1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Welcome to Morenita, your deep dive into the Latin X experience. 2 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: My name is Darylyn Castillo Vito. On today's show, we 3 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: welcome Fedro Rivera is a proud Puerto Rican and Dominican man. 4 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: Born in the Bronx but raised in Albany. Was the 5 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: first in his immediate family to graduate from a four 6 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: year university. From there, Fedro became a morning anchor for 7 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: Katie XL Fox forty in Sacramento, California, covering everything from 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: daily crime to politics to cannabis equity in the Golden 9 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: State for the last four and a half years. Is 10 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: now an anchor and reporter for kat L A in 11 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. His journey is one of creating opportunities out 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: of nothing, and it was my pleasure to welcome him 13 00:00:52,720 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: to Monita. Get okay, Okay, get okay. New York is 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: in the house. Of course, had to be had to be. 15 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you were able to come on Anita 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: and come and do this. Um. Wait, so you are 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: not in Sin Sancra, Sacramento, Sacramento, Sacramento. Good. I was 18 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: in Sacramento. Now I'm in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. 19 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: Now you're in l A. Boy, I am. I'm officially 20 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: an l A guy. It's weird. I shouldn't say boy, 21 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: I should say in l A. Man, you're in l A. 22 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: It's all right, it's all right. You know, you gotta 23 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: earn the man title here in l A. Now, it's 24 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: been Honestly, it's been awesome. I love it. Yeah, so 25 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: you made a big change. I was gonna say, is 26 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: it a promotion? Is it a yeah? Because like in 27 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: our business media markets, in the news business, I was 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: in market twenty before, I was here in Sacramento's market 29 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: twenty which is a major, big city, but l A 30 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: number two in the country. There's the only place you 31 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: can get above here is uh, you know, New York 32 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: or network right, and for a lot of cases because 33 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: l A s to big market when it comes to 34 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: pay and stuff. Sometimes you know, people in local news 35 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: get paid better than you know being a correspondent for 36 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: the network. So it's just a wonderful opportunity to be 37 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: here in Los Angeles. I never thought I would live here. 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: I thought I was going back to New York or something. 39 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: But I know, I thought you were coming back, but 40 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: you were coming back home. I thought I was, and 41 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: if it doesn't like I got to l a like 42 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: that's huge, incredible. I can't complain. So I guess before 43 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: we even I know, we kind of gave the listeners 44 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: right now a little inside of where you are now. 45 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: But I'm gonna take a little rewind your history and 46 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: growing up, Like what led you to want to be 47 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: working for the news, like being this kind of storyteller. 48 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: So I look at this as like a form of that, 49 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: Yeah it is, Yeah, what brought you to that? It 50 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: was when I was a kid. I was in New York. 51 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: I had just come back from I lived in Dominic 52 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: Republic for a few years and I just got back 53 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: from Amnica Republic, and my dad put me in the 54 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: school and they had remember being like the first couple 55 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: of weeks, they had career day, like a New York 56 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: the capital. So I went to this school and um, 57 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: they had like a career day when they brought in 58 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: a football coach, a firefighter, police officer, you know, all 59 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: that stuff. So a meteorologist named Steve caper Rizzo came 60 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: and he's still working in Albany, and he came into 61 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: the classroom spoke to us. Sound was like wow, like 62 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: he he looks so cool. I want to be like him. 63 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: He was just so personable and knew how to communicate 64 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: with the kids. So I was like, that's it, Like, um, 65 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: whatever he's doing, I'm doing. So he was a meteorologist, 66 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: but I realized very quickly like science wasn't for me. 67 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: So I was like, you know, maybe no, no, I 68 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: signed for me. So then I when I went to 69 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: high school, we had a communications program like a TV 70 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: studio and radio station, so I was involved with the 71 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: media club and all that, and I kind of followed 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: those steps. And I was so lucky to go to 73 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: that high school because it was in um Ellenville, which 74 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: is a small town between New York's City in Albany. 75 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: It was such a blessing because like in Albany, I 76 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: was I was running around. I wasn't I was in 77 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: those streets, you know. So we moved to this small neighborhood, 78 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: to the small community, and that was the first time 79 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: it hit me like, oh, college is an option, Like 80 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: I can go to college. Okay, that's pretty cool, you know, 81 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: like and never hit me before that. Um And then 82 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: when I was in the media program, I just kind 83 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: of caught my footing, and I was doing uh interviews 84 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: with local businesses who wanted to be featured on our 85 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: television station, and I had my sports show. Yeah, it's amazing. 86 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: That's so dope. That's cool that you got to experience 87 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 1: that like such a young age. So then you're going 88 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: on to college and this is becoming a reality now, right, 89 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: like no more games? What was that transition for you? Like, well, 90 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,559 Speaker 1: that was tough because my mother and my father always 91 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: encouraged me to do anything I wanted to do. But 92 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: let's be real, college was never like, hey, you're going 93 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: to college and how did your say t s go? 94 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: And do you have homework? Like I didn't get that. 95 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: My mother didn't have that growing up. My father didn't 96 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: have that grown up. They weren't necessarily the most when 97 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: it came to like study in school work and stuff. 