WEBVTT - Cristo Fernandez: Art Imitates Life

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<v Speaker 1>Back in twenty twenty, when the TV show ted Lasso premiered,

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<v Speaker 1>I was hooked, and I especially remember that a few

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<v Speaker 1>episodes in a new character showed up an energetic, super

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<v Speaker 1>optimistic footballer from Guaala Lajara, Mexico. I remember him because

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<v Speaker 1>I was sure that either he was or had been

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<v Speaker 1>a soccer player in real life. I don't know. There

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<v Speaker 1>was just something about the way he moved with the ball,

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<v Speaker 1>his speed. Hey you, hey, I'm from just thank you

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<v Speaker 1>for opportunity.

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<v Speaker 2>You're a spirit fellaw Danny. He's going out there and

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<v Speaker 2>you get the striped spot for it.

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<v Speaker 3>Just like that, you say, I do it, coach, ply die.

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<v Speaker 2>With ted Lasso.

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<v Speaker 3>The main reason why I got the role is because

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<v Speaker 3>of my football soccer skills.

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<v Speaker 1>Growing up, Cristo Fernandez dreamed of being a professional football player,

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<v Speaker 1>trained and planned because soccer was his life, but getting

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<v Speaker 1>there wouldn't be so linear. Turns out it was acting

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<v Speaker 1>that would eventually lead him to playing professionally.

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<v Speaker 3>It's also a reminder that everything happens for a reason.

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<v Speaker 3>Sometimes you think, why is this happening to me? Is

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<v Speaker 3>the worst of the worst, But I mean I could

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<v Speaker 3>have kept going, maybe without the injuries, maybe I would

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<v Speaker 3>have ended up playing Whatatemala or in another second division

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<v Speaker 3>in Mexico. But turns out there was a bigger blessing

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<v Speaker 3>for me and ted Lasso was that.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it was my first professional acting job.

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<v Speaker 1>That's so crazy to think about it.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it is crazy that, like, your first.

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<v Speaker 1>Big role is in such a huge show and a

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<v Speaker 1>show that brings together who you are as a person,

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<v Speaker 1>your soccer skills and your acting skills. Like it feels

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<v Speaker 1>like a total trifecta.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a dream come true, like I could have never Yes.

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<v Speaker 1>From Futuro Studios am Fernande Chavarri and This is American Football,

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<v Speaker 1>a show about soccer culture in the US and its

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<v Speaker 1>underdog roots ted Lasso. The hit Apple TV show was

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<v Speaker 1>co created by its main character, comedian Jason Sideikis, and

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<v Speaker 1>some might say that it helped popularize the sport of

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<v Speaker 1>soccer in the United States. He plays an American football

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<v Speaker 1>coach as in NFL Football, who moves to the UK

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<v Speaker 1>and runs an English soccer team AFC Richmond. And the

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<v Speaker 1>thing about it is this show came out in twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty during a frightening uncertain time full of death and

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<v Speaker 1>doom scrolling. This is peak pandemic. Ted Lasso provided the

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<v Speaker 1>world with a perfect easy comfort watch full of humor, positive,

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<v Speaker 1>unlovable characters the people were craving. Cristo plays one of

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<v Speaker 1>those lovable characters, named Danny Rojas, a Mexican guy for whom,

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<v Speaker 1>in true Latin American fashion, football is life.

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<v Speaker 2>Football is life.

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<v Speaker 3>When we were shooting Season one, I came and did

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<v Speaker 3>my scenes for the first time, and then I said,

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<v Speaker 3>football is live. And then some of my castmates were like,

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<v Speaker 3>I have a feeling. Everyone's gonna tell you football is

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<v Speaker 3>life a lot. And then there everyone left, and then

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<v Speaker 3>Jason was there with his mustache and was like, well,

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<v Speaker 3>better to be known for football is life than are

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<v Speaker 3>you the murder from CESI, New York.

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<v Speaker 2>And I was like, ah, yeah, it's true.

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<v Speaker 3>And when people approached me, like I'm lucky enough that

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<v Speaker 3>I'm known for positive things.

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<v Speaker 2>Football is live. No no no no no no no no.

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<v Speaker 3>No no no. Danny Rojas is a Mexican football soccer player

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<v Speaker 3>from guall A Llajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

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<v Speaker 1>Just like me, The fictional character of Danny Rojas was

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<v Speaker 1>all smiles, radiating positivity as he parachuted into the UK.

