The Gadiel Del Orbe Show
The Gadiel Del Orbe Show is your weekly, high-energy dive into comedy, culture & trending topics—served with Gadiel’s signature Dominican-New-York swagger. Every Wednesday we sit down with the funniest creators, boldest entrepreneurs, and loudest loquitos shaping Latino pop culture. Expect off-the-rails storytelling, spicy hot-takes, and the kind of real talk your group chat wishes it had.
Why Do People Betray Their Own Community? | Politics, Propaganda & Power
In this episode:
• The ICE case involving Mario Alberto Morales
• Immigration and the politics of scapegoating
• Religion, hypocrisy and forgiveness
• Political tribalism and voting against your own interests
• Why Gadiel once leaned more Republican after leaving the military
• Socialism, capitalism and political labels
• How social media algorithms reinforce what we already believe
• Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed and the Michigan Senate race
• Islamophobia and political fear campaigns
• Gadiel’s pit bull story and realizing he was searching for evidence to confirm his own bias
• Money in politics
• Whether everybody has a pr...
I Tried Quitting Social Media for a Week… I Failed
In this episode:
• Trying—and failing—to quit social media
• Why Screen Time doesn't work when you know the password
• Leaving the house without a phone
• Meditation, anxiety and learning to sit with yourself
• Seeing family differently when you're not constantly scrolling
• Gadiel's father's 30-year marriage
• The first listener voicemail
• Why home becomes your safe space
• Dating as you approach 40
• Dating someone who already has children
• Relationship red flags
• Why time matters more as you get older
• Finding someone whose flaws you can actually love
• Taking your time back fro...
I Don’t Know How to Relax Anymore | Turning 40, Latino Families & Phone Addiction
In this episode:
• Why relaxing can feel like being unproductive
• Growing up with immigrant parents and a scarcity mindset
• Wanting to eventually retire your parents
• Why Gadiel is obsessed with the Irish goodbye
• Why Latino goodbyes can take forever
• Have phones changed the way we socialize?
• Why people don’t dance together anymore
• Approaching 40 without a wife or children
• Dating and relationships as you get older
• Growing up in a family that didn’t openly say “I love you”
• The childhood moment that showed Gadiel his mother loved him
• The responsibil...
Two Girlfriends, Infidelity & the Truth About Relationships | Freddy Valoy & Rashad Bashir
In this episode:
• Freddy explains why he stopped cheating and chose ethical non-monogamy
• How he manages having two girlfriends
• What happens when your girlfriend dates other men
• Why jealousy still exists in an open relationship
• Rashad opens up about divorce and infidelity
• Therapy, honesty and generational trauma
• Why difficult conversations get easier with practice
• The wild Montreal sex-theater story
• Why emotional intimacy can trigger more jealousy than sex
• Sebastian Maniscalco and the SiriusXM Raw Comedy controversy
• Why working comedians need platforms and royalties
• Godfrey’s approach to stand-up and constantly...
Haiti vs. Dominican Republic: When Patriotism Becomes Nationalism
In this episode:
• Haiti’s 4–1 victory over the Dominican Republic
• Wilson Isidor’s controversial celebration
• Was the comment disrespectful to Dominican sovereignty?
• Why sports and politics collided after the game
• Santiago Matías and the rhetoric surrounding Haiti
• Patriotism vs. nationalism
• Why extremist voices can appear louder than the majority
• Dominican identity and Haitian-Dominican relations
• Gadiel’s experience serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
• How war changed his perspective on nationalism
• Why humanity should come before politics
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He Built One of NYC's Hottest Latino Spaces 🇵🇷 | Manolo López
What happens when a coffee shop becomes something much bigger?
Chef and entrepreneur Manolo López joins Gadiel Del Orbe from Café Colmado in New York City's Lower East Side for a conversation about Puerto Rican culture, entrepreneurship, community and building businesses with purpose.
Manolo explains how Café Colmado became more than a place to grab coffee—it became a gathering place where New York's Latino community could see itself represented.
The conversation explores:
• How Café Colmado became a Latino cultural hub in NYC
• Growing up in Puerto Rico and finding Pu...
The Dominican History We Never Learned, with Dr. Margarita Rosa
Gadiel finally sits down with Dr. Margarita Rosa, the Afro-Latina historian everybody kept telling him he had to talk to. She opens up about getting her PhD at Princeton, the summer in Morocco that changed her life, and why she never felt like an impostor until she became a professor.
Then she takes us all the way back to 1492 and walks through the island's history step by step.
