The Library
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Episode 01: Inheritance
“Because you can jail a revolutionary, but you can’t jail the revolution. You can run a freedom fighter around the country but you can’t run freedom fighting around the country. You can murder a liberator, but you can’t murder liberation.”
— Fred Hampton
The date is January 12, 2026. I decided to re-listen to the first episode of my radio show (August 15, 2025) and fuck if it doesn’t speak to what a lot of us have on our minds right now: legacy as a mirror, community, colonial thinking, and the spirit of our leaders.
This episode is dedicated to every single revolutionary, alive and dead, and to all who are inspired by them. May their memory and way of being continue to light the way for us all.
In this first solo episode, I get into the many iterations and emotions behind our understanding of inheritance, legacy, and what we leave behind while still alive.
I also answer a listener’s questions and share a bit of my own personal lore.
Reimagining Relational Grief
All of our relationships, romantic or otherwise, hold meaning. This does not vanish when someone leaves our lives. So, where does the love go? What do we do with these ambiguous endings?
A Journey Through the Primordial Soup
"The fear of death is also the fear of life." This week, we're journeying through the 'primordial soup' with Adriana Michelle, The Death Alchemist.
Adriana's compassionate storytelling and unique perspective offers us a chance to explore death and grief through the lens of cultural heritage and ancestral connection. With her mission to create a space where these difficult conversations can happen with care, Adriana brings both her personal and professional experiences to the table, guiding us through the importance of honoring our ancestors and finding tools to navigate life’s transitions.
The Death of Self
There are several instances throughout this conversation that required clarification and deeper understanding. We (Claudia and I) discussed this post-production and we decided to keep in these moments throughout this episode that we didn't necessarily feel great about BECAUSE it is real.
The Death Alchemist’s Playbook
In this deep episode, we explore Adriana's memories of Mexicali, the enduring wisdom of her abuelita Fernanda, and the solace she finds in film. We unpack the role of death as a character in our lives, how movies like "My Girl" "Ghost" and "Sixth Sense" shape our understanding of grief. We also discuss the healing power of ancestral foods and traditions and the importance of reconnecting with our roots to heal our lineage.
Power Places
What happens when two death doulas get chatting? Pure magic! Adriana Michelle, a.k.a The Death Alchemist, is a death doula, Transition & Rebirth Doula, and Storyteller. Elena and Adriana discuss how to create Power Places to move through grief. Adriana was born in San Diego, raised in Mexico, and is currently living in New Orleans where she offers grief walking, transition readings, and monthly online grief meetings.