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<v Speaker 1>How much did you influence how the character became everything?

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<v Speaker 2>That's why Dannie Rochas and I are the same guy.

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<v Speaker 1>Tell me more, Tell me more.

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<v Speaker 3>Initially, Dannie Rochas was the ahole egocentric dude from the team.

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<v Speaker 1>Here's a clip from Christo's audition from that version of

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<v Speaker 1>Danny Rojas.

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<v Speaker 2>Danny, can I ask you something? It's ry kilos, mate.

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<v Speaker 3>I do three cents of ten, then I do a

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<v Speaker 3>forty five second one arm plant.

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<v Speaker 2>While I use my other hand for the gram. Then

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<v Speaker 2>I do twenty five kilos for my Bodes and Trice.

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<v Speaker 3>Turns out they really loved my audition as the egocentric

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<v Speaker 3>but they thought of something different for me and they

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<v Speaker 3>made Danny Rojas the charismatic dude. All the roles we

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<v Speaker 3>all actors influentiate them. The characters are based on us

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<v Speaker 3>as the actors. Because at the beginning, Dannie Rochas was

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<v Speaker 3>just joyful and there's lots of energy.

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<v Speaker 4>The product you must like to get into business with

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<v Speaker 4>is joy.

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<v Speaker 2>See mucho mucho joy.

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<v Speaker 4>I don't know if I can get you paid for that, though.

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<v Speaker 2>I like to give away joy for free.

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<v Speaker 3>But then in season three. He also showed that competitive aspect.

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<v Speaker 2>Congrats bro, I am not your bro.

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<v Speaker 3>We are no enemies which I relate to, and so

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<v Speaker 3>that's why I say that we're the same guy. My

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<v Speaker 3>mother always said that Christoval only breathes, sleeps things, speaks

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<v Speaker 3>football soccer and like many young kids in Mexico.

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<v Speaker 1>But also some of this might have to do with

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<v Speaker 1>Cristo's excessive amount of energy.

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<v Speaker 3>My Grandmammy used to take care a lot of me,

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<v Speaker 3>and apparently because I was very hyperactive, she told me, come,

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<v Speaker 3>let's go and kick and I started to kick it

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<v Speaker 3>and that was it for me. I fell in love

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<v Speaker 3>with the ball and from there on that was my

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<v Speaker 3>favorite sports. And I did the school for football soccer,

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<v Speaker 3>then the forsas Vaska's we say in Mexico, and then

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<v Speaker 3>I started professionally when I was fifteen in Gua Allajara

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<v Speaker 3>in Tecos.

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<v Speaker 1>And even though his parents were a little wary of

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<v Speaker 1>his dreams to become a professional soccer player, Cristo says

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<v Speaker 1>they were supportive of his passion.

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<v Speaker 3>They've always seen how determined, how when I say something,

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<v Speaker 3>I just go and do it. They've always seen how

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<v Speaker 3>much I give of myself to whatever I say. So

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<v Speaker 3>high school, I did it at night and kept playing

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<v Speaker 3>once twice per day, and then didn't study university for

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<v Speaker 3>almost two years.

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<v Speaker 1>In those two gap years, Cristo could focus on playing

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<v Speaker 1>soccer and give the sport all his attention. At least

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<v Speaker 1>that was the plan. But see, there was this music

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<v Speaker 1>school near his house that he would pass by on

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<v Speaker 1>his way to soccer practice, and Cristo says he got

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<v Speaker 1>a little curious, so he started taking classes to learn

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<v Speaker 1>how to play guitar, piano and how to sing. His

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<v Speaker 1>teammates thought it was a little weird. Cristo told him

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<v Speaker 1>it was just a way to kill time and burn

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<v Speaker 1>off some of that extra energy he's always had. But

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<v Speaker 1>it was definitely more than that. An artistic side of

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<v Speaker 1>him that he'd had since he was a child began

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<v Speaker 1>to come out.

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<v Speaker 3>That was the little artist book that I think I

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<v Speaker 3>started without knowing.

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<v Speaker 2>And my sister says that I've.

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<v Speaker 3>Always been crazy, like always speaking and making up stories

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<v Speaker 3>since we were kids and playing.

