Juan Carlos Fajardo Jr. is on The Desert Sun's list of the Coachella Valley's Top Content Creators of 2026. To see the full list, click here.
When it comes to Indio-based content creator Juan Carlos Fajardo Jr., better known as Neta Foo Serio online, it's all about community and showcasing his roots.
The social media funnyman, who does comedic sketches and spotlights local businesses in the Coachella Valley, only just started posting videos as his animated and enthusiastic Neta Foo Serio persona in November. However, not even a year into his efforts, he's already amassed more than 30,000 followers on Instagram and recently earned the most votes for the Coachella Valley's Top Content Creators of 2026 poll.
"I was already excited to be in the top
50," Fajardo said in a recent interview. "But I thought a little bit deeper and I'm like, why not try to win? So I just decided that I was going to push for it and obviously bugged a lot of people, but it seemed to have a lot of support. It was just a blessing, honestly, and I'm really grateful and happy to be a part of this."
Fajardo was born and raised in Indio, and the love he has for the east valley radiates through each of his videos. Whether he's spotlighting the families behind his favorite eateries, shouting out a hidden gem in town or collaborating with other east valley creators, giving back to his community is at the forefront. Additionally, he performs original hip-hop music under the stage name Xpression, shedding light on personal struggles and even shouting out his hometown in the song "Indio" with actor Peter Dante.
Fajardo is one of five winners for the Coachella Valley's Top Content Creators of 2026. Take a look at The Desert Sun's conversation with him below.
(These quotes have been edited for length and clarity.)
Did you ever imagine you would be a content creator?
Juan Carlos Fajardo Jr.: When I was making music, I've always kind of done content. I've always had this funny character. Growing up in school, I was always the class clown and making people laugh. People told me my whole life, you're funny. I always had a way to make people feel better about themselves and be relatable to people and I would do silly stuff to make people feel more comfortable.
With music, I took it seriously. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 15, so I had the rap name Xpression. I chose that name because I had so many different emotions and cadences and personalities that I would bring to life with my music. So I used my music a lot to share about my personal struggles and real life situations that I was dealing with. I'd always do little skits, but it wasn't anything that became a character or a brand, it was all based around Xpression.
How did Neta Foo Serio come to be?
JCFJ: I was in the studio with Ahmed Bellozo, On The Tira, he does a lot of stuff that I do in the Inland Empire area. We decided to do a skit, a funny video together. We did the video and after he said, 'Hey, bro, why aren't you doing this?' I said, 'What do you mean?' He goes, 'You have a good character, why don't you do some stuff?' I said, OK, I can try it out. So then I created this page called Neta Foo Serio.
Neta Foo Serio kind of was a saying, kind of like, are you really serious? It was kind of like, man, this food is really good. Are you neta foo serio? Are you being for real? Then people just started associating me with the name, and I realized not only is it a saying, it's become me as a character.
I just started in November, and I've hit over 1 million organic views on Instagram alone. It just started with me going to a restaurant, doing a video, collaborating, then I'll go to the next one, same thing. One day, I got invited to Acrisure Arena to promote a bareknuckle event. So I promoted it, did a collaboration with them, I go to the fight and this is the first time I had been around a significant amount of people in one room. Walking from the floor trying to get up to the top level, it took me like 15-20 minutes because everyone's stopping me. Saying 'Neta Foo Serio,' pictures, people were leaving their aisles, and then it clicked to me like, I'm really out there more than I realize. Now I'm driving, people are honking, people are recognizing me everywhere. But I love that, though, because I always told myself, I'm never going to be that type of person who's going to act like I'm too cool to stop and take a photo.
Is content creation your full-time job?
JCFJ: I work in the mental health field. My mom is a psychotherapist, and I work in the studio with the kids. I do affirmations with them, I help them record music and stuff like that. But slowly I've been getting more and more busy because there's more and more gigs that come in. So we're merging into this becoming my full-time now.
How did growing up in Indio shape you?
