🎙️ Season 3, Episode 9 - Sofronio Vasquez III: From Small-Town Dreamer to The Voice Winner

In this episode of The Loida Lewis Podcast, we’re joined by Sofronio Vasquez III, the groundbreaking Filipino-American artist who won Season 26 of The Voice, making history as the first Filipino and Asian male to win a major American singing competition.

We talk about his journey - from humble beginnings to standing ovations - and how his voice, mentorship with Michael Bublé, and sheer perseverance brought him to the world stage. He opens up about the people who shaped his path, the emotional moments behind the spotlight, and what’s next.

💬 “Every note I sing carries a piece of my story - the struggle, the gratitude, the dream.”

💡 Warning: this one’s a tearjerker. You might want to have some tissues nearby.

🎤 Don’t miss Sofronio live in NYC!

Sat / Jul 19 / 7:30 PM

The Townhall, New York, NY

🎟️ Tickets are selling fast - reserve your seat now!

https://tinyurl.com/Sofronio-TownHall

Watch or listen now:

📺 YouTube: @theloidalewispodcast

🎧 Spotify: tinyurl.com/TheLoidaLewisPodcast

🍏 Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/apple-TheLoidaLewisPod

📩 Email us your thoughts and reviews: askloidalewis@gmail.com

#LoidaLewis #SofronioVasquez #TheVoiceWinner #FilipinoPride #FilAmVoices #MichaelBuble #FilipinoExcellence #NYCConcert #TownhallNYC #TheLoidaLewisPodcast #SingingChampion #TrailblazingVoices #VoiceSeason26

🎙️ Season 3, Episode 8 - Chef Cris Comerford: Inside the White House Kitchen

In this episode of The Loida Lewis Podcast, we’re joined by Cris Comerford - the first Asian, first woman, and first Filipina to serve as Executive Chef at the White House, from 2005 to 2024.

She shares stories from nearly two decades of cooking for U.S. presidents, including her final state dinner for the Kenyan delegation - where Barack Obama surprised the kitchen staff with a warm hug and words of praise. We talk about preparing soup, short ribs, and lobster for nearly 200 guests, her humble beginnings as an immigrant chef, how her family shaped her culinary journey, and more.

💬 “Food is not just sustenance - it’s storytelling, diplomacy, and celebration.”

Watch or listen now:

📺 YouTube: @theloidalewispodcast

🎧 Spotify: tinyurl.com/TheLoidaLewisPodcast

🍏 Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/apple-TheLoidaLewisPod

📩 Email us your thoughts and reviews: askloidalewis@gmail.com

#LoidaLewis #CrisComerford #FilipinaChef #WhiteHouseChef #PresidentialMeals #FilipinoExcellence #StateDinners #TheLoidaLewisPodcast #TrailblazingWomen #FilAmVoices

🎙️ Season 3, Episode 7 - Ramona Diaz: Telling Truths Through Film

In this episode of The Loida Lewis Podcast, we sit down with Ramona Diaz, the acclaimed Filipino-American documentary filmmaker behind Imelda, Motherland, A Thousand Cuts, and her latest, And So It Begins.

She talks about the power of storytelling in holding truth to power, the making of And So It Begins - the Philippines’ official Oscar entry - and why she focuses on character-driven narratives that elevate underrepresented voices.

We also touch on her earlier work, including A Thousand Cuts, and how she balances being a filmmaker, activist, and truth-seeker in a complicated world.

💬 “Stories have the power to disrupt and to heal. That’s why I tell them.”

Learn more about Ramona Diaz:

@cinediaz

Watch or listen now:

📺 YouTube: @theloidalewispodcast

🎧 Spotify: tinyurl.com/TheLoidaLewisPodcast

🍏 Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/apple-TheLoidaLewisPod

📩 Email us your thoughts and reviews: askloidalewis@gmail.com

#LoidaLewis #RamonaDiaz #AndSoItBegins #FilipinoFilmmaker #DocumentaryDirector #FilAmVoices #AThousandCuts #ImeldaFilm #MotherlandDoc #TheLoidaLewisPodcast