Highly Relevant with Jack Rico

Latest Episodes:

Episode 43 - April Reign on Boycotting HBO's 'Confederate,' How Will Venezuela's Problems Affect US Latinos?, August Movie & TV Preview Aug 04, 2017

Show notes

On the podcast this week, we talk MTV's TRL reboot and how they need to seize the Latino music opportunity to be successful, plus, we discuss HBO and it’s controversial new slave series CONFEDERATE with the creator of the #OscarSoWhite April Reign. She and four women have now created the #NoConfederate campaign to boycott the show. Will HBO succumb to social media pressure?

Also, Venezuela has spun into utter chaos and the US has imposed financial sanctions that could cripple it for good. Rafael Bernal, reporter for The Hill Latino, joins me to discuss how these sanctions will affect gas prices in the US and if Venezuela will ever regain its prosperity.

And if you’re interested in knowing what to watch this month, I had a chance to visit the TODAY Show with my August Preview of what to see in theaters and on TV.

EPISODE SUMMARY

MTV's TRL reboot and the Latino opportunity :15

The Hill Latino's Rafael Bernal on Venezuela and its murky future 4:33

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 22:11

April Reign discusses her new social media campaign #NoConfederate against HBO - 23:39

This week's music playlist - 31:05

Unforgettable (Latin Remix) - French Montana (feat. J Balvin)

Rollin - Calvin Harris (feat. Future and Khalid)

Gran Ciudad (Barzo Remix) - Debi Nova

TODAY Show August Movie and TV Preview 32:10

Univision's Jorge Ramos TED Talk on Journalism 35:34

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 42 - Romeo Santos' 'GOLDEN' Album Review, Can J Balvin's 'Mi Gente' Become #1? Cáthia Talks Prince Royce FiveWorld Tour Jul 28, 2017

Show notes

On this episode, we talk J Balvin's 'Mi Gente'. Many people are already calling it the next 'Despacito' phenomenon for its potential to become #1 on the HOT 100. So... can it make it to #1?

We also review Romeo Santos' new album 'Golden' with Isabela Raygoza, Rolling Stone Magazine’s Latina music critic, who also discusses with us her Q&A with Romeo and whether he can make Bachata mainstream in America.

And, how is the Prince Royce tour going? I speak with singer and good friend, Cáthia, who is currently touring with him as his back-up singer, on an impromptu phone call where she tells me the inside details of her sexy solos she performs with Royce every night, how she got the gig and how she felt to sing in her front of her hometown NY at MSG.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Can J Balvin's 'Mi Gente' Become #1 on Billboard's HOT 100? :28

Rolling Stone Magazine's Isabela Raygoza reviews Romeo Santo's new album "Golden" 4:33

Lack of Latina music critics 4:58

How did she started writing for Rolling Stone Magazine 7:02

The business of crossing over artists to the mainstream in print 9:04

Reviewing Romeo Santos' "Golden" album 10:11

Isabela's impressions of the album: 11:53

Why Romeo has no interest in singing in English or crossing over: 13:26

What Romeo ultimately want to achieve as an artist: 17:50

Favorite tracks from "Golden": 21:02

Does Romeo's arrogance turn people off: 22:20

Jesse Reyez and Romeo's new sonic explorations: 24:30

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 27:03

Cáthia discusses being back-up singer and singing solo with Prince Royce on Five World tour - 28:59

This week's music playlist - 40:42

Bella y Sensual - Romeo Santos (feat. Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee)

Sit Next To Me - Foster The People

Edge of the Night - Sheppard (feat. Colombian Sebastian Yatra)

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 41 - Will "Despacito" Open Floodgates For More Spanish Music Crossovers? Tomás Reyes On How "Beyond Food" Doc Can Improve Your Life Jul 21, 2017

Show notes

On episode 41, we talk Despacito with Senior Media Reporter from the NY POST, Claire Atkinson, to breakdown for me how the song became that big and how much $$ she thinks Justin Bieber made from this summer hit. Also, Colombian director Tomas Reyes, who did an English language documentary about healthy living called BEYOND FOOD, stops by to discuss how you can improve your health by making more educated decisions.

Episode 40 - Best Movies of 2017 So Far, Gabriel Chavarria Talks 'War For Planet of the Apes,' ESPN's Cristian Moreno on Aaron Judge Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

On today’s episode 40, all our guests are once again diverse and we pride ourselves in that. We talk to Wilson Morales, Editor-in-Chief of Blackfilm.com to discuss the Best Movies of 2017... So Far. Did Wonder Woman make our cut?

