1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Hey, Latino USA listener, it's Barriero Hosa Today. We're going 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: to share an episode from a new podcast. It's from 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: our colleagues at Colorado Public Radio. It's called gin Are We? 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: Or Who Are We? It's hosted by journalist may Ortega. 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: The eight part series features intimate stories centered on Latinos 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: from all walks of life, exploring our communities, wide ranging identities, 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: and the moments big and small that help shape us. 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: You'll meet an amateur chef on a mission to recreate 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: the green and chili recipe that his grandmother wouldn't put 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: in writing, a brewer whose work connects him to his heritage, 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: and in this episode, an executive whose life revolves around 12 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: a tight knit community of minor league baseball fans. So 13 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: give the following episode a listen and don't forget to 14 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: subscribe to. 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: Gin Are We? 16 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: That's q U I E n Are We not? 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 3: As I'll always remember when I stopped playing baseball, My 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: dad goes on me. 19 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 4: Goes, I knew you weren't gonna make it. 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 3: You never tried hard enough, you didn't run at your 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 3: feet were nailed to the ground, You never moved quick enough. 22 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 4: Listen, my dad is an amazing man. 23 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: I love him, but I just think he just had 24 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: this vision of being me, being like the next left 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 3: fielder for the LI Dodgers, right. 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 4: You know, it's interesting. 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 3: Look, I think about that comment all the time and like, 28 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 3: let my dad down. 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 2: Alan Benavidez is a lot of things. He's Nicataguense, first 30 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: generation American, but one thing he is not is a 31 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 2: player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And this memory he 32 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 2: carries with him of how he disappointed his father is 33 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: one that most of us can probably relate to. That 34 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 2: thought didn't leave his mind for decades until he found 35 00:01:52,920 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: himself wearing a World Series rings. From Colorado Public Radio, 36 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: this is yen. Are we exploring what it means to 37 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 2: be Latino or Hispanic or Chicano or however you identify, 38 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: and diving into the beautiful things that make us who 39 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: we are. I'm may Orthega. This time we'll hear about 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: a man who put it all on the line to 41 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 2: make his dreams come true and they came to life 42 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 2: through baseball and butterflies. 43 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 3: Being Latino is something that I'm very proud of. I've 44 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,119 Speaker 3: grew up in or in East LA. 45 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 4: You know, I didn't speak English until I was almost seven. 46 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 4: So we go to this Catholic school and they. 47 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,679 Speaker 3: Had to wear these like light blue tops that it 48 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 3: was this uniform, but my mom didn't have it, so 49 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: she sent me in the blue corduroy pants and sent 50 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 3: me in this light blue guyaveta. Now always remember going 51 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: to the school and like being different. 52 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: You know what aguayavetta is. I didn't know what they 53 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: were called until Alan told me, But you've seen them. 54 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 2: They're button up shirts with these two skinny columns of 55 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: pleated fabric running down the front and back. They're very 56 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: popular in Latin America. Senors wear them all the time. 57 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: This story about going to Catholic school in Aguyabta is 58 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: just one instance in Alan's life when he felt unique. 59 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: Recognizing that you are different was interesting for me to learn, 60 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: but it really embraced it. 61 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 4: And really I always think about my parents and the 62 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 4: road took them to get here. 63 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 3: My mom moved here in the mid sixties and my 64 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 3: dad moved here in the early seventies. So they actually 65 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 3: met in La and so they met at a dance 66 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 3: and you know, a year later, Alan Benitez came up 67 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 3: in amazing I know, it's pretty cool. I have one 68 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: of those funny names, right, like you know, you asked 69 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 3: me so funny, you asked me, Eil, do I call 70 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: you Alan or Alan? And I always say Alan because 71 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: uh Alan Butler adopted my mom. I kind of brought 72 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 3: her in from nikoaiwa white man. Yes, I'm named after him. 73 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 3: And then my middle name, Josse is after my dad Jose. 74 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: A lot of different activities made up your life growing up. 75 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: I mean a big part of your life is centered 76 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: around baseball. So what role did baseball play when you 77 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 2: were younger? 