Between Cultural Roots and a New Reality:
The Experience of Monina Somere
Entre Expats
Monina Somere is the host of the multilingual podcast Visions and Talks, an aspiring sports journalist, and the founder of ONESP, an association that creates spaces for African youth in Spain. Born in Girona to parents from Mauritania, Monina has preserved her family’s language and culture while also becoming part of Catalan and Spanish society. In the Entre Expats podcast, we talk with Monina about what it was like for a young woman with African roots growing up in Catalonia to seek role models outside of Spain, about the courage to go against family expectations, and about how vital it is for migrants to give each other visibility and to be heard.
When I get an idea,
I put it into action within a week
I put it into action within a week
One day, while chatting with a friend, I suddenly thought: “What if we recorded our conversation and put it online?” That’s how the idea for the podcast was born. I had always listened to American shows hosted by people with dark skin. And even if it seems like a small detail, those examples gave me strength — they allowed me to tell myself, “I can do this too.” At that time in Spain, there was hardly anything like it, so I decided to take the leap.
I recorded the first episode, uploaded it… and on the day of the premiere, I blocked my entire family on social media. I knew that if they saw it, they would try to talk me out of it, saying, “People don’t do that,” or “What will others think?” I didn’t want their words to derail me.
Six months later, I was invited for an interview with Girona’s main newspaper. I realized my mom would find out anyway, so it was better to tell her myself. “Mom, I have a podcast. I record videos and upload them online. I haven’t done anything bad.” She listened — and, to my surprise, she was happy about it. Since then, my mom has become one of my strongest allies, even if she doesn’t always fully understand what exactly I’m doing.
I recorded the first episode, uploaded it… and on the day of the premiere, I blocked my entire family on social media. I knew that if they saw it, they would try to talk me out of it, saying, “People don’t do that,” or “What will others think?” I didn’t want their words to derail me.
Six months later, I was invited for an interview with Girona’s main newspaper. I realized my mom would find out anyway, so it was better to tell her myself. “Mom, I have a podcast. I record videos and upload them online. I haven’t done anything bad.” She listened — and, to my surprise, she was happy about it. Since then, my mom has become one of my strongest allies, even if she doesn’t always fully understand what exactly I’m doing.
I am a bridge between cultures
At home, I speak my parents’ language, we cook traditional dishes, celebrate holidays, I dance to the music of my culture — and I’m proud of it. From childhood, my parents taught us our native language, and it has been preserved. Yes, some people say, “You look European,” but I hold on to everything tied to our customs and faith. At the same time, I live within European culture. I haven’t “adapted” — I was born here and have taken the best from both worlds.
This blend also comes through in my podcast. I’ve brought with me the values my parents instilled — respect for elders, the way of speaking and expressing oneself. But most importantly, there’s the simple fact that a woman from my community steps into the public space and isn’t afraid of judgment. I believe that tomorrow, many girls will tell themselves: I can do this too.
This blend also comes through in my podcast. I’ve brought with me the values my parents instilled — respect for elders, the way of speaking and expressing oneself. But most importantly, there’s the simple fact that a woman from my community steps into the public space and isn’t afraid of judgment. I believe that tomorrow, many girls will tell themselves: I can do this too.
Activism Without Slogans
For me, one of the most important issues within the African community is mental health. Living in two, sometimes even three cultures — my own, Catalan, and Spanish — means constantly facing questions of identity. As a teenager, I felt it myself: to white people, I was “not that Black,” and to Black people, I was “too light.”
Of course, racism exists, but I don’t want to take on the role of a victim. My way of addressing it is simply by showing up in front of the camera and proving: we, Black girls, can be in the media, we can create projects, and we don’t need to justify ourselves. For me, activism isn’t about slogans — it’s about the fact of being present.
For a long time, I thought I wasn’t influencing anyone. But now I understand: my voice truly matters.
Of course, racism exists, but I don’t want to take on the role of a victim. My way of addressing it is simply by showing up in front of the camera and proving: we, Black girls, can be in the media, we can create projects, and we don’t need to justify ourselves. For me, activism isn’t about slogans — it’s about the fact of being present.
For a long time, I thought I wasn’t influencing anyone. But now I understand: my voice truly matters.
Visions and Talks:
A Space Where You Can Speak
A Space Where You Can Speak
I started the podcast almost by accident. I simply felt that giving someone a space where they can relax and speak freely is already of enormous value. That’s how Visions and Talks was born. The name came to me on a train: “Visions” because everyone has their own outlook on life, shaped by culture and experience, and “Talks” because it’s a conversation where listening is what truly matters.
I especially love those moments when guests are surprised after recording: “Has it really been an hour already?” That’s when I know the conversation worked — we inspired each other, and that energy will carry over to the listeners. For me, it’s essential to create exactly that kind of space, where people can speak and be heard.
I especially love those moments when guests are surprised after recording: “Has it really been an hour already?” That’s when I know the conversation worked — we inspired each other, and that energy will carry over to the listeners. For me, it’s essential to create exactly that kind of space, where people can speak and be heard.
The First Generation
That’s Changing the Rules
That’s Changing the Rules
In Spain, there are already many African associations: Juventud Africana Negra, Puerta de África, Winner Circle Collective, and many others. And then there’s my association — still at the beginning of its journey, but with big plans ahead.
We all share the same goal: to be the first generation of Afro-descendants that doesn’t just survive, but creates, dreams, and builds projects. Our parents were the first migrants: they came to work, to provide for their children, to give them an education. We are grateful to them for that. But now, our task is to go further. Africa is vast, with countless cultures. But that is precisely our strength: we learn from each other and understand one another, even if we grew up in different countries.
We all share the same goal: to be the first generation of Afro-descendants that doesn’t just survive, but creates, dreams, and builds projects. Our parents were the first migrants: they came to work, to provide for their children, to give them an education. We are grateful to them for that. But now, our task is to go further. Africa is vast, with countless cultures. But that is precisely our strength: we learn from each other and understand one another, even if we grew up in different countries.
Our Task: to Give Each Other
Voice and Visibility
Voice and Visibility
I record the podcast in three languages — Spanish, English, and French. That’s how I met Bak and Arnaut, and together we began inviting guests who don’t speak Spanish. Yes, it’s not easy, since my main audience is Spanish-speaking. Sometimes I hear skepticism: “You’ll never succeed in English or French.” But I understand that people simply don’t see the vision that we do.
One day at my main job in a pharmacy, an English-speaking guy approached me. He recognized me and said he had seen my podcast. In that moment, I felt that everything I was doing truly mattered.
For me, the podcast is much more than media. It’s a space where different people and cultures meet and connect. We have far more in common than what separates us. And that’s why our task is to give each other voice and visibility. For migrants, this is especially important: we may be a minority, but together, we can shine.
One day at my main job in a pharmacy, an English-speaking guy approached me. He recognized me and said he had seen my podcast. In that moment, I felt that everything I was doing truly mattered.
For me, the podcast is much more than media. It’s a space where different people and cultures meet and connect. We have far more in common than what separates us. And that’s why our task is to give each other voice and visibility. For migrants, this is especially important: we may be a minority, but together, we can shine.
Monina Somere
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