Podcasts about Puerto Ricans

Bad Bunny is making global headlines and lighting up social media thanks to an electrifying week in Puerto Rico, where he launched his historic “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. He surprised his fans by releasing the brand-new single “Alambre Púa” on July 14, just days after debuting the track as the show opener. This song, whose title means “Barbed Wire,” marks Bad Bunny's first new music since his chart-topping January album *Debí Tirar Más Fotos*.The residency itself is a major cultural event, comprising 30 shows and expected to draw more than half a million fans before wrapping up on September 14. According to The Los Angeles Times, Bad Bunny began the series with high emotion, calling on Puerto Ricans to fight gentrification and government neglect, and expressing a profound sense of local pride. During the opening concert, he addressed the crowd directly about the importance of protecting the island and its culture, and even performed a décima inspired by threats facing the archipelago.“Alambre Púa,” produced by Tainy and Luis Ahmed Irizarry, is distinguished by its innovative fusion of Puerto Rican bomba and plena rhythms with electronic elements, over which Bad Bunny weaves lyrics about yearning and bittersweet love. Listeners get lines like “Como tú ninguna se ve” and “Si me deja' te hago un bebé,” capturing both tenderness and desire. The music video, released alongside the single, features a woman dancing on a beach that's revealed to be a soundstage, echoing the residency's theme of constructed reality and deep roots in Puerto Rican identity. The iconic residency message, “No me quiero ir de aquí” (“I don't want to leave here”), is featured prominently, reinforcing Bad Bunny's emotional connection to his homeland.Social media is buzzing not only because of the new song and performances, but also thanks to a star-studded opening weekend that included NBA superstar LeBron James joining Bad Bunny on stage to dance. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram have been sharing snippets and reviews raving about the immersive, culturally infused productions, and the set's emphasis on salsa history, with Bad Bunny leading his live band in vintage ‘70s attire.Adding to the excitement, this residency is notable for opening its first nine shows exclusively to Puerto Rico residents. All dates have sold out, and the colossal demand underlines Bad Bunny's deep bond with his island and his fans. After Puerto Rico, he'll embark on an international tour through Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, notably skipping the mainland U.S. This has sparked speculation that it's a political statement, though he's only said visiting the U.S. isn't “necessary.”Away from music, Bad Bunny's star continues to rise in film as well. He's booked roles in the upcoming Adam Sandler comedy *Happy Gilmore 2* and Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller *Caught Stealing*, further expanding his reach and influence in global entertainment.For Bad Bunny's followers, the message of the week is clear: he is celebrating his island roots, pushing creative boundaries, and calling for fans to cherish their homeland and culture. Listeners are reminded that they're not just experiencing another tour, but a transformative, historic moment in Latin music and pop culture.Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more—this has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

In this conversation, Dylan Silver interviews Robert Crager, a seasoned real estate investor with extensive experience in Puerto Rico. They discuss Robert's motivations for moving to Puerto Rico, the challenges of investing in the local market, the importance of community and partnerships, cultural differences, and the evolving landscape of remote real estate investing. Robert shares insights on the hospitality of Puerto Ricans, the potential for high returns on investments, and the appeal of Florida as a real estate hub.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Bad Bunny, the global superstar born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is making headlines this week with the release of his striking new music video for “NUEVAYoL,” the lead single from his most recent album *DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS*. The video premiered on July 4th, a deliberate choice meant to both coincide with and challenge the meaning of American Independence Day. As reported by Los40, Bad Bunny responded simply “sí” when questioned by a fan about timing the drop for this symbolic date, underscoring his intent to reframe the holiday through a Puerto Rican perspective.The “NUEVAYoL” video is much more than a visual spectacle; it's a layered statement about identity, colonialism, and Latin pride. According to Harper's Bazaar, Bad Bunny uses the video to deliver an unflinching critique of former President Donald Trump and the U.S. policy toward immigrants. The most arresting moments include a Puerto Rican independence flag raised atop the Statue of Liberty and a satirical, regret-filled audio staged to sound like a presidential apology to America's immigrant communities. The video weaves together images of celebration, struggle, and resistance, all set to a modernized take on classic Latin music—its very title riffing on El Gran Combo's “Un verano en Nueva York,” an anthem for the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York City.Marca details how Bad Bunny's approach is to fuse entertainment with strong social messages, using his platform to address the lived realities and challenges of Latinos in the United States. By situating the release in New York, a city that has long served as a cultural bridge for Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans, Bad Bunny reclaims both space and narrative. Each scene in the video is loaded with symbolism, from the party atmosphere reminiscent of the city's vibrant neighborhoods to the explicit nods to political and social struggles.The album *DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS* itself has been recognized as a reggaeton masterpiece and a love letter to Puerto Rico. As featured by Staged Haze, Bad Bunny uses the project to explore themes of nostalgia, identity, and resistance, fusing reggaeton with native Puerto Rican genres like plena and salsa. The album's title, “I Should Have Taken More Photos,” hints at both personal reflection and the importance of preserving cultural memory.On social media, the response has been electric. TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have been flooded with reactions to “NUEVAYoL,” many praising Bad Bunny for turning a national holiday into a powerful platform for immigrant voices and Puerto Rican pride.The significance of Bad Bunny's latest moves isn't limited to music. As his influence expands into popular culture, including a recent cameo in the trailer for Adam Sandler's upcoming “Happy Gilmore 2” and his ongoing Most Wanted Tour (which remains one of the highest-grossing of 2024), his voice continues to resonate. The ongoing protests against anti-immigrant policies and ICE raids in cities like Los Angeles have only amplified the relevance of his message, with Bad Bunny remaining an outspoken critic of these injustices.Thanks for tuning in to this week's update on Bad Bunny. Come back next week for more of the latest on your favorite artists. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is dominating headlines and social media this week with a series of bold artistic moves and major cultural statements. Just days ago, he premiered the music video for “NUEVAYoL,” the lead single from his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, intentionally dropping it on July 4th. This release date was not chosen at random; Bad Bunny's decision reframes American Independence Day through a Puerto Rican and immigrant lens, sparking conversation across the internet. According to Los40, he confirmed the date with a simple “sí” to a fan online, making it clear this was a deliberate act.The “NUEVAYoL” video is already causing waves for its political and cultural impact. Set in New York neighborhoods with deep Puerto Rican roots—like the Bronx and Harlem—the video pays homage to the Nuyorican legacy and features updated references to the classic salsa anthem “Un verano en Nueva York.” But the real headline is its unapologetic pro-immigrant message. About halfway through the video, there's a striking sequence where a Donald Trump impersonation plays over a 1970s-style boombox, with the voice declaring, “I want to apologize to the immigrants in America… this country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.” The visuals reinforce the statement, showing Puerto Rican flags, quinceañera celebrations, and everyday life in New York, ending with the phrase, “Juntos somos más fuertes”—“Together we are stronger.” Outlets like New India Abroad, Harper's Bazaar, and Hits Daily Double agree: this is Bad Bunny's most pointedly political work yet and lands at a time when immigration is hotly debated in the United States, especially with Congress passing new powers for immigration enforcement just days before.Beyond his music video, Bad Bunny is gearing up for a massive summer: his 30-show residency in Puerto Rico, entitled “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí,” begins July 11 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. This residency is both a homecoming and a love letter to his island roots, and according to Travel Noire, all shows are already sold out. He's also announced a global stadium tour for later in the year, with stops across Latin America, Europe, and Asia.Bad Bunny's new album and recent singles are being praised for their deeply personal and socially conscious direction. The album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, explores nostalgia, memory, and the immigrant experience. Rolling Stone and Variety report that Bad Bunny feels an obligation to use his platform to speak out on social and political issues, even if it makes some uncomfortable. He's committed to being a voice for Latinx unity, resilience, and pride, as he told Rolling Stone: “I'm going to talk, and whoever doesn't like it doesn't have to listen to me.”Thank you for tuning in to today's update on all things Bad Bunny. Come back next week for more breaking news and behind-the-scenes insights. This has been a Quiet Please production—check out Quiet Please Dot A I for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Watch this episode FULLY UNCENSORED: https://patreon.com/dannyjones Gavin McInnes created Vice Magazine in 1994. He is also known as the "Godfather of hipsterdom". SPONSORS https://huel.com/danny - Use code DANNY for 15% off. https://square.com/go/danny - Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up. https://whiterabbitenergy.com/?ref=DJP - Use code DJP for 20% off EPISODE LINKS https://censored.tv FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones https://twitter.com/jonesdanny OUTLINE 00:00 - Mr. Death 08:29 - "Be the culture" 12:56 - Puerto Ricans in New York 16:12 - The crusade against white, straight, christian men 26:39 - The evolution of Gavin 42:42 - Disney adults 49:11 - Surfing & North Korea 53:43 - Why Gavin hates Asia & Eastern culture 01:00:31 - Adderall & testosterone 01:05:08 - Why tomboys went extinct 01:08:50 - Why Gavin got fired from VICE 01:20:29 - Working with Johnny Knoxville & Steve-O 01:26:50 - Defending Harvey Weinstein 01:38:51 - Why Gavin got completely cancelled 01:51:25 - Candace Owens 01:58:03 - Christianity vs Islam 02:01:27 - In NYC on 9/11 02:13:42 - Meth is a s*x drug 02:16:41 - Proud Boys are everywhere in Florida 02:19:13 - Why people aren't having kids 02:29:51 - Tucker Carlson 02:37:49 - Will Shane Smith & Gavin reunite? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Latin Wealth, we break down a growing political movement in Puerto Rico that's proposing to rejoin Spain as its 18th autonomous community. Is this even possible? What would it mean economically, culturally, and politically? We compare Puerto Rico's potential paths to independence, U.S. statehood, or integration with Spain, with historical examples like Panama and Texas. We also explore what this could mean for Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. and the future of the island's identity.Tune in as Chris and Jeremiah dive into this controversial and timely conversation—highlighting the importance of leadership, long-term planning, and community unity.

