LA PLATICA – Episode 216: Why is Everyone Hating on Bad Bunny?

Hosts: Sebastian Robles & Josh Leyva
Date: October 20, 2025
Podcast Theme: Sebas and Josh bring a fresh, candid Latino perspective to music, entertainment, and culture, balancing emotional maturity and humor while spotlighting trends, personal stories, and community issues.

Episode Overview

In this lively and deeply personal episode, Sebas and Josh start with playful banter, discuss vulnerable moments around health and family, swap stories of cultural nostalgia, and ultimately dive into the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer. They use their platform to reflect on Latino identity and belonging in American culture, challenging listeners to rethink divisive narratives and appreciate the American "melting pot."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Health and Vulnerability

[03:33 – 08:21]

• Josh opens up about feeling severely ill, his reluctance to seek medical help as a man, and how antibiotics quickly helped him recover.

• The hosts reflect on masculinity, vulnerability, and the stigma around men attending to their health.

  “As guys, we tend to be a little bit more like, I don’t need to go to the doctor… That was kind of my attitude.”
  – Josh [07:42]

2. Live Show Hype & Latino Community Roots

[09:12 – 15:56]

• Recap of their San Jose live show with excitement for their November Riverside show—emphasizing connections to their SoCal hometowns like Cerritos, Norwalk, and Riverside.
• Detailed shoutouts to Inland Empire cities, highlighting the regional Latino community.

3. Deep Questions: Death, Faith, and the Human Experience

[16:34 – 28:11]

• Sebas poses existential questions: Would you want to know when/how you die?
  Both hosts agree “no”—uncertainty gives life meaning.

• Discuss wealth vs. life’s value (referencing a TikTok question: Would you take $10M if you had to die the next day?).

• The “afterlife” as a source of faith, hope, and, for some, anxiety; the effects on ambition and authenticity if the afterlife were a known fact.

• Honest discussion about faith, doubt, and sincerity in religious practice.

  “I would be lying to you if I didn’t have a little bit of doubt. And I think that doubt is good. That’s what faith is about.”
  – Sebas [21:12]

  “If we really focus on what really matters, it is kind of crazy.”
  – Josh [28:00]

4. Food, Family, and Cultural Nostalgia

[29:08 – 41:13]

• Inspired by the “Your Last Meal” YouTube show: What would be their final meal?

• Sebas’s pick: Machaca con huevos from Sinaloa, lovingly made by his grandmother and mother.

• Josh’s pick: Either In-N-Out or a “combo pizza”—but deeply nostalgic for Mexican jamón sandwiches with Bimbo bread, Kraft singles, and mayonnaise.

• Joyful reminiscence about Disneyland “soggy” sandwiches and the pride of sharing simple family traditions.

  “Let it sit. Let it marinate for like 10 minutes… That’s the Mexican uncrustable.”
  – Josh [41:09]

  “That’s why I want kids. I want that feeling.”
  – Sebas [44:25]

• Light-hearted debate about mayonnaise, Smarties, and Halloween candy preferences.

5. Main Segment: Why is Everyone Hating on Bad Bunny?

[48:38 – 54:24]

• The Controversy:
  Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican superstar, is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, sparking backlash in certain circles (notably conservative/“white America” social media).

  “Why did the world all of a sudden start hating that Bad Bunny’s gonna do the halftime show? Because what the is that all about?”
  – Josh [48:38]

• Hosts’ Response:

  • Shake their heads at how "American identity" is misconstrued; remind listeners that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and Bad Bunny is technically an American citizen.
  • Use ChatGPT to clarify: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state ([50:38]).

  “This is America, bro. This is a melting pot of the world. This whole idea that this is white America… that’s not a thing. And that’s how people are treating it.”
  – Sebas [49:14]

  “Bad Bunny is a perfect example of the American dream.”
  – Josh [52:40]

• Underlying Issues:

  • Pushback seems rooted in language (Spanish), xenophobia, and (as ChatGPT notes) Bad Bunny’s political stances.
  • The hosts sharply criticize these views, calling them "idiots," and celebrate how Latino artists epitomize American opportunity.

  “America is melting pot, baby… Land of opportunity, land of the free, home of the brave.”
  – Josh [52:29]

  • Point out prior Latino halftime shows (J.Lo, Shakira, J. Balvin) and the selective outrage.
  • Encourage listeners: The halftime show is brief and unifying—if you don’t understand Spanish, just dance!

  “You have four months to learn or just dance, baby. And that’s it.”
  – Sebas [54:24]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On health and masculinity:
  “I can beat this, you know. But I really was like, I got to go… This feels a little more out of the norm.”
  – Josh [07:52]

• Existential wisdom:
  “Your life is worth more than $10 million. So we got to walk around like that.”
  – Sebas [18:32]

• Food and family:
  “The mayonnaise has been marinated, smeared, my boy, on the sandwich, just sitting… In front of It’s a Small World… It’s the best sandwich I’ve ever had.”
  – Josh [43:09]

• Candy debate:
  “If you don’t like mayonnaise… you’re robbing yourself of the enjoyment of life a little bit.”
  – Sebas [39:06]

• On American identity:
  “Bad Bunny is a perfect example of the American dream.”
  – Josh [52:40]

• Final words on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show:
  “Keep on hating… We’re gonna watch, and we’re gonna sing. And if you don’t understand what he says, it’s OK. You have four months to learn or just dance, baby.”
  – Sebas [54:10]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:33] Health scare & masculinity
• [09:12] Live show hype & community shoutouts
• [16:34] Existential questions: death, afterlife, value of life
• [29:08] “Your Last Meal” and food memories
• [48:38] Main segment: Backlash against Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl
• [50:38] ChatGPT clarifies Puerto Rico’s citizenship status
• [52:40] The “melting pot” and the American dream

Conclusion

This episode skillfully blends humor, culture, nostalgia, and sharp social commentary. Sebas and Josh use their chemistry and lived experience to call out xenophobia, uplift Latino voices, and remind listeners of America’s diverse fabric and the power of community. Their call for empathy, understanding, and pride in diversity resonates as they close the show in their signature playful style.

Summary prepared for: LA PLATICA #216 — “Why is Everyone Hating on Bad Bunny?”