When it comes to navigating healthcare in a foreign country, language can be an invisible wall. Café CBOB, a podcast created by the local non-profit Children Beyond Our Borders, is hoping to become a beacon of hope for Gainesville’s Hispanic community and others.
The podcast offers healthcare guidance in Spanish, covering a new health topic every episode. Currently, there are 16 episodes available on YouTube.
Volunteers of the nonprofit said the podcast is geared towards helping those who face not only the struggles of accessing medical services but also the challenge of understanding them.
Julio Martinez, the 20-year-old education assistant director for Children Beyond Our Borders and a listener of the podcast, said the podcast made a difference for his family, who was struggling to find accurate information in Venezuela during the pandemic.
“Café CBOB became one of the few places they could trust for updates on how to protect themselves and navigate their healthcare options,” Martinez said.
For Martinez, Café CBOB is more than just a source of information — it’s a tool that strengthens the connection between Hispanic communities in Gainesville and Latin America, he said.
“It bridges the gap between cultures,” Martinez said. “We all face common challenges, and Café CBOB speaks to our values and experiences in a way we can understand.”
Ana Cusi, a 50-year-old marriage and family therapist and a guest on the podcast, echoed the sentiment.
During her time as a guest a little less than a year ago, she spoke about nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits. She said she also frequently shares episodes with her relatives in Argentina.
Cusi and her husband moved from Buenos Aires to Texas 35 years ago. After relocating again to Gainesville 12 years ago, she said her experience moving around has led her to further understand the effects of language barriers.
“What makes Café CBOB special is that it’s not just for us here in Gainesville,” she said. “It’s in Spanish, so I share it with my relatives in Latin America who don’t have access to reliable health information. It’s about helping people, wherever they are, with information they can actually use.”
Cusi also noted the importance of addressing emotional health.
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“As a therapist, I know how critical mental wellness is. Café CBOB touches on emotional support, which is something rare in health-focused podcasts,” she said.
Café CBOB was especially active during the COVID-19 pandemic when many Hispanic residents struggled to access health information due to language barriers. The podcast addressed pressing topics, such as COVID-19 safety protocols and how to find bilingual medical services.
Cusi’s husband Kenneth Cusi, a UF professor of medicine, has also been a guest on the podcast, twice.
María Eugenia Zelaya, executive director of Children Beyond Our Borders, said the podcast is focused on delivering culturally relevant and accessible health education to those who need it most.
“Our community sometimes doesn’t know where to turn for resources or doesn’t have a medical provider who speaks their language,” Zelaya said. “Through Café CBOB, we’ve made health information more accessible and understandable.”
The podcast covers a broad range of health topics, from diabetes and nutrition to mental health and children’s wellness. By featuring bilingual healthcare professionals from UF, Café CBOB offers expert advice in simple, accessible Spanish that resonates with listeners.
“At the end of each episode, we always include resources where listeners can find bilingual medical services in Alachua County and beyond,” Zelaya added.
Café CBOB’s mission goes beyond healthcare. The podcast addresses broader community needs, such as improving nutrition in Hispanic households, managing stress and providing financial literacy tips. These topics resonate with listeners who face not only economic struggles but also the complexities of adapting to a new culture.
Zelaya said she acknowledges the challenge of funding such a large endeavor. Café CBOB relies on volunteers and occasional grants to support production. Yet the passion behind the project continues to drive it forward.
“Everyone involved is a volunteer. We do it out of passion for our community,” Zelaya said. “We’ve reached out to doctors, gathered resources and built something we’re really proud of.”
Looking ahead, Children Beyond Our Borders plans to expand Café CBOB to address education-related topics, such as navigating the U.S. school system and preparing for college admissions. The goal is to empower families with the knowledge they need to support their children’s future success.
“We’ve had parents ask about SATs, GPAs and what it takes to get into college,” Zelaya said. “We want to be a resource that helps families understand these systems.”
As Café CBOB continues to grow, volunteers said they are motivated to not only reach Gainesville’s Hispanic community but also connect families across the world with accurate and accessible health information.
Zelaya said she describes the podcast as a growing movement.
“The fact that I know what it’s like to be new and not knowing where to go, not knowing the language,” she said. “So if we can have those resources for them, that’s my motivation.”
Contact Eneida Escobar at eescobar@alligator.org. Follow her on X @EneidaMariaEsc.
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Eneida Escobar is a junior majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration and a writer and translator for El Caimán. She was born in Cuba and raised in Miami and since childhood, she’s had a love for learning languages, and currently knows English, Spanish, Italian, and a bit of French. She also likes learning various programming languages.
Nicole Beltran is the Fall 2024 Senior News Director and El Caimán Editor. She’s reported for El Caimán, University and Enterprise desk. In her spare time, she enjoys journaling about her day, watching movies and drinking matcha.