Episodes

  • OPEN Friday: April 17, 2026
    Apr 17 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by Provost and Vice President for the Office of Academic Affairs Dr. Andrea Fabrizio, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Julie Gafney to discuss the Hostos Community College Foundation’s upcoming 2026 Annual Scholarship Benefit Gala. Then, actress and producer Paige Hapeman joins the show to talk about her performance in Thoughts & Prayers happening at New York City’s Fringe Festival. After that, Director Joel Alfonso Vargas and actress Nathaly Navarro share details on the release of their new film, Mad Bills to Pay. Finally, the Open Artist Spotlight shines on singer, songwriter, and founder of Built Two Last Media, Tieasha Baker, who closes the show with her song, "Rejoice".

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: April 10, 2026
    Apr 13 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education Artistic Director Gail Heidel along with digital artist and illustrator, Ebony Bolt. They join us to talk about their upcoming exhibition Remember. Then, educator, human rights activist, and ceramic artist Esperanza Martell is here to share the inspiration behind the exhibition Arte De Terra Y Mar currently on display at Boricua College. After that, we are joined by a husband/wife duo and founders of Uptown Royalty NYC, Jodi Music and Ron Renaissance. Here to share their season of touring. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on Uptown Royalty who will be closing out the show with a 13-piece band performance.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: April 3, 2026
    Apr 6 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by choreographer, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate Rhiannon Murphy. She is here to talk about her new book, A Citizen's Handbook: Who to Call for What!? Then, filmmaker, visual director, and creative entrepreneur Dante Hillmedo joins us to tell us about his film Butterfly and his new line Lunessence Parfum. After that, the Bronx Vegan Bazaar joins us again to highlight the founder of Botanical Moment, Leticia Robinson. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on Rhiannon Murphy, who's closing out the show with a blessing and a Native American Fancy Dance.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: March 27, 2026
    Mar 27 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by artist and philosopher, Dr. Jessica Rodríguez-Colón, who is here to talk about her new book, Displacement of (M)others in Twenty-First Century US films: Impact On Maternal Identities Of "Other" Subjectivities. Next, we welcome photographer Nicole Tung to discuss her new exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. This exhibition, presented in conjunction with Foundation Carmignac, is titled Overfishing in South East Asia: An Ecological and Human Crisis. After that, dancer and actress Ilda Mason joins us to share her role in the 5-time Tony Award-winning musical Buena Vista Social Club. Finally, our Open Artist Spotlight shines on songwriter, poet, and actor, Marcus Stokes, who closes out the show with a performance of one of his original poems titled Nostalgia Ultra.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: March 20, 2026
    Mar 20 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by husband and wife duo Zalo and April Castillo, founders of Lion Chaser Media. They're here to talk about their mission to create media with purpose, power and impact. Then, the founding partners of Santu Beauty, Alicia Nogales and Angelique Van Wyk, join Rhina to talk about their sustainable beauty line. Finally, the Open Artist Spotlight shines on clown and executive director of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Keith Nelson, who shares his insights about life under the big top. Then, Keith also closes out the show with a top spinning and sword swallowing routine.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: March 13, 2026
    Mar 13 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin is joined by the 13th Commissioner of The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Rossana Rosado. Here to talk about her new book Bronx Attitude. Then, founding partners of Freedom Studios Julia Carias-Linares and Meiling Macías-Toro join Rhina to talk about their new bilingual unscripted lifestyle series Fix Mi Casa. After that, she is joined by two representatives of The Red Carpet For Social Justice Women’s Coalition to discuss this year's event. Finally, the show closes out with a tribute for Women's History Month, featuring some of The Red Carpet For Social Justice Women, representing four different countries and their cause.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: March 06, 2026
    Mar 6 2026

    First, we welcome Raidirys "Ra" Rivas Mccray, founder of The Bronx Vegan Bazaar, to discuss the highly anticipated return of the event. Next, actress and talent manager Susan Rybin joins us to break down the "ins and outs" of the industry for aspiring young performers. Then, photographers Emily Sujay Sanchez and Lex Kim stop by to highlight their new exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on Evolution—a storyteller, visual artist, and social worker—who closes the show with a powerful performance of her poem, "Iatrophobia."

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • OPEN Friday: February 27, 2026
    Feb 27 2026

    On this episode of Open Friday, host Rhina Valentin welcomes Gregory Hernandez, Executive Director of The Bronx Independent Cinema Center, and Social Media Manager Bernadette Mahoney. Then, actor, writer, and director Juan Carlos joins us to discuss his role in Stranger Things on Broadway. We also sit down with visual artist and high school teacher John Vasquez Mejia, who shares the unique storytelling style of his novelette, The Puerto Rican War. Finally, today’s Open Artist Spotlight shines on the artistic directors, choreographers, and master instructors of Spirits N Motion 3.0, who close out the show with a special spiritual dance performance.

    OPEN Friday is BronxNet’s weekly arts and entertainment show, showcasing talented artists and performers from the Bronx and the greater New York area. Hosted by Rhina Valentin.

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins