Flava Podcast

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...

Chicago community leader Melissa “Mel” Quintana joins Los and Liz on the FLAVA Podcast to share her inspiring story — the struggles she faced, the lessons she learned, and how she’s fighting to uplift the Chicago community. From overcoming obstacles to becoming a voice for the people, Mel breaks down what it really takes to create change in your city. This is a conversation about community, leader...

Chicago, this episode is SPECIAL! Los sits down with world-renowned choreographer Lyrik Cruz — a proud Puerto Rican from Chicago who just touched one of the BIGGEST stages in the world… the BENITO BOWL alongside Bad Bunny and global performers. 🇵🇷🐰🏈 From the streets of Humboldt Park to performing on a historic halftime stage, Lyrik represents CULTURE, GRIND, and PRIDE. His journey proves that a...

Adrian Rodriguez joins Los at the FLAVA Podcast Table for one of the most powerful and emotional conversations yet. Growing up in the streets of Humboldt Park, Adrian opens up about witnessing his first murder as a child, surviving a tough life in the hood, and pushing through trauma, struggle, and adversity to become a leader for his neighborhood and his people. This is a story of survival, growt...

Iraida Andrade, known as “The Tax Lady,” sits down with Los at the Flava Podcast Studio to drop real game on taxes, entrepreneurship, and how business owners can prepare for the future. If you’re an entrepreneur with big ideas, side hustles, or a growing business — this episode is a MUST WATCH. Iraida breaks down taxes in a simple way, talks about financial growth, and gives powerful insight for b...

Chicago politics just got REAL. On this episode of the Flava Podcast, Jessie Fuentes returns for her second appearance — and she’s not holding back. She talks about: • Her personal encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) • What’s really happening in Chicago • The state of the country • New businesses and economic growth in her ward • Community leadership and accountability An...

Chef Yari Vargas is BACK — and this chapter hits different. After unforeseen circumstances forced the closing of her restaurant on Fullerton, Chef Yari didn’t fold. She leaned into her faith, trusted God’s plan, and came back stronger. Now, her extremely famous restaurant is reopening on Paseo Boricua, and the community is buzzing with excitement. On this powerful episode of the FLAVA Podcast Netw...

Jordan Haddad

Cesar Rolon pulls up to the Flava Podcast Network and drops real gems from the fashion industry 💎 With years of hands-on experience, Cesar Rolon is a seasoned creative who’s lived the reality of the fashion world — from the grind behind the scenes to the discipline it takes to stay relevant. Known for his eye, creativity, and industry knowledge, Cesar shares powerful lessons on branding, consiste...

Chicago breaking legends Sergio Rodríguez (Beast Boy) and CJ Williams (Black Attack) pull up to the FLAVA Podcast and really chop it up with Los 💥 This episode is BIG CULTURE. We talk about: 🔥 How breaking saved lives 🔥 Teaching discipline, respect, and confidence to Chicago’s youth 🔥 Traveling the WORLD through breaking 🔥 Bringing Hip-Hop culture to the masses the RIGHT way 🔥 The responsibi...

Dr. Jesus Vishnivetskiy stops by Flava Podcast Studio and sits down with Los and Nissa for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Vishnivetskiy opens up about the heartbreaking murder of his sister — a victim of domestic violence — and the terrifying days of a manhunt as his family lived in fear while the killer was still on the run. He shares how tha...

Daphne Labault of Plena Mercancía joins Los and Liz on the Flava Podcast for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about her journey from Puerto Rico to Chicago after Hurricane Maria. Daphne opens up about life on the island, rebuilding after tragedy, navigating a new life in Chicago, and preserving Puerto Rican culture through coffee, community, and entrepreneurship. 🌴☕🇵🇷 This episode is filled...

Actor, producer, and photographer Ivan Vega stops by the Flava Podcast to hang with Los and Liz for a powerful Chicago conversation. Ivan breaks down what it was like growing up on the South Side of Chicago as a Puerto Rican in a predominantly Mexican community, being raised in a blended family, and how those life experiences shaped his purpose. As the Co-Founder & Executive Director of UrbanT...

Julio Gonzalez Jr. stops by the Flava Studio and sits down with Los and Liz for a powerful conversation about giving back to the community through food, service, and heart. From feeding neighborhoods to supporting families and uplifting Chicago one block at a time — Julio breaks down his mission, his hustle, and why serving others is his purpose. This episode is full of gems, inspiration, and real...

Join host Los on the Flava Podcast as he sits down with an extraordinary 10-year-old hero: Zoe. After conquering her kidney cancer battle—35 rounds of chemo, 6 rounds of radiation—Zoe became a published author and now shares her story to bring comfort, courage and hope to every child facing medical challenges. She opens up about how when she’s not reading or writing her story, she loves playing ma...