Reclaiming the Hyphen: Fernando Hurtado on Identity, Journalism, and the Power of Latino Storytelling

Fede explores the meaning of living in the hyphen, the messy and expansive space between cultures, identities, and expectations, with guest Fernando Hurtado.

Fernando is the founder of In The Hyphen, a YouTube channel dedicated to telling deeply researched, visually compelling stories about U.S. Latinos. After years as a journalist at NBC Universal covering major events like the Olympics, he took a leap into independent journalism. Through In The Hyphen, he tells stories that challenge narratives, highlight overlooked communities, and resonate with those who have felt caught between worlds.

In This Episode, We Discuss

• Why Fernando Hurtado left NBC to create independent journalism
• How In The Hyphen explores the U.S. Latino experience through storytelling
• The complexities of identity and code-switching in professional spaces
• The shift from traditional media to digital platforms like YouTube
• How AI and creator journalism are shaping the future of news

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction to My Most Authentic Life and Fede’s philosophy on living in the hyphen
[01:19] Meet Fernando Hurtado, video journalist and founder of In The Hyphen
[02:06] Why Fernando walked away from a dream job in journalism
[03:11] The future of journalism: AI, creator journalism, and changing media landscapes
[05:09] Finding a niche: why the U.S. Latino experience is underrepresented
[07:18] Identity, code-switching, and the impact of media representation
[10:26] Fernando’s boarding school experience and its impact on belonging
[15:47] The difference between fitting in and true belonging
[18:54] Launching In The Hyphen: why storytelling matters
[24:13] Key reflections and the next steps for In The Hyphen
[26:31] Rapid fire round: Fernando on confidence, identity, and authenticity
[27:44] Final thoughts and how to stay connected

About the Guest

Fernando Hurtado is a video journalist, storyteller, and the founder of In The Hyphen, a YouTube channel dedicated to telling deeply researched, visually rich stories about U.S. Latinos. With years of experience at NBC Universal covering major events like the Olympics, Fernando now focuses on independent journalism, using digital platforms to amplify voices that often go unheard. His work dives deep into themes of identity, code-switching, and media representation.

Follow Fernando:
🌐 Website: fernandohurtado.com
📺 YouTube: @byfernandoh

My Most Authentic Life Distributed by: Genuina Media

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• Instagram: @mymostauthenticlife and @itsfedevargas
• YouTube: My Most Authentic Life Channel
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