Because Belen Podcast

This is the second part in a two-part special episode featuing Belen lifers Beba Padron, (Belen Gala Chair), Jorge Padron (Padron Cigars President), Jorge Padron, Jr. and AJ Martinez-Padron; the family behind Cigar Afficionado's Cigar of the Year. The Padrons discuss how Belen has impacted their lives, the cigar business, and so much more. Catch part 2 out soon. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

This is the first part in a two-part special episode featuing Belen lifers Beba Padron, (Belen Gala Chair), Jorge Padron (Padron Cigars President), Jorge Padron, Jr. and AJ Martinez-Padron; the family behind Cigar Afficionado's Cigar of the Year. The Padrons discuss how Belen has impacted their lives, the cigar business, and so much more. Catch part 2 out soon. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.  

As we approach the holiday season, Because Belen returns with a special episode! Bryan and Jordan link up with Nick Martinez '08, Olympic athlete, pro baseball player, and Belen alum. On this episode, the gentlemen discuss Nick's time at Belen, adjusting to life in Japan, competing in the Summer Olympics, and much more! To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

After a brief break, Bryan and Jordan return on the "Because Belen" podcast just before the Rick Raimundez '90 Homecoming Alumni Tailgate on October 22. Joining the boys on the podcast are Rick's sister Raquel Raimundez-Spellacy, and Rick's best friends Carlos "Ditto" Aspillaga and Alex Zequeira. This episode is dedicated to Rick Raimundez and his family.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The "Because Belen" podcast returns with its first father-son duo! Joining Bryan and Jordan in-studio is Don Chaney, Sr., Belen's Director of Football Operations, Assistant Dean of Men, and Varsity Football Head Coach. Joining in remotely is Don Chaney, Jr., a future Belen Sports Hall of Famer and current running back for the University of Miami Hurricanes. In this episode, the gentlemen discuss success in football, college life after Belen, and, of course, they reminisce on treasured Belen memories. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The "Because Belen" podcast is back! A new year with new episodes and new guests. But our very first guest is a familiar one. Fr. Willie joins us to discuss all the new developments of the new year. Joining him is former teacher and current Executive Director of Enrollment and Community Outreach Tommy De Quesada, '94, AKA "DQ." To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

It's a special episode of "Because Belen" from the first Belen Grand Reunion. Bryan and Jordan sit down with Nicholas Roca '16, Jaime Lopez '16, Michael Clancey '76, his mother Joan, Carlos Honda '06, and Frankie Damas '06. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org

This week on the Because Belen Podcast, we have a very special Mother's Day episode! Joining Bryan and Jordan is Patty Bustamante, Assistant Principal for the Middle School at Belen Jesuit, and Boli Consuegra, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Men, to discuss the important of Belen moms.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org

On this edition of the Because Belen podcast, Bryan and Jordan are talking Belen lacrosse. Joining them is Belen Lacrosse head coach Alan Bellando and student-athletes Victor Mejer and Manny Rodriguez Lapido. The gentlemen discuss the state of the squad on the heels of a big win against Gulliver, which takes them to the Regional Finals to face St. Andrew's To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org

The Because Belen podcast comes back on the heels of Easter Break. Not only is this the first episode that Bryan and Jordan welcome female guests, it is also the first time they host three guests who are not Belen Alumni. Carlos Barquin, Dr. Josefina Chirino, and Carol Villa have almost 200 years combined experience at Belen, and they discuss the importance of the Belen community despite not being alumni. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org  

The Because Belen podcast returns with a special episode recorded live at the Fr. Izquierdo Memorial Golf Tournament inside Top Golf Doral. Bryan and Jordan discuss the Belen experience with various members of the Belen family: Jorge Iglesias, Albert "Tico Gutierrez '88, Andres Manrara '04, Gabriel Marrero '06, Alex Adams '85, Roberto Perez-Abreu '86, Antonio Franyie '86, Henry Sori '84, Erimar Von der Osten '99, Francisco "Paco" Fernandez '97, Alejandro Brito '89, and Antonio Gonzalez '89. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org

The Because Belen Podcast is back, and we are talking basketball! For this episode, we welcome fellow classmates Anthony Fernandez '06 and Gaby Bermudez '06 to discuss the golden era of Belen basketball. The guys discuss their love for the game, as well as their love for Belen. During the episode, we also welcome their former basketball coaches Jose Roca '84, now Principal at Belen, and Executive Director of the Belen Alumni Association Carlos Bravo '86. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

We are very excited about this one! For the latest episode of the Because Belen Podcast, Bryan and Jordan welcome Lorenzo Rodriguez and Billy Gil. Lorenzo is a producer at Rydholm Projects, Inc., where he worked on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption as well as The Dan Lebatard Show with Stugotz. Currently he produces the TV simulcast for Greeny on ESPN+. Billy is a producer at The Dan Lebatard Show with Stugotz, where you may know him as Guillermo.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

We are already 3 episodes into the second season of the Because Belen Podcast! This time, Bryan and Jordan welcome Alexis Mantecon and Guillermo Alvarez. Alex is a partner at MV Real Estate Holdings as well as Breakwater Hospitality Group. Guillermo manages Development at MV Real Estate Holdings. The guests discuss their success in real estate and the hospitality space, the effects of COVID on these industries, the future of Miami, and their experiences at Belen of course. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

