Flava Podcast

🎙️🔥 REAL PEOPLE. REAL STORIES. REAL COMMUNITY IMPACT! This week on the FLAVA Podcast, Los and Liz welcome two phenomenal women from the Joliet Latino Economic Development Association (Joliet LEDA)! 👏 Alondra Valdovinos – CEJA Program Coordinator & Membership Coordinator 👏 Lissette Perez – Program Associate These incredible women join us to discuss the phenomenal work their organization does...

🎙️ FROM PRISON TO PURPOSE — THE STORY OF ANGEL RODRIGUEZ SR. On this powerful episode of the Flava Podcast Network, we welcome Angel Rodriguez Sr., an author, painter, father, and grandfather whose life story is filled with challenges, lessons, creativity, and personal growth. Angel opens up about his childhood, the experiences that shaped his life, his time behind bars, and his journey into becom...

🥟 You may know the empanadas… but you probably don’t know the woman behind them. Doris Luna, owner of DeLuna Empanada — Empanadas Caseras, steps into the Flava Podcast Studio for a powerful conversation that goes WAY beyond food and entrepreneurship. Doris opens up about her journey coming out of the closet, difficult experiences and trauma from her childhood, healing and acceptance, and the emot...

🍋 Chicago flavor is in the building! Cindy Flores-Negron of Windy City Limonada pulls up to the Flava Podcast and chops it up with Los about her journey, entrepreneurship, building her brand, and putting her own FLAVA on Chicago. This isn’t just about limonada — it’s about vision, hustle, community, and turning an idea into something people remember. If you’re an entrepreneur, dreamer, or somebod...

What does the future of Chicago Public Schools look like — and who gets a voice in shaping it? On this episode of the Flava Podcast, Los sits down with Jason Dónes, who is running for the Chicago Board of Education, Subdistrict 3B. Jason joins us to share his story, his connection to Chicago and its communities, and why he decided to step forward and run for School Board. We get into the issues af...

You may have seen Ali Outsidee all over Chicago — but there’s a bigger story behind why she stays OUTSIDE. Ali Outsidee sits down with Los on the Flava Podcast for a conversation about community, influence, giving back, and using your platform for something bigger than likes and followers. As a Chicago community organizer and influencer, Ali has made it her mission to highlight people, businesses,...

This time, the host is in the hot seat! Leticia Andrade and Alex Garcia interview Carlos “Los” Arroyo Jr. about his life, the experiences that shaped him, and the real reason he started the Flava Podcast. There are no easy questions—and Los can’t hide behind the microphone. He opens up about his personal journey, his purpose, the obstacles he has faced, and his vision for creating a platform where...

What happens when you see someone struggling on the streets of Chicago — do you keep walking, or do you stop and help? On this episode of the Flava Podcast, Los sits down with Leticia Andrade for a powerful conversation about her organization, the work she is doing for our homeless friends in Chicago, and why this mission became personal to her. This isn’t just about handing someone food or suppli...

🇵🇷 THE WINNERS ARE HERE! The winners of 2026 Boricua’s Got Talent pull up to the Flava Podcast for a special conversation about their talent, their journey, what it took to stand out, and what comes NEXT! Lyrik Cruz joins Los as co-host as we sit down with these talented Boricuas and get the story behind the performances. You saw the talent — now meet the people behind it. What does it take to ste...

Chicago is approaching another defining moment. What kind of leadership does the city need next? Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza sits down with Los on the Flava Podcast for an in-depth conversation about her campaign for Mayor of Chicago and the experiences she believes have prepared her to lead one of America’s greatest cities. Mendoza discusses public safety, the challenges facing Chicago ne...

What is it really like to wear the badge in one of America’s toughest cities? In this powerful episode of the FLAVA Podcast, host Los sits down with Manny Guzman—Chicago Police Officer, U.S. Army Veteran, and host of the Duty Beyond Duty Podcast. Manny shares his journey from military service to law enforcement, the realities of policing in Chicago, leadership, mental health, family, faith, and wh...

What does it take to build a successful construction company while changing lives at the same time? In this powerful episode of the Flava Podcast, Los sits down with Manny Rodriguez, founder of Revolution Workshop, to talk about purpose, skilled trades, second chances, and why learning a trade can completely change the direction of someone’s life. Whether you’re a young adult looking for your path...

What does it really mean to give back? In this powerful episode of the Flava Podcast, Los and Suli sit down with Delilah Martinez, known by many as “The Queen of Giving Back.” 👑 From overcoming life’s challenges to becoming a respected entrepreneur and community leader, Delilah shares the journey that inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others. This conversation is filled with inspiratio...

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world faster than most people realize. In this eye-opening episode of Flava Podcast, Los sits down with AI expert Alan Stern to break down what AI means for entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and everyday people. From ChatGPT and automation to the future of jobs, content creation, and business growth, Alan shares practical insights on how you can use...

This episode is one you don’t want to miss! Suli comes through to co-host the Hot Topic segment with Los, and Josean Daniels from Smash Jibarito joins the conversation as they sit down with the Puerto Rican founder of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Puerto Rican Fest. We talk culture, community, the story behind the festival, Puerto Rican pride, and why events like this matter so much for our people. And...

What does it take to make a real difference in the lives of Chicago’s youth? In this powerful episode of the Flava Podcast, Los and Liz sit down with Dre Rodriguez, a community leader dedicated to serving young people through nonprofit work and mentorship. Dre shares his personal journey, the challenges facing today’s youth, and the lessons he’s learned while working on the front lines of communit...

What started as a regular conversation turned into one of the MOST personal episodes of the Flava Podcast Network 👀 This time, Los sits down with his own co-host Liz as she opens up about family secrets, personal struggles, childhood memories, and truths she’s never shared publicly before. 😳 From emotional moments to unexpected stories, this episode shows a whole different side of Liz that the...

Chicago Alderwoman Ruth Cruz pulled up to the FLAVA Table and kept it 100 on city government, politics, and what it really takes to balance power and family life 💼👩‍👧 From behind-the-scenes in Chicago politics to personal sacrifices nobody talks about… this episode is straight VALUE. Liz was out sick, so shoutout to Josean Daniel for stepping in and holding it down as guest co-host with Los 🎤...

Christina Rivera pulled up to the FLAVA table and this one is REAL 🔥 She’s a newborn nurse, a mother, and a full-blown entrepreneur building her own clay jewelry business… and in this episode, she breaks down what it really takes to balance it all. Me and Liz sat down with Christina and talked about: 💼 Starting a business from scratch 👶 Life as a nurse working with newborn babies 👩‍👧 Motherho...

What does it really take to build something that represents your culture… and STILL thrives years later? In this episode of the FLAVA Podcast, Los and Liz sit down with Jorge Ortega, the founder of Colombian Fest Chicago 🇨🇴, to break down the REAL journey behind one of the city’s most powerful cultural festivals. This is bigger than business. This is about culture, legacy, and building something t...

A major voice in Chicago politics steps into the FLAVA Podcast studio… 🔥 Alderman Gilbert Villegas sits down with Los & Liz for a powerful conversation about Chicago politics, leadership, Latino representation, the future of the city, and what really happens behind the scenes in government. This is more than politics—this is about community, power, leadership, and the future of Chicago. If yo...

🔥 AY YO CHICAGO!!! THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IS FOR THE CULTURE 🔥 When you talk about REAL stories… REAL friendships… and the heartbeat of Chicago’s dance scene… this episode hits DIFFERENT. 🎙️ José “Gringo” Echeverría pulls up to the FLAVA Podcast and takes us on a journey through: 💃 The golden era of Chicago dancing 🤝 Brotherhood, loyalty, and lifelong friendships 🌆 The culture that shaped the ci...

Ay Yo!!! 🔥 This episode right here… THIS ONE DIFFERENT. Jessica Perjes, owner of the legendary Tacotlan Mexican Restaurant, pulls up to the FLAVA Podcast — and this time it gets even deeper with special guest co-host Paloma Greer alongside Los 💯 This is a powerful conversation about Chicago struggle, family legacy, and turning pain into PURPOSE. From hard times growing up in Chicago… To family b...

Ay Yo!!! This one is DEEP… 💯 On this episode of the FLAVA Podcast, we sit down with Mikey Sanchez Jr., the young entrepreneur behind La Sandwichera, one of the hottest Puerto Rican spots in Humboldt Park on Paseo Boricua 🇵🇷🔥 Mikey opens up like never before… This ain’t just about food — this is about family, pain, purpose, and legacy. He talks about: 🔥 His strong bond with his father 💔 Losing...

Ay Yo!!! Chicago stand up! 🔥 On this powerful episode of the FLAVA Podcast, 22-year-old entrepreneur Corey Phillips pulls up to the FLAVA table with Los and Liz to talk about making BIG moves in Chicago and beyond. Corey is on a mission to teach financial literacy, ownership, and wealth building to the next generation. At only 22 years old, he’s already impacting communities by showing people how...