In the coming weeks, Americans will start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We were able to get to this point in about ten months – a remarkable achievement. In tests, the efficacy of the three vaccines that will hit the market have ranged between 90-95 percent – equally as amazing. Even more encouraging, the Moderna vaccine has shown to be 100% effective in preventing serious or life-threatening symptoms. COVID-19 has already taken more than a million lives worldwide and nearly 300,000 in the United States. This past week, COVID-19 surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in America. I remember not too long ago, when people were mocking the threat of the coronavirus on social media by posting statistics that implied it was less lethal than the flu. I don’t, however, blame them. They were misled.
Let’s face it, our politicians may have failed us (nearly all of them), but we don’t have to fail each other. Empathy and compassion are what we need in abundance. While my heart hurts for the economic toll the pandemic has caused to the travel industry, restaurants, and millions of other small businesses, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are close to the end. Wear a mask, help a friend, and support strong relief legislation for the people who were hurt the worst. We have a lot of reason for optimism.
I’ve always believed sports are one of the most powerful stages in American culture. The people we celebrate—and the people who own the teams and institutions behind them—help shape how the country sees leadership, success, and possibility. In Episode 96, I share why José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones’ purchase of the San Diego Padres feels bigger than baseball, and why this moment could mark a tipping point for Black and Latino visibility, wealth, and power.
There is no shortage of data showing the impact Latinos are having on the U.S. economy, from GDP and entrepreneurship to workforce participation and homeownership. So why hasn’t that growth translated into the kind of economic and political power our numbers suggest it should? In this episode, I focus on two things we can actually control: building wealth and owning our narrative. Cultural influence matters, but ownership is what turns influence into lasting power. And if we want the next generation to inherit more than momentum, we need a strategy for converting our work ethic, growth, and economic contributions into the institutions and assets that shape this country.
The World Cup reminded the world just how magnetic Hispanic and Latino culture can be. In this episode, I talk about why that popularity is more than a cultural victory—it is an economic opportunity hiding in plain sight. From music, food, sports, and fashion to the global appeal of our biggest stars, our culture already has the power to shape markets and influence how people see us. The question now is whether our business and political leaders are ready to turn that momentum into capital, representation, and lasting power. This is a moment we cannot afford to waste.