logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
44m 28s

Levittown: Where the Good Life Begins

NPR
About this episode
In this episode from WNYC's La Brega, Alana Casanova-Burgess traces back the story of the boom and bust of the Puerto Rican Levittown. For many Americans, Levittown is the prototypical suburb, founded on the idea of bringing Americans into a middle-class lifestyle after WWII. But while the NY Levittown was becoming a symbol of American prosperity, there was a parallel story of Levittown in Puerto Rico during a time of great change on the island. Casanova-Burgess (herself the granddaughter of an early PR Levittown resident) explores what the presence of a Levittown in Puerto Rico tells us about the promises of the American Dream. It's a story that reflects and reveals how la brega has defined so many aspects of life in Puerto Rico.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jul 30
The lightbulb conspiracy is both real and everywhere
Over the next few episodes, we present Hidden Histories: stories that will make you rethink how the world works. First up, the conspiracy behind the lightbulb—and how it came to shape the entire consumer economy. If you ever wondered why your tech outdates so quickly or just plai ... Show More
31m 49s
Jul 28
The license to be funny in America
One of the most fundamental aspects of American democracy has been the public’s ability to critique power, whether that’s through protest, legislation, or a really funny joke. Today, we take a romp into the history of American comedy, showing no matter how crude, rude, or distast ... Show More
20m 1s
Jul 23
The architect of modern China
From impoverishment to global superpower, China’s supremacy happened at a breakneck speed thanks to the visionary strategy of the man who took power in 1978. Over the next decade, under leader Deng Xiaoping’s firm leadership, China flirted with capitalism and transformed its soci ... Show More
37m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2021
La Brega in Levittown
On the show this week, we’re bringing you an episode of a new podcast called, La Brega. And to tell us all about the series is Alana Casanova-Burgess. Casanova-Burgess traces back the story of the boom and bust of Levittown, a massive suburb that was founded on the idea of bringi ... Show More
51m 58s
Oct 2024
A One Man (Abridged) History of the Big Apple
On this episode of Our American Stories, if you’re curious enough, the familiar can become fascinating. Bill Bryk briefly recounts how New York City became the city it is today, as well as his love for its past. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support ... Show More
9m 59s
Feb 2021
An Anthology of Puerto Rico
Maria and Julio welcome Alana Casanova-Burgess, reporter and producer for WNYC's "On The Media", and Cristina del Mar Quiles, reporter for the Center for Investigative Journalism (Centro de Periodismo Investigativo) to talk about Puerto Rico and "La Brega," a new seven-part bilin ... Show More
40m 48s
Jan 2022
The Yassification Crisis
The ladies break down the concept of gentrification, its historical legacy that explains the housing crisis today, and share your own stories about having lived through it. Digressions include Julia's candle obsessions, the redemption of West Elm Caleb, and whether or not horseba ... Show More
1h 32m
Dec 2021
Bonus Episode: The blessing and curse of the '90s Latin Pop Explosion
Our play cousins at NPR's It's Been a Minute podcast reexamine the so-called "Latin explosion" of the late '90s: What it was supposed to be for audiences across the U.S., and what it actually came to represent. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p ... Show More
34m 36s
Jul 2018
The Statue of Liberty
The life of an American icon from her birth at a French dinner table to her place in the hearts of people all over the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
1h 52m
Aug 2022
Puerto Rico
When Anthony Bourdain heads to Puerto Rico to check out the reality behind the piña coladas and fancy resorts, he finds natural splendor, delicious food and warm people - all against the background of a seemingly insurmountable economic crisis. Original Airdate: Season 10, 2017. ... Show More
47m 9s
May 2023
Welcome to Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto
What happens when a city on the verge of collapse tries to reinvent itself? How much will it cost? Who will pay the price? Reporter David Weinberg spent years following one California Mojave desert town’s transformation from a city of prisons to a city of pot. And it worked... Un ... Show More
3 m
Apr 2022
Costumbres - Casitas in the Bronx
Leonor Torres finds a sense of community and a way to preserve customs from Puerto Rico at El Flamboyan garden and its casita in the Bronx, but it almost gets destroyed. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3K3yUC0. 
20m 47s
Dec 2021
Vanishing Words
<p>When Alana Casanova-Burgess set out to make a podcast series about Puerto Rico, she struggled with what to call it. Until one word came to mind, a word that captures a certain essence of life in Puerto Rico, but eludes easy translation into English. We talk to Alana about her ... Show More
24m 6s