Note: "Act 1" was a separate published audio podcast.*Get a FREE 7 day trial to Patreon to "try it out."*Watch the show live, daily at 8AM EST on Twitch! Please click here to follow the page.Email the show on the Shoreliners Striping inbox: eric@ericzaneshow.comTopics:*There's a new documentary on Netflix about The Thunderbirds.*The time EZ's kids had a bad experience at an airshow.*Madison had a hard time the previous night.*The story from last week that I didn't want to tell.*Some basketball player wanted to fight an arena full of hot blooded Puerto Ricans with fiery tempers.*Stanley Cup line brawl.*Amazing baseball catch.*Asshole of the DaySponsors:Pinball Land, Berlin Raceway, Impact Power Sports,, Frank Fuss/ My Policy Shop Insurance, The Mario Flores Lakeshore Team of VanDyk Mortgage, Shoreliners Striping, Blue Frost IT, Kuiper Tree CareInterested in advertising? Email eric@ericzaneshow.comContact: Shoreliners Striping inbox eric@ericzaneshow.comDiscord LinkEZSP TikTokSubscribe to my YouTube channelHire me on Cameo!Tshirts available herePlease subscribe, rate & write a review on Apple Podcastspatreon.com/ericzaneInstagram: ericzaneshowTwitterSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-eric-zane-show-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if I told you the U.S. spends over $40 billion a year propping up a colony that doesn't want to be part of America? That's right. In this episode, we dive into the explosive topic of Puerto Rican independence - not as some far-off hypothetical, but as a moral, political, and economic crisis happening right now under our noses. Why isn't this making national headlines? Because the truth threatens the status quo. Studio Sponsor: Cardio Miracle - "Unlock the secret to a healthier heart, increased energy levels, and transform your cardiovascular fitness like never before.": CardioMiracle.com/TBNS Puerto Rico isn't some willing stepchild of the United States. It's a nation that never asked to be adopted, much less controlled by unelected bureaucrats via an economic junta installed by Washington. This episode peels back the curtain on the PROMESA Act, the U.S. occupation, and the colonial mindset that's been force-fed to Puerto Ricans for over 100 years. Javier Hernandez joins me to tell the truth most media won't touch. But we don't stop at history. We talk dollars and cents: what it's costing you, the American taxpayer. Spoiler alert - independence would save the U.S. over $600 billion in the long run. That's money we could be using to fix our roads, support our veterans, or reduce the deficit. Why aren't more fiscal conservatives talking about this? We also break down the cultural clash at play. Javier makes it crystal clear - Puerto Ricans are not assimilating. They don't want to be the 51st state. They want dignity, sovereignty, and economic opportunity on their own terms. So the real question becomes: are we going to be the empire we fought to escape from? By the end of this episode, you'll see why Puerto Rican independence isn't just some niche issue. It's a test of our values, our fiscal sanity, and our respect for liberty. This is one of the most powerful and eye-opening conversations we've had on The Brian Nichols Show – and it's one that every American needs to hear. ❤️ Order Cardio Miracle (CardioMiracle.com/TBNS) for 15% off and take a step towards better heart health and overall well-being!

After World War II, Puerto Ricans began settling in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, drawn by economic opportunities among Mennonite farming communities. Several generations later, they're honoring their history and reclaiming their identity as “Dutchiricans” within the Mennonite church—and beyond. Today, the story of a Dutchirican matriarch —from her family's migration from Puerto Rico to their adoption of the Mennonite faith— and how spirituality, work, and resilience forged a new cultural identity.Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter.  Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus.

In this episode, we're joined by Augusto Romano, co-founder of Digo, and Anthony Gonzalez from JWP Connatix, to break down how smart video strategies and real partnerships are helping brands connect with the growing U.S. and Hispanic audience. Augusto shares how Digo was built to serve vibrant communities such as  Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, and more through premium video content. Meanwhile, Anthony shows us how JWP Connatix powers this mission with advanced tech to deliver and monetize video content effectively. Together, they explain how viewer habits are shifting; everyone's watching more video and why publishers and advertisers need to keep up. The solution? Using tools like Private Marketplaces (PMPs) and Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) to reach Hispanic audiences in brand-safe, culturally relevant ways. But the real secret sauce? Authenticity. Augusto and Anthony talk about why brands need to understand cultural nuances, not just demographics, to truly connect. By building long-term, genuine partnerships and embracing digital transformation, especially among Latin American and Spanish-language media, brands can unlock the full power of the Hispanic market. Tune in for an insider's look at what it takes to create meaningful connections and successful campaigns in today's video-first world.

The passion of music and choreography in film was never more prevalent than in the Best Picture winner of 1961. West Side Story is a story about love, gangs, cultural wars, and ultimately tragedy. But mostly it's about the music and dance.  We remember all the songs ... incredible tunes including Tonight, I Feel Pretty, Officer Krupke, and of course America. They have stood the test of time. We also love the story of two young adults madly in love amidst the turmoil and hate of other cultures within New York between the whites and the Puerto Ricans.  However, does this movie hold up over six decades later? Do we still love the movie as a piece of filmmaking the way it was embraced in 1961?Listen to film critic Jack Ferdman's take on it as he analyzes everything about West Side Story, as well as many other films from that year, and hear which film he gives his Rewatch Oscar of 1961.Download, listen, and share ALL Rewatching  Oscar episodes.SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW Rewatching Oscar:Website: https://rewatchingoscar.buzzsprout.comApple Podcasts/iTunesSpotifyGoogle PodcastsiHeart RadioPodchaserPodcast AddictTuneInAlexaAmazon Overcasts Podcast Addict Player FMRSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1815964.rssWebsite: https://rewatchingoscar.buzzsprout.comSocial Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, BlueSkyShare your thoughts and suggestions with us through:Facebook Messanger or email us atjack@rewatchingoscar.com or jackferdman@gmail.comMusic by TurpacShow Producer: Jack FerdmanPodcast Logo Design: Jack FerdmanMovie (audio) trailer courtesy of MovieClips Classic TrailersMovie (audio) clips courtesy of YouTubeSupport us by downloading, sharing, and giving us a 5-star Rating.  It helps our podcast continue to reach many people and make it available to share more episodes with everyone.Send us a textSend us a text

