Highly Relevant Podcast

Host Jack Rico is joined by actress/singer Mandy Gonzalez and media/tech analyst Rich Greenfield. Gonzalez (9:35), who is currently playing the role of Angelica Schuyler in the mega-smash Broadway hit Hamilton, talks her debut album Fearless, plus, how she asked Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the title track, her moments of discrimination because of her Latino last name and her upcoming concert appearance at New York's legendary cabaret Cafe Carlyle.

Rich Greenfield (30:29), one of Wall St.'s most quoted media analysts, comes on the show to discuss with Jack EVERYTHING you need to know on why Verizon dropped Univision from FIOS. What can Hispanic subscribers do? Rich offers several suggestions. This is a must-listen to segment if you're a FIOS subscriber!

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This week on the show, we talk to the star comedians of the new HBO Latino comedy special "ENTRE NOS Part 2" - Shayla Rivera, Frankie Quiñones and Vladimir Caamaño. We discuss social labels, challenges of the comedy business, relationships, cultural identity and the fascination with the wealthy. It's a funny, but smart conversation you will enjoy.

Luis Enrique and Mateo Gil are our guests on episode 51. Salsero Luis Enrique, who most people know for his global hit "Yo No Se Mañana" from 2009, has a new book out titled "Autobiografía". We discuss many topics from his difficult immigration experience in the US to meeting his mother for the first time at 15, but perhaps the most salient moments of the interview had to do him being discriminated by Latinos, "Yo No Se Mañana" almost being sung in English, should Latinos have their own award shows and how salsa can become #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.

Then we chat with acclaimed Spanish screenwriter Mateo Gil (Vanilla Sky, The Sea Inside) who has directed a new sci-fi film called REALIVE which explores life and death and whether we turn to dust or if there is an actual thing as a soul.

On this 50th episode, we chat with Wilson Morales from Blackfilm.com on the underwhelming Oscar season this year, we also talk to Russian director Max Pozdorovkin about his new HBO documentary 'Clinica de Migrantes', radio personality Yako shares with us his musical selection this week and Deborah Castillero, a Latina entrepreneur who developed a Latino app that teaches children to speak Spanish and English, stops by to discuss the challenges in creating the app and the advantages to having your children learn a second language. 

EPISODE SUMMARY

Wilson Morales from Blackfilm.com on the underwhelming Oscar season

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories)

Max Pozdorovkin about his new HBO documentary 'Clinica de Migrantes'

Yako's weekend playlist

Play With Me – DJ Kaskade

Como Antes - Yandel (feat. Wisin)

Future Marches In - Hillsong United

Deborah Castillero on her new educational multicultural app "Care Bears & Amigos in NYC"

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On this week's episode, we are psyched to have Andres and Barbara Muschetti, the Argentinian siblings who directed and produced, respectively, the #1 movie currently in America - the horror film “IT”. We discuss how “IT” draws parallels to the Trump administration and the current state of the country, the reason they didn’t cast a Latino kid actor and what Guillermo del Toro texted them on opening weekend. 

Did you guys hear about this BODEGA thing that went viral this week? We talk to two woman, one who wrote the article, Liz Segran, and she tells us her reaction of her story going viral and the passionate people of all cultures who went in defense of bodegas. Then we chat with Jessica Ramos, the Director of Latino Media for NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who chimes in on the cultural significance bodegas have with New Yorkers.

Diego del Sol curates some out of this world music for us and we end the show with Sandra Lilley, Managing Editor of NBCLatino.com. She calls in to give us the exclusive on their first BIG list - the "NBCLatino20". Who made the list? Make sure you don't miss it.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Andres y Barbara Muschetti talk success of horror movie "IT" – 2:50

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 19:22

Jessica Ramos on bodegas in NYC - 22:00

Liz Segran on her BODEGA article that caused a social media firestorm - 30:45

Diego del Sol's weekend playlist - 41:33

Wait – Max New

Pasión y Vida – Los Angeles Negros

Mini Symph #1 - Moondog

(Exclusive) NBCLatino's Sandra Lilley on the "NBCLatino 20" List – 49:07

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If you are someone who’s been hearing about DACA this whole week and are curious about how it works and why it’s so important, we talk to Caitlin Patler, she basically holds a PHD in DACA, and has written several important papers on the subject. She joins us to explain in detail what you need to know. Then, what’s with kids cursing in movies? Between the Bad Moms 2 trailer and the IT clown movie, has Hollywood lost its values? We talk to Tara McNamara, an authority on family films about why parents have been silent on the topic. And speaking of the new horror remake of IT, we have our FIRST REACTION of the film. Is it really scary and was "it" worth the wait ?

