Producer and CEO of 3Pas Studios, Ben Odell, is our guest this week. He shares the fascinating story behind his critically acclaimed new film 'Radical,' starring Eugenio Derbez. The film centers on a gifted but disadvantaged group of students in Mexico whose lives are transformed by an unconventional new teacher. Hear how the film was received differently by Mexican versus American audiences, Eugenio’s decade-long journey to becoming a dramatic actor, the challenges Latinos face in gaining Oscar recognition, and the surprising story of how the film's rights were nearly lost.Highly Relevant Playlist Alch Si - (Carin León feat. Grupo Frontera)Nostalgia - (FlowGPT feat. AI Bad Bunny)Vueltas - (Noah Pino Palo)

<description>&lt;p&gt;Producer and CEO of 3Pas Studios, &lt;strong&gt;Ben Odell&lt;/strong&gt;, is our guest this week. He shares the fascinating story behind his critically acclaimed new film '&lt;strong&gt;Radical&lt;/strong&gt;,' starring Eugenio Derbez. The film centers on a gifted but disadvantaged group of students in Mexico whose lives are transformed by an unconventional new teacher. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hear how the film was received differently by Mexican versus American audiences, Eugenio’s decade-long journey to becoming a dramatic actor, the challenges Latinos face in gaining Oscar recognition, and the surprising story of how the film's rights were nearly lost.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Playlist&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Alch Si - (Carin León feat. Grupo Frontera)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nostalgia - (FlowGPT feat. AI Bad Bunny)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Vueltas - (Noah Pino Palo)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Producer and CEO of 3Pas Studios, Ben Odell, is our guest this week. He shares the fascinating story behind his critically acclaimed new film 'Radical,' starring Eugenio Derbez. The film centers on a gifted but disadvantaged group of students in Mexico whose lives are transformed by an unconventional new teacher. Hear how the film was received differently by Mexican versus American audiences, Eugenio’s decade-long journey to becoming a dramatic actor, the challenges Latinos face in gaining Oscar recognition, and the surprising story of how the film's rights were nearly lost.


Ben Odell On The Ten Year Journey to Make 'Radical'

'<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E46wI3cvU54">How the Gringo Stole Christmas</a>' is one of only a handful of Latino-centered holiday films ever made. This week, its director, Venezuelan-American Angel Gracia, joins the show to discuss this pressing question: Why are Latino holiday movies so rare? Plus, we discuss his rich three-decade journey in filmmaking, the challenges of authentically casting Latino roles, and the hard business truths of making art in Hollywood.Episode Summary:<ul><li>Angel's diverse upbringing and experiences living as a foreigner in different countries, inform his storytelling</li><li>Casting George Lopez and connecting with his real-life experience as a Latino dad to a daughter dating someone outside their culture</li><li>Casting considerations and controversies around Latinx actors playing roles outside their specific heritage</li><li>The business side of Hollywood casting and how it impacts creative decisions</li><li>The importance of authenticity in storytelling while also serving the main genre/purpose of the story</li><li>Angel's plans to build Super Studios, a new production studio and school in Texas, as a more affordable alternative to Hollywood</li></ul>Highly Relevant Playlist Monaco - Lagos feat. Danny Ocean Cinturita - Reggie El Autentico Yasser Tejeda - Pa’ Sembrar Subscribe to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7CIgobCwTlCjJR4oSwWRne?si=533d6570be174011">Highly Relevant with Jack Rico</a> where we explore how Latino pop culture is reshaping mainstream entertainment.

<description>&lt;p&gt;'&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E46wI3cvU54"&gt;How the Gringo Stole Christmas&lt;/a&gt;' is one of only a handful of Latino-centered holiday films ever made. This week, its director, Venezuelan-American Angel Gracia, joins the show to discuss this pressing question: &lt;strong&gt;Why are Latino holiday movies so rare? &lt;/strong&gt;Plus, we discuss his rich three-decade journey in filmmaking, the challenges of authentically casting Latino roles, and the hard business truths of making art in Hollywood.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode Summary:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Angel's diverse upbringing and experiences living as a foreigner in different countries, inform his storytelling&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Casting George Lopez and connecting with his real-life experience as a Latino dad to a daughter dating someone outside their culture&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Casting considerations and controversies around Latinx actors playing roles outside their specific heritage&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The business side of Hollywood casting and how it impacts creative decisions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The importance of authenticity in storytelling while also serving the main genre/purpose of the story&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Angel's plans to build Super Studios, a new production studio and school in Texas, as a more affordable alternative to Hollywood&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Playlist&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Monaco - Lagos feat. Danny Ocean&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Cinturita - Reggie El Autentico&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yasser Tejeda - Pa’ Sembrar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7CIgobCwTlCjJR4oSwWRne?si=533d6570be174011"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Highly Relevant with Jack Rico&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; where we explore how Latino pop culture is reshaping mainstream entertainment.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

'How the Gringo Stole Christmas' is one of only a handful of Latino-centered holiday films ever made. This week, its director, Venezuelan-American Angel Gracia, joins the show to discuss this pressing question: Why are Latino holiday movies so rare? Plus, we discuss his rich three-decade journey in filmmaking, the challenges of authentically casting Latino roles, and the hard business truths of making art in Hollywood.

