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PODCAST

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia

Colombia Calling is your first stop for everything you ever wanted to know about Colombia. Colombia Calling is hosted by Anglo Canadian transplant to Colombia, Richard McColl and the Colombia Briefing is reported by journalist Emily Hart. Tune in for politics, news, reviews, travel and culture stories, all related to Colombia.

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

01:04:48

607: Small Earthquakes and what we never learnt in...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/03/24

Blending travel writing, history and reportage, our guest on this week's Colombia Calling podcast is award-winning journalist and author Shafik Meghji who tells a tale of footballers and pirates, nitrate kings and wool barons, polar explorers and cowboys, missionaries and radical MPs. From a ghost town in one of the world's driest deserts to a far-flung ranch in the sub-polar tundra; rusting whaling stations in the South Atlantic to an isolated railway built by convicts. '[An] appealing fusion of

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01:03:17

606: Unveiling the Wayuu Culture: Language,...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/03/17

Join host Richard McColl as he explores the rich Wayuu culture and language of the Guajira region in Colombia with Dr. Paul McAleer. Discover insights into indigenous traditions, linguistic preservation, and community impact through innovative workshops and cultural projects. Check out the Akuaipa Artisans store: https://akuaipaartisans.com The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

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46:00

605: Colombia's Election Results Explained

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/03/10

On 8 March, Colombians voted in primaries and congressional elections — electing candidates for 102 Senate seats, 182 House seats. Turnout in the election was notably low but marked a slight increase from the 2022 elections. Colombia's leftist ruling party, the Pacto Histórico, won the majority of seats in the Senate — 4.3 million votes (22.8 per cent) that translates to 25 seats. They were followed by the rightwing Centro Democrático which increased its representation to 17 seats in the Senate,

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01:07:13

604: Traveling to Colombia with Kids: A Family's...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/03/03

Learn how a family navigated their journey to Colombia with kids, from planning to experiences in diverse ecosystems. Discover tips for family travel in Colombia! Traveling with children can be daunting, especially to a country like Colombia, which many people still view through a lens of caution. In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, we'll explore the inspiring journey of Mae Star and Matt from Vermont, who made the bold decision to homeschool their children while traveling through this

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01:07:49

603: The War on Drugs: The Nueva Junta del...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/02/24

On the Colombia Calling podcast this week, we join forces with Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports to discuss the Nueva Junta del Narcotráfico and its origins. Discover the secrets behind one of the most enigmatic drug trafficking organizations in Colombia: La Nueva Junta del Narcotráfico, now the most powerful cartel in the country.

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01:09:08

602: Governing the Excluded: Insights from Briceño,...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/02/17

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with Alex Diamond, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Oklahoma State University, about his book 'Governing the Excluded: Rural Livelihoods Beyond Coca in Colombia's Peace Laboratory.' They explore the complexities of Briceño, a rural community in Colombia that serves as a peace laboratory for the coca substitution program. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by local farmers, the importance of infrastructure,

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51:50

601: President Petro's Trip to the Trump White House

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/02/10

The much-anticipated visit of Colombian President Gustavo Petro to the White House couldn't have gone better given the circumstances. Let it not be overlooked that President Trump needs an ally in Colombia now that he is "running" Venezuela. This week, Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports and Richard McColl of Colombia Calling provide an analysis of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's trip to meet President Trump and also, why former Colombian president Andres Pastrana is in hot water over the

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01:19:35

600: Episode 600 of the Colombia Calling podcast with...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/02/03

In this celebratory 600th episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, hosts Richard McColl and Emily Hart reflect on the evolution of their podcast, the significant political changes in Colombia, and the lessons learned from living in the country. They discuss the impact of a left-wing president, the changing landscape of podcasting, and offer advice for newcomers to Colombia. The conversation also touches on common misconceptions about the country and predictions for its future. In this engaging

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01:01:52

599: The Art of Rebellion in Bogotá

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with Eric Stone, a journalist and photographer, about the vibrant graffiti scene in Bogotá. They explore the evolution of graffiti as an art form, its political significance, and the cultural exchange between Bogotá and Clarksdale, Mississippi. Eric shares personal anecdotes from his experiences with local artists (Toxicomano, Guache, Leela, DJLu, Erre, Stickfish amongst others) and discusses his upcoming book project that

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01:06:11

598: The Quest for the Nicaragua Canal: A Historical...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl interviews Jessica M. Lepler, Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire, about her new book 'Canal Dreamers.' The conversation delves into the historical attempts to build a canal across Lake Nicaragua in the 1820s, the geopolitical interests of foreign investors, and the complexities of Central American history. Lepler shares insights from her extensive research, including the role of families in uncovering