98 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: They weren't the most on top of me for that, 99 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: but they always encouraged me whenever I was like, Hey, 100 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: I'm joining this play, I'm gonna do a play, I'm 101 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: gonna be inquired, I'm gonna being chamber singers, I'm gonna 102 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: do football. You were out here acting and singers tenor 103 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: one all state. Let's State. Let's get it. Let's listen. 104 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: Your boy was about that life, so everyone, just so 105 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: you know, all State is like the vocal competition of 106 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: the state of New York, right, Like, I don't know 107 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: if other states probably have it, right, I don't know 108 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: they have to. But I did All County for four years, 109 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: and then from All County my senior year, I did 110 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: All State. We talked about this because I did the same, 111 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: and I was like, he probably did the same, the 112 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: same as you did. Yes, but you but you got 113 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: you you got that voice stuff. I don't got that. 114 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: Now it's gone. Now it's gone. We want to compare 115 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: our grades from all you know. No, it was a pity. 116 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: It was a hundred because remember when we went in 117 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: there and we were reading the portion of it where 118 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: you have to follow the notes and stuff, right then 119 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 1: a site reading when you have to read. Yeah, it 120 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: was bad. It was. And the guy looked at me. 121 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: It was like, you're senior, right, and I'm like, yeah, cool, okay, 122 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: good for you. You're you're a senior. You know, so 123 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: I kind of got pity of pity, you know entry, 124 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: But overall, like everything I wanted to do, my parents 125 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: encourage me and stuff, but yeah, I didn't have that. 126 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: Like my father's hustler and you hit bodlega and that 127 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: was his focus, and um my mother was working hard. 128 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: So yeah, so you would you say that you kind 129 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: of like, I think you took care of yourself, but 130 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: like you kind of had to, Like, yeah, well when 131 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: it came to education wise, I relied a lot on 132 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: my mentors. So you know, my I had a few 133 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: teachers in high school that took me under the wing. 134 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: And I was a bad kid like I was, you 135 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: know as a kid, as an elementary school student, I 136 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: got kicked out of every elementary school in Albany, New York. Everyone. Yeah, 137 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: my brothers were street guys and that's how we grew up. 138 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: So first it wasn't really um, it wasn't really a 139 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: thing like we didn't really think about. Wasn't something that 140 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: you thought about. It kind of was it is what 141 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: you're more so it's more like like survival, right like 142 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: you just like going day to day. You're not thinking 143 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: about like, oh, I have to study and get good 144 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 1: grades instead, that wasn't even a mindset to me. I 145 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: was like, you have to go to school because it's 146 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: just what I have to do. But it wasn't like 147 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: then you found this love, right, you found this absolutely. 148 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: And when I went to college, Yeah, when I went 149 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: to college, that's when I started clicking like I might 150 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: have a chance here. And I didn't go to a 151 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: school I was necessarily the best for you I got. 152 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: And I always saying this all the time, Like I 153 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: got accepted to one college. I applied to everyone everywhere. 154 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: I got accepted to one. What school would you go to? 155 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: Pace University? That's listen, listen. When I got in, they 156 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,239 Speaker 1: had me on the CAP program, which is called Challenge 157 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: to Achieve at Pace. So it's like straight up you're 158 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: doing the multiplication and you're doing like stuff you should 159 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: have been doing in high school. So Challenge to Achieve 160 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: at Pace. So it's pretty much just like um, you know, 161 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: for kids who were necessarily the most gifted students. So 162 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: I had to work my way through that program and 163 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: then automate. For me, it was just like I wasn't 164 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: a good test taker, you know, that wasn't really my thing, 165 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: but like you put me in, and like when it 166 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: came to journalism, when it came to to writing and stuff, 167 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: I was strong in that, but you know my calculus 168 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: and all that. Now I wasn't I had potential. Obviously, 169 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: you're very charismatic. You have this great energy about you 170 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: that's inviting. So yeah, okay, now I'm gonna let you 171 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: just just introduced me everywhere I go. But you're right, 172 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: it's like they saw something. So whenever I get a 173 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: chance to like shout them out, I don't care how 174 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: good the program was and what it wasn't good, whatever 175 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: it was like they gave. They gave me a shot, 176 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: and it's because of them that I was able to 177 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: get one internship then one job opportunity, and you just 178 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: take advtage of that one opportunity and it might lead 179 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: somewhere down the road. You're Puerto Rican and Dominican young man. 180 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: You're coming into this field that's not you don't really 181 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: see much of us at the front flour. I mean, 182 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm speaking from a woman's perspective. Also, often you see 183 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: in that field and it's not something that is I 184 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: want to say like inviting. Tell me about your process 185 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: from college to professional world and what are some of 186 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: the things that you felt you came across, like some 187 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: things you had to overcome. Well, for me, I mean, 188 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:27,599 Speaker 1: you hit it nail on the head right. There's not 189 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people who look like me, Puerto Ricans 190 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: and Dominicans specifically. It's starting to grow now, which is 191 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: which is incredible. But when I first was in it, 192 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: there really weren't that much. When I went from my internship, 193 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: I remember I got so excited to go apply for 194 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: w ABC Channel seven, I Witness News in New York. 195 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: I was so pumped, like I'm gonna go interview. They 196 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: gave me an interview, and it was five hundred people 197 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: around the corner. Like I was in line. Everyone's in suits, 198 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: everyone's with the resumes. They all went to n y 199 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: U and Colombia and all these grade schools, and I'm 200 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 1: from Pace and I'm at the end of the line, 201 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: and I'm like, this is I'm never getting this interest ship. 202 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: It turns out they forgot that I was there, right, 203 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: So I'm waiting for this chance to interview. And I'm 204 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: sitting there in this big room and I was literally 205 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: the last person and they were packing up to leave, 206 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: and I ran up to this guy, Joe Rivera, and 207 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: I said, hey, sir, like I'm sorry, but I didn't 208 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,719 Speaker 1: get an interview, and he's like, oh you you you're 209 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: here for the everything. I was like, yeah, I didn't 210 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: get one. He's like, okay, i'll talk to you. So 211 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: he sat with me for five minutes. And after it 212 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: was five minutes, he was like, you want the answernship 213 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: like that on the spot. So like Joe Rivera, he's 214 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: a Puerto Rican guy, you know, so he looked out 215 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: for me. He was a producer. He gave me the 216 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: answership in sports. I did that and then from there 217 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: I went to New York one UM out of college. 218 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: Two weeks later, UM, after I graduated, I got the 219 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: New York one call. I interviewed there. They had me 220 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: as a photo cameraman behind the camera. So I did 221 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: that and there was a lot of people look like 222 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: us behind the camera, you know, in front of the 223 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: camera not so many. So I knew that was a challenge, 224 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: and I just knew I wasn't ready to go in 225 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 1: front of the camera. So then I went to Connecticut 226 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: as a full time photographer, same thing, cameraman, UM, and 227 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: I was just putting my real together, just filming myself 228 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: in front of in front of the camera. And but 229 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: you're working with some of the best reporters in the business, 230 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: like Connecticut is market is Market thirty and then in 231 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: New York one, even though it's a cable station, it's 232 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: still still you got reporters in New York. So you're 233 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: working with some of the best. Um. So I'm just 234 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: watching them and learning. And my thing is if you 235 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: ever around someone who's in a position you want to 236 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: be in, and you're not listening to them and you're 237 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: not taking every word they say, good, bad, the ugly, like, 238 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: I think you're wasting your time. So I was a 239 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: fly on the wall. I was listening to everything they say, 240 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: how they write, how they went about interview with people, 241 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: the kind of questions they would ask. So then I 242 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: would fill myself in front of the camera, practicing, practicing, practicing, 243 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: And when I went out to cover big stories like 244 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: the Boston Marathon, when the explosion happened, yeah, I took 245 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: the camera. I just turned myself around, I filmed it 246 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: and I put that in my reel. So now they 247 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: could see that could cover big news, you know, And 248 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: then it's just about applying it. And then you have 249 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: that skill and not that quick fly the moment you 250 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: were ready exactly exactly and then that was it. Then 251 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: I just kept applying then and then I gave myself 252 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: a date. One thing I always do from myself is 253 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: I always set dates. So I remember saying I was like, 254 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: thing was to fourteen februaryeen, I want to have an 255 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: offer to be a reporter. And then a couple of 256 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: months later, boom boo boom, February fourteen, I got an 257 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: offer from the station in Arkansas. And you know, that's 258 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: the biggest thing I learned early on was like I 259 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: went to Arkansas for three years and I did not 260 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: like my time there. There were some nice people, but 261 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: for the most part, like I didn't like it. What 262 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: was the experience do you think culturally? You just felt 263 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: like no culture, no culture. I mean there's they got culture, 264 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 1: but stair culture. It really is different. Not even they 265 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: got like biscuits and grade not even like like you 266 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: would think Mexican to know, like there's not even like 267 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: good Mexican food. It was just it was just weird. Man. 268 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: The worst part is when you're in a place like Arkansas, 269 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: like if I have a bad day i work, which 270 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: I had a lot of bad days to work, because 271 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: you knew and you're learning and plus come from New York, 272 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: Like we got an attitude and we don't let people 273 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: talk to as a certain kind of ways. When I 274 00:12:57,960 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: was running to problems at least, like when I go home, 275 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, I go home. I could find something 276 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: to do. But you're in Arkansas. You're just nothing to do. 277 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: So you're just always thinking about work. And it was 278 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: just a miserable at least Like here in l A. 279 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: If I have a bad day, I get out of work, 280 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: I'm in l A, Like, right, I'm going to go 281 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: somewhere and do something. I didn't have that in Arkansas. 282 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: So it was tough adjustment, especially being in New York. 283 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,599 Speaker 1: Are going down there. You know, we're blunt. People were 284 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: very honest, and that was something that I think rubbed 285 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: some people the wrong way when I was there, honestly. 