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<v Speaker 1>And while he was loving his time at the music school,

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<v Speaker 1>he was going hard on training on the field because

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<v Speaker 1>football was still his big goal. But just as his

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<v Speaker 1>professional career was lifting off, his ambitions were derailed. It

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<v Speaker 1>happened in a training session before his profess debut. Christo

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<v Speaker 1>says he ran down the field and was so focused

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<v Speaker 1>on defending the ball that he collided with three teammates,

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<v Speaker 1>falling to the ground and momentarily passing out. When he

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<v Speaker 1>came to and tried to stand, he couldn't keep his balance.

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<v Speaker 1>He had torn his meniscus and lost cartilage in his

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<v Speaker 1>left knee. The injury was so bad it cost him

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<v Speaker 1>his first division contract at nineteen years old.

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<v Speaker 3>I had to make sistential prices when I realized things

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<v Speaker 3>didn't go the way I want. But more than the injuries,

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<v Speaker 3>it was my mentality. I didn't see myself good enough

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<v Speaker 3>or great enough, and those insecurities I think those were

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<v Speaker 3>the ones that define me and ended up giving me

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<v Speaker 3>those injury moments more than the actual injuries.

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<v Speaker 1>After the break, as one dream vanishes, another one comes true.

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<v Speaker 3>I ended up in Guilford, which is a little town

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<v Speaker 3>outside London, and there were no Latinos at all.

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<v Speaker 2>Probably just want.

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<v Speaker 1>To know the one place in the UK where there

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<v Speaker 1>were no Mexicans. That's where you're like, that's where I'm

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<v Speaker 1>want to go.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, we'll be right back.

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<v Speaker 1>It's American Football. I'm Fernando Charvai. After his injuries, Cristo

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<v Speaker 1>was heartbroken and at a real crossroads in life. The

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<v Speaker 1>thing he had been pursuing since he was a kid

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<v Speaker 1>now felt like an impossibility. Cristo's parents pleaded with him

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<v Speaker 1>to go to college and study something anything.

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<v Speaker 3>So I started communication because in my head I thought

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<v Speaker 3>that was an easy career, and because some people told me,

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<v Speaker 3>you see films, and I thought like, I'm gonna watch films.

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<v Speaker 1>Turned out he had to do a lot more work

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<v Speaker 1>than just watch films. But anyway, as he was going

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<v Speaker 1>to college in his hometown of Wallajata, he did continue

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<v Speaker 1>to play soccer as a hobby.

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<v Speaker 3>And one day I helped someone with some student films

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<v Speaker 3>and they told me, ah, can you help me with

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<v Speaker 3>another one?

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<v Speaker 2>And I was like, oh yeah, cool, Yes, I liked this.

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<v Speaker 3>And then I started helping everybody with their student films

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<v Speaker 3>aside from doing my own. And that's how I became

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<v Speaker 3>like the actor guy that helps.

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<v Speaker 1>That's how I became the actor guy.

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<v Speaker 2>I love that. Okay.

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<v Speaker 1>So he's twenty two now and his injuries have healed.

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<v Speaker 1>He says he likes going to college but still has

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<v Speaker 1>a nagging what if in his mind, what if he

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<v Speaker 1>were to make soccer more than a hobby again. So

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<v Speaker 1>he paused school for about a year to play semi

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<v Speaker 1>professionally for Guayama FC in Puerto Rico.

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<v Speaker 2>And I gave everything.

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<v Speaker 3>That's the first time I pushed myself to get out

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<v Speaker 3>of my comfort zone, to get out of Guadallahara, my

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<v Speaker 3>beloved to Galla.

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<v Speaker 1>And the team did okay enough to almost qualify for

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<v Speaker 1>the concac CAF Champions League, but once again things didn't

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<v Speaker 1>go as planned.

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<v Speaker 3>If we had won, I could have gone to another

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<v Speaker 3>tournament that then could have given me other opportunities. But

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<v Speaker 3>we've lost, and I was like, this is it? Like

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<v Speaker 3>I just gave football soccer.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot, and I'm not doing it anymore.

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<v Speaker 3>It's too painful. I cannot be here all the time.

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<v Speaker 3>For those out there, like who watched Ted Lasso, I

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<v Speaker 3>relate a lot with the Roy Kent storyline where he

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<v Speaker 3>finishes his career, But then what's afterwards?

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<v Speaker 2>What's after football soccer? Right?

