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In this powerful and personal episode of The Modern Latino Podcast, we sit down with our fraternity brother from St. John’s University, Dr. Santiago Arruffat, a colorectal surgeon and practice owner, to talk about a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore — the rise of colon cancer in younger adults.

But this episode is about more than medicine.

Born in Spain and raised in the streets of the Bronx by a Spanish mother and Puerto Rican father, Dr. Arruffat shares the story of how determination, discipline, and refusing to give up on himself helped him achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. From St. John’s University to medical school in Puerto Rico, and eventually building his own surgical practice, his journey is a powerful example of perseverance and purpose.

We also discuss the challenges of building a medical practice, and what he’s seeing firsthand when it comes to colorectal health - especially within the Latino community.

We also get real.

Gene opens up about his personal experience with diverticulitis, including the moment it became serious and required surgery. His story brings this conversation home in a way that every listener can relate to.

Together, we break down:

• Why colon cancer is increasing in people under 50
• Cultural barriers in the Latino community around screening
• What a colonoscopy is really like (and why it’s not as scary as you think)
• How early detection can save your life

This is more than a health episode - it’s a conversation about awareness, perseverance, prevention, and taking action before it’s too late.

If you’ve been putting off getting checked, this episode is for you.

Listen, learn, and share this with someone you care about.

For more information or to connect with Dr. Arruffat and his team, visit his practice website:

Evansville Colorectal Surgery

Support the show

Please like, follow, and support The Modern Latino:

Email:
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Web:
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Instagram:
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Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLatinoPodcast

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https://twitter.com/ModernLatinoPod

Love the show? Help us keep the conversation going by buying us a cafecito! ☕️ Your support fuels our passion for storytelling and allows us to bring you more inspiring stories from the modern Latino experience. Every sip—uh, we mean tip—makes a difference! 💛

Support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themodernlatino

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Send us a Text Message and share your thoughts

In this episode, Gene and Ivan cover a wide range of real-life topics—from unplugging from the noise of everyday life to breaking down what’s really happening in today’s economy. Ivan shares why he decided to step “off the grid,” while Gene explores the idea of signal vs. noise and how it applies to how we consume information today.

The conversation shifts into culture and current events, including the rise of GLP-1 weight loss trends (and their growing popularity among celebrities), the success of Sinners, and a fun debate around who to root for during the World Baseball Classic.

As always, the episode mixes serious discussion with real, unfiltered moments—including a hilarious (and very real) gym story you won’t forget. The guys also dive into deeper topics like the different “American experiences” people live, and reflect on the historical treatment and experimentation of Puerto Rico by the United States.

They wrap things up with some sports talk, including St. John’s basketball, and what it all says about identity, pride, and community.

We invite you to listen in, reflect with us, and share your thoughts. Your voice matters in this conversation.

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Intro and Outro music by DJCoachK – For business opportunities email: djcoachk@gmail.com

THANK YOU for listening!

Send us feedback by emailing: info@themodernlatino.com

Support the show

Please like, follow, and support The Modern Latino:

Email:
info@themodernlatino.com

Web:
https://themodernlatino.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/themodernlatinopodcast/

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLatinoPodcast

X (Twitter):
https://twitter.com/ModernLatinoPod

Love the show? Help us keep the conversation going by buying us a cafecito! ☕️ Your support fuels our passion for storytelling and allows us to bring you more inspiring stories from the modern Latino experience. Every sip—uh, we mean tip—makes a difference! 💛

Support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themodernlatino

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Send us a Text Message and share your thoughts

In this episode, we dive into an extended and thoughtful conversation about the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime performance. Rather than reacting emotionally, we break down the moment from multiple perspectives and explore why it sparked such strong reactions across the United States and around the world.

Was it culture? Politics? Art? Expectations? We unpack it all in an open, honest, and respectful dialogue - true to the spirit of The Modern Latino Podcast.

We invite you to listen in, reflect with us, and share your thoughts. Your voice matters in this conversation.

Intro and Outro music by DJCoachK – For business opportunities email: djcoachk@gmail.com

Support the show

Please like, follow, and support The Modern Latino:

Email:
info@themodernlatino.com

Web:
https://themodernlatino.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/themodernlatinopodcast/

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernLatinoPodcast

X (Twitter):
https://twitter.com/ModernLatinoPod

Love the show? Help us keep the conversation going by buying us a cafecito! ☕️ Your support fuels our passion for storytelling and allows us to bring you more inspiring stories from the modern Latino experience. Every sip—uh, we mean tip—makes a difference! 💛

Support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themodernlatino

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.