Are you tired of the same song or album over and over again? It happens. Another way to pass the time is listening to podcasts – especially for commuters out there. From spooky podcasts to entertainment, chances are there’s a genre for your taste. Looking for one that you are actually interested in can be tedious. According to reports, there are over three million podcasts now, making it clear that there’s a plethora of options that can interest any type of consumer. However, this can also be overwhelming when it comes to choosing one to listen to, not knowing where to start or what to go for. But don’t stress over it, we have some picks for you to start your journey with.
But before revealing our recommendations, let’s take a look at numbers and recognitions that prove there’s magic happening thanks to the Latine podcasts about music. In the Latine music realm, popular music and entertainment podcasts like MoluscoTV boast 2.55 million subscribers on YouTube, which is a testament that there’s a significant interest in the medium. Other popular ones such as Futuro Studios and NPR’s WBUR’s Anything For Selenas – which dove into Selena Quintanilla’s life and legacy – received Apple Podcasts’ Newcomer of the Year in 2021, among other accolades, which also shows how powerful music podcasts are nowadays.
But where to start in a sea of three million? Well, we’ve got you covered as far as those about Latine music. From the reggaeton historian Katelina “La Gata” Eccleston’s Perreo 101 Podcast revamp release to one of today’s música mexicana’s hottest Agushto Papá Podcast, here are five you can listen to and keep up with.
“Perreo 101 Podcast”
Katelina “La Gata” Eccleston is known for being a reggaeton encyclopedia. She has contributed her knowledge to many projects such as Netflix’s reggaeton-based comedy series Neon, and frequently lectures students about “the systems of power in music and interconnected struggles via Reggaeton.” In her Perreo 101 Podcast revamp with Audiomack, she continues to speak on the topic she knows best: sharing the history and ethnomusicology of the genre. To make this revamp special, she also released an instrumental album produced by platinum award-winning producer Pamela Velez, Grammy award-winning producer Randy Class, and Jaby Vibes. Eccleston executively produced the album. Check out the Perreo 101 Podcast here.
“My Divo”
Anything for Selenas’ creator and award-winning journalist Maria Garcia is back with another podcast. In Futuro Studios’ My Divo, Garcia shifts her focus to another music great: Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel. The new podcast dives into Juanga’s personal life, uncovering new details about his life as she relates to her own anecdotes as a queer Latina. My Divo is for those Juanga lovers – and perhaps speculators – who continue to wonder about the flamboyant icon’s life before he made it big. It’s also for those fans who want to go beyond Juanga’s iconic “Lo que se ve no se pregunta” interview answer. Check out My Divo here.
"Songmess"
Songmess is a podcast about Latin American independent music hosted and co-founded by journalist and Remezcla contributor Richard Villegas and former Remezcla contributor Beverly Bryan. Personally, this is one of my favorite music podcasts since it was created in 2016. Part of what makes this podcast different is that Villegas dives deep into different and more underground Latin American regions’ DIY scenes and uncovers what’s going on by talking to artists in their natural environment. Most recently, he delved into the music scenes of the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Chile, speaking to both upcoming and established acts in each region. Check out Songmess here.
"Agushto Papá Podcast"
There’s a reason why you might bump into Agushto Papá Podcast’s hosts at your local música mexicana show. The current podcaster trio – Diego Mondragon, Angel Lopez, and Jason Nuñez – came onto the scene in 2021 at the right time to document everything happening with regional Mexican music and they haven’t stopped since. Modeled after Pepe Garza’s Pepe’s Office podcast, the guys give you a playful insight into some of the genre’s rising stars such as Gabito Ballesteros, Fuerza Regida, and DannyLux. They also share vlogs and are constantly uploading conversation-starting content to keep the genre’s chismes going. Check out the Agushto Papá Podcast here.
"Domingos En Vocalo"
Domingos En Vocalo roots from Chicago public radio’s Vocalo 91.1FM hosted and produced by music journalists Rocío Santos and Jesús Echeverría. Although part of the segments get aired on Sundays, the full episodes are curated and streamed in mediums like Spotify and Apple. Domingos En Vocalo’s topics explore Latin American indie sounds, culture, and community, giving listeners an insight into modern Latine music with in-depth conversations and interviews with Latine artists. Interested in the most recent Latine indie releases and/or the happenings specifically in Chicago? This is the right podcast for you. Check out Domingos En Vocalo here.