286 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: But uh but it was a great experience because I 287 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: learned that I had to uh working with different kind 288 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: of people who think differently. You have to be able 289 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: to uh adjust and and be understanding. So it taught 290 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 1: me a lot about understanding. Going back a little bit, 291 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: I love like the focus that we were talking about before, 292 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: about how you were just listening and like learning and 293 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: watching and that's the part of the hustle. And you 294 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: got hired by a Puerto Rican man for this internship, right, 295 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: so he gave you an opportunity to like come through 296 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: the door. And that wasn't like you weren't in front 297 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: of the camera you have. They weren't seeing people that 298 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: looked like you in front of the camera at that time. 299 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: Even when I went to Arkansas, I remember one thing 300 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: I told him was like I was like, I want 301 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: to I want to pay homage to to who I am, 302 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: where I'm from. So I said, when I'm when I 303 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: say my name, I want to say in the Spanish, 304 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 1: I want to say feller Riveta, you know, like every 305 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: time I signed off Rita and um, they said no, 306 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: They're like wait what Yeah, They're like nah, yeah, I 307 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: remember when I told him that. I told my boss 308 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: since my first time being out like in front of 309 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: the camera's like listen, every time I reporting live Enfort 310 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: Smithell Fox News, That's what I wanted to say, and 311 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: they were like no, Which now I think if I 312 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: did it now they would let me know. Now it's 313 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: a different story. And I'm at a station that like, 314 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: of course diversity, but before when I was in Arkansas 315 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: and I told him that, it's like nope, I mean 316 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: that's a sense of I mean that's that's a little 317 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: we won't. I mean that it's a little like so 318 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: like that's how my trips started. That's the Arkansas started 319 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: for me and started. That was already a point of 320 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: like cool, we don't care if you're Latino, Like that's 321 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: not we're not embracing that. Like that's what it sounds like. Yeah, 322 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: I had I had, you know, little runnings in here 323 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: and there, and and you remember Arkansas still like that's 324 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: south Man. I haven't been back, and they don't even 325 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: know what Puerto Rican and Dominican is over there. The 326 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: only Dominicans I saw in Arkansas. We're on the baseball 327 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: team because they had a minor league, minor league baseball team. 328 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: But you know, we're there, we're owning that and then 329 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: and then and it's half the rosta. But I didn't 330 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: know that, you know what I'm saying, Like I wasn't 331 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: hanging out them just because oh he's Dominican. I'm gonna 332 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: go like I didn't know him. It was that was 333 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: it though, So um, even when I came to Sacramento, 334 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: though there still wasn't Puerto Ricans Dominicans. How why did 335 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: you work in Sacramento for four to half years A 336 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: long time? How was that different? Well, going from Arkansas 337 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: to Sacramento is a one eight. Like I was like, Wow, 338 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: I'm in a big city in San Francisco and Tahoe 339 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: and Napa, and I never knew I liked wine before 340 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: and then I go to know the California Now I 341 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: love wine, and even here I got a wine rack 342 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: with tons of different wines and I just got so 343 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: into and I found like this like little side passion 344 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: that I really like. You know, But um, Sacramento was amazing. 345 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: Sacramento was was. It was a wonderful city. I think 346 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: it's such an underrated place to live. Um, it's relatively 347 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: inexpensive for being California and it um and it's a 348 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: it's a big city with a small town vibe, you know, 349 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: like people know each other, that kind of thing. I'm 350 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: curious going back to your Arkansas experience. You are a 351 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: Latino after Latino man, you know, like you're giving me 352 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: vibes and everything and I and you're very strong minded 353 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: and strong opinionated. So I feel like when they told 354 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: you that you can't say your name Fedra, like I 355 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: can already see your face. I was not happy about it, 356 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: you know, it was to me, it was weird. It's 357 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: like I'm And that's the thing is that I think 358 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: a lot of people in our business are starting to 359 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: learn that representation matters. Like just to be able to 360 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: see someone on TV who looks like you, it means 361 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: a lot to people. Um. And I noticed that after 362 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: Sacramento when I left Sacramento, now like coming here, I've 363 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: got so many messages from people, um that just see 364 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: just you being there, even if you're not necessarily the 365 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: best at your job, but just the fact that you're 366 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 1: there matters. And in Arkansas, I thought I had an 367 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: opportunity to do that. I was reporting for a while, 368 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: you know, not to disparage them too much because I 369 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: was still green, but it was market one hundred, right, 370 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: So in our business we have two hundred seven media markets. 371 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: It was market one hundred. So it's it's a small market. 372 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: That's the opportunity, Like let me anchor, let me get 373 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: on the desk, let me try things, let's let's work 374 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: out the kinks so you can move up. They never 375 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: let me get on the desk. They didn't think I 376 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: could be an anchor. Um, they kept me on the 377 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: morning show in this small town for three years and 378 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: UM from that and then you move, so you go, okay, 379 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: I got you. And then I went to Sacramento, and 380 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: Sacramento like, oh, we got something here, Let's put him 381 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: on the desk. And I went from reporting for two 382 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 1: years and then being an anchor for two years. And 383 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: then when I was on the anchor desk, that's when 384 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: you know, I'm in a viewing with Boston, New York. 385 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: You're doing big cities around the Yeah, and they liked 386 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: me to you know, anchor right there ext to me 387 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: and my anchoring, which is like the biggest compliments me. So, 388 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: working in like the news industry, do you feel that 389 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: the news coverage is has been well? And I know 390 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: it's changed. You know, we have Black Lives Matter, There's 391 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: been so many things that have happened that have transformed 392 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: I'm sure news coverage in your world of things, but 393 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: do you think that news coverage has been fair in 394 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: your experience when it does come to people of color 395 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: and you being a person of color, Like, how do 396 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: you balance that out being in that room. I think 397 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: the news business is changing. When we used to look 398 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: at Black Lives matter, for example, when they first was 399 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: introduced and it started becoming a thing, I could not 400 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: go on air and say black lives matter. I couldn't 401 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: post all social media that black lives matter. I couldn't 402 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: m remember we had the blackout Tuesday where everybody like 403 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: put the black screen. We couldn't do that as newspeople 404 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: years ago. Um, and that was hard because it's like, 405 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: wait a second, what they're saying. It's not controversial, it's 406 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: not political, it's human rights. You're saying black lives matter. 