Highly Relevant With Jack Rico

This week we welcome actor Maximiliano Hernández (The Avengers) where we covered a lot of interesting topics ranging from why there is no Latinx superheroes at Marvel or DC to racism and image representation. Plus, why he considers Peacock's 'Mr. Mercedes' the most fun he's had on a TV show and the question he asked Benicio del Toro on set about the movie that made him want to become an actor.Music PlaylistQuedate - Debi Nova, Pedro CapóParanoia Pop - Bandalos Chinos y LOUTAParaiso - Monogem 

The 21st Latin Grammy Nominations were announced this week and music journalist, Isabela Raygoza, joins the show to help me deconstruct what the plethora of Reggaeton nominations means to music fans and the music industry. Will white and Black artists continue to collaborate with Spanish-language artists? Plus, Isabela weighs in on who will win and lose on Latin’s biggest night in music. Music Playlist Bajofondo - Solari Yacumenza (ft. Cuareim 1080) Dos Extraños - Cero39 (feat. Soy Emilia) Buenos Aires - Nathy Peluso

Mexican-American comedian Felipe Esparza did something special this year. He is the first comedian to record two separate performances – one in English and one in Spanish - of his new comedy specials 'Bad Decisions' and 'Malas Decisiones' for Netflix, marking this moment a first for Latinx comedians and Netflix as well. Esparza joins Jack on this episode to discuss why no other Latino comedians have done bilingual shows before. what made him want to do it and the challenges of perfecting his Spanish for showtime, and what this achievement means for comedy’s evolution? Will all established and upcoming Latinx comedians take note?Highly Relevant PlaylistNuestra Historia - HumboldtCentro - MIELTiempo - Gravité

This week actress Genesis Rodriguez drops by the podcast to discuss her new survival thriller Centigrade out on demand right now. Genesis and Jack have a raw conversation on the unhealthy experience she had filming the movie, she describes how she put her body through extreme torture using a diet where she lost 14lbs. in 20 days that left her physically exhausted and different. She also talks how the pandemic has had a toll on her mentally and professionally, how Tik-Tok and cooking have saved her sanity, and that day she was told at a restaurant to go back to her country even though she was born in the United States. Music playlistExplosion - Adrian Bello (feat. Ximena Sariñana)Los Chicos Si Lloran - Diamante EléctricoSolito - Hens

Honduran-American television host Rocsi Díaz joins Jack Rico on the return of the "Highly Relevant Podcast" to discuss her brand new co-hosting show "Cannonball" from the USA Network. She also shares with Jack what she believes are the components she has used to become a national television host on BET, Entertainment Tonight, E! and now the USA Network. Plus, what does she think of the Latinx term, and her thoughts on the fall from grace of Ellen DeGeneres. Music PlaylistEl Micrófono - Mexico Institute of SoundJungla - Monte from Simon MejíaUniversos Paralelos - Juan GaleanoFollow Jack:Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackRicofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackrico

Dominican-American director Jessy Terrero discusses with Jack his Netflix project - "Nicky Jam: El Ganador". He also gives his views about creativity under quarantine, the aesthetic of low tech vs. high-tech productions, his thoughts on virtual directing, why Hollywood still hasn't embraced the reggaeton phenomenon like Latinx youth has and the stigma of urban.Latinx PlaylistAhorita - IVANSITOCoachella - REYNA In Too Deep - Katzú Oso 

Jaime Camil joins the podcast to discuss his new bilingual movie “Pildoras De Mi Novio” out in theaters now. We got a chance to discuss the growing trend of bilingual and bicultural movies, his thoughts on why Jane The Virgin was successful with white audiences, and if we reached a turning point in Hollywood viewing Hispanic actors as legitimate stars.

On this first episode of 2020, we talk to Jencarlos Canela, arguably one of the most beloved singer/actors in the Hispanic market on his new Netflix Latinx sitcom “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia”. We get into a deep conversation on why he feels comfortable with white showrunners telling him how to play a Hispanic, how he’s handled being told he’s not Hispanic enough, and why he feels people will never grasp the full impact of what Eva Longoria does to push Latinx culture to the American mainstream.Jack's Curated Playlist Something - Los Amigos InvisiblesAtomico - Jungle FireHasta Que - Tatiana Hazel

This is the last podcast of 2019. We will be back in 2020 with more episodes and also will be launching a new podcast as well. We will be announcing details very soon on all of Jack's social media platforms.On this episode, we discuss the Camila Cabello (1:58) racial debacle with culture critic Mike Sargent over some insensitive comments she said seven years ago. We’ll tell you what she said, what the general reaction has been and will her meteoric rise take a hit in 2020.Then Mike and Jack give you their FIRST REACTION of ‘Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker’ (32:13) from inside the first New York press screening of the film. Will it satisfy fans and will it satisfy the critics? Holiday Playlist (31:25)Esta Navidad - Malu TrevejoJingle Bell Rock - MatisseTe Regalo - Sebastian Yatra

