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Producer and CEO of 3Pas Studios, Ben Odell, is our guest this week. He shares the fascinating story behind his critically acclaimed new film 'Radical,' starring Eugenio Derbez. The film centers on a gifted but disadvantaged group of students in Mexico whose lives are transformed by an unconventional new teacher.
Hear how the film was received differently by Mexican versus American audiences, Eugenio’s decade-long journey to becoming a dramatic actor, the challenges Latinos face in gaining Oscar recognition, and the surprising story of how the film's rights were nearly lost.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Alch Si - (Carin León feat. Grupo Frontera)Nostalgia - (FlowGPT feat. AI Bad Bunny)
Vueltas - (Noah Pino Palo)
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'How the Gringo Stole Christmas' is one of only a handful of Latino-centered holiday films ever made. This week, its director, Venezuelan-American Angel Gracia, joins the show to discuss this pressing question: Why are Latino holiday movies so rare? Plus, we discuss his rich three-decade journey in filmmaking, the challenges of authentically casting Latino roles, and the hard business truths of making art in Hollywood.
Episode Summary:
Angel's diverse upbringing and experiences living as a foreigner in different countries, inform his storytellingCasting George Lopez and connecting with his real-life experience as a Latino dad to a daughter dating someone outside their cultureCasting considerations and controversies around Latinx actors playing roles outside their specific heritageThe business side of Hollywood casting and how it impacts creative decisionsThe importance of authenticity in storytelling while also serving the main genre/purpose of the storyAngel's plans to build Super Studios, a new production studio and school in Texas, as a more affordable alternative to HollywoodHighly Relevant Playlist
Monaco - Lagos feat. Danny Ocean
Cinturita - Reggie El Autentico
Yasser Tejeda - Pa’ Sembrar
Subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico where we explore how Latino pop culture is reshaping mainstream entertainment. -
Fehlende Folgen?
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Legendary music producer Gustavo Santaolalla has crafted the soundtrack to Rock En Español, producing career-defining albums for Café Tacvba, Molotov, Juanes, and many more. He is one of only three composers to win consecutive Academy Awards for Best Original Score for Brokeback Mountain and Babel. In our wide-ranging conversation, Gustavo shares his philosophical views on art, humanity, the spiritual connection he finds in music, and the state of the creative industry today. We begin with how Gustavo’s hard-knock life in 1960s Argentina led to an explosion of boundary-pushing creativity still felt in music today.
Episode Key Quotes:
"The album 'Arcoiris' is a blueprint of my career. In that album, you're going to find the music for the movies, the songs, the production tricks."
"It's creativity, art, and music that moves you in any art. It's what keeps us sane."
"In the next 20 years, we're going to have to make big decisions and big changes or this can go away, really."
Highly Relevant Playlist
The Last Of Us - Gustavo Santaolalla
Eres - Cafe Tacvuba
Frijolero - Molotov -
This week, renowned Colombian band Monsieur Periné joins the show to discuss their latest release, 'Bolero Apocaliptico'. We interview them about the evolution of their musical style, how they challenge traditional love narratives, and the influence of Afro-Colombian roots on their work. The conversation also navigates thought-provoking issues, such as cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music, as well as discovering sources of love in an increasingly loveless world.
Monsieur Periné discuss their new album, "Bolero Apocaliptico" and what it meansCatalina Garcia and Santiago Prieto share their views on where they find love in a growing loveless worldThe band talks about the Afro-Colombian influences in their music and beyondMonsieur Periné speak on cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music
Episode SummaryHighly Relevant Playlist
unx100to - Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
Mundo Parallelo - Monsieur Periné y Pedro Capó
Tu y Tu - Los Angeles Azules -
In this week's episode, we welcome singer Julio Iglesias Jr. who celebrated his 50th birthday with a new big band album titled "Under The Covers" out now, his first musical project in 15 years. He also opens up about his father Julio Sr. and superstar brother Enrique and how he defines himself in terms of race, culture, and identity.
