September 28, 2020 • 9 mins
If you want to change, preserve, or build a better America, there’s one easy way to make your voice heard: Vote. This year, iHeartRadio is teaming up with over 20 incredible celebrities (plus a handful of our most popular podcasters) to get the country excited to go vote, broadcasting the personal, emotional and heartfelt stories behind why showing up to the ballot box means so much-- not just as individuals, but for our entire nation.
Thank you to our partners AXE, Knorr® & Seventh Generation
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Why I'm Voting, a production of I Heart Radio. Listen.
You already know this, but it's an election year. You
might already be tired of hearing about it. But here's
the thing. Democracy doesn't work without you. I'm Holly Frying,
and I'm sitting down with many of my fellow podcasters,
from Will Ferrell to Stephanie Rule, as well as other luminaries,
(00:27):
to find out about their relationships with the ballot box
and ultimately just to find out why they vote. I
hope you're exercising your right to vote, and if you're not,
I hope that their stories inspire you. Welcome to Why
I'm Voting Today, I have the delight and pleasure of
(00:48):
being joined by Carlos, Adian, host of Telemundo's Excess Hotel
and also in Casa con Telemundo. Carlos, thank you so
much for joining me today. Oh, thank you for the invitation.
I'm super excited um to talk about voting. I think
it's so important nowadays. I mean, it's always been important
in the democracy, but more than ever now we need
(01:10):
to vote. So I'm more than happy to just talk
about this wonderful experience. I'm really, really glad we have
you because you have a slightly different perspective on voting.
You were born in Puerto Rico, which makes you a citizen,
but the voting rights are a little bit different because
you don't have representation in electoral college. But now this
(01:30):
is actually your first election year, right, Yeah, I mean
Puerto ric is weird because they are allowed to vote
on primaries, they can decide who the candidate is going
to be. They actually has over churching delegates on the
on Puerto Rico, so it's a really important state. But um,
(01:50):
on the election, they cannot vote. They only have one
representation in the Congress. And it's just amazing the way
I'm voting now because even though I never voted in
Puerto Rico, this is my first time voting. Like in general,
I'm only twenty four years old, so for me it's
a big responsibility. I mean, I think that the way
it works the democracy in the United States is so interesting.
(02:13):
We even get to I mean, what I find so um,
I don't even know the world, so so awesome does
award is that we can even elect our judges. So
I think that's just amazing, and that's something that you
don't see in Puerto Rico and I see it here
and it's just incredited. Now do you remember, like when
you kind of put this whole picture together as a
(02:34):
kid of like what your rights actually were in terms
of the U. S. Government, and then when you moved
to mainland USA, like that you were then going to
get to have a whole different experience essentially. I mean,
my family has always been very into politics. I want
to say that. You know, my dad has always been
into politics a lot, Like we will go to campaigns
(02:56):
to the candidates. In Puerto Rico, that was me, you know,
going in the like with the cards, hunking and everything.
So I mean, I I always knew that I had
the right to vote, and the voting is a privilege
that we need to take advantage of. So when I
moved to the United States, knowing that that right was
extended not only in Puerto Rico but also in the
United States, it was just incredible. But here it was
(03:19):
very different because I got to meet um Cuban people,
I got to meet Venezuelan people that they don't really
enjoy democracy the way we do. Because in Puerto Rico
we do have democracy, but in those countries and then
seeing them telling me those stories. For me, it's like,
oh my god, how privileged we are that we get
to vote. How privileged we are that we have that.
(03:40):
Um right, So we got that right, so let's take
advantage of it. Yeah, you told me before we started
that you actually voted yesterday, so you are still riding high.
Was that super exciting for you? It was super exciting,
you know, First of all, it was super easy. I
got to say that. You know, like I said, um,
this is my first year. But in when I moved
(04:01):
from Orlando to Miami, I forgot to change the address
on the electoral card. And the first year that I
was able to vote was back in the Trumps and
Hillary Clinton. That was the election that I was, you know,
the first one eligeable to vote. So I couldn't vote
because I didn't do the things on time. But yeah,
voting yesterday was just amazing. Even though it was not
(04:22):
a general election. It was a election for local officials
for the Miami Dade County. It was mostly a primary,
but seems some an independent, you know, I don't have
party affiliation. I was not able to vote for many
other positions, but I got to vote for the judges,
I got to vote for the Miami Dade County major
for other commissioners and stuff, and it was just a
(04:44):
fun experience because I felt more than anything that people, unfortunately,
people my age are not enjoying that right that privileged.
