Juan Manuel Briones, a Mexico City native, has lived in the United States for 11 years, making the most of his experience serendipitously, both professionally and in his personal life.
He arrived stateside at the age of 24 and his main reason for leaving Mexico was for love. He met his wife in Mexico City while working at a dance academy and he was her chambelan for her Quinceañera. She was there visiting from the United States to have her celebration. After that, they started dating and six years later the couple finished university in their respective countries.
His wife graduated locally from the University of Nevada with a social work degree. Briones graduated from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional with a mechanical engineering degree.
After they decided to join forces, he and his wife dedicated themselves to opening a dance studio together. That dream became Stylos Dance Studio on Wells Ave. specializing in preparing participants for their Quinceañeras.
Soon after opening that business, Briones also got work translating commercials from English to Spanish for the Reno Media Group. One of their stations is Juan 101.7 FM.
“I was never going to be on a radio show initially,” he remembers. “After I started working here at the station, three months later the owner of the station asked me what I would talk about if I had my own show. I said I would like to talk about themes that interest the Hispanic community. Like services and events that help our community,” Briones says.
Briones said if he had his own show, he didn’t want to be like other radio DJs who just featured gossip. He wanted his show to be useful. One week after his response he got his show on Juan 101.7 FM.
The radio station was already named Juan long before he was there and it was pure coincidence that his name happened to be Juan as well. “I love being here, it’s like my second home. I can talk about whatever I want and my bosses don’t try to censor me,” Briones said.
His show called Juan con Juan is on Monday to Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 101.7 FM.
His goal is to be resource for the local Hispanic community and help educate people in an easy and understandable manner.
On his show, Briones tries to be as down to earth as possible and shares his experiences on the radio whenever possible, “People without even knowing me can identify with what I say behind a microphone,” he says.
Afterward, he’ll see people on the street who will tell him they’ve never tried his favorite food, tortas de tamal or that they also go for [the] Chivas [soccer team] or that they hate the Chivas. “I am the same Juan in and out of the radio that doesn’t change,” Briones says. His listeners seem to appreciate.