"Success nearly cost me everything." In this raw, unedited conversation, salsa legend Frankie Negrón opens up about fame, industry betrayal, and reclaiming his voice—plus a surprise studio visit from Grammy-winning producer Richie Peña!

---

🎙️ ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
What really happens behind the scenes of the music industry when the spotlight turns off? 

In this episode of ¿Qué Pasa Boston?, tropical music icon Frankie Negrón sits down for an intimate, deeply personal sit-down. From growing up in Newark singing R&B to dominating global charts with timeless hits like "Inolvidable," "Hoy Me He Vuelto a Enamorar," and "Comerte a Besos," Frankie shares the triumph, pressure, and mental toll of high-stakes fame.

Midway through the conversation, hitmaker producer Richie Peña unexpectedly drops by the studio, sparking an unscripted reunion filled with music history, production secrets, and real talk on navigating contracts and creative freedom.

---

🔥 KEY TAKEAWAYS & HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Newark Roots: How R&B shaped Frankie's signature salsa sound.
• Behind the Anthems: Untold origin stories of "Inolvidable" and "Agua Pasada."
• Surprise Studio Reunion: Richie Peña joins to discuss making hits and industry realities.
• The Price of Fame: Dealing with contracts, burnout, and protecting your mental health.
• Life After the Hit: What 25+ years in Latin music teaches you about self-worth and resilience.

---

🇪🇸 DESCRIPCIÓN EN ESPAÑOL:
"El éxito casi me cuesta todo". En esta conversación íntima y honesta, la leyenda de la salsa Frankie Negrón habla abiertamente sobre las verdades ocultas de la industria musical, la fama y cómo logró reinventarse. Además, el galardonado productor Richie Peña se une de sorpresa al estudio para compartir anécdotas inéditas de producción y lecciones de vida. ¡Una entrevista imperdible para amantes de la salsa y la buena música!

---

📲 CONNECT & FOLLOW:
• Guest: Frankie Negrón | Instagram: @frankienegron
• Special Guest: Richie Peña | Instagram: @richypena
• Host & Show: ¿Qué Pasa Boston? 

⭐ ENJOYING THE SHOW?
If this episode inspired or entertained you, please take 5 seconds to leave a 5-star rating and review on ouriHeartApp, Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Don't forget to hit FOLLOW so you never miss an episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you implement artificial intelligence in your business without compromising your intellectual property (IP) or losing the human touch? In this episode, host Gabriela Salas sits down with tech leaders and authors Chandu Nair and Sravan Vadigepalli

 to discuss their groundbreaking book, "The Enterprise Brain."

Discover how businesses—from local startups to major retail corporations—can move beyond simple prompts and token management to fundamentally rewire their processes, protect their core data, and leverage AI as a true strategic partner.

Tune in to learn:

 Why AI is about 30% technology and 70% change management and human adaptation.

 How to protect your enterprise intelligence and secret sauce while utilizing advanced language models.

 The importance of taste, judgment, and "the governor shift" as human roles evolve in the age of automation.

Listen & Connect:

 Book: The Enterprise Brain (Available on Amazon)

 Guests on LinkedIn: Chandu Nair & Sravan Vadigepalli

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qué pasa, Boston! Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio. Esta semana nos sentamos a platicar con alguien muy especial que nos trae noticias increíbles para toda nuestra comunidad latina en Nueva Inglaterra. Nos acompaña José Gregorio Cabrera, Vicepresidente de Comunicaciones de Arajet Airlines, la aerolínea de bandera dominicana con ADN 100% latino que está revolucionando la forma en que conectamos con nuestros países.

Si alguna vez te has preguntado ¿cómo viajar barato a Punta Cana o Santo Domingo desde Boston? o ¿qué beneficios ofrece Arajet para viajar al Caribe y Sudamérica?, este viaje es para ti. Platicamos a fondo sobre el crecimiento impresionante de su red de destinos (¡más de 31 lugares conectados!), sus tarifas competitivas ("High Value"), la comodidad de sus horarios saliendo desde el Aeropuerto Logan y cómo han logrado ganarse la confianza del pasajero latino a través de la calidez en el servicio.

Además, José Gregorio nos cuenta los detalles del "Efecto Arajet", su impacto en la creación de empleos técnicos, el increíble apoyo humanitario que han brindado a la comunidad venezolana, y las opciones de pago flexible con FisuPay y su ventana de retención de reserva de 48 horas. ¡Una conversación imperdible y llena de orgullo comunitario!

⏱️ Capítulos del Episodio (Chapters)

 00:00 – Bienvenida e introducción: El crecimiento de Arajet en Latinoamérica.

