Ruben In The Center

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend and former Harvard classmate, Dr. Ronald J. Granieri who is a history professor at the United States Army War College, as well as a Templeton Education Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Given that Dr. Granieri's speciality is European history, with an emphasis on the study of allies and adversaries, the conversation could not be better timed. The two old friends talk about America's place in the world, and the changes in the U.S.-E.U. partnership in the era of President Trump. They also discuss Russia and Ukraine, trade and tariffs, immigration and global economics. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend and spirtual adviser Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, one of the nation's most prominent Latino evangelical leaders. They discuss faith, social activism and impactful storytelling. They also talk about the moral soul of America, which seems to be hurting at the moment -- and what can be done to heal it. Finally, they delve into the inner workings of Generation Z and explore what religion and faith means to a younger generation of Americans.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Marisa Calderon, CEO of Prosperity Now, and Bob Friedman, the organization's founder. They discuss social activism, racial justice, and prosperity for all. They also talk about what the political parties have done right and wrong over the years, and how organizations like theirs can help make a better world and build a more perfect union.  

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Chris Salcedo, a fellow professional communicator and broadcaster who traded living in California for Texas about the same time that Navarrette did the opposite. The two talk about politics, MAGA, the turbulent state of media, and why Latinos are finding a new home with a group of people they detested just 30 years ago: Republicans. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Emiliano Limon, about the new media and what went wrong with the old media. They talk about Limon's long career in talk radio and how that medium changed America -- and then went off the rails. They also discuss broadcast media in general, and what the future holds for an industry that seems to be changing by the week. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, and former Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Fisher. They discuss immigration enforcement policy, and the most effective methods of securing the nearly 2000-mile long border between the United States and Mexico. They also talk about politics, leadership and the need to speak honestly about complicated problems that don't have simple solutions. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Tavis Smiley, his old friend of 30 years and former LA radio co-host. They talk about Smiley's new book, which offers a fresh look at a project he started two decades ago -- "The Covenant With Black America, 20 Years Later." They address the current state of Black America, where it's been and where it's going. They also talk about the 2024 Election and how Black voters are likely to fit into that storyline. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with powerhouse mother-daughter team, Lupita Castañeda-Liles & Maria Soco Castañeda about their lives, their partnership, and their shared passion for their exciting social media platform, "Becoming Mujeres: Translating Cultural Expectations Into Opportunities." They talk about the mental health challenges facing Latinas -- especially young Latinas -- and the long list of opportunities that await the next generation.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Max Cuevas, CEO of Clinicas de Salud del Valle de Salinas, a string of non-profit and low-cost medical clinics sprinkled throughout the central coast and Salinas valley. They talk about the lack of health care insurance coverage, the high cost of health care, and an innovative project being run by the CSVS that imports doctors from Mexico to treat Mexican farm workers and other members of the working poor living in California.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Neal Griffin, about the retired police lieutenant's latest career enhancement -- going from peace officer to crime novelist to beat reporter for a local Wisconsin newspaper. They talk about storytelling, journalism, politics and the state of modern-day policing among other topics.      

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Arnold Torres, about the state of American politics, the various challenges facing the country's 62 million Latinos, and the dangerous times in which we live now that Donald Trump has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants -- most of whom are Latino.                                                    

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Bob Harrison, director of Command College, researcher for RAND Corporation and former police chief in three different California cities. They discuss policing in the modern era, the recent round of protests on university campuses and what the public thinks of the police when its time to restore order.  

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Martin Mares, founder and executive director of the Ivy League Project -- a unique leadership initiative that has taken thousands of high school students from migrant and working-class backgrounds to visit Ivy League and other selective universities -- with remarkable results. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, veterano Latino journalist Ray Suarez, about his new book on immigration, "We Are Home: Becoming American In The 21st Century." Touching on history and politics, they discuss all that immigrants from all over the world give to the United States, and what the United States takes in return.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Melissa Vela Williamson, a San Antonio-based public relations specialist. She is the author of “Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Need to Know.” They discuss the science of communications, the Latino community, and how to get America talking again.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Yasmin Davidds, a Los Angeles-based organizational psychologist with additional certification in emotional intelligence. A popular speaker, negotiating specialist, and expert on women and leadership, Davidds is the author of several books including, most recently, the forthcoming: "Graciously Assertive: How Becoming A Better Human Makes You a Better Leader." She is also Founder/CEO of The Dr. Yasmin Davidds Leadership Institute and serves on the board of the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Veronica Navarrette -- his Mexican-born wife, and better 7/8 -- about her long career helping kids on the margins as a bilingual Montessori-trained, certified academic language therapist, dyslexia specialist and speech & language pathologist. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews David Telisman -- his cousin through marriage -- about branding, messaging, and storytelling about issues ranging from mental health awareness to the experience of being Jewish in America post Oct 7.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews fellow Generation X'er Jean Twenge, PhD -- a renowned national expert, speaker, and consultant on the generations -- about some of what she has learned over 30 years of looking at generational differences, her new book, and what it's like to be a Gen X'er raising three Gen Z'ers.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Julio Ricardo Varela -- a Harvard-educated Latino journalist, with roots in Puerto Rico -- about the media, politics, the Latino community and the issues surrounding the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Jeff Hall, Sam Taylor, and Tania Ruedas-Ortiz from "Our National Conversation" -- a new digital media organization run by Generation Z that aims to fix what's broken in the Fourth Estate and get Americans talking in a civilized way.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Nely Galan -- a Latina powerhouse who he first met 29 years ago, and whose remarkable life and career he has followed ever since. Born in Cuba, Galan arrived in the United States at age 5. She's been striving and achieving ever since. As a TV producer, network executive, author, real estate investor, and podcast host, she hasn't just lived the American Dream. She has redefined it.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Wendy Patrick -- a prosecutor, TV commentator, speaker and author -- about the topic of her new book: how to use the Bible's teachings to make better choices in life, love and friendship.