78 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 3: So baseball Nikodai was bigger than soccer, and my dad 79 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 3: loves baseball. 80 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 4: In fact, I had a Theo. My Theo said Hill, 81 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 4: my mom's brother. 82 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 3: I never knew his name was said Hell until I 83 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: was an adult because I always called him Theo Gotcha 84 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 3: because he was a catcher in high school baseball, so 85 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 3: everybody called him Gotcha. 86 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 4: Wow. 87 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 3: I always thought his name was Gotcha, so I called 88 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: him Theo Gotchen anyway. But he would always play baseball 89 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 3: at me, and I was a catcher because he taught 90 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 3: me to be a catcher. 91 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 4: Sure, I played it through. 92 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: The little league and my dad's dream was always, you know, 93 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: for me to make it to the big leagues. Unfortunately 94 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 3: I'm too short, too fat, and I would never make it. 95 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 4: But I absolutely loved the game. 96 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: Allen might not have had the height to become a 97 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 2: major leaguer, but his love for the game was as 98 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: big as anyone's. 99 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 3: Some of my favorite memories were leaving Dodger Stadium in 100 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 3: a sea of red break lights in front of me 101 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: and like just laughing at how long it took to 102 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 3: get out, and hearing my mom and dad just like 103 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: fight and argue about how long it took it, why 104 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 3: they should have left in the seventh inning, and how 105 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: mad my dad was because I wanted to stay till 106 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 3: the end of the game. 107 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 4: And are you still a Dodgers fan this? Oh yeah, yeah, 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 4: I'm still a Dodgers fan. 109 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: I think my mom is probablyrobably the biggest baseball fan 110 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: in the family. 111 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: Wow, your mom interesting? 112 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 4: What does she do that shows that she's such a 113 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 4: van Well, like, I. 114 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 3: Mean, like my mom used to be all about Noela's right, 115 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: she would watch all of them, but now it's just 116 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 3: about the Dodge. The Dodgers are playing on the tube, 117 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 3: like she's watching it. My mom was a bed at 118 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 3: eight thirty, she's asleep on the couch. With that, the 119 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: Dodgers are playing and it's extra innings. I can call 120 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 3: my mom at eleven o'clock and be like, oh my god, 121 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 3: did you see Bellacher's home run? Oh? 122 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 2: So yeah. Baseball runs deep through Alan's blood, as deeply 123 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: as any other part of his identity. He needed to 124 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: be part of the game, beyond sitting in the stands, 125 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: but Alan didn't know anyone in the industry. Getting a 126 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: foot in the door seemed impossible, so he had to 127 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 2: get real and put that dream to rest, at least 128 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 2: for a while. 129 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 3: I graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz. 130 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 3: It was in nineteen ninety nine, worked in the film 131 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 3: industry for a few years, met my wife and had 132 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 3: a baby, and decided that, you know, Hollywood wasn't all 133 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 3: it was cracked up to be. Lots of hours all 134 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: year round. I couldn't see the baby when I decided 135 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 3: to make a career change. And in two thousand and four, 136 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 3: the Baseball Winter Meetings were happening in Anaheim. 137 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: The Winter Meetings are during MLB's off season, where reps 138 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: for every major and minor League team meet to do 139 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: business network. It's basically a convention. 140 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,239 Speaker 4: Which was just down the road. 141 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 3: Told my wife, I'm like, you know what, I'm gonna 142 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: put a suit on and see what I can find. Okay. 143 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 4: So I went in and I just started hanging out resumes. 144 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 4: I was way older than everybody else. 145 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 3: Oh no, I was like, you know, I'm like five 146 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: years out of college. 147 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 4: I'm married. 148 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,559 Speaker 3: Everybody that's at the winter meetings has got a suit 149 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 3: that's two sides. 150 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 4: It's too big for them. They all have a backpack on, 151 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 4: they all have. 152 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 3: Their name tags, and I'm like, trying to get the 153 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 3: same job these kids are trying to get. Got a 154 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 3: job offer at half of what I was making, dang, 155 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: but wanted to pursue the dream. Wanted to work in sports. 156 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: Staying in Baseball's orbit was a labor of love and 157 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: because chasing your dreams can often come with some financial 158 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: stress and he had a baby to feed, Alan had 159 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: to ask his dad something that no adult kid wants 160 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: to ask their parents. 