Sabor A Freedom Podcast

At 16 years old, Mirta Ojito left Cuba with her family during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, joining more than 100,000 Cubans who made the journey to the United States in search of a new beginning. That experience would shape not only her life in America, but also an extraordinary career devoted to telling the stories of others.
In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Mirta joins Judy Pino for a deeply personal conversation about growing up in communist Cuba, leaving the island during Mariel, arriving in the United States as a teenager, and building a new life in a country that offered possibilities she had never known.
Mirta went on to become an award-winning journalist, working for the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, and The New York Times. She shared a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for The New York Times series “How Race Is Lived in America” and received an Emmy for the documentary Harvest of Misery. She has also taught journalism at New York University, Columbia University, and the University of Miami and currently serves as a senior director for News Standards at NBCUniversal.
Judy and Mirta reflect on what it means to leave your homeland behind, start over in America, and carry the memories of Cuba with you. They also discuss Mirta’s decision to revisit the Mariel boatlift in her memoir, Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus, and how journalism and writing have allowed her to explore questions of immigration, identity, belonging, family, and freedom.
The conversation also turns to Mirta’s newest book and first novel, the national bestseller Deeper than the Ocean, a multigenerational story connecting the Canary Islands, Cuba, Key West, and the United States through family secrets, migration, love, and resilience.
And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Mirta shares one of the Cuban dishes that brings her back to her roots: Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera, a Cuban classic with tender chicken, rice, sweet peppers, and peas.
RESOURCE LINKS
🌐 Mirta Ojito: mirtaojitoauthor.com
📘 Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus Mirta’s memoir about her family, Cuba, and her journey to the United States during the Mariel boatlift. Finding Mañana — Penguin Random House
📕 Hunting Season: Immigration and Murder in an All-American Town A true story examining immigration and the murder of an immigrant on Long Island. Hunting Season — Penguin Random House
📙 Deeper than the Ocean Mirta’s first novel and a national bestseller—a multigenerational historical story spanning the Canary Islands, Cuba, Key West, and beyond. Deeper than the Ocean — Hachette Book Group
🥘 Mirta’s favorite recipe — Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera:https://fatgirlhedonist.com/arroz-con-pollo-a-la-chorrera-recipe/
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ABOUT SABOR A FREEDOM
Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Every American Dream Has a Story.
#SaborAFreedom #MirtaOjito #MarielBoatlift #Cuba #CubanAmerican #AmericanDream #Immigration #PulitzerPrize #FindingMañana #DeeperThanTheOcean #Latinos #Freedom #LIBREInitiative

Born in Cuba, arriving in Miami as a young child, and spending more than three decades in Puerto Rico, Vicente Pimienta’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and an embrace of change.
In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Vicente joins Judy Pino to share the experiences that shaped his journey—from starting his first internet company in 1996 to helping thousands of entrepreneurs navigate the digital revolution and now preparing professionals and businesses for the age of artificial intelligence.
They go beyond the chat to explore what AI can actually mean for our everyday lives and work. How do we use it effectively? What skills will matter in an AI-powered economy? And rather than fearing the technology, how can entrepreneurs and professionals learn to make it work for them?
Vicente also shares his approach to human-AI collaboration and the RUTA™ Method, built around a simple idea: getting better results from AI begins with learning to think and communicate more clearly.
And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico, Vicente has a heart for both islands and their food. He shares two dishes that represent those roots: Ajiaco Cubano, a hearty Cuban stew, and Serenata Puertorriqueña, a traditional Puerto Rican bacalao salad.
RESOURCE LINKS
🌐 Vicente Pimienta:https://vicentepimienta.com/
💼 Vicente on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicentepimienta
🤖 Learn about the RUTA™ Method and AI training:https://rutamethod.com/
📘 Free Book — Cómo Hablar con la Inteligencia Artificial:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vicente-Pimienta/author/B0GHSVMJS4?language=es&ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
🥘 Vicente’s favorite recipes — Ajiaco Cubano & Serenata Puertorriqueña:https://saborafreedom.com
If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
🎙️ Subscribe: @theLIBREinitiative🌐 Sabor a Freedom: https://saborafreedom.com
CONNECT WITH THE LIBRE INITIATIVE
🌐 Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibre📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiative𝕏 X: https://x.com/WeAreLIBRE
ABOUT SABOR A FREEDOM
Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative, hosted by LIBRE national spokesperson and brand marketing strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, innovators, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Every American Dream Has a Story.
#SaborAFreedom #VicentePimienta #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AmericanDream #Cuba #PuertoRico #CubanAmerican #Latinos #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #FutureOfWork #RUTAMethod #LIBREInitiative