What we get into:
• Impostor syndrome, purpose, and showing up as your full self
• Learning Arabic in Morocco and reading the Quran in its original language
I Saw the Second Plane Hit: My 9/11 Story 25 Years Later
On September 11, 2001, Gadiel Del Orbe was a high-school student in Lower Manhattan.
Twenty-five years later, he sits down to tell the story of what he remembers from that morning.
In this episode:
• Hearing and feeling the first impact from school
• Initially believing the crash was an accident
• Watching the World Trade Center burn
• Seeing the second plane hit the second tower
• Leaving school amid the confusion
• Phone service and NYC transportation shutting down
• Walking uptown through Manhattan
• Seeing the smoke and ash after the tower collapsed
• Finally mak...
Things People Don't Talk About When You Come Back From Dominican Republic | Ep 66
Gadiel comes back from stay in the country side in the Dominican Republic and talks on how the experience changed his perspective. 🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe 📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review! 💼 Business / booking: [email protected]
Did Our Parents Leave Paradise for the American Dream? ft. Sister Analee
Episode 65 comes from Gadiel and Analee's grandparents' home in the Dominican countryside.
Growing up Dominican-American, they understood why previous generations moved to the United States in search of greater economic opportunity. But after returning to their family's roots, they're asking a different question: What makes a life “better”?
In this episode:
• Returning to their grandparents' home in the Dominican Republic
• What life in the campo teaches you about being present
• Spending entire days at the river with the community
• Dominican dating, age gaps and relationships
• The American Dream through a Dominican-Am...
Why I Traveled to the Dominican Republic Alone 🇩🇴
Episode 64 comes to you directly from the Dominican Republic.
Gadiel reflects on the freedom of solo travel and how being back in his family's homeland has changed his perspective on everyday life. He compares the slower Dominican lifestyle with the constant urgency of the United States and explains why taking time away from work, phones, routines, and other people's expectations can be so valuable.
In this episode:
• Traveling alone to the Dominican Republic
• Using credit card rewards to travel
• Dominican Republic vs. American lifestyle
• NYC hustle vs. Dominican “island time”
• Why e...
Is Social Media Rewarding the WORST People? | Norberto Briceño
Norberto Briceño is back to talk about his first year working full-time as a creator and what he's learned about consistency, research and building an audience.
The conversation expands into:
Making the leap to full-time content creation Why consistency matters more than people think Being your own boss Social-media addiction and information overload Red-pill culture and modern masculinity Machismo in Latino culture Why outrage performs online Creators saying things they don't believe for views Dominican-Haitian tensions online Andrew Tate and internet masculinity When comedy crosses into transphobia Whether algorithms reward bad behavior Maintaining your values w...I Called a Comedian the Wrong Name... He Got MAD
Gadiel hosted a Friday show at the Comic Strip and the lineup got switched three times before he went up — so when he brought up the first comedian, he blanked and called him "Kato." His name was Nico. The comedian turned it into a joke on stage and killed with it. So when Gadiel came back up, he ran it back on purpose: "give it up for Kato." The room erupted. The comedian did not think it was funny. He paced, walked in and out of the room, and gave Gadiel one of those handshakes that isn't really a ha...
He Got a Standing Ovation on AGT — Cris Sosa Is Back
Cris Sosa returns to The Gadiel Del Orbe Show — he came through from Brooklyn when this podcast was just two or three episodes old, and now he's back after earning a standing ovation on America's Got Talent in under two and a half minutes of stand-up. As Gadiel points out, people usually need to be invested in a comedian for a standing O — getting one that fast means every second of the set landed. Cris walks through exactly how the set was built. He records every performance, writes it out word for word, and cuts every word that doesn't earn...
How I Ended Up Owning a Cigar Lounge
In this solo episode, Gadiel finally tells the story behind The Art of Cigar, the cigar lounge he co-owns in Old Town, San Diego. It began with wanting to invest in a business and not knowing what. What he did know was that he loved smoking a good cigar with his friends. On a trip to San Diego he met Luis, a roller who worked all day producing what Gadiel describes as masterpieces — people lined up to watch him and take pictures. But Luis didn't own any of it. Gadiel learned that's standard in the cigar world: rollers use re...
Flat Earthers, Andrew Tate's Arrest & Why We're Living in Idiocracy
Episode 59 opens with life updates — Gadiel is back from LA where he attended a friend's wedding, and he checked in on his cigar shop, The Art of Cigar, in San Diego (go show love if you're in town!). Then the story begins: one of Gadiel's closest friends, a man who has supported him through everything — a MAGA conservative, a grandfather — revealed that he believes the Earth is flat. Gadiel recounts the 3-hour debate that followed at the cigar shop: the basement ice-ball "experiment" his friend used as evidence, Gadiel's counter-explanation that humans on Earth are proportionally the size of a hepa...
