Highly Relevant Podcast

Christian Herrera and producer 2Deep, co-founders of LA's Gasolina Records, join me today to discuss American Reggaeton, a new musical movement by US-born Latino reggaeton artists who want to break into the Latin-American market. How did they build their record label, why are American Latino reggaetoneros being iced out by the fans and industry? How will Gasolina Records change that? Listen in and find out.

Highly Relevant Playlist

Deja - Bomba Estéreo

High Season - Poolside y Buscabulla

KTJDN - Nebulossa

In this week's episode, Cuban-American writer-director Carlos V. Gutierrez discusses his first feature-length film - LOCKED IN. We discuss what it took him to get his first Hollywood movie made, if directors and writers are responsible for improving the image of Latino-created characters on film, and what we have to do to convince studio executives that Latino stories are worth watching.

Highly Relevant Playlist

Todo De Ti - Rauw Alejandro

Suerte - Yorghaki

Un Millon - The Marias

My guest today is actor Juan Pablo Raba who co-stars in Liam Neeson's border thriller The Marksman out on streaming now. He plays Mauricio, a Mexican cartel soldier out to retrieve his missing prize. We tackle Hollywood's fixation with border stories and why Juan Pablo believes border stories need to continue to be told. We also debate The Marksman's "white savior" narrative and why he believes the movie is really a "brown savior" film.

Then I review J Balvin's 'Boy From Medellin' documentary.

Highly Relevant Playlist

Nagano - CLUBZ y Ela Minus

Commitment - Luna Luna

Neon - Patterns

Los Rivera Destino are a young Puerto Rican band who are driving a new wave of modern boleros in Latin music. They've already collaborated with the likes of Bad Bunny and Pedro Capó. We discuss why they believe boleros are having a renaissance, the story behind how they collaborated with Bad Bunny, and whether they are pro or nay for Statehood in Puerto Rico.

Highly Relevant Playlist

Lo Hice, Te Dejé - Daniel, Me Estás Matando

muero x ti- Noah Pino Palo y CLUBZ

Eso Que Me Das - Juan Pablo Vega y Esteman

My guest this week is actor/singer Christian Chavez, former member of the musical phenomenon RBD. Christian has a new Telemundo super-series out now called "LA SUERTE DE LOLI" where he plays Matías, a clever and openly gay assistant who is having problems in his marriage. We discuss identity, language, fame, depression and if there is a RBD super-series reunion in the works.

Highly Relevant Music Playlist

Delorean - Mi$HNRZ

Quedarme Con Vos - Los Hermanos Morgan y Hot Plug Beats

Disco Stu - The Crayolas

This week my guests are Cuban Poet Richard Blanco and Puerto Rican band Buscabulla.

Richard Blanco was the first Latino, immigrant and openly gay poet to be chosen to read at a Presidential inauguration. He recited 'One Today' at Barack Obama's 2013 Inauguration. We spoke on the role poetry should play in our country right now.

Puerto Rican duo 'Buscabulla,' founded by Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo Del Valle, have a recent album called 'Regresa' which includes 11 tracks. This is my favorite album of 2020, English or Spanish. We talked how they've handled not having a live-audience to perform to, why they won't sing in English, how their track 'La Fiebre' is really about Bad Bunny, and how Reggaeton is being influenced by indie music.

Highly Relevant Music Playlist

La Luz (Fin) - Kali Uchis y Buscabulla

Lo Vas A Olvidar - Rosalia y Billie Eilish

De Una Vez - Selena Gomez

Colombian actress Vanessa Rubio, who stars as Carmen Díaz in the hit Netflix show 'Cobra Kai,' joins the show to discuss what it's like to be on a hit mainstream show, what her first reaction to hearing she was officially cast in 'Cobra Kai' was like, what she thinks of more interracial relationships like she has with Johnny Lawrence, and why she believes the arts are needed more than ever right now.

The Highly Relevant Playlist

Drivers License - Olivia Rodrigo

Supernova - Chia Cassanova

Puente - Vale

Camilo Lara is the brainchild of 'Mexican Institute of Sound,' one of the most innovative musical bands in Latin music. Why he doesn't play the Grammy's is beyond us. We discuss the meaning behind his new single - 'My America Is Not Your America' - why racism exists in Mexico, how he collaborated with Pixar's Oscar winning-film 'Coco' and how pop culture will no longer come from America, but from other cultures throughout the world. It's a candid and memorable conversation you won't want to miss.

Music Playlist

La Fiebre - Buscabulla

Pronto - CLUBZ

Quema - Sotomayor

Happy Thanksgiving! Our guest today is actress and producer Aubrey Plaza who has a new psychological thriller called BLACK BEAR out December 4th. We did a deep dive on her Puerto-Rican heritage, if she identifies as a Latina, does she speak Spanish and if she wants to make latinx films. Also she explains why breaking Latina stereotypes is a priority for her.

With the 2020 election right around the corner, political reporter Rafael Bernal from TheHill.com, helps me breakdown if the Latino vote is a myth or if it will elect the next President of the United States. We also tackle the question that has been on minds of many as of late… should Alexandra-Ocasio Cortés run for President in 2024?

The Highly Relevant Playlist

7'11 - Reyna

Dias de Paja - Clara Cava

Iguanas - Boca Paila