My Work
Essays, short stories, radio segments, illustrations, and more that I'm particularly proud of. Thank you for visiting!
— John Paul
My Mexican American family never celebrated Día de Muertos. Then Abuela died.
Illustrated Essay for The Washington Post
I both illustrated and wrote this essay about my family returning to the Día de Muertos tradition for the first time in generations. Published digitally and in print in full color.
Six sentences I can’t forget. And why I can’t stop thinking about them.
Series of Vignettes for ¡Hola Papi! Newsletter
This experimental piece of prose was featured in The New York Times’ Morning Briefing newsletter as a must-read, with Interpreter columnist Amanda Taub saying, “This beautifully written piece uses the idea of ‘six sentences that stick with you’ to frame six autobiographical vignettes.”
Hola Papi's Advice For Life In Self-Isolation
¡Hola Papi! Advice Segment on NPR
This episode of NPR’s Latino USA features an interview between ¡Hola Papi!, which is me, of course, and noted Latina journalist Maria Hinojosa. The segment hones in on life advice in the midst of lockdown.
The Papi Shop
I sell my art in the form of prints, phone cases, and apparel at The Papi Shop. It’s been shouted out in gift guides, including one for Vox. Check out the designs (or even buy a print for your room)!
¡Hola Papi!
Starting out at INTO, then moving on to Condé Nast and Out Magazine, the popular LGBTQ, Latino advice column ¡Hola Papi! now runs on Substack where it boasts a bevy of subscribers and has been lauded in various outlets such as The New York Times, Wirecutter, NPR, The Columbia Journalism Review, and many more. As Papi, I presently receive and answer letters from all over the world.
The Most at Netflix
In January of 2020, I was brought on to The Most, Netflix’s fast-growing LGBTQ social channel that dreams big within the company for a brighter, gayer future. Projects include original social content, consulting on large-scale projects including rollouts, and working with talent.
The Moon’s Navel
My first piece of published short fiction at Catapult tackles ancestry, immigration, family estrangement, and a trip to the museum.
Shiny Black Boots
A short piece on fashion during lockdown for the prestigious Guernica Magazine. It asks about the purpose of aesthetics and clothing in a world where we hardly see each other.
Tortillas de Harina
An essay published in Food & Wine about discovering Chicano identity through tortillas de harina. ¡Delicioso!