Katelina Eccleston, better known as “La Gata,” first found her love for reggaeton on a quinceañera dance floor. As the lights dimmed and she began to move her body to the beat, she knew there was more to explore. Dedicating her life to the genre, the internet personality returns with a new and elevated season of the “Perreo 101” podcast.
Reggaeton Con La Gata, the platform founded by the 30-year-old-scholar, tells the genre’s history and cultural impact to an online audience. In 2017, Eccleston began sharing her analysis and understanding of the popular music with roots in Puerto Rico through Twitter threads. As her following grew, she started the “ Perreo 101 ” podcast in 2018 and began lecturing about the subject at colleges across the country.
In the beginning, “Perreo 101” was audio-focused. Eccleston compiled research into explainer episodes that included a few interviews. The idea came from turning her viral posts, like the history of reggaeton, into audio retellings.
Over the last six years, the series remained sporadic and informal. With the new season, which debuted in July, Eccleston gives the bilingual podcast a revamp. She has a new set with audio and video capabilities, but her teachings in ethnomusicology and reggaeton remain the same.
Guests include reggaeton singers Deevani, La Sista and Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano — the space welcomes differing perspectives about Latin music. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity a.