Talking Ish: Dos Idiomas, Cero Filtros

After Bert angered the robot overlords and mysteriously vanished from an entire recording, Talking Ish is back to try this thing again. Bert is off paying his respects—both to Skynet and, more importantly, to a friend he recently lost—while Pepe and Raúl attempt to reconstruct what the machines took from them.Raúl returns with an update from work: after a little malicious compliance forced management to experience the consequences of its own decisions, the system access everyone supposedly didn't need suddenly became available. That opens up a bigger conversation about leadership, developing your staff instead of simply managing assignments, and a shoutout to one boss who's apparently doing it right.Then professionalism promptly leaves the building.Raúl goes full dad-joke mode before offering a potentially life-saving public service announcement: there are certain phrases a wife can say to her husband without incident that a husband should never, ever say back unless he's prepared for divorce court, a 911 call, or his own episode of Dateline.The guys also revisit their Rosa de Guadalupe plans for Bert's technological suffering, reveal why he needed his wife just to access his own computer during The Lost Episode, and discover Bert's proposed solution for next time:Remove the thumb.Don't worry. Talking Ish immediately explores several less… felonious alternatives.Bert will eventually hear this episode. He probably won't be happy.But as the guys say every week:Build a bridge and get over it.Talking Ish — Dos Idiomas. Cero Filtros. Apparently Cero Backups.

A NOTE FROM TALKING ISHDuring this episode, our conversation took a turn into LGBTQ+ issues and transgender participation in sports. Some opinions and claims expressed during that discussion were based on misunderstandings and information that we recognize may not accurately represent the experiences of transgender people or the available evidence.We're leaving the conversation in the episode because Cero Filtros means allowing honest conversations to happen—even when those conversations reveal that we have more to learn. But being unfiltered doesn't mean being unwilling to admit we don't know enough.There was no malice behind the discussion, but good intentions don't make misinformation accurate.The truth is, we're severely underqualified to speak authoritatively about many of these issues. Rather than pretend otherwise, we're going to dedicate our next episode to learning more. We'll revisit what was said, look at the evidence, challenge some of our own assumptions, and hopefully bring in someone better qualified to help us understand perspectives and experiences we don't personally share.We don't expect to agree on everything. That's never been what Talking Ish is about.But we do expect ourselves to be willing to listen, learn, and change our minds when the facts give us a reason to.Cero filtros doesn't mean cero accountability.This week, Talking Ish gets a little heavier than usual.Pepe opens the episode after losing his uncle last week, while Bert is dealing with the loss of both an uncle and a friend on the same day. That leads the guys into a conversation that probably doesn't happen between men often enough: taking care of ourselves.Listen to your body. Go to the doctor. Get the screenings. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Stop convincing yourself that ignoring something will somehow make it disappear.And no, Raúl, a limpia con huevo, a sobador, three Hail Marys and whatever your neighborhood curandera recommends do not count as preventative healthcare.From there, the conversation turns toward women in sports after some Mexican podcasters caught backlash for comments suggesting female fútbol players belong in the kitchen or could make more money working at a table dance. The guys talk equality, respect, opportunity, and why women's sports deserve to be taken seriously.Then...Things got complicated.The conversation shifts toward transgender women in sports, LGBTQ+ issues, gender identity and sexuality. Strong opinions were shared, assumptions made, and along the way it became clear that this is a conversation that deserves more knowledge, context and care than we were prepared to give it.Right in the middle of that conversation, Pepe's internet decided it had heard enough and briefly left the building.By the time everyone was reconnected, the conversation had moved on, but we knew we couldn't.We're leaving the conversation intact. Not because everything said was correct, and not because we all necessarily agree, but because pretending it never happened wouldn't accomplish anything either.Talking Ish has always been a place where we can speak openly, disagree, talk shit, get things wrong and challenge one another. This time, listening back made us realize there are things we need to challenge ourselves on too.We're not washing our hands of the conversation. We're continuing it.Next episode, we're coming back better prepared. We'll look at what the evidence actually says, separate fact from assumption, ask questions we should have asked before giving answers, and hopefully bring someone with knowledge and lived experience that the three of us don't have.We may still disagree after. That's okay.The goal isn't to think the same way.The goal is to make sure that when we disagree, we're disagreeing about the facts—and not something we assumed was true.Sometimes the lesson isn't having the right answer, it's realizing you need to ask better questions.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Siempre aprendiendo.

The World Cup is over, so naturally the guys have found something completely different to argue about.This week, Talking Ish goes to the movies for a spoiler-filled discussion of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The guys break down what worked, what didn't, the differences between the MCU and the comics, and where Peter Parker's story could go from here.Pepe even prepared a thoughtful introduction to one of the summer's biggest films, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal. Everything sounded perfectly normal... until he asked Raúl and Bert what they thought of Matt Damon.Apparently somebody watched the wrong Holland movie.The conversation also swings briefly into the state of DC before inevitably descending into an argument over Marvel continuity, because Kevin Feige can call the MCU Earth-616 all he wants...It's Earth-199999.We will be accepting no further questions at this time.⚠️ FULL SPOILERS AHEADNew subject. Same chaos. Same old Ish.

The World Cup has come to an end, and so has Talking Ish's month-long descent into complete fútbol madness.This week, the guys break down the Final, the numbers behind Spain's victory, and why, despite the result, Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez deserves his flowers for keeping Argentina alive while playing through a broken finger.The conversation also takes a moment to clear something up. Talking Ish doesn't hate Argentina or Argentinians. The frustration has always been directed at the behavior that overshadowed the tournament and the loud voices that gave decent fans a bad name. To those who called it Argentinafobia... well... nobody's afraid. They just weren't impressed.Then things take their usual turn.Raúl somehow gets kicked out of a wrestling show after his cousin decides to test his chops on an actual wrestler.Rumors begin circulating that Argentina may be taking content creators to court over World Cup trash talk, meaning the guys might have to put Bert's birthday celebration on hold and use that Little Caesars money to pay a 10,000 peso fine.And because no episode is complete without at least one technical difficulty...Raúl's "new" computer disconnects.Twice.Leaving Pepe to close the show by himself... including Raúl's signature sign-off.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Cero garantías de conexión.Legal Disclaimer: Any 10,000-peso fines incurred during the making of this episode will be paid exclusively in Little Caesars gift cards

For the first time in Talking Ish history, the show rolls on without Pepe behind the microphone. Instead, Raúl and Bert take the controls while the self-appointed producer lurks behind the scenes.Surprisingly, they never take the obvious shot.Instead, Argentina, Messi, FIFA, supervisors past and present, and even a couple of appliance manufacturers absorb the full force of the episode's signature stray bullets. Raúl also proudly introduces his "new" gaming laptop, once again proving that the definition of new is open to interpretation.The guys revisit Mexico's heartbreaking World Cup exit, celebrate what an incredible host nation Mexico has been, and continue riding the World Cup roller coaster the only way Talking Ish knows how.As for Pepe... they forgot to roast him.We're still not sure if he should feel relieved... or offended.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Cero patrocinadores.

Welcome to Season 2 of Talking Ish.We forgot to say that on the episode, because of course we did, but after one full year of recording, laughing, arguing, disappearing, coming back, surviving tech issues, health scares, and whatever curse keeps following us around, we’re calling this the start of Season 2.Also known as Episode 27.This week, it’s all World Cup. We talk through Mexico vs England, what Mexico needed to do to pull off the win, the hope we had going into the match, and the reality that hit after.We recorded this before the game and posted it after, so what started as “Y si sí?” sadly became “Y si no.”But that’s fútbol. That’s México. That’s being a fan.New season. Same chaos.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Puro Mundial.

One year ago, Talking Ish started as two friends with microphones and an idea. A year later, we're still here... somehow.In this special anniversary episode, we celebrate one year of laughs, debates, fútbol, questionable predictions, technical disasters, and friendships that somehow survived all of it.With the World Cup in full swing, we dive into the tournament's biggest surprises, the unforgettable moments so far, and our thoughts on what's still to come. Bert joins us a little late (as tradition apparently demands), and we take a moment to reflect on how far this little podcast has come over the past year.From Episode 1 to this episode, we've laughed, argued, roasted each other, created a curse, survived health scares, buried old laptops, and somehow kept showing up.Whether you've been here since the beginning or just found us recently, thank you for spending part of your day with us.Here's to Year One......and to whatever chaos Year Two has in store.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Un año de Talking Ish.