407 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: That's to me, that's it's not a political thing that 408 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: it's been turned into right by certain people. So it 409 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: was the good thing that came out of If there 410 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: was any positive that came out of George Floyd in 411 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 1: the situation when we saw last year was these news 412 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: businesses started recognizing, Okay, if we have people on there 413 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: who are of African descent and they are white, whoever 414 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: you are, and you want to you want to say 415 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: black lives matter because there's something you believe in. You know, 416 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: they gave us, really the owners to do that. You 417 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: know I posted the Black Square. I wrote a thing 418 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: on my social media about a d J. Henry who 419 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: I went to school with, who was shot killed by 420 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: police UM at Pace University, UM, and I said, this 421 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: is why I believe in black Lives matter, and I 422 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: told his story. That's not me taking a political stance. 423 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: You know, I could still do my job in an 424 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: unbiased way, but when you're talking about just human rights, 425 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: how can I not agree with that? So I think 426 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: UM stations are being more open minded to that. I 427 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: always think your local news you just have to you 428 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: have to be careful with what companies own the stations, 429 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 1: because I can't sit here and say like everyone's unbiased. 430 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: But I will say your local news is probably the 431 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: best place where you're gonna get your straight here's the facts. 432 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: Is your local news? UM never really? I never even 433 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: really because people look at Fox News and go that's 434 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 1: fake and da da, and then they look at CNN 435 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: and call CNN it's fake and all this all right, 436 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: But you're watching cable news that you know their appeal 437 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: is to drawing people who think like them, right, So 438 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: that's why you tune into Fox and CNN your local news. 439 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 1: We're a public servant. I mean, this is what our 440 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: job is. We're supposed to just be there to give 441 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: you what you need to know, and that's something I 442 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,239 Speaker 1: take very seriously. Now, you also have to look at 443 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: who owns because there are certain companies that start by 444 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: and up these local TV stations and they might have 445 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: their own way of thinking. But yeah, yeah, but like 446 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: I can speak from the company that I've worked for. 447 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: I've worked for two companies on air, Hearst and Next Star, 448 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: and both have been Both have been great in terms 449 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: of no one's ever come up to me and said, like, 450 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: you have to see it this way, you can't do this, 451 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: And honestly, I didn't know that's how it worked. But 452 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: my eyes, I'm like, oh, it's just Fox News, it's 453 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: just Box, or oh it's just this and that, you 454 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: know what I mean. I worked for a Fox affiliate 455 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: when I was in Sacramento. It was Fox forty and 456 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: everyone's like, oh, your Fox News. Well Fox News doesn't 457 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: own us. Fox News we are owned, but we were 458 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: owned by Next Star. Next So you have these companies 459 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: that come and they buy ABC s and CBS is 460 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: and all this, that's who owns our company. It's it's 461 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 1: not Fox News. Now, there are TV stations that are 462 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: like in l A. When you go to big cities 463 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: like l A, New York, usually ABC owns the ABC, 464 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: the NBC owns the NBC. When you go to medium 465 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: sized markets like a Tennessee, you go to like Cincinnati, 466 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: most of those are owned vice companies that own a 467 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: bunch of different affiliates. So people often think, oh, if 468 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 1: Fox is in your title, your Fox News. No, we're 469 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,439 Speaker 1: next Star company that happens to own a Fox station. 470 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: So are our rules and regulations and everything comes down 471 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: from Next Star. I don't come from Fox, so they 472 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: will never come to do you know. And you know 473 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: what the thing too is there's a lot of us 474 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: in this that won't won't do it that. Like, I 475 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 1: don't care how how nice that paycheck is. I'm getting 476 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: paid really well right now. So you honestly, I'm making 477 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: more moment that I thought I'm making my life. And 478 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: let me tell you, there's no one yeah, let them know. 479 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: And you know I say that. I say that with 480 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: a lot of pride because there's no one that's gonna 481 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: come to me and say you have to say this 482 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:45,239 Speaker 1: a certain way, especially with something political that's gonna make 483 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: me question who I am as a as a person. 484 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: Is money the biggest value here in my life? Or 485 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: or is doing the right thing? Or is journalism still alive? 