00:00 Mariachi music has a long history and has faced challenges in gaining respect and recognition, possibly due to inherent racism towards Mexico.

05:48 Mariachi music has gained respect and recognition over the years, moving beyond Mexican restaurants and into concert halls and schools, but it still faces racism, xenophobia, and classism. The origins of mariachi can be traced back to colonial Mexico, with influences from Spanish, African, and indigenous music. The early mariachi did not include horns and consisted of violins, guitar, and harp. It was performed by peasant farm workers, who were exploited under the feudal system before the Mexican Revolution. The revolution led to the revolt of the workers and the writing of mariachi songs about their struggles. The exact birthplace of mariachi is uncertain, but some believe it started in Cocula, Jalisco.

11:08 The origins of the word "mariachi" are disputed, but it is believed to either come from a local place name or from the wood used to make the instruments, and there is no evidence to suggest that it originally had religious connotations.

16:31 The hosts discuss the concept of cultural appropriation and whether wearing a nudie suit or a Charo suit would be considered appropriative.

21:28 The expansion and mobility of mariachi bands, as well as the addition of new instruments like trumpets and violas, contributed to the lively atmosphere and enjoyment of mariachi music.

26:41 Mariachi music is deeply ingrained in Mexican culture and is considered a significant part of people's lives, from baptisms to funerals, although it has gained more acceptance in the US than in some parts of Mexico.

32:00 Mariachi music is versatile and can be played at various events and occasions, including love songs, ballads, and even songs about crime or heroism, and it is characterized by multiple voices singing together and a laid-back, imprecise style.

37:30 Mariachi music made its way to the United States in the 1940s and became popularized in the 1960s during the Chicana movement, and it gained even more recognition in the 1980s when Linda Ronstadt released her album "Canciones de Mi Padre" featuring mariachi bands.

42:49 Mariachi music gained popularity in Yugoslavia in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, and it continues to be appreciated in places like Serbia and Croatia today.

48:14 Notable mariachi groups include the Quartetto, Mariachi Vargas, Miguel Martinez and Jesus Cordova from Mariachi Mexico de Pepe Via, and Mariachi Los Camperos.

53:39 Women have historically had a harder time breaking into the male-dominated world of mariachi, but there have been exceptions, with the first all-female mariachi group forming in the late 1940s and an all LGBTQ+ mariachi group with the first transgender woman in the genre.

59:10 A researcher at the University of Adelaide has completed DNA matching to identify the body of Carl Webb, an engineer and instrument maker from Melbourne who came to Adelaide seeking a reconnection with his estranged wife.