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<v Speaker 4>Roy Kent's been the best player on every time he's

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<v Speaker 4>been on since he was a kid. I lot being

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<v Speaker 4>Roy Kent. I don't know if I can handle just

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<v Speaker 4>being some loser has been called Roy just the game

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<v Speaker 4>to me, so I've ever known who I am. It's

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<v Speaker 4>all liab.

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<v Speaker 1>For Cristo, what came after soccer was finishing college and

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<v Speaker 1>then freaking out his parents yet again by telling them

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<v Speaker 1>that he now wanted to pursue another long shot career.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm grateful I discovered something that I love, but also

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<v Speaker 3>that gave my parents another heart attack, because then I

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<v Speaker 3>don't want I'm not going to play fools.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, that's fine, and then we're like, oh, thank god.

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<v Speaker 3>But now that I'm studying communication, I realized I want

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<v Speaker 3>to be an actor. And they we're like, oh, yes,

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<v Speaker 3>ideas me, Christo.

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<v Speaker 2>All these kids.

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<v Speaker 3>But my dad told me intelligently, do whatever you want

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<v Speaker 3>to do if you want to be an actor. Okay, Cristo,

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<v Speaker 3>but just get out of here and study. And I

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<v Speaker 3>was like, okay.

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<v Speaker 1>Cristo says he worked in restaurants, he did some photography work,

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<v Speaker 1>and even did about a two year stint as a

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<v Speaker 1>life insurance salesman to save enough money to go to

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<v Speaker 1>acting school.

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<v Speaker 3>I always say that I don't know if I'm talented

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<v Speaker 3>enough in anything I do. And I don't care. That's

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<v Speaker 3>for people to the side. But I am a hard

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<v Speaker 3>worker man because that's what my parents taught me. And

0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:10.079
<v Speaker 3>I was brave enough to get out of my comfort zone.

0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:13.720
<v Speaker 1>And what's more, out of the comfort zone of what Alajara, Mexico.

0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:17.480
<v Speaker 1>The Guildford School of Acting in Surrey, England.

0:13:17.400 --> 0:13:21.720
<v Speaker 3>So I went abroad, didn't know anyone. The weather was horrible,

0:13:22.240 --> 0:13:25.680
<v Speaker 3>food is not great. I ended up in Guildford, which

0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:29.840
<v Speaker 3>is a little town outside London, and there were no Latinos.

0:13:29.840 --> 0:13:31.280
<v Speaker 3>I all probably just want.

0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:34.400
<v Speaker 1>The one place in the UK where there were no Mexicans.

0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:35.640
<v Speaker 1>That's where you like, That's where I'm going to go.

0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:39.960
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, But that pushed me in every single way to

0:13:40.200 --> 0:13:43.400
<v Speaker 3>just give my best and the fact that I saved

0:13:43.520 --> 0:13:46.640
<v Speaker 3>so much money and my parents sold a car and

0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:49.120
<v Speaker 3>helped me with that too, and I put all of

0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:51.680
<v Speaker 3>my savings and for me, it was like I have

0:13:51.800 --> 0:13:59.760
<v Speaker 3>to give my best shot, give everything for this crazy dream.

0:14:00.120 --> 0:14:03.560
<v Speaker 1>Christal graduated in twenty eighteen. He didn't have a work

0:14:03.640 --> 0:14:06.240
<v Speaker 1>visa though, so he had to leave and come back

0:14:06.280 --> 0:14:09.560
<v Speaker 1>to the UK every six months. He worked under the

0:14:09.600 --> 0:14:12.400
<v Speaker 1>table at a Mexican restaurant and in his spare time,

0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:15.520
<v Speaker 1>he shot short films with borrowed equipment from the school

0:14:16.040 --> 0:14:17.320
<v Speaker 1>and went on additions.

0:14:17.480 --> 0:14:21.200
<v Speaker 3>I actually almost got a role in the Royal Shakespeare

0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:23.040
<v Speaker 3>Company in the UK, but the only reason why I

0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:24.640
<v Speaker 3>didn't get it at the end was because I didn't

0:14:24.680 --> 0:14:25.440
<v Speaker 3>have a work visit.

0:14:25.880 --> 0:14:28.320
<v Speaker 1>But he still felt like the UK was where he

0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:31.320
<v Speaker 1>had the best chance of success, and he was right

0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:35.480
<v Speaker 1>because serendipitously, he saw casting call for a show being

0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:38.560
<v Speaker 1>shot in the UK that just so happened to be

0:14:38.800 --> 0:14:41.480
<v Speaker 1>about his other favorite thing in the world.

