I’m Angel Rodriguez, lifelong New Yorker, Boricua from the Bronx, Air Force veteran, and the guy behind NYCTalking.
I started this site years ago as a place to talk about real life in the city: the everyday stuff, the hard stuff, the funny stuff, and the things most people only say out loud to close friends. No corporate polish. No trying to be someone I’m not. Just an average guy from New York sharing what’s on his mind.
I’ve been featured on Netflix, FOX 5, NPR, HLN, NatGeo, MTV, HOT 97, and NY1. I’ve written for places like HuffPost, Latino Rebels, and NatGeo. Along the way I also created the GrowingUpBronx blog and launched the NYCTalking Podcast, where I sit down with interesting people and have the kind of conversations I actually want to hear.
I’m Puerto Rican, raised in the Bronx, and still call New York home. I’ve gone through my own transformation from nearly 300 pounds and struggling with my health to becoming a group fitness instructor who takes both physical and mental health seriously. I’ve also released music, trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and spent years working in tech while writing and talking on the side.
This site is where all of that comes together. You’ll find personal stories, rants, reviews, reflections on mental health and fitness, and episodes of the podcast. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to figure life out while living in one of the most intense cities in the world, you’re in the right place.
Thanks for being here.
Angel
Contact / Media Inquiries
arodomus@gmail.com