Advertise on podcast: Ruben In The Center

In this special episode, host Ruben Navarrette has a very personal and heartfelt conversation with his brother, entertainment marketing specialist Roman Navarrette. The two talk about their father, Ruben G. Navarrette Sr., who passed away on Dec. 7 at the age of 84. They dissect a life that unfolded in three acts: childhood and adolescence and enlistment in the U.S. Army; a long career in law enforcement; and retirement, becoming a grandfather and caregiver. Totally unscripted, and straight from the heart, the brothers put together a very special tribute to a good man, not a perfect man but a good man and a great dad who had a life well-lived. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has an interesting and wide-ranging conversation with Mark Madrid, an Austin TX-based  author, consultant and expert on business excellence, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The two talk about the challenges and opportunities facing Latino-owned small businesses, what entrepreneurship means to Latinos, and what U.S. companies do right or wrong in term of attracting Latino customers.  They also discuss the media, and the ways in which the coverage of Latinos in the United States seems to be inaccurate or incomplete. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Rene Alegria, the Atlanta-based Chief Innovation Officer at Neuvo Network. The former president and CEO of MundoNow, and founding CEO of Mamiverse Media, Alegria also guided the launch of the groundbreaking Latino podcast network, Oyenos Audio. Before all that, the Tucson native founded and served as publisher of the book imprint Rayo/HarperCollins. Today, he continues to look for new ways to connect with and inspire Latino audiences with compelling stories. The two media pioneers talk about where Latinos fit into the modern media landscape, and what the world of digital media gets wrong and right about America's largest minority.

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Pedro Rios, who -- like him -- has been intimately acquainted with the immigration issue for more than 30 years. The San Diego native, and graduate of the University of San Diego, is the director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Program for the American Friends Service Committee. He is also an op-ed contributor to the online publication, Cal Matters. The two of them talk about how the root causes of the flow of immigrants into the United States, whether ICE should be defunded, and whether the left went too far in accommodating the undocumented -- and thus enabled the right. They also talk about why racism controls the Republican Party, how profoundly the Democratic Party failed Latinos, and what a real immigration solution would look like.

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Esther Valdez Clayton, a San Diego-based Mexican American immigration attorney and evangelical Christian who is also a pro-Trump Republican. The two discuss the ICE raids and the reasons for the drop in Latino support for President Trump. They unpack the complexities of the immigration debate and address the personal responsibility that immigrants have to get right with the law. They also talk about the pervasiveness of racism toward immigrants, and where Democrats went wrong with Latino voters. Finally, they talk about what the Bible says about welcoming the stranger and whether or not Jesus Christ was really a lawbreaker. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Elsa Sevilla, Tijuana-born television journalist and host of the KPBS documentary series, “Historic Places w/ Elsa Sevilla.” She is also a San Diego-based filmmaker, professional speaker and author of the recently published book “Camera Ready: From Hardship To The Spotlight.” The two talk about Sevilla's personal and professional journey. They also delve into the power of history, geography, filmmaking, journalism and storytelling. Finally, they unpack the Mexican/Mexican-American experience unfolding on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a candid and far-reaching conversation with his old friend, Alfredo Estrada, the Harvard-educated trailblazing magazine publisher and chronicler of the experience of U.S. Latinos over the last four decades.  They talk about how President Donald Trump's war on immigrants is actually a war against Latinos, and the degreee to which Trump has united the different factions of the Latino community. They also discuss whether future generations will still seek to migrate to the United States, or perhaps decide to go elsewhere. And finally, they unpack where Latinos are politically -- and whether Trump's immigration raids are changing things.  

Host Ruben Navarrette has a spirited conversation with Sacramento CA-based GOP Political Consultant Mike Madrid, Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project, Co-Host of "The Latino Vote" Podcast & Author of "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy." The two Mexican American Californians talk about politics, the Latino vote, changing demographics and white resistance, new digital media, Generation Z and the intricacies of the immigration debate. They also discuss what Democrats and Republicans are doing right in going after Latino voters, and what they're doing wrong. Finally, they dive into what's behind what some political observers consider a real headscratcher: the fact that nearly half of Latino voters support Donald Trump.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez, a retired professor of political science at University of Texas at Arlington, a former civil rights attorney, and the author of more than 30 books on history, politics, race and culture. Gutierrez was a young activist in his native Texas who left his mark on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the early 1970's through his involvement in the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) and later as the founder of the La Raza Unida Party. Born of frustration at how poorly Latinos were served by both Republicans and Democrats, La Raza Unida reached the height of its power and influence in 1972 when it managed to run a candidate for president of the United States. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Kristina Lopez, PhD, Professor of Social Work. A graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with a degree in social work and psychology, Lopez explores disparities in early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of underserved children and their families with special emphasis on Latino/a children with autism. The two talk about how Latino families have come to understand autism, and how they take the news that their child might be on the autism spectrum. They also talk about what parents should do if they suspect a child may have some form of autism or another neurodivergent condition. Finally, they discuss the public schools and where they fall short in helping students with special needs. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend and former Harvard classmate, Dr. Ronald J. Granieri who is a history professor at the United States Army War College, as well as a Templeton Education Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Given that Dr. Granieri's speciality is European history, with an emphasis on the study of allies and adversaries, the conversation could not be better timed. The two old friends talk about America's place in the world, and the changes in the U.S.-E.U. partnership in the era of President Trump. They also discuss Russia and Ukraine, trade and tariffs, immigration and global economics. 

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend and spirtual adviser Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, one of the nation's most prominent Latino evangelical leaders. They discuss faith, social activism and impactful storytelling. They also talk about the moral soul of America, which seems to be hurting at the moment -- and what can be done to heal it. Finally, they delve into the inner workings of Generation Z and explore what religion and faith means to a younger generation of Americans.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Marisa Calderon, CEO of Prosperity Now, and Bob Friedman, the organization's founder. They discuss social activism, racial justice, and prosperity for all. They also talk about what the political parties have done right and wrong over the years, and how organizations like theirs can help make a better world and build a more perfect union.  

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Chris Salcedo, a fellow professional communicator and broadcaster who traded living in California for Texas about the same time that Navarrette did the opposite. The two talk about politics, MAGA, the turbulent state of media, and why Latinos are finding a new home with a group of people they detested just 30 years ago: Republicans. 

Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Emiliano Limon, about the new media and what went wrong with the old media. They talk about Limon's long career in talk radio and how that medium changed America -- and then went off the rails. They also discuss broadcast media in general, and what the future holds for an industry that seems to be changing by the week.