What does sofrito—a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking—have to do with reimagining business, food security, and conveying a history lesson about a rich and sometimes complex culture? For today's guest, it's everything. If you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement... then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for. In this episode, you will hear:   Food has a cultural foundation passed through generations. Cultural identity can be preserved and taught through everyday meals. How to make the best sofrito if you don't have time to cook. Food is more than just food – it's heritage, intention, and a story. The story of the Puerto Rican pasteles is shared. Food choices are power moves, shaping local or global economies. Imagination makes it possible to wear multiple hats and still stay rooted in purpose. You don't need permission to do things differently, just the will and a plan. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact by Melissa Llarena Audible   Audio Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CY9BZH9W/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0   Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB   Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0D5B64347/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   Or, download a free chapter at fertileideas.com       About Crystal Diaz   Crystal Díaz has spent nearly two decades at the intersection of food, marketing, and cultural advocacy. She co-founded PRoduce, Puerto Rico's digital marketplace for locally grown food. Crystal is also the force behind El Pretexto, the island's first culinary farm lodge, where food and imagination meet 2,600 feet above sea level. A committed advocate for food security, she collaborates with Espacios Abiertos to advance agricultural policy. Crystal holds two master's degrees, including one in Food Studies from NYU. She's been recognized by Fast Company and El Nuevo Día for her creative leadership and impact in the local food movement. Quotes that can change your perspective:  “If you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen.” – Crystal Díaz   “With every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home.” – Crystal Díaz   “Sofrito is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it… but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history to it.” – Crystal Díaz   “We are on a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think about it differently.” – Crystal Díaz   “Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied… so I can pull something like this [a culinary farm lodge] up in Puerto Rico.” – Crystal Díaz SHARE this episode with fellow food lovers, cultural storytellers, and moms on a mission to raise rooted kids. Crystal's insights on local food, identity, and imagination will inspire anyone looking to nourish their family and community from the inside out. Let's keep our culture alive—one pastel, one sofrito, and one big idea at a time. Supporting Resources:   Website: https://www.elpretextopr.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elpretextopr  Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/@elpretextopr/ Subscribe and Review   Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.    I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination   You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!    In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Advance Praise    “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator    “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money    “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX   TRANSCRIPT   00:00:00 Crystal: Come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension. So we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently.  00:00:25 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're gonna get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood.  00:00:47 Melissa: Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out, and stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening.  00:01:17 Melissa: So what does sofrito, which is essentially a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking, have to do with reimagining business, food security, and passing along really critical history lessons. Well, for today's guest, it is everything. And if you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement, then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for.  00:01:49 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. This is your weekly podcast designed to inspire you to dream bigger in your business and your life. Also, to help you find the energy to keep going because how are you going to sustain what's necessary to be big and to keep your imagination flowing so that this way you could feel inspired, lit up like a Christmas tree or Hanukkah candles. I'm your host Melissa Llarena. 00:02:17 Melissa: I'm a mom of three high energy boys. No. They did not get their energy from me. Psyched. They did. I'm also a best selling author of Fertile Imagination and an imagination coach for mom founders who are reimagining what success and motherhood can look like on their own terms, and that's really important.  00:02:34 Melissa: Now, if you've ever stirred a pot of sofrito, you already know this. Right? You know that the blend of flavors tells a deeper story. It tells a story that sometimes has made its way across generations. It preserves a culture, and it does nourish more than just our baby's bellies.  00:02:56 Melissa: So today's guest, I am thrilled to invite Crystal Diaz. Now she's taken the same approach in terms of her business ventures. She's a foodpreneur, culture keeper, I love that, and community builder. She wears four hats and in today's episode we're gonna go through each of those hats. One of which is as the owner of El Pretexto, i.e. The Excuse, a culinary farm lodge in the countryside of Puerto Rico where she serves 100% locally sourced meals and lives her mission every day.  00:03:33 Melissa: She has lots of degrees and an MA in food studies from NYU, which is why if you're watching the video, you could see, I hope, my NYU t-shirt. Hit subscribe if you see it and you love it. Subscribe on YouTube. Hit follow on this podcast. 00:03:53 Melissa: A little bit more about Crystal. She was recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business in 2022 and was named one of El Nuevo Diaz women of the year in 2023. She's the real deal. In this episode, we're gonna explore how Crystal uses her imagination as her main ingredient, whether it's in terms of the way that she's carving away for Puerto Rico to have its own food centric cultural immersive experience or even by how she decided to commute to NYU from San Juan every single week, which was creative in and of itself, or even in terms of the way that she describes the depth of a very famous Puerto Rican dish.  00:04:43 Melissa: Oh, and side note, I actually have her real life best on the planet, sofrito recipe. My gosh, do not run away, For sure. Check out the sofrito recipe we articulated in this conversation. You're gonna walk away with yummy ideas for how to use your own imagination to nourish your business, your family, and community, and it's gonna be so important even if you're not working in food.  00:05:13 Melissa: So before we dig in, I would appreciate if you hit follow, if you're listening to this on iTunes. Why hit follow? Because every time someone hits follow on iTunes, it tells me that I need to bring more guests with stories like this to the podcast. And I get really excited and when a mom is excited, it is a very good day in her entire home. So go ahead, hit follow. You will absolutely get that dopamine hit that everybody needs or if you're watching this on YouTube, then hit subscribe. I would be so appreciative and again, I will do the dance of joy. Okay. So enjoy the conversation.  00:05:54 Melissa: Crystal Diaz, thank you so much for this conversation on the Mom Founder Imagination hub. We are delighted to have you here. Crystal, just to kind of set off the scenery, why don't you explain to us where you are in Puerto Rico? What's outside your windows? 00:06:10 Crystal: All right. Well, let's… our imagination hub in a car. We are in San Juan, and you drove forty five minutes south, up to the mountains. Now we are in Cayey. I am at El Pretexto, which is also my home, and we are overlooking… we're up in the mountains, 2,600 feet over sea level, overlooking the Caribbean Sea at the south, and all the mountains slowly winding down all the way to the coast. 00:06:43 Crystal: And you will have some crazy chickens surrounding you. In my patio while you are probably sipping a wine or a coffee, depending on the time of the day. Enjoying the view and, surrounded by trees, lush greenery all over the place. And there are gardens on your side, also as well. So you are surrounded definitely by nature and you feel at peace. That's where we are.  00:07:15 Melissa: Oh, okay. Cool. So let's bring that sense of peace to this conversation. I am excited because I'm sure any listener right now who is a mom, has a business, might feel a little frazzled now and again. But right now, for the next thirty minutes, this is a peaceful zone. We are in Puerto Rico right now. 00:07:37 Melissa: Okay. So, Crystal, now I'm gonna ask you an obvious question, as you just described what you are surrounded by in Puerto Rico. But you attended NYU, and I'm just kind of super curious. You could have stayed in New York, let's say. Right? You could have been like this chef at a restaurant in New York City, Michelin star, etcetera, etcetera. But you decided to return home. And so I'm just curious, like, what informed that decision?  00:08:13 Crystal: Well, you will be surprised with my answer because I never left home. I commuted every single week to New York. Coming on to the city, take my classes, back to my home. So for two years, I was traveling every week to New York for one day.  00:08:34 Melissa: Oh my gosh. Yeah. That is so surprising. Okay. So now I'm just curious here. Okay. So you were on a plane. So, usually people complain about their commute. Right? 00:08:48 Crystal: Uh-huh.  00:08:49 Melissa: They have this whole return to work aggravation. Here you are getting on a plane every single week to take courses at NYU. So then let me ask you this other question. So I know that it's a little off track, but now I'm just way curious. Why did it have to be NYU? That's quite the pull.  00:09:13 Crystal: Yeah. Well, my background is in marketing, and I have a BA in Marketing with a Minor in Advertising and Public Relations. Then I worked with a newspaper for fourteen years. So my background is all about business and marketing. Then I did a first master degree here in Puerto Rico, in the University of Puerto Rico, about cultural action and management. And then, I wanted – because at this point, I believe that I am not passionate anymore. I am kind of obsessed with food, and I guess we will get into that later. 00:09:58 Crystal: But, I wanted to learn the policy part of it. And in Puerto Rico, we don't have any program in any of the universities nor public or private, specifically about food, and way less food policies and advocacy and that type of perspective on the food system, which is what I wanted to learn. So that's why I ended up in New York. I decided to do this because it's a direct flight. So it's gonna be a three hours and a half flight going in, then the one hour in the A train until Westport. 00:10:49 Crystal: Even though I know it's intense, it was pretty straightforward. You don't have make a stop then take another plane. And I was studying and reading all my plane hours, so there's no excuse to not complete your assignments, I guess.  00:11:07 Melissa: Yeah. I love that. Okay. So, hey, that is 100% using your imagination because I think a lot of us, myself included, I wouldn't have considered that to be an option in my mind. I still don't. Right? It's gotta be a certain set of circumstances that make that a possibility. But, I love that now that's an idea that we just planted in someone's head. Right? If they really are obsessed. Right?  00:11:35 Crystal: And if you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen. And to my point, New York is so expensive that I spend way less money in flight tickets than actually living there.  00:11:56 Melissa: Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Okay. So this is really interesting. Okay. So you could have stayed in New York, but you didn't even choose to stay in New York when you were taking classes at NYU. So now you have the whole, like… that's just so that's fascinating, Crystal. You really gobsmacked me right now with that piece of information.  00:12:18 Melissa: So along the same lines of using your imagination and thinking totally out of the box, let me ask you this one question. So, El Pretexto, of course, we'll go into what it is and all of that. But I also wanna understand because on your website, you say that you've traveled the world. Right? So you've seen all these different culinary experiences. And using your imagination and imagining where or how would you imagine Puerto Rico's cuisine fitting into the landscape of world gastro– I can't say the rest of that word, but I know it's a real word.  00:12:57 Crystal: Yes. Well, for me, I love to travel. I am a girl of no luxuries. Right? I don't care about purses or new shoes or jewelry. It's like I don't judge, but I don't care. So where I spend my money and my time, which I can't… money, you can recover it somehow, but time is just one time. You just have every minute that you have.  00:13:27 Crystal: And I like to spend those traveling and getting to know other cultures and exposing myself to other cultures. And I think that those travels have pushed me to understand and appreciate what we have back here at home and also understand the opportunities that we have back here at home. Not everybody is doing it perfectly, but you can definitely learn how it is done in other places. And I'm talking generally. Right? Depending on what you are interested.  00:14:01 Crystal: But you always learn of how the world do things in other places. So, I in my case, I love food and I try to expose myself, not only to eating in good restaurants or good food, but I love to go to markets. I even go to supermarkets every time I travel. I like to visit farms and I noticed, especially in Mexico, you can see this – Peru is developing this a lot and Italy has it all set. 00:14:40 Melissa: On lockdown.  00:14:41 Crystal: But you have these culinary experiences where you get to… expose to their cuisine, with a local chef and and you go to their farmers' markets and you get the whole country but with a special focus in food. And I was like, “You know what? Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied so I can pull something like this up in Puerto Rico.” So that's how one of our offerings about the curated food experiences came to be because I was sure that somebody will have the curiosity to get to know Puerto Rico from its food.  00:15:33 Crystal: So that's how I got into there. And I think that because I am obsessed with the fact that Puerto Rico imports 90% of everything that we eat, I am then focused on cherish and enhance and share that 10% what it can be if we actually put a lot of effort into grow that 10% into 20%, let's say.  00:16:08 Melissa: That's interesting. So okay. So, I mean, I'm not cynical, but, in my opinion, I kind of believe that the person that controls food source kinda controls a lot. And that's not fantastic. And so I'm just wondering from a policy perspective and as you think about this share of stomach or however it's really considered, are you also part of that conversation too? Like, are you actively advocating for that too?  00:16:45 Crystal: Yes. Yes. I always say I have a couple of hats for all those also thinking that you only have to do one thing and one thing only. If you want to do one thing and one thing only, that's okay. But in my case, I am focused on food, but I try to deal with it from different perspectives. So I have four hats.  00:17:09 Crystal: And one of my hats, specifically works with food policy advocacy. And we try to understand the local food policies that are in place, understanding what programs work, what programs doesn't work, and then trying to make it as… to come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food. 00:17:41 Crystal: Because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently. And I am not against importation. We all have globalized diets, and we love olive oil, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico. And we love wine, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico.  00:18:16 Crystal: So it's not like, all the way 100%. That's not what I mean. But definitely, we should aim to have, let's say, half of our stomach-share full of food that is produced locally. Not only because of its nutritional value, but also because it means economic growth and development for our island and our local communities. So every dollar that you spend on food… somebody might be hearing us while they are eating something.  00:18:55 Crystal: So you imagine whatever you're eating right now, let's say it cost you $1. It depends on where the ingredients came from, that dollar went to that place. It depends on where it was processed, part of that dollar went to that place. And then if you bought it in the supermarket or if you bought it in Amazon, to who you gave that share of that dollar.  00:22 Crystal: So with every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home. And that's how I see it. 00:19:58 Crystal: How do we make that that share of that dollar that we as consumers have the power to choose where it goes. And, by the way, there are some parts that we have the power and some part we don't have the power. I understand that. But how do we make an effort in whatever way we can to stay as close as possible to our home.  00:20:24 Melissa: So I think you said that… was that one out of your four hats? 00:20:28 Crystal: Yes.  00:20:29 Melissa: What are the other three?  00:20:30 Crystal: Well, El Pretexto, which is a bed and breakfast, is our Puerto Rico's first and only culinary farm lodge. This is my home, but I also welcome guests here. So El Pretexto is my second one. I'm the co-founder of PRoduct, which is a digital marketplace that connects local food producers with consumers directly. We're trying to shorten that food chain and make it easier and convenient to get local products on your home. We deliver island wide. So that's my third hat. And then I have a super small, digital, marketing agency with another partner, and it's all focused on food and beverage. So everything is about food but from different perspectives.  00:21:25 Melissa: Yeah. That's so interesting because it's almost like you have a little supply chain kind of going on. Right? It's like we've got a lot going on, but it's all related to eating, which is essential. But I think it's smart. I mean, you have your little niche there. Huge niche. We keep being hungry, so you're in a good spot, I would say.  00:21:49 Melissa: So let me understand this idea about food and how you saw it as an opportunity for Puerto Rico because it has a rich history. Right? So me as a mom, for example, I'm second generation from a Puerto Rican perspective. As a mom, for me, passing down culture is urgent. It's almost on the verge of extinction, I feel, because of where I am generationally. Like, I'm, quote, unquote, “amongst people that I know I'm not,” quote, unquote, “supposed to know Spanish.” I'm not, quote, unquote, “supposed to literally make rice and beans every day,” which by the way, I don't have to. But my goodness, my children really like their rice and beans. And I am so lazy. So that is all I make because I just want one pot.  00:22:40 Melissa: But anyway, so culture, food, that's the one way that I pass it along. Right? You are what you eat. So guess what? My kids are Puerto Rican and Cuban, at this stage. Yes. They have Dominican in them, but, hey, that's just my culinary preference. So tell me about this idea of culture, Puerto Rican culture. And I would be super curious if you could maybe choose an example of a cuisine or food and just kind of walk us through how that kind of expresses culture or maybe there's a story behind it that is unique to Puerto Rico.  00:23:20 Crystal: Well, for me and my mentor used to be doctor Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra, which was the only food historian in Puerto Rico. He passed two years ago, but I learned so much from him and pretty much I was his daughter. He inherit me all his library, which I have here, home. And, so we discussed this a lot. And I think that we both shared that the ultimate dish that represents the Puerto Rican culture will be the pasteles. For those that doesn't know what a pastel is, it's a tamal like preparation. But the tamales are corn based and they use corn leaves to wrap it up. The pasteles puertorriqueños is made out of a dough made out of root vegetables mainly. 00:24:20 Crystal: It will have bananas and plantains that we got from our African in [inaudible]. It will have pumpkin, which were already with our Taino peoples here in America. It will have yautia, which also was here in Puerto Rico. And then, it will have some pork stew that was brought by the Spanish people. So you have in one dish our full heritage of the three cultures that have conformed the Puerto Rican-ness in just one dish.  00:25:01 Crystal: And then that works too will use, what is the ultimate base of flavor of the Puerto Rican cuisine, which is the sofrito. And the sofrito itself also is a blend of African, Spanish, and Taino ingredients, but it's a bricolage of flavors and smells that then go into the stew that then is used to make the pastel. And the pastel is also representative of the most authentic Puerto Rican soul because el pastel is wrapped as a gift.  00:25:40 Crystal: And if you were poor and there was a lot of poverty in Puerto Rico at some – we still have, but there used to be a lot of poverty back in the days. If you didn't have any resources, monetary resources to gift things, you will make pasteles with the things that are on your patio. You will have that growing up in your patio, in your garden, and then you will do pasteles, and you will gift that to your adult, kids, to your sisters, to your brothers.  00:26:13 Crystal: And so because it's – now we have technology, and now we can use food processors and so on. But back in the day, you had to grate that by hand. So if you have that gift, I am not only gifting you my talent and the products that I grow in my patio, but I'm also gifting my time. So it's a very meaningful way of telling someone that you really care about them. 00:26:42 Crystal: And that's all about Puerto Ricans. We care. We care a lot. We want to share everything that we have. And all the visitors that we have, they all can say that Puerto Ricans are always nice to them. Even if we have people that doesn't speak so much English, they will take you to whatever place you wanted to go, trying to understand you and enjoying our island. So I think that the pastel is representative of all the goodness of the Puerto Ricans.  00:27:16 Melissa: Let's pause for a second. If you've been nodding your head all along while listening to Crystal talk about food as fuel for imagination, then I wanna put this on your radar. My book, Fertile Imagination is for any mom who's ever thought, “I know I'm capable of more, but I don't know where to start.”  00:27:39 Melissa: And as one Amazon reviewer said this of my book, Fertile Imagination, which is all about maximizing your superpower to make your maximum impact, She says this, “It's a non judgmental kick in the butt to start valuing your whole selves and to create a new reality where we combine motherhood with our big dreams. Whether you're chasing an idea during nap time or whispering your big vision,” this is hilarious, “into a spatula, then this book is your creative permission slip.”  00:28:17 Melissa: You're gonna hear stories, especially if you like this conversation with Crystal. You're gonna hear a story as well from a podcast guest that I had here who is a James Beard award winning chef, Gabriele Corcos. And you're gonna learn about how he has really latched on to this idea of novelty as his way to explore new categories of interest in his one beautiful life. So I want to just be sure that you realize that this conversation is the beginning of the process. I wanted you to see through Crystal how if your imagination was reawakened, you can start to reimagine how you approach your own life. And I think that's important.  00:29:04 Melissa: But then the book, Fertile Imagination, goes on and adds some tools that you can actually use to incorporate your imagination into your one divine life. And here's the thing, because you could use your imagination from any place you are in the world, you won't have to hop on a plane and go to any place. You can actually just close your eyes and replug in to the little girl that you once were who had all these beautiful ideas that you wanted to play out in the world and that's what I want for you. 00:29:41 Melissa: So here's what I have for you. Just go ahead to fertileideas.com. If you're driving, if you're running, if you're walking, you could do this in a bit. Just go to fertileideas.com and you could download a free chapter of my book, Fertile Imagination. What's really amazing about that chapter is that that chapter basically takes you to a place where you can go and travel back in time, to that moment when you were most free, to that moment where you had the world totally ahead of you and you were imagining what you wanted for your one divine life. That's what I did when I got on stage at the Magnet Theater in New York City 100 years ago now, so it feels. 00:30:25 Melissa: But I talk about that moment for me in that chapter that you can get for free right now on fertileideas.com. So back to the show. Again, shop the book. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination, every mom's superpower. Go to fertileideas.com. Grab the free chapter. Why not? What are you gonna do? Have an amazing time reading a free chapter? That's the way to set yourself up for success for this summer. All right. Enjoy the rest of the conversation.  00:30:55 Melissa: I've never ever heard of un pastel in that way. I'm just like… it's fascinating because I also think it's… maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's a bit of an acquired taste to it too. Like, for me. Right? When I think about a pastel and I compare it to a tamal, I do not think about a Mexican tamal at all. I think about Cuban. I think about– 00:31:26 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. 00:31:28 Melissa: And for me, it's really fascinating to hear the story behind the pastel in the sense that it's very, very comprehensive. You could… I mean, I bet you there's probably books already. Or maybe you're gonna write a book. Maybe you got a fourth – a fifth hat to wear, right? You can write about pasteles. I mean, it's not a bad gig.  00:31:49 Melissa: But I think it's really interesting. And I think it's a testament to the fact that irrespective of where someone travels to the depth with which they can get to know and appreciate a culture is almost unlimited in a way, right? It's… like, for me and my family, I am not a Disney World person. But I've been to Disney World because it's kinda like, “Oh, we just go to Disney World and I have three kids.” And you got a cat. That's a little bit of a cat. She's got a cat. If you're watching this on video, you see her big and fluffy cat. Is your cat Puerto Rican though? 00:32:29 Crystal: She is Puerto Rican. She is a sato cat.  00:32:31 Melissa: Aw.  00:32:32 Crystal: She's a rescue one.  00:32:34 Melissa: So cute. She probably eats pasteles because she's got meat on her. She's a solid cat. But, yeah, just the depth with which you could understand a culture, what I'm hearing from you, Crystal, it can absolutely include history and and careful attention to the food that you're eating. Right? I think about just everywhere that I've traveled and every time I've eaten food, it's kind of like there's almost a story or a reason for why something is on a plate, and it's not always superficial. It's not just labor profile. It could have to do with political conversations. It could have to do with whoever decided that that food would make its way to that region.  00:33:27 Melissa: But let me ask you this question then. So just to kind of close-up this conversation on something that I think is very practical, I'm gonna ask you a very selfish question. Okay, so I'm on the quest for the perfect sofrito. I'm gonna tell you what I do for my sofrito. So it's my ritual on Sundays. I take all the peppers that I find, red, green, yellow, and even orange because it comes in that pack. I also then buy cilantro. I'm in Texas, so let's just be mindful I'm limited in some of the things I can get.  00:34:05 Melissa: Also because I'm a health conscious mom, I put bone broth in the blender so that this way things can blend. Right? I put onions. I put garlic. I put some oregano. That is what's in my sofrito on a good day. Melissa's like, “Okay. I am ready to make a sofrito.” How can I enhance that sofrito, or how do you teach people that visit El Pretexto how to make their own sofrito?  00:34:39 Crystal: Well, sofrito is one thing as the pasteles. Right? Everybody have their own recipe, and everybody says that their mom's sofrito is the best. Right? [inaudible] My mom's sofrito is the best. So that's the one that I do. And I'm happy to share the recipe for you because I have it written.  00:35:03 Crystal: But there are two schools of Sofrito to begin with. The school that says you do your Sofrito on a Sunday and you don't touch it… you don't do another Sofrito batch up until that one is gone in one or two weeks. And then you have my mom's school, which is you do your sofrito every time that you're gonna cook. 00:35:28 Melissa: Gotcha. Right.  00:35:31 Crystal: Obviously, that's nice for those that are retired and have all the time in the world. I do it that way. I'm not retired, but it's because I have a– 00:35:40 Melissa: That's your job. 00:35:41 Crystal: That's how she does it. And I don't want to, to your point, I want to continue her way of doing things. So, there are onions. We don't use all the colors of the bell peppers. We actually use cubanelle pepper. Onion cubanelle, then we will have the aji dulce, the sweet little pepper we need. We will have the cilantro, but we will also have culantro. [inaudible]. Yeah? And then, we will have garlic in it, a little bit of oregano, and pretty much that's the base. 00:36:29 Crystal: So depending on who you ask, there are people that will omit having the onion, and they will do it when they are cooking, if they're doing a batch. And then you will have people that will go all the way in with a lot of culantro in it, so it has that strong flavor to it. My mom's is more balanced in how much goes of each little thing in there. And we also use the bone broth, but not to blend the sofrito, but to stew the rice. If it's gonna be a stew rice, we will do bone broth instead of water with the rice. 00:37:18 Crystal: And then, the beans, we like them vegetarians. We don't use any hams or meat cuts into it. But, again, that's us. There are people that say that the most flavorful ones is with a piece of ham in it and whatever. But, I like… my mom's and mine are vegetarian. And my cat starts again.  00:37:43 Crystal: But, sofrito is is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it. And as I told earlier, it's also a blend of these three cultures that goes into it. A lot of cultures have mirepoix or other type of base of flavors into their food and this is ours. So you have to make it yours but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history into it. But, yeah, happy to share my mom's one with you. 00:38:29 Melissa: Yeah. For sure. Crystal, this was so amazing. So I would say around now, a lot of individuals are planning their summer holiday trips and vacations and all of that. So, maybe you can share where people can learn more about you, can learn more about El Pretexto if that's an option to them to kind of explore, and just follow your journey. 00:38:53 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. Well, a friendly reminder that it is an adults only project. So this might be your chance to… El Pretexto actually translates to “The Excuse.” So this might be your excuse to having your parents take care of the kids and hop down to the island and have a little bit of a honeymoon. But, El Pretexto, you can find it at elprotextopr.com. We're also in social media @elprotextopr in Facebook and Instagram.  00:39:30 Crystal: There you will meet our chickens and photos of our garden and our harvest and the breakfast, and maybe you get a little bit hungry. In our website, you will find different options because you could come for a weekend or you could come for a weekday stay, but also you could come for these curated food experiences, which are in very specific dates around the year. We also have dinners, farm to table dinners in our property. We invite guest chefs to cook dinners, around the year.  00:40:08 Crystal: And, also, I take people to other places in the countryside to enjoy a beautiful lunch, but getting to know another piece of countryside around the island. So, El Pretexto is no other thing than the celebration of the beautiful diverse countryside of Puerto Rico. And you can check all the information there. So, yeah, feel free to follow me there.  00:40:37 Melissa: Thank you so much, Crystal. This has been amazing. Have an awesome rest of your day. Keep enjoying the peace and serenity of the mountains and the Caribbean Sea and all the beauty that you see outside your window. Thank you so much for this conversation.  00:40:53 Crystal: Thank you. Thank you for the invitation.  00:40:56 Melissa: So what's your version of a sofrito? Right? Let's take it out of the kitchen and into your home office. What sort of things for you can you put together to create your next big idea, whether it's something for business, something for your personal life or something for your family this very summer. I am so excited to have had Crystal Diaz for this conversation because I think she's inspiring all of us. She's giving us a good idea of all the ways that we could color our own individual rainbows.  00:41:33 Melissa: At the same time, I want this to just remind you that your imagination could be stirred into anything, right? Especially like tonight's dinner. So catch up on Tuesdays on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub and until then, keep cooking up ideas that only you can serve. I honestly think there's a place in this world for imaginations. And irrespective of AI and technology, at the end of the day, it's only as good as the person behind the computer screen, our prompts, our ideas, the way that we decide to use these resources.  00:42:10 Melissa: And that is the best case for you to actually keep your imagination going and playing with it. So thank you for this conversation. And again, if you are interested in learning more about the book, just go to fertileideas.com. Have an amazing rest of your day, moms.  