EPISODE SUMMARY

Ph.D. Caitlin Patler talks DACA – 2:46

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) – 15:18

Tara Mcnamara on kids cursing in movies. Is it ethical? 17:21

This week’s music playlist – 41:07

Tu Para Mi – Man de Barro

Temporary Feeling – Hannah Ellis

Glorioso Dia – Passion (feat. Kristian Stanfill)

First Reaction of horror remake”IT” with Diego del Sol – 41:56

Juan Martin del Potro speaks in Spanish at US Open – 49:07

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We're sending love and prayers to Houston, Texas. On this week’s episode, our good friend Luis Miguel Echegaray, the head of Latino content for Sports Illustrated stopped by to talk about their new initiative for Hispanic sports fans.  Also, as the 'Despacito' phenomenon winds down, where does Latin music go from here? Some say it has a bright future in mainstream, others aren’t as optimistic. Pop culture writer Julyssa Lopez visits the show to discuss her most recent article in the Washington Post titled, “What's next for Latin music after the summer of 'Despacito?” where she explores these questions thoroughly.

We are also asking our Caucasian friends from the showbiz industry to weigh in on Latino underrepresentation in Hollywood brought up by John Leguizamo's article on Billboard.com that really made the rounds this week. Give a listen on what they had to say about it.

EPISODE SUMMARY

A perspective on Latino underrepresentation from our Caucasian friends - 1:04

Luis Miguel Echegaray talks how SI.com is reaching out to Latino sports fans - 6:24

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 20:26

Julyssa Lopez on the future of Latin music in the US - 22:02

This week's music playlist - 32:45

Refugee - Skip Marley

Yo Voy Ganao - Systema Solar

She’s On My Mind - JP Cooper

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Colombian Actor John Leguizamo has had enough with how Hollywood treats Latinos. This week he wrote an article on Billboard.com, "From Music to Movies to TV, Latinos Are Widely Underrepresented - And I'm Done With It” and he essentially calls out executives for being ignorant and blind, he calls out Latinos for being silent and not doing anything to improve the situation and he calls out mainstream media for mostly dismissing our culture altogether. Is he right? Our good friend Kellvin Chavez, founder of LatinoReview.com and EIC of SplashReport.com weighs in on what Leguizamo got right and wrong about Latinos in Hollywood. Have a listen.

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” - Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor

On this week's show, we talk to Latina icon Dolores Huerta and music legend Carlos Santana. They spoke to me about their new documentary DOLORES that focuses on the impact Huerta and Cesar Chavez had in the life of millions of Latino immigrants in the 60’s in this country. 

Then we head to Cali, Colombia, that is via Narcos Season 3, and I talk to its Colombian director Andrés Baiz who tells me in a very candid and honest interview about how he wrestles with the dilemma of being a Colombian and filming a cartel show that reopens wounds for many of his people.

Also, what is the ultimate fate of the Spanish language in the United States? Will it become Spanglish or will it eventually disappear? Should Univision and Telemundo become English-language networks, should MTV welcome Spanish-language videos and should Miami Latinos stop speaking Spanish so much and embrace English more? New York Times national correspondent, Simon Romero, drops by the show to discuss his new article on the relationship Latinos have with Spanish in the US.

And did you guys hear about #HispanicsBreakTheInternet? It’s a hashtag that went viral this past weekend and ended up trending #1 in the country! We spoke to James Detar, the person who revived and set off the whole thing.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Dolores Huerta, Carlos Santana on 'Dolores' documentary - 1:59

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 12:00

Colombian director Andrés Baiz on Narcos season 3 - 14:17

This week's music playlist - 27:08

Es Tarde - Juanes

Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift

Regageton Lento - CNCO (feat. Little Mix)

New York Times Simon Romero on the Spanish language - 28:05

James Detar on #HispanicsBreakTheInternet - 53:14

Jose Díaz-Balart speech on hate and discrimination - 56:35

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We’re sending our love and prayers to the people of Barcelona who suffered a senseless terrorist attack. But on a lighter note, this is probably one the best podcast shows we've done. We chat with Mesfin Fekadu, music editor of the Associated Press, who broke the story about Despacito not being nominated at this year’s VMA’s. Did this happen because of cultural bias? We dissect all the variables, along with some of our thoughts on whether MTV should start playing Spanish-language music videos. 

Then I talk to Colombia’s hottest band of the moment, Bomba Estéreo, about their new album AYO, music and race, coca leaves, payola in the music business, and their love for the street language of Spanglish. 

There’s a film no one’s been able to stop talking about and that’s Dunkirk. I reviewed the 70MM IMAX experience with my brother Alex in a new segment I’m calling First Reaction because the review is done inside the theater as you get to hear our immediate reaction as the end credits are rolling. 

Also, I went on the TODAY show this week and recommended my top 8 must-binge TV shows!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mesfin Fekadu, Music Editor of the AP on MTV, Universal Latin, 'Despacito' controversy - 2:03

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 22:18

Bomba Estéreo interview - 24:44

This week's music playlist - 52:35

La Que Me Gusta - Los Amigos Invisibles

Slide - Calvin Harris (feat. Frank Ocean and Migos)

Somos Dos - Bomba Estéreo 

Lion King Giveaway - 53:30

First Reaction: DUNKIRK (Movie Review) - 54:09

TODAY Show "Binge-Worthy" TV Shows 1:01:51

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at [email protected] and help us spread the word on social media:

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