161 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 3: Got married, I got a kid, and I told my dad, 162 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 3: I'm like, hey, buppy, I really want to take this job. 163 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 3: I'm going to make a go at it in baseball 164 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: and I need to move home with my wife and 165 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 3: my son because I'm not going to make any money. 166 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 4: And he was like what there's a conversation. 167 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 2: Oh my god, how did you feel having that talk 168 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 2: with him? 169 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 3: Oh? 170 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 4: It was weird because my dad was like me host. 171 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 3: He's like, it's time to get a job, you know, like, 172 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 3: let's sell some insurance. You're bilingual, like State farm all State, 173 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: like go to let's get a job at a bank. 174 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 3: And I'm like I don't want that. I'm like, I 175 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 3: want to work in entertainment. I want to work in sports. 176 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 3: I love you know, this is this is my dream. 177 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: And he goes, all right, he goes, I'll. 178 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 4: Give you one year. 179 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 3: And so we moved home and thankfully my wife was 180 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 3: like are you sure, And I'm like yeah, I'm like I. 181 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 4: Can do this. 182 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 2: But breaking into baseball would be even harder than Alan expected. 183 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 2: That's coming up After a quick break, Alan Benavidas focused 184 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: all his efforts on the impossible dream of breaking into 185 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: the baseball industry. That meant putting it all on the line, 186 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 2: quitting his job, moving in with his parents. So Alan 187 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 2: was looking for literally any job with any team, at 188 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 2: any level. It just had to be in baseball, and 189 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 2: finally he got a bite from a minor league club 190 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 2: that was a two hour drive from his parents' place 191 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 2: in LA. 192 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 4: It was ticket sales. 193 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 3: Okay, you know, we're going to give you a commission, 194 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 3: you know, and I just broke that commission record and 195 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: made it work really well, and within the year I 196 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 3: was able to move out there, and you know, and 197 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,599 Speaker 3: just kind of got elevated in management. 198 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: He was happy where he was at, and he was 199 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: good at it. He was working for a small team, 200 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 2: not super duper far from his hometown. He had a 201 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: great mind for marketing. People liked his ideas, and people 202 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 2: in power around the minor league caught wind of Allan's 203 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 2: good work. One day, he answered the phone and it's 204 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 2: his boss with an offer out of left field. 205 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 3: My boss says, hey, they're asking about you, if you're 206 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 3: interested for this position in Eugene. 207 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 4: I'm like, yeah, I'm not really interested. 208 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 3: I remember telling our owner, the guy who owned our 209 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 3: team in Lake Elson, Or and he goes, you know, 210 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: and he says, there's only like a hundred of these 211 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 3: jobs of ail, one hundred and sixty of these jobs available. 212 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 3: They're not very that's an opportunity, you should really consider it. 213 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: His boss was talking about an opening as a general 214 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: manager for another minor league team, this one located almost 215 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: nine hundred miles north in Eugene, Oregon, and his team's 216 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: owner was not being dramatic when he said these positions 217 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 2: are rare, so Alan figured why not check it out? 218 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 2: And he hopped on a plane to Oregon. 219 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 3: December twenty second, two thousand and four, and the rain 220 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 3: was coming in sideways. I'm from southern California, I'm like, 221 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 3: what is this? Yeah, and it wasn't like the drive 222 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 3: from the airport to the city isn't the prettiest drive. 223 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: And my wife and I were like. 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: Oh, not a great first impression. It wasn't been freezing 225 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 2: Oh my god, oh so cold, freezing rain far from home, 226 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 2: and the thirteen hour drive would probably make it harder 227 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 2: for Alan to go to Dodger Stadium. There were cons 228 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: but some pros too. It really was a once in 229 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: a lifetime opportunity, and Alan was ready for it. He 230 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 2: thought about all the work he'd put in in California, 231 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: the grueling drives, the long hours living under his parents' 232 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 2: roof with his wife and baby. Here was his chance 233 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: to run a professional baseball team, and the Emeralds have 234 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: a pretty good track record of developing players who go 235 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 2: on to become Major League All Stars. If you follow baseball, 236 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 2: you probably know the names Trey Turner and Eloiji Menez. 