What was supposed to be the perfect Puerto Rico birthday getaway quickly turned into a 12-hour JetBlue travel nightmare—and somehow still became one of our favorite vacations ever.

This week on Soft Launch, we're recapping our trip from New York to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, celebrating JC's birthday, surviving multiple JetBlue flight delays, getting stranded in Orlando, Florida, and finally discovering why Puerto Rico's west coast might be one of the best-kept travel secrets in the Caribbean.

We share everything from airport chaos and first-class drama to snorkeling with sea turtles, exploring Crash Boat Beach, Peña Blanca, Jobos Beach, hidden waterfalls, giant iguanas, shark empanadas, and the unexpectedly hilarious moments that only seem to happen when we travel together. We also talk about getting recognized by listeners on the beach, why Aguadilla completely changed the way we think about Puerto Rico, and how our most memorable moments came from slowing down instead of rushing through an itinerary.

Whether you're planning a Puerto Rico vacation, searching for Aguadilla travel recommendations, wondering if JetBlue delays are really that bad, or just looking for a funny relationship podcast to laugh along with, this episode has you covered.

In this episode we cover:

• JetBlue's 12-hour flight delay and getting stranded in Orlando
• Flying from New York to Puerto Rico for JC's birthday
• Why Aguadilla is our new favorite destination in Puerto Rico
• Peña Blanca, Crash Boat Beach, and Jobos Beach
• Hidden waterfalls, rope swings, and mountain driving
• Sea turtles, giant iguanas, and shark empanadas
• Getting recognized by listeners while on vacation
• Traveling as a couple and finding the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation
• Why this became one of our favorite trips ever

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Soft Launch on Spotify, leave us a 5-star rating, and share the show with someone who's planning a trip to Puerto Rico, loves travel stories, or enjoys comedy podcasts about relationships, vacations, and everyday chaos.

Keywords: Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Puerto Rico, JetBlue, JetBlue flight delays, Puerto Rico travel, Aguadilla beaches, Crash Boat Beach, Jobos Beach, Peña Blanca, Orlando Florida, New York travel, birthday trip, travel podcast, relationship podcast, comedy podcast, Soft Launch Podcast.

The World Cup, Argentina, Messi, Spain, Christopher Nolan, and The Odyssey — somehow, Samantha Santos and JC Mendoza manage to connect all of it in one episode.

On this episode of Soft Launch, Samantha and JC get into their very different relationships with movies, Christopher Nolan, and the upcoming The Odyssey. JC tries to convince Samantha to take cinema seriously, while Samantha explains why she has absolutely no interest in Christopher Nolan movies — until a gay man recommends The Odyssey and suddenly she's willing to reconsider. The conversation also takes a turn into comedy, fame, sexism, sexual harassment, and how the Me Too movement changed the comedy industry. Then, in Aight So Boom, they discuss the World Cup, Spain vs. Argentina, Lionel Messi, sports fandom, and why people can't seem to enjoy a soccer game without turning it into a political debate. Plus, they look back at the excitement of the World Cup taking over New York City before heading off on vacation.

In this episode:
• Christopher Nolan and The Odyssey
• Why Samantha hates Inception
• Getting your partner to watch movies they don't want to see
• Comedy, fame, and creepy behavior in the industry
• Women in comedy before and after the Me Too movement
• Spain vs. Argentina in the World Cup
• Lionel Messi and the politics of sports fandom
• Why everything online has to become a moral debate
• The World Cup taking over New York City
• Vacation plans and what's next for Soft Launch

🎧 Listen to Soft Launch wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Samantha Santos: [makemelaughsam]
Follow JC Mendoza: [peachfuzzpapi]
Follow Soft Launch Podcast: [softlaunchpodcast]

If you enjoyed the episode, follow the podcast and leave a rating or review — it helps more people discover Soft Launch.

This week on Soft Launch, we're talking about everything that's made this season unforgettable: Jay-Z's Yankee Stadium residency, the Love Island USA Season 8 finale, and why New York City has been buzzing all summer long.

We also get personal as Samantha shares why she's heading back to therapy, we laugh through the realities of getting older, obsess over our rescue dog Evie (who has us performing full comedy sets just to get her to eat), and debate whether JC should be allowed to sing his way through the streets of NYC.

It's pop culture, relationships, marriage, mental health, reality TV, and the completely unhinged conversations you'd expect from two comedians who happen to be married.

New episodes of Soft Launch drop every week. Follow the show and join the conversation.