Director Angel Gracia Talks "How The Gringo Stole Christmas"

Legendary music producer Gustavo Santaolalla has crafted the soundtrack to Rock En Español, producing career-defining albums for Café Tacvba, Molotov, Juanes, and many more. He is one of only three composers to win consecutive Academy Awards for Best Original Score for Brokeback Mountain and Babel. In our wide-ranging conversation, Gustavo shares his philosophical views on art, humanity, the spiritual connection he finds in music, and the state of the creative industry today. We begin with how Gustavo’s hard-knock life in 1960s Argentina led to an explosion of boundary-pushing creativity still felt in music today.Episode Key Quotes:"The album 'Arcoiris' is a blueprint of my career. In that album, you're going to find the music for the movies, the songs, the production tricks.""It's creativity, art, and music that moves you in any art. It's what keeps us sane.""In the next 20 years, we're going to have to make big decisions and big changes or this can go away, really."Highly Relevant Playlist The Last Of Us - Gustavo Santaolalla Eres - Cafe Tacvuba Frijolero - Molotov

<description>&lt;p&gt;Legendary music producer Gustavo Santaolalla has crafted the soundtrack to Rock En Español, producing career-defining albums for Café Tacvba, Molotov, Juanes, and many more. He is one of only three composers to win consecutive Academy Awards for Best Original Score for &lt;i&gt;Brokeback Mountain&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Babel. &lt;/i&gt;In our wide-ranging conversation, Gustavo shares his philosophical views on art, humanity, the spiritual connection he finds in music, and the state of the creative industry today. We begin with how Gustavo’s hard-knock life in 1960s Argentina led to an explosion of boundary-pushing creativity still felt in music today.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode Key Quotes:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"The album 'Arcoiris' is a blueprint of my career. In that album, you're going to find the music for the movies, the songs, the production tricks."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"It's creativity, art, and music that moves you in any art. It's what keeps us sane."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"In the next 20 years, we're going to have to make big decisions and big changes or this can go away, really."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Playlist&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Last Of Us - Gustavo Santaolalla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eres - Cafe Tacvuba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Frijolero - Molotov&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In this episode, I sit down with rock en español pioneer and legendary music producer, composer, and artist, Gustavo Santaolalla — the mastermind behind some of the most iconic Latin rock albums of all time. This two-time Oscar Award-winning composer has recently been nominated for an Emmy for his original score for HBO's "The Last of Us," which stars Pedro Pascal. Later this year, he will also receive the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In our conversation, we discuss how his 50 years of musical contributions have shaped an entire generation, why he doesn't believe in failure, and why he's betting big on fellow Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi becoming a massive role model in the US.

Gustavo Santaolalla: Crafting the Soundtrack of a Latino Generation

This week, renowned Colombian band <a href="https://www.mperine.com" target="_blank">Monsieur Periné</a> joins the show to discuss their latest release, 'Bolero Apocaliptico'. We interview them about the evolution of their musical style, how they challenge traditional love narratives, and the influence of Afro-Colombian roots on their work. The conversation also navigates thought-provoking issues, such as cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music, as well as discovering sources of love in an increasingly loveless world. Episode Summary<ul><li>Monsieur Periné discuss their new album, "Bolero Apocaliptico" and what it means</li><li>Catalina Garcia and Santiago Prieto share their views on where they find love in a growing loveless world</li><li>The band talks about the Afro-Colombian influences in their music and beyond</li><li>Monsieur Periné speak on cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music</li></ul>Highly Relevant Playlist unx100to - Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny Mundo Parallelo - Monsieur Periné y Pedro Capó Tu y Tu - Los Angeles Azules

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, renowned Colombian band &lt;a href="https://www.mperine.com" target="_blank"&gt;Monsieur Periné&lt;/a&gt; joins the show to discuss their latest release, '&lt;strong&gt;Bolero Apocaliptico&lt;/strong&gt;'. We interview them about the evolution of their musical style, how they challenge traditional love narratives, and the influence of Afro-Colombian roots on their work. The conversation also navigates thought-provoking issues, such as cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music, as well as discovering sources of love in an increasingly loveless world.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode Summary&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Monsieur Periné discuss their new album, "Bolero Apocaliptico" and what it means&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Catalina Garcia and Santiago Prieto share their views on where they find love in a growing loveless world&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The band talks about the Afro-Colombian influences in their music and beyond&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Monsieur Periné speak on cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Playlist&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;unx100to - Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mundo Parallelo - Monsieur Periné y Pedro Capó&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tu y Tu - Los Angeles Azules&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This week, renowned Colombian band Monsieur Periné joins the show to discuss their latest release, 'Bolero Apocaliptico.' We interview them about the evolution of their musical style, how they challenge traditional love narratives, and the influence of Afro-Colombian roots on their work. The conversation also navigates thought-provoking issues, such as cultural appropriation and white identity in Latin music, as well as discovering sources of love in an increasingly loveless world.

