembered. About the author: Alejandro Varela (he/him) is a writer based in New York. His debut novel, The Town of Babylon (2022), was published by Astra House and was a finalist for the National Book Award, as well as a nominee for the PEN America Open Book Award and the Aspen Literary Prize. His work has appeared in The Point Magazine, Georgia Review, Boston Review, Harper’s, The New Republic, and The Offing, among other outlets. Varela is an editor-at-large of Apogee Journal. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Health. The People who Report More Stress, his story collection, was published in April, by Astra House. About the book: The People Who Report More Stress, published by Astra House earlier this year, is a stunning collection of humorous, sexy, and highly-neurotic tales examining issues of parenting, systemic and interpersonal racism, and class conflict in gentrified Brooklyn. @drovarela  (https://www.instagram.com/drovarela/) @Los.Bookis.Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/losbookispodcast/) @adriangaston.garcia (https://www.instagram.com/adriangaston.garcia/) @que_viva_sergio_lopez (https://www.instagram.com/que_viva_sergio_lopez/) Author recommended playlist: Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done to Deserve This Prince - Little Red Corvette George Michael - A Different Corner Produced by Caandor Labs.  (www.caandorlabs.com)

17. 

    10 Oct 2023

    Welcome to Los Bookis Podcast!

    Welcome to Los Bookis Podcast - a podcast for queer Latine bookworms who like queer Latine stories. Co-hosted by Adrian Gaston Garcia and Sergio Lopez, join us for lively interviews with some of the baddest queer Latine storytellers in the game. Each month, we dig deep into the authors’ literary works and get all the chisme readers have been dying to know. Follow, listen, and subscribe to Los Bookis on Apple, Google, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to your favorite podcasts.  Stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook and Threads @ LosBookisPodcast. Hasta luego bookworms! Produced in Partnership with Caandor Labs  (www.caandorlabs.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

239

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

36

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

71

Contact Los Bookis Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.