Q&A: Luis Hernandez on His New Gig with Public’s Radio

Photograph courtesy of Luis Hernandez.

If you’re itching to make a big life change, look to Luis Hernandez for inspiration. Last fall, at age fifty, the veteran radio host and journalist relocated to Rhode Island from Florida after accepting a job at the Public’s Radio.

What drew you to the position at the Public’s Radio?  

I was previously in Miami for eight years hosting a talk show at the public radio station there, and it was great. But it was one of those relationships that had to come to an end, and I’m glad it did because you get to a point where you think, “There’s no more growth here.” I was rethinking my life and I had a moment of true midlife crisis. There were a lot of different opportunities that came up, but when I saw the one in Providence, something clicked, mostly because of who runs the station: Torey Malatia. He’s a very influential name in the business and I understood that working for someone like Torey was going to give me an opportunity to really grow and see what I’m capable of. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my twenty-plus-year career.

Rhode Island is completely new to you. So far, what are your impressions of the state?

Coming from Florida, I had to get used to the weather here, obviously. Before I moved, I kept hearing that everyone in New England kind of keeps to themselves, but I’ve got to say, people have been so nice. One thing that has been a real challenge is learning how to pronounce names of some places. The first time I had to read Matunuck Oysters on air, I totally botched it, and we got emails about it. I also messed up Woonsocket for the first time, and I know I mispronounce Glocester. But I’m learning.

What types of stories do you want to bring to Rhode Islanders?

In general, as a host, you don’t have a specific beat; you get to talk about everything. But some of the bigger topics that I love to cover are education and the environment. One thing that has surprised me is how big the Latin community is in Rhode Island and how fast it’s growing.  For years, I’ve been trying to reach out to that community, which is my own community, and convince them that public radio is a great resource for them. I want them to know that this could be a place for them to have a voice.

When you’re not on the air, what do you like to do?

I was an art major in college. I thought I was going to be an animator for Disney, and then I discovered the radio station on campus. The pandemic got me back into art, and I’ve been drawing and painting again. It’s a meditation for me. I also like to write fiction, which I’ve been mostly self-publishing. When I turned fifty and had that midlife crisis, I created a whole list of things I want to do. Now I’m working my way through it. There’s a lot that Rhode Island has to offer that I’ve never tried, and I’m ready for it.