Radio Ambulante Podcasts

Radio Ambulante (traveling radio) is a Spanish-language podcast that tells the stories of Latin Americans from across the region. The topics are eclectic, and most are accompanied by English-language transcriptions--just click on the "English" button at the top of the page. These stories really help me to better understand the realities of living in Latin America in a different way than studying Modern Latin American History in the archives or in the classroom.

Here are a few recent episodes that have particular resonance for this Unit, but by all means, please explore the entire site and subscribe to the podcast if you're so inclined :) (All episode descriptions come from the RadioAmbulante.org website)

El Corresponsal/The Correspondent. For two years (2012-2014) Alberto Arce was the only international correspondent based in Honduras. He says that’s where he became a journalist. Alberto tells us his story from Mexico City, where he is currently based.

Tunéame la Nave/Pimp My Ride. Mauricio Hernández left Mexico in search of the American Dream –and he found it on the most unexpected side of the border.

#Renuncia Ya. The recent protests in Guatemala managed to kick the president out of office (September 2015). But in the beginning no one thought that the movement would go that far, not even the person who started it.

Los Huérfanos/The Orphans. Two children find themselves in a country they don’t know, surrounded by strangers who speak a language they barely understand. They have no choice but to hope for a miracle.

Postal de San Salvador/Postcard from San Salvador. In El Salvador, gangs snuff out a small act of self-expression. Also, producer Daniel Alarcón published this English-language version of Iris' story in the New York Times Magazine, 21 August 2015.

La importancia de llamarse Ernesto/The Importance of Being Ernesto. Ernesto Gómez grew up like any other Mexican kid in Chihuahua. But when he turned 10 years old, he had to confront a hidden past that put his nationality, his family, and even his own name in doubt.

Instrumentos de Guerra/Instruments of War. Christian Martínez and his bandmates were used to being stopped by guerrilla or paramilitary soldiers on the road. But one night, after playing a gig, they came to a checkpoint, and this time they were told to get off the bus. What happened next was something they swore to keep secret for years.

El Coyote/The Coyote. Carlos makes a living by taking migrants from Central America to the Mexican border with the United States. He’s what’s called a “coyote”. From Honduras, Carlos spoke to journalists Iolany Pérez and Jennifer Avila. This is his testimony.

Correa vs. Crudo. The strange story of a virtual fight between the creator of a Facebook page and the President of Ecuador –a fight that became too real.

Los 43 + 11/The 43 + 11. One night, last November (2014), Laurence Maxwell went to central Mexico City for a peaceful protest in solidarity with the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa, and came face to face with the violence of Mexico’s justice system.

Next Section: