Podcast Summary: Suave – "This Giving Tuesday, Futuro Reflects Back on 2025"
Podcast: Suave
Host: Futuro Media
Air Date: December 2, 2025
Overview
This special Giving Tuesday episode is a year-in-review conversation with the Futuro Media team. Reflecting on 2025—a challenging year for journalism, democracy, and especially for Latino communities—the episode celebrates Futuro Media's 15th anniversary ("quinceañera"), looks back at major accomplishments (notably, Season 2 of Suave), highlights essential reporting and memorable moments from the past year, and gives listeners an inside look at the ethos and vision that make Futuro unique. The hosts advocate for listener support as public funding dwindles and preview what's to come in 2026.
Listener Reflections and Community Impact
- Listener testimonials kick off the episode [00:08]:
- Angelica Sanchez recalls being deeply moved by the episode where Suave feels helpless about his car, illustrating how the show's stories evoke empathy for the emotional realities of formerly incarcerated people.
- Naidis Balmun shares how the episode "Camino, Colombia" resonated personally, as a Colombian-American, reflecting the show's diverse, relatable storytelling.
State of Journalism & Futuro Media’s Mission
The Shifting Landscape of Media [01:10–03:12]
- Maria Hinojosa acknowledges the turbulent year for journalism, democracy, and Latino communities, describing intensified attacks on public media and the resulting funding losses.
- “It's been a challenging year... It's real. Futuro Media was born 15 years ago in the year 2010. There were also a lot of economic challenges, political challenges… but we don't give up.” [01:10]
- Futuro Media’s founding in 2010 is recounted as an act of resilience led by a Latina Mexican immigrant.
- Reflection on 2025: covering the first year of a second Trump presidency, with growing Latino support for Trump—a nuanced and often underreported reality.
Latino Voting Patterns [03:12]
- Maria Garcia: “While a majority of Latinos voted for Kamala Harris, Trump was backed by a record 46% of Latino voters, even gaining support in Democratic strongholds like New York.” [03:12–03:23]
Emmy- and Pulitzer-Winning Journalism
Celebrating "Suave" and Pulitzer Recognition [03:23–04:05]
- Futuro’s commitment to deep storytelling culminated in a Pulitzer Prize for Season 1 of "Suave".
- Maria Garcia notes: “You are one of two Latinas in history to win a Pulitzer. And you did it out of an organization that you founded.” [03:39]
- Maria Hinojosa: “In 2025, we released season two of Suave.”
The Power of Season 2 [18:59–24:51]
- Maria Garcia: Season 2 delves into "the quiet evolution of Suave” and explores his post-release internal struggles, the enduring, complex friendship between Suave and Maria, and the role of spirituality and vulnerability in journalism.
- “We see a very raw Suave in season two, and we see a very raw Maria as well...” [20:42]
- Maria Hinojosa: “Yeah, it's okay if I don't look okay. Because that's honesty. That's transparency. That's what journalism and journalists do, right?” [21:37]
- Maria Garcia praises the show’s radical transparency and “true verité documentary work,” contrasting Futuro’s approach with the wider industry’s reluctance to balance emotion, spirituality, and investigative rigor.
2025 Highlights: Notable Interviews and Investigations
Viral Moments and Notable Guests [10:09–11:58]
- Big-name interviews in 2025:
- Oscar Isaac [10:30], Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) [11:07, 11:24], Judy Reyes, Anthony Romero (ACLU), musicians like Puscabuya, Luis Guzmán.
- Fernanda Echeverri: “Obviously people like [Oscar Isaac] as much as we at Latino USA like him. Because it's getting a lot of attention online, on social media.” [10:51]
- Interviews focused on depth—identity, politics, heart—rather than mere celebrity promotion.
Viral Truths and Tough Journalism
- Luis Guzmán episode: “That face, that voice, viral moment for us.” [11:51]
- Celebrated for challenging politicians and for going viral not just for fame but for hard-hitting journalism.
- “And these politicians need to understand that we mean something and not saving us for the last second to try to help their thinking. Shit.” — Luis Guzmán [11:58]
Field Reporting and Investigations [07:25–10:09, 13:12–15:25]
- Fernanda Echeverri recalls on-the-ground reporting: coverage of ICE raids, travel to LA, Chicago, and Mexico City to capture the human impact of immigration policy.
- Personal storytelling and investigative features: Immigration force, stories of undocumented people, and impact on mental health featured with first-person narratives.