0:14:41.760 --> 0:14:46.000
<v Speaker 3>Soccer, Dannie Rogus is for me, it's a reminder of

0:14:46.480 --> 0:14:50.320
<v Speaker 3>always remember the good things, because even if you're doing

0:14:50.520 --> 0:14:52.840
<v Speaker 3>the things you loved the most in life, sometimes you

0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:56.880
<v Speaker 3>can get stressed. But Dannie Rojas loves football. For him,

0:14:56.880 --> 0:15:00.520
<v Speaker 3>football his life, and sometimes football you never know what's

0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:01.160
<v Speaker 3>going to happen.

0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:03.120
<v Speaker 2>It can be a bit hectic.

0:15:03.200 --> 0:15:05.800
<v Speaker 3>You sacrifice so many things, but it's always good to

0:15:05.840 --> 0:15:07.960
<v Speaker 3>remind yourself why you're doing these things.

0:15:07.960 --> 0:15:09.560
<v Speaker 2>Are you doing it for your family? Are you doing

0:15:09.600 --> 0:15:10.520
<v Speaker 2>it because you love it?

0:15:11.320 --> 0:15:15.960
<v Speaker 3>And for me, I'm grateful that I got chosen for

0:15:16.640 --> 0:15:20.040
<v Speaker 3>this big show that became so successful, but that meant

0:15:20.160 --> 0:15:23.000
<v Speaker 3>so much for so many people. The fact that I

0:15:23.040 --> 0:15:28.080
<v Speaker 3>can play a Mexican Latino and that really represents me

0:15:28.840 --> 0:15:30.480
<v Speaker 3>because in what a lahare. If you go at my

0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:32.800
<v Speaker 3>mom's house, my mom will cook for you and tell

0:15:32.800 --> 0:15:35.080
<v Speaker 3>you I see that day and let me give you

0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:37.320
<v Speaker 3>food and drinks and make you feel at home.

0:15:37.400 --> 0:15:39.440
<v Speaker 2>And that's Danny Rogue has too.

0:15:39.440 --> 0:15:43.480
<v Speaker 3>And one time I was at a coffee shop and

0:15:43.560 --> 0:15:45.400
<v Speaker 3>someone just grabbed my shoulder and I was like, oh

0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:46.960
<v Speaker 3>my god, and then grab my hand and I was like,

0:15:46.960 --> 0:15:50.440
<v Speaker 3>oh my god, and then started to cry and tell

0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:53.520
<v Speaker 3>me with tears how much Danny Roe hasn't at last

0:15:53.560 --> 0:15:56.160
<v Speaker 3>on Football is Life And like that hit me and

0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:59.080
<v Speaker 3>that became a reminder that whatever we do in life,

0:15:59.120 --> 0:16:01.680
<v Speaker 3>it can mean so much to someone, and you don't

0:16:01.720 --> 0:16:14.280
<v Speaker 3>know how much you can impact someone's life.

0:16:15.080 --> 0:16:44.400
<v Speaker 1>After the break, fiction becomes reality. It's American football and

0:16:44.560 --> 0:16:48.880
<v Speaker 1>Fernande Charvalis. So far, there have been three seasons of

0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:52.760
<v Speaker 1>Ted Larsa, with the third one ending in May twenty three,

0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:57.680
<v Speaker 1>and after that season wrapped, Cristo started thinking about soccer

0:16:57.720 --> 0:17:02.200
<v Speaker 1>again outside of a TV show. Because not only was

0:17:02.240 --> 0:17:06.359
<v Speaker 1>Ted Lasso a blessing for his acting career, it reignited

0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:09.600
<v Speaker 1>his passion for his first love football.

0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:12.760
<v Speaker 3>As things kept going and I was fulfilling dreams as

0:17:12.760 --> 0:17:15.359
<v Speaker 3>a football soccer player without being a football soccer player.

0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:18.960
<v Speaker 3>So sometimes people were like, ah, but can you actually play?

0:17:19.000 --> 0:17:22.160
<v Speaker 2>Do you actually play? Do you really play? And maybe

0:17:22.200 --> 0:17:22.560
<v Speaker 2>they were.