Like most people that I would see on the polls
were older than me. You know, I don't see much
people of my generation voting, and we need to start
enjoying the privilege. And we need to spread the ward
(05:07):
on how to get ready for the elections because it's
not only about going there and you're shooting and feeling
out walls. You have to research on the candidates, which
I think is the hardest part, but at the same
time the most satisfactory privilege. You know, Now, how do
you go about doing your research since that is kind
of a stumbling block for some people because it's it's effort. No,
(05:29):
it is for, it is for It takes sign In
my case, I didn't in two days, like two nights. Here,
I have the advantage that I'm always listening to news.
I wake up and I'm always on the news, especially
local news. And what I did is that I received
my model ballot. They send it to me like, um,
two months before the elections and I started seeing candidates.
(05:49):
There were some familiar phase, there was some newer phrase.
I already knew the profiles on the familiar phrase because
that you watch news every day. But on the new ones,
you know, I started researching on their Instagram, seeing who
they were, how they engage with the community Facebook as well.
But you know what, I think the best way to
get ready is watching news, you know, because you know
(06:10):
who's done things wrong and you know who's doing things right.
So for me, watching news and being in like on
top of the current situation, I think that has been
just the right and the perfect way to get ready
for the elections and obviously researching every candidate. Now as
we approach the big election in November, are you planning
(06:30):
to vote early? Are you going to vote the day
of the election? Are you going to do a mail in? No,
I want to do the whole experience again. I enjoy
it basically two bold. I know that there's been this
huge controversy about the mail and it's not like I
don't trust that because I actually trust it. You know,
that's just another advantage of the democracy. But I just
want to go through the whole experience, and I want
(06:52):
to put my ballot on the scanner and feel like
I vote it. I love it for what it's worth.
I've voted many times. I still think it's super fun.
So that is going to be probably like the biggest voting.
I know you just said you voted in the primaries yesterday,
but are you planning to celebrate on that day when
you get to do the whole experience? Of course. I
mean I'm going a trolley party of watching party here
(07:16):
to see the results and that that's just something. Even
yesterday that I voted for the local elections, It's not
like I've been a watching party, but I was so like,
oh my god, did the person I voted for one?
I was like that, you know, And I think that's
that's just another funt, like you know, like a fund
way to see the whole process, you know, because there's
(07:37):
always some fun. And it also when you asked me
about getting ready for the elections, I have to thank
about my high school classes. You know, holding Florida, they
forced you pretty much to take um state government and
what was the other one? There were still have credit
classes that you have to take, you know, the requisite
so I think that for the government does a really
(07:58):
good job with getting people already for elections. I mean,
they explain to you the terms of a representative, the
difference between the terms with a governor, the difference with
a senator, you know, and I think that's super important.
I'm very much about history, so I love history. I
love government, So I do think I do think the
part that does a really good job. It's just up
(08:20):
to us to go register on the website and do
our part, you know. But the government was a really
good job of getting people ready. That was also a
good way for me to get ready. Alright, final questions,
And you've made a lot of really really good points
already on this particular topic. But if you were to
run into somebody, particularly like a younger citizen, like you're
still really young guy, who isn't using their right to vote,
(08:42):
And if you could tell that person one thing to
try to get them to get active and just make
this small effort, what would that thing be. Wow, First
of all, let's enjoy democracy, let's take advantage of our rights.
Let's and I think I mentioned it many times in
the interview, the future of US nation is in our hands.
(09:04):
So we need to use it even if we don't
agree on your thoughts or my thoughts. You know, we
don't agree with political ideas. We don't need to agree.
We just need to have our own perspective on voting.
But voting needs essential, you know, those are the principles
of any other democracy. So vote both votes. Hey, are
(09:27):
you not registered to vote yet but you think it's
something you want to do. You may still have time.