486 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: If I'm ever questioning myself with those kind of questions, 487 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: then this ain't for me. Feel me like I'm at 488 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: a I'm at a state would be like the station 489 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: anyt for me if I have to like start questioning 490 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 1: who I am as a person because they're making me 491 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: do certain stories. That's why they're like, they can't tell 492 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 1: you anymore how to say your name now, I wouldn't 493 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: be a problem. And even when I you know, that's 494 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: why I like, I'm very like when I when I 495 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: do get so I do little things, you know, like 496 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: if we do a story about Mexico, I say Mexico, 497 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 1: I don't call Mexico, I say Mexico or um, you know, 498 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: I try to put the pronunciation where it's supposed to 499 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: be um, Puerto Rico, you know, I say Puerto Rico, 500 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: um Domnicana. I say like, I do that little things 501 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: like that on air here, and no one's ever coming 502 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: to me and said like you feel like, but do 503 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: you do you feel like it's because the level that 504 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: you're at right now, and also I think what you 505 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: stated before does make a difference where you might be located, 506 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: but also the time frame where we are now as 507 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 1: a society and in your field, where the newsroom is 508 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: at now. I would hope that if if I went 509 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: back to Arkansas there would be a little more open 510 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: minded now, or if I went to one of these 511 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: smaller city is that they would be a little more 512 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: be minded. But definitely, I mean, you're in l A. 513 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: You know, It's it's just it's diverse. You have a 514 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: wide net of people that are watching you. It's funny though, 515 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: because people still think, like there was this anchor the 516 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: other day that I was like, oh, you like, it's 517 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: it's the best time to be a Latino in this country. 518 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: If you want to get a job of news, you 519 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: have to be Latino. And I'm like, yeah, but like 520 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: news rooms are seventy white still, so like even in 521 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: what world, Like you know, it's just there are some 522 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: companies that are are putting precedent on Okay, let's look 523 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: like our communities. So if your newsroom here in l A. 524 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: Is white, that's a problem because it just isn't that way. 525 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: It just doesn't. It doesn't match the demographic. When people 526 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: still say things like that, like it happens all the time. 527 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: It happens in our business too, Like there's literally like 528 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: I'll be at auditions and they're like, you're gonna get 529 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 1: this because they're just looking for like Latina's now and 530 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: did you look at them, like yo, Peggy yo, she's 531 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: talking about you have to be good. The reason why 532 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: LA so special to me is because one anchor jobs 533 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: don't open up that often here. And the fact that 534 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: like they started to show and they said that My 535 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: news director Pete said, you know Pedro, like I want him. 536 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 1: I was his You know what I'm saying, that's huge 537 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: because I still gotta be good. You still gotta do. 538 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: I look at the ratings all the time, and like 539 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: if the ratings slipped, that's a problem. Our numbers have 540 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: been strong. People have been responding well, and I'm super 541 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: blessed for that, and I'm so thankful to be you know, 542 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: with a family that like that really wants me. But 543 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: I gotta perform, right, like I gotta Yeah, no matter 544 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: if you get the job for whatever reason, like you 545 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: gotta perform Yeah. Absolutely, you're doing the thing. We're making 546 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: good money. Where we're now in a place where you're 547 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: able to say your name, how you feel such and 548 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: be yourself. How was the response from your family when 549 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: you wanted to do this job. It's so weird, man, 550 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 1: it's so weird. Now, Mom, I'm always knew I wanted 551 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 1: to do something, like, I had a big personality always, 552 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 1: so I was gonna do something. Um and my father 553 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: he just wanted me to. He used to call me 554 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: a deliquente deliquent, you know, like the little delinquent. So um, 555 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: you know, he just wanted to do something. I could 556 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: have went back, I could go work at his right now, 557 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: he'll be proud of me, you know what I'm saying. 558 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: So wait, and I love that. I love that story. 559 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 1: I have to put a little plug in for your 560 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: dad because the first Dominican everybody everybody in, everybody in 561 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: and they know Frank and Giovanni's um and we and 562 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: we and we and we uh. We still owned the building. 563 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: We sold the store and then we opened up a 564 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: couple more. Now we had some in you know, all 565 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: over the place, Sennectady in Amsterdam, New York. So yeah, 566 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: now he's thriving and he's really happy. Um, but you 567 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:50,880 Speaker 1: know they were, they were they just happy I'm doing something. 568 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: It feels good to be Like I haven't asked my 569 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 1: parents for money since since college. You know, that feels good. 570 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: Even even when I had days when I was struggling, 571 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: my dad he would always hook me up. So it 572 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 1: feels good. It feels good to be my own man. 573 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: They're they're very proud of me. It's funny though, because 574 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: like I got my brothers, the street guys, you know 575 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. So it's funny when um, when we 576 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 1: look at our careers and I'm like, yo, I'm a snitch, 577 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: Like I'm a you know, I'm like I legit urge 578 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 1: people every day to call the police. Like every single day, 579 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, if you know anything, you see anything, call police, 580 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: tell them them, call them, you know. So like I'm like, 581 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: I'm in that direction. Wow out here turned into hold 582 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 1: that one one. Please if you see anything or you 583 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: hear anything, call the police. They need your help. And 584 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: I do that literally every day. So it's just funny 585 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,880 Speaker 1: like how life works out. But they couldn't be happier 586 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: for me and without them, Like I said, right, if 587 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: you have people in front of you or someone who's 588 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 1: in a position you want to be, and you gotta 589 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: listen to them. And the same those few siblings. Right, Like, 