From selling fruit in a small community in El Salvador to building a life as an entrepreneur, real estate investor, author, and actress in the United States, Verónica Villatoro’s story is one of perseverance, dignity, and opportunity.
In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Verónica joins Judy Pino to share her journey from humble beginnings in El Salvador to pursuing the American Dream. They talk about the sacrifices behind success, entrepreneurship, family, the lessons she learned from her mother, and the experiences that inspired her book, Mujer Sin Límite.
Verónica also reflects on what dignity and freedom mean to her, the importance of remembering where you come from, and how her Salvadoran roots continue to shape the woman she is today.
And, of course, no episode of Sabor a Freedom is complete without a taste of home. Verónica shares the traditions and flavors that bring her back to El Salvador.
Resource links:Purchase Mujer Sim Limites on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mujer-sin-l%C3%ADmite-resiliencia-superaci%C3%B3n/dp/B0GJKWY8Z2/
If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
🎙️ Subscribe: @LIBREInitiative🌐 Learn more: https://saborafreedom.com
Connect with The LIBRE InitiativeWebsite: https://thelibreinitiative.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibreFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiativeX: https://x.com/WeAreLIBRE
About Sabor a FreedomSabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative hosted by LIBRE’s national spokesperson and marketing brand strategist Judy Pino, featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Born into one of South Florida’s most influential Hispanic journalism families, Helen Aguirre Ferré carries forward a legacy that began with her father, Horacio Aguirre, co-founder of Diario Las Américas. She has built her own distinguished career at the intersection of journalism, public service, communications, and Hispanic civic engagement. Over the course of her career, Aguirre Ferré has become a prominent voice in both English- and Spanish-language media and has held senior communications roles at the state and national levels, including serving as White House Director of Media Affairs. She was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016.Resource links: Diario las Americas newspaper:https://www.diariolasamericas.com/Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom “Index of Bureacracy”:https://freedom.fiu.edu/index-of-bureaucracy/Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom Comprehensive Index of Taxation:https://freedom.fiu.edu/the-comprehensive-tax-index/If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.🎙️ Subscribe: @LIBREInitiative 🌐 Learn more: https://saborafreedom.comConnect with The LIBRE Initiative Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibreFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiative X: https://x.com/WeAreLIBREAbout Sabor a FreedomSabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative hosted by LIBRE’s national spokesperson and marketing brand strategist Judy Pino featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.#SaborAFreedom #HelenAguirreFerre #TheLIBREInitiative #NicaraguanAmerican #HispanicVoices #LatinaLeadership #LatinasInMedia #HispanicMedia #Journalism #PublicService #AmericanDream #SueñoAmericano #Freedom #Libertad #BeLIBRE

Award-winning journalist Ivan Taylor joins Sabor a Freedom to discuss how journalism is evolving in today's fast-paced media landscape, the importance of authentic storytelling, and what it means to serve communities through the news.
Drawing on more than two decades of reporting across the United States and Latin America, Ivan shares insights from his career covering breaking news, major international events, and the stories that shape our communities. He also reflects on his journey as a bilingual journalist, love of family and country and why connecting with audiences today requires a more conversational approach.
In this episode, you'll learn:- How journalism has changed in the digital age- The struggles that shaped who he is- Why storytelling matters more than ever- Ivan's career covering major events across the U.S. and Latin America- The role culture plays in building trust with audiences- Love of family- Pursuing the American Dream through service and perseverance
If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
🎙️ Subscribe: @LIBREInitiative 🌐 Learn more: https://saborafreedom.com
Connect with The LIBRE Initiative
 Website: https://thelibreinitiative.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelibre Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLIBREInitiative X: https://x.com/WeAreLIBRE
About Sabor a Freedom
Sabor a Freedom is a podcast from The LIBRE Initiative featuring inspiring conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and changemakers whose stories celebrate freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
#SaborAFreedom #IvanTaylor #Journalism #AmericanDream #CBSNews #LatinoVoices #Storytelling #Podcast #TheLIBREInitiative #Freedom #Opportunity

From the Dominican Republic to leading one of the largest sheriff's offices in America, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz's story is one of perseverance, service, and leadership.
In this episode of Sabor a Freedom, Judy Pino sits down with Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who emerged from an 11-candidate field and went on to become the first elected Sheriff of Miami-Dade County in nearly 60 years—and the first woman and first Latina ever elected to the office in Florida history.
Together, they discuss:- Rosie's journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States- The values that shaped her life and career- Why the rule of law is essential to protecting freedom and opportunity- Leading one of the largest sheriff's offices in the United States- Breaking barriers for Hispanic women in law enforcement and public service- The Dominican breakfast that reminds her of home: Mangu
Every American Dream has a story. This is hers.
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations celebrating the people, cultures, and principles that make America stronger.
🌐 Visit SaborAFreedom.com for Rosie's featured recipe, episode highlights, and more inspiring stories.

Un recorrido por Filadelfia y su papel fundamental en la fundación de los Estados Unidos, a 250 años de independencia.Reels Primary Text:

En este episodio de Sabor a Freedom converso con Jorge Lima, vicepresidente de Iniciativas Estratégicas en Stand Together. Jorge es de esos tipos que no viven del discurso, sino de la ejecución. Hablamos de país, de carácter, de política pública sin gritos, y de lo difícil —pero necesario— que es unir a personas distintas para lograr cambios reales. Una conversación honesta sobre construir cuando todo alrededor invita a dividir.

Cuando Fabio Andrade llegó de Bogotá a Nueva York siendo apenas un niño, descubrió un país donde se dejaban las puertas abiertas y la seguridad era parte del día a día. Aprendió inglés rápido, ayudó a su familia y a otros inmigrantes a conseguir trabajo, estudiar y entender el sistema americano. Años después, en Miami, fundó Americas Community Center, organización que ha apoyado a miles de personas y pequeños negocios a integrarse, emprender y prosperar. Hoy, como comisionado en Weston, sigue demostrando que el sueño americano también se vive sirviendo a la comunidad y participando en la vida cívica.
 

En este episodio especial de Sabor a Freedom, Cesar Grajales comparte un mensaje íntimo de gratitud para nuestra comunidad, reconoce a los invitados de esta temporada y honra a los voluntarios de The LIBRE Initiative en todo el país. Un recordatorio poderoso del valor de la libertad, la familia y nuestras raíces.