Claim OwnershipSweet or Savory with Alyssa and AJ Rafael
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© Alyssa and AJ Rafael
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Who doesn’t love a good friendly debate? In each episode, Alyssa and AJ dive deep into fun, controversial topics like - is peanut butter sweet or savory? Is a hotdog a sandwich? Can you be friends with your ex? Get ready to laugh, cry, and listen to these two talk through passionate conversations. Follow us on social media @sweetorsavorypod.
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This week’s episode of Sweet or Savory was recorded LIVE as we celebrated 4 years of the pod at Cafe 86 in West Covina!It was so cool finally meeting some of our sweets and savories in real life! We got real-time hot takes from guests on the questions that started it all… Is peanut butter sweet or savory? And can you really be friends with your ex?Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us. Cheers to 4 more years of Sweet or Savory 🥂
This week we dive into the movie Eternity and let the game We’re Not Really Strangers take us somewhere real — asking questions like “What is hurting you right now?” and “How do our personalities actually mesh?” 🫶🏽 Sometimes the deepest conversations happen when you least expect them, and this episode definitely went there.Also… we’re celebrating 4 YEARS of the podcast 🥹🎉 Come hang with us at our Meet & Greet on Feb 22 at Cafe 86 in West Covina — we’d love to see your faces, take pics, and say thank you for being part of this journey.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts📍 Meet & Greet: Feb 22, 2PM-5PM — Cafe 86, West Covina
This week on Sweet or Savory, we’re joined by the incredible Josh Dela Cruz—actor, singer, Broadway performer, and the beloved host of Blue's Clues & You. One of our most wholesome episodes yet!Josh opens up about his journey from growing up Filipino American on the East Coast to starring on Broadway (Aladdin, Here Lies Love), and ultimately becoming the first Filipino American host of one of the most iconic children’s shows of all time. We talk about representation, family sacrifice, theater life, and what it means to unexpectedly become a role model for kids (and parents 👀) around the world.Plus, we get into Filipino culture, community, identity, and—of course—Josh weighs in on the ultimate debate: is peanut butter sweet or savory?This episode is heartfelt, funny, nostalgic, and full of moments that’ll make you smile. You’re going to fall in love with Josh all over again.🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share!
In this episode, we cover:• What not to say to a pregnant woman• The do’s and don’ts of pregnancy announcements• AJ’s appearance in Wonder ManIf you’re expecting, supporting someone who is, or just trying not to be that person — this one’s for you.
In this episode of Sweet or Savory, we’re answering your most-asked questions after sharing our pregnancy announcement! Alyssa opens up about how she’s been feeling physically and emotionally, her first symptoms, cravings, and what traveling, touring, and being in Japan while pregnant was really like.We cover the questions everyone’s been asking: Was it planned or a surprise? How did we find out? Do we know the gender? Do we have names picked out? How are the dogs reacting?We also walk through telling our family and friends, and share some of the best reactions that we’ll be posting soon.Thank you for all the love, messages, and thoughtful questions. We’re so grateful to share this moment with you, sweets and savories.
Happy 2026 🥂We didn’t expect to start the new year like this — but here we are.In this episode, we talk about our recent podcast clips going viral from the power of Bretman Rock, how it feels watching conversations take on a life of their own online, and the wild differences in reactions across platforms. Then we shift gears and share our 2026 vision boards — what we’re manifesting, what we’re slowing down on, and what we’re prioritizing this year, from creativity and career goals to health, finances, and intentional living.It’s a shorter episode, but a real one. Thanks for being here, whether you’ve been listening since day one or just found us through a viral clip.Stay sweet or savory 💛
In our final episode of the year, we’re reflecting on it all. We talk about our New Year’s wishes and expectations, look back on our episode with Bretman Rock, and recap how our Christmas tour went—highs, lessons, and everything in between. We also dive into parasocial relationships and what it means to connect with an audience in the age of the internet. A cozy, honest way to close out the year. ❤️
DA BADDEST has entered the chat. And honestly, he needs no introduction but in case you’ve been living under a ROCK…Our guest on the pod is singer, songwriter, actor, athlete, activist, occasional scientist on the mf side, star of Crystal of the Day, coconut connoisseur, and cultural icon himself… Bretman Rock.Bretman been our most requested guest since we started this podcast. In this episode, Bretman gets real with us about childhood trauma, growth, healing, and the moments that shaped who he is today. He also spills some tea on the best and worst celebrities he’s ever met, and of course, we put him through all the classic Sweet or Savory questions. Including the ultimate one… can you be friends with your ex?
Podcast uploaded straight from our hotel room bed in Waikiki 🌺We’re in Hawai‘i getting ready for the Our Little Christmas tour (Blue Note Hawaii on 12/4, Blue Note Napa on 12/11, and Dynasty Typewriter on 12/14), Huge thank you to Hawaiian Airlines for taking such good care of us for tour!In this episode, we reminisce about the times we’ve seen our moms experience rage (kinda), share some unhinged childhood stories, and AJ opens up about his most embarrassing fan interactions. Tune in!
The studio FLOODED… and survived! This week, we’re back in our space after AJ’s heroic battle with a hairline crack, one confused True Value employee, and a tube of black caulk he very confidently asked for out loud. From there, the chaos only escalates.Alyssa recaps Girls’ Night™️, where her PR shelf was raided with Olympic-level enthusiasm, while AJ explains how he accidentally gave away ✨seven✨ LabuBoos because the kids at Cousinsgiving kept winning (and because he has a soft heart and no self-control).We also break down everything that goes into self-producing a tour — the hotels, flights, commissions, merch, the budget stress, and why we do it anyway. And yes… we hint at some big Rafael family updates we can’t share yet.We wrap with excited updates about the new Christmas music we recorded this week (hello, Troy Laureta magic), and a reminder to grab tickets for Hawaii, Napa, and LA before the shows hit next week.It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s very us.Stay sweet… or savory.