The Mundial, The Madness, y La MaldiciónAfter a few weeks away thanks to health issues, scheduling conflicts, technical difficulties, and a curse we're still not convinced isn't real, Talking Ish is finally back.This week, the crew dives headfirst into World Cup fever. We talk Mexico's opening match, tournament expectations, predictions, dark horses, and what we're most excited to see as the biggest sporting event on the planet kicks off.Of course, it wouldn't be Talking Ish without a little chaos. Raúl somehow turned a "brand new" laptop into a history lesson and we may have finally discovered the secret to successful recordings... maybe. Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Puro fútbol.

After a three-week delay thanks to health issues, tech problems, scheduling conflicts, and what we're now convinced is an actual curse, Talking Ish is finally back!This week, Bert returns from anniversary celebrations, Raúl somehow manages to record without his computer catching fire, and José survives another encounter with modern healthcare. We also discuss whether our recording problems mysteriously disappeared because we stopped mentioning He Who Shall Not Be Named and his demands for human monies.We dive into fútbol, World Cup talk, predictions for what's coming next, and spend way too much time appreciating the absolute masterpiece that was El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano.As always, there's laughter, questionable logic, sports arguments, random detours, and Bert making enough noise to earn an on-air callout.Three weeks late, but worth the wait.Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Same chaos.

This week on Talking Ish, we show some love to the moms out there… even if the analytics say they probably aren’t listening 😅For the fellas listening on time, this is your reminder: Mother’s Day is this Sunday. If you’re hearing this late… as Raúl so lovingly put it: “No tienes madre.”We also get into:⚽ Chivas catching strays💻 Raúl trying to run Riverside on what appears to be Windows 97🍺 Bert potentially falling asleep after one beer🇺🇸 MLS and the problems with the pay-to-play system🇲🇽 Liga MX holding onto young talent instead of letting them develop abroadSomewhere between the chaos, the laughs, and the fútbol talk, we end up having one of our favorite conversations yet.As always… dos idiomas, cero filtros.

This week on Talking Ish, we take a step into a more serious conversation.We’re joined by Marc, who shares his experience navigating health issues, self-advocacy, and what it’s like to push for answers when something doesn’t feel right.From there, the conversation expands into something deeper—Mexican culture, masculinity, and the pressure many men feel to stay silent, avoid being a burden, and carry everything on their own.We talk family, faith, and the reality that sometimes the hardest part isn’t the condition—it’s speaking up.Of course, it wouldn’t be Talking Ish without a little chaos, as Raúl battles his new “studio setup” and loses… repeatedly.A different kind of episode, but one we’re proud of.

This week on Talking Ish, we take a step back from the usual chaos for a more personal conversation.Raúl opens up about the loss of his dog of 11 years—a loyal companion, a source of unconditional love, and a true member of the family. He shares how she came into his life and the memories that will always stay with him.Bert joins us as we reflect on our own experiences with the pets we’ve loved and lost. From dogs to cats, this episode is about the bonds we build with our four-legged family members—and how those bonds never really leave us.Of course, it wouldn’t be Talking Ish without a little laughter. Toward the end, things take a turn as Raúl and Bert try to make sense of Pepe’s ongoing “curse”… and whether simply being around him might be enough to catch it.It’s an episode about love, loss, and the moments in between—the ones that make saying goodbye so hard, and the memories that make it all worth it

This week on Talking Ish, Pepe and Raúl dive into a mix of serious conversation, cultural commentary, and some unforgettable food takes.We start with a discussion on the allegations surrounding Cesar Chavez, what is known so far, and the culture of victim blaming that often follows stories like these. From there, we shift into a conversation about Lionel Messi’s visit to the White House and whether moments like that are truly optional at that level.The episode also touches on the parallels between St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo, and how cultural celebrations can sometimes be misunderstood or reduced to something else entirely.On a lighter note, we shout out @kerrymann81, whose positive and respectful approach to trying foods from different cultures has been winning over the internet—one “whole 10 out of 10” at a time.And finally, Pepe shares his latest discovery: Korean Fried Chicken… and why it may have permanently ruined regular fried chicken.From truth to takes to taste—this one covers it all.