Host Ruben Navarrette has a conversation with his friend, veteran reporter Russell Contreras about how he sees digital media. race, justice, Latino culture, politics and journalism from his unique perch -- Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Host Ruben Navarrette has a conversation with his friend, Jimmy Sengenberger about his experience as a veteran of talk radio and the world view it gives him as a young independent-minded conservative who prefers Reagan to Trump.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Angel Mendez, a member of several boards and former c-suite Silicon Valley tech executive about his unique upbringing as a Cuban raised in Puerto Rico, how corporate America sees Latinos, and the various opportunities that lie ahead for both.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Kristina Lopez, a trained psychologist based in Arizona who specializes in autism, especially in Latino and other at-risk children.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews cop mom & police lieutenant Julia Clasby about the challenges of juggling the separate worlds of law enforcement and motherhood.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Al Gonzales, the dean of the Belmont University School of Law and former U.S. Attorney General about the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border, the legal back-and-forth over Title 42, and whether Donald Trump is likely to be indicted by current Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Rudy Carrasco, about racking up a lifetime of achievements, succeeding against the odds, following God's path, and using charitable giving to make a difference in people's lives.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Linda Lopez, CEO of Impact Strategies, a consulting firm providing advice to foundations, government and corporate sector on social and economic investments. She is a former Associate Dean at USC, former Chief of the Office of Immigrant Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, and former Senior Advisor to Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, and former co-worker at the Arizona Republic, Kathy Murillo Cano, aka "The Crafty Chica" about personal branding, building a successful business and her lifelong love affair with creativity and glitter.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend Arnold Torres about the 2022 midterm elections, the future of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading Democrat, and what happened with the Latino vote.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend Carlos Sanchez about the path forward from the 2022 midterm elections and what the future may hold for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, one of the nation's most prominent Republican elected officials.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Rep. Joaquin Castro D-Texas, about the lack of Latino representation in media and Hollywood and the Latino vote in the 2022 midterm elections.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend and compadre, Enrique Morones, about the San Diego's advocate's quest to change the name of the Texas Rangers and about the Latino vote in the 2022 midterm elections.

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Rick Amato, a longtime San Diego-based conservative TV/radio/podcast host about his upbringing in Pittsburgh, his early work in finance, his Italian-American heritage, and the lessons learned from his decades of media work. Guest: Rick Amato, Media Personality

Host Ruben Navarrette catches up with his grad school friend, Jesse Leon, about his incredible life, surviving trauma and perseverance -- and hears all about his powerful new memoir, "I'm Not Broken" (Penguin/Random House). Guest: Jesse Leon, Social Policy Consultant & Author of "I'm Not Broken"

Host Ruben Navarrette catches up with his old college friend, Dr. Ron Granieri, about growing up and out growing the politics of your youth, and whether Americas can find common ground in the center of the road.Guest: Ron Granieri, PhD, Associate Professor of History at US Army War College

Host Ruben Navarrette talks about the law, politics, the Supreme Court, and current events with his good friend, David Iglesias, U.S. Navy Captain, former JAG lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, and currently professor of law and politics at Wheaton College as well as director of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics. Guest: David Iglesias, Professor at Wheaton College and Director of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his old friend, Tavis Smiley, about the recent anti-Black hate crime in Buffalo, NY -- and whether Black people are safe in America, as long as there are so many White people with AR-15's who think they're being replaced. Guest: Tavis Smiley, Radio Host at KBLA-1580 AM and Media Entrepreneur

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Monica Guzman, author of "I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" about the power of curiosity and the value of talking to people whose ideas you might consider strange.