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Welcome to Season 5 of Have a Cup of Johanny, where we’re no longer just reflecting—we’re reclaiming.
This season marks a shift.
When this podcast started, it was all about the lessons I was learning in real-time—through writing, through healing, through the beautiful chaos of life. But Season 5? This season is about teaching what those lessons left behind.
Because I’ve lived enough, read enough, cried enough, and unlearned enough to know this:
We don’t just survive for the sake of it. We survive to pass the torch.
Season 5 is bold. It’s clear. It’s not asking for permission. Whether I’m talking about immigration myths, internalized oppression, book bans, or reclaiming identity through fiction, you’re getting my whole chest.
So if you’ve been rocking with me from the beginning, thank you. If you’re new here: Welcome. There’s room at this table, but bring your cafecito and an open heart, because these conversations? They’re real.
Pull up a chair. Let’s learn, unlearn, and teach—together.
— Johanny ‘Joa’ Ortega
Host of Have a Cup of Johanny
Guilt is sneaky. It disguises itself as responsibility, love, duty, and “being a good person.” But for years, guilt ran my life—and I didn’t even realize it. From the guilt of my childhood to mom guilt, military guilt, and creative guilt, I carried weight that was never mine to begin with. In this episode of…
There’s this thing I’ve carried with me my whole life—control.It’s not always obvious. Sometimes it hides under words like discipline or structure. Sometimes it sounds noble: “I just like things done right.” But if I’m being honest, most of my control has always come from fear. The Comfort of Control The military taught me that…
Perfectionism loves to lie to us—it says, “If it’s flawless, you’ll finally be safe from criticism.” But the truth is, perfectionism doesn’t protect you—it prevents you. In this episode of Have a Cup of Johanny, I share what letting go of perfectionism has taught me as a writer, soldier, and creative woman. From the late-night…
Born in the Dominican Republic, Johanny Ortega’s childhood was enriched by the magic of books, igniting her imagination with each page turned. Her move to the U.S. only fueled this passion, as she mastered English to dive deeper into diverse literary worlds. However, a striking realization hit her: the absence of characters echoing her own experiences. This gap propelled Johanny from an eager reader to a dynamic storyteller, crafting narratives that echo her Dominican heritage across genres and age groups. At “Have a Cup of Johanny LLC,” she’s not just an author but a champion for BIPOC voices, ensuring underrepresented narratives get their spotlight. Writing under two aliases, J.E. Ortega for adult fiction and Johanny Ortega for younger readers, she weaves tales that transcend boundaries, each character a vibrant testament to Dominican strength and spirit. 📚🇩🇴✨