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01:05:17

597: My Mother Was Raised by Monkeys in Colombia: A...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with musician Vanessa Forero about her unique journey as a singer-songwriter, her family's history, and the impact of the music industry on artists. Vanessa shares her experiences of accidentally becoming a singer, her diverse musical influences, and the challenges she faced in the industry. They also discuss her mother's incredible story of survival - raised by monkeys in Colombia -, the process of capturing family

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01:09:56

596: Exploring the Heart of Chile with Natascha...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/12/16

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with author Natascha Scott-Stokes about her journey from Germany to the UK and eventually to Chile. They discuss her experiences living in Guatemala during a time of conflict, her transition to life in Chile, and her reflections on the country's culture, landscape, and social issues. Natascha shares insights from her book, 'Tales from the Sharp End: A Portrait of Chile,' exploring themes of inequality, personal history, and

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01:06:50

595: Guaviare: A Journey Through Time and Culture

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with Bruce McLean and Marcel Reina about traveling in the largely unknown department of Guaviare, Colombia. They explore the region's rich cultural heritage, accessibility, and the diverse activities available for tourists. The conversation delves into the importance of tourism for local economies, the challenges faced by indigenous communities, and the role of tourism in preserving cultural traditions. The episode

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01:08:38

594: "Kolumbiytsi": The thousands of Colombians...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/12/02

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, Richard McColl speaks with Emily Hart about her extensive reporting - for a piece in Delayed Gratification magazine - on the phenomenon of Colombian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. They discuss the complexities of recruitment, the motivations behind these young men joining foreign conflicts, and the harsh realities they face on the battlefield. The conversation also touches on the economic factors driving these decisions, the impact on families

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01:00:05

593: From Bogotá to Tabio: A Journey of Transformation

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/11/25

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl reconnects with Lorna Phillips, (last on the podcast in Episode 173: "The Dating in Colombia episode.") who shares her journey of moving from Bogotá to Tabio, Colombia, and transforming her life into a sustainable business focused on tourism and community engagement. Lorna discusses the challenges she faced while building her retreat, Tuwa Shima, during the pandemic, and how it became a turning point for her business. She

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01:05:46

592: Author and legend Wade Davis speaks about his...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/11/11

Magdalena: River of Dreams, A Story of Colombia, is a captivating and essential book from Wade Davis--renowned, award-winning, bestselling author and photographer, and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence for more than a decade-- that brings vividly to life the story of the great Río Magdalena, illuminating Colombia's complex past, present, and future in the process. Also, as Davis is the author of the inimitable book on the Amazon river, One River, it's humbling to have someone of this

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01:17:13

591: Redefining Womanhood: with Karol Lopez of the...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/11/04

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, Karol Lopez of the Fundación Las Fuertes joins Richard McColl and Emily Hart to discuss the misconceptions surrounding the onset of menstruation and the societal expectations placed on young girls as they transition into womanhood, especially in a country like Colombia. Lopez challenges the narrative that menstruation defines womanhood and highlights the pressure young girls feel to conform to traditional feminine roles. Hear about the Fundacion Las

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57:14

590: The Pizarros: A Reflection of Colombian History

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/10/28

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl interviews Dutch journalist Robert Friele about his book on the Pizarro family, exploring their significant role in Colombian history and politics. The conversation delves into the storied family's legacy, the political landscape of Colombia, and the unique characteristics of the M-19 guerrilla movement. Friele shares insights from his research, the challenges of interviewing family members, and the impact of Carlos Pizarro's

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58:51

589: Unlocking Colombia's Historical Memory with Data

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl engages with academics David Anderson (Associate Professor in Analytics at Villanova University in PA) and Galia Benitez (Associate Professor of International Relations at Michigan State University) to discuss their research on using Large Language Models (LLMs) to analyse violence in Colombia. They explore the challenges of data collection, the human impact of their findings, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration

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01:00:01

588: Where is Matavén? Community Tourism in...

Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia ·

2025/10/14

Where is Matavén, you may well ask? So, this week on the Colombia Calling podcast, we discuss an award-winning community tourism project with people of the Piaroa indigenous community and the Colombian Project. Joining us on the podcast is Camilo Ortega, product manager of the Colombian Project. The Matavén Jungle is the fourth largest Indigenous Reservation in Colombia, with an extension of 1,849,613 hectares and located in the north-eastern area of the department of Vichada, between the Vichada

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200 results

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