0:17:22.520 --> 0:17:25.320
<v Speaker 3>Not saying it with bad intentions, but that kind of

0:17:25.400 --> 0:17:31.000
<v Speaker 3>like hit me and stayed on me. And I love challenges.

0:17:31.200 --> 0:17:36.080
<v Speaker 3>I cannot be relaxed and quiet. I'm very hyperactive.

0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:38.399
<v Speaker 1>I guess you're still that kid that needed to be

0:17:38.480 --> 0:17:40.359
<v Speaker 1>kicking that ball from you, Abuela.

0:17:40.240 --> 0:17:42.560
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that played with Maya Wilita Mami.

0:17:43.880 --> 0:17:46.920
<v Speaker 1>So for two years now, in his early thirties, he's

0:17:47.119 --> 0:17:50.440
<v Speaker 1>quietly putting his head down and training like a pro.

0:17:51.200 --> 0:17:55.680
<v Speaker 1>What he wants is to actually become a pro when

0:17:55.680 --> 0:17:59.800
<v Speaker 1>he finally lifts his head and starts telling people his plans.

0:18:00.320 --> 0:18:04.640
<v Speaker 3>Even my dad was like, Cristoval, please don't like see

0:18:04.640 --> 0:18:07.600
<v Speaker 3>how far you've gotten in with this crazier dream and

0:18:07.640 --> 0:18:09.280
<v Speaker 3>now you're going back to that.

0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:12.359
<v Speaker 1>But they know that once he sets his mind on something,

0:18:12.760 --> 0:18:13.679
<v Speaker 1>there's no changing it.

0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:18.439
<v Speaker 3>I explained my dad how much this dream means to me,

0:18:19.280 --> 0:18:23.240
<v Speaker 3>and he understood and he believed in me, and he

0:18:23.320 --> 0:18:26.000
<v Speaker 3>told me, Okay, if there's someone who can do this,

0:18:26.080 --> 0:18:31.440
<v Speaker 3>it's you. And last year, unfortunately my dad passed away

0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:35.359
<v Speaker 3>in December. Oh Crystal, but became an inspiration for me

0:18:36.160 --> 0:18:38.720
<v Speaker 3>and I know he's watching and supporting me, and my

0:18:38.840 --> 0:18:40.760
<v Speaker 3>mom also in Guadalajare is supporting me.

0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:53.159
<v Speaker 1>By twenty twenty six, Cristo felt like he was ready

0:18:53.680 --> 0:18:56.879
<v Speaker 1>and he started training with Chicago Fire Too, the reserve

0:18:56.960 --> 0:19:00.720
<v Speaker 1>team of the MLS club Chicago Fire, before moving to

0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:04.560
<v Speaker 1>Texas to train with the MLS team El Paso Locomotive

0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:07.959
<v Speaker 1>and after a two month trial period with that club

0:19:08.240 --> 0:19:12.000
<v Speaker 1>and Passo Locomotive has signed a new player who we

0:19:12.040 --> 0:19:15.159
<v Speaker 1>are all too familiar with, Christoph Fernandez, known best for

0:19:15.200 --> 0:19:17.520
<v Speaker 1>his character Danny Rojas in Tadlas.

0:19:17.520 --> 0:19:19.000
<v Speaker 4>So don't just play.

0:19:18.840 --> 0:19:22.080
<v Speaker 1>A professional soccer player on TV, No, he is a

0:19:22.359 --> 0:19:25.760
<v Speaker 1>professional soccer player after signing a contract.

0:19:25.920 --> 0:19:30.920
<v Speaker 3>I mean, it's a full circle moment and I'm grateful

0:19:30.960 --> 0:19:35.879
<v Speaker 3>with the coaches and my teammates, especially because since day

0:19:35.960 --> 0:19:39.000
<v Speaker 3>one they let me compete. It's been a process adapting

0:19:39.040 --> 0:19:41.560
<v Speaker 3>myself to the game again, the rhythm. But it's a

0:19:41.600 --> 0:19:45.199
<v Speaker 3>long season, so I invite people to come to bring

0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:46.120
<v Speaker 3>people in family.