Monsieur Periné Talks 'Bolero Apocaliptico' and White Identity in Latin Music

In this week's episode, we welcome singer Julio Iglesias Jr. who celebrated his 50th birthday with a new big band album titled "Under The Covers" out now, his first musical project in 15 years. He also opens up about his father Julio Sr. and superstar brother Enrique and how he defines himself in terms of race, culture, and identity.Interview with Julio Iglesias Jr.: Segment 1: Julio's Musical Journey<ul><li>Julio discussed his love for his last album, Tercera Dimensión, a Spanish rock record in 2003, which is still one of his favorite records.</li><li>After that, he did a cover record in Spain, but it was a quicky kind of record that didn't turn out well.</li><li>He then joined a French project man band called "Latin Lover," where they did a cover of "BK" in French.</li><li>Julio reveals how he found his passion for big band music and how his producer Rudy Perez helped him create his latest album.</li><li>Julio explains that he doesn't follow trends and only sings what he loves, which is why he defied the trend of singing reggaeton or urban music.</li></ul>Segment 2: Julio's Identity<ul><li>Jack Rico asks Julio how he culturally identifies, whether as Hispanic, Spaniard, or Latino.</li><li>Julio admits that he is confused about his identity and explains why.</li><li>Julio says that he has always felt comfortable embracing his father's music and sees himself doing that type of music as opposed to his brother Enrique.</li></ul>Segment 3: Embracing Family and Music<ul><li>Jack Rico asks Julio why he is so comfortable embracing his family, despite the media trying to create a different narrative.</li><li>Julio explains that he grew up listening to his father's music and sees himself as a true fan of his dad's music.</li><li>Julio talks about how he doesn't see Enrique singing his father's songs, but he loves doing it himself.</li><li>Julio says that he loves his family and enjoys touring with his dad whenever he can.</li></ul>Highly Relevant Playlist:<ul><li>Tormenta - Gorillaz feat Bad Bunny Tu Veneno - Silvestre y La Naranja Tan Basico - Los Rumberos</li></ul>Highly Relevant Podcast ‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast hosted by Jack Rico, TV host, journalist, and film critic since 2016. He interviews Latino actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives to explore their impact on mainstream culture and entertainment.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this week's episode, we welcome singer Julio Iglesias Jr. who celebrated his 50th birthday with a new big band album titled "Under The Covers" out now, his first musical project in 15 years. He also opens up about his father Julio Sr. and superstar brother Enrique and how he defines himself in terms of race, culture, and identity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Interview with Julio Iglesias Jr.:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Segment 1: Julio's Musical Journey&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio discussed his love for his last album, Tercera Dimensión, a Spanish rock record in 2003, which is still one of his favorite records.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;After that, he did a cover record in Spain, but it was a quicky kind of record that didn't turn out well.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;He then joined a French project man band called "Latin Lover," where they did a cover of "BK" in French.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio reveals how he found his passion for big band music and how his producer Rudy Perez helped him create his latest album.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio explains that he doesn't follow trends and only sings what he loves, which is why he defied the trend of singing reggaeton or urban music.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Segment 2: Julio's Identity&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jack Rico asks Julio how he culturally identifies, whether as Hispanic, Spaniard, or Latino.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio admits that he is confused about his identity and explains why.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio says that he has always felt comfortable embracing his father's music and sees himself doing that type of music as opposed to his brother Enrique.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Segment 3: Embracing Family and Music&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jack Rico asks Julio why he is so comfortable embracing his family, despite the media trying to create a different narrative.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio explains that he grew up listening to his father's music and sees himself as a true fan of his dad's music.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio talks about how he doesn't see Enrique singing his father's songs, but he loves doing it himself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julio says that he loves his family and enjoys touring with his dad whenever he can.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Playlist:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tormenta - Gorillaz feat Bad Bunny&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tu Veneno - Silvestre y La Naranja&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tan Basico - Los Rumberos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highly Relevant Podcast&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast hosted by Jack Rico, TV host, journalist, and film critic since 2016. He interviews Latino actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives to explore their impact on mainstream culture and entertainment.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In this week's episode, we welcome singer Julio Iglesias Jr. who celebrated his 50th birthday with a new big band album titled "Under The Covers" out now, his first musical project in 15 years. He also opens up about his father Julio Iglesias Sr. and superstar brother Enrique, and how he defines himself in terms of race, culture, and identity.

Julio Iglesias Jr. Finds His Own Voice

‘Highly Relevant' is a Latino pop culture podcast. Jack Rico - TV host, journalist, film critic, and podcaster - talks with actors, musicians, journalists, and media executives about how they are influencing mainstream entertainment.

Highly Relevant with Jack Rico

Details

Recent Episodes