Americas Now

Correspondent Dan Collyns has been reporting how Peruvians have managed to master the art of combining highland Andean products like local potatoes with seafood from the Pacific Ocean.  

The US-Mexico border has long been an area of treacherous terrain. And with the number of migrants trying to illegally cross into the US increasing, the number of migrant deaths has risen as well. Since 2020, migrants have been choosing more dangerous routes to the US to avoid apprehension. Hundreds perish from heat exposure and dehydration in the desert. Others drown trying to cross rivers and canals. On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast, correspondent Alasdair Baverstock shares insight, with host Elaine Reyes, from his deployments to the border to cover the migration story.  

Illegal mining is a big problem in South America. Thousands of small-time miners are digging up and destroying parts of the Amazon in different countries. The police and the army seem to be a step behind as the miners keep operating. Correspondent-Producer Armando Guerra shares his experience, with host Elaine Reyes, covering illegal gold mines in Peru and Ecuador.  

Vallenato is likely Colombia's most popular musical genre and part of the country's identity. Played with an accordion, it's a combination of African, Indigenous and European sounds. Traditionally, the genre has been dominated by male musicians but lately it's female performers who are making themselves heard. Correspondent Michelle Begue discusses the Women of Vallenato with Anchor Elaine Reyes.

Colombia is the world's largest cocaine producer and the cultivation of coca plants, the main ingredient of the drug, is increasing. Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Toby Muse, who recently reported on the Gulf Clan, the leading drug cartel in Colombia. Muse, who is based in the South American country, deployed to the epicenter of cocaine production and met with coca growers and drug smugglers.

Pirates and robbing ships at sea may seem like a thing from the past. But in Mexico, a country that has been attacked by pirates for centuries, the practice continues. Elaine Reyes talks to correspondent Alasdair Baverstock who has reported on modern-day pirates targeting oil platforms and vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.  

Most people associate chocolate with the chocolatiers of Europe. But the main ingredient for chocolate, cacao, comes from Latin America and Africa. Director-Producer Armando Guerra joins anchor Elaine Reyes to recount his journey to Ecuador to interview farmers and producers of cacao.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, 2022 was one of the hottest years on record. Some scientists believe Florida is among the most vulnerable states when it comes to climate change. How are higher temperatures impacting our oceans and their marine life? Elaine Reyes talks with Americas Now Correspondent John Zarrella, who has covered climate change extensively in the southern US and the Caribbean.

On this week's Americas Now podcast, Anchor Elaine Reyes talks to Correspondent John Zarrella about the inland risk of climate change on parks and lakes in the U.S. They discuss the life-altering changes being seen at Yellowstone National Park and Utah's Great Salt Lake, both of which may not be recognizable in the not-too-distant future. The drought and flooding being observed may foreshadow future climate change disasters to come.

Crime is a significant problem in Venezuela. Politicians and experts have yet to find a solution. So when a company became the victim of gang violence, the owner took matters into his own hands. He offered jobs to gang members and created a Rugby league for prisoners to train, play and learn about values such as teamwork and respect. Elaine Reyes talks to Venezuelan correspondent Stephen Gibbs about this inspiring story that has changed hundreds of lives.    

Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending life to avoid pain and suffering. Colombia is the only country in Latin America, and one of only several worldwide, to allow it in non-terminal cases.

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Gerry Hadden tells host Elaine Reyes about his deployment to the Pantanal which is so large it extends to other countries like Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay. 

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Alasdair Baverstock talks with host Elaine Reyes about the importance of these native languages hidden in the heart of one of Latin America's largest cities. 

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Alasdair Baverstock explains to host Elaine Reyes how the community of expats around Mexico's famous Lake Chapala dealt with the pandemic lockdowns.

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Joel Richards shares with host Elaine Reyes the conversations he had with these photojournalists who live in countries ranging from Peru and Argentina to Costa Rica.

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Joel Richards tells host Elaine Reyes two amazing stories he recently covered related to horses in Argentina.

On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Harris Withbeck shares with host Elaine Reyes the discoveries he made while covering the 100-year-old inhabitants of this area over the course of several years.

The U'wa indigenous people guard the largest expanse of glaciers in Colombia. Their mission is to protect the original source of water.

A Colombian family of four packed their bags and placed them in their 1981 Volkswagen Westfalia to take a life-changing trip along the Pan-American Highway.

Correspondents traveling from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego deconstruct the stories that impacted them the most. Presented by Elaine Reyes, the Americas Now Podcast takes you to memorable places and introduces you to extraordinary people around the map. This is a podcast for in-depth reporting enthusiasts with a taste for Latin American affairs and human stories.