From the salsa stages of the 1990s to building a creative home in Puerto Rico, Miguel Rodríguez — L’Migue has lived several chapters in one music career.

Miguel began his journey as a member of T.M.C. — The Music Club, alongside Juan Garcia, Sammy Garcia, and Miguel Ángel “Cano” Hernández. After that chapter came to an end, life brought him to Chicago for a short period of time — and during that transition, L’Migue was born.

His journey continued from artist to music producer, entrepreneur, and ultimately owner of Ounda Studios in Puerto Rico.

In this special Puerto Rico edition of Duty Beyond Duty, Manny sits down with L’Migue inside Ounda Studios to talk about his early salsa years, reinvention, the Chicago chapter, music production, the business behind the music, Puerto Rican culture, sacrifice, discipline, and the legacy he hopes to leave for the next generation of artists.

This is a story about evolution, resilience, and what can happen when one chapter ends and another begins.

🎙️ Duty Beyond Duty Podcast

🇵🇷 Recorded on location at Ounda Studios, Puerto Rico

This season, we’re going bigger and deeper. For the first time, you’ll not only be able to hear the conversations — you’ll be able to watch them too.

Duty Beyond Duty was created to share the stories behind the uniform, the title, and the accomplishments. We sit down with veterans, first responders, athletes, community leaders, entertainers, educators, and everyday people doing extraordinary things to talk about the experiences that shaped them.

Season 3 brings new voices, powerful journeys, real conversations, some laughs, and lessons about service, sacrifice, leadership, family, loss, resilience, and purpose.

After two seasons and more than 70 episodes, we’re excited to take the next step in our journey by bringing Duty Beyond Duty to YouTube.

Season 2 comes to a close with Episode 40—and an incredible milestone: 71 total episodes of the Duty Beyond Duty Podcast!

We started this season with one simple message: thank you. Thank you to every listener, follower, guest, supporter, and friend who listened, shared an episode, or believed in our mission.

Season 2 brought unforgettable conversations with military veterans, first responders, police leaders, educators, doctors, radio personalities, actors, poets, singers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and community leaders. We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week, honored our fallen and remembered Deputy Chief William Betancourt, recognized Memorial Day Week, celebrated our one-year anniversary, and proudly highlighted our Puerto Rican culture during the 45th Chicago Puerto Rican Festival.

Forty episodes. Seventy-one total conversations and stories. Countless lessons, new friendships, laughter, difficult moments, and memories we will never forget.

To every guest who trusted us with their story and every listener who joined us on this journey—thank you.

Season 2 may be over, but the mission continues.

🎙️ Duty Beyond Duty Podcast
🇺🇸 Service. Sacrifice. Resilience. Purpose.

We'll see you in Season 3.

Check us out also on You Tube ..Duty Beyond Duty Channel!

In this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with an old high school friend and fellow U.S. Army veteran, retired Army Major Richard Elias.

Richard shares his incredible journey of more than 30 years of military service, from starting as an enlisted 14J Early Warning Systems Operator to becoming an NCO, instructor, paratrooper, and eventually a commissioned Air Defense Artillery officer.

His career took him around the world with assignments and deployments involving Haiti, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan, and the UAE, along with service in legendary units including the 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division.

Richard opens up about leadership, deployment experiences, the transition from enlisted soldier to officer, retirement, and finding purpose after the uniform. Today, his next mission is taking shape as he explores the creation of a nonprofit focused on combating veteran suicide and supporting those who served.

Two Chicago high school friends. Two Army veterans. Decades of service. One conversation about leadership, brotherhood, purpose, and what comes next when the mission changes.

This is Duty Beyond Duty.

Deputy Chief Bruce Mason of the Bloomingdale Police Department shares his journey from starting his career in Bloomingdale, serving with the Chicago Police Department, and returning to lead his original department as Deputy Chief of Operations.
He talks about leadership, mentorship, resilience, and the lessons learned across two very different policing worlds.
🎙️ Duty Beyond Duty – Real Stories from Those Who Serve Beyond the Call.

In this Chicago Rican Edition of the Duty Beyond Duty Podcast, host Manny Guzman sits down with Joséan Irizarry, founder of Smash Jibarito.

Joséan shares his journey from Chicago's Puerto Rican community to creating one of the city's most talked-about food concepts. We discuss family, culture, entrepreneurship, overcoming challenges, and the inspiration behind combining the legendary Chicago Jibarito with the smash burger phenomenon.

This episode is about more than food—it's about pride, perseverance, and representing your roots while building a dream.

Guest: Joséan Irizarry, Founder of Smash Jibarito
Host: Manny Guzman

#DutyBeyondDuty #SmashJibarito #JoseanIrizarry #ChicagoRican #PuertoRicanPride #ChicagoFood #HumboldtPark #VeteranPodcast #Community #ChicagoEntrepreneur

In this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Joel Vargas, J.D. — a 30-year expert in data strategy, intelligence analysis, and public safety innovation. From his leadership at the Austin Police Department to his global advisory work with InterPort Police and the U.S. Intelligence Community, Vargas shares how AI, analytics, and vision can transform public safety and rebuild trust.

