Behind the Scenes with Humberto Rodriguez

Favian Valencia grew up in the orchards of the Yakima Valley. Farmworker family, first in his family to finish high school, first to go to college. He drove himself to Gonzaga with a boom box, a pillow, and a paper map. He built his own law firm from day one, opened a cafe in Yakima with his mom and his three sisters, and spent four years living and working out of a van before he came home. Now he is running for Congress as an independent, in the most Republican district in the state.

In this conversation we go past the thirty second version and meet the whole person. Favian talks about the night that made him a civil rights attorney, what running a family business taught him that law school never did, and why four years on the road convinced him this valley is a hidden gem worth fighting for.

We also get into where he stands. The cut to Medicaid and what it means for the more than half of this district on Apple Health. Water, family farms, and the corporations buying up land and water rights. A legal path for the farm workers who have been here for years. Energy, nuclear power, and Hanford. His first bill, a plan to end federal income tax for anyone earning under sixty thousand dollars, and the hard questions that come with it. And the honest problem every independent has to answer: how do you get anything done in Washington with no party behind you.

I am not here to tell you how to vote. There are eleven people running to replace Dan Newhouse, and you owe it to yourself to look at all of them before your ballot is due on August 4. My job is to introduce you to the person behind the name and let you decide for yourself.

Maria Cuevas is a longtime educator, a scholar of Chicano studies, a former professor at Yakima Valley College, and a candidate for Yakima County Auditor in 2026.

This is not a stump speech. It's a two-hour conversation about where she comes from, how she was shaped, what she's tried to teach over the last forty years, and why she's stepping into this race at this point in her life.

We cover:

• Her grandfather Cuevas, who left Porfirio Diaz's Mexico because they wouldn't educate the poor
  
• Her mother, who won a scholarship to UCLA in the 1950s and wasn't allowed to go
  
• Her father, who couldn't say "I love you" but taught her everything
  
• Meeting Maria Hinojosa and building Yakima Valley College's diversity series
  
• The Chicano movement, Mecha, and the eight dollars she pulled out of Bank of America to protest apartheid
  
• Why she carries the Mexican flag and what that means in America
  
• Growing up between two worlds and the words she didn't know were racist
  
• A story from her teenage years about a play she was in, and how she uses that memory today to teach what racism actually is
  
• Losing her husband, finding a dog named Shango, and how grief became a spiritual practice
  
• Her father's history, her own diagnosis of ADD, and the compassion that came with both
  
• Why the Auditor's office matters, why Yakima County has the second-lowest voter turnout in Washington State, and why she's running to change that
  
• What she loves about this Valley

Maria is running for Yakima County Auditor. The primary is August 4, 2026. Ballots mail July 16. Learn more at votemariacuevas.com

In this episode, I reflect on the recent statements from Dolores Huerta and the broader conversation surrounding her account involving Cesar Chavez.

After listening to her interview with Maria Hinojosa, I found myself sitting with the weight of a woman who carried a painful truth for decades to protect a movement she helped build.

But what struck me just as much was the response.

Instead of engaging with what was said, many have shifted the conversation toward her personal life—her relationships, her children, and her character.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why survivors often stay silent for years

• How power operates within movements and leadership

• Why legacy and harm can exist at the same time

• And what it reveals about us when we question the woman instead of examining the system

This is not about erasing history.
It’s about understanding it more honestly.

Topics:
Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, farmworker movement, leadership, power dynamics, survivor advocacy, cultural conversations

A Conversation with Raquel Izquierdo Lopez

In this in-depth conversation, Humberto Rodriguez sits down with Raquel Izquierdo Lopez to discuss the realities of leadership in today’s climate of public scrutiny, social media pressure, and political tension.

They explore what accountability truly means, how mental health plays a role in leadership, and why collaboration and open dialogue are essential for building trust within a community. The discussion touches on education, school board advocacy, misinformation, and the responsibility that comes with being a public figure.

This episode is an honest look at resilience, authenticity, and the ongoing work of serving others with integrity.

If you care about leadership, education, civic engagement, and creating positive change in your community, this conversation offers thoughtful insight and perspective.

Judge Sonia Rodriguez True shares how her grandmother’s endurance, her mother’s fight for justice, and her own journey through education shaped the woman behind the bench.

In this heartfelt episode, Humberto and Sonia talk about faith, family, cultural identity, and the quiet power of love that endures through generations, reminding us that legacy isn’t about titles or buildings, but about the people we lift and the stories we honor.

