The BoricuaBC2 Network

In this eye-opening episode, the Boricua BC2 Show, Bill Cancel welcomes renowned Harvard historian Professor Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra to discuss the shared, often overlooked history between Latin America and the United States. With a refreshing and profound perspective, Professor Cañizares challenges dominant historical narratives, debunks cultural myths, and highlights the powerful, mutual influence between North and South America across politics, religion, race, and identity.
 
Professor Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra is a distinguished historian at the University of Texas at Austin and a faculty affiliate at Harvard. His expertise spans colonialism, religion, identity, and the Atlantic world, with a special focus on the often-forgotten role Latin America plays in shaping the modern Western Hemisphere.
 
Expect to Learn:
How Latin America shaped early American identity and democratic values
The racial and cultural misconceptions that persist about Latinos
Why the history of Latin America is deeply entangled with US history
The surprising religious and political transformations across the Americas
A call for unity and a retelling of American history grounded in shared experiences
 
 Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:
[00:00] - Introduction to Professor Jorge
[02:14] - How Latin America Shaped American Identity
[06:45] - The Biggest Misconceptions About Latin America
[09:46] - Language, Religion, and the MAGA Movement
[12:35] - Cultural Contributions Beyond Immigration
[15:54] - Is Today Different from the Past?.
[19:47] - The Problem with How Latin History Is Taught in the US
[22:29] - Who Belongs in America? A Shifting Narrative
[25:36] - Religion and Politics Across the Americas
[28:28] - If We Knew Better: How Understanding Latin History Changes Everything
[32:15] - A Message to America: We Share More Than We Think
 
Follow the Guest, Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CuYGQdgAAAAJ&hl=en 
X: https://x.com/JorgeCaizaresE2 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jorge.canizares.16/ 
 
Follow the Host, Bill Cancel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancelbill/ 
Website: https://www.theboricuabc2show.com/ 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boricuabc2.bsky.social
Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0j6soWAazqs8DJTJJ9FsZr
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boricuabc2-show/id1802890213
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Boricuabc2

In this episode of The BoricuaBC2 Show, host Bill Cancel is joined by Scott Greytak, a leading anti-corruption attorney and policy expert, for a wide-ranging conversation on how corruption actually works in today’s world and why it directly impacts everyday Americans.
Scott breaks down how dirty money moves through global and U.S. systems, why the United States has become a major destination for illicit finance, and how weakened democratic norms accelerate corruption. 
 
Scott Greytak is the Director of Advocacy for Transparency International, the American chapter of the world’s largest anti-corruption watchdog. He leads federal advocacy efforts focused on corporate transparency, illicit finance, foreign influence, and anti–money laundering reforms. Scott played a key role in advancing some of the most significant U.S. anti-corruption laws in decades, including the Corporate Transparency Act.
 
Expect to Learn
What corruption really means and how it shows up beyond headline scandals
Why the U.S. is a top destination for dirty money
How shell companies enable global corruption and money laundering
Why enforcement matters more than laws alone
How weakened democratic institutions fuel corruption and public distrust
The real risks of foreign money influencing U.S. politics
How technology, crypto, and AI are reshaping both corruption and accountability
What structural reform would have the biggest impact on corruption in America
 
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps
[00:00] - Introduction to Scott Greytak and Transparency International
[04:25] - What corruption really is and how it impacts everyday life
[07:22] - How Transparency International turns findings into real-world action
[12:44] - Why the Corporate Transparency Act matters more than people realize
[18:52] - Shell companies, dirty money, and why enforcement is falling short
[23:10] - Foreign influence, lobbying, and dark money in U.S. politics
[28:56] - Public distrust, democratic decline, and the perception of corruption
[35:09] - The single biggest structural weakness enabling corruption in the U.S.
 
Follow the Guest, Scott: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgreytak/
Company’s Website: https://us.transparency.org/
Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transparency-international/
 
Follow the Host, Bill Cancel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancelbill/ 
Website: https://www.theboricuabc2show.com/ 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boricuabc2.bsky.social
Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0j6soWAazqs8DJTJJ9FsZr
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boricuabc2-show/id1802890213
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Boricuabc2