Respect The Connect

Streamers Are the New Rappers — Nobody Taught Them the RulesN.O.R.E.’s confrontation with Sober Facts got people talking. But once you get the clicks, what are you actually building? On Episode 162 of Respect The Connect, Johnny James and the crew break down what happens when online talk follows you into real life. We get into whether streamers have taken the place rappers once held in the culture...

I Love JAY-Z's Music. His Business Moves? I Can't Defend Those. Episode 161 of Respect The Connect. Can you still be a fan when the artist you grew up on makes moves you can't defend? We break down 30 years of Jay Z - the MC genius behind Dead Presidents and The Black Album, the business empire, the NFL deal and the Colin Kaepernick fallout, plus the Jay Z legacy debate, the documentar...

Freeway Rick Ross: $3 Million a Day, 20 Years in Prison, and What Snowfall Didn’t Understand He sold $3 million in a single day. One word in a courtroom cost him 20 years. Freeway Rick Ross built one of the largest cocaine networks in 1980s Los Angeles — then sat in a federal courtroom and heard his own voice on tape answering a question he should have ignored. In this episode he tells it in his o...

What do the case and our reactions to it reveal about parenting, marriage, mental health, and the modern family? In this episode, we go beyond the usual guilt-vs-innocence argument because, you know— c’mon bro. We get into parental responsibility, postpartum mental health, marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, healthcare failure, gender war, and what happens when families lose trust in each other and...

Who said a kid from a 700-person town in Dexter, New Mexico can’t win Triple Crowns? Meet horse racing's LeBron — Mike Smith — who did it at 52 and is still winning at 60.Finesse over force. That's how Mike turned 44 years, 29 Kentucky Derbys, and 2 Hall of Fame careers into a masterclass in longevity, hustle, and beating Father Time when he tries to count you out. The Hall of Famer reveal...

On Episode 157 of Respect the Connect, we sit down with Frank Willis — the man who turned $150 and a hustle into a chicken & waffle empire. Frank opens up about being broke and living with his sister, delivering chicken & waffles out of that same house at any hour for $100 an order, and the $10,000 seed from his cousin that almost never happened when an arrest nearly derailed everything. W...

On Episode 156 of Respect the Connect, we dive into one of the most controversial stories in recent memory as we discuss Dr. Fauci pleading the Fifth, revisit the COVID-19 vaccine debate, and break down the questions, narratives, and lasting impact that continue to divide people years later. From there, the conversation takes a deeper turn as we explore spiritual awakening, consciousness, and the...

On Episode 155 of Respect the Connect, we sit down with Vinny Venom for a deep dive into hip-hop history, culture, and everything shaping the game today. We break down JAY-Z’s legendary, record-breaking shows at Yankee Stadium, what they meant for the culture, and why those moments resonate. We also get into the roots of battle rap, the importance of preserving hip-hop traditions, and how the comp...

Episode 154 of Respect the Connect dives into some of the biggest conversations happening right now. We break down the mystery surrounding Nolan Wells separating the facts from the speculation and discussing why the case has captured so much attention. We also take a deep dive into Jupiter and explore why one of its latest developments could have major consequences for New Mexico. Finally, we unpa...

Episode 153 of Respect the Connect is here! This week, we’re diving into the biggest conversations in comedy, sports, music, and culture. We break down Tony Hinchcliffe’s latest stand-up special, the backlash surrounding it, and whether controversy is becoming the price of pushing boundaries in comedy. We also talk about LeBron James leaving Los Angeles and where he could realistically land next....

Episode 152 – Oatmeal Rap This week on Respect the Connect, we’re bringing it full circle. We revisit the J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake saga to see how everything has aged—and whether the culture views it differently now. We also show love to Anthony A as he returns to Albuquerque to open for Fluffy, and talk about what moments like that mean for comics grinding their way up. From there, we d...

This week, we’re breaking down the wild idea of President Trump hosting a UFC event at the White House and what it says about the future of politics, sports, and entertainment. We also dive into Elon Musk’s brain chip technology and the latest developments in the world of Neuralink. Is the future already here, or are we moving too fast? Plus, we react to the NBA Finals and celebrate the New York K...

In episode 150 of Respect the Connect, we dive into some mind-expanding topics. We explore the subtle power of microdosing, unpack the debate between Michael Jackson and Drake’s legacies, and give you an in-depth look at the new Michael Jackson documentary on Netflix. Don’t miss this milestone episode—it’s a journey through music, culture, and consciousness.

Respect The Connect – Episode 150 Episode 150 is here, and we’re bringing the smoke. This week, we break down the latest chapter in the rap world as Jay-Z appears to embrace tensions with Drake following his headline-grabbing freestyle at the Roots Picnic. Is Hov officially back in diss mode, or are fans reading too much into it? We dive into the bars, the reactions, and what it could mean for hip...

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Episode 146 of Respect the Connect is all over the map—in the best way possible. We dive into the buzz Michael Jackson movie and what the crew thought about it when we went to see it, then pivot into the strange and still-unfolding David and Celeste mystery that’s got people asking more questions than answers. We also break down the assassination attempt involving Donald Trump—what’s confirmed, wh...

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MOON MISSION PT 2 | Space Race Returns | AI Creative Takeover | UBI | Justin Bieber at Coachella | RTC EP144

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Episode 142 of Respect The Connect is loaded. Johnny James and the crew dive into Michael B. Jordan taking home a win for Sinners and what it means for his career, the culture, and the critics who doubted him. Then we get into LaRussell going viral for all the wrong reasons—what he said, why people are heated, and how fast the internet will turn on you. And it gets even crazier… We break down the...

BOSQUE COWBOYS | Missing General | Bosque Attacks | 50 Cent beef | Classic Kanye | RTC EP141

WE’RE AT WAR | Iran | Jim Carrey’s Face | The Epstein Disclosures | Girls Rule | RTC EP140

On this episode, we sit down with Kate Gerwin, owner of Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, to talk about bartender culture, hospitality, and what it really takes to chase your dreams. From building community behind the bar to turning passion into a thriving business, Kate shares the mindset, grit, and creativity that fuel both great cocktails and a meaningful life. This conversation dives into how ba...

UNM FOOTBALL COACH JASON ECK | The New Lobo Football Story | Diego Pavia and the Underdog Spirit | Embracing NM Culture | RTC EP138