🎧 Tune in for a masterclass on leadership, technology, and the human side of intelligence.
Follow Duty Beyond Duty on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,Pandora music, iHeartRadio and Amazon Music.

In this inspiring episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Louis Luna, founder of Blue Line Medical, former Chicago police officer, U.S. Army medic, and Iraq War veteran.

Louis shares his remarkable journey from serving on the front lines in the military to protecting the streets of Chicago as a police officer, and ultimately dedicating his life to helping others heal through healthcare. Drawing from his experiences as a combat medic and law enforcement officer, Louis offers a unique perspective on the physical and emotional challenges faced by first responders, veterans, and city workers.

The conversation explores his military service, deployment experiences, transition into law enforcement, and the inspiration behind founding Blue Line Medical. Louis discusses the importance of pain management, mental wellness, and taking a holistic approach to healthcare for those who spend their careers serving others.

We also dive into the personal side of Louis’s life—his family, the lessons he's learned through service, and the mission that continues to drive him every day.

This episode is about resilience, purpose, healing, and answering the call to serve long after the uniform comes off.

From soldier to police officer to healthcare leader, Louis Luna proves that service doesn't end when the mission changes—it simply takes on a new form.

🎧 Tune in and hear how one man is helping heroes reclaim their health, their strength, and their quality of life.

#DutyBeyondDuty #LouisLuna #BlueLineMedical #ChicagoPolice #ArmyVeteran #IraqVeteran #FirstResponders #Veterans #MentalWellness #PainManagement #Leadership #ServiceBeforeSelf #IGY6 #Podcast #MannyGuzman

In this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Chicago's own DJ Cuco, a respected veteran of the city's music and nightlife scene and a proud member of the renowned Henchmen DJ Crew.

For decades, DJ Cuco has helped create the soundtrack for countless celebrations, festivals, clubs, community events, and unforgettable nights throughout Chicago. From his early beginnings behind the turntables to becoming a recognized figure in the Latino music community, Cuco shares the journey, sacrifices, and passion that helped build his career.

We discuss his childhood, musical influences, the evolution of DJ culture, Chicago's legendary nightlife scene, the importance of preserving Latino culture through music, and what it means to represent one of the city's most respected DJ collectives, the Henchmen DJ Crew.

This conversation is about more than music—it's about community, culture, legacy, and staying true to your roots while inspiring the next generation.

Some businesses are built to make a profit. Others are built to preserve a legacy.

In this heartfelt episode of Duty Beyond Duty, we sit down with Chicago entrepreneur Mikey Sanchez Jr., founder of Sandwishera, to discuss the powerful story behind one of Chicago's most unique food concepts.

What started as a passion for great food became something much bigger—a way to honor family, celebrate culture, and keep the memory of a beloved brother alive.

Mikey shares the inspiration behind Sandwishera, the importance of family traditions, and the responsibility of carrying on a name and legacy that means so much to those closest to him. He opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices made along the way, and the deep connection between food, memories, and community.

This episode is about more than sandwiches. It's about love, loss, perseverance, family pride, and building something that future generations can be proud of.

Join us as we hear the story behind the brand, the mission behind the food, and the family legacy that continues to inspire every step of the journey.

n this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manuel "Manny" Guzman sits down with one of the voices behind Dope Talk Podcast, Chef David "Mancha" Silva, founder of Dope Drip Café.

From powerful conversations and podcasting to entrepreneurship, culture, and community impact, this episode explores how passion can become purpose. David shares the journey of building a platform that highlights authentic stories and Chicago voices, while Chef Mancha discusses his path from adversity to entrepreneurship and how Dope Drip Café has become a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, creativity, and resilience.

Together, they discuss the importance of representation, staying true to your roots, building a brand from the ground up, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and inspired.

Whether you're a foodie, entrepreneur, content creator, or someone chasing a dream, this conversation delivers motivation, insight, and a reminder that success is built one story at a time.

☕ The origins of Dope Talk Podcast
🎙️ Building a platform for real conversations
👨‍🍳 Chef Mancha's journey and the creation of Dope Drip Café
🌆 Chicago culture and community pride
💡 Entrepreneurship, perseverance, and second chances
😂 Fun facts and quick-fire questions

Follow, rate, and share Duty Beyond Duty as we continue highlighting the stories of veterans, first responders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who are making an impact far beyond their professions.

Duty Beyond Duty — Because service doesn't end when the uniform comes off. 🇺🇸🇵🇷🎙️

In This Episode:

What does it take to become one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago media?

In this episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Gabe Ramirez to discuss his incredible journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a familiar voice on B96 Chicago, television, sports broadcasting, and live event hosting.

Gabe shares the behind-the-scenes reality of breaking into radio, the lessons learned as "Producer Gabe," the sacrifices required to build a career in media, and the importance of staying authentic while representing Chicago and Latino culture.