What started as a quick conversation about Pepe’s new Land Rover turned into a full episode about cars, car buying, and the stories that come with them.Pepe explains how surprisingly smooth the process was using Capital One’s Auto Navigator (this is not a paid endorsement… it just ended up sounding like one), while Raúl shares his own car history — including the time Kia essentially paid him to keep his faulty vehicle.From lemon laws to car loans, we revisit some of the rides that defined different chapters of our lives, including Pepe’s old Escape that he’s still not completely ready to let go of.We also talk about bringing Bert back on the show, because some episodes are just better when the whole crew is around.Cars, chaos, and questionable financial decisions — just another day on Talking Ish. 🚗🎙️

This episode was recorded in full mobile studio mode — meaning Pepe was behind the wheel while the world continued to unravel.We talk about the chaos in Mexico following the takedown of one of the most wanted cartel leaders, the sudden announcement that aliens are real (sure, why not?), and somehow end up revisiting old work traumas from a job that refuses to stay in the past.It’s chaotic, it’s current, and it’s very Talking Ish — reacting in real time to a world that won’t slow down, with laughter, disbelief, and a little therapy along the way.New episode. Same chaos. Grab a coffee and ride with us. 🚗🎙️☕

We tried to record with Bert… twice.The first time, Juan Sena appeared — powerful, present, and completely inaudible on the recording. The voices were heard, the mics said no.Round two? Bert came back with a full professional setup, an audio engineer, and better production than Pepe and Raúl combined — and this time, the signal held.We get into wrestling and the Royal Rumble, swap event security stories (including the night the crowd could not be held back), and debate whether athletes deserve every dollar they can get while billionaires complain about the cost of the game.New episode. Same chaos. Better signal. 🎙️📡

Le prendemos las velitas a Raúl for his birthday 🎂, then Pepe and Raúl turn on the velas for the New Year and reflect on what they’re grateful for after another wild year.Along the way, they shout out Bert (who likes it raw… relax), welcome a couple of brave new listeners who somehow enjoy Raúl’s customer service stories, and take a detour into John Cena lore, crime dramas, and the TV shows that apparently prove one thing very clearly: our wives settled for us.From Criminal Minds and Blue Bloods to demons, serial killers, and leading men who could steal our spouses without even trying, the guys realize they may need to light some veladoras too — to thank all the santitos for their wives putting up with them this long. Honestly, that kind of patience might make them saints themselves.It’s a raw, reflective, funny start to the New Year — birthdays, gratitude, pop culture, and prayers included.🎙️ Talking Ish — Dos Idiomas, Cero Filtros.

This episode is raw, unedited, and exactly how Bert likes it — relax, get your head out of the gutter.Pepe and Raúl kick things off talking about Trump’s so-called “Patriot Games” (no, we didn’t mean Hunger Games… but we also didn’t not mean it), and the political chaos that somehow keeps finding its way into every conversation. From there, the guys shift gears into Christmas traditions, culture, and the beauty of Las Posadas — what they mean, how they’re celebrated, and why they still matter, especially away from home.Of course, no holiday episode would be complete without ponche, tamales, family stories, and the usual side commentary that only Talking Ish can deliver. Along the way, Bert gets a shoutout for preferring the unedited episodes, proving once again that sometimes the messier conversations are the most honest ones.No filters. No polish. Just two friends, two mics, culture, politics, and holiday vibes — straight, uncut, and full of heart.Feliz Navidad, felices posadas, y gracias por escuchar Talking Ish.