Interview with Julio Iglesias Jr.:
Julio discussed his love for his last album, Tercera Dimensión, a Spanish rock record in 2003, which is still one of his favorite records.After that, he did a cover record in Spain, but it was a quicky kind of record that didn't turn out well.He then joined a French project man band called "Latin Lover," where they did a cover of "BK" in French.Julio reveals how he found his passion for big band music and how his producer Rudy Perez helped him create his latest album.Julio explains that he doesn't follow trends and only sings what he loves, which is why he defied the trend of singing reggaeton or urban music.
Segment 1: Julio's Musical JourneySegment 2: Julio's Identity
Jack Rico asks Julio how he culturally identifies, whether as Hispanic, Spaniard, or Latino.Julio admits that he is confused about his identity and explains why.Julio says that he has always felt comfortable embracing his father's music and sees himself doing that type of music as opposed to his brother Enrique.Segment 3: Embracing Family and Music
Jack Rico asks Julio why he is so comfortable embracing his family, despite the media trying to create a different narrative.Julio explains that he grew up listening to his father's music and sees himself as a true fan of his dad's music.Julio talks about how he doesn't see Enrique singing his father's songs, but he loves doing it himself.Julio says that he loves his family and enjoys touring with his dad whenever he can.Highly Relevant Playlist:
Tormenta - Gorillaz feat Bad Bunny
Tu Veneno - Silvestre y La Naranja
Tan Basico - Los RumberosHighly Relevant Podcast
‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast hosted by Jack Rico, TV host, journalist, and film critic since 2016. He interviews Latino actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives to explore their impact on mainstream culture and entertainment. -
Our first guest of 2023 is Xochitl Gonzalez, the multi-talented Puerto Rican-Mexican American writer of the New York Times best-seller "Olga Dies Dreaming" and staff writer for The Atlantic Magazine. She's here to discuss with me her latest thought-provoking article, "The New Case for Social Climbing," and its impact on people of color, particularly Latinos. In our interview, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of seeking higher social status, the right and wrong ways to do it, and why Latinos are more likely to succeed at it. We also get an update on her Hulu TV adaptation of "Olga Dies Dreaming” starring Aubrey Plaza and Ramon Rodriguez.
Episode Breakdown
Topic 1: What is Social Climbing?
Xochitl's definition of social climbingCommon misconceptions about social climbingDifferences between social climbing and networking
Topic 2: The Pros and Cons of Social Climbing
Advantages of social climbingDisadvantages of social climbingHow social climbing can impact personal relationships
Topic 3: Strategies for Successful Social Climbing
How to navigate the social climbing worldTips for building authentic relationshipsBalancing ambition and authenticity
Topic 4: Ethical Considerations of Social Climbing
The impact of social climbing on marginalized communitiesThe responsibility of those who engage in social climbingThe importance of self-reflection and introspectionHighly Relevant Music Playlist:
Diferente - (Steve Aoki featuring CNCO)
Por Si Volvemos - Karol G and Romeo Santos
Only One - Jessie ReyezHighly Relevant Podcast
‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast hosted by Jack Rico, TV host, journalist, and film critic. He interviews Latino actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives to explore their impact on mainstream culture and entertainment. -
In this interview with Marta Tellado, the CEO of Consumer Reports, we discuss how she became one of the few Latina CEOs in the country, how her Cuban heritage shaped her democratic ideals, and how her new book, ‘Buyer Aware: Harnessing Our Consumer Power for a Safe, Fair, and Transparent Marketplace,’ acts as a guide for consumers to reclaim their power against shady business practices.
