Aida Rodriguez on the Power of Storytelling and Identity

¡Hola Queridos! I had the honor of sitting down with comedian, author, and unapologetic truth-teller, Aida Rodriguez. We met up at the San Antonio Book Festival as she was here to discuss her powerful book “Legitimate Kid: A Memoir.” We dove into why storytelling matters, especially for Latinas whose voices have too often been overlooked or misrepresented.

In our conversation, Aida opens up about the weight behind her book, why she chose not to inject humor into this deeply personal narrative, and how honoring her family’s legacy through storytelling is an act of resistance and love. I encourage you to read it, Queridos. Yes, it’s heavy but it can be healing, too. She also shares her take on what leadership looks like in our communities, especially the unsung heroes like our abuelitas, our moms, and our essential workers.

Aida Rodriguez – Power of Storytelling and Identity at San Antonio Book Festival

Please note that in the beginning of this interview, I was extremely nervous. I messed up her name, title of her book and I knocked over a light. ¡Ay dios mio! But once the conversation started my nerves settled down and I am so glad they did because then I could focus on Aida’s wisdom and generosity she was offering in that space.

Here’s a breakdown of the conversation:

00:00 – Intro + Welcoming Aida

00:46 – Why storytelling matters

02:17 – Why her book isn’t comedy

04:00 – Her personal definition of leadership

06:31 – Advice for Latina moms

08:28 – The complexity (and comedy) of Latinx/e/a/o identity

To follow Aida on social; check out her podcast; or find her on tour, visit her linktree: https://linktr.ee/funnyaida

Thanks to the team at San Antonio Book Festival for brining authors like Aida Rodriguez to San Antonio. We get a chance to learn from her in about authenticity, resilience, and the power of nuestra cultura.

Quote: “Storytelling is how we survived. It’s how we passed down healing, culture, and truth—long before we were allowed in the rooms where our stories were told.”​ by Aida Rodriguez