Ep. 004| Jonathan Zaragoza: Chicago's Own GOATBOY|From Abuelita's Kitchen To Salsa 101|Inspiring The Everyday Cook

EP 009| Hosts-Only Recap- The Journey, 3.8 Million Views & Finding Ourselves

Welcome back to another episode of the Salucita Podcast! This time, we're doing something a little different. It's a raw, hosts-only episode with the three of us—David, Eric, and Manny—taking a step back to recap the journey so far. We built this platform to be grounded and for the people, and we want to keep it real with you all. In this episode, we talk about the wild milestone of reaching 3.8 million people in 90 days, but we also get into the heavy, everyday stuff that happens behind the scenes. We dive into: • The true purpose of Salucita and why we are much more than just a music podcast. • The backstory of why David finally decided to step in front of the camera, plus the story of him getting kicked out of college three times. • Eric opening up about his weight loss, starting therapy, and learning who he is now. • Our debate on the Sueños lineup, who really deserves the main stage, and breaking down the Deorro collab. • Behind-the-scenes stories, from Manny spotting his clothes in a Jose Esparza video to the dynamics of negotiating in Spanish while Jose Luis Ayala from Los Humildes responds in perfect English. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. Make sure to hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite moment, and share this with someone who needs to hear it!

EP 008| Ruben Ramirez: Comedy As A Defense| Navigating The Crowd | Stealing Con Todo

Welcome to Episode 008 of the Salucita Podcast. This week, we sit down with Ruben Ramirez. He is Chicagoland's next great comedian and one of the sharpest voices documenting the Midwest hustle, deconstructing the reality of building a nationwide career in stand up. Overall, this is just a really enjoyable couple of hours spent laughing with the boys. We were also incredibly happy to have Jose Alfredo from Madera 11 drop in as a special guest. He brings his own unique perspective to the table, which makes for some absolutely hilarious moments throughout the episode. We even share the hilarious full circle story of how Ruben unintentionally stole our original podcast name. The very first name we bounced around was going to be Con Todo, but when I searched for it online to see if it was available, I just saw Ruben's big face staring back at me. It was already his. We go far beyond the punchlines in this one to talk about the actual craft. We break down the artistry of a comedy set and exactly what it takes to navigate a tough crowd. Ruben dives deep into how being funny starts as a pure defense mechanism, opening up about having to develop a quick wit just to survive getting bullied by his own siblings. It is a survival story anyone from a loud, tough family knows perfectly. Whether he is performing for four people in Ohio or a packed room across the country, Ruben brings the exact same energy. He is also incredibly gracious with his platform, always bringing along other guests from his hometown and comics he has met along the way. We also have a very real conversation about ICE targeting our communities, navigating the industry, and a hilarious breakdown of Gente Fina sizing for the big boys. MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT In this episode, we officially announce our first ever live comedy special at La Tequileria! Ruben Ramirez will be headlining the room on June 20. You do not want to miss this.

Ep. 007 | Grupo Vanguardia - The Eras Of The Band| Pilates Pioneers| The Sacrifice Of Success

Welcome to Episode 007 of the Salucita Podcast. This week, we sit down with Grupo Vanguardia. They are the undeniable pioneers of the new wave of Chicago entertainment, dominating everything from massive festival stages to the viral live music workout events taking over the city. We take a deep dive into the true evolution of the band. Through different eras, different lead singers, and changing bandmates, Vanguardia has always found a way to reload, stay incredibly organized, and remain completely on top of their game. We talk about why everyone hires them first. When people book Vanguardia, they know exactly the caliber of show they are going to get every single time. We discuss the absolute craze of live groups playing at Pilates and workout events, and how Vanguardia became the immediate top of mind choice for this entirely new cultural space. But we also go back in time. Manny and I reminisce on the great memories we have always had with this group, looking back at incredible milestones like playing Millennium Park and performing right in front of the White House in Washington D.C. Then, we get into the reality behind the glamour. We talk heavily about the mental side of being a working musician and performer. They open up about the heavy expectation of putting aside daily, personal issues the second they hit the stage just to make sure the crowd is entertained. We discuss the true cost of their success, the reality of missing out on family events, and the weight of lost birthdays and holidays. At this table, we do not look for clickbait answers. We get completely underneath the surface. Heavy, lighthearted, and beautifully real, this is a complete look at the men behind the music and the sacrifices they make for their craft. This is where the Mexican American duality comes to talk. Pull up a chair. Pour a drink. Welcome to Salucita.