Marta's Favorite Things:
Casa de Papel, Sound of Music, Esperanza SpauldingHighly Relevant Music Playlist:
Flores - Nino Freestyle, Dalex
Tomemos un Trago - Kat & Alex
I Know You Know - Esperanza SpauldingHighly Relevant Podcast
‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast. Jack Rico - TV host, journalist, film critic, and podcaster - talks with actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives about how they are influencing mainstream culture and entertainment. -
Ximena and I discuss her most recent album Amor Adolecente and how her hit ballad 'Una Vez Más' came to be. We also discuss the significance her sophomore English-language album had on her artistic growth, the pressures for Latin artists to succumb to the Reggaeton momentum, why it’s hard for Latina artists to find global acceptance, and we discuss her dreams of one day composing on the New York Broadway stage.
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In this week’s episode, I talk to Simón Mejía, the founder and band leader of the Grammy-winning Colombian group ‘Bomba Estéreo’. We discuss his latest solo film and music project EL DUENDE, inspired by the Afro-indigenous music of Colombia’s jungles, as well as, what he thinks of Colombia’s newly elected president Gustavo Petro, and how the Bad Bunny collaboration of ‘Ojitos Lindos’ came to be without them ever meeting.
The Highly Relevant Playlist
La isla de Lesbos - Javiera Mena
El Lobby - Micro TDH, Pablo Alborán
Mala Vibra - Gativideo
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In this week’s episode, we welcome Manuel Abud, the CEO of the Latin Recording Academy for a chat about this year’s Latin Grammys. We discuss an array of topics including thoughts of taking the Latin Grammys back to CBS and mainstream validation, his vision of taking the show internationally to different countries, competition from other Spanish-language award shows, which award is more important to a Latin artist… the Grammy or the Latin Grammy? and he addresses some of the controversies surrounding the urban/reggaeton backlash of the last several years.
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This week I interview my good friend Benjamin Odell, who is the CEO of 3Pas Studios, the production company he and his friend Eugenio Derbez formed together. Their latest project is the remake of the French film ‘The Valet’ which premieres on HULU May 20th. In this conversation, Ben and I talk about his unique life and cultural upbringing, as well as the work 3Pas Studios has accomplished in a short time. We discuss in detail the unique ways he and Eugenio have used Latino storytelling to successfully reach general audiences, and why 'The Valet' could very well be a culmination of that work.
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Dominican actor Manny Perez, perhaps best known for his films 'Washington Heights,' 'El Cantante,' 'Bella' and the hit action film ‘La Soga,’ is now doing his directorial debut with the sequel - 'La Soga Salvation'. We discuss what it takes to write, direct and produce his own movie, what the future of Dominican cinema looks like, and his opinion on the film ‘In The Heights’.
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In our first episode, we welcome actress Justina Machado. You know her from the Emmy Award-winning comedy reboot of “One Day at a Time” from legendary producer Norman Lear and several other tv shows and films. Our conversation covered several interesting subjects such as Latino representation in the animation industry, why Hispanic animated films succeed and real-life Latino content doesn’t, and why she stopped using the term Hispanic to describe herself.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Santo - Christina Aguilera y Ozuna
Melancolia - Sinego y Ácido Pantera
Eucalipto - Mario Puglia
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Gloria Calderon Kellett's 'With Love' is the best Latinx television I have seen. It combines all the American TV characteristics we grew up with, but with a US Latino family at the center. Think of ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘Love Actually,’ 'The Holiday,' but with Latinos. It's all the shows that make us cozy up to a warm fire, a snug blanket, and hot chocolate. Gloria shares the details of how she got into the business, and how legendary producer Norman Lear believed in her.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Eso Es Un Vibe - Omar Courtz
Poema - Las Villas
Pa Poderte Ver - Mareh, Ana Mancebo, Sobrino, julio cesar
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This week I welcome Colombian photographer Josefina Santos who as of late has been photographing some of the biggest names in music, tv, and film, such as Olivia Rodrigo, MJ Rodriguez from ‘Pose’ and indie director Jim Jarmusch to name a few, plus has photographed covers for The New Yorker, The New York Times, Teen Vogue and more. Josefina and I discuss what she did to make media mainstream’s elite notice her, how Instagram is a blessing and a curse and we tackle the creative’s debate - should a creative work free for career-changing opportunities OR take the opportunity for no pay.
