{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Steve Villegas - On My Block & S.W.A.T.","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/steve-villegas-on-my-block-s-w-a-t","audioUrl":"https://anchor.fm/s/b319574/podcast/play/117214107/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-20%2F420416535-44100-2-3d30f15a6d683.mp3","description":"On My Block & S.W.A.T. Star Steve Villegas: No BS Episode DescriptionActor Steve Louis Villegas (known for \"Sad Eyes\" on Netflix's On My Block and recurring roles on CBS's S.W.A.T.) joins Jhae Pfenning in the Hard Parking Pod studio right after the Lowrider Show for a raw, no-holds-barred conversation. From grinding as a background extra, balancing family life with auditions, to landing major recurring gigs without changing who he is, Steve breaks down Hollywood's real side—including fake friendships, influencer dominance, typecasting, and AI threatening background work. He stays grounded, refuses to kiss ass, and shares what drives him as a father while still chasing meaningful opportunities.Chapters00:00 – Studio Intro & Lowrider Show Arrival02:16 – Catching Up & First Meeting Memories05:19 – Fame, Humility & Fan Interactions10:42 – Origin Story & Early Inspiration15:47 – Breaking In: Background Work & SAG Journey23:59 – Key Connections & Church Networking30:36 – Landing On My Block & S.W.A.T. Breakthrough35:52 – On-Set Stories & Table Reads45:00+ – Hollywood Realities: Fake vs. Real, Social Media Shift1:33:31 – What's Next, Family Focus & Closing ThoughtsAbout Steve VillegasSteve Louis Villegas is best known for \"Sad Eyes\" on On My Block and Marcos Guzman on S.W.A.T.. A dedicated father active in the lowrider scene, he remains one of the most authentic voices in acting today.IMDb | InstagramShows & Movies DiscussedOn My Block (Netflix)S.W.A.T. (CBS)The Tax Collector (2020)ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: patreon.com/hardparkingpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParking\n"},"annotations":[{"startTime":19.6,"endTime":21.4,"type":"brand","title":"Toyota","url":"/glossary/toyota","quote":"Toyota to Scottsdale, Arizona.\nI'm your host, Jay Fitting, recording from my home studio","canonicalId":"brand:toyota","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Toyota is a major Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing reliable and popular vehicles worldwide. 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Lowriders are a significant part of car culture, especially in certain communities.","simplifiedExplanation":"A Lowrider show is a car event where people show off cars that can go up and down or have special looks, usually old American cars that have been changed to look cool."}},{"startTime":1501.8,"endTime":1505.8,"type":"concept","title":"Purge","url":"/glossary/purge","quote":"\"It was like purge time. I don't remember when purge was, but I know purge is after that. It was a little bit after purge.\"","canonicalId":"concept:purge","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Purge refers to The Purge film series, which is known for its dystopian themes and action sequences. Though not primarily automotive-focused, it is sometimes referenced in pop culture discussions involving cars or action movies.","simplifiedExplanation":"Purge is the name of a movie series about a night when all crime is legal. It sometimes comes up when people talk about action movies with cars."}},{"startTime":2226.2,"endTime":2230.3,"type":"concept","title":"S.W.A.T.","url":"/glossary/s-w-a-t","quote":"But it was like crazy because I'm like at a headquarters of SWAT. Like I'm in an actual studio where they have the set of SWAT.","canonicalId":"concept:s-w-a-t","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"S.W.A.T. stands for Special Weapons and Tactics, a specialized law enforcement unit in the United States known for handling high-risk operations. It is also the title of a popular TV series and film franchise centered around such a unit.","simplifiedExplanation":"S.W.A.T. is a special police team that deals with dangerous situations. There's also a TV show called S.W.A.T. about these officers."}},{"startTime":4867.58,"endTime":4869.58,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Bel Air","url":"/cars/chevrolet/bel-air","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/1955-1957_Chevrolet_Bel_Air_in_the_SunRice_Festival_parade_in_Pine_Ave.jpg","quote":"...'t have to audition for this role that I got  for Bel Air, the show Bel Air.  And I just, I just took it.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:bel-air","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Bel Air is a classic American car model produced primarily in the 1950s and early 1960s, known for its distinctive styling and cultural significance as an icon of mid-century automotive design. It is often discussed for its collectible value and its role in automotive history as a symbol of post-war prosperity and style.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevrolet Bel Air is an old car made by Chevrolet, popular in the 1950s. 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It's a car you can count on to start and run well all the time."}},{"startTime":5900.319999999999,"endTime":5904.54,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Impala","url":"/cars/chevrolet/impala","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/1961_Chevrolet_Impala_convertible_in_San_Francisco.jpg","quote":"But yeah, I like Impala's, Impala's are nice. The bombers are nice.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:impala","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size car produced by Chevrolet, known for its classic American styling and popularity especially in the mid-20th century. It is often appreciated for its spacious interior and smooth ride.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevrolet Impala is a big car made by Chevrolet. People like it because it's comfortable and looks classic.","imageAttribution":"Dllu (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":5923.4,"endTime":5925.2,"type":"car","title":"Porsche 911","url":"/cars/porsche/911","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/2013_Porsche_911_Carrera_4S_%28991%29_%289626546987%29.jpg","quote":"That and I guess a car would be like, I've always liked the Porsches. Okay.","canonicalId":"car:porsche:911","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car known for its distinctive design, rear-engine layout, and strong performance. It is a symbol of the Porsche brand and has been in continuous production with various updates since the 1960s.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Porsche 911 is a sporty car made by Porsche. It's well known for being fast and having a unique shape.","imageAttribution":"David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)"}},{"startTime":6752.1,"endTime":6753.9,"type":"brand","title":"Honda","url":"/glossary/honda","quote":"One of the things, right Honda and right Toyota,","canonicalId":"brand:honda","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Honda is a major Japanese automotive manufacturer known for reliable and efficient cars and motorcycles. It also owns the Acura luxury brand.","simplifiedExplanation":"Honda is a company that makes cars and motorcycles. They are known for making vehicles that last a long time and don't use too much gas."}},{"startTime":6759.2,"endTime":6760.3,"type":"brand","title":"Acura","url":"/glossary/acura","quote":"Auto Cannon officially licensed Honda and Acura Gear,","canonicalId":"brand:acura","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Honda, offering premium cars with advanced technology and performance features.","simplifiedExplanation":"Acura is a brand that makes fancy and more expensive cars. It's part of the Honda company."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jhae Pfenning","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/steve-villegas-on-my-block-s-w-a-t/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}