237 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: They are both former Emeralds, and they're not the only ones. 238 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 2: Alan accepted the offer and became general manager of the 239 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: Northwest League Eugene Emeralds. This was a role that Alan 240 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 2: had only ever dreamed of having. I mean, he was 241 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 2: now in charge of running a whole team of minor 242 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 2: league baseball. He was among the most powerful people in 243 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 2: the organization. He decided what the Emeralds did in the community. 244 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 2: They're winning strategies. He was the boss. Let's not forget 245 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: that Allan was a bit far from home. While he 246 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 2: was learning the ropes at his new job and settling 247 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 2: into Eugene, You're in some culture shock. That's a huge 248 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 2: change going from la born and raised there where I mean, 249 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: I would say there's a good amount of other Latinos, 250 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: other brown people, and then you move here where I 251 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 2: did some research and Eugene is eighty three percent white, 252 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: and you're from a place that's known for its Hispanic cultures. 253 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 2: So I mean, how did you feel when you moved there? 254 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 2: When it comes to being a Latino and moving to 255 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: this really white place, how did that go for you? 256 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 3: I never felt more brown in my life and good though, 257 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 3: Like I mean, and I don't mean that in a 258 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 3: bad way. Eugene is super loving and accepting, but quickly 259 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 3: realized that I'm different right when I did think I 260 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 3: I said earlier, I think I had an accent. 261 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 4: People like do you speak differently? 262 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 3: Wow? And maybe I'm like, oh, like it's southern California 263 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 3: and they're like, no, it's just kind of it wasn't 264 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 3: It was just kind of weird little things like that 265 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 3: your last name means welcome, right, and I'm like, no, 266 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 3: it does not, being Benilos No. And the way people 267 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 3: pronounce the name, and I mean, I got to tell 268 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 3: you there were to this day people still can't pronounce 269 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 3: my name. I've gotten so used to it that like, 270 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: I don't even it doesn't even bother me anymore. Like 271 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 3: I've seen every which way you can spell my last name, 272 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 3: and I really don't think it's that hard. 273 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think so either. So how do they 274 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 2: How do other people say your name? 275 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 4: Over there. Uh Benavides ben the needs. 276 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: So Alan had struggled a bit to fit in. It 277 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 2: was the guaya Veda conundrum all over again. Then he 278 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: was presented with a challenge that would lead him to 279 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: collaborate with the Latinos in Eugene. 280 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: When you look at what the demographics of Latin players are, 281 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 3: They're from Puerto Rico, They're Dominican, New Mexican, the Conmanian, 282 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 3: Colombian like, they're Venezuelan. Right, They're from all over Latin America. 283 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 3: But when you look at our fan base, especially in Eugene. 284 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 4: It's not reflected that way. Right. 285 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 3: The Latino base in Eugene is growing, and so how 286 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 3: do we kind of adapt to that and bring you know, 287 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 3: more Latin fans out. 288 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 2: These demographic changes happening in Eugene were happening all over 289 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 2: the country. So Minor League Baseball created Lacopa, the La 290 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: Diversion or the Fun Cup. The goal of Lacopa is 291 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 2: to encourage more Latinos to come to their games by 292 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 2: being more inclusive of Latin American cultures. As part of Lacuopa, 293 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 2: every minor league team changes their name and their mascot 294 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: to something that's more Latino centric, and those teams will 295 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 2: play with that branding several times a year. The Albuquerque 296 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 2: Isotopes become Los Mariachis de Nueblo, Mexico. There's a team 297 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: in San Antonio called the Missions who turn into the 298 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 2: Flying Chanklass. That's one of my favorites. When it came 299 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 2: time for Allen and the Emeralds to pick their Latino 300 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 2: centric name, the league gave some interesting options. 301 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 3: Minor League Baseball had suggested some names to us, and 302 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 3: they were like, why don't you guys consider doing like 303 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 3: instead of being like the Ugen Emeralds for some games, 304 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 3: why don't you guys like Loserareros the Sawmillers. 305 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 4: You know, it's the Northwest. 