This is part two of Hailstones Fell Without Rain: Melbourne Launch. In this episode, I chat with Natalia Figueroa Barroso about writing in Spanglish, her Charrúa, Yoruba and Uruguayan heritage, and the stories that shape her work.

Natalia is a member of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and director of Our North is the South – Latin American Storytelling, a workshop that gives voice to writers who share a connection with South America, whether they were born there or are familiar with its language and culture.

We talk about identity, memory, and the power of fiction to explore personal and cultural histories. The music you hear in the intro and outro of this episode is Negra Presuntuosa by Afro-Peruvian singer Susana Baca.

This episode was presented and produced by Ximena Jimenez.