Hey, everyone listening to The Beat Podcast.

This is Ari Melbert.

And as you can tell, because I'm addressing you, our podcast listeners directly, this is another podcast extra.

I've heard you like it when we go deep and share more in some of our special conversations.

And this one, I think, is pretty interesting.

You're about to hear me sitting down for a podcast, long, in-depth with a Grammy-winning Colombian singer and reggaeton star

J Balvin. I just saw him perform, actually, in New York. Now the concerts are coming back,

and he had everybody going crazy. We're discussing in this interview, his 22, including something

that he thinks people need to hear around the world, that COVID is no joke. He says it almost killed him.

And he is pushing not only for people to get vaccinated, but around the world where inequities are an issue,

he's pushing for vaccine access, a big issue in the developing world.

We also discuss his quadruple platinum album, his new album, Jose, which is out just this fall.

And a lot of what he does in talking about advocacy for mental health and destigmatizing the fact that everyone goes through things. He talks about, obviously, he's had an interesting and successful young life, and yet he battles with mental health challenges and engages that. And so that's a part of the conversation I really appreciated. Boy, we all lived through a lot over the last year and a half, so some of it may resonate with you. And if you want to connect with me, you can always find me online at a.melber or Ari Melburgh.com. As I've mentioned to you guys, you can pick my free newsletter, pick the free option at R.A.melber.com, and you can subscribe to my newsletter, and I'll email you in your inbox. As for the podcast Extra, here it is our special guest, Jay Baldwin.

Welcome to The Beat with Ari Melbur.

We have something very special today.

Jay Baldwin is here.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you, man.

I appreciate it.

I'm grateful to be here.

Such an honor to be here with you, you know.

I know you know a lot about music.

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