 00:35 – ¿Qué es Arajet y cuál es su misión con la diáspora latina?

 01:50 – La historia de José Gregorio Cabrera y el renacer de la aviación dominicana.

 03:15 – ¿Cómo Arajet ofrece tarifas bajas sin sacrificar seguridad y confort?

 04:30 – Rutas y horarios desde Boston (Logan) hacia Santo Domingo y conexiones.

 06:20 – Conectando el continente: Vuelos a Colombia, Argentina, Perú y más.

 07:40 – El impacto social: Apoyo humanitario y vuelos de repatriación a Venezuela.

 09:30 – Beneficios exclusivos: Pagos a plazos con FisuPay y retención de reservas.

 11:15 – El "Efecto Arajet": Empleo, tecnología y formación de nuevos pilotos latinos.

 13:10 – ¿Cómo aplicar para trabajar en Arajet? Despedida y cierre.

📻 Dónde escucharnos en vivo:

No te pierdas nuestra emisión en radio este domingo:

 JAMN 94.5 FM – 📻 6:30 AM

 Rumba 97.7 FM – 📻 8:00 AM

 Y disponible siempre en la app de iHeartRadio buscando "¿Qué Pasa Boston?".

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode begins with Gabriela recounting her chance weekend encounter with street performer Snap Boogie outside Quincy Market. Captivated by his crowd-engaging show and undeniable talent, she introduces him as a Boston-raised movement artist who achieved national recognition by reaching number 12 out of over 70,000 contestants on America's Got Talent.

Snap Boogie details his upbringing in Boston, mentioning his early years in Taunton and frequent stays in Mission Hill. He candidly shares the struggles of a tough childhood, growing up in a large family with limited resources, and wearing the same oversized pants for years. Driven by a relentless artistic energy and a desire to overcome being overlooked, he bypassed completing high school to focus purely on his career after discovering his gift for movement. While he took brief classes in ballet and tap, his foundational street styles—breaking and popping—were largely self-taught, deeply rooted in African dance traditions rather than classical ballet.

His career gained true momentum when he began street performing alongside bucket drummers at Fenway Park, eventually learning the business of solo street shows from local crews at Faneuil Hall. This eventually led to his breakthrough audition process for America's Got Talent, where he took a massive risk by sneaking away to New York against his mother's wishes, ultimately landing a spot on the live show. Reflecting on the experience, he recalls sharing the stage with a young Kehlani and executing a flawless "suicide front flip" live on air.

Looking to the future, Snap Boogie shares his excitement for his Cape Verdean soccer team and outlines his new entrepreneurial venture. He has developed a tech startup that utilizes blockchain and unlockable movement keys (similar to NFTs) to help movement artists license and monetize their dance moves within the gaming industry. He wraps up the episode by announcing future performance dates at the Festival of Fools in Vermont and shares advice for aspiring creators: build a reliable team, do your due diligence, and always follow your gut.

El episodio comienza con Gabriela relatando su encuentro casual de fin de semana con el artista callejero Snap Boogie en las afueras de Quincy Market. Cautivada por la gran conexión que logró con el público y su innegable talento, lo presenta como un artista del movimiento criado en Boston que alcanzó el reconocimiento nacional al llegar al puesto número 12 entre más de 70,000 concursantes en America's Got Talent.

Snap Boogie detalla su crianza en Boston, mencionando sus primeros años en Taunton y sus frecuentes estancias en Mission Hill. Comparte con franqueza las dificultades de una infancia dura, creciendo en una familia numerosa de recursos limitados y vistiendo los mismos pantalones holgados durante años. Impulsado por una implacable energía artística y el deseo de superar el sentimiento de ser ignorado, dejó la escuela secundaria para enfocarse puramente en su carrera tras descubrir su don para el movimiento. Aunque tomó clases breves de ballet y claqué (tap), sus estilos callejeros fundamentales—el breaking y el popping—fueron en gran parte autodidactas, arraigados profundamente en las tradiciones de la danza africana más que en el ballet clásico.

Su carrera cobró verdadero impulso cuando empezó a presentarse en la calle junto a los percusionistas de cubos (bucket drummers) en Fenway Park, aprendiendo eventualmente el negocio de los espectáculos callejeros en solitario gracias a grupos locales en Faneuil Hall. Esto lo llevó finalmente a su audición clave para America's Got Talent, donde asumió el enorme riesgo de escaparse a Nueva York en contra de los deseos de su madre, logrando finalmente un lugar en el programa en vivo. Al reflexionar sobre la experiencia, recuerda haber compartido el escenario con una joven Kehlani y haber ejecutado a la perfección un "suicide front flip" (mortal frontal suicida) en plena transmisión.

Mirando hacia el futuro, Snap Boogie comparte su entusiasmo por el equipo de fútbol de Cabo Verde y detalla su nuevo proyecto empresarial. Ha desarrollado una tech startup que utiliza blockchain y llaves de movimiento desbloqueables (similares a los NFT) para ayudar a los artistas del movimiento a licenciar y monetizar sus pasos de baile dentro de la industria de los videojuegos. Concluye el episodio anunciando próximas presentaciones en el Festival of Fools en Vermont y ofreciendo un consejo para los futuros creadores: construyan un equipo confiable, investiguen bien el negocio y sigan siempre su intuición.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever thought about quitting the city grind and moving to a farm? In this eye-opening episode of Qué Pasa Boston, host Gabriela Salas sits down with Jody Mendoza Peña to talk about her radical life transformation. Jody went from running Boston’s top nightlife spots—like Mojitos—to becoming a certified organic, regenerative farmer on a 65-acre homestead in Winchendon, Massachusetts.

Referencing the journey detailed in the audio file "Jody Farming QPD Podcast Version.mp3", Jody pulls back the curtain on the broken commercial food system. She reveals why grocery store produce is losing its nutrients, why local farms are facing a silent mental health crisis, and why convenience is borrowing against our children's future.

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

 The Pandemic Pivot: How the uncertainty of 2021 pushed a powerhouse entrepreneur family out of the city and onto the land.

 The Magic of Soil Health: The physical, chemical, and biological layers of earth—and why happy soil microbes mean a healthier gut microbiome for you.

 Supermarket Lies vs. Real Food: Why California-shipped produce doesn't cut it, and how to track down nutrient-dense "seasonal treasures" like garlic scapes.

 Bridging Tech and Ancestral Wisdom: How Jody's husband, Richie, built FAAM, a groundbreaking farm-management ERP app designed to help small, organic farmers automate, stay compliant, and survive against corporate agribusiness.

 Getting Involved: The truth behind CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and how you can join the movement through local volunteer days.

Whether you are a backyard gardener, a tech enthusiast, or someone who just wants to eat healthier, this episode will completely change how you look at the food on your plate.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really mean to be “included” — and why isn’t inclusion enough?

In this episode of ¿Qué Pasa Boston?, Gabriela Salas sits down with Dr. Tiffany Joseph, sociologist, TED Talk speaker, and author of Not All Black and White: Affirmative Action, Immigration, and the Politics of Racial Equity. Dr. Joseph’s groundbreaking research across the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and the United States reveals a hard truth: diversity programs and inclusion language often mask deep, structural failures — especially in healthcare access for Black and Latino communities.

This is a conversation for everyone who has ever felt like the system wasn’t built for them — because according to Dr. Joseph’s research, it wasn’t.

In this episode, Gabriela and Dr. Joseph discuss:

• What her comparative research in the DR and Brazil revealed about race, identity, and access that the U.S. refuses to confront
• Why “diversity” and “inclusion” are not the same as equity — and who gets left behind
• The real barriers Latino and immigrant communities face when trying to access quality healthcare
• What her viral TED Talk gets right about structural inequality
• How policy, language, and identity intersect to either open or close doors for our communities
• What needs to change — and what you can do right now

¿Por qué importa este episodio? Porque nuestra comunidad merece más que promesas. Dr. Joseph nos da el lenguaje y los datos para exigir lo que nos corresponde.

🎧 ¿Qué Pasa Boston? airs Sundays on Rumba 97.7 and JAMN 94.5 — part of the iHeartRadio network. Hosted by Gabriela Salas, Boston’s trusted voice for the Latino community.

📲 Follow Gabriela: @gabrielasalasoficial on Instagram 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston is about to become the center of the world — and Gabriela Salas is making sure our community is ready for every single moment of it.

In this episode of ¿Qué Pasa Boston?, host and executive producer Gabriela Salas sits down with Kate Fox, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT), and Ángel Subero, Venezuelan musician and proud member of the legendary Boston Pops, to break down the most historic summer Massachusetts has seen in generations.

Three events. One summer. Millions of people heading straight to your city.

🗽 America’s 250th Anniversary — July 4th on the Esplanade This is not your regular Fourth of July. This year, fireworks share the sky with a breathtaking drone show — and Gabriela has everything you need to experience it right.

⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 — Boston Is a Host City Over 3 million tourists are coming to the region. How do you get around? How do you protect and grow your business? How does your community actually benefit? It’s all in this episode.

