Life in Spanglish

Rising artist Lenexx joins Gracias, Come Again for an inspiring conversation about culture, identity, family, and the musical movement she's creating. Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, Lenexx opens up about her journey from living with her abuela while her mother worked tirelessly in New York to build a better life for the family, to arriving in the U.S. at just eight years old with dreams, questions, and endless possibilities.

In this episode, Lenexx reflects on her Dominican upbringing, her mother's sacrifices, and how growing up in one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the world shaped her as both a person and an artist. Surrounded by Dominican, Mexican, Colombian, Indian, and countless other communities, Jackson Heights became the foundation for her global perspective. 

She also shares the story behind her deep connection to Brazilian culture, explaining how her best friend introduced her to Brazilian music and traditions, inspiring her to learn Portuguese and eventually record music in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Most importantly, Lenexx introduces listeners to Funketon, the genre she created by fusing Dominican rhythms, Brazilian funk, and New York energy into a sound that's entirely her own. As one of the pioneers of this emerging style, she's breaking musical boundaries while building a global fanbase.

We also talk about her special relationship with Brazil, where she spent time immersing herself in the culture that has inspired so much of her music. During her stay, Brazilian fans embraced her wholeheartedly, showing immense love for both her artistry and her vision. That experience further cemented her connection to the country and reinforced her belief that music truly has no borders.

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Bronx-born singer George Lamond joins discuss his roots, musical evolution, and legacy as one of Freestyle and Salsa's biggest voices. He reveals how he hid his talent and dreams from his family until they heard his song playing on NYC radio.

George reflects on growing up in the same neighborhood as Marc Anthony and La India, experiencing freestyle’s club scene at just 17, and developing his own sound and image. He also opens up about navigating major labels, the origins of his stage name, and the assumptions people made about his ethnicity and sexuality because of his polished “pretty boy” appearance.

After “Bad of the Heart” skyrocketed in 1989, George crossed over into salsa, built a seven-album catalog, and today continues touring and earning from music created decades ago. 

Plus, he reveals his ultimate Freestyle Mount Rushmore. Stream and subscribe for more conversations celebrating Latino music, culture, and entertainment.

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Celebrity chef, television host, and culinary storyteller Chef Bren Herrera joins Gracias, Come Again for an inspiring conversation about culture, resilience, identity, and the journey that made her one of the most recognizable Afro-Latina chefs in media.

Known as the host of Culture Kitchen on MyCLEO.TV, Chef Bren opens up about her Cuban heritage, her unwavering love for Cuba, and why she's passionate about seeing the island one day become free. She shares the emotional story of her parents fleeing Cuba and building a new life in the United States, while reflecting on what it means to proudly represent the Afro-Latino community.

Beyond the kitchen, Bren discusses how she intentionally uses social media to spread joy, love, dancing, positivity, and authenticity in a world that often needs more of it. She also shares why being the "cool tía" is one of her favorite roles, and how her nieces have become part of her television journey by joining her in the kitchen.

Whether you're passionate about food, Afro-Latino culture, Cuba, family, or chasing your dreams, this episode is packed with heartfelt stories, laughs, and inspiration.

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Actor Berto Colón joins Gracias, Come Again for aconversation about family, perseverance, and building a career in Hollywood. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in The Bronx, Berto reflects on his island roots, his love of the beach and surfing, his father's influence, and how those experiences continue to shape the man he is today.

We dive into his standout roles as Cesar in Orange Is the New Black, Lorenzo Tejada in Power Book II: Ghost, and Solomon Vega in The Night Agent.  He also shares what's ahead with his role in the Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch and his upcoming in American Horror Story.

Berto opens up about his passion for fitness, being a devoted husband and girl dad, and how a football injury ended his dream of playing professionally, ultimately leading him to discover acting.

Most importantly, he discusses his work as a board member of the Cristian Rivera Foundation, highlighting its mission to fund pediatric cancer research and the upcoming events where supporters can make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

This is a heartfelt conversation about resilience, purpose, Latino representation in Hollywood, and using success to create lasting impact.

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Puerto Rican superstar Lenny Tavárez joins Honey German on Gracias, Come Again for one of his most candid interviews yet.

Fresh off the release of his new salsa single "Palo Bonito," Lenny reveals the incredible story behind the record, including how it was originally written for Chayanne and Ricky Martin. He shares how legendary producer Sergio George convinced him that the song belonged to him and why Sergio believes Lenny should record an entire salsa album.

Lenny also opens up about working alongside his wife, Natasha a talented dancer and choreographer, giving fans an intimate look at their relationship, creative process, and how they bring their chemistry to life in music videos, from cinematic productions to fun, at-home content.

The conversation also dives into: Why "The Avengers" era with Sech, Justin Quiles, Feid, Dalex, and Justin Quiles came to an end, and why he believes it was the right time. The discipline, focus, and athlete's mindset he applies to music, fitness, and life. Raising his two children while balancing life as a global artist. The differences between life in Miami and Puerto Rico...

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Farruko opens up like never before.

The global superstar reflects on his transformative journey of faith and how publicly declaring himself a man of God has impacted both his career and personal life. He discusses his latest project, a tribute to Panama that honors the pioneers who helped pave the way for reggaeton and Spanish reggae, while sharing his deep respect for the artists who came before him. Farruko also explains why, despite his worldwide success, he refuses to leave Puerto Rico and why staying connected to his roots remains so important to him.

He talks about the music he listens to when he wants to unwind, the challenges of navigating social media, and why it's important to introduce OG culture to younger generations. As a father of seven, Farruko gets candid about family life and what it's like watching one of his sons show interest in following his path into music and becoming an artist. He shares the lessons he's learned as a parent and the responsibility that comes with raising the next generation.

