Highly Relevant Podcast

Iconic Latin songwriter and producer, Rudy Perez, has a new memoir out now called "The Latin Hitmaker: My Journey from Cuban Refugee to World-Renowned Record Producer and Songwriter" and in it he reveals how he got Christina Aguilera to sing in Spanish, the pressure he felt to write Luis Miguel's next big song, how José Feliciano changed his life, and his dream to one day do a musical on Broadway.

We begin the show with Jack discussing the new 90210 reboot with Jason Priestley et.al, he also talks to the founder of the New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF), Calixto Chinchilla, about what the festival has in-store for moviegoers this year. They discuss whether the festival should change its name to the NY"Latinx"FF since it is such a champion for Latinx voices, plus he gives his recommendations at the must-see movies you need to see at the festival this year.

Then, Mike Sargent and Jack give you their First Reaction of the live-action version of 'Dora and the Lost City of Gold' from Paramount Pictures. Is it the next 'Black Panther' or 'Crazy Rich Asians' for Hispanics?

Mexican actor Erik Hayser who has a new series on Telemundo called "Preso #1," a political thriller about the President of Mexico who is accused of a crime he didn't commit. Jack asks why political themes have not been prevalent on Spanish-language primetime, if English-language Latinos will watch it, typecasting, if he still auditions, and his thoughts on how he sees social media in his professional and personal life.

Film and culture Mike Sargent joins Jack to discuss the reasons that led to the new 'Men In Black' reboot to get "the boot" from general audiences.

On this week's show, film and culture critic Mike Sargent gives us our First Reaction from inside the theater of the first NY press screening of the new X-Men film, Dark Phoenix. (3:06)

Then we talk to Puerto Rican actor Marquis Rodriguez, one of the five young actors in Netflix's new controversial mini-series "When They See Us" from director Ava DuVernay, but he's also going to be in HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel currently filming in Europe right now.

JackedIn Pop Culture News Recap (1:53)

Music Playlist - (10:42)

Love through the computer - Gucci Maine (feat. Justin Bieber)

Que Bueno! - Noa Sainz

Enjoy Yourself - Charles Goose

Tanya Saracho, the talented creator of the TV show 'VIDA,' and a leading voice in the Latinx community, comes on the show to discuss how VIDA happened, the pains of writing the pilot while she was mending from a spinal infection, her bouts with anxiety and doubt and the tricks she does to get through them. She also reveals how in a particular Hollywood writing room, the writers called her and her friend Spic and Span, and she opens up about her jitters on not being renewed for S3 before S3 got picked up.

Music Playlist

Aute Cuture - Rosalia

Playa Grande - Sofi Tukker and Bomba Estereo

El Telón - Jenny and the Mexicats and Vetusta Marla

STARZ's new Latinx show VIDA begins season 2 on Sunday, May 26, and one of the coolest things about the show is the soundtrack. So joining us this week is one of the show's featured singers, Maria del Pilar, who discusses the blend of musical genres she uses to make up her sound, she also explains the business of being a musician in 2019, and why it's so crucial for her to give back to her community.

Music Playlist

A mí - Rels B

Solo de Madrugada - Floridablanca

Funeral - Maena

This week on the show, we discuss the Univision and Telemundo 2019 Upfronts with media reporter Michael Malone from Broadcast & Cable Magazine, plus we review the third installment of the John Wick series with film and culture critic Mike Sargent.

In an industry of barely any Latino representation, Broadway's Sergio Trujillo is one of its most shining examples. Trujillo, of Colombian roots, was recently given the second Tony nomination of his career for Best Choreography for "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations". If you haven't seen it yet, this Motown jukebox musical features dance moves that are alive, kinetic and spectacular. I spoke to Trujillo just days before his nomination about what the creative process was like to bring the music of The Temptations to life through dance.

Music Playlist

Yayaya - Stella Santana

Don Juan & Cupido - Henry Santos and Anthony Santos

Mañana es Too Late - Jesse y Joy (feat. J Balvin)

We are dedicating the entirety of this episode to "Avengers:Endgame". Film and culture critic Mike Sargent joins me to go through the most pressing questions you might have AFTER you saw the film. We do have to make a disclaimer… if you have not seen the movie yet, don't listen to this podcast, because the very purpose of this episode is NOT to prepare you to see the film, but to discuss the subsequent questions and future of the franchise and your place in it.

Episode Summary

12:07 - Can Endgame beat Avatar?

15:58 - Spoiler and bullying culture because of Endgame

17:52 - Can anyone ever replace Robert Downey Jr. popularity as Iron Man?

23:29 - Will we ever see an all-female Avengers?