Highly Relevant Playlist
La Fama - Rosalia (feat. The Weeknd)
Supersad - Georgel, Maco Mares, Diamante Electrico
Yate - C. Tangana
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On a new episode of Highly Relevant, I talk to director/producer Lissette Feliciano about her new indie film 'Women Is Losers'. The film which premiered at 2021's SXSW Festival, has gotten good reviews for it's female empowerment story and her use of multicultural characters. She tells me how lies about Latinos in the media has become the driving force behind the mantra of her production company, Look at the Moon Pictures. She also lets me in on how she raised funds for her own film, and how young producers can do the same for themselves.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Mi Fiesta - Bandalos Chinos
Sammy Arriaga - Obvio
Cuestión de Suerte - Natalia Lacunza
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In this rebroadcast of our interview with director Robert Rodriguez from February 27, 2019, we discuss his new film at that time 'Alita: Battle Angel,' how one of the main goals of his TV network 'El Rey' was to find and hire more Latino filmmakers, and if it is the responsibility of a Latino directors to create Latino stars.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Pa Mis Muchchas - Christina Aguilera (feat. Nathy Peluso, Becky G y Nicki Nicole
Sexy Girl - Ozuna, Megan Stallion y DJ Snake
Amor Como Puñal - Loyal Lobos
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Adriana Barraza is one of five Latinas to have ever been nominated for an Academy Award in acting. She is now starring in the new Blumhouse horror film 'Bingo Hell' on Amazon Prime Video, perfectly timed for Halloween. In this new interview, Adriana and I discuss being the first Latina actress in her 60s to lead a film. It was also directed and co-written by a Latina filmmaker Gigi Saul Guerrero. We discuss her 50 year acting career, ageism in Hollywood, how someone once told her to never speak Spanish, and why she doesn’t mind the label of Latinx.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Bachatica - Leslie Grace
fue mejor - Kali Uchis (feat. SZA)
Debilidad (A Colors Show) - Javiera Mena
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Actress/producer Aubrey Plaza has become a cult indie film queen since her big break as April Ludgate on NBC’s “Parks And Recreation”. Since then she’s done popular films such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and the Child’s Play reboot. She’s now coming off of a dramedy with Michael Caine called Best Sellers, is currently working with Jason Statham on the action thriller “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre”, and is gearing up for HULU’s comedy Olga Dies Dreaming. In this interview from November 26, 2020, Aubrey and I discussed her recent comedic psychological thriller Black Bear, her interest in producing Latinx content, and why breaking Latina stereotypes is a priority for her.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Rómpelo - Cimafunk feat. LupeFiasco
En La Ciudad de la Furia - Aterciopelados
Lento - Bomba Estéreo
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Known for being one of the biggest comedians in Mexico, Eugenio Derbez made a splash in the indie film scene with his bilingual movie ‘Instructions Not Included,’ which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film and the fourth highest-grossing foreign film of all time in the United States. He followed that up with ‘How to Be a Latin Lover,’ ‘Overboard,’ ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold,’ ‘Coda,’ and now Acapulco, his latest TV series with Apple TV+ October 8th. In this interview from April 27, 2018, Eugenio and I discussed his new movie at the time - "Overboard" - but what we really talked about was some of the struggles he was having “fitting in” to Hollywood’s exclusive club. We talked about accents, transitioning to starring in English-language movies, how he overcame the sellout stigma from Mexican peers, and why he believes Hollywood is afraid of creating Latino movie stars.
Highly Relevant Playlist
Contracorriente - Camilo Séptimo y Ximena Sariñana
Que Maldición - Banda MS feat. Snoop Dogg and Becky G.
Until The Day - Alexcis and T-Pain
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