Jessy Ruiz is back with Asphalt on Radiante FM

Jessy Ruiz, entrepreneur and entertainer, is back with her English-language radio show Asphalt in Puerto Vallarta on Radiante FM, 98.3.

Jessy has joined the ranks of CPS Media (disclaimer note: CPS Media is the parent company of Radiante FM, TV Mar and Tribune Travel). She is currently an anchorperson at CPS Noticias, the morning news show on TV Mar.

However, her talents go well beyond presenting news, and she has put them to good use. This Saturday, June 3, she is kicking off Asphalt, her all-English radio show on Radiante FM. Produced by popular radio host and producer Juan Carlos Díaz, aka JC, Asphalt will air every Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Aimed at the English-speaking population of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, the show will be two hours filled with the contagious energy of Jessy.

We talked to her the day before her air debut in an interview. The talk was fun, full of insights into Jessy’s life and work. Today, we are bringing you the first part, the one with Jessy’s more professional side (cue to “I’ll be there for you”). In a few days, you will find a more up-close-and-personal approach to Jessy.

So, without further ado, here is Jessy Ruiz.

TT: We are here today with Jessy Ruiz, and the first question we all have is, who is Jessy Ruiz?

JR: Hi, it’s me, I’m Jessy Ruiz! I don’t know what you want to know about me. I am a business owner with my husband, we have a furniture store. But before that, I studied marketing and communications in the US in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I worked there in Telemundo for a little bit in an entertainment segment, and then a show. And then I was a weather girl.  And then I created events over there, mostly fashion shows. It was really fun! Later, I decided to come back to Mexico. We opened up a couple of businesses that were not successful, but then the furniture store, you know, is doing very well.

Then, I decided, now that we’re settled, let me just do my thing. I want to get into radio. I’ve been wanting to do a radio show for the longest time since I was in the US, and I wasn’t able to. Radio is my love. I like it a lot.

TT: Yeah, you look like fish in the water. Now tell me, why are we talking here today, Jessy?

JR: Well, I want to tell you all about Asphalt. It’s an all-English radio show in Puerto Vallarta, I think it was due here a while back. There are a lot of people that speak English here, and they don’t have a local source to listen to.

I mean, they have stuff to read. They have stuff on the internet, on Facebook. There’s a lot of things going on. But there’s not an FM radio station that has a radio show.

TT: No, that’s right. So, Asphalt is coming!

JR: Asphalt is coming, tomorrow! That would be Saturday, June 3rd from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and then every Saturday.

TT: That’s great! Now, where does the name Asphalt come from?

JR: Well, Asphalt is because I used to be a Harley girl, I like motorcycles too. And the roads are appealing to me, I guess.  I don’t have a motorcycle anymore because I fell and had a really bad accident, so, I’m afraid of riding one now.

TT: I’m sorry to hear that.

JR: But me listening to classic rock and being on a bike, asphalt reminds me of that. That’s why the show is called Asphalt.

TT: How was the concept of Asphalt born? How did you think about it, just this kind of show that you’re making?

JR: Well, I noticed that here in Vallarta there was the need for something to bring the community together. And I also noticed that a lot of the people that live here, they like classic rock. And I thought, well, let’s just do a radio show that has classic rock and roll. There’s a little bit of news so that people know what’s going on in Vallarta.

And so, I had it in my mind cooking for a while until I had the opportunity to put it all together.

TT: I know Asphalt has been in existence for some time now, but something is happening, a moment of transition. What is the moment Asphalt is living?

JR: The first time Asphalt went on the air was like a pilot show, just to be tested. We tested out the market, we tested out how people would react to it. And people loved it! They loved it!  And we had a month’s break because we’re moving this bigger and better radio station. Now I’m getting people excited about it and everyone’s happy and eager to listen to it again. We’ve had three weeks of break.

And then we’re going to be on the radio again tomorrow! Everyone’s eager to listen to what’s going on, especially the people that are kind of bored because it’s summer and there’s not much to do, and it’s really hot outside.

TT: I hear you!

JR: But also, the people that left and are in Canada or the US and they’re missing Vallarta and they want to listen to the show to see what’s going on.

TT: That’s great. There’s the beauty of the newest technology, they can listen to you anytime, anywhere. Now tell me, how do you envision Asphalt in a year’s time? Where do you want to take the show to?

JR: Well, I really want this show to create a community.  I think it’s fulfilling the effect of a community because people talk about it and when they come into the show to visit me, it’s exciting for them and it’s great that they’re on the radio and other people talk about them.

In a year from now, I still want new people to come into Asphalt and talk about their life, and I want it to expand. I want businesses to know about it.

I want people outside of Vallarta to know about it.  I think from a two-hour show, in a year, it’s going to become a longer show. I’m even thinking, gosh, we need a radio station that just has English, everything, you know?

TT: You mentioned community at the beginning of your reply. That’s my next question. How does Asphalt fit into Vallarta’s expat community?

JR: Oh, it fits so well. I mean, it’s directed to them, just because they have the same likes I do. As I said, they like classic rock. They like bikes. They like to eat and drink like I do. So, it’s directed to them. And we talk a lot about events and leisure stuff, activities that we can do while we are here.

And not only that, but it also talks about information like health and real estate, stuff that you need to know if you live here. It’s important information that is available for people to listen to so that they can feel at home faster.

To be continued…