The Converso Legacy Archives Ft. Sean Schifano
Preserving History and Democracy
Release Date: 11/13/2025
Season 5 Recap
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to the season finale of Preserving History and Democracy! In this special episode, Cynthia and Bernardine look back at one of the podcast’s most dynamic seasons yet—packed with history, community voices, and critical conversations about democracy. The season opens with , Countdown to the Vote, where Cynthia and Caroline break down key election dates and updates, emphasizing transparency and communication—a theme that echoes throughout the series. brings in County Clerk Amanda López Askin, Election Supervisor Janice Giron, and special guest Donald Palmer of the Election...
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2025 Regular Local Election Wrap Up
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to the latest episode of Preserving History and Democracy! In this episode, Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin, Chief Deputy Clerk Caroline Zamora, and Elections Supervisor Janice take listeners behind the scenes of the 2025 Regular Local Election. From certification to canvass to brand-new pilot programs, the team explains exactly what happens after voters cast their ballots and why New Mexico continues to rank among the most trusted election systems in the country. The conversation begins with a deep dive into what “certification” actually means and why the post-election...
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Repatriate Colonies ft. Joel Gonzalez Parra
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to the latest episode of Preserving History and Democracy! In this episode, we take listeners on a captivating journey into one of the borderland’s most overlooked historical chapters. Our guest, Joel Gonzalez Parra—historian, researcher, and recent NMSU graduate joining us from Washington, D.C.—shares the compelling story of the repatriate colonies that emerged in the aftermath of the Mexican–American War. Joel unpacks how, when the border shifted in 1848, many New Mexicans found themselves suddenly living under a new flag and facing decisions that would reshape entire...
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Las Esperanzas Ft. Corrina Miramontes and Martha Rodriguez
Preserving History and Democracy
In this deeply enriching episode of Preserving History and Democracy, host Cynthia Mendoza and producer Bernardine Caporale sit down with two remarkable women at the forefront of cultural and historic preservation in Doña Ana County: Corrina Miramontes and Martha Rodriguez from Las Esperanzas Together, they take us on a captivating journey through the Mesquite Historic District—the original townsite of Las Cruces, platted in 1849 and still home to one of the most intact collections of historic adobe structures in the Southwest. Discover the powerful origin story of Las Esperanzas, a...
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The Converso Legacy Archives Ft. Sean Schifano
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to the latest episode of PRreserving History and Democracy! In this episode, we delve into the hidden history of the Conversos—the descendants of Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions—and trace their remarkable journey across centuries and continents. Our guest, Sean Schifano , historian and founding archivist of the the Crypto-Jewish Historical Archives at New Mexico State University, joins us to illuminate this little-known but profoundly important story of cultural survival, religious transformation, and rediscovered...
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Election Update #3 - Election Day 2025
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to a special bonus episode of Preserving History and Democracy! In this episode, County Clerk Dr. Amanda López Askin and Elections Supervisor Janice Giron share important final updates ahead of the 2025 Regular Local Election. They begin by covering key election dates and offering insights into early and absentee voting numbers. Then, they discuss why every vote matters—even if you don’t live within a municipality. Dr. López Askin and Janice also explain the Permanent Absentee List, how it impacts voters, and provide reminders about how to return absentee ballots safely and on...
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Shalam Colony Ft. Christopher Schurtz
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to another fascinating episode of Preserving History and Democracy! In this episode, hosts Cynthia and Bern sit down with historian Professor Christopher Schurtz to explore the remarkable — and often mysterious — history of Shalam Colony and the Faithist community that once called it home. Professor Schurtz begins by sharing how he first became interested in this unique chapter of American history before introducing John Ballou Newbrough, the visionary behind the Oahspe, a spiritual text that inspired the founding of the Faithist movement. He explains what the Oahspe taught, what...
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De-escalating Conflict at the Polls Ft. Tina Barton
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to a new episode of Preserving History and Democracy! This week, we're joined by Tina Barton, Senior Election Expert at The Elections Group, for a timely and important conversation about election security and the safety of election workers. Tina begins by sharing her personal journey and what drives her passion for protecting those on the frontlines of democracy. Together, we explore the challenges of ensuring safety for both voters and election workers during such a polarized time in our country. We dive into the crucial role of de-escalation at the polls, and Tina explains why this...
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2025 Regular Local Election Update Pt. 2- Expanded Early Voting Begins
Preserving History and Democracy
In this episode, County Clerk Amanda López Askin and Chief Deputy Clerk Caroline Zamora share the latest updates on the 2025 Regular Local Election. They kick things off by explaining how elections have evolved—and how consolidating elections has improved the process for voters across Doña Ana County. You’ll hear about: Expanded early voting: including all the locations opening this weekend Voting Convenience Centers: how they make voting more accessible for all eligible voters Same Day Registration: what it is, how it works, and what you’ll need to bring Curbside voting:...
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2025 Archives Bazaar Ft. Dennis Daily and Jennifer Olguin
Preserving History and Democracy
Welcome to a new episode of Preserving History and Democracy! This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by special guests Dennis Daily and Jennifer Olguin, who give us an inside look at the upcoming 9th Annual Border Archives Bazaar, hosted by the Border Regional Archives Group (BRAG). We begin with Dennis and Jennifer sharing the origins of BRAG and how a shared mission to help fellow archivists connect with resources and information brought the group together. Dennis then walks us through the history of the Border Archives Bazaar—from its humble beginnings to the dynamic event it has become...
info_outlineWelcome to the latest episode of PRreserving History and Democracy! In this episode, we delve into the hidden history of the Conversos—the descendants of Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions—and trace their remarkable journey across centuries and continents.
Our guest, Sean Schifano , historian and founding archivist of the the Crypto-Jewish Historical Archives at New Mexico State University, joins us to illuminate this little-known but profoundly important story of cultural survival, religious transformation, and rediscovered identity. From the secret crypto-Jewish practices that endured under colonial rule to the rediscovery of Jewish ancestry through modern DNA testing, Schifano paints a vivid picture of how converso descendants in Mexico, Portugal, and the American Southwest have navigated questions of faith, belonging, and heritage.
Listeners will hear about extraordinary historical figures—like 19th-century intellectual Francisco Rivas Puig, who sought to reclaim Mexico’s Jewish past—as well as the growth of communities such as the Venta Prieta congregation near Mexico City. Schifano also traces how shifting global forces, from Vatican II to the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 70s, created new space for people to explore and affirm their converso roots.
The episode also brings the story to the present day, exploring the creation of the Converso Legacy Archives (CLA)—the first systematic effort to collect and preserve records from those who claim converso descent. Schifano explains how the CLA is safeguarding oral histories, family documents, and community archives that tell the story of how individuals and families across generations have understood their layered identities—as Catholic, Jewish, Hispano, and everything in between.
Whether you’re passionate about genealogy, Jewish history, or the ongoing dialogue between past and present, this episode offers a compelling look at how one community’s buried legacy continues to shape identity, memory, and scholarship across the globe.
Watch the episode here.
Hosted by: Bernardine Caporale, Cynthia Mendoza
Special Guest: Sean Schifano
Produced by: Bernardine Caporale, Cynthia Mendoza, Jacob Slaughter
Edited by: Jacob Slaughter