Then, we talk War For Planet of the Apes. I sat down with American-Honduran actor Gabriel Chavarria, who plays the Preacher in the film, to talk his emotional reaction of being cast in the film, the time he quit acting, what it means to be an American Latino and where he gets his confidence when dealing with rejection.

And finally, it’s been a crazy week in sports. We had MLB’s HomeRun Derby and All-Star Game, the ESPY’S, The Gold Cup and the rumors about the Knicks Puerto Rican star, Carmelo Anthony, being traded to the Houston Rockets. ESPN’s Cristian Moreno recaps everything you need to know.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Takeaways from HBO's 'The Defiant Ones' Documentary :47

1. Absurd work ethic: Bruce Springsteen and Bono took Jimmy Iovine to his physical limits and that’s where he learned that to be truly successful, you have to live your job or project. You can’t half-ass it.

2. Believing in your work: Dre experienced unanimous rejection for his album The Chronic, but he knew he had something special and after knocking on dozens of doors, he met Jimmy Iovine and the rest is music history.

3. Gut Feeling: Dre and Jimmy always had taste and a nose for talent. They listened to their gut and it brought them to the promise land.

4. Pure luck: This is what you heard Dre say at the beginning of the podcast. Without luck, you will see results with the aforementioned factors, but with luck, you’ll go supernova.

Wilson Morales on the 'Best Movies of 2017... So Far' - 3:07

Our Top 5 Movies

Get Out
Baby Driver
Logan
The Big Sick
Split

JackedIN (recap of pop culture stories) - 27:44

Gabriel Chavarria Interview on 'War For Planet of the Apes' - 30:15

This week's music playlist - 50:34

Me Llamas - Piso 21 (feat. Maluma)

Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato

Por Un Beso de Tu Boca - Silvestre Dandong

ESPN's Cristian Moreno on Carmelo Anthony trade rumors, Aaron Judge, State of Baseball, Gold Cup 51:31

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 39 - 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' RottenTomatoes Review, Angélica Celaya on Telemundo's New Jenni Rivera Biopic, Can the NYLFF Return Better Than Before? Jul 07, 2017

Show notes

On today’s episode 39, we talk Spider-Man Homecoming with Grae Drake, Senior Editor of Rottentomatoes.com, who joins us to review and dissect the new reboot. We think its better than Wonder Woman.

We also chat with Angelica Celaya, the star of Telemundo’s new Jenni Rivera biopic, Mariposa del Barrio, about the challenges in becoming Jenni, handling the love and hate from Rivera’s fanbase and how bilingual latino actors still have a hard time not being seen as real Latinos.

And finally, the New York Latino Film Festival is back from the dead and Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility at HBO, joins us to talk about why they brought back the festival, what’s in it for HBO and can this Latino festival ever become as big as Sundance?

EPISODE SUMMARY

Grae Drake, Senior Editor of Rottentomatoes.com, on 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' - 3:35

Is 'Spider-Man Homecoming' the best Spider-Man movie ever made? 6:49
How 'Spider-Man Homecoming' is really a coming-of-age Peter Parker action comedy 7:44
'Spider-Man Homecoming' and diversity 13:44
Is 'Spider-Man Homecoming' better than DC's 'Wonder Woman'? 15:05
Are we ready for a Latina Spider-Woman? 17:30
Grae's favorite movie of the year so far 20:50

This week's music playlist - 24:44

Ni Tú, Ni Yo - Jennifer Lopez feat. Gente de Zona

Switch - Iggy Azalea

Get Low - Zedd feat. Liam Payne

Angélica Celaya on Telemundo’s new Jenni Rivera biopic, 'Mariposa del Barrio' - 25:36

Auditioning for Jenni Rivera role - 26:51
What sold the Rivera family and Telemundo on Angélica Celaya - 28:30
Gaining weight for the role - 30:12
Criticisms from Mexicans on her Mexican-American background - 34:02
Shedding the character of Jenni Rivera - 36:11
Rivera fans on Angélica Celaya performance - 38:22
Was it worth playing Jenni Rivera? 40:47

Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility at HBO talks return of New York Latino Film Festival - 43:11

Why did HBO return as sponsor of NYLFF? 44:24
Why the NYLFF is important - 47:11
What is the main appeal for HBO to be associated with the NYLFF? 49:40
Differences between the former NYILFF and the new NYLFF? 51:01
Will NYLFF become a content pipeline for HBO? 53:14
Can the NYLFF ever become as big as Sundance? 54:52

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 38 - 'Premios Juventud' Preview, Miguel Arteta's Ending Explanation of 'Beatriz at Dinner', Diversity and 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Jun 30, 2017

Show notes

Thank you for listening to episode 38 of the Highly Relevant podcast. This week we’re focusing on Spider-Man: Homecoming and how everyone has been raving about how diverse it is. We’ll talk to our intern Andrea Huswan, who attended the press conference in NYC on our behalf and set off a chain of diversity questions that ultimately got us covered by NewYorkMagazine.com!

We also preview Univision’s Premios Juventud with Hilda Garcia, VP of Digital Entertainment at Univision.com the new innovative elements that are establishing the event as the most modern award show in Spanish language TV.

But we begin with an interview with Puerto Rican director Miguel Arteta, who filmed Salma Hayek’s Beatriz at Dinner. It is considered “the first movie of the Trump era”, and we discuss the difficulties of directing movies starring Latinas, the single reason Latinas are connecting with the film, and his explanation on its controversial ending that has angered and even baffled moviegoers.

That plus all the top headlines in US Latino pop culture in our popular original segment - "JackedIN".

EPISODE SUMMARY

Miguel Arteta on directing Salma Hayek in "Beatriz at Dinner" - 2:14

Puerto Rican’s didn’t think of him as Puerto Rican 1:48
How does Hollywood view him from a cultural point of view 3:34
How Puerto Ricans didn't think of him as a Puerto Rican 4:38
How much of the film is about him? 5:19
Is this a Trump movie for Latinos? 7:22
Why independent film are so crucial to our culture 8:44
Difficulties in making a movie with a Latina star 9:49
The secret to how Salma Hayek got the money to make "Beatriz at Dinner" 10:48
How is Salma different than other Hollywood actresses? 11:25
A full length explanation on the controversial ending of "Beatriz at Dinner" 12:36

JackedIN* - 19:10

Univision's "Premios Juventud" preview, Hilda Garcia, VP of Digital Entertainment at Univision.com - 21:47

What Premios Juventud has done to become innovative 23:00
How Univision used a team mentality to make Premios Juventud the best award show possible 25:56
How Premios Juventud is approaching social media this year 28:39
A focus on bilingualism and mainstream artists 33:42
Social causes on award shows 34:56

July 4th music playlist - 37:57

Don’t Quit - DJ Khaled, Calvin Harris, Travis Scott, Jeremih

Dilo Como Yo - Chico Mann

Tamó Happy - Ilegales

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" press conference, diversity chatter with our intern Andrea Huswan - 38:49

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 37 - Can 'Combate Americas' Latin MMA Beat UFC?, 'Transformers: The Last Knight' Movie Review Jun 23, 2017

Show notes

Thanks for listening to episode 37 of the Highly Relevant podcast. This week we’re talking Latino MMA with former WWE Champion Alberto del Rio, who is now the President of Combate Americas, one of the biggest rivals of the UFC. They’re doing a huge fight event in Miami on July 27th around the Real Madrid/Barcelona soccer classico and its a game-changer for the company. Alberto will tell us all about it.

And we also tackle the new Transformers: The Last Knight movie. Is it so bad that its good or is it so bad that it’s… well, bad!

That and a recap of the top headlines in US Latino pop culture happening this week!

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Alberto El Patrón, former WWE Champion and now President of Combate Americas, talks Latin MMA Combate Clasico event in Miami on July 27th: 1:09

JackedIN: 8:31

Mike Sargent, Chief FIlm Critic of WBAI Radio, discusses why Transformers 5 was so bad: 10:50

Playlist songs: 20:30

-Feels - Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, Big Sean

-Películas - Cohetes

-Perfect Places - Lorde

Would you like to get in touch with us? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to Highly Relevant with Jack Rico:

• Click here to subscribe via iTunes • Click here to subscribe via Spotify • Click here to subscribe via Stitcher

Episode 36: Can Mexico Win The Confederations Cup 2017?, What HBO Latino Is Doing About Latin Comedy Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

    Thank you for listening to episode 36 of the Highly Relevant podcast. It’s soccer week and between World Cup Qualifiers and International Friendlies, soccer fans are getting ready for this weekend’s CONFEDERATIONS CUP, a precursor tournament before the WORLD CUP 2018. We talk to Luis Miguel Echegaray, Head of Latino Content at Sports Illustrated about why we should watch it, Mexico’s clash vs. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Colombia’s superstar James Rodriguez, what is his future, what team will he eventually play for, will Mexico and Colombia make it to the World Cup?

