LlamaMe Anything

I wasn’t spiraling. I was buffering.

Burnout didn’t look like crying—it looked like me saying yes, posting through the pain, and letting men offer “business opportunities” that turned into massage requests.

This episode is about:

– What burnout really does to your brain

– Why scent heals what words can’t

– How @canaliving_’s Manifesting Candle reminded me softness is sacred

– And why you should never flatten yourself to be understo...

This episode is for my nieces, my nephews, and anyone out there trying to build something real from scratch.

When I started Llámame Anything, it wasn’t about going viral. It was a continuation of my master’s thesis—my way of processing identity, power, culture, and technology while preparing for a PhD and surviving in Miami. I was a first-gen college student, a Posse Scholar, and a kid from a single-parent household navigating grie...

I went on Fresh & Fit and stayed quiet.

This episode? I’m done being quiet.

I’m talking about what it means to be Latina in Miami, labeled a “person of color” at Syracuse, and still somehow not American enough when it counts. I’m diving into what it’s like to be feminist and faithful—and still want a man with a house.

In this episode of Llámame Anything, I’m getting real about:

• Being gringa-coded in Miami, but “diverse” in...

Main Character Syndrome, content fatigue, and the quiet panic of always performing—today’s episode is a soft but honest call-out (and call-in) for anyone who’s ever tried to find meaning through a screen.

We talk about:

• Romanticizing your life vs. living it
• The pressure to be “the plot” on platforms that don’t care about you
• Why being watched doesn’t make us better—it just makes us tired
• The spiritual cost of self-surveillance
...

In this episode of LlamaMe Anything, I delve into the intriguing relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Inspired by a recent MIT study on writing and machine assistance, I explore how AI tools like ChatGPT impact our ability to think and create independently.

Through riveting analysis and historical perspective, I question what happens when we let machines start writing for us. Does it stifle creativity ...

Ever trusted someone’s word instead of getting it in writing? Same. This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on what happens when you work, hustle, and pour your heart into a project — with zero strings attached — and then realize you should’ve tied some knots (and maybe added a padlock).

In this solo episode, I talk about feeling completely lost lately, getting burned in business because I didn’t protect myself, and how I’m learn...

Ever feel like applying for jobs is just swiping on a broken dating app? You send out dozens of résumés, only to get ghosted by companies that claim they care about people.

In this episode of Llámame Anything, Vanessa unpacks the hidden truth behind AI-powered hiring: how it screens, sorts, and silently rejects candidates — and what we lose when we replace human connection with cold automation.

With real stories, surprising stats, ...

Once upon a time, the algorithm didn’t decide the vibe. We had house parties, hole-in-the-wall clubs, friend-coded tweets, Tumblr moodboards, and DMs that felt like diary entries. But now? Everything’s optimized. Curated. Gentrified.

This episode explores what we’ve lost in the shift from community-driven spaces to platform-optimized culture—and what it means to reclaim intimacy, memory, and presence in an era of hyper-performance.

Miami’s nightlife didn’t just fade—it was overwritten. In this episode of Llámame Anything, we dig into the disappearance of local club culture, the neighborhoods that birthed it, and how the algorithm is now DJing our memories. From packed dance floors to ghosted venues, this is a story about what we lose when culture gets optimized, sanitized, and streamed.

Hear from DJs, promoters, and cultural insiders about the clubs that buil...

In this episode of Llamame Anything, Vanessa Francesca Ortega delves into the complex world of internet inequality. Discover what lies behind the illusion of digital equality and how infrastructure, geography, and policy create a divided online experience. Explore the realities of a two-tiered internet, the consequences of repealing net neutrality, and what these mean for power and access.

Through personal anecdotes and expert insi...

In this candid episode, the hosts dive into the turbulent waters of modern dating in Miami, where social media interactions blur the lines of loyalty and trust. They tackle the unsettling reality of stalkers, exposing personal encounters with obsessive behavior that defy normal boundaries.

From deceitful ex-husbands cutting off Wi-Fi to unwanted advances from overly persistent admirers, the conversation unveils how digital connecti...

To the Class of 2025: You’re graduating into a world that feels like it’s shifting beneath your feet. Economies are uncertain. Industries are changing. AI is transforming how we work. The rules keep bending. And everyone is telling you to reinvent yourself to survive.

But here’s the truth no one tells you:

You don’t have to constantly transform to be worthy.

You’re not a startup. You’re not a brand.

You’re a human — and that’s enou...

@LlamameAnything:

What if your doctor’s office ran like TikTok?

In my latest episode of Llámame Anything, I reflect on my time working in a private medical office—where I led the shift from paper lab results to digital records—and how that experience now fuels my PhD research into media and healthcare systems.

This episode is about more than tech upgrades. It’s about what gets lost (and who gets left behind) when innovation outpace...

@LlamameAnything:

Welcome to another exciting episode of Llamama Anything! In today's special edition, we're taking you behind the scenes with a personal thank you and exciting sneak peeks of what's in store for our listeners.

Get ready for fascinating solo stories, including an inspiring journey of Dollie as she establishes her law practice. This episode is all about facing real challenges and celebrating real victories.

We're als...

@LlamameAnything:

In this special Earth Day episode of Llámame Anything, our host explores two forces reshaping our world — one visible, one invisible. From the benches disappearing in Brickell to the carbon-heavy training of artificial intelligence models, both gentrification and AI reveal who cities and technologies are truly designed for. Featuring a personal story from Miami’s streets and a deeper look at the environmental toll...

@LlamameAnything:

In this episode of LlamaMe Anything, we delve into the profound intersections of faith, conflict, and diplomacy shaping our world today.

Exploring Modern Spiritual Journeys

We begin with the New York Times’ “Believing” project, which offers intimate insights into how individuals navigate their spiritual paths in contemporary society. Notably, columnist David Brooks shares his personal transformation from agnostici...

LlámaMe Anything is built on real stories and bold, unfiltered conversations—and now we’re inviting you to help keep it going. In this bonus, I’ll share how your support directly helps improve the show and why it matters now more than ever.

Even better? A percentage of all donations will go toward environmental restoration efforts, because caring for our planet is part of the bigger conversation too.

No pressure—every cafecito coun...

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant hustle? You’re not alone. In this episode of Llamame Anything, your host, Vanessa Francesca Ortega Altamirano, delves into the pervasive issue of stress in our modern lives. Drawing from personal experiences and backed by insights from the World Health Organization, Francesca explores how chronic stress affects our mental and physical health, relationships, and overall well-being.

Listeners have ...