Actor William Levy has a new film out called 'En Abrazos de un Asesino' (8:02) which he co-wrote, produced and stars in. It’s like James Bond meets John Wick, but in Mexico. In our interview, Levy got raw and direct about how the Latino market and Hollywood once told him he was never going to succeed because of his Cuban accent and how he didn't look "Latino" enough play a Latino. Much of these experiences marked him, to the point where he created a production company with the purpose of hiring Latinx actors with all types of accents, and, to develop Spanish language movies for Spanish language viewers like his mother and grandmother who don’t understand English."Jacked In" Weekly News Recap (6:28)Music Playlist (26:57)Barro En Los Pies - Polock (feat. IZAL)FuckHim - Girl Ultra (feat. Ximena Sariñana)Mala Manera - Juanes

This week actress, singer and producer Ana Villafane joins me to talk about what it feels like to be a part of not one, but two shows on NBC (Sunnyside, New Amsterdam), the reasons why she hasn’t returned to Broadway yet, why she’s been so transparent on speaking about mental health publicly, and why producing her recent Latinx Cabaret event for Hispanic Heritage Month in NY was such a fulfilling experience. *Colombian singer Santiago Munera is this week's featured artist.

Marcos Juarez, Pandora's Head of Latin Music, stops by to discuss a wide array of topics in the Latin music space, including why most Latinos listen to Pandora for Latin music.

Jack talks ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ with Colombian protagonist Natalia Reyes who shares how she thought she was auditioning for a maid role in James Cameron’s new Terminator sequel. Little did she know she was going to become the lead star of an iconic franchise! Then he talks to Columbia University professor, author, and Latinx authority Ed Morales, about his new book ‘Latinx: The New Force in American Politics and Culture’ as they discuss why America has embraced the new Latinx boom. Music PlaylistLo Mejor de Mi - Noel SchajrisBonito - Marco Mares, GretaEl Vacile - Systema Solar

Actor Danny Pino joins the show to talk about his role as Miguel Galindo in the Sons of Anarchy spinoff, Mayans M.C., a hit show that happens to be Latinx. Then, Mike Sargent and Jack give their FIRST REACTION of Terminator: Dark Fate, one of the best action films of 2019.

Gina Rodriguez, from ‘Jane The Virgin’ fame, uploaded an Instagram video where she is seen saying the ’N’ word as she was singing along to The Fugees “Ready or Not”. This has caused a social media backlash from the African-community and has also sparked a cultural debate on who is allowed to say the ’N’ word and who isn’t. Shouldn't Latinx say it since many have African blood. Film and culture critic Mike Sargent joins Jack to help discuss.

This week, culture and film critic Mike Sargent joins the show to help us discuss the controversial film JOKER… is it worth the time and money to watch? How violent is it? Is it for everyone? And then we deconstruct this year’s Latin Grammy debacle. Reggaetoneros are up in arms calling classism at the Latin Recording Academy for not nominating them in the major award categories this year. Are they right? Also, after Spaniards Alejandro Sanz and Rosalía received the most amount of  nominations, social media accused them of cultural appropriation. Are Spaniards considered Latinx in America? Mike and Jack discuss it.Music PlaylistTe Quiero Ver - Manu Manzo (feat. Feid) Freak - VicenticoAlgo Más - Valdes

Shalim Ortiz talks 'Grand Hotel', Mateo, Season 2 renewal and every question you want answered. Also, film and culture critic Mike Sargent stops by to help me discuss Jennifer Lopez’s new movie 'Hustlers' out this week. She is getting a lot of Oscar talk for her performance, but… what about the movie? Was it any good?

On this week’s episode, Bianca de la Garza, the first Latina late-night host comes on the show to discuss her new beauty brand, ‘In Glow We Trust,’ and film critic Mike Sargent reviews Argentinian director Andres Muschetti’s latest horror sequel “IT: Chapter 2”. The film is almost 3hrs long. Did it hurt the film or help it? Listen in.Music PlaylistTocamela - Los Amigos InvisiblesEs Normal - Menor Menor, Dalex, Milly, Lary Over y Sharo TowersNo Nos Sobran Los Domingos (Versión Bachata) - Debi Nova y Vicente Garcia

Juan Doe is one of the hottest comic book creators in the industry right now. He is debuting his first graphic novel as a writer called Bad Reception with Aftershock Comics, a thought-provoking look at celebrity, fame and the dark side of social media set against a slasher-horror story. The opening of the story is groundbreaking. It’s a 10-page cinematic blitz with nothing but words, darkness and blood. He’s illustrated dozens of covers and comics for Marvel, DC and is also currently the artist for the hit comics DARK ARK and STRAYED. Many know him for drawing the still relevant Latinx Marvel 2007 comic, “Fantastic Four: Isla de la Muerte,” which took place in Puerto Rico. Jack's Music Playlist No Lo Ves - Sebastián RomeroSOS - Surfistas Del SistemaMami - Piso 21 (feat. The Black Eyed Peas)

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.