The Pero Like Netflix Deal, Burnout & Making It Out | Maya Murillo
In this episode, Gadiel sits down with his friend and fellow Pero Like OG, Maya Murillo. What starts as nostalgic banter turns into an honest conversation about identity, the creator grind, and finding yourself after fame. They get into: • Reuniting as best friends after running in "separate groups" during the Pero Like days • The BuzzFeed hustle — rotating managers, late-night edits, and lying about knowing Premiere to get hired • Being the "no sabo" Latina who didn't speak Spanish — the bullying, and the viral 60-day Spanish challenge she made in response • Why "everybody deserves a seat at the table" no matter how they sho...
Rock Bottom to Comeback: Curly Velasquez 🫶
In this episode, Gadiel sits down in Los Angeles with his day-one friend and former Pero Like / BuzzFeed collaborator, Curly Velasquez. What starts as nostalgic banter turns into one of the most honest conversations on the show. They get into: • The BuzzFeed days — building the Latino platform (Pero Like) from the ground up • When Gadiel first came to LA broke, living out of his car, and Curly gave him a place to crash • Curly's battle with alcoholism, hitting rock bottom, and getting sober • Why "courage only gets tested in hard times" • Turning a career around — from getting lunches to creative direc...
Why Most People Never Become Great | Aida Rodriguez
• Aida Rodriguez's journey into comedy
• Latino representation in stand-up
• Why comedy is an art form
• The importance of mentorship
• Building a comedy special
• Writing and creativity
• Fame vs greatness
• Social media and validation
• Learning from comedy legends
• George Lopez, Bill Burr, Richard Pryor and comedy influences
• The future of Latino comedians
• Why comparison kills creativity
• Staying connected to your purpose
• Advice for comedians and creators
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / booking: con
Why NYC Voters Rejected The Establishment
• NYC primary election results
• Darializa Avila Chevalier's victory
• Dominican representation in politics
• Nationalism vs patriotism
• Campaign controversies and social media
• Zohran Mamdani's influence
• Housing affordability crisis
• Gentrification and displacement
• Affordable housing debate
• Why policy discussions matter
• Community organizing and civic engagement
• The future of New York City politics
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / booking: [email protected]
Breaking My Brain with Physicist Camila Uzcategui
In this episode, Gadiel sits down with Camila Uzcategui — a Latina physicist and CEO of Manifest Technology — whom he first met at a Latino executive networking dinner in Napa. What starts as curiosity turns into a full nerd-out about the nature of reality. They get into: • How Camila went from immigrant to physics PhD and tech CEO — and broke every stereotype doing it • Manifest Technology and the science behind her work in advanced materials • Chaos theory, fractals, and how chaos organizes itself into the universe • Time dilation, gravity, and why traveling near the speed of light stops time • Stephen Hawking's atomic...
Why New Yorkers Are Struggling: A Conversation with Darializa Avila Chevalier
In this interview episode, Gadiel sits down with Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is running for Congress in New York's 13th Congressional District — representing Harlem, Washington Heights, Kingsbridge, and parts of the Bronx. She is the first Afro-Latina Dominican woman to run for this seat, challenging five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat. Darializa opens by explaining who she is: a daughter of Dominican immigrants, born in the US, raised between New York, Miami, the DR, and Caracas while her parents tried to find stable footing. She's been an organizer for 14 years, working to end sexual violence on campus, fighting mass incarceration, and ge...
Puerto Rico Is Being Sold & Nobody Is Talking About It
Junior O Comedy (@juniorocomedy) returns to The Gadiel Del Orbe Show for what becomes one of the most personal episodes of the series. The episode opens with Junior talking about his recent trips to Puerto Rico — the rising cost of living ($500K apartments in San Juan, Americans buying up land), the food truck boom, and why second and third generation Puerto Ricans are trying to move back to rediscover their roots. But the island is changing fast: the governor is privatizing beaches, foreign investors are getting tax incentives to buy land, and the culture is being sold off piece by...
Men vs. Women: Who has it harder in Dating?
In this solo episode, Gadiel tackles a hot take he discussed with his friend Jasmine over dinner: the dating pool is harder for women than it is for men. He breaks down the math — 80% more women are educated than men, so educated women are picking from a shrinking pool of qualified partners. They need someone educated, socially conscious, and a good decision-maker. He introduces the "Melania vs. Michelle" test: do you want to date someone who just needs their bills paid, or someone who's an equal partner? Finding a Michelle is hard because the dating pool is full of me...