GrafhDon't FrontWhen they give you your flowers, remember, you earned every petalYo, I've been hustlin' since 15 pretending it was rap money, Y'all got me! But now it's all legit, all RAP money, and I'm walking in my purpose. God's blessings hittin' different these days #GodsTiming #Grafh #PapooseJoyner's a beast with it—his creativity, his grind, and the way he moves is next level. Mad respect, @joynerlucas. Real ones always align at the right time. #DrinkChamps #Grafh #HipHophttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNW7hEjbNZABeef is a broke person's sport.(Or a very rich one)I don't like the divide between black & Puerto Ricans in hip hop. What's the separation between the old & new rappers. Do you have a stylist?When do you go shopping?Which artist would you accept being compared to you?Were you ahead of your time?What does a Vybz Kartel record song like?Any songs with Pusha T?I want to be in the video in the kitchen cooking upHow do you decline a feature?Rocafella ChainThe rap game you niggaz gotta restore it, cuz I've been the nice and you niggaz tried to ignore it.I've been giving you life and you niggaz tried to abort.PoetryIn a world full of surgery, your body natural Glory My momma gone the spirit above me is not as lonely My mom and my daddy gone, nobody shotgun, they asked for emergency contacts but i ain't got one In closing No matter where you go always remember who you are #new #trending #hiphop #rap #music