306 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 3: So they gave us three choices and they were like, Loserareros, 307 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 3: Lotis the Lumberjacks, And then the last one was Los. 308 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 4: Explora lotis Explorers like Lewis and Clark. When they said 309 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 4: that to me, I was. 310 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: Like, like, if we're trying to, like, you know, let's think, 311 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 3: you know, hey, you know, time out, give me a week. 312 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 4: Let me let me reach out to the community here. 313 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 3: And so I reached out to some local like leaders 314 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 3: and elders and activists and people had been here a 315 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: long time, and got them in a room with high 316 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 3: school folks and seniors and and said, Hey, this is 317 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 3: this is kind of like the license I've been given 318 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,719 Speaker 3: to come up with this new brand for our community. 319 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 3: I'm Latino, but I'm not Latino in this community. 320 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: Was that hard for you to tell other people to 321 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 2: admit to, Like, I'm Latino, but I'm not Latino from here. 322 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 3: It's interesting that you say that, because I've never had 323 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 3: an issue with that, because I think I'm very fair skinned, 324 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: and so I think people a lot of times look 325 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 3: at me that I'm more white than Latino, right, even 326 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: though I'm first generation i speak Spanish, but I'm not 327 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 3: Latino in this community. And I recognize that and I 328 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 3: own that. Like that, it's true. I'm trying to create 329 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 3: some roots here with the Latino community, and that's what 330 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 3: this whole project was about. 331 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: Choosing the right mascot was a big deal, not only 332 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 2: to Alan but to a lot of Latinos who grew 333 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 2: up in Eugene. You want something that will represent your hinting, 334 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 2: that will appeal to the people you're trying to welcome 335 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 2: to baseball. Games, possibly for the first time. This was 336 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 2: a big responsibility and Alan. 337 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 3: Knew that, and these folks they grab they grabbed this 338 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 3: idea and I kind of told them like the ideas 339 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 3: that we were talking about then, and when I said exploded, 340 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 3: like the group just like there was like this audible. 341 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 2: Gasp like yeah, you know, like they're like, no, no, 342 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: it's not the move, not the move you want. 343 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 3: And so we came up with Monartica's Baseball right in 344 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 3: the monarch butterfly has one of the largest migratory patterns 345 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 3: in the world. We came up with the art and 346 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 3: the logos thirty three dots representing all thirty three countries 347 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 3: of Latin America Oregon's the thirty third state. 348 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 4: It tells a huge story. 349 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 2: It is an understatement to say I love the Monaca's 350 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 2: logo truly. It is a work of art, especially in 351 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 2: the world of baseball, where most team logos tend to 352 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,479 Speaker 2: lean more towards simplicity. For the Monarca, there is so 353 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 2: much meaning packed into it. So just picture a monarch 354 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 2: butterfly with its orange and black wings spread out, and 355 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 2: she's wearing a little gold crown because Monarch, She's got 356 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 2: those thirty three dots. Alan mentioned some mountains across the 357 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 2: wings to represent a beloved Oregonian mountain range, and my 358 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 2: favorite part, an Aztec figure called Oleen is in the 359 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 2: inner part of each wing. Oleine represents to move and 360 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 2: act with all your heart and to be all in 361 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 2: in everything you do. Once the name was selected and 362 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 2: the incredible logo finalized, Alan and the team really leaned 363 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: into it. 364 00:20:54,600 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 4: Every Sunday we're Mona's Baseball. Who had um Ya Man's 365 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 4: playing on the concourse. 366 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 3: We've had a little medicallo set up out by the 367 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 3: gates when people are walking in with oh my known 368 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 3: businesses from Springfield yet and then my favorite was wend 369 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 3: you know how hard spring Lowriders and Eugene Oregon. 370 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 4: Oh, I can't even tell me how dude. 371 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 3: I mean, they're there, but they're just you just don't 372 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 3: see them. Like driving down five, you know, I five 373 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 3: and so found some Lowriders and you know, I had 374 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 3: them bring in our mascot on the field and the 375 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 3: Lowriders are jumping up and down the field. 376 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 4: That's amazy. It was awesome. 377 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: It was so cool and how did you feel? 378 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 3: Like? 379 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 2: I know, it was a community effort, but you're one 380 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 2: of the people who helped make that happen. 381 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 4: How did that make you feel? I was so proud, Like, 382 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 4: I just love our culture. I love the celebration that 383 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 4: we do. 384 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 3: I love the best of atmosphere that Latinos bring to 385 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 3: almost any event. 