Ep. 006 | Angélica Gallegos - Navigating Profound Loss| Starting A Family With Jose Esparza| Writing Her Own Blueprint

Welcome to Episode 006 of the Salucita Podcast. This week, we sit down with Angélica Gallegos. She is the massive voice who built an empire from the ground up, dominating YouTube and TikTok while writing the exact emotional reality of her fans. But the road to navigating two worlds was anything but easy. She trusted us with the entire, unfiltered picture of her journey. She opens up about being a highly gifted student with major scholarships on the table, and the defining moment at 22 when her father and brother told her not to move across the country to chase her vision. She packed her bags and left anyway. She describes the serendipitous sequence of events that led her to California to collaborate with her friends, people who are now core members of her team and full time music professionals. We talk about how this leap of faith helped her build her massive YouTube presence, which eventually evolved into her explosive TikTok following in 2020. We dive deep into her songwriting process. She explains how writing is pure therapy, the harsh reality of writing hit songs only to sell them to other artists, and the moment she finally decided to keep the best tracks for herself. She does not just write music; she writes the exact emotional reality of her fans because, in her own words, “guys are all the fucking same.” We also get the untold, raw story of her relationship with Grammy award nominated Jose Esparza. Angélica details the 2019 ultimatum where she told him it was everything or nothing. When he chose nothing, she walked out. It took 30 minutes and a conversation with his brother for him to come to his senses and chase after her, where they finally agreed to date like normal people. She opens up about getting him out of debt and how he simply needed a change of scenery from Los Angeles to get his life organized. David shares the real origin story of their connection. After José filmed a music video right here at La Tequileria, David did a deep dive and was instantly hooked on their music and their vibe. That initial spark built the authentic relationship we have today. This broadcast also officially introduces Eric Suarez to the podcast, bringing another Suarez behind the desk to be our new vibes on the mic. Eric is a longtime friend of co host Manny Cabrera and is fundamental to the operation, constantly building the genuine relationships that fuel this platform. She also talks about the reality of navigating profound personal loss, the beautiful milestone of their baby girl arriving in just a few months, and their plans to tour together as a family. In a massive Salucita exclusive, José joins her on set to perform two songs live at the barrel table. Heavy, lighthearted, and beautifully real, this is a complete look at the woman behind the voice. This is where the Mexican American duality comes to talk. Pull up a chair. Welcome to Salucita.

Ep. 005| Gio "El Cabron" Cabrera: The Pitbull Cruz War, "Losing Hope" & The Psychology Of Combat

The hardest fight happens before the lights ever come on.Welcome to Episode 005 of the Salucita podcast. This week, we sit down with professional boxer Gio "El Cabrón" Cabrera (21-2) right in the middle of Fight Week. Fresh off his high-profile, 12-round war with Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz, Gio opens up about the extreme, often dark psychology of combat sports at the highest level. We break down the grueling reality of fasting, the science of the weight cut, and the monk-like mental fortitude required to survive against the best in the world. From the art of taking opponents to "deep water" until they lose hope, to confronting the internal monologue of fear, this is a masterclass in the absolute mental discipline it takes to step into the fire. Vamos. 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the channel and leave a comment below. Every interaction helps push the culture forward. [The Visual Experience] Watch to the full episode on YouTube: [www.youtube.com/@SalucitaPod] [The Network & Connect] Follow the movement and behind-the-scenes content: 🥃 Salucita Podcast: [@SalucitaPodcast] 🎙️ David Suarez: [@davidasuarez] 🎙️ Manny Cabrera / Gente Fina: [@midwest.manny] / [@gentefinachicago] 📍 Filmed on location at La Tequileria (Melrose Park, IL): [@LaTequileria] [Timecodes / Chapters] 0:00 - Intro & The Reality of Fight Week [XX:XX] - Reflecting on the Pitbull Cruz Fight 29:00 - The Dark Psychology of Boxing & "Losing Hope" 30:00 - The Flow State: When Combat Becomes Effortless 57:00 - The Spiritual Cut: Fasting, Pain, & Monk-Like Fortitude 1:01:00 - Confronting Fear & Finding Your Internal Fuel Source