Puerto Rico first became a US colony in 1898—and remains so well into the 21st century. Today, that colonial relationship is structured through PROMESA, an unelected board that controls the island's budget and has unleashed a vicious cycle of debt and privatization that has mired Puerto Ricans in poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment. Rafael Bernabe joins Solidarity Without Exception to discuss PROMESA's role in perpetuating colonialism in Puerto Rico, and the longer history of the island's oppression under US rule.Rafael Bernabe is a Puerto Rican activist, sociologist and historian. He was one of four island-wide representatives of the Movimiento Victoria Cuidadana (MVC) who won office in the 2020 elections. He is the author of Walt Whitman and His Caribbean and co-author of Puerto Rico in the American Century: A History since 1898 with César J. Ayala.Read the transcript of this podcast here. Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterFollow us on BlueskyLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcastPre-Production: Blanca MisséAudio Post-Production: Alina Nehlich

Moving Back to Puerto Rico: A Journey of Culture, Business, and OpportunityWelcome back to Wealth Wednesday, where we dive deep into financial freedom, investing, and entrepreneurship—this time with a focus on returning to Puerto Rico. In today's episode, we break down the real process of moving back to the island, the financial strategies behind it, and why more Puerto Ricans are looking to reinvest in their homeland.What's Inside This Episode?Why Move Back to Puerto Rico?The cultural, economic, and personal reasons behind relocating to the island.How Puerto Rico is at a pivotal moment in politics, development, and global recognition.The push to bring talented professionals back to rebuild the island's economy.The Process of Moving to Puerto RicoSelling vs. Renting: Why renting first may be the smartest decision.Managing properties: How keeping a home in the U.S. can help finance your new life in PR.The cost of living differences and what to expect in housing prices, utilities, and daily expenses.Real Estate and Renting in Puerto RicoWhich areas are best for relocation? (San Juan, Fajardo, Ponce, etc.)How gentrification and rising prices are affecting locals and newcomers.Understanding Act 60 and tax incentives—and how it impacts businesses and investments.Challenges & Unexpected CostsThe logistics of moving pets, cars, and personal belongings.Schooling options for families moving back. • ⁃ Hidden costs like HOA fees, property taxes, and transportation expenses.

Moving Back to Puerto Rico: A Journey of Culture, Business, and OpportunityWelcome back to Wealth Wednesday, where we dive deep into financial freedom, investing, and entrepreneurship—this time with a focus on returning to Puerto Rico. In today's episode, we break down the real process of moving back to the island, the financial strategies behind it, and why more Puerto Ricans are looking to reinvest in their homeland.What's Inside This Episode?Why Move Back to Puerto Rico?The cultural, economic, and personal reasons behind relocating to the island.How Puerto Rico is at a pivotal moment in politics, development, and global recognition.The push to bring talented professionals back to rebuild the island's economy.The Process of Moving to Puerto RicoSelling vs. Renting: Why renting first may be the smartest decision.Managing properties: How keeping a home in the U.S. can help finance your new life in PR.The cost of living differences and what to expect in housing prices, utilities, and daily expenses.Real Estate and Renting in Puerto RicoWhich areas are best for relocation? (San Juan, Fajardo, Ponce, etc.)How gentrification and rising prices are affecting locals and newcomers.Understanding Act 60 and tax incentives—and how it impacts businesses and investments.Challenges & Unexpected CostsThe logistics of moving pets, cars, and personal belongings.Schooling options for families moving back. • ⁃ Hidden costs like HOA fees, property taxes, and transportation expenses.