This week, AJ, Alyssa, and Justine recap our wild night at the Dancing With The Stars taping — and yes, it was Prince Night. 💜We’re not in our usual studio (it semi-flooded from the rain 😭), but we still dive into the behind-the-scenes moments the cameras don’t show, what it’s really like sitting right behind the judges, and the hilarious shock of suddenly being on TV.Spoiler warning: we do talk about the dances and results!A quick, chaotic sibling breakdown of an unforgettable night in the ballroom. ✨
This week, we’re joined by the incredible Macy Schmidt — Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Tony-nominated music director, orchestrator, and founder of The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra transforming the sound of Broadway and beyond.Macy shares how her dream began with a fireworks show at Disney World, the challenges of breaking into a historically male-dominated field, and the journey of building a business that uplifts and empowers women in music. We talk about her biggest career highlights, how leading massive productions all started with a cold-pitch email, and her surprising take on the question: can you be friends with your ex?http://instagram.com/macyjschmidthttp://instagram.com/thesinfonietta
Filipino balladeer Christian Bautista joins Alyssa & AJ to talk about OPM, Josh Groban, musicals, and learning to find peace in the hustle — plus a hilarious PB&J challenge you don’t want to miss.In this episode, we sit down with OPM legend Christian Bautista — the voice behind “The Way You Look at Me” — for a heartwarming and hilarious conversation about his 20+ years in music, growing up in church choirs, his viral “Josh Groban” moment, and the power of faith and family through it all. We talk about how Filipino TV shaped a generation of singers (including us!), his dream role in Moulin Rouge, why he’s learned not to “break every door” in life, and yes — whether he’s Team Sweet or Team Savory when it comes to peanut butter.It’s part nostalgia trip, part life lesson, and all-around Sweet or Savory goodness.
This week on Sweet or Savory, we’re joined by our good friend Albert Posis — Filipino R&B singer, songwriter, and OG YouTube artist — fresh off the release of his brand new album! We dive into the old school YouTube days, the pressure (and guilt) of disappointing your parents while chasing a creative dream, and yes… the art of making the perfect peanut butter and ube sandwich. It’s a nostalgic, funny, and heartfelt convo about music, family, and finding your flavor.
This week we’re catching up with our good friend Alex Aiono! We talk about his new music, the old YouTube days when he seemed to go viral every other week, and what it was like to step away from music to focus on acting and self-growth.Alex gets real about creativity, taking breaks, and what it’s like being friends with your ex (yes, we go there 👀). It’s a nostalgic, funny, and honest conversation between friends who’ve grown up online—filled with reflection, laughter, and heart.Grab a snack (sweet or savory) and join us for an episode that feels like a late-night catch-up with old friends.
Our sister Justine Rafael joins us this week for one of our most unhinged and family-filled episodes yet 😅 We catch up on life—starting with our mom’s new beach house 🏖️ (yes, we’re already planning family karaoke nights there). Then we dive into stories about our stepbrothers and stepdad, share hilarious sibling memories, and somehow end up dissecting The Summer I Turned Pretty finale like it’s a college thesis 🌊Of course, it wouldn’t be a Rafael family convo without a little chaos—so we round it out with unfiltered thoughts on the new Taylor Swift album 🎶 and some truly random “unhinged questions” for Justine that had us crying laughing. Equal parts nostalgia, pop culture, and sibling therapy—you don’t wanna miss this one ❤️
AJ is officially unallergic to dairy again (bring on the pizza and ice cream 🧀🍦) and shares what it’s like going back to church after a long time ⛪. Meanwhile, Alyssa comes armed with the most unhinged questions you could possibly imagine 🤯—the kind that make AJ laugh, sweat, and maybe rethink life choices.On top of that, we dive into our favorite road trip and date-night games 🚗🎲. From guessing games to silly categories to who-knows-what Alyssa will come up with next, you’ll basically feel like you’re in the backseat with us—minus the snack crumbs.This one’s equal parts chaos, laughs, and heart. Buckle up.
We’re back with a special episode straight from Hawai‘i! 🌺 In this one, we dive into what makes the islands so special to us, open up about dealing with haters, and share all the details on how you can see us live on our upcoming Christmas tour. A little bit of travel, a little bit of real talk, and a lot of music — tune in for the vibes!
This week, @justineyweeny joins us back on the pod! If you haven’t listened to our previous episodes Can You Be Friends With Your Ex? or Millennial vs. Gen Z, go back and catch those because Justine made appearances there — but this is her first time as a featured guest.We dive into what it was like growing up in a musical family, how she found her way from dance to musical theatre, and some traumatizing (but funny) stories from childhood — including the infamous one about how she lost her middle finger.Justine and Alyssa also bond over their love for pop culture and reality TV — from The Bachelor to Love Island to The Summer I Turned Pretty. Is she Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad? Her answer might surprise you.
This week on Sweet or Savory, we’re joined by the incredibly talented Ashley Argota Torres — actor, singer, writer, and producer.Ashley takes us back to the very beginning of her journey in entertainment, from competing in talent shows to booking her first national tour in The Lion King at age 11, where she even met Kobe Bryant. She went on to star in Nickelodeon’s True Jackson VP alongside Keke Palmer, Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures, Disney Channel’s How to Build a Better Boy, and is now writing and producing her own projects.We talk about the differences between life as a child actor and navigating the industry today, and Ashley opens up about her exclusive People article, where she shared the truth about her toxic relationship with her mom. She reflects on how becoming a mother gave her the courage to reclaim and tell her story and how that perspective continues to shape both her artistry and her life.
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