590 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: if you have a family member who makes mistakes or 591 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: they do something positive, watch them. If they make a mistake, 592 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: go on the other direction they do something, go in 593 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: that direction. So that's literally what I did, and that's 594 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 1: why I was. I was the youngest of four, you know, 595 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: in my mom's side, I was the youngest, and I 596 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,719 Speaker 1: just literally just followed them good bad, whatever they did. 597 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 1: If it was bad, I went the other way. And 598 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: that's why I'm here today. So it's really like a 599 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: group accomplishment. It's you know, it's it's a it's a 600 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: family accomplishment for me to be here. What is something 601 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: that through all the struggles and the push through the 602 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: business and any everything that you went through, the traveling 603 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: and discovering yourself, what is the one thing that you 604 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: have like kept like a mantra for yourself that's kept 605 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: you going, like that's gotten you to this amazing point 606 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: of your career. I would say there's a few things 607 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: like always always move forward. Um, I have the word 608 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: Excelsior on my ribs tattooed or my ribs, and it 609 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: means ever upward right, always upward motion. And I've always 610 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: just tried to remember that even when I'm in like 611 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 1: when I was in Arkansas and I was so down 612 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: on myself and I started questioning, like can I do this? 613 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: So I have what it takes because these people don't 614 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: think I could really do it. You know, a lot 615 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: of a lot of people doubt of me. Then, so 616 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: I said, you know what, just keep moving for keep 617 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: moving forward. That's it. It's just um, just grinding. And 618 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: also too, it's like I got nieces and nephews. I 619 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: got four teen nieces and nephews, Like I want them 620 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: to be able to I got a big family, so 621 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: you know, for me, it's like I want them to 622 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: be able to like look and be like, oh, uncle 623 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: Pete did that. You know what I'm saying. Because he 624 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: did that, you know I could do that. So I 625 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: always keep them in mind. You're missing birthdays, you're missing everything. 626 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: You know what it's like like when you were at 627 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: San Francisco, you knew you're missing things, but you were 628 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: doing something that was career changing film. Yeah, I think 629 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: that's we talked about that. That's like the hardest thing 630 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: about being away from home. We're out here though, right, 631 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: everybody at home and go Darylyn, y'all are doing it, 632 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: But like we're out in these areas that we sometimes 633 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: find ourselves feeling doubtful, right, and likely thing that keeps 634 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: us going and it does. That's that's kind of what 635 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: keeps me going. That's that's like my drive is just 636 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: always moving forward and trying to be a good example 637 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: for for my nieces and nephews. These opportunities have gotten 638 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: me to do some really cool stuff and meet some 639 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: really great people. I'm just myself and I always think 640 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: that's gonna take you a long way. It's got a 641 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: lot of fake people in this industry, not only in 642 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: news but just you know, entertainment. Come on, you know 643 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: what it is like, You've got a lot of fake people. 644 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: I'm not one of them. You might say pedro, pedro 645 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 1: or whatever. He's could be cocky, could be caught whatever. 646 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: You can say whatever you want about me, But I'm 647 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: me and I'm always gonna be me, and I just 648 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: think you have to be um. And that's what stands 649 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: out to people that authenticity. UM, I drawn past experiences. 650 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: I I UM, and it relates when I go to 651 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: certain stories and I go to certain neighborhoods and I 652 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: talked to certain people and they're like, Okay, this guy, yeah, 653 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 1: he gets me. UM. And it helps you with your 654 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: Storytell it's very evident. It shows in your work. It 655 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: shows what you're doing for the community and what you're 656 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: doing for the Latino community. Just being who you are. 657 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: I think that there's so much in that. How do 658 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: you know yourself so well? You have this confidence in 659 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: your identity who you are? Where did that come for 660 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: for you? That comes from my mother? That comes from 661 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: my mother in my mind, you know she she UM, 662 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: she's that way. She's very confident in herself as a woman. 663 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: And UM. You know she was a single mother with 664 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: four kids, and you know, did hustled and you know, 665 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 1: did whatever she had to do for us to to 666 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: to maintain herself. And you know, she took welfare and 667 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: she she went there. You know what, when she had 668 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: she was on welfare and half four kids, she found 669 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: a way to go to community college. And she was 670 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: very prideful of herself. And I look at her journey 671 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: going from the projects and now living on City Island, 672 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: and I'm just like, yeah, So when you have that 673 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: example in front of you of a woman who's so 674 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 1: confident in herself, that's how I want to carry myself 675 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: like her. So I'm always very mindful of that. And 676 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: she's proudly, she's very proud of me. My father is 677 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: proud of me, and that's all I need. So like 678 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: I went. I remember saying this in Arkansas. Remember one 679 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: time I got into like this little thing of my 680 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 1: news director going back and forth, and he called me 681 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: a liar one time of my face, and I said, listen, 682 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,479 Speaker 1: you lie when you're afraid of the consequences are you're 683 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: afraid of the person. I'm not afraid of body here, 684 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: and I'm not afraid to go back and go work 685 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: in my father's budga. I see floors and I you know, 686 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: I'll manage the next one we open. I'll manage that, 687 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: and I'll do that. I made it like I made it. 688 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: I'm on TV, I'm here, I'm doing news, and I'm 689 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: doing something I love like I made it. So I 690 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 1: can call only if I have to go back, I'll 691 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: go back get rid of me. And he looked at 692 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: me like I was insane. Like he looked at me 693 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: like what is this guy? What's in his mind? But 694 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: that's me. I made it. I'm here. My parents are 695 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: proud of me, and that's the only thing I can ask. 696 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: So that's why I carry myself with confidence, and I 697 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: keep my circles small. I keep a nice group of 698 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: friends around me who support me as well. I don't 699 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: have a bunch of people around me all the time. 700 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 1: I keep small group of friends who I trust and 701 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: and as long as I have their support, I have 702 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: my parents support. Yeah, I'm gonna walk around with with 703 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: the confidence I need. That's real. That's the only world 704 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 1: to be real. You gotta bet on yourself. You got 705 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: you do know? Listen, I always say high risk, high reward, 706 00:32:57,720 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: Like if we wouldn't be in this industry, if that 707 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 1: wasn't one of our mantras that we drive there's no risk, 708 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: then what's the point? You know what I mean? Right now, 709 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: I'm like enjoying it. I'm I'm part of SAG now. 710 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: I'm a union guy. I got you know what I'm saying. 711 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: So like I'm part of SAG now, and like, you know, 712 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 1: maybe you might be in a movie. You know, you 713 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 1: just hit me up already say that's that's like amazing. 714 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,479 Speaker 1: When I'm a big movie guy, like I love movies, 715 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: so like if I have I don't care if it's 716 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: just me with a microphone in front of a guy 717 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 1: for two seconds. Like if I'm in any movie, that 718 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: would make my life that I already see this and 719 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 1: I hope that whatever movie it's in, maybe we both 720 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 1: have a little bit of a role in that. To 721 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 1: play your assistant, can you share with us one thing 722 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: that always reminds you of home? However, it is that 723 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 1: you define home one thing that always reminds me of home. 724 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: While that's a good question, Well, you know, sports, I'm 725 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: still watching my Yankees all the time. It makes me 726 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,799 Speaker 1: think of home. I have some tattoos, like I got 727 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 1: one of my arm I got you know, I got 728 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 1: the New York City skyline here, so I looked at 729 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,399 Speaker 1: every day. That reminds me of home. Whenever I see 730 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,840 Speaker 1: a story about rats in the subway, that reminds me 731 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:27,080 Speaker 1: of home. That always does. If I see anything more rats, 732 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, yeah, York, I'm back back home. Maybe 733 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, like anything now, yeah that that yeah, there's 734 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 1: a lot that reminds me of home. It's hard to 735 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 1: say because it's me, Like I look in the mirror 736 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:40,759 Speaker 1: and I'm just like, I have so much pride to 737 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,359 Speaker 1: being a New Yorker and and yeah, so every day 738 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 1: I think about it every day. Rats and the rats, 739 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: the food, everything. But if the people want to follow 740 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: you and hear your journey and continue seeing you kill 741 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: the news game, where can they follow you? Where can 742 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: they continue to see that? Um Pedro Rivera TV on Twitter? Facebook? Uh, 743 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 1: Instagram is real page Rivera? Um? Yeah, follow me, you know, 744 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 1: if if any was in l A or you want 745 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,959 Speaker 1: to just give it a watch. K l A five 746 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:14,800 Speaker 1: we have the new five o'clock show. It's a different 747 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: kind of newscast. Um, I'm a morning show guy, but 748 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: they brought me in to do the evening five o'clock 749 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 1: because they were looking for something different. It's not all 750 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 1: just sitting there and you know, four people got shot, 751 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: four people and just doom in gloom. You know, we're 752 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,760 Speaker 1: trying to find something different. We we have guest DJs 753 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,839 Speaker 1: every day where people can like submit, which I think 754 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: you should do it. You just you submit like a 755 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: little video of yourself and you give us five songs 756 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:36,879 Speaker 1: and going into the commercial break will play it out 757 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 1: for you. We're getting people involved. Um, it's a different 758 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 1: kind of show and I think you guys will like it. 759 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 1: So hopefully tune in five o'clock and we will. We 760 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: will all be tuning in for that. And I'm definitely 761 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: gonna hit trip when I come out to l A. 762 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: Just bring some, bring some, bring some food from back, 763 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: from back. I'll bring you up. And yeah, I need 764 00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 1: I need that because out here it's it's you know, California. 765 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:07,200 Speaker 1: I'll go out there for us. Thank you so much 766 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:10,400 Speaker 1: for coming on mo Anita, for sharing your beautiful experience 767 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: and um, all the amazing things that you're doing in 768 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: the Latino community as well for us out there in 769 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:19,439 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. We look forward to seeing you continue killing 770 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: the game. And thank you for coming by. Thanks for 771 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:31,319 Speaker 1: having me listening to a bared little story. I kept 772 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 1: thinking how many different paths there are to succeeded. Wasn't 773 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: handed anything, so he went out and made it his 774 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: own way. He stuck around for an interview when they 775 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 1: had forgotten about him, and it launched a career. Stick around, 776 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:47,800 Speaker 1: keep showing up, keep doing the work. Even if you 777 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: think you aren't being noticed, you never know who's watching 778 00:36:51,640 --> 00:37:00,720 Speaker 1: and who's around the corner when month as a production 779 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: of Sonato in partnership with I Heart Radio's Michael Luda 780 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: podcast Network. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit 781 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,840 Speaker 1: the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 782 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:12,240 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.