In addition to fútbol, we talk comedy. HBO Latino is presenting their first Latino stand-up comedy special Friday June 16th and we chat with Mexican comedians Esewey and Monica Escobedo about how they’re universalizing Mexican comedy for all Latinos. That and a recap of the top headlines in US Latino pop culture this week!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Confederations Cup 2017 with Luis Miguel Echegaray 1:15

Vision for Sports Illustrated's Latino content 1:41
Can golf, NASCAR and the NFL ever gain major, genuine interest by Latinos? 3:31
Why should people watch the Confederations Cup? 7:46
Mexico v Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who will win? 10:31
Can Chile win the Confederations Cup? 11:45
Has the USMNT regained its form in time for the World Cup? 13:52
Is Christian Pulisic the real deal? 14:35
Can Colombia make the 2018 World Cup and equal their results from 2014? 16:42
What team will land James Rodriguez? 19:12

JackedIN (Pop culture recap) 21:21

*HBO Latino 'Entre Nos Part 1' Comedy Special chat with Ese Wey and Monica Escobedo (Interview done in Spanish) 23:51

How did you get to be involved in the show? 24:36
When did they discover they were going to become professional stand-up comics? 26:40
What topics will be explored on the comedy special? 29:38
As Mexican comedians, how are they translating their Mexican jokes to US Latinos? 32:14
Where do their best jokes come from? 36:15
How has Latin comedy changed? 38:15
What kind of comedy do Latino viewers want to see today? 39:48
What to expect from the show 42:41

Movies coming out this weekend 45:23

Cars 3
Rough Night
All Eyez on Me
47 Meters Down

You'd like to give us your feedback or get a shout-out? Email us at highlyrelevant@showbizcafe.com and help us spread the word on social media. If you enjoyed this episode head on over to iTunes and kindly leave us a rating, a review and please subscribe.

Episode 35 - Is Pixar's 'Coco' Too Mexican For Other Latinos? How Did Tom Cruise's 'The Mummy' Go So Wrong? Jun 09, 2017

Show notes

    On episode 35 this week, we focus on Tom Cruise’s 'The Mummy' reboot which is out this weekend.  I’ll be talking to Mike Sargent, Chief Film Critic of WBAI Radio who also contributes film reviews nationally on the FOX Business Network with Maria Bartiromo, on what went wrong and what it means for Universal Pictures Dark Universe.

We also tackle Pixar’s new Latino movie 'Coco'. The trailer and cast announcements were released this week and we talk to Kellvin Chavez, former owner of LatinoReview.com and now Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of SplashReport.com to discuss if white audiences will go out in droves to watch a Mexican Pixar movie. That and a recap of the top headlines in US Latino pop culture this week!

EPISODE SUMMARY

'The Mummy' review with Mike Sargent 1:14
(@Mikeonscreen)

JackedIN (Pop culture recap) 26:56

Latino film critic Kellvin Chavez discusses Pixar's 'Coco' 29:34
(@Kellvin_Chavez)

What I'm listening to this week 47:11

Everything Now - Arcade Fire
2U - David Guetta feat. Justin Bieber
Pendulum - Katy Perry

Episode 34 - 'Wonder Woman' Discussion with RottenTomatoes, Alexa PeñaVega on Life & Career, FOX's October Gonzalez on 'Beat Shazam' Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

    Thank you for listening to episode 34 of the Highly Relevant podcast. On this week’s episode, I have an in-depth discussion on 'Wonder Woman' with the editor-in-chief of RottenTomatoes - Matt Atchity. We also discuss the future of movie critics and what RottenTomatoes.com is doing about the lack of Spanish movie reviews on the site. Hispanic actress Alexa PeñaVega, you know her from the very successful Spy Kids franchise films from Robert Rodriguez, this time around she’s starring in a new TV movie on the Hallmark channel called Destination Wedding and we talked about everything from why she got sick of the LA scene and moved to Hawaii, the ambiguity of non-ethnic looking Latina actresses, and her opinions on today’s use of social media and her place in it. And we finish by chatting with October Gonzalez, the co-host DJ of FOX’s new game show “BEAT SHAZAM” hosted by Jamie Foxx. She tells me how she landed her new gig, her first encounter with Jamie Foxx and if she could take on SHAZAM and win.

EPISODE SUMMARY
Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of RottenTomatoes Matt Atchity on WONDER WOMAN 1:25

JackedIN (Pop culture recap) 25:46

Alexa PeñaVega interview 26:59

What I'm listening to this week 47:49