Green Chili Chisme

🎸 Jack Pledge: A Voice, A Journey, A Legacy

In our latest Green Chili Chisme sit-down, we welcome Jack Pledge—an Air Force kid turned global troubadour.
He met his father for the first time after Korea in ’52. Went to grade school in Japan. Picked up the guitar in ’59. By ’71, he was busking in Spain and Africa.
Now, after losing his voice, Jack supports the singers he plays for—still carrying the groove, still building legacy.
This episode is a testament to resilience, rhythm, and the stories behind the strings.

The Circle Widens | A conversation with Allen Huff

Born in Corpus Christi, youngest of five boys, Allen Huff was raised on Czech roots and piano keys. His mom made every son take music—he chose the ivories. His first band didn’t have a name. His accordion just played Nissan Stadium.
We talk Flaco Jimenez, Dwight Yoakam, and the circles that keep expanding. We riff oldies, Engelbert Humperdinck, and the hook that’s been stuck in his head for 15 years. He got his GED at 40 after leaving high school to chase the road. His first record? Named after his mom—Elizabeth Jean—with her prom photo on the cover.
And did I mention? He sounds a whole lot like Jeff Bridges. This one’s emotional. This one’s legacy.

From New York Salsa to Hollywood Elite | Karissa Barcelo Montoya

From Miami Beach to Hollywood lights, Karissa Barcelo Montoya’s story is a rhythm of reinvention. She filmed her father’s salsa sessions, interviewed stars on Dish Nation, and now reflects on legacy, loss, and Lucille Ball. Catch the full episode—plus a bonus riff on Tito Puente.

Leaving Nashville, Finding Freedom | Brigitte London

In today’s edition of Green Chili Chisme, we sit down with singer-songwriter Bridgette London, whose journey began in hardship and bloomed into musical freedom.
From learning “What the World Needs Now” on Jerry Lewis telethons to finding salvation in Waylon Jennings, Bridgette’s story is one of grit, grace, and groove. We talk influences—Heart, Willie, Etta, Stevie Ray—and shout out Jack Pledge and Eddie Perez of The Mavericks, who helped shape her sound.
She shares her move from Nashville to Texas, the healing that followed, and an invite to her Angels and Outlaws Festival in March 2026.
This one’s layered. Let’s dive in.

A Return to the Last Rose | Actress Lara Shah visits the show

Lara Shah is one of the hardest working actresses I know. I was lucky enough to cast her in my short film The Last Rose before she left for Hollywood—and to this day, it remains one of my favorite projects. Lara’s journey has taken her through powerhouse platforms like MTV, Warner Brothers, and One Tree Hill, and today she joins us for a soulful catch-up. We talk about her creative path, the grind behind the glamour, and the spark that might just lead to a new collaboration. This one’s layered, personal, and full of legacy echoes.

Shandon Sahm | Legacy, Love, and Rock & Roll Circles

Our first overseas interview—and it’s a deep one. Shandon Sahm joins Green Chili Chisme from the Netherlands, where immigration officers recognized his name and ushered him in. That name? Doug Sahm—his father, his hero, and the soul we dive into like never before.
We talk:
🎸 Being the only Sahm kid born in Cali, and not touching music until high school
🧨 Parriah, his first band, and signing to a label early
🌵 Watching the Meat Puppets rise to rock star status at 23
🎭 The Doug + Kiss connection: backstage passes, Gene Simmons’ Ax Bass, and Paul Stanley showing up for Doug in NYC
🎶 Two solo records, studio happy accidents, and the circles fans travel—from Meat Puppets to Doug to the Tornados
🕊️ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame snubs, and why Doug’s name still echoes
Shandon sounds so much like his dad it’s haunting. He thanked us—me and Mike—multiple times for keeping Doug’s name alive. He didn’t know he’s woven into eight of my short films. Now he does.
This one’s not just a deep dive. It’s a soul spiral.

Musical Mayhem with Jeff Smith of The Hickoids

Jeff Smith is the frontman for the Alt/Country/Punk outfit known as The Hickoids.  Inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame, the band continues to produce and tour since 1984.
In this candid interview, Jeff talks being an Okie growing up in Texas in a family that went from poor beginnings to the middle class, his musical influences and much more.  

Georgina Lightning — Truth Teller, Trailblazer, Story Keeper

She was the first Indigenous woman in North America to direct a major feature film. But Georgina Lightning is more than a pioneer — she’s a force. From Older Than America to Trickster, her work confronts history, heals wounds, and reclaims narrative power.
In this episode, Georgina opens up about her father’s experience in residential schools, the spiritual weight of storytelling, and her mission to elevate Indigenous voices through film. It’s raw, riveting, and rooted in truth.

Dave Hardberger — Behind the Lens, Beyond the Frame

From Return of the Jedi to Wrath of Khan, Dave Hardberger’s fingerprints are on the films that shaped generations. But behind the camera, he’s more than a cinematographer — he’s a storyteller, a mentor, and a keeper of Hollywood’s practical magic.
In this episode, we dive into decades of filmmaking, the evolution of visual effects, and the quiet brilliance of a man who helped define the look of sci-fi and fantasy. It’s not just a career — it’s a masterclass in legacy.
“You’ve seen his work. You just didn’t know his name. Until now.”

Stephanie Urbina Jones - Trailblazing Latina on the Grand ole Opry Stage

In this deeply personal episode, and after 14 years, host Dave Pedraza reconnects with longtime friend and trailblazing country artist Stephanie Urbina Jones. What begins as a catch-up between two old souls quickly unfolds into a legacy-rich journey through West Side San Antonio, Fredericksburg peach fields, and the Grand Ole Opry stage. Stephanie shares stories of abuelitas, Bolleros, mariachi horns, and the bittersweet path of rediscovering her Latina heritage. From backyard barbacoa to a Día de los Muertos concert in the pyramids of Tenochtitlan, this conversation is raw, joyful, and unforgettable.