The Arcángel Controversy Explained
Episode 50 is a milestone, and Gadiel uses it to go deep on two topics that connect more than you'd think. The episode opens with a live reaction to Arcángel's controversial speech at Madrid's Movistar Arena, where the reggaeton artist thanked Spain for colonizing Latin America, said "we used to be Indians — these people came and gave us value," and told the crowd Spain owes no apology. Gadiel — a Dominican himself — breaks down why this is historically wrong, culturally painful, and a failure of education. He plays Jasmine Ruiz's viral response, which walks through the advanced Taíno society that exi...
Speed vs. Alofoke: A Dominican's Honest Take
In Episode 49, Gadiel dives into the biggest Dominican internet drama of the week: IShowSpeed vs. Alofoke (Santiago Matías). Speed visited the Dominican Republic as part of his Caribbean streaming tour, walking through the Colonial Zone — the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere — and the stream reportedly hit 1.6 million concurrent viewers, which would have beaten his record set in Indonesia. But something felt off. Gadiel breaks down the math: at the same time Speed's stream showed 1.6 million viewers, Alofoke's Casa de Alofoke reality show was also pulling 1.2 million viewers. Those numbers together didn't add up. The next day, Speed annou...
Spirit Airlines Is Dead, JetBlue Is Next & Young Men Are Smashing Their Own Faces
Episode 48 covers a wild range. Gadiel opens with his experience at Latino Hive in Napa Valley — a networking retreat for Latino executives, entrepreneurs, and creators. He talks about the power of being around like-minded people, visiting Latino-owned vineyards, and the eye-opening realization that Latinos have $3.4 trillion in buying power but still don't own their own major networks or media companies. He met VCs, business owners, scientists, and women who are dominating in their fields. From there, he recaps hosting Monster's Ball, a comedy festival at Comedy in Harlem — the only Black-owned comedy club in New York City. He describes it a...
Is Dating in NYC a SCAM? Ep 47
In this solo episode, Gadiel tackles dating in New York City head-on. He opens with the economics of it — a first date in NYC runs around $180 on average, cocktails cost $19 each (you could buy the whole bottle for that price), and meanwhile she's posting "self-care" on her story and didn't even take a picture of you. He shares a dating horror story from LA where his date spent the entire dinner on her phone taking photos of the food but never once took a photo of him. Gadiel breaks down how millennials and Gen Z are ditching dating apps an...
"Nobody Told Me This Part" — The Truth About Chasing Your Dream at 39
This is a solo episode — no guest, no filter, just Gadiel talking directly to the audience about what the last week actually looked like behind the scenes. He opens up about feeling stuck in routine, going on stage every night but not pushing himself, not writing new material, and falling into the trap of coasting on crowd work and improv instead of doing the hard work of crafting new jokes. He talks about the isolation of being your own boss, the comparison trap of watching other comedians blow up, and the constant tension between hustling and actually living your li...
Are We All Psychopaths? Dating Is Dead & NYC Is Getting Recolonized | Ft. Norberto Briceño
In this episode, Gadiel and returning guest Norberto Briceño cover everything from the state of modern dating to the psychology of power. They explore why their generation is choosing not to have kids, break down the clinical differences between psychopaths and sociopaths, and connect it all to the people currently in positions of power. The conversation shifts to growing up in NYC — Harlem block mentality, the gentrification of Brooklyn and Bushwick, and what it means to watch your neighborhood change around you. They close with an extended, passionate discussion on the war in Iran, healthcare cuts, rising costs, and...
Gadiel Reacts To Alofoke and La Piry Controversy #44
Gadiel shares his experience being in a “dark place” ADHD, rumination, and overthinking explained The pressure of being a one-man team Why happiness isn’t external Reaction to viral Santiago Matías controversy Discussion on respect, identity, and empathy Why these conversations matter today
0:00 – I Was In A Dark Place…
2:00 – ADHD, Overthinking & Feeling Stuck
5:00 – Why Happiness Doesn’t Come From Outside
9:00 – The Viral Controversy Explained
17:00 – Why This Moment Was Disrespectful
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / booking: [email protected]
He Went Viral… Then Instagram Deleted Him 10 Times with Kenstarrrz
In this episode, we cover:
Kenstarrrz’s transition from social worker to content creator The viral video that changed his life Getting fired after blowing up online Losing and rebuilding his audience multiple times How to stay consistent as a creator Why most people fail at content creation💡 Key Takeaways:
“Post until you’re annoying.” “You never know what’s going to hit.” “Consistency beats everything.”🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / booking: [email protected]
Mr. Nueva Yol EXPOSES The Future of Comedy & Content
In this episode, we cover:
Mr. Nueva Yol’s journey in comedy and content How Latino creators can build without Hollywood Why live streaming is becoming the new TV The shift from traditional media to digital platforms How to monetize content and grow your audience The importance of adapting to new trends💡 Key Takeaway:
The creators who win are the ones who understand both content AND business—and adapt faster than everyone else.
