Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Quintero.
Hi Jose, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey in entertainment started when I was young. I always loved sitting down and watching TV with my family. I remember growing up on Univision and saying I want to do that. I want to act, dance, and sing! My parents lacked the financial resources to send me to any type of performing arts school, so I did what any eight years old would.
I used my imagination and started pretending I would perform for people. Even though at a young age I knew what I wanted to do the uncertainty of it all and the backlash I’d get from family and people at school made me a reserved and shy individual. It wasn’t until my junior year in high school I reconnected with my dream and I had a pep talk with myself and said, “If you really want to chase this dream you’re going to have to change and do better,” I know really deep for 16 years old. I forced myself into theater and improv classes which really helped me come out of my shell. I started performing, singing, and learning more about me. Every opportunity I had I’d volunteer to speak, especially if it was in Spanish.
I knew Spanish media was where I felt most comfortable and thus I ended up traveling every summer from 13 until 21 to Mexico for about 3-4 months to really immerse myself with the culture and lingo. When I got to college I ended up majoring in Business, since my family still didn’t seem to believe in entertainment. What they didn’t know was I was minoring in theater as well and for two years I was volunteering in for Univision, yes volunteering meaning no pay. It wasn’t until I interviewed with univision and got rejected for my 4th time that I decided to launch my youtube channel. I learned how to engage with people, how not to be afraid of the camera, and I let time do its thing. Six Months after I stopped volunteering, they offered me a position there as a Public relations coordinator. That job only lasted three months because afterward, because of my youtube/editing experience I acquired they offered me a position as a Jr. Producer for their morning show, “El Show de Omar y Argelia” it was a great two years of learning.
Afterward, I was offered the position of Producer for “La Vale Show” with legendary Actress and Hollywood Star walk of fame recipient Angelica Vale. This was January 2020 by March 2020 I was furloughed because of the pandemic. During my two months, I started planning my podcast, which is still currently airing “Echale Podcast.” When I returned in May 2020 they asked me not only to produce the morning show but also cohost with Angelica Vale. I learned to love radio with her and it’s been such an amazing journey of growth, respect, and admiration for the work that we do air.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not, I think the biggest hurdle for most Latino children is the sense of responsibility we have to provide for our parents as they age. They never tell us to do so, but it’s a burden we feel from a small age also a burden we don’t always mind carrying. So even though they come to this country to provide everything for us, our dreams are sometimes put in the back burner because of this unspoken rule. I was the black sheep so when I told my family I wanted to pursue entertainment, they quickly scolded me, talked to me, ignored me, made fun of me. I remember family gatherings where cousins would come talk to me and say, “I can’t believe your parents came all this way to give you a better life so you basically say you want to work in entertainment, are you stupid.” They all wanted to me to be a doctor or engineer, I don’t blame them I was academically prepared for both careers, but it wasn’t my calling.
That was the biggest hurdle, then came believing in myself since I wasn’t confident because of my appearance, my look, my voice. Once I got over that it was trying to get my foot in the door, I had prepared myself to speak the language, or so I thought, prepared myself mentally, but nothing prepares you for all the doors closed along the way. It was a constant 2 years of knocking and persisting. Once you get your foot in the door, it was the impostor syndrome that took over, why me out of all people? Do I really have what it takes. And while all this is going on, I get furloughed during a pandemic. The road hasn’t been easy and I thank God and myself for the “Ganas” that I have, that means grit in Spanish. When I’m at a low point, I pick myself up, how? I don’t know I just know im not giving up.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I do for work is on-air personality and producer for Cali 93.9 morning show La Vale Show with Angelica Vale. This means that every day before the show starts we, my team and I have to have the show ready what are the talking points, what sound bites we will need, what our main topic is, the show prep. I also run the board which is all the buttons we control to make sure we go live on air. That’s the technical stuff but also fun to put your creative touch and launch it for all of Los Angeles to hear and then there is the talking on air which every day is something different. You have your good days and your bad days and you make the most out of them, In radio there is no faking it, people can tell when you’re lying and that’s the beauty of it. You build a community with your listeners, you laugh, cry, get angry together and your grow together.
On the side, I also have my business, which is what my podcast is under “Echale Podcast” which is under the Latino Pods Network. Every Tuesday, there is a new episode. The podcast focuses on stories of our community that teach us about perseverance and grit. I also talk about taboo topics that pertain to the Latino Community for example we tackle death, we tackle machismo culture, is it good for men to cry or not, indigenous micro-aggression with the Latin community, etc.
What sets me apart from others is not much, I believe everyone can do anything, but not everyone is willing to sacrifice and put in the time for their craft. I may be in morning radio with the Carol Brunette of Spanish Entertainment, but I’m still taking diction classes, reading, learning, asking questions, making sure I’m always up to date with everything.
I’m most proud of myself for not giving up on me, for accomplishing me goals. I’m a radio host, podcaster, model, activist, the list goes on and I’m still figuring it out.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Be willing to put in the time and effort to work in this industry. It’s a beautiful industry but also a lonely one. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help. If you want to start out in entertainment practice, practice, practice. Just because you have a degree doesn’t make you ready or qualified. If you want to do TV, start a YouTube channel because it will teach you how to be a producer, an anchor, a director, a audio technician, etc. If you want to do radio, start a podcast you’ll learn how to use audio to tell a story without visuals.
What I wish someone told me when i was starting out was to take advantage of internships since your freshman year of college or sooner. If they tell you you’re too young to start one, tell them watch me! Don’t let anyone tell you what you should do when it comes to chasing your dreams. If your intentions are good and with purpose DO IT!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/echalepod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josequinterotv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoseQuinterotv/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/josequinterotv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/echale