It’s Thanksgiving season, but Pepe and Raúl showed up with no outline, no plan, and plenty of opinions — so you already know it’s about to get wild.First up: Raúl breaks down his lifelong beef with the real history behind Thanksgiving (spoiler: it wasn’t all hand turkeys and happy pilgrims), while Pepe contemplates how this holiday became a national excuse to cook for 23 hours and eat for 8 minutes.Then things take a hard left into MAGA madness after Raúl has to help a customer wearing the red hat who claims “political persecution” because his own documents were wrong. Instead of fixing them, he threatens to sue the entire office for discrimination. Naturally, Pepe and Raúl had thoughts. Loud ones.And finally — the moment all the fútbol fans were waiting for — Chicharito’s missed penalty kick against Cruz Azul. Pepe defends the miss (of course), then proceeds to compare Chivas fans to MAGA supporters and calls Chicharito the Trump of Guadalajara. Yes… that happened. Yes… Raúl agreed. Yes… it’s hilarious.

Pepe and Raúl are back on their bi-weekly schedule… and back on their BS. This week, the government reopened — but common sense didn’t — and your hosts are DONE being polite about it.From Megyn Kelly’s jaw-dropping Epstein comments, to the sudden “canonization” of Charlie Kirk, to the mental gymnastics of MAGA influencers trying to justify the unjustifiable, this episode is a full verbal beatdown of hypocrisy, delusion, and political cosplay.Pepe breaks down how the shutdown “fix” still left millions hanging without healthcare, Raúl translates it into everyday frustration, and together they peel back the layers of nonsense clogging up America’s political arteries.No filters. No edits. No mercy.Just two friends, two mics, and a country that keeps giving them material.#TalkingIsh #Shutdown #MAGA #MegynKelly #CharlieKirk #LatinoPodcast #ComedyPodcast #CivicHumor #LaSombraChilanga #ElAventurero

Another week, another “F** it, we’ll do it live”* episode. 😅Pepe and Raúl kick things off honoring Día de los Muertos — a celebration of culture, memory, and marigolds — before immediately derailing into Trump talk, chaos in the courts, and stories from their days in the legal trenches. From outdated software that refuses to die to legal professionals who swear by systems older than their interns, nothing is off limits.Faith, frustration, and a few fond memories collide in this unfiltered Talking Ish session. 💀⚖️💻

It’s Halloween, and the guys are getting haunted. In The Ish-O-Ween Special: La Llorona, Los Gritos, y Los Espantos, Pepe and Raúl dive into legends from across the world — from the cries of La Llorona to a ghost story that might hit closer to home than Angelenos think.They laugh, they scream, and they learn that sometimes even the bullpen isn’t the only thing haunting Dodger Stadium. 💀Grab your Santo action figure, pull the cobija over your head, and join the Talking Ish crew for their spookiest (and funniest) episode yet. 🎃

No plan. No outline. No edits. Just pure, unfiltered Talking Ish.Pepe and Raúl hit record and let the chaos unfold — from the Dodgers’ drama to Trump’s latest shutdown antics. In between uhs, pauses, and questionable transitions, they somehow keep it real and keep it rolling.They promised an episode before midnight… and here it is. Raw. Honest. Unedited. Welcome to the wild west of Talking Ish. 🤠

New week, new episode… and a brand-new theme song! 🎵We kick things off by apologizing (kinda) to our “hackers.” Then, in true Talking Ish fashion, we immediately derail into politics — breaking down Trump’s EO labeling ANTIFA as terrorists and how its vagueness could make even us targets. Spoiler: we’re not afraid, and we’ll keep using our First Amendment rights to speak for our people.From there, it’s football talk — the Packers v. Cowboys tie — and we somehow solve the NFL’s biggest problem: ties. You’re welcome, Roger Goodell. 🏈Finally, we tackle what Raúl calls “useless toys” and what Pepe calls “collectibles.” Ferbies, Labubus, Hot Wheels, cards, coins… and the shocking revelation that Raúl owns more shoes than a Top Model finalist. 👠We actually kept it under an hour this time (miracles happen). That’s three weeks straight of Talking Ish — but don’t get too comfortable, we can’t promise consistency. 😂

We warned you Episode 7 went long… so here’s the continuation you didn’t know you needed. Now with less religion 🙏 and way more Ish 😂.From workplace stories to Gen Z wildness (yes, including parents crashing job interviews), Pepe and Raúl pick up right where they left off — with plenty of banter, sidetracks, and laughs along the way.Because why stop at 7A when you can have 7B?