⛵ Sail Boston 2026 More than 60 historic tall ships from around the world will dock in Boston Harbor. This is a once-in-a-generation maritime festival — and you don’t want to miss it.

In this episode, Gabriela breaks down:

✅ How to prepare for the massive influx of tourists — real logistics, not theory ✅ Which public transportation options to use on World Cup match days ✅ How to register your business for FREE at visitma.com and capitalize on the economic boom ✅ Why Latino representation in institutions like the Boston Pops matters — and what it means for our community’s future

This summer, Boston isn’t just a place. It’s an opportunity. And our community deserves to be ready.

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Official Tourism Guide: visitma.com
• 250th Anniversary Events: massachusetts250.org
• Boston Pops: bostonpops.org
• FIFA World Cup Boston: Official FIFA platforms mass.gov/worldcup 

📻 Listen on iHeartRadio | Rumba 97.7 & JAMN 94.5 ¿Qué Pasa Boston? — New episodes every week. Because what happens in Boston, happens to you.

🏷️ OPTIMIZED TAGS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future of music sound like? In this inspiring episode of ¿Qué Pasa Boston?, we sit down with Ausar, a phenomenal 17-year-old rising artist and student at the prestigious Boston Arts Academy.

Ausar joins us to share his incredible journey, his deep cultural roots, and how growing up in a musical family shaped his unique sound. He opens up about the discipline it takes to balance high school with a blossoming music career, his mindset when performing on stage, and why Stevie Wonder serves as his ultimate musical inspiration. Plus, don't miss an exclusive, soul-stirring acapella snippet of Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman" right inside the studio!

Whether you are an aspiring musician, a fan of raw talent, or someone looking for a dose of pure inspiration, Ausar’s humility, intention, and vision for the future will completely captivate you.

Stream Ausar’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and iHeartRadio today!

---

• 0:00 – Intro: Welcoming Boston’s Next Big Artist  

• 0:45 – The meaning behind the name "Ausar"  

• 1:15 – How family and heritage influenced his sound  

• 2:10 – The reality of attending Boston Arts Academy  

• 3:15 – Why human connection beats social media  

• 4:25 – LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCE: "Superwoman" (Stevie Wonder Cover)  

• 5:30 – Ausar’s 5-year vision and dream stages  

• 6:40 – The power of intention and discipline in music  

• 7:45 – Advice to his 10-year-old self & Outro  

---

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what it costs to build a legacy that moves millions? It’s not just about talent. It’s a relentless obsession that forces you to confront the deepest, most uncomfortable parts of yourself. 

In this deeply moving and raw episode of *¿Qué Pasa Boston?*, host Gabriela Salas sits down with Peabody Award-winning podcast producer, creator, and audio visionary, Ian Coss. Known globally for his groundbreaking work on *The Big Dig* and *Forever is a Long Time*, Ian steps out from behind the mixing board to share the untold, unpolished truth about the creative process.

In a conversation that bridges radical vulnerability with profound "aha moments," we strip away the industry accolades to explore the psychology of a master storyteller. We discuss the paralyzing weight of imposter syndrome, the spiritual responsibility of telling other people's stories, and what dissecting Boston’s most infamous infrastructure project taught him about human resilience and our own psychological roadblocks. 

Whether you are a creative trying to find your voice, an entrepreneur building a brand from scratch, or someone simply seeking deeper meaning in your daily grind, this episode will fundamentally change how you listen to the world around you.

🔥 In this episode, we uncover:
* The Creative Burden: Why achieving your biggest dream can often feel like your darkest moment.
* The Art of Deep Listening: How to silence the external noise and tune into the "frequency" of your true purpose. 
* The "Big Dig" Blueprint: The brutal, untold lessons in resilience learned from unpacking the most complex public project in American history.
* The Untold Sacrifices: What it actually takes to build a Peabody-winning audio documentary from the ground up.

⏱️ Timestamps (Master Your Time):
00:00 – The Brutal Truth: The hidden reality behind "success" in the creative world.
04:15 – The "Aha Moment": How a background in Ethnomusicology shaped a radical new approach to human connection.
08:30 – Peeling Back the Layers of The Big Dig: What Boston's history teaches us about our own limitations.
13:45 – The Spiritual Weight of Storytelling: Navigating vulnerability and the heavy responsibility of the microphone.
17:20 – Final Reflection: Ian’s ultimate advice on leaving a legacy of intention and authenticity.

✨ CONNECT & REFLECT
Join the Conversation: Follow *¿Qué Pasa Boston?* for more stories of purpose, culture, and high-performance impact.
Listen & Subscribe: Available now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.