Voter registration deadlines vary by state, so to find out
the scoop for where you are, check out a nonpartisan
registration voting site like head count dot org or fair
vote dot org. Why I'm Voting is an I Heart
Radio production. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit
(09:49):
the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it
is you listen to your favorite shows.
Welcome to Why I'm Voting, a production of I Heart Radio. Listen.
You already know this, but it's an election year. You
might already be tired of hearing about it. But here's
the thing. Democracy doesn't work without you. I'm Holly Frying,
and I'm sitting down with many of my fellow podcasters,
from Will Ferrell to Stephanie Rule, as well as other luminaries,
(00:27):
to find out about their relationships with the ballot box
and ultimately just to find out why they vote. I
hope you're exercising your right to vote, and if you're not,
I hope that their stories inspire you. Welcome to Why
I'm Voting Today, I have the delight and pleasure of
(00:48):
being joined by Carlos, Adian, host of Telemundo's Excess Hotel
and also in Casa con Telemundo. Carlos, thank you so
much for joining me today. Oh, thank you for the invitation.
I'm super excited um to talk about voting. I think
it's so important nowadays. I mean, it's always been important
in the democracy, but more than ever now we need
(01:10):
to vote. So I'm more than happy to just talk
about this wonderful experience. I'm really, really glad we have
you because you have a slightly different perspective on voting.
You were born in Puerto Rico, which makes you a citizen,
but the voting rights are a little bit different because
you don't have representation in electoral college. But now this
(01:30):
is actually your first election year, right, Yeah, I mean
Puerto ric is weird because they are allowed to vote
on primaries, they can decide who the candidate is going
to be. They actually has over churching delegates on the
on Puerto Rico, so it's a really important state. But um,
(01:50):
on the election, they cannot vote. They only have one
representation in the Congress. And it's just amazing the way
I'm voting now because even though I never voted in
Puerto Rico, this is my first time voting. Like in general,
I'm only twenty four years old, so for me it's
a big responsibility. I mean, I think that the way
it works the democracy in the United States is so interesting.
(02:13):
We even get to I mean, what I find so um,
I don't even know the world, so so awesome does
award is that we can even elect our judges. So
I think that's just amazing, and that's something that you
don't see in Puerto Rico and I see it here
and it's just incredited. Now do you remember, like when
you kind of put this whole picture together as a
(02:34):
kid of like what your rights actually were in terms
of the U. S. Government, and then when you moved
to mainland USA, like that you were then going to
get to have a whole different experience essentially. I mean,
my family has always been very into politics. I want
to say that. You know, my dad has always been
into politics a lot, Like we will go to campaigns
(02:56):
to the candidates. In Puerto Rico, that was me, you know,
going in the like with the cards, hunking and everything.
So I mean, I I always knew that I had
the right to vote, and the voting is a privilege
that we need to take advantage of. So when I
moved to the United States, knowing that that right was
extended not only in Puerto Rico but also in the
United States, it was just incredible. But here it was
(03:19):
very different because I got to meet um Cuban people,
I got to meet Venezuelan people that they don't really
enjoy democracy the way we do. Because in Puerto Rico
we do have democracy, but in those countries and then
seeing them telling me those stories. For me, it's like,
oh my god, how privileged we are that we get
to vote. How privileged we are that we have that.
(03:40):
Um right, So we got that right, so let's take
advantage of it. Yeah, you told me before we started
that you actually voted yesterday, so you are still riding high.
Was that super exciting for you? It was super exciting,
you know, First of all, it was super easy. I
got to say that. You know, like I said, um,
this is my first year. But in when I moved
(04:01):
from Orlando to Miami, I forgot to change the address
on the electoral card. And the first year that I
was able to vote was back in the Trumps and
Hillary Clinton. That was the election that I was, you know,
the first one eligeable to vote. So I couldn't vote
because I didn't do the things on time. But yeah,
voting yesterday was just amazing. Even though it was not
(04:22):
a general election. It was a election for local officials
for the Miami Dade County. It was mostly a primary,
but seems some an independent, you know, I don't have
party affiliation. I was not able to vote for many
other positions, but I got to vote for the judges,
I got to vote for the Miami Dade County major
for other commissioners and stuff, and it was just a
(04:44):
fun experience because I felt more than anything that people, unfortunately,
people my age are not enjoying that right that privileged.