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / boo...
The Manosphere EXPOSED: Why These 'Alpha Males' Are Actually Frauds | Ft. Black Rose & Norberto
In this episode, we're reunited with two of the podcast's original voices — Black Rose and Norberto — for a wide-ranging conversation that touches culture, sports, dating, and the state of modern masculinity.
What we cover:
⚾ World Baseball Classic Recap The Dominican Republic brought an energy to baseball the world hadn't seen before — celebrations, camaraderie, and pure joy. The crew breaks down their dominant run, the heartbreaking 2–1 loss to the USA, a controversial umpire call, and why the US team felt like the villains of the whole tournament.
📺 Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere — Documentary Review Was it a real e...
The One Piece of Advice That Changed My Life Forever
In this episode Gadiel talks about:
The advice that changed his life forever
Leaving the Navy and starting a new path
How asking for opportunities opened doors
His early days at BuzzFeed and creative hustle
Sleeping in his car while chasing a dream
Lessons from The Artist’s Way about creativity
Why imperfect work leads to breakthroughs
The importance of community and family
Why stepping away from social media created clarity
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @Gad...
Dominican Independence Weekend → Woke Up to War Headlines
Channel milestone: monetization + 30K subscribers
Prime Time Mondays live stream (Mondays at 8PM)
Dominican Independence Day weekend recap (NYC vibes + culture moments)
Veteran perspective on war anxiety and what it does to communities
Feeling conflicted: moral complexity + fear of escalation
Social media doomscrolling + how narratives spread fast
Healthcare/Medicaid concerns and who gets hurt first
Listener call-in: drop your thoughts (agree/disagree) + community shoutouts
Subscribe, review the audio show, and keep building the movement
00:00 — Big update: Monetized + 30K subs (thank you!)
Willie Colón’s Legacy vs His Politics… and What That Says About Us
Norberto’s back + shoutouts to the day ones (Passion, Paola, listeners)
Willie Colón deep dive: musical legacy, cultural influence, progressive themes in classic songs
The uncomfortable conversation: legacy vs later politics
How Twitter/X misinformation spreads fast and shapes real-world consequences
The Latino responsibility conversation: artists, platforms, and speaking up
Romeo Santos & Prince Royce reactions + why “PR statements” don’t land
Bad Bunny halftime show: representation, NYC Latino culture on the biggest stage
Why the performance hit emotionally: pride + nostalgia + unity
Closing thoughts...
Dominican Podcasts Are Going Viral for Anti-Blackness… We Need to Talk
00:00 — Dominican podcasts going viral for anti-Blackness (this is wild)
02:05 — “Dominicans are ugly because they’re Black” — why that’s dangerous
04:20 — Eurocentric beauty standards + internalized racism (the real root)
06:40 — Why leaving DR changes your perspective on Dominican beauty
09:10 — Education is the antidote: how we stop ignorance from spreading
Viral Dominican clips promoting anti-Blackness and colorism
Why “Black features = ugly” is internalized racism
Eurocentric beauty standards in DR: how colonization still shows up today
Dominican diversity and Afro-Latino identity: pride over self-hate
Personal story: how these ideas affect kids growing up<...
Bad Bunny Made Super Bowl History… and I Almost Cried (No Cap)
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show didn’t just entertain—it represented. I break down why it made me emotional, how Ricky Martin’s surprise moment landed, and why Latino pride felt louder than the actual game. Then I get real about last week’s episode with my Trump-supporting childhood friend—why I took it down, what the comments taught me, and how we can challenge ideas without destroying people.
00:00 — Bad Bunny made history… and it hit me in the chest
02:05 — Ricky Martin surprised everyone (and the message was LOUD)
04:10 — I was in the club during...
My Dominican Best Friend Voted for Trump… So I Brought Him on the Podcast
00:00 — My best friend is a Latino Trump supporter… let’s talk
03:12 — “Politics shouldn’t end friendships” (but can it?)
07:45 — ICE raids: “I don’t support the tactics… but I still voted Trump”
12:30 — Tariffs + economy: “I want more money in my pocket”
18:55 — Birthright citizenship + “Would you still vote for him?” (heated)
🎥 Full video on YouTube • Clips on TikTok & IG @GadielDelOrbe
📣 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe & leave a 5★ review!
💼 Business / booking: [email protected]
