Sweet or Savory with Alyssa and AJ Rafael – Details, episodes & analysis

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?

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.

What if we told you that behind some of the greatest musicians in the world is a Filipino music director?

This week, we’re joined by the incredibly talented Troy Laureta: musical director, arranger, producer, and musician for some of the biggest names in the business — from Ariana Grande, David Foster, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli to Filipino icons like Regine Velasquez.

Troy shares his journey as a Filipino American artist, including how his whole family moved from Hawaii to California to pursue the Hollywood dream. He opens up about what it’s really like working at the highest levels of the music industry, how his heritage continues to inspire his work, and the journey of embracing his identity and truly finding himself in his 30s.

We also dive into the creative process behind arranging and producing, the unforgettable moments from his career, and his new album Harana: The Sound of Us — a heartfelt tribute to Filipino music (featuring AJ!).

It’s just us this week! 🎙 For the first time in a while, we’re doing a solo pod to catch you up on everything we’ve been up to — and we’re so glad you’ve been loving all of our incredible guests lately.

We recap about how we got to moderate Kaila Yu’s Fetishized book launch at Barnes & Noble, discuss the update on Maybe Happy Ending casting, and we open up about our own journeys  with therapy. We also tease our upcoming Christmas tour… please come!!!🎄🎶

This week, we’re joined by the powerhouse band Siren Society — who you might recognize from Netflix’s Building the Band! 🎶 We chat about how we first met, the epic jam session we hosted at our house, and all the behind-the-scenes tea on what it was really like filming the show.They share how each of them was cast, what it’s like stepping into this new chapter together, and their big plans for the future. And don’t miss our PJB sandwich segment… Vegemite sandwiches made their debut and it was unlike anything we’ve ever done before.Stream their debut single “If It Was Me” now, and pre-save their brand-new single “Stand” dropping August 22!