This conversation goes beyond radio. It's about perseverance, identity, personal growth, and finding your voice in a competitive world.

Whether you're a fan of Chicago media, an aspiring broadcaster, entrepreneur, content creator, or someone chasing a dream, this episode is packed with inspiration and real-life lessons from someone who built his success one opportunity at a time.

Puerto Rican Fest Chicago is more than a parade…

It’s history.
It’s culture.
It’s resilience.
It’s music.
It’s food.
And it’s Puerto Rican pride living in the heart of Chicago.

In this special Duty Beyond Duty episode, Manny Guzman takes listeners through the story behind Puerto Rican Chicago — from the families who arrived searching for opportunity, to the rise of Humboldt Park and Paseo Boricua, and the traditions that continue bringing generations together every summer on Division Street.

This episode also highlights modern Puerto Rican Chicago culture through the stories of:
🇵🇷 Dope Drip Cafe & Chef Manch
🇵🇷 Smash Jibarito
🇵🇷 Sandwichera & Mikey Sanchez Jr.
🇵🇷 DJ Cuco

Through food, music, entrepreneurship, and community, these stories represent the next generation continuing the Puerto Rican legacy in Chicago.

Hosted by Manny Guzman — Chicago Police Sergeant, Army veteran, and proud Puerto Rican.

Que viva Puerto Rico.
Que viva Chicago.
WEPA.

From the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to the Chicago Police Department, Officer Scott Flores has dedicated his life to service, leadership, and community engagement. In this episode, Scott shares his journey into law enforcement, the lessons he learned as a Cook County Sheriff, and what ultimately led him to the Chicago Police Department.

Beyond the badge, Scott is a leader within the Chicago Police Soccer Club, an organization that uses the game of soccer to build relationships with youth, strengthen community ties, and create positive interactions between first responders and the neighborhoods they serve. The club's mission includes mentoring young people and giving back through outreach events and charitable efforts. 

Join host Manny Guzman as they discuss:

• Growing up and the influences that shaped Scott's life
• His transition from the Cook County Sheriff's Office to CPD
• The challenges and rewards of a career in law enforcement
• The mission and impact of the Chicago Police Soccer Club
• Building trust through sports and community engagement
• Brotherhood, leadership, family, and service

This episode is about more than soccer and policing—it's about using your platform to make a difference and proving that service extends far beyond the uniform.

Listen now and discover what it truly means to live a life of Duty Beyond Duty.

#DutyBeyondDuty #ChicagoPolice #ChicagoPoliceSoccerClub #CPDSoccer #CookCountySheriff #CommunityPolicing #LawEnforcement #Chicago #FirstResponders #SoccerForChange #ServiceBeforeSelf

n this special Memorial Day episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Sergeant Nick Cervantes, a United States Marine Corps veteran and Chicago Police Sergeant, for a powerful conversation about leadership, service, sacrifice, and remembrance.

Nick shares his journey from his early years and decision to join the Marine Corps, to the lessons of discipline and brotherhood that shaped him as a leader. He opens up about transitioning from military service to law enforcement, the realities of policing in Chicago, and what it means to lead officers in today's challenging environment.

As Memorial Day approaches, the conversation takes a deeper turn as Nick reflects on the true meaning of the holiday, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation and our communities. Together, Manny and Nick discuss the importance of remembering the fallen, supporting Gold Star families, and preserving the legacy of those who gave everything.

The episode also pays tribute to the late William Betancourt, a respected leader, mentor, teammate, and friend whose impact continues to be felt throughout the Chicago Police Department. Through personal stories, leadership lessons, and heartfelt memories, Nick and Manny reflect on the lasting influence Deputy Chief Betancourt had on those fortunate enough to serve alongside him.

This episode is about more than uniforms and rank. It's about purpose, leadership, brotherhood, legacy, and the responsibility we all share to remember those who came before us.

🇺🇸 Honor the Fallen. Support the Living. Never Forget.

🎧 Follow Duty Beyond Duty on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this powerful episode of Duty Beyond Duty, host Manny Guzman sits down with Jose Hernandez, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and senior leader with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), to explore a lifetime of service, leadership, and family.

Jose shares where he was born and raised, what his childhood was like, and the early influences that shaped his values and decision to join the U.S. Army. He walks us through his early years in uniform, the moment he chose to pursue a commission as an officer, and how leadership evolved throughout his career. Jose reflects on his time as an officer, including deployments, command responsibilities, and the weight of leading Soldiers.

After retirement, Jose didn’t step away from service. He explains his current role with AAFES, how the mission continues in a new form, and why supporting Soldiers and their families remains personal. The conversation also dives into life beyond the uniform—being a husband and father, balancing duty with family, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

This episode is a testament to leadership that doesn’t end at retirement—and a reminder that duty never truly retires.

Culver City Police Detective James Thomas shares his journey from Army officer to mental health responder — balancing discipline, compassion, and service. Hosted by Manny Guzman, this episode of Duty Beyond Duty explores resilience, leadership, and the calling to serve beyond the uniform.