JCFJ: I never want to leave the valley. I love it here, this is my home. I feel like I connect so well with it. I know where to go, where not to go, what to do, what not to do. Places like this (referring to Bob's Twin Kitchen) and local businesses, I feel like it's become a part of me and who I am. There's so much culture and love here, and the way I connect with people. Like Arriola's (Tortilleria), I remember my mom every weekend wanting to go get nachos, so that became a part of my routine. Burger Box, my grandma was always wanting the fries, so that became part of our routine. The people here, the culture, the food, the connection, the barbershops. Everybody here treats you like family. It's almost more than just you're going to a local business, you feel like you're visiting your family, you're going and visiting another home.
Is that why your videos are so often about the Indio community?
JCFJ: A lot of the east side of the valley is really Latino-based too. We grew up with our abuelitas in the kitchen, we grew up with the family-owned businesses. It's relatable because our stories are usually very similar. I think that's why I get a lot of people on this side of the valley relating to my concept because they can relate to, 'I remember what it's like to be there.' So I relate a lot to the Mexican culture. Indio and this whole side of the valley is real dominant in that Latino culture and families and that's why I love it over here so much. We made a song about Indio called 'Indio' and we show businesses ... we did a whole music video about it, and we shot at all the iconic spots that have been here for so many years, and a lot of people love that song.
When you're not making videos, what do you do?
JCFJ: I'm JC Fajardo, I'm a dad who's supporting his daughter's dreams, I'm a son to my mom, taking care of her. I'm just a family man.
What are your top food recommendations?
JCFJ: Bob's Twin Kitchen is top for me because this is my fast go-to when I want good American food, they have good Mexican food. I wouldn't consider this place fast food, though. Even though they can make your food fast, I still feel like, when you go through the drive-thru here, you're going to wait. Sometimes I've had to wait in the drive-thru for 20-30 minutes before because he's making it fresh.
Burger Box, I love their fries. I don't know what it is, their fries and their sauce, I've just always loved it. Taking it up a notch in fanciness, Chula Artisan Eatery. Everything there I've tried is just, my god, it's incredible. I love Allende Restaurante, that's probably one of my go-tos for Mexican food.
Typically what I do, if I'm craving something, there's a specific place that has the exact item that I want. If I'm craving flautas, I would go to Pueblo Viejo Grill. They have the best chicken flautas. If I want green enchiladas, I'll go to Allende. If I want carne asada tacos, I'll go to L&G Desert Store. If I want a good breakfast, I go to Arriola's or I go to the La Quinta Cove to Tampico Meat Market, they have the best breakfast burritos. For a Chinese food spot, I'm going to go with Mulan Chinese Restaurant in Indio. Real love, real recipes, those are my favorite spots.
What comes next for you?
JCFJ: I have a lot of kids and new audiences, some older and some younger, so I think to cater to all audiences, I'm going to find a way to where I still get to be me, I still get to be funny, I still got to have a little bit of raunchiness and all that, but I'm trying not to use foul language anymore, which I really don't, but sometimes it'll come out. Now I have to appeal to all audiences because I have little kids coming up to me and the parents are like, my kids love you, so now it's kind of having a little more responsibility.
Moving forward, I want to play more into being this role model and this public figure that can, possibly, be recognized by the city of Indio one day. To me, that's the ultimate thing, I would love to be recognized by the city. I have the mayor calling me now, they want me to be involved in this and that. Some of the people who are in office, they'll ask me, hey, man, do you think you can go and use your influence and kind of stir up something or spark something?
I just want to use my influence to bring people together. I'm always hoping to collaborate, I love working as a team. That's what the CV Collaborators is. I want to grow with them. We're becoming like a little Coachella Valley Avengers. And then obviously merch with Neta Foo Serio. I've made Neta Foo Serio his own music artist, so I'm going to start making parody music, I'm going to start making funny sounds and TikTok trends. He has his own Spotify now, Apple Music, Pandora, all that.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com, on X @ema_sasic or on Instagram @emasasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: An Indio content creator is building a following by lifting up locals