In this candid and raw conversation, Humberto Rodriguez sits down with longtime friend and entrepreneur Juan “Johnny” Bombela. Together, they explore what it means to grow up between cultures, the challenges of identity, and the realities of hustling to survive and succeed. From family struggles and broken homes to building businesses and raising kids, Juan opens up about the lessons he’s learned and the mindset it takes to keep moving forward. This is more than just a story—it’s a reflection of resilience, community, and staying true to who you are.

Listeners will hear about:

• The meaning behind Juan choosing the name “Johnny” in business.

• Struggles of belonging as Mexican-American in both Mexico and the U.S.

• Family stories of loss, survival, and growth.

• The pressure to provide and the cost of chasing success.

• How culture, music, and upbringing shape identity.

  
  

  ⚠️ Disclaimer

  "Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal stories and experiences that touch on sensitive topics, including immigration, family struggles, drugs, and past involvement in street culture. These accounts are shared for the purpose of storytelling, awareness, and reflection. They do not represent or encourage illegal activity, and listener discretion is advised."

In this episode of Behind the Scenes with Humberto Rodriguez, I sit down with Ryan Vasquez to talk about resilience, identity, and the power of community.

Ryan reflects on his experiences growing up in Wapato, a town often associated with poverty, addiction, and struggle, and shares why those challenges don’t define him, or the people who come from there. From early speeches to his powerful runs honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Ryan speaks honestly about what it means to carry the weight of both hardship and pride.

Together, we explore themes of survival, liberation, and how cycles created by colonization and systemic oppression continue to impact Native and Chicano communities today. This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and full of lessons about leadership, healing, and redefining freedom.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including:

• Poverty, addiction, and homelessness

• Colonization and systemic oppression

• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

• Trauma and community struggles

Listener discretion is advised, especially for those who may be triggered by these subjects.

⚠️ Content Warning:This episode contains discussions of childhood neglect, parental substance abuse, and a disclosure of child sexual abuse. These are shared from lived experience and may be triggering for some listeners. Please listen with care, and prioritize your well-being. If you or someone you know is dealing with trauma, know that you are not alone and support is available.In this deeply personal and emotional episode, I sit down with my daughter Lillyana before she leaves home to begin the next chapter of her life. We talk about our relationship, our shared struggles, how we became a family, and the journey from broken beginnings to unconditional love.This raw conversation reflects on trauma, resilience, and what it means to truly choose each other. Some of what we discuss is difficult, but it’s real. This episode isn’t polished. The audio is rough in spots, but the heart is there.We hope our story offers comfort, understanding, or connection to anyone navigating similar paths.🎧 Audio Disclaimer:⚠️ Heads up: the audio quality in this episode is not ideal. There are background sounds, overlapping dialogue, and occasional volume inconsistencies. We apologize in advance and thank you for your grace as you listen through the imperfections to hear the heart of the message.

Kari didn’t start out chasing trophies, she just wanted to feel better after having kids. But one fitness class turned into a passion, and that passion turned into a lifestyle of competing, coaching, and building discipline in and out of the gym.

In this episode, she opens up about her first show, building confidence, how she meal preps as a mom, and the mindset shift that helped her stop relying on motivation and start relying on habits. We talk about body image, parenting, coaching others, and how to take your first step, no matter where you're starting from.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or self-conscious about walking into a gym, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

In this unapologetically honest episode, I sit down with law student and community advocate Gloria Guizar to unpack some of the most pressing issues facing our country today. We cover a wide range of topics, from the hidden layers of Project 2025, systemic racism, and mass deportation plans, to the deep-rooted privilege embedded in American institutions.

Together, we explore how race, politics, media manipulation, and religion have been weaponized to divide us, and how communities of color, particularly immigrants and minorities, continue to carry the weight of a nation built on their backs. This isn’t about pointing fingers; it’s about truth, reflection, and the hope of building something better.

We talk about:

• The truth behind Project 2025 and political distraction

• How racism is embedded in American systems

• Immigration, DEI, and the hypocrisy of the "American dream"

• Religion, white fragility, and social control

• What it means to be patriotic and critical of your country

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This episode includes candid conversations about racism, immigration, politics, LGBTQ+ rights, religion, and identity. It also discusses Project 2025 and its implications for marginalized communities. Please note: this is not legal advice. The opinions shared are personal reflections and do not reflect professional legal counsel.

Listen in if you're ready for a no-holds-barred conversation on truth, power, and what it’s going to take to create lasting change in America.

#BehindTheScenes #SocialJustice #Project2025 #Immigration #DEI #LatinxVoices #RealTalk #SystemicRacism