Listen to the first episode now HERE

NEW YORK – February 22, 2023 – Sonoro and iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Podcast Network today announced the launch of their original pop culture podcast, “Becoming an Icon.” The series, hosted by pop culture aficionados and real-life BFFs, Lilliana Vazquez and Joseph Carrillo, chronicles the lives and careers of the biggest Latinx artists in Hollywood. It’s a love letter to the genre-defining stars who have left an indelible mark through the sustained brilliance of their careers. “Becoming An Icon” debuts today, February 22, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday.

The series kicks off with the record-breaking artist of the moment, Bad Bunny. Future episodes will also focus on stars like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Selena Gomez and more. Each multi-episode arc will give both diehard fans and newcomers alike a new understanding of the struggles and passion that went behind making some of the Latinx communities’ most iconic performers.

“During my career in entertainment news, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing and reporting on many of our Icons, but ‘Becoming an Icon’ will take our listeners beyond those moments,” said Vazquez. “As a co-host, I’m excited to share a more personal and fresh take on the headlines that have shaped their careers, and as a producer, I’m thrilled to explore what keeps these Latinx Icons at the forefront of popular culture.”

“Being a celebrity makeup artist for over 15 years, (behind closed doors) I've heard it all henny…including T on some of our icons (don't worry, I'll spill),” said Carrillo. “Co-hosting this podcast with not only a friend but an amazing journalist and digging deep to find out how these stars got where they are, is even more epic than you can imagine. Together throughout this podcast, we will highlight the experiences that prove from the beginning that these Latinx artists have what it takes to be icons.”

“Latinos have always made such an incredible impact on the entertainment industry,” said Gisselle Bances, Head of the My Cultura Podcast Network. “I’m so happy we are telling their stories on this new podcast with Sonoro. It’s where pop culture meets cultura.”

“Becoming An Icon” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Emmy-winning host And TV personality Lilliana Vazquez as a trailblazing interviewer, style expert and author. Vazquez was the host of E! News, the first and only Latina to hold the role in the show's 30 year history. As a contributor on TODAY and a correspondent for Access Hollywood she covered the latest in entertainment and brought wit and passion to Hollywood's most watched red carpets and gave viewers an entree into the lives of the biggest names in the industry. Vazquez brings a larger than life presence to everything she does - her upbeat personality and approachable style combined with her natural ability to connect with audiences have made her a household name. Whether as a panelist or expert, she’s a go-to personality for a breadth of entertainment shows.

Joseph Carrillo's love for makeup began during his childhood in the border town of El Paso, Texas. As a child, he spent hours watching his mother get ready and her daytime smokey eye was the foundation on which his career was built. In high school he became the glamor go-to, dishing out fashion and beauty tips with his signature humor while getting all his girlfriends ready for weekend parties. When he picked up those makeup brushes, a true passion was ignited and the start of his career journey began After moving to NYC in 2010, his first big break came after securing a project with Carolina Herrera and later becoming a beauty contributor to Vogue and the rest is history! 

ABOUT SONORO

Helmed in part by one of the youngest Latina media executives, Camila Victoriano, Sonoro represents the future of media. Creators, talent, and investors alike seek out Sonoro for its premium quality content and unrivaled new perspective that begins in audio and comes to life in TV and film. Sonoro amplifies diverse and often overlooked voices that connect with a global consumer. They do so by collaborating with leading and emerging Latinx storytellers – writers, producers, and directors – from around the world to single-handedly develop and produce original franchises in English, Spanish, and Spanglish.

Sonoro’s unique approach has led to multiple #1 hits, including the Toxicomanía: El Experimento Mexicano podcast, which is being adapted as a film for Paramount+, the Tejana podcast starring and executive produced by Stephanie Beatriz (the 2022 ‘Best Fiction’ Ambie Award Winner and currently being developed for television), the Crónicas Obscuras podcast (#1 horror franchise), Princess of South Beach (#1 fiction show in iHeartRadio's MyCultura Network) and Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino (#1 in Mexico and Top 10 in US). Founded in 2020, Sonoro is backed by some of the most notable names in media including investors Lerer Hippeau, Greycroft & Alan Patricof, and the Founder Collective.