Rephonic
Artwork for Suave
Luis Suave Gonzalez
Astrology
The Never Give Up Tour
Suave Podcast
Incarceration
Futuro Media
Philadelphia
Fania Records
Juan Ponce De León
Ricky Martin
Puerto Rico
Juan Gabriel
Freedom
Statue Vandalism
Cultural Heritage
United States
Latino USA
Prison System
Suave Gonzalez
New York City

Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting

The U.S is the only country in the world that allows minors to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Approximately 2,500 juveniles have been effectively sentenced to die in prison — considered “irredeemable” by the state for crimes committed when they were just teenagers. One of them was David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes26Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTrue Crime

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Artwork for Suave

Latest Episodes

Maria was watching the Benito Bowl when an unexpected artist came on: the one and only Ricky Martin. He sang one of Bad Bunny’s most political, anti-colonial anthems. Maria knew this was a touchstone moment — the artist who most represented the 90’s ... more

Now months out of prison, Frank Ross is juggling health issues and trying to adapt to life at the healthcare facility. He has good days and bad, as he struggles with cognitive decline. Then, an issue with his mandated GPS monitor suddenly puts his fr... more

Michie, an incarcerated woman serving a life sentence at a Pennsylvania prison, learned early on that she needed to advocate for her own health behind bars. Over the decades and as she grew older, she says she witnessed many friends grow ill and die ... more

Frank Ross was sentenced to die in prison – but after decades behind bars, he faces a new shot at freedom. At 93-years-old, Frank Ross is struggling with serious health issues. He’s able to secure a medical transfer to live out his final days at a he... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jeannie Montalvo
Senior Producer, Futuro Studios
Futuro Studios
Episode: NEW PODCAST ALERT: Muy Excited with Maria Garcia
Laura Pérez
Editor at La Brega
La Brega
Episode: NEW PODCAST ALERT: Muy Excited with Maria Garcia
Brittany Cronin
Producer
Futuro Studios
Episode: NEW PODCAST ALERT: Muy Excited with Maria Garcia
Michie Scott
Woman who was sentenced to life in prison for murder as a teenager; discussed health issues, cancer, and commutation
Former inmate, advocate for prison reform
Episode: Released To Die: Episode 2
David Luis Gonzalez (Suave)
Former juvenile lifer and central subject of the series
None stated
Episode: Released To Die: Episode 1
Aurora Flores
Puerto Rican journalist and writer who worked with Fania Records
Fania Records
Episode: Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York (hosted by Rosie Perez)
Mary Kent
Author interviewed for Salsa Talks
Author
Episode: Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York (hosted by Rosie Perez)
Jonathan Wilson
Soccer columnist for The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: The First Time The Men’s World Cup Came to the U.S.A.
Rosie Perez
Host of birth‑of‑salsa project on Futuro/Salsa initiative
Birth of Salsa in Nueva York (Futuro Studios)
Episode: My Futuro is Impactful: Our Projects for 2026

Hosts

Maria Garcia
Host/Executive Editor, Futuro Studios; longtime reporter and producer known for in-depth Latinx storytelling and investigative journalism.
Julieta Martinelli
Host/Producer, Latino USA; collaborates with Futuro Studios on cross‑project reporting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Journalist too much

    I felt many times that the journalist made this story about herself.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    bridge1986
    United Statesa month ago
  • Maria Mariaaaaa 🙄

    Maria was excruciating to listen to, it went from bad to worse. How unaware of one’s self can one be? Other than that big up Suave ❤️💪🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kazwards1
    United States7 months ago
  • Maybe the best podcast ever! Inspirational!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    slatersli@hotmail.com
    7 months ago
  • Good concept but insufferable

    Suave’s story is compelling, and illustrating the effects of the justice system through him is a great idea. But there is WAY too much focus on Maria and her relationship with Suave. Listening to her interact with him is exhausting, not to mention all the airtime dedicated to her talking about how she feels about the relationship. Enough already!! Honestly I should’ve stopped after the first 5 minutes of ep 1. Made it through episode 5 before I realized I didn’t need to do this to myself.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    moosemoodmouse
    United States7 months ago
  • S1 👍👍👍 S2 👍

    Suave’s story is incredible and inspiring. He has such an honest way with words. I could listen to him talk all day. Season 1 is a 10/10 rec.

    But Season 2 left me uncomfortable. Maria was way too needy and the podcast was clearly infringing on his life at this point.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    c123armen
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise rigorous reporting and emotional storytelling balance.
Feedback often notes high production quality and compelling guest perspectives.
Season 1 reception highlighted the story's impact; Season 2 drew mixed reactions to host interactions.
Some listeners feel the host dynamic is polarizing but still value the core investigative work.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Patience - Ep. 7
Q: What have you learned about freedom?
It's not all, it's not a bouquet of roses. It's not. A lot of people think that freedom is, you get out and you're free, you shouldn't complain about nothing. I went from one prison to another prison.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Suave

What is Suave about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series centers on personal stories inside the U.S. justice system, with a strong focus on aging in prison, compassionate release, rehabilitation, and the human side of reform. Across episodes, listeners encounter intimate mentor-mentee dynamics, firsthand accounts of incarceration, and long-form investigations into how policy, health care, and legal processes shape lives. Production quality, archival context, and a narrative-driven approach help illuminate stubborn social issues from multiple perspectives, often tying individual journeys to broader Latino cultural and social justice themes. A notable edge is the blend of investigative reporting with deeply personal storytelling, yielding both compelling drama and policy insight that can... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Suave?

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How many listeners does Suave get?

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What are the audience demographics for Suave?

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How many subscribers and views does Suave have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Suave has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Suave?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Suave:

1. Focus: Adults in the Room
2. The Mile Zero Murders from Uncover
3. Ear Hustle
4. Blood Will Tell
5. Deep Cover

How many episodes of Suave are there?

Suave launched 6 years ago and published 26 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Suave?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Suave?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Suave from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Suave?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Suave. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Suave?

Recent guests on Suave include:

1. Jeannie Montalvo
2. Laura Pérez
3. Brittany Cronin
4. Michie Scott
5. David Luis Gonzalez (Suave)
6. Aurora Flores
7. Mary Kent
8. Jonathan Wilson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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