Like most people that I would see on the polls
were older than me. You know, I don't see much
people of my generation voting, and we need to start
enjoying the privilege. And we need to spread the ward
(05:07):
on how to get ready for the elections because it's
not only about going there and you're shooting and feeling
out walls. You have to research on the candidates, which
I think is the hardest part, but at the same
time the most satisfactory privilege. You know, Now, how do
you go about doing your research since that is kind
of a stumbling block for some people because it's it's effort. No,
(05:29):
it is for, it is for It takes sign In
my case, I didn't in two days, like two nights. Here,
I have the advantage that I'm always listening to news.
I wake up and I'm always on the news, especially
local news. And what I did is that I received
my model ballot. They send it to me like, um,
two months before the elections and I started seeing candidates.
(05:49):
There were some familiar phase, there was some newer phrase.
I already knew the profiles on the familiar phrase because
that you watch news every day. But on the new ones,
you know, I started researching on their Instagram, seeing who
they were, how they engage with the community Facebook as well.
But you know what, I think the best way to
get ready is watching news, you know, because you know
(06:10):
who's done things wrong and you know who's doing things right.
So for me, watching news and being in like on
top of the current situation, I think that has been
just the right and the perfect way to get ready
for the elections and obviously researching every candidate. Now as
we approach the big election in November, are you planning
(06:30):
to vote early? Are you going to vote the day
of the election? Are you going to do a mail in? No,
I want to do the whole experience again. I enjoy
it basically two bold. I know that there's been this
huge controversy about the mail and it's not like I
don't trust that because I actually trust it. You know,
that's just another advantage of the democracy. But I just
want to go through the whole experience, and I want
(06:52):
to put my ballot on the scanner and feel like
I vote it. I love it for what it's worth.
I've voted many times. I still think it's super fun.
So that is going to be probably like the biggest voting.
I know you just said you voted in the primaries yesterday,
but are you planning to celebrate on that day when
you get to do the whole experience? Of course. I
mean I'm going a trolley party of watching party here
(07:16):
to see the results and that that's just something. Even
yesterday that I voted for the local elections, It's not
like I've been a watching party, but I was so like,
oh my god, did the person I voted for one?
I was like that, you know, And I think that's
that's just another funt, like you know, like a fund
way to see the whole process, you know, because there's
(07:37):
always some fun. And it also when you asked me
about getting ready for the elections, I have to thank
about my high school classes. You know, holding Florida, they
forced you pretty much to take um state government and
what was the other one? There were still have credit
classes that you have to take, you know, the requisite
so I think that for the government does a really
(07:58):
good job with getting people already for elections. I mean,
they explain to you the terms of a representative, the
difference between the terms with a governor, the difference with
a senator, you know, and I think that's super important.
I'm very much about history, so I love history. I
love government, So I do think I do think the
part that does a really good job. It's just up
(08:20):
to us to go register on the website and do
our part, you know. But the government was a really
good job of getting people ready. That was also a
good way for me to get ready. Alright, final questions,
And you've made a lot of really really good points
already on this particular topic. But if you were to
run into somebody, particularly like a younger citizen, like you're
still really young guy, who isn't using their right to vote,
(08:42):
And if you could tell that person one thing to
try to get them to get active and just make
this small effort, what would that thing be. Wow, First
of all, let's enjoy democracy, let's take advantage of our rights.
Let's and I think I mentioned it many times in
the interview, the future of US nation is in our hands.
(09:04):
So we need to use it even if we don't
agree on your thoughts or my thoughts. You know, we
don't agree with political ideas. We don't need to agree.
We just need to have our own perspective on voting.
But voting needs essential, you know, those are the principles
of any other democracy. So vote both votes. Hey, are
(09:27):
you not registered to vote yet but you think it's
something you want to do. You may still have time.
Voter registration deadlines vary by state, so to find out
the scoop for where you are, check out a nonpartisan
registration voting site like head count dot org or fair
vote dot org. Why I'm Voting is an I Heart
Radio production. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit
(09:49):
the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it
is you listen to your favorite shows.
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