#ChrisDistefano #Podcast #comedy From waking up during a colonoscopy to dodging sketchy San Francisco street moments, this set has it all. Chris navigates a ridiculous doctor's call, questions why anyone still lives in Albany, and drops some hilarious truths about traveling across America for his tour. Plus, he breaks down San Francisco's wild energy, NBA-level man butts, and why the city's streets should come with a warning label. Along the way, he meets some legendary audience members, throws shade at himself for missing the best joke of the night, and even fantasizes about moving to SF (before quickly reconsidering). SUPPORT OUT SPONSORS Factor Eat smart with Factor. Get started at https://FACTORMEALS.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Blue Chew Make life easier by getting harder and discover your options at https://BlueChew.com! Try your first month of BlueChew FREE when you use promo code CHAOS -- just pay $5 shipping. UNCUT WILD CONTENT GO HERE

Moving Back to Puerto Rico: Real Estate, Business, and Lifestyle with “Back to the IslandIn this episode, we welcome Tiara and Angel, the founders of the “Back to the Island” YouTube channel. This couple, originally from Puerto Rico, moved to the U.S. before making the life-changing decision to move back to the island three years ago. Through their vlogs, they document their real estate journey, home renovations, and the process of buying property in Puerto Rico.We dive into:Their journey of moving back to PR after living in the U.S.What inspired them to return and what they envisioned for their new life.Challenges they faced in transitioning back to Puerto Rico.Buying their first property and their mindset on investing.Starting Prolific Construction, their real estate and construction business in PR.Fixing, flipping, and renting properties in Puerto Rico—how they're building wealth through real estate.Why many Puerto Ricans are leaving the island and their thoughts on locals selling their property.Seeking peace and building a sustainable life in PR.Tiara and Angel share valuable insights for anyone considering moving to Puerto Rico, investing in real estate, or starting a business on the island

Trump Pressured to Make Puerto Rico Independent & Tesla's Worst Stock Drop in 5 YearsWelcome back to Wealth Wednesday, where we break down the biggest financial, economic, and political headlines impacting the world. In today's episode, we dive into two major stories:1. Trump Pressured to Make Puerto Rico Independent to Save $617 BillionReports suggest that Donald Trump is being lobbied to make Puerto Rico an independent nation, with claims that doing so would save American taxpayers $617.8 billion over time.A seven-page draft executive order has surfaced, proposing a 21-month transition timeline for Puerto Rico's independence.One major component of the proposal is ending birthright citizenship for Puerto Ricans born after December 31, 2026 while providing a $36 billion per year transition fund for 20 years to support economic self-sufficiency.Advocates of Puerto Rican statehood are calling the reports fake, while others argue the U.S. government spends more on Puerto Rico than it receives in economic contributions.Talking PointsIs this proposal real or just political noise?Would Puerto Rican independence benefit the island or create more economic struggles?How much money does Puerto Rico actually contribute to the U.S. economy?If this happens, what policies need to be in place to ensure the $36 billion annual fund is properly distributed?Would Trump ever agree to this plan, or is this just a distraction from larger political goals?2. Tesla Shares Plunge 15% in Their Worst Drop Since 2020Tesla stock crashed 15% on Monday, marking its worst single-day decline in nearly five years.This continues a seven-week losing streak, the longest since Tesla's public debut in 2010.Since peaking at $479.86 on December 17, Tesla's stock has lost over 50% of its value, wiping out $800 billion in market cap.The stock's decline has coincided with CEO Elon Musk's increasing involvement in the Trump administration, raising questions about whether his political connections are affecting investor confidence.How Is Musk Handling the Situation?Musk acknowledged the difficulty of balancing his businesses and political role, stating he is trying to prevent government waste and fraud from bankrupting the country.Meanwhile, his other ventures are struggling:His social network X (formerly Twitter) faced multiple outages on Monday.SpaceX is investigating two back-to-back explosions during Starship test flights.What Does This Mean for Tesla's Future?Will Tesla bounce back, or is this the beginning of a long-term decline?Is Musk too distracted by his political role to effectively lead his businesses? • ⁃ Are investors losing confidence in Tesla's long-term growth?

Moving Back to Puerto Rico: Real Estate, Business, and Lifestyle with “Back to the IslandIn this episode, we welcome Tiara and Angel, the founders of the “Back to the Island” YouTube channel. This couple, originally from Puerto Rico, moved to the U.S. before making the life-changing decision to move back to the island three years ago. Through their vlogs, they document their real estate journey, home renovations, and the process of buying property in Puerto Rico.We dive into:Their journey of moving back to PR after living in the U.S.What inspired them to return and what they envisioned for their new life.Challenges they faced in transitioning back to Puerto Rico.Buying their first property and their mindset on investing.Starting Prolific Construction, their real estate and construction business in PR.Fixing, flipping, and renting properties in Puerto Rico—how they're building wealth through real estate.Why many Puerto Ricans are leaving the island and their thoughts on locals selling their property.Seeking peace and building a sustainable life in PR.Tiara and Angel share valuable insights for anyone considering moving to Puerto Rico, investing in real estate, or starting a business on the island

#ChrisDistefano #Podcast #Comedy BABES we got a BRAND NEW format for you, Chris was ready to quit this podcast again but instead said forget that, I'm just gonna have the boys follow me around with a camera and try to do a hybrid podcast that mixes standup and poddy woddy. In this Friday night in New York, Chris talks to Colin Quinn and Mike Birbiglia, breaks into a legitimate film set being directed by Bradley Cooper and BOMBS after he tries a risky joke Blue Chew Make life easier by getting harder and discover your options at https://BlueChew.com! Prolon https://prolonlife.com/CHAOS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. UNCUT WILD CONTENT GO HERE

Godfrey and Crazy Legs discuss the impact Puerto Ricans had on the origins of hip hop, why his boxing debut is being delayed and more!Legendary Comedian Godfrey is LIVE from New York, and joins some of his best friends in stand up comedy, Hip-Hop and Hollywood to talk current events, pop culture, race issues, movies, music, TV and Kung Fu. We got endless impressions, a white producer, random videos Godfrey found on the internet and so much more! We're not reinventing the wheel, we're just talking 'ish twice a week... with GODFREY on In Godfrey We Trust.Original Air Date 02.18.25-------------------------------SUPPORT OUR SPONSORShttps://yokratom.com and get a $60 KILOhttps://www.smallbatchcigar.com/ use code GAS10 for 10% off plus 5% rewards points!-------------------------------

Did you ever wonder why a legal copyright disclaimer is always played during baseball games? It's probably because of Gordon Barton McLendon, a radio broadcaster known as the Old Scotchman. After serving in the military during World War Two, McLendon created the Liberty Broadcasting System, a nationwide radio network that broadcast Major League Baseball games from 1948 to 1953. Those broadcasts never originated from ballparks, they were re-created inside McLendon's studio. Wes Wise, the former mayor of Dallas Texas, worked for McLendon as a sports reporter, and says those re-creations were so vivid, audiences thought McLendon was actually at the scene, and the broadcasts were wildly popular. However, baseball bigwigs later caught on, shut down McLendon's broadcasts, and banned any more re-creations. Mclendon went on to become a multi-millionaire, perfecting the popular Top 40 music radio format in the 1950s and 1960s. He developed pirate radio broadcasting to Europe, and became involved in television, and movies. In 1964–65 he served as a communications adviser to the United States Peace Corps. In 1971 McLendon conducted a month-long all-expense-paid broadcasting course for nine minority-group members, including African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexican-Americans. We will hear Gordon McLendon recreate the New York Giants comeback win over the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the 1951 National League Championship. Then, the Old Scotchman tells his life's story to Dr. Cliff Ganus, president of Harding College in 1969. More at KRobCollection.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit meetthemess.substack.comMove over, Meet the Press—it's time to MEET THE MESS!This week, Jen and Karyn break down JD Vance's alarming statement about ignoring judges who challenge Trump—and why that would spell the end of democracy in the U.S.Meanwhile, in the world of cosmetic procedures, the latest trend has women plumping their lips—but not the ones on their faces! Plus, experts reveal which body part you don't actually need to wash. (Spoiler: It's not your butt. Wash your butt.)Also on the docket:*

Personal Updates: The Reese has been dealing with his son's broken arm, discussing high school coaching with Lamon, Montoyis' continuing house renovations, celebrating a fantasy football win, enjoying Penelope Whiskey, reflecting on Christmas gifts, and noting their daughter getting her learner's permit. News Headlines: Several news items including a Texas man running over a crowd in New Orleans, two plane crashes, a Lululemon shoplifting ring, an Alabama football player's death, a Florida woman shooting her neighbor, and a teacher fired for denying bathroom breaks. Break/Interlude: Bow Wow shared some "knowledge." "F^ckery" and Listener Feedback: This section covers various topics including Travis Hunter's fiancé, Drake suing UMG, Fat Joe defending Puerto Ricans in hip hop, TD Jakes' health scare, Gisele's past appearance, an overweight rapper denied a Lyft ride, Willie D's beef with Wack 100, and an incident at Mike D's podcast.        

In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2024), Jorge Duany unravels the fascinating and turbulent past and present of an island that is politically and economically tied to the United States, yet culturally distinct. Acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a US Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the US has dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its recent history. Though they are US citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (although they are able to participate in the primaries). In recent years, Puerto Rico's colossal public debt sparked an economic crisis that catapulted it onto the national stage and intensified the exodus to the US, bringing to the fore many of the unresolved remnants of its colonial history. In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Jorge Duany provides a succinct, authoritative introduction to the island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy, as well as its diaspora. Beginning with a historical overview of Puerto Rico, Duany covers the Spanish colonial period (1493-1898) and the first five decades of the US colonial regime. He then delves into the demographic, economic, political, and cultural features of contemporary Puerto Rico--the inner workings of the Commonwealth government and the island's relationship to the United States. Moreover, the book explores the massive population displacement that has characterized Puerto Rico since the mid-twentieth century. New material examines the multiple issues affecting Puerto Rico in the last decade, including a prolonged recession, the devastating impact of two hurricanes, and the largest migrant wave ever recorded from Puerto Rico. While a popular tourist destination, few beyond Puerto Rico's shores are familiar with its complex history and diverse culture. Duany takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Jorge Duany is the recently retired Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and PhD student in History at Florida International University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2024), Jorge Duany unravels the fascinating and turbulent past and present of an island that is politically and economically tied to the United States, yet culturally distinct. Acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a US Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the US has dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its recent history. Though they are US citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (although they are able to participate in the primaries). In recent years, Puerto Rico's colossal public debt sparked an economic crisis that catapulted it onto the national stage and intensified the exodus to the US, bringing to the fore many of the unresolved remnants of its colonial history. In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Jorge Duany provides a succinct, authoritative introduction to the island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy, as well as its diaspora. Beginning with a historical overview of Puerto Rico, Duany covers the Spanish colonial period (1493-1898) and the first five decades of the US colonial regime. He then delves into the demographic, economic, political, and cultural features of contemporary Puerto Rico--the inner workings of the Commonwealth government and the island's relationship to the United States. Moreover, the book explores the massive population displacement that has characterized Puerto Rico since the mid-twentieth century. New material examines the multiple issues affecting Puerto Rico in the last decade, including a prolonged recession, the devastating impact of two hurricanes, and the largest migrant wave ever recorded from Puerto Rico. While a popular tourist destination, few beyond Puerto Rico's shores are familiar with its complex history and diverse culture. Duany takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Jorge Duany is the recently retired Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and PhD student in History at Florida International University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2024), Jorge Duany unravels the fascinating and turbulent past and present of an island that is politically and economically tied to the United States, yet culturally distinct. Acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a US Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the US has dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its recent history. Though they are US citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (although they are able to participate in the primaries). In recent years, Puerto Rico's colossal public debt sparked an economic crisis that catapulted it onto the national stage and intensified the exodus to the US, bringing to the fore many of the unresolved remnants of its colonial history. In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Jorge Duany provides a succinct, authoritative introduction to the island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy, as well as its diaspora. Beginning with a historical overview of Puerto Rico, Duany covers the Spanish colonial period (1493-1898) and the first five decades of the US colonial regime. He then delves into the demographic, economic, political, and cultural features of contemporary Puerto Rico--the inner workings of the Commonwealth government and the island's relationship to the United States. Moreover, the book explores the massive population displacement that has characterized Puerto Rico since the mid-twentieth century. New material examines the multiple issues affecting Puerto Rico in the last decade, including a prolonged recession, the devastating impact of two hurricanes, and the largest migrant wave ever recorded from Puerto Rico. While a popular tourist destination, few beyond Puerto Rico's shores are familiar with its complex history and diverse culture. Duany takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Jorge Duany is the recently retired Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and PhD student in History at Florida International University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/latin-american-studies