386 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 4: I love seeing the low writers parked on front. 387 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 3: Of the ballpark and seeing a bunch of like old 388 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 3: white guys taking pictures with like the owners and like. 389 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 4: Like Latino guys like you. 390 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 3: There's sunglasses and the like and the and the shirts 391 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 3: and the dress and everyone's just taking pictures and selfies 392 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 3: in front of the cars. 393 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 4: I was like, yes, this is this is what I want. 394 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 2: Even though he's been in this role for more than 395 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 2: a decade, Alan is still one of only a few 396 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 2: Latino gms in American baseball. 397 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 3: I really hope that I can people see me as 398 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 3: somebody that can try to be a conduit or a bridge, like, 399 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 3: you know, between culturally different people in our society. 400 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 4: Here in Eugene. 401 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: It was a long winding road, but Alan has accomplished 402 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: a lot in his baseball career. I mean, the Emeralds 403 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 2: won the championship in twenty twenty one, but Alan has 404 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 2: also learned that he can't have it all. Remember, Alan 405 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 2: and his mom are fierce Dodgers fans, his mom probably 406 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 2: more than him. Well, one of baseball's toughest and oldest 407 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 2: rivalries is between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. 408 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 2: Every few years, the minor teams change the major teams 409 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: they're affiliated with. Take a guess at which major team 410 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 2: the Emeralds are affiliated with. 411 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 3: Now, I'll always remember when we signed to the Giants. 412 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 4: This was last year. When we got the new affiliation 413 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 4: of the San Francisco Giants. 414 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 3: My mom calls me and she goes, miha, I love you, 415 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 3: but I'm never wearing your stuff again. 416 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 4: I'm never And I'm like, Mom, come on, like relax. 417 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 4: The grand shame of the family. 418 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 2: I mean, talk about irony. Leading a minor team from 419 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 2: off the field, being affiliated with your family's team's top opponent. 420 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 2: This was not what Alan or his dad imagined for 421 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: him when he was a kid, but hey, things worked 422 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 2: out pretty well. Remember how Alan said that he felt 423 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 2: like he had let his dad down because he didn't 424 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 2: make it onto a major league team. Well, eventually, his 425 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 2: work in Eugene did lead to some big payoff from 426 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 2: the majors. 427 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 3: In twenty sixteen, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series 428 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 3: and at the time we were the short season affiliate 429 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 3: for the Chicago Cubs, and so when the Cubs won 430 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 3: the World Series, the Cubs graciously gave me, as the 431 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 3: general manager of the team, a World Series ring, the 432 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 3: same ring the players got it, says Bena Vitas on 433 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 3: the ring, it's got my name, it's a world It's 434 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 3: probably like the most cherished championship ring. 435 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 4: Yeah. 436 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 2: The Cubs are my team too, even on from Texas. 437 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 4: I love them. So that's amazing. That isn't incredible. 438 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 3: Remember I showed it to my dad and I go, baby, 439 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 3: I'm like, I just I gave him the ring so 440 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 3: he could hold it take a picture of it, and 441 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 3: I was like, hey, man, I made it. 442 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 4: I know. 443 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 3: I know it wasn't like how you felt, but you know, 444 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 3: I made it to the big leagues. 445 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 4: You know, I got I got my rings. The success 446 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 4: to me isn't necessarily. 447 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 3: What we've done from our wins and losses, but it's 448 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 3: what we've been able to do in the. 449 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 4: Community year round. Those to me are the huge ws 450 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 4: that we have. 451 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 3: Honestly, like, I love the power that this team has 452 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 3: in the community, and that's where I find the most joy. 453 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 2: There you go, dream achieved. Alan Benavidus is the general 454 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 2: manager for the Eugene Emeralds, also known as Las Monarcas 455 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 2: the Eugene. A big thanks to Alan for sharing this 456 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 2: story with me so I could share it with you. 457 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 2: I'm mae Ortega. This episode was produced by me, with 458 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: mixing by Prolo, who also wrote our theme music, and 459 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: it was edited by Aaron Jones and Anna Campbell. You 460 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: can find a list of everybody who helped to make 461 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 2: this episode in the show notes. Gain Are We is 462 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: a production of Colorado Public Radio.