How Romina Puga of Club Mundo Kids Is Helping To Make the Entertainment Industry More Diverse and Representative
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
Although our audience is young children, we have had some teachers reach out to us about the program. One teacher, in particular, has been using the show in her elementary Spanish-language class in Tennessee. She created an accompanying lesson plan for the series and shares it with other teachers online. This has been so incredible because to me, a certificate of approval from a teacher is the most important accolade. She has told us how difficult it is to find representation in books and media, and how important it is for her students to see themselves as the protagonists of their own stories.
As a part of my series about leaders helping to make the entertainment industry more diverse and representative, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Romina Puga.
Born and raised in Miami and now residing in LA, Romina Puga was raised by Argentine-Chilean parents and knows firsthand what it feels like to be a child growing in the US, spending hours in front of a small screen and not seeing yourself represented on the TV.
Looking to be part of the solution, Puga grew up to become a successful journalist working for the likes of Fusion and ABC. Not satisfied with all of her achievements, Puga decided to enter unknown territory, children’s educational and entertainment content creation.
Today, Puga shines as the writer and host of Club Mundo Kids, a kids´ show created to give Latinx children a platform to celebrate their Hispanic heritage, from the different ways of saying “popcorn” to how they identify themselves. Puga is making sure all kids are represented, becoming a champion of Hispanic culture in the process.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was approached by Exile Content Studio, a global studio focused on producing premium content in English, Spanish and a mix of both, to assist in writing and hosting a pilot for a children’s news show. I knew many of the Exile team members from my days at Fusion & Univision and have stayed close to them throughout the years, even when I left to be a correspondent at ABC News. With so many kids stuck at home, schooling electronically and so much new and confusing information coming at them, Exile wanted to create a Spanish-language children’s news show for an audience that is often left out of the conversation. As a US-born Latina, this show became such a personal passion project for me. What started as a news show became a more general educational program that represents Latinx children and our rich and diverse cultures. Professionally, I used what I knew from my news writing experience, finding the most important information and breaking it down, and applied it to a much younger audience. It’s been more challenging to write for children than for adults, explaining difficult concepts in very basic language, and I’ve found it so rewarding as a writer and content creator. But I believe all the steps in my professional and personal life have brought me to this new career in children’s media.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
It might not be interesting to readers, but I met my husband at work ten years ago and Club Mundo Kids was the first time we actually worked together!
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Literally, my first interview ever was with actor Jesse Eisenberg at a press junket for a movie he was promoting. The interview was a bit awkward, and it went viral. It is still included on “most awkward celebrity interviews” lists every year. I was so nervous that I wrote my questions in my hand and he caught me and teased me for it. That’s what sent the interview a little sideways. I learned not to write notes on my hand, but more importantly, I learned to never read the comments on a YouTube video!
Ok thank you for all that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our discussion. Can you describe how you are helping to make popular culture more representative of the US population?
I co-created and host a Spanish-language children’s educational program called Club Mundo Kids. Our three pillars are representation, empathy and curiosity. Every episode begins with an expert Q&A where real children around the world get to ask a question for an expert to answer. Latinx children get to see themselves on screen asking these questions and also get to see themselves in aspirational roles as the experts we include are all Latinx as well. It was important to us that our audience see scientists, doctors, artists and all other experts who look like them and come from similar cultures.
We also highlight and celebrate the rich diversity within the Spanish-speaking community. For example, in one episode about agriculture, I talk about how I love corn, or “maiz,” which in many countries is called “choclo,” while in other countries is called “elote.” I then ask the audience members what they call it.
The Spanish-speaking community is often grouped as a monolithic block, but as part of that community, we know that isn’t the case. We have diverse dialects, cultures, histories, etc. So, for us, the “Club” on Club Mundo Kids is a special place to celebrate our heritage and our multicultural identities.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by the work you are doing?
Although our audience is young children, we have had some teachers reach out to us about the program. One teacher, in particular, has been using the show in her elementary Spanish-language class in Tennessee. She created an accompanying lesson plan for the series and shares it with other teachers online. This has been so incredible because to me, a certificate of approval from a teacher is the most important accolade. She has told us how difficult it is to find representation in books and media, and how important it is for her students to see themselves as the protagonists of their own stories.
As an insider, this might be obvious to you, but I think it’s instructive to articulate this for the public who might not have the same inside knowledge. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why it’s really important to have diversity represented in Entertainment and its potential effects on our culture?
The first reason would be the aspirational effects of having role models that look like you. The psychological effects of seeing yourself represented in media and entertainment are enormously beneficial. In our show, we feature Latinx experts from every SPLATAM country. This was a conscious decision so that our young Latinx audience can see themselves in these adult professional roles. By seeing an engineer, activist or professor who looks like them, it reinforces the idea that they can be whoever or whatever they want to be.
Second, hearing your stories told through TV, movies or podcasts can give you a sense of a belonging. It’s as simple as seeing a food, a word, or a piece of clothing on screen that you identify with and makes you feel heard and seen.
Third, is empathy. The more exposure people have to other cultures, faces, histories, the more open and accepting they are to other people and cultures and that is something that we want to foment and encourage in our audience from a very young age.
Can you recommend three things the community/society/the industry can do to help address the root of the diversity issues in the entertainment business?
First, don’t be scared to tell diverse stories. There are so many beautiful and incredible stories out there just waiting to be told, and many times the industry is scared to tell them out of fear of lack of interest.
Second, the people working behind the camera are as important as those working in front of the camera. Writers, producers and directors need to be diverse.
Third, society needs to be open to hearing stories that aren’t their own. They need to be curious and empathetic to learn about a different point of view, or culture or history.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is to lead by example. I’m a big believer in actions speaking louder than words.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Don’t take things personally.
- Stay true to yourself.
- When in a crisis, just take it one step at a time.
- Let everyone else down before you let yourself down.
- Have fun, it’s TV!
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would want to inspire something that leads to a more empathetic and understanding generation of young thinkers. They have yet to develop biases, fears, or misunderstandings, so it’s on us to guide them there, and I think that’s our biggest responsibility.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I have many, but I recently found one that I think I’d been subconsciously channeling my whole life. “Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.” Sigmund Freud.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Bill Nye, because I grew up watching his science show, and he recently had a Netflix show, so the fact that after all these years, he is still passionate about education (and fun) is so admirable to me.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
You can follow me @RominaPuga or the show @ClubMundoKids!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