Most importantly, Farruko opens up about his spiritual awakening, his experiences with the church, and the ongoing struggle of balancing his past with his faith. This is a raw, emotional, and deeply personal conversation that humanizes one of Latin music's biggest stars and reveals a side of Farruko the world rarely gets to see. Experience an unforgettable conversation about faith, family, music, culture, purpose, and redemption.

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Actor Hemky Madera joins us for a powerful and heartfelt season finale. Best known for his fan-favorite role as “Pote” on Queen of the South, Hemky opens up like never before about his Dominican roots, growing up in Washington Heights, New York, fatherhood, marriage, Hollywood, and the long journey to making it as an actor.

In this raw and funny conversation, Hemky shares how he knew he wanted to become an actor at just five years old and reveals the many jobs he worked before landing major roles, including waiter, bartender, babysitter, and driver. While audiences know him for playing intense and dangerous characters in movies and hit shows like Queen of the South, Euphoria, and The Mandalorian, Hemky explains why he is actually the complete opposite in real life: funny, loving, goofy, and always joking around.

The two also dive into Dominican pride, representation in Hollywood, their respect for Manny Perez and what Zoe Saldaña’s Oscar win meant for Dominican actors and Latinos everywhere. Hemky reflects on balancing his love for the Dominican Republic and America, staying grounded through fame, and what’s next for his career, including returning to the Star Wars universe and the new season of Euphoria.

This episode is full of laughter, motivation, culture, family, vulnerability… just a beautiful conversation with one of the most respected Dominican actors in Hollywood.

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Tony Sunshine opens up about his early childhood, including growing up in an abusive household and the difficult years when his mother was forced to enter the shelter system for stability for their family.

He reflects on how those experiences shaped his mindset, his hustle, and his purpose. The conversation dives into the moment he discovered his voice at just five years old, singing a Menudo song at home, and how that spark led to a lifelong passion for music.

Tony also addresses dropping out of school in the fifth grade and shares whether that decision impacted his journey in business and the music industry. From there, we get into his early rise, performing alongside legends like Eddie Santiago and Celia Cruz as a child, before eventually crossing paths with Fat Joe in the Bronx.

Tony shares how that relationship changed his life, leading to major moments in hip-hop history, including collaborations with Big Pun and the creation of the iconic hit “100%.” We also explore deeper themes of loyalty, family, and survival, including Tony’s battle with addiction.

In one of the most vulnerable parts of the interview, he reveals how he disappeared from the spotlight to detox on his own and ultimately fought his way back to health and clarity.

Now at 49, Tony Sunshine is stepping into a new chapter. He talks about his latest collaboration with Lil Pump, representing Latino voices in hip-hop, and gives insight into his upcoming Spanish-language album featuring bachata, merengue, reggaeton, and more.

This episode is a story of pain, perseverance, culture, and comeback. Tony Sunshine proves that no matter where you start, your voice can carry you through anything.

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🎭 We sit down with Blood Love star Christopher M. Ramirez (Anzick) and choreographer Jonathan Platero, one of the creative forces behind the dance sequences seen throughout the entire play, for a fun, honest, and inspiring conversation about Latinidad, Vampires, Broadway, culture, and chasing your sueños.

Christopher opens up about his journey as the son of a Colombian 🇨🇴, growing up in Indiana, and making his Broadway debut in Real Women Have Curves. We talk about identity, representation, and what it means to proudly be Latino, even if you don’t speak Spanish, while still staying deeply connected to your roots. He also breaks down his role in Blood Love, what it took to land it, and the incredible cast and creative team behind the production.

Jonathan Platero shares his story as the son of a Salvadoran 🇸🇻 parents raised in Florida, his rise to fame as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance (Season 5), and his journey into choreography. We get into his love story with his wife, Oksana, a standout star from Dancing with the Stars, their work together, and what it’s like co-choreographing Blood Love on stage.

Together, we talk about the importance of Latino representation in Broadway, supporting our own, and why showing up for Latino-led projects matters more than ever.

This episode is full of laughs, real talk, and behind-the-scenes gems from one of the most exciting shows in NYC right now.

🎟️ Make sure to check out Blood Love, now playing at Theater 555 in NYC through May 10th - tix are on sale now at BloodLove.com 

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In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Dr. Jeff Gardere, widely known as “America’s Psychologist,” for a conversation that feels like a real-life therapy session. From his roots as the son of Haitian immigrants raised in Brooklyn, New York, to becoming one of the most recognized psychologists in media, Dr. Jeff opens up about his journey, purpose, and impact.

We dive into his incredible career spanning decades, from psychology and academia to television, where he’s appeared on major platforms like VH1’s Love & Hip Hop, Real Housewives, Bravo, and more. Dr. Jeff shares how he became a trusted voice in family relationships, mental health, and culture, and how he’s remained relevant since 1987.

This episode goes beyond the surface. We talk about mental health in the Black, Latino, and Caribbean communities, breaking generational stigma, healing trauma, and learning how to truly speak our truth. Dr. Jeff also gives real, actionable advice on how to protect your peace, improve your mental health, and navigate today’s world, including the emotional toll of current events impacting our communities.

We also get into the effects of social media on self-worth, how families can begin the process of generational healing, and how even a psychologist like Dr. Jeff prioritizes his own mental wellness.

This conversation is about truth, healing, and growth. It’s not just an interview, it’s an experience.

If you’re Latino, Caribbean, or anyone looking to better understand your mental and emotional health, this is a MUST watch/listen.

Tap in now. This one might just change your life. 💙

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