In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2024), Jorge Duany unravels the fascinating and turbulent past and present of an island that is politically and economically tied to the United States, yet culturally distinct. Acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a US Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the US has dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its recent history. Though they are US citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (although they are able to participate in the primaries). In recent years, Puerto Rico's colossal public debt sparked an economic crisis that catapulted it onto the national stage and intensified the exodus to the US, bringing to the fore many of the unresolved remnants of its colonial history. In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Jorge Duany provides a succinct, authoritative introduction to the island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy, as well as its diaspora. Beginning with a historical overview of Puerto Rico, Duany covers the Spanish colonial period (1493-1898) and the first five decades of the US colonial regime. He then delves into the demographic, economic, political, and cultural features of contemporary Puerto Rico--the inner workings of the Commonwealth government and the island's relationship to the United States. Moreover, the book explores the massive population displacement that has characterized Puerto Rico since the mid-twentieth century. New material examines the multiple issues affecting Puerto Rico in the last decade, including a prolonged recession, the devastating impact of two hurricanes, and the largest migrant wave ever recorded from Puerto Rico. While a popular tourist destination, few beyond Puerto Rico's shores are familiar with its complex history and diverse culture. Duany takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Jorge Duany is the recently retired Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and PhD student in History at Florida International University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/caribbean-studies

In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2024), Jorge Duany unravels the fascinating and turbulent past and present of an island that is politically and economically tied to the United States, yet culturally distinct. Acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a US Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the US has dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its recent history. Though they are US citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (although they are able to participate in the primaries). In recent years, Puerto Rico's colossal public debt sparked an economic crisis that catapulted it onto the national stage and intensified the exodus to the US, bringing to the fore many of the unresolved remnants of its colonial history. In the second edition of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Jorge Duany provides a succinct, authoritative introduction to the island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy, as well as its diaspora. Beginning with a historical overview of Puerto Rico, Duany covers the Spanish colonial period (1493-1898) and the first five decades of the US colonial regime. He then delves into the demographic, economic, political, and cultural features of contemporary Puerto Rico--the inner workings of the Commonwealth government and the island's relationship to the United States. Moreover, the book explores the massive population displacement that has characterized Puerto Rico since the mid-twentieth century. New material examines the multiple issues affecting Puerto Rico in the last decade, including a prolonged recession, the devastating impact of two hurricanes, and the largest migrant wave ever recorded from Puerto Rico. While a popular tourist destination, few beyond Puerto Rico's shores are familiar with its complex history and diverse culture. Duany takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Jorge Duany is the recently retired Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Katie Coldiron is the Outreach Program Manager for the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and PhD student in History at Florida International University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap artist, has been influential in reshaping the landscape of Latin music, not only with his genre-defying sound but also with his candid political commentary. One of his recent tracks, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," serves as a powerful rejection of an Americanized Puerto Rico and the push for statehood, reflecting an anti-colonial sentiment that resonates deeply with many Puerto Ricans.Through his lyrics and public persona, Bad Bunny has consistently utilized his platform to address pressing social and political issues, particularly those affecting Puerto Rico. His critiques are not merely artistic expressions but are part of a broader movement advocating for self-determination and cultural preservation.In "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," Bad Bunny's resistance to the idea of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state underscores a larger cultural and political discourse. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining Puerto Rican identity and heritage in the face of external pressures to conform to American norms. This resistance is rooted in a desire to preserve the unique cultural landscape of the island, which is essential to its identity.The song mirrors the sentiments of an anti-colonial movement gaining traction among influential figures in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican diaspora. These figures, including Bad Bunny, argue that the island's political status should reflect the interests and aspirations of its people rather than aligning with external influences.Bad Bunny's influence extends beyond his music; he has actively participated in protests and political movements, championing causes such as government accountability and disaster relief. His involvement highlights the intersection of art and activism, inspiring a generation of young Puerto Ricans to engage with the island's political discourse.The impact of Bad Bunny's music and activism reflects a growing consciousness among Puerto Ricans about their political status and cultural identity. By rejecting statehood, he challenges the narratives that promote assimilation into American society and instead advocates for a future where Puerto Rico maintains its autonomy and cultural vibrancy.As Puerto Rico continues to navigate its political future, voices like Bad Bunny's play a crucial role in shaping the conversation. His music not only entertains but also provokes thought and inspires action, reinforcing the idea that art can be a catalyst for change.

Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States for over 125 years. As the country faces growing poverty rates, continuous blackouts, and a declining population, many Puerto Ricans feel the need for change. While the Island just elected yet another pro-statehood governor, support for independence is rising. Rosie Bultman speaks with Alberto Media of Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora and Edil Sepúlveda of the Puerto Rican Alliance to discuss the case for Puerto Rican independence.

It's that time of years: Election Day. And what an election it's been. We give the official MDC presidential prognosis (Both candidates will save democracy) and dive into the Trump campaign's truly bizarre endgame strategies. Micro-targeted racism to Puerto Ricans, a spiteful McDonald's shift, handing your ground game off to Elon Musk who tells everyone your presidency will result in necessary hardship and a market crash, and many more incredible tactics. Music: Tyler, the Creator - Darling, I Wachita China - BLOCK 47 Blood Incantation - Hidden Species (Vitrification of Blood pt. 2) Get a bonus episode every week by signing up at http://patreon.com/miniondeathcult for only $5/month (use your phone or computer browser)  

Lights On! Trump, we're taking you down! An eleventh-hour bombshell report on Trump and Epstein surfaces, as the felon candidate threatens to “protect” women whether they like it or not. He's out with new threats to violently execute his political enemies, too, underscoring our stark choice between freedom and fascism. We've beat this crook before, and we're on track to do it again, as Puerto Ricans flee Trump after the disastrous MSG rally, Muslims rally strategically behind Harris, women voters and more take their definitive place on the right side of history. Join Trump NDA killer Jessica Denson for this and more on an empowering LIVE pre-election edition of Lights On! Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://TryMiracle.com/LIGHTS and use the code LIGHTS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Purchase the NEW Lights On merch here: https://jessica-denson-shop.fourthwall.com Support Jessica Denson's legal fund here: http://thejessicadenson.com/donate Subscribe to Jessica's Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JessicaDenson07 Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Lights On with Jessica Denson: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/lights-on-with-jessica-denson On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes! In this episode, I cover how Trump just turned the vile attacks from Harris-Walz on their heads and the mainstream media's subsequent meltdown. Plus, an early voting numbers deep dive and the ominous signs leading up to election chaos. Wisconsin GOP Mayor Faces Aftermath Of 'Very Political' Raid Poll: Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris with Puerto Ricans in Florida After Years Of Dehumanizing Trumpers As Nazi Deplorables, Democrats' ‘Garbage' Walkbacks Ring Hollow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight on The ReidOut, Joy Reid leads with Kamala Harris responding passionately to a demonstrator in Pennsylvania, following her powerful rally at the Ellipse, as Donald Trump hints at plans to contest a Harris victory. Meanwhile, Trump offers no apology for racist remarks directed at Puerto Ricans during his recent rally, spurring prominent Puerto Rican figures to denounce him and endorse Harris. Additionally, Trump's vision for a second term includes appointing vaccine conspiracy theorist RFK Jr. to lead health agencies and billionaire Elon Musk to oversee government spending, with Musk ominously forecasting "temporary hardship" for Americans. Listen now.

Did Donald Trump just seal his electoral chances in Pennsylvania shut by calling Latins and Puerto Ricans garbage that doesn't practice proper birth control, at his racist Madison Square Garden rally yesterday? Michael Popok takes a look at the 600,000 majority Puerto Rican Americans who are or are about to vote in Pennsylvania, as Kamala Harris simultaneously counter programs by meeting with the Hispanic community to present her plan to rebuild the Puerto Rican economy and lift up its people. Get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://shopbeam.com/LEGALAF and use code LEGALAF at checkout! Join the LegalAF Patreon: https://Patreon.com/legalAF Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Lights On with Jessica Denson: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/lights-on-with-jessica-denson On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show: -- Joaquin Castro, Democratic Congressman from Texas, joins David to discuss the upcoming election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the House and Senate contests, and much more -- Kamala Harris speaks to a record audience of 75,000 in Washington DC in her closing message to the voting public -- Donald Trump starts to claim election fraud in Pennsylvania -- Donald Trump holds an event in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he declares himself the best President in American history -- Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner facts checks Donald Trump's claims about the 2020 election, not out of journalistic integrity but due to fears about lawsuits -- A panicked Donald Trump wildly lies that he has no idea about what Tony Hinchcliffe said about Puerto Ricans during his rally at Madison Square Garden earlier this week -- Nikki Haley's explanation of why she is supporting Donald Trump is incoherent and disgusting -- Republican Senator Marco Rubio seems confused about why he is supporting Donald Trump -- On the Bonus Show: Mysterious statues popping up in Washington DC, Washington Post cancellations hit 250,000, Steve Bannon feels "empowered" after four months in prison, much more...