Season 2 of the Because Belen Podcast rolls along! Hosts Bryan and Jordan chat with two Belen alumni involved in the medical industry. Jose Romano is the Assistant Vice President of Administration of Doctors Hospital at Baptist Health South Florida, and Dr. Marc Mestre is the SVP and CMO of Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The guests discuss their time at Belen, their passion for their work in the medical industry, and the COVID-19 pandemic. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The Because Belen podcast is back! Season 2 starts with podcast guests Fr. Julio Minsal-Ruiz and Br. Eric Couto. Hosts Jordan and Bryan sit with Fr. Julio and Br. Eric to discuss their time at Belen, their college experiences, and the journey of their vocation. Br. Eric discusses his love for athletics, while Fr. Julio gives Eric - and anyone else interested in priesthood - some words of advice and encouragement. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

It's the conclusion of the first season of the Because Belen Podcast. In this special Christmas edition, Bryan and Jordan have a chat with with Fr. Christian Saenz and Dr. Edmund Newborn. The guests and hosts discuss the importance of the upcoming Christmas holiday, the Belen community, and much more. Dr. Newborn touches on what drew him to Belen despite not being a graduate, while Fr. Saenz chats about his fond high school memories.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The Because Belen Podcast is back after a brief break! For this episode, we welcome three Belen alumni that went from Belen students to Belen teachers. Juan Vazquez, Jr. '92, Johnny Calderin '92, Alex Peña '06 join hosts Bryan and Jordan to discuss how it's like to come back to Belen after spending their formative years at the school, the challenges of teaching during the coronavirus pandemic, and fond Belen memories.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

It's a very special Thanksgiving edition of the Because Belen Podcast. For the sixth episode, hosts Bryan and Jordan sit down with three guests for the first time. Belen alumni Father Eddie Alvarez, '63, Crescencio Ruiz, '76. and Gaby Dieppa, '96 discuss the importance of Thanksgiving, what the Alumni Association through the Reyes Magis Committee has planned for the holidays, and some Belen memories.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

On the fifth episode of the "Because Belen Podcast," we talk football! With the Wolverines in the playoffs, hosts Bryan and Jordan invite former Belen Wolverines Varsity Football Head Coach Richard Stuart and former Belen Wolverines Varsity Football Captain Art Martinez, '10. Coach Stuart and Art discuss their passion for sports, their love of Belen, and much more! To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The fourth edition of the "Because Belen Podcast" is here! For this episode, hosts Bryan and Jordan welcome Belen teachers Patrick Collins and Charles Cleveland. Both Mr. Collins and Mr. Cleveland have been part of the Belen family for decades: Mr. Cleveland for 30 years, and Mr. Collins for 50 years! Despite not having graduated from Belen, Patrick Collins and Charles Cleveland bleed blue and yellow through and through. Throughout this episode, Mr. Collins and Mr. Cleveland discuss the Belen Social Studies Department, the Overseas Program, their teaching philosophies, and the importance of the Belen community.  To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

The "Because Belen Podcast" rolls on into its third episode as hosts Bryan and Jordan chat with Severin Chambers and Br. Michael Martinez, '09. For this episode, the hosts and guests delve into what it means to be Men for Others in today's world. They also discuss Brother Mike's passion for hip hop and rapping, social justice, and the Jesuit education experience. Severin Chambers is the Saint Peter Claver Program Coordinator at Belen. He also prepares Belen students for college as a College Counselor and sits on the Belen Diversity Panel. Br. Mike Martinez is a Jesuit scholastic in his 7th year as a Jesuit on the path to be ordained a Jesuit priest. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

For the second episode of the "Because Belen Podcast," hosts Bryan Herrera and Jordan Sanchez have a chat with a couple of Belen Cross Country legends: Frankie Ruiz, '96, and Elliot Clemente, '12. Frankie has been the head coach of the Belen Cross Country program - the winningest program in the State of Florida - for 18 years now, and he holds the record for most state championships won as a coach. Frankie is also the co-founder of the Miami Marathon and Brickell Run Club. Elliot is a Nike Cross National Southeast Regional individual champion, and four-time State of Florida Cross Country champion, and he currently works at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits. Frankie and Elliot chat about their cross country records, their time running for Belen Cross Country in high school, why running is so important to them, and some of their fondest - and funniest - Belen memories. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.

For the first episode of the "Because Belen Podcast," hosts Bryan Herrera, '06, and Jordan Sanchez, '06, sit down with Father Guillermo Garcia-Tuñon, '87, and Mr. Carlos Bravo, '86. Father Willie is the President of Belen Jesuit, while Mr. Bravo sits as the Executive Director of the Belen Alumni Association. Fr. Willie and Mr. Bravo discuss what to expect from the school and the Alumni Association in the age of COVID-19, as well as reminisce on their time as students at Belen. Other topics include the lasting effect of Belen on their lives, as well as the conceptualization of the "Because Belen Podcast." For more up-to-date information on school operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit belenjesuit.org. To stay connected with fellow Belen alumni, please sign up for BConnected: belenalumni.org.