- Example: Maria Hinojosa entering a Colorado immigrant detention camp and hearing, “I am a political prisoner inside a detention facility,” marking a rare level of access and candor [15:04–15:25].
Collaborations and Partnerships [15:25–17:31]
- Co-productions with NPR’s Embedded, The Marshall Project, and Calmatters widened the impact and reach of Futuro’s investigative work.
- “There is something different now about access to these places... Now it is nearly impossible.” – Fernanda Echeverri [15:25]
Cultural Storytelling and Innovations
The Return of “Loud” [24:51–27:44]
- “Loud: The History of Reggaeton” with Ivy Queen returned to streaming after licensing battles, reaffirming Futuro’s status as a leading voice in documenting music history.
- Maria Garcia: “Our partner that we released Loud with, Spotify, removed Loud from all streaming services. ... We worked for a long time with Spotify to bring back the show and resolve the music issue.” [25:17]
- Ivy Queen’s narration celebrated: “People love to hear Ivy Queen. She's the host of that show, and people love her voice.” [27:17]
- Upcoming projects teased: A new Latino music podcast and a third season of "La Brega," focusing on Puerto Rican champions not just in sports, and a new weekly storytelling show on major cultural moments. [27:59–28:34]
Futuro’s Ethos: Radical Transparency & Heart
Guiding Principles [29:25–32:53]
- Fernanda Echeverri: “At the center of it is journalism with heart and radical transparency.”
- Maria Garcia: “Futuro reframes that and says, no, come with your context, come with your lenses, because that is expertise that we need. ... There can be some objectivity to your process... so that's what I'm proud of.” [30:38–32:53]
- No dividing line between news/culture: “Is this a news piece or is this a culture piece?... That would limit you and, frankly, diminish the work.” – Fernanda Echeverri
Personal Moments, Team Spirit, and the Quinceañera
15 Years of Futuro [32:53–34:13]
- Maria Hinojosa reflects on founding Futuro Media: “I was like, Oh my God, please, let's just make it to three years. Well, we have made it to 15. So we are celebrating our quinceañera.” [32:53]
- Amusing, human stories about quinceañera experiences (or lack thereof) among the team lighten the mood, providing a sense of community.
Memorable Quotes
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:10 | Maria Hinojosa | "It's been a challenging year... It's real. Futuro Media was born 15 years ago... but we don't give up." | | 03:39 | Maria Garcia | "You are one of two Latinas in history to win a Pulitzer. And you did it out of an organization you founded." | | 11:58 | Luis Guzmán (clip) | "These politicians need to understand that we mean something and not saving us for the last second..." | | 21:37 | Maria Hinojosa | "Yeah, it's okay if I don't look okay. Because that's honesty. That's transparency. That's what journalism... | | 30:38 | Maria Garcia | "No, come with your context... That is expertise that we need." |
Looking Ahead & Calls to Action
- Support needed: As public media faces budget shortfalls, individual contributions and subscriptions (Futuro Plus) are vital.
- Goal: Raise $150,000 and find 100 new donors [06:20]
- NewsMatch campaign: All donations through Dec 31 are doubled [35:34]
- Future programming: More in-depth, culturally resonant projects are in the pipeline for 2026.
Conclusion
The episode is a dynamic mix of celebration, reflection, and forward-thinking energy. It underscores Futuro Media's unique approach—combining investigative rigor with radical transparency and cultural authenticity—while inviting listeners to become stakeholders in sustaining independent, community-rooted journalism.
Key Segments & Timestamps:
- 00:08 Listener Reflections
- 01:10 State of Journalism & Democracy
- 03:23 "Suave" Pulitzer & Season 2
- 07:08 Team Introductions
- 08:29 ICE Coverage & Field Reporting
- 10:09 Celeb Interviews: Oscar Isaac, AOC
- 13:12 Storytelling & Investigative Work
- 15:25 Collaborations & Access Challenges
- 18:59 Suave Season 2: Transparency and Heart
- 24:51 The Return of “Loud”
- 27:59 Preview: "La Brega" & 2026 Shows
- 29:25 Futuro’s Radical Transparency
- 32:53 Quinceañera Reflections
- 35:34 Fundraising & Giving Tuesday
The episode's tone is candid, passionate, humorous, and deeply committed to community storytelling—true to the spirit of Futuro Media.