The podcast serves as an enlightening journey, helping others to understand, appreciate, and connect with cultural heritage and Getty’s pivotal role in its conservation.
Through personal stories, interviews with experts, and visits to sites where preservation efforts are in full swing, listeners will better understand, value, and connect with cultural heritage.
“Cultural heritage doesn’t merely exist in history books or museum exhibitions; we live with it everyday,” says host Jaime Roque. “It’s in the rhythm of our traditions, the stories we share, the buildings we pass by’ and the food we cook. Yet we don’t always think about how we can preserve it for future generations.”
Episodes will be released bi-weekly and include:
101: The Recipe of Us: Food, Family, and Memory
Jaime starts the journey by examining the intimate link between, food, memory, and cultural heritage. He explores how traditions and memories are an essential part of our cultural heritage. We’ll step into his kitchen, hearing about his favorite recipes and stories they hold, meet good historians, chefs, and family cooks, each with unique perspectives on how food acts as a carrier of heritage.
102: America Tropical: Art, Activism, and Los Angeles' Hidden Story
In this episode Jaime talks to members of the Chicano movement about how América Tropical, a famed mural by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros, has became a symbol of their struggle. He also talks to conservators who restored the mural and community members about what the mural means to them today.
103: Resonance of the Codex: Exploring Mesoamerican Musical in the Florentine codex
In this episode Jaime explores the exciting world of Mesoamerican music, from ancient times to today’s tunes. We’ll dive into the Florentine Codex, a book that teaches us a lot about the music and culture of Mesoamerica long ago.
104: Stories from the Chair: Cuts and Heritage in a haircut
StylesVille Barber Shop and beauty Salon in Pacoima opened in 1957 and is the oldest Black-owned barbershop in the San Fernando Valley. It isn't just a place to get a haircut—it's a place where history is alive. This episode unravels the narratives within its walls, becoming a focal point in the larger discussion on preserving African American historic places. As part of a partnership with the city of Los Angeles, Getty’s African American Historic Places Los Angeles initiative is spearheading efforts to conserve spaces like the StylesVille Barber Shop and Beauty Salon, while also promoting a more inclusive and equitable approach to cultural conservation. We’ll also learn about how Jaime, now an adult, still sits in the same barber chair he did as a child. This chair, now used by the next generation of barbers, bridges the past and the present, highlighting the enduring legacy of barber shops and their culture.
105: Legacy of the Land: Wupatki National Monument
Over 5000 Indigenous archaeological sites are currently under threat due to climate change, including the Wupatki National Monument in Northern Arizona. We’ll hear from the Northern Arizona Indian communities who see Wupatki as a physical link to their ancestral past, and talk to the archaeologists and conservators dedicated to preserving the history held within the monument’s stone walls.
106: Maverick and Rebel: Julius Eastman
Julius Eastman had been a groundbreaking composer, an advocate for social change through music, and a trailblazer as a gay Black man in a predominantly white field. And his legacy lives on, still shaping our world and continuing to matter today. As discussions about representation and diversity in the arts are prevalent, preserving Eastman’s work and telling his story are more relevant than ever. In this episode, we’ll hear from Eastman’s brother along with scholars and musicians who study his work. We’ll walk in Eastman’s East Village footsteps and understand the struggles he faced, how his music resonated with the world around him, and the posthumous journey his music has taken.
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