0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:50.920
<v Speaker 1>Can I come to a game. Oh please, Yes, I'm

0:19:50.960 --> 0:19:53.480
<v Speaker 1>getting that vibe from the character like meeting you. Now

0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:56.960
<v Speaker 1>that this is a true, genuine version of you. How

0:19:56.960 --> 0:19:59.359
<v Speaker 1>do you put yourself in that mindset? And how do

0:19:59.440 --> 0:20:02.240
<v Speaker 1>you find the good and the positive and keep yourself

0:20:02.720 --> 0:20:04.000
<v Speaker 1>in that way?

0:20:04.040 --> 0:20:07.040
<v Speaker 3>It's easier to go on the root of just not

0:20:07.359 --> 0:20:11.880
<v Speaker 3>putting that positive energy out there. I always try to

0:20:12.119 --> 0:20:17.639
<v Speaker 3>put myself in someone else's shoe, and life is tough

0:20:18.359 --> 0:20:22.560
<v Speaker 3>and life can be hard, but also being kind to

0:20:22.680 --> 0:20:25.600
<v Speaker 3>other people actually opens you doors.

0:20:26.640 --> 0:20:27.600
<v Speaker 2>It actually does.

0:20:28.680 --> 0:20:33.119
<v Speaker 3>What has given me opportunities was to put myself in

0:20:33.320 --> 0:20:37.560
<v Speaker 3>places where I am an outsider, but I embrace who

0:20:37.600 --> 0:20:41.560
<v Speaker 3>I am. I am very very Mexican, yes, and I

0:20:41.640 --> 0:20:46.680
<v Speaker 3>say Grassias. And when someone helps me, someone is good

0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:49.760
<v Speaker 3>to you, you in good to them. And then even

0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:53.680
<v Speaker 3>hearing a past locomotive, I'm grateful they see some football

0:20:53.720 --> 0:20:57.440
<v Speaker 3>soccer talent in me. But I also think that they

0:20:58.040 --> 0:21:01.160
<v Speaker 3>see a nice person because if I was ahole, wouldn't

0:21:01.280 --> 0:21:03.760
<v Speaker 3>yeah give me an opportunity in saying in TEDLASO if

0:21:04.160 --> 0:21:06.520
<v Speaker 3>I could have done an amazing acting job, but if

0:21:06.560 --> 0:21:09.440
<v Speaker 3>I was not a good person, they wouldn't have given

0:21:09.480 --> 0:21:11.760
<v Speaker 3>me the role And that's for anything in life.

0:21:12.119 --> 0:21:18.960
<v Speaker 1>Absolutely, thank you so much for your time, Cristo Fernandez,

0:21:19.480 --> 0:21:23.480
<v Speaker 1>such a pleasure to speak with you, much as folm

0:21:24.160 --> 0:21:33.600
<v Speaker 1>is Fernande. American Football is produced by Futuro Studios in

0:21:33.640 --> 0:21:37.639
<v Speaker 1>collaboration with Iheart's Michael Dura podcast network. I'm your host

0:21:37.760 --> 0:21:41.760
<v Speaker 1>Fernando Charvari. This episode was produced by Levi Sharp. It

0:21:41.920 --> 0:21:44.920
<v Speaker 1>was edited by me and our senior editor, Rebecca Barra.

0:21:45.359 --> 0:21:49.040
<v Speaker 1>She also did the fact checking. Mixing by Brandon Grugel

0:21:49.119 --> 0:21:53.119
<v Speaker 1>at Multitude Productions, legal review by Jonathan Fisher at Fisher

0:21:53.160 --> 0:21:57.680
<v Speaker 1>Legal Arts. Victoria Strada is our production manager Andrescavagero is

0:21:57.720 --> 0:22:00.760
<v Speaker 1>also part of our team. Our executive produce are Marlon

0:22:00.800 --> 0:22:04.800
<v Speaker 1>Bishop and Maria Garcia at Puturo Studios. Executive producers at

0:22:04.840 --> 0:22:08.679
<v Speaker 1>iHeart are Leo Gomes and Arlene Santana. Puturo Media was

0:22:08.680 --> 0:22:12.040
<v Speaker 1>founded by Maria Nohosa. You can listen to more episodes

0:22:12.080 --> 0:22:15.440
<v Speaker 1>on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get

0:22:15.480 --> 0:22:18.480
<v Speaker 1>your podcasts. And if you like our show, please don't

0:22:18.520 --> 0:22:21.280
<v Speaker 1>forget to give us a rating or a review or

0:22:21.440 --> 0:22:24.520
<v Speaker 1>just tell other people about it. Yeah, thanks for listening.