Se les metió el Espíritu Santo a Pepe y Raúl… and se les pasó la mano. 😂 What was supposed to be a “quick segment” on religion (listener requested, by the way) turned into over an hour of holy banter, Bible verses, and plenty of Talking Ish.They claimed they didn’t know what they were going to say… but somehow, Pepe and Raúl found themselves knee-deep in scripture, hypocrisy, and comedy along the way.Grab your pan dulce, cafecito, or communion wine — because this is just Part A. Part B is coming soon, so pace yourself. 🙏

🎙️ Episode 6: La Historia, La Patria, y La FiestaThings got a little wild this week as we celebrated Mexican Independence Day the Talking Ish way. Between tangents, laughter, and a few unexpected rants, we dug into the history behind September 16th, the traditions that make the holiday special, and the beauty of the Mexican flag. Somewhere along the way, Pepe opened up about his apparent trauma with raisins in potato salad (😅) and we set the record straight once again: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.It’s history, culture, comida, and chaos — all in one episode.

🎙️ Episode 5: La Venganza, La Vergüenza, y Lo ViralWe’re back with a fully Spanish episode of Talking Ish—and it’s packed with laughs, chaos, and lucha drama! In this one, Raúl relives his epic battle with Moctezuma’s Revenge during his trip to Mexico, we break down the shocking Raja Jackson incident that rocked the wrestling world, and we dive into all the viral highlights from Triplemanía XXXIII, from record-breaking moments to the wildest matches.Between travel stories, food talk, and fan-favorite rants, this one’s a celebration of lucha libre, Mexican culture, and the unpredictable adventures of Talking Ish.

🎙️ Episode 4: The Liar, The Lucha, and The LegendsThis week we covered it all — from politics to piledrivers. 🥴👉 We broke down Trump’s latest policies on homelessness and mental health, and how they’re more likely to hurt vulnerable communities than help them.👉 Then we jumped into the ring with some lucha talk ahead of Triplemanía, plus the wild story of El Grande Americano — a WWE joke character meant to insult the crowd that somehow got over big in AAA and became an honorary Mexican. 🇲🇽💀👉 Finally, we took on the eternal battle: Superman vs. Batman. From Dean Cain embarrassing Supes by joining ICE, to Injustice Superman drawing comparisons to Trump (thanks, Raúl 😒), Pepe may have earned the win by default… but you’ll decide in our upcoming Instagram poll. 🦇🆚🦸Raúl is headed to Mexico to pick up our legit luchador masks 🎭, so next episode will be recorded with him en México — and for the first time ever, completamente en español. 🇲🇽🔥

Raúl opens up about his days training with Cruz Azul's academy—and how choosing books over boots might’ve been his villain origin story. 🦹⚽️From there, we dive into the Club World Cup celebration... until Trump crashes the party (because of course he does). And just when we thought we left the past behind, the call comes in—from our old boss—pulling us back into the madness of a job that nearly broke us.We wrap things up with a teaser about a future guest appearance from our guy Art (trust us, it’ll be worth it).Cups were raised. Cons were exposed. And that phone? Still ringing.

In this episode, we dive into Raul's brief but glorious foray into the world of lucha libre, complete with mistaken identity and bruised egos. Then we break down the 2025 Gold Cup Final where Mexico edged out the U.S. 2-1—what went right, what went wrong, and what it all means for the future of Team USA and the Mexico National Team. We also get real about the rising ICE raids happening across L.A. and discuss steps we can take to protect ourselves and our communities.It’s a mix of laughs, nostalgia, and serious talk—just how we like it.

Episode 1 - Why Are We Even Friends?Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and explain how we’re even friends. Batman v. Superman, Cruz Azul v. Club America, Packers v. Cowboys, and Real Madrid v. Barcelona. The rivalries run deep-but somehow, so does the friendship. We also dive into some real conversations about the ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles, the fear in our communities. And what it means to be Mexican-born, US citizens trying to balance live for this country with pride for our roots. And because no conversation with us is ever completely serious, we possibly spread misinformation about quesadillas and why they don’t necessarily include cheese. We share our plans to create social media spaces where listeners can connect, share their truths, and be a part of the community we’re building. This is Talking Ish. Dos idiomas. Cero filtros. Y posiblemente… sin queso.