John talks about VP Harris' speech at the ellipse and the continued backlash over Trump's featured comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's racist jokes about Puerto Ricans and other minorities. He also remembers the work of actress Teri Garr who has passed away at the age of 79. Then, he welcomes back Professor Corey Brettschneider to discuss the constitution, the right to vote, and the history of Nazis. Next, John speaks with writer, podcast host, and comedian Amanda Seales to talk about the election and promote her new show “What Would The Ancestors Say??” which premieres on a special livestream Saturday November 2nd at 9pm Eastern. Tickets and access available at AmandaSeales dot com. Then winding it up, comedian Keith Price returns to chat with listeners about Trump and other current topics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

VP Kamala Harris presented her closing argument in Washington, D.C. at the spot where her opponent launched his 2021 insurrection, the Trump campaign made a huge mistake by insulting all Puerto Ricans, and people have set fire to ballot collection boxes in three states. Tom Hanks talks about reuniting with his “Forrest Gump” collaborators Robin Wright and Robert Zemeckis for the new film, “Here,” in theaters this Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus, Will the Trump team's latest insult to Puerto Ricans actually cost him votes? Victor Martinez thinks it will.

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and AHHHHH PRE-ELECTION TALK! In our last installment before the 2024 US election, we bring the campaign stories that are top of mind to the table. As per usual, Dems are winning the star power battle... and the GOP got Kid Rock in the national divorce. Bad Bunny endorsed Harris following reprehensible commentary about Puerto Rico that happened at Trump's 1930's fascist rally at Madison Square Garden. He has over 45 million IG followers, and with large populations of Puerto Ricans in key swing states, this may in fact be an October surprise of the Trump campaign's own doing. 200k people canceled the Washington Post after owner Jeff Bezos killed the editorial board's endorsement of Kamala Harris. Is Bezos hedging his bets just in case Trump wins? Bezos claims the decision was made to protect the newsroom's credibility, but his efforts to simmer the dissatisfaction of WaPo's readers are falling on deaf ears. At the same time that Russian disinformation campaigns put out fake, AI created footage of ballots being destroyed in Pennsylvania, real ballots were being burned in Washington state and Oregon. As expected, Trump and his allies continue to sow the seeds of disinformation and distrust ahead of the election to clear the path for them to contest a result they don't like. What "secret plan" are Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson referring to? To end our coverage on an empowering note, we recommend watching Michelle Obama bring down the house in Michigan over the weekend. We make our own electoral map predictions! Make yours here: https://www.270towin.com/ We won't be releasing a regular episode next Wednesday, but look forward to a BREAKING NEWS style episode release when the victor is called... This week's recommendations are all on theme: Have 866-OUR-VOTE on speed dial if you have trouble voting this week (Pam), a WaPo tool Andrew found handy before he CANCELED his subscription, and remember to pace yourself and not try to stay up all Election night awaiting results (Laura). And in this week's installment of After Dark: One of Andrew's friends ghosted him, and is now looking for new friends in public view. Should Andrew go low or go high here? Have we ever been broken up with by a friend, only for said friend to want us back? Pam's friend breakup eventually realized Pam was a real one, and Laura's friendship breakup merges into MuggleSuck territory! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A joke at a Donald Trump rally has brought Puerto Ricans in the swing state of Pennsylvania into the spotlight. While Puerto Ricans on the island, a US commonwealth, cannot vote, on the mainland, could they change the course of the US election? In this episode: Victor Martinez (@victor_vj_martinez), Host, El Relajo de la Mañana Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Tamara Khandaker, and Chloe K Li, with Duha Mosaad, Hagir Saleh, Cole van Miltenburg, and our host, Natasha Del Toro in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We're one week away from the election. Millions of Americans have already cast their votes, but Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are not done campaigning.Over the weekend, Harris garnered support from several major Latino artists, including Bad Bunny, J-Lo and Ricky Martin. Their endorsements followed racist remarks about Latinos and Puerto Ricans made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday. The Trump campaign has said these remarks do not reflect its views.We talk about the role Latino voters are playing in the election.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The fallout continues over the Puerto Rico joke at Trump's rally. Kamala Harris capitalizes on the moment as Puerto Ricans speak out against the rally. CNN bans a pundit during the live show for making a gross comment against Mehdi Hasan. Kari Lake struggles in a CNN interview. Trump teases a “little” secret with Mike Johnson. Republicans are amping up voter fraud allegations. Host: John Iadarola (@johniadarola) Co-Host: David Shuster (@DavidShuster) ***** SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE TIKTOK  ☞           https://www.tiktok.com/@thedamagereport INSTAGRAM  ☞   https://www.instagram.com/thedamagereport TWITTER  ☞         https://twitter.com/TheDamageReport FACEBOOK  ☞     https://www.facebook.com/TheDamageReportTYT

Hostin sits down with executive producer Brian Teta to discuss her viral clap-back to the Trump rally comedian that called Puerto Rico an "island of garbage," the double standard in Kamala Harris' candidacy and Hostin's own experience and she looks back on her favorite Halloween costumes at "The View." Have a question or want advice from Brian or a co-host? Call or text us at (917) 960-3037 or leave us a message here: https://woobox.com/kaoojs. Messages may be used on a future podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: The left calls a rally of joy, diversity, and Israeli flags a "Nazi rally." But could a joke by roast comedian Tony Hinchcliffe about Puerto Ricans tilt the state of Pennsylvania to Vice President Kamala Harris? Will tells you what it was like backstage at the Madison Square Garden rally for former President Donald Trump. Story #2: Will sits down with Democratic Strategist Brad Howard to discuss former President Donald Trump's appearance on Joe Rogan and debate if Vice President Kamala Harris could hold her own with Rogan. Story #3: An audio "treat" from Will's coverage of The World Series for FOX & Friends. Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing WillCainShow@fox.com Subscribe to The Will Cain Show on YouTube here: Watch The Will Cain Show! Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jim and Greg on 3 Martini Lunch as they unpack the friction between Joe Biden's offer to campaign for Kamala Harris and the Harris team's resistance, the potential fallout of a comedian's controversial comments at the Trump rally, and Michelle Obama's unpersuasive scolding of men who won't vote for Harris.First, after briefly lamenting how their NFL teams squandered late leads on Sunday, they enjoy the Harris campaign's never-ending awkwardness over Joe Biden. Harris can't think of a thing she would have done differently than Biden but insists she'll be different. Now, as Biden wants to hit the campaign trail for Kamala, her advisers want nothing to do with him.Next, Jim and Greg analyze comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's controversial jokes at a Trump rally in New York City. From comments on Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and black people, they discuss the backlash and potential fallout. With the media spotlight on these remarks, they explore how this could affect close races like the U.S. Senate seat in Florida, where GOP Sen. Rick Scott strongly condemned the jokes.Next, they discuss the controversy over jokes comedian Tony Hinchcliffe told Sunday at the Trump rally in New York City about Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and black people. Jim unloads on Hinchcliffe and also  the Trump campaign for allowing the material. They also discuss the potential impact of the media heavily spotlighting these comments and whether it could impact tight elections like the U.S. Senate race in Florida, given the fierce denunciation from GOP Sen. Rick Scott.Finally, they slam the Harris campaign for its abortion obsession over the final days of the campaign. And Jim rips former First Lady Michelle Obama for scolding men with lines like, "Are you as men prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children you love and tell them you supported this assault on our safety?" Jim also points out the Obamas' constant and tiresome disappointment with the American people.

Did Trump commit political suicide with his New York rally where comedians 'trashed' Puerto Ricans? And- wait a minute!- did Trump just say out loud he is planning to work with Mike Johnson to throw the election to the House of Representatives?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young boy goes missing from a beach town in Puerto Rico. Six years later, a man goes missing from that same town. Four years later, the timeline places Keyes in the area with his cell phone turned off.The second half of Season 6 of True Crime Bullsh** will launch on September 26th. Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com/tcb for 10% off your first month. This episode was written and researched by Shana Wilensky and Josh Hallmark. It was edited, produced, and hosted by Josh Hallmark.This is a Studio BOTH/AND production: truecrimebullshit.com / bothand.fyiFor an ad-free experience: patreon.com/studiobothand Music by: Jordan Hatfield and James Forest Featured song by Jessie ReidResources:Rolando Salas Jusino – The Charley ProjectRolandito Salas - España | Fernando Fernandez, PI | Puerto Rico (elartededetectarmentiras.com)https://youtu.be/vCbMTO86mGk?si=oKadbDhGnE63A8hxToday marks 9 years since the rapture - First Hour (primerahora.com)Rolandito's parents demand sensitivity from the authorities - First Hour (primerahora.com)18 years after Rolandito's disappearance, what do we know? – Telemundo Puerto Rico (telemundopr.com)Bad Bunny's debut album 'X100PRE' is a tribute to young Puerto Ricans (nbcnews.com)Patreon Producers: Amelia Hancock, Amy Basil, Annemarie Cash, Annette L, Asch Fish, Becky C, Benjamin Cioppa-Fong, Casey Jensen-Richardson, Christina Sisson, Drew Vipond, Heather Horton-Whedon, Jillian Natale, Kathleen Studer, Katie Butler, Kendall C, Lana Holladay, Lauren F, Lynnlie Tuschoff, Manolis Boulukos, Nicole & Dennis Henry, Nicole Guzman, Pink, SC, Shelly Brewer, Sherri D, Trista, Tuesdi Woodworth, Zack Ignatowicz Warren, Beth McNally, Hailey Ziegert, John Comrie, Jordan M, Jordan Taylor, Sara C, Shawna Hardin, Spooky, and Lydia FiedlerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-bullsh--3588169/support.